Choking Episode

I'm still feeling remarkably well, considering it's been weeks now since I took a PD med. Reading a post on PLM makes me think it's at least in part due to the 6-8 cups of green tea I'm drinking most days. Taking the Turmeric and eating a lot of the Super Foods, mostly raw, probably has a lot to do with it, too.

I'm doing my neck exercises each morning, using the cervical collar daily for about 15 minutes, and using the TENS when I need it, so I'm not hurting much, either.

But I did have another choking episode this morning. It's a little hard to explain. I've done it several times lately with my own saliva, but this morning I had a mouth full of tea when a tiny amount just slipped down the wrong way. I wasn't really swallowing, either. That's what has been happening with saliva, too. I may not know how it's happening, but I sure know the results! I end up coughing and gagging for several minutes each time, and it hurts. I'm going to have to try to figure out exactly what is happening, so I can decide the best way to prevent it.

Other than that, I'm feeling fine. I worked really hard on our collectibles and toy inventory yesterday, and pretty well wore myself out, trying to get it stored in a more logical and organized way. But it was good exercise, and I'm glad I was able to do it. I also added another pile to the lasagna compost. That is slowly building up an area of rich material about 100 square feet or so and over a foot high. I haven't done any walking or Tai Chi for some time, and I do need to get back to it, now that I'm feeling better.

There was a good explanation of voice exercises on PLM, too, so I guess I'll try to add those exercises to my daily routine, too.

And, to finish this post on a positive note, neither one of us have a single doctor's appointment this whole month!!!

Messing Around

Well, I went to the Dermatologist Monday, and other than a small flareup of my Acne Rosacea, he didn't find anything worrisome. He did say I had some sun damage on my forearms ... But I've had almost 65 years to accumulate that damage, so it's not really surprising. I did the sunbathing stuff in high school and college, but that's just about it. I did have some pretty bad sunburns during that time period. Of course, there were no sunscreens then.

I'm finding the cervical collar to be very helpful, but it hurts to wear it. I've made about all the adjustments that I can to make it work better on my short neck, but it is still uncomfortable. Let's face it -- I have a small face and CPAP and Collars were just not meant for someone my size. It's a shame my hips and tummy haven't figured out they are supposed to be petite, too! LOL

I'm not getting as much use from the TEN's as I thought I would, because it's trouble to hook it all up. That old apathy thing going on again. I need to get in the habit of putting it on before I eat lunch or ride in the car. Those seem to be my worst triggers for pain. It's the leaning forward with no support posture that makes mealtimes hurt. For breakfast and supper, I'm usually on the computer on the sofa, with the laptop in my lap, eating in between typing. Yes, my keyboard needs cleaning out something terrible, but I don't know how.

I'll try to do better by the TEN's today. It's rented for one month, and then, if I think it helped, insurance will pay for it. Seems fair enough to me.

I got just plain disgusted the other day, and told hubby I'm going to go off of all my PD meds for awhile, just to see how I do. I made a short experiment with that right around Christmas, but the holidays weren't really a good time to be experimenting, so it was a very, very short time that I was without the meds. I intend to stick this out for at least a week, maybe longer. I just want to see once and for all if the meds are doing me any good at all.

I worked hard all day yesterday getting more of our plush animals and dolls into our own Plush Animal & Soft Doll Shoppe, so I can more easily sell directly. I'll still be on eBay, but I need to wean away from depending on that source completely for sales. EBay messes with things too much, and changes things at a whim. At least with my own site, I know exactly what's going on. Course, right now, not much IS going on!

I started working on tax forms I have to fill out for the paid caregiver we had with Daddy. Once I do all his taxes, and the Estate's taxes, and pay what is owed to the IRS, we can close out the Estate bank account, and invest the money. It will be good to see the end of that chapter of my life.

Hubby continues to be supportive and helpful, I feel better, I don't have any signs of skin cancers, and I'm accomplishing something with our sales. I'd say that's a pretty good sign that the apathy is lifting. I sure hope so.

Pinched Nerve in Neck is the Culprit

I went back to the Orthopedist yesterday for the follow up on the Physical Therapy I've been getting. He says I have a pinched nerved on the left side from a bulging disk. It's all part of the Degenerative Disk Disease problem I have with several different cervical and lumbar vertebrae. Anyway, since I cannot have epidurals, he is making arrangements for me to see a Physiatrist at the Lakeshore Rehab Facility. This place is a Paralympics training facility and very highly thought of. It will take several weeks before I even get the appointment, as the doctor evaluates all the info my Ortho sends him, before he decides IF he will see me or not! Talk about a busy doctor!!! So, it's hard to say who I will see first, the Physiatrist, or the MDS at UAB. Either way, I'll be getting help from some extremely well thought of doctors, and for that I am very grateful.

In the meantime, he gave me a prescription for the Home TEN's, which my PT facility can fill tomorrow. And he also sent me home with an inflatable cervical collar that provides traction. It's not at all comfortable, as I have a very short neck. Even the small size seems too big to me. I'm to take it to PT tomorrow, so they can help me learn how to use it correctly. Then maybe it won't be so uncomfortable. The directions say to inflate it for 10 or 15 seconds, deflate, then inflate again, for the first week, leaving it on for no more than about 15 minutes. Then I gradually work up to a steady 15 minute session with it.

The PT also told me the other day to make the neck exercises a consistent part of my daily routine, whether they seemed to be helping or not. He said it could be months before I really saw improvement, but to continue indefinitely with the routine they gave me. They're easy enough to do, so it's just getting it to be part of my day's routine that remains to be accomplished.

So, another piece of the puzzle has been explained, and now I wait to see the Physiatrist for an evaluation, as well as the MDS at UAB. Looks like this is going to be an interesting year, and I choose to believe it will be a year where I get help with my pain, stiffness, and walking problems. Who knows, maybe I'll even stop shaking!