Quickly….
One of the main reasons I don’t want to swim is that I don’t want my hair permanently damage by chlorine. I just got rid of majorly damaged hair and don’t want to start all over.
I did some research here and thought maybe I could control it so I did get in the pool yesterday. I wet my hair thoroughly beforehand, didn’t ever let the chlorinated water dry on my hair and rinsed with club soda when I got out (from this article). Interestingly, the club soda fizzed when it touched my hair. I don’t know if that was a reaction with the chlorine or if soda water would have done that anyway.
My hair felt soft and like it had slip when I was done rinsing with the soda water and it detangled easily. It felt a little dry and tangled easily when it was dry. However, I think that was because I did not use any conditioner. It felt pretty much the same when I wet it for my haircut (I go with wet hair so they don’t try to wash it there with stuff I don’t want them to use on my hair).
I oiled it last night as much because I had been in the pool as because it was time to–past time in fact. I try to oil once a week and I think it had been more like two.
I’ll keep you updated. I stocked up on club soda.
Commies:
Arrived on Sunday evening. Only 31 days this time.
Elbow:
Saw the doc yesterday: three more weeks of therapy and off work. I haven’t decided if this is a blessing or a curse with J & B here. Going to work gives me a break from their Drama Queen behavior and bickering but, well, it’s work and I hate being there.
Tattoos:
I’ve been thinking about new tattoo ideas. I’m thinking I want to embrace my Filipino heritage with this one. I haven’t decided how I want to do that yet though. I could get some Baybayin symbols like most people get Asian kanjis, I could get something that is traditional Filipino tribal (pics 3-5), another one here–which is different than what most people think of as tribal these days–or just pic some Filipino symbols like the national flower, jasmine, incorporated into another tattoo. I think this is pretty cool, the sun/moon idea incorporated into the national flag but I think I’d rather have my stars be faerie stars.
I’ve only just begun to think about this and, right now, it’s all just a jumble…..
Wonderly made my point
Tattoo contemplation:
I’m jealous; both Lexy and Morticia are getting new ink this weekend and Rain got new ink last weekend.
I WANT NEW INK!!!
Sk8er Boi says I can’t get new ink until he has gotten some. I have more ink than him. I can’t even say what I want, I just want new ink.
Actually, what I really like to do it laser off some old ink and start over. I was looking closely at my rib tattoo and, like my tramp stamp, although I still like the concept and the original drawing, there is blowout all over the place. It looks sloppy and cheap. I hate the actual tattoo.
The thing is, I’ve been watching Rain‘s progress on her laser treatments and, no offense Rain, but I don’t see a lot of progress. Mine are much older–which I hear makes them easier to remove–but they are mostly lighter colours–which they say makes it them harder to remove. 
I guess I shouldn’t worry about it right now anyway. It’s not like we have the money for either new ink or lasering.
My quads hate me
I started the 10 Minute Trainer videos yesterday. I did the lower body yesterday and cardio today. Tomorrow I will do yoga and I will do my Crunchless Abs videos on ab days. I haven’t watched the 10 Min version but if there are a lot of floor crunch type exercises, those have the potential to put my neck out so….
I was going to do Total Body today but the first exercise was not just push-ups but push-ups with elbows under shoulders and hands facing out. Um, nope. Not on this elbow. Not yet.
I have not made it to Soulard yet. Sk8er Boi had two runs first thing this morning and then had to turn around and go back out shortly after he got home. They’re open on Sundays so maybe we can go tomorrow.
Fuzzy Ones:
I got some flaxseed oil for the babies food. I mainly got it for Abby as I noticed that her coat was looking a little dull but I was reading up on omega fatty acids and they’re not only good for that but good for the arthritis I believe Rajah is developing and aids in kidney function!
The funny thing is that Abby doesn’t like it. I’m giving it to everybody and they all dive in with gusto. But when I put her bowl down, she’ll sniff it and look back up and me like, “WTF is this? This is not what I ordered!”
She eats it but she doesn’t like it.
When this bottle is gone, I’m going to look more into one of these. She’ll probably like the fish oils better.
Elbow:
I’ve got probably 95% motion back and only a few things actually hurt to do. However, if I do too much–or even very much at all–it aches and gets sore like I’ve worked it too hard. I can still feel something like a pulling or tightness when I move it certain ways. Also, it pops and when it pops, it hurts.
I’m also still having issues with energy. I can get up and walk the dog or do a 10 min workout but that’s about it.
I go back to the doc on Monday. I got told that I have to be 100% before I can go back to work so I’m sure I’ll be getting more time off.
Triangle Ring:
arrived today. Of course it does not fit the way I wanted it to. The front, if placed how I had it in the pic, pushes against my ear and there’s a huge gap in back. Also, the freaking thing started hurting within an hour of putting it in.
The D-ring is back in already.
Just popped in
Clearly, I have issues 
Anyway, I even did a mock-up of what it will look like although it shouldn’t be that big, I ordered 3/8″
OMG, my computer is running disgustingly slow today. I’ve restarted twice. I’m off to try to figure out what’s going on.
Ouch!!!
I got them in but I definitely feel it! Don’t worry. It wasn’t so tight that I’m going to have cat-butt-syndrome or anything. I doubt I would at that small a gage anyway.
Elbow:
As mentioned, I’m still in the cast and I still have the stitches. I have an appointment on Mon to get rid of them both. At that time, I will get a wrist brace again.
Doc seems to think that the nausea was a residual effect of the anesthesia and the visual disturbances brought on by the pupil dilating just made it worse. I’m inclined to believe him as I looked before I left for the appointment and the pupil was finally back to normal. Nausea was still present anyway. In fact, it still is but at least I see am improvement.
oh, and I meant to reply to a comment from two posts back:
Pain meds make things worse for me too. In the hospital in 2003, I was asking for anti-nausea meds not pain meds.
the thing is, there simply is no pain to deal with
Hair:
My hair has been down most of the time. I’ve managed to get it in a sleep tail on the side for bed but my scrunchies slide out easily so I’ve just left them out during the day.
I’m still of two minds about my length. This seems to be my pattern. I’m all gung-ho about growing until I get about this length and then start longing for a change.
In college I went from waist to chin buy way of layers that looked stupid because the perm didn’t take.
In my thirties I did the same thing but this time the perm did take and permanently changed the structure of my hair. I went from stick straight, non-curl-holding hair to loose delicate natural curls that didn’t hold for more than a few hours. The weight of my hair now pulls out the curl.
It seems a cut is imminent but probably nothing so drastic this time.
Poor Abby:
Our routine has, for a very long time, been that when I’m at the computer she sits on my lap and gets all kinds or skritches and cuddles. She sits with me other times too but that’s "our time."
With this stupid cast and sling, the most comfortable place for it is in my lap. No room for the baby. She doesn’t know what to do with herself, poor thing.
Cabin Fever!!!
So I’ve spent very little time at the computer and a gross amount of time time laying around in front of the TV. My plan to spend a lot of time looking for a new job has been put on the back burner.
I have an appointment with my surgeon this afternoon. It was supposed to be Fri but got moved up because of the nausea thing. I’m hoping he will let me keep the cast off.
Piercings:
I did get AG to change the barbell in my helix but she didn’t get the bead tight enough and I’d lost it within hours. Although I’d a little irked that the bead is lost, the important thing is that I got the barbell that was irritating it out. I now have a D-ring in. I can’t get a bead in it so I have the opening down over the ear and it looks like I have an orbital piercing.
I’m still thinking about taking it out and getting it re-done later. I don’t know if the piercing was poorly done or if my cartilage is just always going to be pissy. I’m going to discuss it with my piercer first.
Skin:
Something about this whole ordeal has made my skin break out horribly. At first I thought it was the anesthesia but new zits continue to pop up. It’s probably a combination of stress and the fact that I simply don’t have the energy to keep my face as clean as I should.
Finally:
I’ll leave you with a few pics I got Wed before my surgery.
When Oreo first came into the house, Abby was not a happy camper. Probably because she was no longer the baby and the center of my attention.
She has apparently forgiven me and accepted Oreo–although she still gets the prime location 
On top of the kitchen cabinets seems to be a favorite location for all the cats now
Recovering
Anyway, I still have not needed a pain pill. The same thing happened when I had surgery in 2003. I was so out of it the day of and the day after that the nurses just gave it to me on schedule but by day three, I didn’t need it. My entire abdomen felt tight and I couldn’t straighten up all the way but I was not in pain.
I find this odd because FMS patients supposedly have three times more pain neurotransmitters. Oh well, I can’t explain it but I’m certainly not complaining!
I did manage to shower and wash my hair Sat. I need to do it again today, especially after sweating all weekend.
Piercings:
I am dying to get the freaking barbell with the 5mm beads out of my helix. The back bead keeps getting bumped and hair keeps wrapping around it so it’s irritated all the time. I’m also thinking screw the 14g and going back to 16g. It’s either that or taking it out altogether. I really don’t want to do that but I’m getting tired of fighting with it.
I can’t do it myself and Sk8er Boi’s hands aren’t suited for such delicate work. I can’t even reach my ear with my right hand at the moment let alone do I believe I could exert the force needed to get the thing unscrewed. I’m thinking about going down to work and seeing if AG can change it for me.
I did manage to get my VCH changed back. The acrylic segment ring felt like it was pinching.
The knee-poles are the only ones that don’t seem affected by the jewelry change. I’ll still be changing them back when I can though.
OK, that’s enough for today. I’m going back to vegitating on the couch.
Just like that
I’d really like to know what the freaking problem is with anything curved I put in that piercing. It just hates it!! But I don’t like the way a straight barbell looks. I want a CBR!!
I’m not liking the 5mm bead in back either. My hair keeps getting wrapped around it. I guess I’ll have to deal with it for a while though 
A little bit about a lot of things
I just received an “information packet” from my surgeon. It isn’t very informative.
All it tells me is that I have to report to the surgery center at 7:15 am, that they will do blood tests the day of but before the surgery and not to eat or drink anything after midnight. It does not tell me when they expect to actually start the surgery, how long they expect me to be in recovery or how long the surgery will take.
I’m trying to arrange a ride with AG so that Sk8er Boi does not have to take off work. He can take a vacation day but if he works his full 10 hours, he will make $50 more than what they pay him for a vacation day. Business is slow right now and he has not gotten his full 50 hours a week for a long time so that $50, however small it seems, makes a difference. I’m going to have to call them.
AG has something she needs to do that day so I need specifics. Theoretically, she could drop me off, go do her thing and then come get me but….
Hair:
I have an appointment with my stylist for Sat to have her even up my ends etc. but I think I will probably cancel it. I’ve seen some places I missed whilst trimming last time and my ends curl up rather than under which I prefer. I may just have Sk8er Boi help me on Sat.
I’m trying to decide if Iwant to henna before the surgery or after. If I go for after, it will probably be several more weeks before I feel like I can handle all that work. I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to wash it one handed, let alone henna!!!
Knitting:
I have taken out and redone the decreases for the V in the front of the sweater numerous times. I keep messing up. 
I took one side out so many times I got new yarn for it because it was starting to look bad. I think I’ve got it now though. I might even be able to start the back tonight. I want to get it done before surgery.
Deodorant:
Because I wasn’t about to go out again that night, I used the SURE yesterday. It did not decrease my sweating. So much for the active ingredient.
I got two different kinds of deodorant only yesterday:Naturally Fresh Deodorant Crystal and Tom’s Long Lasting Care. I like that the Tom’s has Hops inhibit the growth of odor-causing bacteria but it’s first ingredient is propylene glycol. It is the most innocuous of all the ingredients I don’t like to use but it is still on the list. The Naturally Fresh is supposed to be made out of those deodorant crystal thingies and is a roll-on type. Not thrilled with that either.
I used the NF today. I didn’t feel like I sweat and more than with the antiperspirant and I don’t smell. I might just have to get used to the roll-on. I’m also going to see what VitaCost has to offer.
Piercings:
My helix is pissy. It has been sore on and off for a while now. I decided to try to change to a titanium CBR even though I’ve never reacted to steel before. The only one I could find was the 14g ones I had in my lobes for a while. I started to put the 16g steel one back in but got to looking at the size of the hole. It looked kinda big for 16g so I decided to try the 14g. Wary about all I’d heard about stretching cartilage, I very carefully and slowly slid it in. It went right in actually. It was sore yesterday but no more so than before I changed it. Today it’s not as sore. I wonder if bits of dirt were getting in and irritating it.
Oh and I ordered all my jewelry stuffs for the surgery. I actually got one long length of PTFE from Painful Pleasures because it was cheaper than getting these—which only come with steel balls anyway. I have the acrylic balls and the PTFE is self threading. I can probably sell the rest on eBay with little problem.
I’m off. I have things to return, a call to the surgeon to make and books at the library.
Has anyone else noticed that my life seems to be divided: pre and post surgery?
Mom emailed me back
on me. All she is succeeding in doing is pissing me off. Does she not realize that??? I was mildly irritated but now I pissed!
She started the email off with "it’s not a particularly good idea…" I’m thinking that it’s not a particularly good idea to send a one line email that makes it blaringly obvious that your pissed without actually saying it outright.
I haven’t emailed her back because I’ll just be mean. I haven’t decided if my being mean is what she needs or if it will just make the situation worse. Being mean would make me feel better but…. Frankly, I’m tiredof handling her with kid gloves!!! Every time I have to deal with my mother I feel like this: 
Hair:
Didn’t get it oiled last night but I will today.
Knitting:
SOOOO close to getting the back done but won’t have much more time to work on it.
Piercings:
I need to get my jewelry changed out before work today. I have this irrational fear that I will forget and either they will make me take it out before surgery and it will close before I can put them back in or something will happen during surgery that is the exact reason they have people take out metal jewelry….
