Nausea drama for early November.

 Check my previous blog posts on my recent health at

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2024/10/my-experience-with-jaundice-and.html

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2024/10/coming-home-from-hospital-and-road-to.html

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2024/11/more-health-drama-in-late-october.html 

In late October, I was experiencing pancreatic pain due to the ECRP procedure earlier that month.

Good news, that pain subsided!

Bad news, it's now 2 weeks of daily nausea.

When I was experiencing pancreatic pain, I did feel nauseous but nothing could come out.

But since November 2, all the vomit that wanted to come out did. And even more that didn't exist that day come out on later did.

As noted in previous blog posts, my appetites was already declining.

Now, I didn't even want to eat anything, noting that it was all going to come out.

For example on 11/02/2024, I decided to have a few crackers. Not even a half-hour later, the contents were vomitted out.

On 11/04/2024, I called the doctor who suggested I go to the emergency room for IV treatments.  Not only did I get the IV treatments, I also got a CT scan. According to the scan, I now had a 14cm fluid mass that was bumping up against my pancreas and stomach. This was contributing to my nausea.

The doctors considered draining that fluid mass. The problem was that it's a high-risk procedure, and my other vitals (ie heart beat, blood pressure, etc) "seems fine enough" that they feel it wasn't bad enough to do a high-risk procedure. 

I did return to the ER the next day (11/05/2024) for IV treatment. They also did a CT scan, which showed the same thing as the day before.   During the IV treatment, the doctor offered a cup of water and crackers.  About a half-hour later, those contents got vomitted out, filling up to 12 fluid ounces in the green barf bag. 

Yeah, it's going to be a while before I tried solid foods again. 

But even then, I still needed nutrients. 

Some days, it was a sugar-salt-baking soda water mix.  It still provoked some reaction.

On 11/08/2024, I decided to try the chicken broth. It was liquid & nutrients.  But it definitely provoked an all-day nausea binge.

The next day (11/09/2024) , dad bought some Powerade. Powerade is known for electrolytes and it seems every article regarding vomiting says it's good to replace electrolytes.  Well, the Powerade tasted good, but provoked another vomit-binge. 

By Sunday (11/10/2024), I went to the ER again for IV treatments. Plus more nausea meds. The doctor suggested I contact my primary care doctor to get a referral to an IV infusion center closer to where I live.

2 days later (11/12/2024), I did speak with a primary care doctor (though not my usual one due to scheduling issues) and she noted the because I don't show the signs of dehydration, to hold off on IV treatments for now, and to take small sips of liquids to keep me hydrated. She also prescribed Pepcid AC for the very annoying acid reflux (which is now the #1 culprit keeping me awake when the rest of the body wants to sleep). 

Later that day, I ordered Walmart delivery for fluids (capri sun juices, Berry Gatorlyte, POG, etc).

Berry Gatorlyte tasted good, but I drank it too fast and caused a reaction. 

Today, I mostly drank water. I also had a canned soup, and some capri sun juices.  I seemed to have less negative reactions today. Not zero, but less than other days. Too early to declare victory. 

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As for what's keeping me financially afloat, I'll just say my employer offers Temporary Disability Insurance (TDI) which helps, even though it doesn't pay as much as if you worked those days. 

If you're in my situation, definitely speak with your employer about TDI. 

 

More health drama in late October

 Last month, I wrote 2 blog posts about my health journeys

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2024/10/my-experience-with-jaundice-and.html

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2024/10/coming-home-from-hospital-and-road-to.html

When I published the 2nd post, things were eventually looking up for me.

By October 21-23, I was able to return to work as normal as possible.

However, 10/24/2024 happened. It was the day of my 2nd ERCP. This time, it was in a different hospital (Pali Momi) with a different doctor.

Here's what I posted on Facebook that day.

Pablo Wegesend

orstoSpden8552ue 24191:cc MO8bP2t30640o8m65ta82h farl030a9l   · Aiea  · 

Back in the hospital for a follow-up procedure. a biopsy of my pancreas, plus replacing a stent that goes from liver to pancreas. Also, one of the health professionals there was someone I knew from the school days (I'll keep the identity private, unless that person says OK with it public)

— at Pali Momi Medical Center.

It was originally planned to be a  "you can go home after the procedure", but then it was decided to keep me overnight.
Which was the best decision because early in the following morning (10/25/2024), I experienced the worst pain in my life. 
I was vomiting, then my pancreas was feeling it was being squeezed really hard from the inside.  
I was really feeling like "come on God, am I that bad?"
I was worried about bleeding occurring inside, but the nurses noted that my vomit was yellow & green, and if it was really bleeding, my vomit would've been red or brown.
While the worst would eventually be over, it would be a long time before the pancreatic pain or nausea to be gone.
I had to stay another day in the hospital.
Meanwhile. my appetite was basically gone. I could only eat a liquid diet, and even that was much less than normal. 
The few things that did comfort me in the hospital was

• Relaxation TV station
• the hot compresses to put over my upper abdomen when I rested

 Late afternoon of 10/26/2024, I was discharged from the hospital. 
But the side effects of the procedure didn't go away.
For days, I was experiencing pancreatic pain.  It was the #1 thing that kept me from falling asleep when the rest of the body was too tired to do anything.
It was so bad that only a few days later (10/29/2024), I had to go to the emergency room.  I had IV treatments, pain meds and  4 additional hot compresses for my abdomen. 
As for Halloween, it was stay home all day & rest. Though I did get a present from my dad, a new kitchen chair to replace that old one that was I was already planning to replace. 
As for what happened in early November ........ well, that's the subject of the next blog post.

The Madness Doesn't End

 and it's not just this election.  That itself is too much madness/

I've been ill for days w/nausea that doesn't go away even with multiple visits to the hospital.

I have very low energy right now.

But if and when my energy is restored, I'll be blogging about it. 

Until then, please be patient with me as I navigate this mess.

Hamilton Library Floods

 Two decades ago, on the night before Halloween 2004, there was a heavy flood up in Mānoa Valley

The flood burst onto the University of Hawaii at Mānoa campus damaging several buildings. But worse damage was done to the university's largest library: The Hamilton Library.

The Honolulu Star-Advertiser article "Halloween Eve flash flood at UH-Manoa left ruin in its wake 20 years ago" does a great job in describing the flood and the damage it has caused to the library (and other facilities)

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/10/29/hawaii-news/halloween-eve-flash-flood-at-uh-manoa-left-ruin-in-its-wake/

Here is my  Facebook post regarding the article and my thoughts on the flood

Pablo Wegesend

A day that is etched in the collective memory of UHM. Because this happened on the Halloween weekend (of 2004), most of the student's minds were somewhere else when it happened. But the Monday after, classes were canceled as we learned the truth of what happened.

At the time, I was in my final semester as an undergrad student majoring in sociology. So definitely couldn't use the library for the rest of my final semester.

Fast-forward to 2013, when I returned to UHM as a graduate student majoring in Library & Information Science (LIS), the renovations were done and the basement (where LIS was located was looking good as new).  

However, not everything could be easily replaced since the basement included the storage of maps, government docs, and other rare items. And trauma still hasn't totally healed for all those affected by this flood.

Also in that semester, I had a part-time job as a student librarian in the university's Marine Option Program (MOP). At the time, program's HQ was in Dean Hall (which wasn't damaged by the flood) but some of their old posters and other items were located in the portables on lower campus. Though it didn't get muddied like Hamilton Library, the items there did get water-damaged.  I helped clear out some stuff there.  Even before the flood, there was some discussion of all the stuff accumulated by MOP over the decades. The flood answered the question for a lot of stuff at the portables. While some stuff was saved, it was time for most of it to go. 

I graduated at the end of the semester and there was still some accumulated stuff that we didn't get around to throwing out yet.   What happened to them is still a mystery to me as it was time for me to move on.

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Also check out this following article "Hamilton Library 20 years after the UH Mānoa flood" 

https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2024/10/29/hamilton-library-flood-20th-anniversary/ 

Video: "Am I still Considered Young at 44?"

 A few weeks ago, on my 44-year old birthday blog post, I mentioned the following

https://pablowegesend.blogspot.com/2024/10/my-double-4-years.html

One of the doctors I've talked to kept calling me "young man". I'm like "dude, I'm in my 40's".   I guess when you're like 60, anything under 50 is "young".  

 Even though there's a generation gap between 44-year old me and the new young adults. 

Let's put it this way, 9/11 happened when I was a Young Man.  The new young adults weren't even born yet when it happened.  My nieces are in college and they weren't born yet when 9/11 happened.  To them, social media and smartphones have always existed in their life. None of those things existed yet when I became a young man. 

And now, I posted a video on YouTube explaining those same issues 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2hReplnwmx0

I also noted what is conisdered "young" depends on the situation, being that 60-year old Kamala Harris is considered "young" because she worked alongside 81-year old Joe Biden.  Biden is so old that he makes 78-year old Donald Trump look young.

But if J.D. Vance becomes president (I hope not) I could then say "I'm older than the president". Vance is 4o years old. 

Anyways, click on the video and stay young! 

Why Not Both?

 The Oahu Community Correction Center (aka O.C.C.C. or as most people call it - "O Triple C") is a very outdated facility known for very nasty conditions.

O.C.C.C.  is mostly for those who are either awaiting trial or convicted of misdemeanors.

 Those convicted of felonies usually get sent to "Halawa" (the Halawa Correctional Facility) or if too crowded, to a facility in Arizona.

There have been proposals to build a new O.C.C.C. near the Halawa facility, and to tear down the old O.C.C.C. (currently in Kalihi).

It was mentioned in today's edition of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser.

https://www.staradvertiser.com/2024/10/20/hawaii-news/state-to-renew-push-to-replace-overcrowded-oahu-jail/

As usual, lack of funding is the culprit.

Some of the lack of funding is due to far-left activists who don't want a new jail because we need "alternatives to incarceration".

Why not both?

Why not "alternative to incarceration" for minor crimes, while we can still have a new jail for those who commit major crimes?

I'm actually for legalizing minor sins like gambling, marijuana, and consensual sex work. I think gun possession should be legal for any adult without a violent felony conviction. Self-defense should always be legal 

I'm all for second chances for first-time minor offenders.  Those are things we can have "alternatives to incarceration".

But the solution to violent crime isn't "hugs and pats on the backs" for killers & rapists.

Some people are too dangerous to be in society.

Yes, I'm OK with having those people live in humane conditions, but there's NOTHING humane about the conditions at the current O.C.C.C.

So we need to focus on building a newer, cleaner facility. 

And those who are dangerous to society are still locked up but in a more humane, cleaner facility. 

Worker's Rights in Sports

 Most of the talk on athlete's compensation  usually focuses on the following

• millionaires playing in major leagues demanding even more money, as if they don't already make more than your average citizen
• WNBA players making much less money than the NBA players due to revenue disparity (though the popular ones like Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese already make millions from endorsements)
• College athletes are now allowed to be compensated far beyond just a scholarship. In fact, they are now searching for colleges that will give them access to better endorsement deals

I won't even go over any of that, because there's one piece of news about athletic compensation from earlier this year that should be a center of conversation.

That is the new deal that the players in the National Women's Soccer League (NSWL) negotiated earlier this year.

You can read about it directly from the NWSLPA website at https://www.nwslplayers.com/news/nwsl-players-announce-groundbreaking-cba%2C-first-american-league-to-eliminate-the-draft-

The following bullet points come from a 8/22/2024 email from the AFL-CIO praising this deal! 

• Eliminating the draft: The draft is an antiquated model that treats people as property to be bought and sold. The new terms will empower players to decide which team environment is the best fit for their needs and their development.
• Free agency for all: Free agency results in fairness of contracts, with teams and players mutually agreeing to enter into a contractual relationship on even terms.
• Guaranteed contracts: Guaranteed contracts generally prevent the league from terminating player contracts prior to the end of their term, except in limited circumstances.
• No trades without player consent: This protects players from being traded against their will and without knowing in advance.
• Workload management: As the league grows, the demands on players will increase. The new agreement addresses game frequency, travel conditions and time off.
• Revenue sharing: For the first time, a collectively bargained salary cap will be tied to revenue sharing and a guaranteed minimum base salary cap. As the wealth of the league grows, the revenue will be shared with players. The association secured audit rights to ensure compliance with this provision.

Yes to all that!

Yes, I know the draft is made so that losing teams can get immediate help from the top college stars coming into the league.

After all, it wouldn't seem fair if last year's champions get the top rookie coming out of college.

But, if you look at college sports, a lot of times, it's the top college teams (like last year's champions) who get the best players coming out of high school.

At least with college recruiting, the player has a choice of where to go.

But with drafts in professional sports, the player don't really have much of a choice. Most times, they're sent to a team in a city where they don't know anyone, and with a coaching staff that might not be the best fit for them.

This is especially dangerous for QB's who are drafted by teams with a junk offensive line, putting those QB's in danger from experienced opposing defenses ready to attack and destroy. 

Drafts are big business for the NFL, NBA and ESPN! They don't want to give up all the advertising revenue that comes with so many viewers watching the draft.

But eliminating the draft is the right thing for the athletes. 

After all, the best & brightest students in computer science don't get drafted by the worst performing tech companies. Instead, they can chose whether to join a well-established tech company (ie Microsoft, Google, etc), become tech support for a non-profit,  or they could chose to build a new start-up.

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And I definitely don't like trades without consent.

I mean, imagine if you're working in fashion retail and all of a sudden, you're told  in the last minute that you're now  traded to a store in a far away city because "that's how it is". Meanwhile, you have to traumatize your children who are just getting settled in their new school and now have to go to a new school with bullies who see outsiders as easy targets.

But this is business as usual in sports.  Players are sent to teams in far-away cities without their consent. You gotta move your children AGAIN to a new school? Too bad! 

We shouldn't have trades in sports, unless a person express he/she wants to leave! Even if the player wants to leave, he/she should have a choice where to go. Or have a choice to quit the team and be free agent.  

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