MISSING IN ACTION!

Once again, I've been remiss about posting. I really wish I'd posted on Tuesday after seeing a new doctor. Actually, she used to be my doctor for a short period of time about 14 years ago. I remembered her name because she scarred me. Yes, she did a 'punch biopsy' on a mole! Of course I didn't expect her to remember me and that's all I remember about our brief relationship. We at least had a good laugh and I really liked her. I've cancelled my physical scheduled for May 15 with my old doctor since I will be seeing the doctor next Tuesday instead. Maybe having a new pair of eyes will be a good thing.

She already changed my cholesterol medication to another generic brand (I didn't know there were others). I was dreading having to go back to Crestor which would mean a $40 co-pay. I get a 90 day supply of generic drugs for free with my Supplemental D medicare coverage. My premium went up this year. That could be why, although I'm no longer on the Paxil (paroxitine). Problem is prices usually never go down (notice you only get 5 ounces of tuna fish).

I also stopped taking additional Vitamin C, E and Garlic. She mentioned that the multiple vitamin/mineral vitamin I am taking was enough. Apparently garlic hasn't proven to help your cholesterol and C and E can cause more problems for smokers. Hmmmmm! Easy enough to quite the vitamins. No comments from the 'peanut gallery' either. I have no intention of quitting at this stage in my life.

And with that said, I going to go back to my book. Visit my new blog. . . .

WHAT A GREAT DAY!

Yes, I'm shouting it from the roof tops! I can't remember the last time I accomplished so much in one afternoon.

I had a 2:30 follow-up appointment with my doctor. I left early so that I could stop at Micheal's first. I finally got the plastic canvas to use as a template for piercing. They did not have liquid pearls or paper file I wanted, the canvas was reward enough. Also got the Martha Stewart "doillie" border punch. Sure wish there had been a 40% off coupon this week.

I got a phone call from a friend on my way to the doctor's office. Since she has tomorrow off we plan to get together. That's something to look forward too.

I talked the nurse out of weighing in, after all it had only been 3 weeks since she last weighed me. Do you think she thought I'd lost weight? So, my blood pressure was 118/84. The doctor was pleased so I guess I am too. We discussed the side effects I've had tapering off Paxil. Although I only have the rest of the week taking 20 mg. every other day, I could still have some side effects for a couple more weeks. I can handle it! There was protein in my urine (another google) so I had to pee in a cup again. As for the rest of my lab work, I knew the red blood corpuscles were going to be high since I hadn't been able to give blood. This was the first time I've had blood work done since I started taking Pravochol (the generic version) vs. Crestor. My HDL and LDL were slightly elevated so she is increasing the dosage. Otherwise everything else was good. I do have another appointment in 2 weeks for a physical so I'll get the results of the urinalysis then.

Left the doctor's office to see my hair dresser. It was time for some shaping. I have always had short hair (see "self portrait" to the right). Understand, I have a lot of hair. It's very thick except at the temples, where it is receding, and the crown, where I have 3 cowlicks. Hmmm, might have mentioned this before. Sorry if you've been following my blog. That's a joke, note "followers" in the right hand column.

Decided to stop at Bi-Mart on the way out of Tigard. It's not out of the way and there is a drive thru Starbuck's (used to be Taco Time) in the parking lot. Since I didn't get Red Vines at Target the other day I got them at Bi-Mart. Of course I drove thru Starbuck's. Starbuck's needs to publish a dictionary.

It was only as I was leaving that it started to pour buckets. Not bad, not bad at all! It was also 4:30 so I figured traffic was going to be at a crawl. Not the case either. Did I mention WHAT A GREAT DAY I had?

Ta Dah! A new day dawns.

Amazing how good I feel today. When I finally got back up around 9:00 am this morning I was so happy. Three bad days in a row would have been such a bummer! The one good thing I have noticed since I started to quit Paxil is that my good days are really good. I'm motivated to do things, just the simple little every day things I let slide. The light at the end of the tunnel is very bright!

When I retired (6/30/07) I moved into my motor home and took off for the coast. I was a Workamper at an RV Park in Seaside, OR, for awhile. When that didn't work out (a story in itself) I drove back to the Portland area where my daughter and her family live. I stopped along the way to visit friends who live in Lincoln City (also on the beautiful Oregon coast).

Just as I was about to give up on workamping, I was offered a job at a park in Gold Beach. Well, I unhooked the motor home and hooked up the car and headed south. I had never been that far south along the coast. The view driving along highway 101 was breath taking. I felt like I was home. At the end of my 6 month contract it was time to move on (another story). Anyway, I unhooked and hooked once again leaving new friends behind.

Gold Beach is really not the place to be on a limited income. There are no doctors in town taking new patients let alone new medicare patients (I turned 65 in 2008). In a real emergency you would need to be flown to a hospital. Just made me very uncomfortable to think about all the possibilities.

That was a year ago. I have planted myself in Aurora, OR. I traded the RV in for a newer, bigger travel trailer. I have no intention of ever moving. If for some unknown reason I have to move I will have to hire someone to tow the trailer. I'm perfectly happy in my space. I've never had or wanted a large home and all that goes with the responsibility.

Jordan is my companion. She is a little 'deer' Chihuahua. I adopted her after I left Seaside. I had a Shi Tuz before I retired. He had to be put to sleep. If you've ever had to put a pet down you know how terrible it can be. I really didn't think I would get another dog but she is just the right size I'm so grateful to have her. She is such a comfort and joy.

With all this motivation today, I need to get busy so I can get to my crafts . . . . later.

What a day, what a night!

It's 3:30 am and here I sit in front of my computer. I've had a couple of 'smurfy' days. I'm due for a good day today. The ups and downs from going off Paxil is worse than how I was feeling before I started this process. I didn't have the headaches or flu like symptoms. I know it will be worth it once I'm off the drug for a while. Ten years is a long time! But I needed it at the time.

I finally had my lab work done today (I guess that would be yesterday). I don't know how accurate it will be since I hadn't eaten in 17 hours. The lab tech said the electrolytes might be a little high but they would let the doctor know. I had to pee in a cup for the first time in a VERY long time. It used to be common practice MANY years ago. I don't know why they stopped doing them and I don't know why she requested one NOW. Maybe since I turned 66 like all the other ugly tests you have to go through the older you get. Well, I see my doctor on Tuesday so I will get the results of my lab work then.

We had three beautiful sunny days in a row. The temperatures reached into the low 70's. It was so nice to finally be able to just sit outside. It's back to the rain. Looks like the Easter Bunny is going to get his tail wet. I don't know what my daughter has planned for the kids but I would imagine it's an indoor egg hunt this year.

Guess I'll try to get a couple of winks in before day breaks, maybe.