I just copied this from Val's blog. Q wrote the update on his Cushings Syndrome. Val wanted to post an update on my recovery from Cushing's Syndrome, so here is. I'll try not to be too dull, but Val is the writer in the family.I had the operation to remove my left adrenal gland back in January, 2006, because a tumor attached to the gland was causing it to produce too much cortisol. As my body had an excess, my other adrenal gland stopped producing it all together and went dormant. The hope was that once the tumor was removed, my body would eventually start producing cortisol at a normal level again. This has not happened yet, and so my endocrinologist has doubled my daily hydrocortisone dosage, to approximate the bodies normally produced amount.Until now, my dosage had been steadily decreasing since my operation, from a high of 50mg/day, finally down to 5mg/day a few months ago. When I dropped to 5/day, I was getting so tired, that it was difficult to function anymore. I went back up to 10/day about a week later and was hoping that the latest tests would indicate my body had started to produce cortisol naturally. But I guess my increasing fatigue is due to my body having too little cortisol, because it's only getting it from the pills I take.So, now I'm back up to 20mg of hydrocortisone a day, 10mg the moment I wake up (thank goodness for Siamese Daylight Time), 5mg at noontime, and 5mg in the late afternoon. This should echo the bodies natural production of cortisol, which starts at about 4am to get the body ready to wake, continues then slows throughout the day, and stops in the evening to allow the body to sleep.I may have to continue taking these pills, three times a day, for the rest of my life. But Val is the optimist, telling me it's not that bad and could be a lot worse. I'm hoping the increased dosage will get my energy level back up to normal.

Judy called me over to her yard a while ago to see the visitor in her yard. The turtle was big, about 14" diameter shell, wicked looking claws, and a very long tail. I don't know what kind it is, but it headed back to the pond. Snapping turtle? It's been so many years that I have forgotten what they look like.

I got this idea from my Daughter-in-law. (At first I typed sister-in-law; I guess I think I'm younger than I really am! A is for Age: Peeking at the 60's B is for Favorite Beer: None. Never liked it, never will. Nasty stuff. C is for Career: Teacher (2nd career; wife and mother 1st career) D is for Favorite Drink: Tropical V-8 Splash E is for Essential item(s) used every day: C-Pap machine, couch, and rowing machine F is for Favorite song: Any of the "old" hymns - Count Your Blessings, The Old Rugged Cross, What A Friend We Have In Jesus. G is for Favorite Game: I love word games, i.e. Taboo, Scrabble, UpWords. H is for How About Whatever Favorite I want: Traveling I is for Instruments I Play: I played clarinet in high school and am trying to teach myself the electric keyboard J is for Favorite Juice: Raspberry K is for Kids: I enjoy kids, mine and my grandkids for LONG periods of time; others for shorter periods of time! L is for the Last Time I Worked: Jan 16, 2007 (Auto Accident) M is for Marriage: Yes, I enjoyed it for 33 years and then my husband died. I miss him lots. N is for Name: Not on the internet. "Pat" is close enough. Or "Gramma Pat" O is for Overnight Stays in the Hospital: Last time was in Jan '07 after car accident P is for Phobias: Only one - Mice (or anything that looks like a mouse or rat!) Q is for Quote: "Too late" in response to "To make a long story short . . ." R is for Regret: That my husband and I put off traveling after he retired. S is for Sport: Baseball. Have loved it all my life. A Twins fan for many years (and the old Yankees-50's & 60's) T is for Time I wake up: Whenever my dog decides he wants to get up; sometimes 5 a.m., sometimes 6:30 a.m. U is for Underwear (I'm confused why this is in the list): But, yes, I do wear it. V is for Favorite Vegetable: Hard to pin down: Broccoli, Asparagus, Spinach. W is for Worst Habit: Easy one. Laziness. X is for X rays: Yes, the last one on my shoulder, rotar cuff is frayed Y is for Yummy food I make: turkey burger (no bun) dipped in mushed up avacado, black olives, onions and mayo. Z is for Zoos: Yes, I love the zoos. Hope to go to one this summer yet.

These baby tree swallows were hatched in the birdhouse in front of my house. These pictures were taken about 2 weeks ago. This morning as I was sitting on my patio, I saw one of the parent birds feeding the babies. I saw how big the babies were getting, (One of the babies head's filled up the entire holes), I went into the house to get my camera. By the time I got back outside they had all flown away.

Paul & Renata walking the streets of Rio. People sure walk a lot in Brazil. On this walk, I wasn't sure I would make it back to the hotel. I did, but I needed a nap before supper.

This is the hotel Judy and I stayed in in Antonina, Brazil, Renata's hometown. It used to be a doctor's private house. Renata's mom worked there as domestic help when she was a girl. It was awesome.

Paul & Renata's Wedding

I will try to attach some pictures of the wedding in Brazil. It was a great time, fun, and a beautiful bride (and groom). I just wish I hadn't been so tired and delicate from the car accident. But I'm so glad I was able to go.

Waldo is fine. The fault was mine. I put a little bacon grease on his dogfood as a treat and it made him sick. So no more bacon grease or anything that is fatty like that. He is back to his playful self. I have had a headache since the end of May. I'm thinking I'd better call my neurologist and see if something is amiss related to the TBI I had in the January wreck. I'm really tired of hurting all the time.

The Joys of Motherhood (even to a dog)

It is 3 a.m. and Waldo has been throwing up since midnight. I've got him contained so it's not bad to clean up, but no sleep so far. I'll probably have to take him to the vet in the morning. He's due to go anyway. At this rate he'll be dehydrated. At least I slept all day and am not too tired now. Yesterday was the reception for Paul and Renata. I helped clean up and was doing dishes till 10 o'clock at night. I was so tired that I slept in until 11:30 (with one getting up to take Waldo outside). Then I ate lunch and went back down for a nap at 1 p.m. and slept until 4:30 p.m. I then called a friend, and she and her husband and I went to REd Lobster for supper. I brought enough home for lunch tomorrow. The dog throws up about every 5 minutes. If he goes 1/2 hour without, I will attempt to go to bed again. We'll see!!