Another day...

My appointment went much, much better than I thought it would.  Last night, I was up all night worrying.  SIGH.

What I like most is that we have a plan.  Actually, we have two plans.  As for the hormones, I will continue them for two more years and then stop them again to see if I am in menopause.  I am already concerned about stopping them again, but I understand the need for such action.  The specialist reassured me that since I re-started them within 24 hours of starting my period that I shouldn't have another one.  I had worried about that.

The pain.
SHUDDER.

We talked about the reconstructive surgery again.  I understand that my nerve malfunction is a problem.  My doctor bluntly said she thought I could have lifetime pain from it.  Still, not having a repair is becoming more difficult for me.  So, she brought up her alternative once more:  physical therapy to try and build up the muscles around the damage.  Uhm... no thanks.  Then, at the end of the appointment, she brought up the use of a support device.  She is concerned that I would find it too painful, and I would need testing first.  If I am a candidate and IF the device seems helpful, it would mean an initial four visits with her.  Four times of nakedness.  An impossibility and yet I liked the idea of a support device for my female innards.

So, I have an appointment in six months for the testing.  I have the option to moving that appointment up, say about four months.  The time period is to help me wrap my mind around the exam and tests and whatnot and for me to save for those four appointments.

I had an asthma attack whilst I was at my appointment.  I really, really, really loath the attacks that seemingly come out of the blue.  I tried drinking water when the coughing started, but it eventually became too much.  So, I used my emergency inhaler.  I was immensely thankful for my (now old) pharmacist Kaitlyn, who spent time teaching me how to use the inhaler since I left the hospital without such.  This time, when I used the inhaler, I could feel its effects rather quickly.  And the coughing and wheezing were halted before I reached that point of no return.

As much as I did not want to suffer thorough the experience of prescriptions at Walmart, the two I get on GoodRX are even cheaper there.  So, after I finally left the doctor's office, I went to fetch prescriptions and some groceries.  It was an agonizingly long process, but the prescription savings were so great that I got 90 Benzonatate pills and the hormones for the same cost as what only 30 pills and hormones would be at Target.

I remember the ingredients for Vietnamese Chicken Curry with Sweet Potatoes.  I had completely forgotten just how tasty this dish is!

Today (last night really), I finished up the seasoning of my cast iron pans.  I have not done well in that department and I have not done well as a cast iron pan owner.  My 12-inch and 6-inch pans were used and the 12-inch was coated in rust.  I finally found this really great article on seasoning cast iron. It made sense to me and was clear in the process.

The process, after you get the pans prepped (I didn't do as great a job at that as I could have) and oiled, is to bake for one hour then cool in the unopened oven for two more hours.  Then oil and  repeat.  Five times.  Yes, five!

The end result is clearly worth the time and effort!  After the second round, it is easy to look at your pans and feel as if you are not accomplishing anything.  After the third round, hope blossoms.  After the fourth, impatience abounds.  After the fight, culinary giddiness.

It's been a long, long, long day, but it was a day of positives.