Busy Week - Dec. 1

[Sailorsong]

Well I woke up to the first snow of this winter where I live. Not much yet on the ground (maybe 1/4" ), but it is suppose to snow all day long. I just hope that it doesn't mess up the roads for the start of my busy week tommorow morning.

I have to be on the road by 8 AM on Tue. for my appt. up at the VA with my shrink.  I am hopeful that she will be able to help me with my sleep problems, or should I say lack of sleep problems. For the last couple of months I have not been able to get to sleep at night ( up till around 3 - 4 in the morning) and then once I finally do get to sleep I wake up after only 4 - 5 hours and am not able to go back to sleep.  I have to also talk about my PTSD as it has been getting worse the last couple of months. I think it might be one of the reasons I have not been sleeping to great lately. I am hoping that they won't have me start going to the PTSD clinic as that is 2 x a week with a 2/6 hour drive each way.

My next appt. is on Saturday. That one really blew my mind! I don't really know what this appt. is for to top things off.  The only thing it says on the notice I got is that it is in the C&P / MED SAT Clinic. My PCP had told me that he was scheduling me for several appt. (Echocardiogram, Nutritionist, orthopedic surgeon). None of those make sense to me as a possible for this appt. Es[ecially since I know the Echocardiogram is not scheduled until Jan 2nd.

I also got some surprising news regarding doctor appointments. When I saw the neurologist at Vanderbilt they had told me they were going to have my follow up appt scheduled at the VA so that my Rx's would be covered. I figured that I would not have another Neuro appt for months from now. My Shrink insisted that the VA send me to Vanderbilt in the first place because it takes forever to get into the Neurology clinic at the VA. Well Sat I got a notice from the VA that I have an appt in the Neurology clinic for Dec. 11th.

Dennis

[Sailorsong]

Actually I don't think they are any where near giving me a Dx. I think it is more that they want to try me on some drugs. The main reason I think this is because the Neuros at Vanderbilt said they wanted to have my follow ups at the VA so that my meds would be covered. At the VA I only have to pay $8 for every 30 day supply of each med. This works out to be a lot cheaper than when I was getting coverage through Medicare. This is a major factor since I take 10 pills each day already.

3 for BP
1 for cholesterol
2 types of eye drops.
1 for sleep (which does nothing)
2 for stomach
1 for thyroid.

Dennis

[Lulu54]

Dennis, that snow missed us up here in Ohio - funny you got it in TN.  It is good to hear your success with followup care in the VA system continues.  

It is especially good tht you are into the neuro clinic so soon - perhaps they are getting ready to give you a dx?  one can only hope!!

Be well and be safe driving tomorrow,
Lulu

[doni54]

Hi Dennis,

I like the kind of snow that comes in overnight, last all day the next day, then gone again by the next morning....hahaha

You take care, I hope you are feeling well today.

doni

[Sailorsong]

Well about 1 hour after I posted the snow stopped and what very little could be seen in my yard was gone. Since the snow stopped I figured I would go get my oil changed. No sooner did I leave (1 hour each way for this task) but it started to sleet or something. I'm not really sure what to call it. The stuff was coming down like snow (floating down) unlike sleet or freezing rain, but was tiny round balls. It was like someone took a bunch of stirafoam (sp?) and shreded up into individual cells and threw it up in the air.

BTW you can have all the snow you want. I can't stand it after all of the years I lived in New England and all of the blizzards I went though. Besides cold weather plays havoc with me. The cold makes my injured joints hurt like crazy and I have to tun on the heat in my car which makes my symptoms flare up big time. If it hadn't been for all of those hurricanes in Florida I would still be living there. Give me warmth any day over cold and snow!

Dennis

[doni54]

Hi Dennis,

Have fun in the snow!!  All we're getting is cold and rain, I'm jealous!!

I'll be praying for you to have a good week and for all your appts to go well.

Take care!
doni