Health, Expanded.. And Pictures! (but not of the health) :)

Well, I finally finished Jane Austen's Persuasion.  What a fantastic ending, to which I stayed up late reading.  I figured, I don't sleep well anyways, so what the hell's the point with going to bed at a decent time?  Now I can start reading, The Wayfinders (from the CBC Massey Lecture series - "Why Ancient Wisdom Matters in the Modern World").  Looking forward to that.

I've had the a/c running the past couple days.  Waiting for this heat to break.  Babu and I are comfortable :)

Well, I don't really want to talk about it, but there's no use avoiding it.  So.. yes, it was confirmed I have sleep apnea; something I was in dire denial about.  This is the one thing I *didn't* want.  It's only moderate, he says (apparently stopped breathing 20 times an HOUR is moderate).  He kept asking me if I was diabetic (if he clued in when I told him I was PRH he would understand I'm the opposite of diabetic) and if I've had blood clots (no).  I have large tonsils (which I knew about) that factor in a bit.  Then he asks, "Has your doctor ever discussed with you metabolic syndrome?"  "No."  ... .  He said it's hard to diagnose, but I have a couple contributing factors (which apparently is all it takes).  Losing weight is mandatory, but I knew that.  He wants me to get a CPAP machine, to which I said I can't afford ("Did you know the province pays for most of it?" "No." "Yes, and they'll just leave you with a bill of $200-$400." "I can't afford that.") but we're going to have a trial run of a CPAP machine to just see how it goes.  I also have to get a stress test done and a methacholine test (asthma).  I wasn't expecting to be relayed with so much information yesterday.  I asked if there were other options other than getting a CPAP machine and he said, "Yes, but they're more expensive".  With all due respect to him and his geniusness, I'm going to do a hell of a lot more research to find out what else I can do.  I see him again at the end of August for follow-up, so I have until then to do it.  Man, I haven't even seen the endocrinologist yet - I'm starting to fear that appointment.

I feel like I'm going to be dead in 5 years.  I've never had so much wrong with me.  What's going on?!?!  I'm 34 for crying out loud.  34!!  Not 84!  Hells bells.. that reminds me.. I have to call my gram to get an update on my aunt.  Alright, well, I'm too pissed off about this health stuff, so I need to putter around the apartment.  I will leave you on a more positive note, though... with pictures! :)

.... is it Friday yet?

A tiger lily, post-rain.

Babu, with his usual unimpressed look. He lays in front of the kitchen sink.. which can make it difficult to do dishes on the best of days.

When I was waiting for the doc in the pulmonologists office yesterday, they had this pamphlet.  I can't tell you how many things I find wrong with this.  "Pandemic prepared"?!?  And we wonder why people freak out; they're already subconsciously tense because of bullshit propaganda like this!  Gah! (And yes, that is the coffee mug I use every morning and yes it's Winnie the Pooh - don't judge :) ).

A little mini path I take on my walk home (this was last night).  The park is freshly cut, crop circles around the trees and that fresh cut grass smell... mmm.  If there's ever a scent of summer, that would definitely be one of them.

In a few days, this will be covered with tiger lilies.  I'll try my best to capture them.