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The video is really informative, especially considering this is my first time taking a GLP-1 class drug. I'm nervous taking it due to it's very serious side effects.
The video is really informative, especially considering this is my first time taking a GLP-1 class drug. I'm nervous taking it due to it's very serious side effects.
I voted for Harris. I did my part. I hope she wins, because the alternative is a crazy old orange man who wants to take us back to the 1950's.
Anyways, I'm done. That's the post.
Anyways, I'm done. That's the post.
I've never realized Albatrosses look like gigantic seagulls, lol. Also, I'm amazed how calm the Albatross is when its baby was being handled by a human!
I'm a little under the weather right now. Might as well, since I don't feel like doing anything other than sleep and feeling sorry for myself.
Yesterday I traveled 120 miles from Riverside to Oxnard (SoCal area) to get a Fibroscan. It took me about 2.5 hours in heavy traffic going, and 3.5 hours in even heavier traffic going back. I shouldn't have waited to travel on a Friday heading into Labor Day weekend (US major holiday), but the travel was worth it since now I can make a case to my primary care physician (PCP) that I need a hepatologist referral.
I was diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) a.k.a fatty liver, about ten years ago and doctors don't really take it seriously, especially when you have normal liver function tests (LFTs). Basically, according to the results I don't have irreversible liver damage yet (fibrosis), but I have stage 3 steatosis which means more than 67% of my liver has been compromised with fat.
Just put me on tirzepatide already.
This year has truly sucked for me.
Yesterday I traveled 120 miles from Riverside to Oxnard (SoCal area) to get a Fibroscan. It took me about 2.5 hours in heavy traffic going, and 3.5 hours in even heavier traffic going back. I shouldn't have waited to travel on a Friday heading into Labor Day weekend (US major holiday), but the travel was worth it since now I can make a case to my primary care physician (PCP) that I need a hepatologist referral.
I was diagnosed with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH) a.k.a fatty liver, about ten years ago and doctors don't really take it seriously, especially when you have normal liver function tests (LFTs). Basically, according to the results I don't have irreversible liver damage yet (fibrosis), but I have stage 3 steatosis which means more than 67% of my liver has been compromised with fat.
Just put me on tirzepatide already.
This year has truly sucked for me.
In the last update, I was still at my sister's place helping her out, my mom was recovering from her kidney stone removal, and I was not driving. Fast forward two months later: I've left my sister's place, my mom is now recovering from severe pneumonia, and I'm driving now.
Lot to unpack what happened the past few months. I'm just glad my mom is on the mend and things are slowly getting back to normal at least on my end.
Lot to unpack what happened the past few months. I'm just glad my mom is on the mend and things are slowly getting back to normal at least on my end.
Been busy dealing with my mom's and younger sister's health challenges. Yes, THAT sister whom I haven't spoken to or seen in over a decade.
My mom has a kidney stone that traveled and got stuck in her ureter, obstructing urine flow. As a result, she's experiencing "severe" hydronephrosis in her right kidney. I'm relieved the stone will be removed tomorrow.
Unfortunately, my younger sister was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in a spine fracture, crushed foot and internal injuries. Right now I'm staying at her place helping her with everyday things until she's able to get someone else and/or until her insurance approves a care giver/home health aid. What I will say, is I'm using muscles I thought long died, lol.
All this when I can't even drive.
UGH!!
So frustrating...
My mom has a kidney stone that traveled and got stuck in her ureter, obstructing urine flow. As a result, she's experiencing "severe" hydronephrosis in her right kidney. I'm relieved the stone will be removed tomorrow.
Unfortunately, my younger sister was involved in a serious car accident that resulted in a spine fracture, crushed foot and internal injuries. Right now I'm staying at her place helping her with everyday things until she's able to get someone else and/or until her insurance approves a care giver/home health aid. What I will say, is I'm using muscles I thought long died, lol.
All this when I can't even drive.
UGH!!
So frustrating...
Acceptance
Mar. 31st, 2024 10:29 pmAfter having a tonic-clonic seizure, my first in almost 30 years last month I finally accepted the fact I will always have epilepsy, due to a much lower seizure threshold compared to those who are neuro-typical. Even if I avoid KNOWN triggers, there will always be a chance I encounter an unknown trigger and have a seizure.
To make a long story short, I'm back on oxcarbazepine. I can't drive for three months and I'm back to watching what I eat and avoiding VOCs and other harmful chemicals/situations/foods that trigger my seizures.
The subreddit r/Epilepsy was instrumental helping me to accept that I need to be on meds for the rest of my life. The awful stories of uncontrolled seizures and the associated severe injuries really put things in perspective. I've been lucky that the most severe injury I've endured during a seizure was a punctured cheek and a really bad tongue bite.
While I've accepted this, having to come to terms that I got to eat a shit sandwich for the rest of my life sucks.
To make a long story short, I'm back on oxcarbazepine. I can't drive for three months and I'm back to watching what I eat and avoiding VOCs and other harmful chemicals/situations/foods that trigger my seizures.
The subreddit r/Epilepsy was instrumental helping me to accept that I need to be on meds for the rest of my life. The awful stories of uncontrolled seizures and the associated severe injuries really put things in perspective. I've been lucky that the most severe injury I've endured during a seizure was a punctured cheek and a really bad tongue bite.
While I've accepted this, having to come to terms that I got to eat a shit sandwich for the rest of my life sucks.
Welcome 2024!
Jan. 1st, 2024 12:13 am I hope to have a decent year, I guess we'll soon see how it goes.
Kookaburras Allows to be Pet
Oct. 11th, 2023 06:49 pm
Disgusting
Oct. 10th, 2023 01:46 pmIt's that time again where Israeli-Palestinian violence threatens to engulf the rest of the world in its chaos. For the record, I'm pro-peace. Why is it wanting innocent civilians out of harms way, regardless of which government they belong to "picking sides?" And why is it so hard to call out what Hamas did to those Israeli music festival attendees a terrorist act? You can be pro Palestinian and wanting better for those people, without defending such a cowardly and heinous act against innocent civilians. And why are people falsely equating Hamas with "freedom fighters" and the Palestinian people in general? Hamas is a terror organization, their objective is to murder as much people as possible, they are NOT freedom fighters, they don't care if they continuedly put their own people in harms way, as long as they successfully provoke their target. Whether Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran and other Middle Eastern countries like it, Israel will continuing existing regardless how often they attack it.
Both sides (yup, you bet your ass I'm both siding it) have contributed to the never ending cycle of violence. To complicate matters in this age old conflict, we have outside parties like Iran, Hezbollah, probably Russia, and yes, even the United States, fueling the violence either directly or indirectly for its own selfish reasons including waging proxy wars against their enemies. Then we have Israel itself, time and time again falling for Hamas' traps. Hamas attacks, Israel responds disproportionately often hurting Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire. While I do feel every country has a right to defend itself, I don't feel Israel's poor treatment of Palestinians in response to Hamas' terrorist attacks have helped the situation.
All this has been going on, on a rise and repeat cycle for so long, is it foolhardy to expect any other outcome to all this? Probably.
Both sides (yup, you bet your ass I'm both siding it) have contributed to the never ending cycle of violence. To complicate matters in this age old conflict, we have outside parties like Iran, Hezbollah, probably Russia, and yes, even the United States, fueling the violence either directly or indirectly for its own selfish reasons including waging proxy wars against their enemies. Then we have Israel itself, time and time again falling for Hamas' traps. Hamas attacks, Israel responds disproportionately often hurting Palestinian civilians caught in the crossfire. While I do feel every country has a right to defend itself, I don't feel Israel's poor treatment of Palestinians in response to Hamas' terrorist attacks have helped the situation.
All this has been going on, on a rise and repeat cycle for so long, is it foolhardy to expect any other outcome to all this? Probably.
Reminds me of the Monk/Quaker Parakeet in their resourcefulness and adaptability. I kinda want to live in Phoenix now, lol.
R.I.P. 2008-2023
Sep. 16th, 2023 04:36 pm
LOLOLOLOLOL.
I will miss the old Twitter.
Oh well, bye bye Elmo!
Day 5: I'm Hangry
Jul. 4th, 2023 02:19 pmI want to eat a nice juicy cheeseburger and hotdogs. Oh and cake and cookies and all the bad stuff this 4th of July holiday, but noooo I'm stuck eating baby food and pudding.
I'm so fuckin hungry, it makes me angry, lol.
I have tea bags in my mouth to prevent my teeth from biting into the sides of my mouth.
*SIGH*
I'm so very hungry :(
I'm so fuckin hungry, it makes me angry, lol.
I have tea bags in my mouth to prevent my teeth from biting into the sides of my mouth.
*SIGH*
I'm so very hungry :(
Day 2: Very Little Pain
Jul. 1st, 2023 06:51 pmI'm happy to report I only needed one dose of the Acetaminophen + Codeine mix and that was taken yesterday. Today is just a lot of soreness and tightness around the extraction areas. I can see clots starting to form. I just gotta be careful when rinsing the left side, it's super tender. I think when I removed the gauze I might have removed some of the clot from the hole which led to that very painful episode.
Today is the first day of resuming my oral hygiene routine (brushing, light rinsing, and possibly flossing). I think I'm going to skip the flossing today, mouth is still so very tender, plus I ran out of floss 😆
Today is the first day of resuming my oral hygiene routine (brushing, light rinsing, and possibly flossing). I think I'm going to skip the flossing today, mouth is still so very tender, plus I ran out of floss 😆
Day 1: I Did it, I Really Did it!
Jun. 30th, 2023 04:47 pmI didn't wuss out like I wanted to.
All four of my wisdom teeth have been extracted today.
I'm not going to lie, I was soooo nervous right before I went under and then nothing. It felt like only three minutes passed before I woke up wisdom toothless, confused and completely fucked up, lol.
I kept laughing (that was hilarious) so much the Lyft driver asked, "Is she going to be okay?"
LOL
After about an hour the effects of the anesthesia/pain meds wore off, which was a bummer since it made me so happy.
The Lyft driver dropped us (my mom tagged along) off at the Meridian Pwky, Kaiser Permanente location. My new medical insurance is through Kaiser Permanente, and unfortunately I can't use third party pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, etc. Kaiser has their own network of drug dispensaries.
Everything seemed fine, the dental office sent my prescriptions over to be filled. Besides the longer than normal wait time, there was a minor snafu with my pain med. Apparently my dentist let his license to dispense narcotics expire today, LOLOLOLOL. So I had to wait an additional 45 minutes before everything was resolved and I could go home with all my meds.
Before I had the procedure done, I contemplated NOT getting the pain meds. I reasoned since I didn't need to take any of my prescribed pain meds after my Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy, I would be fine without any for my tooth extractions.
HA!
LOL!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!
YUP, I WAS WRONG!!!
I'm so glad I got the pain meds. After changing my gauze I took a much needed nap, I awoke with hand shaking inducing pain.
Holy sheeeeeeeeeeet, the pain was INTENSE. FUCK.
Now normally I hate taking any kind of pain killer/reliever, but good God that pain was just the worse. Not quite NORCO, the Acetaminophen + Codeine mix actually knocked out that pain. As of this writing the med has dulled the pain to the point where I'm not in agony. I don't remember Vicodin being this effective against my post op pain. NOPE, I take that back, after carefully eating pudding the pain is quickly coming back >.<
Man, I'm so glad I completed those pre-recorded interview questions for the Graphic Designer, Publisher 3 position (yeah, the title is lol). Not sure it was a slam dunk, but we'll see.
Ok, I'm starting to doze off in the middle of writing this post. I better finish my dinner of chocolate pudding, beef broth and apple sauce before I pass out.
All four of my wisdom teeth have been extracted today.
I'm not going to lie, I was soooo nervous right before I went under and then nothing. It felt like only three minutes passed before I woke up wisdom toothless, confused and completely fucked up, lol.
I kept laughing (that was hilarious) so much the Lyft driver asked, "Is she going to be okay?"
LOL
After about an hour the effects of the anesthesia/pain meds wore off, which was a bummer since it made me so happy.
The Lyft driver dropped us (my mom tagged along) off at the Meridian Pwky, Kaiser Permanente location. My new medical insurance is through Kaiser Permanente, and unfortunately I can't use third party pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, etc. Kaiser has their own network of drug dispensaries.
Everything seemed fine, the dental office sent my prescriptions over to be filled. Besides the longer than normal wait time, there was a minor snafu with my pain med. Apparently my dentist let his license to dispense narcotics expire today, LOLOLOLOL. So I had to wait an additional 45 minutes before everything was resolved and I could go home with all my meds.
Before I had the procedure done, I contemplated NOT getting the pain meds. I reasoned since I didn't need to take any of my prescribed pain meds after my Unilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy, I would be fine without any for my tooth extractions.
HA!
LOL!
BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!
YUP, I WAS WRONG!!!
I'm so glad I got the pain meds. After changing my gauze I took a much needed nap, I awoke with hand shaking inducing pain.
Holy sheeeeeeeeeeet, the pain was INTENSE. FUCK.
Now normally I hate taking any kind of pain killer/reliever, but good God that pain was just the worse.
Man, I'm so glad I completed those pre-recorded interview questions for the Graphic Designer, Publisher 3 position (yeah, the title is lol). Not sure it was a slam dunk, but we'll see.
Ok, I'm starting to doze off in the middle of writing this post. I better finish my dinner of chocolate pudding, beef broth and apple sauce before I pass out.
I hate CPAP
Jun. 23rd, 2023 06:28 pmThis post has been saved as a draft for a few days now, lol. Now that I no longer have a cold, I feel somewhat human again and feeling up to writing :)
Has my experience with CPAP gotten better since my last posting?
NOPE!
Quick recap
CPAP machine used: 3B Luna II Auto
Mask used: Siesta Full Face Mask, Small
New mask used: Fisher and Paykel Simplus, Small
Original air flow setting: 4-20 cmH20, EPR 0
New air flow setting: 5-13 cmH20, EPR 3
Original complaint:
The Siesta mask was too tight/ill fitting and I couldn't breathe with the mask on. My sleep would be interrupted by me waking up gasping for air. I would also wake up with serious chest soreness. It also felt like I was always out of breath. The out of breath sensation went away toward the end of the evening, but it was serious enough for me to call the sleep therapist. My chest was always tender to the touch, even when I decided to temporarily stop using it, the soreness remained.
Corrections:
My sleep therapist got me a new better mask and a backup. Same size, but this mask feels like it's a better fit for my face (materials and design are higher quality). Since I was complaining about chest tightness/pain and breathing issues, my new air flow setting is 5-13 CMH20, EPR 3. That should solve it right?
Unfortunately, it made it worse, lol. I was gasping for air more and the max time I was able to handle having the mask on, was little less than an hour compared to three hours with the original set up. At least the chest pain and breathlessness was greatly improved, lol.
I think the connection has an air leak somewhere. Probably between the mask and main hose.
I did buy a reading pillow to replace the shitty flattened pillow I had before. Even without the CPAP machine the pillow has made a good amount of difference in my quality of sleep.
So maybe if I can solve the air leak, then perhaps I will be finally able to sleep more than 3 hours with the CPAP machine on?
Has my experience with CPAP gotten better since my last posting?
NOPE!
Quick recap
CPAP machine used: 3B Luna II Auto
Mask used: Siesta Full Face Mask, Small
New mask used: Fisher and Paykel Simplus, Small
Original air flow setting: 4-20 cmH20, EPR 0
New air flow setting: 5-13 cmH20, EPR 3
Original complaint:
The Siesta mask was too tight/ill fitting and I couldn't breathe with the mask on. My sleep would be interrupted by me waking up gasping for air. I would also wake up with serious chest soreness. It also felt like I was always out of breath. The out of breath sensation went away toward the end of the evening, but it was serious enough for me to call the sleep therapist. My chest was always tender to the touch, even when I decided to temporarily stop using it, the soreness remained.
Corrections:
My sleep therapist got me a new better mask and a backup. Same size, but this mask feels like it's a better fit for my face (materials and design are higher quality). Since I was complaining about chest tightness/pain and breathing issues, my new air flow setting is 5-13 CMH20, EPR 3. That should solve it right?
Unfortunately, it made it worse, lol. I was gasping for air more and the max time I was able to handle having the mask on, was little less than an hour compared to three hours with the original set up. At least the chest pain and breathlessness was greatly improved, lol.
I think the connection has an air leak somewhere. Probably between the mask and main hose.
I did buy a reading pillow to replace the shitty flattened pillow I had before. Even without the CPAP machine the pillow has made a good amount of difference in my quality of sleep.
So maybe if I can solve the air leak, then perhaps I will be finally able to sleep more than 3 hours with the CPAP machine on?
Last night I was suppose to write about my CPAP experience so far. Well, it didn't happen, I fell asleep. I have a shitty cold that's making me all slug like. This is my first cold since COVID-19 lockdowns and I'm in hell, lol.
To sum up my experience using CPAP: frustrating. Even with the new mask, I'm still struggling with it. The most sleep I've got using the device is about three hours. Typically, I only last about an hour before ripping my mask off and turning the device off.
Tomorrow, I'll write more about the why I'm having such a difficult time with it.
To sum up my experience using CPAP: frustrating. Even with the new mask, I'm still struggling with it. The most sleep I've got using the device is about three hours. Typically, I only last about an hour before ripping my mask off and turning the device off.
Tomorrow, I'll write more about the why I'm having such a difficult time with it.
Star Trek: Picard
May. 16th, 2023 07:53 pmHOLY SHIT!
WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO SEE THIS?!
Sure some of it is kinda corny (A nebula giving birth to babies, lol), but eh, it's still so very entertaining.
WHY DID I WAIT SO LONG TO SEE THIS?!
Sure some of it is kinda corny (A nebula giving birth to babies, lol), but eh, it's still so very entertaining.
My Sister is an Idiot
May. 8th, 2023 09:14 pmMy mom's Dexa scan results came in. What we see in the medical portal are raw numbers that need to be interpreted by the Nurse Practitioner (NP). I attempted to read the results based on the graph shown, but I told my mom to wait until the NP has the chance to process the data into a more understandable form.
Did mom listen? NOPE! Instead of patiently waiting, she goes to the worse possible person to help decode the scan results. Whom may that be you ask? If you guessed my moronic sister then you would be correct. She gets my mom riled up by telling her, her height is wrong in the report.
NOPE.
Stated height of 58" equals 4'10" not 4'8" like my idiot sister is claiming. My mom is in denial that she is a tiny woman and therefore overweight. I love my mom, but she willfully accepts these stupid fuckin answers from my equally stupid fuckin sister. How many times does this dipshit need to be wrong for my mom to understand that maybe my sister should not be consulted for anything? It's like me asking a pigeon to explain the Theory of Relativity. Like my sister, all the pigeon is going to do is give me a dumbfounded look, peck a few things, shit, then fly/run off.
HEH.
*SIGH*
Anyone want to trade sisters/siblings?
Did mom listen? NOPE! Instead of patiently waiting, she goes to the worse possible person to help decode the scan results. Whom may that be you ask? If you guessed my moronic sister then you would be correct. She gets my mom riled up by telling her, her height is wrong in the report.
NOPE.
Stated height of 58" equals 4'10" not 4'8" like my idiot sister is claiming. My mom is in denial that she is a tiny woman and therefore overweight. I love my mom, but she willfully accepts these stupid fuckin answers from my equally stupid fuckin sister. How many times does this dipshit need to be wrong for my mom to understand that maybe my sister should not be consulted for anything? It's like me asking a pigeon to explain the Theory of Relativity. Like my sister, all the pigeon is going to do is give me a dumbfounded look, peck a few things, shit, then fly/run off.
HEH.
*SIGH*
Anyone want to trade sisters/siblings?
