When the love of a dog takes the pain away

Pain. It can be described in so many ways. A physical suffering. An emotional suffering. Or even a laborious effort that sometimes goes unnoticed. No matter the way you feel it, it’s real, and it’s in everyone.

I went in to the doctor for a female procedure yesterday, and the cramping it causes, is painful. Not so painful that I walk hunched over like an old man with weights in his pockets, but a pain nonetheless. An uncomfortable one that has mentally talked me into not going to work. This pisses SS off to no end, but ultimately it’s my decision, and when it comes to my body, I’m the boss. No matter what.

This handsome, freshly groomed Poodle, is the best bed cuddler ever. He sneaks in between SS and I, and when he lays his head on our pillows, we just can’t help but feel our hearts melt. (We only allow this when he is groomed and clean.)
While cuddling this morning, it made me think about the dog I had as a child. She was a Beagle/Lab mix, and saved me a number of times from a bad situation. You see, my Dad would throw his cigarette butts out into the lawn in the backyard when he was done smoking them. Me, not knowing any better and assuming they were okay because my Dad was putting them in his mouth, would find them and put them in MY mouth. That awesome dog, used to take them out of my mouth and lay on them so I couldn’t eat them. Smartest dog ever.

Here’s me with her in the doghouse…..

She really was the best dog ever. We were ALWAYS together.

When I was five, my parents sold their house in the Valley, and moved to a huge 2-story home in a newly developed city called Valencia. You might all know it as the home of Six Flags Magic Mountain. There was very little here at the time, but now, it’s full of cars and people and is ultimately just overcrowded. Definitely not my favorite city anymore.
Not long after moving into that house, the dog somehow hung herself with a leash she was tied off to that afternoon. I can remember coming home from 1st grade and hearing the news. It was heartbreaking for a five-year-old, and the first time I can remember feeling emotional pain.

As the years past, we had other dogs. Labs, German Shepherds, a Cocker Spaniel, and even a Dachshund. And with all those dogs, I never could get close. I never developed a relationship that said we were friends. Sure, I would feed them, and maybe throw a ball once in a while, but didn’t go out of my way to bond with them.

Then I met this guy, and my whole outlook on dogs changed. I never thought a Poodle could steal my heart, but every day when he looks at me with excitement and recognition, my heart flutters and I know it’s true love.

LOVE is a 4-legged word.

 

Tomorrow

Whoa! I started writing this on Tuesday evening. It’s officially Wednesday morning. Geez. Where does the time go? What did I actually get accomplished between the time I started this and the time I finished? Hmm. Damn Friends reruns draw my attention.

Woke up kind of late this morning because the sun didn’t come out. Weird. At 7:21am, I glanced at the clock with half open eyes. I figured it couldn’t be too late because the sun hadn’t even come out fully yet. Awesome. Once the time registered in my brain, I jumped out of bed and jumped in the shower. I really dislike rushing. There’s a much better outcome to me when I don’t rush through getting ready.

The rain clouds lingered all day, and the chill in the air was welcomed with a sweatshirt and a craving for hot chocolate. After a long 10hr day, I satisfied that craving.

There wasn’t another mug in the entire house, so I had to use my M&M guy. S’okay. It was super yummy and yes, I do have a burnt tongue. :-P

Was at the gas station the other day and saw the Google Maps car. THAT was interesting.

I’ve seen it driving around town, and that big camera on top is fascinating to me. I wish I had the courage to stop and talk to that lady. I would love to climb up on that little ladder she had and see that camera up close. 360* of awesomeness.

I wonder if this itty bitty dog ever wishes to be bigger…

Went to the GI doctor the other day. I did not like what I had to hear, but I suppose I’m in no position to argue. However, fighting for the outcome I want is something I’m willing to do.

See you for my procedure, Doc.  :-/

Doctor update

Of all the tests run today that I’ve gotten results for (and there were many), high blood pressure was the only one that wasn’t “normal”. It was slightly above normal, but nonetheless, higher than “they” say it should be. (who’s “they”?) Prehypertension maybe?

As any internet junkie does, I took to the Information Superhighway with lots of determination. I had no idea what high blood pressure was, let alone know what it would or was already doing to my body. I am very far from any of these things, but here’s what I found out about it…

• High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke. Very high pressure can cause a break in a weakened blood vessel, which then bleeds in the brain. This can cause a stroke. If a blood clot blocks one of the narrowed arteries, it can also cause a stroke.
• High blood pressure can eventually cause blood vessels in the eye to burst or bleed. Vision may become blurred or otherwise impaired and can result in blindness.
• High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack. The arteries bring oxygen-carrying blood to the heart muscle. If the heart cannot get enough oxygen, chest pain, also known as "angina," can occur. If the flow of blood is blocked, a heart attack results.
• High blood pressure is the number one risk factor for congestive heart failure (CHF). CHF is a serious condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs.
• The kidneys act as filters to rid the body of wastes. Over time, high blood pressure can narrow and thicken the blood vessels of the kidneys. The kidneys filter less fluid, and waste builds up in the blood. The kidneys may fail altogether. When this happens, medical treatment(dialysis) or a kidney transplant may be needed.
• As people get older, arteries throughout the body "harden," especially those in the heart, brain, and kidneys. High blood pressure is associated with these "stiffer" arteries. This, in turn, causes the heart and kidneys to work harder.

Holy cow, People! Really? High Blood Pressure can cause all of this? Geez. I feel like I’ve learned something very important about myself today, but it still doesn’t answer my questions about why I throw up stomach acid every morning. Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

It does, however, tell me that my food choices need to change, and I need to actually do some exercising. We all know I eat very shitty, that’s not Front Page news, and I don’t do any sort of exercising, unless you count walking back and forth to the mailbox. I can’t change everything at once, history has proven this over and over to me, so I will start slow.

Deservedly giving credit where credit is due, Sis has unknowingly convinced me to walk. Every day. Her and I walked 2.4 miles yesterday, and today, after my appointment, I walked the same 2.4 miles by myself.

Doc did say to me before I left, “If the test results don’t show us something, you’ll need to go see the Gastro guy. That’s all beyond my study.” Oh yippee. Just who I want to go see. A guy who’s going to shove things in my throat and up my ass. And not in the normal pleasant way I enjoy. No thank you, Sir. I’m likely to not attend that appointment unless someone goes with me, and that’s not likely either.

Still waiting for more results, so no definitive news yet.

-Till next time…