It is Serious

 Trying to find answers led me to make a trip of 60 miles to go to AFC. They have a new receptionist that is a witch. She was talking so disrespectful to me. I raised my voice a bit and she turned victim and said she did not have to take this. And, she left. She had brought something to me and was explaining one part of the sign in I filled out on a pad or something. 

I am lucky enough to have gotten a very nice and efficient nurse practitioner. She was puzzled as to why I was there and not in a cardiologist office. Why did I not go to the cardiologist? Why did my family doctor not take care of this? You came from Birmingham to here? 

"Can you wiggle your toes a little?" This when I complain about not being able to walk for exercise and having swollen legs and feet. Family doctor I chose. 

"I am not the help center for the universe!" From a cardiologist when I asked which specialist to see about the extreme swelling in my legs and feet and large swollen middle. Tommy heard him yell this!

"It is your size that makes you feet swell so." from doctor when I said I need to get the swelling down somehow.

"You just have lipedema." From nastiest nurse practitioner I have seen. "So, what do I do?" "Lose weight." ???

The nurse practitioner from AFC wants me to see an internalist. I called back and the nasty receptionist gave me grief. But, the wonderful nurse named Pam, came to the phone and helped me. When I was there and complained about her actions, no one defended her. However, glances were exchanged. So, maybe she won't be there next time I go. 

I knew I could get help at AFC. I was not disappointed with the quality of care. Other patients were having trouble with the receptionist, too.

I have been going to doctors in three major health centers. This is not out in the boondocks where they ship in sunshine. I have never changed doctors lightly! 

While in Cullman, I went to bank, staggered in and got my business done. And, we had Chicken Salad Chick. We both had a scoop and soup. We brought drinks from home. Me--loaded baked potato soup and Classic Carol scoop of chicken salad. Tommy--loaded baked potato soup and Fruity Fran scoop. I wanted to have this once a month, but he said every three months. Now, I have to wait until October to go there again unless I can think of a good reason. Hey, my birthday is in September. That sounds like a great reason to dine there again.

Have you ever had such a bad run of doctors? I show up, submit to tests, and still get nothing done. Well, something is done, but this latest serious predicament may not see me live through it. Am I just an old lady not worth helping or saving?

A New Doctor, Brownie Recipe, Dinner

 I had my appointment with a new doctor. When I made the first appointment, I had to see a nurse practitioner who was not nice. 

Lynda saw this man and gave a good recommendation. He is very nice and addressed problems as I mentioned them. First, I told him about getting sick over and over and lymph nodes being inflamed. He felt and said they were large. Then, I discussed problems with lymph glands over the years and how they were basically ignored. 

We talked about other problems, too He has plans to get me to doctors who can help. Isn't that what a gp is for? 

The last doctor I thought was so nice is not so good as a doctor. I think as a man and a friend, he is excellent. But, I am not sure what he does except silly or inadequate advice. I know that walking would help with swollen legs and feet. But, he moved close and asked me if could wiggle my feet around some. ??? Now, the calf needs to move to get the body pump to work in order to move blood back up to the heart. I thought wiggling my feet around was inadequate advice for a woman who can actually walk! 

Did you hear about the woman who went into an American Family Care (AFC), went to sleep, and was locked inside? I have gone to sleep in the exam room when I was really sick but cannot imagine being left. This is not to disparage the AFC because in my opinion, this is a great business for health care, much better than walk-in facilities I have used in the past. 

Last night, I wore my pocket nightgown around during the evening and to bed. This is like wearing a bathrobe. It covers my limbs, keeps me warm, just perfect. Yes, I will get more of these and retire the summer nightgowns until spring. The summer nightgowns are fine in winter except they are low in the neck front and back. When my covers fall off the foot of the bed, I freeze and have to heave them back onto the bed--so annoying and sleep disruptive. The hem of the nightgown is about 5 inches above my foot, so not really long but sufficient. The brushed polyester did not make me too hot, thankfully. But, I had another gown at the ready to change. 

Tonight, I was in no mood to cook. I pulled out some thinly sliced beef from the freezer, put it in a pan with four new potatoes. While this cooked, he opened green beans, drained them and put water in the bowl, and microwaved. Now, dinner is ready--beef, potatoes, and green beans. I did not peel the potatoes. So, he peeled two inch potatoes! I ate my potato with the skin on. There is enough meat for another meal...Yay!

I had a pan of brownies made from cake mix ready to pop in the oven as soon as the meat and potatoes came out. If this recipe works, I will share it. I have used some recipes that did not work to make brownies from cake mix. Okay, the chocolate cake mix brownies are great. 

Cake mix brownies:

box of chocolate cake mix or fudge cake mix

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1/3 cup milk

1 egg

10 oz chocolate chunks

350F, 20 min, 8x8 pan

I always have chocolate cake mixes even though I never make a chocolate cake. My aspirations are greater than my reality. I had some dark chocolate chips, not 10 oz, but I used those. I cooked them a tad too long, but they were still great. We each had one. 

My flannel sheets came. Tommy washed and dried them. They are cotton, very thick, and not very flannel-y. However, the set I have now sheds its fluffiness. So, I am very satisfied with these. I will put them on my bed tomorrow if I feel like it. 

Do you ever make brownies or cookies from cake mix?