From Huskies to Husbands

Latest Medical Update - Hospitalization

2011-12-14T22:22:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to be home. I went to the ER on Saturday morning because the pain in my abdomen had changed. I only put up with a months worth of horrific nausea, vomiting, constipation, and pain before breaking down and going in.
I had a horrible experience in the ER and then the hospital proper. They ended up overdosing me on medications which led to me becoming basically unresponsive with a severely low heart rate. This led to them having to give me narcan which gained me an admission to the hospital. I was there from about 10 am Saturday until about 8 pm Tuesday when I had reached my breaking point. I received great nursing care; however, the lack of care and desire to help from the doctors was just too much to bear. It felt like they did not know about Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and were not willing to listen to what I do know about my illness. They did not want to consider anything other than common reasons for my horrific abdominal pain. Besides they were not helping me feel any better so why should I continue to stay. They were monitoring my heart rate and besides that the only thing that was really being accomplished was hydration via IV. Because of the earlier issue in the ER they would only give me tylenol for the excruciating pain I was in. I felt like I had to fight to get the tests done that I felt were necessary. I had a CT scan, chest x-ray, enema, upper endoscopy, colonoscopy, echo cardiogram, and a multitude of blood work. I don't feel like I was given the whole story as to the results of some of the tests and blood work. The only diagnosis given during my stay was gastritis. I actually had a breakdown which resulted in the echo cardiogram and some vital information, yet still no treatment plan and no referrals...
We still don't really know what is wrong or how to fix it, but I am back at home finally and feeling worse than when I left to go to the ER.

Lack of Posts

2011-10-30T14:39:00.000-07:00

I just can't seem to get into the swing of this blog anymore. My focus has switched to my cooking blog at the Dairy Free Diva. I hope that you will come visit me there if you haven't already.

Flu, Crud or Something

2010-12-05T16:41:00.000-08:00

Whatever it is it has struck our family... Miserable stuff with fever, chills, headache, body aches, and extreme gastrointestinal issues (to put it nicely). I have been fighting it for about a week or so now. My husband succumbed to it today. My FIL started with symptoms on Friday while driving to California with my SIL and her two kids. FIL ended up in the hospital due to complications on Saturday and was kept overnight! The SIL and two kids have been fighting it since Friday as well. I can't begin to imagine how miserable that trip was for them all :(

We have heard that this can last for 3 weeks. I really hope that isn't true! I can't imagine flying feeling like this :(

Winter Weather

2010-11-20T12:45:00.000-08:00

It seems that Winter is here to stay at least here in my little corner of the world. It has snowed more days than not so far this month. At least it seems that way...

Although the snow is beautiful along with the cold weather comes increasing pain and problems for me. I have an appointment with a new Rheumatologist PA the first part of December. I am hopefully but trying not to get my hopes up concerning what she can do to help me.

I also have my travel details for going home for the holidays. I will be flying to Florida to be with my parents for Christmas and New Years. Since I will be there for 3 weeks, I am trying to make plans to see friends also. Mostly though I am going to be trying to keep myself busy which shouldn't be hard with the HUGE freelance project I am working on. I have mixed feelings about going home. I am excited to go; however, I am sad that my husband will not be able to go with me. This will be the first Christmas that we will have spent apart since we met.

First Snow

2010-10-25T23:14:00.000-07:00

Today we had the first snow of the season... I can not believe that it is already that time of year!! The snow has been falling all day and through the night with very crazy winds. It seems like it went from the lovely Fall weather that we had been having to the dreary cold and miserableness of Winter overnight here. I keep hoping that this really is not the start of Winter here in earnest, but I think that it most likely is indeed. My garden is most likely done for too :( I was hoping that the carrots, beets, and onions might have made something... I guess once the snow melts - if the snow melts in the next few days I will go and check. I just hope that the ground isn't frozen solid! If it is then there is no hope of me pulling anything up to check!

Just Not Feeling Well

2010-10-04T12:51:00.000-07:00

I can't seem to put my finger on what is wrong; however, I have not been feeling well at all for the last few weeks. I know that it is most likely something related to my Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome but what exactly is going on eludes me. I have been experiencing a big increase in the horrible muscle and joint aches along with the bouts of inability to think straight and extreme dizziness. I also am having an increase in GI issues and the literally mind numbing headaches. I don't think any of it is food related as I have been hyper vigilant as always with ensuring that I don't have any of my off limits foods. The one thing that I am sure about is that I am very very tired of being unwell. I want off this merry go round and can't seem to find a successful way to achieve that desire.

In other news, I have fired my Rheumatologist only she doesn't know it yet. They called a month of so to let me know that she was unable to keep my last appointment and I just have not rescheduled it. I honestly do not have any plans to reschedule... I finally was able to obtain a copy of a fairly serious and expensive lab test that she had done almost a year ago. It is called an ANA panel if any of you are familiar with the blood test. She had told me that everything was fine on the results. She lied. Well when I finally got a copy I found out that it was anything but fine. I currently am trying to find a doctor that really can interpret the results and what they mean. However, even a layperson knows that it isn't good when things read positive and are listed in the abnormal range. Based on my research I am trying very hard not to jump to any conclusions as there are a list of things that are possible with the results I have. Lets all just hope that it is the EDS showing up and not something more in addition which appears to be highly probable.

Just in case someone actually knows how to interpret the test results... The test was a ANA 12 Plus Profile.
Here are my out of tolerance numbers (There is a lot more data on the results).
Anti-Nuclear AB = Abnormal - Positive & Normal Range - Negative
ANA Titer = Abnormal - 1:40
ANA Pattern = Speckled
ANA Titer = Abnormal - 1:40
ANA Pattern = Nucleolar
Complement C3 = 206

The Vet Visit Adventure

2010-09-17T14:05:00.000-07:00

I took the dogs to the vet yesterday. Wow, I had forgotten how difficult taking them in to see the vet could be!! I definitely could not have handled both dogs without help. I was glad to have my FIL along for a helping hand since DH had to work.

Both dogs got good reports overall, thankfully!! Rebel was due for 2 shots and a nail clipping plus his well dog check. The good news with him is that the little growth on his lower eye lid isn't especially dangerous and is typically totally benign so we didn't even need to biopsy it! We will just need to watch to make sure it does not grow or begin to bother him. Also, Rebel had lost about 16 lbs since his last visit down to 80 pounds and almost a healthy weight for him. Suzy had also lost a little weight which was good for her as well. I guess all that cooking for them has helped with their weight as well as the seizure prevention. Suzy was just due for 1 shot and a nail clipping plus her well dog check. The good news with her is that her occasional limp should not require surgery unless it progresses to an all the time thing. The vet thinks that it is a possible ACL injury which isn't great news though.

Because Suzy was badly abused before we adopted her she went first with Rebel there to help keep her calm. I muzzled her for the nail clipping more for her safety than anything. She was so good for it and didn't even paw at the muzzle! I was so proud of her!

I had my FIL take Suzy out while the vet took care of Rebel as she is very protective of him. Rebel was a little baby about the nail clipping as expected and whined and acted like he was being killed when he really wasn't at all. So it was a good decision to have removed Suzy from the equation.

Turned on the Heat :(

2010-09-13T13:41:00.000-07:00

Winter has come at least overnights here in Wyoming. We have had to turn on the heat already! The turning on of the heat is a sad event for me. It means that Summer truly is gone and I must face the reality of snow soon to fly. The season of mourning has begun...

Frost!

2010-09-10T13:25:00.000-07:00

It has frost here more than a few times now. My poor little garden is definitely worse for wear. However, everything isn't dead just yet! We are still enjoying the lettuce at least :)
Enjoy your weekend everyone!!

The Anti-Haircut

2010-09-04T20:24:00.000-07:00

I went in to town with DH on Friday. We had plans to go on a date after he got off of work. The date was fun :) We ate a late lunch, caught a 4 pm movie (The Expendables), and walked around the farmers market in Laramie. It was so nice to get to spend some quality time just he and I!

Now you are probably wondering about the title - The Anti-Haircut... Well while I was in town and waiting for DH to get off of work I planned on running a few errands which included going to get my hair cut. I had a VERY SHORT hair style last winter and had finally grown it out enough to go get a different style. I did indeed go and get a haircut. However, you can barely can tell and it still has no style!! I went to Great Clips which in hindsight that was my error. I asked for a simple chin length forward bob with an undercut and emphasized that I wanted to be able to pull the front up still. What I walked out with was a slight trim and some light layers... Ugh! Nowhere near what I asked for :( I even let her have a second shot at attempting what I asked for. I didn't ask for another re-cut for fear of her chopping out a chunk of hair or something. So now I have to deal with this haircut until I get back into town again. Hopefully that will be Thursday... Looking on the positive side is that DH said that due to my hair trauma I can get a little something more than just a cut. Thinking that some highlights or color are in my future :) Let's just hope that my normal stylist at Smart Style can fix this mess and still give me what I want!

Pickles

2010-08-31T13:35:00.000-07:00

Can't wait to try these in 4 to 6 weeks!!

My Little Garden Plots

2010-08-23T20:41:00.000-07:00

I thought that I would show off a few pictures of my two little garden plots. I love that I was indeed able to grow things with my own two hands!

Front Porch View

2010-08-20T14:01:00.000-07:00

This is my view from on my front porch... Wide open spaces and bright blue skies!!

Those Darn Deer!

2010-08-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

Well they did it! They jumped the fence and ate my garden!! Thankfully not the entire garden. However, they did eat most of the pea and green bean plants. They also chomped on a good portion of the swiss chard too. Ugh it is so frustrating!! All that time planting, watering, and waiting for it to grow... Only for the deer and antelope to dine on the fruits of my labor. Hopefully the deer netting that we layered on top of the fence works to keep them out. If it doesn't I believe we will have a deer or antelope stuck in the netting! The frustrating part is that the nights have already begun to turn cold so my garden doesn't have long to go. Why oh why did you silly animals find my garden only now!! I guess on the upside they did eat the peas and green beans and not some of the other plants. I highly doubt that they would have produced anything anyhow!

A New Look!

2010-08-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

Since I was just blogging about how it was time for a new beginning in other aspects of my life. I decided that it probably was time for a new beginning of sorts for the blog too. So, I updated the look of the blog. I would love to hear what you have to say about it! Please let me know what you like and what you don't. I also would love to hear your suggestions!

A New Beginning?

2010-08-09T08:26:00.000-07:00

Last month and the beginning of this month have been so insanely busy and crazy. I am hoping that now that the visitors have left that things can slow down a little and I can find a sense of normalcy. The next few days will be spent slowly and leisurely putting the house back in order among other things. I don't want to push myself too hard as I know I really just need to try to let my body rest and recoup a little.

Our house is also going back on a healthy eating plan. No more junk like has been floating around for the last month or so. It has to happen for the simple fact that I feel better when we eat that way. So, wish us luck as we begin this journey again...

Long July

2010-08-05T09:28:00.000-07:00

July was a long month... Oh I had a lot of fun! But over a month is a long time to have family visiting. My parents are here for a few more day still too. We went to Denver to the antique shops and to Deadwood to meet up with my cousin and her family. For the most part though we have just been at my house, 60 miles from anywhere.

My garden is growing! However, I don't know how much I am going to get to pick before the snow and cold begins again. I have a few strawberry blossoms that are promising to produce a few berries. I definitely will get some lettuces and spinach. I hope to get some radishes but am not holding out as much hope for the carrots and beets. There will be arugula and maybe swiss chard too. The green beans, snap peas and cucumbers are all trying to grow but so far no blossoms. The cilantro is doing the best out of the herbs. The parsley and basil didn't even come up though. The dill is growing ever so slowly along with the bunching onions too. Seeing how this was my first Wyoming garden I definitely have learned a few things. Starting seeds indoors early for a lot of items is going to be necessary. I also need to plant earlier!! It has been fun to have a garden again though even if it is only a small one in my front "flower" beds!

Baking for a Living?

2010-07-14T14:50:00.000-07:00

I am baking from home for money. LOL. Just 2 coffee cakes a month... Hey a girl has to do what a girl has to do to earn some money in these economic times!! I figure every dollar counts. After all the coffee cakes are from a multiple blue ribbon winning recipe.

Still doing the freelancing when I get hired too. I still can't get over how cheaply some people work though. I can't work for $2.50 an hour so how do they??

My parents are still here visiting so it is nice not to have too much freelance work right now in some ways. We are heading to Denver on Friday and Saturday to hit the big antique show and go to the antique shops. Later this month we are trying to meet up in Deadwood with my cousin and her family that are stationed in Minot. I guess that all means that the rest of my month is going to be busy busy!

Oh the Agony!

2010-07-07T08:55:00.000-07:00

Well the 4th of July weekend didn't go exactly as planned around the Huskies to Husbands household. We had a little visitor that was not invited and very unwelcome come to stay. The stomach flu hit us hard on Saturday afternoon while out at the BBQ at our friends ranch. Ugh, me and the bushes became fast friends sadly. Kevin started in a few hours later. Needless to say it was a long long long night. Flat Coca-Cola and the restroom became our new best friends. Thank goodness we have two bathrooms! Sunday morning led to us still not feeling well with my temperature topping out at about 102. However, being sick didn't mean we didn't have to work. The fireman's 4th of July celebration required our attention. We made it through Sunday, I still don't quite know how. The BBQ and fireworks were a huge success. Monday we attempted to recuperate from our illness more, but it seems like it is a long hard road back to feeling well still. I am sure that all the extra exertion didn't help with the healing process though.

Happy 4th of July!!

2010-07-02T13:23:00.000-07:00

Another busy weekend of hopefully fun is upon us!!

Saturday we are going out to a friends ranch for an early 4th BBQ. Then on Sunday we have the Volunteer Fire Departments 4th of July Celebration! We are having a big BBQ, carnival games, a slip and slide for the kids, a cake auction, a 50/50 raffle and more. The night will end with a HUGE fireworks display! It should be a lot of fun, but it will be a lot of work too - LOL.

My parents got in for a visit on Wednesday evening from Florida. They brought me tons of fresh fruit and veggies too! I put up a bunch of peppers and onions in the freezer already. We have pineapple and watermelon in the dehydrator right now. I have boxes and boxes of fresh tomatoes!! I plan on putting some of them up in the freezer too as they hit the peak of ripeness. Oh and fresh cantaloupe and watermelons are just begging to be eaten. I love it!!

Have a happy, safe, and fun 4th of July everyone!!

Bow Days!

2010-06-27T14:31:00.000-07:00

This weekend we were part of Bow Days!!

Bow Days are the annual celebration of the founding of our town. Medicine Bow is now 101 years old! On Friday we had a community BBQ; Saturday was packed with a parade, games, and a street dance; and Saturday and Sunday was the Fast Draw Competition. Needless to say we have been busy!

On Thursday I did all of the shopping for the BBQ. Then on Friday I baked fresh rhubarb coffee cakes, got everything prepped and set up for the BBQ, and helped with the event itself. Saturday early in the morning we helped get the games set up. Then my husband and I were both in the parade. He rode as Mayor and I drove a firetruck! After that we whipped tons of whipped cream and I manned the booth to cream the Mayor! A good old fashioned pie throw to raise money for the volunteer fire departments 4th of July fireworks. We cleaned up after the games and pies then we went home and cleaned up to head to the street dance. A local live band played and a good time was had by all. Sunday we went off to church then headed over to watch some of the Fast Draw. Now we are trying to recuperate some before the madness begins again next week...

The Flood is Receding!!

2010-06-19T10:39:00.000-07:00

The water is going down! I can't believe how happy I am about that simple fact. Today we are going to attempt to help our friends retrieve the items that we couldn't get out when we had to emergency evacuate their house. At the highest point the water reached almost up to the windows on their trailer which means that the water was about 4 feet high out there for quite a while. They are going to rent another place here in town, but this time it is going to be one in town and not out on a ranch. I am really glad that they were able to find another place here and that they will not be moving.

Simple blessings in life seem so much more vivid in times of difficulty.

Flooding

2010-06-15T13:43:00.000-07:00

Sorry that I have been missing in action again...
We are having major flooding here in our small town. I have been out trying to help in any way I can with things since early Wednesday morning . Keep us in your thoughts and prayers as the water keeps rising here and we still have not reached our projected high water even yet.

Back to the Grindstone

2010-06-01T09:01:00.000-07:00

Now that my EMT class is over for the most part. (I still need to schedule and take the NREMT test sometime in the near future.) It is time to get back to looking for freelance work and more permanent work if possible. I started looking for freelance work again last week. Wow, the amount of work available as a freelance writer sure has decreased in the last few months while I was out of the market. The price per article seems to have really went down too. I know that we are in an economic slump and all but sheesh people still deserve to be paid a somewhat reasonable fee for quality work! I have already gotten a few jobs though and have bids out on many many more... So, I am hoping for the best. It would be wonderful if I could find enough work to be able to just stay home and do it at my own pace. I really think that would be the best possible situation due to my health issues and so that I can still do my EMT work.

It is OVER!!

2010-05-22T20:07:00.000-07:00

I can not tell you how happy I am to be able to say that!! EMT class is over!! No more driving, and no more stressing about the tests. I passed without problem and am now just waiting for my certification card to come in. Oh well I guess I have a little more driving and stressing to do as I am going to take the National Registry testing. Not sure when that will be though...

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!! I hope that your Saturday didn't involve snow like mine did!!

May Already?

2010-05-07T12:10:00.000-07:00

I can not believe that 1/3 of 2010 has already come and gone... Where has the time gone??

EMT class finishes up at the end of the month. It all seems to still be going OK so hopefully no problems with me getting my card. I start my mandatory ER time next week. I will be doing two 12 hour shifts. I am really hoping that they go smoothly!

Still not feeling great. Actually at this point I think I would settle for just not feeling downright crappy. I have been running an unexplained low grade fever for over a week. I finish my latest round of antibiotics this evening though so hopefully getting off of them helps improve how I feel. Sad isn't it that everything that "cures" something also makes me more miserable in some other way. Hopefully this latest round of antibiotics did indeed kick that respiratory junk out, but I am not holding my breath that it did. The more I study up on Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome the more I realize just how many of my health problems are related. Connective tissue is everywhere from holding together joints, to skin, to nerves, to all of the organs especially lungs and digestive tract. Realizing that because my connective tissue is defective makes my body defective doesn't make the pain any less but it does help me to understand that this isn't something that I can control which opens a whole new can of worms to deal with emotionally of course.

I have an appointment to see the Rheumatologist on the 14th. I am debating whether or not to cancel. In a way I want to go and to just spill everything out to her, but in another way I don't want to go because she doesn't listen to me or really do anything that helps. She shoots down every idea that I have found based on my research and just throws another medication at me that makes me worse. I need for her to realize just how bad things are getting...

In other news we had snow again last evening... I don't think that Spring is coming to Wyoming... I am beginning to wonder if Summer is ever going to come either!

Everything is So Draining

2010-04-15T11:29:00.000-07:00

No matter how much sleep and rest that I get lately it just doesn't seem to be enough. I am just tired, no more than tired maybe weary to the bone captures it better. Just the simplest tasks of life exhaust me anymore. My EMT class is wearing me down - I am so ready for it to be the end of May and class to be done. The class itself isn't bad at all it is all the driving to and from class that makes it seem like so much more. Class is 60 miles each way from here 2 nights a week plus some Saturdays. I am keeping up with my work and studies for it though so I am hopeful that I will do well.

I can't seem to figure out what to do to help myself with the health issues. I just can't seem to get them under control. I want to feel better and be able to do and enjoy life. I just can't seem to quite get there.

Back on the Right Track?

2010-03-31T13:34:00.000-07:00

I think that I am finally starting on the road to recovery from my respiratory junk. Hopefully saying that doesn't jinx me and I back slide!

I ended up being taken in to the emergency room via ambulance from my EMT class a few weeks ago. I was in really bad shape with my breathing and my body just couldn't take it anymore. I thankfully didn't get admitted but I was on a lot of medications and antibiotics which knocked me out. I lost almost a whole week to just staying in bed.

I missed my 2nd EMT test but was able to make it up and was able to do well on it. I am so glad that the class is now over 1/2 way done!

I still am tired a lot of the time and would say that I am at about 66% of where I was before my respiratory issues. I am scheduled to go see the Rheumatologist again on the 9th but I think that I will postpone it as I haven't tried the new medication she gave me yet because of my other illness and medications.

The weatherman says that we are going to get more snow tonight and tomorrow... Oh Spring where are you!!??

Stumbling Along

2010-03-13T10:56:00.000-08:00

This respiratory infection was taking me down in a bad way. I was feeling horrible and had a wonderful (not) "barking" cough that wasn't allowing me to breathe fully or sleep. I went to the clinic again so they changed my antibiotic and gave me not one but two prescription cough medications. One of them is this super concentrated liquid narcotic cough syrup - Let me tell you that stuff will knock you for a loop! I take it and then stay in bed as much as possible because it makes me stumble around more than usual. However, it really does help with the "barking" cough. The other cough medication is non-narcotic and looks like tiny yellow BB's - Not completely sure what is in it because it makes me a little loopy too. Actually I have learned that if you just take one or the other of the cough medications that they don't work as well as if taken together which means I get a double loop whammy done on me just to get the coughing quieted.

All of this couldn't have happened at a worse time. I have my second test for my EMT class on Wednesday. I have been trying to read and go over things in preparation, but I can't remember what I read or typed for that matter 2 seconds ago. (Writing this blog post has been interesting too to say the least. So, apologies in advance for it not making a whole lot of sense and grammatical errors.) So, I am trying to take it easy this weekend and take all of my medications and rest. Hopefully this works and come Monday I feel a lot better and can lay off the cough medications and begin to study in earnest.

Immunization Update

2010-03-09T12:32:00.000-08:00

Could it be true... There actually are health care providers out there that do care? Did I find the holy grail of health care??

My primary care "doctor" well he isn't a doctor but a physicians assistant decided that since I have a history of reactions to immunizations that he would write me a prescription stating that I shouldn't undergo any further immunizations at this time. Now to wait and see if the hospital and ambulance board accept this... Always just a little more wait and see isn't there!?

I am so happy that he thought of this because I was really dreading more immunizations. I hate the reactions and to be honest the reactions just keep getting worse every time I had to get one. He thinks it is because I have an autoimmune disorder that the immunizations cause me such problems.

Oh and in other news I am back on antibiotics and nebulizer treatments. :( It seems I picked up a sinus infection and that it decided that attacking my sinuses wasn't enough and headed for my lungs leading to bronchitis. Oh the joy of it all.

EMT class seems to be going well though. We have our second test next week Wednesday already. Hopefully I don't give myself quite as bad of a panic attack this time! LOL

Dislocations?

2010-03-01T13:31:00.000-08:00

I live my daily life with my joints dislocating quite often. I have to adjust how I do things in order to help minimize the amount of dislocations I suffer. I go snap, crackle and pop quite often! My joint noises shock people quite a bit but to me they are just part of life. Does it hurt when it happens? YES!! But I don't have a choice other than to just try to put it back and keep going.

One of the most difficult things about having Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) isn't the dislocations. The most difficult part is the constant incredible pain and constant fatigue. The second most difficult thing is the lack of understanding other people have towards me and my EDS. People look at me and say that there isn't anything wrong with me because they can't see it. Well, yes for the most part EDS is an invisible disease. But just because you can't see it doesn't mean that it isn't there.

I wish that people weren't so cruel and lacking in understanding and compassion.

Immunization Records

2010-02-21T15:00:00.000-08:00

You know that little card where they keep track of what shots you have had and when... I know you know what I am talking about here. Well don't lose that little card!! Especially if you have lived in more than one state. I called the State of Florida and guess what... They think that they must have shredded my records. They definitely can not find my records and are assuming that they were shredded. Nice. This means I get to pay to have a titer done for the MMR and if the titer isn't high enough get another booster. I know that I have had this booster because I got in in order to go to college. It was a requirement!

Can I have a day where I don't get bad news please?

2010 Olympics

2010-02-18T21:23:00.000-08:00

Do they inspire you?
Do they make you wish that you were more athletic?
Do they nauseate you?

How do you feel about the Olympics?
I watch when I can. I tuned in to some Curling the other day and was pleasantly shocked. I watched the Snowboard Cross and wondered if they all had death wishes. I missed the Double McTwistey whatever thing that everyone is talking about.

I think overall that I am happy that the Winter Olympics only comes once every 4 years.

Oh and more snow fell in my corner of the world today.

More Frustration

2010-02-13T12:19:00.000-08:00

I went to the rheumatologist again on Friday. Huge frustration...
She said no to trying Physical Therapy. I wanted to try it to see if they could help me strengthen my muscles and joints as well as helping me learn what typical range of motion is so that I stop hurting myself so much.
She gave me another new medication to try. I don't have a lot of hope for it as every medication she has given me has caused more problems.
I guess it might be time to look for another doctor and get a fresh perspective. The thing that will be the worst about that is that I will have to go out of state.
Frustrated and not entirely sure what to do...

Super Bowl Sunday

2010-02-07T17:40:00.000-08:00

So is it OK to admit that I watch the Super Bowl mainly for the commercials? I mean do I lose my Super Bowl privileges by admitting to this fact? I don't think I am alone in this fact by any means. Even my football loving husband doesn't want to miss the Super Bowl commercials.

I also almost without fail like to cheer for the underdog. I like to see the BIG upset!

And please someone please tell me what was up with the entertainment portion of this Super Bowl? The opening singer is someone that I typically like but what was up with Queen Latifah's version of America the Beautiful. Wasn't the original beautiful song good enough for her? And lets not even get me started on the halftime show starring The Who. Wow what a let down... Although I did think that Carrie Underwood did an OK job of singing the national anthem. Lately though for at least the last maybe half dozen years the entertainment portion has been seriously lacking from the Super Bowl in my opinion. Then again I guess it isn't supposed to be about the entertainment... Maybe it is all about the commercials? Or is it supposed to be all about the football?

Fingers Crossed!

2010-02-05T13:11:00.000-08:00

We got a new to us washer and dryer set yesterday. It looks like brand new and we got it for a really great price too! Now everyone cross your fingers that Kevin can get the old set taken out and the new set hooked up without too much drama! I already am tired of the "new" set sitting in the middle of the living room! Plus I really need to start tackling that mountain of laundry that has begun to pile up...

Appliance Death... RIP Washer!

2010-02-01T14:22:00.000-08:00

Well it finally happened... My ancient washing machine finally gave up the ghost this morning. Approximate age 25 years old at best guess considering that it came with the house when we bought it. Of course it died full of water, soap and clothes just to add insult to injury.

Now the hunt begins looking for a replacement. Ugh!! When it rains it pours it seems...

Chef Chris

2010-01-28T14:54:00.000-08:00

Chef Chris from Disneyland gave me a call the other day. He wanted to find out more about what happened food wise while we were there.
He was very nice and seemed to be very upset over the treatment that we received due to my food allergies.
I am supposed to call him when we go back and he will personally insure that things go a little better. I hope that is true and that I can actually eat something :)
Now to get the tickets straightened out and figure out when we all can go again after my BIL gets back from deployment.

Disneyland

2010-01-19T17:39:00.000-08:00

OK so here is the Disneyland & 35th Birthday & BIL Pre-Deployment trip to Southern California rundown.

The flight from Denver to San Diego was BUMPY but not too bad. We got in about 40 minutes early even!

The drive from the airport was fun. Considering it was 10 pm and my 3 year old niece was wide awake and ready to see us! It was awesome meeting our new nephew for the first time too. He is getting so big already!!

We got back to the house and tried to get everyone settled in.

Friday my brother in law got home in the wee hours of the morning from the field and then we took a little tour of the base and did some grocery shopping to get some safe food for me. We also went to In-N-Out Burger and I was able to try that for the first time. Minus the bun and cheese of course. Tasty stuff.

Saturday was up early and off to Disneyland! Oh and it was my birthday. I had spoken to Disney Dining several times to verify that I could find things to eat at the park and was told that it wouldn't be a problem. My sister in law also called just to make sure she was told the same thing which she was. We stopped at City Hall once we got into the park and got a Gluten Free list. They did not have the Dairy Free list I was told that they would have. They said it would be fine though and to just talk to someone at the restaurants and they would accommodate me. I have to say that the day at Disneyland went well up to the point that I tried to eat. It all went South with that event. We tried not to let it ruin the day though. My niece was just amazing. She was so excited to see all the Princesses and characters. We rode some rides. Not as many as I had hoped to but I did get to ride the Matterhorn Bobsleds, Indiana Jones, and Finding Nemo which I hadn't rode before. We also got to ride It's A Small World all decorated for the holidays which was very neat. All in all it was fun yet oh so frustrating with the food. I do want to go on the record saying that Disneyland is not in my opinion anywhere near as awesome as Walt Disney World.

Sunday we just relaxed and hung out.

Monday we flew out and my brother in law went back out into the field. Again it was a BUMPY flight. It was a long day with flights and driving home.

Tuesday I spoke with Disneyland again and they are trying to make things right with how things went on Saturday. I have to say that I was just shocked at how the food thing went down. It doesn't happen like that at Walt Disney World I can tell you. For supposedly being the Most Magical Place on Earth and Where Dreams Come True it should be a little easier and people should at least pretend to care a little more. I need to get the ticket stubs together and sent in and they said that they will issue us a letter allowing us admission to the park again. Hopefully they come through on that and things go smoother next time.

It was a whirlwind weekend but I think that we all enjoyed spending time together as a family. Now to try and get rested back up and caught up. I have tons of reading to get done before class tomorrow night and I am still incredibly sore and worn out from the trip. I am very happy that I was able to do things and not slow us all down too much. I just hope that tomorrow is better than today was pain wise.

Oh the Joys of Life

2010-01-14T18:10:00.000-08:00

Last night was class one of EMT-Basic training. I hope that I do well with the class and that I don't regret signing away the next 4 to 5 months of my life. I have class for 3 hours on Mondays and Wednesdays, and 8 hour classes on a number of Saturdays. Oh and did I mention that I have a 1 hour commute to and from each class. Considering that class starts at 6:30 pm on the weeknights that is going to make for some really long long days!

I am excited about starting this, but at the same time I am nervous about it too!!

Tonight I am typing at you all from DIA (Denver International Airport). We are heading to California to see my BIL and his family before he gets shipped out again. I am going to see my beautiful niece who I love to play with and meet my new nephew for the first time. Also because this is my birthday weekend - the BIG 3-5 is coming on Saturday we are going to Disneyland. It will be my first time there... I hope that it lives up to my expectations considering that I am a Florida girl and practically lived at Disney World. I think that it might just because I will get to experience it with a 3 year old girl who is in LOVE with Disney Princesses!

Oh and just for the record the husband isn't all bad... He traipsed all over this airport concourse to find me some Tylenol and Advil. I haven't been feeling the greatest lately and didn't realize that I had depleted my supply before we left home. I really want to feel good this weekend so that I can just enjoy the time with my family and not be dead weight.

Cold, Snow & Junk

2010-01-08T21:15:00.000-08:00

It has been cold here lately. Not just sort of cold but below zero cold. It was 30 below zero without windchill the other night when I went to bed. Crazy cold! Before the Arctic temperatures settled in we had more snow which has drifted quite deep...

Ah the joys of Winter in Wyoming!

Since I am home almost all the time now I have noticed that I can clean and organize and clean and organize all day yet somehow when I get up the next morning there is a mess. Ugh!!! Men!!! It makes you want to stop cleaning!

A New Year!

2010-01-04T17:42:00.000-08:00

So I am a little late in posting HAPPY NEW YEAR!!! to you all. I haven't really been busy so I can't use that as an excuse. I guess I have just been absent minded.

I hope that 2010 brings joy for everyone!

Surprise!

2009-12-29T10:32:00.001-08:00

I got the best surprise when I got the mail today!!

I always love receiving and opening a package from Broken Tee
pee Designs!! Patty does a great job of making receiving one of her packages an event! The envelope that it arrives in is always decorated, usually with a smiling picture of a goat from Happy Goats Farm. Then once you get the envelope open you are rewarded with packages tied up with ribbons, bows, and origami. So fun!! There is always a note too which are hand written by Patty and sometimes with a little help from a farm resident too. Plus the awesome little treats of Happy Goat Soap Samples! Then you open the box and are dazzled by the jewelry. Swoon!

I was lucky enough to enter and win Patty's contest for her birthday. That is when the lovely Champagne Quartz and Pink Topaz earrings came to live with me. Plus I got a gift certificate to spend at her Etsy shop! I forgot all about that gift certificate until Patty reminded me and I went looking at her shop again. Oh the choices... So very many lovely things!! There was something about these London Blue Topaz, Peridot, and Pearl earrings that just spoke to me... I can't even describe how much lovelier they are in person than in pictures.

If you get a chance go visit Patty at one of her blogs or her Etsy shop if you are looking to treat yourself or someone else with some beautiful handcrafted jewelry or goat milk soaps!
The Maaaaa of Pricilla
Broken Teepee
Broken Teepee Designs
Happy Goats Soap

Holiday Blues

2009-12-22T19:03:00.000-08:00

I have a bad case of the holiday blues.
No Christmas tree has been put up and decorated at this house.
No lights have been placed on the house.
No other ornamentation has been done either.
Oh no wait I did put a holiday tablecloth on the dinning room table...

I did make one batch of cookies and one pan of fudge. Both safe for me to eat but really that wasn't to get ready for the holidays. It was because I couldn't stand it with everyone else eating the stuff everywhere and none of it being safe for me.

DH and I are not exchanging gifts.
DHs family decided to do a gift exchange instead of buying for everyone so he has 1 gift from his Mom and I have 1 gift from his brother.
We do have the box of gifts from my cousin and her family in Germany. Too bad their box from us is waiting to be mailed tomorrow when I go to town. Oops!

I am not even cooking a big traditional dinner for Christmas Eve or Christmas Day.
I think we decided that Christmas Eve will be Dairy & Gluten Free Buffalo Wings and Oven Baked Fries.
Christmas Day will be Dairy & Gluten Free Lasagna with Dairy & Gluten Free Garlic Bread and a salad.
Going all out now aren't I??

Really I just want to crawl into bed and stay there snug under the covers until 2010 is here.

It Even LOOKS Cold!

2009-12-07T15:17:00.001-08:00

This is the view out the front door today. Our high was 10 degrees above but with the wind chill it was more like 20 below zero! Yikes!!

December Comes In Like a Lion!

2009-12-02T21:32:00.000-08:00

We had a snow storm on the 1st. About 2 to 3 inches of snow fell pretty quickly and behind it has been COLDer weather. Tonight it is already about 15 below and still dropping! That is cold enough that even the husky dogs don't want to be out in it, not that I can blame them.

November, Where Did You Go?

2009-11-28T13:43:00.000-08:00

I can not believe that it is already the end of November! Just barely over a month until a new year is upon us... 2010 is almost here. Can you believe it?? Where has this month and this year gone?

Our Thanksgiving went well. Just my DH, me, and his parents. I did the cooking of course. We had a Maple & Apple Cider Turkey with gravy, my special Ham, Sweet Potato Fries, Mashed Potatoes, Corn on the Cob, Fresh Fruited Cranberry Relish, Spinach Dip & Roasted Red Pepper Dip with Tortilla Chips, and Chocolate Cupcakes. Everything was dairy and gluten/wheat free too!

I did head out early Friday morning for Black Friday. I only went to 1 store though to pick up a few things. I did get everything I went after though which was a nice surprise!

I haven't been feeling well the past few weeks. I don't know what is up with me all I know is that I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. It could just be stuff related to my health issues, but I really don't know. Hopefully I can start feeling better soon though. I am thankful that I felt well enough to do the Thanksgiving Dinner.

Still nothing on the job hunt front. Things are ROUGH around these parts for those of us looking for work. I am trying to keep the faith that something is going to come up though!

Winter Blues

2009-11-16T14:17:00.000-08:00

It has been a rough month. Actually it started out a rough month. After only 2 days of work in November I lost my job. Technically I quit but really I was being forced out. I got my paycheck for the last half of October and in the envelope was a note saying that I was only going to be paid full wages for 1/2 of my hours starting with that pay period. Meaning that instead of the low $7.25 an hour for all of my hours that for 1/2 of them I would only get $4.45 an hour. Needless to say I just couldn't continue working for those kinds of wages considering the abuse my body was taking to do the job.

No luck on the job front so far. I have applied for some fairly decent positions though and am waiting to hear back on those. I also keep applying for freelance writing jobs though elance.com but so far nothing there yet either.

Trying to stay positive and upbeat but it is becoming more and more difficult. Today DH had a blow out on a tire and now we get to spend some of our savings on a set of new tires. We were hoping that we would be able to hold off on replacing them until I found something to help out with earnings.

I don't even want to do Thanksgiving dinner anymore... It just seems like such a hassle since I have to do everything from scratch due to my dairy and wheat intolerances. If I do cook Thanksgiving dinner it will most likely only be for me, DH and his parents anyhow. And to be honest they and us have been invited to a community Thanksgiving dinner where they all can eat the food. Maybe they all should just go and I will stay home.

Snow Blahs

2009-10-28T16:58:00.000-07:00

It is snowing here in wild Wyoming again. Actually it started snowing yesterday afternoon and isn't expected to stop for another day or so. Not too much of an accumulation yet with only a few inches thankfully.

I do not like the snow and cold at all. Well a little here and there is OK, but this whole snow and cold from September until May is a little bit extreme! Hopefully this winter isn't insane but it sure looks and feels like it is going to be a whopper!

I go see the PA again on the 2nd and the Rheumatologist on the 11th. I am hoping for some kind of miracle I guess. I do know one thing I am so sick of taking antibiotics that it isn't even funny!

Hunting season is finally winding down!! This means that work should go back to more regular hours. I am hoping that I don't get laid off again this winter though!

Looking for my Groove

2009-10-18T08:02:00.000-07:00

I just can't seem to get into the groove. I love blogging and checking in with all my blogging friends, but somehow I just can't find the time and energy to do it. Well to be honest I can't find the time and energy to do a lot of other things that I really need to do too.

I finally got over the horrible UTI only to be greeted by a massive sinus infection that also is lingering. I think that the recurrent illnesses might have something to do with almost 100 hours worked in 9 days, but again I could be wrong. All of those hours might have been worth it if the pay check looked great, but it wasn't stellar.

I saw yesterday that one of the grocery stores in the town where my husband works is hiring a bakery manager and that it pays almost double what I am currently making. I am going to try to see what the hours are and possibly apply for that position. I also saw that the University also in the town where my husband works has an opening for a research scientist. I really need to get on sending in an application for that one since it would put me back into a science position which at least would be using my degrees.

The doctors and I are also looking into the possibility of hypothyroidism that isn't showing up with blood work. I have been taking my temperature prior to getting out of bed all month and I have been shocked to see numbers ranging from 96.2 to 97.8 instead of the typical 98.6. I also have a lot of symptoms that could potential point to hypothyroidism instead of what they are blaming them on now. I guess that is why it is called practicing medicine?

Still Waiting...

2009-09-26T12:06:00.000-07:00

I faithfully took the antibiotics prescribed to me for a full week, and when things just kept getting worse and worse I broke down and called. Lucky me got to start another antibiotic on Friday and if I am not markedly better by Sunday I get to go visit Urgent Care where our PA is working this weekend. If I have to go to Urgent Care then I get to experience a lovely shot of an even stronger antibiotic. The fun just never ends I guess. I really don't care what we have to do at this point all I know is that this excruciating pain in my kidneys and lower back has got to end.

Hunting season has opened here in our tiny town and our population has approximately doubled with the influx of hunters. All that really means for me is that work is insane and I am putting in 10 to 12 hour days. I really don't know how much more of it I can take with everything that is going on health wise right now though.

On to college football... My Auburn Tigers are still undefeated! I really hope that they beat Ball State today and continue the winning streak. They still haven't broken the top 25 but they are gaining votes in the poll.

Things Have Got to Get Better!

2009-09-18T16:51:00.000-07:00

So, I broke down and went over to the health clinic here in our tiny town. The PA confirmed my suspicions... Another UTI. JOY!!! Not - LOL! Back onto the lovely antibiotics I go. I just hope that one super high dosage round is enough this time.

The PA also agreed that I just can not go on like I am with the constant pain and gave me a prescription for some pain medication. I will get it on Monday when the hubby goes to town and then hopefully get a little relief when the pain is just too intense to take.

Speaking of the hubby, he is off on an overnight adventure in search for a trophy buck antelope. He really wants a trophy and well the dogs really want the meat! :)

Which leads us to my girls night in :) Well not just girls... Rebel is a boy - sort of - since he is neutered. So I guess it really is a Mommy and Doggies night in. Plus I get to have most of the day tomorrow to myself with no work either! I plan on just reading, relaxing and resting. No housework allowed!

Sunday or Monday will probably be the day I start the final medication the Rheumatologist gave me to try for the Fibromyalgia. Keep your fingers and toes crossed because if this one doesn't work then I get to go for more big scary tests.

Oh in other news - The hubby and I both joined the volunteer fire department here in our tiny town. Him to actually play fire fighter and me to play with the trucks some but mostly to do the next EMT class.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Endoscopy Fun... Not!

2009-09-16T16:43:00.000-07:00

The endoscopy yesterday was miserable. I guess that I just have a very high tolerance to the medications that they use to help people go to their happy place for these types of procedures. This is the 3rd such procedure I have had - 1 colonoscopy and now 2 endoscopies - where I was fully aware of what was going on and just doing all I could to get through it. They gave me as much of the amnesia drug as they could and it again did not do a thing. They gave me 4 doses of the relaxer medication and pretty much nothing from that either... The decision had to be made either just go for it since I was all the way down there and prepped or call it off and reschedule it at a different location at a different time where they could completely knock me out. We decided to just go for it. It was uncomfortable and stressful but it is over. I am still dealing with a very sore throat and probably will for the next few days.

Now the waiting game begins for the biopsy results to come back from the lab. I had some changes from last years endoscopy. The Barrets esophagus looked better. I had some new weird fold area at the base of my stomach which caused some concern. I also had some nodules at the very beginning of my small intestine which were not there before. The biopsies were also taken for Celiac disease which may or may not give us results since I have been wheat/gluten free for a few months already.

Hoping for good results and nothing scary to come back.

Frost Already??!!

2009-09-13T15:02:00.000-07:00

As insane as it may sound we have already had frost for 2 mornings or more in a row here in Wyoming. I am so sad that I can't even begin to tell you.

It is true... Summer is over here on the high dessert plain it appears. Craziest thing is that it is currently 80 degrees outside now at 4 pm after a chilly frosty morning. I never will get the weather here!

We had a WILD Saturday here as the Wyoming Cowboys hosted the Texas Longhorns for football. Something like 40,000 Texans descending upon Laramie even though at least 1/2 of them if not more didn't have tickets to the game. Considering that Texas was ranked #2 nobody should be surprised that the Cowboys lost 41 to 10.

My beloved Auburn Tigers won yet again though! That puts them at 2 and 0 overall and 1 and 0 in the SEC. Still unranked but hopefully that changes soon!

Another Drug Bites the Dust

2009-09-11T17:46:00.000-07:00

Well the second drug didn't work out either... This one caused me to pretty much go insane, or at the very least to lose control of my emotions and sometimes my actions. Yeah, needless to say it wasn't pretty. I only took this second drug, Seroquel, for 4 days before we realized it was just too much to handle. Now I get to detox off of this one for at least a week before trying the third and final option the doctor has currently given me.

Fibromyalgia stinks and I can't seem to find any relief...

Medication Issues

2009-09-01T10:48:00.000-07:00

I think that I started to have an allergic reaction to the Lyrica which I was trying for my Fibromyalgia. I have stopped taking it but I still am really miserable and dealing with a lot of the allergic reaction type symptoms that I was having. Add on to that the pain levels have increased dramatically since starting and then stopping this medication.

I am still waiting on the doctor to get back with me about what is going on... I wish that she would call already!

I think that I will go ahead and start the next drug to try and hope for better results.

PIZZA!!!

2009-08-19T09:23:00.000-07:00

OMGosh!!! I am eating pizza!!!!!!

OK, so to most people that isn't a big deal. However because I am allergic to both wheat and dairy pizza has been on the banned food list... Until now that is. I broke down and bought one of Amy's Gluten Free, Non-Dairy Spinach Pizza with Rice Crust. It was on sale so I figured I could have a treat. Overall I think that it is pretty good. The crust could be a tiny bit crisper so I think I would bake it a little longer than suggested next time. It also needs more cheeze so I would add some Follow Your Heart Vegan Mozzarella Cheese (I didn't have any on hand). I think that it would be better if you had some marinara sauce to put on top after it came out of the oven too since it really just doesn't have enough toppings or punch of pizza flavor. Overall it is pretty good and since I didn't have to fuss with making a scratch gluten/wheat free crust it is probably worth the $10 price tag.

Brrrrr!

2009-08-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

I can not believe that at 4 pm on August 17th it is only 68 degrees outside.

I can not believe that we had a rain/snow/sleet/hail storm on Saturday at about noon that left drifts of ice pellets until about noon on Sunday. For a few hours after the storm it actually looked like the whole town was covered in white!

What in the world is going on?? I am totally not ready for cold weather! It just can not be the end of Summer and warm weather already! It just can't be!!

I am not ready for Winter... Not at all!! I am not ready for the long, extremely cold Winter that they are predicting for here.

Ugh the joys of living in Wyoming.

Pay It Forward Packages Finally Mailed!

2009-08-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

I finally got the packages out for the winners of my round of the "Pay It Forward" Challenge. I know you all thought that they never were getting mailed!

I had a rheumatologist appointment on Monday and have begun a new medication. I also have 2 other medications to try if this first one doesn't work out. Hopefully one of them helps me to feel more like me and better able to live life instead of sitting on the sidelines. These are some major medications that we are trying out so I am hoping for no side effects or allergic reactions!! So far the biggest thing I have noticed with the first medication (Lyrica) is that my pulse is a lot higher than usual and that I am very sleepy plus it makes me feel a little off or slow with my thinking. Hopefully these issues will lessen as my body acclimates to the medication.

It Has Been Forever... Again

2009-08-06T14:13:00.000-07:00

Sorry, I just can't seem to get into the swing of blogging on a consistent basis lately. Hopefully I can figure that out again very soon!!

My Rheumatologist appointment from the 3rd was canceled and has been rescheduled for the 10th. I am going to really push the doctor on the pain levels I am experiencing. I am hoping for different medication that actually will help with the pain and exhaustion. I also am hoping that she will consider at least talking about disability because my body just can't take the only work that I can find locally. If she isn't willing to listen and attempt to help me manage my pain or recommend a different doctor that can help me live my life more fully then I am going to have to just start calling and calling in hopes of finding someone who can help me. I am too young to have this much pain and to be this exhausted all the time.

Work has been intense and horrible to sum it up. The cafe shifts are killing me. I can't seem to get the help that I need from the other people working and end up doing way too much for my body to handle because the work needs to get done.

I applied for and interviewed for another position. The interview was this morning. It was for a desk type position. I found out this afternoon that I did not get it and that they selected another applicant. I guess that means that wasn't the answer to getting out of my current physically taxing job. I am hopeful that something else will pop up soon!!

I still need to get the "Pay It Forward" challenge boxes out!! I am still missing one address and will work on getting that so that I can complete my round of this amazingly wonderful challenge.

I am not going to promise that I will be around on a more regular basis because I just don't know that I will be. I also don't want to post daily just to post especially if all I am doing is boo hooing about my pain and other issues. I hope that you all do keep dropping by and I do promise to do better about posting... At least a little better!!

I'm Back

2009-07-08T14:24:00.000-07:00

I'm back! Hopefully for good although I will not promise to post every day. Life is just too crazy and difficult for me to know how I will feel and what I will be up to doing from day to day. Especially since I am attempting to go back to work on a part time basis working 2 or 3 days a week up at the cafe again. Working is very hard on my body, but I know that I need to do something and other than the intermittent on-line freelance work I pick up and this is my only other option.

On the Challenge Front - I finally contacted the winners of my round of the "Pay It Forward Challenge". I am so sorry that it took me so long to get around to doing that. I plan on picking up a few more goodies for the boxes when I hopefully go to town with my DH tomorrow.

On the Company Front - Having my parents here was great and I was sad to have them leave last week. It is nice having the house emptier and less stress though. No matter how much you love having company and seeing those you love it is at times difficult, especially for me with the health issues. I want to go and do and be able to just enjoy but my body doesn't always or even often want to cooperate. I still push through most of the time but then I suffer for it in the end by being totally down for the count for a few days.

On the Health Front - The medication that I have been taking for helping me get restorative sleep which should help me to have less pain and to feel less tired all the time doesn't seem to be working like it should anymore already. I have upped the dosage like the Rheumatologist suggested and all that seems to do is make me sleep harder - to the point that I don't even hear the alarm clock - but still I wake up exhausted and in continuous pain. I see the doctor again on August 3rd but considering that she doesn't want to listen to me I don't have high hopes for the visit. I have been spending some time searching on-line for how other people are dealing with their Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. I know that I am doing some of the right things already by eliminating dairy and wheat from my diet. However, I think I need to do some other things as well such as reducing refined sugar, increasing fruits and vegetables to 10 or more servings a day, greatly reducing preservatives and additives, incorporating probiotics such as lactobacillus acidopphilus and lactobacillus bifidus through supplementation, increasing leafy green vegetables, and more... Some people with these conditions find that they have a problem with vitamins B12, K, and D, zinc, magnesium, and biotin being too low. They also seem to have problems with calcium and iron inerfering with the others being too low. So I need to try to find a balance with these vitamins and nutrients and see if that helps with my symptoms.

I hope that all of you are doing well and are enjoying the summer!

OMGosh Crazy Life

2009-06-17T15:02:00.000-07:00

Things here have been insanely busy! I haven't forgotten about the Pay It Forward Challenge and have been finding treasures to put into the boxes in the little bit of spare time I have had lately. I will contact the winners and get the boxes out as soon as I get some time to do it.

My family and friends are here and have been for a week or so already. We did get the laminate flooring in but still haven't had the time to get all the trim and such put back. Work is crazy with 3 days a week up at the cafe. I barely have time to breathe let alone blog or have any me time!!

It looks like the month of June is going to be a bust on blogging and all that kind of thing, but July things should get back to more of a normal schedule with all of my company going home.

Pay It Forward!

2009-05-29T10:03:00.000-07:00

Yesterday when I stopped into the post office to pick up the mail after a long day of cooking up at the cafe, I was pleasantly surprised to see a package!! The package was from Sherri of the blog My Life in the Fishbowl and was filled with the goodies she sent to me for being selected as a winner in her round of the Pay It Forward challenge.

I couldn't wait to get home and open up my package!! Inside I found a wonderful Starbucks gift card (how did she know how much I love a yummy coffee beverage!?), a cute photo album, a lovely notepad, a flowered nail file (I always seem to lose these so getting one was wonderful!), flower shaped post-it notes, cucumber melon antibacterial deep cleaning hand gel (this will come in so handy working up at the cafe), and lastly a very sweet note from Sherri! Even though we only know each other from the vast blogosphere I feel like our friendship is beyond the boundaries of the internet.

Now it's my turn to Pay It Forward. Please know that to play along with this game you do not need to go to grand levels for the goodies in the packages. The real point of this is to simply let others know that they are appreciated and to help them feel inspired as they blog.

On to the rules: To enter, leave me a comment saying you are interested in being a participant in the Pay It Forward challenge. The entry must include either an email or a blog address to reach you at if you are a winner. To help keep shipping costs down this challenge is only open to U.S. addresses. I will accept posts/entries to the challenge until Midnight on Thursday, June 4th. On Friday, June 5th I will post the 3 winners of this round of the Pay It Forward challenge! I better get my brain in gear and figure out what goodies will be in my boxes to ship off!

In other news:

Suzy is doing a little better today. I am getting her to eat a few bites of food a few times during the day and she seems to be feeling better with less pain. However, she seems to still be having some lingering issues unrelated to the colitis from how the vet techs handled her. I think that she might have had a small brain bleed or mild stroke from the stress and such of their treatment. But slowly she is starting to become the sweet girl again that we left behind when we went on vacation. It is going to be a long road and probably have more than a few bumps in it, but I believe that we will come out the other side of this journey.

I worked 2 days in a row up at the cafe and know now that at this point 2 days in a row is my limit. My body just is not capable of more than that due to my illness. I also have been trying out the second medication to help me reach that restful stage of sleep and I think that the first medication is better at the job for me. I see the Rheumatologist again on Tuesday, June 2nd and hopefully we will move forward with some other treatment options in addition to the medication to help with sleep. I still have a lot of pain and muscle burning. The brain fog episodes are a little less frequent but I still am having them especially when I am working or exerting myself. Right now my schedule for the month of June is to be the cook up at the cafe on Wednesdays and Thursdays but the other cook doesn't want to work 5 days straight per week as it is just too much for her to do. So my schedule might be changing to help out more up at the cafe.

We are hoping to get some major work done on the laminate floor laying on Saturday and the repair man is scheduled to come to fix our satillite internet too. Hopefully they do fix it and we stop having all the problems which have been going on for the past 2 weeks or so. If things are fixed then I should be able to post on my blogs more regularly again!!

Enjoy the weekend everyone! Don't forget to enter my round of the Pay It Forward challenge!

Will the Stress Ever Decrease?

2009-05-25T12:41:00.001-07:00

I feel like the weight of the world is on my shoulders from all of the stress I have in my life right now.

Suzy has made another turn for the worse and I begin to wonder if she will ever get over this colitis. She is refusing to eat; although I was able to tempt her into eating a few spoonfuls of yogurt. I am having to give her the Pepto-Bismol again as she is yelping with belly pain again. I need to her pull through this illness. I just can not bear the thought of losing her.

I know that I need to work shifts up at the cafe, but the schedule for June is still not posted and nobody has called asking me what shifts I will be available to work and which I will not be available to work.

The laying of the new laminate floors is going slowly. I know that the rain is a blessing considering that we live on the High Desert Plains, but it sure does make it difficult to get the pieces cut that need it out on the table saw!!

I also think about the stress of others at this time with it being Memorial Day. The remembrance of the sacrifices of the brave men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. The remembrance of the sacrifices of their families. The remembrance that FREEDOM is not FREE and that the price of it has been and continues to be paid in blood. I am thankful for all the brave souls who have, do currently, and will in the future serve this great country and I am thankful for their families for allowing them to do so with honor and support.

Happy Memorial Day!

Long Days

2009-05-24T14:15:00.000-07:00

It seems like I just can't get enough rest. I am tired all the time even with the medication to help me enter that restorative part of sleep. Maybe it is just because of all the stress and worry over the sick Suzy dog the last week. Maybe it is something more. I don't really know.

Suzy is doing better every day now. She is still not eating very well for us but you can tell she is definitely doing better. Hopefully things can get back to "normal" now that she has made the upswing with her colitis.

It is raining here pretty hard this afternoon which makes it really hard to run in and out to the garage to use the table saw for the laminate floor project. I guess it is always something! LOL

I have a turkey baking in the oven and it smells wonderful! Hopefully it tastes as good as it smells :) Around here turkey is what happens when you don't get to the grocery store to get provisions after being on vacation. Only one left in the freezer now... I guess that means that I had better get groceries soon! I wish that the grocery store wasn't 60 miles one way or that I had more time so that going wasn't an issue! Hopefully I will have the time to pick up a few things when I go into town for the dentist on Tuesday.

100 SPF Sunblock

2009-05-23T07:13:00.000-07:00

Today I am going to share a story with you from our recent vacation to Florida. I hope that you find it as funny as I did! Sorry no photos to go with it as I didn't even think to try and snap some!

DH went fishing with a family friend one day of our vacation. He had a wonderful time and got to experience a lot of new for him experiences. He helped cast net for the live bait they would use. He went flats fishing for the first time. He caught a keeper sea trout, and saw our friend catch many sea trout and a redfish. He had just a great day out on the water!

OK, now for the funny part... I told him that he needed to wear sunblock and that he should put it on before he left and then again after about 4 hours. He decided to use the 100 SPF that we had gotten for me to use since I am very fair skinned and need to protect it due to the EDS. Anyhow DH put the sunblock on himself and didn't ask anyone for help. Now in case you didn't know 100 SPF sunblock has the texture of toothpaste almost. I mean this stuff is THICK! Well needless to say you could see all kinds of alternating white and sunburn streaks on DH - from his legs looking tiger striped to his face. At least it wasn't a horrible sunburn and just a mild one that turned to tan on him quickly, but none the less very funny to see!

Suzy update: I had to take her back to the vet on Friday for blood work and x-rays. The vet was out of the office on a ranch call but the vet techs were there and could do these tests for him to review. The vet techs were able to draw blood but were unable to muzzle her to do the x-rays. When we went back to help muzzle her she was very worn out looking and very stressed. She did let us muzzle her and then the vet techs picked her up and put her on the x=ray table. It was very stressful to say the least for the little girl and she suffered an eye injury that should self heal in about a week. Thankfully the eye doesn't seem to bother her. The vet called and said that the blood work and x-ray looked OK. Suzy seems to be doing a little better today and I hope that she has made the turn so that the worst is behind us.

Home Again & Back to the Grind

2009-05-20T09:41:00.000-07:00

We got home very late Sunday evening from our vacation. We had a great time and I have a lot of stories to share over the next week or so.

However, today I am going to just touch on how this week has been so far...

I think that the medication that the Rheumatologist prescribed to help me get better sleep is helping some. I still have the horrible burning muscle pain but I am having less "brain fog" issues which is a step in the right direction. I ended up working a partial shift on Monday and a full shift on Tuesday up at the cafe as a waitress. It was very hard and I definitely can not do what I used to be able to, but I was able to get through it. Towards the end of the full shift I started having "brain fog" issues pretty severely.

Also, our female husky was a little off when we got home Sunday night and jus kept getting worse so we ended up making an emergency vet run when DH and I got home on Tuesday. She should be OK but she is in a lot of pain and in a horrible mood because of it. She has to eat special prescription dog food for a few days and take antibiotics for a week. The vet said that it is colitis which is basically an infection in her digestive tract. So needless to say that whole situation is adding to my stress levels which doesn't help with the pain and other stuff at all.

Today I am trying to rest some from all the exertion of the last few days and get some work done on my frelance projects since I am way behind from vacation! I am having a hard time focusing today for some reason so the writing isn't going so well for my articles :(

To end I will share one thing from our vacation... My parents generously bought me a new laptop! It is my first ever laptop and it is WONDERFUL!! It actually is quite a lot better than my old computer which to be honest is on it's last legs so to speak. In case you are wondering which laptop I got you can go here to see.

Happy hump day everyone!

Quickie...

2009-05-11T14:23:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone!

I just wanted to let you all know that we made it down to Florida OK and are having a great time so far! I should have lots of fun stories to share when I get home :)

Laundry & Packing

2009-05-07T11:59:00.000-07:00

Been working on laundry and packing for 2 days now... So not fun! I will definitely need the vacation to recover from all the work of getting ready to go! LOL

Actually with everything planned, I bet that I need a vacation after the vacation to recover from all the fun!

We are going to Florida to celebrate my parent's 40th wedding anniversary! Wow! That is a lot of years to be together! There is a day of flats fishing and a day of grouper fishing planned as well as a trip to Webster for the big flea market. Then there is the Mother's Day/Anniversary dinner out on Sunday plus church of course. Basically from the time we get there until at least Thursday there is stuff planned for each day. Hopefully Friday and Saturday we can relax a little before flying home on Sunday.

Also I won the privilege of participating in the Pay it Forward game going on in the blogosphere. So look for a post about how to win a chance to play too soon :)

Preliminary Diagnosis - Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome & FIbromyalgia

2009-05-05T22:14:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the delay in letting everyone know what happened with the Rheumatologist appointment on Monday. I really was wiped out today after the trip and spent most of the day in bed to be perfectly honest. I am having a hard time accepting the news I think... So bare with me if this doesn't make the most sense ever or I leave out some details.

The preliminary diagnosis is Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) and Fibromyalgia.

EDS is an inherited disorder that causes a genetic defect in collagen and connective-tissue synthesis and structure. It is also known as Hyperextensibility Syndrome. There are quite a few types of EDS and right now we are not positive as to which one I have. In order to know for certain that would require genetic testing and knowing the type doesn't appear to be necessary. EDS is characterized by (1) joint hypermobility, (2) cutaneous fragility, and (3) hyperextensibility. One estimate is that 1 in 400,000 people have some form of EDS from mild to severe. Some clinical manifestations that allow for diagnosis include many things from muscle weakness, muscle pain, tendency to fall down easily, poor body control, difficulty walking, bruise easily, joint pain, white and soft skin, underlying vessels are easily seen through the skin, skin has a doughy feel, skin is easily hyperextensible, molluscoid pseudo tumors form at scar sites and pressure points, fragile skin, poor wound healing, joints are hyperextensible, joints dislocate, skin scarring, skin scarring with hyperpigmentation, varicosities, early onset of osteoarthritis, nearsightedness, scars that stretch over time, and scoliosis to name just a few. The management and treatment for EDS is basically to protect the joints and the skin while treating the other symptoms as best possible for the patient.

Oddly it appears that EDS and Fibromyalgia occur together at a high rate of incidence... Lucky me.

If you want more information on Fibromyalgia I have posted about it before here on my blog so just check out the previous posts.

I am to see the Rheumatologist again in 1 month. The current treatment plan for this first month is to get me to regain restorative sleep. This means I get to start some new medications that will hopefully aid in getting to the restorative part of sleep. It also means that I am not to be woken during the night which we are trying to figure out with the dogs and the different schedules that DH and I keep. Another thing that the Dr. said is that there is no such thing as too much sleep for me right now. My DH isn't too happy about either of these orders from the Dr. but I do know he wants me to get well so he is trying to respect her opinion. I honestly think that if I could just wake up and feel refreshed and not still exhausted that things would/could be so much better.

I do appreciate that she is going slow with this and starting with the least dangerous medications possible. Also that she isn't trying to throw too many things into the mix all at once is a good thing in my book too. Yes, it might take longer to get me well this way but it should limit any potential issues that may arise due to medication problems and it should help us to see which things work and which don't much easier. Actually doing it in a systematic stepwise fashion could get me to feeling better faster than throwing a bunch of medications at me and praying for the best considering how many drug allergies I have and how they have a way of not acting as expected.

I know that I am not going to start feeling better overnight, and that I never will feel entirely well again ever. I am working on dealing with that and coming to terms with it. I need to get to a point where the pain is manageable and not all encompassing and I think that we can do that...

Starting to Get Excited!

2009-05-01T09:40:00.000-07:00

I think that both myself and my DH are starting to get excited about our upcoming trip! We will be leaving on next Friday to drive to Denver to catch a very early morning flight to Florida. We are going to visit my parents for 8 days! Sunday is both Mother's Day and their 40th wedding anniversary! So we are going to celebrate with them and do some fishing which makes DH very happy! The plan is to go flats fishing on the West coast with one of the friends of the family and then to go sports fishing on a charter off the East coast too. DH is just too excited about the idea of going fishing!! He loves to fish and he loves to eat it too... Me I like to fish but hate to eat it!! Ewww gross!!

Then shortly after we get back my parents and a couple of their friends are coming out here to Wyoming. They should be here sometime in June and stay for probably a month off and on. They are planning on using our house as their base of operations to go visit places like Mt. Rushmore, Crazy Horse, Devils Tower, Yellowstone, and who knows where else. It should be fun though!

DH is already stressing out about getting the laminate flooring all laid, the painting he has started but never finished actually finished, and about 10 other projects that he has needed to do but just hasn't gotten around to! LOL - Men!! Yes, the floor and painting have to be done but who knows what else he will stress himself and me out about!!

Monday is finally the rheumatologist appointment. I am nervous and excited about it. I really just hope and pray that I get some answers and some help!

Have a great weekend everyone!

Refrigerator Recall Fixed Finally

2009-04-30T10:54:00.000-07:00

The repair man for my Maytag refrigerator recall was able to finally show up on a scheduled day. The part was switched out and took all of 5 minutes to do the actual repair. I did ask why he didn't come last week as was initially scheduled and he said that they don't get told what they are doing until that day and that they dislike the scheduling department that is taking care of this recall as much as the customers. He drove almost 2 hours from Casper to my house in Medicine Bow then next had to drive back up to Casper then over to Douglas for the next service call. The scheduling people working this recall just have no clue what is going on it seems :( Really sad!! I am glad that my refrigerator shouldn't burn the house down now though!

Yesterday was my DH's birthday! I made him a special dinner and his Mom baked him a cake too! Plus his parents had taken us out to dinner for his birthday on Saturday. I also got him a cute t-shirt and a new tape measure as gifts :) So he made out quite well!

Fantastic Book- The Daily Coyote

2009-04-28T09:15:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what Wyoming is like? Probably not before you started reading my blog and realized that I live in Wyoming...

Do you love pictures of nature?

Do you love animals?

Well if you answered yes to any or all of those questions then do I have a book to recommend to you! "The Daily Coyote" written by Shreve Stockton is simply awesome. It has everything from the basics of living in small town Wyoming to a love story and so much more...

A friend from church let me borrow the book and I have to say that I now need to own this book. The photographs are stunning and I know that I will want to read it again at least once.

It isn't a very long book and is a quick read. If you need to laugh a little and maybe even cry a little then I recommend you seek out this little treasure and read it yourself.

If you want to get a sneak peak at some photos and more go check out "The Daily Coyote" blog too.

Queen of Alll Things Awe-Summm!!! Award

2009-04-27T10:05:00.000-07:00

Staci at Just Bloggled has given me this Awe-Summm award! :)

So here are the Awe-Summm rules:

List seven things that make you Awe-Summm.
Pass the award on to seven bloggers you love.
Tag those bloggers to let them know that they are now Queens of All Things Awe-Summm.
Don't forget to link to the queen that tagged you.
If you would like, copy the pic and put it on your sidebar so everyone knows that you're a queen.

What are seven things that make me Awe-Summm?

I have a knack for turning what seems like nothing in the pantry into some pretty good grub! If you don't believe me just ask my DH - LOL!
I can beat all of my family at Wii Sports Bowling even though I can't beat any of them at any other type of video game! Pretty nifty considering one is a Marine!!
I can take recipes that call for dairy and turn them into dairy free deliciousness!
I am learning how to bake wheat and gluten free! Let me tell you that this isn't easy to begin with and I am learning to do it at an altitude of almost 7,000 feet!
I love my dogs so much that I cook for them from scratch due to them both developing seizures from eating commercial dog food. Now if that isn't Awe-Summm love I don't know what is...
I live next door, just across the alley to my in-laws in a town of less than 300 people and I haven't killed anyone yet! Let me tell you that is an easy feat some days and not so easy on others.
I live 60 miles one way from the grocery store. We have lived here for going on 3 years now and I have managed to never run out of food even during prolonged blizzards that have snowed us in for days at a time!

OK, and now on to the recipients...

Sinclair from Nature with Me
Storm from Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife
Lin from Duck and Wheel with String
Nipsy from Nipplelicious
The bloggers at Today.com Exiles
Patty from Greys & Things
Maxie from Marilynne's World

The Floor is in the House!

2009-04-26T15:38:00.001-07:00

The laminate floor is in the house!! So exciting!! Now to get it installed! LOL - Hopefully DH and I are able to get it done without too much fighting and other issues :)

The weather yesterday going to get it was not very good. We had to go about 110 miles each way to Lowe's in Cheyenne and we had to cross the summit both ways! As we left the house it was raining with a little snow mixed in and as we got 10 miles or so down the road it turned into pure snow but the roads were good and we kept going. We got to Laramie and it cleared up and the summit looked to be sunny from there. We got to the summit and the weather was fine but the rest of the way to Cheyenne was a little foggy with some rain and snow mix. We hurried up and got the flooring and got it all loaded up and tarped to stay dry. The loading it was easy as they just used the forklift to put it in the back of the truck! We left Cheyenne and the weather looked like it was clearing up some maybe. Barely out of Cheyenne we hit fog well that isn't even the right word for it as actually it was clouds - very thick and hard to see anything through. We slowed down to a safer speed but other cars slowed down to literally a crawl and we saw so many almost accidnets because of it. I really wish if people didn't feel comfortable driving that they would just pull off and wait or calm down or whatever because it would be so much safer!! We finally got home just ahead of another wave of the storm.

When we got home we called around looking for some help getting unloaded but nobody was around. DH and I ended up unloading 30 boxes of laminate flooring plus the few other things ourselves. DH did a lot more than I did, but I did try to help. Today I am suffering immensely from the pain and burning in my muscles which I know is the Fibromyalgia telling me i did way too much. I am sure that the migraine I woke up with in the middle of the night and that still hasn't 100% went away is because of it too. It is so frustrating that I can't do the things that I want to do because of this disease and then if I do try to push through and do things that I suffer for having done it. I come form the suck it up and keep going school as does my DH but with this when I do that everything just gets so much worse. I don't think that he really can grasp how much worse things are today for me just from having done the little that I did do physically yesterday. I know that I did all that I physically could yesterday because on the last box I carried I about dropped it like 5 times. This is such a hard pill to swallow and I don't know how to deal with it.

I am holding out hope that the Rheumatologist can give me a firm diagnosis on May 4th when i see her and that we will be able to do something to help me get my life back. I don't want to live like this where I can't do the things I enjoy, I can't do the things that I need to do, and I can't do the things I want to do.

Christmas is Officially Over!!

2009-04-24T10:52:00.000-07:00

LOL if you have been hanging around my blog for long then you know that we have had a delayed ending to our Christmas celebration. Well technically not the celebration of Christmas itself but the removal of the physical Christmas decorations. You might remember that about a month ago we finally were able to get the inflatable Christmas decorations unfrozen and dried out enough to get taken down from the front yard and put away. You might also remember that a while before that I actually undecorated the Christmas tree and took down the other indoor decorations other than the physical artificial Christmas tree.

Well yesterday I had decided that enough was enough and that DH was never going to get around to taking the darn thing down and putting it in its box - Lets not even go there with putting the box away in the garage rafters because honestly the boxes of other decorations are still setting in a neat stack where I left them when I took them down.

Now if you are new to From Huskies to Husbands then you might be wondering why I don't just take care of the boxes myself and also wondering why it was such a big deal to just take the Christmas tree down myself. Well the answer to that is because honestly I physically just am not strong enough right now and even if I am strong enough the repercussions of doing that kind of physical activity aren't worth it. I am suffering from taking that darn Christmas tree down too :( I had hoped that I wouldn't but hoping got me nowhere on that one! Can we say increased burning and muscle pain?! I so can not wait for the Rheumatologist appointment on May 4th. I hope that the doctor can give me a firm diagnosis for this be it Fibromyalgia or something else and get me on the road to less pain and a better quality of life!!

In other news, we are set to go get the laminate flooring in Cheyenne tomorrow!! Now for the weather to cooperate and us to be able to get across the summit! LOL! You might remember that we were supposed to go do this last weekend but then we had a HUGE snow storm and the road across the summit was closed for days! We will be using either Lowe's or Home Depot for this purchase since they both have a pretty good price of less than $1 a square foot and they both are willing to do a credit card purchase over the phone since my parents are kindly and generously footing the bill for the materials. Aren't they the greatest for wanting to get rid of the carpet in my home so that my allergies aren't as bad??!! :)

TGIF!!

Maytag Sucks!!

2009-04-23T10:12:00.000-07:00

OK, so if you read the previous post you know that today I am sitting at home waiting on the Maytag repair man. I was scheduled by Maytag for repair service on this recall when I called them on the 13th. They told me that they would be here between 8 am and 5 pm on the 23rd which is today - I did not have a choice as to what day of the week the service would be on. I was called last night not once but twice to be reminded that I needed to be home between 8 am and 5 pm for the repair today. I cleared my schedule and didn't go to town with DH today because I had to be here for the Maytag repair man.

Well at about 10:30 am today they call and say to me we have to reschedule. We don't have service people in your area on Thursdays they are only in the area on Wednesdays. WTF are you kidding me?? You have 10 days lead time and you don't figure that out until 10:30 am the day of the service!! You scheduled me for a Thursday, I didn't choose to have service on a Thursday!! OMGosh the scheduling on this recall is horrendous so if you call be prepared for that and specifically ask them if they have someone in your area on the day that you are scheduled.

Then the real problem begins of trying to get them to realize that they have screwed up and that I need them to fix the problem. After many telephone calls and getting hung up on many times and getting passed around like a hot potato I was given a recall authorization ID which I was told to use to get the recall service done locally. I called the "local" place which is 120 miles away round trip and was notified that they could do the repair but that it would be in 2 weeks and I would have to pay time and mileage which added up to a lot!! OK I didn't put the faulty part in my refrigerator so why should I have to pay to get it fixed. Back to the telephone I go and begin calling Maytag again only to receive the same treatment as before. Finally, I get someone who seems to actually give a crap and they schedule the service call for Wednesday, April 29th between 8 am and 5 pm and tell me that there is a $50 check in the mail for my difficulties but that it wont arrive for 4 to 8 weeks.

All I can say is that Maytag has horrible customer service with this recall and has chosen a less than stellar company to do the actuall service scheduling and repairs.

Great so now I get to sit at home on the 29th again which really sucks since that is DH's birthday and I had wanted to go into town with him and hopefully go to dinner or something for his birthday... So much for that!

Refrigerator Recall

2009-04-23T08:04:00.000-07:00

Today I will be sitting here at home waiting for the Maytag repair man *giggle* I thought he was the one who never had any work because their products were so great?

The reason that I am waiting for the Maytag repair man is because our refrigerator is involved in a huge recall!! If you own a Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag, or Crosley brand sided-by-side or top freezer refrigerator you could be involved in this recall too and should call this number 1-866-533-9817 to find out if you are involved in the recall. Be sure to have the model number and serial number ready when you call. This recall is due to a defective part that is a fire hazard!

Yup, you read that right a fire hazard!! According to the information that I recieved there have been more than 40 reports of the faulty part igniting and at least 16 of those cases have had property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage. Scary stuff!!

Please if you have any of the mentioned brands of refrigerators please call and find out if you are involved in the recall!!

Fibromyalgia Information

2009-04-22T10:35:00.000-07:00

A little bit of information about Fibromyalgia since this is why I am scheduled to see the Rheumatologist in early May and this is what the PA and the GI specialist think that I might have.

According to the Mayo Clinic …”Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by widespread pain in your muscles, ligaments and tendons, as well as fatigue and multiple tender points — places on your body where slight pressure causes pain. (Yes)

Signs and symptoms of fibromyalgia can vary, depending on the weather, stress, physical activity or even the time of day. (Yes)

Widespread pain and tender points
The pain associated with fibromyalgia is described as a constant dull ache, typically arising from muscles. (Yes) To be considered widespread, the pain must occur on both sides of your body and above and below your waist.

Fibromyalgia is characterized by additional pain when firm pressure is applied to specific areas of your body, called tender points. Tender point locations include:

Back of the head - Yes
Between shoulder blades - Yes
Top of shoulders - Yes
Front sides of neck- Yes
Upper chest - Yes
Outer elbows
Upper hips - Yes
Sides of hips - Yes
Inner knees

Fatigue and sleep disturbances
People with fibromyalgia often awaken tired, even though they seem to get plenty of sleep. (Yes) Experts believe that these people rarely reach the deep restorative stage of sleep. Sleep disorders that have been linked to fibromyalgia include restless legs syndrome and sleep apnea.

Co-existing conditions
Many people who have fibromyalgia also may have:

Chronic fatigue syndrome - Maybe
Depression - Yes
Endometriosis - No, but PCOS
Headaches - Yes
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) - Yes
Lupus
Osteoarthritis
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Restless legs syndrome
Rheumatoid arthritis”

WebMD says that people who suffer from Fibromyalgia should avoid 7 foods in particular.

Aspartame or NutraSweet
Food Additives such as MSG and Nitrates
Sugar, Fructose, and Simple Carbohydrates especially High Fructose Corn Syrup
Caffeine including Coffee, Tea, Chocolate, and Soda
Yeast and Gluten
Dairy
Nightshade Plants such as Tomatoes, Peppers, Potatoes, and Eggplant. However, these should only be eliminated if they are specifically a problem for the individual because they are highly nutritious.

Yeast, Gluten, Dairy, MSG, and Aspartame all make sense to me as these things do greatly play a role in my health. The Caffeine, Sugar, and Nightshade Plants I am not sold on.

Then you have a ton of information from Anne Hillebrand at FibroFix. A lot of this information is based on her personal struggle with Fibromyalgia and on the food front it conflicts with the information from WebMD in more than a few points. But there is a lot of good information there I just need time to process it all and start trying some different things.

MIL Update

2009-04-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

They did the stress test yesterday and decided that she was well enough to come home, so they discharged her yesterday evening. We all are really happy to have her home. However, she needs to see a cardiologist as they did find something but what that something is we don't really know yet. But, she is feeling a lot better :)

Rough Week So Far

2009-04-21T12:53:00.000-07:00

It has been a very difficult week here in the middle of nowhere for our family.

If you remember from my post over at Today.com about riding the steam train then you probably remember this photo of my MIL. Well she gave us all quite a scare yesterday and got to ride in not 1 but 2 ambulances on the way in to the hospital - I guess that is what happens when you cross county lines. I waited here in the Bow for her husband my FIL to get here from one town over where he teaches high school then we headed in too. She was experiencing shortness of breath, radiating chest pain/pressure, and a headache when she went over to the clinic here in Medicine Bow and had the PA take a look at here. It was then that the clinic called me and said to get right over there. I did and then I called my FIL and let him know what was going on. Once we got to the ER they started doing tests, lots of tests but not finding the cause of the problem and her distress. They did find quite a number of things that could have been the problem but were not the problem though. Eventually they decided to admit her to the hospital and sent her upstairs. Today she is having more testing and we do not know whether she will be coming home tonight still. So needless to say things have been stressfull around here...

My body is not handeling the stress well. I guess that is to be expected though with all my medical issues. As soon as the stress hit me it was like every muscle in my body was on fire and it really still has not subsided over 24 hours later - I guess that is expected with fibromyalgia and stress though. In addition I have been very light headed and have felt like I was going to pass out a number of times. To top it all off I am very queasy well actually more than queasy as I have actually thrown up a few times. I don't know if that is from the pain or what though. I am thankful that yesterday when I need to be mentally clear at the ER I was able to think and communicate. Today is a different story though and I have had difficulties with getting my freelance writing done do to the "brain fog". All I know is that I feel horrible and the pain is so intense that I just want to lay down and not move.

What is Sacroiliitis?

2009-04-17T19:43:00.000-07:00

One of the things that I struggle with medically is Sacroiliitis. My PA and I believe that I now suffer with this condition and will for the rest of my life because of an untreated urinary tract infection. The not so funny thing is that I had been trying to get one of my many specialists to treat me for the urinary tract infection for over a month and a half before I found my new PA and he agreed to prescribing antibiotics.

Here is some information about Sacroiliitis. (More information can be found at the Mayo Clinic Website)

Sacroiliitis is an inflammation of one or both of the sacroiliac joints, which connect the lower spine and pelvis. With Sacroiliitis, even the slightest movements of the spine can be extremely uncomfortable or painful.

Sacroiliitis symptoms may include:

Pain and stiffness in the lower back, thighs or buttocks.
Pain that worsens with walking because the motion of the hips strains the sacroiliac joints.
Inflammation in one or both of the eyes (uveitis or iritis).
Psoriasis, an inflammatory skin condition
Pain radiating down the leg.
Limping.
Decreased range of motion in the hip joint.
A fever that appears quickly.

Complications:

Delayed treatment of Sacroiliitis — Either because of an incorrect diagnosis or because of delaying going to the doctor — can cause serious harm to the sacroiliac joints.
Sacroiliitis may be part of a larger inflammatory arthritis condition known as Ankylosing Spondylitis. Complications of this condition can be very serious, including difficulty breathing, spine deformities, lung infections and heart problems.

Ankylosing Spondylitis is a chronic inflammatory disease that primarily causes pain and inflammation of the joints between the vertebrae of your spine and the joints between your spine and pelvis (sacroiliac joints). However, Ankylosing Spondylitis may also cause inflammation and pain in other parts of your body as well.

Initial symptoms - Early signs and symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis may include:

Chronic pain in the lower back and hips, especially in the morning and after periods of inactivity.

Stiffness in the lower back or hip area, especially in the morning.

As the condition progresses - The condition may change over time, with symptoms getting worse, improving or completely stopping at any point. Over time the pain and stiffness, which usually begin gradually, may progress up your spine and to other joints. One may experience inflammation and pain in these other parts of the body:

Where the tendons and ligaments attach to bones.

Joints between the ribs and spine.

Joints in the hips, shoulders, knees and feet.

The eyes.

Symptoms of advanced stages - In advanced stages, the following signs and symptoms may develop:

Restricted expansion of the chest.

Chronic stooping.

Stiff, inflexible spine.

Fatigue.

Loss of appetite.

Weight loss.

Eye inflammation (uveitis).

Bowel inflammation.

Signs of Depression

2009-04-17T19:33:00.000-07:00

I know that talking about depression can be a taboo subject with some people. However, I am honest with myself and others about the fact that I suffer from both depression and PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder). (For more information on this topic check out this site.) I am a firm believer that sometimes talking openly about one's own problems can help other people who might be going through the same or similar exeriences.

At times I can feel the depression starting to weigh me down like a ton of bricks on my shoulders. Other times it feels like I am drowning. Still other times it feels like I am in a deep dark pit from which I can never climb back out of. Other times I feel just fine and go about daily life without even a depressing thought. I am not on medication for either of these issues currently - Mostly because I am sick of being a guinea pig and trying all kinds of new medications only to have them make me feel worse instead of better. I had gone that route for about a year straight at one point and the result was that I found a lot of medications that almost killed me. So, for now at least, I just deal with it and try to be cognitive of when the weight is beginning to press down and try to keep myself from falling down into the black abyss.

I want to share some signs that for me are clues that I am beginning to fall down into the abyss.

I either start sleeping more or start sleeping less - a change in sleep habits.
I stop caring about showering or taking care of myself in the most basic ways.
I cry or get angry a lot about almost anything. Mostly about things that crying or getting angry about makes next to no sense.
I become unpredictable in almost every aspect of my life.
I pretty much refuse to leave the house for any reason what so ever.

About Me

2009-04-17T19:20:00.000-07:00

Hi! In case we haven't met before I want to take a moment to introduce myself. My name is Stephanie and I am a 34 year old female with a husband and 2 huskies furbabies. My husband and I have been married for over 5 1/2 years now!

I live in a small town in Southeastern Wyoming called Medicine Bow. The population is under 300 and the closest town with grocery stores and shopping is 60 miles away. I was born and raised in Florida just about 45 minutes outside of Tampa. So moving here was culture shock on many levels!

I know that this may come as a shock to some of you, but I am an educated women with a B.S. in Biology from The University of Tampa and a M.Ed. in Exercise Physiology from Auburn University. I sometimes work at The Historic Virginian Hotel, Cafe & Shiloh Bar here in Medicine Bow. I also do freelance work part time currently but I am trying to build that aspect of my employment up.

I have PCOS, IBS, GERD, PMDD, Sacroiliitis, asthma, a ton of allergies and food intolerances. One of my biggest food issues is my problem with dairy in any quantity at all. I also am working on getting a firm diagnosis on what appears to be Fibromyalgia. I am admittedly overweight, but I am working on that at www.SparkPeople.com where my username is SLColman as well. I also use my Wii and Wii Fit to help get in some fun exercise when I can.

I love food and cooking. I enjoy scrapbooking, gardening, and other crafty type things.

My husband is a Southern Baptist Minister, so faith plays an important role in our lives. However having said that, we still are real people with real issues living out in the real world. My husband is also the mayor of our small town - Talk about a man with many different hats!

If you want more info on me just let me know!

Welcome!!

2009-04-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

Initially this blog was started to be only a placeholder of the title "From Huskies to Husbands" since that is the name of my Today.com blog. Well with all the changes happening over at Today.com I am going to be posting over here much more often than I initially thought.

Please come visit me at From Huskies to Husbands at Today.com to get caught up with me from the beginning. I wish that I could just move all those posts over here but Today.com doesn't allow for that to come to pass.

I hope that old friends are able to find me here and that I can make many new friends as well!