I still haven't heard from the doctor about my xray results. It will be interesting if they show anything. Taking my 800 mg of Ibuprofin three times a day has really helped my shoulder. Saturday, I was able to use BOTH hands to wash my hair! I haven't done that in TWO weeks! Then today, I was able to raise my hand straight up over my head! There's still a little ache when I do it, but I CAN DO IT! (It's the little things that excite me, lol) But don't tell Cubby that, he'll never let me forget it. I'll keep taking my meds for the full 2 weeks, and will let you know when/if I hear anything from the doctor.

Health Update:

My doctor's appointment was at 1:30pm this afternoon, I needed to be there at 1:15pm to fill out the paperwork first, since it was the first time I've been to that office. The previous insurance plan I was on at work allowed me to keep seeing my old doctor, but that plan was cancelled after 2006, requiring me to pick a new doctor. A co-worker said she'd been happy with BCBS HMO Illinois, and she lives in the same city as me, so I went ahead and switched to it. Since I soooo hate doctors, I haven't made any attempt to go in for a physical or anything since I joined the HMO.

Anyway, this shoulder problem forced me to do it, therefore, paperwork about me and my insurance. I was hoping it wouldn't be some three page list of every ailment or medical problem I've ever had and when. I've done those, and they are a PITA! This was just basic name, address, phone number, emergency contacts, insurance info, etc.

I was pleasantly surprised to be called quite promptly. I was taken back to an exam room, weighed, BP measured (134/84) and told the doctor would be in shortly. I changed into those stupid paper shirts that are open in the back, and waited probably less than 5 minutes for the doctor to come in. He took a basic family history, asked me about my problem, examined my shoulder by pressing on it in different areas, asking if it hurt (which it didn't.)

He had a sheet printed out for me to go get a shoulder x-ray done, a prescription for 800 mg tablets of Ibuprofen, a referral for PT, and a photo-copied picture of some exercises to try for my shoulder. I'm not sure if I'm going to try them or not, since from what the pictures show, I can't put my shoulder in the correct position to do the exercises. I was out of there by 2pm. Since I still had most the afternoon to kill, and one of the locations to get an x-ray was about 10 minutes down the road, I decided to go right then and get that taken care of. The sooner I do that, the sooner they get the results, and the sooner I know if there's something wrong with my shoulder.

I walked in, gave the sheet explaining what I needed, and in about 5 minutes I was called back by the technician. I changed into the robe like gown, walked back to the x-ray room, he put me in position with a lead shield around my waist. The first picture was with my palm facing back, the second picture was with my palm turned facing front, and the third picture he wanted me to raise my arm over my head. I said, "I can't, that's why I'm having the x-rays done." He asked me to raise it as high as I could, I even used my right hand to lift my arm a bit more, then told him to take it quick cause it was hurting and I didn't know how long I could hold it up there. A few seconds later, he was done, and I was done. Whew!

It was now about 2:30 or so? I decided to stop at Target on the way home (the same one I took you to, Kerry) to get my prescription filled. I wandered around there for about 15 minutes, and was out of there by 3:20. Wasn't I getting a lot done today? LOL Next stop was the grocery store, since I needed some food. Especially something to eat when I take the Ibuprofen, since even I should take it with food for that high a dosage. I don't really need to get an ulcer. Came home after the store, at about 4:10. Not a bad afternoon after all.

I'll update when I hear back from the doc on the x-ray results. I also have decided to wait to call for a PT appointment until the doc calls me with the x-ray results. Might as well see if it's something that PT can help with before I start trying to make time for it.

As some of you may know, and others may not, I haven't been online much the past week due to shoulder problems. Last Saturday (just over a week ago) my left shoulder was hurting really bad, and I couldn't raise my arm over my head. Advil and Aleve weren't helping me manage any of the pain either. At first, I thought it was because of how I had been sitting in the chair at my computer; leaning slightly to the left, resting on my elbow. But after taking a couple days away from the computer last Sunday and Monday, it was no better.

I was on the computer Tuesday and Wednesday night for a bit during Idol, with my shoulder still bothering me. Thursday night I came home from work and stayed off the computer (for the most part.) Friday I was off work, so I rested my shoulder and arm all day, but by late afternoon, I wasn't even comfortable sitting in the chair at the computer, so there was no way I'd be able to stream, let alone sit for four hours listening to Kerry's and AK's streams.

Saturday I did nothing all day, again trying to rest my shoulder. Still no change. I spent yesterday, Easter Sunday at my aunt's house (her son cooked lunch/dinner for us), and rested it again last night. It was still no better this morning, so I decided I better call the doctor to see what's going on with it. I really hate doctors, so my calling to make an appointment is a big deal. My appointment is Wednesday afternoon, so I'm taking a half day. At least I can sit at the computer without pain, for today at least.

Keep your fingers crossed that it's nothing serious.

Happy F**king Spring!

WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM FRIDAY TO1 AM CDT SATURDAY
A WINTER STORM WARNING REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 1 AM CDT FRIDAY TO 1 AM CDT SATURDAY. THE WARNING AREA IS GENERALLY ALONG AND NORTH OF A LINE FROM STERLING...TO JOLIET...TO CROWN POINT INDIANA.SNOW WILL DEVELOP ACROSS THE UPPER MISSISSIPPI VALLEY TONIGHT...SPREADING INTO PORTIONS OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS AND NORTHWEST INDIANA EARLY FRIDAY MORNING. SNOWFALL WILL LIKELY BECOME HEAVY AT TIMES DURING THE DAY FRIDAY...WITH SNOWFALL RATES OF 1 TO 2 INCHES PER HOUR POSSIBLE. SNOW WILL THEN GRADUALLY DIMINISH FRIDAY EVENING. TOTAL SNOWFALL ACCUMULATION IS EXPECTED TO RANGE FROM 6 TO 9 INCHES...WITH SNOW AMOUNTS DIMINISHING RAPIDLY SOUTH OF A STERLING TO JOLIET AND CROWN POINT INDIANA LINE WHERE PRECIPITATION IS EXPECTED TO BE MAINLY RAIN.

I can't take credit for the picture, but I saw my FIRST American Robin of the year! Just in time for Spring too! It was sitting in the tree right next to the the sidewalk up to my front door, and wouldn't sit still while I was walking past it. So there was no way I would get upstairs, into my apartment, grab my camera, come back downstairs and out the door with it still sitting there. As soon as I can get a decent picture of one, I'll prove that I actually have them here, lol.

This was my Thursday page on my day-at-a-glance calendar that I got for Christmas from Mother. I thought Kerry would appreciate this, and make her long for a visit to Nova Scotia.

Don't forget! Daylight Saving Time begins Sunday morning at 2:00AM.

Wow, what a change in the weather! It's currently 53F, but by tomorrow morning, it's supposed to be back down near freezing, with a "wintry mix." I can't wait for more warm weather.

This weekend I saw two very good movies. One was Blood Diamond, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Jennifer Connelly. There's some violence, but it's an awesome movie! Plus it's based on a true story.

The second movie I saw was The Spiderwick Chronicles. This is based on a book series written by Holly Black. The movie stars Freddie Highmore as brothers Jared and Simon Grace. Playing their mother is Mary-Louise Parker, with special appearances by Nick Nolte, Joan Plowright, the voice of Martin Short, and Andrew McCarthy.

One more week and we move our clocks forward. Spring will definitely feel like it's on the way once the sun starts setting later. I can't wait!!!!