A Mathematical Mess continued and finished finally

 continued...

I am a bit distracted by some things I have been hearing and by feeling so much better that I am not sure how well this "continued" will be, so how about I get that off my mind first. (If it were on my chest I'd probably keep it there because I wouldn't mind a few pounds added there ;) 

COVID, -and really it's probably a good lead in- 
I am hearing people say things like, "it is now the pandemic of the unvaccinated," and, "it's all those unvaccinated who are out spreading the Delta variant," etc.
I am also hearing that people who are vaccinated are still getting COVID. Although they are saying their symptoms are much more mild and they are "not the ones getting sick and dying from it." (and I think that is good)
Now here is my rhetorical question for you: Isn't it more likely the virus is being spread by those people who aren't sick enough to know they are sick, or that don't think they are sick because they have been vaccinated, than it would be by those who are "so much more sick, in hospitals, and dying?"
My hope is not to increase divisiveness, rather to get people thinking about the divisions, how they are effecting each of us personally, and how that is effecting the way we speak of and treat others.
When I look at the big picture I find myself believing that the prolonged mass hysteria has created far more problems then it has solved.

There of my chest mind... -hmm, maybe this is why my cup size is what it is? Bad joke, but I think I'm funny, so I'm leaving it. 

Let's see, where did I leave off. um I think I need to go back and reread. I will return... 

oh yes,  

Monday, as in 5 days ago, I am sick. I had to cancel the next 2 days of a 4 day substitute teaching job. This makes me sad, but everything hurts, especially my abdomen area and the fever is hovering between 101-102. I am now wondering if all of the drugs are causing ulcers. My husband suggest I take an Omeprozal, an antacid that is "sure not going to hurt anything." I am reluctant, but decide it's probably a good idea. So I stay home, mostly in bed, drink lots of water, sleep most of the day, eat what I can and what I dare, keep shivering in check, and monitor my temperature closely (because I am not taking anything for it). "Did I mention cloudy urine?" I don't remember... My brain is struggling with focus.

The fever never breaks and my abdomen still hurts enough that I question if I should even take my Seroquel (mood stabilizer) that night. I opt for about half the regular dose and sleep. I sleep surprisingly well and the sciatic pain in my leg has eased up to the best it had been since the onset. But, with the exception of the lessoned leg pain, the next morning, I still have a fever and all of the aches, pains, and other symptoms. "Should I go in? Should I wait? Go in? Wait?..." and "who should I go see." 

I opt to go into my primary care doctor but, long story short, they are so concerned about it being COVID that they do a virtual car appointment from the parking lot. Even though I have the results of the COVID test and it is the PCR test that Dr. says is more accurate, she worries I was tested too early. She wants to do another test. That is fine, but for them it will take at least 24hrs to get the results and there is other stuff going that I'd like them to consider. 

She decides to prescribe two antacids for what sounds like peptic ulcers but insists this does not explain the fevers so she reluctantly decides to have me come in and give a urine sample after they do the COVID swab. I ease her mind by assuring I'll double mask. I tell her I have two pre-diabetic sisters and, at my sisters request, I ask if they can check for that. All test's done I am leave and await to hear the results. Sever hours later the MA calls to let me know that there is in fact evidence of infection so they are sending urine for more testing and the doctor wants me to start on an antibiotic. I ask about blood sugar and to my relief that is fine. It's most likely a UTI she tells me, the further testing will tell more. I actually have to look it up to know that UTI means urinary tract infection because I have never had one before. Looking it up, I learn they can be bladder or in the kidneys and from what I read, mine is definitely a kidney infection if it is a UTI. 

That night, with dinner I take the one antacid, Sucralfate, that the pharmacy filled and the antibiotic, Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride, with dinner and then my regular dose of Seroquel at bedtime. Going to sleep I have weird hallucination style dreams that are not good. At one point I think I am having seizure-like convulsions, but my husband said I didn't move. Are these lucid dreams? Bad dreams, or hallucinations? I am not sure but I have to keep pulling myself out of them and trying to alert my husband to pull me out. He touches my arm and I am awake/normal awake again. I tell him I need him to keep one hand on me. He puts his hand sweetly on my shoulder but the sleeve of my t-shirt prevents skin to skin contact. I need skin contact I tell him so he keeps a hand on my arm. This is enough to keep me grounded and I am able to fall asleep into normal sleep for the remainder of the night. 

This is an interesting thing to me. I have experienced this phenomenon before, and I find it fascinating. My theory is that the electricity omitted from another person can literally help ground the misfiring electricity happening in the person (me) that is experiencing some sort of chemistry imbalance. I am grateful my husband is there and can tolerate the adjustment to his sleeping position long enough to get me back and keep me back until my body is able to settle into a safe normal sleeping cycle. 

The next morning I feel like garbage. The fever seems a little better but I still feel terrible. With breakfast I take both of the new meds again and Tylenol and resolve to read the pharmacy info when I can. As terrible as I feel I have to get to my appointment with the orthopedist. He is nice and says while it all may be linked there is not anything he can due until the infection is taken care of. I forget the name of the medications. I can hardly think until the Tylenol kicks in, which has been taking about an hour and a half. He says it's okay that I don't remember although in hindsight I wonder if he would have questioned the antibiotic chosen. He was a bit surprised they did not draw blood. He double checks my neck just to be sure and makes sure I understand that meningitis is not entirely off of the table yet. I am glad to have him that day. Two weeks and I'll followup, make sure things are healing in the right direction. He directs me to be sure and follow up with my primary care provider about the infection, whatever it may be. 

Later I get a notification from Costco pharmacy that my other antacid prescriptions is filled. Oh, crap, now I really need to read, because I was not so sure about taking the one I did, but did because it I thought the Dr. had reduced it to only one. Why this makes sense... no time to explain and probably it mostly doesn't but my brain was not functioning 100%. 

That afternoon, I finally feel well enough to tackle the currently heavy and difficult task of reading pharmaceutical papers. I read the antacid stuff first. A few things concern me and it is the one I don't necessarily need to take so I decide I won't take that unless the ulcer symptoms worsen. However, I am a little bothered that it so adamantly states you should not take this with other medications because it prevents the absorption of other medications. "Great," I think as I realize I most certainly would not have gotten the full dose of the antibiotics I had swallowed at the exact same time. I am a bit annoyed that neither the doctor nor pharmacist had pointed this fact out. However, my annoyance quickly turns to relief as I read the headline warnings of Ciproflaxen that include tendon problems, nerve and nervous system problems... What the @#%*?! Now I know there are a ton of different antibiotics, why on earth would the doctor prescribe the one that starts with warnings of the exact issues that were the catalyst of this whole mess in the first place??? I am sure she knows that sciatic is a nerve problem and I did explain that my foot is still numb. 

Now I am a mess again and not sure who to call at all. I don't trust that doctor because she was clearly too concerned about COVID. I reach out to my psychiatric PA, because I trust her when it comes to medications and I don't know what else to do. It is getting close to her closing time and she is busy but the receptionist will get her the message. I call the family care provider office too and am able to talk to the MA I had seen (for the COVID swab, finger prick, and to lead me to the bathroom). She is not super helpful and suggests I "just take it until we know the results of what type of infection." Fortunately she is going to get a message into the PA on staff right then, but warns me I'll only hear back from him if he is comfortable addressing my issues, otherwise I have to wait until tomorrow what the Dr doctor is in. Whatever. "Oh," and "what about the COVID test," I have to ask. It's negative. Of course.

The PA on staff is not at all unnerved by taking on whatever my issue is after all he does work full-time at the well known IHC hospital nearby. I am jaded not impressed, but I don't tell him so, rather I think a jaded little less of the IHC facility because this PAC has to have a second job. I ask about the medications. He explains, it's a heavy hitter and for as sick as I am I need a heavy hitter. At least they are recognizing that I am very sick for me. He agree's it's most likely a kidney infection and he explains those other antibiotics won't even get to the kidneys or something like that. 

"Okay, but I am not okay with this medication."

It is a bit of a lengthy discussion about it and I do understand what he is saying but I also know I already have nerve damage from the hip surgery and a current significant nerve problem and I am just not willing to take the risk with this drug. Plus, the weird hallucination stuff and the fact that I have had tendons injuries and operated on recently ... nope too risky. I have to explain that I have been misdiagnosed enough times in the last few years that I have learned to trust my gut on things and this is one of those times that I have to trust my gut. When he realizes I will not take anything until we get the results if he doesn't change the medication he finally is able to think of an alternative he feels is heavy hitting enough and that does not have those same possible side-effects. It's called sulfamethoxazole. He seems to think it is an even heavier hitter, but none of the side-effects he knows off sound like anything I can't handle. "I'll take it," I agree. 

When I pick it up from the pharmacy I carefully drill the pharmacist. Nope, no problems he insist. He tells me he thinks this is a better medication. It has none of those well known significant potential side-effects of the ciproflaxen and its a better medication he assures me. Satisfied (and I will admit a bit validated) I let him get back to his dealings. 

The next morning I still wake up with the pounding headache but the fever has finally broke and I am starting to feel better. 

It's absolutely amazing to me how well and quickly antibiotics start working when they are needed and I am glad to have them. But, to date, I still haven't heard anything on the "further testing."

So here are the things I have learned: As mentioned in the first half of this story, you really need to trust your gut and be your own advocate right now in the medical industry. Later my mom explained, before she knew what I was taking, that she was certain Levaquin was what caused her neuropathy. When I did tell her what I was taking she was so glad I had trusted my gut because it's in the same family. I am glad too, but it is kind of a shocking oversight for a medical provider to make. While I will admit I find it frustrating and annoying that doctors are so focused on COVID they are missing other problems I am aware of the stress they are under and, like the going-on-13-hours urgent care doctor, they are over worked right now. So I can be patient with that. 

But probably the most important thing that I learned is that I AM NOT SUICIDAL. I am so glad to know this. I can now positively and confidently state that those symptoms, when they happen, are not coming from me. They are not what I believe or what I want. They are not my thoughts and thinking. They are simply symptoms of illness and the ills of society. I know this because I did recognize that, if I truly wanted an out, this was a very good opportunity for that. But I did not want that out. I want to live and I know I still have a lot left to do and a lot I can do. Between this near-enough experience and the heartbreaking loss of my dear friend and mentor -who has always had confidence in me- that ended up passing away on my deceased younger brother's birthday I feel a renewed lease on life and confidence in my goals. 

First thing? File a lawsuit against those who are (amoung other things) discriminating, encouraging discrimination, and causing emotional distress when they know they are. Why? Because that is one step in the right direction, one voice, one person speaking up and saying: If we want to change the number of suicides in this country we have to STOP treating people this way and stop allowing people to be treated this way. Especially by those within the fields of psychology, education, and medicine and within our justice systems.    

Now I am not sure if I have covered all I wanted to or more than I meant to, and for whomever has been reading and anticipating, I apologize for the delay but now I bid you good day. 

A Mathematical Mess

 I have a lot to say and am feeling better today but I am starting to tire again sooo let's see what comes out (and how!)

A few weeks ago my cousin told me more people need to talk openly about the issues I talk about (TBI, mental illness, abuses of power and systems, etc) and I agree but can you see why we do not?... You are often heavily punished for it. If you follow this blog you know of many very unethical and egregious ways I (and my family) have been punished for speaking up and speaking out and not just by individuals who don't understand - USU, Utah State University, specifically and shockingly their USU Psychology Department and USU Division of Student Services being some of the worst offenders of all. Speaking out from my position is very risky and I have now learned can be literally dangerous to yourself and your family. 

Later, at the same family event an aunt told me how much she admired me and how I always managed to maintain a positive attitude and outlook. She praised me highly in ways that significantly contradict the discrimination, attitudes, misconceptions, etc. that I have faced so frequently, like from those at Utah State University. But my aunts praise renewed my strength as it brought tears to my eyes. I was so grateful for the acknowledgment and appreciation. It was good to know that I am still me and I have not been destroyed by all of this and the degradation that I have faced so much...

*side note - a few things that make me seem positive in light of adversity are:

1. I tend to downplay. In-other-words I am not an over-exaggerator. This is partly due to observing over-exaggerating and stories that get bigger and better over the years and how they can create, increase and cause harm to people. With the most harm often befalling the exaggerator, although they usually don't know it. I used to be so concerned about not-exagerating that I was ridiculously and tediously meticulous about any experience I relayed. I'd make sure I fully disclosed if I was not 100% certain of a point, and I would consciously err on the side of downplaying in order to avoid any form of embellishing. Thus my relaying of traumatic events would not be nearly as traumatic as they actually were and that others may have felt or known them to be.

2. I try to stay positive and find the silver linings. I usually finds some and then I choose to focus on those or at very least make sure they are brought to light as well.

3. I appreciate others and I share that. I always try to find the good in others even if it is someone that has wronged me. I give credit where credit is due. It has been pointed out to me that, historically, I have been a bit too generous in giving of those credits...  I have learned "credit where credit is due," needs to go both ways: positive and negative.  I am getting better at giving credit where credit is due, both positively and negatively, and to myself as well.

There are others reasons, but this is enough for now, just as it was enough for me to know that the people who actually know me do not think of me or treat me in ways that are at all similar to how Utah State University people, Cache County Prosecuting Attorney, and miscellaneous others, including many within IHC, have treated me when I have tried to communicate with them.

That said, out of my head.  

Glad to have felt some extended support. 

Next on the list: Herniated Disk+TBI+Stress (some from of the above mentioned)=A Mess of a Body. 

Here are the steps to the equation broken down:

1. minor low back pain leads to

2. sciatic.  Causes

3. numbing foot. Then

4. worse-pain-ever extreme sciatic and foot more numb -So call teledoc (because it is Sunday) They prescribe a steroid and naproxen. Told to get in to someone

5. Meds help. Symptoms not gone, but they help. 

6. Try to get into orthopedist, physical therapist, neurologist, whomever can see me and that Google is telling me is the "best" for this... not much luck and week to weeks out. 

7. Finish steroid- next afternoon: tingles rapidly progress to chills, head ache, body aches, stiff neck, kind-of sore throat, uncontrollable shivering, rising fever, thirst, slight nausea, extreme fatigue, sensitivity to light. 

8. curl up on couch, lots of blankets, thermometer, water, not-well-lit room.

9. Call tell-a-doc. "Get in. Could be meningitis." 

10. Go to urgent care. Nice Urgent Care Dr. there is going on 13 hours. -Not surprised it's an IHC facility...yep, I'm jaded, not so positive, but you see I still give them chances, I still give the individuals there credit when credit is due- She has me do some neurological tests, i.e. finger tracking, "remember these words?""I'm good at these tests" I half joke. I do try to warn her that I'll manifest better than I am with head stuff, but I am a bit off so phrases aren't coming out quite right when its not a "test." She checks reflexes and stuff and does not think meningitis, -Good, my gut, although in pain, does not think so either so I trust it. Then she tests for strep, Covid, Flu, and RSV (all but strep are the same test). Strep is negative. They will contact us in about an hour about the Covid et all. results -but, Dr. says, I "should be asleep by then."-  Dr. prescribes a muscle relaxant and tells me to take that and the naproxen until I see Orthopedist on Wednesday. No blood draw, no urine sample. 

-I am tiring of this equation format so I am switching my writing style now.-

Sunday morning I can't wake up when I needed to but manage to get the thermometer in my mouth. I sleep with it for a bit, then manage to actually check it. No fever. Good. But I am too wiped out to get up. Send family. When up, I check again, no fever and I feel better. Results of the Covid/flu/RSV test, all negative. Good. We attend the Celebration of Life for my dear dying friend and mentor. An amazing turn out for an amazing teacher and person. 

After that we have a store stop we need to make. That is when I start getting cold again... Oh, no. Shivers start. My husband sends me to the car to get warm while they wait to check out. By the time I get to the vehicle (it's not actually a "car") I am shivering so violently and uncontrollably that it is making my back and muscles hurt and difficult to unlock the vehicle -It's is a remote entry btw. Once in, I crank heat and close my eyes. I focus on my breathing and the sensations in my body. I do what I can to "control" the excessive shivering and other pains and sensations. I do it by allowing myself to feel what is happening inside and breathing through it. I do it by not trying to control it, but by listening. It's probably a form of meditation. At home, I curl up in blankets, with water and a thermometer in a not-well-lit room. The fever is back and higher. I take the naproxen and the muscle relaxant as well as my usual evening drugs (Seroquel). I focus on feeling to distract the shivering. 

Next morning I feel terrible and our equation is complete = My body is a mess... I have symptoms that match: meningitis, peptic ulcers, diabetes, west nile virus, .... and a so many other things. 

..and there is so much more to this story it is taking longer than I'd planned to explain. So maybe it'll be continued tomorrow as I leave you with this cliffhanging word of caution: Many doctors are so concerned with COVID right now, and/or have so much added stress, they are forgetting that other problems exist AND that they still need to remember the whole picture so it is important to be your own advocate, trust your gut, ask questions, make requests, AND read ALL of your pharmacy prescription papers! Trust me on this one...

to be continued... 

The Plight of the Attorney

 I have been working with kids of all ages since I was a kid myself. Currently I am a licensed elementary school teacher although I am not teaching as a "teacher of record." Instead I substitute teach. Substitute teaching has it's own set of challenges but I often enjoy it and I have noticed and learned a lot from my experiences as a substitute teacher.

One interesting phenomenon I have observed is how the classroom management strategy of praise around works in elementary school versus junior high school. 

"Praise around" is simply the act of praising the good behavior you see and want to encourage instead of focusing on the bad behavior you want to discourage. So if a child is doing something they should not be doing the teacher praises the kids in close proximity to the child that are doing what they should be doing in order to encourage the misbehaving child to notice and behave similarly. It is an extremely effective strategy with elementary school aged children. 

However, in junior high, it is completely opposite. If you try that strategy with junior high students (and I have) the kids you are praising will turn on you. Sometimes the entire class will turn on you. I am not entirely sure why. My guess is it has to do with their developing and needing to develop increased independence. I also wonder if it is because they do not want you to believe that your approval matters and/or they want to be sure you know your place. 

It's an interesting phenomenon and yesterday I realized that this phenomenon seems to apply to attorneys as well. It most certainly seems to apply to the prosecuting attorney I met with and thanked for treating me with decency last week. Because this week, what a turn around... and there were several condescending remarks and undertones that seemed to be directly related to the gratitude I shared with him about how he had treated me.

Now, to be clear, my intention in thanking him was not any kind of conscious effort to praise around. It may illustrate just how much our experiences, education, and careers influence every aspect of our life and it might help to illustrate how this can create and/or exaggerated misconceptions and misunderstandings between people in different demographics, but thanking him was not an attempt to utilize this strategy.  However, the vibe and change in tone was so similar to what I have felt in the aforementioned junior high scenario that I couldn't help but make the connection. Even though my motive was sincerely out of gratitude and wishing to honor what has been missing far too frequently in not-just-my-life but our world in general right now, upon feeling what I did yesterday,  I could have hit my palm to my falling forehead with an expression of, "Doh," because it was such a glaring mistake, albeit one of innocence and naivety, to have made. 

Oh well, I guess. But I cannot blame myself and I am certain that, while this may have influenced a bit of his condescensions, it is not really evidence of my doing wrong so much as it is evidence of how prosecuting attorneys are conditioned and how much easier it is for people to continue with the perpetuation of harm when the harm is coming from their colleagues, peers, and individuals and institutions that are in positions of power than it is for them to actually stand up for the underdog and work to end the patterns of  discrimination, injustice and wrongdoings and the cycles of victim blaming and shaming that are too prevalent in our societies and cultures... and that is a very sad thing... 

... And one of the most obnoxious things about all of this is being expected to graciously accept there dismissiveness and condoning of wrongdoings against me because of the time they have invested into "listening." 

and I am slipping again into wanting to yell and lash out. I have been starting to feel like I should start acting according to how I am being treated so that I am at least deserving of it in some way. 

So thank you, you jackasses, for the time you have invested in dismissing and degrading me. You are so noble and intelligent to take so long to justify your colleagues mistakes and stupidity to yourself. Thank you!  

There, trouble earned. 

and at least I am laughing for a moment at myself, which I suppose is what I may need the most right now.