Sneezing and sniffling

I am in plumb pitiful condition.  Sneezing enough to shake up my brain, eyes watering and itching, and a whole bunch of other allergy symptoms.  I got the Rx for the nasal spray filled, and I think it is the same as I had been prescribed when I lived in N. Virginia, back in the 1990's.  Then, they only gave me enough for 30 days and it sure worked like a charm, but the good effects didn't last.  This prescription doesn't indicate any time limit, but I'll only know that when I try to refill it.

I like the doctor I saw although he is pretty young.  Not that there is anything wrong with being young, as long as they can be objective about what older folks experience and what they might need.  I'll have to "interview" him the next time I see him to find out if we might be compatible.  There are certain things I believe in, and lots of things I don't, so we can start out by discussing the things "I don't".  Sounds reasonable to me.  (Don'ts include tests for the sake of tests -- and the billing dept.)

Another doctor whose bio they gave me is a homeopathic medicine doctor, which appeals to me very much.  I'm going to see what Jeannie thinks and since she's been with me to see many doctors I think she knows what I want and don't want in a primary care physician.

 Time for lunch - and I wish I had an appetite.  The doctor's scale yesterday showed almost a pound less than the scale at the gym last time I went.  That could just be a normal variation related to time of day, what I was wearing, and calibration of the scales.  I will do just about anything to keep my weight, although I have to find a substitute for some of the sweets I'm eating.  They are addicting for one thing and lack the proper nutrution for another.

My son Steve switched cars with me yesterday in order to move some things to their new house.  He left me with his car, which is keyless.  Dont'cha know I couldn't get the damn thing started this morning when I wanted to get my Rx?  I didn't think to press on the brake.  I asked Steve what the advantages of keyless are, and he gave me some reasonable examples.  However, I hope I never have to go that route and I don't have a problem in the world with carrying my key on the chain with gym membership card, the fob for locking, unlocking, and panic button.  To be truthful, I never had a problem with using an old fashioned car key to lock and unlock the doors, but I'm hopelessly approaching "too old to be driving" status.  Actually I'm just a cantankerous old woman :-)

Walmart

Every time I walk into a Walmart I realize why I don't like it.  This morning I went to visit the Optical Department to see about getting a new left lens for my eyeglasses.  My eye surgeon recommended it on my last visit but New York took precedence, so I decided today was the day.

No problem in the Optical Department, but then I wanted to get a couple of small items, like a nail clipper, etc.  I pulled out a cart but the wheels wouldn't roll.  Would you believe the next three carts had the same problem.  Finally I found one that rolled, but as I started down the aisle I heard a BAM, BAM, BAM, BAM!   I left that cart pretty quick and figured I could carry what little I was going to buy there.  I have to go back for my new lens on the 20th, but I won't shop, that's for sure.

I went to the UCD Med Clinic in my area to see about my sore throat and whatever else is wrong with my head.  I walked in but they didn't have an appointment available until 4pm this afternoon.  That's fine with me.  I also picked up the bio's of several doctors to choose one I'd like to have for my doctor.  The one I've been seeing has resigned (I heard it through the grapevine).   I think she might have cancer and I feel really bad for her - she's young and has kids at home.  I just hope she can find remission.  I would like to find a doctor closer to my home and with free parking.

 Thanks to Sandra for reminding me that a salt water gargle will help my sore throat.  It actually has given me some relief.  My throat has never been the same since the two ERCP procedures that were done on me last winter, before gall bladder surgery.  Mostly I get a tickling sensation, but now I have a sore throat along with other allergy symptoms.  I decided it's time to take action before I find myself in the hospital again, as I have the past two years.

Have you ever found a recipe that sounded so good you just had to try it?  I've been searching for recipes that are easy to make, require just a few ingredients, and would make decent leftovers.  I found a chicken broccoli casserole recipe that only required a few other ingredients and had it for supper last night.  I thought it was pretty awful, but then I heated some of it for my lunch today.  I ate it even though it has gone from awful to disgusting, and the rest of it will end up being thrown out.  I absolutely HATE to waste food, but this is going to be an exception!  I need something sweet now to get rid of the taste of the terrible casserole!

I'm Under the Weather

I don't feel all that well and even considered going to an Urgent Care office today to get some help.  I suffer with sinus and allergies, and while in NY my eyes were itchy.  I don't know the culprit but I remember ragweed being a problem in the fall when I lived in Cincinnati.  My eyes still bother me from time to time since I'm back in CA, plus all the other allergy symptoms I usually experience, the worst being a sore throat.   I bought throat lozenges yesterday but they leave such an awful taste that I don't think I'll continue them.

I heard from the grapevine that my primary care physician has resigned, which is why I  considered the Urgent Care.  I think she has serious health concerns and I hope she can overcome them, but now I don't know what to do if and when I need a doctor.  Maybe if I'm careful I won't need one!

The mobile home park is sealing the streets this week, and today is the day for my street.  It looks like I'm stuck at home so I couldn't see a doctor if I wanted to.    I took a low dose aspirin this morning which helps a little with the throat.  I was taking low dose aspirin every day until one morning I got sick and tired of my arms and hands looking battered, so now I take a tablet a couple of times a week.  I bought throat lozenges yesterday but they leave such an awful taste that I don't think I'll continue along that line.

On the way to Jeannie's house I stopped by the city's best donut shop yesterday morning and picked up a box of 1 dozen assorted donuts.   I ate 3 glazed donuts and could have probably made quick work of a few more, but I left some for Donald and the girls.  Jeannie had two of them herself.  I was so happy to see her up and looking well the day after her surgery.  She had not taken Percoset since the previous evening (day of surgery) and hopes to be able to do without it from now on.  She was having some discomfort, but seems to be on the road to recovery.




  

Nurse Gypsy Reporting

I stayed at Jeannie's house last night so I could be up early and have her to the dentist office at 7:10.  We were there for about two hours, then went to Kaiser Permanente to get her pain med Rx filled.  For certain drugs they now require the doctor/dentist to write it out on special paper forms, and it has to be brought into the pharmacy to be filled, as opposed to calling it in.  Finally, they require a consultation with a pharmacist before releasing the medicine to you.  I went through it all and we were on our way - Jeannie dozing off now and then - in a sort of half sleep state.  She was hungry and suggested that we go to La Bou so she could get a bowl of soup, and of course I would never pass up the opportunity to get their BLT on a croissant.  We were both happy with our lunch and she brought some of the soup home with her.  

I think the pain med does relieve most of the pain, but for the most part it makes you drowsy so you sleep through the worst of it.  For myself, I went for the next strongest narcotic after my surgeries earlier this year.   I used to be able to tolerate pain much better than I do now, but I hope I never have to take any of that stuff again because of the side effects.

 I'm going home this afternoon but will come back tomorrow morning, stopping at the donut shop on the way.   Jeannie seems to be craving donuts and I wouldn't mind having a couple myself!

Back to the gym

I had a good workout today and now I'm exhausted.  I went with Jeannie and Donald; restrained myself from rushing to the ladies' room to step on the scale until after my workout.  127!!!!!  If I could lose this belly I've developed since surgery I would probably weigh about 122.

Jeannie is having dental surgery early  Tuesday morning and I will be driving her.  I'm glad I can do something for her in return for all she's done for me, although I'm sorry she has to go through dental surgery.  She will be given a total anesthetic, and they gave her Valium to take an hour before her appointment.  I told her my experience with Valium has been very positive - I really have never been able to feel any effects from it, but just feel calm, which is what I need before dental work as I get so apprehensive about it.

I will be going to bed early tonight, for sure.   I'm hoping the gym workouts will give me some energy.

  

Just sitting around on Saturday

I woke up about 4 a.m. and got my binoculars to look out the window to see the stars.  Without turning on the light I picked up a notebook and pencil and drew circles from left to right to represent the bright stars I saw - when I looked at the drawing this morning I think I need to try it again but with a flashlight!  I found a starchart and was able to tentatively identify the stars I was looking at, and I hope to get a more definitive answer by tomorrow morning.  I should just go outside and sit in a chair for an hour or so but I hate to take a chance on falling asleep in my back yard!  I would love to live somewhere I had a better view of the night skies, but that hasn't happened since Ireland.  I should probably try to find a local amateur stargazers' group to join.

I went to the farmers' mkt this morning, and did a few little things around the house today, but mainly I just vegetated.  I was under the impression that it was easier to travel from east to west than from west to east, but I must have it backwards.   I'm still having a terrible time adjusting.  It couldn't be my age having anything to do with it, could it?

I ordered a new Garmin GPS from Costco Online and hope to get it early next week.  I haven't been able to get the old one to work.  I normally only use it when traveling - not because I need it for directions, but mostly because I can see the speed I'm going and track the miles to my destination.   All models seem to be proud of the fact that street names are used, which is fine if you are traveling around a city, but useless on the highway.   My old Garmin would still be referring to a street name when I was 100 miles past the town and the road reverted back to the route number.   I hope the new one has an option to use route numbers where available, but I doubt if it will.

I certainly hope I'm getting closer to normal by tomorrow.  I've caught up on sleep so I don't know why I'm still feeling like I'm in another world.

I'm still jet lagged

I hope I get back to normal soon because I feel like my brain is somewhere else!  

I woke up at around 5 a.m. and was surprised to see all the light coming through my bedroom window, which faces south.  There were a number of very bright stars/planets, and I think one of the ones on my left (east?) might have been Jupiter.  I can't find a star chart to see what else may be out there.  I also saw three faint stars (Orion's belt?) that I'm not sure about.  What surprised me most is that there is light pollution in the area which limits what can be seen in the sky, although Rancho Cordova where I live has always been more amenable to star gazing than other cities.   If a reader has a clue to the heavenly bodies that I'm seeing, I'd love to hear from you.

I must have been really hungry when I shopped at Costco yesterday.   Checking my freezer today, in addition to the 4 half gallons of ice cream, I have a box of frozen burritos, and a box of mini quiches.  I think I'll try the burrito for lunch, and tempted as I am to cook two of them, I'll just try one the first time.  If I'm still hungry, lord knows I have enough snacks and comfort food purchased since I returned home.  I opened a half gal. of ice cream last night, but didn't even make a dent in it!

When I got back I noticed my hummingbird feeder was totally empty, so yesterday I washed it out and prepared more sugar water.  The birds returned almost immediately and this morning I have enjoyed watching them at the feeder.  They can't seem to get enough of it.  While many hummingbirds migrate to South America during the winter, some of them remain in Sacramento year around.  I'm thinking about getting an additional feeder; I'd like to get a feeder for the larger birds but don't want to deal with squirrels.

I looked all over for my phone this morning - I knew I had used it since I've been home but couldn't find it anywhere.  It turned up in the pocket of my bathrobe which I had on yesterday morning which was chilly to start out.  I sure didn't need the robe this morning as it didn't seem as cold and will be going up into the 90's today.  I was hoping the 90's were a thing of the past until next summer. 

There are so many things I need to do but just don't seem to be able to move.  They will just have to wait until I'm ready.   I haven't been on a plane for the last 10 years, so it's no wonder I'm affected by the trip.