A Camera Up My Nose

 It is true. My ENT put a long instrument up my nose that stretched the end of my nose as he put it far up in my nostril. I was totally unaware of what was happening. When we were in the car, Tommy said he could see the camera view as the doctor looked inside my nose far up past everything I have never seen or felt. He said it was like going through a jungle. Well, obviously there is hair in my nose as it should be. 

Because I have been getting ill, one sinus infection after the other, each requiring another antibiotic, I went back to my ENT. I have to sing his praises. I love this man, love in a pure, affectionate way that is engendered by his ability to listen, respond, and treat me. 

One statement in particular has secured his place in my list of doctors that are superb. Since my left ear hurt me for over a year, it is a particular sore spot the way doctors have treated this problem. Yesterday, once again, I ventured to say to a doctor, "Does sleeping on my left side cause my left ear to hurt?" Well, it was something like that. He said that it was the reason my left ear hurt and went on the explain why. Don't ask me exactly what he said. But, it has something to do with the blood going there, causing congestion because old blood vessels don't respond as they did when a young person slept in the same position. Basically, I am old! 

I have had doctors thinly veil their amusement at my silly unmedical explanation of my problem. I have been made to feel unaware of my body. Sure, I may have silly notions about what is happening in my body, but doctors don't need to be so transparent in their disdain of my thoughts. Now, I have had doctors openly snicker and explain to me the problem. They, however, did not seem to be mean about their amusement. The attitude of many doctors is intended to silence a person in order for the doctor to be the authority. Well, they are the authority, but that does not mean the patient might be onto something. 

When the doctor agreed that lying on my left side was why I was having trouble with my ear hurting, I told him that other doctors had disagreed with my assessment. He said, "Well, some doctors don't know what they are talking about." This exchange relieved me of a burden. And, no, I cannot sleep on my right side. 

About half the time, I leave the doctor actually a bit depressed at the level of care. However, I have curated my physicians until now, I receive better care. I suppose it is a bit like finding a garage or mechanic. 

Right now, I am choking and can barely breathe because of the congestion in my head. He gave me a sinus rinse kit. Now, I am waiting for a compounding pharmacy to send me antibiotic in a capsule to put in this with distilled water to use. 

My primary physician I lately left had a strange solution. My left foot and leg were swollen. He leaned close to me and asked me if I could wiggle my foot a bit to relieve the congestion. That was bizarre since this is not just from sitting on an airplane or sitting at all. Besides, the calf muscles need to be involved for the body pump to work. 

While he was looking in my throat and feeling my throat, I mentioned my thyroid problem and said I needed to get an ultrasound. He volunteered to schedule the ultrasound right at this facility. That is now in my day planner. 

I know you have had experience with medical professionals who were less than they should have been. Share here, if you please. Have you ever had a camera up your nose to examine you? 

We Interrupt This Program for a Special Announcement!

                          Okay, I found the Miracle Whip by accident. 

I was looking in the cabinet on the left side of the sink, looking for something else I misplaced. As I looked where the little two shelf storage unit for spices is kept, I looked on the shelf above where quart jars of flour, sugar, etc. are kept. My eyes went upward to the third shelf and there was the MW, sitting there, mocking me! 

The other thing I misplaced was the little pink bin where I previously kept spices. I remember it being in front of the microwave in Tommy's way as I was rearranging that shelf and putting in the double-decker spice holder. I told him to just put it anywhere. It was near the table with a box of cleaning supplies on top!

And, after I took the Miracle Whip to the kitchen, I placed it on the counter beside the sink where I was going to make a sandwich. I was not sure if there was enough MW in the jar or if I would need the new jar. Well, there was enough to put back in the refrigerator for another use. So, I picked up the MW and put it right above where it sat, in the top shelf instead of where I would store it. 

See, I remembered how both "lost" items were...lol. Well, I do remember how they got where I found them. Got to save face here. 

Some were concerned the MW had been out of the refrigerator too long. But, this jar had never been opened. I am glad I found it because I paid over $6 for it. That is outrageous. I was dreading buying another. However, MW is a food group. I like it thick and sloppy on my sandwich, but I need to put it on in a civilized smear like I was reared to do. 

I slept two hours last night and the cleaner came this morning. She emptied the closet in the bedroom and cleaned it and fumigated it. She started filling it back up as I directed from bed. When I asked Tommy what to do with some things, he said to throw them away. Well, they will be sold instead. He has a Polaroid camera and a nice case that are over 40 years old. Plus, he has various colognes, gifts he has never used. I am glad he hates cologne. 

It is now time for a nappy poo. 

When you misplace an item, do you remember the circumstances of where you put it once you have found a "lost" thing?

Saturday Doings

As DST ends,  the realization that it will be a long few months hits me. During the summer, we could be out at 7:30 pm and still not be driving in the dark. Some days, the sky was light until almost 8 pm. Now, we try to get home by 4:30. Starting tomorrow, we will have to home an hour earlier, 3:30 pm. The prospect is soul-cringing. Thankfully, some politicians are pushing for year-round DST. I am for it. 

 Earlier in the week,  I spotted a dime on the pavement at a store, forgot which one. Yay, for the dime. I need to take a stroll every time I get on an electric cart so I can search. Just kidding. 

While in a store, I bought the only Kodak camera they had. I was thrilled it was so cheap. A few days later, I was opening the box. It uses AA batteries instead of lithium. Grrrr. It is going back. 

For the last week, Tommy has been very compliant about the dishwasher issue. Only, he never moves. He is agreeable to all my statements, but never moves. On Friday late afternoon, I asked him to empty the dishwasher. by himself. There were only about eight articles in the dishwasher, including utensils. 

At 11:50, he asked me if I wanted us to load the dishwasher. I figure he thinks I might ask him to load it alone. I know he hates dishes at midnight because I wanted help at night and he refused, saying he was relaxed. So, for him to want to work late and mention it was a big deal. I was shocked and got up. The dishwasher was loaded. 

This morning, he washed the sink because I did not want him running water when the dishwasher was running last night. He also cleaned the skillet I used for burgers and want to use for scrambled eggs today. He has gotten everything I wanted since I awoke at 11 am. 

We went out and are now  back. Tommy and I both had calls in to our respective doctors for prescriptions. And, no one called his meds or mine to different pharmacies. We both had to get and emergency supply in order to have meds!  Friday, I needed to pick up 6 meds. They had four. One of those was wrong--a med I am allergic to. Right, I ended a sentence with a preposition.  Then, I went  back on Friday and got the right med. Still, I am missing a critical med, thus the emergency supply. Tommy's med is even more critical. This all started with the failure of doctors, not an employee or a supply chain. 

I went to the church yard sale and just asked the woman to come to the car. She is the one who said she could help me in the house. Still, I wait. Tommy offered to stop for another half dozen yard sales. But, I was too shaky on my feet and felt weak. 

Just now, he brought me the sweet potatoes, washed, for me to prepare. Now, I need to go in there and see what meat I put out. No? He is searching for the meat I want. Okay, we are chicken soffrito and brussels sprouts along with the sweet potato. 

I really feel awful, but I slept for two hours. No fever or other symptoms at all. Was today good yard sale weather at your place? It was 

Saturday and Sunday Problems

 Plans were made for Saturday morning. And, things got off to a good start. We emptied the dishwasher and loaded it. Tommy was washing a huge pot he did not wash last time. I sat while he was working because I wanted to wash my hair in the sink. He obviously washed everything and then washed the sink, thankfully. I washed my hair, bathed, and started the dishwasher. 

Tommy took the jump box to the car and I went out, too. Well, the jump box would not jump off the car. I told him to go get the guy who three weeks ago said he would jump the car with his car. The guy came with tools to remove the battery since Tommy asked him to remove it. He could not get it out. There is a brace from the front of the car to the side. Weird. At some point this guy got a suitcase full of socket wrenches, borrowed from another neighbor. 

Tommy had to walk three doors down on thick, wet grass. Then, he could not get to the door because it had no railings. So, he lifted his walker to the porch and went up on his hands to the door, managed to get upright and not fall off and rang the doorbell. The guy took the battery out, finally, and brought the battery to the car. I told Tommy I would drive. 

Adjusting his seats is hard for me, and I never got it quite right. But, we went to Auto Zone as I have explained a few paragraphs later in this jumble of writing. 

The guy had arrived with the suitcase full of tools and Tommy was not yet home. In a few minutes, I heard Tommy talking and realized he wanted me. I looked back at his car and he was sitting. I asked him what he was saying. He was yelling but nothing made sense. I went back to the car and he had the seat leaning back and nothing he said made sense. I was really frightened. I could understand "drink" and got to the house as fast as I could. That hurt. I brought back orange juice and a real Coke and a package of peanut butter crackers. Every fiber of my being was stressed, hurting, and wanting to cry. 

I have to tell you that I always rise to the occasion when there is an emergency.  Another day, I will tell you the story of my mother paralyzed by an emergency.  In an emergency when most people throw up afterwards, my tension is relieved in the other direction. I got this from my father. Mama said he ran for the bathroom after trauma, which was worse than mine on Saturday. 

I was in my car and tried to call Tommy for something. Well, AT&T "redirected" my call to them and had a long message about them giving me a new phone and setting me up with 5G. My head almost exploded. They have "redirected" my call about 7 times on Friday and Saturday. I yelled and screamed at them to give me back the service for which I was paying. This woman that I could not understand and barely hear just kept talking about how they were trying to help me.  I got my service back and almost had a heart attack, I am quite sure.

We took the battery to Auto Zone, and they did not have a tester as theirs was broken and parts had not come in. They sent us to Advanced Auto to have them check it and we could bring the battery back to AZ. Advanced Auto could not be bothered to even talk to me as I sat in the car. 

After we left Auto Zone, I was light-headed and Tommy was not doing well. We got Burger King.  Finally, we went back to Auto Zone. The guys said that they should have not sent us to the other store. So, we left with a new battery, their idea. But, I have a long history of buying from AZ. 

We ate, and went to AT&T store where we are going to get my new flip phone activated. AT&T actually "redirected" my phone again and also twice on Sunday when I was trying to call Tommy to tell him I was leaving a store. 

The guy who took the battery out of the car came back over to install the new one when I called him. I was screaming into the phone and he had a funny look on his face. I stopped and told him I was yelling at AT&T. He gave a look of "oh, I see." I used "AT&T" several times in each sentence.  I go ballistic when I talk to ATT and it has gotten worse over the years. I usually just get angry at them and now go ballistic. 

He brought another guy with him. It took two of them to get the battery back into the car and the brace reattached to the frame of the car. The car started, a healthy start, nothing whining. THEN, I backed it into Tommy's ramp, scraping paint off the car and doing nothing to the ramp. 

We left to get the car washed. That car wash terrifies me. In what world am I supposed to be comfortable with turning loose the wheel putting, the car in neutral or something, and not using the brake? And, then the car is pulled along? So, the car is clean. We made it home and sort of recovered. I forgot what was for dinner. Oh, the burger was dinner and something later at home. 

To add insult to injury, I had left my lights on. So, I went back to the car and turned them off. I really did not care at that point. But, I dragged myself out of the house, climbed the incline to the carport, turned off the lights, and got out of the car. Just as I twisted out and got up, the carport light went out. Now, I had to navigate and orient myself at the same time, blinded, trying to figure out how not to step off the carport but go beside the car, figure out where the incline dropped and see the ramp. HE HAD TURNED OFF THE CARPORT LIGHT KNOWING I HAD GONE OUT TO TURN OFF MY LIGHTS!

Oh, he heard about it and he did not seem to care. I yelled at him a bit and he was not sorry for what he did at all. You know the electricity to burn that light another 30 seconds might throw him into bankruptcy. 

Sunday, I went to big box to get something. I wanted the date on camera corrected and had another question. So, I took my camera and put it in my pocket as I was able to snag an electric cart in the parking lot. When I got to electronics, about 30 minutes later, I had no camera. And, then I wanted to tell Tommy because I was so upset at the loss. AT&T had redirected me again! I started yelling right in the store. One woman gave me a "go girl" look and gesture. A guy was smiling. I was yelling "ATT cannot keep doing this to me." Once again, I used ATT in each sentence, saying I paid my bill. Yelling in a store is not my way. But, AT&T  causes me to lose all reason and raising! 

The camera fell from my pocket as I sat on the electric cart in the parking lot, I suppose. So, gone and not turned in. I hate this new pair of pants. The pocket opening is so low and huge. I need to sew it up so things stay inside. Everything comes out of these pockets.

I finally got into the car and was ready to cry. Fibromyalgia still had me in pain after Saturday. I think that being old and upset wears on a person, too! Saturday was spilling over into Sunday as Sunday went down the drain! 

Saturday was so draining. And, then I worried about Tommy. I need to watch out for him better.  He still says he was just thirsty and his mouth was dry on Saturday. No, he was not making sense. And, I lost my camera!!! Sunday just topped off the pain, mental and physical! 

Is AT&T redirecting your calls and depriving you of the service for which you pay? As you get older does stress destroy your nerves? I need a vacation from adulting! I am becoming  a crazy lady from AT&T's unabated abuse of their power.