The Detective’s Power of Persistence

“When you come to the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” ~ Franklin D. Roosevelt

What a busy week this has been.  Two times to the doctor's office, worked three days, had a staff training meeting to get ready for the Summer classes that begin on Monday and working on a book trailer for Dr. Kay.  However, let me first tell you how I was able to do all this. 

  

Being diligent and proactive as well as pursuing the role of a detective, I actually discovered a couple of things that was messing with my body!  I will tell you what happened, and by deduction I learned a couple of things that have made a difference in how I feel.

I was having really bad dizzy, weak, shaky spells.  I decided to stop one of the blood pressure medications.  It helped some, but I was still having problems.  (I did call my doctor to let her know.)  I kept check on my blood pressure, and it was fine; however, my heart rate was very fast.  So, I stopped the second one.  Blood pressure fine, not quite as dizzy and shaky but heart rate was still fast.  I began researching my other medicines, and I found that was a severe symptom of one of the allergy medicines.  So, yesterday, I didn’t take it in the morning.  I had just a tiny bit of vertigo, but it was a great day and my blood pressure was fine as well as my heart rate.

  

I felt so much better that I had a young lady come in to help me try to get the house back to some sort of order.  I actually felt well enough to do some sorting, cleaning a pitching of things myself.  I did things I had not been able to do in more than a couple of months.  It felt so good that by the time the day was finished, I was so tired I hurt.  However, a good hot shower and tucking myself in bed took care of all that.

I almost forgot to tell you that, the Doppler ultrasound imaging, which uses sound waves to check blood flow and measure the thickness of my carotid arteries turned out well. No problems there.  Check - that is good. 

  

This morning all systems are pretty much go.  I am not a 100 %, but I have been up getting more things accomplished.  I washed a load of clothes, gave myself a haircut and fixed my hair.  I have a list of things to try to get done before bedtime.  It always amazes me that if you just hang in there, be proactive just how much of a difference it can make.  If things are rough for you right now, I hope you tie a knot in that rope, hang on and climb out of the hole when opportunity knocks! 

 “It isn't the things that happen to us in our lives that cause us to suffer, it's how we relate to the things that happen to us that causes us to suffer.” ~ Pema Chodron

That is all for today.  I have lots I want to do, so I will update you sometime next week.  Leave a comment if you can and let me know how it is going with you!

Got Air?...Want to share!

My air has been rather short lately. I went back to the doctor on Wednesday and I flunked my respiratory function test again.  I did my research because I felt that were things being overlooked. I felt that the "obvious" diagnosis wasn't the source of the problem.  Because of all my past experiences, I have learned it is good to be pro-active when it comes to your health.

I found a very good, reliable article online, and I was able to take  some valid information to my doctor about various complications that can occur and are common for people who have had a radical cystcectomy that includes an urinary diversion replaced by one of the many types of pouches.  I made some suggestions about some things to check-out with lab work.

Yesterday, I found out that my potassium level is still low, and my B 12 is also low.  No wonder I have been feeling so yucky. 

Low B 12 can cause problems concentrating, swollen and red tongue, shortness of breath during physical exertion, fatigue, dizziness, headache, cold hands and feet, heart palpitations and chest pain.  Now we have identified the problem, we can begin to correct it.  We increased my potassium intake, and I am going to be on B 12 for a while.  Soon, I should be back in the saddle again.

Things have not been all bad.  I made it to work every day this past week. There is a feature article that will be published in the May issue of Verge magazine.  I have a book signing scheduled for May 5th. at the Inner Bean beginning at 4 p.m.  One of my photographs that I took when I was at Tybee is going to be used for the cover of my colleague Dr. Kay's book, Wings of Time, that will be published soon.

I am also going to begin a pulmonary rehabilitation program next week.  That should help me get back on my feet sooner...or I should say my lungs recover from this episode.   

"Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you'll find one at the end of your arm ... As you grow older you will discover that you have two hands. One for helping yourself, the other for helping others." ~ Audrey Hepburn

That is where I am right now, and I hope you are too. 

"Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky." ~ Rabindranath Tagore

Others Who Have Traveled the Rocky Road of Bladder Cancer

Here is why I want to help others, the victims of an underserved cancer in spite of its prevalence for being ranked #5 in the United States. 

In 2012, about 56,000 men and 18,000 women will be diagnosed with bladder cancer in the United States. There are approximately 600,000 survivors of this cancer in the United States.  There should be more, and could be if it was diagnosed early enough. 

You may think that you do not know anyone who has had bladder cancer.  Let us see if you know any of these people:

·       Frank Sinatra

·       Telly Savalas

·        Dominick Donne

·        Andy Williams

·        Jack Lemmon

·        Herbert Humphrey

·        Ray Bolger

·        Mary Lou Williams

·        Ronald Edward Santo

·        Aaron Russo

·        Allen Ludden

·        George Tobias

·        William Rosenberg

·        Jimmy Martin

·        Nick Charles

·        Bob Schieffer

·        Patti Hansen

·       Eric McCormack's mother

·       Tommy Newsom.

 Do you know of more?

There are definite risk factors for developing bladder cancer.  There are even occupations that are high-risk for this cancer.  Learn more about these on the American Bladder Cancer's Website at: http://www.bladdercancersupport.org./ 

If you do not buy my book, if you do not donate directly...pass this along..post on your facebook, tweet it, whatever site and wherever you interact with others. please share this information, post a link to the blog or to the ABLCS' webpage.  You never know who you may help...and please become informed yourself.

My sites:

Authors Den: http://www.authorsden.com/sylvialramsey1 

Original webpage:  www.sylvialramsey.com

My blogs: 

Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith, and Guts,

 http://love-faith-and-guts.blogspot.com/

Thoughtful Reflections Blogspot

http://wwwthouhtfulreflections.blogspot.com/

My Amazon Author Central Page:

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvia-L-Ramsey/e/B002BMJ5NI/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0

Traveling a Rocky Road with Love, Faith and Guts, Another Update!

Recently, some new information about my bladder cancer was revealed.  I had always tried to find out why I had bladder cancer and no one on my side of the family that I knew of ever had any kind of cancer.  Well, that is a story in itself.  A few years ago, I receive a phone call from a lady who said she had been trying to find me.  At first, I thought that was very odd.  At least that was my first thought until she told me that we shared the same great-grandfather on my mother’s paternal side of the family.  She went on to tell me that her grandfather and my grandfather were brothers…more information!  I soon learned that there were a number of relatives that lived in another state.  Wow!  For a lot of people, that may not be too exciting, but for me it was. 

This past weekend, I called her to keep in touch and to get an update on everyone.  I was surprised to hear that her brother has bladder cancer.  She knew about my bladder cancer, so she decided to DNA test to see if she had the genetic marker for bladder cancer.  The results were positive, and she does have the gene strand.  Once I got off the telephone with her, I called my children to make them aware that they may also have the marker.  What I have learned that this gene strand was very possibly passed down from our great-grandfather.  How much farther back than him this gene strand may go we will never know because of what was known about cancer during his lifetime and earlier.  However, learning this information may prove to be vital to our children.  Being aware of the possibility is important, and if they choose they can have a DNA test just to be sure.

The birthing of the new book is almost here, and I wait with anxious anticipation.  I have been working on pages to add to my blog to prepare for its launch.  I have some scheduled interviews coming up, working on a booksigning tour, and a media kit.  I working on updates on my Author’s Den webpage, and I am out of the dark ages (I think!) because I now have Skype.  I haven’t quite worked out all the ways to use it, but I will…remember…I am persistent…and I persevere.  I will conquer Skype!
http://www.behance.net/gallery/A-Story-of-Faith-Survival-and-Perseverance/3004817

Another Rock in the Road Conquered

To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity. ~ Samuel Johnson

Some of my Art: Survival

           Yesterday, I worked all day on the final draft of the book.  Early this morning, I uploaded it to the publisher.  However, it wasn't that simple.  For about an hour, I was in a panic because I could not find the file.  I am still trying to get used to the new operating system on my computer, and the updated software.  Finally, I did a search and discovered that I had somehow saved the file in one of my backup storage devices.  I was so relieved. 

            When I uploaded the file, I felt just like a mother with a new baby.  I was not sure I wanted to share.  As anyone know who has written a book, there is so much work put into it, and a lot of yourself as well.  Now, I will begin the other tasks that go along with having a book published.  The work is not over, but it has just begun.  I will be working on a publicity packet, a book trailer, all the other things that go with this adventure.  Hopefully, I will be able to get some reviews, press releases, interview and some chances for interview on other people's blogs.

            My main goal is that it will be of value to others, and inspire them to never give up even when the road gets really rough.  Will it sell, who knows?  I can only hope it does so I can transfer all the proceeds earned from the sales can be given to the American Bladder Cancer Society. 

"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible." ~ Anonymous

You can learn more about me and my quest on the following websites:

Websites

www.sylvialramsey.com

Authors' Den Page
http://www.authorsden.com/sylvialramsey1

Amazon Author's Page

http://www.amazon.com/Sylvia-L-Ramsey/e/B002BMJ5NI/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1305578084&sr=1-2-ent

My other blog, Thoughtful Reflections features interview of others in the field of publishing and its link is:  http://tinyurl.com/4e52loe