*yawn* Hey. Mornin' ...

 ... has come, and I forced my butt out of bed. The Wife is off from work today, so when my alarm went off at 7am, I was going to just 'nap until' it was time for my first appointment today. But no. I argued myself out of bed to get the day started. Have several things I Want to accomplish today.

First up, I have a 9:15am Zoom meeting with the psychologist on my transplant team. It shouldn't last more than 30-45 minutes I think.

At noon I have a 1-on-one with the Group Lead for my IOP. This will be my last personal meeting with her as I finish up the program on Tuesday. That one will last an hour.... she always gets me talking!

Those are the only things on my calendar, but there is more I want to accomplish today. I need to look up a couple crockpot recipes I had saved to try, figure what ingredients we have here at home and go to the store for the ones we don't. I am going to do dinner tonight probably.

Need to pick up prescriptions. I have been out of a couple all this week so far, so "my meds are messed up". I have notice that 3 are ready for pick up. 

I need to schedule a dental appointment regarding this tooth pain. It faded (finally! around 6:30p yesterday, and is only slightly bothering me this morning. Need to get the deep cleanings scheduled as well.

I paid current the balance I had at Mayo Clinic yesterday. Now to start working on my Banner balance and yet leave some monies free to help cover the dental work I need right now.

At some point by Monday I need to get out to the 'one-day' bread store out near RM's. We are doing hot dogs and hamburgers for the Riders meal NEXT Friday and we need buns. We have used this store before and they were ecstatic to help us out and donated what we needed. I am hoping it goes as smoothly as then, as I was not the person that "landed" this place for bread donations. Need to get an email out to the Riders who has signed up for what, and see if anyone will step up.

By tomorrow evening, I need to get the minutes completed and sent from the House/Entertainment committee meeting last night.

So ... busy day for me even though I know probably not all of it will get done. Appointments, dental, medications, then everything else is my priority order. I'll add in I may do an AA meeting today as well. That will be at 11am if I do it. Will see if I am busy at that time and plan accordingly.

I read this morning that my Brother has all five of his grandkids for a couple days. I am debating hooking up and going there to visit them. Everybody loves Uncle Ralph! Some I have not seen in awhile as they live far enough out of town I am not driving 4 hours just to visit someone else's grandkid! Well, depending on the circumstances, but to visit ... no.

The Wife has some things she wants to get done today, like planting some new rose bushes out front. I don't know if we just have some bad soil, they aren't properly cared for (watering, sun exposure), or what, but they newer plants seem to keep dying - no matted the time of year. I know she plants them in fresh potting soil, but other than that, I have no idea what she does, except water them. Maybe she just needs to add some rose plant food. I dunno. 

I am sure the Wife would love to do a lunch date with me today, but I just don't know. I have that appt. at noon for an hour, then I need to get meds, food, running around done before returning home to start on dinner. Sometimes when she gets an occasional day off it is hard to plan anything as she doesn't even know until the day before.

I miss my grandkids. I got to have lunch (Papaw's treat) with the Wife, Middle Son, his partner, and Doc - my only grandSON at this time. It wasn't much, but it was still good - even if the almost one year old wouldn't have anything but a stare for me the whole time. Cried whenever I would reach for him. Sigh. This to shall pass. I think it about time to go to Tucson for a day, or see when they are coming up this way , so I will be able to see the Daughter and family. Doodad is out of school for the summer, and Widget ... some of the antics we hear about her are just wonderful! She's going to end up sassy like her mother.

I am sure there is more I could write about, but I would have to sit and think about what. So on that note (B Flat) I am going to end this for the day with a funny.

 - I used to say "Have a wonderful day!" to everyone I met or interacted with. But now I decided to change it to "Have the day you deserve!". Let Karma sort that stuff out.

PeacE

Oh My, It Got Busy!

 Today is a "busy day for me. I have a 7:20am with my PCP for the next couple shots in the Hep series vaccine. Followed by my regular 3 hr IOP session at 9am. Then a zoom consult with one of the Psych docs at Mayo at 1:45pm. And lastly an event at the Post tonight I thought I would go check out. So today is short and sweet.

And I got nothing. 

My morning numbers are good (BP and Glucose). I think the PCP is going to do an A1C test this morning, but not sure since Mayo is doing my monthly blood work. I did do a drug test a bit ago, and the results came back negative (of course) though I could not tell from the report if the THC was out of my system yet. They need it cleared out prior to the transplant for sure.

Alright, I am out of here I guess....

PeacE

Monday Preppin'

 I slept good last night. I was wearied out all day yesterday, and forced myself to stay awake until about 9:30p. I slept good through the alarm going off 10 minutes ago. Still feel a bit groggy - still trying to get the sleep the body needs to catch up on.

Here in about a half hour I have a Zoom call with Dr. This is a Psych Doc, but they said he is the one to ask about a sleeping aid prescription. Other than that, not sure what else he will be asking. I should be pretty much done with questionnaires and all. I am hoping it is a really short meeting, as I need to be at the Phoenix Campus for a 9am appointment, and morning rush hour is upon us.

So the Zoom meeting, then 9am the Research thingy, 10:45a Consult to go over recommendation to the transplant council and things to complete prior to, then Nutritionist at 12:45p. Shots w/PCP at 3:30p, and I think I will be really mentally drained by then.

PeacE

A Little Quiet

Oh, the joys and goodness of good sleep! I actually slept through the night, having only woken once to use the loo, and got around 8+hours of good sleep finally! Take a gummy? Other sleep aid? Nope, was just getting 2-3 interrupted hours of sleep for the past month plus. Since I had to quit taking the gummies, my sleep issues are back.

I'm nearing the end of all the tests, etc. Mayo had me doing this last week. Most of my appointments left are consults. Monday I have the first around 7:45a, and hopefully it doesn't last long. On Friday, during one of the consults, I brought (again) about my lack of being able to sleep. I was told the Dr. I do my Zoom with is the one to ask about a prescription for Ambien. That's this call - and I will be asking!!

Either way, I hope that zoom is short, as my next appointment is at the Phx campus at 8:45a (about a 15-20 minute drive with regular traffic, but at that hour may still be rush hour. This is the Research appointment. I don't recall if I mentioned here, but they had snuck in a Research Consult last week. It has to do with a clinical study about how much energy/calories we use in a restful state (non-asleep, resting). I had gotten so frustrated with this person as her English was very heavy with a Slavic accent and was hard to hear let alone understand. So by the time I realized she was asking me to join this research clinical trial, as I was a candidate that met the criteria. I was frustrated, I said fine! Whatever! I just need to get this stuff done and get better! So now I am in a research study. Monday I do a calorimetry. It is laying down with a clear canopy placed over the head and upper torso, and just lay there and breath. Yeah, I don't know how that works, but it seemed simp[le enough, and if I have to show in person, I can try to do it on days I have another appointment there hopefully.

At 10:45 I have the important meeting. This one is to go over the results of the testing, etc. done over the past week, and tell us the Team recommendation to the Transplant Council. Also will tell me any time deferred from the List, or other stuff needed done prior to surgery (cavities fixed, current on shots, etc.). The Wife is coming to this one. Then it is sit until 12:45p to meet with a Nutritionist. I'm sure I won't like that discussion either.

Done with Mayo for the day, I have a 3:30p at my PCP to get all the update shots: Flu, Pneumonia, Meningitis, start Hep A and Hep B series, update my tetanus. I also will update her on Mayo's progress. 

Another issue Mayo requires is an 8-week Intensive Outpatient Program. Basically, a detox program, since my liver disease is alcohol related. Well, the problem is, in short, I don't need it. This is for people going through detox, or having problems staying sober, etc. I never had any of that, and I have been fine for 6-months. <eye roll> Requirement. So I found a place that isn't but about 8 miles from home, and they can do a majority, if not all, of the program online as well. I am having them verify insurance to see if all is covered (should be - transplant requirement) and they are to contact me late afternoon on Monday (my timeframe with the other appts.) and right now it sounds really good. Looks like quite a bit of meeting time, but that is going to happen anywhere. I also am required to do a minimum of 3-years of AA-type meetings, once a week. They gave me a link for a local group that only takes liver transplant-alcohol related as referrals from Mayo. It would be like a double support - for the surgery and recovery, and the AA portion! But they only meet Tuesdays 7p. I have VFW meetings 3 times a month on Tuesdays at 6:30p. But maybe I can find an online, or close to home AA group for another night, and the Tuesdays I don't have a meeting, do this support group. I emailed to verify they only meet Tuesdays and am waiting to hear.

Have to wait to call dentist - business hours. But I can schedule my cleaning right now so they can get their x-rays, and a quick basic exam of my mouth. Then I will schedule to have the bad teeth removed. I'm thinking two, but might luck out with 1 extraction, and a filled cavity. Otherwise they say they want me to do crowns - too expensive!

I'm getting all my things in a row. the IOP will keep me from getting on the list for the duration. I was informed of that. Trying to get it started this week so I can get on the list in 2-months.

Whew, that was tiring typing all that out. TTYL.

PeacE

I'll Take All I Can ....

 So I left you yesterday with bated breath, as I sat on hold with scheduling for my next paracentesis. Yeah, I know. About as fun as having one. Anyways, after being on hold about 15 minutes, she came back and asked if she could work on it and call me back. We verified my callback number, and I hung up, thinking 'She ain't going this far out of her way for me. They do scheduling for all their facilities in the Valley (a number of them). 'Round about this time, I get a text from Walgreens saying my diabetic pill is in, and also three others ready for refill, would I like them yo refill. Duh, yes! Then I sit there.

After a bit, I see it is about 11:30am, and I am already just done mentally for the day. I feel off-balance inside, as it has been three days since my last diabetic pill, and though my morning glucose check was only a bit higher than usual, I still feel some of the effect of not taking it. Practice run I guess, as I have to stop taking it for three days prior to the endoscopy coming up soon anyways. I decide to head down to the Post. 

A couple hours later, I get a call from that scheduler - herself. She was able to get me in on 12/4 at 11am. I am in shock. Of course I take it. When I let the Wife know, she griped it was still over two weeks away, but if they were nearly into next year, and no open slots, I'll take this one. Worst case is an ER visit (again). I am just hoping I can get through to the 3rd, for the endoscopy, without major issues breathing, as they may reschedule. Want to keep it this year, so insurance covers it.

Over the course of the afternoon, through texts, I see three of my prescriptions are ready, one being my diabetic. I decide to stop there on the way home. As I am sitting there in front of the store, re-reading the text, checking their link, I see they want to charge me $300 for the month. No, I did a 3-month discount from the manufacturer just last month. So I go into the manufacturer website, and through the text feature ( I was already signed up) I was able to get a copy of the discount code. Then I went in. Yup. As she rang up the three scrips, the one came to $300. I gave her the code, and through some long and about way, she was able to finally get it to ring-up properly at $10. I grabbed the bag, threw money and ran.

Sometimes things do work out right even after a few days of frustration. RM would say it is God at work. I don't care what it is, as long as it is in my favor.

So I get to start out today, relaxed with the para appointment set, have all my scrips current, and maybe some plans today. I had a hard time getting to sleep last night (I blame it on too much tea yesterday) and the first event today at the Post is the AZ Confederation of Motorcycle Clubs. This is the top 2 leadership in each MC in AZ that meet once a quarter on neutral ground (our Post) to work out differences, etc. Tomorrow is their 'Member Appreciation' breakfast and toy run. I like to go to these events, not because my Chapter is a member (we are not, as the VFW Riders Group is never an MC) but just to get our patch seen, and meet some of the leaders across AZ, and their chapters. But after the hard time getting to sleep, I may just sleep in a bit more.

Second event is a Celebration of Life, at the Post as well in the afternoon. I had helped a friend get the hall rental for it, as his roommate passed a few short months ago. I told him I would stay for a bit for support for him (I didn't know the roomie). Then it will be home I guess.

The Daughter sent out a list of Thanksgiving day food we had the last time we did it at their place, to our family chat earlier this week. I added she needs to add vanilla ice cream to it, and that I was going to bring a small salad (for me) just in case the food does not agree with me. This has been a daily struggle for me and eating. I can eat it one day, the next it makes me nauseous. The Sons have chipped in that one is bringing a couple desserts and some thing else. Another is bringing stuff to make truffles (I have never had them that I recall). Either way, I am anxious for Thursday just to see all the grandkids, family, and their spouses/girlfriends. 

The Daughter tell the Wife a couple days back, that their youngest (Widget - 9 months) was sick and throwing up all over (literally). After a day or two, with trying different liquids, she seemed to finally snap out of it, but not before it spread. As of last night, Daughter, SIL and even Doodad (Age 8yrs) were sick. I hope they shuck it in a couple days and Turkey Day still happens. The Wife is sure things will be fine, but I worry.

Thursday I went over the final plans with my buddy, for the Santa Run. He is booking the bus. I ordered the candy canes ... and a new pair of Santa boots. This is how these look:

Cool, right? Kinda pirate-y, yet personalized for the Christmas Cookie Monster...with bells. The reviews some stated that the bells weren't that loud, which is fine. A couple years back I had bought a pair that were the plain black, with like a 2" white trim around the top of the boot. I think they might fit the oldest Son, in case he wants to go on the Run this year. He hasn't made up his mind yet.

Welp, since my bladder and bowels woke me at 5:15am this morning, I guess you got a lengthy post from me. RM will be happy.

PeacE