Author: Jen Rios

Mouthguard

I saw this on March 2 but I did not read the article. I wanted to save it because I sleep on my back in my Tempur-pedic bed and do not move anymore. My Mom does lots of preparation to assure that my feet are not on the bed.

I had to add another step in the morning probably about six months ago. After I washed my hands, I use a washcloth to wipe my mouth. I had no idea why I was doing this, but when I saw this, I guess I should have read the article. I am drooling in my sleep and I don’t even understand how because I don’t move from laying on my back.

I couldn’t crop the picture so that was just my screenshot from March 2. I am so grateful that I found that picture though because this because I have been thinking about it recently.

But late this morning, when I awakened and sat up in my bed, it felt like I was punched in my face, the left side of my jaw. I sat there, and I just screamed. It sounded like a crazy moan or something, but I did it like three or four times.

My Mom was on the phone with the medical supplies company for my tens unit and I just waited.

I must’ve been clenching my teeth something fierce last night because my jaw was killing me!!!

When I told my Mom about it this morning, she told me I should talk to Dr. Fox. I told her that he’s retired and I just have to deal with it. Because that’s what I have to do. I’m so grateful for my mouthguard! I have been wearing it since 2011.

Wait. What?!!!!

So, I had my appointment yesterday with my internist. I was the last person to get to the lab and they locked the gate before my blood was drawn. The nurse showed us to the side door to leave because the gate was locked.

We went upstairs to the suite that is my doctor’s and we waited. As we started talking, I asked her about a shingles shot and she told me that I have to be 50 years old. She said, “Unless you are immunocompromised.”

Wait. What?!!!!

She said that since I’m not on medication that blocks my immune system. I don’t need it.

Wait. What?!!!!

I was diagnosed 25 years ago with Multiple Sclerosis and with that diagnosis, I wish that I understood that my body was not normal then. But man, does my body feel NOT normal now?!

Regardless of my choice of medical treatment my immune system is attacking my nervous system so of course I am immunocompromised!!!

After hearing that, I knew that I was just going to go to Meijer because I had called earlier and they said that I am eligible but I should call my insurance to make sure they will pay for it. My Mom did it and they do. We went to the pharmacy and my Mom started filling out the paperwork for me to get the shot.

She was reading the form out loud as she did it, she said, “You are 43 years old” I interjected and told her that I was 44. She gave me a funny look and asked me if I had a birthday? I told her, “Yes. 12 days ago.” We laughed just as the pharmacist came out and told us to stop filling the paperwork out because the insurance was not going to cover it

Wait. What?!!!!

He handed some paperwork to my Mom and phone numbers for her to call to discuss this.

At my appointment, Dr. Chamas gave me a referral to get some test done to test my blood flow in my limbs before my appointment vascular surgeon.

Looks like I will have to make another appointment. Either in April or May because the vascular surgeon is in June.

My Feet.

My feet are a thing now. They were becoming a thing for a while, but my six days of sitting in my manual chair was a little rough on them!!! It was like two or three days in when I thought about it because my feet were in my shoes all day long bent at a 90° angle!!!

My Mom was really concerned, but I knew I could make it, but it would be a little rough but here is the aftermath and I will raise my feet up so they aren’t on anything:

This picture is better light but look at my ankles?!!!!:

I am not seeing the vascular surgeon until June. I have a teeth cleaning in April, my neural ophthalmologist in May, and then I will see about my feet. I hope this doctor can offer something to help? Or maybe, #ItJustSucksToSuck!!! and #MSsucksAfterTwentyFiveYears!!! 😒😒😒…

A Curse?! Maybe…

Sean and I watched the Gonzaga game today. I love saying that name since like 2016. I was excited for a good game. I love March Madness but I’m not super invested. I check scores and will occasionally catch a game.

I buy a T-shirt for whomever knocks Michigan State out of the tournament. I know that it’s completely petty and I have a niece and a nephew who graduated from Michigan State and another niece is going currently but I remember my masters degree ceremony. This speaker said that I will bleed blue forever!

A woman opened the door for me when I was at Dr. Clark’s office and she told me that she will open the door even though I’m a tiger. She was referring to my Auburn shirt that I was wearing. I told her that I went to Michigan and the only reason I am wearing the shirt is because they knocked to Michigan State out of the tournament. They also knocked Michigan out, but I think the pettiness is funny.

Well, a curse?! Maybe… I’m thinking about that now. Gonzaga lost so they are out of the tournament so maybe next year I can get the T-shirt from them?

“Finding Forrester”

The night before last was the first time I slept in since the 11th because my chair was broken. I spent yesterday not feeling well and I don’t feel so much better today but last night, my Mom put my socks on inside out as I was going to sleep.

I told her to do that because it was kind of hurting putting them on my feet but I need to wear thicker socks when I go to sleep; it calms my nerves.

As my Mom was turning them inside out, she said, “Finding Forrester.” I kind of smerked and thought of a specific scene. I should rewatch that movie soon. Here is the clip:

So this has been going on for two days now and this was my feet this afternoon before I put on my compression socks: