Last week I finally made it to the doctor. It's been about a year since I attempted to enlist the help of a doctor. That failed rather miserably when the doctor decided that I was healthy, based on my age and low blood pressure. This doctor was recommended by a receptionist at my beloved chiropractor's office, but I am pretty sure it was based on proximity more than anything else.
This time, I picked out a doctor based on photo. I know that sounds horrible, but I figure if my doctor looks unhealthy, then chances are, I am not going to trust their advice. So my doctor was this young blond woman who was smiling in her photo.
This woman was very different from the last doctor I went to - she actually listened to me. At the end of the visit, she had prescribed a couple of medications to help with my headaches, ordered several blood tests, ran an EKG, and set me up for an Echocardiogram.
The echocardiogram she ordered included something called color doppler. I was amused that the same technology used in weather reports was going to be used on me. It was kind of cool, even if I didn't know if what I was looking at was good or bad, watching my heart on the monitor.
I won't know the results of of all of the testing until my follow up visit next month. In the meantime, I am taking a daily medication to prevent my headaches. I also have another medication to kill any headaches that do dare to show their face. So far, they only make me a bit sleepy. And so far, I don't have a headache. So we shall see how that continues.
In other news, I am getting my hair done Wednesday. ("Didn't you just dye and cut your hair?" Yes, I did. The key to that being, I did. I don't like what I did, so I am breaking down and going to a professional to fix it.) Perhaps, by then, I will have my camera :).
And on Saturday, Linds and Ian are moving into our house for a couple of months.
Busy we shall be.
Currently Watching: Law and Order: SVU
Current Mood: feeling rather nice, thank you
Monday, March 27, 2006
Descent
I turned 27 this morning.
I think that means I should feel like a grown up - considering that 30 is now only a few years away.
Perhaps I should rethink the Hello Kitty nite lite in my kitchen.
Or my messy car.
Or the collection of Pigeon books on my desk...
Currently Listening to: How Soon is Now by The Smiths
Current Mood: awkward
I think that means I should feel like a grown up - considering that 30 is now only a few years away.
Perhaps I should rethink the Hello Kitty nite lite in my kitchen.
Or my messy car.
Or the collection of Pigeon books on my desk...
Currently Listening to: How Soon is Now by The Smiths
Current Mood: awkward
Monday, March 13, 2006
Dead Man Walking
I am still oh-so-sick.
Since last I wrote, I have done very little, which is bad considering that I was supposed to be moving into the new house this weekend. Fortunately, my husband jumped in and took over, but I couldn't help but feel guilty about not being able to help.
That is, of course, when I have had the strength to feel guilty.
I can't breathe. My eyes burn. My throat is scratchy (an improvement over the previous days of soreness). And my head hurts. A new kind of hurt. My parents tell me its called sinus pain.
I spent the weekend at my parent's house, where my mother gave me an assortment of goldenseal, vitamin C, tea, and chicken soup.
And I am still pretty miserable.
When I am feeling a little more like myself, maybe I will get around to taking photos of the new place.
Until then, I'll be sitting somewhere comfy with a tissue over my face and my eyes half closed.
Since last I wrote, I have done very little, which is bad considering that I was supposed to be moving into the new house this weekend. Fortunately, my husband jumped in and took over, but I couldn't help but feel guilty about not being able to help.
That is, of course, when I have had the strength to feel guilty.
I can't breathe. My eyes burn. My throat is scratchy (an improvement over the previous days of soreness). And my head hurts. A new kind of hurt. My parents tell me its called sinus pain.
I spent the weekend at my parent's house, where my mother gave me an assortment of goldenseal, vitamin C, tea, and chicken soup.
And I am still pretty miserable.
When I am feeling a little more like myself, maybe I will get around to taking photos of the new place.
Until then, I'll be sitting somewhere comfy with a tissue over my face and my eyes half closed.
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Blood in the Water
This morning as I got ready for work, I had a small fit of coughing. Not terribly scary. Until I looked in the sink to see what I had coughed up.
There was blood.
I looked at it and thought, hmm, blood. Bad. Better get to work.
As I sat in my office, contemplating why my throat was on fire, and sipping a cup of tea handed to me by one of my coworkers (yeah, he's awesome), I thought about the blood once more. Still thinking that's a bad thing. Still not doing anything about it.
Then I coughed a bit more. A little more blood.
So I asked the next best thing to a doctor, my medical transcriptionist friend, if I should be worried. She proceeded to tell me to get to the doctor YESTERDAY. And if I didn't, she would call my mother, husband, sister, and the police.
I decided the walk-in clinic up the road would prevent the chain of phone calls.
I arrived a little before 3, after stopping by my apartment to pick up my insurance card. I brought a book with me, anticipating a wait.
The chain of events that followed, while extremely dull, reminded me why I hate going to see the doctor.
Sat in waiting room reading. Waited about a half hour. Name is called. Gave my symptoms to a nurse who seemed annoyed that I was there. Got weighed. Now, in addition to having a sore throat and bloody cough, I feel fat and sad. Temperature is taken. Nobody tells me anything. I get sent back to the waiting room. I look at a woman who was called in the same time as me that gets escorted to an actual room. I decide my fever wasn't high enough or I wasn't fat enough to merit a doctor's attention yet.
I sit in the waiting room and read some more. And more. I realize that I am on page 121 of a book I just started when I arrived at the clinic. This disturbs me. I get called back.
I am led to a small, cold room, brightly lit with horrible flourescent lights. I read some more. A nurse takes my blood pressure. As usual, it is low, and this makes the nurse happy. She leaves and tells me the doctor will be with me shortly.
100 pages later, I am still sitting in the room alone. My toes are turning colors from the cold. I again am wondering how this process will make me better.
I move my chair closer to the wall, curl up in my chair and lean my head on the wall. I fall in and out of sleep. I have no idea how much time passes. Things seem quiet. I wonder if the nurses forgot about me, and left. I wonder what fun things I could find to do locked inside of a clinic. I start planning what cool things I will build using tongue depressors and cotton balls.
Sometime well into my reconstruction of the Bilbao Guggenheim, a doctor finally showed up. After sticking various objects in my nose, throat, and ears, and some other prodding, the doctor tells me I have an icky case of bronchitis, writes me a prescription and tells me to stay home and rest the next few days.
I look at the clock as I walk out. It is 6:30 pm. I don't remember where my car is. I haven't seen it in so long.
So now I am home, waiting for my husband to bring me soup and my prescription. I guess my body decided this was the only way to make me stay home and rest.
Currently watching: House - he is the one doctor that is the exception to my I hate doctors/hospitals rule
Current Mood: Soooooooooo sick feeling.......
Started/Finished Reading: the curious incident of the dog in the night-time (I liked it - it was different...it was a far better choice than all those stupid books currently aimed at my demographic)
There was blood.
I looked at it and thought, hmm, blood. Bad. Better get to work.
As I sat in my office, contemplating why my throat was on fire, and sipping a cup of tea handed to me by one of my coworkers (yeah, he's awesome), I thought about the blood once more. Still thinking that's a bad thing. Still not doing anything about it.
Then I coughed a bit more. A little more blood.
So I asked the next best thing to a doctor, my medical transcriptionist friend, if I should be worried. She proceeded to tell me to get to the doctor YESTERDAY. And if I didn't, she would call my mother, husband, sister, and the police.
I decided the walk-in clinic up the road would prevent the chain of phone calls.
I arrived a little before 3, after stopping by my apartment to pick up my insurance card. I brought a book with me, anticipating a wait.
The chain of events that followed, while extremely dull, reminded me why I hate going to see the doctor.
Sat in waiting room reading. Waited about a half hour. Name is called. Gave my symptoms to a nurse who seemed annoyed that I was there. Got weighed. Now, in addition to having a sore throat and bloody cough, I feel fat and sad. Temperature is taken. Nobody tells me anything. I get sent back to the waiting room. I look at a woman who was called in the same time as me that gets escorted to an actual room. I decide my fever wasn't high enough or I wasn't fat enough to merit a doctor's attention yet.
I sit in the waiting room and read some more. And more. I realize that I am on page 121 of a book I just started when I arrived at the clinic. This disturbs me. I get called back.
I am led to a small, cold room, brightly lit with horrible flourescent lights. I read some more. A nurse takes my blood pressure. As usual, it is low, and this makes the nurse happy. She leaves and tells me the doctor will be with me shortly.
100 pages later, I am still sitting in the room alone. My toes are turning colors from the cold. I again am wondering how this process will make me better.
I move my chair closer to the wall, curl up in my chair and lean my head on the wall. I fall in and out of sleep. I have no idea how much time passes. Things seem quiet. I wonder if the nurses forgot about me, and left. I wonder what fun things I could find to do locked inside of a clinic. I start planning what cool things I will build using tongue depressors and cotton balls.
Sometime well into my reconstruction of the Bilbao Guggenheim, a doctor finally showed up. After sticking various objects in my nose, throat, and ears, and some other prodding, the doctor tells me I have an icky case of bronchitis, writes me a prescription and tells me to stay home and rest the next few days.
I look at the clock as I walk out. It is 6:30 pm. I don't remember where my car is. I haven't seen it in so long.
So now I am home, waiting for my husband to bring me soup and my prescription. I guess my body decided this was the only way to make me stay home and rest.
Currently watching: House - he is the one doctor that is the exception to my I hate doctors/hospitals rule
Current Mood: Soooooooooo sick feeling.......
Started/Finished Reading: the curious incident of the dog in the night-time (I liked it - it was different...it was a far better choice than all those stupid books currently aimed at my demographic)
Tuesday, March 07, 2006
The Misadventures of Thing 1 and Thing 2
Before I was married, I lived with two girls who would have to be, hands down, the best roommates a person can have. I miss them terribly, but we find the time to keep in touch regularly, sometimes through this blog, and sometimes through IM (I do on occasion pick up my phone as well).
Here is conversation we recently had (names have been substituted):
Thing 1 says: hey did you hear about Conan O'brien's elections campaigning?
Thing 1 says: Lolo... send her the link
Thing 1 says: Por Favor.
Amber says: no I did not
Thing 2 says: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/16/finland.election.ap/
Thing 2 says: "Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she's got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind, and most importantly -- my good looks," the comedian, whose show is broadcast on cable in Finland, said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Thing 2 says: Makes me happy! =D
Amber says: heehee
Thing 2says: It's a redheaded coup!
Amber says: that is funny
Amber says: she does look like him
Thing 1 says: thought you'd enjoy...
Amber says: I did
Thing 2 says: Oh, gotta tell you something else funny... this came on a chart earlier today.
"When I asked the patient what the year is, she replied, 'Holy Cats! I don't know.' She then guessed, '3000.'"
Amber says: Ha! That is awesome. If my mind ever goes I hope I say clever things like that
Thing 2 says: Me too! Jen, my coworker, is quoting from www.chucknorrisfacts.com right now.... =-----DDD not sure if that's the exact address, if either of you madly clicking on it right now.
Amber says: Can I use this one (but sub my name):The chief export of Chuck Norris is Pain.
Thing 1 says: =- - - - - - - -DDDDDDD i"m WEAK
Amber says: I am totally getting a T-shirt that says that - The chief export of Amber is PAIN
Amber says: I think I might get a series of things I export
Amber says: HOTNESS
Thing 2 says: We are hysterically laughing right now.
Thing 2 says: The Chief Export of Thing 2 is Leg Hair.
Amber says: awesome...and also...ew
Amber says: I will get one for [removed to protect the not so innocent] - chief export? Flatulence
Amber says: maybe he can wear it to work on casual friday
Thing 2 says: DUDE....
Amber says: *amber ponders*
Thing 2 says: this is sooo funny.
Amber says: http://customglamgirl.com/subtitletee_page.htm I'll get them made here
Amber says: sweet
Thing 1 says: i come back from answering the phone and then have to nose laugh for five minutes.
Thing 2says: Excellent.
Thing 1 says: it's all coming out as sweat
Thing 1 says: hey... my export!
Amber says: Ha!
Amber says: now we all have a tshirt to make
Thing 2 says: I'm changing mine.........
Thing 2 says: thinking.....
Thing 2 says: shoot....
Thing 1 says: Currently my chief export is marginal advice and nose laughter.
What does this show? (Other than the fact that we are easily amused and can go way off on a tangent...) That great friends are ones that can laugh with you about the silliest things, and who don't have to share your sense of humor, but can definitely appreciate it. It also means that Thing 1 and Thing 2 (one of them HATES Dr. Suess, so it is extra fun to use those names) should really just move here. Got that, ladies? MOVE. HERE.
Dude. Nose laughter is STILL funny. I don't care who you are.
In other news, EDGAR IS DEAD! I can't believe it. Well, actually I can. It's always the fat ones that get killed off in the end. And there is no way that he isn't actually dead. That is what the silent countdown at the end means, folks. Silence = dead.
Currently listening to: God's Comic by Elvis Costello (off one of my FAVORITE albums, Spike)
Current Mood: Hungry
Here is conversation we recently had (names have been substituted):
Thing 1 says: hey did you hear about Conan O'brien's elections campaigning?
Thing 1 says: Lolo... send her the link
Thing 1 says: Por Favor.
Amber says: no I did not
Thing 2 says: http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/TV/01/16/finland.election.ap/
Thing 2 says: "Why do I support Tarja Halonen? Because she's got the total package: a dynamic personality, a quick mind, and most importantly -- my good looks," the comedian, whose show is broadcast on cable in Finland, said in a statement to The Associated Press.
Thing 2 says: Makes me happy! =D
Amber says: heehee
Thing 2says: It's a redheaded coup!
Amber says: that is funny
Amber says: she does look like him
Thing 1 says: thought you'd enjoy...
Amber says: I did
Thing 2 says: Oh, gotta tell you something else funny... this came on a chart earlier today.
"When I asked the patient what the year is, she replied, 'Holy Cats! I don't know.' She then guessed, '3000.'"
Amber says: Ha! That is awesome. If my mind ever goes I hope I say clever things like that
Thing 2 says: Me too! Jen, my coworker, is quoting from www.chucknorrisfacts.com right now.... =-----DDD not sure if that's the exact address, if either of you madly clicking on it right now.
Amber says: Can I use this one (but sub my name):The chief export of Chuck Norris is Pain.
Thing 1 says: =- - - - - - - -DDDDDDD i"m WEAK
Amber says: I am totally getting a T-shirt that says that - The chief export of Amber is PAIN
Amber says: I think I might get a series of things I export
Amber says: HOTNESS
Thing 2 says: We are hysterically laughing right now.
Thing 2 says: The Chief Export of Thing 2 is Leg Hair.
Amber says: awesome...and also...ew
Amber says: I will get one for [removed to protect the not so innocent] - chief export? Flatulence
Amber says: maybe he can wear it to work on casual friday
Thing 2 says: DUDE....
Amber says: *amber ponders*
Thing 2 says: this is sooo funny.
Amber says: http://customglamgirl.com/subtitletee_page.htm I'll get them made here
Amber says: sweet
Thing 1 says: i come back from answering the phone and then have to nose laugh for five minutes.
Thing 2says: Excellent.
Thing 1 says: it's all coming out as sweat
Thing 1 says: hey... my export!
Amber says: Ha!
Amber says: now we all have a tshirt to make
Thing 2 says: I'm changing mine.........
Thing 2 says: thinking.....
Thing 2 says: shoot....
Thing 1 says: Currently my chief export is marginal advice and nose laughter.
What does this show? (Other than the fact that we are easily amused and can go way off on a tangent...) That great friends are ones that can laugh with you about the silliest things, and who don't have to share your sense of humor, but can definitely appreciate it. It also means that Thing 1 and Thing 2 (one of them HATES Dr. Suess, so it is extra fun to use those names) should really just move here. Got that, ladies? MOVE. HERE.
Dude. Nose laughter is STILL funny. I don't care who you are.
In other news, EDGAR IS DEAD! I can't believe it. Well, actually I can. It's always the fat ones that get killed off in the end. And there is no way that he isn't actually dead. That is what the silent countdown at the end means, folks. Silence = dead.
Currently listening to: God's Comic by Elvis Costello (off one of my FAVORITE albums, Spike)
Current Mood: Hungry
Monday, March 06, 2006
Updates and such
Work has been pretty busy lately, so I have been uninclined to come home and write on the blog. But in the back of my mind I am always thinking, "Man, I didn't write anything on there again today." And then I feel guilty. Leave it to me to come up with hobbies that make me feel guilt for not doing them.
We recently let go of another employee. A new one I had not mentioned here previously. I guess I figured if I did not acknowledge his existence, he would soon go away. Apparently it worked. (*fill in long story of how this person made me want to stab someone/thing on a regular basis here*)
This week I have been working with our newest employee. And since I am writing about it, yes, that means that I would like this one to stay.
So far, this guy has picked up really well on all the work, which is great, since we all have our fair share to do in my office. But, the bonus is that this guy's sense of humor often overlaps with mine. He understood what I meant when I told him that bears were souless creatures. And he did not judge my library of pigeon books. He also was amused (not horrified) when my sister sent an IM to my computer, which he was working at, that simply said, "CRAMP-A-SAURUS REX!!" So this one is definitely a keeper.
In other news, we move into the new house this Sunday, so much spare time has been invested in packing. Packing for me is also an opportunity to determine what junk to throw away, so it's actually a whole process involving piles and cutting off emotional ties to inanimate objects. Fun stuff. The move also means shopping for a refrigerator sometime this week (ooooo....I do so love appliance shopping...) and introducing the cats to yet another traumatic move.
So if you don't hear from me for a little bit, I promise I have a good excuse.
Currently Listening to: people downstairs either moving or killing something (and Better by Plumb)
Current Mood: Excited about the move, and a little weird after coming off a cyclobenzaprine dose
We recently let go of another employee. A new one I had not mentioned here previously. I guess I figured if I did not acknowledge his existence, he would soon go away. Apparently it worked. (*fill in long story of how this person made me want to stab someone/thing on a regular basis here*)
This week I have been working with our newest employee. And since I am writing about it, yes, that means that I would like this one to stay.
So far, this guy has picked up really well on all the work, which is great, since we all have our fair share to do in my office. But, the bonus is that this guy's sense of humor often overlaps with mine. He understood what I meant when I told him that bears were souless creatures. And he did not judge my library of pigeon books. He also was amused (not horrified) when my sister sent an IM to my computer, which he was working at, that simply said, "CRAMP-A-SAURUS REX!!" So this one is definitely a keeper.
In other news, we move into the new house this Sunday, so much spare time has been invested in packing. Packing for me is also an opportunity to determine what junk to throw away, so it's actually a whole process involving piles and cutting off emotional ties to inanimate objects. Fun stuff. The move also means shopping for a refrigerator sometime this week (ooooo....I do so love appliance shopping...) and introducing the cats to yet another traumatic move.
So if you don't hear from me for a little bit, I promise I have a good excuse.
Currently Listening to: people downstairs either moving or killing something (and Better by Plumb)
Current Mood: Excited about the move, and a little weird after coming off a cyclobenzaprine dose
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