Count Down!

 I am literally counting down the hours to my paracentesis today. It is at 1pm. So, it is only practical I wake at 4:30am, to be sure I am awake in plenty of time. No, but that's what happened. Which is fine with me. I feel rested, and I get to extend my quiet time a little longer. I did get in two books yesterday that I had ordered. "Drop the Rock, which concentrates on the fundamentals and reasons for Steps 6 & 7 in AA. The other is "Drop the Rock ... A Ripple Effect" which is sort of a second book that tells how to use Step 10 to use Steps 6 & 7 everyday. I am not that far along yet, but I can read ahead and prepare for it.

I should have a third book coming soon "The Overthinkers Guide to Making Decisions: How to Make Decisions Without Losing Your Mind". Sounds like a spoof, eh? Well, it is a real book and I ordered it. 

Ugh! The pressure in my abdomen is terrible. The swelling in my legs is terrible. And as I ordered, or made sure was on auto-refill, my prescriptions with Walgreens, the two they are having issues renewing are the two diuretics. I see they are still listed in the Dr. at AZ Liver, and he is probably not happy with me. They had called about a month-two months ago, trying to schedule me to come in for some lab work (they do it in-office). I said no. I get enough done at Mayo, and they can contact them for that info versus me doing it again, and paying it (my insurance anyways) again and overall wasting my time driving there, etc. Besides, he was the one that referred me to Mayo! HE even said he was stepping back and letting Mayo have full control over my treatment and care. Now they pull this crap. Anyways, they won't renew it (probably without an appointment - not happening. I'll just add that on to my message to Mayo today, that since these two prescriptions are what the Radiologist changed (and I think need changed back) and I need some anyways, Mayo can take it over.

Seven hours. I decided not to do my regular AA group this morning. It ends at Noon, and I want to be already on my way to the hospital. I am almost always early to things, and this is no exception. It'd be nice if they are running a little ahead of schedule as well. I did try a new group the past week at 8am, strictly a book study/discussion, and turns out I knew about 3/4 of the people there from other groups! It was like walking in on the same meeting! But their book study is pretty good, and there isn't a "tag" session to have people discuss whatever the topic is. I don't mind sharing, if I have something. Seems lately quite a bit of discussions are geared more around the later Steps, and I don't know anything about them aside of what they are. So I usually pass with the "I'm still new in the program enough I have not made it that far".

Welp, I would love to waste more time here this morning, but have pretty much ran out of things for now.

PeacE

Tucking In On A Sunday Night

 Your first Post of the 2026 year.

It is almost bedtime. I feel I have pretty much wasted today, and most of yesterday, and most days of last week. The whole waking up just feeling "off" be it due to meds, or body changes, it just doesn't set well with me to lay around, or sit around (which I cannot do) all day. Makes me feel like I am wasting time I could be doing something important, or needed, or just ... something.

For the month of January, I have appointments each Monday for a paracentesis. Most are 8-9 am, so I don't waste much of the day, and I think one is at 10:30. Either way, with appointments, I am usually in and out within the hour. Last week, 9.1 Liters were drained before we stopped. Something to do with the catheter/needle/device. Nurse stated there was still some fluid i the abdomen, but they would have to re-stick me, and for 3+ liters, I didn't want to go through that again, on the same morning. So, theory and hypothesis would concur that there might be more than 14 Liters in this week's drain. Or, as I sincerely hope, it is actually lower than that (showing that meds/diet/something) is finally working the way it should. Tomorrow will tell....

The Wife woke me this morning, saying she was off to church. I said I didn't feel up to it, and I didn't. Nausea has been hanging around here too long, and I need to kick this to the curb. Wife did bring some Arby's back for lunch, and I was able to eat half, before my taste buds shut down. Between a bite of hamburger, and a curly fry, the taste just left, and I had dry lumps of food to finish. After, I laid down for awhile, but just felt like I was wasting time (like I would anywhere else) so said I was headed up to the Post for a change of scenery (I'm home way too much now). Went there for a couple hours or so, said some hellos, played some games on the tablet, then headed home before 6pm.

Wife was gone, so I kicked into my evening wear (satin pajamas with the red velvet robe) ha! PJ's and a T-shirt... Meetings resume their regular scheduled dates this month with the Post. With the Holidays, and events, meeting cancels, event schedules, house parties, sigh. It's been a month! Anyways, I have everything pretty much set for the House meeting on Tuesday. Riders Dinner on Friday (Spaghetti, garlic bread, salad). Haven't decided about dinner. They need someone to bring salad, so I may wait a day or two to see if any others offer up. Trying to get more people to volunteer in this group.

Went through the bills that showed up this last week. Aside from regular bills, there hasn't been much. Most of my medical was at patient limits by October, and the majority of that is on a "credit card" for the hospital. I did have one bill come in from the ER docs, for that first date of service, I will go ahead and pay. The minimum on the card. Electric bill came, but isn't sue for a couple weeks, but it will go out this week as well. This week will start the accumulation of new medical bills for me. 

First one is tomorrow, for about $371 patient responsibility. Guess what that means? Yup! New spreadsheet!! Since this all started in September, I have gotten somewhat of a chance to learn more of Excel. I had one of the "bibles" I'd bought a few years ago, but the functions, etc. it goes over, is above my head. I need a more basic one for regular arithmetic formulas, text join, splits, etc. Maybe upping my skills will up my getting a job game.

The end of December I made the move to claim Disability. I've been told there is a difference between SS Disability, and just Disability. The one D gets less money. not worried, it's to supplement costs with all the medical. I determined through the online process, there was no way for me to submit an application, even with my 500Mb (exaggerated) of medical, birth cert, etc. So at some point this week I need to go to a SSN office and meet with someone that can direct me to where I need to go for assistance. Luckily, there are two offices within 10 miles of the house. I think we will pencil that in for Tuesday. I got to go look if I have to call for an appointment or just show up....

With that all said, I'm getting off of here. I know RM has been hinting I haven't been updating here (or anywhere) but no sense if there is no new info to share. Everyone knows I feel nauseous some days, better some others, and know to just leave me alone.

PeacE 

Phone Calls and Dinner

When I was discharged from the hospital on Wednesday, there was a lot of head nods, and "Yeah, I'll call them" going on because I just wanted out of there. I know, I know. It is for the betterment of my health to get these appointments set and actually go to see these specialists... but I haven't called yet. Yesterday was somewhat busy for me.

Tuesday, the Directors of my Riders group called me. Seemed he was without a car (but still had his motorcycle from transportation) and needed someone to pick up the hot dog/hamburger buns that were being donated from the Orowheat Store. OF course he calls me, as I am the Secretary, and seemingly the only other person responsible enough in the group. I mentioned to him I was in the hospital, and I would try to get there the next day. He was to call and let them know it may be a day or two before IO could get up there. So as the Wife prepped to leave for work, I prepped to get on the road. Yeah, it was a little trip. The store is about 10 miles from my house, but I got there and picked it all up (plus two plastic bags of powdered and chocolate covered donuts). I then headed to the Post (another little jaunt) to drop them off, as well as attend the flag raising we were doing in Remembrance of 9/11 (which went well, considering it is a work day for many).

I had brought along the laptop, so I stayed at the Post and worked on the Agenda for the Riders meeting this next week. I got the flyers for events at the Post, as well as Rider-related events sorted. I even took the time to clean up my loose files in my "VFW" folder and assign folders. I felt productive. By afternoon, I had approval to send out the Agenda - Done! Earlier in the morning, the Post Adjutant and I were talking, and he mentioned the Post had recently updated their Post Bylaws, and that since I was working on doing an amendment to the House Policy, that there was some wording/phrasing from the Bylaws that should be incorporated in to the Policy, as well as some Appendixes that they had finished. <eye roll> Great. More work. But I explained, since I am not a Post member (only Aux) I don't have access to the Post Bylaws. So he is supposed to send me everything, sometime before he leaves for vacation in the next week. Sigh. So who knows when I will get it, when I will get the House Chair to sit down with me to do the corrections/amendment(s). Sometimes this volunteer work is more of a job, and I wish I got paid for it.... Moving on. It was Thursday, and Washington was playing, so I stayed to watch the game at the Post. I did go home about 8pm in the third quarter as it didn't look like my team was going to win.

So, no. I did not call and set up appointments. But I am working on that today. I already scheduled my PCP for Tuesday. Now just waiting for the other two offices to open and see what I can do.

Yesterday I felt fatigued. I think it may be the new meds, or the restricted amount of water I am allowed (though I did go over that amount). There were a few members that asked if I was okay, as I wasn't my usual self, so some of the Aux leadership are aware of what is going on with me. I've popped my pills for the morning, and am getting ready to check the sugar and BP. Feeling pretty normal right now, but see how the day goes.

I'll be back at the Post this afternoon, as we have our monthly Riders dinner tonight (hamburgers and hot dogs, beams, chips, and brownies that RM made). The Wife has a team building workshop after work, so won't be home until late. 

PeacE