STARTED ON MY OFFICE

I started in ernest on cleaning my office. I emptied out six bags/briefcases/computer bags. I have a bunch of clients and when I get really busy I just grab a bag to put my work in for a client. So I end up with a different bag for each client. Now that work has slowed, I spent the day cleaning out the bags.

I found about 10 pens, a bunch of post-its, many paper clips, and tons of junk to recycle. I kept about 3%.  I am going to wash the cloth bags and I cleaned off the leather bags. 

This week I want to clean off my chair. I have this great wing backed chair that is wonderful to read or work in. Right now it has a ton of junk in it and I want to clear it off. 

My foot was less painful this morning but now it is throbbing. 

Until tomorrow...

THE TEST SAYS: UTI

This morning things went from bad to worse. My symptoms got worse. I called the doc first thing. He called me back right away.  I got some Cipro. So now I can get rid of an UTI and Anthrax poisoning.

With two pills in my system, I feel like a new person.

I went to PT today. I was feeling really good about my foot. It has been feeling better the past two days. I am doing all the excercises religiously.

Then came PT. Since I am feeling better it is time for PT to get more aggressive. What fun! She rubbed and poked my foot. It was all I could do not to scream in pain. She kept telling me to breathe. My face was turning a lovely shade of beet red.  She said she needs loosen up the tendons in my foot. Since I have not walked on my foot in months the tendons have tightened up.  They need to be relaxed. Lots of fun "relaxing" them. Seems more stressful to me.

Until tomorrow...

IS IT A UTI?

Today I had the UTI-type symptoms again. I don't know what is going on but I am calling the doc first thing in the morning. This has got to end.  Going to the bathroom every five minutes is exhausting. 

Sleeping in a real bed was wonderful!!! I slept like a baby.  Little Lucky seems confused. She didn't want to get in her bed. (The same bed she slept in upstairs) then once she did, she got up in the middle of the night and slept somewhere else. Tonight she will be leashed to keep her in her bed.  

Until tomorrow...

WE GOT OUR HOUSE BACK

We spent the whole day cleaning the bedroom and bathroom so we can move back downstairs. It probably is not good for my foot but in the long run it will be good for my foot. And my back. And neck. 

We washed down the walls, baseboards, windows, doors. Took off all the plastic covering all the furniture. Vacuumed the floors and curtains.  Then we moved our stuff downstairs. 

We also used this time to move some furniture around. I have always wanted my jewelry cabinet by my side of the bed so I can access my jewelry easily. I can also use it to plug in my cellphone/iPad/Kindle.

I can't wait to go to bed.  Plus I can watch TV in the TV room with On Demand. Yay!

On a sad note: Poor California Chrome. He just didn't have it in him to run that far. 

Until tomorrow...

NO ANSWER

I called the doc first thing in the morning and was sent to the lab at lunch time to have a urine test. Unfortunately my doc didn't call me back with the results I am not sure if that is because the lab work didn't come back or he got too busy on a Friday afternoon or the lab work is fine and he just didn't call me. I am feeling better than I did on Thursday night.  Let's hope it stays that way.

Until tomorrow...

ANOTHER UTI?

I don't know what is going on. I have chills and feel like I have another UTI.  But how could that be?  I am going to call the doc in the morning. I need to figure this out.  I am tired of running back and forth to the bathroom!

Until tomorrow...

DOC RETIRING

Today I went to see my RA doc. The last time I saw her I was rushed to the emergency room. Since then I have had a CT scan, fractured my foot, another scan, colonoscopy, 2 x-rays, an MRI and RSD in my foot.  I have also had a flare. It has been a busy three months!

Then she dropped her bomb shell. She is retiring at the end of the year. I know doctors retire. I just was unprepared that she would retire so soon. She is quite young and vibrant but she had a challenging year with family and health issues.  I understand.  She said she would make sure I had a new doctor.  It is just unsettling.  When I told Brenda she asked me if I thought she would be my doctor forever.  Well, no. But I thought I would have more notice. Like when she was 75 or something!

Other news: the bathroom is complete!! We can move downstairs tomorrow!! Yay!!  I miss my bed.

Until tomorrow...

SLIDING INTO HOMEPLATE

We are sliding into homeplate with the bathroom renovation.  Yesterday and today they tiled and grouted the bathtub. They have to finish the jacuzzi door and silicone around the top of the tub and seal the whole thing. Then they are done!!!

This is the way it used to look.

Quite an improvement!!  Can't wait for it to be done.

Until tomorrow...

FOOT PHYSICAL THERAPY

Today was my first day of physical therapy for my foot.  It is agreed, I have RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome).  The PT was okay.  There was light rubbing of my foot, some easy exercises and lots of discussion about what to do and not to do. 

I will be going to PT twice a week for the new few weeks.  Seems I have a serious case. Not the worst case she has seen but it won't get better in a week. 

Someone told me about an ABC TV show Black Box episode a few weeks ago where a patient had RSD.  I am going to watch it tomorrow. 

Until tomorrow...

ORGANIZING HEALTHCARE STUFF

Over the past few days I started cleaning out my office. First I took our used batteries to the recycling spot. Then I took all my healthcare stuff and organized it. I don't know about you but I get authorizations for treatment, stsements that show how much the insurance company has paid, lab results, and various other correspondence.  I decided to organize this and put it all in a binder so I can find it if I need it.  

Now you might ask why would I want to keep it? I hear you. With a chronic disease it is quite useful to keep this information. Especially the labs. I go back and look to see if there have been changes. I sometimes catch things before my docs.  The statements help me at the end of the year with my taxes and also with my yearly co-pays.  I have found many mistakes with The-Insurance-Company-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.  Their accounting department sucks. In 2013 I met my $4,000 deductible in January.  In November of 2013 I was told I had not met my deductible for 2013. They are crazy! 

So I feel like I have accomplished something. My medical stuff is organized and in one place for a change. Now I need to figure out where to put the binder.  What do you do with your medical stuff? 

Until tomorrow...