[Mari]

Kay,

So excited for you that you have a brand new a/c!!!!!!
I do not believe that I have ever seen one with a remote. That is cool.
The very best thing in the world is having a reliable a/c. Maybe your
electric bills will go down with this machine being more efficient than
the one you had. Enjoy the summer.

The clear liquid rule but coffee is o.k. is confusing to me.
Three years ago, my PCP sent me to a GI for a routine colonoscopy check.
I broke down crying my eyes out in the GI's office because her directions were too ******* complicated.
. . .especially when she combined the food rules with the sleep rules: When you go to bed this. . . .when you wake up the day before you start or stop this.

No way Jose. Not going to happen. My sleep is too messed up to have to figure out all of that. Not possible to figure out what she means by "when you go to bed the night before." What time is that for me??
. . going to deal with that some other time.
=-=-=-=-


'Hoping that you did fine with the procedure.

Sometimes men get it together for no particular reason.
I am hoping that he can start
being easier to live with.

Hugs to you both.

M

[OhKay]

Mari,

The new AC is light years ahead of the new one! The remote for it is ****ing confusing though! I've gone over the user manual several times and still don't understand how to use it. Some of the features are only helpful if you already know what temperature the AC is set at.
There are a few energy saving features on the new AC, and working fan settings, so we should save quite a bit on our electric bill when I get a hang of things though

My husband's only going to be 39 next month. Unfortunately, I think he has a couple more fiery decades in him before he slows down. He was a little bitchy when he first picked me up yesterday, but his mood improved when we got home. I hope he relaxes since he has the weekend off from work and family obligations.

They consider black coffee a clear liquid. According to my hospital, so is cola. Most medical practices and hospitals give patients handouts with a complete list of acceptable clear liquids now. There are some you have to avoid because the dyes that are added to them mimic blood. And they should have told you no solid food for 8 hours since some people work different shifts and their sleep patters differ. Doctors should be doing everything they can to make things simpler and easier for patients so they get these tests done.

The endoscopy went fine aside from the fact that they were running behind. I know for a fact that my gastro didn't find any structural reason for my swallowing problems and I will have to have the modified barium swallow. I just don't know which doctor will order it. I don't have an answer as to why I have the reflux problems either, but that may be related to the dysphagia. I didn't get a chance to ask because my doctor was running behind and I only got to read the discharge notes. He took several biopsies and is sending them for microscopic analysis. He's checking for microbes and is testing me for Celiac disease again (he tested me for antibodies last time and the results were negative).

I could tell he took biopsies because I had what felt like a sore throat, and when I ate when I got home I had a little pain. I took my usual nap in the afternoon and was otherwise fine. I slept in until almost 9am this morning, which is amazing

I just have to figure out now who is going to order the barium swallow. I guess I'll call my gastro's office some time next week and ask if they will. It makes sense for them to do it since it is their department. They can sent a report to my neurologist.

So no big deal.

[bizi]

oh happy day about your new a/c!!!!!
You will figure it out I know you will.
You are a smart lady.
can you program it to run during certain times of the day at different temps?
I wish you the best of luck figuring it out!
((((HUGS))))
bizi

[Mari]

Kay,

It is good to hear that the procedure was performed successfully.
I forget what the docs can learn from the results of the barium swallow

My PCP ran the antibody test for gluten but I was not eating any gluten during the time -- so I think the negative test results are not helpful.
She also ran gene tests which I believe are not 100% reliable for dx-ing but
I have not studied this extensively.

=-=-=-
You are right about your husband's age. I forgot about men mellowing.

Hubby does not seem to have mellowed after 20 years together but maybe he has and
we have adjusted to each other's ways along the way.

My father is much more accommodating and more aware of other
people's needs than he was when he was younger.

(But somehow seems to be getting closer to mania now than he he was
when he was younger.
Right now that manifests as this: at times very focused/ being a lousy listener/ talking fast and with pressure)

M

[bizi]

How do you handle him when he is like this?
does it interfer with work?
does he cycle? depressed?
would he consider meds?
Maybe he doesn't see a problem?
bizi

[OhKay]

It's going to take a while before I can get a handle on the AC remote. I'm not even going to try to tackle the sleep feature on the AC at all. I can pick some technical things easily, other things are impossible.

My husband knows he has a problem with alcohol, anxiety, and his temper. I know that he suffers from depression. He doesn't cycle. After I was diagnosed with MS, he had a hard time dealing with things, and I got him to see a pdoc. He tried Prozac for a month, went twice, and quit. He went to one tdoc appointment and refused to go back. I recently made an open-ended offer to make an appointment if he was interested in going back, but he refused and wasn't happy I offered. I try to be supportive, but try not to be too intrusive because that can set him off. When he gets agitated I try to stay out of his way. It's more of a case of me adjusting my behavior to suit his than anything else.

He works very hard and usually burns out at jobs within 4 years, but has been at this one for 5. He is not happy, but neither are all the other experienced guys because of how the company is being run. I think he behaves himself at work and brings his frustrations home with him though. He tends to let things go until he blows up. Sometimes I worry he'll lose it and quit one day. He recently got into a huge fight with a very close friend he also works with. He was more than justified, but he has told his boss he refuses to work with the guy. I don't think it will be a problem, but it is an unfortunate situation. I hope they make up.

My father is is a BPI alcoholic. He turned 69 in May. He has slowed down a lot, but not entirely. His baseline is depression now, he drinks less, and he has a slight bit of some form of dementia now (probably due to his drinking). But he is still capable of very self-destructive periods of mania and experienced one as recently as last year. He has bankrupted himself and his business over the past 2 years or so during manic episodes. I don't know if it's because of the dementia, but when I was living him prior to my suicide attempt he was manic and became physically abusive at one point, and he hadn't been like that since his mid to late 50s.


The barium swallow will basically just identify what my swallowing problems are. I've had one before. They gave me graham crackers with different consistencies of barium to eat and they took X-rays while I tried to swallow them. It has it's limitations though. Unless they have come up with something new, they aren't able to see how well you do with thin liquids because you can't get barium in that consistency, and they can't see how you do with crumbly things like crackers because everything you eat has to be coated in barium, and those are two things people have a lot of trouble with.

[Mari]

Kay,

I am pulling for your husband to find ways to mange his emotional days better.

You exercise a great deal of patience with the medical procedures.

Did you look on YouTube in case someone is explaining your a/c or a/c manual?


M

[OhKay]

I haven't tried looking on Youtube for the AC tutorial. I usually do better with reading instructions and trial and error. I just haven't put the work in. I may fool around with it today since my husband isn't home. He gets impatient with me. He hasn't taken the time to get to know the AC yet either. He doesn't DO directions, so I had to explain the basic features of the remote to him, and he is Mr. Electronics.

My husband was in a good mood this weekend. YAY! I was disappointed because he got bombed on Friday and passed out before 7:30pm, but he stayed up past midnight on Saturday, and until 10pm last night. He passed on food shopping with me on Saturday, but he at least he brought in all the bags. I ran errands, and brought him to the liquor store Saturday night, but otherwise we stayed in as usual.

It's becoming clear that he's frustrated by my naps though. Part of it is that they are consistently taking longer now, but I can't help that. I planned on skipping my nap on Saturday, but he ended up telling me to take one because I guess I wasn't making sense. I slept for 3 hours. I get to the point where I just have to lay down, it's hard to wake up, and I never really feel much better after I sleep, but that's what you get with MS. It's frustrating. I haven't noticed any difference since stopping the amantadine. I don't think it was ever helping.

My online coffee order from Keurig arrived. I was able to try the "cappuccino" k-cups. It's not a cappuccino machine, so they're obviously not the real deal, but they were tasty and something different. My husband wasn't a fan though. They come 9 to a box, and I only ordered 1 box. I ordered (4) 24-count boxes of Green Mountain Colombian Fair Trade Select K-cups. I prefer it, but it only comes in a smaller size at our supermarket. It's not economical, so I won't buy it, and buy a 36-count of Nantucket Blend which is also very good instead. I figured I'd take advantage of my promotional coupon this time and stock up. I saved $35 and won't have to buy any coffee for a while

I intended to go to the club (again) this morning because it's been so long, but it's going to be over 90 degrees today and I really shouldn't be out when it's so hot. So, I'm going to have to put it off (again) until tomorrow when it will be slightly cooler at about 85 degrees. I'm going to have to go tomorrow come rain or shine because I just can't keep putting it off.

[bizi]

HI kay!
it has been hot hot here and humid. My newish uniforms do not breath well, more poly than cotton. It is only june!
I am hoping it is cooler for you so that you are able to get to the center.
I am still so glad that you have a new A/C unit!!!!
bizi

[OhKay]

Bizi,

The nice, soft, comfy, all-cotton scrubs have their draw backs, too. In the heat and humidity they are breathable but can stick to you when you sweat too much, but I still wore them daily. It is really hard to find the right blend keeping comfort, durability, and a clean look in mind.
I found out the name of the Keurig cappuccino machine is "Rivo." It is actually reasonably priced, and well rated. Check out Amazon or Ebay, or do what I did and wait for a 20% off coupon from Bed Bath and Beyond (just sign up for their email list) to buy the machine of your choice in one of their stores or online.


I have the AC figured out except the sleep and timer features, which I doubt we will be using anyway. Maybe sometime when I am bored I will play with those buttons, too. I love the energy saver features. The AC will turn off when the room hits the right temp, or you can set it to turn to fan only when that happens.

Last time I went to the butcher shop I bought teriyaki steak tips and the marinade was so bad we couldn't finish them. I was surprised because it's an excellent butcher shop and their maple bourbon and sweet barbecue marinades are very good. I decided to roll the dice again on a house marinated sirloin, threw it under the broiler last night, and it was excellent. I guess if I want teriyaki tips I'll just have to marinate them myself. I mainly buy plain meat and season it myself though.

I got my copy of the South Beach Diet Book. I read the first 2 chapters and skimmed. It's interesting, but there really is not a lot of guidance at all about what you can actually eat. I ended up going online and downloading the official can/can't eat list off their website. It makes the diet very easy to follow. Phase 1 is definitely restrictive, but doable. I'm a veggie lover so that will make things easier. But I hate artificial sweeteners and will have to learn to live with that. I will be starting the day after my birthday, July 12th.

I AM going to the club today. I just have to get motivated to get ready… I will probably get in the shower once I have another cup of coffee in me. There is no set time to go. I just want to get there early enough so I can help do some prep in the kitchen. I haven't decided if I will stay for lunch or not. I will play it by ear.