Monday, July 27, 2009

Monday, July 27, 2009
Rainfall from 3 PM yesterday, until this morning was just a little under 2 inches, and most of that fell in under an hour. I was up at 6:30 to finish drinking the prep and then went back to bed and tried to sleep until my alarm went off at 8:30.
Knowing I couldn’t have anything by mouth, meant no coffee, so I only needed to get dressed and go, so I did. Zack wasn’t at all happy to see me leave without him, and whined until I was in the car and leaving.
The road was a mess and slippery from all the rain, but I didn’t have any problems getting to Cowboy Harry’s by 9:45. We visited while he finished his coffee and then he drove me to the hospital. I checked in and then waited in for the prep nurse to take me in.
I was put in a room with instructions to remove all my clothes and put on a gown, opening to the back, duh. I then laid in bed and waited another 15 minutes until another nurse came in to take all my vital statistics. Due to not having taken my medications, my blood pressure was 176/106. An IV was inserted and I waited in bed for another 20 minutes. I was finally wheeled in to the procedure room at 12:25 for my 11:45 scheduled time. I only mention the wait because this doctor does these all day long and I am sure some take longer than other.
They hooked me up to a monitor and had me turn onto my left side. A different nurse put a plastic mouthpiece, to protect my teeth from the instruments, and told me to gently bite down. I mumbled that I’d seen those on television and didn’t swing that way. That was the last thing I remember. I watched a movie and then woke up to a nurse removing my IV and telling me I was done. I couldn’t believe her, but I was done and don’t remember a single thing, except the movie was a really good action thriller, that I dreamed and may have been triggered by music that was piped into the room.
I was disconnected from all the monitors and wheeled back into my recovery room, served my choice of drinks - coffee - and then told I could get dressed and leave when I felt ready. I got dressed and Harry was coming down the hall looking for me. He was concerned that I hadn’t called him and thought maybe something had gone wrong. The nurse had me sign a release form and Harry had to sign that he was the designated driver. It was only then that Harry told me he had actually forgot about me and was half way home before he remembered he needed to pick me up.
I offered to take him out to lunch, even though it was approaching two O’clock, but he had already eaten, so we drove straight back to Marysville and I drove home. I was a bit foggy and light headed, but attribute it to a lack of food. I played with Zack to help him calm down and get over his separation anxiety, and then fixed myself something to eat. My stomach had shrunk and I was told to have something soft and light for my first meal. I don’t know why, but biscuits and honey sounded good, so I baked some and enjoyed my coffee and some orange juice.
I spent the rest of the day just relaxing and trying to get back into my daily routine. By the time I was feeling half way back to normal, it was 5 O’clock. I never got to a real dinner, and just nibbled until an early bedtime.
Now, back to the results of my examine (guess what? They give you photos of your insides, but I ain’t going to show them, as they are X rated). I have an esophageal web that forms a ring at the opening to my stomach. This is what has been causing some of my swallowing problems. The doctor dilated it and took a biopsy, telling me that it should stay expanded and give me some relief, but not from my acid reflux, or air swallowing, but I shouldn’t be gagging when I swallow food. As for my lower extremities, I have diverticulitis, still, and they gave me reading material on diet and eating more fibers. Other than that, he wants to see me again in ten years and do it again.
Now that I have experienced the procedure with the new drug, propofol, I wouldn’t mind going through it on a regular basis, except for the prep part of it. If they could make that quick and painless, I am sure more people would have it done annually, but wait, under Obama’s new Health Care Plan, us older people probably wouldn’t qualify for it.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Sunday, July 26, 2009
It is a beautiful warm and sunny morning, with clear calm skies. Knowing that I can’t have anything solid after breakfast, I thought about having a huge brunch, but my stomach is still acting up and I can only conclude that one of my new medications is causing it. I read the possible side affects and none of them match what I am feeling, so after my endoscopy and colonoscopy, I will be starting with a “clean” system, so maybe I can figure out what is going on.
I spent some of the morning writing, while doing a load of wash, and more research on FEMA’s roll in our government. It becomes really complicated, as more and more responsibilities, or authority, is given to it through Presidential Executive Orders. All of them seem to protect us, upon first glance, and of course individually they are. The majority of the Executive Orders (EO) were signed during the cold war, when a nuclear attack was looming over our heads, so it made sense to give an agency power to continue running the country in absence of a normal government.
Now, with today’s world situations and the rapid demise of America as a republic governed by our constitution, FEMA has, with the authorization of the President, or his successor, the power to take over every aspect of our lives. It may be just the conspiracy nuts that are bring all of this up, but when you find out all of the facts, I can see why they might be concerned. If I finish my research and the paper on FEMA, I will attach it for you to review.
Well, noon came before I felt like eating, so I haven’t had anything to eat since last nights dinner. I can have clear fluids, and even broth and Jell-O, except red Jell-O, but for some reason, I didn’t think about it when I was in town, so don’t have anything but the liquids, so I have been drinking a lot of apple juice. It is odd that I have been known to go for more than 20 hours with eating anything, but because I CAN’T have it, I want it even more. Noon marked the time to swallow three laxatives and wait. Next, I get to mix and drink a half-gallon of Nu-Lytely, which sounds like some sports drink, but I’m betting it’s not.
And oh yeah, I get to drink it before going to bed! Anyone see a problem with that? But wait, that’s not the best part. I have to drink the other half-gallon 5 hours before my appointment, which means at 6:45 tomorrow morning! Anyone that knows me knows I don’t do mornings, so this is a huge one for me.
I have to be at Cowboy Harry’s at 10 O’clock for the ride to town, and Zack isn’t going to like it, but he has to stay home with Zoey for a change. I should be home by 2 or 3 O’clock at the latest, and I know he’ll be fine, but he is seldom more than a few yards from me at any given time since he was five weeks old.
Why are there so many food commercials on television today? I get to fast-forward through them, but then the program I am watching shows them . . . doing what you ask . . . cooking food. Food is all around me and I can’t have any.
By 3 PM the sky looked like my lower body was feeling, and then it too let loose with lightning all around me and the thunder shaking the entire cabin, sending Zack and Zoey into hiding. It hailed so much in a short time that it was shooting off the roof horizontally. I filmed 5 minutes of it and then the batteries started to fade. I’ll attach the video to the update and hope it is worth viewing.
I showered and played with Zack, as the storm had passed, and then fed him. It is now 6 PM and he and Zoey are taking their after dinner naps while I finish this and think about dinner. Oh wait, I can’t have any! I’ll send the updates and watch my television programs before drinking the poison and going to bed.

Saturday, July 25, 2009

Saturday, July 25, 2009
It is clear and the wind is calm this morning, with the sun shining brightly and no sign of the predicted thunderstorm. Most of the storms come in the late afternoon, so I will have to wait and see if I am surprised by one.
I have been busy making up a new card to carry that updates all of my current medications. I can never remember, little lone pronounce, most of the medication I take, even though it is far less than some of my age. Every time I visit a doctor, dentist, chiropractor or other health giver, I am asked to repeat all the medications I am on, including over the counter (OTC) drugs and supplements. Carrying a card in my wallet that lists all of them is a time saver, not to mention saving a brain cell or two.
After finishing my card, I opened the laptop and delved into my emails (25), I became wrapped up in watching some videos and researching some additional information about the supposed FEMA concentration camps for American citizens. I found some interesting information, which I will pass on as a Word attachment for those interested in educating themselves.
Revisiting the forecast of a thunderstorm, NWS was correct in their prediction. By 4 PM, it was too dark to read without having a light turned on, and by 4:40, the sky opened up and it began to water the forest. This was a noisier thunderstorm than yesterday afternoons, sending Zack upstairs to my bed of safety and Zoey coming in from outside. Yesterday’s storm only brought .04 inches of rain, and I’d be willing to bet that it was doubled in the first 2 minutes of today’s storm. The wind rushed in like a dam had burst, causing the tarps over my stored wood to pop and snap with the sound of gunfire. Thunder rolled in without any pause, but I didn’t see many flashes of the lightning. Rip Van Winkle was having a rousing game of ninepins, to say the least.
I spent the remainder of the day researching and writing until past 7 PM. I played and fed Zack, showered, finished a load of wash and then had dinner. I felt that I should have my “last supper” as enjoyable as possibly, so I fixed steak, shrimp, and a green salad, washing it down with a very good red wine. Unfortunately, I am still suffering from a mild upset stomach and couldn’t even finish the last few bites, as I was afraid I’d have it all reappear. What a waste of a really good meal.
I watched a couple of prerecorded television programs, one being a new Discovery Channel program called The Colony (Tuesday nights). It is a social experiment of what it might be like if a small group of strangers had to come together and survive in a post-apocalyptic world. It is more realistic than one might think, and shows what must be done to accomplish survival. These shows usually repeat and are often shown back-to-back, so watch for it and see what you might be up against in the event something like this happened.
It got cold enough that I had to start a fire to be comfortable, and Zack thought it was such a good idea; he laid directly in front of it and fell asleep. I finally went to bed at midnight, knowing that tomorrow, I had to start the prep for my colonoscopy on Monday.

Friday, July 24, 2009

Friday, July 24, 2009
It is cool and breezy this morning, with a few puffy clouds floating high and moving southeast. It hailed and then rained briefly last night, but only enough to wet things down and didn’t even record on my rain gauge. My weather station says I received .4 inches of rain in the past 24 hours.
My stomach is still feeling a bit queasy and just as I was getting ready for bed last night, I got the dry heaves, so I am not sure what is going on. The only thing that has changed in the past week is that I have had more fresh fruit than usual, and I ran out of my allergy medication as of yesterday. I also haven’t taken any Prilosec for my acid reflux since yesterday, as it hasn’t seemed to help. I guess if I had to make an assumption, I would say the missing Prilosec could be the cause, but really don’t know. I am out of the medication, so I will try a Pepcid AC and see if it gives me any relief.
I have my stress echocardiography test this afternoon, and am not looking forward to it if my stomach is still unsettled. I don’t think I’ll do as well as in the past, as I just don’t have the stamina and strength to do any physical activity for more than a few minutes. We shall see.
I tried to have my usual morning routine, but find that my stomach isn’t going to let me. I have been drinking a lot of water this morning and hope it will flush out my system, but it is now noon and hasn’t seemed to help. Because I will be going to town for my 3 O’clock appointment, I am not going to even try to work outside today. I will have something to eat and then head into town, stopping at the dump to empty the stuff in the truck, and then pick up my mail and make it to my appointment. I will attempt to finish this tonight, but won’t promise as the test usually leaves me with little strength or ambition to do anything.
Well, I survived the day, and feel stronger for it. We headed to Marysville and stopped at Mary and Guy’s to drop off my extra melons and some magazines. I was still feeling queasy, but knew I had to go through with the stress test, so headed into town. I stopped at the transfer station and dumped all of the refuse in the back of the truck, and then picked up my mail. I drove to Safeway and picked up my now approved reflux medicine, which is just the heavier dose of Prilosec, and I hope it will help my air swallowing and burping.
While in Safeway, a huge and loud thunderstorm passed over and flooded the streets, sending a shock wave of the thunder through everything. I drove through a foot or more of water that the drains couldn’t deal with, and reached my cardiologist office in time for my appointment. After the usual signing of consent and agreeing to pay documents, I was weighed and my blood pressure taken. I updated my medication list and then was taken into the dungeon to have my chest shaved, snaps glued to my skin and leads attached for the test. Baselines were taken, including sonic photos of my heart as it beat.
Richard, the cardiologist, enters and looks at all the data and then has me step onto the treadmill to run like a bear is chasing me, until I reach my target heart rate. We exchange jokes and comments; with me telling him I crammed for the test but it doesn’t seemed to have helped. I run for nine minutes, which is a minute less than the past two tests, but I having reached my target heart rate, so Richard stops the test and has me move to the table to lay down and have additional pictures taken, showing the condition of my heart.
I am pronounced “healthy as a horse,” but I probably shouldn’t try to pull a wagon, and the test is over. He pronounces me good until the next test and sent on my way.
Zack and I headed straight home and arrived at about 6 PM. We played until he stopped and then I fixed dinner for Zoey, and then Zack, waiting until Zack recovered and then let him eat. As I did, a thunderstorm past through and peals of thunder rolled through, causing Zack to run upstairs and take refuse on my bed. It rained, hailed, and blew through my area with much fanfare, dropping more moisture to my drying landscape.
It is now 7:30, and the storm is passing, allowing me time to take a shower and think about my dinner. I shall enjoy both and then relax until my bedtime.

Thursday, July 23, 2009

Thursday, July 23, 2009
The sky has a few high clouds and the air is still, making the humidity felt. NWS is saying there is a 20% chance of a thundershower tonight, increasing to 30% for the next couple of days. By afternoon, it became overcast but even with the clouds blocking out the sun, it is 86 degrees and without my usual breeze, I had to turn on the box fan to help cool off.
I woke up this morning with a queasy stomach and it has persisted all day, so I didn’t go out to work, but just stayed inside doing computer work. I promised to print out my research on tankless water heaters for Bonnie, who works in the Safeway Pharmacy. I also looked up and printed my research on my road and the fact that I do not need a permit to simply maintain the existing road, just in case someone questions me.
I have played with Zack a few times, and went over to photograph the cattle guard so I could send it with yesterday’s update. Other than that, I haven’t done much and it is now 4:30. I have an appointment at my cardiologist for my stress test tomorrow, so thought I should study for it today, hence all the rest and relaxation.
I will finish my computer work and printing, play with Zack, feed him and Zoey, shower, and then relax in front of the television until bedtime.

Wednesday, July 22, 2009

Wednesday, July 22, 2009
It feels cooler this morning, but then I left one of the sliding doors open all night to help the upstairs cool down, so I could sleep better. NWS is predicting weather in the high 70 to low 80s, so I expect it to stay warm today.
After my coffee and computer time, I put on the work clothes, played with Zack and then went out to finish the road work so I can install the cattle guard.
I wanted to work the road to make digging the trench for the guard a bit easier, but also because I had two humps in that area that allowed water to collect between them during runoff and after rainstorms. It took three bottles of Gator Aide and two of water, plus three energy bars to finish it. I parked the dozer and walked back to the cabin to load the guard and tools necessary to install it.
It took me until 7:30 to dig the trench, place the pieces and attach all of them. As I was digging, Zack let out with several loud barks, but didn’t move from standing by the dozer. When I finally looked up, I heard something shoot by me in the creek bed, and caught a glimpse of a furry black butt headed up the other side before I could even think about grabbing my gun. Zack had warned me and then scared off the black bear that has been in the area. I gave him several rewarding words, but he stayed next to the dozer at the end of the road. It is good to see that the bear was more afraid of Zack, than interested it doing either of us harm. Because he has been in the area, I now carry and keep a gun near by, hopefully more to scare it away than harm it.
It may not be the prettiest cattle guard, but after I install some fencing to keep them from getting around it, I think it will work just fine. Zack wouldn’t even try to get across it, so it should stop the cows. I loaded up the tools and drug myself into the truck for the short ride home. After parking in the garage, I made it back to the cabin and washed my face and arms. Boy, that felt really good.
I managed to feed Zack; Zoey had food left from this morning, so I didn’t give her any more, and then drank another Gator Aide while cooling down. A nice cool shower and then a drink before making dinner, took me to 10 O’clock. I watched a prerecorded television show and then went to bed.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

Tuesday, July 21, 2009
It is clear, sunny, and warm with a light breeze. The perfect weather for working outside. I cut up the melons and mixed in the grapes that I purchased at Costco yesterday. I don't get enough fresh fruit in my diet, other than an orange every morning, so froze some of it for future use. Boy, it was about the sweetest, best tasting melons I can remember having.
Just as I was about to finish my morning routine, a Raven started carrying on like I haven't heard before. When I looked out to investigate, I just caught a glimpse of the Raven chasing a Bald Eagle into the trees. The eagle was at least four times larger than the Raven, and the Raven was alone, so it caught me off guard. I grabbed my camera in hopes that I could get a photo if they left the trees, but the batteries on the camera started to go, so I could only film for a short while before giving up. I kept watching, but evidently the eagle left the other side of the ridge as I never saw it emerge and the Raven quieted down after about 20 minutes of screaming. I have attached the video, but it is just the sound of the Raven. You may need to turn up your volume to hear it well.
After my usual morning routine, I put on my work clothes and after playing with Zack, sprayed the noxious weeds that I either missed before, or were newly emerging. I have noticed that the Canadian Thistle is down to about 1/10 of what it was last year, so I feel that I am making headway. There are only about four along the road by the creek, where last year it was a thick blanket of them.
I unloaded the 2 x 4s from the truck and then used the dozer to rework the road going through the front of my property. Evidently, there was a snowdrift at the corner and one or more trucks tried to drive around it, becoming stuck in the grassy area at the far corner. It took much longer than I expected but I finally got it all smoothed out and back to the way it had been. When I finished that part, I used the box blade to drag the rest of the road down to the creek crossing, as it too had several bad ruts that needed smoothing out.
By the time I finished and put the dozer in the garage, it was 6 PM, so I played with Zack and fed him and Zoey before stripping off my boots and dusty clothes, and then sat down with a drink to cool off before taking my shower. This weather has been great for the land, but it has also been great for insect reproduction. I have never had so many flies, flying bugs, beetles, and mosquitoes since living here. There are so many that they don’t seek you out, you just pass through them. My Deep Woods Off does a good job, but the damn things have to buzz your face or land on you before they decide they don’t like what you are wearing. The bright yellow paint job on the dozer probably doesn’t help a lot either.
Even though I usually wait until I stop sweating before I shower, the Off had dripped into my eyes, so I had to shower before I could even take a sip of my newly made drink. It felt so good to get the dust and bug spray off, that I really enjoyed my drink and some relax time before having dinner and watching television.