Domestic Geek

Had a colonoscopy today. Nothing wrong with my colon. Yay for no cancer, but BOOOOO! that I still don't have a reason for my abdomen problems.

Didn't take any pictures at the hospital as I had Marcus take my personal effects home after I checked in. I spend the whole day lounging with the dog in bed. I was told not to drive anywhere for 24 hours because of the anesthesia. Thought they were crazy and I was fine until I wiped out in the living room. Yeah, staying in was a good idea.

I've been sick since August. First I thought it was a bladder infection, so I went to a Little Clinic at King Soopers, was given antibiotics (which caused the usual yeast infection) and sent on my way.

Well, that wasn't it. I got worse. I had severe abdominal pain, a mild fever and bloating. I felt so bad one evening, I went to one of those after hours urgent care places. He said I had a kidney infection, gave me antibiotics (another yeast infection) and sent me on my way.

That wasn't it. They told me it must be kidney stones and told me to go see a urologist. I was given more antibiotics (3rd yeast infection), meds to let me pass stones, Vicodin for pain, told to get a CT scan and sent on my way.

That wasn't it. I broke down and went to the ER. Was told I needed another CT scan (didn't get the kind where they inject you with stuff) and was diagnosed with diverticulitis. Was given yet more antibiotics (5 days, so not another yeast infection this time) and discharged.

The pain didn't stop. Back to the ER, given yet a 3rd CT scan. The doctor said it was "good news" - it hadn't gotten worse. Um, OK, so I was given a more aggressive antibiotic (10 days, new yeast infection) and told to follow up with a urologist.

That appt. was a waste of time and money. All they did was draw a small vial of blood and told me I now have to get a colonoscopy in six weeks (now 8 weeks because they couldn't fit me in earlier) before they'll try to determine what's going on. I'm still in pain, still have days where I'm so bloated I can't sleep. I'm scared it's cancer or something. So, now I'm in for a night of colon cleansing for tomorrow's procedure. Awesome.



ETA (11/21/14): Colon is fine. Diverticulitis (if I even had it), has cleared up. I'm still in pain and almost out of pain meds (I've been rationing them for only the worst days). Now have an appointment on December 9th. I'm sure this will be yet another waste of my time and people can't understand why I hate the whole medical system.

Who would have ever guessed when I first started driving, many moons ago, that $2.77/gal gas would excite me because it was LOW?

Back in September, I participated in the Yarn Along the Rockies yarn crawl (the first time I’ve been in town during the whole thing so that I could participate) and doubt I’ll do this again. First, several stores had previous year’s bags for sale and the quality of this one is utterly atrocious. I would’ve paid a couple dollars more for a heavier fabric bag that I could actually use. This this is so danged flimsy the buttons keep popping off. I’m either going to have to make this into a wall hanging or line it - totally worthless as a bag.

The button (several stores ran out very early in the crawl and some, according to posters on Ravlery, said they would not get more) thing irked me, too, especially after reading that they ran out the first year (I remember that as being a reason I was glad I couldn’t do that one). Fortunately the 2 I was missing claimed they were getting more and at least they are stores I frequent anyway, so not that big of an issue (I thought). I’d be more than miffed if it had been one of the stores I absolutely hate or one the ones that are really far away. What I don’t get is, these buttons are not that expensive to purchase and could be used for all sorts of marketing purposes (heck, even sell them as an impulse buy for $1 during the rest of the year) - if you can’t afford to stock up before a crawl, maybe you shouldn’t be participating. So, one of the stores got their buttons in fairly soon. The other, after a couple of trips in there to inquire and several ignored posts on their Facebook page, finally got more in. When I went in to get it it today, they're not the same as the crawl buttons, they're bigger. Now my bag looks out of whack.

Anyway, another peeve is I can’t afford to buy something at every shop and some stores carry so little that I couldn’t find anything unique that I couldn’t get elsewhere. A couple of them seemed put off that all I did was get my passport stamp/button. If the crawl was whole month instead of 9 days, I could probably purchase more.

I made the choice to do part of the crawl and a Sunday with some of the people in my previously attended knitting group. While it was fun to hang out with them, we didn't cover a lot of ground. I was really hoping to have the entire crawl finished in the first few days, as we went up to South Dakota for the 2nd weekend of it. Since Marcus drove a Budget truck up with the rest of our stuff, I finished my last 4 stops and met him up there later (and managed to miss a turn, so I was really late).

Yeah, the whole thing ended up being a big hassle with little reward (I didn't win any of the prizes, either). Never again.

One a positive note, I did get a few new cool things to add to my stash.

Here's the (finally) completed bag:



And, here's the completed passport:

I wish I could spill what is going on at work on here. I'm so frustrated and apathetic. It's not like me at all and I don't like it. I have to keep reminding myself this is motivation to get my rear in gear and find something to do with my life that will bring me good feelings, not negative ones.

I'm also having severe colon pain again (topped with a good dose of womanly cramps - TMI - sorry). Good thing the colonoscopy is on Friday. I'm hoping they find the cause and that it is not super-serious. I have my doubts as this whole ordeal has been one wasted effort after another. I was reading the stuff they sent me earlier today. Not looking forward to this process at all.

OK, that I said, I'm going to pop a pain pill and head to bed.

I haven't been keeping track of my paperwork in a long time and I definitely haven't been doing anything with them since we moved into the condo. It was a big pile on my desk that I knocked off a couple of weeks ago and let sit on the floor. Today I had a major panic attack because I couldn't find a bill I needed to mail. Now I've at least got my receipts into shoe boxes to sort and the mail into piles. Why have I let my life get so out of control?

Mr. T wanted so badly to chase the deer across the street. Sadly, we were packing the car to head back to Homestead South, so I couldn't oblige him.

I tend to avoid burgers because they're not good for you, but I make an exception for the Bunkhouse Burger served at the Colonial House Restaurant in Rapid City, SD. Two bison patties! Yummy!