WHERE ON EARTH HAVE I BEEN?????

When I initially began this blog, it was my intention to write about relative and challenging issues which many of us have in common, perhaps asking questions that may be somewhat uncomfortable to ask...but need to be put forth, just the same. However, shortly after I began to post....something happened....and I'd like to relay my journey in parts. Why? Normally a bloggers favorite subject is themselves; this is where I differ from my compatriots :) I would much rather discuss anything but me in an open forum and instead answer the challenge which Jesus gave us in Mark 16:15 and be salt amongst the sometimes watered down "gospel" messages brought forth from so many of today's pulpits.

However, let's get caught up with my journey up until this point because it is now an integral part of who I am today....

And so, I found myself preparing for relatively simple out patient procedure to remove my diseased gall bladder. Up until June of 2009, I remained fixed on getting rid of the issue that had caused me so much pain and illness since being hospitalized over Christmas. On June 2oth I checked into the Outpatient Surgery Center at Long Beach Memorial Hospital, a bit nervous since I am an asthmatic and one never knows how being "put under" will affect my breathing. I was also going to endure a DNC at the same time due to some female issues which had been affecting me for many months.

Well, it seemed in no time at all....I was in recovery and being told that the surgeon was able to do the arthroscopic surgery, instead of cutting me open. I was so relieved about this because I knew that my recovery time would be a lot quicker and I could return to my job (which I love almost as much as riding my motorcycle :) and that life would go on as usual.

Several days following the surgery, I began to have some additional breathing problems which I sought help for both in the Acute Care Clinic and the ER on several occasions. I had an appointment scheduled with my primary care physician, and was determined to hold out until I saw him because I trusted his advice. The day of that appointment, I found myself huddled in my office under two sweaters with chill's and a fever. Though it wasn't the smartest thing to have waited...even a few days; what my PCP did was even more stupid.

I saw Doctor Roth on a day when the electric ended up going out in the building because there was a traffic accident nearby that brought down a pole. And so, I was told to go to another location to have an X-Ray done of my lungs to rule out pneumonia. After I received the X-Ray in hand, my husband ran it up to Dr. Roth and was told "oh, she has some bugger's in her lungs; have her take this medication" and they sent me on my merry way.

Later that day, my breathing became worse and we decided to go to a different ER (Los Alamitos Medical Center) where the doc took one look at my X-Ray and said that I had pneumonia. I was given another prescription and sent home. When I didn't get any better over the following days, we returned to our Acute Care Clinic where we saw a doctor who really took the time to think about there being something more going on than just a simple pneumonia. I was shot up with more antibiotic's, steroids, and given more prescriptions and told to return the next day. When I did, the doc said I needed to be in the hospital and was taken by ambulance to LBM where I spent many many hours on a gurney before they decided to put me up on the 5th floor.

My stay there was the beginning of what would turn out to be many days hospitalized; non of which were uneventful! At this point I might add that I had no voice left from all the coughing and so my communication was mostly through whispering or writing notes.

Before I end this first addition of my journey, I would like to introduce you to Dr. David Hirota. He's my infectious disease doctor. He is my blessing sent by God, who up until now has worked very hard (and prayed I might add) to keep me alive. Though I was under the care of what has become a great team of doctor's, David is who we believe to be Gods man in all of this.... And this is only the tip of the ice-berg in what has evolved into "Judy's Journey." You can see pic's on my FB page under Judy Massey Notchick if you'd like and I will soon add another installation of my journey continued....