Dream last night

In the first part of my dream last night, I am at some sort of semi-formal event at a water park, apparently. I'm wearing a black ankle-length skirt, black high heels, and a tight fitting blouse. Some of the lifeguards are people I have worked with before. I want to go say hello to one of them, so I just walk up the slide, which is on, with water and children coming down, to go say hello. I don't typically walk up the slides when they're on, although some people do - you're not supposed to, nor are you supposed to wear shoes or anything that can pit the slide!

I notice that they had put down rubber-like cushions affixed to the slide with very large bolts for the lifeguards to sit on without sliding down. I think that it's a pretty clever idea.

Walking down a slide that's on is a pretty sure way to fall, so I just sit down in skirt and high heels and slide down the slide. Another lifeguard at the bottom chastises me for walking up. I wave her off and walk away.

Next thing I know, I'm mingling with party guests who are all around an Olympic-sized pool. The pool has lane lines in it going long course. Then I realize that kids are starting to get into the pool. I wander over to the edge to keep an eye on them, because it appears that no one else is.

Eventually there are so many people in the pool, that I go to climb up on one of the lifeguard towers to see them all. It turns out there's an elderly man sitting on the chair in the tower already, eating some food from a paper plate. He probably just wanted a seat, but how did he even climb up there? He asks me if it's okay for him to sit there, and I tell him that it's okay today, but if he comes any other time it would not be okay. Perhaps it's the pool's grand opening? I stand on the top step leading up to the tower and keep an eye on the swimmers. I'm still in high heels, how did I get up the tower???

Finally the lifeguards appear from out of a break room somewhere, and I step down from the tower.

Then I'm at my mom's house, although it's not her current house- it's the house we lived in until I was in the 4th grade, in San Gabriel. I walk in, and my dad and sister are there, along with some people I met on Geni.com, but have not met "in real life." (At least not recently enough for me to remember.) They're related on Mom's side, and apparently Dad and Irma don't have all that much to make small talk over. We sit around until Mom comes home and she reminisces with them.

Then we're all around the dinner table, and Mom and Irma are talking about changing the amount of rent that Mom charges to "Uncle Tony" or "Uncle Anthony." I don't have either, in real life. Apparently Uncle Tony used to do something to do with upholstery or flooring, but he lost his job and got another job paying less. He pays my mom $2,900 per month in rent, and they're talking about making it $1,800- which Irma says would be $900 per bedroom. The house is apparently in Santa Monica on Olympic Blvd.

Upon hearing them talk about it, I start having memories within my dream of living at that house. Apparently that's the first place I lived on my own, and I would take the Big Blue Bus to Union Station, and then the Metrolink to El Monte, and then- get this- a bus to Arroyo High School. In my dream, I hadn't remembered any of that until it got mentioned over dinner. I even thought that I've been lying on all my credit applications and so forth, skipping a past address!

While remembering all of this, I also had memories of being at Union Station, and seeing several people I went to high school with and don't keep in touch with now, including an ex-boyfriend and a friend I'd like to reconnect with. Apparently we all commuted to high school?

So yeah, next time I talk to Mom, I have to ask her about "Uncle Tony!"

Long day at the hospital

So this is what happened today.

1PM appointment: The audiologist was first. She asked questions, looked in my ears, checked my ear drum movement, looked in my ears again, asked some more questions, looked in the left one again, then checked my hearing. Apparently my left ear drum doesn't look right, but my hearing within the normal range in both ears. She says I might have a chronic ear infection. The argument for this theory is very logical, and fits my work history and symptoms over several years. Follow up by an ear-nose-throat person on October 1st to figure out what's wrong with my ear drum.

2PM appointment: Dad had his feet done by a registered nurse practitioner. He's not allowed to cut his own nails due to the risks associated with foot care and diabetes. They'll call in a month to schedule for the following month.

3PM appointment: My doctor ordered an ultrasound of my liver due to an abnormality in my lab work. The doctor emailed me less than an hour later and said that I need to watch my fat intake, based on the ultrasound.

3:30PM to 6:00PM lab work: I went in for a diabetes screening and hepatitis screening (another part of checking on my liver). Results from this are on the members website now. The fasting number is well within range, but the number after drinking their 75 grams of sugar is higher than the internet would like me to believe is "normal." Both my parents and one of two sisters are diabetic, so I can't say I'm shocked. More on this later, I'm sure.

The doctor also emailed me about the dental work. She'll give the go ahead on the good stuff if my blood pressure is good the next time a nurse checks it. Otherwise, she'll medicate me first.

Tomorrow, Dad and I go to a class about blood pressure management.



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Medical & Lifestyle Changes

I'm having a number of medical issues. Here's some current things I'm working on or that are coming up:

1. Gastroenternologist appointment went well. He had me start taking over the counter medication for IBS symptoms, and will be running a battery of tests to rule out things that are not IBS.
2. Husband's dental checkup went well. He just needs cleaning and a few minor fillings. Lucky him!
3. Thursday I have the following: 1:00pm get my hearing checked, 1:50pm take Dad to have his feet done/checked, 3:00pm have an ultrasound of my liver done, go to the lab to get more blood drawn afterward. The last two are added since my doctor emailed me regarding the results from the latest tests. Some abnormalities in liver function and fasting blood sugar. I was on a since-midnight fast then, and will be on a 12 hour fast this time, so I expect at least the blood sugar test to come out okay this time.
4. I've started keeping a food journal, and signed up for several classes offered by the hospital.
5. Coincidentally, my sister called today and said she wants to to start doing water aerobics at the aquatic center. Apparently we're starting tomorrow! Monday and Wednesday at 7:15pm.

More updates to come. By the way, I'm about 24 hours away from having all my LiveJournal blog posts imported to this blog. :)

Medical and Dental Work

I've taken this semester off school to work on medical and dental stuff.

This is my progress so far. I apologize for the summary version, but I've just been really bad about blogging lately and there's a lot to catch up on.

1. Saturday, August 9. I went into urgent care due to extreme throat pain. Diagnosed with an ear infection and sinus problem that had caused rawness in my throat. (Antibiotic and an over the counter pain medicine.)
   
2. Thursday, August 14. I went to get a checkup at the dentist. There's a lot of work to be done. Ouch!
3. Wednesday, August 20. I went to the dentist, and got my two right side wisdom teeth removed. I also got my old silver fillings on the right side replaced and new fillings put in. In total, worked on 6 teeth and extracted 2. (More antibiotic and a prescription pain medicine.)
   
4. Saturday, August 23. I went to have my wounds examined. Dentist said holes left by wisdom teeth were healing nicely.
5. Tuesday, September 9. I went to have a physical with a new doctor. I got a tetanus shot, HPV vaccine, blood drawn for many tests, and referrals for a couple of things. Then Dad and I went to see his doctor. This works well for both of us to schedule our appointments together, so I'm going to try to keep doing that when possible.
6. Wednesday, September 10. I thought I was having the repeat of dental work but on opposite side. Instead, they wanted to do root canals. Unfortunately, they couldn't use the "good" anesthetic because my blood pressure was elevated. If they could, I'd be done in one more visit. Instead, it'll take many. I need to clear the good anesthetic with my doctor so we can hurry this dental stuff along. (More antibiotic and pain meds.)
   

I called and set up several appointments today Best of all, I set up an appointment for tomorrow to the gastroenternologist. I'm so excited for this, you can't imagine. I'm amazed at how easy it was to get the referral and the appointment, and I'm so ready to not be allergic to food anymore.

This is what's coming up:

1. Friday, September 12. Gastroenternologist at 10:10am.
2. Saturday, September 13. My husband has a dental checkup.
3. Thursday, September 18. I'm having my hearing checked at 1pm. People, including my husband, say that I talk loud lately and I'm constantly guessing wrong on direction that sounds come from. Dad is having his feet checked at 1:50pm.
4. Friday, September 19. I go to the dentist to finish up two root canals at 11am.
5. Monday, September 22. I drive Dad to the cardiologist. If any of my doctors want to see me that day, I'm already there!
6. Wednesday, September 24. I go see the gynecologist for annual checkup at 11:05am.
7. Friday, October 10. I have a consultation with an orthodontist.
8. Thursday, October 16. I drive Dad to have his eye exam. (In the diabetic sense, not the new-glasses sense.)
9. Friday, October 17. I have my eyes checked. (In the new-glasses sense.)

I have several dates in my calendar of when more visits are due, but not appointments for them yet. All in all, I'm glad I took the semester off! Hopefully I can get a lot of work started and have only maintenance to do next semester. My #1 priority is my GI problem. Fingers crossed for me, yes?