cybercrastinator

Nothing New

2012-01-13T09:41:00.001-06:00

Nothing new on the medical front.
I continue to exercise and head back to uniformed work on the 30th. I guess I need to look into a haircut at some point.

Dissection Update

2011-12-19T11:53:00.000-06:00

The scan from November shows that the clot that formed at the point of the arterial dissection has dissolved.

The preventative plan now is to:

NOT do standard Army sit-ups (the Army is considering going away from this style anyway).
Stay on Plavix but stop the Aspirin. This is currently indefinite until age or other future unknown medical issues dictate otherwise. The reason is that since the original dissection was spontaneous, if another happens, the platelet therapy will reduce the risk of as stroke caused by the dissection clotting. Research on spontaneous dissections recommends 6 months of Plavix and Aspirin and I am beyond that point.
Go to the hospital if I get anything beyond my standard low-grade and short-term headache.

Exercise plan:

Gradual return to my previous cardio and muscle exercise regimen.
No hold-the-back-of-your-head sit-ups (to be safe).
No more power-lifting or work-out sessions with my WWE buddies.

It feels good to be (mostly) out of the clear. The neurologist read some statistics regarding spontaneous dissections. 3/75 people in a study experience a second dissection within a year. 2/3 were bilateral (occurred on the other side artery). According to statistics, I have about a 1% change annual that I will have another dissection.

So nothing new from now on until something new happens.

Oops. Forgot the update.

2011-12-13T09:16:00.001-06:00

Recent news in the CAD saga (summary):

-Wasn't impressed by the Air Force neurologist
-Air Force radiology lab messed up some scans and lost our confidence
-Had an MRI/MRA at the local Army post
-Switched primary care from Air Force tonArmy
-Saw my new D.O. To get an Army neuro referral
-Neuro appointment on Dec 19th

I decided I needed to start seeing an Army doc at an Army facility so that then could effect my exercise and physical limitations. I am due for an Army physical fitness test soon and need to avoid issues.

More post Dec 19th.

Medical Update: Finally an MRA

2011-11-10T14:43:00.001-06:00

If you recall from past posts, it was only an MRA that first showed the CAD (Carotid Artery Dissection) in my brain.

Two days after passing the 6-month mark from the initial CAD I received an MRI/MRA. Monday I will pickup a copy of the scans and take them to my Neurologist at my clinic (appointment pending).

More when that doctor gets his arm twisted to give us some options as to how I proceed with my altered life.

Sorry it has been so long since an update, but that is all there was going on: waiting for this most recent scan.

Brother's Head

2011-09-26T18:51:00.001-06:00

My four-years-younger brother had an MRA done today to see if he had anything odd going on.

No over-tortuosity in his carotids or other obvious oddities.

Glad he is not set up for a carbon copy of my issue.

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Phone Tag

2011-09-26T07:35:00.001-06:00

After several rounds of phone tag with various organizations I finally have a neurology appointment set for October 11th.

With a neurologist.

At the clinic I have been going to all along!

What?!

Either:

1) They just got a neurologist because they never mentioned one on staff before.

2) This one is not qualified to handle m case, hence the referral previously, and now they have underestimated my case.

I am going to ask, "Why didn't they send me to you before?"

It should be interesting.

The CT Update Part III

2011-09-14T08:42:00.002-06:00

TRICARE wants me to see a local neurologist for followup care. So the clinic has put in a request for a local appointment. It will most likely be in Denver as the neuro docs nearer to home are booked for a year.

The concern we have is the original Air Force doc that saw me here did not think that any local (to include Denver) neurosurgeons were head neurology specialists, just back specialists.

The story is if a doctor needs to physically see me, and I was under neuro care in Phoenix, I would have to travel there every time.

So more when then referral comes through.

The CT Update Part II

2011-09-13T07:38:00.001-06:00

Queue the circus music.

I showed up at 8:15 yesterday as reported.

The grumpy receptionist figured out I was a last minute squeeze in and told me to fill out the forms after the other person in the waiting room finished with the clipboard full of form copies.

That lady then took the whole clipboard back to he appointment with her. I found that funny.

After a few minutes a doctor and a nurse came out looking all concerned.

Dr: "What kind of scan do you need?"
Me: "I need a CTA of my head and neck. Apparently last time they only scanned my neck."
Dr: "Hold on a minute."

2-3 minutes pass.

Dr: "Your last scan was from neck to the top of your skull."
Me: "Really? Well, are the scans being sent to my neurosurgeon in Phoenix?"
Dr: "The should be according to the order."
Me: "Can I get a copy?"
Dr: "Sure."

Fifteen minutes later I have a CD copy of about 200+ shots they made.

Mary and I loaded them up on the computer viewer and while they look cool (it's neat when the radiation flares off my fillings) we don't see anything carotid related we can make anything out from.

A copy will be sent by me to Phoenix so I am sure it gets there!

------

Our TX house closes today!

The CT Update

2011-09-11T20:36:00.001-06:00

Two weeks ago I had a CT scan done.

Then we heard nothing.

Last week we started making calls and tracking things down.

The local clinic finally called the Neurological Center in Phoenix to see what scans to get local and send to Phoenix. They want a contrast CT Angiogram of my head and neck.

Two weeks ago they only did my neck.

*Sigh*

So tomorrow at 8:15 I get stuck and scanned again. The scans will then go to Phoenix and hopefully something useful will show up on them.

Mary and I have been doing a lot of walking which is the only authorized exercising I can do.

On a big note, we sign and overnight our closing paperwork to TX and Tuesday our 16-months-on-the-market house will be sold!

At the Followup CT

2011-08-24T15:38:00.001-06:00

Appointment was at 9am.

Got there the prescribed 15 minutes early.

Waiting until 9:45am to get the scan.

Results in 3-5 days. We assume my PCM will send them to the arterial surgeon who originally saw me to see what else needs to be done.

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Medical Update

2011-08-18T11:04:00.001-06:00

Just saw my doctor about follow up. He is scheduling my CT scans and starting the process for me to see a local vascular surgeon to read the scans and make more recommendations.

Still on Plavix and aspirin.

Tongue still tweaked a bit but speech seems to be compensating.

I am still more headache prone than I used to be.

Hoping I can start exercising again some day.

Medical update and other etc.

2011-07-10T16:17:00.001-06:00

Not much new to report. I will write more when something changes. Otherwise nothing said means nothing changed.

I am pretty much off an pain meds and the headaches are generally gone.

My tongue is still causing me speech impediments so that indicates that the clot at my CAD location is taking it's time to dissolve.

My records from Phoenix arrived incomplete. Of course the part missing was the write up from my angiogram and follow on instructions for exercise and future scans, etc. I had to send another record release requesting the final pieces.

Two more classes start this Monday: astronomy and nanotechnology.

A college friend of Mary and mine is visiting this next weekend with his bride and brand new daughter. My mother's oldest brother, bride and daughter will be out here at the end of the month to enjoy AZ, CO and NM.

Her Highness, Julia Sweeney, Queen of the USA

2011-07-05T17:40:00.000-06:00

Julia Sweeney doesn't frequently post to her blog but her most recent post has some thought provoking ideas. Read the full post here:

1.) Flat income tax with no deductions. I'm guessing between 15 to 25%. No nifty accountants, no discount for being poor, no deductions for children, or interest on house loans, or even medical expenses, and no increased tax for the rich. I know it seems like the rich should pay more, but I think they pay so much less now -- than even poor people do -- because of all the deductions they take. I think this is a fair start.

2.) Mandatory conscription. Everyone has to serve two years. It can be in the military but could also be building infrastructure in the U.S. or aid, Peace Corps like, outside the U.S. This would also help create a more cohesive American culture. To me this is important because I think the need for culture is great and religion swoops into the vacuum. Additionally, if people from the wealthier classes had to send their children off to war, there would be fewer wars. Duh.

3.) Universal health care. Medicare for all. Untether health care from jobs.

4.) Universal and equal education. Remove the correlation between property taxes and school budgets. Children of people who are not high-income expensive-home-owners should not have to go to schools of any less quality because of their parents situation. Parents in rich areas have a greater resource of available at-home parents who can volunteer and this is allowed. This will inevitably cause a discrepancy in the schools, but this I will allow. (Yes! I am QUEEN! This is fun!) Religious private schools are outlawed. Private alternative learning schools are allowed, as long as the basics are taught. This subject is added to the curriculum: Religion. Not teaching religion, teaching children about religion. The Bible is mandatory reading in school. Are you shocked? I do believe we would have much less fanaticism, fundamentalism, and influence by the religious right if everyone were forced to just simply read the Bible as literature, as a historical document, as a window into religion itself and not the word of god. I would still allow religions to exist (aren't I tolerant?) and kids could get religious schooling after their regular school if their parent chooses this.

5.) Charity Schmarity. No tax deductions for churches or any non-profit organizations. None. People will still give money to charities even if it's there is no tax benefit, this has been proven time and again. Churches rake it in and have little to report about it. Other charities do too, it drives me nuts.

6.) No inheritance. You can't transfer wealth to those who are over age 21. (Okay, this idea is impossible, hell, they're all probably impossible - but this one really REALLY is. Still, I like the idea that wealth cannot be transferred to those who did not earn it unless they're children.)

7.) Eliminate special states rights. State lines should evolve over time to simple cultural and geographical delineation's. No special business tax havens in Wyoming, for example. State taxes would also be set at a flat rate and every state would have the same rate.

8.) Lobbying is made illegal. Sure there will still be lobbyists, but it will be clandestine and when rooted out, prosecutable.

9.) Electoral college abolished. One person, one vote. I would go with the necessity of picture identification cards at the polling places.

10.) Eliminate tax subsidies to any business that is profitable or even possibly profitable. Eliminate tax subsidies to any business that creates pollution.

11.) Marijuana decriminalized.

12.) Other drugs also should be decriminalized, but they can only be done if you're not a parent and in a safe environment and not driving. If you're out of your home (which cannot have children in it) you have to be with others doing the same drug. Basically I would set up drug houses where, if you want to do drugs, that's fine, you can go there and do it. But you have to stay there until you're off of the drug or dead. I guess that means we will also provide the drugs. All right, fine. But no leaving until you are dead or not high anymore. (HA! This is really fun!)

13.) Euthanasia decriminalized, equal marriage rights for gays, prostitution decriminalized, and regulated.

14.) "Under God" taken out of the pledge. "In God We Trust" replaced with the historical, original "E Pluribus Unum" on money.

15.) Our influence in the world limited to defending a Universal Bill of Rights. Forget about bringing democracy everywhere. A solid Bill of Rights is more important than democracy.

16.) Online poker is legalized.

17.) Palestine has a right to exist, Israel out of Gaza. Jeez! Let the boats in, for crying out loud.

18.) State Fair's are mandatory. State's cannot vote to de-fund them. (Michigan?! are you listening?) They are too much fun and add to state pride and understanding.

19.) Abortions are free. Anyone who wants one can have one. No questions asked, no waiting period. Also, babies born with severe disabilities can be euthanized. Yes, I said it. I'm with Peter Singer on this one. I know it's a tragedy. These things happen. While I'm on the subject, birth control is also free.

20.) Cash payments for going to the gym. I'm not sure how this will actually work but somehow you get $20 in cash for every time you go work out at the gym or go to yoga.

21.) High school students must graduate with a certified skill. It could be hair cutting, electrical apprenticeships, copy editor apprentices, marble cutters, sous chefs - something - a skill that can be learned in a year, which has enough basics for a job, and is certifiable.

Discuss.

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Time waster(s)

2011-06-21T10:21:00.001-06:00

There is a teacher in my class whose schtick is ask "questions" about Sci-Fi concepts as if they are real phenomenon.

*sigh*

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Another Update

2011-06-16T17:48:00.001-06:00

I had my CAD follow-up appointment this past Tuesday.

First off, we had them check my phosphate test results. It was 2.8 which is within the health levels.

We talked about all the CAD options:

1) Surprise surprise. My records from Phoenix had not been sent yet, so no knowledge as to six weeks or months for my follow on CT scan and type. Also how long I should be on thinners. Rest of my life? Type?

2) Blood thinners will affect my deployability, but the Air Force docs can't work the Army database. Once all records are in hand I will pursue my profile and limitations.

School starts Monday. I have been off the opana (oxymorpone) for two days now and other meds have kept the headaches at bay.

More in a few weeks if/when my records arrive.

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Status Update

2011-06-12T09:40:00.001-06:00

How long have I been out of the hospital?

Friday I went to a follow-up appointment for my low phosphate levels and had a blood test. No feedback yet but it will call Monday (or ask Tuesday) what my reading was.

I have not felt tingly or weak like it did when my levels were low. So that is good.

This Tuesday I have a follow-up for my carotid dissection (CAD). Hopefully they have the written report and follow-up instructions from Phoenix. We are still not sure if they wanted a CT at 6 weeks or 6 months. We heard different from the doctor and the admin nurse in Phoenix.

My headaches seem to be lessening daily and can be managed with Tramadol, Tylenol or a combo. I also still take Opana, a time-release oxy-morphone, but it runs out in a few days. I am hoping I will not need it as it keeps me from driving. My first summer class starts in a week and it would be nice to drive myself as I am about four weeks behind on my podcast listening. :). The headaches don't seem to be lingering in the background as much as before. Maybe I am just getting accustomed to the issue.

My torqued tongue is still causing me speech issues. Again, this is supposed to reduce as the CAD clot reduces. If not, I may have to look into some speech therapy. I will ask about that on Tuesday.

My assignment officer is starting the paperwork to get me assigned to Colorado following graduation! I have a few admin things to clean up (curse you AKO) and those orders should push through.

Thanks again to everyone that wrote to me and helped out me or my family!

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iPad Arrived

2011-06-08T23:04:00.001-06:00

And apparently a day early.

Thanks again to everyone who sent gent well gifts and helped out.

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iWow! iThanks.

2011-06-04T10:38:00.001-06:00

My brother has done a kind thing and fronted an effort to get me a Get Well Gift.

My good friend Anthony and a good friend of my brothers, Nabeel, both contacted my brother with the idea to take up a collection and get my an iPad 2!

Thanks to everyone that contributed:

My brother (and his awesome wife and princesses)
My parents (who timed their arrival perfectly)
Anthony (who should have had more AL support)
Nabeel (not a deputy)
My cousin Amy (with Kerry and the G-Man)
Greg (a.k.a the Dr. Funk to my Monkey)
My brother-in-law-in-law Misha
My brother's in-laws Natalia and Boris
My late grandmother (who threatened to eat my brains!)

I am looking forward to getting it within the next few weeks (back ordered).

You all are so cool! Much better than flowers (and will last a lot longer as well).

Also thanks to:

My parents for watching all the boys for so long
My Sis-in-Law Sue for sending a Subway giftcard. That is a family favorite (RJ wants to get a job there!)
Our neighbor Melissa who made some food and helps when she says she will help

Out.

2011-06-02T14:47:00.001-06:00

I have been discharged but there was never a diagnosis.

Docs want me to get another phosphate level check in a week to make sure I am stabilized.

And...back in the hospital

2011-06-01T10:37:00.031-06:00

Seems that I am a medical mystery again.

So far they don't think this is related to the Carotid Dissection or any of the procedures I had done in Phoenix.

Yesterday morning around 4am I woke up feeling generally crappy. Kind of like the overall "blah" you feel when you have the flu. From 4-8am I tossed and turned and never got very good sleep. I still didn't have much of an appetite (I had not been terribly hungry the night before, but had eaten a little). I tried eating some cereal but my mouth was really dry and I felt too crappy to eat. At about 9:30 my hands and feet started feeling tingly with some loss of sensation. That was very worrisome so Mary got me in the car and we headed off to the ER.

All the way there my thoughts were, of course, on a dislodged clot or some kind of problem with the sealant they put in my femoral artery for the angiogram. This freaked me out and added some hyperventilation to the tingling which just exacerbated it. By the time we got to the ER my legs were numb, my arms were numb and I had lost all use of my hands. They were all cramped up. I was also feeling numbness creeping up my abdomen and around the sides of my head.

The ER nurse asked me questions about my recent medical history which severed that purpose and also got my breathing regular. Once in the ER bed the feeling to limbs had returned and my tingling had reduced. I felt, cold, shaky, very weak and still very crappy.

Several vials of blood were taken and the early results showed I had very low phosphate levels which would have caused the tingling and flu-like crappy feeling.

They started a electrolyte IV and I had an phosphate pill. I also got a little food in, but I was still without much appetite.

Several hours in the ER and I was moved to a regular hospital bed for more tests and monitoring. By evening my levels had returned to normal but no other test results or examination of meds and history were explaining why my levels dropped. A kidney doctor (Nephrologist) was scheduled to come see me as well.

I slept well through the night only waking up during the four times when (1) midnight when they came in to check my heart monitor which required ripping a contact pad off and replacing it; (2) routine vitals check; (3) blood draw at 4am and; (4) another heart monitor pad removal and replacement.

I continued to snooze till breakfast at 8:30am and was glad that some of my appetite had returned.

My father showed up to hang out with me at about 9:15am.

The Nephrologist showed up around 10 and ran through a plethora of questions. Still no idea why my levels might have dropped. The kidney blood tests and thyroid blood tests all checked out. She is going to look over some more tests and see if she can draw any other conclusions.

I am now off the IV drip so they can see how my electrolyte levels persist on regular diet and evacuation.

After meds, shower, food and rest I am feeling more like my (post dissection) self.

So much fun!

----

Month of May:

30+ blood draws
25 days of headaches
12 days in Phoenix, AZ
10+ doctors on varying parts of my case(s)
9 medications
8 Hampton Inn Belgium Waffles :)
7 self-administered shots
6 nights in the hospital
5 IVs
4 United Airlines flights
3 different hospitals
3 CT scans
2 different states
1 MRI/MRA
1 carotid dissection
1 unexplained electrolyte plummet

Home Again

2011-05-30T17:05:00.001-06:00

Landed at home.

Quick stop for dinner then on the way home to relax from travel.

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At the Airport

2011-05-30T11:21:00.001-06:00

Waiting at the Phoenix Airport to go home.

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Angio Mend

2011-05-28T11:29:00.001-06:00

Still recovering from everything. The Plavix and aspirin is making for a very colorful recovery site for my femoral artery access site.

Still on schedule to go home Monday

Here I am in front of the Barrow Clinic yesterday when we picked up a CD of my most recent CT and scans.

Here is a panorama of the hospital from the hotel we are staying in.

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Home on Monday

2011-05-26T19:58:00.001-06:00

Called again today and had some eventual success on getting home early.

First the travel agent had trouble getting a transferable flight for both of us (we had to be booked separately for billing reasons). They finally got us on a Monday flight.

But then there was trouble with my government travel charge card.

There was trouble when they initially booked the trip but my headquarters, the US Army Student Detachment Command (USASDC), assured me my account was current and active.

Turns out it was not.

I called the card company who told me I had to contact USASDC. I called them to find out everyone was already on Memorial Day break and would be back Tuesday. I explained that they were trying to get mr on a Monday flight and seats were going fast.

They called someone who then called me and took care of it.

Otherwise, medically, things have been going well. I slept much better last night and the headaches have lessened. My Angio site is stills rather tender which makes it slow to walk and difficult to sit up and down.

Getting up to 100 degrees in Phoenix tomorrow!

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After the Angio

2011-05-25T11:22:00.001-06:00

Day 1 after the Angiogram.

Feels like I got beat up and kicked in the groin.

It was a "fidgety" night. I both experienced it and heard a detailed review about my antics with the covers.

My bride rules for putting up with me through all this. :)

A day of rest.

Status Quo

2011-05-24T17:11:00.001-06:00

He's out! Artery 70% blocked and it's curved so they couldn't get to it with a stent.
He said 30% wasn't too bad (better then they thought) and they hope over time the clot will clear.

So no stent and no overnight stay. He has to lie flat here for a few hours. He will keep on the plavix and aspirin and have a repeat CT scan in 6 weeks.

I asked about the risk of it happening again and he said it very well could and so could the other side because a lot of these things can be bilateral. Yikes!

But he said it is more dangerous to force a stent in or do surgery so he'll just have to have regular check ups and keep his blood pressure low (he's always had low blood pressure already?)

In the Angio

2011-05-24T15:06:00.001-06:00

Attempting to write on here from Steves phone.

Steve left for the angio at 12:40 PST after a long wait this morning. I guess our insurance finally cleared the procedure.

The Doctor said the CT scan from Friday showed decreased oxygen getting through his left side so unless it's cleared since then it sounds like they'll be going ahead with the stent.
He said regular a diagnostic angio (called an angiograph) could be as quick as a 1/2 hour but if they place a stent it will be a few hours and they will put him fully under for that. Since he's been gone for an hour and 20 minutes now I'm assuming they are stenting.

We asked about the bypass and he said they REALLY don't want to have to do that procedure so it will be a last resort. If they can't reach the clot or if the stent doesn't work, then we'll discuss that later.

Keep your fingers crossed!

The nurse set me up in his recovery room/area so I could have my own personal tv to watch (not that I'm really able to watch anything) but it was still nice.

Admitted!

2011-05-24T13:08:00.001-06:00

I'm admitted.

We gave up waiting in the lobby so we told them to call our hotel.

We went back and got 2 hours of sleep when the finally called.

I'm now back in a gown with an IV in my arm. Waiting for my procedure.

The lady waiting for her husband has FOX News up full volume so it pretty much forces us to watch FOX News.

Pending

2011-05-24T07:15:00.001-06:00

Another "as predicted".

Our insurance is still claiming they have nothing even though the Doctor's office started faxing stuff to them on Friday. Doctor's staff doesn't officially start work till 9am.

Sure glad I woke up at 4:15am this morning.

Our next prediction is nothing will happen till Thursday.

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No need for 5am

2011-05-24T06:35:00.001-06:00

Nothing in the hospital computer system regarding today's procedure. So "6 or 6:30am" till admissions can maybe get a hold of someone.

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And so it begins

2011-05-24T06:18:00.001-06:00

Showed up at 5am as directed.

As we predicted, no packet/file on me in the morning admissions box.

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Moving Ahead

2011-05-23T19:17:00.002-06:00

Friday the Doctor's office wanted me to go off all blood thinners an get tested again Monday.

They said they would call.

They didn't call.

So we walked over to the Neuro Clinic at about 11am.

After 5 minutes the nurse came out with my lab order with "STAT!" written all over it. She said she would call as soon as the results were in and that she was still working with my insurance who had "lost the fax the they sent friday." We walked to the lab; they did a great draw and we were off to lunch.

By 3:30pm they had NOT called so I gave the nurse a call. My blood, which was 4.8 Friday, is at a 1.1 today! (1.0 is normal blood on the INR scale). The nurse said she still had to talk with the Radiologist-Interventionist to see what he wanted to do.

At 4:40pm she called back and said the Doc wants to go ahead with the angiogram tomorrow. I am taking a dose of meds tonight and report to admissions tomorrow at 5am. No food after midnight.

As I stated previously, the angiogram coupled with the CT perfusion results (which we assume were fine) will determine if they go ahead and stent, block or status quo.

Hopefully I can update tomorrow morning while we wait around for the procedure.

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Another Day of Thickening

2011-05-22T15:26:00.000-06:00

Met with Mary's roommate for breakfast this morning and parted ways about 10am.

Mary and I headed over to the Arizona Science Museum to see the "Body Worlds" exhibit. Very interesting. We were on the lookout for carotid arteries the whole time. :)

Headache persists but I feel more of myself today.

The Barrow Clinic is going to contact us tomorrow at some point about coming in to get blood tests done to see where I am on thickening my blood back towards 2.5 INR.

Just hanging out

2011-05-21T12:15:00.000-06:00

A day off here in Phoenix, AZ.

Looks like Mary's college roommate is traveling North to see us. That is cool.

We watched No Strings Attached last night. Don't waste your time.

Thanks again to everyones kind words and emails. It is nice keeping in touch with everyone.

No More Thinners

2011-05-20T18:31:00.000-06:00

WOW! My blood has thinned to a 4.8 on the INR scale. 5 is considered high, but one doc told us that 10-12 is where bad things start happening. I am now directed to take nothing all weekend. They are even worried I might still be too high on Tuesday for the angiogram. Monday they are calling to let us know when to come in for more blood tests to see how far I have come down.

Feeling a little better than crap at the moment.

Got up into the high 80's in Phoenix today.

Might get a visit from Mary's college roommate tomorrow to kill some time. She lives in Tucson where we dropped off on our way to Seattle 16.5 years ago!

Perfusion Delay

2011-05-20T16:14:00.002-06:00

It took Tricare several hours to approve the perfusion CT. It's done an it made me feel like crap. Too much stuff pumped into my veins I guess.

I am being switched to different blood thinners today. Monday's blood tests will show if I am ready for the angiogram (and possible stent) on Tuesday.

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Tests tests tests

2011-05-20T13:05:00.002-06:00

We are here in Phoenix. We got in yesterday evening to find out Tricare had not reserved us a room at the Hampton Inn. They had room anyway, so we didn't have to stay in the stables.

This morning we saw the neurosurgeon at 8:30am (local time) and got lots of explanations and options based on test results.

1) They want to know how well and thoroughly the blood is flowing into my brain. I am waiting now to have a perfusion CT done for that.

2) I had my INR (blood thinness) taken at 10:30am to see what levels I am at. I will need to be at at most 2.5 before...

3) ...Tuesday they will do an Angiogram to see what level of blocked my carotid dissection is at.

If it is fully blocked (or "stumped") they will leave it as is if the profusion shows the rest of my arteries are working fine. Just like someone with one kidney, I can live the rest of a normal life with only my right carotid and various other arteries taking up the job.

If it is partially blocked (or a "string") then they will put me under general and either perform a stent or a block (I think that depends on what they see in the perfusion).

The string is bad because it provides conditions for breakaway clots to form and cause strokes.

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Fan Boy

2011-03-14T20:22:00.000-06:00

fan•boy |ˈfanˌboi|
noun

informal derogatory: a term used to describe people who bought a product that competes with the one you bought, which is probably more popular than your choice, for reasons that you wish to discredit or diminish because you’re secretly afraid or upset that you made the wrong choice.
ORIGIN from fan + boy.

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Architect.

2010-11-13T12:02:00.000-06:00

Construction project while waiting at the quilting shop:

How it works in our house

2010-10-22T17:48:00.000-06:00

Bechdel Test for Women in Movies

2010-07-31T13:51:00.000-06:00

I recently read about the Bechdel Test for Women in Movies.

It is designed to measure an active presence of women in films. The film must meet 3 criteria:

(1) two or more female characters;
(2) who talk to each other;
(3) about something other than a man.

The majority of top grossing films do not pass this test.

Survey Circles

2010-07-30T23:35:00.000-06:00

The Army wants me to complete a post-move survey. It has been impossible. They link they sent in an email is broken or generates an error. I signed into some DoD site to try and get to the survey from there. After many clicks that led me in circles, I ended up at a site that had a link to complete the survey. After navigating through several layers of CAPTCHA confirmations I landed on another "Contact your Webmaster" error page.

I guess they are not that desperate to have service members review their move experience.

Lots of apps

2010-07-20T21:53:00.001-06:00

I have been downloading lots of iPhone apps recently. Many in relation to the subjects I am learning about in school. The new folders capability in iOS4 makes a big difference.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

from ARS: The once ubiquitous floppy finally being axed by Sony

2010-04-26T10:41:00.000-06:00

The once ubiquitous floppy finally being axed by Sony: "

The 3.5' 1.44MB HD floppy may finally be going gentle into the good night. Sony, one of just a few companies that still produce the archaic computer storage media, has announced plans to end production of floppies in March 2011.

The company sold about 12 million 3.5' floppies in Japan last year, which represents 70 percent of that market (and incidentally, about 17TB of data capacity). Floppies are still used with legacy equipment in education and research sectors, according to Sony. However, the company cited dwindling demand as the reason for ending production.

The 3.5' floppy largely replaced the 5.25' floppy by the early '90s, but other storage mediums had begun to replace it by the late '90s. Apple's original iMac was the first mass-market computer to come without a floppy drive in 1998, and Windows PCs gradually followed suit. Iomega's 100MB Zip disk format became quite popular for larger file transfer for a short while, before succumbing to cheap 650MB CD-Rs early last decade. Today, most file transfer happens via the Internet, USB flash drives, or relatively low-cost, high-capacity portable hard drives.

Memorex and 3M offshoot Imation still offer floppies for sale for the time being, but with Sony ending production, we expect the floppy will rage no more against the dying of the light. Frankly, we're a little surprised it raged this long.

Read the comments on this post

Facebook has [mostly] left the building

2010-02-16T17:25:00.002-06:00

I made the decision to leave facebook, almost.

At first it was a rash decision to leave it entirely.

Why? I spent more time there reading through 84+ "friends" worth of twitter-like updates or vague-baiting to find stuff that really interested me.

I also got the feeling that many of my 84+ "friends" really didn't care to read, or care for what I had to say.

Combine those two lists and skim the cream off (the cream being good in this metaphor) and I ended up with the facebook friends who comment on my posts and whose posts I enjoy reading and commenting on myself. Most of those 12 were the ones who actually weighed in my my facebook comment announcing my pending decision to leave facebook entirely. Those that didn't comment I can only assume cared less and will now not be burdened by my posts as I am no longer burdened by theirs.

Others suffered the cut only because they are non-entities on facebook. My brother and his wife both were cut, but they have a almost non-existent facebook presence. However, I converse with them on another social media tool that some people seem to forget even exists: email. My college roommate, who was cut, is a notorious non-emailer and was just as aloof in the realm of facebook. His wife, another college friend, IS an emailer and facebooker so she made the 12.

I have only had one request come in from a previous facebook friend. He was bummed to have been "defaced" but prior to contact on facebook I never heard from him (nor he from me...the case with most facebook friends) and all his updates consisted of pertained to the TV shows he was watching. Not terribly insightful reading for someone (me) who doesn't watch very much television.

So while it may seem rash or a bit harsh, it has made facebook a more pleasurable experience for me and wastes much less time trying to get to the reading I really would like to be doing. Facebook, or anything that is honestly just entertainment, should be fun, and it wasn't.

Cynical Snowman

2010-01-07T12:16:00.000-06:00

XY #3 of 4 made this little guy today.

He doesn't look too happy about being 4" tall and molded to the pavement.

For the Love of Mac

2009-12-03T13:06:00.003-06:00

My next door neighbor from Texas (we have both since moved) recently switched to the light-side. She had this post on facebook yesterday:

[Facebook Friend] contends that Mac users are not arrogant. Rather, we are happy!

Well said.

Proof that there is a TJ

2009-11-22T17:57:00.003-06:00

We saw TJ's initials in the remains of noodles. Let the pilgrims
start their journeys.

How Many 5 Year Olds Could You Take In A Fight?

2009-11-10T15:28:00.002-06:00

17
Created by OnePlusYou - Free Dating Sites

Taste it you iPhone hater

2009-10-07T15:18:00.001-06:00

I was talking iPhone in the elevator lobby today with my friend and a guy from out IT help desk walked by:

Guy: "You guys and your iPhones...I have things to do," as he rushed past.

Me: "Interesting...I can do what I have to do from wherever I happen to be."

Friend: "Damn! Why didn't I say that!?"

Me: "You can use it later."

Jailbreaking my iPhone

2009-10-03T21:51:00.003-06:00

Currently restoring music, apps, etc to my freshly jailbroken iPhone (using the very easy to execute pwnage tool).

Other "hacked" things in my house: Linksys router f/ Tomato; AppleTV f/ ATVFlash; Wii f/ Homebrew; MacMini with 4GB after market RAM installed; Apple Time-Capsule with 500GB HDD upgraded to a 1TB

Can't stop me now! Next item on the list: our aging and ailing TiVo Series 2 with a small 80 minute HDD.

The Office: Mac vs PC

2009-09-01T07:44:00.002-06:00

Now that I have been back on a PC at work for a few months, I have been able to compare the problems I was having on the Mac vs the PC to see if there truly is a difference as to how much IT support it was requiring. The big problems I would encounter on the Mac were:

NAS would disconnect and require a logout and login to repair
NAS would disconnect and IT would have to work some magic to fix the connections
CAC (Combined Access Card) certificates would stop working and IT would have to update them
Entourage (e.g. MS Outlook for Mac) would decide to stop reading CAC signed emails (about 99% of the emails we get are)

The problems I have been encountering with the PC are:

NAS disconnects and requires a REBOOT (not a log out and log in mind you) to repair
NAS disconnects and IT has to work some magic to repair
CAC issues with the ApproveIT software--paths change and you can't CAC sign documents anylonger, Outlook gets confused and requires some IT mojo to fix

So basically, the same problems either platform--and none really seem OS related to me. There are other recurring problems that are non-platform related like Sharepoint and Network printers. I think when I would have those problems, but was on the mac, the problems were falaciously made guilty by association.

*sigh*

Acceptance

2009-08-16T09:16:00.001-06:00

Upgrading Memory in a MacMini

2009-08-01T09:39:00.001-06:00

I realized last weekend that I had never ordered the memory upgrade for our MacMini that I had intended to get shortly after we purchased it. Apple charges to much for factory installed and Genius Bar memory upgrades so if you can, it is better to upgrade it yourself. This is fairly easy to do in a MacBook/Pro or in an iMac (according to my father) but it is a little more of an undertaking with the MacMini. Fortunately there are plenty of online tutorials out there to get your through the baby steps.

Getting the aluminum case to separate from the chassis is the most nerve-wracking part. It seems like you are putting too much force on the contraption and then all of the sudden it separates.

Once inside, everything is just a matter of being delicate and watching what you do in the event something detaches. this happened to me in two instances. Both times they were unexpected and were not items covered in the tutorial I was following. The first was a tiny little flay copper cable. I was able to see where it connected and after a moment of panic realized it has disconnected and not broken off. The second I noticed when I was about to put everything back together. The brass connecter for the AirPort antennae was NOT connected and I could not see where it should connect! One nervous Google search later and I found out where it was supposed to connect. It isn't easy getting them back on and for a few minutes I thought that I may have bent part of the tiny grippers on the connector. Finally [onomatopoeia] 'click' it went back into place.

Lose test (no case) went fine and once put back together I had another moment of "crap I just put it back together" panic when the bluetooth mouse didn't respond. Did I disconnect that antenna too? Before checking I reset the mouse (pulled out and reseated the batteries) and all was good.

All-in-all it is not hard, just delicate. If you are not a tinkerer, I would recommend finding a friend to overwatch and or assist.

I Hate This III

2009-07-28T06:39:00.004-06:00

What?

EOM Meme

2009-07-14T06:19:00.000-06:00

I totally started a meme at work using the email acronym EOM (End of Message).

Press button, get bacon on head.

2009-07-06T16:18:00.000-06:00

New computer at work. Anti-climatic after having a Mac for a year and a half.

2009-07-06T13:05:00.001-06:00

Oops. iPhone App Store.

2009-06-26T07:11:00.002-06:00

My wife got her iPhone 3GS yesterday and was browsing the app store. She said, "Hey cool! A tip calculator" and purchased it. She, unlike myself, does not listen to tech podcasts nor read tech blogs so she was unaware that the TIP CALCULATOR was the most abundant app when the iPhone App store first opened. It was only .99 but I told her there were probably 2,000 free options (many probably better) than the one she purchased.

At least she didn't buy the "I AM RICH" app. LOL.

I hate this II (part II)

2009-06-24T14:55:00.001-06:00

A lot going on in the world of crappy PCs today!

This is the verification service that checks email certificates on emails I recieve. When this is not working correctly, each email can take upwards of 30 seconds to finally open.

I Hate This II

2009-06-24T09:47:00.001-06:00

I daily ask myself WHY my IT folks think PC us less work than the Mac they took away from me.

Banjo Hero

2009-06-23T21:25:00.001-06:00

Funny since we just got guitar hero 3 for our PS2.

New series: "I hate this"

2009-06-18T19:35:00.000-06:00

As things my DoD PC annoy me, I will post them here.

Annoying Pop-up

2009-06-16T15:08:00.000-06:00

Since they took away all the Macs at work, I have been getting this persistent pop-up on my new computer. It frequently breaks my email connection or loses other network accessible resources. The printer support is sketchy. It has severely decreased my previous level of productivity that I enjoyed with MAC OS X.

I have figured out the name of the pop-up:

Windows.

Neat

2009-06-01T06:46:00.000-06:00

Opened my Zantac this morning to see this.

What Would Jesus NOT Do?

2009-04-18T23:33:00.001-06:00

Sprin 6

2009-04-18T17:11:00.000-06:00

iMac at Work

2009-04-05T10:10:00.002-06:00

The end is here. I have been spending time getting used to the PC again and trying to get emails out of Microsoft Entourage into Microsoft Office. It is really easy to move from PC to Mac, but near to impossible to go the other way...perhaps that should tell me something.

I am tempted to write an article about the whole experience for the Army Times to maybe get some visibility. I also need to write to my point of contact at Apple who was working Macs with the Department of the Army.

Disney Cruise: Day -2 part II

2009-03-14T13:59:00.001-06:00

On the road.

All back Alabama roads till we hit Georgia.

Disney Cruise: Day -2

2009-03-14T09:34:00.001-06:00

Finishing packing at 12:45 am and our four year old wanders in.

"I barfed."

So we were up off and on till 5:45 when he stopped.

Luddite Converstation

2009-02-27T13:23:00.001-06:00

Part of a conversation I just had on the phone:

Caller: "Oh. You had to send me the link to the form instead of a copy of the form itself."

*Sigh*

Hackers and Zombies

2009-01-28T16:16:00.000-06:00

Awesome (link).

Speculation on a Apple White House

2009-01-22T11:10:00.004-06:00

Interesting story from ARSTECHNICA about the President's use of Macs and the old Windows machines left for them in the Whitehouse.

Windows 2000? Really? Really?

Link to story.

LOST

2009-01-22T11:06:00.001-06:00

Was really awesome.

More questions...few answers.

Attitude

2009-01-16T16:51:00.001-06:00

My 12 year old has total attitude.

Strangest Chuck Taylor's

2009-01-10T19:02:00.000-06:00

States in which I have visited/Lived

2009-01-10T17:00:00.000-06:00

visited 27 states (54%)
Create your own visited map of The United States

Gym full of "resolutionists"

2009-01-06T11:45:00.000-06:00

Every January.

Dartgun War

2008-11-30T22:17:00.000-06:00

Glad I could help

2008-09-23T18:42:00.002-06:00

I am always willing to help someone out (within reason). So when a fellow cub scout parent asked if I could run her video camera while she took some still photos I said, "Sure."

15 minutes of standing later, and enduring kids making faces and waving their hands in front of the lens (to see themselves on the view-screen), I look over to see the recipient of my charity chatting away with another parent.

I turned off the camera and sat down.

1UP

2008-09-23T17:45:00.000-06:00

Good for Him :)

2008-09-14T14:53:00.000-06:00

Why is the President in China?

2008-08-12T11:55:00.003-06:00

Question inspired by Dan Carlin's Common Sense Netcast.

iPhone is here

2008-08-12T07:55:00.002-06:00

For about 3 weeks now.

What a great piece of technology.

Holding...

2008-07-23T18:23:00.001-06:00

I have no idea what this post was supposed to be. All I had was the title and I never published it.

2008-07-21T20:52:00.001-06:00

iPhone +10.

No chance of standing in line when the iPhone came out. I went into the AT&T store the following Saturday afternoon and placed an order on one. "7-10 days" was what I was told. Day 10 is tomorrow...

iPhone

2008-06-19T10:35:00.002-06:00

The Duel

2008-04-27T19:43:00.001-06:00

TJ's Second Stop Motion Movie

The Fight

2008-04-27T10:46:00.001-06:00

TJ directs his first animation.

Enjoy.

Please send an email

2008-04-17T17:26:00.001-06:00

Brian Dunning who hosts one of by favorite netcasts Skeptoid is working on getting a pilot on TV.
Help him out by sending thr TV execs an email at skeptologist@newrule.com

" " Heritage Month

2008-04-17T08:56:00.002-06:00

As I process another memo for another "Blank" Heritage month I wonder how far we are from having "Christian American Heritage Month". Not far I think. But would we ever see a "Muslim American Heritage Month" or even worse a "Freethinking American Heritage Month"?

I think not.

Alienware wants more of the money I want to give to Steve Jobs!

2008-04-15T06:45:00.003-06:00

iPods surround me

2008-04-08T12:26:00.003-06:00

Since last Father's Day by oldest son, mother and father have all become iPod users.

A Nano Gen 2 (Dad), a Nano-Fatty (Mom) and a Shuffle (Son: hand-me-down from my Brother).

And here I thought my trouble-shooting days were over when I abandoned Windows...

Change to the Cybercrastinator

2008-04-08T12:22:00.002-06:00

The Blackjack only experiment to posting to this blog is over. I still own the Blackjack, but since work has forced a Blackberry on me, I have all Blackjack calls auto-forwarding to the Blackberry.

Transitioning from this job just might coincide with moving from the Blackjack to the iPhone--we will see.

Anyway I will post from wherever I feel like from now on.

Either way, it is still procrastination at its finest.

Cell Phones/Grad

2008-03-07T23:18:00.002-06:00

Turns out that Camera Cell Phones are allowed at work after all.

And I got my Masters Degree! Yeah.

Yippee! Replacement cell hone

2007-12-04T10:24:00.001-06:00

My new bj arrived jedentag and wow what a diff!

1) i figued hsv was not a 3G network area. It is!

2) phone never worked at work. Does now! I can also send myself GTD tasks to myself from in the bldg again!

3) batt life should improve greatly now that bj is not struggling for a signal.

4) missing sync brought 90% of all contents back. I only had to reinst some 3PAs.

Cell phones banned

2007-10-26T09:08:00.001-06:00

Work is cracking down on cell phones in the office. Espcially those with camera capabilities.

AUSA National Con (setup day)

2007-10-07T15:29:00.001-06:00

AUSA National Convention

2007-10-06T17:59:00.001-06:00

I am in D.C. Till Thursday in support of the Space and Missile Defense Command.

Auto potty seat cover

2007-10-06T12:42:00.001-06:00

The automated response to the paper toiletseat cover at the Chicago O'Hare airport.