From Out of the Depths of Winter

Posted by on October 3, 2009

Well,  I am doing better.  I believe the combination of new meds and the diet have helped alot.  I’ve lost about 20 pounds since I’ve been seeing the doctor, about 6 months.  Next week I’ll begin phase 2 of the diet he put me on.  Right now — no sugar,  low carbs, no potatoes, no carrots, no bread.  In Phase 2 I’ll be able to add some of those carbs back, just a little.  I suffer from low blood sugar episodes, and this diet is the opposite of what I had been taught to do to control my blood sugar levels.  The old diet worked;  I didn’t suffer low levels.  But when he put me on this diet I was concerned that I might.  And my blood sugar has been under control.  I really have not craved much, though I do say  I did think about pizza the other night.  The toppings would be ok for me to eat, just not the crust.

Last week  I had my sleep apnea test.  I had to do a 6-8 hour sleepover at the diagnostic center, with electrodes attached to my head and my chest and my legs.  I even had 2 sensor tubes in my nose.  And all I had to do was sleep.  Of course, I don’t sleep solidly.  And I was aware of those wires as I moved around during the night.  I did not get the air machine put on during the night.  I guess that may be a good thing.  My apnea must not be that bad, if I have it.  But then, the bad thing is — what’s keeping me from resting?  I’m still waiting to hear the results of the sleep apnea test.

The test was Monday night, and so I was late going in to school on Tuesday morning.  I had to wash all the electrode gel and paste out of my hair.  Then Wednesday I was gone from school all day to a professional development meeting for geometry teachers. 

My energy is doing better.  I usually can make it through the school day and come home.  I do notice that when it is hotter my energy gets worse.  And they still cannot fix the a/c at school.  It’s on and off every day.  But at least, I’m not so worried about falling asleep while I am driving home after school. 

I’ve been able to go to school, except for when I have doctor appointments.  My illness has not been interfering with my job other than missing days — and maybe I may have to sit during class for a while.  The sitting depends on how much walking around school I have been doing during the day.

We lost a math teacher.  The school board move the teacher to a middle school, and now we’re without an Algebra I teacher in that slot.  We have a “permanent” sub, but he doesn’t know enough to be able to teach the students.  I send practice work, they practice, and the work is sent back to me to look at. 

Report cards went out on Monday for the first six weeks.  My students faired ok.  My honors class is not an honors class.  Someone misled them.  And they’re fond of telling me about how they played games last year in Algebra I.  Mr. Parker is no longer with us, Thank God.  I think the other math teachers have realized or heard that I’m having health problems; they’re actually behaving themselves and doing their work for a change.

Next week I go have a stress test taken, to finish checking out my heart.  I’ve been on the treadmill twice since this mess has started in six weeks.  Today  I could see some improvement in the way I felt after getting on the treadmill.  Yes, out of shape — but not that sickly tiresome feeling as before.

Last modified on October 7, 2009

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