How’s everyone doing?

Just as a quick update: my X-ray came back clear. My lungs still hurt real bad when I breath and my throat feels like it’s being stabbed when I talk. But it could be worse right?

I just wanted to check in with all of you who are following me. I hope you are all in good health and are taking care of yourselves so that you all stay healthy! Or at least your best version of healthy for all of you who are like me and have chronic health problems.

I’m doing okay. I’m sort of panicking as there still will be no income for a few more weeks but I’m trying to stay positive. I do want to let you all know that because of this, I’m going to try to ramp up my content for a little bit. Also, I have added a link to my Ko-fi page. It’s located on the right side of the screen under the Links! section. If you like what I post, and are able to do so, feel free to buy me a coffee.

What am I going to be doing more of?

-Writing

– Video blogging

-Photos on Instagram

I’ll be updating again soon! I hope you all stay safe and healthy!

Update on Throat and Lungs…

I went to the doctor’s today. I was lucky enough to be given an appointment with my actual doctor today so that was nice. She did talk to me first about getting my A1C’s down and to try to lower my blood sugars as she feels this is help me feel better and lower the chance of complications of everything that is going on. She says I should limit my carb intake. I tried to explain that most of my food comes from a food pantry right now, and it’s hard because everything that isn’t a meat or veg that is offered has a grain. And it’s for my household, so I can’t really say no to bread and pasta when my household eats it. I take as much veg and protein that they offer me, but it varies with visits. Plus I’m allergic to nuts and eggs. Hopefully I’ll be able to afford to get groceries soon so I can get more veg, fruit, and protein as it looks like that is what I need to be eating more of.

She then asked about what was going on with my throat and lungs. So I explained that the doctor at the urgent care I went to last week said that he thought it was some chemical irritation from the job that I’m trying to work right now. She took a look at my throat, ears, and listened to my lungs. I mentioned that for the last few days that I had a slight fever as well. She then asked if I had traveled outside the country in the last 30 days OR if I had been exposed to the Coronavirus. I told her that I have not traveled, and that to my knowledge I had not been exposed. I do not meet requirements for testing at this time, as the chances of having anything is low. I’m not sure how I feel about this, as I’m afraid of what to think if I actually did end up having exposure.

She did prescribe a round of antibiotics as she felt that there was a risk of infection due to the fever. She also prescribed me an inhaler in hopes that it would make breathing hurt less. And I had to get X-Rays done. I’m waiting for the results. As of right now it just really hurts to breath even with the inhaler, and my throat feels like its scraped raw, as if I’ve been screaming for hours.

I’m nervous because I can’t afford to miss another day of work. The rent needs to be paid, and if I can’t it affects my roommate too, this is not a just me issue. My car payments due, I’ve already paid half so that’s okay. But we also need to go grocery shopping, I’ve got collection bills that need to be paid, and I have medical bills that are coming in. Medicare only covers 80% and I’m responsible for the rest until I hear back from DHHS on if I can get assistance. I’m also needing to pay my Medicare premium as well. The medications today cost $20 that ended up having to come from the food money that I had managed to get from a friend.

I’m hoping to get the results of the X-Ray tomorrow which will hopefully let us know if there is anything in my lungs that we need to worry about. I’ll post another update then once I know more.

My body hates me

As of today, I haven’t worked more than a few days a week in about a month. This means that I also haven’t gotten a full paycheck in about a month. Being single and without support, this is scary. I have an appointment to see if I can get emergency food stamps but I’m afraid they’re going to say no. Also they won’t be able to cover things like the OTC allergy meds I need, or the insulin that I’m buying OTC at Walmart because I’m having issues finding a new Endocrinologist and I’m out of Lantus. Which my Medicare will cover most of if I can get a script called in.

My symptoms started with nausea. I got hit like it was a brick wall while trying to work over time on a Saturday morning. I also had a real bad headache. This continued with the nausea for days. It was then coupled with some gut pain. I ended up going to urgent care and my doctor every few days for two weeks. In that time I also received 3 fluid treatments.

I spend most of my time tired. If I drive the hour to work I find I’m sick before I get there. My intestines are either blocked or not moving. The doctors aren’t really sure. I don’t have a gastro appointment until the end of March. The problem also is that even though I’m in the same hospital system I see so many people I don’t really know what’s what.

And my brain injury makes it worse.

So it’s been fun times. I’ll post more about what’s going on later. I’m getting tired and I can only do screens a little at a time right now.

So tired…

Does anyone else deal with extreme fatigue all the time? It’s like no matter how much sleep I get, or how much I rest, or take vitamins, I feel like I’m tired all the time. Not always mentally, most of the time it feels like I’ve run a marathon or something.

I have no idea what is causing this. I wondered if it was due to my muscles constantly twitching and such, but the neurologist didn’t say much about this. He said that I probably have benign fasciculation syndrome but didn’t do much except write a letter to my GP and she has yet to address it.

My liver enzymes are also high due to the NASH, but again, I’m not sure if that is causing the fact that I’m tired. All the time.

I spend all my energy working, or doing other things that at the end of the day, or really a few hours after waking, I’m too exhausted to do anything that I want or like to do. I haven’t gotten a lot of writing done, nor have I been able to get my own personal errands done. It sucks.

If anyone has any ideas on how to combat this fatigue, I’d love to hear them. Just drop them in the comments!

Ouch

I was going to blog about food tonight but I’ve got a killer head ache that isn’t relenting. Even after a bath to try to loosen the muscles. So food will be another night. A night when I’m not in pain.

These head aches are frequent and its starting to make me irritated at them because nothing much will touch them. I have some pills but they don’t really work well for the pain. I’m not sure what else to do.

So here’s a promise the next time I blog, it will be about easy, cheap meals that I’ve been making. And how wonderful the Instant Pot cooker that I got is.

Sick Days…

I don’t get sick days. And I’ve been sick for about the last week.

It started off with pain throughout my body over two weeks ago. I eventually went to Urgent Care as my doctor’s office said it would be up to two weeks for an appointment. They said that it was a virus and to wait it out.

Flash forward to Monday and I wake up not sure what day it is, and promptly go back to sleep. Turns out I slept through a doctor’s appointment I had been waiting weeks for. So that was good. I finally woke up and thought I was going to be late for work, only to realize I had the day off.

Whatever I got is still kicking my butt. I’ve been able to write but its subpar and nothing that I’m really proud over. WP thinks its decent so I guess that’s what matters. Here’s hoping to getting over this soon.