Under the Weather

You can find examples of how little we value ourselves everywhere you look.

The signs on the front of the convenience stores where Stephen lives in Florida

tell the story. Beer, ice, bread and milk are the big come-ons.

The order of the words varies, but beer and ice are always

two of the top four staples for sale. If we were all taking care of ourselves,

wouldn't the convenience stores compete for our dollars

with signs that read "Fruit, Vegetables, Bread, Milk"?

Bernie Siegel

Ah, my first 'real' cold since I retired.  I've had little 'hit and miss' ones, but this one has turned out to be a doozy.  I've been taking Coricidin because of my blood pressure issues, but it is not doing much to unplug the old sinuses.  I hate it when I have to breathe through my mouth.  Well, this morning I meet with my new doctor and perhaps he can suggest something.  And, at least, I will get a prescription for my blood pressure meds...although, that is something I want to bring up with him as well. 

 For awhile now I have been suffering from the worst muscle spasms.  Never know where they are going to occur, and all I have to do is move slightly and whatever muscle is effected goes into a painful spasm.  It happens especially with my toes at night when I go to bed. Sometimes my fingers actually lock which makes it difficult to carry an umbrella because I tend to grip it too tight.

I did some research awhile and read that the water pill can cause muscle spasms because along with the excess water in your body, you also lose vital minerals such as sodium and potassium as well.  To offset, I am sure to eat a banana daily, take my Krill oil daily since I don't like seafood, eat a yogurt daily for calcium, and drink lots and lots of water.  I also take Slow Mag, B Complex along with a Multi, and Turmeric.   All this has helped tremendously, but has not cured.  I am still subject so spasms on occasion, but thankfully not every day anymore.  In these two weeks since I have been out of medication, I've not had one muscle cramp. Sometimes I find it too good to believe and try to bring one on.  Nothing.  

Sadly it is one of those 'damned if you do and damned if you don't' situations. If I don't take the meds, I open myself up to all kinds of issues; if I do take them, I have to deal with the cramping.  What is one to do?  There is one water pill I read about that doesn't deplete the potassium.  I'll ask the doctor about that.

So, the pension fiasco continues.  I called yesterday because I haven't received the promised form in the mail.  I was told it was sent out, "but I'll send out another one just to make sure it hasn't been lost."  There is something all too family about that response.  I get it each time they are supposed to send me a form. I'm sorry, but I wasn't born yesterday.  They can't ALL be lost. 

Meanwhile, SNAP (food stamps) had scheduled a phone interview for me yesterday between 12:30 pm and 4:30 pm.  Did they call?  Of course not.  Nothing ever seems to go easy for me.  But, just let me have missed an appointment.  How quickly they would have turned me down.

Well, have to get ready to head to my appointment.  I am looking forward to meeting him.  It felt good to get a call yesterday reminding me that I had an appointment.  At least I don't have to write this new doctor a letter to get one.

Hope you all have a great day. 

The witch doctor succeeds for the same reason all the rest of us succeed. Each patient carries his or her own doctor inside him or her.
They come to us not knowing that truth. We are at our best when

we give the doctor who resides within each patient a chance to go to work.

Albert Schweitzer