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Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Monday, July 28, 2008
Bleh
I have had more Dr. appts. in the last 2 months than in the 25 years previous... I am going in for a sleep study tonight, another MRI on Wednesday, a follow-up for the sleep study sometime next week, blahblahblah.
Until I have something ELSE to talk about, I don't think I'll be posting. My PT says that alot of my neck problems are made worse by spending so much time on the computer anyway.
I have to go to Mexico for a work conference on Aug. 14th though, so I'll post about that, if it's interesting.
Wish me luck.
Until I have something ELSE to talk about, I don't think I'll be posting. My PT says that alot of my neck problems are made worse by spending so much time on the computer anyway.
I have to go to Mexico for a work conference on Aug. 14th though, so I'll post about that, if it's interesting.
Wish me luck.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
I should have done this years ago
I feel so old these last few days. Since Friday I have had an MRI, been to 3 doctors and seen a physical therapist. I haven't slept more than a few hours in the last three days, and I've honestly never felt so helpless before. It sucks.
On Friday I had an MRI of my C-spine, and on Monday I saw an Orthopedic surgeon about the problem with my shoulders. He ordered another MRI (of my shoulders) which I will get in a few weeks. It looks like the compulsive rocking I've been doing in my sleep for oh, my entire life, has caused so damage there, which is a separate issue from the c-spine stuff. I also have a long-needed sleep study scheduled for this coming Monday. I have the feeling that the insomnia and the accompanying compulsive rock-n-rolling I do while sleeping are responsible for most of my current problems.
So anyway, the MRI on friday shows nerve compression in three spots in my cervical spine, c 4,5, and 7. In the MRI it looks just like a little hourglass where the discs are herniated.
Anyway, I have been seriously obsessing over the lack of sleep and the pain for the last three days, which really isn't normal for me. I NEVER lose complete perspective, but I think I did these last few days. Hopeless is a heavy word, but it fits how I was feeling last night and this morning.
I saw my primary this morning, and he prescribed me Xanax to help with the anxiety (to help me sleep) and though I've always been opposed to taking benzodiazepines because of their addictive quality, I am so desperately in need of a few hours of sleep that I really have no choice. I'm a bit nervous about it, but I've taken narcotics as prescribed before, so things should be ok.
After him, I saw a spine specialist, who is going to do a nerve block by giving me some steroid shots in the neck. They have to knock you out for that, which I hate, but not as much as I hate feeling like I do. Hopefully things will mellow out between now and then. He gave me a shot in the ass of a drug called toradol, which is a heavy-duty NSAID painkiller (non-narcotic) which has helped things alot. It is supposed to last for around 5 days, and I think if I can just get some sleep things will improve greatly. I'm not sure I could make it a whole month (I can't get the nerve block until August 23rd) if every day is as bad as the last 3 have been, but I'm hopeful that they won't.
So there you have it. I HATE feeling like a whiner, and I hate going to the doctor, but not so much as I hate the way I've been feeling for the last few weeks. My reluctance to see doctors and to accept the possibility of any kind of debilitating medical problems when I was younger is kind of biting me in the ass. I mean, I've known for 9 years now that I needed to see a sleep specialist and that the lack of sleep was taking a toll on my health, but I always made excuses, like no insurance, then shitty insurance, then scheduling or other more pressing issues, etc.
But hopefully it's not too late. I honestly can't even imagine how things might be without some sort of pain or fatigue on a daily basis.
On Friday I had an MRI of my C-spine, and on Monday I saw an Orthopedic surgeon about the problem with my shoulders. He ordered another MRI (of my shoulders) which I will get in a few weeks. It looks like the compulsive rocking I've been doing in my sleep for oh, my entire life, has caused so damage there, which is a separate issue from the c-spine stuff. I also have a long-needed sleep study scheduled for this coming Monday. I have the feeling that the insomnia and the accompanying compulsive rock-n-rolling I do while sleeping are responsible for most of my current problems.
So anyway, the MRI on friday shows nerve compression in three spots in my cervical spine, c 4,5, and 7. In the MRI it looks just like a little hourglass where the discs are herniated.
Anyway, I have been seriously obsessing over the lack of sleep and the pain for the last three days, which really isn't normal for me. I NEVER lose complete perspective, but I think I did these last few days. Hopeless is a heavy word, but it fits how I was feeling last night and this morning.
I saw my primary this morning, and he prescribed me Xanax to help with the anxiety (to help me sleep) and though I've always been opposed to taking benzodiazepines because of their addictive quality, I am so desperately in need of a few hours of sleep that I really have no choice. I'm a bit nervous about it, but I've taken narcotics as prescribed before, so things should be ok.
After him, I saw a spine specialist, who is going to do a nerve block by giving me some steroid shots in the neck. They have to knock you out for that, which I hate, but not as much as I hate feeling like I do. Hopefully things will mellow out between now and then. He gave me a shot in the ass of a drug called toradol, which is a heavy-duty NSAID painkiller (non-narcotic) which has helped things alot. It is supposed to last for around 5 days, and I think if I can just get some sleep things will improve greatly. I'm not sure I could make it a whole month (I can't get the nerve block until August 23rd) if every day is as bad as the last 3 have been, but I'm hopeful that they won't.
So there you have it. I HATE feeling like a whiner, and I hate going to the doctor, but not so much as I hate the way I've been feeling for the last few weeks. My reluctance to see doctors and to accept the possibility of any kind of debilitating medical problems when I was younger is kind of biting me in the ass. I mean, I've known for 9 years now that I needed to see a sleep specialist and that the lack of sleep was taking a toll on my health, but I always made excuses, like no insurance, then shitty insurance, then scheduling or other more pressing issues, etc.
But hopefully it's not too late. I honestly can't even imagine how things might be without some sort of pain or fatigue on a daily basis.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
I guess Erin's not so bad after all
So I wasn't looking forward to the long drive up here to Summit county, considering how messed up my shoulders and neck had been. I only drove 6 hours Tuesday, which really isn't much for me, and I stopped in Green River, Utah at a cheap motel called the Robber's Roost. It was 15 dollars cheaper than the Motel 6, and bigger and nicer as well. I went to sleep about 2, and got a decent night's sleep, all things considered.
Well, the next day (yesterday) was just awful. I got a breakfast burito and a mocha on the way out of town, and within about 15 minutes, I started to feel sick. Food poisoning sick. I managed to drive the 90 or so miles to Fruita, Co. where I had to pull over and puke my guts out on the side of the road. Lovely.
On top of the nausea, I still had about 3 hours of driving to do, and I was feeling the way everyone feels when they can't hold anything down. I tried drinking water, but puked that up too.
So I stopped for a nap under a tree near Rifle, Colorado. After nearly an hour I decided that I had to continue on. I still felt like shit, but since I'd given up on eating or drinking anything, I figured the best thing to do was drive on, as the longer I waited, the worse and more dehydrated I'd feel.
I made it without incident to the top of Vail pass, which is about 2o miles from my sis's house, and there on the side of the road were two perfect little lakes, with fish rising. I pulled over, intending to fish for only a few minutes, but as soon as I stepped out of the car, I got so dizzy I gave up on the idea. You know I'm really sick when I can't stop to fish in a spot like that. It sucked.
Anyway, I got to Nicole's, and fell asleep from 4 til about 8:30. I felt much better, though still very weak. Nicole had gotten me some pedialite (which is gross, but does the job) and some chicken noodle soup. I ate, drank, watched So you think you can dance, and went back to sleep at 11.
This morning, I woke up feeling much better than I have in days. I ate a bagel for breakfast (I didn't want to over-do it in case the sickness was lingering) and I went fishing.
Well, I don't know if it's the bug passing, or the mountain air, or just the act of fishing, but I feel great. I caught 3 trout, and long distance released (that's lost to you non-fishers out there) 4 others, and it was just great. My biggest fish of the day came when I was walking back to the car. I called Erin to check in and say hi, and while we were talking I just kind of absent-mindedly flicked my fly behind a rock one-handed, and this healthy trout just swam up and ate it. I was like "Oh my gosh! I caught a fish!" and Erin was like, "What?" and I told her I had to go so I could play and land him. all I had on me was my phone, but I managed 3 pics of the fish, a nice fat rainbow trout of probably 15 inches or so. I tried to text-message the pics to Erin, but she doesn't get multimedia on her phone, so the pics will have to wait til I get home and can download them from my phone to my laptop.
So in the end, I'll credit Erin for that last one. In spite of her hook fiasco in the Sierras a few weeks ago, I never woulld have caught this fish if I hadn't stopped in that spot to call her, so it all worked out. :)
Well, the next day (yesterday) was just awful. I got a breakfast burito and a mocha on the way out of town, and within about 15 minutes, I started to feel sick. Food poisoning sick. I managed to drive the 90 or so miles to Fruita, Co. where I had to pull over and puke my guts out on the side of the road. Lovely.
On top of the nausea, I still had about 3 hours of driving to do, and I was feeling the way everyone feels when they can't hold anything down. I tried drinking water, but puked that up too.
So I stopped for a nap under a tree near Rifle, Colorado. After nearly an hour I decided that I had to continue on. I still felt like shit, but since I'd given up on eating or drinking anything, I figured the best thing to do was drive on, as the longer I waited, the worse and more dehydrated I'd feel.
I made it without incident to the top of Vail pass, which is about 2o miles from my sis's house, and there on the side of the road were two perfect little lakes, with fish rising. I pulled over, intending to fish for only a few minutes, but as soon as I stepped out of the car, I got so dizzy I gave up on the idea. You know I'm really sick when I can't stop to fish in a spot like that. It sucked.
Anyway, I got to Nicole's, and fell asleep from 4 til about 8:30. I felt much better, though still very weak. Nicole had gotten me some pedialite (which is gross, but does the job) and some chicken noodle soup. I ate, drank, watched So you think you can dance, and went back to sleep at 11.
This morning, I woke up feeling much better than I have in days. I ate a bagel for breakfast (I didn't want to over-do it in case the sickness was lingering) and I went fishing.
Well, I don't know if it's the bug passing, or the mountain air, or just the act of fishing, but I feel great. I caught 3 trout, and long distance released (that's lost to you non-fishers out there) 4 others, and it was just great. My biggest fish of the day came when I was walking back to the car. I called Erin to check in and say hi, and while we were talking I just kind of absent-mindedly flicked my fly behind a rock one-handed, and this healthy trout just swam up and ate it. I was like "Oh my gosh! I caught a fish!" and Erin was like, "What?" and I told her I had to go so I could play and land him. all I had on me was my phone, but I managed 3 pics of the fish, a nice fat rainbow trout of probably 15 inches or so. I tried to text-message the pics to Erin, but she doesn't get multimedia on her phone, so the pics will have to wait til I get home and can download them from my phone to my laptop.
So in the end, I'll credit Erin for that last one. In spite of her hook fiasco in the Sierras a few weeks ago, I never woulld have caught this fish if I hadn't stopped in that spot to call her, so it all worked out. :)
Monday, July 07, 2008
Nerves making me nervous
I've been having issues with my neck and shoulders for a few years now. Unfortunately, I tend to ignore minor pains and aches, because when I was younger it was easier to do so, and at the time I didn't have any insurance, so there was no point worrying about it.
About 3 years ago I got a small tear in my ulnar nerve. Long story short, after 10 months of hoop-jumping, I had a surgery in which they moved my nerve from around the elbow to lay under the muscle; this was supposed to alleviate the problem.
For the most part it worked.
However, during the 10 months I was hoop jumping, there were occasions when I would tweak the nerve by moving my head a certain way, and it would send a jolt down my arm or up my neck. Sometimes these jolts were so strong that they literally made my black out; kind of like when you get punched in the face.
Anyway, for the last few months I've been dealing with tight neck and shoulders, with the tightness and pain sometimes radiating into my arms. I've seen 2 physical therapists, and though they haven't been unpleasant, they haven't done anything to alleviate the actual problem.
So these last few days have been pretty bad. I am not usually one to complain, and I've always had a bias against younger people who constantly complain. This attitude no doubt came from all the AA people I saw over the years who went on disability, or who constantly took painkillers, or meds, or whatever... and who, in my mind, simply didn't want to work; I took their complaints as excuses fabricated because they didn't have it in them to get their shit together. They exemplified a culture of victimhood, and I silently judged.
Now, I know not everyone was doing this; some people did (and still do) have legit ailments. But most were not as bad off as the claimed.
Now, I am in the unenviable position of basically feeling like shit nearly all the time.
I have been trying to get things taken care of now that I have some decent insurance, but nothing so far has addressed the real issue, whatever it may be.
I am getting a sleep study done at the end of the month. I have had serious insomnia for over 10 years now ( and I mean clinical insomnia; I rarely sleep more than 6 hours at a stretch, and can remember only three nights since we moved to Vegas where I slept an unbroken 7 hours; once in San Jose, once in Switzerland, and once a few months ago. EVERY other night for a decade or more I've slept in fits and starts, usually to the tune of about 5 hours a night. It sucks.)
About a month ago I finally got a lift (my right leg is shorter than my left, and the doc thought that may be contributing to my neck and shoulder issues), but I'm wondering if it may be the reason for my current neck problems. In the last month or so, my neck and shoulder stiffness has gotten noticeably worse.
So that brings me to today. I was laying on the bed this morning, on my stomach, and when I stretched my arms above my head I felt a sharp burning pain right next to my armpit. As far as I can tell, it's exactly in the sheath-thing that covers the main nerve into the arm. It really hurt, but I kept stretching, hoping that doing to would loosen things up. Well, a little later I took the bike to a coffee shop to do some work. As I was typing, the numb-tingles associated with my original ulnar nerve damage crept up, only this time it wasn't just in my fingers. I've got numbness and tingles in all of my left hand, as well as sporadic feelings of stuff crawling up and down my arm. The tingling is also wandering up to my neck. It has me pretty worried, and I am so not a worrier.
So tomorrow I have an appointment with my doc. Hopefully he'll refer me to a neurologist. I've done some poking around, and all the symptoms indicate an impinged nerve, but they checked for that when I first went in a few years ago, and said that wasn't the case. They took X-rays, but not an MRI or CAT scan, so hopefully they will do one of them and find out what's wrong.
I just hope that they can get to the bottom of the problem. I am beginning to forget what it feels like to not ache, and it's starting to really get to me.
I honestly can't imagine what I could accomplish in my life if I actually could get a full night's sleep and could wake up and go through the day without hurting. I hope someday I can find out the answer to that question.
OK, enough complaints from me; I'll post more after my doc appt. tomorrow.
About 3 years ago I got a small tear in my ulnar nerve. Long story short, after 10 months of hoop-jumping, I had a surgery in which they moved my nerve from around the elbow to lay under the muscle; this was supposed to alleviate the problem.
For the most part it worked.
However, during the 10 months I was hoop jumping, there were occasions when I would tweak the nerve by moving my head a certain way, and it would send a jolt down my arm or up my neck. Sometimes these jolts were so strong that they literally made my black out; kind of like when you get punched in the face.
Anyway, for the last few months I've been dealing with tight neck and shoulders, with the tightness and pain sometimes radiating into my arms. I've seen 2 physical therapists, and though they haven't been unpleasant, they haven't done anything to alleviate the actual problem.
So these last few days have been pretty bad. I am not usually one to complain, and I've always had a bias against younger people who constantly complain. This attitude no doubt came from all the AA people I saw over the years who went on disability, or who constantly took painkillers, or meds, or whatever... and who, in my mind, simply didn't want to work; I took their complaints as excuses fabricated because they didn't have it in them to get their shit together. They exemplified a culture of victimhood, and I silently judged.
Now, I know not everyone was doing this; some people did (and still do) have legit ailments. But most were not as bad off as the claimed.
Now, I am in the unenviable position of basically feeling like shit nearly all the time.
I have been trying to get things taken care of now that I have some decent insurance, but nothing so far has addressed the real issue, whatever it may be.
I am getting a sleep study done at the end of the month. I have had serious insomnia for over 10 years now ( and I mean clinical insomnia; I rarely sleep more than 6 hours at a stretch, and can remember only three nights since we moved to Vegas where I slept an unbroken 7 hours; once in San Jose, once in Switzerland, and once a few months ago. EVERY other night for a decade or more I've slept in fits and starts, usually to the tune of about 5 hours a night. It sucks.)
About a month ago I finally got a lift (my right leg is shorter than my left, and the doc thought that may be contributing to my neck and shoulder issues), but I'm wondering if it may be the reason for my current neck problems. In the last month or so, my neck and shoulder stiffness has gotten noticeably worse.
So that brings me to today. I was laying on the bed this morning, on my stomach, and when I stretched my arms above my head I felt a sharp burning pain right next to my armpit. As far as I can tell, it's exactly in the sheath-thing that covers the main nerve into the arm. It really hurt, but I kept stretching, hoping that doing to would loosen things up. Well, a little later I took the bike to a coffee shop to do some work. As I was typing, the numb-tingles associated with my original ulnar nerve damage crept up, only this time it wasn't just in my fingers. I've got numbness and tingles in all of my left hand, as well as sporadic feelings of stuff crawling up and down my arm. The tingling is also wandering up to my neck. It has me pretty worried, and I am so not a worrier.
So tomorrow I have an appointment with my doc. Hopefully he'll refer me to a neurologist. I've done some poking around, and all the symptoms indicate an impinged nerve, but they checked for that when I first went in a few years ago, and said that wasn't the case. They took X-rays, but not an MRI or CAT scan, so hopefully they will do one of them and find out what's wrong.
I just hope that they can get to the bottom of the problem. I am beginning to forget what it feels like to not ache, and it's starting to really get to me.
I honestly can't imagine what I could accomplish in my life if I actually could get a full night's sleep and could wake up and go through the day without hurting. I hope someday I can find out the answer to that question.
OK, enough complaints from me; I'll post more after my doc appt. tomorrow.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
breakfast restaurants, and crazy menu selections.
Finding a good breakfast restaurant isn't easy. Most of them (most restaurants really) are quite mediocre. But today, while poking around for places to get breakfast in Vegas, we came across the Hash House A Go Go. I'm not sure if their food is good, because we haven't eaten there, but their menu is great.
Especially their O'hare of the Dog. What is it, you ask?
Well, it's a 24 oz. Budweiser. With a side of bacon.
So far, that's the funniest breakfast menu item I've seen. Can anyone top that?
Especially their O'hare of the Dog. What is it, you ask?
Well, it's a 24 oz. Budweiser. With a side of bacon.
So far, that's the funniest breakfast menu item I've seen. Can anyone top that?
Friday, July 04, 2008
Thursday, July 03, 2008
A trip down memory lane via cereal boxes
I don't know why I go off on these little internet missions, but I just spent the last 2 hours looking at vintage Starwars toys. Specifically, I was looking for a little hand-held movie camera thing which I shoplifted from a K-mart when I was 7. How I wound up in a K-mart by myself late in the evening at age 7 is an interesting story, but one for another time. Anyway, the toy in question had little cartridge things which, when inserted and cranked with a handle on the side, presented actual movie-sequences through the viewfinder. It was a cool toy.
So anyway, I didn't find it, but as I was occasionally reminded of various Starwars toys from my youth, I told Erin about a landspeeder string-glider I once got from a box of cereal. It was hella cool. And then, of course, I found a picture of the exact cereal box it came from.
Friggin' internets.... it's constantly amazing. I don't know where this guy finds the time, but his comprehensive list of cereal boxes with Starwars related themes reminded me how much I used to covet things which no longer exist, like Crazy Cow cereal. Crazy Cow: you can't get much more 1970's.
Now I'm off to find pics of the Guns of Navarone mountain playset I used to use as a battlestation in opposition to my Death Star.
So anyway, I didn't find it, but as I was occasionally reminded of various Starwars toys from my youth, I told Erin about a landspeeder string-glider I once got from a box of cereal. It was hella cool. And then, of course, I found a picture of the exact cereal box it came from.
Friggin' internets.... it's constantly amazing. I don't know where this guy finds the time, but his comprehensive list of cereal boxes with Starwars related themes reminded me how much I used to covet things which no longer exist, like Crazy Cow cereal. Crazy Cow: you can't get much more 1970's.
Now I'm off to find pics of the Guns of Navarone mountain playset I used to use as a battlestation in opposition to my Death Star.
Car woes, and excessive heat warning
I've been sitting for the last 3 1/2 hours at the dealership where they just rebuilt our engine last week. Our check engine light came on yesterday, and I guess that it's not a big deal, but they had to update our car's software, and for some reason, it's taking a really long time.
Fortunately, the dealer has free wifi, so I've been able to get some school work done, and now I have time for a blog post.
Yesterday evening, the weatherman announced that the NWS has issued an excessive heat warning for today. Officially, our high is supposed to be 112, which means in reality that on the street it will be close to 120 this afternoon. That, combined with high ozone and the smoke drifting into the Vegas valley from fires in Cali means that we should not go outside today, if we can help it.
I for one, had planned on spending as little time outside as possible when it gets its hottest, but this unplanned nearly 4 hour detour to Toyota has mussed up my plans, and I will be stuck driving around more than I had intended.
This, of course, has made me a bit grouchy, but since my one actual planned trip out today is to the physical therapist to get my stiff neck and shoulders worked on, it's not all bad.
Since I have nothing else to do, here's a few random pics I've meant to post in te last several weeks. You can figure them out.
Fortunately, the dealer has free wifi, so I've been able to get some school work done, and now I have time for a blog post.
Yesterday evening, the weatherman announced that the NWS has issued an excessive heat warning for today. Officially, our high is supposed to be 112, which means in reality that on the street it will be close to 120 this afternoon. That, combined with high ozone and the smoke drifting into the Vegas valley from fires in Cali means that we should not go outside today, if we can help it.
I for one, had planned on spending as little time outside as possible when it gets its hottest, but this unplanned nearly 4 hour detour to Toyota has mussed up my plans, and I will be stuck driving around more than I had intended.
This, of course, has made me a bit grouchy, but since my one actual planned trip out today is to the physical therapist to get my stiff neck and shoulders worked on, it's not all bad.
Since I have nothing else to do, here's a few random pics I've meant to post in te last several weeks. You can figure them out.
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