Runners that need some nutritional accountability
Replies
-
Hi @Avidkeo!! I am glad most all of your students are doing so well. Has the one that failed accepted that it is on him and not something you did? Hang in there - January will be here before you know it!
I am so sorry your back got so sore again @quilteryoyo! Too bad it didn't happen while you were still with the chiropractor then they could have done something to help alleviate the pain. I hope it stays better and you can get some little runs in. It seems like back issues are very tricky to fix. For me it was just getting back to my own bed and the adjustable mattress.
@swenson19d - I am sorry the doctor dismissed your pain. I honestly think that happens way too often. Has he listened and offered a good path forward in the past? I would hope he would have a care plan that includes milestones that you can expect to pass at some point, including a reduction in the pain.
I was thinking about you with 2 pups as I have been dealing with Beaux... They can be a handful! Hobbes as a puppy was more like Kevin, pretty chill although he had his zoomy moments and chewing up his blankets/beds. Beaux is on a different level. He is so loving and sweet but sometimes is like that whirling snarling cartoon character (can't think of what it was called).
I too am in the middle of puppy madness. 8mo puppies are kind of like a 2 or 3 yo who wants to try/test you on everything! Beaux is a sweetheart but thinks our house is a playground to jump, bound and zoom around on. I know he doesn't get to do it at home so it is just a matter of testing things with us. Thank goodness for vinyl floors and leather couches. Also he is so dang smart and was seen evaluating how to climb up on the boxes to get to a toy he can only have at bedtime that was sitting on top (he proceeded to start to climb when I grabbed it and put it away in a closet). He also used the boxes to try and get to the treat jar on the counter. It has a tight top so not a problem and he got caught before knocking it to the floor.
Yesterday we went for a long run/walk to get the pups out of the house as the TV stand to go under DH's giant TV was being delivered. We just kept going until I got the message when they were arriving. We ended up with over 5.5 miles of very fast walking. Beaux was fascinated with everything and wanted to go go go. Hobbes just stayed right at my side. I had them both on the waist leash but had to keep ahold of Beaux's leash to keep him from tripping me. After we got home I stayed with them in the back yard for another couple of hours while DH worked on setting everything up and getting the cables in place. It really looks great.
When I was going back in the house at one point, opening the gate, I was going forward and Beaux turned and slammed into my leg/thigh. It was excruciating and I honestly thought maybe he had broken my femur. I couldn't stand or walk for a few minutes and I am really surprised it didn't even stun or phase Beaux. When I could I went in and got some Aleve but it still hurt so much. I am sure it is a deep bruise, although there isn't much discoloration at all. DH was furious, concerned but furious with Beaux who was just doing what puppies do... being crazy and unpredictable.
I put Beaux in the crate while we had dinner and he crashed. He didn't even move for hours other than his feet twitching. 😊
Today it is hot and very windy out (winds 15-20mph with bigger gusts and humidity in the teens). I may try to take them for a walk later just in the neighborhood but they are both pretty spooked by the wind. I don't plan on trying to run today. Maybe tomorrow by myself if my leg allows. I think the pups are still tired from yesterday - Hobbes is asleep in the family room and Beaux is sleeping in Hobbes bed next to my desk.
Food has been pretty good and my weight has stayed put at 143 for a while now. I would love to get down to below 140 but I am pretty ok where I am since everything fits again.
I listened to another good podcast yesterday. It was with dietician Lauren Antonucci. There was lots of information about eating enough and getting enough protein as well as some of the micronutrients and what is needed to build muscle.
Puppy pictures...
2 -
Thanks guys.
Student who failed still hasn't accepted it was him. H kept saying I did this one exam and that in another, why can't we just match them up.
Personally I think he should choose another profession. He was pushed into this by his parents and has "learned to love it". He originally wanted to be a teacher. Another example of what his parents are like, he came out about 3 months ago. His mum had a migraine for 2 days, would not interact with him, just stayed in her room. Now she's OK with his choices. Sigh. My heart cried for him when he told me. I think i went overboard in support for him in compensation.
Today is a test day for my 1st years. All 3 have to do a lumbar spine xray and I have to test them. So they've all decided to do them today. It's my own fault. They only have 3 weeks left, and next week I'm not in the department, so today is the day. Its going to be a long day haha.
I've been on track eating for 2 days. The first 2 weeks is the easiest then it gets harder. And of course we have Christmas coming up. My Birthday is on Sunday coming, we are hoping to go camping for the weekend then go out for a late lunch. Too much going on!2 -
@swenson19d I didn't know whether to hug or like your post. Parts were good and others, not so much. I have been seeing a chiropractor for my back for 5 weeks. It was getting better until I hurt raked the leaves last week. Fortunately, it has been good today. I used to put heat on it, but the chiropractor says it needs ice only since it is an inflamed/stained muscle. I think it is on the mend, if I can stop doing things that strain it all over again. I'm sorry that your pain isn't getting any better and your doctor seems to think there is no reason for it. Maybe you should see another doctor and see what he says. Seems like I was just reading about someone who sounds like you - pain, but no cause the doctor could find. They finally say a couple of different doctors until one listened and they found the cause. Unfortunately, I don't recall what that was. I hope you can get some relief. Puppies grow sooooo fast. It is really amazing. It sounds like they are giving you much more joy than they are pain, so that's good. Plus, they are/were helping you to get moving more. I love that they are playing "find it." I'm sure that is fun to watch.
@shanaber I am still seeing the chiropractor. I have an appointment on Tuesday, so will discuss this all with him and see what he says. It does feel better overall, when it isn't painful. I think you are thinking of the Tasmanian devil in the cartoon. Too funny. Tippy was like that as a puppy too. I hope your leg is okay. Yeah for your weight being at a good place for you.
@Avidkeo I hope your day goes by quickly and all of the students do well. There is a lot going on this time of year. I'm just going to enjoy and try to maintain where I am until after the first of the year and then make a concerted effort to lose about 5 pound again.1 -
@Avidkeo - that is so sad about the student's parents. I just don't get it. It doesn't make them a different person, they're still your child, the baby you raised and loved... if anything they need your love and support even more than before. Hopefully he will get to the point of deciding on a profession that provides him enjoyment and is satisfying and not just one that makes his parents happy. Do they provide any kind of counseling (career type) for kids who may not be in the right program?
Hopefully test day goes well!
Which day is your birthday? The 28th or the 5th? Mine is on the 5th and we are going way up north in CA to someplace called the Bonbon Inn and our daughter is meeting us there. I can't wait to see her!
@quilteryoyo - That's it! A Tasmanian devil!! he is so funny when you let him out of his crate in the morning or when he gets fed - all that puppy exuberance comes out and he just bounces and wiggles all over. I will have to see if I can get a video of him, it is adorable. He is so big, pretty much the same size as Hobbes, that I forget sometimes that he is only 8mos old.2 -
@shanaber OMG, those two are too cute. Kev doesn't do zoomies too much, he seems to be doing it a bit though. He gets excited and run around trying to get Sandy to chase him. He looks like a miniature bull galloping. Beaux looks quite muscular. Is he going to get bigger? 8 months old and he looks full grown.
I pretended DH was attacking me when he tried to hug me just to see what the pups would do. Kev was really upset over it. Barked and barked at dh, I don't think Sandy was fooled. DH and I had to hug nice and pet Kev to calm him down, he's my dog, er I'm his human.
@Avidkeo Shame about your student. I wonder if you could encourage him to do what he wants with his life. Heck, he had the guts to come out to unsupportive parents, how can that be harder than telling them he wants to teach? DD told me when the twins were about 15 that Alex was gonna be gay. I said " I don't care. He and his boyfriend can help me cook thanksgiving dinner". He came out to his dad (who is rather homophobic), as bi a few weeks before he died. He never said anything to me, I hope that was because he knew I didn't care. DD had girlfriends for a while. They are still by kids and I couldn't love them less. I never told Eric about it. Hes homophobic too. I'd surely go mama bear meets horror movie on him if he said anything against Alex. I still cry daily over him. suppose this is my normal.
@quilteryoyo I think heat feels better and helps relax those muscles. I have a hard time giving in to the cold packs. I dont think there is any harm is keeping with the heat. You'll know when it needs cold.
I think I've lost my couch to the dogs.We do have dog beds but that's not where the humans are. I should probably move towards getting them off of it. but I kinda enjoy all 80 pounds of puppy on me.
Kevin looks uncomfortable like that. haha!1 -
@swenson19d - I think that picture is pretty normal, lol. Hobbes is sure the couch (and chairs) is his and he just allows us to share it with him at his choosing.
We have put Beaux in the crate a bit more today. He is just too crazy in the house. I don't mind it outside or if he wants to play with the toys in the house but I draw the line at having him jumping and leaping on us and/or the furniture. Sometimes he will calm down and can join us on thee couch but today mostly no.
When my dd came out to us my most immediate thought was if her life was going to be much more difficult as a result or if she would face discrimination or even friends or family members who would turn away from her. We love her just the same and trust her to make the right choices for herself - heck she is an adult and can love whoever she wants. DH's aunt was gay at a time when it was totally unacceptable and she found a way to make it work and live her life. She was a wonderful person, absolutely brilliant and it made no difference to us.2 -
Growing up in the theater I was surrounded by gay people my whole life - my godfather is gay, we used to joke that he was my fairy godfather. His coming out story is super sad. Everyone close to him knew besides his family and he was essentially married to the same man for years, but his mother was extremely homophobic, so he lived a double life. The first time he appeared in public with his partner was at his mother’s funeral, when he was in his 60’s.
So, my husband just whacked me in the leg with a fly swatter with no warning, and I’m wearing new pants. Which now have dead fly guts on them. I swear, sometimes you just gotta wonder.3 -
That sounds like a great birthday trip @shanaber and Beaux's antics sound adorable!
@swenson19d Your pups are too adorable!
@rheddmobile Sorry, but I laughed at your husband swatting a fly on your new pants. Men just don't think sometimes.0 -
@rheddmobile I dont know what it is with guys and gross stuff. Dh will leave the fly swatter on the kitchen counter; and likes to ask me if something smells bad. No pal, if you have to ask...
@shanaber I am not encouraged that these two will settle down over the next few months with Beaux going nuts at 8 months. I'm hoping these two have more of the mastiff temperament and not the exuberant lab. Right now, they are growing so fast we have naps every few hours. I suppose when that slows they might be a bit more to handle.
I ate too much yesterday
All the cookies, schlotzsky's , home made tacos with stew meat and prob 8 other things that I can't remember. At least come spring we should all be ready to do some hikes and walks.
food lead to dog thoughts
Dh took Sandy out last weekend for a walk and her feet hurt on the pavement. I thought about shoes, but sure they'd hate them. I ordered some mushers secret kind of stuff for their paws for when we are outside. Though it might help with pavement walks. Sandy still needs to be leash trained. Sandy and Maggie show signs of separation anxiety. Maggie is horrible. She wines and barks incessantly when I am gone and if I leave the room she has to follow me. DH thinks she needs meds, right now we do OTC stuff that helps when I am gone. Sandy looks for Kevin... so I need to do some separating. They no longer share crates. I think I'll take one of them with me to violin on Tuesdays. Kev is fine and shows no signs of anxiety, so I'll prob take Sandy.
@rheddmobile I can't imagine living a life, hiding who I loved. As long as it's consenting adults, why should anyone care.2 -
Good morning folks!
So many updates! I am now 100% certain I don't want a puppy LOL I would babysit though
Thursday was court day. I sat there all morning just to have the DA come out and tell me that the defense had asked for an "in chambers" meeting. The family has decided they no longer want to retain a private attorney. I have two theories. They heard the evidence and decided LS was not worth it or they are planning on going for an insanity plea and they don't want to have to pay for the doctors. Still does not explain why they pulled the plea deal at the last minute. We go back in 2 weeks for the court to appoint a new lawyer (or his current one can stay on courtesy of the state) and re-arraignment and his plea. If he goes the insanity route, it will be 6 months of testing. Ugh.
Friday I was at the ranch. My old handyman came back and we walked around and made a list of things to do. He agreed that the tree guy did not do everything he promised and some stuff he did, he half-assed it. So now I have to pay the handyman to fix it. I dropped a brick on my toe too, wow, the level of pain that induced, I saw stars. My nail is now slightly bruised.
Saturday DH and I drove 50 miles to pick up my race packet and we had lunch at an Indian place. I was not impressed. We got the buffet and it had 8 things on it. On the way back I showed him the neighborhood I grew up in where my grandparents lived. When we drove by I recognized the neighbors and spontaneously jumped out and said hi...we had a good chat. We had to run home and grab black cat for his chemo appt. I think we drove near 200 miles! When we got home I had the most intense gut cramping/pain but nothing came out. I suspect I ate too much popcorn the other day and ever since I had my appendix out and that boondockle, roughage has trouble passing.
Sunday I was up at 4:30 for a race...first time in over a year! It was rough, I hated it LOL But I got there fine, shuttles were easy to find to the start. It was a 1/2 marathon but I just signed up for the 5K to test the waters. The 5K was definitely not the main event and barely anything was set up 30 min before race start time. We managed to start on time and the course was wavey? Is that a good term? Not really hills but some up/down. There was 1 decent (but short) hill at the turn around point. I didn't push too hard and felt 100% in control, except the hill did bring out some cuss words. I was surprised no one was passing me, it was as gaggle start and I was near the front. When we were done, none of the food was set up yet so I grabbed my water and 1/2 banana and left. DH had put in the grocery list for TDay and so I stopped to pick up everything he wanted. I don't cook. When I got home and was relaxing, I looked up the race b/c they were taking a lot of pictures, and noticed I had placed 3rd in my age group. Their website does not say anything about awards so I guess that's it LOL.
This week is obviously a short week. I am glad. I am unmotivated. Hope everyone's Tday planning goes well!
3 -
Good morning!
It is so slow this week! I came across a meme about pretending to work while we wait for TDay. I relate.
Nothing exciting here. I sat my butt down last night and did some bookkeeping. Mom's property taxes were due, they were less than $100 more than last year so I guess nothing changed with the transfer. I haven't filled out the homestead paperwork yet...I can't find it LOL. I hope they send me a new form I also updated some addresses with the county.
My appetite has been low so far this week. Hasn't stopped me from eating too much though
I suspect it is stress? depression? Now that I have learned I go numb and mainly suffer the physical affects, it make sense. Mom's 1 year death is in 4 days so expected I guess. I have been kind of running through a countdown in my head, this is the last time xyz.
I got on the scale this morning and I am right at what seems my new "set" weight. Bah humbug.
Easy run planned for this afternoon, it is crazy warm here, mid 70's in the afternoon. Where is winter? There is a launch this evening, the DART I think? Some test rocket that is being signed to re-direct asteroids. It is a deep space one so should be loud! It doesn't launch till after 10pm so I don't think I will feel up to going out to see it.
Here's to trying to look busy for the next 2 days LOL1 -
@cmorning99 - I saw on the news about the rocket launch - it is a DART - trying to knock an asteroid off course as a test to 'help protect earth' for an asteroid strike.
I am sure the anniversary and lead up to it are going to be tough. I can't even imagine... Especially with the trial process still going through all the gyrations. What a mess that is - seems like they just keep going one way or the other and changing randomly to prolong things.
We have 4(!) offers on the house!! One really high, one really low (flipper) and the other 2 kind of in the middle. So now we are in that negotiating area. The house next door that was selling really high (over a million) fell out of escrow. There was a contingency on the buyers selling their house and apparently that didn't happen. Could be good for us since they will have more people coming to see it, hopefully.
No running today but did lots of cleaning. Also got all of my Thanksgiving grocery shopping done and picked up smoke and carbon monoxide detectors for Hilde's house. Now I just need to get my baking done. Making cranberry, orange relish tonight, bread and pies tomorrow.3 -
@CMorning99 I feel for you...hugs. I am doing the same thing with dad - he died 16 Dec last year. A couple of days ago I was reading in last year's journal that he had come up here and went fishing in the neighbor's pond. I had walked over and sat and talked with him while he fished. I was thinking, that was the last time he went fishing and the last time he was up here. I've been really emotional for the last couple of weeks and I'm sure that is why. I dread December. I say that to say that I sort of understand what you are going through and I empathize.
@shanaber Yeah for the offers on Hilde's house.
0 -
Good morning!
@shanaber Are you getting any compensation for all the work you guys are doing? You guys are doing great with all of Hilda's stuff, it is a lot of work I know. I am sure her family appreciates it.
@quilteryoyo I fully understand what you are going through. I feel on the verge of tears all day.
I am in a funk, I acknowledge and respect it. Yesterday was a slow day again, shocker. I think there were 8 cars in the whole parking lot all day. I was lazy at lunch and had BK's garlic burger again, oof that is a wallop for calories! I left at 3 pm for "running" I ended up in sweatpants and on the couch instead watching a hilarious Finnish? endurance athlete. Just a goofy kid with so much energy and spirit. I wasn't hungry but was craving comfort food. I was falling asleep by 7pm so I got ready for bed. As soon as I laid down though, I woke up and tossed and turned. The rocket launch happened right on time, the whole house shook, but it didn't last as long as some of the others. After, I was wide awake. DH snored so bad that I finally got up and moved to the couch at midnight. I don't mind, I actually sleep better out there. When the alarm went off however, I felt like death warmed over. I had a slow morning and came into work late...no one is here to notice LOL.
I have a few guys coming in today and I am planning on kicking everyone out at 1400 to start their weekends. Perks of being in charge
I might try to go for a walk, but dang I am tired and feel loopy.
I looked for a turkey trot tomorrow, but when you pull up the major racing registration sights there are 100 in San Jose and north, a HUGE gap and then 100 in San Diego and LA...WTF?
No real plans for the weekend. Cook and relax tomorrow...maybe a solo turkey trot. The goodwill's are having a 50% of sale on friday, I will probably go, they haven't had a sale like that in over a year. I think I will also look for a trickle charger for the travel trailer. I learned that all the trailer hook-ups were attached to mom's electric meter, which they turned off when they tore down her house. I also need to see if Zero water filters will be on sale...we go through about 1 a week with the base well water.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
2 -
Sending hugs to you both @quilteryoyo and @CMorning99. These kinds of anniversaries are tough! Mine is aligned to Memorial Day when my mom died. It is still tough even after all these years.
@CMorning99 - I am one of the small beneficiaries and as Trustee I do get a small % after all is said and done. I had no idea what was involved and would definitely think twice about agreeing to do it again or asking anyone to do it for me. In Hilde's case there is no family, just us. She has a sister and some nieces and nephews in Austria but none in the US.
It is probably too late but you might look for Turkey Trots in Santa Barbara or in Santa Ynez. There is a pretty good running community up that way - I have run a few races in Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara and San Louis Obispo.
I am not planning to go anywhere tomorrow. Just finish my baking and watching the Macy's parade.
@CMorning99 - are you getting lots of wind up your way? Today wasn't bad during the day but OMG tonight it has been howling. I am really worried about my fruit trees and losing all the tangerines and oranges! We also have some palm trees that are a threat to fall in the pool - it could happen tonight!2 -
Thanks @shanaber and @CMorning99 .
We had my family Thanksgiving on Wed evening at my brother's house. My sister-in-law doesn't like me at all, so I was sort of dreading it, but it turned out much better than I was anticipating. I got to see and play with the 2 great nieces and one great nephew, so that was good. I ate way too much food. We didn't get home until 10pm...didn't start until 4.
Yesterday, I went to mom's for lunch - we had left overs we had brought home Wed. I had planned to run, but my brother's couch is very uncomfortable. There was no way to sit on it without slumping - the cushions are too wide, so you can't really scoot back so your back is against the couch. My back was better than I was expecting it to be, but it was tight, so I opted to walk only. I did walk a 5K. I'm getting lazy and need to nip that in the bud before it becomes a habit.
I was in a mood all day, so other than early in the morning, didn't get on any social media sites. Just not wanting to see all the happy. LOL I did search for and find an audio tape that dad had made for me for Christmas in 2011 of a lot of his memories from growing up. He was supposed to do more, but never did. Anyway, after I found it, I laid on the couch and listened to him talk for an hour. I expected to be teary, but wasn't. That is until I got off of the couch and saw that Tippy was standing at the front door, wanting in. When I opened the door, she ran straight over to where the tape player had been, all excited. I'm sure she had heard the tape and was expecting to see dad.
Still in a bit of a mood today, but I am going to try to be a little bit productive. My back is still tight, but I'm thinking about running a mile today, to see how it goes. I'm gaining weight with this relative inactivity. That's not helping my mood. It's a vicious cycle.3 -
@quilteryoyo I hate thanksgiving. It is particularly hard with Alex gone. We didn't do anything but fight. Dh thinks I'm making it up just to get out of doing what he wants to do. Makes a crap day a whole lot crappier. Go run that mile; you can run and cry at the same time. Seems like that would be cathartic.2
-
Thanks @swenson19d . Sorry your Thanksgiving was hard too. I'm baking instead - persimmon pudding and granola. LOL I still plan to run in a little bit.1
-
A few puppy pics.They do not know what to think of the crows
Kevin makes a fuss when he wants/needs something. He barks at me to put him to bed. For real, this is a thing. He usually wants on my bed, which I enjoy. But he's gonna be over 100 pounds and I can't keep putting him up there. The bed is a queen, so with he, dh, sandy and i... uh no way. They already take my space and make it too hot to sleep.
I hope the food is all eaten and we all did okay with the calories. I didn't. I had a burger and ice cream yesterday. But, if you are one to donate blood you use about 600-650 kcals replacing it. I can't donate any more due to family health, CJD.
ETA really happy to put a rug back down. housetraining seems solid. yay! well, we have yet to close the back inside door to the outer doggie door, so they do need to learn to communicate "outside" *fingers crossed1 -
@swenson19d That is such a cute picture of the two of them watching the crows! Glad housetraining is going well. My food isn't all gone yet and I have another Thanksgiving this coming Thursday. Oh well. It is what it is. I'll do my best to keep from gaining too much, but fully expect to be up come the end of December. I'm also stress eating. That's not good either.0
-
@swenson19d - love the puppy pictures! Sleeping puppies always look so sweet!
Where did you get your rugs? We are looking and haven't found anything we like. Seems the distressed/old and worn look is the thing right now and I don't want that.
@quilteryoyo - we still have food leftover too. Mostly turkey and cranberry relish because I made so much of it. Hoping the relish will last for a while. Maybe to Christmas or maybe I can freeze it. I will need to make some more potatoes for leftover dinners. Oh and pie. I made a pumpkin pie and an apple pie tart that is fabulous - more crust than filling which I love. Note there are just 2 of us so it is a lot!
Beaux is making us crazy. He is so dang cute but also so busy. Mostly if Hobbes is around he thinks he has to play constantly which makes Hobbes upset and no one can just relax so he ends up in the crate and I feel bad. I do take him in the other room with me for a couple of hours depending on what I am doing. They get plenty of playtime outside together too but if I don't go out with them they won't play and sit at the door.. or Hobbes comes in through the doggy door and leaves Beaux out. If we bring Beaux in Hobbes goes out and Beaux cries. So I am getting nothing done and the unpacking is stalled and making me crazy. I did take both for a walk and brought Hobbes home for some alone time while I took Beaux on a longer walk. It was better than having them both and Beaux was finally exhausted when we got home so he slept and I got a little work done. I keep telling myself it is only a few more days.
I have to believe if he were our puppy he would be more used to Hobbes and vice versa and he would know our rules. Maybe... I don't know how his people are with him but their older dogs won't play with him and can't run around like Hobbes can. I am sure he behaves differently at home. They have lots of stuff out and I can't even contemplate putting breakable things away at this point where the furniture will get bumped and something broken.Stalking each other
2 -
Trying to adjust to non-running calories until I can get a cardio appointment for the unexplained tachycardia, doing okay so far. I did run 1 mile tonight keeping my eye closely on my heart rate but I’m afraid to try anything too stressful. Thanksgiving was okay since it’s just us and my mom who is also diabetic, so she can’t force carbs on me anymore! I miss pecan pie but otherwise it’s a relief.
So the story of the ER visit. Strap in because I gotta vent, this experience was just unreal.
According to the nurses it’s not Covid patients overwhelming the ER, it’s the lack of nurses because many have quit due to vax mandates or taken a bounty to travel to other areas. They said there were plenty of ER rooms but no one to staff them. So they were basically treating people in the waiting room. You would get called back to the little triage area, they would take your blood or do a test or whatever, and send you back out to the waiting area next to everyone else. Including covid patients. There is still a uniformed officer who takes people’s temps as they come in, but since they no longer isolate covid patients or suspected ones, there is now no longer any point to taking the temperature, it’s just that hospital policy pays for the officer to be there, so he does his job even though when someone has a fever they go back and sit with everyone else anyway.
The staff really really are over being health care professionals. When I told the front desk I thought I was having a heart attack, that triggers a certain set of procedures which are mandated by law ever since some guy was ignored and died several years ago. So now it’s actually illegal to make someone wait with a suspected heart attack. They are supposed to have you back and hooked to an EKG in less than an hour, give you an aspirin within five minutes, I don’t remember all the details but I do remember that. So, a theoretically on call doctor invented somewhere in the depths of the computer system signed an automated order for me to be given an aspirin, but no actual human did that. They drew my blood, and the phlebotomist mentioned that there was no one to order any tests, she was just drawing blood in case any doctor decided to show up and sign something. And a tech gave me an EKG - for two minutes - in the triage room - then kicked me back out into the waiting room, and no actual human looked at the EKG for three hours, until my husband called and threatened to sue them for the difference in the way they treated him, a man, and me, a woman with the same basic symptoms. Shortly after that a real live third year intern called me into his personal billing office, the only available space, to have a talk about why I was there, and then the billing lady walked in to see what he was up to since stuff was popping up in the system that they weren’t getting paid for, and it turned out the triage nurse had literally thrown my intake paperwork in the trash. So no one would have ever been out to see me. I was waiting for nothing. I had been waiting for nothing for three hours.
It ended up taking seven hours. And it was the worst ER experience of my life, and I’m including the massive ovarian tumor and torsion which caused me to writhe and scream in pain until they injected morphine into my muscle because they couldn’t get a vein because I was so dehydrated, and the morphine didn’t work so they went to fentanyl and then my respiratory rate dropped so they put me on oxygen. That was horrifying but at least I felt that real live humans were making some sort of effort to fix the problem! This ER was entirely staffed by people who had mentally checked out. The girl who did my second blood draw had orders to put in an IV in case they admitted me and needed more blood, and she literally told me, “Yeah, there’s no way they’re admitting you, so I’m just going to do the draw and not put one in.” Then she blew out three veins - in my elbow, wrist, and hand - because it was so cold in there it was like being in a meat locker. She was also supposed to do a second EKG but after so much trouble getting a vein we both forgot. Then, finally, seven hours after I arrived, the discharge nurse shows up with the friggin aspirin.
I’m leaving out the human drama of sitting in a waiting room next to every other poor soul being treated. I got to witness a young guy’s family having a prayer circle to pray for a miracle for him to come back to life after having had an aneurysm and being declared brain dead. I did my own praying, for his poor mother to feel God’s peace in her heart, and shortly after that all the hospital staff showed up with really pushy questions about organ donation and insurance and funeral arrangements. I mean, nothing they did for me was fast, but when they have a chance at an organ donor, they move so fast the poor lady’s head was clearly spinning. She was so upset she couldn’t even walk straight and they were walking her through twenty page legal documents. Some dude came in with a finger in a bag and left without a finger, they did not reattach it. Next to me a girl curled up in a ball on her chair kept moaning, I can’t I can’t it hurts so much. I have no idea what her deal was but they put her on an IV and then when it ran out they kicked her out the door.
Meanwhile, meat locker. Outside temperature 31 degrees, having dropped from a daytime temp near 70. Inside, no heat, ventilation at full. A lady came out with blankets, looked to the right and to the left, gave blankets to the people in those sections of the room, and did not even glance at our whole section of the waiting area. People are waving and shouting. She leaves, with the armful of blankets. I suspected from past experience it would be chilly so I wore a hoodie and sweats, and when I got home my diaphragm ached for two days from shivering so hard for so many hours. It was literal torture being that mentally stressed and that cold at the same time. I have heard about people in prison on a hard cot with no blanket and that was us. There was an old lady who I think probably had a stroke or something who kept asking, Why is it so cold?
Anyway, I sort of wish they had done a cardiac enzyme profile as they are required by law to do. They did do the troponin which was fine, but troponin can be fine with myocarditis which is why they do the enzymes. Turns out baby doctor read my ekg wrong and the cardio who signed off on it at the review two days later found something he missed, which may or may not mean anything, but yeah, they really should have admitted me and checked it out. Once again fascinated by the difference in how men and women with the same symptoms are treated, after seeing my husband get the VIP treatment this summer.2 -
@rheddmobile The discrepancies in m/f care is horrible.
@shanaber Rug are Lowes purchases.
Beary is missing. I am so sad.2 -
@rheddmobile - that is just horrific! If someone got treated like that here, honestly it would a) be all over the news and b) there would be a lawsuit or many. Have you considered calling one of the news organizations or papers? Maybe they can send someone in and see what kind of treatment they get and report on how bad it is. Or even interview you and others waiting for care. I am sure people were sent home and died due to poor quality of care. Is there another hospital you could go to if needed? We are fortunate to be in the middle of an area with several hospitals within our insurance network.
Oh no! @swenson19d. I hope you find Beary! What happened? Maybe he is just out adventuring and exploring?
Thanks for the info on the rugs - I will check out Lowes.
We had Chipotle last night and I don't usually eat the entire bowl but I ate all of it and felt so full even hours later when I went to bed. This morning I am all puffy I am assuming from too much sodium. It wasn't a bad meal, just beans, chicken veggies and lots of lettuce. Oh and guacamole. It is cool here - in the 40's this morning so maybe I will get the crazy puppy out for a walk and that will help us both
0 -
@shanaber That is a great looking tart and I love the pictures of the pups. Hobbes will probably miss Beaux when he leaves, but will be relieved to have his own space and routine back too.
@rheddmobile That ER visit is just horrible. Sounds third world-ish...not what you would expect from a hospital here in the states. I think that is happening everywhere though. I have heard some horror stories from our ER too lately. I just don't get it. I really don't. I follow a blog that discusses the discrepancies between how women and men are treated when it comes to heart issues. Leaving the CoVID patients in the waiting room is not acceptable either. I think I would make a stink about it too, just not sure who to complain too. Like @shanaber said, maybe the local or national news. Bad press will get a company's attention.
@swenson19d I hope Beary comes home! Mom's cat was missing for over a week once. When he came home, he was injured, but healed quickly. The vet said he had been in a cat fight.
I did get out for a short, 2 mile run on the road today. It felt pretty easy. My back is feeling tight tonight, but I think it is more from being a slug this afternoon and lounging on the couch while watching movies and playing a game on my phone than it is from the run.
On the way to church this morning, mom and I saw some deer on a hill near my house. One of them was black. I've never seen a black deer.
2 -
Bear is home. Eric and I canvassed the neighborhood this morning with flier’s. I can’t say for sure that did it. He is kinda weary and unsure of what the check happened. We think he was abducted (by aliens, as bear would describe it; had no idea there was a world outside this one, and returned. Dd says he smells like carpet. He’s just aloof right now so I’m giving him space. He wasn’t hungry when he came in either.
Huge sigh of relief.
Kevin had a good day at dh’s family thanksgiving. Lots of kids, big and little, 5 big dogs and a house full of adults. Kids were noisy, screaming playing chase, banging on the piano and he did fine.2 -
So glad to see that Bear is home @swenson19d !1
-
@quilteryoyo I wonder if the deer is a mule deer? I’ve heard about them and saw some in a museum, if I remember right, it looks similar.
Thanks for the Beary thoughts. I sure cried over that turd yesterday. I could cry now just as hard having him home.
Edit: google says the black can be a very rare color variant. Nice find!1 -
So happy Bear is home! I wonder whether some well-intentioned person “adopted” him then saw the flyer. Does he have a collar with a tag?
I’m not sure contacting anyone would help with the hospital - the local and National news is already full of articles about how overloaded and burned out the health professionals are, and I feel like that’s what I was seeing. The administration wants the staff to be more conscientious but what are they going to do, punish the people who stayed for being overwhelmed because other people left? By the way, this is a top ranked, nationally renowned hospital. We’re Memphis, hospitals are one of the things we do here, this is a national medical center.
Baby doctor really was a third year intern - I googled him as soon as his name popped up on my chart - and he was about the prettiest corn-fed Texan you ever saw in your life, six and a half feet tall and built like a semi. Very nice boy, just a little off-putting that I feel like I have as much experience reading an EKG as he does. He had not developed a “bedside manner” yet, just talked like a nice kid with no feeling of authority whatsoever. If I met him at a race I would like him. Since we weren’t at a race, I envy my husband who when he went to the ER ended up with a super mean lady who had been a cardiologist for 20 years, and was extremely thorough.1 -
@swenson19d I looked it up too and think the deer was a melanistic deer....one of the rare ones. It was cool to see, even if it was far away.
@rheddmobile I feel bad for the health care workers, but seems like, even short staffed, they could do better. How is sending them back to the waiting room and not in a room helpful at all? If they have rooms, I would think that would be easier for everyone, including the nurses. I guess the thing I am shocked at the most is that there was no doctor there at all. That seems ridiculous to me.1
