Medical Tests & Crazy Drs

Warning this will be long and possibly boring :)

I have been having split second, but frequent dizziness for YEARS now. In July I had what I call a "flash" in my head. It didn't hurt but scared the crap out of me. I saw my family Dr who referred me to a neurologist.

I saw the neurologist in Oct. This guy was weird. He spoke to me with his eyes closed and wore socks with Berkinstocks.

He told me I had a "weird" brain. I asked if that was his official diagnosis? He said it was weird because my episodes were so short or only happened once. Don't strokes and heart attacks only have to happen once? He sent me for several tests.

A couple of weeks ago I had an Evoked Potential test. I believe this is to test the pathways from the brain to various nerves. I had electrodes placed on my head, arms, legs and back. I then had a little electric shock thingy placed first on each ankle, then each wrist. It sent little electric pulses into the nerves until my toes (thumbs) started moving. It was painless but took about an hour.

On Monday of this week I had an EEG done. When I got there the nurse started parting my hair and marking my scalp where the electrodes would go. It was actually quite relaxing. Once the electrodes were placed (about 20) with a large amount of adhesive, I had to lie down and be still.

She had me close my eyes for most of it. A couple times I found myself drifting off. Then she would have me open my eyes and stare at the ceiling. Then my arm went to sleep and I tried not to move.

Next I was told to breathe rapidly for 3 minutes. She said I may feel dizzy or lightheaded, but not to stop. Great more dizziness, just what I need.

The last part of the test, she had me close my eyes and flashed strobe lights at me - just a bleep ... bleep at first, then a faster bleep, bleep, bleep then finally a seizure-inducing bleep, bleep, bleep, bleep!!!

I was lying down for about 20 minutes. She had me sit up - "careful, you may be dizzy". Ya think?!

Then she started removing all the electrodes and finally said ok you can go. I stand up and look in the conveniently placed mirror and gasp! My hair is going in more directions than I can count! Good thing I remembered my comb - not that it helped much with the amount of adhesive I had in there. She told me to wash it out sooner rather than later as it would harden - great. I called DH to come pick my up ASAP and tried not to be to conspicuous as I waited for him.

This morning, I had an MRI. An MRI is a tube that they stuff you in. Did I mention I am a tad claustrophobic? No? Well I am!

I got there early and they took me right in. I had to disrobe all but my underwear & socks and put on a gown. I was then taken to the machine - had to lie down, place my head in the little formed pillow. I asked for a cloth to cover my eyes so that I wouldn't inadvertently open my eyes and see how close the walls of the tube were.

The gave me headphones to muffle the sound. And then they placed the cage thingy over my head - I didn't actually see this until I left, just felt them snap it in place. They also gave me a pillow for under my knees. It was pretty comfortable. Oh they also give you a panic button, in case you need to contact them - I'm not sure if that made me feel better or not.

Then they moved me into the tube. My hands were resting on my chest, my elbows skimmed the walls of the MRI freaking me out a bit. Then the noise started.

Think of the most obnoxious sounds you can imagine and then amplify them until it is unbearable. I think there were about 7 different sounds. My body started to vibrate, either from nerves or from the sound pulses.

In situations like this I usually count or talk to myself inside my head to make myself calm down. I was unable to focus on my own thoughts, the noise was so loud. I repeatedly tried to count. The last burst of noise came from the top and the bottom and made the table vibrate and scared the bejeezus outta me!

Finally it was over and the table was moving out of the tube. I was in the MRI for a total of 10 minutes. They removed the cage and the cloth and I was able to sit up and then go get dressed. I was actually finished before my scheduled appt at 8:30am.

I finally stopped vibrating about an hour later. While not quite as horrible as I had imagined, I hope to never need an MRI again.

Now my follow-up appt with the "weird brain" Dr isn't until Dec 30th, but I guess if they actually find something they would contact me earlier - at least I would think they would.

If you have read this far, thanks for your patience :)

Below this post is a video of one of the MRI sounds (I couldn't figure out how to add it to this post). Turn the volume of your speakers WAY up and it may be close to the real thing :) Enjoy!

What does an MRI scan sound like?

Peanut is kinda famous!

moar funny pictures


(she was about to cough when I took the shot :))

Happy Birthday Dad

Today would have been my father's 80th birthday.

He has been gone for 15 yrs. I still miss him so much.

You can read more about my Dad here.

Do you know what ATCs are?

Nope neither did I. ATC stands for Artist Trading Cards. It is kind of like artist business cards. Well at least that is how it started. Now it is just a new hobby/art form. People are making and trading these like crazy.

ATC are to be traded or given away, never sold.

I recently joined Swap-Bot, an online swap forum for swapping stuff. I have done a few sewing type swaps at Down To Earth and really enjoyed them.

For those who haven't done swaps before, you are assigned a project (make a tea towel, a pin cushion etc...), and then assigned at least one partner (sometimes more depending on what you are making) and then you make that item, mail to your partner and they do the same for you.

Swap Bot even has email swaps and Christmas card swaps - what a great way to get more Christmas cards! :)

At Swap Bot, I noticed a lot of the swaps were for ATCs, which I had not heard of before. They have swaps for ATC with themes such as Christmas trees, Rainbows or pretty much anything else you can think of.

As I researched ATCs more, I decided to make some of my own. Wow these really are addictive!

The must be 2.5/3.5 inches in size, the traditional trading card size, but other than that the sky is the limit - do what you want with them. If you are a photogragher, you can simply use your photos as ATC.

As the are so small, they are relatively fast to whip up.

I completed 5 last night and have another 3 started.

As of yet I do not have anyone to trade these with, so if any of you would like any of these shown, send me an email and I will send it to you. If you feel like creating ATCs of your own, send me one back, but that isn't necessary.

These were created with watercolour and scrapbook supplies.

(Sorry for the crappy photos, a photographer, I am not.)

ATC Time

ATC Live Laugh Love

ATC Summer
ATC Spring
ATC Fall

These are the unfinished ones

The back of the ATC - it says original, because
you can also make multiples (silk screened, photography)
and have them numbered.
Also if you were a real artist with stuff to sell,
you could also add your website or Etsy shop URL.

Nov To Do List - Mid Point

What I have accomplished to date - I still haven't done most of the old stuff...blah.

• Put all clean clothes away - we have a blanket box somewhere under the mound of clean clothes in our bedroom. Stuffing it all in the closet counts as putting it away right?
  
• Do a pantry & freezer inventory
• Plan meals on what I have in the freezer & pantry
• Rip all plants out of garden - started
  
• Work as many hours as possible (even if it is boring and there is nothing to do) money is money!
• Deep clean ensuite bath - it really needs it but as I am the only one who uses it, it is easy to put off. Well it's semi-clean - had window guy come to measure window that needs replacing so had to clean somewhat.
  
• Clean office - getting very cluttered
• Finish Bright Hope quilt blocks (fabric to be cut and then pieced - 8 blocks)
  
• Finish sewing rag quilt and clip fringe
• Bake banana muffins to use up dead bananas in freezer (I think they are multiplying)
• Look into hiring a cleaner to come in once a week to do bathrooms and floors
  
• Book dentist appt for J
• Book ortho xrays for J
• Book cleaning with dentist for me (Urgh!)
• Book haircut
  
• Get quotes to replace 2 windows
• Clean out hall closet and freecycle what we don't need
• Get K to vacuum out old furniture so friends can come take it for their basement (and get it out of my house!)
• Lose 5lbs
• Attempt pumpkin pie from scratch with J

New to list

• Work on J's striped crocheted blanket
• Buy new low-heeled dress boots for winter. Also bought new black pumps and heeled full shoes.
  
• Design baby quilt
• Start baby quit (kind of early)
• Mail Tree Decoration Swap to partner (once I find out who it is) by Nov 12th
• Find & buy new foundation that doesn't make me break out. Also bought concealer, powder, foundation brush and tinted lip moisturizer.
  
• Plan Christmas cookie baking - bake ahead & freeze what I can (any suggestions?)
• Start Christmas shopping - got gift cards for all kids other than my son. Got son several gifts too.
  
• Process 2 remaining pumpkins into pumpkin puree & roasted seeds

Found a fun site

It Made My Day

Some favorites so far :

A septic tank pump truck just drove by my house with a sign on the side that said, “Yesterday’s meals on wheels!”

My 12 year old daughter ran up to me with her iPod. She put one earbud in each nostril, cranked up some tunes and the music came out of her mouth. Then she opened and shut her mouth making it seem like the music was going on and off.
(Now how many of you are gonna try this? :))

I went through a McDonald’s drive thru and said “I can has cheeseburger?” There was a pause before I heard “Nom Nom Nom” on the other end.

I was walking my dog when a purse snatcher ran past me and stole the poop bag.

Here's hoping this week is better than the last couple

On Nov 2nd J got into an altercation with a boy on the school yard. The boy said something rude, J said said something rude back, the boy started pushing J so J's friend jumped in and beat the boy up. Sheeesh.

All 3 got a one day suspension on Wednesday.

Tuesday on the way home, J gets off the bus - another boy (not related to previous incident) calls him and when he looks back, the boy squirts hand sanitizer into J's face - getting it in his left eye.
J runs home and washes off what he can and calls me screaming that it hurts - I am on the train at this time. I tell him to keep rinsing it and we will be home asap.

Get DH to leave work early and pick me up - get home to check it out. It seems better but still burns. We manage to get a late Dr appt.

Dr says he can't see much and that we should go to optometrist. Make appt for next evening as that is the soonest they have.

Optometrist says the cornea is scratched from the rubbing J keeps doing. Gives us eyes drops to use 5 times per day.

The school was notified the morning after this happened. The boy who did it was given recess & lunch time detentions only. J, like the rest of us, was dissatisfied with the punishment the boy received, so he set out to get him back. He made up a story about the boy and was caught lying. Yet another phone call from school. He had to write a letter of apology.

Then on Thursday of last week I get ANOTHER call from school. During gym class J hurt his finger. I get home to check it out. It is badly bruised and he can't move it.

I decide to take him to emergency to have it checked. Problem is DH has J's health card and he is gone hunting. Good thing it is almost nightfall. I call DH to come home.

I take J to emergency and luckily, it is not the zoo I expected it to be. We got there at 6:30pm and left at 7:45pm. His finger was x-rayed - it is not broken thank god.

Later that night, J and I got into an argument. He is at the age where he knows everything and will NOT let things be. He kept instigating more arguments until I had had enough and sent him to his room for the night and took away his Xbox for the next decade.

I had a horrible night's sleep and getting up at 5am was one of the hardest things I had to do. I had to talk myself into going to work, but I had 2 meetings scheduled in the afternoon.

One meeting ended up being canceled and the other one lasted only 5 minutes because the guy had double booked.

Due to a stomach bug that started yesterday, I am working from home today and so far at 3pm, I haven't received any calls from school - but there are still 40 minutes left.

Works For Me Wednesday - Holiday Tip

This weeks WFMW theme is Holiday/Entertaining/Celebration Tips.

In Canada we have already had our Thanksgiving, so our next holiday is Christmas.

One thing I have done in the past and regretted is when I have a crowd of people over during the holidays and I end up being stuck in the kitchen making food the entire time.

We tend to do a large assortment of finger type foods for these events since we really don't have the room for a large sit down dinner. And since only so much will fit in the oven at any one time, I tend to be in there awhile.

This year I am going to premake as much as possible before the party. I will aim for more food that doesn't require cooking, such as veggies & dips and crackers & cheese.

As for things like meatballs and chicken wings that keep me occupied in the kitchen while others are chatting, I will instead make these a little before the party and simply keep them warm in the oven or crockpot.

I'm going to enjoy my guests and not feel so rushed!

For more WFMW holiday tips, pop over to We Are That Family.

November To Do List

Much of this is carried over from last month - oh well.

• Put all clean clothes away - we have a blanket box somewhere under the mound of clean clothes in our bedroom.
• Do a pantry & freezer inventory
• Plan meals on what I have in the freezer & pantry
• Rip all plants out of garden - started
  
• Work as many hours as possible (even if it is boring and there is nothing to do) money is money!
• Deep clean ensuite bath - it really needs it but as I am the only one who uses it, it is easy to put off.
• Clean office - getting very cluttered
• Finish Bright Hope quilt blocks (fabric to be cut and then pieced - 8 blocks)
  
• Finish sewing rag quilt and clip fringe
• Bake banana muffins to use up dead bananas in freezer (I think they are multiplying)
• Look into hiring a cleaner to come in once a week to do bathrooms and floors
  
• Book dentist appt for J
• Book ortho xrays for J
• Book cleaning with dentist for me (Urgh!)
• Book haircut
  
• Get quotes to replace 2 windows
• Clean out hall closet and freecycle what we don't need
• Get K to vacuum out old furniture so friends can come take it for their basement (and get it out of my house!)
• Lose 5lbs
• Attempt pumpkin pie from scratch with J

New to list

• Work on J's striped crocheted blanket
• Buy new low-heeled dress boots for winter
  
• Design baby quilt
• Start baby quit (kind of early)
• Mail Tree Decoration Swap to partner (once I find out who it is) by Nov 12th
• Find & buy new foundation that doesn't make me break out
• Plan Christmas cookie baking - bake ahead & freeze what I can (any suggestions?)
• Start Christmas shopping
• Process 2 remaining pumpkins into pumpkin puree & roasted seeds
  

Oct To Do List - Final Results

In addition to what I previously completed, newly completed tasks are in yellow below.

• Put all clean clothes away - we have a blanket box somewhere under the mound of clean clothes in our bedroom.
• Do a pantry & freezer inventory
• Plan meals on what I have in the freezer & pantry started
  
• Rip all plants out of garden - started
  
• Buy J a new winter coat & hat
  
• Buy J new soccer shoes
• Buy J some long sleeved shirts, sports pants & long johns
  
• Work as many hours as possible (even if it is boring and there is nothing to do) money is money! This didn't happen between the kid & I being sick.
  
• Deep clean ensuite bath - it really needs it but as I am the only one who uses it, it is easy to put off.
• Clean office - getting very cluttered
• Finish Bright Hope quilt blocks (fabric to be cut and then pieced - 8 blocks)
  
• Buy sashing, binding & backing fabric for Bright Hope quilt
• Finish sewing rag quilt and clip fringe
• Bake banana muffins to use up dead bananas in freezer (I think they are multiplying)
• Make chili and freeze for lunches
• Make taco lentils & rice and freeze for lunches
• Look into hiring a cleaner to come in once a week to do bathrooms and floors
  
• Book dentist appt for J
• Book ortho xrays for J
• Book cleaning with dentist for me (Urgh!)
• Book haircut & brow waxing (before they merge!)
• Get quotes to replace 2 windows
• Clean out hall closet and freecycle what we don't need
• Post J's outgrown clothes on freecycle
  
• Get K to vacuum out old furniture so friends can come take it for their basement (and get it out of my house!)
• Finish crocheting striped blanket and tuck in all colour-change ends
• Lose 5lbs (not even close!)
  
• Attempt pumpkin pie from scratch with J
• Change sheets to flannel
  

So it looks like many of these items will get moved to the November To Do List :D