My second journal in October
Well, throw the confetti into the air & light the sparklers, I am journalling again in October. I decided that if I am going to be part of a group I am going to participate in the group. I spend so much time sitting on the couch looking at Facebook that I really should be more productive. I want to get to know the people on DS better, I used to be a very social person, shy, but I liked to be with people. Since I have gotten ill I have had to give up all of that, I go out about twice a week for groceries or prescriptions, mostly I like to be home. I go out now with no makeup on, I used to never be seen without it but since it takes so much stress & energy to put it on I quit using it pretty much. I have gotten used to being without makeup somewhat, how I wish I had the energy to wear it because I always loved it. Living in a small town where most people know me, it has been hard to get used to no makeup, at first I would cringe when I saw someone I knew & head down another aisle. Now, I think I am not to bad at seeing people, I just feel I look bad & old & with my fatigue I mostly feel that I don't care how I look. Ah, this illness is so hard on us in so many ways.
I have been feeling up & down the last couple of weeks, no major crashes, just fatigued & tired. I have enjoyed just staying at home as much as I can & maybe getting some type of housework done. Misty has been sick with an ear infection that hurts her ear & jaw. Four different antibiotics & still no relief, then on Thursday nights she has to give herself a shot of the chemo drug & she will be nauseous & tired for a few days. With her immune system so suppressed it is hard to get relief. I think I have talked her into going to see her Rheumatologist or maybe an Ear, Nose & Throat Dr. We'll see what her physician says this week, I think she needs a long term antibiotic, the ones she has been on seem to help, then they end & it all comes back.
Last week I went to meet my new Doctor, my previous Dr had moved away a few months ago. I waited for his replacement because there was no other Dr. at the clinic that I wanted to see, there was one but she was not taking new patients, so I waited. My appointment was more of a meet & greet type of thing because basically I have nothing new going on. I am happy to say I really like her. Mainly, she knows about CFS & was very knowledgeable about it. First Dr. I have had in a long time who seemed to take me seriously & listened to me. Yay!!! I am so happy about this, I didn't realize how unhappy I felt because I didn't have a Dr. who understood my illnesses & so I never talked to them about them. It is so important for us to have a Dr. who listens & understands us. She also understood Fibro & all of my other things she said she would look into, I will explain them later if anyone is interested. I must say I left the appointment feeling very positive.
Muffin, our Pekingese, has been sleeping a lot more lately. She has a very bad heart & is on 3 different prescriptions. The Vet said all we can do is keep her comfortable. Since we got the Dx we have been giving her a lot more treats & cuddles. She is on a low sodium diet so we have to be careful, but we have found things like Corn Pops cereal that has hardly any salt that she likes. She thinks carob chips are the best thing on earth. She is a very calm, laid back dog that is perfect for our household. I will miss her tremendously when she is gone, I have a tendency to just forget that & hope she will live a long time.
I have been pacing myself doing housework today. Have the cable guy coming tomorrow so trying to spruce things up. I hate when people stop by & I have to think about getting the house company ready. We keep the dishes done & the house picked up but don't always get to the vacuuming every week. I love a spotless house, but it is just another thing I had to give up, don't have the energy to do it anymore. Now I find peace & contentment in clutter, lol.
I think I have prattled on long enough, this has taken me a couple of days to finish as I can't seem to think very well sometimes. I have to really pace myself with this because the stress of working on it tires me out. I am sure you understand how that is. I love my DS friends & hope to really get to know you well. Hugs, Denise
I have been feeling up & down the last couple of weeks, no major crashes, just fatigued & tired. I have enjoyed just staying at home as much as I can & maybe getting some type of housework done. Misty has been sick with an ear infection that hurts her ear & jaw. Four different antibiotics & still no relief, then on Thursday nights she has to give herself a shot of the chemo drug & she will be nauseous & tired for a few days. With her immune system so suppressed it is hard to get relief. I think I have talked her into going to see her Rheumatologist or maybe an Ear, Nose & Throat Dr. We'll see what her physician says this week, I think she needs a long term antibiotic, the ones she has been on seem to help, then they end & it all comes back.
Last week I went to meet my new Doctor, my previous Dr had moved away a few months ago. I waited for his replacement because there was no other Dr. at the clinic that I wanted to see, there was one but she was not taking new patients, so I waited. My appointment was more of a meet & greet type of thing because basically I have nothing new going on. I am happy to say I really like her. Mainly, she knows about CFS & was very knowledgeable about it. First Dr. I have had in a long time who seemed to take me seriously & listened to me. Yay!!! I am so happy about this, I didn't realize how unhappy I felt because I didn't have a Dr. who understood my illnesses & so I never talked to them about them. It is so important for us to have a Dr. who listens & understands us. She also understood Fibro & all of my other things she said she would look into, I will explain them later if anyone is interested. I must say I left the appointment feeling very positive.
Muffin, our Pekingese, has been sleeping a lot more lately. She has a very bad heart & is on 3 different prescriptions. The Vet said all we can do is keep her comfortable. Since we got the Dx we have been giving her a lot more treats & cuddles. She is on a low sodium diet so we have to be careful, but we have found things like Corn Pops cereal that has hardly any salt that she likes. She thinks carob chips are the best thing on earth. She is a very calm, laid back dog that is perfect for our household. I will miss her tremendously when she is gone, I have a tendency to just forget that & hope she will live a long time.
I have been pacing myself doing housework today. Have the cable guy coming tomorrow so trying to spruce things up. I hate when people stop by & I have to think about getting the house company ready. We keep the dishes done & the house picked up but don't always get to the vacuuming every week. I love a spotless house, but it is just another thing I had to give up, don't have the energy to do it anymore. Now I find peace & contentment in clutter, lol.
I think I have prattled on long enough, this has taken me a couple of days to finish as I can't seem to think very well sometimes. I have to really pace myself with this because the stress of working on it tires me out. I am sure you understand how that is. I love my DS friends & hope to really get to know you well. Hugs, Denise
Replies
Congratulations on a second journal in October! I\'m trying to write a journal every week and it can be a struggle. Your new doctor sounds like a blessing - it\'s great to find someone who is willing to listen and take the time with you to address your concerns. I totally understand about having to deal with cleaning the house to have in a repair person or whatever. It can be pretty stressful keeping up with a house and making sure it\'s clean enough to let someone in the door. LOL. I\'ll pray for your daughter and that she has some relief from her ongoing ear infection.
Look at me! You finally wrote a second journal in one month, and I finally found it!! WOO HOO! What a team, eh? LOL!
I\'m so glad you found a doctor that understands and listens. It\'s so validating isn\'t it. WONDERFUL. I hope your relationship with her continues to grow. Kinda glad it\'s a woman too. With this illness, so many facets of our bodies are compromised that talking to a woman is often just plain more helpful. They understand where hormones come into play, and how our emotions get all tangled up with lonliness, etc. Not that a male doctor doesn\'t get this, but the female is going to \"feel you\" from the heart.
I hope Misty\'s ear infection is better by now!! And dear Muffin. Sounds like she is very compromised. Oh, how it hurts us to see our beloved pets take bad turns in their health. We feel it to the bone. I\'m sure she is getting lots of extra cuddles and treats, as you said. I\'m sure you are making her as comfortable as you possibly can!!!
Again, I\'m glad you journaled twice in October. It IS a good thing to get to know the DS members. As you can see from reading my journals, there isn\'t a problem I need help with that my friends here have not jumped to my aid. Wonderful people, here on DS. You are one of them.
Big hugs! xo