La versión en español está después de la versión en inglés.
It was a relief to see the nephrologist yesterday afternoon. He’s not concerned that the protein number had gone up. He said it’s still much better than it had been. The creatinine number, which was the reason for lowering my main dosage in early summer, dropped significantly. Now, he said, the focus is on the diabetes, which used to be perfect with medication but has not been perfect since this illness. Maybe additional meds, maybe strict diet, maybe insulin. I talked about my increased anxiety levels and my depression. He explained, as I had been reading, that chronic illness is a significant contributor to both. My time indoors avoiding the heat has, I’m sure, contributed to that.
I’m hoping again for more walks and more exercise. Although the heat hasn’t been extreme in recent days, it’s still been too hot for much outdoor activity. Temperatures are supposed to drop to a more comfortable range in another 10 days.
I saw our neighbors in the hall yesterday and they invited me in to see their renovated apartment. They bought it not long after we moved in and it had never been updated since the early 1980s. It was a disaster and is now beautiful. She is an exceptional craftsperson: quilting, sewing, constructing with fabric and stitchery. I was in awe of her beautiful creations. I’m going to ask her if I can take some photos. Too exceptional not to share. She’s a plant lover and already has loads of plants on the terrace. She had a variety of Christmas cacti. I told her mine would thrive but rarely flower. She insists our terraces have the perfect light for them and gave me a plant as a gift. I tried to refuse but she insisted. So kind. Remember, she’s the one who recently called me young.
I’ve done nothing but laundry today. Despite the doctor, I spent a lot of time feeling sorry for myself. I’m getting it out of my system. Tomorrow is another day. The top photo is of rechargable poop still available at Ale-Hop. In case you don’t have enough shit do deal with.
Fue un alivio ver al nefrólogo ayer por la tarde. No le preocupa que el nivel de proteínas haya subido. Dijo que sigue estando mucho mejor que antes. El nivel de creatinina, que fue la razón por la que bajé mi dosis principal a principios de verano, bajó significativamente. Ahora, dijo, la atención se centra en la diabetes, que antes iba bien con la medicación, pero no ha ido bien desde esta enfermedad. Quizás más medicación, quizás una dieta estricta, quizás insulina. Hablé de mi aumento de ansiedad y mi depresión. Me explicó, como había estado leyendo, que las enfermedades crónicas contribuyen significativamente a ambas. Estoy segura de que el tiempo que paso en casa evitando el calor ha contribuido a ello.
Espero poder volver a pasear y hacer más ejercicio. Aunque el calor no ha sido extremo en los últimos días, sigue haciendo demasiado calor para hacer mucha actividad al aire libre. Se espera que las temperaturas bajen a un rango más agradable en unos 10 días.
Ayer vi a nuestros vecinos en el recibidor y me invitaron a ver su apartamento renovado. La compraron poco después de que nos mudáramos y no la habían renovado desde principios de los 80. Era un desastre y ahora es preciosa. Es una artesana excepcional: acolcha, cose, construye con tela y bordado. Me quedé maravillada con sus hermosas creaciones. Voy a preguntarle si puedo sacarle algunas fotos. Demasiado excepcionales para no compartirlas. Le encantan las plantas y ya tiene un montón en la terraza. Tenía una variedad de cactus navideños. Le dije que los míos crecerían bien, pero rara vez florecen. Insiste en que nuestras terrazas tienen la luz perfecta para ellas y me regaló una planta. Intenté negarme, pero insistió. Qué amable. Recuerda, fue ella quien me llamó joven hace poco.
Hoy no he hecho más que lavar la ropa. A pesar del médico, pasé mucho tiempo compadeciéndome de mí misma. Me lo estoy quitando de la cabeza. Mañana es otro día. La foto de arriba es de una caca recargable que todavía está disponible en Ale-Hop. Por si no tienes suficiente, aprovéchala.
• Hospital Quirónsalud donde acudimos para nuestra atención médica privada.
• Hace poco, en La Popina, donde solemos ir a tomar café y un segundo desayuno, y a veces a almorzar, estábamos hablando con otro cliente y nos ofreció a cada uno un capricho que él y su amigo estaban disfrutando. Cuadritos de helado cubiertos de chocolate. Así que San Geraldo tuvo que tomarse unos después del café (y del segundo desayuno) del miércoles. Seis cada uno. No estaba en la dieta para diabéticos. Pero era chocolate negro.
Click the thumbnails to enlarge.
Haz clic en las miniaturas para ampliar.
I have a Christmas cactus that belonged to my late mother-in-law. She died in 2018 just shy of her 100th birthday. She told us the cactus had been her mother’s, Daisy, and it had always been around as long as she could remember. Of course we named it Daisy. It went into a decline for a while but it seems to be coming back well. I definitely didn’t want it to croak on my watch. It hasn’t bloomed in years, mainly because I don’t do the “withhold water for the month of October and keep it in a closet” thing. I’m just happy to see it still going and growing.
TexasTrailerParkTrash:
How wonderful to have a plant with that history. I had a snake plant my father brought to the hospital the day I was born. My mother gave it to me when I was around 25. It traveled the country with us. It came in a great planter with other small plants. The planter was a poodle pulling a cart. Kitsch, vintage, and surprisingly classy. I’m sure my father bought it in the hospital gift shop.
Whatever happened to it, Mitchell? Jx
Jon:
It was outside our first winter in San Francisco and died! My fault. (I was in a mood.)
American architecture is so boring for the most part compared to just about anywhere else. I’d focus on my doctor’s lack of serious concern. Diabetes runs in my family…my maternal grandfather, my maternal aunt. Skipped my sister and me though our brother takes medication for pre-diabetes as do both my children. I’m on the verge of pre-diabetes. Blood sugar hovers around 100, A1C high end of normal. I watch my diet, rarely eat sweets though I would definitely eat one of those dark chocolate covered ice cream squares.
ellen abbott:
Both my grandmothers were diabetic. My doctors just nod knowingly. It had been easily managed until the kidney disease. Interestingly, however, the Kid Brother is not diabetic.
And I meant to ask…what does the plastic poop do when it is charged?
ellen abbott:
It’s mostly rubber. Remote-control. You can send it all over the room. AND it farts.
Scoot, I just have to ask: what does rechargeable poop do? My first thoughts were night-light, air freshener, or an Alexa-type device?!
Looking forward to seeing photos of your new neighbour’s quilted creations — she sounds lovely too. I’m lucky to have three nice neighbours here also.
Tundra Bunny:
It’s not just rechargable, it’s remote control. And it farts! You can send it all around the house. No fragrance though. That should be the next release (pun accidental).
Listen to the doc and let the good news in; Carlos was diagnosed pre-diabetic last year and changed his diet and has good results with no medication.
And I bet a good walk in the sunshine, not the heat, will do wonders for you.
As for the architecture porn, that is a stunning hospital!
Bob:
I was diagnosed pre-diabetic just before we moved to Spain. Maybe I could have avoided it but both my grandmothers were diabetic so genetics had a lot to do with it. And, yes, a good walk in the sunshine would do wonders. I do love that hospital.
That building is stunning.
Xmas Cacti are fabulous. They are also difficult to kill, which suits me just right.
XOXO
Sixpence
Sixpence:
I have never killed a Christmas cactus but I have rarely gotten one to bloom a second time. Here’s hoping.
Well I’m glad to hear the poop pic wasn’t from the ‘doing the laundry’ and rather from Ale Hop! Miss you guys! Take good care!
Anonymous:
I’d say we miss you, too, but I don’t know who this is. Then again, if you miss us, I’m sure we miss you.
I’m not sure what to think of the building. It’s eye-popping and almost dizzying! You know, I’ve found mental health and chronic illness to be a Catch-22 (if I’m using that term correctly). I hope you can get whichever meds need to be adjusted in the right places to make your life better.
Kelly:
When you’re prone to mental health issues, everything has its effect. But I didn’t appreciate what chronic illness adds. I’m actually doing better than I would have expected.
I’d need to be feeling really well to tolerate that hospital design! I hope all your health issues start to go better now the weather is cooler. I’m counting on that! Boud
Boud:
I love that hospital design. Thanks!
Not gonna lie, Scoot, I thought the poop was a delicious chocolate pastry. I need a nap.
Not gonna lie, Deedles, when I’m hungry it looks like chocolate to me, too. I got up at 8 and went back to bed at 8:15 until 10:30. I’m trying to avoid a nap now at noon.
I think I have mostly figured out my current anxiety. It’s hormone related and that is probably not going to help you. I wish I had a answer for your situation but yes, chronic illness can very much indeed affect our mental health. How could it not?
When I saw the picture of that building, I flashed back to my one trip to Europe and how I kept seeing things and experiencing things that were so amazing and it came to me with such force that it was a complete and total lie I’d been hearing all my life. And that lie was, “America is the greatest country in the world.”
I’ve never trusted any jingoistic proclamations since.
Your neighbor sounds so lovely.
Ms. Moon:
I always had a problem with the statement “greatest country in the world.” Absurd for any country to claim that, least of all the USA, and especially now. Interesting that any American who ever said that to me had never been anywhere else.
And that is so true.
Ooh – dark chocolate covered ice cream? Count me in! Jx
Jon:
And, oh, it is SO good.
Immediately I saw that photo, thought of South Park’s Mr. Hankey … the cringe worthy/my least favorite character, LOL.
Shirley:
If I’m hungry when I’m shopping, seeing it makes me think of chocolate. Ew!
Hospital???? Looks more alike a art gallery!
And yes, I agree with you, I ‘d say in and relax if the heat is too extreme. The heat will does drain you of energy and make the depression seem worst I’d think.
Mistress Borghese:
Grand, light, and welcoming inside. It’s currently in the mid 80s and heading for high 90s today. I’m ready for fall.
Very beautiful hospital
Adam:
I agree. I love going there. Hope all is going well at home.
Sorry for your continuing health issues, but at least the hospital is eye-catching.
Love dark chocolate!
Kirk:
I do love the hospital and I love dark chocolate.
What an amazing building the hospital is , I guess health care is all private there? Our NHS couldn’t afford such a building, and I wouldn’t want them to. Having said that, the private hospital where I am having my hip op is nothing to write home about in the looks department!
PS. That was me, Frances. Hope that you feel better soon and the days get cooler. Nice temperatures here lately…..around 20C or less. The heating has come on last 2 evenings and mornings!
Frances:
I would love 25˚ all day. It was 20 when I woke up this morning but it’s climbing to 37 and is already 29. I love Quironsalud’s hospital building. Wonderful inside, too. Spacious, light, comfortable. And they are so incredibly efficient. Yes, it’s only private. A couple of minutes away is Hospital Reina Sofia. Not so architecturally interesting but also modern and beautiful. That’s the university hospital and public health hospital. Very impressive. My private doctor works for both and is on faculty at the university. It’s a great city for public health services.
A good news on the health front. You can manage things. I have been so glad this summer to have a place to walk in the A/C. It was a long hot summer, not as hot as yours, but too hot and humid to walk outside in comfort. I have watched a couple-hundred hours of YouTube on my Ipad while walking on the treadmill this summer. (An hour yesterday afternoon.)
David:
A treadmill would have been nice this summer. But that would have meant walking to the gym in the heat (and even worse, back from the gym).
Morning! Blog not letting me log in to comment… Will try later. Rade
Rade:
I’ve been having that problem with many blogs lately. I just sign my name when I have to, like you did here. Annoying!
I’m with Deedles. I thought the poop was a big pile of chocolate yumminess. It’s a little cooler in Florida, so Princess and I are getting out of the house after being trapped inside by the heat and thunderstorms. It feels good. I know you’ll feel better when you can go out for your long walks. Hang in there. I hope your neighbor lets you photograph her creations. I’m jealous of people who can make all sorts of beautiful things, yet I love seeing what they’ve made.
Love,
Janie
Janie:
Yep, when I’m in the mood for chocolate, that’s what I see, too. I’m ready for something that will turn my mood around. I haven’t been taking control of it myself.
Rechargeable poop? I am trying to figure out what that could possibly mean.
I’m sure when the weather becomes more hospitable you’ll be in a better position to get some exercise and experience a much-needed boost.
Steve:
Yes, the weather should change everything.
I probably should have explained, but I was lazy. The poop is remote control. You can send it rolling (on its little wheels) around the house. AND it makes a farting sound. I gave it as a gift to Luke and Becket a few years ago. Check this out: https://movingwithmitchell.com/2022/12/28/speed-poo-fashion-model-modelo-de-moda-de-caca-rapida/
It’s a turd lol
finlaygray:
It’s a remote-control, rechargable turd that makes fart sounds at the press of a button!
Oh, nice neighbor! I know that I would enjoy photos of her apartment 🙂
Judy C:
I’ll ask her the next time I see her.
yes being ill sucks and it’s easy to feel sorry for oneself. I have to keep on top of this myself.
Urspo:
And you’ve been doing it for years. I’ll do better.