Stupid Changes Ending August...

 

My week plans got turned around.  About an hour after I posted yesterday, the dentist office called to reschedule my appointment for today.  The best I could get was for 2 weeks from now.  If they had done this a week earlier, it wouldn't have been a deal.   But things had to be juggled for that appointment.  The juggling happened, but my appointment didn't.  I had 4 appointments changed this month, 2 should've been a little over 2 weeks ago, 1 last week & another this week.  Now, I still have 2 lingering into September.  It's hard to get it together when no one else will.

It's irritating, but I'll get through.  August is ending on annoyance.  Other than that, it was the best month of the Summer.  Hopefully September will do well.  So goodbye August & being 55.

Cya...

1 Down, Then More...

 

My primary care appointment went well.  I've set the next time for late November.   I hate getting up that early, but at then it's handled.  My doctor is getting older, could retire within a few years.  That used to worry me, but my rapport with the situation has waned.  It's not bad, circumstances have just lessened it & my commitment.  I hate changing things like this, but at some point, there won't any choice.

We have things to do throughout the week due to appointments, bills & my birthday.  I'm not sure exactly bills will get handled yet.   Our normal day falls on a Saturday.   We may opt to wait until Monday.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

No Time...

 

I'm out of time this morning.  I have to be to the doctor's in less than an hour.  It's a quarterly check-in.   I wish they weren't a thing, but here we are.  This is the beginning of a busy week.  There are other appointments, errands, shopping & bills.  Oh yeah, there's a birthday in the midst of that.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Little Changes...

 

I'm leaving this month trying to make little changes in my diet.  No serious chopping is happening.   I fairly significantly cut back my sugar I got just from sweets.  That was a surprising lot.  I'm also trying to  get more water back into my evening schedule.  These aren't big shifts, so I can probably manage them.  I think when some people try to alter their diet, they do huge things.  Taking big steps can work for some people, but most of us don't handle them well for long.

That's what's going here for now, take care.

Cya...

Last Weekend In August...

 

It's near the end of August.  This month flew by unlike July.  There isn't much going here this weekend.  That'll pop up during the busy week ahead.  

I'm to the point where I doubt the insanity of this world is ever going to calm down.  Some people enjoy it too much.  They need it to feel something, it's their drug.

The world is filled with people who would help but can't.  The opposite is also true.  The few in the middle that can & will are almost always overwhelmed & on the verge of breaking.   If every person did a small bit, serious problems could be solved.  But that's real cooperation & it will never happen.

People, a source of never ending amazement & horrifying disappointment.  I don't think we're worth it.  Maybe someday something will shake etch-a-sketch & we'll be  gone, not even a memory.

Cya.

Not Sweet...

 

It looks like the next couple of days are going to heat again.  Not happy about that, but it's only into the mid 90s & it's still August.  I have a primary care appointment Monday morning, then Wednesday a dental cleaning.  My birthday is on Thursday & then it's the 1st of the month stuff.

I think I found the culprit for my issues last night.  Cutting sugar can result in a host of temporary ailments.  It's the sweet beast's means of keeping it's claws in you.  Among those post sugar issues are fatigue, sleep issues & anxiety.  Ding ding ding, that's it.  I slept much better last night, so maybe this  fading already.  I'm not cutting out all sugar, just a lot of it.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

Countdown & Uggh...

 

This is the final week of my birth year.  After that, it's a full year older.  There are some tentative plans.   They're rather soft & loosely defined, right now they need to be.  It's not much, but I have a lot going on next week & there really isn't much I want to do at the moment.  I'd love to go see a movie, but that requires 2 things, less disease ridden idiots & a movie I actually want to see.  Neither of those things are going to  happen by next week.

I've not felt great for about a month.  It  started with the microburst & then the fallout from it.  Besides just the power outage issues,  there was the actual fallout.  Trees, power poles/lines, parts of houses littered the streets.  The debris hung around for week as crews tried to clean it up.  Some of it is still here.  Then came the burning.  Then came the mold, mildew & whatever else was on those things getting into the air.  I've felt a little allergy off to full on sick ever since.

Yesterday, every neighbor mowed.  Then our guy showed & mowed our lawn.   I was already having sinus/allergy issues.  There's been a lot of little nose bleeds & digestion issues.   This just  made  things  worse.  I woke in the middle of the night.  It wasn't  a full on panic, but I was anxious & stressed.  It took me forever to get back to sleep.  That's the 1st stress  night I've had in awhile.  I'm still spent from it.  I'm glad we don't anything to do today. Yesterday was allergy ridden & stressful.  Hopefully today is better.

Cya..

Aim Better...

 

A lot of writers are angry about medical professionals not doing more about tangent or adjacent issues affecting HIV treatment.  Doctors, nurses, techs, etc.. provide medical care. That's their job.

Dealing with things outside the clinic such as stigma, isn't their job.  Stigma, housing, food scarcity, & other external factors areas for social workers & case managers.   

Both groups are important & have massive jobs.   But  don't expect your physician to help you with strategies to fight stigma.  You wouldn't want your social worker prescribing your meds.

Life with HIV, is difficult & can be beyond frustrating.  But, aim better.  Don't alienate what few resources  are out there, because you're upset & scared.

Cya...

Grey August...

 

There shouldn't be grey mornings in August.  That should just be a given.  Yet we've had a lot of them in a row, it's depressing.  At least we passed our monthly rain averages.  That's about the best thing I can say for these dismal AMs.

Most the articles out were still over what I covered  yesterday.  That may be the case for a bit.  That's all for now.   I'll do new topics when I can.  Take care.

Cya..

Another Step...

 

This piece notes, Gilead's Sunlenca (lenacapavir) has been approved in Europe for a twice yearly injection to treat HIV.  This article has some interesting info on the matter.  The Wiki page has a bit more on technical of the drug.  This med is primarily meant for combating the virus in those with multidrug resistant HIV.  It will also be helpful in places/peoples where regular regimen adherence is difficult.  Give this a read.

Cya..

Brewing...

 

Another short post.  I didn't see any articles worth going over.  There are supposed to be thunderstorms today.  So, before the net/power goes out, I'll post this.  

Here's hoping, whatever storms come, they're not problematic.  This Summer has had enough crappy weather.  Take  care.

Cya...

Making HIV Primary Care...

 

I read an interesting piece this morning.  It asked, would moving HIV treatment to a primary care level lower stigma?  It went on to address the benefits of having HIV handled by a primary care physician vs a specialist.  The points were numerous, including comfort, adherence, but most of all, normalizing HIV care.

Will that address all the stigma associated with HIV? No, it wouldn't, but it'd be a huge step.  For me, the idea of removing the specialist & dealing with the remoteness of my situation, would be great.  At this point, I either have to travel hours both ways or depend on telemedicine.  I'm very thankful for telemedicine, but it's not the same.  I don't like talking about my health that much & even less over a video call.  It's just a little weird for me.

I hope this happens.  I think it'd help a lot of people, myself included.  Making things feel everyday when it comes to medical issues helps normalize matters, calm them down.  That's it for now.

Cya...

Different Mornings...

 

It's cooling some here.  We'll still have the AC at  times,  but the overnight temps look to be in the 60s.  These cooler nights make it harder for the day to heat.   They also make for deeper sleep.   More sleep is good & bad for me.  I need good sleep, but too  deep & I risk jolty wake ups & cortisol issues.  I can  feel the light sliding.   As hot as it was this Summer, it wasn't ever that bright for long.  Between the darkness of early June, then the heavy rains, the massive heat, the power outages & storms;  this season was a crapfest.  Too bad it's leading into more darkness.

I discovered a culprit in my diet, little starlight mints.   I never thought they were good  for  me, but I never knew they were so off the charts for sugars.  Cutting them out, will lower my sugar intake drastically.  3 of  those little things had 20% of your daily sugar.  I was popping a couple every few hours.  Damned oral fixation.   It was the root of my smoking, not nicotine.  Oh well, now I know. 

Cya...

Sliding...

 

It never hit 80 yesterday & today's supposed to be in the low 80s.  The next couple of days are supposed to be in the low 90s.  Then the forecast calls for mostly mid 80s after that.  Even if it warms a bit, these  cooler days help.  It lets us recoup & makes it harder for things to warm up again.  The more dip downs we have & the more we stay in the 80s, the faster we're out of this hellish weather we've had this Summer.

Thanks to the cool, I slept a lot better.  I needed that.  That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

After Labs...

 

Got up for labs yesterday.  It was the 1st jolting wake up I'd had in months.  I was tired & anxious most of the day.  I haven't  got all my labs back, but the basics are up.  

Other than my triglycerides, things are good.   The triglycerides aren't in the high zone yet, but  borderline.  I know what happened.  We've been eating out a lot because it's hot.  There's also been a lot more sugar in my diet this Summer.  I can cut back on those.  I can stand to lose some of the sweet things.  Or least not have them as often.

That's all I know for now.  Take care.

Cya...

August Labs...

 

Up way too early for me.  I need to get labs drawn.   This will be it for this morning.  I know labs are part of the program.  I still don't like them.

Cya...

Mid August...

 

So far August hasn't been a bad month.  It's just an OK month stuck in a sucky Summer.  My appointment spree is beginning.  At some point this week, I need  labs drawn for a telemedicine appointment in early September.  Later in the month I'll have primary care & dental cleaning appointments.   Then my birth year  will be over.   

I have no idea what if anything, I'll do for my birthday.  I can't think of anything I want or want to do.  I haven't heard of any interesting enough movies  coming soon.  It's still too hot to think much about food.   Maybe when it's cooler.  That's been our motto for the last couple of years, maybe later.  So far, later isn't showing up.

Cya...

Up & Gradually Down...

 

The next few days are supposed to be hotter & then it'll slowly slide into the 80s.  Summer heat may be slowly letting up finally.  We don't have much to do today.  Tomorrow will be shopping.  We're supposed to have things on Tuesday.  We'll see how that turns out.  There's been a lot of rescheduling.  Somewhere in the midst of this, I need to get labs drawn.

That's about it this morning.   Take care. 

Cya...

Risky Differences...

 

Occasionally I see pieces over suicidal tendencies among teens living with HIV.  Sometimes, the authors miss the point.  It's not the HIV that's driving these teens more destructive behaviors.  It's just another point of difference in their lives.  The more removed or  disenfranchised anyone feels, the more apt they are to strikeout against others or themselves.

HIV isn't the cause.  It's a complication.  It's another thing making these people feel isolated, different, ashamed...  Suicide isn't always an action taken by those who wish to die.  Sometimes, it's the last act of  someone who can't bear living as they were.

Anything the causes a person to be living more on the fringe can lead to situations like this; race, class, religion, ethnicity, sexuality, etc...  HIV was just  another weight on top of an already unbearable burden.  Sometimes, these people can't bear the weight & can't figure out how to lighten their load.

Cya...

Reschedule Rescheduled...

 

OK, I'm off a bit.  Our schedule that was already rescheduled a couple of times, was altered again. It's doable, but things shifted again.  

With that, nothing much is going on here.  I didn't find any articles.   That's it  for this morning.  Take care.

Cya...

Off Schedule...

Some of the upcoming week is going to be off a bit.  Due to some rearranging, we're going shopping this morning instead of tomorrow.  Next Tuesday I'll need  to get labs drawn.   Other than that, everything should be normal.

We're supposed to be warm to hot until next mid week.  After that, we'll just be really warm.  Hopefully, there will be a bit less humidity.

That's about all for now.  Take care.

Cya...

Sort Of Whining...

 

My 1st HIV cocktail was a handful of pills 3 times a day & couple solos here & there.  Slowly it dropped to about 6 pills.  Then weirdly down to just 1.  The single pill took some getting used to.  I was sure I was forgetting to do something.  Now, we're well on our way to injections that could last weeks to months. 

Don't get me wrong, it's great.  It should greatly improve regimen adherence.  But I hear some newbies complain how they can't be expected to remember to take a pill every day.  They're complaining about a single pill, when some of us started on dozens.  I know people always want more, but how but 1st you try being grateful for what you have in front of you.  There was a time not so long ago, when there were  no meds for HIV & a lot of people just died.

I get it, you want the next big thing.  But don't dis what came 1st & those who brought it to you.  Be thankful for the efforts that got things where they are, be excited about the new, just stop whining.

Cya...

August Grey...

 

Woke to a grey morning.  It was cooler, but still very humid yesterday.   It stormed some last night.   With that, it looks like we're halfway to out monthly rain average.  It'd be nice, if the air let go of the leftover heat & humidity.  That may be a bit.  There isn't much else going this morning & we have no plans.  

Maybe we'll actually start having a reasonable Summer finally.  That'd be nice.   This is about it for today.  Take care.

Cya...

Not Much Monday...

 

There isn't much going on this morning.  It's a bit too humid.  So far, August has been mellow compared to July.  Hope that holds.  

I have to get a shower.  Then we'll go shopping.   This shouldn't be a big day for us.

That's about it for now, take care.

Tick Tick August...

 

We're at the end of the 1st week of August.  My birth year is closing out.  Summer's been here a while & school starts soon.   Summer used to be my favorite time of the year, I don't really have fave now.   They all come with too much baggage.  But, this time of the year wasn't so ballistic when I was a kid.   It was hot, but not this like this.  You could still have fun outside.  Those days seem to be gone.  It's just too hot & everything else is a stressor.  Maybe Fall will cool things down a bit without being too much of a downer.  A hummer & a few dragons doesn't make a good Summer.

Cya...

1st August Saturday...

 

We've made it almost a full week into August without a power glitch of some kind.  Great, but we shouldn't have to act so amazed a service we pay for actually works.  It's not OG&E's workers.   It's their corporate mentality that they should do as little as possible.  They will only do the bare minimum to keep the power on.  Unless they can hike their rates astronomically, they'll never do more.  Even then, they wouldn't do all that was needed.  OG&E has some good people, just no where near the top.

Cya...

Wow...

 

We actually made it through a Thursday without losing power.   It was beginning to be a thing, an unwanted thing.  It's Friday & another week ends without too much weather BS.

We have to go shopping in a bit & there weren't any good articles this morning.  Some people are angry that for the last several months the CDC is pushing universal HIV treatment over PrEP.  PrEP has not been anywhere near as successful as it was thought it would be.  The CDC has opted to focus on treatment as prevention as it has for years.   They aren't denying the abilities of PrEP, they're noting the failed application of the med.  So, use condoms, play safer & get tested.

Cya...

1st August Thursday...

 

It's the 1st Thursday of the month.  We've started the bill stuff.  The trash went out.  Amazingly, we  actually got mowed.  He didn't get to July.  The 1st part of the month was in between cuttings.  Then it was either blazing, stormy or soaked.   The grass was so high, it'd gone to seed.   It needed mowed, but it's getting revenge on us.  The air is filled with yard yuck.

We have chances for weather issues today & that's probably setting some people on edge.  2 weeks ago, we had the microburst & big power outage.  Last week, there wasn't anything, but we still lost power  for 3 hours.  This doesn't need to be a regular  Thursday thing.  We can't handle or afford it.

That's all for now, take care.

Cya...

August Bills...

 

We've got a few errands today.   It's mostly just 1st of the month stuff & trash day.  But, it means going out in the hot.  We won't be out long & it's not been near as hot as July.  So far, August isn't sucking as bad as  July.  But we're only 3 days into it.

That's it for now, take care.

Cya...

Setting In...

 

It's going to be hot again for the next days, not 100+, but still hot.  Then it'll settle mostly into the low to mid 90s for a while with reasonable overnight temps.  We need this.  Maybe now the lawn guy can mow.  While it's not killer hot or storming for a bit.

The last several days have been cooler.  It's been appreciated.   The strange thing is that you actually start to cool down & relax.  At 1st it's sgreat & then the actual exhaustion you've been carrying sinks in on you.  During Summer people can be like frogs in hot water.  It's hard for us to know how bad off we are while it's happening.  Once you can cool down, your body lets go & the wave of fatigue hits.

This is the last month of my year. My birthday is the 1st of next month.  I can't say I've enjoyed the 2020s at all.  2022 has been no exception to the sequence of failure, disappointment & stress.  What do I want for my birthday wish?  The end of all those things causing all the exhaustion, stress & anxiety in my life.  I know I won't get it, but it'd be nice.

Cya...

Summer Gift & Hello...

 

I've barely seen any dragons this Summer & there'd been no hummers.  Yesterday, I noticed a bump on the wires & there he was.  A tiny, dark little hummingbird.  Then he was off zipping among the blooms.   Pretty much all of July sucked, but not that moment.

The world may be awful & doomed, but it's not over yet.  I saw a hummer & dragons have been here.   Maybe the rest of the Summer will be a little better.

It's the 1st day of August.  Hello, try to be nice.  I'll have to get labs drawn mid month.  I have a primary care & dentist appointment at the end.  Then my birthday, oh joy.

Cya...