Tuesday May 20th 2025

No Stars In My Eyes · May 20

I made the phone calls 'early' (for me!) which means before noontime.

Fortunately the bank card people say there have been no charges on the card since I used it on Friday, so that's good. Murphy's Law will probably prevail and I will run across the now cancelled card during some clean-up chore. But, now I have to wait the proverbial 5 to 7 business days to get my new card. 🙄

I also called the doctor's office and the earliest they can get me in is tomorrow at 10:20 AM. Am going to have to slather on the Benadryl cream on the more newly affected areas, because I woke myself up scratching the left side of my neck and behind that ear, because gawda'mighty it itches like CRAY=ZZZZZY! 😳 And I am also going to ask him to take the dx of "obese" OFF the list of current diagnoses, 'cause I AIN'T obese ANY MORE! 😁

Sooooo, now I have to decide what of my list in my brain-book I might do today. Hmmm, let's see....

1.) Give away the bottle of TIDE to a neighbor who might use it. I really think, from where the rash(es) are located, it is a reaction to the "new" detergent, which I bought because they had the cheapest small bottle on the shelf, and that particular day I bought it I was pitching pennies. Will go back to using ALL Free and Clear as I usually do. May actually re-wash some of the recently laundered clothes to 'get rid of' any TIDE residue.

2.) Eat a banana and then buy some V-8 juice to get some fast potassium into my body, because my feet and toes have been cramping more lately, particularly when I first go to bed.

3.) The rest of it can be on hold, so I can relax for now. WHEW!

I have two refills waiting at the pharmacy, and will go to the pharmacy tomorrow after my doc's appt. when I will hopefully also have a prescription for dose-pak for the rash called in from the doc's office.

The good news is that the gypsies have let up a little bit more today. I have worn a knee brace for two days and one night, and have it off for now, to let my left knee 'breathe'. We'll see how things go today once I am up and out of bed, but it seems like my joints are not protesting as much right now.

Guess I should take a shower now so I don't start stinkin', because I don't need to be no stinkin' Stars!

Everyone have a good'n and a safe one today!

No Stars In My Eyes · May 20

Honest to Pete! If I am not one of the most 😖 THWARTED people I know! 😂 And I know y'all will back me on that!

Just after I had decided to go take a shower, BiL arrived w/ the plumbers. So, no shower right now! And no laundry, either. But that's okay because I can't do laundry until I get the other detergent anyway.

So I reckon Plan B will be to go to the store. At least I don't have to go pick Nannie up from daycare today.....(so far!)

Ado Annie, ASN, RN · May 20

I'm not sure where my bank card is. Hoping it is at home because Twin A was the last to use it and set it down there. I really need to get some cash for the next couple of days (just for the security of knowing I have it). Tomorrow I'll be in OKC all day with the risk managers. Thursday I'll be with our nurse manager at a seminar on obstetric emergencies, because CMS has issued some rule about ERs being ready to cope with emergency deliveries, even Level IV ERs like ours where the primary tactic is to ASAP get them to a hospital that's equipped to deal with that.

I get hives occasionally but usually not very bad. I did react to penicillin when I was younger with swollen lips and then hives all over. Have not had penicillin since then. And I'll react to cold, and to pressure from tight clothes, and probably to stress -- that's the only explanation I have sometimes. Stepson used to do all those things, too, and even react if he got scratched by something. (graphic urticaria?) something like that.

nursej22, MSN, RN · May 20

my dd gets hives alot. I think I've mentioned that she has a mast cell disorder when even minor events release a bunch of histamine. Her worse symptom is abdominal pain.

I went with dh to see his cardiologist yesterday. He feels okay, mostly, but gets dizzy spells without warning, to the point of nearly falling. He always checks his blood sugar and I check his bp/pulse and there haven't been any highs or lows. doc is going to cut his metoprolol in half and get a cardiac CT.

Then we stopped for a late lunch at a newer Mexican place and I thought it was really good. I had a veggie burrito that they drizzled 3 different sauces on and served mango salsa on the side. Delish.

I rode to PT in the misty rain this morning, and met yet another staff member. I felt like she was re-evaluating me, but whatever. Foot still hurts, they say I have some stiffness in my foot. First PT said use heat, not cold; today's person said roll my foot on a frozen water bottle. I thought the idea of ice was going out of style. It seems like you want to dilate blood vessels to oxygenate and carry off the cytokines that cause inflammation. Constricting blood flow would impede healing. Anyway, I nodded and said okay. I rode home because the pharmacy wasn't open yet, and then rode back later. They were still waiting for my med to come in. OK, see you tomorrow. I have caught the thwarting bug from Stars!

Tweety, BSN, RN · May 21

Ice is very much in style. We use it on post op ortho and other patients all the time.

Worked today and it was okay.

Secretary is retiring and having an event from 1 to 3 and most likely will be leaving. She's one of those secretaries that doesn't like being told what to do and my strength as a charge nurse is delegation and we clash a lot. Wish I could say I would miss her but I do wish her well.

Editorial Team / Admin · May 21

Hello all!

nursej22, you sure did a lot of running around, between appointments and picking up meds! Sudden dizzy "spells" would be scary, I hope your dh's MD (and the Cardiac CT) can help figure things out and decrease those episodes. It's head-scratching, that no BS or HR or BP changes happen during the episodes. I hope he doesn't get hurt from a fall.

Tweety, I hope you get a cooperative, team-minded secretarial replacement.

Ado, that's a lot of meetings coming up! I, too, would feel more comfortable having some ready cash, especially being away from home.

No Stars, I'm glad you were able to get an appointment tomorrow. You have probably done all the legwork already (differential diagnosing!), but still -- it's good you will be seen. Did the plumbers correct the washer's leaky problem? (and were you finally able to get a shower in?) Attaboy, gypsies, behave now!

Joe, I hope you had a quieter day today, to aid in recuperating from the weekend!

We had a nice late lunch with ds. Picked him up at the Cat Cafe, and dh was able to see the business, meet the owner, and enjoy the cats, before we took ds over to a Thai restaurant. As a family, we used to frequent it on the weekends when the kids were in grade and high school. It was nice to be back, and the food was just as good as we remembered! (I got some green tea ice cream for dessert, yummy!)

I just got back from the grocery store, will make some more soup tomorrow.

Have a good evening!