How do you feel today? v. 3.0

[Menolly]

huh.
just took my bedtime glucose
first reading: 69
decided to recheck
second reading: 74
still low, so SD had me test on his meter using his strips
third reading: 76
no explanation. I even had some potatoes in home made NE clam chowder I made for dinner tonight
feeling fine, not dizzy nor excessively tired
I guess I'll see what my fasting glucose is in the morning...

[aliantha]

Re accents: I don't watch a lot of TV, so I'm not sure whether I've heard Ian Paisley speak or not. I did listen to a YouTube clip of Michael Higgins not long ago and found I had to concentrate to understand him -- but most likely it was because he was kinda het up about the thing he was talking about. (Hey, Wikipedia says Higgins attended my alma mater, Indiana University. He got there first, though. )

Ha ha. I just thought of two other Irish actors I could quote - the ones who played Pippin and Merry in Lord of the Rings - then I googled and found out that the actor who played Pippin is Scottish, and the one who played Merry was born in Germany.

However, you may have heard of actor James Nesbitt (Cold Feet, Murphy's Law etc.) who is definitly from NornIreland.

If you can get a clip of a programme called "Ballykissangel" (there are several on u-tube) you will hear some lovely southern Irish accents, and see some lovely clips of Ireland. The programme was partly filmed in Avoca and C & I visited there last time we went to Ireland.

How cool! I'll have to look for those.

[sgt.null]

had to turn our art project in today. even though we showed up around 12:30 (they started at 11:00) we were the last one allowed to place a piece. used to be they took art for two days. next year we show up wicked early. will posts pics after the opening next Saturday. this years theme was God.

then we hurried over to Cactus Records for the Daniel Johnston book signing.



had Daniel sign that book and three of his posters we will have framed! Julie asked him to sign the book with my name on another page and he drew me a picture on that page as well!!! will post those pics (me and Daniel) when julie puts them on the computer.

what an awesome day!

[lorin]

huh.
just took my bedtime glucose
first reading: 69
decided to recheck
second reading: 74
still low, so SD had me test on his meter using his strips
third reading: 76
no explanation. I even had some potatoes in home made NE clam chowder I made for dinner tonight
feeling fine, not dizzy nor excessively tired
I guess I'll see what my fasting glucose is in the morning...

This happened to me as well. If you have started to control your diet or have lost any weight you may need your meds adjusted and reduced. Be happy about it.


I just saw the most touching story on CBS Sunday morning. This man, Barry, who was a Korean Vet had advanced dementia. He was being taken care of in a VA nursing home. Barry was almost catatonic is the disease. He could not speak or feed himself. One day, after being there quite a while, the staff found him in another patient, Joe's room. He was patting and rubbing Joe's back. Joe also had advanced dementia. The family thought the man had just wandered into the wrong room. The next day, Barry was back with Joe, sitting next to him, comforting him. Barry's family members were looking at some of the pictures on Joe's dresser of his days in the army and one of the buildings in the pictures looked familiar. Long story short - Turns out during the Korean war Joe was a cook for Barry's unit. One day Joe was wounded during an attack and Barry, a medic took care of him when he was wounded.

They ended up putting Barry and Joe in the same room in the VA hospital. Neither could speak but just lay side by side, every once in a while they would touch each other's arm.

I often wondered whether or not people with dementia still were thinking behind those empty stares. Guess I know now.

[aliantha]

What a great story, lorin.

Made the final round-trip drive to Roanoke yesterday to pick up all of Batty's stuff. (There's a carload left, but her dad is going to drive her back down to get it before the end of the month.) She's going to spend the next few months shuttling back and forth between here and her dad's house, depending on whether she has a dentist appointment (the dentist is much nearer to my apartment), until Magickmaker's current lease is up; then the two of them plan to get an apartment together, along with one of Magickmaker's current roommates.

The direct result for me is that I've got Batty's cat back again, at least until April. He is a cat of many names, among them: Tom, Tommy Wommy, Mr. Wommy, and The Wommy Man. And he has his very own LOLcat pic in the album, courtesy of Dukkha:
kevinswatch.ihugny.com/phpBB2/album_page.php?pic_id=1512

He's a great cat, very affectionate, and has settled right in.

[Menolly]

huh.
just took my bedtime glucose
first reading: 69
decided to recheck
second reading: 74
still low, so SD had me test on his meter using his strips
third reading: 76
no explanation. I even had some potatoes in home made NE clam chowder I made for dinner tonight
feeling fine, not dizzy nor excessively tired
I guess I'll see what my fasting glucose is in the morning...

This happened to me as well. If you have started to control your diet or have lost any weight you may need your meds adjusted and reduced. Be happy about it.

Thanks for that, lorin. I guess it will have to pend like continuing my guided fight against cancer, until I have medical coverage. I realized over the weekend I've gone half this first year of cancer treatment unsupervised; I can only ask for prayers that the level of medication I am at will keep it at bay until I can get coverage again.

Fasting levels yesterday and today were more normal for me: 103 and 104. But yesterday's bedtime reading was again low, though not as low as Saturday's was: 84. Will continue to monitor.

[[Syl]]

So, my wife's been working as a live-out nanny during the day for the last few weeks. Only $6 an hour (which is astronomically low for this area unless you want to leave your kid with someone who's watching at least one or two others and probably doesn't speak English that well... much less have a college degree and references, like my wife), but considering she gets to stay with our baby during the day, not a bad gig.

The problem is, they live about an hour away, and with my wife having to be at her other job (at an animal sanctuary) at 6:30, it really wasn't working out. So she gave them her two week notice today.

After the mother left, my wife saw that she had left her coffee, so she texts her asking her if she wants her to put in the fridge or in the sink. She gets a text back saying, 'It's OK, I didn't like her anyway. I'm more upset about forgetting my coffee.'

So my wife, being far more tactful than I would've been, texts back, 'Who didn't you like?'

'The nanny.'

She texts, 'This is the nanny.'

After a pregnant several minutes (I'm picturing nearby drivers on the beltway hearing a long string of 'f***'s), she gets back a long text saying she's so sorry, was trying to console her husband, really does like her, etc.

All I can say is that they're really lucky it wasn't me. See how'd they like trying to find a sitter with less than a day's notice.

[Menolly]

*wince*
Ouch, Syl.

[lorin]

Thanks for that, lorin. I guess it will have to pend like continuing my guided fight against cancer, until I have medical coverage. I realized over the weekend I've gone half this first year of cancer treatment unsupervised; I can only ask for prayers that the level of medication I am at will keep it at bay until I can get coverage again.

Fasting levels yesterday and today were more normal for me: 103 and 104. But yesterday's bedtime reading was again low, though not as low as Saturday's was: 84. Will continue to monitor.

how in the world are you getting unsupervised cancer treatment??? Are you taking insulin?

So, my wife's been working as a live-out nanny during the day for the last few weeks. Only $6 an hour (which is astronomically low for this area unless you want to leave your kid with someone who's watching at least one or two others and probably doesn't speak English that well... much less have a college degree and references, like my wife), but considering she gets to stay with our baby during the day, not a bad gig.

The problem is, they live about an hour away, and with my wife having to be at her other job (at an animal sanctuary) at 6:30, it really wasn't working out. So she gave them her two week notice today.

After the mother left, my wife saw that she had left her coffee, so she texts her asking her if she wants her to put in the fridge or in the sink. She gets a text back saying, 'It's OK, I didn't like her anyway. I'm more upset about forgetting my coffee.'

So my wife, being far more tactful than I would've been, texts back, 'Who didn't you like?'

'The nanny.'

She texts, 'This is the nanny.'

After a pregnant several minutes (I'm picturing nearby drivers on the beltway hearing a long string of 'f***'s), she gets back a long text saying she's so sorry, was trying to console her husband, really does like her, etc.

All I can say is that they're really lucky it wasn't me. See how'd they like trying to find a sitter with less than a day's notice.

Isn't 6/hr below minimum? I would drop a dime on her. I know, I know it could hurt your wife more than her. But DAMN........

[[Syl]]

It's a little gray, since sitting is often more of a service than a job, but yeah... I haven't been a fan of it from the start (especially since it means more housework for me during the week! ), but she was OK with it, since it meant she could be with the baby all day and make money.

And Menolly, I'm really sorry. I thought you had had cancer treatment but were out of it now. Sorry, not very good at keeping track of personal stuff. If I can do anything other than hope for the best...

[Menolly]

Thanks for that, lorin. I guess it will have to pend like continuing my guided fight against cancer, until I have medical coverage. I realized over the weekend I've gone half this first year of cancer treatment unsupervised; I can only ask for prayers that the level of medication I am at will keep it at bay until I can get coverage again.

Fasting levels yesterday and today were more normal for me: 103 and 104. But yesterday's bedtime reading was again low, though not as low as Saturday's was: 84. Will continue to monitor.

how in the world are you getting unsupervised cancer treatment???

I guess the way I phrased that was a little confusing.

The type of cancer I am being treated for, thyroid, is treated by removing the thyroid itself. Although is appears to have not spread beyond the thyroid, except for one lymph node directly behind the thyroid itself, because of my age I am classified as a stage II patient.

Follow up involved taking a treatment dose of radioactive iodine in January, being nuclear scanned to see if the iodine was taken up elsewhere in the body (B"H, at the time, not!) then being put on levothyroxine to control my TSH levels. I am supposed to be scanned again in January after taking a diagnosis dose of radioactive iodine (far less than the treatment dosage, but I still need to relatively isolate myself for three days. Will be far easier here than it was in Gator Town).

Treatment also consists of having blood drawn every three months to test my THS (thyroid hormone ...something or other) and T-4 levels. The levothyroxine not only helps prevent hypothyroidism due to having the thyroid removed, but keeps the TSH at a level which is supposed to prevent the cancer from finding other areas in which to spread. However, the proper dosage for each patient is hit or miss. The patient is supposed to be tested every three months and the medication adjusted until the TSH levels are appropriate.

I was last tested in March, under the Shands/UF charity/indigent program, which is how I received all of the treatment so far, including the surgery, MRIs, radioactive iodine, three day inpatient hospitalization, follow up specialists, etc. In June, I left hyperception and have become a member of SD's and Dam-sel's household, by choice.

I was supposed to have my TSH tested again in June, and now, three months later, it would probably be due again. So, it has been six months since the level of the medication that fights the recurrence of this cancer was properly adjusted. I was supposed to have another breast MRI last week for the suspicious area that started the whole thyroid treatment by the MRI scanning the whole body rather than just the breast area.

However, I have not found a program similar to the one I was on in Gator Town, and although legally not a member of household, since I am unemployed and have still not landed a position out here, I suspect they would be considered my support, and with their income I would be ineligible for any such programs, or even Medicaid.

But, I'll be damned if I am going to ask SD and Dam-sel to foot the bill for doctor visits, tests, surgeries, et. al. They already paid for a visit for me to see a chiropractor here, when I injured my knee somehow and it took far too long to heal. They're covering my prescription costs for now; thankfully my medications all fall under Fred Meyer's 90-day supply for $12.00 program.

I had arranged with my medical providers to write me new prescriptions on paper for my medications when I left Gator Town. When I arrived here, I transferred what was left of my old prescriptions here, and used those until it said "no refills." Then I used the paper prescriptions. Most are valid for about a year from when I had them started, around July for most of them. So, by "unsupervised treatment," I mean I have the medications I need at the level I needed at the time I moved away. But that may have changed by now.

I have been applying for jobs here that have benefits. I had one interview, and was notified a couple of weeks later that the position was reclassified from full time to part time. Part time does still include benefits, but I had to reapply for the position, which is still open for new applicants for a few more days. I have no idea how my own interview went over, but am hoping having been contacted to reapply when the position was reclassified was a positive sign. However, even if I do find a job with benefits, I have no idea how my pre-existing condition will affect coverage.

Are you taking insulin

No, I am not on insulin. Currently I take two 1000 mg metformin a day, one at breakfast and one at dinner, as well as one 10 mg lisinopril at breakfast for blood pressure, which I was told by my primary care physician also helps reinforce metformin.

And Menolly, I'm really sorry. I thought you had had cancer treatment but were out of it now. Sorry, not very good at keeping track of personal stuff. If I can do anything other than hope for the best...

<shrug>

Thanks sheriff. I knew pending my treatment was a most likely possibility when I chose to leave. And while I am a little concerned regarding my health, the hardest part was, and still is, being across the continent from Beorn.

Sorry for so much TMI, folks. But I figured if I was going to refer to it, y'all may as well have the full picture...

[Iolanthe]

Oh, Menolly, that sounds so complicated. Thank goodness for the National Elf Service over here. I do hope you get sorted.

[deer of the dawn]

What happened to Obamacare anyway? So sorry for the crappy health struggles and crappy job situations for you guys. Makes me appreciate being able to do something I really believe in, although it's a difficult job and an unremittingly difficult place to live in.

My husband's director is phasing out over the next several months... his wife couldn't hack the armpit of Africa anymore... and my hubby thinks he'll be wanting to leave without cleaning up the mess he's made, leaving it for him.... and it's not a pretty picture. Too many sinecures handed out to people who don't want to do anything, and firing people looks very bad in this culture. It's actually better to stop paying people and let them leave after a year or two (yes, they actually do hang on that long hoping for the ship to come in and because jobs are so hard to find).

My stress is having to write two sets of curriculum as I go (I actually teach 5 classes). But all the stress is bringing Mr. Deer and I closer. So it's all good.

[Avatar]

What happened to Obamacare anyway?

Go ask in the 'Tank.

--A

[Frostheart Grueburn]

Being intrigued by prehistoric cultures gets sometimes difficult. I just realized I kicked the lid of a full-stuffed barrel open here in Denmark, this time about Nordic Bronze Age. See, we have this tosh everywhere in south-western Finland; all higher cliffs on certain areas are infested with barrows in various stages of disrepair. Finland's acidic ground doesn't preserve bodies well, not to mention that during the millennia, a good majority of the graves have become robbed. Here actual bodies complete with clothes have been preserved in oak coffins, however, so I'm getting a whole new angle into the looks and fashion of a 3000-year-old culture. Cannot post links with this mobile thingummy, but look up Egtved girl on wikipedia. Insane belt styles. Their beliefs are equally hard to reconstruct, no written sources exist, only various ritual objects along with rock carvings featuring almost always ships and sun motives.

Sort of a bummer, as I've planned to visit mainly Viking sites this time (Trelleborg, Lindholm Höje, etc). Apparently they have Neolithic dolmens here also. Sigh.

[lorin]

Sad day. Sad sad day. I keep on thinking about those 250 firemen lost. 250 is a lot of good men.

I wish it was raining. Too much like 9/11/01 today.

edit - 250 men on page 250 of this thread.

[I'm Murrin]

Today I got a text message informing me that the bank has issued a mortgage offer.

[Iolanthe]

Congratulations Murrin.

[Damelon]

I was having a good day yesterday until I saw a FB message stating that an old friend that I hadn't seen in fifteen years and had lost track of had died. It was a sad story. He'd bought a house near Madison, Wi, in 2008 and in 2009 after the market collapsed he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He couldn't keep on with his work due to the treatments, had his house foreclosed on. His COBRA ended in January and he died in hospice about three weeks ago. He was 52.

[lorin]

I was having a good day yesterday until I saw a FB message stating that an old friend that I hadn't seen in fifteen years and had lost track of had died. It was a sad story. He'd bought a house near Madison, Wi, in 2008 and in 2009 after the market collapsed he was diagnosed with colon cancer. He couldn't keep on with his work due to the treatments, had his house foreclosed on. His COBRA ended in January and he died in hospice about three weeks ago. He was 52.

Very sad story. Stories like that happen more and more as we get older, don't they? My condolences for the loss of a friend.