What A Slacker!

I Don’t Like This Feeling

Add comment May 28th, 2010

I don’t like this feeling.

I don’t like feeling.

I feel strange. I can feel everything happening in my body.

I feel weak. Nauseous.

I can fell my heart beating in my chest.

I can feel every breath I take. Especially the ones I don’t take. My chest feels heavy. It is hard to breath. I feel out of breath when all I am doing is lying here.

I can feel my throat. I can feel the breath as it moves down my throat. How can air get caught in your throat? My tongue feels like it is pushing on the back of my throat. Pushing it closed.

I feel my head, the weight of my head. Yet I am light headed?

I feel my arms and legs. Feel them feel as if they are useless or not even there. Tingly but not tingly. Weak.

Remember to breath.

My stomach is empty yet I feel it working. Digesting. Gurgling. Pushing nothingness into my bowels, bowels that bubble and twist.

Headache.

I can feel my eyes moving about in their sockets. I feel every blink.

I feel like a stranger in my own body.

I want to go back to not feeling any of this as it happens, to blissfully feel nothing as my body works.

I don’t like this feeling.

I don’t like feeling.

Blood Test Back I Have a High SED Rate

Add comment May 27th, 2010

Of course when they called and told me my blood work was back and everything was okay except I had a high SED rate, I had no idea what that could mean and they did not explain it to me either. Thank goodness for WebMD.com (maybe), where I got an explanation even if it wasn’t exactly promising.

From WebMD.com…

Sedimentation Rate

The sedimentation rate (sed rate) blood test measures how quickly red blood cells (erythrocytes) settle in a test tube in one hour. The more red cells that fall to the bottom of the test tube in one hour, the higher the sed rate.

When inflammation is present in the body, certain proteins cause red blood cells to stick together and fall more quickly than normal to the bottom of the tube. These proteins are produced by the liver and the immune system under many abnormal conditions, such as an infection, an autoimmune disease, or cancer.

There are many possible causes of a high sedimentation rate. For this reason, a sed rate is done with other tests to confirm a diagnosis. After a diagnosis has been made, a sed rate can be done to help check on the disease or see how well treatment is working.
Why It Is Done

A sedimentation rate (sed rate) test is done to:

* Find out if inflammation is present.
* Check on the progress of a disease.
* See how well a treatment is working.

And their definition of autoimmune wasn’t very promising either….

Autoimmune disease

The immune system is the body’s defense against foreign substances, such as bacteria or viruses, that may be harmful. An autoimmune disease is an abnormal condition that occurs when a person’s immune system attacks its own tissues as though they were foreign substances.

* Normally, when a foreign substance enters the body, the immune system creates special cells to attack and destroy the foreign substance. These cells include antibodies and white blood cells (lymphocytes).
* In a person with an autoimmune disease, the immune system recognizes some of the person’s own tissues as foreign substances. The body makes antibodies and other cells that attack and destroy these tissues. This process often leads to inflammation and eventually, if it continues, scarring and destruction of the organs that are made up of those tissues.

Why the body attacks its own cells is not known. Autoimmune diseases include lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, and Sjögren’s syndrome. Certain types of diabetes and thyroid disease are related to autoimmune reactions. People who have autoimmune diseases are at an increased risk for infections.

My Food Allergies Growing

Add comment May 27th, 2010

Foods I can never have ever again.

(Raw): cherry, nectarine, celery, carrots, banana, apple, tomato, potato, orange, grapefruit, pineapple

(Cooked): soybean (any Soy), apple, clam, oyster, lobster, shrimp, mixed fish, crab, peanuts, almonds (All nuts), mustard, carrot, potato.

Items in bold are new. Might even be more, these are just the touch them again and u could die list.

I Don’t Want to Feel This Way

Add comment May 17th, 2010

I hate this feeling.

Hopeless.

Helpless.

I don’t want to feel this. Some think I like feeling like this. That I like the attention.

Not true.

There is no attention to be had. This is a very lonely process. I don’t share my feelings until it is nearly too late.

I have learned a long time ago to keep my mouth shut and just suck it all deep inside until I find myself crying alone in the dark.

Unable to sleep.

Unable to think.

Knot in my chest making it hard to breath. While the lump in my throat makes it hard to swallow.

Swallow what my pride? Self worth? Dignity? I don’t have any of those things.

I just want the blackness to take me but sleep eludes me even after taking something to help me.

Is there help for me?

Helpless.

Hopeless.

Worthless.

Soon the pain in my head starts to match the pain in my soul.

Physical pain to match the emotional pain.

I am broken beyond repair.

More Animal Food & Treat Recalls

Add comment April 22nd, 2010

I think every pet owner out there remembers the huge pet food recall a few years back that had to affect on every pet owners lives. That particular recall did not just hit one manufacturer or brand, but a huge list.

In trying to keep my fur kids safe from such things I keep an eye out for pet industry recalls when I hear about them and spread the news through every channel available to me.

A few months ago there was the Merrick Dog Treat Recall and this month we have a lesser known brand being recalled.

Advanced Cetyl M Joint Action Formula for Dogs made by Response Products is being recalled for a possible Salmonella health risk. They so no dogs have been reported as sick because of the product and that they are just pulling the product because of lab tests. Not so sure I believe that one completely, but all we have is the FDA press release about the recall.

So if your dog is taking Advanced Cetyl M Joint Action Formula for Dogs please read the recall report and check your supply carefully.

Should your dogs treats be in the recall please handle them carefully and wash your hand throuroughly so you don’t get sick from the Salmonella either.  Stay healthy and enjoy your pets!

Guilty Pleasures

Add comment April 13th, 2010

One of my guilty little pleasures in life are Pringles. I know, I know they aren’t good for you. That’s is why it is called junk food after all! But I just really enjoy them every once in awhile.

But how’s a person to know when their junk food could potential be even more of a health risk?

I am talking about food recalls. Granted when it is a REALLY big and deadly food recall it will be all over the news, but what about when it is just a “this could make you sick maybe” recall?

You have to assume the stores are on top of these things and pull them from the shelves ASAP. But do they really? It could be a full time job just keeping up with all the recalls. I would never have known about the Pringles recall had I not stumbled on it by accident today. (Thank goodness it isn’t one of the flavors that I normally break down and buy, but it would be nice to know these things before you buy them and not after they have all been consumed.)

So where do all the recalled foods go? My hope is that they are pulled from the shelves and destroyed, but are they? I won’t even go into my theory on discount grocery stores.

Recalls McCormick Fajitas Seasoning Mix Due To Unlabeled Wheat And Milk Ingredients

Add comment April 7th, 2010

Okay so McCormick is recalling their fajita seasoning because it doesn’t list allergens like milk and wheat, but where is the soy allergen listing? Food companies really need to address that fact that people are allergic to all forms of soy and not just one protein in it.

Grant soy protein is the deadly form for me and why I carry my eppy pen, but every form of soy reacts in my body making me sick in different ways. So it would be nice if all ingredients were listed and soy warnings given, not just listed as natural ingredients.

Here’s the full recall announcement if you want to read it….

Mccormick & Company Recalls Mccormick Fajitas Seasoning Mix Due To Unlabeled Wheat And Milk Ingredients

Company Contact:
Christopher Stevenson
410-527-6935

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 07, 2010 – SPARKS, MD – McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC) has announced a voluntary recall of McCormick Fajitas Seasoning Mix, with UPC Code 5210002121 and “BEST BY” dates of JAN 16 12 AH and JAN 16 12 CH. McCormick Fajitas Seasoning Mix packages with these date codes contain undeclared wheat and milk ingredients. People who have allergies to wheat or milk run the risk of serious or life threatening allergic reactions if they consume this product.

The McCormick Fajita Seasoning Mix packages were distributed to grocery stores nationally beginning on February 15, 2010. The product is available in 1.12 oz. pouches, and the date code is found printed in black on the back, at the bottom of the pouch. The “BEST BY” dates of JAN1612AH and CH are the only date codes affected by the recall.

The recall was initiated after it was discovered that product was mispackaged, and as a result, the ingredient statement on the package did not list wheat and milk as ingredients.

No illnesses or allergic reactions have been reported to date. No other McCormick products are involved in this recall.

All grocery outlets that sell McCormick Fajitas Seasoning Mix packages have been notified to remove the affected product (UPC Code 5210002121 and a “BEST BY” date of JAN1612AH and JAN1612CH) from their shelves immediately. Consumers do not need to return the product to the store where it was purchased. Instead, consumers are urged to contact McCormick’s Consumer Affairs team at 1-800-632-5847, weekdays from 9:30 AM to 9:00 PM, or weekends from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Eastern Time), for a replacement or full refund, as well as instructions on what to do with the product.

This recall is being made with the knowledge of the Food and Drug Administration. The company is also issuing an alert through the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network.

From the FDA

Texas Health Care Reform

Add comment March 21st, 2010

Get more information on Austin Health Insurance.

Unless of course you are waiting for some kind of federal healthcare reform with the National health care bill.

Hair Follicle Drug Testing

Add comment February 25th, 2010

Need to test your kids for drugs or maybe even potential employees?

Don’t rely on those pee-in-a-cup tests which only give you a few days worth of information. Use a more accurate hair follicle drug test with a longer testing range. You can now see results from as far as 90 days ago.

Parents with this easy test, you could actually test your kid without them ever knowing about it. Why risk that teenage anger being directed at you if you are wrong? Address the problem then confront them with the results. All you need is a hair sample to send off to the lab and in a short while you are armed with the truth. Couldn’t get any easier than that.

Note: if you do check out the info on the above site, the links at the bottom of the pages do not work use the ones in the header.

Attack of the Giant Spiders from Mars

1 comment February 23rd, 2010

I was witness to an invasion last night.

Okay, not so much of an invasion as one giant spider from Mars.

Okay, it wasn’t from Mars.

It was from the ceiling.

Okay, it wasn’t giant either, but when it is only inches from your face hanging there with all eight of its evil little legs squirming at u in the light on the TV it looks friggin’ HUGE!

I detest spiders.

Okay, maybe that is a little strong.

I hate them.

Still too strong. I extremely dislike them and do not want them near me ever, especially two inches from my face when I am trying to go to bed.

My fear, disgust, distrust of them keeps me from even being able to squish them dead so that I can go on with my pathetic little existence as  a spider loathing human being. I was ousted from my own bedroom in the middle of the night from a creature the size of my thumb nail. How does that work?

I like Spider-man. I like spider themed jewelry and art. I even like watching them on the Discovery channel. I just don’t like them on my head.

Spider: 1

Me: 0

(If you are keeping score.)

Shopping for Inexpensive Eyewear

Add comment February 14th, 2010

I have often seen (and have even written about) the great prices oneyeglasses you can get from Zenni Optical, but until I recently read the article, “Cheap eyeglasses are a reality. Check out Eric’s review of Zenni Optical” over at Examiner.com I hadn’t really given buying my glasses from them more than a second thought. Now I have not only given them a second thought I have been spending time on their site shopping for both my daily eye wear and my next pair of sunglasses. I haven’t had a pair of sunglasses since my car accident over two years ago.

I do have to have a new eye exam, which will most likely be the most expensive part of getting new glasses since deciding to use Zenni Optical for my eyeglasses. So finally I will have a new pair of sunglasses in the correct prescription so I can not only protect my eyes from harmful UV rays this summer but I will be able to see while driving in all this winter sun glare on the roads.

So once I have my prescription (and my pupilary distance – you’ll need this to place your order with Zenni Optical), I will be getting my new eyeglasses & prescription sunglasses in a few short weeks. Yes that is longer than it would take me to get them through somewhere like Target Optical, but with Zenni Optical I will get my quality glasses a whole lot cheaper!

Power of Copper

Add comment February 12th, 2010

Way back when I was a kid in the 70s copper bracelets were all the rage. Fashion, like history, always seems to repeat itself. That is not always a bad thing. The good old copper bracelet is a good example of that. It seems like everyone is sporting a bangle or a cuff made of copper these days.

Besides being fashionable there are supposed health benefits to wearing a copper bracelet too. Not that it has miraculous healing powers or anything but it is thought to reduce pain and inflammation from arthritis by absorbing the copper through the skin.

Copper Bracelet Arthritis pain relief is not just another urban legend. Studies show that people can actual get more copper in there system via a bracelet than dietary supplements. Kind of cool isn’t it?

If you are looking for some very fashionable copper bracelets check out BillyTheTree.com, they have some really nice bracelets at great prices and with free shipping.

Why Go Without Health Insurance

Add comment February 12th, 2010

I was just reading about how about half of the country’s uninsured people actually choose to be uninsured not because they can’t afford it but rather they just don’t feel they need health insurance. Can you believe that? Even if you are young and healthy you still need insurance for the simple fact that you never know what lies ahead for you.

California Tonik Health Insurance was designed to address that very demographic.

Having health insurance was always something that was drilled into me by my parents. I could never have imagined being without it even when I was in my 20s.

Sponsored by TonikCalifornia.org