GAAAAAHHHHHH Mk.VI: The Return of the Son of the 50ft GAAAH that struck back!

[Xenos]

Kidney stones.

That is all.

EDIT: Okay, turns out that's not all. Got a text from my dad.

His dad--my last surviving grandparent--and what's more, a Provo, a man that I respect DEEPLY--is in palliative care. He may not last the weekend. I'm going to see him tomorrow. I had hoped that...

I had hoped that I'd be able to tell him some of my stories, but... due to the doctors fucking up, he uh... he won't remember who I am while I'm there. He doesn't even remember my uncle--whom he lives with.

I cannot stress enough how deeply this... How gutted.. how...

A part of the reason I survived Sudan was, I feel, this man's genetics. His presence looms large in my life.

He spent 8 years in the Long Kesh.

I just...

I'm in physical pain from the kidney stones. I'm in emotional pain from this.

I can't take much more of this. I genuinely, truthfully do not know how much more I can take.

[Sir Henry]

All things will pass.

And kidney stones.

And (sadly) loved ones.

Deepest sympathy to you.

[Xenos]

All things will pass.

And kidney stones.

And (sadly) loved ones.

Deepest sympathy to you.

I appreciate it. I spent most of last night drinking Guinness to help with the kidney stones and talking with one of my partners about the Belfast Brigade. There were a lot of tears, lot of Gaelic, but I think I'm in a place now where when I go to see him I'll be able to hold myself together.

Still haven't passed the stones, still hurt like hells from that, but I can deal with it to go see him.

[Hez]

Your situation sucks but I am glad you are going to see him.  best wishes.

[rovingjack]

All things will pass.

And kidney stones.

And (sadly) loved ones.

Deepest sympathy to you.

I appreciate it. I spent most of last night drinking Guinness to help with the kidney stones and talking with one of my partners about the Belfast Brigade. There were a lot of tears, lot of Gaelic, but I think I'm in a place now where when I go to see him I'll be able to hold myself together.

Still haven't passed the stones, still hurt like hells from that, but I can deal with it to go see him.

sorry to hear you are going through this.

[Xenos]

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. I saw him yesterday. It was... It was rough. He's so far gone he didn't know who anyone present was.

My uncle said he'd been unresponsive to most everyone for several days at that point, as well.

I sat holding his hand for a bit, didn't even get a squeeze out of it.

At the end of the visit, my last words I'd decided at that point were gonna be "Tiocfaidh ár lá." He turned his head towards me, smiled, and gave my hand a squeeze. I don't know if he knows who I was, but my uncle said it was the first reaction he'd given anyone in days.

He goes to Hospice House tomorrow, for end-of-life care.

Also, was nice to reconnect with my uncle. Haven't seen him in 30 years. Turns out we're basically the same person. Same interests in music, books, movies, and games. That's how we kept each other sane through the visit, talking about all that, reconnecting, and setting up a jam session soon.

Also turns out he's not just a gamer--but he's a game modder for Skyrim/Fallout New Vegas, for some of the mods I can't play without. Small freakin' world, I tell ya. Small freakin' world.

I'm... I'm tired. I'm sad. But it seems like there's always some light in the dark.

[rovingjack]

the blood pressure cuff I pulled out of storage and replaced the batteries on is throwing weird readings. 3 doc visits in the last 3 months have me in the 117/76 range as it's been for years. but I overheated the other day and since then my fingernails on were white with red crescent at the top. most returned to normal the last few days, except after washing dishes, they all turn white for a bit. but two on my left hand have remained white. and since I've had some ulnar nerve buzzing in both arms at night for months I'd have no clue if I was having arm pain...
so pulled the cuff out, replaced batteries, struggle with weak shaky hands (another issue i've had for almost a year now), and it tells me 136/87. well that disconcerting but go to bed, test in the morning 134/88. not liking it try before dinner 145/89. try again 131/84. try other arm 128/78. WTF. eat dinner wash up, try left arm, 151/87, right arm 118/76. left 134/83, right 151/81. left 128/83.

there is something wrong with one of us, and since I can still hold my breath for two minutes, have no sharp or persistent pain or numbness currently, no headache... I'm going to bed and have a doc visits tomorrow after group therapy.

if I don't wake up- this was one of my comfort spaces in the world. hope it's a good dream.

edit: survived the night. here's hoping we can get help today.

[Xenos]

the blood pressure cuff I pulled out of storage and replaced the batteries on is throwing weird readings. 3 doc visits in the last 3 months have me in the 117/76 range as it's been for years. but I overheated the other day and since then my fingernails on were white with red crescent at the top. most returned to normal the last few days, except after washing dishes, they all turn white for a bit. but two on my left hand have remained white. and since I've had some ulnar nerve buzzing in both arms at night for months I'd have no clue if I was having arm pain...
so pulled the cuff out, replaced batteries, struggle with weak shaky hands (another issue i've had for almost a year now), and it tells me 136/87. well that disconcerting but go to bed, test in the morning 134/88. not liking it try before dinner 145/89. try again 131/84. try other arm 128/78. WTF. eat dinner wash up, try left arm, 151/87, right arm 118/76. left 134/83, right 151/81. left 128/83.

there is something wrong with one of us, and since I can still hold my breath for two minutes, have no sharp or persistent pain or numbness currently, no headache... I'm going to bed and have a doc visits tomorrow after group therapy.

if I don't wake up- this was one of my comfort spaces in the world. hope it's a good dream.

edit: survived the night. here's hoping we can get help today.

Hey mate, don't you go checking out on me, too, yeah? Hang in there. You got this.

On my end of things, just got the call. Grandad's gone.

Today's gonna be Guinness and Irish Protest Music all day.

[rovingjack]

doc visits BP number 108/76. ordered blood tests (have to get them done tomorrow while fasting).
came back to the apartment tried my BP meter 127/87. go visit a former coworker and his wife, after mentioning it to him we break out their BP testers 141/83, 134/85, 127/81.

so 3 different home BP monitors reading between 125 and 150 in 14 readings over 3 days... but the nurse got 108.

if it wasn't for nails turning white on my left arm which I've been restrictive in using for 9 months due to shaking and what feels like a rotator cuff or axillary nerve, I'd be more willing chill out and take weeks to look into it with multiple docs.

but my gaaahhhh brain says, what if the shoulder has been your heart along, as well as the stiff searing neck I get at the computer, the nails going white could be circulation, and the funny bone tingles in both hands half the nights over the last 9 months could all be heart failure.

but doc listened to my heart, and the nurse said BP was 108, and my pulse and ox didn't strike their attention. so I should be able to make my follow up appointments at least.

[Xenos]

doc visits BP number 108/76. ordered blood tests (have to get them done tomorrow while fasting).
came back to the apartment tried my BP meter 127/87. go visit a former coworker and his wife, after mentioning it to him we break out their BP testers 141/83, 134/85, 127/81.

so 3 different home BP monitors reading between 125 and 150 in 14 readings over 3 days... but the nurse got 108.

if it wasn't for nails turning white on my left arm which I've been restrictive in using for 9 months due to shaking and what feels like a rotator cuff or axillary nerve, I'd be more willing chill out and take weeks to look into it with multiple docs.

but my gaaahhhh brain says, what if the shoulder has been your heart along, as well as the stiff searing neck I get at the computer, the nails going white could be circulation, and the funny bone tingles in both hands half the nights over the last 9 months could all be heart failure.

but doc listened to my heart, and the nurse said BP was 108, and my pulse and ox didn't strike their attention. so I should be able to make my follow up appointments at least.

Yeeeeeeeeeeah. That's worth gettin' at least an EKG or summat. The ol' ticker ain't one to screw around with (she says, continuing to screw around with her own). Water, rest, and destress (as best you're able). I find a cool shower helps as well. If you've got access to hibiscus tea (I know, I know, herbal remedies, whatnot), that brings the BP down (it's what we used in Sudan)--I have to be dead careful with it or mine drops to the 60s/40s range.

Stay safe, mate, don't over exert yourself.

[Xenos]

No funeral for grandad.

Family says "he's not worth it."

Cool. I'll 'member that when their tickets are punched.

[rovingjack]

subsequent visits having to be done one at a time, but....

next in office blood pressure done, by same nurse, 104/81.

blood tests done- liver and kidneys seem normal enough, only high numbers are MCV which is 95 (technically still below 100 which is the cutoff for macrocytic anemia).
I was a bit worried what my fasting blood sugar would be since it's been between 101 and 107 3 out of 4 times in the last 2 years and i've been breaking fast for months with frosted mini wheats, and having banana bread muffins. But that came back as 89.

get a referral to Ortho via urgent care doc for tick bite a couple weeks ago, set appointment for June 5th.
dermatology (my primary decided that's who to about the nails going white) set an appointment for late September. whatever, they will either resolve or the actual cause will reveal itself before then;least I can get some eyes on a couple newer or bigger 'freckles' between my toes and raised red marks on my shoulder and finger that I've had for a few years.

Neuro got pissy in a reply message that neck and shoulder pain are not his responsibility.

Next visit- today get to show limited range of motion, get a the okay to find physical therapist. I said I'd like to know what's causing the issue. He sends me to x-ray, saying he'll send a letter if x-ray results are showing anything I need to talk to him about.

go to xray. left shoulder and neck scanned, told they'll likely get back to me after the long weekend.

Im in the middle of lugging a microwave to my car, for crafting purposes, and my phone rings. don't get to pick it up. so wait til I'm back at the apartment. It was a message from the Docs office, which is now closed. go to the website, look up appointment summary and notes in my file...

Thoracic scoliosis,
Type 2 shoulder with increased tendency toward impingement,
Narrowing at C5-6 and C6-7.
Right osseous neural foraminal narrowing most notable at C6-7. No left osseous foraminal narrowing.
Soft tissues of the neck demonstrate calcifications on the left, presumed vascular.

sooo,so the weakness and limited motor function of my hands and arms for the last 2.5 years may be either herniated disks or pinched nerves.

not a fan of the reminder about that ticking stroke bomb in my carotid, but it is what it is.

[rovingjack]

doc messaged today, said everything x-rayed looks fine, if I get some age related arthritis in my neck, use Tylenol.

note that is not what the x-ray results say. I contacted ortho and told them to get a copy of the x-ray. I find myself second guessing every test I've had done by this doc.

[Xenos]

Been diagnosed with Hashimoto's. Not a huge deal in the grand scheme of things, just another annoyance on the rapidly growing bill of health.

Kidneys are also still on the fritz.

Couple all of the above with just... the worst migraine today, and I just want to crawl back into bed.

...

May actually do. Dunno.

[LukeHogbin]

Had the worst case of upset stomach this week that put me in bed for the whole week and all I could manage was water.

And my bp dropped to *beep* and I almost crashed into the living room cabinet when I tried to get off the sofa.

Feeling better now, but it'll take a couple of days still to recover fully.

[rovingjack]

been trying for vitamin d from sun, and to walk off this recent health problem, going for a half mile each morning. I manage the walks with no sweat or windedness. not sore or anything even the day after when I should.  But when I come in and sit down, I start sweating like a glass of ice water in Florida humidity and need to lay down.

a few hours later my body just crashes. and I can't muster the strength to sit. let alone walk or stand. it's the hardest thing just to use the bathroom or heat up leftovers to eat something.

still not sore, and don't think I'm tired, just so weak it's difficult to get food or drink to my mouth and chew. I get a second wind after midnight, try to do chores, go to bed, get 7 hours, wake unable to sleep anymore. repeat the day before.

today was bad. cut a 8 inches from my hair (now just to my collar) because I can't brush it and wash it right now, haven't been really up to it for a while but today was the nail in the coffin. I've one more meal to eat before bed, might skip walking tomorrow for a hospital visit.

I'm just above bedridden today and no idea why. blood pressure seems normal (though this cuff has been difficult lately) blood sugar is between 89 and 104 at 1 hour and 6 hours after meals, 124 after 3 hours. temp is 97.5 every time I check. there doesn't seem to be anything wrong with me. I just get waves of weakness and inability to move under my own power each day.

[J. Wilhelm]

My apartment euphoria has turned into apartment dysphoria.

I'm contending with the consequences of a natural disaster at my brand new rental.  Not more than three days had passed since I took possession of the new unit, when Austin suffered a large freak storm, referred to as a "micro burst" which for all practical purposes means a small "vertical hurricane" which deposited baseball sized hailstones with damaging winds measuring 75 miles per hour, and 3 inches of rain in less than 45 minutes (more like 20 in my area).

The result was flash floods, innumerable fallen trees, stalled cars in standing water, and power failures that lasted a week.

While the damage to my building was small, my bedroom saw water come in from the concrete slab of the exterior wall, turning the carpet into a giant wet sponge.

Management failed to address the issue and I spent two days sucking the dirty water from the carpet using a wet vacuum cleaner I had to purchase myself.

I am now in "escalation mode" with management, as near one week after the fact has passed, and management has not done a thing.  No inspection of foundation, no inspection under base board moulding, no pulling of the carpet and associated pad.

The carpet dried in 3 days, but now that carpet strongly smells like a wet dog.  I find myself living in my bedroom and pondering having to hire an independent contractor to do the job and/or legal action against the landlord.

I have no money to do any of this.

[Cora Courcelle]

Sorry you've had this.
You'll probably need to clean the carpet to get rid of the smell and then dry it as quickly as possible, a dehumidifier might help with this.

[J. Wilhelm]

Sorry you've had this.
You'll probably need to clean the carpet to get rid of the smell and then dry it as quickly as possible, a dehumidifier might help with this.

Yeah I'm not having fun.  But I'm afraid this isn't the type of carpet that's designed to be reused. It's meant to be thrown away (not an area rug).  It's not a new carpet either, given how much trash came out with the water in the vacuum.  Below the carpet there's a synthetic foam pad which is also disposable. 

Most of the junk will be in the pad which is placed directly over a concrete slab which makes the "foundation" of the building; the vacuum cleaner can't reach into the foam layer.

It shouldn't be that difficult. I even work at a hardware store that sells carpet witho installation through a third party contractor.  It could be done in a single day. But they're just ignoring me. I guess they don't want me to renew the contract next year (I wouldn't after this treatment).

The last time I talked to the manager, he told me it'd be at least be another week.  He was "unaware" of why no inspection or any other kind of action had taken place in that building throughout the previous week, right after the storm.

In American English we say "I'm being given the runaround."

[Xenos]

Allergies are getting so bad my non blind eye is routinely swelling shut, leaving me, in essence, fully blind (I'm already legally blind without my glasses).

I am now reliant on TalkBack on my phone for navigation, and on Navigator on PC. Of the two, I prefer Navigator. Talkback is horrible.

Those of you who can, if you use Social Media and post pictures, and the social media allows it, please add alt text. I'm now at a point I can't see without it. Friends posting pictures, and I can't see them anymore.

I used to be a photographer. Now I can't see pictures. Once again God shits in my dinner.

[Cora Courcelle]

Sorry you've had this.
You'll probably need to clean the carpet to get rid of the smell and then dry it as quickly as possible, a dehumidifier might help with this.

Yeah I'm not having fun.  But I'm afraid this isn't the type of carpet that's designed to be reused. It's meant to be thrown away (not an area rug).  It's not a new carpet either, given how much trash came out with the water in the vacuum.  Below the carpet there's a synthetic foam pad which is also disposable. 

Most of the junk will be in the pad which is placed directly over a concrete slab which makes the "foundation" of the building; the vacuum cleaner can't reach into the foam layer.

It shouldn't be that difficult. I even work at a hardware store that sells carpet witho installation through a third party contractor.  It could be done in a single day. But they're just ignoring me. I guess they don't want me to renew the contract next year (I wouldn't after this treatment).

The last time I talked to the manager, he told me it'd be at least be another week.  He was "unaware" of why no inspection or any other kind of action had taken place in that building throughout the previous week, right after the storm.

In American English we say "I'm being given the runaround."

Over here you can hire a carpet cleaning machine which is designed to shampoo, rinse and then dry fitted carpet, rather than movable rugs, (although I'm not sure if it would cope with old underlay). It takes a couple of days so traditionally one hires it for the weekend ... yes, we Brits really knows how to enjoy ourselves 😂.

Hope you manage to get sorted soon.

[J. Wilhelm]

Sorry you've had this.
You'll probably need to clean the carpet to get rid of the smell and then dry it as quickly as possible, a dehumidifier might help with this.

Yeah I'm not having fun.  But I'm afraid this isn't the type of carpet that's designed to be reused. It's meant to be thrown away (not an area rug).  It's not a new carpet either, given how much trash came out with the water in the vacuum.  Below the carpet there's a synthetic foam pad which is also disposable. 

Most of the junk will be in the pad which is placed directly over a concrete slab which makes the "foundation" of the building; the vacuum cleaner can't reach into the foam layer.

It shouldn't be that difficult. I even work at a hardware store that sells carpet witho installation through a third party contractor.  It could be done in a single day. But they're just ignoring me. I guess they don't want me to renew the contract next year (I wouldn't after this treatment).

The last time I talked to the manager, he told me it'd be at least be another week.  He was "unaware" of why no inspection or any other kind of action had taken place in that building throughout the previous week, right after the storm.

In American English we say "I'm being given the runaround."

Over here you can hire a carpet cleaning machine which is designed to shampoo, rinse and then dry fitted carpet, rather than movable rugs, (although I'm not sure if it would cope with old underlay). It takes a couple of days so traditionally one hires it for the weekend ... yes, we Brits really knows how to enjoy ourselves 😂.

Hope you manage to get sorted soon.

Same here.  We even have some businesses with steamy names such as Stanley Steamer?  Anywho the underlay is rubbish now.  And they still have to check the health of the timber structure around the concrete slab.  Fun times.

They haven't even removed the underlay and carpets that the neighbors removed themselves and left on the exterior walkways for all to see!

I could simply call the city authorities...