Finally...

I wonder if Tim took care of the balusters Monday because he knew that I was really bothered about the second appointment with the integrative medicine specialist that I had today.  I wonder because I am ever so relieved that I finally have a finished back porch.

Yesterday afternoon and early evening, I was able to paint the railing on the steps!  Isn't it just marvelous!   I was practically giddy when I first went outside today and put my hand on the finished handrail.  BLISS.

It is rather blissful on the front porch, too, although the porch still needs to be re-sealed, because my Wandering Jews have fully recovered from being wintered indoors.  They are magnificent!

This is where the baskets started a year ago spring, after cuttings being grown, cut, rooted, cut again, rooted more etc. over the period of a year from a single broken end of one of the branches off of Becky's basket.

Osmocote is a plant lover's best friend.

The two hummingbird planters were a little out of control.  The green and white variegated plants are supposed to be small, but I think they are overly large because of the little sun.  So, I did some judicious pruning.

I realized after taking this that the other planter has a better aesthetic because the center colorful plant is not as tilted.  But I am pleased that the plants lived and are so bright in color.  This was a great decision for the empty pots on the front porch.  Economical and warming to the cockles of my heart.

When I was taking out the recycling, I discovered this on the back side of the first evergreen in my back yard.  This evergreen leans something awful, and so I had Firewood Man take off about 15 feet the first year he started helping me.

Amos helped Tim work!

Anyway, it appears that what I spotted on the trunk is a frost crack.  If you shine a light into the crack, you can see the center of the tree.  If you look about the trunk, you will find four more cracks.  I was rather alarmed at seeing (and then poking a knife into) the empty space at the center of the leaning tree.  So, Tim and I discussed his removing the tree this fall (when it is no longer stinking hot).  I am very much against removing trees, but with the fierce winds and healthy trees that have come down in Fort Wayne, I believe this tree is an accident waiting to happen.  As in ... the destruction of my neighbor's garage (and my fence).

Taking the tree down is going to add a lot of sunlight to the back corner of the yard.  The bench will still be in shade, but the daylily bed will not.  I wonder if that means my Easter lilies will no longer bloom so late.

It is weird seeing the photo, because now the silver dogwood you see in the background is doubled in size and the daylily bed is completely full.  And, of course, Amos is no longer nine months old!

I did not sleep that well and I was extremely nervous going to the IM specialist today.  I was, admittedly, rather pessimistic about the results ... and fearful of what the high B-12 results would mean.

The abnormal genetic test is actually abnormal with two variants, one defect from each parent.  I really do not understand all that the doctor said, but it affects ... well, actually, I just cannot explain it.   The inability to eliminate B-12 most likely stems more from that and all that is connected, such as my sky high cortisol levels and abnormal cortisol curve (that had to do with the saliva test) than the possibility of blood cancers, liver failure, and/or kidney failure.  So, for right now, I am to take three different supplements, adding one each week until I am on all three, to help balance my thyroid and adrenals, and the cortisol stuff.

The doctor also asked me to meet with a nutritionist.  Going over the diet plan she wants, I remain a bit frustrated in that area, for I just don't believe folk hear me when I talk about just how radical a change I made in my diet.  Other than sweets, which I have also dramatically decreased, though I am weak when having some things on hand), I am eating the exact things on her list.  SIGH.  I agreed to the meeting anyway, because I am trying to make a good faith effort of giving alternative medicine a try.  The upshot was that she is more of a symptom and test results thyroid person, rather than solely test results, so she is leaving the increase in thyroid medication alone ... which is what I wanted because first the crushing fatigue ended, the ashy skin stopped then my nails started growing again, and finally my hair is no longer falling out!

I did ask if she could recommend a new GP because the more I think about how the new person I have met with twice has been, the more I think I need someone who is actually going to be a project manager of my care like my old GP was.  She made a recommendation and her nurse is going to see if she can get me on as a new patient.  I am a bit pessimistic about that, having called around myself, but I do know doctors are more open to referrals from other doctors than cold calls.

I see the IM specialist again in October, unless there is a sooner opening.  I forked over copious amounts of money for two of the three supplements and bought the third one online today. I also paid two co-pays today, now that we know what my insurance will be charging me.  The nutritionist will be $50.  So, in less than a week, I will have spent $320.  SIGH.

Given that Vitamin D has been such an excellent help to me, I am not opposed to trying supplements that are geared to work with the prescription medications that I am taking.  I am a bit leary of the money and worried about side effects.  Side effects are, now, usually a significant issue for me.

The bright spot of the visit was the doctor's response to being off Xanax (two weeks as of today).  I showed her my thought book and explained my choice.  I showed her the essential oil headache remedy that I use, my calendar of symptoms, and let her know that it has now been more than 24-hours since I have had a headache (my fingers are crossed on that matter).  She was very impressed with how hard I worked on both fronts and was pleased by my being off Xanax.  I was a bit puzzled, since she said we could consider that later.  But I welcomed the congratulations.  For I have accomplished something very, very, very difficult.

She did say that she believes the cause of the weight gain is the sky high cortisol that I have.  It is so very discouraging to have gained as much as I have.  Even with my Honey Nut Chex therapy, my calorie count is averaging 1,200, my expended calories (according to FitBit) average 1,800, my fiber intake has increased, and my overall fat and carbohydrate consumption is good.  So, even though she wants me to meet with a nutritionist, the doctor said that she does not believe diet is a main problem or concerning secondary one.

The bottom line is that the appointment was better than I thought.

One the way home, I tried to do some errands, but I got really tired.  It makes sense to me to take care of things when I am already out and about, but that is not exactly best for me, even if it is best on my gasoline budget.  I returned the dead lilac bush (SNIFF, SNIFF) having found the receipt and used my rebate check there to buy a second pair of those neoprene slippers for my blue feet.  I am not a pink person, but I got pink since my nightgown is pink.  [Too girly???]  I then returned the lemon peel that I bought because I didn't realize how expensive it is at the grocery store (I was tired that day and not paying attention).  I had to get innards stuff from Walgreen's, so instead of fetching groceries, I skipped Walmart and got milk form Walgreen's (a better price anyways).  I used the last of a two-year-old Chipotle gift card for a treat, and came home to eat and crash.

Too much walking for me today.
Far, far too much.

But I do finally have a finished and painted railing on my back steps.  I have full hummingbird feeders once more (three of them yelled at me the whole time I was painting, dive bombing me from time to time, to let me know they had guzzled up all the sugar water in the four feeders).  And I have a Fluffernutter who is ensconced in my lap, ever so happy that I returned home to be with him.

It is my goal to be a bump on a log until my appointment next Tuesday, for I am bloody exhausted.

Bushwacked.
Enervated.
Spent.
Fried.
Tapped out.
Sapped.