"Drop the last year into the silent limbo of the past. Let it go, for it was imperfect, and thank God that it can go.” ~Brooks Atkinson

*Posted 1/4/2011*

This year I resolve to make only 1 resolution. I will get my health under control. I am going to find a new doctor (or at the very least talk to my current doctor about why I don’t want to come in), and I will keep my appointments. If I need to I am going to see a Physical Therapist for my knee, and an allergist / breathing doctor for my allergies & asthma. I’m also going to take my vitamins. That may be the hardest part. I don’t like to take them in the morning with my prescriptions because I hate taking that many pills at once. I also am going to get my depression under control & own it. I’ve said it before but never let myself believe it – THERE IS NO SHAME IN DEPRESSION!


I’m also going to try to control my emotions more. I tend to take things personally that aren’t really my problem. For example – a coworker is back from vacation and bitching about how busy he is & he kind of snipped at me about it. There are two ways I can handle that – become angry that he was angry at me -or- realize that it’s his problem that he’s busy and move on. I chose to move on. Let him be angry and bitchy but I don’t have to be. I thought I was helping, he thinks not so whatever – let him be. I can’t change his attitude but I can change my own.


Today I’m trying to get my office cleaned and organized, while roofers make a TON of noise above me… Fun times!

*Today*

Have I done anything I said I was going to do in that post? Yes!

In December I saw an Allergist. I had the skin allergy test done, and it was found that I have no allergies. I don't understand it, but the proof was on my back. It is possible that I am hypersensitive to allergens, but don't actually have allergies. It was explained to me (by the Allergist) that although my skin didn't react to the test it could be that my symptoms appear when the pollen count is the highest. I don't buy that for one second, but the proof is in the pokes. Next step - lung / asthma specialist.

I also found a new doctor. I'm not 100% convinced that she's the right fit yet, but I'm giving it some time.

I was in the doctors office last month for Bronchitis. It was a cough and cold at Thanksgiving that wasn't treated properly (in my opinion - I did go to the doctor for it but the doctor said that my lungs were clear - if you would have heard my cough you'd know that my lungs were _not_ clear but I digress). It morphed into Bronchitis which I knew was coming when I left the doctor's office the first time. My normal doctor was on vacation, so I met with a Nurse Practitioner. NP was GREAT! She heard my coughs (and cough dry heaves / vomiting) and said I definitely had Bronchitis, but wasn't sure if steroids were needed - I was borderline. NP sent me for a chest x-ray, and had the Pulmonologist (Dr. Pulm) look at it for a second opinion. Dr. Pulm said to give me steroids and that I needed to make an appointment to see him to track my asthma because there is something going on in my lungs. I was given steroids and an antibiotic, and after a week my bad cough was gone and a normal cough lingered for another week or two.

I have an appointment with Dr. Pulm next month, and hopefully he can help me get my asthma straightened out. I think I may have COPD (Thanks Dr. Google!) due to growing up in a house with 2 smokers. I want to be sure that I'm doing all I can for my lungs.

I also want to get a referral for an ENT about my sinus trouble. Primary Doctor (Dr. PD) said we won't go that route until I've tried Nasonex for a period of time, but I just don't feel like that's working. My sinuses are still stuffed to the point of pressure pretty regularly and nasal irrigation doesn't help. Dr. PD said to try using the Nasonex to break up the stuff and a Neti Pot to flush it out. I LOATHE Neti Pots. All it does is make me feel like I'm drowning! I als have on nostril that dries out causing a lot of pain and toothaches.

I have gotten my moods under control with a couple of little pills. I realized how much they help last week when I was waiting for a prescription to be refilled (I was out). I don't ever want to be off of those pills again! I became a raging witch to Sawyer (and I appologized, and let him know that it _was_not_ him and that I was trying to keep it under control). I hate being a raging witch, and I am going to make sure my doctors know that I prefer to be on those pills. I am in no way dependant on them, but I know there is a difference in my attitude when I am on them.

I'm still not taking my vitamins, although I am trying. I am using a weekly pill sorter thing, and it's just a matter of keeping it full, and in sight. I prefer to take my medications with breakfast and my vitamins with lunch. It prevents me from getting overwhelmed by all the pills.

My knee has sort of been pushed to the backburner lately. It's been feeling ok - and with the cough / asthma / sinus trouble it hasn't come up. I _do_ plan to talk with my doctor about it, but it will have to wait a bit.

I want to get back to exercising too, which will help both my knee and my asthma. That's the hardest thing to do because it means getting up after feeding Princess and Dude instead of going back to bed. I'm working on this one by trying to stay up after feeding them, and puttering around the house (right now I'm trying to organize / clean my office desk).

So - that's where I am medically right now. I'm working towards healthy, one step at a time.