I've definitely had one of the best birthdays in a long while.. There wasn't anything planned. The weather was great though! Lisa and I headed to Baskin Robbins for my free birthday scoop. Then to Starbucks for a Mocha Frappicino and she got a Carmel Frap.
Then headed to my place so I can wash up, change my shirt.. take my meds so my feet don't bother me too much. Then went to mom's house. My mom can be a bit funny because as I was heading down Keeler, I called her and said "I'm almost there, hope you're dressed.." She suddenly said "But I was going to come see you..!" "Mom, I love you, but you never come when you say you will." Anyway.. I got some birthday money that I haven't spent on tattoos or anything. Took my beloved Rocque [pronounced like Rocky] for a walk. I have to get him a new leash and collar and a new name tag. Apparently he got loose sometime recently and instead of giving the dog to some other woman with his leash and collar, she took it off! Why, I have no idea.
Anyway, I didn't have any major expectations for my birthday.. especially with gifts. Of course, there are things I want like.. the Gilmore Girls: The Complete Series Collection and Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Chosen Collection.
Those two things were on my birthday wish list.. Otherwise, the best gift was having a girlfriend and.. just having a relaxing day outdoors and around the city. I did try to see Jackie but there were some communication errors and nothing panned out.. She neglected to tell me that the hospital her father was in.. was in Maywood. If I knew that in the first place, I would never have gone out to Loyola University, assuming the hospital was there..
Anyway. It's all good. I'm keeping a cool mind. I didn't take any pictures though. My camera is just such a pain.. takes forever to get it going and it just feels exhausting to carry it around. I'm so shy with it around people..
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Turning 28 on July 28 in 2008
Wow, wow, wow. I can't believe I'm 28. It doesn't really feel real..yet. And I have no plans whatsoever. I'm so used to just not having surprises.. or a party.. or friends clamoring around to wish me a happy birthday. I want a nice one of course, well wishes are always fun to hear and read..
My girlfriend is going to surprise me with some activity. I have no idea. I don't give great hints because it's kinda hard. I wish she would be creative.. and think outside the box but whatever she does for me, I'll love it just as much. I guess its just different when I'd love to do anything kind of fun but I'd also like to see her enjoy it and not run to the corner and play games on my sidekick.. I'm a tiny bit more of a social girl with her around but when she's hiding, then I feel bad she's not involved.. I don't know how to explain it. I'm a shy girl too and go through times where I'm too afraid to talk to people so I just .. go in the corner and hide.
Anyway, I went to a great social tonight at Mary's Attic on Clark. I'm really bad with neighborhood names so when I realized we were in Andersonville, I was a bit shocked. The main reason for going was for me to finally see Paul Glasor from Gallaudet. We were both freshmans way back when.. and it was just great to see him after years of not seeing him. We chatted a few times -- I told him that I finally passed math.. not at Gallaudet but still in college - I FINALLY made it to college level math! Plus, I helped him in English because his skills weren't great while he helped me in math. I still failed math..
Otherwise, I slept a ton today but still felt tired.. did my laundry.. forgot to call a friend on Ojo. But I'll get around to that.
Otherwise, I intend on visiting mom for a few birthday hugs and maybe some spending money. I need to check on her anyway.
My girlfriend is going to surprise me with some activity. I have no idea. I don't give great hints because it's kinda hard. I wish she would be creative.. and think outside the box but whatever she does for me, I'll love it just as much. I guess its just different when I'd love to do anything kind of fun but I'd also like to see her enjoy it and not run to the corner and play games on my sidekick.. I'm a tiny bit more of a social girl with her around but when she's hiding, then I feel bad she's not involved.. I don't know how to explain it. I'm a shy girl too and go through times where I'm too afraid to talk to people so I just .. go in the corner and hide.
Anyway, I went to a great social tonight at Mary's Attic on Clark. I'm really bad with neighborhood names so when I realized we were in Andersonville, I was a bit shocked. The main reason for going was for me to finally see Paul Glasor from Gallaudet. We were both freshmans way back when.. and it was just great to see him after years of not seeing him. We chatted a few times -- I told him that I finally passed math.. not at Gallaudet but still in college - I FINALLY made it to college level math! Plus, I helped him in English because his skills weren't great while he helped me in math. I still failed math..
Otherwise, I slept a ton today but still felt tired.. did my laundry.. forgot to call a friend on Ojo. But I'll get around to that.
Otherwise, I intend on visiting mom for a few birthday hugs and maybe some spending money. I need to check on her anyway.
Monday, July 21, 2008
Alive
Yes, I'm alive.. I just need to sit and think of what to write.. I've been trying to cook for myself and my girlfriend.. Sometimes we have a meal together, other times we order out.. But I usually cook. I've also been trying to do good with breakfast and not miss it because it's true, it's the most important meal of the day. The other thing is, I'm a vegetarian and she isn't. Lastly, we both get food stamps.. hers is less than mine at the moment but the point is, we're on a major budget. She goes to Aldi a lot and I will too sometimes but they're not really vegetarian friendly..
My parents were great cooks. My mom always put out a full meal that almost always had a salad.. Unfortunately, now that I live alone, cooking such a full meal doesn't seem... like fun.
In other news..
Physical Therapy has been good. I've been fantastic at showing up for every session and even a bit early!
I've been trying really hard to work on my abs.. I'm so sick of having a flabby middle.
I've got pictures but they're on my iMac and I'm using my iBook at the moment.
Just posting to say I'm alive.
My parents were great cooks. My mom always put out a full meal that almost always had a salad.. Unfortunately, now that I live alone, cooking such a full meal doesn't seem... like fun.
In other news..
Physical Therapy has been good. I've been fantastic at showing up for every session and even a bit early!
I've been trying really hard to work on my abs.. I'm so sick of having a flabby middle.
I've got pictures but they're on my iMac and I'm using my iBook at the moment.
Just posting to say I'm alive.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Late Pride photos
I didn't take that many pictures this year but.. here are a few from this years Gay Pride Parade!:
Friday, June 27, 2008
Withdrawal Pains
I've been on Cymbalta for.. a few years and I have very few complaints but.. when you run out of cymbalta, that's a different story.
So, that's basically what happened, I ran out of it and was doing fine until today the withdraw symptoms just reared it's ugly head. It just a crappy day filled with dizziness, tiredness, weakness.. my thoughts weren't clear.. everything was just crashing.
But now Cymbalta is also known to be given for neuropathy.
Finally I had to make a call to my neurologist to let them know if the Lyrica was working.. I made the call.. a few hours later the doctor called me back. I told him that the Lyrica's working and learned I can take three during the day if I wish to because I was having a lot of pain the night before but already took my second pill and was debating taking a third. I told him that I ran out of Cymbalta and he immediately asked if he wanted me to make a call.. I definitely said yes and a few hours was given my Cymbalta back.
Apparently my psychiatrist was out of town. Well, gee, thanks for the note.
Just, physically and mentally, I was losing it. I went to the store and thought I was going to pass out at some point.. Tonight I am very tired and should be sleeping right now.. and I will be signing off as I have another doctor appointment tomorrow to get a picture taken of my eye.
Luckily I was starting to feel better around 9:30 tonight when it was maybe two hours after I took cymbalta.
Moral of the story: I HATE WITHDRAWAL PAINS!
So, that's basically what happened, I ran out of it and was doing fine until today the withdraw symptoms just reared it's ugly head. It just a crappy day filled with dizziness, tiredness, weakness.. my thoughts weren't clear.. everything was just crashing.
But now Cymbalta is also known to be given for neuropathy.
Finally I had to make a call to my neurologist to let them know if the Lyrica was working.. I made the call.. a few hours later the doctor called me back. I told him that the Lyrica's working and learned I can take three during the day if I wish to because I was having a lot of pain the night before but already took my second pill and was debating taking a third. I told him that I ran out of Cymbalta and he immediately asked if he wanted me to make a call.. I definitely said yes and a few hours was given my Cymbalta back.
Apparently my psychiatrist was out of town. Well, gee, thanks for the note.
Just, physically and mentally, I was losing it. I went to the store and thought I was going to pass out at some point.. Tonight I am very tired and should be sleeping right now.. and I will be signing off as I have another doctor appointment tomorrow to get a picture taken of my eye.
Luckily I was starting to feel better around 9:30 tonight when it was maybe two hours after I took cymbalta.
Moral of the story: I HATE WITHDRAWAL PAINS!
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Just a doctor, doctor, summer..
I know that might seem alarming or maybe even depressing but that is certainly my summer so far.
Today I went back to the Illinois Eye Institute for another, different, eye exam. I guess I misunderstood them when I thought they said they would dilate me this time.. I could've sworn I heard that but maybe something went wrong during that communication process.
They didn't dilate my eyes after all. They did a color test and a field of vision test. I did fine in both. They weren't too painful.
This is what I wasn't able to get all that clear the last time I was there -- I just wasn't understanding how to question the 'there's a scar.. somewhere.. related to my right eye.' The point of that was the nerve that is in your eye, or more in point, my right eye, and that connects to the brain.. that is more paler than the rest of my eye or compare it to my left, it's more paler. So basically blood flow isn't that good either. We're betting that this happened from the Meningitis. The reason for all these wacky tests is better to be safe than sorry. On friday, I get to go yet again and they will dilate my eyes and they'll take a lovely picture of it. That should be interesting. I wonder if I can get a copy?
After that was decided, I told Dr. Quann that I did see Dr. Shepard of Neurology. Told him, he said I have neuropathy. He gave me a referral to have an MRI done of my head (I think I've now officially had an MRI on almost every near-area of my body..) He also said to start requesting my medical records from when I was a patient at John Hopkins Bayview in Baltimore.
I was a little surprised by that as my primary at Northwestern said it would be difficult, if not impossible to receive said documents because I was a patient for so long. But I'll take a chance and see what comes up.
I picked out my new glasses.. and oddly enough, they won't be new. At least the frames won't. Apparently I picked the exact same pair I had on! Now that was funny. But still.. with Illinois Public Aid, it's going to take.. about two months. So when I start the fall semester, I might have them by then. Same goes for my hearing aids I believe.
Tomorrow I go downtown to Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to get my leg braces fixed.. I hope we come up with solution to makes these feel less like combat boots and make them feel like actual shoes I can wear during the summer!
Then while I'm in the area, I'm going to get my referrals filled - one for the MRi and also see a pain specialist that Dr Quann also referred me to.. And they may even be able to alleviate my pain.. sometimes I have bad days or nights, sometimes not so difficult.. but I'm sick of just putting up with it.
The other thing for me, is even though I'm going to a million doctors lately, I finally feel like I'm thinking clearer and its not all going through my mom. Be that it took practically 6 years, its better than never. During the beginning of my recovery out of the hospital, all of my doctor appointments were accompanied by my mom. There's nothing wrong with that as I do invite her to a few appointments now a days, but before, doctors were telling her a better and more in depth explanation of what was going on and now I'm finally being told the full story and not given the short end of the stick.
Today I went back to the Illinois Eye Institute for another, different, eye exam. I guess I misunderstood them when I thought they said they would dilate me this time.. I could've sworn I heard that but maybe something went wrong during that communication process.
They didn't dilate my eyes after all. They did a color test and a field of vision test. I did fine in both. They weren't too painful.
This is what I wasn't able to get all that clear the last time I was there -- I just wasn't understanding how to question the 'there's a scar.. somewhere.. related to my right eye.' The point of that was the nerve that is in your eye, or more in point, my right eye, and that connects to the brain.. that is more paler than the rest of my eye or compare it to my left, it's more paler. So basically blood flow isn't that good either. We're betting that this happened from the Meningitis. The reason for all these wacky tests is better to be safe than sorry. On friday, I get to go yet again and they will dilate my eyes and they'll take a lovely picture of it. That should be interesting. I wonder if I can get a copy?
After that was decided, I told Dr. Quann that I did see Dr. Shepard of Neurology. Told him, he said I have neuropathy. He gave me a referral to have an MRI done of my head (I think I've now officially had an MRI on almost every near-area of my body..) He also said to start requesting my medical records from when I was a patient at John Hopkins Bayview in Baltimore.
I was a little surprised by that as my primary at Northwestern said it would be difficult, if not impossible to receive said documents because I was a patient for so long. But I'll take a chance and see what comes up.
I picked out my new glasses.. and oddly enough, they won't be new. At least the frames won't. Apparently I picked the exact same pair I had on! Now that was funny. But still.. with Illinois Public Aid, it's going to take.. about two months. So when I start the fall semester, I might have them by then. Same goes for my hearing aids I believe.
Tomorrow I go downtown to Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago to get my leg braces fixed.. I hope we come up with solution to makes these feel less like combat boots and make them feel like actual shoes I can wear during the summer!
Then while I'm in the area, I'm going to get my referrals filled - one for the MRi and also see a pain specialist that Dr Quann also referred me to.. And they may even be able to alleviate my pain.. sometimes I have bad days or nights, sometimes not so difficult.. but I'm sick of just putting up with it.
The other thing for me, is even though I'm going to a million doctors lately, I finally feel like I'm thinking clearer and its not all going through my mom. Be that it took practically 6 years, its better than never. During the beginning of my recovery out of the hospital, all of my doctor appointments were accompanied by my mom. There's nothing wrong with that as I do invite her to a few appointments now a days, but before, doctors were telling her a better and more in depth explanation of what was going on and now I'm finally being told the full story and not given the short end of the stick.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Crap, I should be in the shower and on my way out the door in ... oh about five seconds. I'm just not moving too fast... I'm enjoying my coffee, finished my cereal and now my to do list is starting to bunch a wall.. it's not a bad to do list, just your daily needs and yet I'm sitting here typing. pfft.
Gone now.
Gone now.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
