The Race is On ...

 The past couple days or so, it seems RM and I have been waking earlier than our alarms. I'm talking like two hours ahead for me, and at least an hour for RM. Either way, it has seemed like a race to see who is able to get their post for the day up, for the other to read. I might win today. Not that there is any prize, just some 'friendly competition'. After all, you cannot write good, quality, poignant posts if you are just typing away.

Either way, it is Sunday morning, and I woke about 5am. Laid there for about 20 minutes before ceding the wake-up. Will see later how the Wife is doing, if she is going to go to church this morning or not. IF she is, I would like to go, but I am in enough discomfort with the abdomen distended right now, I kind of do not want to go. Thank goodness I set my paracentesis appointments out like three weeks. Who knows how hard it would have been to get one this week. I have a psychologist meeting for Mayo on Wednesday. Next Wednesday is some bloodwork, nurse visit and then appointment with one of the doctors on my team. That should be it then, I hope. Well, at least enough for them to put me on the waiting list. I noticed the other day my MELD is still at 16.

I didn't do much yesterday. The Wife had a dental cleaning around 11am. I think I had mentioned a couple weeks ago, that I had tried to reach out to the dentist's office, but no one answered, and it was locked down when I stopped by there. Well, found out more specific details as to what happened. The office shares a parking lot with a cat hospital. the hospital had been broken into, trashed, etc. Also fairly recently, the dentist office had had someone(s) steal the4 copper wiring/piping from the A/C unit. Insurance covered and repaired that, then it happened again. I guess the insurance isn't going to cover it again, especially so soon after the first time. So the Dentist is working out of another dental office, just a couple miles further from our house, a couple days of the week, to keep what clientele they can as they decide what to do. This other dental office is owned by the Dentist's brother, also a dentist. The Wife said she got the impression from the Dentist that he is going to close the office, and just practice with his brother at this other location. I am not sure I even like this guy. I may shop around for a dentist I won't freak out about (I truly dislike dentists in general - I think it the whole 'poking a needle in me where I cannot see it'). Luckily <knocking on wood> the toothache I have had has not flared up in the past couple weeks, so I might have a little time before I need to get it done.

And the Wife brought lunch home when she finished her appointment. Some Chino Bandito!! Man, I think my 'usual' has gotten spicier! Or maybe it had been awhile since we have had Chino's. I could only eat half. Did the other half for dinner. Still have some hamburgers and hot dogs from the other night. Yeah, the Wife and may not have to cook at all today as well! I do need to get the Agenda done for the Riders meeting tomorrow night, but there isn't much to really put on there so shouldn't take too long.

I think I will kill some time this morning playing a video game. Oh, and here is some music, because of the post title ...

Man, I watched that video (music starts about the 1:40 mark) and the 80's hair styles....

PeacE

Good Cop, Bad Cop

 I imagine that is how it will go at the pharmacy at some point today. One of my prescriptions has gotten messed up between the doctor, the pharmacy, and my insurance ... and a little bit by me. My fault in it is that I should have caught it before ...

What am I talking about? This one prescription is one of diuretics, which means it is a blood pressure pill as well. I started these back in December, I think - maybe January) and it was prescribed for two 100mg tablets a day. This was the 'liver doctor' that took three months to see back int he beginning. Anyways, Mayo decided to increase it to three pills/day. The prescription was sent in to Walgreens and life went on with me taking the dosage amount.

I Should have looked at the label (aside from verifying which med it was) and noticed, it still said 2/day. Two weeks ago, I noticed that oddly enough, I was running out. I filled my weekly pill boxes, and yes, I ran out. I happened to check the label and notice it was the old prescription. Well, I contacted Mayo and explained what was going on, they checked again with the doctor, confirmed it is 3/day. I said I need a new prescription sent over then, as well as one to give me an additional 30 pills so I can 'hold out' until it is time to refill. New prescription went over. My insurance put a hold on it because it hasn't been long enough from the last refill. I ran out about mid-week.

So, today I am taking the Wife with me, and going to Walgreens, to see if they can just get the pills to last me until the refill time and I'll pay out of pocket or whatever. My problem is that I start to get very frustrated and angry that even after things were explained, everyone seems like 'Okay. Well, your refill is due...' The Wife is going to keep me from raising my voice and be the voice of reason. I hope. And I hope to resolve this today. Last night I started feeling weird. It's hard to describe, so I won't waste your time describing it, but I believe it is because I haven't been taking this medication for several days. I cannot verify that. This morning I feel slightly better, but not 100%. Lord, please make this happen....

I am making dinner tonight. I figured I will crockpot a batch of chili. I got most of the fixings Wednesday, but realized last night I forgot something, and also picked up the wrong kind of beans. Sigh. What was I thinking? I picked up pinto beans, when I wanted ranch style/kidney beans. I don't even like pinto beans... So I see a grocery stop today as well.

I ordered some things from amazon a few days ago. A new S-pen for my tablet. A can tip that "spreads out" four legs. Not so much needed for balance and all, but because  the cane I am using currently is a walking can, straight, no hook. So when I sit down, it has to be propped just right to keep it from clattering to the ground. This new end-piece will make it "stand on its own" so that I don't need to worry about it sliding down the floor so much. Also got a new tablet protector case that meets my desires - my old one has been abused so much, several clips have broken, and the tablet falls out of it when carried a certain way. I've had that case since I bought the tablet several years ago. Well, the first two were to be arriving on Friday, the tablet protector on Saturday. Friday I get an email there was a "problem with the delivery" and that they would try again. I'm guessing it was marked to go out, and missed the truck or something like that. No biggee - it'll be here in a couple extra days. The cover arrived yesterday with no problem. No other package. I went online to see if there was more information about this error, but it all just stays the same. So, I figure it must be an error on their part somewhere in the process. Hope it comes Monday. OR better yet, today.

Tomorrow, I shall recount the adventures of today, and hope that there are good things to report ... or at least humorous one.

PeacE

I *HAVE* to ...

 ... go into public today.

Happy Friday for those that care. For the first time this week, I have woke in the morning feeling somewhat refreshed. I crashed last night about 10:30p, and slept thru until the Wife got up to get ready for work. I feel rested for the first time in quite awhile. And that needed sleep? I think it helped with some of the other stuff (symptoms) I have had recently. So no major side cramps (so far), feeling rested, and now anxiety. I hate shopping, no matter how many times I go, I still hate it. But I mentioned to the Wife I would try to figure out a recipe for the crockpot for tonight. I think I have found a nice chicken and potatoes one to try. I'll go out and get the items needed, and some the Wife said she needs more of, and let it cook all afternoon.

Went to the CoL yesterday. Aside from the circumstances, it was good to see my good friend and his family. Many others there I know, and were glad to see as well. I opted out of the reception/food after the event, as it was a bit further than I felt like driving (I had been up over 48 hours at this point, and didn't want to drive much) so I went to the Post instead - what? It was only a 1/4 mile from the cemetery.

I had a tea there, and was feeling crappy so headed home. Picked up burritos for dinner. 

Todays plans make me tired already. Shopping, then getting food started. I need to log in to the portal for Mayo and do the pre-check-in stuff for some of the appts next week (only 7 days ahead of time so can't just do them all at once).

Oh! I wanted to share! A small bit of faith in humanity was restored to me yesterday. Late last year, The Wife's Company gave us some money to help us financially (they were aware of my liver diagnosis, etc.). This is from a special fund the Company keeps and has employees from all facilities contribute a small amount to each paycheck. Something like a Wellness Relief Fund, that an employee can request funds based on situation, for another employee (as in our case). Well, the petitioner is anonymous, but the Wife found out yesterday who it was, and why. This fellow co-worker felt that the amount the Company gave us wasn't enough (depends on how you look at it) and held some kind of silent auction for an iPad or something. Yesterday she gave the Wife $570 cash she had raised raffling that off. Such a nice, and unasked for gesture. I told the Wife I will draft up a very nice thank you, and find a card to give this lady. The amounts given to us by the few people are always a tremendous help to the mountain of medical.

I've lost 90 pounds since September. Back then I was weighing in 330-333lbs. Wednesday I weighed myself (after the Para) and I am down to 241lbs. In my head, my ideal weight is 230, and maintain. But I know I need to build muscle mass back up (I am so weak now) and would be nice to get rid of the baggy flesh on the body (I know, eventually it will go). So, almost time to start clothes shopping. In fact, while dinner is cooking, I need to go through my clothes and start ridding myself of now too big/don't wear items. Wife will take the ones in decent or better shape to the facility - they always need donations of clothes for their older LTC patients with no families (note to RM? If you go through your clothes, but they need more like Tees and Sweats/shorts).

Okay, my phone has just about run through every type of notification sound it has.... I suppose I should go see what they want.

PeacE

Advocating For Myself

 The Wife and I were talking last night, mostly about the medical stuff going on for me. Specifically the lack of the new prescription from the Liver Dr. and the fact that when I have a scheduled paracentesis, they aren't giving me the albumin per doctor's orders. It's sad when I have to advocate for my own care. I had to point out this morning about the albumin, which they apologized for, and of course, I received three bottles of dosage today. Nothing new on the 'scrip since I last talked to the lady at the office. For once during this whole liver debacle, I would like 30-45 days where my medications are all available, require no prior authorization or special orders, and would have a chance to work on my body! The last five months the dosage(s) has changed, or added more meds, or toke off meds, or .... Sigh. Just month and some for my body to know how the chemicals are supposed to work, and the doctor would be able to get a better "reading" of what is needed. Sometimes, I just feel I can't win.

I did have the paracentesis this morning, and the total drained today was 13.2 Liters (approximately 30 lbs.) and I weighed in afterwards at 266.0 lbs. I'm down three pounds since last Monday. I know I overate quite a bit this last week, too. Had potluck dinners at the Post Friday and Saturday, and you know you don't go home hungry from them! Plus, just at regular meals, I might have an extra snack during the day, or get seconds of dinner (if available). I was surprised to see it was actually lower. So, now I need to concentrate on food portions, and types (to eat healthier) to get the weigh to keep coming off.

I'm up on an all-nighter it seems. Tried to lay down around 11pm, but the body and mind just were not having it. I passed on taking an edible, as I don't want to make my body start to rely on it each night. It is an assisting aid, not the main thing. Played some games. Watched a couple episodes. Decided to write in here to get it out of the way for the day. Have a General Aux meeting tonight, so thankfully no agenda, nor minutes, need be done by me. But I do need to work on the Riders for next Monday.

No idea for plans today. It is Tuesday. I got RM's Eggs O'le recipe yesterday, and I may go to the store and get the stuff I don't have, and try to make it tomorrow night for dinner. I have a Prime Rib in the freezer I need to use before it gets freezer-burnt, too. Need to look up a crock pot recipe or something. Thinking about actually grabbing up that book on Word and seeing if it has anything I could use and learn in it.

PeacE

Unnecessary Worries

I began to worry yesterday about my weight. I had not gone into the gym all week last week, and I honestly do not remember why I did not. It probably started early in the week and I just didn't feel like going. You know, that whole being lazy thing. Somehow it ended up carrying through the whole week. Aside from that, but I have a weekly bet going on with a buddy about both of us losing weight. Last week he was out of town on vacation, so we weren't required to weigh in, but that is back on this week. I worried that by not going to the gym, and I felt like I ate more than I usually do (as in larger portions, not more times). I was determined to get back in the gym this morning, and though it took quite a bit of mentally kicking my ass, I went. As usual, I weighed myself once I got there. See, it was needless worry. I had dropped 3 pounds since the week before last. So I am 2 inches closer to the goal. Plus, it makes a better chance for me to win this week with my buddy.

The Wife had done a Market on the Move (type of Farmer's Market for a fee) the weekend before last and had picked up quite a bit of food. We have had three boxes, partially filled - not overflowing - of miscellaneous veggies. I didn't say anything, as sometimes with the amount she gets, she will give out different portions to co-workers, friends, etc. Last night she used up the corn on the cob into some dish she fried up. It was like corn, red peppers, onions, seasoned with some black pepper and onion/garlic salt, all sort of sauteed in butter. It was damn good for a spur of the moment, what can we use the corn with thing to go with the mashed potatoes and country pork ribs we had. The Wife does an awesome job with those types of things. She never makes it the same way twice, since it isn't any recipe. but back to the produce. So last night she tells me that she has all these cucumbers to be used. When I asked her why she even bothered to get so many, as even if I eat some for snacks, there is enough that they will go bad before they get used. Her reply was that since I like pickles so much, that I could make them with the cukes from Reverend Mother's bread & butter pickle recipe. There are like 15 fairly large cukes, and I know I don't have the jars to store all that many pickles. I have a gallon one that I used last time, and it will hold about 6 cucumbers worth. Either way, I will need to go to the store probably tomorrow to renew the supplies I need to make the pickles. At least she thought of me, I guess.

Today is Preacher Tom's birthday, and RM has invited the families together to go to Old Country Buffet for dinner tonight. Another chance for me to stuff myself and gain weight. We'll see how that works tomorrow morning at the gym. I think I shall rest a bit today, as I can feel today's workout already beginning to stiffen up some muscles.

PeacE