1 JAN 2015

I pray that 2015 will see some resolve in the world wide turmoil.

I've just finished watching the New Year fireworks from Sydney. Was disappointing as far as I was concerned, not nearly as good as last year. Then... maybe I'm too picky... *S*

We had a blackout yesterday (New Years Eve) for 3 hours.
Over 26,000 homes and businesses in the area were affected.
We had no warning... no storms, so it was a shock.
Seems a sub station over 35km away was hit by lightning.
Makes you wonder what happens in supermarket checkouts when this happens,especially when it happens on New Years Eve when people may be doing last minute shopping.

I've had problems with my right hand. My middle finger has been very painful as well as my wrist.

I couldn't use my computer for 2 days. :-(

8 JAN 2015

We've had a shocking start to 2015 with the bushfires in South Australia.
More people have lost everything. So very sad.
Then, up in the other hemisphere you have had horrendous weather with extreme snowfalls.
What a dreadful week!!
Makes any problems I think I have seem totally insignificant.

Regarding my problems and the letters I sent. They're having the desired effect.
I've heard from the State Health Ombudsman 3 times in the last couple of weeks keeping me up to date on their progress on my complaint. I had to assure him I'm not after any compensation... all I want is for the hospital to smarten up its act.
There's a total lack of communication within the hospital.
AND
I don't want to be in fear of having my toes amputated when I eventually have the op.

I'm still waiting for this new arthritis medication to kick in... doesn't seem to be helping much.
So I'm still 2 finger typing. *S*

27 JAN 2015

Turns out I was right, it was my monitor that had a problem. not my computer.
It wouldn't stay turned on. I've managed to fool it for a few weeks but it beat me in the end. *S*
Of course it couldn't be tested without Jason taking the whole computer to the shop.
Took them a week before I got it back and went right away to buy a new monitor.
Thought I was going to be up for between $250 and $400 for a new one when
Jason picked out a box under the shelves at the store.... an LG Monitor (22") $219.. Yippee!
Got to the checkout... it was on SPECIAL.... $148!! Even better!!

Got home, Jason put everything together again and I intended to get back to work after dinner... BANG....NO POWER!!!! We had a blackout!
Rang the power company... no power for the next 6 hours.... DAMN!
Turned out that during the day a car had hit a light pole not far from us and it had to be repaired. :-(
No TV... No Lights.... Half made dinner.... No conversation... LOL!!
I ended up going to bed.... couldn't sleep... no radio playing.
Listening to the radio puts me to sleep. :-(

The power came back on at 11.30PM. I'd fallen asleep but when the air-conditioning, bedroom lights and radio came on I was woken up again!! Tossed and turned all night, woke up late next morning. Started up the computer... heard a roll of thunder overhead... turned off the computer... LOL! Had an horrific storm that lasted for ages... quite frightening but at least the temperature dropped.B By the time the storm was over I wasn't in the mood.

By the time I felt like getting back into action it was late in the day.
Nothing on TV but bloody Tennis, Cricket and repeats!!
I hate this time of the year!!
Of course there were 100's of emails and 100's of spammers
(because Jason hasn't taken the time to work out how to stop them trying to register in the forum)

As if all that wasn't enough... my second grandson, Hayden (20 years old) has moved in with us.
His mother rang Jason asking if we could take him as she couldn't cope any more.
He "Lost it" and put his fist through a wall in her home.
He's "withdrawing" from amphetamines!
He wants help because he can't cope with his mood changes.
She had a Restraining Order put on him... what the hell kind of mother is she!!!!
I can't stand her partner... he has no time for Hayden.
Hayden is getting help from a group here BUT Jason told me she kept missing phone calls for his appointments!

His doctor has put him on Diazepam to help with his moods and he'll eventually be going to Brisbane to get some serious help in hospital. Jason will drive him down there when the time comes.
Soon I hope.
I feel so sorry for him... he told Jared that if he doesn't get help he'll be dead in a couple of years.
At least he's ready to do something about it.

He's not been a problem here so far except he "lost it" again on Friday night BUT had the sense to go outside and take it out on a brick pillar at the front door. He later apologised to me for his behavior.
Told him... "It's OK...S#!t happens... don't worry about it."

Bloody drugs!!! (Sorry for the cursing)
Hayden used to be 'happy go lucky' but now he just looks sad all the time.
Like I said, he's no problem here.... even cleaned up the dishes after dinner last night.
Didn't have to be asked.
My 2 regular "boarders" (*S) don't do them until the next morning which infuriates me.

I pray that the Brisbane appointment happens soon for him so we can have the "old" Hayden back.
I don't understand why kids these days need drugs to get "high on life" when there's so much publicity as to how it could be the "death" of them.

As for me... I stopped taking the Celebrex when I was put on the new medication.
I asked while I was in hospital if I should keep taking them... was told it was up to me.
Forgot to ask my GP when I saw her last and my Specialist didn't give me an answer.

My hands and wrists were aching so much that it was even hard for me to type.
So a few days ago I went back on them, it's made a difference. *S*

Still can't walk for any length of time but we went shopping last Tuesday instead of Wednesday..that made a difference!!! No painful "old people" getting in my way!! (LOL!) No screaming kids and no people having conversations in the aisles of the supermarkets blocking the items I want.
We got through 2 supermarkets in half the time!!
So I think we'll change the day to Tuesday... Wednesday must be Pension Day for most.
Mine's Saturday but I'm happy to wait a few days if it means I can "speed" through the aisles. LOL!
Didn't have to take pain killers when I got home. Hallelujah!!

I hope the Aussies had a great Australia Day.

I heard on the news that the North East USA is bracing itself for an horrendous snow storm.
I pray everyone will be safe.

5 FEB 2015

I have been in bed all day and am going back soon.
My psoriasis is back with a vengeance and all I want to do is scratch, scratch, scratch!!
It has spread to my arms and hands which is embarrassing... looks like leprosy!
It's also back in the places it was before, only worse this time.
The creams are not working and it's depressing.

I emailed my Rheumatoid specialist telling her I was stopping the new medication she prescribed.
Too many side effects which I won't describe here. Haven't heard back from her.

17 FEB 2015

OK... A few weeks ago I could feel lumps under the skin on my arms.. a rash that wasn't quite visible yet. The rash became visible, was itchy, so I ceased the new medication on 3rd February thinking it may be a side effect. This didn't stop it from flaring up even more! It spread all over my butt and legs as well.

Last Wednesday I got Jason to deliver a letter to my GP asking for an early appointment urgently. Got it the next day. She was horrified! She called my Specialist (who was at lunch) and left a message for her to please return the call. She said she would phone me at home as soon as she had spoken with the Specialist.

I had an appointment with the Orthopaedic Specialist at the local hospital on Friday. Turned up at 9:15am for a 9:30am appointment. Waited and waited.... after over an hour I went to reception and asked if the specialist was actually in the hospital BECAUSE one other time I had waited over 2 hours and he was on 2 weeks holiday! Wasn't even in the hospital!!!

I was told he was on holiday AGAIN..... BUT he had a Locum taking his patients this time. ALL the specialists had a general meeting EVERY FRIDAY from 9am to 10am so the locum should be there around 10:30.

I asked WHY my appointment was made for 9:30am when there was no way I would be seen at that time!!! Couldn't tell me! The Locum was very nice BUT the specialist hadn't made any notes as to why I should be seen!!! Neither of us had a clue why I was there! A TOTAL WASTE OF TIME!!! The Hervey Bay Hospital couldn't organise a raffle!!!

It's now Monday and I haven't heard from my GP... so I assume the Rheumatoid specialist hasn't returned the call my GP made last Thursday. SO... I got Jason to take photos last night and I emailed them to the Specialist this morning.

Not holding my breath for a reply any time soon since I sent her an email on 3rd Feb telling her I had stopped taking the medication and why... she's not answered that one.

So you know I'm not grumbling because I can.... here is the evidence... **********
http://www.artistrypsp.com/Jemima/EverythingPSP/Journals/2015/FEB2015.htm

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19 FEB 2015

I haven't been too visible the past few days... have a lot going on with my skin.
At times it's been too painful to sit for any length of time, so have spent my time in bed.
I have to see my GP again tomorrow morning (Friday) but am not looking forward to that.

Reason....
A cyclone is going to hit north of us around 4am Friday, the it's going to work its way down the coast.
It's a category 3 at the moment but will probably intensify.

I am dreading what the weather will be like when it comes time to visit my GP at 9am.

We may have power problems after the cyclone hits so I don't know if I'll be able to be online.
Several of our members are also in the path of the cyclone so hopefully we'll survive.

26 FEB 2015

Spent from 3PM to 7:15PM yesterday (Thursday) at the hospital (Accident & Emergency).
Most of the time was spent waiting and waiting and waiting...

Like I've said before, it never rains but it pours with me!!

Tuesday, around 4PM I started to feel there was a problem with my left foot.
It was burning and had a few sharp pains. Went to bed early.

Was so-so when I got up on Wednesday but by lunchtime I had to go back to bed.
Got a fair amount of sleep but woke up around 3AM because it felt like wild animals were gnawing at my ankle. My foot was twice the size of my right foot. Took an Endone and went back to bed.... couldn't sleep.

Around 8AM, got up, took another Endone...
Worked on new tutorials because I couldn't sleep.
Jason had a lot of appointments for Jared and Hayden and wasn't free until around 2:30pm.
By then I'd had a shower and got myself ready to go to the hospital... had no other option.

Waited from 3PM to 6:30PM to be seen!
There were very few people in A & E so I don't know why it took so long.
A nurse had to give me another Endone while I was waiting.

Finally saw a young English female doctor. She checked the problem.
I had a black scab on my inner ankle towards the back. She thought it looked like it was full of blood.
Didn't want to do anything drastic without checking with her "boss".
She disappeared for what seemed like forever.
Fortunately Jason was with me to keep me amused. *S*
Finally she came back with another doctor... not sure what his nationality was...

He introduced himself... Dr. Kelly
I asked (tongue in cheek) "How do you spell that??"
He laughed... said he had Irish blood but was born in FIJI !!
I couldn't see any Irish blood in him... he was too dark... I think he was kidding me...but at least he seemed to know what he was doing.

He didn't want to lance it (thank God) because he felt he may not be able to stop any bleeding.
He decided on antibiotics and organised a script. The hospital pharmacy was closed so he suggested we go to a local Pharmacy that closes at 8PM. I have to return in 48 hours for a 'check up'.
If the antibiotics don't work, then I'll be admitted and put on a drip for a couple of days.

Went home. Jason went off on his motor bike to the pharmacy... it closed at 7PM not 8PM!!!
So he'll get the script from our usual pharmacy later today (Friday). It's 1:15am here right now.

Jason fixed dinner for me when he got back (hadn't eaten for 2 days) and of course, because I've had so many Endone, I fell asleep afterwards!

Woke up a short while ago and remembered this weeks animation... oops!!
So am writing this before I go back to bed and wait for the antibiotics.

Here's hoping the antibiotics work.
It's always a drama with me!!! I wish life would go back to being simple.
Fat chance!!! *S*

2 MARCH 2015

I've been invisible for a few days... I'm so sick of new health problems!
It's so frustrating ... grrrr!

I think it was Thursday when I was at the hospital and was supposed to return on Saturday morning for a check up. That didn't happen.
Reason... I didn't think the antibiotics would have had a chance to work in such a short time since I couldn't take the first dose until 10AM Friday when Jason was able to get them for me.

When I went to bed I had my feet resting on a large pillow to alleviate the pain.
Got up Saturday morning late... wound was weeping.
Must have been scratched by a nail from one of my twisted toes on my other foot, during the night.
Cleaned up the wound and Jason put a dressing on it. It's still weeping 3 dressings later.

Got up Sunday late in the morning and when I stood got this excruciating sharp pain... now it feels like I have a broken ankle. Not that I've ever had one... but I imagine it feels like this.
It's very hard to walk... and yes... I know I should have gone to the hospital there and then but I didn't.
Jason wasn't home when I got up. So I took pain killers.. didn't help much.

To take my mind off all of this I've been creating tutorials. Being off my feet has helped.

On top of all this Jason has been having cluster headaches for weeks.
Has gone through a ton of medication which can't be good for his liver. I worry about him.
With my nagging he's finally been able to organise getting home oxygen, which helps quickly and lasts longer than the medication. He's out right now picking up the tank and oxygen BUT we need to get the thing that goes over his face from the hospital. The supplier doesn't stock them. So I may go to the hospital later today depending on all the other obligations he has to take care of.

Went to check my email today... had 198 messages!!!!!!
Fortunately I could delete a lot of the rubbish and answered others directly from my webmail account.
So I was left with around 15 to download... Phew!!!
My ankle is stinging like Hell right now so I might have to bite the bullet and get myself to the hospital.

5 MARCH 2015

Went to the hospital on Monday... didn't admit me... never even suggested it.
So much for the original doctor making notes that if the antibiotics were not working I should be admitted.
Maybe the doctors have literacy problems!!
Was given another script for the same antibiotics and was told I was to attend the
Wounds Clinic... he would organise that!

Thankfully the head of the Wounds Clinic (Teresa) knows me well and won't do anything
I don't want done. It will be a waste of time....
At least it's not an ulcer... thank God!

Maybe I should change my attitude and start to think positive???

THE GOOD NEWS

An Angel (you know who you are *S*) in my group sent me a link to a possible remedy for my Psoriasis. After only a week, working on the 2 worst areas...
IT'S ALL BUT GONE!!!!
The relief is unbelievable!
THANK YOU!!!!

Jason got the oxygen cylinder and it is helping with his cluster headaches BUT
he still has to take the medication... that's a worry.

12 MARCH 2015

Went to the Wounds Clinic yesterday.... Teresa says I DO have an ulcer on my ankle...
The original swab showed nothing so she took another and my GP will be informed early next week.
She dressed it BUT said in a couple of weeks I will probably be able to use the same dressing that's healing my other ulcer. Why I can't use it now... I don't know.

Anyway, the pain is still happening but not as bad... so I can quit taking pain killers until I really need them. I hate taking pills!

Hayden... 2nd grandson... is eating me out of house and home!!
His stomach is a bottomless pit!
He "inhales" his dinners... I've never seen anyone eat so fast...especially when he eats all day!!
His mother got the best end of this deal...
she doesn't have to take him to appointments (saving petrol)...
she doesn't have to feed him (saving a packet on groceries).

I don't know how Jason is coping... I don't wonder he has cluster headaches.. from the stress.

Gave Hayden and Jared a lecture yesterday.... told them to pick up their socks!
Their Dad is an unpaid taxi service for both and then he also makes dinner.
He shouldn't have to wash up too!!
So from now on they can take turns washing up AT NIGHT!!
We'll see how that goes....

19 MARCH 2015

Went to the Wounds Clinic yesterday.... No infection in my new wound... and it's shrunk by half a cm.
Using my dressing... and she's going to see if she can get the hospital will add it to their supplies.
She didn't know about it but was happy with the way it works.

Should have only hit one supermarket yesterday as planned BUT I wanted it over and done.
Big mistake! I was in agony most of the night.
I hope my Rheumatoid specialist comes up with something to put me out of this chronic pain.
I see her on 30th March.

At least Jason's headaches are getting fewer and fewer since he got the oxygen.

"Washing Up" lecture last week...
Hayden hasn't a problem with it.. doing as I asked.
Jared... he's another story....
I went through to get a coffee the morning after he was supposed to do the dishes.. the sink was full.
I left a note at the sink... "This works both ways Jared.. think about it!"
So... this week I didn't get his favourite snacks when I did the shopping.
He'll get the message!! *S*

Jared's problem is that my mother used to do everything for him no matter how much I protested.

Well.. that's my weekly whinge!! LOL!
Things can only get better... can't they ???? *S*

30 MARCH 2015

Got up at around quarter to 5am... hardly slept all night because I didn't want to sleep in.
Got myself ready and Jason and I headed for the Garage to fill up around 6am.

We got about 100 yards down the road on our way to the Sunshine Coast when we heard a squealing noise from the engine.... Jason stopped the car.. got out... opened the bonnet (hood for my US friends) and I saw him pull out a long piece of wire!!!!

The alternator belt was on it's way out. He was upset... I told him just to get us home and don't worry about it...

EVERYTHING HAPPENS FOR A REASON.

He's bought a new alternator belt and will change it today.

In the meantime.... I called my Specialist's Clinic to apologise for not turning up. Got a recorded message saying to phone after 9am ....which was the time for my appointment (I thought).

So I waited, phoned at the appropriate time.............. the receptionist couldn't find my appointment!
Checked for Tuesday and found it.. told her what had happened.. she laughed.

When Jason got home after buying the belt I said.... "I told you everything happens for a reason....
Guess what... the appointment isn't until tomorrow, Tuesday at 9:15am!!!!!" He laughed (thank God!).

We would have had a 5 hour round trip for nothing... Jason would have had good reason to be upset.
I would have been ticked off too having to do the trip twice... double fuel cost....

So... all's well that ends well.. LOL!!

APRIL - JUNE 2015