Whine and Cheese

This has been an up-and-down week for me. Along with my new gym workouts, I'd scheduled a routine doctor's appointment for this week. It was 10 AM on Tuesday, which is a weird time for me, it's literally smack dab in the middle of my day. I debated on whether to go to work in the morning, then the doctor, or stay home, doctor, then work.

I elected to go to the gym in the morning, then the doctor, then work. I had to fast for the blood work, so by the time it was all over, I was ravenous. I literally was at work all of 15 minutes before we went to lunch. I needed that 1,000 calorie lunch.

Last night, while I was relaxing, I did a quick doodle online, with some obvious St. Patty's Day influence:


Grizzly and Guinness

I do love drawing that man. Grizzly is the ideal, muscled superhero for me.

After work, I had every intention to hit the gym, but the weather was so nice and sunny (if not still chilly) that I decided to try an outdoor run. By the time I'd gotten home, I was wiped out, so I attempted a short nap. It lasted over three hours. I think the change in my workouts has drained me a bit more than I had thought.

I'm taking Friday off from work so I have an extended weekend. Yay!

Tuesday I felt my left foot get a bit sore, but it's an odd soreness. It's like a joint that you wish you could pop, and I kept stretching my foot up and hoping it would happen. The pain is in the arch, but it wasn't consistent. Yesterday, it got a bit worse during the day, but I could still lift weights after work. Last night, it seemed to make me hobble. I figured, at last, it was another gout incident.

Since the last incident, where I essentially overdosed on my meds, I've been cautious. I took recommended dose and waited for it to subside, but it really didn't. So, I parked myself on the couch to watch TV and wait it out.

Maggie the Cat has become very loving of late. I've had to treat her for ear mites, which she hates. She cleans her face and ears over and over, and the result gives her a very ragged appearance. Yet, when I've gotten home, she's very vocal and seems to crave attention from me. I'm more than happy to give it, but she's getting in the middle of things, like my drawing and walking. When I'm hobbling around, having her walking in front of me isn't very helpful.

I stayed up late enough to catch the latest "South Park," which was a bit lame. I'll catch up on "American Horror Story: Coven" tonight on DVR.

This morning, I woke up and the gout hadn't subsided, but it didn't keep me awake last night like it usually does. I'm still hobbling a bit, but hopefully it'll be gone by the end of the day.

Sadly, it's going to wreck my run after work and it's a beautiful sunny day here. :(

Today was the first time in my life I've ever worn a hospital gown.

My first colonoscopy was today. Given the loss of my older brothers in the last couple of years to cancer, my doctor wanted a precautionary look-see to make sure things were [edit: NOT] going wrong inside.

Yesterday's prep was not fun. You never miss eating solid food until you're told you can't have it. So after a day long diet of beef broth, popsicles, and apple juice, I started drinking the "GoLytley" solution -- 8 oz every 15 minutes for four hours. It doesn't necessarily taste bad, but it has an odd viscosity and a weird after-taste. You get sick of it quickly. The effects are fairly immediate, but not as bad as I had been told. I expected needing a toilet with seat belts and a roll bar, but I managed without them. By the end of the night, I'd evacuated everything I'd eaten since 1973 and my colon was pretty much back to its showroom specifications.

This morning, Brian (cincycub) picked me up and drove me to the doctor's office. After some paperwork, the nurses took me to the back to change and get my IV put in. After 20 minutes, they wheeled me back to the exam room. It wasn't as technical as I expected, but I admit I freaked a bit when I saw the long tube with graduated lines on it -- it was six feet long. I didn't ask because I figured I knew where THAT was going.

The nurse put me on my side, injected something into the IV and I was out in seconds. I woke up in what felt like five minutes. All done. I remember asking a few questions, but I don't recall what they were. I don't remember being wheeled back into the staging area, but I remember being there and having the hiccups (one of the other side-effects of the medication). I don't recall getting dressed. I do remember being told that things were fine, nothing unusual found. I don't recall walking out of the building, but remember getting into Brian's car. I have a hazy memory of us driving to T.G.I.Friday's for lunch and from there my memory seems pretty solid.

The drug they use is called Versed, which is a sedative with a side-effect of some memory loss. I got home and took a nap, then woke up and ate cheesecake.

The best news is that nothing was wrong. And the cheesecake was fantastic. Big hugs to Brian, I really appreciate everything. :)