July 26, 2018 (Thursday)

I woke up at 5:30 am JST, having some sleep of 5.5 hours of sleep.  Back to my weight 54.3 kilos, blood pressure I think is ok, but the upper is quite high 142/86.

I talked to my parents having breakfast #1, milk tea and this cute sugar breads.

I received this jelly from Mrs. Fukuda, my roommate. I just gave her candy and she gave me this. She was also the one I was with last night watching the fireworks, the other voice you could hear in the video was hers. We ate breakfast together, 100g rice, potato gratin, nori, Chinese cabbage salad, milk, and tea. I ate it all but very slowly. I took the morning medicines:   2 capsules of Cellcept, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, and anti-edema.

Today, I wasn’t able to take my bath at 9:00 am JST. Somebody was able to get that spot. So the schedule was ruined. I was back from my bath when my nurse told me that I have been called by the eye doctor and I have to go as soon as possible. Also, Nagatsuji Sensei came at the usual time, but I was not ready to face him because I was busy preparing for the eye doctor and he said that I should go there instead and we will be talking later.

It took time for the eye check up because we have to use medicines for the checkup and it took 30 minutes to take effect. I was glad to know that there was nothing wrong with my eyes, except that the swollen eyes are because of the steroids. The side effect of the checkup medicine is that you can’t see well and it is so bright even though there is a little light. So it was a good thing that I have sunglasses here. Yeah! Everyone was surprised to see me wearing sunglasses.

I was late for lunch.  It was 100g rice fried chicken and broccoli, steamed string beans, macaroni salad, fruits yogurt and tea. Still, due to the bloated stomach, I just ate the chicken, some rice, and the fruits yogurt.

I am back to my room for the IV for the Cytomegalovirus and the energy dextrose. I have to be steady since I can’t see very well. I also got the shot of Prednisone 20mg.

But my vein did work hard for me. It was swollen, that it can’t take the medicines. So the IV was taken out and transferred to my left arm. But like a scene from anime, my blood flew out. My sheets got dirty and my shirt too, but I can't take off my shirt and wash it now, I will do it tomorrow when my hands are freed. When my IV  was transferred, I got the shot of Prednisone 20mg for the evening dose.

My stomach hurts as the night falls. I don’t have the strength to combat the pain anymore. I skipped dinner with the permission of Nagatsuji Sensei, and he said that I don’t have to force myself to eat. He will be having his orders to give me the special painkiller anytime. I just drank corn soup so that I can take my medicine: 3 capsules of Prograf and 2 capsules of Cellcept.

I prayed that this pain to go away. It really hurts, I feel that my stomach will explode.

I took sleeping pills #1 & #2 at around 00:41 am JST. 

Hoping that tomorrow when I wake up this will be gone.

July 25, 2018 (Wednesday)

As a result of all the medicines from yesterday, this is me today a very swollen face. Good morning! I have very swollen eyelids because I cried so much from the pain yesterday. My weight is 53.7 kilos; it went down maybe because I didn’t eat anything. My blood pressure is 131/101 and my pulse is 77. Still, my blood pressure is high but I don’t feel any sign of pain.

It was early in the morning that the husband, son, and the granddaughter of Mrs. Higuchi came into our ward and talked to me. They said Mrs. Higuchi didn’t make it; she passed away due to lung cancer last night. I was shocked! They said that she fought really well until the end. It was such a waste that I have even said my goodbye to her personally. It was very kind of her family to came in and give me the news. I was so shocked and I don’t know what to say. I didn’t know if my standard Japanese greeting for that was enough. So I think that was the reason why last 2 days they transferred to a private room though it really cost very high.  

I think I can eat so I got this cheesecake bread from my grandmother roommate, Mrs. Izawa. She said that I should eat this since I haven’t eaten anything and she is very worried. She is very strict and I have to eat it in front of her. She was very worried yesterday to the point that she talked to Nagatsuji Sensei to tell him to make my pain go away because she considers me as her granddaughter already and I am looking really pitiful in my state yesterday.

The breakfast for today is 100g rice, Bok choy and vegetables soup, nori, orange, milk, and tea. But I just ate a little rice and the soup only, I didn’t eat the vegetables. Still the usual medicine except that the Prednisone 17.5mg will be increased to Prednisone 20mg via IV. And I will orally intake 2 capsules of Cellcept, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, Slow-k, and anti-edema. Plus, another medicine for the protection of the bones.

After my bath, Nagatsuji Sensei and the other doctors came in to see me. It was nice to let them know that I am feeling a little better but still recovering. I still have pain, but because it is still morning, I am still okay and can endure the pain. Nagatsuji Sensei felt some relief. He said that starting today the IV for the Cytomegalovirus will be reduced from twice a day to once a day since I am using Prednisone via IV. I also have my energy dextrose since I didn’t eat yesterday.

The lunch today is very delicious I think. 100g, curry rice, tuna and cucumber salad with mayonnaise, and a slice of watermelon. I ate here in my room while talking to my parents. I only ate half of it, but I tried hard and ate the watermelon since it will serve as water in my body.

After the sugar count,164, I went to the family mart and bought these, vanilla Ice cream sandwich, yogurt, and Ramune water. Easy to eat foods. I shared this with my grandmother roommate, Mrs. Izawa. She was happy to taste these.

The doctor of Mrs. Izawa is always having his rounds to her. And Nagatsuji Sensei said that Yamazaki Sensei (山崎先生), is very good in English. So, every time he makes his rounds to Mrs. Izawa, he is also talking to me. He said that this ward is like an English School corner. Yes indeed he is very good at English, his pronunciation is very clean and clear, not the typical Japanese accent; he can also explain very well my case in English.

Today, I am still feeling drowsy from the medicines that they gave me yesterday and I opted to rest the whole afternoon.

The dinner for today was: 100g rice, steamed white fish, sautéed root crop, Chinese cabbage salad, pudding, and tea. But I only ate some rice and all of the fish. It seems that I cannot eat vegetables now.

 I was surprised that the evening medicines were decreased. The Slow-k will be gone by today because as per the blood test, my potassium levels were good. So the evening medicines are 3 capsules of Prograf and 2 capsules of Cellcept only. Yehey! So the medicines are slowly getting low dosages! Isn’t this a good sign?

Yesterday might be a tough day, but today I am hearing good news. I am so blessed. I thank God! Amen! Also, today is the Tenjin Festival here in Miyakojima, Osaka. I am very lucky because I can see it via my window. If you can see, a white little structure at the left side, it is the Osaka Castle. The fireworks really cheered me up.

I took sleeping pills #1 & #2 at around 11:00 am JST. 

Today might have ups and downs, but still, overall it was a blessed day. May all we have a good night sleep. 

July 24, 2018 (Tuesday)

Good morning! I woke up 5:37 am JST, it seems that I am getting used to waking up at this time. Back to my original weight 54.30 kilos, still having high blood pressure 136/96, and having slight edema.

Since I was complaining of my stomach ache, today I will be waiting for Nagatsuji Sensei to come for a consultation and after that, I can know if I can eat or not. He came in very early today unlike the usual. I haven't even taken my bath yet. He said that he was very worried about me (awwww... true to his promise that, he will come in early😌). As per the CT scan results, there were signs of swollen intestines. He said, that he will change my diet to noodles and something with soup, like a soft diet, but he is still considering it because soups contain more salt and it is bad for the kidneys. Today, if I can eat, then I should eat, but I still should not force myself. I want to eat but still, it will hurt me. He also said that he will be giving me energy dextrose just in case I will not be eating.  This is to ensure I still have enough nutrition. So I have my IV for the Cytomegalovirus and the nutrition dextrose. He also said that since the Cytomegalovirus is having a weak count as per the blood test, from today the IV for the Cytomegalovirus will be reduced from 2 times a day to 1 time only. Yes! good sign! 😉

I endured the pain and took a bath. Even though I didn’t eat my breakfast, I still have to drink my medicines, 2 capsules of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, Slow-k, and anti-edema.

About lunchtime, I started to feel some pain in my stomach it really hurts that it was spread to my shoulders to my back until the lower back. It hurts so much that even though I eat, drink or urinate, the pain is real! I don’t know what to do, I asked my nurse for painkillers, not the plain painkiller but the one that is stronger. (yun kaya kang ipaglaban😆).  We waited for the pain reliever to take effect since it was oral medicine, it would take 30 minutes. Even Asai Sensei came in to see me, (He is not in charge of me. He is a doctor here in our ward whom I am talking to in English because he learns English by himself and he wants to practice). He said he saw my CT scan results, he would advise Nagatsuji Sensei to give me Steroid Pulse 500g via IV  to help me ease the pain. 

But I vomited, it was really painful. I vomited some yellowish substance, I cannot take out anymore because I haven’t eaten since morning, so there was nothing to take out. And when I can feel that I will be vomiting the pain is really there, so I tried my best not to because I am afraid of the pain. As minutes passed by, it seems that the painkillers earlier were not affecting. The pain is growing, to the point that I am crying. They cannot even touch me, because it really hurts. I am starting to have a heavy breath; I have to catch my breath. 

Nagatsuji Sensei came, and he ordered more painkillers, intestinal medicines, and Prednisone 20mg via IV. With these, it will be easier for the other drugs to take effect. The X-ray machine came in, they want to see if my intestines or stomach erupted. But luckily there was none. But, the CT scan and the X-ray machine showed that my intestines are swollen. This is the reason that I am feeling this pain.

At about 6:00 pm JST, I don’t know what to do, to the point that I cried until Nagatsuji Sensei ordered to give me painkillers that can make me sleep. So at least I can’t feel the pain and I slept. At around 9:00 pm JST, my nurse woke me up to take my medicines, I can still the pain and my head is fluffy that I just followed instructions and back to sleep like a log. I can still feel the pain as I turn while I sleep. My nurse gave me a hot pack to ease the pain in my stomach. It helped a little. I was able to sleep.

July 23, 2018 (Monday)

Good morning! I woke up early at 5:36 am JST, slept for 6 hours and I think it is a good sign, having regular sleep. I am back to my regular weight 54.1 kilos. Still with high blood pressure 154/105. As you can see my eyes are very swollen my face too!

After the regular blood and urine test, I made milk tea and I am going to eat this breakfast cookies while talking to my parents.

Breakfast for today: 100g rice, sautéed vegetable and shrimp, nori, canned peaches, milk and tea. I ate it all. So this will be the last meal with Mr. Araki and Mr. Nogazaki. Once again, my medicines were delivered to me by my nurse at the canteen; they were surprised at the number of my morning medicines.  2 capsules of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, Slow-k, and anti-edema.  And it is Monday so another medicine for the protection of the bones.

Mr. Araki and Mr. Nogazaki will be discharged today. But Mr. Araki’s wife is still here for about 3 weeks so he will be visiting her. He said that it would be nice if his wife will be placed in my room. So we said our greetings and parted. I hope for their fast recovery.

I took my bath and slightly cut my bangs. 2 months already and it got so long that it is a pain in my eyes.  And yes, I got good news today from Nagatsuji Sensei, starting today my anti-edema medicine will be reduced to once a day! Yehey! It is a good sign; it means my kidneys are working hard for me. I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus.

The lunch for today is 100g rice, tofu and egg soup, siomai, cucumber salad, and tea. But as I was saying, siomai is not siomai without soy sauce! Because my salt intake is on a watch, it will be impossible for me to have soy sauce. Since my stomach is hurting I just ate the siomai and some rice. So there will be no afternoon medicines for me.

My sugar level for today is 134 only. So I will eat this mitarashi Dango for the snack! This is grilled glutinous rice topped with sweet and slightly salty sauce. This is one of the Japanese sweets.

Still, if I eat, drink or urinate, my stomach hurts it feels like it is bloated and there is sharp pain. I want to eat more but I can’t take it. So I just went to the family mart to see some new things, read magazines.  There are many new sweets, I was just tempted, but I can’t eat.

Recently I am complaining that my stomach is hurting and feeling bloated so today I got a CT scan scheduled.

Today’s dinner is 100g rice, ginger-flavored grilled fish, boiled spinach, radish and carrot salad, 2 slices of oranges, and senbei.  But I had my corn soup, some rice, and the fish only. Medicine for tonight: Prednisone 17.5mg, 3 capsules of Prograf, 2 capsules of Cellcept, and Slow-k. I had to take the special pain reliever I can’t take it anymore, Really my stomach hurts when I eat.  I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus.

My dinner was not enough so I had pudding. I prefer to have easy to eat. I can’t seem to understand this pain. My back too starts to hurt.

I was really praying hard for this pain to go away. I am talking to myself also, talking to my sickness that please calm down and not to make me suffer.

I took sleeping pills #1 & #2 at 12:10 am JST. I hope that when I wake up this pain will be over.

July 22, 2018 (Sunday)

Good morning! I woke up early today 4:00 am JST to went to the toilet. My weight is 53.3 kilos (Good sign!). Still with high blood pressure, 137/98.

This is 5 pc melon bread with chocolate chips and milk. I shared my bread with the 3 nurses. I attended the Sunday mass at Quiapo Church via live SNS. It was a good Homily.

Today’s breakfast is having a breakfast feel! 100g rice, chicken and sauce burger, nori, broccoli and carrots salad, milk and tea. I ate it all. Still together with Mr. Araki and Mr. Nogazaki. I took my medicines: 2 of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, Slow-k, and anti-edema.

I took my bath. Today is Sunday so no Doctors will come. After I took my bath, I tossed my laundry so I think it will be finished by lunch. But I was wrong, it finished 30 minutes later. Mr. Araki and Mr. Nogazaki too were late for lunch because they fell asleep. I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus.

The lunch for today is: 100g rice, tempura style fried fish, steamed Bok Choy, Chinese cabbage and carrot salad, 2 slices of oranges and tea. I did try to eat all, but my stomach hurts. It was a good thing to eat with other people because I can get distracted and eat slowly. Somehow I manage to eat 60% of the lunch. Took my anti-edema medicine.

So I went to the 1st-floor café to look at new things they are selling. And I found this! Hokkaido yogurt and Hokkaido butter bread! It seems delicious. They said that Hokkaido butter is very high class. So let’s try! And it was very delicious, light and fluffy, and easy to eat!

And I ordered a SIM card, it was delivered today! But when I was activating it, I was asked for a contact number. Since I have no contact number yet, this SIM card application is once again failed. It is a good thing that I can return this item.  

I finished my laundry and neatly lined them up!

For dinner, it was 100g rice, Pork strips miso flavored, boiled potatoes, spinach salad, 3 slices of apples, 2 pieces protein biscuits, and tea. I just ate the meat and some rice, and the apples. I ate with Mr. Araki and Mr. Nogazaki again, but this will be our last dinner together because they will be discharged already by tomorrow. But we will be still having our breakfast tomorrow.

The medicine was delivered to me by my nurse at the canteen, they were surprised at how much there is: 2 capsules of Prograf, 2 capsules of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, and Slow-k. I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus.

So let us take this night as rest night, after eating this corn soup. Let us try to sleep early. Because tomorrow, there will be a routine blood test and urine test again.

I prayed and thank God because today was a peaceful day. No nothing.

Good night friends. I took my sleeping pills #1 and #2 at 11:10 JST.

  

July 21, 2018 (Saturday)

Goood morning!

 I slept well! 7 hours is a luxury! But still woke up with high blood pressure 143/100. My weight was down to 53.7 kilos compared to my weight of 54.++ kilos.

And I am starving! I am eating breakfast #1 while talking to my parents. These are the leftover cookies from yesterday.  I have to go to the designated area for calls (a.k.a. the phone booth is a close area used for calling. It is because there are many apparatus here and many unseen attached to the patients, that some phones are not allowed to make calls anywhere.) It is summer here, and even though it is still early, it is already hot in the phone booth. But it is okay as long as I can talk to my parents.

Today’s breakfast is 100g rice, Bok choy and tuna soup, nori. DEL MONTE PHILIPPINE banana, tea, and milk. Yes! It was a treat, the big del Monte banana! And I made it milk today because recently, it seems like my stomach is not welcoming orange juice. I ate it all. I ate with the other patients. Mr. Araki (the one that I lent the book too) and Mr. Nogazaki. There was never a dull moment; they were so welcoming and the chat really well.

I took my medicines and made preparation for my bath. Starting today the Cellcept capsules were reduced from a total of 6 capsules to 4 capsules per day. So that will be 2 capsules for day and night. 

So the new dosage is 2 of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, Slow-k, and anti-edema.

I thought Nagastuji Sensei hates English but he came to me greeting in English, then I talked to him and said stop it already because he only knows greetings. But I doubt it, he is a doctor so I think he can speak, but only shy. I said that my weight decreased, and he said that it is a good sign because the medicine from the Blood Dialysis (血漿交換, けっしょうこうかん) is falling out, and they want that reaction, or maybe the anti-edema is effectively doing it’s work by flushing out the edema, it is also a good sign. I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus, it finished just in time for lunch.

The lunch for today is Osaka’s best, okonomiyaki! Plus 100g rice, steamed eggplants, Chinese cabbage salad, and tea. I still ate with the other patients, Mr. Araki and Mr. Nogazaki. I took the anti-edema. When my sugar was measured it was 191, hhhmmm almost 200, but I still made my nurse let me ate ice cream.

I ate this as I talk to my sister. Vanilla ice cream, I think this will be less in sugar. It is a very hot day today. Now I know that the Doctors only works half day during Saturdays. Mama Doctor, Kitabayashi Sensei, came to check on me, she saw my blog. I was amazed she read this! She is very good at English but still doesn’t talk to me in English. 

Today’s dinner is BEEF MEAT! It seems today is a treat! It is gyudon! Plus 100g rice, stir-fried rice noodles, cauliflower and cucumber salad, 2 slices of kiwi and strawberry pudding. I ate with the gentlemen.  They are easy to talk with very funny but with sense. Actually, they know Manny Pacquiao.

The new dosage of medicine : 3 capsules of Prograf, 2 capsules of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, and Slow-k. 

While I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus, I also updated my blog while eating this very delicious snack. I missed this red bean paste wrapped in mochi. I really like this snack, so lucky to have this at the family mart.

I prayed and thank God for the blessings. It was a good and peaceful day, though I have some pain, overall it was nothing serious. It was just that my wrist hurts but my knees were getting better. I hope tomorrow will also go well.

I took sleeping pills #1 & #2 at 11:23 pm JST. Good night and hoping for a luxury sleep again.

(late upload) June 7 – June 19, 2018 Kidney & Hypertension Department (腎臓高血圧) ward

June 7, 2018, I recovered from the renal biopsy, I am transferred to the Kidney & Hypertension Department (腎臓高血圧) ward. So the 14th floor will be my new home for 2 months.

I will be under the care of my family of Doctors. I have 4 doctors in the team. Konishi Sensei (小西先生, Papa Doctor) He is the managers of all the doctors here in the ward. Kitabayashi Sensei(北林先生, Mama Doctor), Nagatsuji Sensei (長辻先生, Brother Doctor), and Yamaguchi Sensei (山口先生, Sister Doctor). But the lead attending doctor will be Nagatsuji Sensei (長辻先生, Brother Doctor). They said that this will take 2 months for the observation and medical treatments. We will be following the Japanese Handbook for Treating Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

So what is SLE? reference: (https://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/connective-tissue-disease#3)

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE or simply lupus) is a disease characterized by inflammation of the joints, skin, and internal organs. Symptoms may include:

• A butterfly-shaped rash on the cheeks and bridge of the nose 
• Sensitivity to sunlight 
• Mouth ulcers 
• Hair loss
• Fluid around the heart and/or lungs 
• Kidney problems 
• Anemia or other blood cell problems 
• Problems with memory and concentration or other nervous system disorders. 

As explained to me, SLE is a type of Collagen Disease. It is an Autoimmune Disease that attacks the connective tissues and the cause is not known. Where and when will it attack is unknown. It is believed to be triggered by something in the environment of people who may be genetically susceptible. That is why it is considered to be a very difficult disease here in Japan.

The renal biopsy result was very detailed explained to me by Nagatsuji Sensei. I was able to see samples taken from me. He even said I can take a picture of it, but unfortunately, my cell phone has no battery left. He explained everything in detail, how did they concluded everything, what part of the kidney has gone bad, even the affected other parts like the lungs and intestines. The explanation was very good. If he used a technical term, he tried to explain it in simple Japanese. Well luckily I understood it, he was so kind and patient for a very detailed explanation. It all sank in. Luckily I had time to research and he asked me if I have questions. I did! He answered it very politely.

So we started with the oral medicines which were composed of Prednisone 50mg (steroids), antibacterial medicine, intestinal medicine, and anti-edema. These medicines were issued to me for a week's period, then I have to drink it by myself, then the nurse will take the medicine wrapper and check if I did take the right ones. It was no quite difficult to take these because it will be taken in a similar manner. Until the additional Monday, Wednesday, Friday medicine for the care of the bones came, and another medicine for bone rehabilitation to be taken every Monday only. It was my first week to take these additional medicines until all of a sudden…

July 20, 2018 (Friday)

Good morning! I woke up early today because there will be blood and urine test today. So I waited for the drawing of samples before I can eat breakfast #1.  I woke up with a high blood pressure again. 5 hours of sleep. But I am back to my normal weight of 54.4 kilos. I just had a difficulty in sleeping maybe because I took  Prednisone 17.5mg last night. I had the difficulty to fell asleep, but sleeping pill #1 & #2 helped me.

I am having vanilla cookies and hot tea while talking to my parents. It is quite early in the Philippines, but I am thankful that my parents do always wake up early. (PH is one hour late).

Today’s breakfast is 100g rice, sautéed potatoes, and meat, nori, cauliflower salad, orange juice, and tea. I ate it all. The sautéed potatoes and meat is like the recipe of my mother. I miss home cooked Filipino meal.

Then took my medicines:  3 capsules of Cellcept, Prednisone 17.5mg, anti-cholesterol, antibacterial medicine, 2 kinds of blood pressure medicines, intestinal medicine, Slow-k, and anti-edema.  And it is Friday so another medicine for the protection of the bones. That’s 10 kinds for you, 14 pieces in 1 go!

I took my bath today and put on mint patches. It was quite many because my muscles still hurt. I put a lot into my joints, especially my wrist hurts. My legs and knees still hurt but getting better. Nagatsuji Sensei saw me put so many patches, I said it is fashion and he just laughed. I explained to him that aside from the pain, I can also feel sharp pain attacking my joints sometimes. He said that it is a symptom of the sickness. I better exercise he said. But I said, I am exercising but when I stopped moving, then rest then move again, it hurts again. He said if I can’t bear the pain I can always ask for painkillers, but I still opt not to have it. I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus, I made it go for 1 hour. but it hurt, so maybe next time I have to make it 2 hours. hahaha! 

Today’s lunch is 100g rice, steamed salted fish, steamed winter melon and carrots, string beans and sesame mayonnaise, orange and tea. I just ate the fish and the rice. It seems that everything cannot enter my body; my stomach hurts as I eat. After that, I took the anti-edema medicine.

As I brush my teeth after lunch, the man I met in the canteen talked to me. He donated his kidney to his wife. We were in the canteen, when he was taking away his plates his chopsticks fell and I helped him pick it up, right after that he always greets me. Then, since I saw him reading in his room I asked him if he wanted to read the book given to me by my boss. The book was called “The Greatest Sales Man in the World” (Japanese Version). Then I let him saw the book, it was a cool looking book, and the content is good. I recommended it because I know it is a good book, I already read the English version and started reading the Japanese one. He was amazed because the book was hard covered, maroon and designed with gold plated like thingy. He said he will borrow it for a while, but not too long because he will be discharged on Monday.

My sugar was only 139, and I decided to try the new Frap at the family mart. The summer series of Frappuccino! Only ranging from 250 – 300 yen only. So today I tried the Melon Soda Frap, with family mart fried chicken. It was a delicious combination!

While drinking the melon soda, I am practicing walking here in the ward. Exercising my joints. Well, it gets better. I also stretched my muscles. Recently, since the laptop stand got delivered, I almost stayed on my bed, doing something on the laptop.

Yamaguchi Sensei was back from her vacation, she and Nagatsuji Sensei made their rounds on me together. Nagatsuji Sensei said that I will be having a CT scan on Wednesday to see why my stomach is hurting every time I eat. Then suddenly, it turned in a friendly talk, he said that Yamaguchi Sensei wants to talk to me in English, and she said that she doesn’t know English! They found out that I was talking to Asai Sensei in English and Mama Doctor, Kitabayashi Sensei is very good in English it is just that Mama Doctor still doesn’t speak to me in English, she just reads the things that I am reading and my blog. Mama Doctor’s pronunciation is very good and she is fast at reading, it is like she is reading Japanese. It is like normal for her. Well, they were amazed, because they know that Mama Doctor is a very intelligent person. And when I started to speak in English, Nagatsuji Sensei said Adios, grinned and escaped. Ahaha! Very sly guy.

Today’s dinner was delicious! 100g rice, pork tonkatsu, buttered Bok choy and shrimp, cabbage salad, 2 slices of oranges, jelly, and tea. But I only ate some rice and the pork tonkatsu. I was looking for the tonkatsu sauce, but since it is high in salt, it will not be served. And I took the usual medicines: 3 capsules of Prograf, 3 capsules of Cellcept, and Slow-k. And the new time adjusted the lower dosage of Prednisone 17.5mg.

Then I ate these fruits as I took the IV for the Cytomegalovirus, for 2 hours. This is the melon given to me by my boss’ mother and the oranges from dinner, I ate this for dessert. I realized that I have to eat little by little so that my stomach will not hurt.

I prayed in silence then I fell asleep even before I have to take the sleeping pill #1 & #2, but I woke up at 1:20 am JST and took it.

Hoping for a good night sleep. Good mornight.