The Wonderful World of Genetics

*Melodic Muse of the Day*
"Live Like You Were Dying" by Tim McGraw


HELLO!  And welcome back to the asylum.  (heehee)

As usual, I have been a busy bee.  I always said, when I'm not working, I seem to have more to do.  Yes, I have more stuff to do & No, I am not working.  Not in the normal (gasp, can't believe I used that word) sense, that is.  So, have a seat, put your feet up, & lend me your ears (ok, your eyes, but who's keeping track ;)

So, where to start...Hmmm.  We'll start with "Why I'm not working".

I've had arthritis since I was about 30, so when I started getting bad pains from my back down my right hip & thigh, that's what I thought it was until it started getting progressively worse.  The pain began about the end of December 2011 & continued to worsen.  By my last day of work for the school year, I had been in severe pain & limping around for months.  I had an MRI done in May that showed four bulging discs, some narrowing of the spine, at least one pinched nerve, & quite a bit of arthritis.  It also showed some disc degeneration.  I guess that would explain the pain I've been having, right?

Needless to say, I've been to my doctor, a back specialist, a neurosurgeon, & our pain clinic.  The back specialist basically gravitated right toward surgery.  I figured that would be the last resort.  So, I've been going to the pain clinic, have gotten 12 shots in my back since July, & am having radio frequency
thermal coagulation on December 21st.  That just means they are burning the nerves in my back that have been giving me the problems.  I'm sure I'll eventually have to have surgery.  My neurosurgeon, though, decided to send me for an MRI on my neck first because it seems I may have problems there, as well.  He said the neck should be fixed first as the nerves go to the arms & legs, whereas the nerves in the back just go to the legs.  And no, they can't both be done at once because rehab would be impossible.  Wonderful, huh?

So, that's pretty much the story of my year so far.  Except for the fact that I did have to have a biopsy on my left breast because of something not looking quite right.  It was, thank goodness, benign, but it was a bit scary.  Both of my grandmothers had breast cancer, so I definitely have to be watchful.  I have been getting yearly mammograms for quite a few years already.  That is one thing I make sure to have done even if I don't take the best care of myself.  It is a pain, literally, but a very important test to have.  That's my PSA for today!

I have been keeping busy, however.  Unfortunately, I do not have an income now, so I've been trying to find ways to work from home on my computer.  I used to do PartyLite shows, but that's a no-go because of all the lifting & carrying products.  If only they would drop-ship their orders, I would love to get back into that.  I love their candles, accessories & etc.  Of course, they are very heavy into the "home party" aspect part of the business.  They do have "book parties" but the product goes to the hostess' home,  to be delivered by her.  So, if I'm the one having the "party", I get the products to sort & deliver. (sigh)

A lot of work-at-home businesses charge a fee to get started & I refuse to pay to work for someone.  I've been doing a few pay-per-click sites, but the money is very slow to add up.  I am signed up with an internet marketing site, but people don't want to bother trying to recruit others or sell anything.  I don't blame them as I don't care for it myself, but it is free sign-up & tons of training info.  You get access to a "store" & can sell your own stuff there for very little.  I've been with the company almost a year & know if I do put some time & effort into it, it will work.  But right now I just don't have the motivation for it.  I am hoping that I can get a few ads on my blog & make a little that way.

Whatever I do, I want to enjoy doing it.  It's time for me to be happy with what I do in my life.

Peace, Love, and Babushkas,
Collette

My cane-that I barely ever use

Calgon Take Me Away...NOW!

Drum roll please...bum bum bum ba da bum. (--->running across the stage with the applause sign) somersault (UGH!) TA-DA!!!
WOW! The things I do for you people...hee hee hee:)
I am now worried that I will have to start each post with a spectacular entrance. So, if I don't, please, do not be disappointed. I may have actually been forced to swallow taken my medication that day.
(Damn, now what was that excuse I was going to use for taking so long?) Once again, I have taken my sweet old time to post. Well, you see, I was taken hostage to another planet by evil aliens. No? Um, I was on an a secret expedition in the frozen tundra of Anarctica to clone polar bears. Hmm...ok, I've been pretty busy & when I wasn't, I was too tired, lazy & frustrated to post. Of course, I know that it is during the times I am frustrated to get online & pour my guts out so I don't strangle someone or pull my own hair out. And even though it is late & I should get to sleep, I will let you all know a bit of what has been going on so you don't worry about me. Because I know you will for the simple fact that you are all a bunch of saps the best listeners & bloggy buds a girl could have! So here goes...

My babcia hasn't been feeling well & we have taken her to the emergency room 2 times, to doc appointments 3 times for this problem, & have picked up various medications & supplies in just over the past 3 weeks. She was having bad stomach pain. Now it's not so much pain, but nausea almost constantly, especially if she eats & then, she's only eating crackers, toast, etc. The ER, 1st time, thought constipation & handled it as such. A week later in ER, they said gastritis as nothing was found in x-ray or cat scan. The docs said today that the morphine she takes for her arthritis is causing the nausea. But, she needs it for the pain. These docs are foreign & want her (& all people) to be off any kinds of meds except for tylenol & ibuprofen. Maybe they get kick-backs from pushing OTC meds, I don't know. All I know is that babcia had osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis & fibromyalgia & is 93 years old. She can only do much with her aging body & they want her to exercise! I say, even if she is "hooked" on the morphine, it is giving her a better quality of life than she would have without it & being 93 years old is nothing to sneeze at. She does have an appointment for the stomach specialist, but not until April 29th. I told her to call everyday & check if they have any cancellations. Maybe they can do some tests to give us a specific diagnosis. She has had stomach problems since she was a little girl, but this is lasting way too long & I am going out of my mind! I have pretty much been the only one taking her places & running everywhere for her.

I need a vacation from life for a while! Just me, my computer, cigs (I was cutting down for awhile, but...excuses, excuses), lots of diet cola with lime, & I will probably need to eat every once in awhile (even if it doesn't look like I need to). It has to be somewhere warm, sunny, & away from civilization. I don't know for how long yet, but it will probably be for a while. I can hear the ocean now!

There's more to the stress but I shall leave that for the next post. (which will be up much sooner than the 3 weeks it took me this time!)

As stressed as I have been, I am trying not to let it get to me like the time of the "curse"...lol! Things always work out. I have to trust that there is a reason for everything we go through. So, with that, I will say good night. Sleep tight & don't let the perverts bite:)

Using my babushka as a hobo bag,

Collette (((HUGS)))