A number of things have been grabbing my attention. In no particular order:
The foolishness in Washington. Oh my, we're looking dysfunctional to the rest of the world! The House is hunkered down, the Senate is in a holding pattern, and the president is waiting it out. This is no way to run a government.
Social Security? I'm wondering if I'll get my check on Wednesday. I've read a lot of analyses by economists, lawyers, and politicos and, while folks think Social Security will be funded, the bottom line is that no one knows for sure. That's not comforting.
Tropical Storm Don. I am SO hoping we get some rain and a break from the heat but it's not looking very promising. This is getting depressing. Huge, deep cracks in the earth are proliferating in my yard and I am SO sick of not being able to spend any time outside. It's still in the mid-90s at 10 p.m. Simple, brief errands during the day drain me and I'm especially sun-sensitive, of course.
Pain. I've been in quite a bit of it lately. The effects of the pred. burst I recently did haven't lasted long at all. Huge bummer. My back and my hips are quite painful but even my wrists hurt, grrrrr. I am still waiting for my internist to coordinate with a new neurologist and new rheumatologist to set up appointments for me. I'm very, very tired of waiting and I can't make the appointments myself -- I tried. Now there needs to be a bunch of paperwork filled out for the referrals.
Soooo, in the meantime, I'm taking pain pills regularly, something I like to avoid when possible. I'm in this for the long haul and I try to use pain meds sparingly. But, barring real treatment and doctors' care, I have no choice. The pain and symptoms are beyond the scope of my usual conservative measures to keep things remotely tolerable.
Not a good time to be me so I'm distracting myself with good food, Netflix, and some used book sale finds! I made homemade gnocchi for supper the other night -- yum! I'll share my recipe in the next few days. I watched the movie Secretariat last night and enjoyed it so much!
And I just finished reading an older Dean Koontz novel called Mr. Murder. VERY interesting! I started Sue Grafton's S is for Silence two night's ago and it seems good. When confronted with tens of thousands of possibilities at the Friends of the Libary's annual book sale, I rarely take chances. Because of my inability to walk or stand for very long, and because I have fatigue issues, I head right to the paperback mystery section and snap up the works of tried-and-true authors. I know I'll enjoy books by John Grisham, Sue Grafton, Dean Koontz (if you haven't read his Odd Thomas series, DO!), Patricia Cornwell, and the like.
I also picked up Atonement. I loved the movie and hope the novel is even more rich. That can be a gamble at times so I hope this one pays off! Of course, I'm always a bit worried about how Hollywood will treat my favorite novels, too, so it goes both ways!
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Social Security worries
Generally, I stay immune from worries over political games because I understand how they're played. They threaten, call each other out, refuse to budge and, in the end, compromise or cave. But this one is hitting too close to home and it's gone on too long.
Do I believe they'll raise the debt ceiling before the deadline? Yes. But I'm concerned that they'll do it so late that there will still be repercussions. The markets are getting antsy. The foreign media are reporting that our Federal Reserve is concerned and working on contingency plans. This isn't funny or quirky or "politics as usual" anymore.
And so I need to work on my own "contingency plans." I'm heading to my local cable company office to return the box and remote control and to stop service. I just have the basic plan -- no extra channels or fancy equipment -- but if my disability is going to be delayed or cut then it's $35 I don't need to spend. I have Netflix and I can get the local stations if I fiddle enough with my antenna. That will have to do.
I'm also experimenting with cutting my blood pressure pills in half. I don't take them because I have high blood pressure. I have a weird heart rhythm caused by my autoimmune stuff that responds to BP meds for some reason -- my blood pressure has always been fine. I know I can't go without the pills completely because when I've run out or forgotten to take it on occasion, the weird rhythm and palpitations let me know. But if I can get by on half a pill then I can make them last longer. My cardiologist has said in the past that it's OK to reduce to half if my BP is falling too low so I think it's OK to try this.
Thank goodness I just refilled my Lupus meds. Those are pills I absolutely cannot skimp on. My current dosage is just holding things together, away from constant crisis. Even so, I'm doing a prednisone burst because the pain a few weeks ago was troublesome. It was painful to even walk around the house and the fatigue was super-bad.
I have my thermostat set on 85. With the never-ending heat, I've given up on trying to keep the house cool and have to accept barely tolerable. I really don't want to see my electric bill, especially if the disability checks are delayed. The bill is due the first week of the month, sigh. So is my prepaid cellphone payment but that's only $20. I ditched my landline years ago. But the electric bill is a worry.
I will also have to cancel my medical appointments if this isn't resolved soon because I won't be able to afford the copays. I scheduled them a month ago and got the first available appointments so that means I'll have to wait months longer if I have to reschedule. This is problematic, especially since I'm having to self-medicate to control new symptoms that really need doctors' attention.
I'm blessed, though, to have affordable housing and lots of food (I stock up when I find exceptionally good sale prices). I won't starve or be homeless. Still, is it acceptable for someone who studied and worked hard but unfortunately was stricken with serious, incurable diseases to have to worry about keeping the air conditioning and fans on during the hottest summer on record because the politicians are grand-standing?
Perhaps I should invite our president and some Congressional leaders to my little home so they can have their discussions here and consider how their games are affecting the "little people." I'll make plenty of iced tea but the AC will have to stay on 85.
Do I believe they'll raise the debt ceiling before the deadline? Yes. But I'm concerned that they'll do it so late that there will still be repercussions. The markets are getting antsy. The foreign media are reporting that our Federal Reserve is concerned and working on contingency plans. This isn't funny or quirky or "politics as usual" anymore.
And so I need to work on my own "contingency plans." I'm heading to my local cable company office to return the box and remote control and to stop service. I just have the basic plan -- no extra channels or fancy equipment -- but if my disability is going to be delayed or cut then it's $35 I don't need to spend. I have Netflix and I can get the local stations if I fiddle enough with my antenna. That will have to do.
I'm also experimenting with cutting my blood pressure pills in half. I don't take them because I have high blood pressure. I have a weird heart rhythm caused by my autoimmune stuff that responds to BP meds for some reason -- my blood pressure has always been fine. I know I can't go without the pills completely because when I've run out or forgotten to take it on occasion, the weird rhythm and palpitations let me know. But if I can get by on half a pill then I can make them last longer. My cardiologist has said in the past that it's OK to reduce to half if my BP is falling too low so I think it's OK to try this.
Thank goodness I just refilled my Lupus meds. Those are pills I absolutely cannot skimp on. My current dosage is just holding things together, away from constant crisis. Even so, I'm doing a prednisone burst because the pain a few weeks ago was troublesome. It was painful to even walk around the house and the fatigue was super-bad.
I have my thermostat set on 85. With the never-ending heat, I've given up on trying to keep the house cool and have to accept barely tolerable. I really don't want to see my electric bill, especially if the disability checks are delayed. The bill is due the first week of the month, sigh. So is my prepaid cellphone payment but that's only $20. I ditched my landline years ago. But the electric bill is a worry.
I will also have to cancel my medical appointments if this isn't resolved soon because I won't be able to afford the copays. I scheduled them a month ago and got the first available appointments so that means I'll have to wait months longer if I have to reschedule. This is problematic, especially since I'm having to self-medicate to control new symptoms that really need doctors' attention.
I'm blessed, though, to have affordable housing and lots of food (I stock up when I find exceptionally good sale prices). I won't starve or be homeless. Still, is it acceptable for someone who studied and worked hard but unfortunately was stricken with serious, incurable diseases to have to worry about keeping the air conditioning and fans on during the hottest summer on record because the politicians are grand-standing?
Perhaps I should invite our president and some Congressional leaders to my little home so they can have their discussions here and consider how their games are affecting the "little people." I'll make plenty of iced tea but the AC will have to stay on 85.
Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Texas summers are hot but this is crazy!
Today is the 40th day of 100+ degree temps where I live. The all-time record is 43 and we will break that easily at the end of the week. To say it's oppressive is an understatement. It's dangerously hot, pathetically dry, and there is no relief in sight.
I have literally had to live like a bat -- blinds closed, drapes drawn to keep the intense sun and heat out. Lupus and the medications for it make me extremely sun sensitive. I was outside for about 15 minutes last week during the day and was careful to apply SPF 50 sunblock on my exposed skin. I got what looked like 2nd degree burns on my shoulders anyway. I really can't be out in this heat.
Sadly, it's not even cooling down well at night. We've been breaking records for highest low temps, too! It's still in the mid-90s near midnight and doesn't cool down to the low 80s until a few hours before sunrise. Then, the heat-up process starts again.
I've had to make some drastic changes to cope since I simply can't afford to keep the house pleasantly cool 24/7 and function in this weather. The solution? Changing up my days and nights. I'm having to stay up very late to do chores, exercise, etc. so as not to heat up the house or worsen my fatigue and migraines by doing too much when it's hot. There is a narrow window in which the temperature dips below 90 degrees.
I can't believe it's only July and we have another couple of months of this. My dogs aren't enjoying it, either. I have to put them outside in the middle of the night to play and run off some energy.
I have literally had to live like a bat -- blinds closed, drapes drawn to keep the intense sun and heat out. Lupus and the medications for it make me extremely sun sensitive. I was outside for about 15 minutes last week during the day and was careful to apply SPF 50 sunblock on my exposed skin. I got what looked like 2nd degree burns on my shoulders anyway. I really can't be out in this heat.
Sadly, it's not even cooling down well at night. We've been breaking records for highest low temps, too! It's still in the mid-90s near midnight and doesn't cool down to the low 80s until a few hours before sunrise. Then, the heat-up process starts again.
I've had to make some drastic changes to cope since I simply can't afford to keep the house pleasantly cool 24/7 and function in this weather. The solution? Changing up my days and nights. I'm having to stay up very late to do chores, exercise, etc. so as not to heat up the house or worsen my fatigue and migraines by doing too much when it's hot. There is a narrow window in which the temperature dips below 90 degrees.
I can't believe it's only July and we have another couple of months of this. My dogs aren't enjoying it, either. I have to put them outside in the middle of the night to play and run off some energy.
Monday, July 18, 2011
Diet changes and food choices
I've always eaten a balanced diet and believe in moderation. But gastro-intestinal problems that turned out to be Crohn's Disease have shaken up how I eat and the choices I make. Raw veggies are a no-no now. I can't eat salads full of them. And I'm supposed to cook my veggies to mush and eat canned fruit. Ewwww.
Probably the biggest change comes in the number of times I eat every day. For much of my life, I'd skipped breakfast, eaten something simple for lunch and then had a regular supper. I can't do that anymore. Now, I graze and I've had to find easy but nutritious foods to eat throughout the day since I really don't have the desire or energy to be cooking all of the time.
It's difficult. Salads are simple but my intestines can't tolerate them. Applesauce and yogurt work well but I get tired of them. Crohn's brings cyclical constipation and then going to the bathroom constantly which can make you not want to eat much at all if you're not careful. Like most people who don't even deal with autoimmune stuff, it's easy to get stuck in a food rut, tired of everything.
So, I was looking for ideas when a new Natural Grocers store opened recently in my town. I've been shopping there and have become very excited about the different, healthy food options available! There is no way I could afford to buy strictly organic and natural foods but the store is a big help in finding healthier products I can use to make my food options more interesting.
I am utterly addicted to their Sweet Pea snacks. A handful of those provides a great little pick-me-up any time of day! I'm also using the shirataki tofu noodles as a substitute for regular pasta sometimes. A little goes a long way if you have Crohn's, though, because they are chockful of fiber and make you feel very full. The store also has a good selection of ethnic foods, and I've picked up some Indian and Thai sauces that are excellent! Very nice selection of cereals, too, way beyond Kashi, which I've tried in the past and hated.
What seems to work for me now is to have grains for breakfast (through cereal with fruit or whole grain toast), some sort of veggie, fruit, or soup for lunch, an afternoon snack (handful of sweet pea snacks, for instance), lean meat and veg or rice/pasta for dinner, and then another evening snack of fruit or veggie crisps. Oh, lest I forget, I really MUST have dessert after dinner. I need something fun and sweet. Usually, I'll have some ice cream, a couple of cookies or a piece of cake if I've baked. That is non-negotiable and I pity any doctor who tells me I can't have dessert!
One thing that MAY be negotiable, though, is the source of the sweets. I recently got a free sample pack of soy pudding that I intend to try within the next few days. If it's good and reasonably priced, I will buy it and add it to my dessert options. If it's awful, then forget it. But, sorry, I will never give up cake or real ice cream completely unless a healthy option emerges that involves absolutely NO sacrifice in taste and texture.
Plus, I have really horrible reactions to alternative sweeteners which I discovered entirely by accident. I wish they'd stop sneaking those into "healthy" options because I now have to read the labels on products very, very carefully or discover the hard way later that I'd unwittingly ingested a food or beverage made with aspartame.
What products do you enjoy and recommend? How have you changed your eating habits?
Probably the biggest change comes in the number of times I eat every day. For much of my life, I'd skipped breakfast, eaten something simple for lunch and then had a regular supper. I can't do that anymore. Now, I graze and I've had to find easy but nutritious foods to eat throughout the day since I really don't have the desire or energy to be cooking all of the time.
It's difficult. Salads are simple but my intestines can't tolerate them. Applesauce and yogurt work well but I get tired of them. Crohn's brings cyclical constipation and then going to the bathroom constantly which can make you not want to eat much at all if you're not careful. Like most people who don't even deal with autoimmune stuff, it's easy to get stuck in a food rut, tired of everything.
So, I was looking for ideas when a new Natural Grocers store opened recently in my town. I've been shopping there and have become very excited about the different, healthy food options available! There is no way I could afford to buy strictly organic and natural foods but the store is a big help in finding healthier products I can use to make my food options more interesting.
I am utterly addicted to their Sweet Pea snacks. A handful of those provides a great little pick-me-up any time of day! I'm also using the shirataki tofu noodles as a substitute for regular pasta sometimes. A little goes a long way if you have Crohn's, though, because they are chockful of fiber and make you feel very full. The store also has a good selection of ethnic foods, and I've picked up some Indian and Thai sauces that are excellent! Very nice selection of cereals, too, way beyond Kashi, which I've tried in the past and hated.
What seems to work for me now is to have grains for breakfast (through cereal with fruit or whole grain toast), some sort of veggie, fruit, or soup for lunch, an afternoon snack (handful of sweet pea snacks, for instance), lean meat and veg or rice/pasta for dinner, and then another evening snack of fruit or veggie crisps. Oh, lest I forget, I really MUST have dessert after dinner. I need something fun and sweet. Usually, I'll have some ice cream, a couple of cookies or a piece of cake if I've baked. That is non-negotiable and I pity any doctor who tells me I can't have dessert!
One thing that MAY be negotiable, though, is the source of the sweets. I recently got a free sample pack of soy pudding that I intend to try within the next few days. If it's good and reasonably priced, I will buy it and add it to my dessert options. If it's awful, then forget it. But, sorry, I will never give up cake or real ice cream completely unless a healthy option emerges that involves absolutely NO sacrifice in taste and texture.
Plus, I have really horrible reactions to alternative sweeteners which I discovered entirely by accident. I wish they'd stop sneaking those into "healthy" options because I now have to read the labels on products very, very carefully or discover the hard way later that I'd unwittingly ingested a food or beverage made with aspartame.
What products do you enjoy and recommend? How have you changed your eating habits?
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Dying to see "Harry" -- and not
I've read the whole series at least three times through and I've watched the movies over and over again. I've been debating all weekend whether I should rush off and see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 2. I'm so eager to see it -- and not.
It's sad to realize that when the final credits end, that's it. Barring a major reversal by J. K. Rowling, there will never be another book or another movie. I don't think I'm quite ready for it to end. I've been watching the previous movies and the TV features on the series. Right now, in fact, I'm watching the Larry King special on the movie.
So, I think I'll wait a few weeks. Allow the crowds to thin, duck into a sparsely attended showing (probably a matinee), and savor every moment by myself without distractions. For me, I think, that will be the proper ending to the Harry Potter events. After all, it's not as if I don't know how Harry's saga is resolved.
It's sad to realize that when the final credits end, that's it. Barring a major reversal by J. K. Rowling, there will never be another book or another movie. I don't think I'm quite ready for it to end. I've been watching the previous movies and the TV features on the series. Right now, in fact, I'm watching the Larry King special on the movie.
So, I think I'll wait a few weeks. Allow the crowds to thin, duck into a sparsely attended showing (probably a matinee), and savor every moment by myself without distractions. For me, I think, that will be the proper ending to the Harry Potter events. After all, it's not as if I don't know how Harry's saga is resolved.
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