SHEs Organized

I find myself struggling to take charge of some areas of my life. When i mentally step up to the "box" and become active, then everything seems to work well and problems are less (or disappear)

Are you in charge of your health?
Are you in charge of your home?
Are you in charge of your social life?
Who is.....

I definitely need to 'take charge' of many areas of my life (as I sit here cuddling in my robe).

First area will be to contact cable company to see if I can get our bill down!!!! It was $377.80. Took our cable box back yesterday and they dropped it all the way to $277. This for no internet or cable at all. According to them we've had cable since March 31st. Believe me I would not have been paying these rates. I did finally get the itnernet up and running last night. I'm not happy with this amount and will try to meet them halfway.

Now to dh: He had a double angiogram on Monday with plans to do an aortic valve replacement on Tuesday. Cardiologist is absolutely buffaloed. When he looked at his heart he found all the stents (10) in excellent shape and the valve a little worse than when they looked last -BUT not at the stage they would put someone through all that heart surgery. Did say his heart was noisy and may have thrown off some of his tests in the office. So -after he'd already told his 'boss' he wouldn't be working for the next 2 months, the boss hiring someone to take his place, an e-mail going out to everyone at the campground that dh would be on medical leave as of Monday -he could have worked. BUT, that being said, something is still much amiss. So we saw his Dr. yesterday. He did say his heart is 'noisier' than it has been.

Now they're (finally says I) looking at his lungs. First step was blood work and a chest x-ray. As soon as that's all back, Dr. may ask for a CAT Scan. From there most likely will be appointment with a pulmonologist. This would be my thought since his symptoms are extreme shortness of breath, light headedness and dizziness. Since his circulatory system was so damaged by radiation (from Hodgkins Disease) why not his respiratory system -it's all together. His spine also suffered much damage. He did btw fail the breathing test the Dr. had administered in his office. Sure the pulmonary office will have even more stringent tests. His breathing is not at the stage to need oxygen but definitely quite restricted.

DH has been extremely 'embarassed' by all the 'hoopla' but things may work for the good as far as work is concerned. He and his boss and the new hiree have discussed it and perhaps dh will work about 4 days a week -instead of 7. He'll fill in where needed and probably do some of the everyday things he does. But hopefully he'll no longer need to do the heavy stuff.

So prayer still needed but not for the extended recuperation at this point.

I'm finally on the mend and feeling better. No idea what 'struck' me -dh is sure it was 'nerves'. May have contributed but I have no idea.

Getting a much needed hair cut this afternoon and going grocery shopping.

Have my heavy robe on today -first time in months & months! It was 40 outside and 50 in this morning. It's sunny so should warm up pretty well.

Have to begin to cuop now that I have the 'net' again. Lost without it!

DD did a lot getting things a little more settled in here on Monday. I stripped and remade the bed yesterday. She even caught up all the laundry. Now maybe I can finish getting things the way I want them. DH has been out and about since 6:30. Old habits die hard. He is "taking off" a couple of weeks. He seems to think maybe he can get some of his tests done in that time. Do you think he's ever tried to make an appointment with a specialist????/

The Dr is checking dh's level for Vit. D and his thyroid as the cardiologist had suggested. Dr. had never heard of Vit. D and breathing being connected but was more than willing to check it. And as an aside -my blood sugars remain level for the most part ever since I started the vitamin D last fall. I've been taking 2,000 I.U. a day -now whether there's a connection or not it's the first time in years that b.s. hasn't been all over the place. That's my story and I'm sticking to it. Know the vit. D won't hurt me anyway.

YES!!! Dee is back!

Thinking of DIndiana today and hoping she will soon be home and feeling better.

Staying busy. I need to focus on just doing the cards instead of doing whatever i see. There is SO MUCH to do! It seems every direction I look, things are behind and needs attention. There is no way I can catch things up in a day, so just staying busy today will be a frustration to me. I will keep seeing more....more....more to be done instead of seeing what has been done. However, if I stay focused on working the cards, i will see the completed card count go up and get my "atta-boy" feedback from that. repeating to myself.....keep focus on positive......focus on accomplishments and not on what remains to be done......

Its late and I'm cold and not taking charge it would seem.
however
an internet search just netted me what I believe will be helpful info.
I found an "unorthorized" copy of royal prince alfred hospital elimination diet handbook- and think I see what I was having troubles with last go round. Natural sulphur foods and also the chemical that makes the difference between cows and goat or sheep milk. To order the book one needs a doctor or dieticians name on the order form. As to be supervised. Looking at the food challenges - no way do I want to eat those quantities to see if I get sick.
It would be for the information in it I'd buy it. It even mentioned the ssri does not work thing that I have. In the common problems w medications column.
I am hoping the handbook also has other info so I can see how much of the salicylates and amines I feel I currently can take. Though maybe the friendly foods (latest edition ) book has that info in it. I think I'll mostly be tweeking rather than doing the whole off all that I know and then the rest they suggest saga. I can look locally see if any bookshops stock it. Not that there is a local bookshop these days. Need to drive down the coast. I haven't really looked at the book I bought last night - its mostly geared for parents and children and seems not to have the food tables in it I wanted. Maybe I read it thru and pass it to daughters. I will read it though.
Interestingly dgs is selecting not to eat fruit - a major source of salicylates.
And dd seems to have stopped being a screaming heap at the kids. Maybe its the lack of oranges eaten now. That always did set of stuff. though artificials were crazy as too in the long ago days.

Anyway. I'm a bit excited to find some clues. Without needing to join U3A and see if I can get myself to sit in all the dietician studients classes at local uni. well - 30-45 min away. Even then I doubt I'd find what I was looking for without a heap of independant research..

Where am I going - to bed
when - after a shower to warm my feet and legs.
goodnight folks

prayers continue for Indiana and Mr Dee - that the docs solve the problems with both.

INDIANA UPDATE

Just talked to her. She is in a regular room and has been able to drop her O2 levels a bit already. She got hit with a combo of allergies/breathing problems and went in to get it taken care of before it got really bad. She sounded good!!!

DH and I got our walk in at 6 this morning as it is supposed to be 104ish again today. Friday and Sat it will "cool down" to 98! Then triples again next week.

I was able to get a lot done in the den yesterday (altho anyone looking at it wouldn't be able to see the difference.) I need to work on the rest of the house today as we are having a friend over for dinner.

Gotta get to it. TTFN

(Dee) I'm glad your DH's tests showed not as severe problems, but I am puzzled, is his valve replacement still scheduled for Tuesday despite the better tests? I hope further tests do not show major problems anywhere. I'm a firm believer in how we don't know how things are going to play out - perhaps this was all just to convince your DH to SLOW DOWN and quit working so hard.

I wonder about that with my DH too.

Lynlee, all I can say about your diet things is that I am glad I don't have to be so nit-picky about every little thing I eat. I don't know if I could keep up with what you do.

Taking charge: I need to do that in several areas around here. It's not looking very good around here. The urgent stuff is taken care of. The not-so-important stuff is piling up. Dinner / dishes / duds get done every day. Bills get paid. Dailies get done mostly. But there is dust places I can see, my desk is piled with miscellaneous. I am currently frantically trying to get done with some other stuff instead. I don't know how to stretch my day. I need to make use of every spare moment I guess to get it all caught up.

LOL hanging outside. Bills paid and in mailbox. Work hours log updated. Mileage log updated. I am 1 month behind in my spreadsheets. Maybe this evening on that. Vacuum is run in the house. At least that's something.

First, Harmony, DH and I are both doing very well. His surgery was a real success and he has had no problems. It puts our trip off a bit now to see dggd in San Jose, but will get there when we can.

Cowinkie - will you catch us up later? Dee, good thoughts and prayers going to you and DH.

Kathryn - I was blown away reading your posts. Things like this stick with you forever. 30 years ago I was in the yachting business in Seattle and also did some side work with Hatteras Yachts. My boss and I flew to Atlanta for a meeting of the dealers and one of the things we did - on our own - was to tour MLK center. We happened to arrive at Ebeneezer at noon, but a very kind little lady ask us in and she gave us the royal tour. She sat with us and talked about Dr. King and being in the congregation when "Mama" King was assassinated. Every MLK day when they show Ebeneezer I always point out the pew we sat in while listening to our "special little tour leaders". It was something I will always remember. A brush with fantastic history.

Happy Day to all!