I'm Here!
Whee... Whaddaday! I checked into NIH this morning at 8:00AM and while nothing was really scheduled for today, I've been meeting specialists and assistants and coordinators, reviewing medical history (there's a LOT, even by their standards!) and starting the ongoing tests. I had an EKG and checked out the patient library.
I'm kinda unusual because I've already manifested the major, nasty symptoms and so am already scheduled for the whole shebang of tests and surgery. I'm also packing it all into a full month, where the majority of clinical trial participants are fairly close and in and out pretty quickly. The socialwork folks are happy to see that because it gives them plenty of time to show me all their fun activities instead of mooshing a full orientation into, like, 48 hours.
It also means I got a private room with my own computer, bathroom, private phone and a beautiful view. I wish I had brought the camera, but I'll ask Greg to bring it with him. LOL I'll still be here!
The trip out was easy and fun. My shoulders are bruised from the weight of my bag, but I could have predicted that. The DC Metro system is really nice, and downtown Bethesda is, too. What I've seen of the NIH campus is lovely, and I expect to be out walking tomorrow morning. The Family Lodge is directly across the way out my window, and DC in May is a simply gorgeous green. There were comments on the Metro yesteday about past heat, but it started raining then and was cool and grey today, so it just feels like home. LOL
Write me! Email or actual letters. Comments here on my blog, too! I printed my Outlook Contacts (30+ pages!) so if I've sent you email in the past and you ask for the address or phone number I can send them to you direct. I'm allowed long distance phone calls from the phone here in my room, as long as I keep them to less than 15 minutes, so I'm really better connected than I was at home, in that sense. LOL
I've got a DVD player, too, so I'm going to watch 'Groundhog Day' tonight. It's strange being three hours behind... It's delaying at least some of the tests for a few days while my internal clock adjusts. I think Greg and I will actually make our calls early morning, last thing before bed for him and first thing to start the day for me.
I'm kinda unusual because I've already manifested the major, nasty symptoms and so am already scheduled for the whole shebang of tests and surgery. I'm also packing it all into a full month, where the majority of clinical trial participants are fairly close and in and out pretty quickly. The socialwork folks are happy to see that because it gives them plenty of time to show me all their fun activities instead of mooshing a full orientation into, like, 48 hours.
It also means I got a private room with my own computer, bathroom, private phone and a beautiful view. I wish I had brought the camera, but I'll ask Greg to bring it with him. LOL I'll still be here!
The trip out was easy and fun. My shoulders are bruised from the weight of my bag, but I could have predicted that. The DC Metro system is really nice, and downtown Bethesda is, too. What I've seen of the NIH campus is lovely, and I expect to be out walking tomorrow morning. The Family Lodge is directly across the way out my window, and DC in May is a simply gorgeous green. There were comments on the Metro yesteday about past heat, but it started raining then and was cool and grey today, so it just feels like home. LOL
Write me! Email or actual letters. Comments here on my blog, too! I printed my Outlook Contacts (30+ pages!) so if I've sent you email in the past and you ask for the address or phone number I can send them to you direct. I'm allowed long distance phone calls from the phone here in my room, as long as I keep them to less than 15 minutes, so I'm really better connected than I was at home, in that sense. LOL
I've got a DVD player, too, so I'm going to watch 'Groundhog Day' tonight. It's strange being three hours behind... It's delaying at least some of the tests for a few days while my internal clock adjusts. I think Greg and I will actually make our calls early morning, last thing before bed for him and first thing to start the day for me.