It's Going to be a VERY Busy Day

Just a quick post today at the start of a VERY busy morning. The afternoon will be more relaxed (if you can call three loads of laundry and some cooking relaxing), but the morning is packed solid. I start with my swim, of course. I must hit the water on Wednesdays - LOL. Then I get home, drop off my swim clothes and start the first load of laundry before a VERY quick breakfast and heading off to the wilds of the Northern part of the Twin Cities to see my Endocrinologist. 

I'm heading into the wild of Coon Rapids, MN as soon 
as I've had a quick breakfast (although I might push 
breakfast off until late morning). 

I like this doctor, and I haven't seen him for over a year. Itr's a touch-base appointment, and I have no idea what we'll discuss. I can't tell if the infusions I'm getting (at a VERY expensive rate - it's a damned good thing I have health insurance), anyway ... I can't tell if they're doing me any good or not. I haven't had any scans to let us know whether my bone density has improved or not. Maybe it's just stabilized, I really don't know. I have crap bones ... that I do know. I feel like a skyscraper that's developed rust on its' interior beams. Generally, not a healthy thing. 

My bone density is more like the bottom than 
the healthy bone density of the top. That presents 
some serious issues with mobility and possible 
bone breakage in my future. We're trying everything 
we can to improve the density, thus the infusion 
schedule he's got me on. 

But I'll start today off in the pool, then run home and head off to Coon Rapids (yes ... that's the name of the northern suburb where my doctor is located), and after I see him, I can get started on my day - some shopping, a bit of cooking, and some mundane things like paying bills. I'll chat with Aearwen late this afternoon, then toss some chicken into the oven, and call it a busy day done. 

I don't mind being busy, but I also have to be very 
productive today - no choices. So ... I have to be super 
organized and efficient. I'm not always meeting those 
two criteria - LOL. 

I hope all of you have a great Wednesday. Maybe a bit less hectic than mine, but a good one. I'm going to plug in some photos and call this done for today. Slava Ukraini. 

It's an Infusion Day - Oh Joy *NOT*

Today is, as usual, a busy day. I start by driving out to the ends of the metro world for my semi-annual infusion. I absolutely hate these shots, but they're holding my bones together, keeping them from turning into Swiss cheese or dust. So I will do what I always do - I'll persevere. 

My bones are crap - always have been. They're getting worse, 
though. Just taking a daily pill was no longer working, so I've 
been switched over to infusions every six months. Today is 
that lucky day *sigh*. 

Today will also be a "find the right frame" day. I have those two artworks and I want to get them into frames ASAP. I'm hoping I can find some that already have UV conservation glass, but if not, I can cut some to fit at the shop. I laid the pieces out for Chickie yesterday and she's totally in love with them too. Said her Mom would love to have "Dawn". Although I would love to give it to Claire - she's been such a support over the past few months - I just can't afford to ignore the close to $200 each picture will fetch after being framed appropriately. So no ... they'll be at the shop and sold to someone who will also fall in love with them. 

I wish I could spend the time to give you a much 
better idea of the true colors here. The dark is purple, 
the light is more beige, and the painting itself has 
a lot more mid-pinks in it than evident. Of course, 
the mats aren't taped either, this was just a quick 
photo for my reference. 

I'll have to do a minimal grocery shopping trip also, but if I don't, I'll probably be OK until next week. I still have a watermelon on my counter that needs cutting up. We won't starve - LOL. 

I already cut up the honeydew, but still have a watermelon 
on my kitchen counter that needs to be cut up. I do love 
my summer fruits. 

Not much to say today, just focused on what I need to accomplish over today. All things considered, it's not bad to be focused every now and again. Have an excellent Friday and Slava Ukraini. I'll be back tomorrow to wrap up the week. 

I Was Attacked by my Bra! I Won, But I'm in Pain

Today I hurt. I purchased several new bras to keep "the girls" stable during healing. The one I wore yesterday was OK during the day, but at night it moved a bit closer to my armpit which features a bunch of stitches from biopsies which were done across the area. By the time the pain awakened me an hour before my alarm was set to go off, I was in serious pain. It's been 2-1/2 hours since I awakened, and I just took a couple of Extra Strength Tylenol. I also tossed both of the bras of that brand/style into the garbage can. I don't need this! Ouch! 

The bra I had on last night was at least at 
inch closer to the armpit than this drawing. 
It actually started shredding the steri-tape 
which is covering the armpit stitches. I get 
the tape removed tomorrow afternoon, but 
I'd much rather my doctor/nurse did it than 
a bra. Besides, it was quite painful! 

I have a different support bra on today, and it's hitting me lower, so no direct impact. After my Tylenol kicks in, I should be OK for the morning. I'm grateful that I see my Doc again tomorrow. I'd love to ditch the steri-tape and the stitches and let things heal on their own. 

Earlier this year we stopped the Fosomax 
prescription because it wasn't working any 
more. We are now doing bone density 
injections every six months. The damned 
things are EXPENSIVE. Thank goodness for 
good health insurance. 

I got the first bill for my bone density infusion injections yesterday. Ouch! The shot itself was relatively painless (she was VERY good), but the actual bill was more than $2000! For something I'll need every six months. Thank goodness for good insurance which has kicked my payment down to approx $350. Still, when I compare the cost of the infusion to the cost of my Fosomax prescription ... no comparison. Of course, the Fosomax isn't working for me any more ... so choices? None. 

Tomorrow morning I start out with an appointment 
with Dr Zachary Wilson, a Radiology Oncologist. 
He specializes in breast and prostrate cancer, so 
I'm hopeful he'll have decent news for me. He'll 
at least present me with the option to do radiation 
therapy. The other major therapy is chemotherapy. 
I don't know if I will be meeting another new 
doctor for that - I suspect it will be the case. 

Tomorrow I start out meeting the Radiologist. One of the questions they had asked me was about bone density, and I think I blew the question off. Well, ... that was probably a poor idea. I'll have to make sure I mention my crappy bones to him. It might affect whether I can have radiation treatment or not. I don't know if I necessarily WANT radiation therapy, but I'm kind of a "Clear out the gun cabinet, load everything up, and let it fly", kind of gal. At least I won't have to worry about losing my hair. Alopaecia took care of that years ago - LOL. 

I purchased a new bottle of Extra Strength 
Tylenol capsules when I started with my 
braces 2-1/2 years or so ago. I don't take 
pain pills often. I took two this morning - 
a clear indication of true pain. Ouch! 

So, I'm going to sit quietly until my Tylenol kicks in, then I'll bundle up for my trip to the shop. It's -14F outside right now, so bundling will be super important. I hope all of you have an excellent Tuesday and I'll be back tomorrow before I move my ass downtown for my various appointments. Slava Ukraini. 

Housecleaning, Bone Density, and Voting For My Story

I have a video conference with my physician next Tuesday. This is new ground for me - I've never done a video consultation before, but I suppose there's a first time for everything, and sometimes this is a bit easier all around. I can tell her that I'm getting a treadmill delivered and set up (although the actual date for delivery is still unknown), but more than that, we need to talk about my bone density results - which were NOT good. 

I'm a bit concerned about my latest bone density scan. I've 
had a 3% decrease in my lumbar spine, a 6.1% decrease in 
my right hip, and a 6.8% decrease in my left hip. That's 
totally NOT good, in anyone's book. 

While on the conference with her, my co-worker and DH want me to request a more detailed memory assessment test from her. They're quite concerned that I'm not as sharp as I used to be. They're not wrong, but I'm not sure it's dementia rearing its' ugly head, as much as a realization - bone deep - that I want to be anywhere BUT at the shop and want to do my own thing without being bothered. I haven't been able to create any of my art for more than a decade because I've dedicated myself to the business (Christmas cards don't really count, but at least I've had those to create). I also live with a person who is highly critical of me but refuses to see his own shortcomings which infringe upon my mental and physical space. It's a conundrum. But, I'll ask her about it anyway. It couldn't hurt. 

I find it annoying that when I attempt to find an 
illustration for "housecleaning" it's always with 
dusters, vacuums and brooms. I need to houseclean 
by putting things away - physically moving things 
from where they currently are, to where they should 
belong. Very different than dusting (which probably 
also needs to be done). 

Speaking of housecleaning, that's my job for today. I don't need to cook anything, and my grocery shopping will be minimal. I'll wash the car, but that's pretty fast and easy. So that will allow me plenty of time to start cleaning the den and making it clear for the new treadmill. I still don't have a delivery date, but we'll get there (hopefully before the snows fall since they won't be able to get the box through the house interior, but will have to go around the exterior to the lower level entry door). 

Today will be one of those days with a little bit of this 
and a little bit of that. I'm hoping, by the end of the day, 
that there will have been a serious improvement in the 
mess in my den/exercise room. 

So, that's what I've got on my mind today. I have a little bit of this and that, a couple of bills to pay, and something to complete for the County Assessor (sigh), but it should be a rather uneventful day, leaving me LOTS of time to clean, clean and clean. Have an excellent Friday and I'll be back for my final post of the week tomorrow. OH ... and if you have any opportunity to vote for my story, I'd sure appreciate it. The link is here, https://www.dreamwidth.org/poll/?id=31883 and I hope I survive the vote to write again. We'll be eliminating two this week, and I'm usually in the lower vote part of each week. So ... I'm a little nervous about this week.