Today is ......

 Sunday.  I know that because I looked at the calendar.  It's been a strange, unsettling, and frustrating ....  week?  days?  

I hope your Thanksgiving was enjoyable.  I had Carole and Chris here and we all commented on the food being the best ever.  Same recipes, nothing different, but oh my it was.  If you haven't tried our green beans casserole or sweet potato casserole, you must.  Green beans here and Sweet Potato here.  The green beans are just too good and no soup!  But don't substitute yogurt for the sour cream or it will be watery after baking.  We have a little of the cranberry walnut salad left because I made the full 9 x 13 instead of a half recipe.  We always dealt with the turkey resting before carving and trying to keep that plate hot enough.  Several friends informed me that they always roast the day before, allow it to cool to hold juice, carve and add to a large dish.  College Inn turkey broth is then added to the cold meat, covered, and reheated the next day at 350 for 15 minutes and then reduced to 250.  Did not believe them at first because reheating turkey breast????  Really?  Well we tried it and have done this for the last three years.  Wonderful.  I guess not carving until really cool and then layered with the broth does the trick.  All our dishes, including Holiday Mashed Potatoes were prepared the day before and just put into the oven, except for the gravy.  Takes the rush and hassle out of the day, even if it's only with two guests.

That was a good thing, but several days before I started feeling great anxiety and depression almost to despair.  Suddenly.  Unexpected.  Puzzling.  Since this started when the beta blocker pills did, and I am extremely drug sensitive, I called the pharmacy.  Yep.  My cardio doc told me he takes a beta blocker to improve his mood on a bad day which I found very odd, and assumed he was joking.  Turns out in a few cases it can absolutely cause my symptoms.  They told me to take a half dose to adjust and give it a few weeks.  I can see the fog is lifting.  The palps and the fibbing are continuing, have not had a break as yet.  But last night was a real test.

I needed more greenery for outdoors and we thought Arby's sandwiches would be good to have with the leftover dishes, so out we went at dusk.  My fear of that time of day in our area of deer is always present, and there she was.  Mark slammed on the brakes and we missed her but the oncoming car could care less and she barely made it across the road.  That sudden panic caused an unbelievable increase in the palps.  We all feel that adrenaline rush and pounding heart when startled, but this would not leave.  On the way back, there was a bump in the middle of the road.  As the headlights shown, it lifted its head, a cat trying to get food from a long dead critter.  It was a 50mph brief sighting, lots of traffic behind us on this hill.  No street lights so we couldn't see once passed.  It wasn't until after midnight and an Ativan that inside jitters stopped.   The shock of the deer was long over and I was certainly calmed down, but that pounding would not stop.  My bottom BP number almost matched the top for a time.  But it settled and I was able to sleep.  Too much info, huh?

Not decorating much at all this year, took out the very small trees, using a larger lighted wire tree without ornaments.  Just not into it.  Prior years outdoor was my usual door basket and buckets of fresh greens, grapevine tree at the door.  I really need to make another one since this is getting brittle but haven't found enough vines.  

I had a brown wire tree here last year and did like it, may buy another.   What a difference weathered wood makes.  Mark likes the look of even stain, I prefer the aged.  I even think I like the old door better.

I pulled out my sit-on Lacis hoop and will try working on the body of Elizabeth.  I started, it's not easy to get used to since I work almost exclusively in hand but I'll try.  If not, the spool huggers will go back on.  I looked at a few Christmas designs and was planning to order, but ....  And I am still seriously considering Dorothy Walpole, but queen stitches in that gorgeous band are not something I could do and that area should not be omitted.  

My cousin's daughter in another state is getting married in January.  She is not allowed more than 10 in the church including the bride, groom, priest, and witnesses.  You can have one person per pew at opposite ends!! But the country club hosting the lunch after is not a problem.  Really?  Passing Kraynak's last night, the parking lot was completely filled, overflow to the plaza across the street.  Our restaurants are restricted and dying even with plexiglass and 10 foot spacing.  There were hundreds of people in that store buying Christmas lights/trees and those aisles are not spaced any differently than other years.   Carole's best friend has a daughter, son in law, grandkids, and great grands testing positive.  My cousin's family has had several positive, cold symptoms a few days, and luckily are fine now.  They worked from home since March, walk and run outside, groceries and meals delivered (all were guys) no restaurants or bars.  And positive.  Chris (type 1 diabetic with HBP) has been a like a bird going from one place to another almost daily for my demanding sister since March and so far, he has been lucky.  She is getting more short of breath lately and wondered if her heart is worsening, or possibly because she sits in front of the TV all day, not much movement.  Being most times outspoken, all times a crabass, and other times smart, I did not reply to her query.  Cleveland will be a visit in the spring, they haven't increased her meds as planned on the virtual visits.

This is the last day before the unpleasant weather hits the fan so I will be outside finishing up chores and windows.

Bud is eating some, afraid of his food (he circles the dishes in hunting position), losing weight and showing his age but still happy.

Sorry for the boring post!   Thanks for making it to the end!

Stay safe everyone.

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Slow and steady

Still need the backstitched leaves and the house fill on the top section, but that's all.  I don't care for the light vases and their flowers but can certainly live with them.  I need to complete the ecru eyelets in two dividing bands but have so far avoided that task (light threads are not going well!).

I visited Kohl's today and was able to order at the kiosk for free shipping on a few sale items.  Then I found other items throughout the store for rock bottom prices including a sherpa (inside and out) top, labeled HeatKeep.  All were gifts, but I couldn't resist trying this top on when I returned home.  OMG.  It is the softest, coziest top ever.  I am returning tomorrow hoping they have my size left in every color, if not, the kiosk will deliver!   But my goodness is it ever warm.  Since my flashes are still with me, it will be on and off and on and off but I'm willing to do that for the sheer comfort of this fabric.

Bud is eating a little, still losing weight.  

Jilly, I can't reply to you, and I appreciate all the advice.  I want to thank everyone who offered their experience being an Afibber, I am listening and learning!!  And thumping away.   My BP monitor has shown arrhythmia every time for almost two weeks.  Doctor said the beta blocker will take a few weeks to kick in and if nothing changes, a 48 hour monitor may be a good idea.

I was going to type "have a nice weekend" but good gravy it's over!!  I wasn't having issue with identifying days until recently and it's a little disconcerting.  

Well, have a good Monday!!

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The good and the bad

First the good.  I started the house color because I couldn't wait.  The Brandy is one half of the rows, 729 is the others, color is the same.  I decided to do half cross with the DMC and decide later if I want the Brandy or not.  I really like the way this color will look.  I will use the method of entire house done vertical half cross first, then complete the stitch with horizontal rows.   I know I harp on this method but it's made my large areas so much nicer.  

The sad is our Budman. He was older when he showed up and that was twelve years ago.  He has a bad tooth or something in his mouth (but no odor) and he panics when we try to touch his mouth to check.  The vet said his heart is bad, and stress is not good.  He could not sedate him to examine and certainly not use anesthesia to correct a problem.  He was eating baby food and watered pate but won't get near a dish now, prefers to sleep.  He looked to be failing before this happened, and I think it's his time to leave.  

Sunny but cool today.  I have outside work to do. 

Enjoy your day.

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And then this happened

 

Bye bye gorgeous mum.  You were alive and vibrant for a very long time, but PA put an end to that.

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The doctor showed me my EKGs and explained a few things.  None that I am happy about.  I am having double and triple beats followed by double skips.  Has not stopped yet.  But my sinus rhythm is good, which makes no sense to a layman.  He actually told me it was not dangerous, it will affect my mental well being and anxiety more.  Well, it is.  He started me on a low dose of a beta blocker and said it may help, but other than that, live with it.  As for the Afib, he did not see this on the seven EKGs that the hospital doctor did.  My episodes are brief and can be treated with a "pill in a pocket" or ablation, neither which I require at this time.  Since I can't feel the Afib, how would I know when it's time to take a pill?  That's a question for the future.  So I will take this as good news and an annoying and unnerving condition that may improve.  Thank you for your prayers and good thoughts!

Now for stitching.  I completed the zigzag border and the bird beneath an off one thread tree that is not noticeable.  The breast is the color the house is to be.  No way I can stitch that large of a area with a thread so similar to the linen.  I just can't seem to get in the right hole!  I found this Brandy and I think it was used in a Plum Street design house.  Not too bright, and not too dramatic a change from the chart.  I'm not sure if there is enough left so I will order another (which will be completely different I'm sure), and also a few Colour & Cotton soft golds.  I think it will be OK, I really don't have much choice.

Hope your week started off uneventful, and is smooth sailing (or sledding) to its end.

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Thumping away

 Yesterday turned into a very unnerving evening and I was dressed and ready to go, and didn't.  I called the ER and the only doctor there was the same I had previously, and I was refused a brief chat with her about returning.  I understand they are not permitted to give medical advice but I had a question about the summary I received of her report.  From it, I gathered there is no urgency and she suggested I see my PCP, not a cardiologist.  After messaging my PCP to tell her of the visit and to request my fricking $600 pills, I received a reply - I called in your prescription.  No offer of an appt., no questions, no concern.  I've been with her for 20 years and was considering a change, which she knew.  So I guess her ego is more important than her patients.  We have some real buttheads around here for doctors.

 I was lucky that a cancellation occurred for Tuesday morning with a cardio I have seen before, affiliated with the hospital here.  The one that caused so many errors and failed procedures for Carole, but I will sit down with the Tuesday doctor and see what the plan will be and take it from there.  My hospital and doctors of choice have no openings until February.  Ativan has been a huge help in allowing me to sleep comfortably.  

As for the Eliquis cost, my Part D plan and most all of them for 2021 has moved a lot of generics and other drugs into Tier 3.  A deductible was added for any drugs in 3 or higher of $435.  Medicare patients are not eligible for coupons, co-pay cards, discounts, nothing.  You can use GoodRx, SingleCare and others, but without involving/using Part D coverage.  We do regularly because their drug costs are cheaper than through our paid insurance.  But only for generics.  It's a shame to be forced to purchase an insurance plan and find lower costs without it.  Example - Metrogel was $92 through our plan, and $32 through GoodRx.  The law is as follows and penalizes Medicare patients.

Under the federal anti-kickback law, it's illegal for drug manufacturers to offer any type of payment that might persuade a patient to purchase something that federal health care programs like Medicare and Medicaid might pay for.

Sorry you jackasses, but I need Eliquis to prevent a stroke, it's not like I'm being persuaded to buy a new mascara.  And I can't get Xiidra which helps my eyes.  If I purchase a plan through Express Scripts which I had when employed, aren't they paying for the drug?  Why would Medicare be paying?  If they are, why do we need all these companies begging us to buy their plan?   If they aren't, that fricking law doesn't apply.  I don't get it.  But it stinks.

Well that was a rant of sorts.

Here's an odd tidbit of info about Afib.  I noticed that at times during the palps, I was burping quite often, not normal for me.  This continued for days (I've had these since last Wednesday).  Guess what?  Burping can be an indication of AF episodes.  The vagus nerve is involved and I found this very interesting.

Both the heart and the digestive systems are strongly regulated by the vagus nerve. Stimulation of the vagus nerve is responsible for controlling gastrointestinal motility and can sometimes initiate episodes of AF. Because of this relationship, it is sometimes observed that cold drinks can trigger episodes of AF.

We have a friend who has been through ablation after ablation after ablation.  Twenty years of mutiple procedures and no help at all.  This article claims an ablation is not the treatment if the AF is caused by the nerve.  Could this be why he hasn't had relief?

https://www.richardbogle.com/blog/vagal-af-if-you-dont-consider-it-you-will-miss-it

My mother had permanent, my sister had paroxysmal now permanent, my brother has paroxysmal.  In all the ER and doctor visits, no one questioned the details of onset.  I'm sure none were/are the vagal type in our cases, but it's something to consider for athletes and younger patients because the drugs to treat are ineffective and a different avenue is taken.  Interesting!

Done with the boring, on to the stitching.

This is all the stitching I've accomplished, working to the right of the house, and the double outline of the border.   It depends on how shaky I feel, not as bad today.

I worked out a brick pattern and chose the threads, scanned this into the Paint program to visualize.  Did not care for it.  Who doesn't like a brick house?  I can't explain it, other than the familiarity of seeing this chart over the years and loving it as is.  I found a partial skein of GA Brandy and it may work, not much variegation, but may be too gold.  

Have a good day folks.  We're under a severe thunderstorm watch but so far so good.

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Jazzed up

 ((💓)) Big time.  I started having arrhythmia yesterday and after five hours, decided it was time for an ER visit.   Afib is mixed in with skips and PVCs (premature ventricular contractions) and driving me nuts.  I am so jittery from my chest and insides shaking that I can't successfully get that skinny needle in the correct hole all the time, so stitching is on hold until I have a steady hand.  I was to be admitted but declined.  The gentleman in the hall had just tested positive for Covid and I did not want to stay anyway.  Now, I'm a little sorry I didn't.  My doc appt isn't until Tuesday and I will try tomorrow for an earlier visit with another doctor office since there has been no break in the action.  Not for a minute.  So unnerving, a little scary, and four more days will be tough.  Not sure what they can do but I need to find $600 to get back on Eliquis.  If it gets worse, I will go back and stay.  We were there well past midnight and I am tired and sleepy, but it's difficult to sleep when you fear what may happen during that time.  I gotta wake up!!!  I have to finish Elizabeth!!

Enjoy your weekend.

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