Archive for the ‘life’ Category

A Health Update for April 2013

Apr 18, 2013 life

Well, it’s been three months since I last updated y’all on my health. I’d say I’m hovering at about 80% right now.

I’m taking my meds everyday – all 10 prescriptions plus all the recommended vitamins and supplements. In the morning, it’s like a pre-breakfast when I take them. I think they’re going to have to up the dosage on my Thyroid meds, though. My levels were off when I had my last set of labs done, plus I’ve gained 10 lbs in the last month, all in midsection. I have labs at the end of this month that will determine if those meds have to be upped.

This post brought to you by random kitten cuteness

This post brought to you by random kitten cuteness

My nephrologist determined I have stage 3 kidney disease. On the downside, stage 4 is where I have to start thinking about dialysis, but she says if I take it easy on my kidneys, it might be possible to reverse some of the damage. So I drink mainly water. I’ve only had one alcoholic drink all year, so far. I’ve also stopped taking Naproxin Sodium for my pain and cramps. The doc says that stuff puts a strain on the kidneys.

So far still no fluid build-up in my heart and lungs. That makes 10 months clear, which is good, because I have no desire to go back into the hospital.

What I’m worried about is my sudden drops in blood sugar. Maybe I’m not eating enough or at regular intervals, but sometimes my sugar will suddenly drop and I’ll get all dizzy. Today I had just eaten and all of the sudden my sugar dropped to 56 (norm for me is 80-100). I’m trying to keep written track of when and what I eat to determine if I need to alter my diet again.

I’m also having problems sleeping. I can usually sleep for 2-4 hours at a time, then I wake up and can’t get back to sleep for a few hours. So I’m not getting a full 7-9 hours like I should. I’ve had this problem before, so I’m not too worried, but it’s definitely not helping with the recovery.

Otherwise, I’m walking every day and trying to get in 30 minutes of other exercise daily. I still have to watch my heart when doing cardio. I have nitro pills, but I don’t like to have to use them.

But overall I’m getting better slowly, I think. At least I’m better than I was a year ago when I was in the hospital.

I hope y’all are doing well. Thanks for caring!

xoxo

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Getting Cultured in Orlando – Or What I’ve Been Up To the Last 3 Months

Apr 16, 2013 life

So again I haven’t been updating here for a bit, but I’ve been busy with doctor’s appts, and numerous lab and x-rays and ultrasounds. I’ve also been trying to funnel a lot of time and effort into making my CitySurfing Orlando blog the best it can be. It even has a Facebook page now.

And through the blog, I’ve been able to check out some of the arts and culture that Orlando has to offer.

Madama Butterfly

Madama Butterfly

Since February, I’ve seen a swing-jazz Valentine’s concert by the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, featuring Michael Andrew and Swingerhead. Then I took in the one-man theatrical production of The Odyssey by the Orlando Shakespeare Theater. And earlier this month, I watched the Orlando Philharmonic’s production of the classic Pucinni opera Madama Butterfly. It was my first opera since I was in high school. [Click on the links to read my reviews at CitySurfing Orlando]

I also got to check out Chuy’s a new Mexican restaurant in Kissimmee the night before it opened to the public, and I’ve checked out a few other places like Splitsville at Disney, and the new House of Blues menu.

It’s hard to get out and about without a car of my own, but thankfully I have friends who are willing to cart my butt around to these press events and general nights out.

The next major thing on my calendar is the Iron Man marathon on May 2. To celebrate the release of Iron Man 3, I’m going to the AMC Downtown Disney where they’re showing Iron Man, Iron Man 2, The Avengers (in 3D), and then Iron Man 3 (in 3D). You also get collector Iron Man 3D glasses and a lanyard. There are 4 different 3D glasses, too, so I’m going to have to figure out a way to get all four.

Because yes, I am that much of a geek.

So that’s what I’ve been up to the past few months. For those of you interested in my health progress, that will be the next post.

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2013 So Far…

Jan 19, 2013 life

At almost 3 weeks into 2013, I have to say this year is starting off better than last year, when I was so sick.

Me and the cast of DRIP

Me and the cast of DRIP

My first major outing of the year was to review a new show in Orlando called DRIP. It’s an artistic show that uses dance, paint, water and sand, to tell the story of love found and lost. The main twist is that the audience becomes part of the show, as the paint, water, and sand is flung around. By the end of the show, I was covered head to feet, but it was so much fun. Messy, but fun. You can read my full review of DRIP over at CitySurfing Orlando.

I also got to see the opening night in Orlando of Ringling Bros and Barunum & Bailey’s Built to Amaze! show. I hadn’t seen a circus since I was a kid, but this one was rather entertaining. You can also read my review of the show at CitySurfing Orlando.

Health-wise, I’m still plowing through all of the doctor appts I need to make. I have labs again next Tuesday. My rib pain has returned, but it’s not a constant pain. There’s a bit of swelling in the area, too. Hopefully the tests will reveal something.

I also got a new Yoga mat, and I’ve been trying to do a bit every day. I don’t know that my form is exactly yoga…more yoga-ish. But I’m sure I’ll get better the more I do it. That’s the goal, anyways.

On the downside, the niece of a close friend died unexpectedly of a drug overdose. She was only mid-20s – I only met her a few times, but she seemed like a nice person. Drugs just suck.

Also found out that Rhonda’s brother has cancer. They say that it’s treatable, but I know she’s really worried. Don’t blame her – my mom and dad both lost their lives to cancer.

So that’s my 2013, so far. How’s yours going?

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A Few Months of Retrospect to End the Year

Jan 1, 2013 life

Usually around my birthday, I wax all philosophical about where my life is and where I’d like it to go. Well, in September, I sat down to write my annual birthday post…and I realized how much I’d been through.

It was all a bit much, mentally, so I kept putting off writing about it. But I figure it’s the end of the year, I might as well do a retrospect type of post to sum up my year.

This is how 2012 felt to me.

This is how 2012 felt to me.

Today marks almost months since I got out of the hospital, and while I’m better, I’m still not at my best, health-wise.

The good:

  • No visible fluid build-up around my heart and lungs anymore. Even when I got out of the hospital, I still had some fluid, but it appears to have all disappeared.
  • My hypertension is under control and my blood pressure is the lowest it’s ever been in years.
  • I no longer have to take insulin injections (yay! no 4 needles a day!)
  • I no longer need a walker or a cane to get around. I may wobble a bit when I walk, but I’m doing it under my own steam.
  • I’ve lost 80 lbs since getting out of the hospital. I still have a ways to go, but I’m on the right track.

The bad:

  • I may have kidney damage. I have to go to a specialist and have tests done to find out how bad it may be.
  • I have referrals for seven other doctors, specializing in everything from my heart to my feet. Thank god for insurance. LOL
  • I may have some kind of damage to my left ribs. Waiting on x-rays to find out for sure. All I know is it’s always sore.

But overall, the prognosis is good. Or at least better than it was at the beginning of the year.

In other news, still saving up for a car. Can’t afford to be too picky. Just want something that runs well, gets a decent gas mileage and is cheap to insure.

I’m getting back into my writing. I write daily (mostly) posts for my Orlando-centric website, CitySurfing Orlando. I have friends that help me out with reviews since I can’t get around much due to the car issue, but it’s about 95% written by me. I hope to get my travel blog back online by next month, and then I have a third website in the works that I hope to have up soon after that.

I’m also going to work harder on getting fit and healthy. I know a big part of that will be losing more weight, but I’m more concerned with just improving my health, stamina and fitness. I’m not aiming for a particular weight or clothing size.

So anyways, that’s pretty much where I’m at, as 2012 comes to a close. I’m hoping 2013 will bring about more positive changes and experiences, and I’m making goals and plans to help ensure that.

Thank you dear readers for sticking with me and this blog during the last tumultuous year. I hope the new year brings you all many blessings.

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What’s With All the Unprotected Sex?

Aug 24, 2012 life

Right now, I don’t have cable. I use a digital antenna to get the local stations for free. Sometimes, I can get up to 10 channels. Some days, I can only get two.

Today is one of those days.

Unfortunately one of those channels is what I refer to as the “baby daddy” network. All day long, all they air are shows like Maury, Springer, Jeremy Kyle, etc.

Now, I’m not one to go around judging people by their sex life. You want to go around sleeping with different people, that’s your business.

But what really gets me is the seemingly high number of women who do this and don’t use protection. Then they go on these shows because they have a kid, but they don’t know who the father is.

Here’s a thought: if you used condoms and/or birth control, you wouldn’t have a kid, and you wouldn’t be wondering who the “baby daddy” is.

I don’t know why so many people refuse to be protected during sex with people they are not in a monogamous relationship with. Besides pregnancy, you also risk getting STD’s (sexually transmitted diseases) like herpes or even AIDS.

You can say, “Oh, I know this person and I know they’re disease free.” But what about all the partners THEY are sleeping with unprotected, and the partners those people are sleeping with.

That’s one huge germ pool you are swimming in.

So, please, if you’re an adult use protection. If you’re a parent, suck it up and tell your kids about condoms and why it’s important to be protected during sex. You can’t pretend they aren’t eventually going to have sex, and it’s your job to make sure they don’t end up getting an STD or get pregnant before they’re ready to have a kid.

I know this kind of responsible behavior will put all these shows out of business, but a person should respect themselves enough to protect their body when having sex.

[photo courtesy of Melbia]

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How Open is Too Open when Writing a Blog?

Aug 10, 2012 life

During my many years of blogging, I’ve always walked that line between revealing enough to hopefully keep readers interested, yet still having some of my life remain private.

However, in this age of social media, esp Facebook, I have to wonder if anyone keeps anything private anymore.

Now that I’m no longer using this blog to hold all my travel stories and other work-related writings, I find myself wondering how personal I should get with this blog. Or more to the point, how personal am I comfortable with getting.

See, I’m all for being honest and forthright. Ask me a question and I’ll give you an answer. But I also think there are just some aspects to my life that I don’t want the whole world to know about at this time.

Maybe its because I come from a different generation, but I’ve never been totally comfortable with everybody being all up in my business. And I still believe when someone confides a secret to someone, you keep that secret.

I feel my secrets are mine to reveal as I feel necessary, and some are just not an open topic I want to be discussed by the world at large.

I once revealed some secrets to someone I thought was a close friend, only to find them posted online on a message board two months later.

Talk about a breach of trust.

And to this day she still doesn’t understand how betrayed I feel about her doing that.

Not to mention that once something is revealed online, it’s pretty much out there forever now.

Which brings me back to my initial question. How much do I reveal on this blog to make it relevant and readable, yet still retain some privacy to my life? I guess it will have to be a line I tread as I write here.

I’d love to know what you think. Leave me a comment with your thoughts.

[photo courtesy of Paul Brunskill]

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