A Month of Stuff

Long time since I blogged!  :-)

Lots of stuff has happened in the last month.  Some good, some horrible.

The worst one was Hurricane Michael.  It came through east of my town on October 10th.  It was a Cat 4 hurricane that flattened Mexico Beach and Port St. Joe.

I was so worried about Neecie and her family.  They all came out ok.  The house had minor roof damage and she and Paul were able to get their kids over to their house.  When she was able to get through (at least one Verizon tower was demolished) she let me know what they needed.  I delivered that Saturday.

There was a dusk to dawn curfew, but I managed to time my entry just before the police car moved.
:-)
However, stupid me did not write directions down.  So I stop by a cop to ask if he could direct me to Neecie.  Luckily, I had memorized her address.  But he was from Pensacola.  So then I wander around and stumble on National Guardsmen doing wellness checks.  One of them was kind enough to make his phone a hot spot.

I got to her street and parked in front of trees that were across the road.  Climbed over them and a power pole and started walking.  Walked right past her house.  LOL - remembered the lake was too far, hear someone yell, "Paul!", turn around to head back, and here she comes down her driveway.  Hurray!

Since then I've volunteered with the Cajun Navy 2 Saturdays to help folks out in Callaway and Wewakitchka.  I'll be going again this Saturday.  The number of trees that were lost is incredible.  Roofs completely missing off houses and apartments.  I've passed out supplies, hot food, cold sodas, done wellness checks, and helped clear trees from a driveway.   I've met some wonderful people.

Last Saturday Neecie and I had a girls' day.  We got mani pedis at Cosmic Nails.  We missed having Erika there with us.  I chatted with a lady beside me while my pedi got finished, Neecie must have nicer feet because she got done sooner than me!  Heehee!
The lady told me about her house and the septic tank collapsing and all of it coming into her house.  And while Neecie was still beside me we told her about Neecie's place.  This was the only time I've cried about this hurricane.  I told the lady, "I needed to know she was ok."  And then my eyes got all watery. 
That wonderful lady paid for our pedicures!

Neecie drove me around so I could see the damage.  There was an inground pool liner in front of Taco Bell!

I upgraded my NutriSystem to be able to choose my food.  No more chicken noodle soup!  No more tuna casserole!  The orange cream bar, chocolate fudge bar, ice cream sandwich, and chocolate cupcake are delicious!  French toast or pancakes for breakfast.  It's nice being able to have something different every day of the month.

My meds seem to be at the right level.  I don't feel tired and my weight is sorta stable.  I'm about 194 right now.  I have been as low as 192.4 this month.  My goal is 185, but I'm not going to kill myself to get there.  I haven't been to the gym in at least a month.  And I'm certainly not going to skip any meals - that just sets me up for failure.  It would be great if the drug companies would put levo in a liquid form so that it could be more precisely prescribed like insulin.

I finally put my foot down about dog sitting.  No more favors.  I realize most of it is my fault for being so caring and trying to help others out.  But then I'm the one that gets to deal with a dog that scratches up my door or my wall or decides they want to wake me up an hour early or that I have to walk because they'll jump my fence.  I've had too many of them.  And it takes time away from my kids.  I'm also pretty close to the point of saying no more new 'clients'. 

We're still in the transitional part of our buyout.  But CDK does have so many positives.  Really looking forward to getting new medical benefits in January.  :-)

Notes for my doctor and me

150 except Monday and Friday then 175.

Sunday I felt horrible.  Tired and distraught.
Today I started coming out of it at work and definitely feel better.

I’m considering cutting the 25’s and dropping my Monday and Friday dose to 162.5 ish.  I know it won’t be exact, but that may be what I need so that my TSH doesn’t drop so low that it messes with me mentally.

Too Low

I noticed that Wednesdays were not good days for me.  I was tired on that day.  Sometimes grumpy.  Sometimes it would be Tuesday along with Wednesday or Thursday with Wednesday.

Levothyroxine comes in set doses.  And cutting the pill doesn’t guarantee that I’ll get 12.5 from each half.  There’s also been at least one study testing taking the whole 7 day dose in 1 day.  I was on 150 after my surgery, got put on 175 for 4 days and 150 for 3.

That’s when Blah Wednesday kicked in.

Got my blood checked last week and my TSH is at .243.  It shouldn’t be any lower than .4.  So oopsie!

Now I’ll be on 150 for 5 days and 175 on Monday and Friday.  Get retested in 2 months.

In the middle of dealing with the BW’s (Blah Wednesday) I switched from Citalopram to Effexor.  I like that I can take it in the morning and it doesn’t make me tired.  The week that I started taking Effexor I lost 2 pounds.

I’m now down to 194.4 ish.  I don’t really have any interest in dinner.  So I’ll usually only do veggies for that meal.  Which means I have extra NutriSystem meals - I’ll end up using them for my lunches and I can delay my monthly shipment.  Though sometimes I skip lunch - I’m just not hungry.

So 2 months and another test. Hopefully, this will be it for changing my levo dose.

She's got Betty Davis Eyes

Breakfast time!

All the dogs are very excited, as usual.  They all go to their bowls except Mort who stays right by my ankles.

I feed Cesar, then Adele, Jazz looks at me with those big eyes as I walk by her to feed Cody.

"What the hell, Woman?!"

She dances behind me and swats my calf then goes back to her bowl.  I walk by her to feed Mort.

The eyes.  There's confusion.

Our visitors get fed.  She's in the kitchen standing where a water bowl should be shaking a little.

I get everyone in their rooms and then hand out treats.  Except for her.

Sad eyes and the shaking increases.  My heart is breaking.

I pick her up and hold her close.  Water gets put down and I grab my stuff to go.

I do my final count to make sure everyone is inside.  And then I see Cesar looking at me with hopeful eyes. 

"I can come with you, Mom?!"

Dammit, these dogs are killing me.

Jazz will have at least 2 teeth pulled today.  She's got her mini Lambchop to keep her company.

New Low!

The 200 plateau was the longest and hardest for me to break.

I gave up my ranch cauliflower for celery and wing sauce.  150 vs. 15 calories.  As of today I'm at 196.6.  I'll also do green beans or cauliflower with wing sauce.

Last week wasn't very consistent going to the gym.  But I went Monday and Tuesday this week.  Did 15 minutes each day on the elliptical.  I'm going today for the same thing.  :-)

I'm weaning off my citalopram in preparation to switch to Effexor.  1/2 my regular dose since Sunday and I feel better which is odd, but gift horse and all that.  At the same time I'm getting used to my new doses of Levo.

Last week was rough Wednesday and Thursday.  But I feel really good this week.  Happy even.

My Tropicana Hibiscus had its first bloom.  And I have a black and blue salvia. 

Winning on the Elliptical

Today I did 10 minutes on the elliptical!  I was so happy I went to the 2 very fit staff members and asked for high 5’s.

I got ‘em.  Then they asked why and when I told them, they said 2 more high 5’s.  :-)

I managed to do 10 minutes after that on the treadmill at 3mph.  TV was broken on it, so I was stuck staring at the time which is way too distracting for me.

I’ve also still got the sore on my right heel from the shoes I wore last week that tore it up.  Stupid shoes.

I did have one morning at 197.6 - woohoo.  But I didn’t stay there.  Just gotta keep eating right and try to push myself a little more at the gym once my foot heels completely.

I really was down for awhile thinking I’d never find the right machine out of the 4 or 5 different types they have.  And the people using them make it look so easy with the swoosh swoosh.  And today I did my swoosh swoosh for 10 minutes.  Woot!

How I Succeed in Getting to the Gym

First, that is the oddest looking word - succeed.  Just looks spelled way wrong.

Back to what I started this blog for.  Getting to the gym is an argument with myself.  It normally starts that morning.

Me - I’m so tired.
Other me - Me too.
Me - Just want to take a nap.
Other me - Probably should skip the gym since we’re so tired.
Me - Let’s see how we feel after lunch.
Other me - The sooner we get home, the sooner we get in bed.
Me - That’s not true.  We say we’re going to bed at 8 and don’t get there till 9 almost every night.
Other me - Not my fault.
Me - The hell it isn’t!  You’re the one that wants to play one more round of AlphBetty.
Other Me - It’s exercise for the brain!
More bickering back and forth throughout the day.
Me - We’re going to the gym.  It’s 30 minutes and I’m not into anything right now for binge watching.
Other Me - But we have GardenScapes and AlphaBetty and Words With Friends to play.
Me - That will still be there after the gym.
Crossing the street after work.
Other me - Why are you going to the passenger side?  Look how close the driver’s side is.  Just get in and go!  There’s lumpia at home, Woman!
Me - Nope, I’m putting on my sneakers and grabbing my gym clothes.
Other Me - Oh damn, no workout bra.  Bummer.  Time to go home.
Me - Nope.  Just have to deal with sweating in this bra.
Other Me - Fine!  Make sure PokeManGo is open so we can track some distance on hatching eggs.

This conversation continues even while I’m on the elliptical and the treadmill.  Luckily, most of the time Me wins and Other Me just gets stuck tagging along.