August 14th - I had my third outpatient surgery to remove the toothpaste-consistency phlegm from the sinuses behind and around my eyes and above my eyebrows. The surgery went extremely well, despite the initial bleeding and pain which lasted 24 hours.
September 4th - I went to the CF Clinic to see Dr. Simon. My lung function was lower than usual, but not alarmingly so; I went on oral antibiotics and was scheduled to return in a month. My prescription for Zoloft was also doubled from 25mg to 50 mg, and I have found that my anxiety has since increased in frequency but decreased in severity.
September 29th - After my sixth straight week on oral antibiotics (I was already on different ones before the September 4th appointment) with no sign of improvement, I went to the ER and was admitted to the hospital. I had lost 7 pounds and had loud crackling in my left lung, so I was probably pretty close to developing pneumonia again, which would have been disheartening, considering I just had severe pneumonia in June.
October 5th - I was discharged from the hospital on one IV antibiotic and two oral antibiotics. That night, I got an awful headache and took my temperature to find that I had a low-grade fever. For the rest of the work week, my cough, headache, fatigue, and joint pain worsened.
October 9th - Deciding that I couldn't take the pain anymore, I contacted Dr. Simon's office online, and they advised me to return to the hospital. I did so.
October 16th - I was discharged once again from the hospital, this time returning to my home in Saint Joseph instead of my apartment in Ann Arbor. I want to be with my family while I finish healing, and I plan on going back to AA on Tuesday. My course of IVs will end on Sunday (tomorrow) and I will deaccess my port then. I'm struggling with the pressures of school and the feeling that my body seems to be deteriorating faster than it used to, but I have a greater support system than I could reasonably ask for. Thank you to my parents, Vinny, and the close friends who have taken the time to check on me. I'm not sure what's coming next, but I'll do my best to take it in stride.
