Not that I think any of these clowns are listening... nonetheless, I'm going to post this and declare that I am paying attention... and I will NOT be silent.
November is coming.
Soon.
And I don't care what "party" you affiliate yourself with... if you're trashing my country's Constitution, you'd better get the h*** out of my way, because I'm not going to tolerate you being in power, and neither are lots of other Americans just like me. We WILL vote you out.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Death of a Computer
Apparently we had some sort of power surge that affected BOTH our computers -- my creakingly aged laptop and our fairly new desktop -- and fried both of them beyond repair. [sigh] I am grateful that most of the things I needed to keep were being stored on my 1TB external drive, which apparently managed to survive intact. Still, I miss my old familiar friend. I had grown accustomed to him over the past, well, let's see... I guess I've had him for six years. That's pretty decent for a laptop, no?
We managed to procure a VERY inexpensive desktop to replace them, since both of us really have to have access to the internet to get vital things accomplished... bills paid, jobs produced, etc... but a new laptop for me will have to wait now. I had considered just doing one of the cheap netbook things, but after consideration, I really do require something with a little more oomph because of all the graphics and photography work I do.
On a health-related note, I received the (expected) news that the lumpy-bumpys in my inguinal region really are just odd-shaped (but unremarkable) lymph nodes. Dr. Cichon did mention that the MRI picked up on ovarian cysts... I nodded my head, but kept thinking Well Duh, I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, of course I have ovarian cysts... interestingly, the doctor who gave me my original PCOS diagnosis did not do an ultrasound or an MRI at all, so the presence of actual cysts was never confirmed. I just showed every OTHER symptom of PCOS, so that's what he concluded. And apparently I have now received visual confirmation. [shrug] This, my friends, is why I have only one biological child... and is more proof that his existence is truly a miracle.
Speaking of my one biological child, he got word tonight that he will be part of the cast of the community college's production of Alice in Wonderland. They're re-interpreting the story with a Steampunk vibe, and have done some tweaking. Isaac is playing the part of the Frog Footman, and naturally will have to adopt a French accent for said part. I sink we can do zis, no?
We managed to procure a VERY inexpensive desktop to replace them, since both of us really have to have access to the internet to get vital things accomplished... bills paid, jobs produced, etc... but a new laptop for me will have to wait now. I had considered just doing one of the cheap netbook things, but after consideration, I really do require something with a little more oomph because of all the graphics and photography work I do.
On a health-related note, I received the (expected) news that the lumpy-bumpys in my inguinal region really are just odd-shaped (but unremarkable) lymph nodes. Dr. Cichon did mention that the MRI picked up on ovarian cysts... I nodded my head, but kept thinking Well Duh, I have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, of course I have ovarian cysts... interestingly, the doctor who gave me my original PCOS diagnosis did not do an ultrasound or an MRI at all, so the presence of actual cysts was never confirmed. I just showed every OTHER symptom of PCOS, so that's what he concluded. And apparently I have now received visual confirmation. [shrug] This, my friends, is why I have only one biological child... and is more proof that his existence is truly a miracle.
Speaking of my one biological child, he got word tonight that he will be part of the cast of the community college's production of Alice in Wonderland. They're re-interpreting the story with a Steampunk vibe, and have done some tweaking. Isaac is playing the part of the Frog Footman, and naturally will have to adopt a French accent for said part. I sink we can do zis, no?
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Dal Makhani
I don't normally find canned foods to be terribly appetizing, but I bought a couple of cans of Jyoti brand dishes at The Cupboard in Denton (organic greenie tree-hugger grocery store) and I have to say that this stuff was GOOOOOD!
In particular, I found the Dal Makhani to be quite tasty. It reminded me a little of Mexican refried beans, only with a serious Indian twist. I did a distinctly un-Indian thing and mixed in some chopped brisket, and it was grrreat. I may have to order some of this online. Today I'm having some peas with paneer cheese and it's also very yummy.
In particular, I found the Dal Makhani to be quite tasty. It reminded me a little of Mexican refried beans, only with a serious Indian twist. I did a distinctly un-Indian thing and mixed in some chopped brisket, and it was grrreat. I may have to order some of this online. Today I'm having some peas with paneer cheese and it's also very yummy.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Easy peasy
The MRI this morning at Mayhill Diagnostic (Denton Regional Medical Center) went without a hitch. I showed up quite a bit early for my appointment, and it was a good thing I did, because they went ahead and put me through -- and even at that, I got out just in time to head back to school. There would definitely not have been any time to spare if I'd waited until my appointment time to show up.
I probably won't hear any results until next week sometime. I am not anticipating being told anything other than "everything's normal."
On Monday, the GI doc told me he found no evidence of celiac disease on my biopsy results. This is very VERY good news... but I am still going to finish reading my book about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and then begin implementing it. Hopefully I can figure out how to eat in order NOT to have chronic diarrhea, and I think that the SCD holds the best chance for helping me achieve that. Sorry if this is TMI.
I got IV iron infusions twice this week. I should be in good shape for a while. My hematologist will be checking my levels regularly for a while to see if I need any more. I expect that, since I don't have celiac disease, I will probably just have to expect an occasional IV iron infusion -- because the only other reason for my low iron is the fact that part of my small intestine was bypassed in the D-Switch surgery and doesn't absorb iron properly any more.
I probably won't hear any results until next week sometime. I am not anticipating being told anything other than "everything's normal."
On Monday, the GI doc told me he found no evidence of celiac disease on my biopsy results. This is very VERY good news... but I am still going to finish reading my book about the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and then begin implementing it. Hopefully I can figure out how to eat in order NOT to have chronic diarrhea, and I think that the SCD holds the best chance for helping me achieve that. Sorry if this is TMI.
I got IV iron infusions twice this week. I should be in good shape for a while. My hematologist will be checking my levels regularly for a while to see if I need any more. I expect that, since I don't have celiac disease, I will probably just have to expect an occasional IV iron infusion -- because the only other reason for my low iron is the fact that part of my small intestine was bypassed in the D-Switch surgery and doesn't absorb iron properly any more.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Hematologist visit
Went to see Dr. Jolanta Cichon today. I first saw her in the hospital; I must've gotten a little wide-eyed when she came into my hospital room because she was wearing a white lab coat emblazoned with a "Texas Oncology" logo... and she immediately said, "I specialize in hematology as well as oncology, and you've been referred to me for the hematology -- NOT the oncology."
She checked me over and had her lab draw some blood to check my iron level. She noted that my vitamin D level was severely low as well (from the results of the hospital testing), so she prescribed a once-a-week vitamin D supplement. She also mentioned that she often has to prescribe anti-depressants in her oncology practice, and that in her experience Prozac isn't the best choice for artistic/creative types because it can have a dulling effect on creativity. Since I'm needing a switch-out right now anyway, she prescribed Lexapro for me, and we'll give it a go to see if I do a little better on that front.
About a week or so ago I noticed that I could feel my lymph nodes in my groin. Since I've gotten to a much lower percentage of body fat, I wasn't sure whether what I was feeling was something that had always been there or that was completely normal, so I thought I'd ask Dr. Cichon. Since she's a cancer doc, I figured she was the best choice for checking that out. So I mentioned it to her today and she mashed around on it for a while. She didn't think it felt like a lymph node to her; the shape was wrong. She was apparently concerned enough that she ordered a pelvic MRI to try to determine what that weird knot is. I'll be going in for one of those in the next few days, probably.
If it isn't one thing, it's another.
Next Monday is my visit with the GI doc.
She checked me over and had her lab draw some blood to check my iron level. She noted that my vitamin D level was severely low as well (from the results of the hospital testing), so she prescribed a once-a-week vitamin D supplement. She also mentioned that she often has to prescribe anti-depressants in her oncology practice, and that in her experience Prozac isn't the best choice for artistic/creative types because it can have a dulling effect on creativity. Since I'm needing a switch-out right now anyway, she prescribed Lexapro for me, and we'll give it a go to see if I do a little better on that front.
About a week or so ago I noticed that I could feel my lymph nodes in my groin. Since I've gotten to a much lower percentage of body fat, I wasn't sure whether what I was feeling was something that had always been there or that was completely normal, so I thought I'd ask Dr. Cichon. Since she's a cancer doc, I figured she was the best choice for checking that out. So I mentioned it to her today and she mashed around on it for a while. She didn't think it felt like a lymph node to her; the shape was wrong. She was apparently concerned enough that she ordered a pelvic MRI to try to determine what that weird knot is. I'll be going in for one of those in the next few days, probably.
If it isn't one thing, it's another.
Next Monday is my visit with the GI doc.
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
Two legs good! Eight legs bad!
There was a tarantula in my classroom this morning when I got to school.
WTF?!?
I regularly kill brown recluse spiders in my classroom. That, I can understand. They like the indoors and they like hidey-hole spots like crevices between skeins of yarn in my art supply closet.
But a TARANTULA!???!??!? They like being OUTSIDE. They're more like animals than bugs... they live outside and do their, well, their predator-thing out there. Why, for the love of Pete, would there be one INSIDE MY CLASSROOM?
Can tarantulas be rabid? I don't suppose so... but I can't imagine why else there would be one inside. I don't actually mind tarantulas when they're outside. I give them wide berth and I don't mess with them, and they don't mess with me. They're pretty common here, really, and they kill and eat big bugs and small birds and things I don't care about, so I'm happy to let them do their thing in peace.
People, there was a FREEKIN' TARANTULA IN MY CLASSROOM.
No, I didn't dispatch it myself. I let one of the boys in my first period class take care of it for me. I have a healthy respect for them, but I am absolutely not about to handle one. Even if I knew it wouldn't bite me, I just don't think I could bring myself to have it in my hand like I know a lot of people would do. Not even if it were already dead. That's just more than I can bear. It *might* resurrect.
It might!
WTF?!?
I regularly kill brown recluse spiders in my classroom. That, I can understand. They like the indoors and they like hidey-hole spots like crevices between skeins of yarn in my art supply closet.
But a TARANTULA!???!??!? They like being OUTSIDE. They're more like animals than bugs... they live outside and do their, well, their predator-thing out there. Why, for the love of Pete, would there be one INSIDE MY CLASSROOM?
Can tarantulas be rabid? I don't suppose so... but I can't imagine why else there would be one inside. I don't actually mind tarantulas when they're outside. I give them wide berth and I don't mess with them, and they don't mess with me. They're pretty common here, really, and they kill and eat big bugs and small birds and things I don't care about, so I'm happy to let them do their thing in peace.
People, there was a FREEKIN' TARANTULA IN MY CLASSROOM.
No, I didn't dispatch it myself. I let one of the boys in my first period class take care of it for me. I have a healthy respect for them, but I am absolutely not about to handle one. Even if I knew it wouldn't bite me, I just don't think I could bring myself to have it in my hand like I know a lot of people would do. Not even if it were already dead. That's just more than I can bear. It *might* resurrect.
It might!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Breaking the silence
Sometimes things just get... wonky... and the past month has definitely qualified for that category.
The school year began at about the time of my last post, and I literally had to hit the ground at a dead run just to catch up every day. I did have some time online in the evenings, but I was just able to keep up with the Facebook posts. I just didn't seem to have any oomph to come up with a decent blog post.
I even wondered whether I should continue blogging at all.
But then the answer to my general malaise came in the form of an alarming telephone call right before my first period Art 2 class. It was my family doctor.
I had not felt well for quite a while, and it had all the hallmark appearances of depression. I figured that I was probably due to make a switch in my anti-depressant medication, but I truly had NO free time to do anything about it. Besides, I literally didn't even have the money for a co-pay. I had already cancelled my regular hair appointment because I don't have any money. I have always just bull-headed into the fray and pushed through the depression, and this wasn't any different. I may not feel like leaving the house (heck, even leaving my bed), but I have so many people depending on me, so I do it anyway.
Had several people mention off-handedly that I looked like I hadn't gotten a speck of sun all summer. Which was true; I stayed indoors pretty much the entire time. "I've always been extremely pale," I reassured them.
I finally did decide that if I was going to keep from tanking into a full-blown depression state, I should probably go see my family doc and get her to prescribe a new one so I could start making the switch-over. Plus, I found I was suffering from the absolute most painful hemorrhoids I had ever experienced, and I was hoping she could give me some lidocaine gel to ease the pain so I could get through my days.
She was quite unhelpful, actually. "You're on Prozac. You would have to completely go off meds for 2-3 weeks before starting another one, and I'm not sure this is a good time of year for you to go off meds. I'll increase your dose and we'll see if maybe that takes the edge off for you. As for the hemorrhoids, I can't do anything for you there either."
What kind of medical degree do you have, anyway, hon? How much trouble could it possibly be to prescribe a tube of plain lidocaine gel? Please. I was miffed and irritated and not one bit helped in my suffering. And I had wasted time away from school to go see her.
She did, however, refer me to a good gynecologist to see about my weird periods, and she suggested we do a quick CBC just to make sure there wasn't anything funky going on there. Whatever, I thought, and I stuck out my arm for the phlebotomist. Then I went home.
The next morning I was standing in my first period class when my celly rang. Oh crappola, I thought, I forgot to turn off my dang phone. I yanked it out, apologized to my class, and then saw who the call was from. It was my doctor.
"Hello?" I asked, a little weirded out by now. She told me that whatever I was doing, I needed to stop right then and go to the emergency room because my hemoglobin levels were dangerously low. "Like, right now?!?" And she insisted.
In the ER, after they checked my levels, they hooked me up almost immediately to a unit of blood and admitted me to the cardiac wing for close monitoring.
Five units of A-positive and three days later, plus a unit of platelets, plus a couple of units of straight iron, an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, a visit with a hematologist, a gastroenterologist and a colorectal surgeon, they finally sent me home. I might have celiac disease. Or I might not. They took a biopsy of my duodenum to check it. In the meantime I will be visiting the hematologist regularly for transfusion and/or IV iron supplementation.
My color is definitely better now, but I think I'm already getting low again because I was light-headed again this morning and spent much of the worship service hoping I could remain conscious long enough to play the final hymn. I made it back home and got horizontal on the couch for a while, and that seemed to help.
Any-hoo... it's been a wild month and I apologize for the lack of posting. I intend to resume blogging activities; writing down things is cathartic for me, whether anyone reads it or not. Helps me sort through life's business. I bought a book on Amazon about a strict gluten-free (GF) diet that goes beyond regular GF stuff. It's called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and eliminates starches and all sugars except honey, plus some dairy and some vegetables. I'm still reading it, but I think that even if the GI doc says he doesn't think I have celiac disease, I am probably going to give the SCD a long-term go.
All this, and being a cheerleading coach... well, I sometimes wonder if I'm really completely sane.
The school year began at about the time of my last post, and I literally had to hit the ground at a dead run just to catch up every day. I did have some time online in the evenings, but I was just able to keep up with the Facebook posts. I just didn't seem to have any oomph to come up with a decent blog post.
I even wondered whether I should continue blogging at all.
But then the answer to my general malaise came in the form of an alarming telephone call right before my first period Art 2 class. It was my family doctor.
I had not felt well for quite a while, and it had all the hallmark appearances of depression. I figured that I was probably due to make a switch in my anti-depressant medication, but I truly had NO free time to do anything about it. Besides, I literally didn't even have the money for a co-pay. I had already cancelled my regular hair appointment because I don't have any money. I have always just bull-headed into the fray and pushed through the depression, and this wasn't any different. I may not feel like leaving the house (heck, even leaving my bed), but I have so many people depending on me, so I do it anyway.
Had several people mention off-handedly that I looked like I hadn't gotten a speck of sun all summer. Which was true; I stayed indoors pretty much the entire time. "I've always been extremely pale," I reassured them.
I finally did decide that if I was going to keep from tanking into a full-blown depression state, I should probably go see my family doc and get her to prescribe a new one so I could start making the switch-over. Plus, I found I was suffering from the absolute most painful hemorrhoids I had ever experienced, and I was hoping she could give me some lidocaine gel to ease the pain so I could get through my days.
She was quite unhelpful, actually. "You're on Prozac. You would have to completely go off meds for 2-3 weeks before starting another one, and I'm not sure this is a good time of year for you to go off meds. I'll increase your dose and we'll see if maybe that takes the edge off for you. As for the hemorrhoids, I can't do anything for you there either."
What kind of medical degree do you have, anyway, hon? How much trouble could it possibly be to prescribe a tube of plain lidocaine gel? Please. I was miffed and irritated and not one bit helped in my suffering. And I had wasted time away from school to go see her.
She did, however, refer me to a good gynecologist to see about my weird periods, and she suggested we do a quick CBC just to make sure there wasn't anything funky going on there. Whatever, I thought, and I stuck out my arm for the phlebotomist. Then I went home.
The next morning I was standing in my first period class when my celly rang. Oh crappola, I thought, I forgot to turn off my dang phone. I yanked it out, apologized to my class, and then saw who the call was from. It was my doctor.
"Hello?" I asked, a little weirded out by now. She told me that whatever I was doing, I needed to stop right then and go to the emergency room because my hemoglobin levels were dangerously low. "Like, right now?!?" And she insisted.
In the ER, after they checked my levels, they hooked me up almost immediately to a unit of blood and admitted me to the cardiac wing for close monitoring.
Five units of A-positive and three days later, plus a unit of platelets, plus a couple of units of straight iron, an endoscopy and a colonoscopy, a visit with a hematologist, a gastroenterologist and a colorectal surgeon, they finally sent me home. I might have celiac disease. Or I might not. They took a biopsy of my duodenum to check it. In the meantime I will be visiting the hematologist regularly for transfusion and/or IV iron supplementation.
My color is definitely better now, but I think I'm already getting low again because I was light-headed again this morning and spent much of the worship service hoping I could remain conscious long enough to play the final hymn. I made it back home and got horizontal on the couch for a while, and that seemed to help.
Any-hoo... it's been a wild month and I apologize for the lack of posting. I intend to resume blogging activities; writing down things is cathartic for me, whether anyone reads it or not. Helps me sort through life's business. I bought a book on Amazon about a strict gluten-free (GF) diet that goes beyond regular GF stuff. It's called the Specific Carbohydrate Diet and eliminates starches and all sugars except honey, plus some dairy and some vegetables. I'm still reading it, but I think that even if the GI doc says he doesn't think I have celiac disease, I am probably going to give the SCD a long-term go.
All this, and being a cheerleading coach... well, I sometimes wonder if I'm really completely sane.
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