DETERIORATING FROM THE INSIDE OUT?

I went to see my ankle surgeon today.  I have been having these weird pains in my leg. 

To recap (please skip if you are a frequent reader): Almost three years ago I was on vacation and stepped out of in an unfamiliar bed and landed wrong on my ankle.  Of course I continued on with my vacation.  When I came home I went to see the most renowned ankle guy in the area and he told me there was nothing wrong with me after an x-ray.  Ha.  I wear a boot for a while and then hobble around for almost a year.  I go to see a podiatrist for a foot problem and she sends me for an MRI of my ankle.  Turns out I have an almost completely torn ligament in my ankle and need 2-3 clips,  months of rehab, blah, blah.

Skip ahead a year.  Go on a cruise.  Last night of the cruise we have rough seas and I trip over a cleaning bucket.  I fall on my knee and get MRSA.  Go to hospital when we get off ship, get crutches, and meds.  Don't realize until much later that I really injured my other leg (where I had my ankle surgery) where I hit the cleaning bucket.  Compressed the vein, injections, blah, blah.

Today when I go to the docs I think the pain in my leg has to do with the surgery or the fall on the cruise.  The doctor gets the little hammer thing and bangs my knees.  No response.  My knees don't pop out like they are supposed to.  Then she lays me down and brings my legs up and it is horribly painful.  She tells me that there is something wrong with my back.  I didn't expect that.  The pain in my legs is nerve pain from a pinched nerve in my back.  She sends me for a quick x-ray of my back.

www.neurosurgical.com

Side Note: When I was 20 I had a horrible fall in the cafeteria at my college.  I worked there to make money while in school.  Some idiot took a steamboat roast beef off a tray and carried it across a walkway and then wiped the grease down with cold water.  I came along and slipped just like Charlie Brown.  I landed right on my back on a concrete floor.  I ended up leaving school that semester to lay in bed for two months in a drugged up haze.  I had a broken coccyx and slipped my L4-L5 disc. 

Back to present time, the x-ray showed that I have major issues with my lower discs.  There is major deterioration in my lower discs (L5-S1).
Basically there is so much deterioration I have a pinched nerve which is causing the pain in my leg.  The next step is to get an MRI of my back.  I may ask to see if it can be of my neck too.  Two birds, one stone.

Sounds like I am deteriorating from the inside out.  The skin will still look good but the bones will deteriorate to dust!  Ha.

Until tomorrow...

IS SHE OR ISN'T SHE?

I have an appointment tomorrow with my podiatrist. I have been having sharp pains in my leg around my incision and where I hit my leg on the cruise.  I made the appointment a week ago. I asked the person if my insurance would cover the appointment. I was told it would.

Today I looked up my doctor on the insurance website and the doctor didn't appear. She was not listed as a provider. I then called The-Insurance-Company-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and was on hold for 1.25 hours.  All I wanted to know was If my doc was on the list. I finally get through and the guy says I got through to the wrong department. "I can transfer you."  Good luck! I gave up. I called my doc to cancel the appointment and my doc answered the phone. She told me to come in. She is sure she is on the list.  If she isn't she will figure it out.  Okay, I go in tomorrow morning.  

Until tomorrow...

DRAWERS

I have these two drawers.  One smaller drawer has my medicine in it and another bigger drawer has lotions and stuff in it.  I realized at some point that I should have swapped the drawers.

When did my the number of medicines in my bathroom drawer out number the amount of lotions and potions?  When did the number of medicines take up so much space in my kitchen and bathroom cabinets and drawers that I have little room for other items?  Between sharps containers, bottles of medicine, and bottles and bottles of pills I have very little room for anything else.

I wish I could do something useful with all those pill bottles.  Every month I recycle at least 7-9 bottles.  Talk about waste!  Too bad we can't bring the bottles in for refill.

I just remember that those pill bottles make me have a normal life.  Where would I be without those bottles?

Until tomorrow...

BREATHING ANSWERS

I called the doctor's office this morning and they insisted I come in the office immediately.  Something about not being able to breathe made them nervous, I guess.  I rushed over without even taking a shower.

I self diagnosed myself again!  Yes, I have oral thrush.  Oral thrush is a yeast infection in your mouth!  Doesn't that sound wonderful!  I guess all the soy yogurt I have been eating isn't doing the trick. 

I am also having an asthmatic reaction.  Reaction to what?  To being on antibiotics since November, to being sick, to coughing.  Who knows.  Anyway my latent asthma has woken up and that is why I can't breathe. 

This is all complicated because normally I would be given an inhaler and asthma, gone.  But with thrush I can't use any oral inhalers.  So I have to be given the one pill form for asthma.   I can't take the cure for the thrush because I still have like 10 days of antibiotics and the thrush will just return.  Looks like I will have to wait out the thrush and when I get off the antibiotics it should go away or I will take the cure at that time.  What a Catch 22! 

It is never easy, is it!  As a friend says, if there is a weird thing out there, I will get it!  And most likely, I will get them all at the same time.

Until tomorrow...

TROUBLE BREATHING

So how important is breathing?  Mt partner Brenda has adult onset asthma and we always joke that breathing is fairly important. She found out how important it was when she had her first asthma attack and had to rushed to the hospital.  

I found out how important it was a couple of times: when I had pneumonia twice and when I had methotrexate lung.  Not being able to breath sucks. 

Starting yesterday I noticed I was getting out of breath going up the stairs. I was also coughing like crazy. Today I am not coughing very much but my chest feels like I have a band around it and I am out of breath.  The question is, is it the doxycycline or is it something else like pneumonia? 

Tomorrow I will call the doc if it doesn't get better.  Breathing is pretty important.

Until tomorrow...

SICK & GAME OF THRONES

I woke up to a throat of white dots. I don't seem to be going in the right direction.  I also have thrush. I woke up early in the morning and I couldn't breathe. I realized there was stuff in the back of my throat.  I rinsed my mouth out and inspected my mouth.  It was all white on my tongue.  I had a 100 degree temp all day.   I can't wait until the antibiotics kick in!

After taking Happi to get her free re-bath, I watched the final episodes of season 3 of Game of Thrones. Happi got a free bath because she was having an allergic reaction to the soap used to wash out the skunk smell.  The owner told me to bring her back for a free bath with hypoallergenic shampoo.

I had to rest after that adventure. I laid in bed and watched the last three episodes of Game of Thrones. All I have to say is Wow! I can't wait for season 4.  I hope there is a season 4.

Until tomorrow...

COUGHING, COUGHING, COUGHING

I can't stop coughing. My chest is on fire.  I left the house for a bit today to take the little dog to get her nails trimmed and to buy dog food. We also ordered take out food. I was craving eggplant parmesean. I don't know why. I just have been craving it for days. I bought some frozen stuff and threw it away it was so bad.  The eggplant today was fabulous.  Unfortunately it gave me heartburn. It was worth it!    Think the coughing had something to do with it too. 

That was my whole day. Oh, I watched most of the surf completion Mavericks online. It was so cool. Boy, that takes courage! I wouldn't even get in the cold water for $1,000. (That is how much the surfers get for competing.)

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER ROUND OF ANTIBIOTICS

Well, I am sick. Really sick. Seems that the sinusitis that I had has come back with a vengeance. I am coughing, sniffling and sneezing.  I called the doc and I am back on antibiotics. This time I have to stop the Enbrel. These antibiotics can cause MRSA so I have to be careful. I just want to stop coughing!

Until tomorrow...

OH NO I MAYBE GETTING SICK

I woke up with a scratchy throat and all day I felt like I needed to drink hot tea. Tonight I fell asleep watching TV at 9pm. I think I maybe getting sick. Ugh...

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY DONE WITH THE ANTIBIOTICS

Today was the last of the antibiotics!  I am so happy.  Now my body can go back to normal.  These side effects are killing me!

Oh, I almost forgot!  I got on the phone at exactly 8 am today with The-Insurance-Company-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  I finally got through their system and got an employee who has worked there longer than one minute.  Marcus was a dream.  He figured out the problem as to why Brenda has no insurance despite the fact that I switched her insurance plan in December.  I asked him to look up the log (all insurance companies have a log of phone calls) and sure enough, it said I called in and changed her plan.  Then the log said the computer canceled the plan later in December.  Who knows what happened?  Anyway he kept apologizing for putting me on hold but I told him that after 5 hours on hold last week, he could put me on hold all he wanted if he fixed the situation!  Sure enough he did!  He got her back dated for her plan.  Set up the auto payment.  Got the whole thing fixed.  Even gave me the new number for her plan just in case something happened before her card arrived.  That is a weight off my shoulders.

Until tomorrow...

SPRAYED THE SKUNK AND DOG SITTER INTERVIEW

Today we interviewed dog sitters.  We met a very nice lady who used to work at our vets.  She was amazing with the dogs.  Usually when people come to visit there is chaos when they arrive and then the dogs jump and vie for the visitors' attention.  Not with her.  She sat on the floor and gave each dog some attention and the dogs calmed right down.  Happi went right over and laid on her pillow.  Lucky went in the back room.  I was really impressed.  Usually the dogs start competing for attention and eventually get into an argument.  Not today.  She sold me just on that alone.  Anyone who can get my dogs to calm down in less than 5 minutes is GOOD! 

Then I made Ribollita Soup.  It is Really Good.  I made a different recipe before but this recipe is good too. 

I also made a concoction to spray where the skunk is living.  It is garlic, onions and cayenne pepper boiled with water.  Then strained through cheese cloth and cooled.  Put in spray bottle.  I then sprayed all around where we think the skunk is.  Supposedly the skunk will sniff around and get the cayenne pepper in its nose.  The smell will deter it from coming on our property.  We shall see.  It made me cough!

Until tomorrow...

POOR NINERS

I spent the day getting my hair cut and watching the play-offs. Those poor 49ers. So close but not close enough. The defense was excellent but that offense lost the game.  I made myself a super tofu sandwich to watch the game.

It was delicious! It was my take on a po boy. Tofu, cabbage, avocado, spread on the roll. Yummy! 

I am so happy to get my hair cut. It was so long. When I have short it gets annoying when it gets too long.  It gets in my eyes and gets unruly. 

Until tomorrow...

FROZEN

No, we are not frozen. In fact we are having a heat wave. Folks here were in shorts and T-shirts today.  So, we decided to go see Frozen.  It was a cute movie.  The love in your heat can melt evil.  Adorable!

Until tomorrow...

DRAIN UNCLOGGED

Today a plumber came to ry and fix our plumbing issues. I should say our plumber. M is our friend not just a plumber.

He took out our water filter. I am thrilled about this! The contractor put the water filter on the hot water. I have wanted it taken off for years. He also found that our contractor used the wrong kind of pipe and 1) it was leaking and 2) it was the wrong kind of pipe not copper.  The hot water is improved. I still need to call an On demand water person to clean out the water heater. 

Then he snaked out two drains.

I spent hours on the phone trying to fix Brenda's insurance mix up. Ergh....

Until tomorrow...

A RUN IN WITH A SKUNK

Have you ever felt like you just can't seem to get a break? I am not feeling sorry for myself it just sort of feels like I am riding a wave. A wave of crazy stuff.

Early this morning the dogs woke everyone up barking. It was still dark out. We all went back to sleep. At 7:30 I let them out and they did the perimeter check. Where they run around sniffing every inch of the fence. Lucky began barking at something under the deck. I rushed them in the house thinking it was a cat or something. 

At around 2pm I was at work and Brenda let Happi out back. Happi ran right down under the deck and began crying and sticking her nose through the fence. Brenda went to get her just when the skunk sprayed her through the fence. The ivy and plants got most of the spray. Happi just got a little but enough to stink. The backyard STUNK! 

I called the dog washing place and rushed her over. They used some special stuff on her and now she smells like a plum. We were lucky that she didn't get sprayed worse.  

No one goes in the backyard for now. I called animal control and they said the skunks are having their babies early because of this crazy weather. Skunks spray more when they have babies. So now we have more animals in the backyard. Skunks, rats, egrets, raccoons, dogs, cats, fish. A damn zoo!

Meanwhile I spent the morning on the phone with The-Insurance-Company-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I found out that Brenda's insurance is screwed up. She was canceled from the old plan but never put on the new plan.  After 40 minutes on hold listening to what I call the devil hold music. I had to hang up to get to work. My plan was to work it out this afternoon but then Happi met the skunk and that plan went to hell. 

Until tomorrow...

TUESDAY UPDATE

Dog update: the dogs are better. Eating regular food and acting like normal. Note to self- don't leave the compost bin open.

Health update: my eye is better. My sinuses are okay not great. Now I have the dreaded yeast infection. Ugh...

Exercise update: I rode the stationary bike for 4 miles. 

IT'S ALWAYS SOMETHING

First I have sinusitis. Then today the dogs get in the compost bin. My theory is that Brenda accidentally left it open. She thinks that Happi opened the bin. Anyway, the bin got opened and the dogs had a field day. Brenda found Lucky in her cage with the remnants of a head of cauliflower, two tea bags, brussel sprout leaves, paper towels, sunflower seeds. Lucky must have made many trips from the compost bin to her cage. Brenda realized something was wrong because Happi was pacing back and forth. Happi never paces. Brenda went to see what was going on and found a tea bag Happi had eaten. She then found Lucky in her cage with all the chewed up stuff. Lucky had eaten a "significant" amount of the head of cauliflower. 

At 2pm I called the vet because Brenda said they weren't looking too good. I took them to the vet at 4pm. Turns out nothing they ate was toxic. They probably just have upset tummies. That much cauliflower has given them really bad gas. So I give them Pepcid and a dinner of chicken and rice. They both look a little green. 

Then I tucked them in for the night. Let's hope everyone feels better tomorrow morning.

Until tomorrow...

MOVIE AND COOKING

Went to see Gravity today. It was supposed to be in 3D but the theater could not get the 3D to work. So we saw it in 2D. I don't think I missed much except feeling sick when Sandra Bullock spun around and around. Heck, I'm getting I'll just thinking about it.

Spoiler alert: if you saw the movie didn't you think she was a bad omen? Everywhere she went something bad happened! I certainly wouldn't want to go anywhere with her!

When I got home I cooked dinner. I finally went to the supermarket and we have food again in the house.  I made a lemony wheat berry and brussel sprout dish and barbecue tofu and cauliflower gratin. Delicious!

I am getting the normal reactions from taking the antibiotics. Ugh...

Exercise Update: I did some cardio. I walked 20 blocks.  Forgot to mention yesterday I walked 20 blocks with little Lucky.

Until tomorrow...

LOSING SOMETHING

I hate it when I lose things. I swear I put something somewhere and then I go to get it and it is gone. I rarely lose something for very long. I mostly misplace things. I misplaced something today and spent 30 minutes looking for it. Turns out it was 6 inches from where I was sitting. I had moved it to look at it and set it down. Then I put something else on top of it. Next thing I know I am spending 30 minutes tearing the house apart looking for it.  It really doesn't matter how organized I am if I don't put the item where I am going to look for it later.

Until tomorrow...

DOG DAY

Today was a day all about the dogs. First I took both Happi and Lucky to the vet to get weighed. I have been concerned since we changed their food that they have been losing weight. Sure enough Happi has lost almost three pounds and Lucky has lost three pounds. We need to give both dogs more food at feeding time. Lucky only weighed 12 pounds so losing 3 pounds is a significant weight loss. When we changed her food, I took her off the high activity food. I may have to rethink that decision if she continues to lose weight. She can only eat so much food in one sitting.  Happi doesn't need to gain too much. Maybe a pound. She needs to stay slim and trim. Three-legged dogs need to be model-thin.

Then I called a pet sitter. We are going to go on vacation some time in the future and I want to have a pet sitter lined up. The woman was very nice and came recommended. She used to work at our vets office and remembers Happi. She wants to come over and meet the dogs before she commits.  It would be good to have a person I trust watching them.

Then I took them both for a walk. It is hard this time of the year. Happi wants to stop at each Christmas tree at the curb waiting for composting. She loves to sniff, sniff, sniff the trees. It will take forever to go around the block. I have to keep saying "look another tree Happi" to keep her moving.

That was my dog day.

Until tomorrow...

THINGS THAT BUG ME

Things that bug me:

1. cars that follow too close on the freeway. Okay, on any road.  If I can see your eyes and the color of your hair, you are TOO CLOSE!  I had a woman today who was too close when we were going 60 on the freeway.  I slowed down slowly.  Then I went back up to the speed thinking she would get the hint.  No.  I think it is so dangerous.  So I just slowed down and she went around me and tailed someone else.  Ergh...

2. cars who think they are compact cars.  You know how some parking lots have compact parking spots?  I park at one of my clients and there are a bunch of compact spots.  There are all these cars that park in them.  SUVs, trucks, sedans.  Cars that are not compact cars.  It drives me crazy.  They spill over into the spots on either side.  Like big fat cars that don't fit in their skinny jeans.

3. people who fill their water bottle and touch the mouth piece on the nozzle of the water spigot.  I don't want your spit and your germs in my water when I fill it after you.  Ew....

4. we have a movie theater that has the chairs that you can lean back in.  I can't stand when the person in front of you puts their feet up on the chair in front of them and pushes back on their seat.  Next thing you know their head is in your lap.  Just like being in an airplane!  I had someone do that last week when I went to the movies.  I was shocked considering her father was sitting two seats down.  I finally put my leg in a way that every time she pushed back she went into my leg and could not go back any further.  She finally stopped.   


I am feeling better each day.  The medicine must be working.

Until tomorrow...

FEELING A BIT BETTER

I woke up this morning and for the first time, my eye didn't feel like a knife was sticking out of it.  I actually slept the whole night and without any sleep aids.  I think I am on the road to recovery.  Either that or I am so exhausted I just slept like a baby!

Today I worked all day.  Can you believe it?  Yesterday I looked like death warmed over (Brenda's exact quote) and today I worked a full day.  I am a bit tired and will go to sleep right after Top Chef.

My eye is barely hurting so either the medicine is working or it is naturally just feeling better.  I tend to think the antibiotics are working since my eye kept getting worse and worse.

Let's keep our fingers crossed that I am on the road to recovery.  It is so nice to be able to see out of both eyes.  Something I think we take for granted.  I know I do.

Until tomorrow...

FINALLY A DIAGNOSIS

I went to see my doc today about the pain in my eye. For two days I have had a horrible knife-like pain in my eye. Today I went to see the doc and he agreed with my diagnosis. Of course I went on the internet and diagnosed myself. My diagnosis is that I have a terrible sinusitis that has entered my eye.

You see your nose, eye and ears are connected so if you get a sinus infection it can spread to your eye or ear. It can also spread further to your brain but I won't get crazy. Anyway, the doc says I have a sinus infection that has irritated my eye.

In normal folk the common practice is to let it run its course. Obviously that is not working with me. The night vertigo, my head feeling like it has water in it, the headaches, and the fevers all point to a long term infection that is getting worse not better. So another course of antibiotics. Of course finding an antibiotic to go on is getting harder. I can't take sulphur drugs cause I got a rash last time. The one I took last time tore my stomach up. 

The protocol this time is to see if this antibiotic works while I stay on the Enbrel. If it doesn't then I go on another stronger antibiotic and go off the Enbrel.

Let's all hope this works! Thanks for the good thoughts.

Until tomorrow...

GONE FROM BAD TO WORSE

Yesterday my eye was bothering me. Not too much but enough to be annoying. My fever was more annoying.

This morning I awoke to a crusty eye and intense pain. I put a hot compress on my eye and that did very little.  It hurt to look at things. It hurt when I touched it. It just plain hurt. It also watered. Now, if you are a frequent reader you know I have sjogrens. That means I don't tear. Ever.

I called my eye doctor and he told me to come in. They dialated my eye, poked and prodded. The diagnosis is: they don't know. Could be that my fever and sinus issue has caused an eye thing. Could be eye strain. The doc said it could be something that comes to light in a few days but is not clear right now. Uh, okay.

I left his office with a prescription and went to my GP office. I made an appointment for tomorrow afternoon. Let's see if I can get a different answer.

Then I went to get the prescription filled. This was all done by taxi since I didn't want to drive with an eye issue. The drug store had a mile long line. I finally get to the front of the line and the pharmacist tells me the drugs interacts with another medicine I take. There is 30 minutes of my life I can't get back!

There is nothing I can do for the pain until I see my doc tomorrow.

Until tomorrow...

DON'T SEEM TO BE GETTING BETTER

Another day spent on the couch with a 100 degree temp.  I am halfway through season 3 of Game of Thrones.

Until tomorrow...

YUP, STILL SICK

Not much to say. Spent the day on the couch sick again.

Until tomorrow...

OH NO, I'M SICK

I woke up this morning and I had a massive headache/migraine. I took some medicine and laid on the couch. Then later my stomach started to ache. I didn't leave the couch all day and evening. I took my temperature and it was 100 degrees.  I wasn't very hungry and every time I tried to watch a movie I fell asleep. 

Hopefully tomorrow I will fell better.

Bike Update: no exercise today.

Until tomorrow...

PROCRASTINATOR

Okay I have become a procrastinator. I had two weeks to get all this work done and now I have three days left and I am still dragging my feet. I have a list a mile long of things I wanted to accomplish. What did I do? Watch movies and relax!

I probably needed the relaxation but now I am stressed out about not getting my list done. I have to find a better balance.

Bike update: No biking today. I walked to get some cardio.

Until tomorrow...

RELAXING NEW YEARS DAY

Okay I stayed up too late last night.  I got home at 1:45 am and was too wide awake to fall asleep so I watched a movie (The Ledge with the blond guy from Sons of Anarchy) until well into the morning. Of course my dogs wanted to eat at 8am. I was not ready to wake up.

Brenda and I had decided to go to the movies to see The Hunger Games Catching Fire.  It was really good. I highly recommend it if you liked the first Hunger Games.

Last night I wrote a card to Brenda explaining my plan for 2014.  I have a lot of things I want to do and since I have been feeling pretty good lately, I want to start doing them this year.  Many times Brenda is more of a homebody and I am anxious that I have a small window of time to do some of these things I want to do.  I can't put them off forever because I don't have forever. I know we all don't have forever but who knows, tomorrow I could feel horrible and be bedridden for weeks.  When I am feeling well I want to get out and do things. 

My first thing to do is biking and the bike ride this summer.  I want her to be supportive. If she doesn't want to join me, fine. But don't work against me.   I don't know what other things I want to do but I am sure I will come up with something!

Bike update:  2 miles on flat terrain today in 15 minutes on the stationary bike.   

Until tomorrow...

Happy New Year!

It is 2014!

Tonight I went to the same dance party I have gone to for the last four years. I realized that this is the first time in three years I have been sans cast. It felt good to dance with two good feet, knees, and ankles.

Then I jumped to another party where I sort of crashed. The guys were outside with sparklers and they took me home like a stray dog. They were fun. They gave me dessert and good conversation.

Happy New Year! May 2014 bring you prosperity and good health.

Until tomorrow...