On the sunny side of the street

Warm sunny days can make a world of difference, at least in my life.

Although a wee bit cool and breezy, the days are turning into fabulous springtime. The sun is also up early, before 6 a.m., like me. So I get up to sunlight streaming into the living room and lighting up the whole hallway. In the evenings, the sun is setting later, and farther north, so our bedroom is alight with the sunsets. I get up smiling and go to bed happy. Tired, but happy.

The days are very busy, as I knew May days would be. Appointments, yard work, school wrap-up. Making connections, seeing people. Looking at summer plans. My to-do list is long, the calendar boxes filled.

Getting my balance ball back has helped. Getting over that stupid cough and respiratory ailment even better. Good reports from the medical checkup. A friend reopening her food purveying business. FaceTimes with daughter and grandchildren. Small things to many, huge things for me.

One hiccup, but it’s over—yearly 12 question assessment with first graders. I did this on Wednesday. Came home and collapsed on the couch. It is so hard to give paper-pencil assessment to wiggly, squirrely, end-of-the-year students. After 10 years it gets no easier, maybe even harder as there are fewer and fewer paper-pencil assignments given to students. It’s all done on the computer screen. I’ve decided, that if I return next year, I will not do an end of year assessment. I have a better, though unquantifiable, way of knowing I’m making a difference.

On Wednesday, having arrived to school early, I stepped out on the playground to see the third and fourth graders at lunch recess. When they saw me, they came running. “Mrs. Zody, Mrs. Zody, remember me.” I handed out stickers, gave hugs, asked about how they were doing. They were all enthusiastic, telling me how well they were doing. Smiles every where.

One little girl stood back from the group, and I didn’t recognize her. I smiled and asked her if she was new to Columbia, had she been there for first grade…she shook her head. I introduced myself and told her I read books to the first and second graders. She smiled and accepted a sticker. The others started telling her about the books and puppets and jingles. There! That is the only assessment I need.

All good

I got to the lab at the doctor’s office early Monday morning, before breakfast, since I was to do this blood work with fasting. The drive across town during commuter traffic is not fun, but sometimes a necessary evil.

Fortunately, I was the first one there, or so it would seem, even though it was closing in on 8 a.m. I’ve been there before when the line was out the door and down the hall. A note on the wall notified people that the lab would no longer accept patients from other doctor’s offices, only those whose doctors are part of this medical group. Perhaps that’s why there was a long line before and practically no one now. Only two people came in behind me while I was there. Whatever the reason, I was happy.

The blood was quickly drawn and I was back home just before 9 to have my breakfast. As I was sitting, reading the paper, the emails with the test results started arriving in my inbox. Fast. All of the results were very good. I guess the statin I’ve been taking has worked as my cholesterol score was now 153, down from the previous 200. I’m hoping that makes the doctor happy. I’m not super happy taking the statin, but I seem to have hit a fairly tolerable way to do it. Every other week instead of weekly.

The only score that was out of whack was MPV, higher than within normal range. I have no idea what MPV is and how it plays a part in one’s health.

Although the calendar says May…

And as some people have a second breakfast, we are having a second winter…

It rained and blew all day on Saturday. Sunday morning was clear when we got up at 5:30, and I had hopes of sunshine for the day. Ha!

As we sat in the sanctuary, I could tell the sun had disappeared and the clouds moved in as the room grew darker and darker. Sure enough, when I walked out just before noon, the clouds had rolled in, the wind had come up and it was COLD. Someone had complimented the pink jacket I was wearing, and I said it was my nod towards spring even though I am still wearing black slacks. By this time of the year I have usually shifted to skirts.

As I was exiting the church, a four year old and I walked along, having a conversation about wanting summer to come. I want sunshine; she wants to take swimming lessons. She, too, complimented my pink jacket and pink shoes. Perhaps next week…

Balanced

One of the hardships last week was the loss of my balance ball that I use here at my computer. I’m thinking a cat stuck a claw in it, but perhaps it just gave up and deflated after so much use. The desk chair from my high school years took the job of seating me here for the week. Eh, did nothing for my core or my balance.

Fortunately, Target to the rescue. I have found I can order almost anything on the planet from Target (I am NOT, nor will ever be, an Amazonian) and shipment is quick and free. Terry finally, at the end of the week, found the time to inflate it, which is actually a 2-day job as it has to wait a couple of times between inflations.

I am currently balanced on the ball as I type this and feeling so much better. It really did throw me “off” balance to be without it.

May is a marathon month

I was going to write about the hardships of the past week, but I don’t want to dwell on all the stuff that went wrong, or didn’t come up to par. So I will move on, hoping that with a new week in a new month, things will all be better next week.

I got the rosters for the seven classes I have shared books with all school year and can begin writing the student’s names on the certificates I will pass out in two weeks. One more book to be read to second graders. Assessment questions to be answered by first graders. I will have to mark those assessments and figure the scores. I’m hoping my energy levels will rise in the next week so as to finish strong.

Terry has his fourth injection for the endocrine tumor today and we will go have a late lunch at our favorite Chinese restaurant. It’s a bright spot in an otherwise very hard week.

Checkup of doctor’s appointment

The doctor’s appointment was okay, just a list of other tests and perhaps some more pharmaceuticals, and I balked at both. Here is what I know about today’s medicine–the doctors are being evaluated and paid on how many patients they can see, how many extra tests they can order, and how many drugs they can prescribe. The insurance companies, the medical conglomerate, and big-pharma are all in the same pot, wanting to get as much money as possible. Well, the insurance companies may be attempting to keep costs down, and they know that if they can catch an illness or ailment sooner than later, it will cost less in the long-run. They would rather pay upfront than deal with an ailment later on.

I have orders at the medical corporation’s lab for various tests. I probably would have gone this morning, but I have other things I want to be doing. As I’ve previously written, May is marathon month, and I have lots to do in the next three weeks to finish out the school year. Getting updated blood work is not high on the agenda. I will get there, on a morning when I don’t have a list of chores and errands. Right now restocking supplies takes precedent.

The doctor also wanted to order a whole bunch of other tests, all paid for by medicare, all paying well into the corporate medical machine. I’ve pretty much decided I don’t need bone density and mammograms very often, if ever, any more. The agency will call and I’ll push them off.

I have heard horror stories about shingles vaccines, and yet the doctor continues to push that shot. NO. She agreed that the second shot is very difficult for older patients. I informed her that I had been telling my friends I refuse to get this. One friend had asked, “you can do that?” Well, duh, yes, it’s your body. You can refuse various procedures. I informed the doctor that more doctors may be getting pushback on that vaccine.

She gave me a dementia check. I had a series of these tests about 2 decades ago when I thought I might be losing my marbles. It turned out I was just overwhelmed with all I had to do and wasn’t performing at the high level I once had. Yesterday’s test was a simplified version, one I’m sure they had adapted to fit the time prescribed for a Medicare appointment.

Here’s a list of words. I’ll ask for them later. Draw a clock face on this circle and set the time for 10 after 11. (How long can they use this test? Today’s children are not growing up with clock faces, but rather digital clocks.) What are the words? Listen to these instructions and do them after I count to 3 and say GO. (It was a series of movements–leave my chair, walk to the door, touch the knob, turn around and return to the chair and sit down.) I think she timed me and I guess I did fine as she said “well done,” but she might say that to everyone. What are the words?

She wants me back in three months to review all the tests! And we set next year’s Medicare appointment. This morning I got a survey from the medical conglomerate that operates the hospital, labs, doctor’s offices, etc, asking me about my visit. I deleted it. I am sure they use these to evaluate my doctor and will probably send me another one.

Oh, and the cough…turns out that 5 weeks of continued cough is not unusual after some the current respiratory ailments going around. The isolation of the pandemic caused all of us to have reduced immune systems and new bugs are promulgating at a rapid rate. Our bodies just have to catch up. She wasn’t at all concerned!

A hiccup (cough) in my usual good health

Here we are in the last few days of April…there is sunshine and a promise of 78 degrees on this last Sunday. A day I would usually be hustling around, eating my breakfast, reading the newspapers and keeping an eye on the clock so as to get ready for church. Alas, for a second Sunday in a row, I am staying home.

Last Sunday Terry had a terrible cough and was staying home from church so I decided to do likewise. I had no obligations there so didn’t feel too guilty about doing that. Terry coughed all week, even checking in with a doctor on video call one day, but to little or no value or change. The video doc, not our own doctor but from her office, said it was a cold. I went about my usual meetings, chores, errands, and school days. Then, coming home from school on Thursday, I realized something was amiss with me.

My throat tickled, but that had been occurring for weeks now, what with all the pollen around here. This time, though, there seemed to be a cough wanting to burble up and out of my chest. I took my allergy meds and headed out on a series of errands on Friday. I did pick up a bottle of cough syrup at the pharmacy and am glad I did. By Friday evening I was taking a dose every few hours.

So, I am home today, nursing what may be a cold. Terry is still coughing and so still home. I see our internist tomorrow for that Medicare checkup and I know she won’t be happy if I bring up something as sinister as a respiratory problem. It’s a game-changer for documenting and billing Medicare. However, I have a marathon month ahead of me so I must be well, and a cough just won’t cut it.

Local news and medicare questionnaire stir anxieties

If you live in the United States and are 65 years of age or older, then you are probably using the government’s medical program for the care and well-being of the elderly–Medicare. It’s the first in line for paying medical bills.

A wellness checkup is “required” every year and mine is coming next week. Our medical group, and most probably your’s, too, starts a week ahead, checking to make sure you are coming to the appointment. I have received two texts, one email, and one phone call reminding me and asking me to do an early check-in. I’m pretty sure there will be more reminders in various forms before I actually present myself at 1:45 p.m.

The email was not only a reminder but also a questionnaire about various health issues, past and present. Part of it is designed by my medical group with a review of all medicines, illnesses, surgeries, family health through the generations. It’s what they have already have on record and want to see if there are any changes.

This year, there were pages and pages added, I believe by Medicare itself, with material asking what I had already stated. I’m thinking those repeat questions are “tricks” to see if I can answer the same way more than once.

Then there were questions about my well being that just broke my heart because I know there are people who are in the situations of which they ask…do I ever run out of food and not have money to buy more? Do I have a safe place to live? Is there a possibility that I will not have that place in the next three months? Can I handle my own medications? Can I bathe and dress myself? Do I drive? Questions about falling, whether I have or if I have fears of falling due to balance issues. Two screens along these lines, many reworded but asking for the same information.

All of this to make me think of those who live in precarious situations. A local news story had brought some of this questions to reality.

A fire in a nearby town caused the death of “an elderly woman” in her late 60s(!) because she could not get out of bed and flee the flames. Her husband had been unable to move her. The fact that the piece kept using the term elderly for someone in their 60s shattered me. How many people are in a similar situation? What about all the older people I am seeing on the streets as I travel across town?

One of the final points on the Medicare questionnaire asks if there is anything I want to discuss with the doctor that was not previously mentioned. Do I even bring this up–how the questionnaire and the news have been “triggers” or do I just leave it and keep doing my very best to remain healthy and upright and engaged in the world?

That didn’t last long

The weekend, and into the early part of the week, were lovely, warm days. On Wednesday we are back to cool, dark, cloudy, chance of showers. Oh well, the sunshine buoyed my mood for a few days.

I had even considered wearing capri pants to school this week, but nah. I’ll wear long pants and knit top, even perhaps a sweater. In another week it will be May. I’m so hoping that the sunshine will stick around. My mood and energy levels are so much better when it’s shining.

Warm weather, clean patio, lighter mood, end of school year

Tuesday morning–no alarm to wake me up, but still up by 6:15. I’ve no where to go on this next to last Tuesday in May.

Monday I was up for an 8 a.m. resiliency coach’s meeting, the one where we get our end-of-the-year directions and materials. Yes, it’s the end of the school year. I have four more weeks at Columbia, and two of those are filled with assessment and celebration. Will I be back for next year? Right now it’s hanging in the balance. The school district does not want to fund the program ($1000 per school/per year) so we may be asked to discontinue our presence at the schools. If I do continue, do I want to continue with second grade, which this year added a lot of work and stress. There will be a couple of new teachers, and will they even want me to come to their classes.

Terry has been sick since late last week, another bout of serious coughing. He finally contacted the doctor’s office this morning and will have a video appointment later this afternoon. I didn’t think it was COVID but the doctor’s office suggested a COVID test. It is negative. The doctor’s office receptionist said that COVID has been running rampant in the community. First we had heard. He has had the cough before and all tests have shown nothing wrong. Our GP gave him an inhaler to use the next time around, but I don’t think he’s used it. I have been wondering if the injections for the tumor may be playing into weakening his immune system but no one else seems to think so.

I spent Friday, Saturday, and part of Sunday cleaning the patio. It’s not just a matter of cleaning, but moving all of the furniture off of the patio and onto the greenhouse pad. The furniture all gets cleaned out there while the patio walls and floor are washed down. Patio door cleaned. Patio wrought iron posts dusted of all the cobwebs and cleaned of dirt. I finally got smart with that piece of the work and used Swiffer dusting wand and cloths. They also worked well for bringing down the cobwebs from the plastered walls. Should you wish to see the final results, I posted pictures on Instagram.

After the physical patio is cleaned, all of the furniture coverings and cats bedding must be washed. That turned into a three-day production as the amount has increased threefold with the increase of cats.

Everything was back in place by late Sunday evening, and I was tired. Now, on to this week’s activities, mainly, for me, two days at Columbia. I do have to begin preparing for the end-of-the-year activities. May will be a marathon.

Oh, and a piece of wonderful news–it is warm, sunny, and dry. I put on capri pants Monday, and today, with cotton t-shirts. That, in and of itself, has lightened my mood.