Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Light Headed Tired and No Time On My Hands

Greetings friends. So sorry it's been a while. I've been busy working, traveling while working, potty training, single parenting (while Hubbie is working extra shifts) and generally burning the candle at both ends.

After about two weeks of periodic dizziness for no apparent reason, I called my primary care physician and asked for an appointment. With some questioning the fabulous Patty who answers the phone at the Doctor's office checked availability and got me in to see a Doc a mere 45 minutes later.

The woman I saw was great - part physician part psychotherapist - she asked relevant questions that I'm not used to Doc's asking: Have you ever had panic attacks before? (no) What did you eat for breakfast? (I often skip or have cereal and eat at the office around 9) How much sleep do you get? (not nearly enough - I have a two year old) What do you do for a living (Social Work), is there much stress in your life (did I mention the two year old - the potty training two year old?), How much coffee do you drink (one 10oz cup per day), how much refined sugar do you eat (about 3 teaspoons per day in my coffee), candy (that mid afternoon snack you mentioned - this is usually it - snickers)? Pastries (lets see, three meetings a week, all public, with pastries...yes, too many pastries) any heart disease in your family (yeah, my dead dad who had his first heart bypass in his late 40's and died in his early 60's)...

Okay, so I've never had panic attacks before but this doesn't feel like panic. Maybe a little bit of stress. But not entirely. It feels like my body isn't right. My head is kinda light all of the time. Sometimes to the point that I feel like I'm going to pass out - when I'm sitting in front of my computer. And don't even get me started about how I feel when I climb those three flights of stairs to my office in the morning - like I'm going to hyperventilate because I'm so winded.

I had an EKG which showed a slightly decreased heart rate and was told 1) to quit caffiene 2) to eat protein (especially before I leave the house in the morning) 3) to have blood tests, a longer EKG, and stress test. And if all of that comes back negative, to consider discussions with my regular doctor about anti-anxiety medication. To which I responded that I am anti-medicine.

And yes, I think the stress is caused in part by not being able to write and post to my blog. It's kinda funny that Hubbie spends his free time lately at home on his computer - in the way he says he doesn't like me to be with screen. I pointed it out to him last night but he didn't listen. Just smiled and kept typing away. That's what I call a double standard. And it's nothing like eating chocolate for breakfast in front of your kid. It's way worse.

Friday, June 1, 2007

Music

I am a Morphine addict. No not the drug - Mark Sandman's Band.

Yes it's his real name. His music and lyrics are amazing - funny, witty, and sad at times, but he did things with certain words that is pretty darned impressive - especially when set next to the band's signature low bass, sax & heavy drum beat (often referred to as low rock).

If you like rock at all, I'd suggest a listen or two. Start with the Album "Good" and follow the chronology to get the full effect (check out the lyrics here). I wish I knew how to embed music (or photos or music that's not from You Tube) into this here blog. If anyone who reads can help with this, please leave a comment!

This is one of my favorites - hell everything Morphine did is one of my favorites:

I'm Free Now

I'm free now to direct a movie
Sing a song or write a book about yours truly
How I'm so interesting I'm so great I'm really just a fuck-up
And It's such a waste to burn down these wall around me
Flexing like a heartbeat we don't like to speak
Don't talk to me for about a week I'm sorry it just hurts to explain
There's something going on that makes my guts ache
I got guilt I got fear I got regret
I'm just a panic stricken waste I'm such a jerk
I was honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Is ever cause you pain
Oh
I'm free now
Free to look out the window
Free to live my story
Free to sing along
Oh (x4)
I'm free now to direct a movie
Sing a song or write a book about yours truly
How I'm so interesting I'm so great but I'm really just a fuck-up
It's such a waste to burn down these wall around me
Flexing like a heartbeat we don't like to speak
Don't talk to me for about a week I'm sorry it just hurts to explain
There's something going on that makes my guts ache inside
I got guilt I got fear I got regret
I'm just a panic stricken waste I'm such a jerk
I was honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Honest I swear the last thing I want to do
Is ever cause you pain
Oh (x2)