Ouch

 Well, if you follow my facebook, which is basically the only place that has my links...

anyway.  If you follow it, you know that my back went nope on the 26th.  

Yesterday was, um, painful.  

Today I'm gonna call it 87%.  I can tell I'm still fragile, but the pain is at about 1-2.  So, my normal, now.  

SOOOOOO, to keep it that way, I'm starting my PT exercises again.  Starting slow, with the stuff my PT doctor initially gave me.  I'll do those for about 2 weeks, then progress to set 2, then 3.  I think it's 3 sets that I have.  Whatever.  When I get to the final set, I'll actually keep doing them.  No reason not to, since they're good.  I will have to modify the arm pull ones, since doing THOSE aggravates my elbows.  
*headdesk

I'm doing my best to be the best I can be.  

I hope you all can do the same!  
HUGS from the chaos creature!

Floaty head

Doily is done.

Sometimes I amaze myself. I don't know how I made the doily. I know I did. I don't know how I make many things, after I've done it. My eyes read the words, and my hands do it. My brain doesn't really keep the information. Fairly certain I have some form of damage. With the number of times I've hit my head, it wouldn't surprise me. Right now my head is floaty. I ate, and took my glucose and blood pressure readings. Mostly normal.  

Not sure what else to do, except maybe nap.  I want to go home.  Sleep in my own bed.  Wrap up in my fleece blanket with the wolves or deer.  

Neuropathy

 Not thrilled with it.  But the thing I dislike the most, is that things that I feel, hurt WAY out of proportion to the amount of injury. 

Rubbed my toe against something rough.  Felt like I shredded my foot.  Looked at my toe, not even a red mark.  I guess it's better than the flip, though.  

For the record, my toes feel like they got cold, and haven't warmed up enough to feel yet.  They also feel like they don't fit together right.  It's weird.  Left side is a bit worse than the right.  Might be connected to how when my back pain shoots down my leg, it's my left one.  Dunno. 

Anyway.  Off to work.  Start at 10 today, and it's 9:24.

October doctor visit

 Wednesday I went to the doc for my 3 month A1c check and such.

Doctor changed my lisinopril to losartan.  Hopefully the cough, not being 'supported' by the ACE inhibitor will go away, now.  
A1c was still 7.6.  No change from last checkup, but I think a month of that was only being controlled by metformin, since I think my victoza got warm and stopped working correctly.  

I'm gonna do more walking.  NEED to do more walking.  I reinstalled Pokemon Go on my phone, and I like walking with my floaty worm fish thing.  (She's much prettier than that sounds)

Hoping to get back to the gym, now that I found my gym fob again.  That made it harder to just drop in, LOL.

Not gonna do treadmill much.  My ankle gets crunchy when I do too much of that.  But I like walking for miles.  Just have to find a good way to do it.  

I'm down from 83.5kg to 83kg.  "officially"
I weighed myself today, and I'm at 180.2.  

Also, cheez-its have no right to be so delicious.

That's what I've got for my readers for today.

Have a glorious day!

I Walked!

 Yay!

Another walk.  I was in Jordan for the weekend, and decided to take a long walk.  Well, longish.  2+ miles, for this one.  I was playing Pokemon Go and got a bunch accomplished with that.  I did manage to drain my battery completely.  I'll post my walk map after I reconnect my phone to my watch.  

Here we go again!

 So, my back's been acting up again.

Started up my PT.  Hoping it works as well as it did the first time.  I haven't added any damage, so I don't see why it wouldn't.  

I'm on about day 4 or 5.  

I'm down to about 180lbs.  Realized that the previous weights had been wrong.  Had the scale on carpet.  Very low nap, so the discrepancy wasn't much.  Just enough to give me really nice numbers.  LOL

I now put the scale on a piece of chip board (?), which gives me numbers that make more sense when compared to what the clinic was getting.  Not great, but I'm making headway.  

Also got a small weight routine.  My ankle has been acting crunchy lately, so until the tendon goes back in place, I'm not doing the treadmill.  

I think I've been doing ok with my meds for all of everything. 
5 pills in the morning, and 3 in the evening.
2 metformin, a multivitamin, vitamin D3, and aspirin in the morning. 
2 MORE metformin in the evening, a vitamin C, and lisinopril (FUCK lisinopril - stupid COUGH).
I take those with breakfast and dinner.
I also take my thyroid med and victoza in the morning when I wake up.  
I have a cholesterol med that I take when I go to bed.  
So much meds.  I do cheat a bit.  I see nothing wrong with marking my bottles, so my evening meds are marked with (N) and my morning meds are marked with (M).
I was going to mark my evening meds with (E), but discovered that my (E) looks a lot like my (M).  heheh
When I get a new bottle, I swap lids.  I'm also lazy.  I didn't see any reason to mark more lids than needed.  :D

Here's my most recent numbers.

From the 2nd.  

Keep on swimming.  

Gym today? No, but...

 I got off work early today.  I debated going to the gym today, but John needed a bit of help taking the stuff out of the truck.   He probably could have done it alone, but I did help.  That was fairly strenuous, so not exercise-less today.  More 'lifting' versus 'cardio' but still.  

Yesterday, I did go.  Despite my knee twinging.  However, my foot feels weird now.  I hope I didn't tweak something.  Probably just progressing peripheral neuropathy.  (Fucking diabetes)

I might do some more lifting later today.  I have small weights here.  I'm determined.  

Keep on swimming!

OH!

I have PEONIES!!!!

Gym

 I have resolved to go to the gym to walk 10 minutes on the treadmill after work, since the doctor thinks my heart speed thing is "deconditioning".  

I made this resolution last Monday.  I went Monday, after my doctor visit.  That was the 6th.  I didn't see any reason to go to Pipestone on the 7th, so didn't go then.  I went after work on the 8th.  I mowed on the 9th, so didn't see any reason to go that day.  I worked until 7pm yesterday (the 10th), so didn't go after work because it was late.  I went after work today.  

I really didn't want to do anything after work today.  I was and am tired.  But I went.  I put the treadmill on variety for the incline, because it changed it enough that I wasn't bored. 

I'm really, really trying to be better.  And at least I'm getting some use out of my membership again. :)

Latest from the doctor

 I went for a checkup to see how I was responding to the thyroid medication. 

VERY WELL!

That's how I'm responding to it.  :D

Much glee.

I've also lost about 5 pounds 'officially'.

I also promised the doctor I would take 10+ minute walks daily.  This is to try to bring my freaking heart rate down.  She thinks the rapid rate is caused by 'deconditioning'.  And to fix it, I need to exercise.  Ooookaaaaaay.  I'll do it.   blah.

I stopped at the gym and did a 10 walk on the treadmill.  And remembered why I don't do that, after I got off the treadmill.  Ouch.

I then walked to city hall, to drop off my water bill payment.  20ish minutes.  No ouch.  My body does not like treadmill.  But, I can also do bike or something.  I think I was ok for 5 minutes.  But I can do 10 minutes a day walking.  Easy peasy.

That's about it for today.

Be the best you, that you can be.  
I believe in you!

Colonoscopy, the results

 :D
I am cancer free.  The polyp was just a basic weird polyp, not pre-cancerous.  

So, both my cancer screenings are good.  I also had a "very good" pap smear in 2020, so I'm good on THOSE until 2025.  

Giggle
My beach-going covered bits aren't gonna kill me with cancer.  

So, they're recommending 5 years 'til my next colonoscopy, since they did find the polyp, despite it not being cancerous.  I'm ok with that.  

That's it for now.  

Be good to yourselves!

Colonoscopy, the aftermath

 We arrived for my screening at about 10am.

We got taken back to the individual waiting room a bit after 10:26.  I know it was after that, because John and I laughed about making sure we were early for the 10:15 arrival time.  :)

My nurse was Janine.  Not certain of spelling, but close enough.  I don't recall my nurse anesthetist's name.  But both of them were super nice.

A little before noon, Janine took me to the endoscopy room.  A little after noon, my NA put the sedation into my IV.  She warned me that it would feel like burning.  She wasn't wrong.  Felt like HEAVY burning.  Very unusual feeling.  I remember saying, 'you're right, ouch, ouch, ouch'.  Then I woke up at about 1pm.  All finished.  

Janine helped me to my waiting room.  John came and Janine went over my discharge stuff.  No driving/machinery for 24 hours. and help with walking and stairs until I am stable.  Food as tolerated.  YAY food!

John went and got the truck, and Janine wheeled me out in a wheelchair.  It's a beautiful day, she wanted to go outside.  :)

We went to my work, to get my schedule.  Then we went to Bomgaars to look at chicks.  I wanted to look at them.  They're cute.

Then we came home.  I'm doing fine.  I've had a milkshake like my brother, whose birthday it is today, and I used to make when we were doing dishes.  In honor of it being his birthday.  :D

Also got apple sauce and well chewed beef jerky.  

Now I'm sitting on the sofa, feeling pretty good about having managed 'middle aged adulting'!

Colonoscopy

 My opinion of prep is EEEEEEEEEWWWWWWWWWWWWW

This cannot be emphasized enough.  Totally gross.

Will power is getting this stuff down, without me spitting it back up.

This is warm water, times a million.  

Each drink is an instant fight to not gag.

Kinda like a really thin oil.  Faintly slimy.  

Worst part is, I don't drink this much in any given three or so DAYS, so drinking this much before tomorrow morning is totally odd.

Marginally, by the slimmest margins, better cold.

One positive, it has definitely put an end to my dry mouth for the day.

I am LESS!

 And that's a good thing.  :D
I'm UNDER 180!!!!!
I weighed myself, and I'm at 179lbs today!!!

I also checked my blood pressure, as I do every morning.  
91/70
that seems pretty low to me

Not sure if I should contact my doctor or not.  
I will, of course, continue to watch it, since that's what she told me to do.

I've cut back on a lot of my salt, and combined with meds for hypertension, that's probably the cause.  It's likely that I could take out the hypertension med and keep the salt down, and be fine.  I'll ask her, at my next appointment.

More thoughts for today

 I was actually 'bad' yesterday, food wise.

Lot of sodium/sugar.

It was definitely reflected in my numbers this morning.  

122/95 bp

171 mg/dL sugar

I should have skipped the cake, the muffin, and who knows what sodium was in the hash.  

I am still trying.  Doing better, which is shown by the weight loss, but not perfect, which is shown by my numbers today.  

Just keep swimming!

The bruise - eep!

 Here's a pic of the bruise, if you're curious.  

I won't experiment to see if what happened is duplicable.  But I do have a suspicion.

Weighed myself!

 Much glee!

I weighed myself today.  182.6lbs!
That's great!  Down 2.2lbs from May 1st.

So, despite me feeling like I can't possibly be 'doing it right', I must be.  

By the way, I'm not sponsored by the company, but I REALLY like the fitindex smart scales.  

Lots of information.  

I will post before and after pics, when I get below 180lbs.  
I didn't see any point to posting 'before' pics, until I had an after, LOL.

Nothing like numerical confirmation that you're going in the right direction.  

I feel much better about myself.

Almost 3 weeks

 Been 19 days since I started my new medications. 

I have seen a significant reduction of my morning blood sugar.  Today was *almost* normal.  135mg/dl

That's high for a non-diabetic while fasting, but considering when I started I was in the 300's, I'll take it. 

Blood pressure is looking more normal.  Hopefully my diastolic starts responding more to the meds.  Mostly 80's.  I'd like to see more 70's or even 60's.  

Roast beef hash and an egg with cheese for breakfast.  Sodium intake is still high.  I am trying to be more mindful of what I eat.  It's really hard.  (I know, I know)

Gave myself a whopper of a bruise with my injection a few days ago.  

I'll weigh myself when we get home.  

I'm tired.  Stupid KU.  Too damn easy to just "one more" with it.

And, my eyes itch.  dry skin.  To borrow a phrase: Moisturize me!

Blood Pressure

 So, my doctor determined I had hypertension.  (High Blood pressure for those who don't understand doctor speak well)

She put me on a med for that.  

Today's measurement:
108/83 with a pulse of 111

ONE of these is a good number.

I've been removing some salt from my diet.  
Literally haven't added any outside salt to anything.  Tonight's steak was cooked using pepper/garlic/onion.  No salt.  No salt added to my salad.  Probably had salt in the dressing, but nothing I added.  (Side note, steak is tasty.  I can tell there is no salt added, but it isn't bad, just different)

My diastolic (bottom number) and my pulse have both been high since my accident in 2016.  
Nothing I do seems to drop them very much.  I think my *sleeping* pulse is like 76 or something.  It doesn't get much more relaxed than sleeping.  It's worried me, minorly, since I noticed it.  

We'll see how it goes.  

oo

just did a quick google search
Looks like the 83 diastolic is actually an ok high normal number.  :)

Alright, dinner eaten, gotta put the leftovers away, then go to bed.  So tired.  and working at 8 tomorrow

New Meds

 So today I started the last of my new meds.  Got the Victoza and Levothyroxine.

Levo is very tiny.  I have to take it at least half an hour before I eat.  So, I decided to take it at about 6am.

Victoza didn't hurt at all.  That was nice.  I was expecting a more painful needle.  But I guess it's because I usually have blood drawn, and that needle has to be a lot bigger than the needle needed for a thinner (? phrasing) liquid.  I was very careful, since I expected more discomfort.  

So, now I have to get some more pen needles, which we might have, just have to find them.  Or get them from the pharmacy.  I might also stock up on alcohol wipes.  we have a box, but it won't hurt to get more.  

Mammogram later today.  

I finally looked at my numbers.  
ouch.
triglycerides are SUPER high.  526mg

HDL is at 40mg - low, but still in range.  

I'm a mess.

My blood *pressure* is lower.  But my pulse is still around 100 bpm.  Has been since my accident in 2016.  Just like my diastolic has been high.  

Starting again. Sigh

Started with 'my fitness pal' again.

gonna try to log most of what I eat. 

Since I decided to do this yesterday, after dinner, yesterday is what I remembered.  I forgot my milk until this morning.  Since I had the cup next to the sofa, and forgot THAT until this morning, which is what reminded me.

I had a muffin and a cup of tea (black and unsweetened).

Put both of those into the log.

I took my pills.  did the whole blood pressure/glucose/heart rate thing.

hmm.  It's barely possible I might go to the gym. 

I might be pissed at myself for letting me get as bad as I am.  but only in a 'I'm gonna do better' way.

Sad Doctor Visit

 So.  yeah

Diabetes.  knew that one

Hypertension

Hypothyroidism

high cholesterol

Ear Infection - chronic

I don't know all the true numbers yet.

oh, Vitamin D deficient

Walkies

 :)
So I have downloaded Niantic's latest walking app.  Pikmin Bloom.

Apparently it's based on Nintendo's Pikmin games.  

I just got to level 15, I think.  That opened up "challenges". Which seem to be the pikmin attacking mushrooms.  I did three today.  Now my pikmin are tired.  

I'm liking planting different color flowers.  

I walked just under 2 miles.  I stopped when my hip started being twinge-y.  

I like this game.  It's fun.  Today, I actually had the sound on, and the music is cute.  Good for walking, conveniently.  :D

That's all for now.  

:) Seriously enjoying the 'warm' weather right now.  43 degrees.  :D glee

Here we go, new year.

 Clearly I'm not gonna do resolutions.  I just do the stuff that makes me happy.  Or try, anyway. 

Got a couple short walks in.  One long walk about a week ago.  That was ok, but I had a fall and now when I wake up, I get dizzy.  Goes away quickly but still...

Still not doing great on the preplanning thing, but doing a *bit* better.  

Been reading a bit more.  It's hard to want to go out for a walk when it's 2 degrees with a feels like of -17.  I'm american, so those are fahrenheit.

I might go and read some books written by friends.  Most of the series have the first 'arcs' tied up.  That would be nice.  

If you like what's called "Urban Fantasy", check out John P. Logsdon, Orlando Sanchez, and M.D.Cooper.  All fabulous people who write in that genre.  Check'em out! 

OOPS!
MD isn't really urban fantasy!  Space Opera for the win!  :D