No Pain, No Gain? Huh?

My bed is old. More particularly, the mattress and box springs are old. Especially with my weight over the past few years, it is just wearing out. My side has a slight indention where I sleep, compared to the Wife's side. We have been talking of getting new ones, and are basically waiting for them to come on sale. California King Sizes aren't cheap, I found out.

What brings up the condition of my bed, is my back. I know over past posts, I have mentioned my back getting 'tweaked', and most of those are occurring at night, during sleep. I believe it is a combination of my weight, the support (or lack of) with the mattress/springs, and moving in my sleep/position changes. Needless to say, it just makes for some lower back pain when moving.shifting my legs for a day or so. Ibuprofen usually helps the most, and not moving. Well, Saturday morning I had woken and had some slight twinges going on. No major deal. I wrote it off to the usual causes, and added the bit of walking I did while shopping and stuff on Friday (my legs were feeling the exercise). Went to our birthday thing, no major problems.

Sunday morning, I went to sit up before rising from bed and knew it was a bit more than Saturday morning. Walking wasn't too much an issue, but shifting my legs, like adjusting your feet while sitting at a desk, would trigger a little spasm and nerve jolt. This morning, it is just as bad. So take some ibuprofen and don't aggravate it, I would normally think, then follow through with that idea. Unfortunately, we get the possibility of testing some of my pain thresholds. I say possibly, because it may not happen.

See, I send out a mass email to family and close friends each time I go to the doc, to let them know how I am doing. As many of you know, the encouragement and support helps one do better, or at least strive to do better. Anyways, Preacher Tom (PT), my step-dad, had responded when I mentioned I needed to do more exercise, but I was so out of shape, would have to do some walking to start anywhere. He suggested we begin walking of the mornings. Yeah, you can probably see where this is going.

This morning will be the first morning PT & I meet up to do a little walking. I say little, because I am so out of shape that I am not sure how much waling I can tolerate, between the 'out of shape', the sore back, the weight that makes the back and knees and hips hurt more, etc etc. So I think popping a couple ibuprofen (or maybe 3 or 4) right before I meet up, will help. And bring my cane. I am so dreading it. I need to do it for my health though. It helps he wants to do this with me - as PT hates to walk by himself as well. Kind of like, having support to push yourself a little more, and "be accountable" thing I guess. Though I am fighting my natural urge to call him and say "Not today, I tweaked my back in my sleep the other night, and don't think I can do it". Yeah, I can be a wimp sometimes.

Today I am fighting it though. Even if I only make it across the parking lot and back (that is ALMOST a joke - but it may turn out true today) it is a start. Like everyone else, I wish it was easy to get the gains (lose weight, work muscles, etc etc) and not suffer the pains (actually having to work at exercise, sore muscles, etc etc). Sigh. I got about an hour before we meet up for Walking: Day One.

Oldest son has the Honor Band concert tonight. They have been practicing Monday evenings for the past 2 months about it seems. He also is in the District Honor Band, which practice Tuesday nights, and their concert is in April. I am so proud he plays well enough to make these groups. The next year or two, the next son will be able to join band or orchestra, and pick what instrument he would like to learn. I am looking forward to a few years after that and the last of the kids picks his. That being, if the last 2 even decide for music. A post for later I think....

Have a good day. March starts tomorrow - will it be coming in like a lamb or a lion?

PeacE

Five Years Ago

I was in my mid-thirties, had a job I enjoyed and made decent money at. The daughter was only in Jr High. We had one computer at home, and though I have the same car now as then, we also had a blue dodge minivan. Things were pretty good. And my youngest son was born.

Today we are headed out to celebrate his birthday, and I know he is going to love the presents he gets today. I went out yesterday and got him the big 6-piece Construction Devastator he wanted, plus the Starscream jet transformer. I also picked up a dinosaur toy as he is into them as well. The Wife has some other presents I know he is going to like as well.

The Daughter made a surprise appearance at our door last night. We were not expecting her to come up this weekend, and her brothers we're really happy she did. It's nice to have all the kids together for a family birthday. The Grandparents don't know she is in town, so will have a nice surprise when they meet up with us for lunch.

Nascar is in Phoenix this week. Supposed to rain this weekend as well. Stuman is headed out today, to watch the Busch series race, and stay the night. I have another friend going for the main race on Sunday, I might tag along and since I don't have a ticket, just hang out and tailgate at her truck. Not sure if I want to do that yet. Depends on the rain situation I think.

See y'all on Monday.

PeacE

Friday, Party, Shopping and More

It's finally Friday. Last night I slept with an oximeter on. This morning I make my final trip back to teh place to drop it off. The doc will review the data recorded and determine if I can go with out the oxygen hookup with my CPAP at nights. I am hoping they will, but have a feeling nothing is going to change. I may just cancel the thing and say fuck it. I don't notice any difference with/without it.

Tomorrow is my youngest son's 5th birthday. Being the bad father I am, I spaced it, and was reminded last night from the Reverend Mother. I am going out shopping today for a 'Construction Devastator' that he really wants. That a 'Transformers' toy that has like 6 vehicles that combine into 1 robot. Toys 'R Us is suppose to have them in stock according to the website for the store near me. We are celebrating by going to the local pizza and video game place near home, and inviting family. The Wife was better prepared. She had not forgotten like I had. As we discussed briefly this morning, several other presents were hidden away and ready for tomorrow.

So, now my morning is shot doing this running around. The driving alone is a pain, but hope I don't have to mingle with too many people. Yeah, I ain't feeling too social this morning.

PeacE

Allergies Can Just Go To Hell

I am so sick of having allergies. If there was a procedure to have them removed, or whatever, I would be looking into it... even if my insurance didn't cover the cost! This morning I awoke to teary eyes and a runny & clogged nose. Weird to have both (runny and clogged that is).

In a bit I got to head back over to the medical plaza in Glendale to pick up the oximeter. Am hoping my allergies clear up for this evening when I use it. But I could see it that my breathing is not good due to allergies, and that would give them the wrong data. That would be my luck.

Nothing else exciting today. We are closer to Friday. Got my results from my blood test from the doc yesterday. Cholesterol counts: bad stuff is down and close to our goal. Good stuff also dropped, so need to work on getting that up (exercise is best way). Sugar is down (good) and triglycerides are down (good). He is talking about possibly doing a stress test, or setting one up next time I visit. Seems my EKG showed some 'subtle' stuff on the left side, he thinks it may be due to the sleep apnea, or possibly the blood pressure. Either way, both are being worked on.

Okay,  can't think of anything else at the moment.

PeacE

Nice Change

IT is nice this morning to not have to worry about driving over to Glendale for an non-necessary amount of time. Of course, it does so happen I have to do that tomorrow, and then again Friday morning it seems. Either way, at least I won't be too angry at the waste of time (and gas at these prices) to do that.

Nothing special on the agenda today though. Thinking lasagna for dinner tonight. The Wife was going to make it last night, but we didn't have the time, so I said I would start it early for her, so it could be ready for when she got home. That's big for me. I usually don't do those things, and even less offer to help do them. But it is something I am working on changing.

I got the new book from my Blogging For Books club. It is called "Love At Last Sight" and is about relationships - on how to work at building them into longer, stronger and happier ones. Not just love relationships, but with family members, and even friends. I am only a few chapters into it, and the information is interesting and I find, useful. Not that I have many relationship problems, but myself, like many people though they may deny it, I do have relationships that could use more work to prevent from losing them altogether. I look forward to finishing this book, and what different ways it may have as suggestions that I can try.

Okay, that's all I got for now. Nothing special, but call your Mom today (for those that can) and say ya love her. I will.

PeacE

Step 2: Repeat

I am still a bit peeved. This morning I have to do a repeat trip, of what I did yesterday morning, except, today, I hope they have their shit in order and my equipment available. It made me pissy all day yesterday that I wasted the time and gas to do run out there and they had no clue as to where stuff was, or when to expect it in. If they have it in this morning (though no phone calls have come in yet) I will still have to make a trip tomorrow morning to turn it in, though I shouldn't have to meet with anyone when I turn it in. Just hope they have it today.

Edit: Pissed off again. Just as I was pulling into the parking lot of the medical plaza, my phone rings. It is the guy I am supposed to see, calling to tell me they do NOT have it. AS I AM PULLING IN THE DAMN PARKING LOT!!! So now I had to re-schedule AGAIN for Thursday morning. I have never "went off" on a person in the 'medical community' but this poor bastard got a piece today. I feel no guilt or remorse at it. If he wants to be with a company that is this fucking disorganized, so be it. I am definitely letting my personal physician about my experience and suggest he find a different place for referrals of this sort. ERG! They couldn't call 10 minutes sooner, before I drove all the way there..... Damn!

Other than using the oxygen meter tonight, I have no plans today. I am thinking to curl up with a book. I got some new hardbacks in the other day from the Sci-Fi book club, plus I still have about 30 titles on my Kindle. I need to look and see if Amazon.com has any new ones to download too....

Watched "Eat Pray Love" yesterday, and it was nice. Sis, sorry you didn't care for it. I guess another proof of our differing tastes. I know there are several other films out there you enjoy that I can't stand... and I know our music tastes differ quite a bit. Maybe you are just adopted! (LOL you know I am kidding... most of the time.)

Okay, I need to get a couple things done before I go driving out. Be good.

PeacE

Medical District, Here I Come

I have an appointment this morning over in one of the "medical districts" (what I call the area around a hospital). It has to do with my sleep study I had done back in October. Last Monday while at my doctor's, I had asked about getting off the oxygen that is in-line with my CPAP at night. It is set for 1 liter (which is not much) and I could save the money that it is costing to rent the concentrator each month. Needless to say, he checked the papers, and the sleep-study doc had said 6-8 weeks and then monitored at night for the oxygen level to determine if still necessary. It's been 3 months and the fuckers never contacted me about this. Sooo, the doc called them, and I got a call the next day. Today I go to learn to use and pick up an oxygen sensor to use overnight, then return tomorrow. They will then pass the results to my doc, who can let me know if I can stop using it.

Edit: What a wasted trip. I arrived (early) and got int pretty quick, but they didn't have the machine I needed to take home. Previous patient hasn't brought it in from that last use (wasn't last night they said). So, now instead of returning it tomorrow, I have to go pick it up, and waste Wednesday morning returning it... IF they get it in there today. Supposedly they "assured" me it would be there. I told them to call me either way, as I didn't want to waste my time going there if it isn't there. We'll see if they bother to call either way. I am a bit peeved now. A doctor would have charged me for his time, even if I wasted it, and these fuckers did that to me today. I should bill them. I would feel better if I could....

It isn't far, in fact, it is only a couple blocks from where the Wife works, but I still hate driving over there. Every medical district has 50 million old people there, so parking sucks, and having to deal with their diminished driving skills.... frustrating at times. But I need to do it I guess. Either way I am going to. Either this, or schedule an appointment even further away.

It's Monday. Kids are out of school. They are at Grandma's though, because of my appointment. Have "Eat Pray Love" dvd here, thinking may watch it later today.

PeacE