Tag Archives: insomnia

Still Improving

Posted on by May 19, 2016  

Well, the Christmas and New Year’s holidays are over, and things are about to get back to “normal” around here. I made it through all the holiday foods without upsetting my stomach again, and I’ve finished the round of antibiotics. So I really can tell that I’m still improving.

I’ve stopped taking the Reglan and also the Nortriptyline for now. One of them was giving me horrible nightmares, and I haven’t gotten back to my usual sleep pattern yet. The Reglan is not to be taken long term anyway, as it can cause Dyskinesia, and I sure don’t want that! I plan to ask the doctor why he put me on the Nortiptyline, since it’s an anti-depressant. So many of these meds have off label uses, that I don’t want to just stop it completely without knowing why I was taking it.

I still am taking the Carafate an hour before meals and at bedtime, and I won’t go back to the supplements and vitamins I normally take until I stop that. It was just too hard trying to schedule all those extra pills and have my stomach empty for the Carafate.

I even managed to lose another pound during the holidays!! That surprised me, because I allowed myself to enjoy meals with family without concern for glucose readings or calories. I guess my stomach has shrunk, plus my eating habits have changed considerably since April 1, 2009, when I started dieting in earnest.

I am now trying to build back my exercise routine. I did Tai Chi yesterday morning for the first time in I can’t remember when, and I used the treadmill for 3 whole minutes. I know that doesn’t sound like much, but it’s an inexpensive manual one that only has the one incline setting, and walking on it for 2 minutes at a time has been all I could muster, until yesterday. I’m such a weakling! LOL

I never have been much for New Year’s Resolutions, but I guess mine needs to be to get back on a regular exercise routine and stick to it. I’ve lost enough weight now that I’m really in need of some toning up. I don’t know if this old body can recuperate from the baggy skin, but I need to try, at least. And I certainly do need to improve my stamina.

I didn’t do a very good job of testing my glucose levels regularly during the holidays. My results page has lots of empty spots in it. It seemed like every day I would either forget to take it, or we would be out of our normal routine, and I couldn’t take it at the right time. We went to see a lot of movies over the last couple of weeks, and I couldn’t take it then. The rest of the times were just negligence on my part.

My Diabetes doctor said I was doing fine and not to be so concerned about the high readings, and I think I’ve succeeded in not stressing over them to the point that now I’m not diligent any more. It’s always hard for me to find balance, and this is just another example. I’ll try to do better in January. I see him at the end of the month, and I guess he’ll do another A1C then. That will tell the tale, for sure, from my holiday laxness. I’m growing more and more confident that my weight loss will eventually get me out of the diabetic range. I know that’s my goal for April, 2010. I expect to have lost 50 pounds by then, and no longer be diabetic.

At my heaviest ever in March, ’09, I weighed 182, and I’m down to 142 now. So I’ve come a long way. I’m totally motivated to get the rest of the 12 pounds off that I set as my goal, and who knows, maybe I’ll lose a few more than that! I know I couldn’t have done it without keeping track of my calories and carb intake daily. There again, the test will be whether I can achieve a balance of right eating without having to count calories when I’m down to 130. I’ll have to watch the scales pretty carefully to keep from gaining it back!

Sounds like I do have some New Year’s Resolutions after all! And I’m sure I join lots of others who plan to eat more healthy foods, exercise, and lose weight this year. I look forward to twenty ten as being a good, healthy year for me!!!!!

One Thing about a Movement Disorder – It Never Stays the Same

Posted on by May 24, 2016 4

We had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving together as a family, but of course I was pretty tired afterward. So, as I had planned, I waited until Monday to change back to the Primidone. Not only was I jerking more with the Neurontin, but I had noticed a marked increase in really bad nightmares. To compensate for the lack of sleep at night I have started taking 30 minute naps during the day if I get sleepy.

Adding the extra dose of MiraLax around 5PM in a glass of prune juice is helping keep the constipation at bay at least for now, but the gas is still all but overwhelming. I’m also getting 3 or 4 prunes a day with lunch every day we eat at home.

The nightmares have not stopped, as I had hoped they would when I went off the Neurontin, but at least the jerking has subsided again. I’m going to have to work harder to get my mouth used to the TAP again, so I can get a decent night’s sleep.

I got up about 12:30PM this morning, jerked wide awake by a particularly scary dream, but did manage to go back to sleep about 2AM I guess. Now here I am awake again at 4:30. So I’ll be running on fumes today. At least, since it’s our Date Day I can sleep in the car on the long stretches. I could really tell that less sleep was taking its toll on me yesterday, as I felt old and tired all day.

You know what it is like to sit in a car and tap on the glass to talk to someone outside??? Well, that’s the way I feel these days. I feel like my young self is trapped inside this old decrepit body, tapping away trying to make myself heard. Not a very good simile, but it will have to do for now. My brain still feels like I’m a young woman, but my body seems to get older and older by the moment. All day yesterday just getting up off the sofa seemed to be enough to exhaust me. So I know I need to get better quality sleep, and more of it, too.

We’re in our Christmas rush time for selling our Plush Animals and Dolls, so that keeps me moving, whether I feel like it or not. Hubby tries to leave all the getting of items out of inventory up to me, as it forces me to move around more than I probably would otherwise. I get all the packing materials together, print out the packing slip, and weigh the package. Then I print out the postage.

But then he takes over, double checking that I have the right toy going to the right person and checking to be sure everything is as it should be. He seals the packages up and puts the postage on. I was making too many mistakes, and this seemed like the best way to keep me active both physically and mentally, and still not get so frustrated with every mistake I was making. It makes me so mad when I can’t find a toy in the box it should be in. We have had to refund money several times because I couldn’t find a toy that my records showed we should have in stock. Keeping track of all the “paperwork” gets to be overwhelming at times, but I know it is keeping my brain active.

I was very pleased with myself about one thing I accomplished this week. I have noticed that it is very hard for me to learn how to do something completely new these days. So I was very happy with myself when I successfully followed the directions to make some java script to use on our Shopping Cart page. Yeah Yeah… I know that’s geek talk, but it is important to me, because I have never done any writing of java scripts before. I learned how to do something totally out of my realm of expertise. I’m patting myself on the back for that!

I continue to do my morning exercises, including my own version of Tai Chi for the balance impaired, although I didn’t do any this morning. Just getting in and out of the car and walking around at the sales today will give me plenty of exercise for today. I will do my neck exercises, though, as usual. They don’t take long and I sure don’t want that frozen painful neck situation to come back if I can help it.

So, this week I have felt terribly old and decrepit, but also beaming with pride at my successful creation of some java script code. I’ve changed back to the Primidone and the jerks have settled back down, and at least for now I have the constipation under control.

All in all, I’d say it’s been a good week.

YARD SALE today!!

Posted on by May 25, 2016 7

Well, I’ve worked myself ragged this week helping move things out to the garage for our big yard sale, and now comes the moment of truth! Did we set the prices too high? Are they too low?? Should be a fun day, with beautiful weather.

Once hubby decided it was time to have one he really got busy, and there’s no way I could have done this on my own. I’m pretty sore from helping to move furniture around, plus lots more walking and lifting than I have been used to. It’s been good for me, as long as I didn’t over do it. Only time will tell on that one.

We managed to get quite a few of the boxes from my parents’ house out there, so that will free up some space in the house. Anything to cut down on the clutter will make it easier to get the rest of the last couple of years accumulation of stuff under control. I just have not felt like cleaning, and poor hubby has been doing the best he could to take care of me and take care of the house. I won. House lost. I’m sure not complaining, as he has done all the laundry for years, fixes meals, and waits on me like I was a princess. He’s the love of my life, and no one could ask for a better helpmete.

We swapped out recliners, bringing my mother’s recliner in the house and putting mine in the yard sale. Hers is a much smaller frame chair and really opened up the living room. I’ve slept in that recliner for several years taking care of Mama and Daddy, so I know how comfortable it is. It was a chore to make the swap with such bulky furniture, but I am glad we did. That is as along as our backs don’t complain too much!

We went to the dentist this week for our regular cleaning appointment, and this was the first time I had been back since the new meds and new diagnosis. I was fine until the next day, when I woke up with a very sore jaw. The muscles on both sides were aching from keeping my mouth open so long. At one point yesterday the right side started up with spasms. It was weird, because it made my eyeglasses move! I yawned some big yawns and did some exaggerated mouth stretches and managed to get it to stop, but that was another first for me. I hate to think what it would have been like if I were not on the Primidone. I probably would have bitten her hand off right there in the dentist chair!!

I’m back to the early rising again, and the change from Daylight Savings Time tomorrow is going to play havoc with my sleep for awhile, too. I get a lot done in the wee hours of the morning, but it sure makes me sleepy early in the evening. I’m like a baby getting my days and nights mixed up. But no amount of just laying there will help me go back to sleep, so I might as well get something productive done with my time, right?

One other thought before I put this rambling post away. I made the signs for the Yard Sale, and was very pleased with the results. It’s amazing how steady my hand is now compared to the way it was before the Primidone. I took drafting for 3 years in high school and taught handwriting in elementary school, so neat printing is something I used to be very good at. I had reached the point that my handwriting was difficult to read, let alone pretty. But this week I was able to free hand draw the letters and then go over the lines with a Sharpie and keep the ink where I wanted it!!! It was a wonderful moment for me, because it says so much about how much I have improved over the last few months.

Well, I’ve rambled on – not too surprising considering I’ve been up since 2AM – but feeling really good about my accomplishments this week. It may take a year, but I am going to win out over this messy house!

Didn’t Know that Dry Mouth is Something to be Concerned about

Posted on by May 25, 2016 2

I had my normal cleaning appointment yesterday and was careful to give my Dentist the new diagnosis and meds I was on. I told him that I had read that it was particularly important that I tell him I was on Triavil. I had assumed incorrectly that the caution had to do with using gas for dental work. But my dentist says that is not the reason for needing to know about it. He said that any meds or conditions that caused a dry mouth left the teeth much more open to rapid decay. It seems that saliva does a lot toward keeping the mouth bacteria population under control.

He suggested a Fluoride mouth wash, but NOT one that had alcohol in it. And he said that may be too strong for some people, and that it could cause gum irritation. There were alternatives that he could offer, but not over the counter products. So I will try this first and see how I do.

I told him that I had stopped using the TAP device, since the change in diagnosis, and because I was leary of using it while my GERD was acting up so much. I could not chance gagging and choking on the reflux acid that would back up into my mouth.

It did seem to stop the mouth breathing for a long time, but I have not been sleeping as well just lately, so I was thinking about trying it again. He said I needed to use it at least once a month regardless, because teeth tend to move ever so slightly over time. If I didn’t wear it often enough it would reach the point that it did not fit any longer. And I certainly don’t want to spend that money again sometime in the future, when I could have prevented it.

So I’ve been up most of the night tonight, just the way I used to do. This has been gradually coming on for the last few weeks, but tonight was the worst it’s been in a very long time. I’m actually wearing the TAP right now. We decided it made more sense to wear it for awhile while I am awake, until my mouth gets used to it again. Right now if feels like I have some huge thing in my mouth, but I’m sure it will become much more comfortable, just the way it did last time, if I work at it.

I have been noticing an increase in the way my brain and emotions cannot handle any kind of time pressure, no matter how slight. And every time I try to fool with those stupid Digital Converter boxes and try to tape a program it really shows up big time. I was so frazzled last night trying to get it set up to tape a program that I don’t think I could have told you my name!! It’s a horrible feeling, and one that I prefer to attribute to the med side effects, rather than a true sign of dementia onset. It’s hard to get that thought completely out of my mind, though, after caring for my mother so long before she died with Alzheimer’s. As I have mentioned in some other posts, my family’s neurological history is not pretty.

I’m continuing to try to up my activity level a little bit each day, but I still can only work in short spurts. After that I need to do something sitting for awhile, which for me usually means working on the computer.

And I’ve gone back to doing the neck exercises each morning (I wasn’t supposed to stop), since I’ve been getting the tingling nerve signal again that means the degenerated cervical disk is pressing on a nerve. I don’t want to end up in the stiff and painful situation I was in earlier this year, so for now at least I’m being a good girl and following doctor’s orders. It’s just hard to make myself faithfully do them when I’m feeling good. Yes, that’s childish and foolish. Guilty on both counts. But I’ll try to be better about continuing them this time, even when it stops bothering me.

It takes at least 21 times to build or break a habit, but it’s worth the 21 days to have a better Quality of Life!! So, old habits have been revived, and hopefully continued. This will give me something positive to work on each day.

I intend to ENJOY this Holiday Season, and not just survive it, the way I have the last few years.

Decided to Go Slowly with Triavil

Posted on by May 25, 2016  

I intentionally waited 24 hours after stopping the Bentyl before starting the Triavil, just as a precaution. As far as I could find the Bentyl has a short half life, so that should have been enough to get it out of my system.

The problem is …. I always try to do as much research as possible with any new medicine I take, and the more I read about the possible side effects of Triavil, otherwise known as Elavil, the less I liked it. By last night I was very upset about it and almost decided to call my Gastro today and tell him I didn’t want to take it.

But I did find that it was used off label for Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and also for Insomnia. He would be prescribing it to me for IBS. I did not like the fact that it is an antidepressant. In fact I got pretty depressed last night just thinking about going on it. I found one place that said that the dose is much lower when used for IBS than for depression, and that did make me feel better.

The PDR said it would possibly make me sleepy, dizzy, or groggy, along with a bunch of other possibles that I don’t even want to write down. So … after much research and a lot of miserable hours I decided to take the night dose right before bed and see how I felt today.

Well, it did make me groggy this morning – that odd medicated feeling that’s not quite woozy, but not quite right, either. That lasted until close to noon, so I will just stay on the night dose for several days and see how I do. Eventually I am supposed to take it 3 times a day. But I’m in no hurry. Tardive Dyskinesia is in the list of possible side effects, and that doesn’t sound good at all!!! So for now it will be no more than 10 mg for me.

As for my digestion? I’m still hurting, and I felt lousy today, but we did go out on our Date Day. We came home early, but I would rather have done that than not go out at all.

Only time will tell how this plays out.

Re-Testing Peripheral Neuropathy Monday

Posted on by March 1, 2008  

I see the MDS specialist the first week of April, so it seemed like a good idea to ask for a Neuropathy test before I see him. When I first saw my Neurologist, it was at the suggestion of my Orthopedist, who had concluded that my super labored walking was not caused by lumbar disk pressure.

He sent me to Lakeshore to have the Nerve Conduction Velocity Test, which uses patches like those they stick on the chest to check for heart problems. They pass an electric current and check to see how long it takes the message to register between the patches. It’s uncomfortable at the time, but not really too bad. The other test is called Electromyography. That’s the one where they poke electrodes the size of needles in your muscles, and it is supposed to show how well the muscles respond when the nerve is stimulated. That test is not at all comfortable. I actually had little pin prick size blood spots all over my legs when that one was over.

Anyway, the results showed definite Axonal Peripheral Neuropathy, mostly in my right leg. Because I was having trouble walking, and the test order came as a result of my Ortho dealing with my back and legs, he did not order the test to be done on my arms as well.

My Neuro was not at all happy that he did not have results for my arms as well as my legs, but he proceeded with the info he had, as my insurance would not likely have paid for a repeat test so soon.

So, I talked to his nurse a couple of days ago, and I’m scheduled to have the complete PN test battery Monday, at my “suggestion” – translate that as strong urging. This test is very uncomfortable, but it seems to me I need to get any tests done now, not wait and “waste” the visit with this very hard to see Head of Neurology at UAB.

I’m still experimenting with any variables I can think of. so, for the last four days I have not used the TAP dental device, which is to control my mild Sleep Apnea. The mouth tics started about the same time I started using the TAP, and I’m trying to be sure that this off and on again mouth twitching I’ve been doing is not being aggravated by the mouthpiece. Surprisingly, I’m still sleeping 7 or 8 hours a night, even without it. I think it did break me of the mouth breathing habit, which may be the cause of the relaxed jaw that was allowing my throat to close up during sleep.

I have noticed a definite correlation between the mouth twitches or tics and how stressed or tired I am. So they get worse as the day goes on. If I stop to think about them, I can stop them momentarily, but it’s as if my mouth is determined to move, no matter what I do, and it soon starts back up again.

I figure I’ll make sure Monday that there aren’t any other tests I should have done, or repeat, before seeing Dr. Watts at UAB. I have to call his office to change my insurance information to show that Medicare is my Primary insurance now, as this is the month I turn 65. So I will talk to his nurse and see if they suggest any other tests. I have learned to be proactive in such situations. It amazes me that doctor’s offices don’t initiate this kind of pre-visit planning, but they don’t.

By way of contrast, when we made an appointment with a financial counselor to help us with investing my inheritance, we received a huge packet of papers to fill out and a long list of documents to bring with us for our first meeting. That’s the way it should be with doctors, in my opinion.

So, I will do what I can to document everything and have everything ready for this crucial visit. I can’t even talk to someone about Long Term Care insurance, or anything insurance related, until I have a diagnosis. No insurance company in their right mind would take me on as a customer right now.

Tax Time is looming, and that’s one thing I am dreading doing, but I can’t put it off much longer. Oh, did you know that people who file an extension will NOT receive this stimulus package $300 thingy they all keep talking about? I have always filed on time, but I know some people habitually delay it, and might need to know that.

I continue to work to get our inventory of plush lovies online, and we have managed to help several families get replacements for lost toys lately, which is extremely satisfying. I’m also helping to beta test a new Mood community on Patients Like Me, and finding the charting of my own moods to be interesting.

I may be twitching, but I am in a good mood today, and that’s a great way to end this post.

Physical Therapy Continues

Posted on by January 7, 2008 6

I’ve been to a couple of PT sessions now, but all they have done so far is do the ultrasound and the TENS. My neck still gets very painful, if I have to sit for any length of time unsupported, such as at meals and at church, but already it is more flexible than it was. I see them today, Wednesday, and Friday. We went out last Friday for our Date Day after I finished the session, so I guess that’s the way we will do it for awhile.

I goofed on my medicines last week and put the Sinemet and Lodosyn in the boxes, as usual. That’s what my Neurologist told me to stop taking, and I forgot! No harm, really. But I made a big time bad mistake when I filled them this time. I put 4 diuretic pills in, where it should have been the colon relaxer pills!! I didn’t catch it until that night, when I take the last Bentyl by itself. That’s when I realized it was the wrong color pill. Makes me so mad at myself when I mess up like that. I’m just thankful I didn’t get into trouble with all that diuretic in me!!!

I started this post on Monday, but the interview I did last week about our Plush Memories Lost Toy Search Service was included in an msnbc.com article that published yesterday. So, I spent most of the day reading requests from families who are looking for lost lovies, and writing everyone to tell them about being featured in the article. I was on cloud nine all day long. We were able to connect two of our searchers with families who had the toy they needed, and were willing to give or sell it to them.

I got mixed up on the timing for my meds again, but not too badly this time. It’s just aggravating that it happens at all. I think it’s a Freud thing going on – I’m just sick and tired of all these meds, no matter how much I know I need them.

I’m tired today, too, because I stopped using the TAP for a few days, thinking that would help my neck to settle down. Of course that also means I’m not sleeping as many hours. I figure do without it one week, and if that is going to help, that would be long enough to see a difference. I will use the TAP again this weekend, or maybe next Monday, one way or the other.

The excitement of yesterday has calmed down now, but I am trying to stay upbeat, hurting neck or not.

Sitting MRI and a Full Night’s Sleep

Posted on by December 13, 2007 2

Well, I had my Standing MRI on my neck yesterday. I was having some strong tremors when I got there, so the technician changed it to a Sitting MRI! LOL!! He also put a lightly restraining halo on my head, and I managed to stay still through the whole 30 minutes. He said I did just fine.

Of course I won’t find out anything until next week probably. I’m guessing that he will prescribe Physical Therapy again, particularly since I had such a terrible reaction to the Celestone steroid shot for my poison ivy. It depends on just how much damage he sees, I guess.

I have my Neurologist appointment next week, so I will be talking to him about how I should proceed. He may have me stop taking the Zelepar, as that seems to be the med that gives me the most interaction warnings. It does not play well with others!

I have an appointment with my Sleep Apnea Specialist next week, too. He should be dismissing me, hopefully. I am sleeping a full 8 hours almost every night now. And it has made a miraculous difference in my daytime sleeping. Actually, I’m not having ANY daytime sleeping problems, now. I can ride in the car for hours now, and still carry on a conversation with my DH. It’s been years since I could do that. No more jerking awake at the computer from a few seconds of sound sleep out of nowhere. And, I am still on the Requip that gets blamed for this side effect. It wasn’t the medicine after all for me. I was just sleep deprived!

It’s so gratifying to see improvement even in one area of my health. And I have high hopes that Dr. J will fix the pain and stiffness in my neck.

I’ve Been Busy, Busy, Busy!!!

Posted on by December 6, 2007  

I’ve been so busy I hadn’t even realized how long it had been since I posted here. This is our busy time of year for selling on eBay, so I’ve been spending a lot of time taking pictures, writing descriptions, and packing items to ship. Hubby helps a lot with the packing, and he goes to the PO with them, but the photography and anything computer related is up to me.

I also have been very busy on the Plush Memories blog, because so many people have written wanting help finding their child’s lost lovey. It feels so good to actually help someone, and I have had some successes lately. But right now, I have something like 70 or so requests that I haven’t posted yet. Every time I open my email, there are a few more requests. It’s almost like being Santa, getting all the letters. But I’m not magic, and there are only so many hours in the day that I can give to it.

I am still sleeping a good 7 to 8 hours a night now. My alarm watch is waking me up at 5:00AM most mornings now. That’s made a huge difference in how much energy I have, and I’m not even dropping off to sleep in the car like I had been. I haven’t had the nerve to drive again, though. I have mentioned it to hubby, but he just doesn’t answer me. Not so sure he thinks it’s a good idea.

The elimination problems have improved slowly, and the Bentyl, prune juice, extra Metamucil, and the Glycolax are working. I bought a couple of books about IBS, and I’m trying to change some more of my eating habits, too. I had already made some huge changes over the last few years, thanks to the GERD. But now, my diet is even more restricted than ever. I eat the forbidden foods from time to time, like pizza, but I do it knowing that I can expect to have consequences. And I give in to the chocolate craving every once in awhile, as it’s the best cure for being upset that I have ever found. Yes, I am addicted to chocolate!!

Wearing the Skechers shoes helped last Sunday, and I was not anywhere near as unstable in them as I have been in my regular Sunday shoes. They’re not the kind of shoes anyone would normally wear with dress up clothes, but they are unobtrusive.

I’m to have a stand up MRI soon for my neck, as the pain and stiffness have not gone away at all. I’m waiting right now for my insurance to approve the test. The muscle relaxer and anti-inflammatory have not made a dent in my neck situation. The X-rays show the degenerated disks, and my Orthopedist knows about the problem I had with the Celestone. He said I may have to go off the Zelepar long enough to have the epidural in my cervical vertebrae. He said I would need to talk to the Anesthetist and work that out with him. Sounds fine to me!!!! If the epidural doesn’t work, the only thing left would be some form of surgery, and that I will avoid as long as possible.

Hubby’s sciatic nerve problem has flared up again, so he doesn’t feel like going to the track to walk. So I’ve been getting most of my exercise by working in the yard. The Lasagna Compost is still growing, one pile of wood chips, fertilizer, kitchen scraps, and dirt at a time. It sure is tempting to turn the pile to see if it’s working, but I have resisted the urge so far. I work in the yard several days a week for over an hour, so that’s good.

So, I think I have more positives going on than negatives, and that means today is a good day!!!!

Insurance Has APPROVED My Dental Appliance!!

Posted on by November 10, 2007 8

I knew I was having a good day yesterday! When we came home from our Date Day, I had a lovely letter waiting for me, stating that the TAP Dental Appliance has been approved by my insurance for the treatment of my Sleep Apnea. I immediately called them to find out how to get my money back, as I had to pay my dentist for it up front. They are sending me the forms to take care of this. Whooopiieeeee!! I had anticipated some trouble with them agreeing that it was eligible, so that’s something else I can cross off my list.

My neck is still very uncomfortable, but I made myself work on the compost heap this morning. I can’t afford to give in to it, or I’ll find myself able to do less and less.

I actually slept until my first medicine alarm went off this morning at 5:00AM! EIGHT HOURS OF SLEEP!!! That’s the first time that has happened. I’m still waking up quite a bit in the night, but unlike before, I am able to drift back to sleep, even after I’ve been up to use the bathroom.

We ate at on of our favorite Mexican restaurants yesterday for lunch, but I was a good girl and got the Huevos Rancheros, which is nothing but sunny side up eggs with sauce on top. I scrape the sauce over to the side, eat the Spanish rice and the eggs, and just taste the refried beans. I did get a side order of the guacamole, which I really enjoy and finished off a bunch of the tostados they bring. I did NOT have the woozy feeling after lunch. So I’m pretty sure it’s not protein that sets it off. It may be fat, though. I’ve basically been avoiding eating beef or pork for lunch. Most of the week we had the fake crab meat in a spinach and cabbage salad, and that does not cause the funny feeling, either.

I’m still having real problems with tremors and walking is not as easy, as I have this constant feeling of walking on Jello, because my legs are shaking the whole time I am walking. I’m using the cane just about any time we leave the house now, except for church. I’m trying to hold off using it there, because I get asked too many questions about how I’m doing. It makes me self conscious. I have started taking a lap robe to church, though, as I have come to realize that I have the hard tremors in church because I’m cold! I’ll be making an appointment with the Neurologist next week, now that I’ve been on the new meds for awhile and the apnea and tummy are well under control.

Our older daughter and her hubby are going to do the honors for Thanksgiving Dinner this year. They both love to cook, which I never did, and this is their first holiday in their new home. I’ve always been the one to have the Thanksgiving meal, but I’m very happy to pass this tradition along to her, and just help out with the expense. Hopefully our younger daughter and her family will be able to come, too. With me not having to do anything for dinner, I can really enjoy the day.

So, things continue to come to good conclusions, and I remain optimistic. May we all have a great day today!!