December chitchat

[agate]

Here we are in December and nearing the end of another year. I might like 2022 better than 2021. I like the look of three 2's.

I hope more people will speak up more often here. And I hope that everyone will have a very happy holiday season.

Happy Hanukkah to those who are observing it!

Special thoughts for Jeanie, Dar, renee and Sunshine and anyone else who's been struggling or in pain.

stillstANNding, you've been so very quiet but maybe you are busy?

I'm so sorry about all of the missing photos here. If anyone remembers posting a photo here, maybe you can check and see if it's still there. I can't figure out why some photos are gone but not all of them.

[Howie]

So I guess the nude photo of Sam didn't show up? And it's so hard to get that girl without her Cat Lady costume on!

Here it is in the Christmas month. My, how time flies.

I'm just waiting on payday. I have really struggled this month. I have less than a dollar to my name.

Well, everyone have a great day, and month!

[agate]

Howie, only a couple of days till it will be the 3rd!

You mean we could have had Sam as our centerfold here? Maybe if you offered her more turkey, she'd be in a more cooperative frame of mind.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

agate ~

Thank you for starting December's chitchat thread. 2021 seemed to drag on forever to me. I will remember it as the year I updated all of my devices and cable, a techno year for me. Of course, COVID was/is a contributing factor. So, just when we thought we might be making headway, a new, mysterious variant appears to end the year.

Eons ago, I studied numerology. I just dug out my ancient file of notes to see what the year 2022 portends. Adding the numbers, the total is 6. Generally, the number six represents critical faculties, discernment, service to others, domestic responsibility, and orderliness. Hmm... 2022 is an election year. We'll need all of our critical faculties and discernment for that merry-go-round!

I am also thinking of our dear friends, who are coping with pain and complex medical issues. I have been in hospitals with Jon and Michael on many holidays, including Christmas, New Year, Easter, Thanksgiving, and I know how unpleasant it is to be there without loved ones around you. So, my heart goes out to our friends, who are in rehab. Healing prayers for everyone.

Howie ~

By "nude," do you mean you shaved off all of Sam's fur? I hope not! Also, nude photos are against BrainTalk's TOS, so it probably would have been removed.

Friday is almost here.

On my homefront ~ John will be here tomorrow to address my To Do list. After strong winds blew every leaf in the neighborhood into my backyard, I asked the gardeners to clean it. They put all of the debris in a trash bin. It is always too heavy (and too tall) for me to maneuver to the curb, so John will take care of that.

The last time John visited, he looked at my sprinkler system, pulled out and reinserted the fuse. I reprogrammed the system, and it works now! Wow! I am so grateful that I don't have to continue hand watering the front yard, and that I don't have to buy a new system.

My main concern is the leaking sink in the upstairs bathroom. It's only 1 1/2 years old, so why it is leaking is a mystery. John told me not to worry as it probably just needs to have the pipe tightened.

John is always reassuring and comforting, and I am so thankful for everything he does for me, and did for Jonathan and Jim.

Blessings upon everyone here ~ We miss you and hope that you will be able to check in with us soon.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Virginia]

Agate, thanks so much for, once again, taking over and getting us started on the last month of the year. So, why do you like all the 2s in 2022? Is it just that you like the neat look of it, or is it that 3 numbers in a row are.good card numbers.

I have been very sick the past few days. I came down with a horrible sore throat Monday. By Monday night I was coughing and felt like I was going. to die.. Tuesday I drank hot tea and took Tylenol. Today I am just laying around. I had a slight fever (101.8) so took more Tylenol. I would lay down in the bed, but my brother told me to sit up as much as I can. He also told me to turn over in the bed as much as I can. He wanted to come and take me to the emergency room, but I didn't want him close to me and I didn't feel like going anyway. He said I sounded awful.


I will be back to myself soon. Then I will need to get my strength back.

Hope all of you are well.

[agate]

Virginia, I'm so sorry you've been feeling poorly. I hope it isn't the coronavirus. You don't say that you're feeling better now. I hope your being able to post here is a sign of improvement?

You're right about my reasons for liking 2022 as a number. It looks neat, and it looks like a good card hand too.

Take care of yourself, Virginia. Plenty of fluids and plenty of rest as they are always saying.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

I'm so sorry that you are ill. Are any of your family members sick? You picked up this virus (which it probably is) somewhere from someone. Perhaps someone at the restaurant? Were you around any neighbors? Someone at the store?

To me, 101.8 is not a slight fever. That's actually 102 degrees depending upon the reliability of the thermometer. Are you taking your BP and heart rate? Do you have a pulse ox to find out your oxygen saturation level? Do you have any Gatorade or Body Armor to keep your electrolytes up?

Your brother's advice about sitting up and turning frequently is good advice. This is to prevent pneumonia. Did you have a pneumonia vaccine? Have you had your booster for COVID? I can't recall.

If this continues, and especially if it worsens, I think you should call your doctor's office. You should be tested for COVID, just in case. And possibly for strep. If you don't want to go to ER, which I completely understand, as no one does, how about an Urgent Care? Unfortunately, if you need medical care, you have to go somewhere. You might need antibiotics, which is another consideration.

You are in my prayers, and I am sending healing, positive energy your way.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[agate]

Virginia, how are you today? It has been noted that you haven't logged in here today.

[Virginia]

I am better, but not over whatever I have had. Fever seems to be gone as of yesterday. I have only answered my phone this week for my two brothers, until last night I talked to one neighbor. Youngest brother told me yesterday that he could tell on the phone that my fever was gone.

I told my brother that for some reason I got depressed yesterday morning. He said Sister, you were really, really, really sick. He said he had seen me sick, but not like this. He said it happened fast and hard. He said he had just talked to me the day before and I was fine. He said I sounded like a different person, not at all like myself.

There were 15 adults and two small children (3yrs and 4 months) at family get together. Everyone else is fine, Thank God.

I am going to eat half a peanut butter sandwich, drink some ginger ale and go take a shower and wash my hair.

[agate]

I'm glad you're doing better! Do you think it's been COVID?

That half peanut butter sandwich plus ginger ale sounds just right. Good you're able to eat! Hope you'll take it easy and not think that the House Beautiful people are coming to take pictures of your home just now.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Virginia ~

I'm so happy to hear that you are feeling better. May you continue to improve. A shower and hair washing probably felt good today.

Thankfully none of your family have been ill. I wonder where you picked up the bug. Like agate, I'm wondering if you had breakthrough COVID. Perhaps a neighbor or delivery person could bring you a COVID home test with rapid results. If I were you, I would want to know whether it is COVID. You could have been exposed 14 days prior to becoming ill.

Or it could be a flu strain, which usually has a shorter incubation period than COVID.

Whatever it is, your symptoms indicate it is an infection, probably viral, but it could be bacterial.

Do you still have a sore throat and cough?

Rest, take some Vitamin C, and continue healing. My prayers are with you.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Howie]

What a night I had. I've had about 15 seizures all night, so I didn't sleep. I tried, but no luck. I've taken my meds to prevent seizures, but they didn't seem to work. Then about an hour ago, they stopped. I've had a mug of coffee to see if it would get them started again. The coffee made me feel normal again.

A seizure is so weird, but I've learned to just relax, as much as I can, and let it pass on it's own. I think the body makes a shot of endorphins that ends the seizure, because it feels so good, but it only lasts a few seconds.

I'll try to see my NP Monday. I hope she can fit me in. But then again, they seem to have stopped. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Everyone have a great day, especially me!

[agate]

That must have been a very miserable night. I believe you've had tests but with no very definite answers? And there's a medicine you've been taking that seems to help prevent the seizures?

Caffeine intake sometimes makes people more susceptible to seizures but sometimes it helps to control them. You pays your money, you takes your choice. If drinking coffee seems to help, maybe you're among those who are helped by coffee.

I get caffeine in the large amount of Diet Pepsi or Diet Coke I drink. I have the notion that it helps me to feel better. I'm more alert thanks to the caffeine and can move around less sluggishly. For me that's a plus.

I hope your NP can find a way to see you, Howie. So many seizures in one night sounds like something to be looked into.

[Earth Mother 2 Angels]

((((((Hugs to All)))))) ~

Howie ~

I'm so sorry you had breakthrough seizures last night. I'm grateful that they stopped, because continuous seizures, referred to as "status epilepticus," can be dangerous and even deadly. Fifteen seizures is nothing to take lightly and is concerning.

There are a variety of possible reasons why you had seizures. Many seizures are sleep related, and occur while falling asleep or upon awakening. This was true for my sons.

Medication dosage may need adjustment, either decreased or increased. Unfortunately, one of Michael's neurologists told me that Neurontin levels are unmeasurable. That was when Neurontin was first introduced "off label" to treat seizures. Also, the body can develop a tolerance for a medication, where it becomes ineffective. You may need to change to a different anti-epilepsy drug (AED).

Seizures can be provoked by external stimuli, especially flashing lights on TV, computer, or movie screens. Were you watching anything with flashing lights or intense graphics, when the seizures began?

Here is a link to the best site for epilepsy information with a list of seizure types:

Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

I hope you will read all of them to determine the type of seizures you are having. That helps with identifying the best treatment or AED to control them.

You should call your NP to report that you had these seizures, regardless of whether they return, and particularly if they do continue. However, with all due respect to your NP, s/he isn't qualified to treat seizures. A General Practitioner or Family Doctor (MD) also isn't qualified to diagnose and treat seizures. You need a referral to a neurologist. You should have some testing done, at least a CT scan and an EEG, possibly an MRI.

I know that you don't want to do any of this, but if you continue to have seizures, you will have to do it.

The longer seizures are untreated the greater the possibility for brain damage and new types of seizures to develop. A neuro once described this to me as a stylus needle stuck on a record, where the groove just keeps getting deeper, until the stylus skips to the next groove and does the same thing.

Another concern is driving. Seizures happen unexpectedly, and if you are on the road, it could be disastrous.

I won't reiterate my 49 years of experience with my sons' seizures, but you know that I am knowledgeable. I am not clucking. I am concerned about you, your safety and welfare. Seizures are very serious, Howie, so you need to regard them as serious for your own well being. Get help. Do it for Sam.

My prayers are with you, and I'm sending healing, positive energy your way.

Virginia ~

Continuing to pray for you that you are healing and regaining energy.

To All ~

Stay safe, be well, take care of yourself, and find a bit of joy every day. It's there. Just be open to seeing it. Blessings and prayers for every one of you.

Love & Light,

❤️❤️❤️❤️

Rose

*Virtual Hugs Are Germ-Free!


THANKS!

[Howie]

Rose, thank you for your information. It was spot on. I am having the non-motor seizures. And the heart racing it describes really gets your attention. Nothing jerks or moves, and I have always been sitting, watching TV, when they start. I try to relax as much as I can, and just let it flow over me, then peacfully stop. I do try to analyze what I am feeling while it happens. In a word, it is CREEPY!!!

It's really up to her, but I would like to try upping the dose of Gabapentin to 1000 mg, three times a day. I really don't want to switch meds. The Gabapentin has worked great for many years, and may still at a higher dose. I'll find out tomorrow....I hope!

[Virginia]

So sorry. Howie is having a bad time. Howie I hope you get into see the NP tomorrow. Could be she needs to change your seizure med or the strength of it. I hope it is nothing more than that. I wouldn't let this go on any longer than I could help.

Rose, funny you were talking about COVID in my case, then tonight my brother called and said he had been considering it because of how fast.and hard it was. He said they were going to start calling me Wonder Woman. He did say getting over it was going to be like a turtle crawl from here on out. (Whatever it has been). He thinks they might be able to give me a test, he says he isn't sure, but thinks there might be a blood test


Agate, you mentioned that I should not be thinking about house beautiful - well since I am a little better that's kind of what I have been doing. The painter who painted my Nephews new place had stopped by before I got sick and he is to send me a quote on what I want done. What his quote comes in at will depend on if I can get some other things done. Both my brother and I kind of think it will be best if I am not in paint fumes right now.

Howie, hope you get into see your NP in the morning.