Progress - A Little And Stuff

After yesterday, I felt exhausted but felt like some progress had been made toward regaining my desired lifestyle !  I had an appointment with my Psychologist and had a chance to discuss the issues around the troubling events with family members a month ago .  I have some clarity as to what I may do in the future when I can think more clearly after hopefully getting further along with my medical situation  .

Following some diligent investigation I found that the X-ray requisition never was transmitted to the hospital Radiology Department.  No big surprise there !!!  So, then I set to work and after many phone calls and waiting on line for unreasonable lengths of time as of early this AM I now have an appointment for the prescribed Small Bowel follow-through X-ray series with contrasting dye (yes, Barium) for next Wednesday .

The joy that I feel is only because I finally have been able to get this Nasty X-ray test scheduled .  Let me tell you more about what this X-ray is all about . The procedure is performed in the Radiology Department . Nothing by mouth after midnight . Barium is given by mouth in small amounts and x-rays are taken as it travels through the small intestine . The purpose is to try to accurately diagnose bowel disease, obstructions, polyps, cancer and other symptoms .  Because of my chronic rectal incontinence (which I deal with fairly well) any X-ray with the ingestion of Barium presents a very challenging situation because of the lack of control of body function.  I think you can get the picture !

Believe me, I would not be going through this if I did not think it is important and because I have symptoms of undetermined cause . 

On a more satisfying note, I have been able to cross off many items on my To-Do List .

* Replaced the dead battery in home security sensor that is near the ceiling . Tall ladder needed .
* Cleaned two tube skylight ceiling lenses . Yes, ladder needed .
* Replaced dead battery in wall clock near ceiling in garage . Yes, ladder .
* Repaired door that would not stay closed that goes from house to garage . Thought it was hinge - not . It was strike plate .
* Replaced inadequate kitchen ceiling light fixture . Yes, ladder .
* Replaced dead battery in decorative outdoor clock/thermometer.

It feels good to cross things off the list .  But, it never seems to be completely blank .  And, no it isn't a Honey Do List because there isn't A Honey to do !!!   😶

The garden is still showing a lot of color with many flowers blooming. This collage shows some of the flowers today 😃.

And , one more thing !  Can you see this little fella ?  Pretty good camouflage , don't you think?

I think this is a KATYDID .  They look like a leaf .

I saw him/her this evening on my Calla Lily while I was watering the garden .

I hope your week has been going well and hopefully you do not live near the impending Florida hurricane .  If so - please be safe !

Mary

Enough Already

Please, no more Three Digit Temperatures for awhile !!!  It makes it so difficult to get very much accomplished when the climate temperatures gets to a certain level .

And, it is very challenging to keep the garden watered .

When I went out today for some errands it was 103 degrees .  I had to pick up some cat food for Ivy because her supply was empty .

I have been trying to find out if the recommended X-ray test has been scheduled . When I call , the message says that there is a 45 minute wait for "a representative" !  What is happening to Our World ?  I went to the clinic today to have blood drawn for my lab work . My next appointment with the doctor is in ten days . My most noticeable symptoms have been very swollen ankles which I have never had difficulty with .  I sure wish I could get more answers to what is going on with me . I really think I am dealing with inadequate care and I do not know what more I can do about it !!!

I haven't gotten much done for the last few days .  Feeling more tired than usual .  Psychologically , it is difficult not knowing what is going on medically .

Until next time .

Mary

Exercise Is Important

No matter what your age .  I have always been an active person .  Even though I have slowed some as I am aging I still continue to get a lot of exercise . Primarily in The Garden !  This year I have done a lot more in my garden and I guess it is being noticed .  When I am outside which is almost every day it is common for someone to comment on how much they like the garden and what I have done with it .  Much to my amazement , the word "beautiful" is frequently used .  It sure is nice to hear the comments .  Since I live so close to the Historic Downtown there are many tourists walking by especially on the weekends as well as the many "regular walkers".  In years past the Oleander Hedge around my corner property gave a lot of privacy and there was very little exchange of conversation .  So, this is quite a change .

Along with all the bending, stooping, turning, twisting, kneeling , some of my exercise is all the walking in the garden as the result of forgetting where I left a tool or needing a tool or an item that is on the other side of the house .

The weather has been cooler for a few days and that has been helpful for me to finish the outside work in preparation for the house to be painted .  It is scheduled for painting to start on September 5 .  I have purchased new outdoor security lights as well as one light with a security camera .  The world has certainly changed !!!

In a few days I will continue with my quest for answers regarding my medical status . I need to have lab work done and followup on scheduling of prescribed abdominal Xrays  with contrast medium .  Since my blood pressure is now in a healthier range I certainly am feeling a lot better .  Sometimes , it isn't until you are feeling better that you realize how horrible you had been feeling !

I hope everything is going well for you .

Mary

Fire Season Is Here

And has been here in our county for quite some time with daily grass and wild fires .  Our protectors (the Fire-men and women) have been very dutiful and diligent in curtailing the flames from invading surrounding properties and grasslands .

To make matters worse , we are experiencing an EXCESSIVE HEAT WARNING with temperatures in the 100 range .  When I went out to the pharmacy yesterday the temperature sign at the Garden Center said 104 degrees !  Yes , that is very HOT !  Fortunately , these elevated temperatures are expected to last only a few days !

It seems as though my little neighborhood which is very close to our Historic Downtown has been receiving a lot of attention from the "powers that be" who manage fire prevention and tree trimming around power lines .  This truck was across the street from my home this morning .  I am very appreciative to have this type of prevention activity .

Since the horrible fires of the recent past , California is doing a lot of proactive preparedness and prevention .  There have been town-hall meeting and there is certainly a heightened awareness through out the community .  It is Good .

My garden is doing well as long as I do the hand watering in both morning and afternoon .  With this hot weather it would not take long for all my hard work to be for naught .  Everything would be dry and dead . Don't want THAT !

Hope Your Week Is Going Well .

Mary

Bright Cheerful Newness In The Garden

Recently, I mentioned that I had become interested in the Lantana plant and that I had planted some along my driveway that has never had any plantings in the past .  Well , here you see a few Red Dallas' Lantana, a shrub type cultivar that flowers with a Dark Orange color that fades to a Brilliant Red that grows to about four feet . 

These lovelies were ordered July 15 (not even a month ago) through the Internet from https://www.almostedenplants.com/shopping in Louisiana . I ordered six 3-1/2 inch pots at $7.99 each .  They arrived healthy and wrapped exceptionally well .  Little plants with no flowers .  And, Look At Them Now !!!  I think the most important thing about mail order plants is to plant them promptly after receiving them .

I think they are just what the flowerbed needed to finish this portion of the garden .

My hard work maintaining the house and taking care of myself continues on a regular basis that is dependent on my physical ability .  It is really hard but I am seeing progress .  I think most everything has been done in preparation for the house painter to get started .  I did quite a lot of pruning of garden shrubs that would interfere with expeditious completion of the job .  I am getting a lot done and having a lot of pain , as well .  Even though my work in the garden is sometimes challenging , the garden gives me a place to spiritually revitalize my soul . Life is Good . 

Hoping the coming week brings you Comfort and Joy .

Mary

Another Challenging Inconvenience - Why Not ! - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Medical Update

Would you believe , a Water Heater Flooding The Garage Floor discovered at 2:30 in the afternoon on Wednesday ?  Can you believe that my reaction was one of acceptance with what was happening and proceeding to turn off the electricity and water supply line .  I said to myself ,  "Just deal with it" .

What else could I do ?  Let it shoot my blood pressure "through the roof " ? I think not !  Sparing you the details which were quite horrific , yesterday the twenty two year old electric water heater ($400 in 1997) was replaced with  a new water heater to the tune of $1225 !  No, it is not gold plated ! But, I should not have to buy another one in my lifetime .  I must say I certainly got my monies worth with not a single service call for the old water heater in all of the 22 years .  See, there is always "a silver lining in the clouds ".  I imagine and certainly hope that the entire garage will be cleaned out now .  Not sure how I will accomplish that but it is my strong desire .

Also, yesterday I was in the doctor's office at 8:30 AM for followup appointment .  The local medical care system is in a very disorganized mess which they are trying to improve .  A lot of time was spent with me to help me get the care I want and to answer my questions .  To sum it up - my blood pressure is much improved and the cholesterol lab numbers which were taken two days ago were much improved .  It looks like the change of medication helped! 

The challenge is what is going on in my abdomen ?  Why am I having notable symptoms ?  We reviewed the written CT Scan report together and will proceed with "radio-graphic small bowel series" as recommended by the radiologist.  The spleen report demonstrates increased number of low density areas  (? lymphoma - yes, that's the C word) since 2013 CT Scan . Extensive laboratory blood studies related to the spleen have been ordered and a referral to a Hematologist . If I did not have the symptoms that I have, I would not do further testing .  The reality is that most of us have "Stuff" show up on tests that never present quality of life issues . I truly DO NOT think it is cancer but what is the connection between the bowel symptoms and what is going on in the spleen, if anything?  That is the Big Question !!

And, then last night as I am finally able to sit down and relax my Home Security System starts flashing and says a battery needs to be replaced in the sensor that is up high near the ceiling .  Why can't this little inconvenience be easy to fix . No, it says something about removing the circuit board and placing new battery (which I do not have) behind the board - yada,  yada, yada . I don't want to figure this out .  I'm tired !  Perhaps. I could just wiggle my nose - like Samantha in "Bewitched" !

That's All Folks .  Til next time .  Life is Good .

Mary

Is Life Fair And More

Of course not !  But , most of life is GOOD until one day a big boulder (figuratively speaking)  hits you in the face and throws you off your feet .  As you may know I currently am faced with some serious and somewhat mysterious (no diagnosis) health issues .   I have been facing the situation head on and doing the best I know how to regain my health.  And then a BIG BOULDER CAME ALONG totally unexpectedly and hit me forcefully and knocked me down - - - - - - but, I'm Back Up again!

Out of the blue, the terribly Dysfunctional Family Dynamics of my life raised its ugly head .  The events were so very strange and troubling even involving the county sheriff .  It was crazy, crazy, crazy !

I wasn't even home . I was at an my monthly appointment with my Psychologist.  Just where I needed to be . When I arrived home, there was a note on the front door . And that's when the craziness started . The STRESS of this event is not wanted and I am working hard to regain my emotional equilibrium .

Setting that aside and acknowledging SOMETHING OF GREATER IMPORTANCE .  The HORRENDOUS MASS SHOOTINGS AND MURDERS continue and grow in number .  It is difficult to comprehend how our Country could have changed so radically in my lifetime . I feel so fortunate to have lived most of my life in a society that valued one another .  Sure, we know there has always been conflict of one kind or another but nothing could prepare us for today's world .  In my younger life I often attended the Garlic Festival in California and it seems so unfathomable that such mayhem is happening nearby . I pray that our Government Officials will do what is proper for the well-being of our Country .

I continue to try and work in my garden .  Recently, I have added some Lantana plants .  Lantana is a plant that brings memories of childhood .  I guess it could be called an old fashioned plant .

This is the plant that prompted my interest and then one thing lead to another . And, of course it is frequently a situation of what is available in the garden center !!! 

Yes, three different colors and characteristics .  Each variety has a designated place in my garden . Photos of them in my garden coming soon .

I'll be back soon . Next medical appointment Thursday morning .

Take good care of yourself !

Mary