I'm gonna try to catch everything up with this Update, but I'll be referring to other posts I've made about work, health, and car shopping.
Health
Migraine:
I did a big Health update in this post. The below updates have happened since those.
Since my last update, I've had three single day migraines. One of which I couldn't have worked through. So, I'm still doing good. I did see Dr. C and he was as happy as me about my progress. I was a little surprised that he immediately went into trying to find something to work on an existing migraine. I was honest and told him that I'd tried a lot and nothing really seemed to work, but he told me there have been several new meds. One was a version of Nurtec that's used as a nasal inhalant. Another is a combination and renewed mixture of two older meds, neither of which I've tried. He said that it's had GREAT success so far with almost zero side effects. It's a pill that will start working within twenty minutes. It's called Symbravo and is a new formulation of meloxicam and rizatriptan. The only bad thing is that insurance companies are unlikely to cover it initially. And it's expensive. He said the best way to get an insurance company to back it is to show them that it works, so he gave me a trial pack of three pills. I cant' complain as just that is evidently worth almost $400. It's actually more expensive, per dose, than Nurtec was.
Now I just need to remember to take it. I had a migraine since I had the pills, but forgot to even try it.
Diabetes:
I had my first appointment with my new Endocrinologist. Dr. R. He's... fine. I obviously need time to set up a relationship with him. He mentioned that my previous Endocrinologist was retiring and that his practice was getting a lot of new patients, so I imagine he's a little overwhelmed. He did note that I was experiencing some low blood sugars at night, especially when I put a new glucose monitor on, and said that since my A1C was within the acceptable range that we should reduce my insulin. It was at 16 units every morning, and he said to take it down to 15 or 14 units. I've started 15 units the other day and if I get another alarm for low blood sugar, I'll reduce it to 14.
Dr. R did mention that there was a difference between my old doctor and him. My old endocrinologist managed not just my diabetes, but my blood pressure and cholesterol since the diabetic management of those should be more aggressive. Dr. R said he'd just manage my diabetes. Not a big concern as my general practitioner can certainly pick up the blood pressure. My cardiologist has already picked up my cholesterol.
Sleep:
I got my CPAP and... yeah, as expected its not going well.
The actual CPAP I got seems fine. It's very quiet, with the only sounds coming from the air moving through the tubing and mask. I can't hear the pump at night even though it's right near my head. It's humidified to help with dry mouth and nose, and it has a little filter that you replace every couple weeks. It's even set to 'ramp up'. The prescription I have is for 5 to 22 cm of water (that's the measurement of air pressure). The 'ramp up' means it starts at 4 cm of water until it recognizes that I'm asleep. It then slowly ramps the pressure up as much as needed (up to 22 cm of water) while I'm asleep. Then there's the mask.
I breathe through my mouth when I sleep. I mention that as it cuts about half of the possible CPAP masks off. The first mask I got was one that fits over my mouth and just rests under my nose. It's still pressed up against my nose, my nostrils, to make a seal, but it doesn't go up over the bridge of my nose. This is what it looks like:
The respiratory tech that was setting the CPAP for me said it was very popular. Well, it didn't work real well. The first night was terrible. I got the mask situation and turned the machine on. It blew some air into the mask and inflated the 'pillow' that makes the seal around my mouth and nose. It was odd feeling, but fine. I did notice the pressure but could breathe easily around it. An hour or so later I woke up and felt like I couldn't breathe. There was a LOT of air being pushed at me, making me gasp. Later, I realized it was making it difficult to breathe OUT, not in but at the time I felt that I couldn't get air into my lungs. I thankfully looked at the pressure before turning the machine off, and saw that it was only at 11 cm of water. About half of what it CAN go up to with my prescription. After turning it off, I got to breathing normally again, sealed the mask back on, and went back to sleep. I then proceeded to wake several times during the night with it either making me gasp with too much pressure or with the seal around my mouth and nose being broken and air loudly pumping out around it all over my face.
I tried this for about a week. I got used to the pressure, although it still startles me when I wake up to it. My initial reaction was to pull the mask off every time. Again though, I got used to it and didn't pull the mask off. But the seal kept breaking. Even when I got it situated properly under my nose, any movement of my head on my pillow (I got so sleep lying on my side) would break the seal.
So, I contacted the respiratory tech and changed the mask out to one that covers my mouth and nose entirely:
This was better and worse at the same time. First, it was less comfortable. It just put the plastic over that much more of my skin. It also seemed to retain more moisture, leaving my chin and cheeks feeling wet and sweaty. And this is where I could hear the air coming in the tube and mask. Only on inhalation though. When wearing this mask I didn't have the catastrophic seal breaks as I did with the smaller one, but it still leaked air. The leak directed the air up to my eyes which is VERY annoying. And I'd still wake with the same problem of feeling like I couldn't breathe. Twice, I woke up with the mask taken off, having barely any recollection as to specifically why I took it off in the night.
Now, this would be easier to handle if it was working. It IS technically working. I had the AHI scale of 39, meaning severe. With the CPAP on, it gives me readings each night and I'm now averaging between 1 and 5. In other words, 'normal'. But while the objective numbers show improvement, I'm not seeing any improvement. I wake up just as often while trying to sleep. I'm just as tired through the day and still occasionally nap. My headaches haven't changed at all (which was the original reason I went to have a sleep test). And now, because I'm struggling with the mask so much, I'm not enjoying my sleep. I dread going to sleep and can't wait to get out of bed in the morning.
Last night I ignored the machine and went to sleep without it. And I was fine this morning. Not better, but I did feel better sleeping through the night.
I'm gonna call the respiratory tech either today or tomorrow and turn it in. It just isn't working and I don't want to struggle through it.
Cardiac:
I left off in the health update that my cardiologist sent me for a cardiac calcium CT test. It's meant to rank how bad my coronary artery disease is. The CT was fine. The prep for a CT, getting on the bed and getting all the sensors hooked up to me, takes longer than the actual CT, not to mention getting registered and paying for the procedure. The results came in yesterday.
What this particular test is measuring is the amount of calcium, and therefore plaque buildup, in my coronary arteries. I'll preface the rest of this by saying that I don't know how to interpret these numbers. Everything I'm quoting here is in the results of my test and a little research I did afterward. I'll have to speak to my cardiologist to see what he thinks this all means.
All of the findings are put into some kind of algorithm and given a 'Calcium Score'. Here's the scale it gave me for reference:
- 0: No identifiable plaque. Risk of coronary artery disease: Very low, generally less than 5%
- 1-10: Minimal identifiable plaque. Risk of coronary artery disease Very unlikely, less than 10%
- 11-100: Definite, at least mild atherosclerotic plaque. Risk of coronary artery disease: Mild or minimal coronary narrowings likely
- 101-400: Definite, at least moderate atherosclerotic plaque. Risk of coronary artery disease: Highly likely, significant narrowings possible
- 401 or higher: Extensive atherosclerotic plaque. Risk of coronary artery disease: High likelihood of at least one significant coronary narrowing
This is where I don't quite know how to quantify the data. That is my TOTAL score. It's also broken down into regions. It found three regions of mine with calcium scores.
My LAD (Left Anterior Descending Artery) has a calcium score of 585
My LCX (Circumflex Branch of Left Coronary Artery) has a calcium score of 188
My RCA (Right Coronary Artery) has a calcium score of 332
By that, just my LAD alone has a "High likelihood of at least one significant coronary narrowing"
I stopped doing my research when I came across a site (it was a reputable site like Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic, I just don't remember which it was) that said a calcium score over 1000 equates to a 25% chance of a heart attack within a year. I just couldn't find out if that was the total score or the individual regional scores. So I stopped and am waiting for my cardiologist to either send me a message with more information or to call me in for an appointment. This could mean just more monitoring. It could mean more medication. It could mean heart stents and/or angioplasty. It could mean bypass surgery. I don't know.
Oh, and if the 'LAD' rings a bell with you from watching medical shows, it should. Blockages there lead to heart attacks called 'Widow Makers'. They're called that because they're devastating heart attacks with a LOT of damage and often cause death. Major blockages in the LAD don't cause minor heart attacks.
Mental Health:
Between these new medical findings, being unable to use the CPAP and the cardiac issues, and all the trouble B's new car has been (the one that I directed him to and am just as much on the hook for financially), I was very depressed yesterday. I got through it, but I'm still feeling down.
Finances
Fuck my LTD company.
I talked a bit about this in my latest 'Get To Work' post but basically back in April my LTD company approved my LTD extension. My doctor's notes said I should be off until my next visit with him in October, but they only approved it through June 15th. I asked them about it and they literally said that I would need to provide updated medical records to get it approved past June 15th. On June 9th, while I was on vacation in Texas, I got a text asking if I needed an extension, and letting me know that they'd inform me of any paperwork I needed either way. I'd passed my migraine tests in April and May, and was already looking forward to returning to work. So I replied 'No'. And then never heard back from them. I frankly didn't care as I was only approved for LTD payments through June 15th and they said to get it extended past that I'd need new medical paperwork. Paperwork that I wasn't providing them.
Basically... my LTD claim should have been closed on June 15th.
Earlier this month I had my social security administrative hearing. Again, I cover this in greater detail in the 'Get To Work' post, but the hearing ended with me needing some paperwork from my LTD company. I sent them a message requesting that paperwork and they send it on minutes later. A few days after that I got word that my LTD extension had been approved through September, when it would be maxed out.
Wait, wut? I didn't ask for an extension. I didn't provide any paperwork saying I should have one?
My rep, when I asked her about this, claims that they re-evaluated my paperwork and saw that it should have been approved through October. So, they extended it.
This wouldn't be a problem, but now I have to provide paperwork from my neurologist that says I CAN return to work. Until they get that paperwork, I'm listed as disabled by them and unable to work. The problem comes in when you realize I don't actually get paid by the LTD company. They're not an insurance company. They're the administrators of the State of Michigan policy. As such, it's not them that's declaring me disabled and unable to work, it's the State of Michigan. It's not a big deal... unless I try to get HIRED by the State of Michigan. That would look like double dipping, getting paid for disability AND getting paid for working. Yeah, this all happened around the time that I kind of HAD an interview at the local prison and then it got canceled without a reason.
THE FUCKERS MAY HAVE COST ME THE JOB I FUCKING WANTED!!!!!
Okay, that's off my chest. I just need to get the LTD claim closed, then I can start applying for that job again and other state jobs. I'll get through this and I have the money (since they paid me again!) and even my 401k to get me by until I'm working again.
Finally, something I noticed while looking at my medical records for that part of this post, I just got billed for my sleep study. Again. I had to pay $60 for the initial visit. Fine, that's my copay for specialists. I then had to pay just under $70 for the test itself. Then I had to pay $78 for a doctor to read the test. This morning I'm evidently getting billed an additional $406 for the text again. All of that just to try out a CPAP and find out it's not affecting my headaches whatsoever.
Family/Friends
B has had some anxiety problems.
We talked briefly about it, but I empathize with him. He doesn't know the exact cause, but he's getting panic attacks that's affecting his ability to work. His job put him on Intermittent FMLA so he at least wont' get fired for not working, but he obviously doesn't get paid when he doesn't work.
He's getting treated through his general practitioner, a physicians assistant. One thing he told her that immediately made me comfortable with her treating him was that if at any time he felt he needed to go to a mental health specialist, she'd get him in as soon as possible. At least she's aware that she's not the best person to treat this. BUT she has a relationship with B and that goes a LONG way in mental health treatment.
So, B is still working through his medication regimen. I was lucky in that it only took a few months to get my regimen right. He's right now on his second dose of an anti anxiety medication that he takes daily (the first dose didn't have any affect), and I think they're trying a different fast working anti anxiety medication for when he's experiencing an episode. The first one he took knocked him on his ass. It stopped the panic attack, but the result was he wouldn't be able to function and that's basically as useful as the panic attack itself. So, they're working on it.
I'm sure the problems with the car aren't helping AT ALL.
Entertainment
I didn't get any further in Mayor of Kingstown. The day after I posted that I got a deal on buying all of the Karate Kid movies including the one that was currently in theaters. It was a good price and I hadn't seen the Karate Kid movies in a long time, so I went ahead and bought them.
First, the first two movies are just great 80s classics. I just straight up love them. The third one is quiet a bit cheesier, but it's fine. I'd never seen The Next Karate Kid with Hillary Swank and.... wow, it was pretty bad. I can see why it took a long time to continue that story line. The 2010 remake with Jackie Chan was good, but it felt like they'd adjusted the kids' age too young. It felt really REALLY strange to see Jackie Chan beating up five 12-year-olds. But it's a good movie.
That leaves Karate Kid Legends. As I read up on the synopsis of that movie though, I realzied it was a combination of the original movies with Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Machio) and the Jackie Chan movie. BUT, it occurs after the events in the YouTube/Netflix series Cobra Kai. That's where Daniel and Johnny, the bad kid from the first Karate Kid movie, set up competing Dojos for kids in the 2010s and 2020s.
Fuck. That means to really enjoy that movie, I should watch the six seasons of Cobra Kai. So, I'm now watching that. I'm into the third season. It's a weird mixture of good and bad. It's cheesy, but emotional and satisfying. It has good action and they kids are at least the appropriate age (high school age), but it's kind of a sad love letter to the 80s.
In other movie entertainment I convinced B to go to the theater to see Superman. I'll say this at the beginning... I'll need to watch it again to fully form my opinion on it. Just before the lights went down in the theater, B and I pre-rated what we thought the movie would be. B thought it would be a 3 on a 0-10 scale (where 10 is AWESOME and 0 is TERRIBLE). I though it would be a 7. At the end of the movie, B thought it was a 4 or 5. I was so mixed that I couldn't even really average out my feelings. There were so many parts that were an 8. But there so many parts that were a 2.
If you compare it to Man of Steel, it's a 180 degree style different movie. It's funny and colorful and more or less happy movie where Man of Steel is serious and dark and dramatic. This is James Gunn at his best. The cast of characters works, and I honestly like how he worked hard at making Superman a goody two-shoes. He doesn't even say "What the Hell?" and instead says "What the Hay?" There are several points in the movie where he overtly does NOT swear. The fights were good and fun, if a bit different than Man of Steel. Superman, in this movie, gets injured and then heals up. He's 'less super' when he's injured although still very powerful. The comedy is pure gold. Nathan Fillion as Guy Gardner the Green Lantern is HILLARIOUS! And just the presence of Krypto (Super Dog) adds a ton of humor that isn't really explained until the end of the movie. Lex Luthor is great and satisfyingly evil. Even the Superman Robots are funny.
The enemies, Lex Luthor, the Secretary of Defense, Ultraman, and the Engineer fit their roles well.
The problem comes in the story itself. My biggest problem is.... SPOILERS, if you don't want to know a major plot point of the movie, skip the next paragraph!!!!!
My biggest problem is with Jor and Lara El. Superman's parents. The movie more or less starts with the Superman robots playing a message from Kal El's parents because it 'sooths him'. The message comes up and they speak in Kryptonian (which sounded a lot like Portuguese to my untrained ears) and basically say they love him and have sent him to earth for... and it cuts off. They explain that it was damaged when Superman's ship crashed. Later Lex and the Engineer get the message and fix the rest of it. It's said that computer experts looked at it and confirmed it to be genuine when Jor El tells Superman that he's sent to earth to rule. To take out his enemies. To create a harem and spread the Kryptonian DNA over many women. And that's never taken back. It's just handed out as truth. At the end of the movie Superman accepts it and just seems to replace his love for his Krypton parents with his Earth parents. But... what the fuck? It may be in some version of the comics, but I don't remember Superman ever being said to earth to conquer and dominate.
Anyway, I'll need to watch it again to make up my mind.
Finally, music wise, I've been continuing my trip down memory lane with different bands. I added six songs by Roxette, six songs by Three Dog Night, two by Wang Chung, and six from Def Leppard.
New Tech
Since it's been Mom, R, and me at home, we've gone through a bunch of different versions of our morning coffee. For a few years we just used the drip coffee maker and shared the coffee. But two problems cropped up. First, we didn't like the same strength of coffee. I like mine VERY strong, R likes his fairly strong, and Mom likes hers very watered down. Second, most mornings it would require a second brew. 12 cups just wasn't enough for all three of us.
I don't remember how exactly, but we eventually got onto the whole Keurig thing. The pod coffee. We could each have our own pods and make coffee as needed, instead of having it brew and then sit there for hours. That worked fine for a few years but we went through several machines. R eventually decided to go back to drip coffee as it would save money and if Mom and I didn't join him, he could consistently brew his six cups worth each morning and have plenty of coffee without wasting any. So for awhile there we had a drip coffee maker sitting right next to our big Keurig coffee maker.
After both broke at the same time, we bought the Keurig dual machine. It had a drip coffee maker and pod maker in the same machine. It was great as it looked better than the clutter of two machines, and it worked fine. BUT, it broke. Then the new one broke. Then its replacement broke. Then ITs replacement broke. This last time, when the heating element on the drip coffee maker side broke, we said 'Fuck it' and tossed it.
I did the shopping this time and came up with two solutions. The first was another Keurig pod maker. R would just move back to pods as the machine was built more robust for business use. I figured if it didn't last, then nothing from Keurig would. The other option was to abandon Keurig all together. Cuisinart had the best dual system, but it also included some extra features like the ability to make the Nespresso Espresso pods along with a milk frother.
Mom was more disgusted with Keurig machines than I thought and she went with the Cuisinart. When we first got it we had to make several changes. The machine is taller than our other machines have been and its almost impossible to open its top when its under the cabinets. BUT, if we pull it out far enough, it eats up too much of our valuable counter space. So I had to add a little wooden tray that slides in and out with the coffee maker on it. I also decided that while we'd never wanted to have the espresso pods, it seemed silly to not at least try it. So I bought a multi pack with like five different flavors/strengths of espresso. And WOW, I LIKE IT!
I have no desire to have fancy coffee drinks so I don't use the milk frother, but every evening after dinner I like to have my little cup of espresso. To accommodate that I needed to buy several accessories in addition to the espresso pods. First, espresso cups. These pods make less than a 2 ounce shot of espresso so brewing that into a our huge 16 ounce mugs looks just ridiculous. And if I'm going to have espresso pods, I need a place to put them. So I bought two cute sets of card catalog drawers that you'd see in a library. They have three drawers apiece so that I can fit six varieties of pods. And they work great, fitting on the stand where we store our K-cups. They even have that little display in the front where I can cut out the box and put which variety is in which drawer.
Finally, I like the idea of recycling as much as possible so long as it's relatively easy. Peeling the top of the k-cups off and tossing the coffee grounds out so that the plastic cup can be recycled is too much effort, so they just get tossed into the trash. Nescafe though has a recyling system for their pods. You get this bag from them for free and just toss the used pods in, grounds and all. Once its filled to a certain amount, you seal the bag up and put it into a UPS drop box. It already has a label on it, so it gets shipped back for recycling of the aluminum pods. The bag itself is rather large an unwieldly, so I bought a little compost bin that hangs on one of our cabinet doors (under the sink). Hopefully it will keep the smell from being bad (the coffee grounds will be sitting there for weeks if not months).
Anywho, I'm not one of those espresso drinkers!
Writing
I'm still having trouble. I'm even having trouble getting into writing at DX.
Michigan Football
Nothing new here
Computer Issues
Nothing new here. The Apple Music issues continue, the blank wallpaper graphics continue, but the wallpapers at least continue to randomly change.
No comments:
Post a Comment