Internal Medicine 7/19/22

I returned to Internal Medicine yesterday.

Dr. B gave me trials of digestive meds and a muscle relaxer. I’m not optimistic about my system tolerating it, but we’ll see.

He’s looking for a local Rheumatologist to refer me to, and he wants me to try to raise the money to go to UAB in October. I still have that appointment booked, but have zero dollars to go up there thanks to the cost of fuel and hotel and food. He wants me to call him with an update on that before my next appointment. He gave me a social worker’s phone number and wants me to connect with them since I don’t have caregivers. He worries that I’m alone, but understands.

First thing out of his mouth when he saw me was “Miss Kelli, you found a new hairdresser!” I told him my hair is wild, but it’s too hot to have it long so I’m going to keep rolling with it. My weight is staying steady (he never brings it up and is fine with it). My cholesterol is barely above normal (an improvement from my teens and 20s), but 199 is my personal goal. My potassium was great. The K+ citrate and Liquid IV that friends bought me last year on Amazon is working.

My chronic pain (muscles pulling, burning, spasming, cramping) is so bad that I am unable to sleep, and I don’t really go anywhere or do anything. The more I try to do, the worse it gets, as ion channelopathies go. I’m going to stick with ibuprofen, and hopefully the muscle relaxer will help and not harm me. I told him I don’t know what else to do at this point. I have to have some relief and rest. He is doing what he can, and wants me to focus on getting to UAB for Neurology consult.

I still need to return to the dentist. It will happen soonish. I'm having too hard of a time sitting upright lately. I'm propped up on pillows at home, and the car I'm currently driving has a supportive seat in it, thankfully. But my muscle power is severely limited, to be sure.

I am hard on myself, and every day is a fight, but I will keep trying.

No Hot Girl Summer Here

Just a tired, broke, middle-aged Summer.

It has been exceptionally hot this season. I'm wiped out. My body can't handle heat nor cold, or rain or hurricanes. I need 75 and sunny year-round, so I hope if there's an afterlife, it will give me the climate I have always hoped for.

I bought a jet mop (I'm not putting the brand name here for spam reasons) and the cleaner that came with it wrecked me. I received some good input from my Facebook fam, and then saw a post on Reddit by pure coincidence that did the trick. I cut a hole in the top of the dispenser, squeezed the cleaner out, and refilled with water and peroxide. A little duct tape across the hole, and I'm good to go.

People who do not have chemical sensitivities have no idea how lucky they are.

Some great news from Twitter Art Exhibit: my postcard sold. 

Apartment inspection was quick and painless. They asked if I was making glass vases in the back room. Haha, no. I'm only painting them. I doubt it's possible that glass could be made in an apartment. The smoke alarm would go off immediately, I'm sure. Who knows? I'm a lowly painter, that's all.

I'm struggling greatly with HKPP, migraine disorder, and severe chronic pain. My Gastroparesis is somewhat improved, although I am still having to medicate and be cautious. I've started incorporating a few vegetables and grains back into my diet. We'll see how it goes.

I made gumbo the other day and shared it with the neighbors. They loved it.

I'm almost done with my dental work, for now. My next appointment is to have impressions made for a partial denture, since I cannot afford tooth implants.

Internal Medicine is in a few days. I am endlessly frustrated with them. I'm going to be having the same exact conversations we had last time, because nothing was followed through on three months ago. It is a constant aggravation, and one of many reasons why I hate going to the doctor with all of my heart.

NASA's new photos made me cry.

I started paying for laundry service for most of my clothing. It is expensive, but in my current condition, I am forced to budget it in. It will be worth it, I think.

Shoutout to that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles T-shirt, ha. They probably think I have teenagers. Alas, I am the one and only nerd in the household.

Little dude Asher had a birthday. Here we are, with his baby sis. :-)

I got fed up with my hair and had it all cut off. It's so short. I have no idea what to do with it. It doesn't look great, but it feels a lot better. I guess that is what matters. No pic on the laptop to show you, sorry.

My iron was finally high enough to donate blood again. They took a pint in six minutes, and I almost passed out. I'm not sure if I will be able to continue doing this, but I'm going to try. I have extremely rare blood for an adult who is 90% White European. I'm able to give to people with Sickle Cell, including infants, because I am missing certain antibodies that most people like me have. I need to keep giving if I can. They told me I'm among only 6% of donors who can donate to A-negative Black children. It scares me to think about there not being enough blood to go around.

I really hope some people who read this will consider blood donation. You never know who you might save by giving.

I made my first decorative focaccia recently. The texture was awesome. I can work on improving the design, but I really loved it.

 Oh hey, I did find a pic of my extra short hair.

That'll have to do, I guess.

I'll try to blog again before the end of the month. I'd like to eventually blog twice a month, like I used to. Talk to you later.