Thought Patterns

Lorna decided we needed to spend money on gasoline so we headed up to the Blue Ridge Parkway. Wonderful drive and scenery! We took the camera, three PB&Js, Sam, Joella, water for the dogs and a bug jug o' tea for us. We grabbed chips when we got gas.

We got on at about mile marker 382 and stopped by the Folk Art Center for a map and a newsletter. We continue north to the Craggy Gardens (MP 364). We get out to stretch a bit and take some photos as well as get information about the hikes in that area.

The Craggy Visitors Center is right on the side of the road, unlike most other places on the Parkway. Lorna crossed the road to take some photos of that side.

You can see the effects of the drought from the low water line of the lake below.

These are trees just beyond the parking area. They are twisted and leaning from the wind. It is around 5000 foot there, I think.

This is the view beyond them:

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I was scheduled for my first colonoscopy. The specialist (AKA Gut Doc) wanted to do it to see if he could find any diverticula or any other abnormalities to explain my problems.

I had to drink this foul drink called "Colyte" the night before and the morning of. I managed to drink the first half (of four liters) Wednesday night. However, Thursday morning all plans were tossed out the window. I awoke at 5:00 (Lorna woke me to get started on the drink) to a roaring migraine. I was also nauseous which doesn't happen too often during my migraines, thank God.

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Remember that nasty cold I had that somehow led to a kidney infection? Remember how nauseous I was? I've hurled (emesis-ed, regurgitated, up chucked) more in the past 30 days than I have in the past five years. I don't hurl. It's not part of my body's functions. I was 10 before I hurled for the first time. Thought I was dyin'. But enough with the TMI, hm?

It was/is from the antibiotic. So I quit taking it and the nausea went away.

Called the doc and asked for a different kind of antibiotic.

Nope, she said, keep taking the other no matter what.

So, dammit, I'm on it again and I'm nauseous again. Greeeat. I have to go in next week and pee in a cup to see if the infection is gone. Greeeat-er.

Plus I've been busy with my fish tanks, busy with Lorna, busy writing…yes, writing. I'm still on BG2 and I've actually done a little of an–gasp!–outline. I also did a time line for the BG books and did some planning for them as well.

Hmm, maybe hurling one's toenails erodes one's brain of natural protections set-up against outlining.

Boy, what a trip the past 48 hours have been.

I've not been doing well on the mega antibiotic and have been feeling nauseous. I've not been taking the drug as often as I should be because of the nasty side effects.

Then Friday I start getting a headache. I do the normal stuff to try and make it go away.

Saturday, it is worse. And so is the nausea.

Saturday night, I have to wake Lorna up to help me do some things. I can't lay down so we sit in bed together. When I finally am able to lay down, she rubs my head for me. The sensation of touch is a faster nerve message than pain. Which is why rubbing a boo-boo helps the pain.

I get up the morning, head still roaring, and feeling sick. I eat a simple bowl of cereal, thinking it is because I've had so little to eat. It stayed down only a short while.

I sipped Coke for a while and napped in Lorna's recliner. Or was that yesterday? Both, I think.

At any rate, the headache is still there, but controllable. The nausea is still there but not so bad I don't even want to think about food. This morning we were considering taking me to the ER where they can treat the migraine quickly and effectively. I updated my medication list and rested in my chair some. That's when I noticed the headache was markedly less.

Ah.

Tomorrow I call the doc to see if I can be on another antibiotic.

Getting ready.

Lorna has her recliner and is happy.

The dogs lost their couch but got to keep the cushions so they are kinda happy.

The cats have a lap to sleep in so they are happy.

I can't breathe through my nose but my ear isn't hurting any more, so I am kinda happy.

I caught Lorna's cold.

That asthma thing I had a few weeks ago left me with a cough. Then I managed to have another one the other day (cold air).

So I figured that I'd be stuck with a cough until spring. But then today I started getting all congested and now I am running a fever. Oh goody.

I did write some today. Not much, less than 1K but a little each day, right?

Tomorrow should be the worst of it. Just in time for the Super Bowl.

Speaking of Super Bowl, Lorna's recliner came in and we picked it up today. I'll upload a photo or two later. I may not be on much tomorrow. Maybe Monday.

Yesterday, I, the night owl of all night owls, went to bed before 10 pm. Then I slept, with only one interruption, until 11 am today. And after only being awake perhaps two hours, I slept another two hours on the couch.

When I was a kid, I slept through all the childhood illnesses. When I had chickenpox, I slept for three days. Mom would make me go to the bathroom and sip broth, but I never woke up enough for me to remember it. The only way I knew I was sick was I'd wake up wearing my "sick" shirt. It was one of my dad's undershirts that my mom had crocheted a blue collar on it. It was a huge shirt on little me (yes, I was little once). Since I had chronic tonsillitis, I wore that shirt a lot. When I went to college and HAD to stay awake, I was miserable!

Yesterday, Lorna took herself to the doc and while she was gone, I started getting sick. We think I had another bout of diverticulitis. Whoopie. The anti-hurling pill worked, though. (fenegren?) It can make me very drowsy so it added to my sleep time. I've only eaten some pudding, crackers, coke, and lots of water. Once things calm down, I'll start eating again. The idea of food is really rather blechy to me still.

Add to it the rattle in my chest–leftover from an asthma attack a few days ago–and I don't feel good. Luckily, Lorna is today now that she has meds again.

The other posts I wrote today? I slept between each one, sitting here in my chair. I finally gave up and that's when I went to the couch. I was freezing so when Sam got up and lay on top of me, I didn't mind. Jo wrapped herself around my feet.

Yesterday I only wrote 646 words and I've not looked to see if they are good words. Probably not since I don't remember any of it. I hope to get some more done tonight. If not, tomorrow while Lorna is at work. She stayed home again today to let her body settle down.