On Monday March 23 I had an epidural in my back. On Tuesday I had to have my blood work done for some upcoming doctor’s appointments. Ron and I went over the results and they don’t look good. They look worse on the computer screen than what came out in print because the print did not have all the colors and marks. But I looked up some of the results. One said it could be an indicator of anemia, which I have had in the past bad enough to put me in the hospital. The other suggestion from looking up the fact that all this dealt with my red and white blood cells was leukemia or kidney disease, and more likely autoimmune issues. I have all the symptoms of lupus, and my immune system has long been compromised. So that is a possiblity. My PSA is elevated and my TSH keeps dipping low. That is my thyroid which means is it going hyperactive. My first endocrinologist said that the thyroid reacts to things happening in the body so it could be dropping due to my other results. Medicare kicked back three tests because of changed codes / incorrct codes / or too early. The tests were PSA, A1C, and lipid panel. The lab wanted over $400 for the tests. I declined to pay for it. Here are the printed labs from the website and then scanned so I could include them. I deleted / covered the sensitive identifying information. Got to go get shots from the allergy clinic, they had to put me back on weekly for 5 weeks. Oh and I am salt wasting. No change it is actually the same from the last test and up from the low of 117. My kidneys don’t get the signal from my brain to stop taking salt out of my blood. At 115 you can start to have seizures. I am one of the few people told to eat as much salt as I can. Hugs
Scottie's Playtime 
Scottie, I have no idea what to say because what’s trying to make its way out is absolutely not what you want to hear. So, I’ll just say, we all love you, and want you and Ron to take care of yourselves. We want you to take the time to be kind to yourselves and take good care.
Extra salt-you lucky ducky. 😉 (I had to say that; I’ve been low sodium for so many years that I am sensitive to it now, but some things need salt-cantaloupe and sweet potatoes, as examples-and even a little extra. So, there is a thing you can enjoy! OK; off the Susie Sunshine Humor.
Just please take care of yourselves down there. Enjoy your home on which you’ve worked so hard, and be gentle with yourselves and each other.
Don’t Forget To Check Your Email For A Couple From Me. You will not be unhappy, I promise. No bossy big sister junk. But it’s still important.
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Hi Ali. I think I know what you might have said. And regardless if I want to hear it I probably should. But the fact is that until Ron’s life is not threatened by any exertion, I have to push myself to an unhealthy level. I went with Ron to get his sister last night at about 9 pm. She is here for only a few days and then she flies out. Ron was to fly out with her but that has changed. So I will have no time to rest until after he has his heart catheterization and it works as hoped. Ron has been a lot happier and easier to deal with since he got the medication that opens up the arteries and lowers the blood pressure. Thanks for the notice on emails. I have not read emails nor read comments or even been able to consume news since all this started. I will go look for the emails in a bit thanks. Hugs.
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Understood, Scottie, and exactly why I didn’t write the other stuff. You’ve got this.
I’m so glad to read your great report that the medicines are working to help Ron with clarity. That’s a big problem with blockages like his. I’m thankful!
Just take good care, and don’t skimp on yourself.
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Hi Ali. I was in the bedroom folding laundry after doing load after load when Ron came in to the bedroom. He and his sister have been sitting in the lawn chairs just outside the family room all afternoon. Ron said you have done a lot of work today. I replied yes love, I do it every day. He said I am sorry. I said Ron this is not your fault, and I want you to rest and be with your sister so I don’t have to worry about you so much. Until you are better I have to do this, and when you are better you will help me heal from what I have been doing. He smiled and said yes, you are the man I love. We hugged and he went out to make supper of salads with his sister. I am OK with that. It keeps him busy with out him hurting himself. Hugs
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Good on your medical people for giving you your lab results anyway. I suppose it will be on you to take the print outs with you in case some bean counter pulls the ones that insurance denied, but you have them.
I tend toward low blood pressure, sometimes very low, and my primary doc, so far, just says “go ahead and eat salt”, says it’s about 1% of the population that he can say that to. Not sure if he meant just for low blood pressure, though.
I try to keep stocked up on potato chips for the salt but I keep eating them all.
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That’s what I would do, too. (Eat all the potato chips.) Enjoy!
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Hi MDavis. Isn’t it great to be able to use as much salt / chips when doctors are telling people to eat more healthily and be more responsible? Our majority health system in our area who has all the hospitals, the majority of clinics, labs, and testing facilities ectera also has a wonderful program called My Chart for looking at all your labs and test results along with numerous other things you can do on a patient portal. We use one of the main hospitals which is close to us and so the results are there with in minutes to a few hours after the blood is drawn. This time I had two sets of the same labs from two different doctors. I asked that both doctors be given to both doctors. But it seems the lab tech only took the labs from one provider and did not send them to my primary care and I cannot take the time to redo the labs. I will print them off and also take them in on my tablet. But I am sure they will both want the labs not done, so I will let them correct the errors and then I will go do the labs. I am just worried over what Doctor Google said the labs that were out of spec could mean. Hugs
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Just a note to say we are thinking of you Scottie and Ron, wishing you both better times.
You guys have a place in our hearts.
Roger & Sheila 🙏🌈
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Hi Roger. Thank you. I wouldn’t be upset yet. These lab results have explanations that don’t mean the end of the world. However some of what the search results show as what the cause could be when put together is really bad. But until Ron is healed that has to wait. One step in front of the other. Hugs
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We are thinking of you Scottie, and wishing you both well.
Keep up your good work with your blog, as you can and when you can; always put yourselves first.
Roger & Sheila 🙏🌈
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Hi Roger. The doctor was not worried. He felt the stress I was under and the fact I struggled with anemia explained a lot of it. Wait three months and repeat the tests. He also wants me to think of a lower GI to scan for colon cancer. Hugs
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Hi Scottie.
When stress gets into the mix it can create it’s own cycle, and not as easy to break as a lot of folk think.
I am not going to come in within any ‘dime-a-dozen’ solutions as are out there. Finding a way out or coming to terms with the situation is a very individualistic thing, sometimes you just have to wait for the body and mind to work out between them what is best. Tough call I know, personally.
We are with you, and Ron.
Roger & Sheila
🙏🌈
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