Back before I had any idea that I had MS (around 2004/2005) my mom had to have knee surgery.

I took her to Walmart one day, and we used a store wheelchair with the basket. I was pushing her around in the store. I walked away from her for a minute to grab something. Came back to get her, and someone was in front of her, pushing the wheelchair from the basket side of the chair to move her out of the way so they could get to something. They practically swung her around in a half circle.

She was so shocked by the move, that she didn't say anything. I was like "you could have asked, or waited. We still have shopping to do". Think they said something somewhat insulting about my mom's mental capacity. I can't remember at the moment, too tired to try to remember what the other person said.

Some people really make me hate humanity sometimes.


and on another note, while I was writing this. My regular doctor's office just called me. He had told me to call him today. I called this morning, but in the middle of leaving the message, I was like "Dr C told me to call him today, but I can't for the life of me remember exactly what he wanted to know. So this is me calling Dr. C back".

He wanted to know what my energy level was. It's still running on empty. And the steroids have made my brain a little fried. I told them I was still really tired, and didn't feel like the steroids had done much but cause me insomnia and make me more tired. The nurse said she'd call me back in a little bit. Wonder if he's going to throw some more prednisone at me? Kind of worried he might, but I almost think that it needs to be upped a little bit. Since I don't feel like it's doing that much for the energy boost that I think he was trying to give me.

I went to bed around 2am, which is about four hours earlier than I usually actually fall asleep. (I'm usually not actually getting into the bed till around 4am). I didn't fall asleep till around 430, and then I was awake at 9am.

hopefully the fact that I've gotten such little sleep last night, I'll manage to go to bed way early tonight. Our remodel for the bathroom and my bedroom starts tomorrow. I'm betting the contractor will be here seriously early.

I have to go take "Before" pictures, so that I can show off what's getting done to my room and the guest bath.


edit

nurse called back. Told me to finish out the taper, and see how I feel after that. I hate steroids. I really do. Hopefully I feel better eventually, as a reward for taking the stupid things.

Truly, what is it about Wal-mart that affects people like that...or does it just attract those that are like that in the first place.

Sally,
You aren't missing a thing at Wal-mart, so no need to add that to your bucket list.

Erin,
Sorry that your Mom and you had that experience at Wal-mart, but it pretty much describes the sort of things that I've seen go on there.

Rats! I was really hoping that your doc would come up with something to help you get through this flare. Maybe getting the sleep pattern back on track like you say, will help.
Looking forward to your before and after pictures. A change of scenery in your room might also help to lift your spirits...although through the construction part, you might try holing up somewhere else in the house.

With love, Erika

Erin I agree you should move temporarily while they remodel. Remodels are usually very smelly, and the smells are of toxic things, usually. You don't need that added stress.

I have only been to Walmart once. We have no big box stores near us here, so going to Walmart is a 40 mile roundtrip, and I did it only to get plants.

As for young people being crass, the TV news was pointing out today that their role models are people like Justin Bieber. They showed a segment of him being insulting to the judge who was trying to take a deposition concerning his bodyguard attacking a photographer. He looked very surly and superior. Who else do the youngsters follow these days--just as crass as Justin Bieber?
It is so nice to meet people who are polite and helpful, isn't it? That happens too.

I talked to the contractor tonight. Told him that I've been sick, been walking wobbly and with a walker. He said he would make sure that there was room for me to get in and out of my bedroom at night.

There is no energy for me to do any moving of important stuff on my desk (unless it's my iPads, or my new/used laptop). The desk is about three inches from the wall that's getting moved. (the desk is built into the wall. We're cutting off part of the wall where it curves (edited to add some info) the wall will be straightened so that it no longer curves, and goes straight across to the wall of the hallway. Basically, I'm getting rid of the little hallway that's between me and my bathroom. My bedroom and bath become an ensuite. We're doing this because that wall, where it curves is kind of an impediment to getting a walker into the room easily). He's going to tape plastic up to the shelves and cabinets above my desk to protect everything. And he's throwing more plastic over my bed. I'm going to try to stay out of my bedroom while he's doing the destruction part of the construction.

Think he said he'll have the wall down in a couple of hours tomorrow, and might be able to start on moving the vent for the air return for the HVAC. Not sure if he'll have the wall framed tomorrow. I have to talk to him about the door. Going to make it wider than it was. I think it's a 36in doorway (think that's minimum code...maybe?) The new door will be a little wider just in case I end up with new wheeled contraptions. Altho, I'm not sure how I'll get a wheeled contraption other than a walker into my bedroom. I'm in the basement. (not sure how long basement living will be feasible. Hope this flare lets up and the walker can go be parked against the new wall)

Erin do you have any stairs to go outside tomorrow if it is a nice day. That way you can be out of the way, out of the noise, and get some fresh air. Good luck. I love new renovations.

It's supposed to rain or wintery mix tomorrow. At least that's what the weatherguy said earlier. My iPhone's weather forecast thingie says that it's supposed to be 68 degrees tomorrow. But, still might be raining. I'm inclined to believe what Siri tells me over what the local weatherguy says. They've been wrong a lot this winter.

It was 75 degrees today!!! (I did go outside, but without a walker, and I had to stay by the door. Also had to have help to get back in the house)

I had to turn the a/c on because it was 80 degrees in the house! I did turn the heat back on earlier because I hadn't heard the news updating the weather yet, and set it to 67. If it's nearly 70 degrees again tomorrow. Our house will probably get really warm again. So, I'll probably end up turning the a/c on again.

I did notice that when I turned on the a/c, I set it for 71. When I went to flip it back to heat, the room temperature was 77 degrees. It barely cooled the upstairs. Hopefully that doesn't mean the a/c is screwy again.

"Not in a great mood today. I have a bit of a worry in the windmills of my
mind and must shake it out. Nothing I can do, without the fear of losing/
threatening a dear friendship. Mouth zipped is best, but very hard!"

How are you doing today Sally?
Can you maybe let your friend know that you are "concerned"? That might open a conversation in a way that is not threatening to your relationship, but strengthens it instead.

Erin,
I hope that the weather lets you be outside for a bit today, especially if the destruction/ construction goes ahead. Hope that your A/C is OK too.
It sure does make sense to widen the door and get rid of the hallway for easier access. Will the door to the washroom also be a wide one...maybe a slider? Those work really well.

With love, Erika

Sending hugs and prayers to all going through pain or tough times. I am glad we can come here to share and get empathy from our friends. I hate it when any of us suffers but I am so thankful for all of you.

apple, watch out. Erin is getting a bigger desk. She is going to need new gadgets!!!

It's not making the working space of the desk any bigger. It's just relocating my linen cabinet.

and I just realized the front of my desk cabinets have completely different door fronts than the ones on the linen cabinet. (linen cabinet matches the bathroom cabinet doors) Oh well. I'm willing to live with it. If I ever sell the house, someone's going to kvetch (complain) about that. Future potential owners can deal with it. I'm not going to. Cabinet doors are expensive. The drawer pulls are different too. Oh well...

I only got about five and a half hours of sleep. Maybe even only four hours. I might be napping on the couch upstairs while they're taking the walls down in my room. (the wall I originally wanted to move, and then another bit of a wall that we decided on yesterday)

At least I slept some. Better than yesterday. Kind of wondering if being forced to get up at 730am every day for the next few weeks will help reboot my brain into sleeping at better hours.

Think I'll go take my oral prednisone a little early and eat something.