Colonoscopy

That time of year again. I went two weeks ago to the hospital to update my files. I have a new insurance company and they said everything is okay and just to show up the next Tuesday.

So I went Teusday and of course, not only did they not have my paperwork, they had me listed with the previous insurance company. They wound up calling the doctor to fax over the information. I swear these people are blondes.

So I went through my colonoscopy and when I came to, the nurses said everything was okay. I'm still making an appointment with the doctor. I really cannot stand this man, he has no bedside manner, but he knows his job better than the previous doctor.

We'll see what misadventures I will come across.

Chiffie.

Birthday Girl

Happy 68th Birthday to Diana. I've loved her since childhood. Okay, I did dress up like her and sang, not lip synche. Just call me Trevor!

Chiflado out.

Jean Dujardin

What a babe! He won the Oscar for best actor. I would also vote for his hot schnozz, and he is just so good looking. I am satisfied with him. He won the Cannes prize for Best Actor, the SAG Award, the Golden Globe, the BAFTA and the Oscar for one film.

Chiffie out.

Dental School

Went to the Dental School at the UTHSC. We took x-rays and one of my molars need to get yanked out. My partial needs to be reset.

So far so good. I am pleased with everything regarding the Dental School. I will be going back on 4 April to begin the process. Sounds like fun.

Chiffie out

Hearing Aid

I had my hearing checked sometime in the summer and found out that I needed a hearing aid. They found that I do need a hearing aid.

Trouble is they start at $16oo.oo! And they can work with me on a payment plan. Like I have $16oo laying around for it.

Yesterday I went to another Dr for this. I got to try out a hearing aid and it worked. This was the top of the line hearing aid and it only cost $45oo. Of course. I always look for the best.

This one was cool and had a remote for the hearing aid which only made it better. Like I have that kind of money.

I also found out that I should be on Medicaid and they would help me purchase one of these. I just need to find out where the nearest Medicaid for me to apply for it.

We'll see.

Chiffie out.

The Chair

I don't think I updated my info regarding the chair I wanted. I went to Desks Galore because I saw the commercials for it.

We went to look and chairs and I found one that was a bit art decoish and bought it. What the commercials don't say is there is a $90+ fee for delivery. The chick that I talked to said it would be a free delivery if a truck goes into downtown.

Long story short, they never delivered it after a week, so I called to cancel the transaction.

HP said he'd run by Target to see if there were any chairs. I went on-line and found a chair at the Target website. I ordered it Monday and it was delivered Thursday. Not bad.

So I am happy with it. It's a tad too big, but I want to get rid of the pub table and chairs that go with it to make more room for the chair.

Here I was minimizing everything and I wound up with more clutter. I plan on selling the pub table with the two chairs to make more room available.

Chiffie out.

Birthday Boy

Happy 39th Birthday yesterday to Hottie Adrien Brody. He's sizzling hot and has a schnozz I could go for.

Viral Load

The other number we look at is the viral load. Here's some info on that and we want this number to be low. 50 copies or less is considered undetectable.

Viral load is a measurement of how much HIV is present in your blood. A sample of blood is drawn and sent to a lab for testing. Results are expressed as the number of copies of the virus per milliliter of blood. Each virus is called a "copy" because HIV reproduces by making copies of itself (replicating).

The viral load test gives a more accurate picture of what the virus is doing in your body at the moment than the CD4+ test does. (The CD4+ test measures the effect HIV is having on your immune system.) The viral load test is used to find out when to start treatment with medicines (antiretroviral therapy) and when to change antiretroviral medicines.

T-cells or CD4

Every body asks what's a t-cell. Here's some info. We look for a t-cell or CD4 count as high as possible. Hope this helps.

CD4+ cells are part of the immune system and are a type of white blood cell. White blood cells protect the body against infection. CD4+ cells are also called T-lymphocytes, T-cells, or T-helper cells.

HIV invades and destroys CD4+ cells. But the body continues to produce new CD4+ cells to fight the HIV infection. If the infection is not treated with medications, the body gradually loses the ability to produce enough CD4+ cells to replace the number that are being destroyed by HIV. As the number of CD4+ cells in the blood drops, it becomes more difficult for the immune system to fight infections.

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HIV, AIDS, and the CD4 Count

CD4 cells are a type of white blood cell that fights infection. Another name for them is T-helper cells. CD4 cells are made in the spleen, lymph nodes, and thymus gland, which are part of the lymph or infection-fighting system. CD4 cells move throughout your body, helping to identify and destroy germs such as bacteria and viruses. The CD4 count measures the number of CD4 cells in a sample of your blood drawn by a needle from a vein in your arm. Along with other tests, the CD4 count helps tell...

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CD4+ counts are measured every 3 to 4 months in people who are infected with HIV. The CD4+ count is an important measurement of how HIV is affecting your immune system and can help you decide when to begin treatment for HIV or when you need to try a different combination of medicines.

Anniversary

What a milestone to celebrate. Today marks my 8th year with the fabulous thing called AIDS.

I skipped HIV and shot to the beginning when I only had 3 t-cells. I had my first blood work to find out more information on moi.

Sometimes I feel like it's a joke, but then I look at the lab results and see the truth. It's in black and white right in front of my hands.

When I tell people, they always say not you. You're just not the type to have it. Some people are not comfortable with it, unlike me who looks at it and laugh in it's face. It's not fair, but who said it was supposed to.

And now I have to prep for Tuesday's colonoscopy. All day tomorrow I plan to be sitting on the commode. What a fabulous thing to look forward to.

Chiffie out.

Birthday Boy

Happy 41st Birthday to Mad Men's Jon Hamm. It's not just the fact that he's gorgeous that I watch the series, I do like the show.

Dr's Visit

Went to the doctor to get the results of my labs. My t-cell count dropped again. Last time they were at 220 and today they're at 164. He said it's that time of year, like that made me feel any better. I'm also still undetectable.

I updated my meds with him also and he gave me a script for Nasonex. I forgot what for. Sometimes I blank out and forget things.

I came home and had breakfast and then I went to Walgreen's. Big mistake. The trolleys were packed and running slow. And I was schlepping all over the downtown area. The heat and humidity pulled a number on me.

I was exhausted when I got home. I lay down for a nap, but I was way too exhausted to even take a nap. I had a severe backache that started somewhere in my running around.

I came home, showered and tried to nap but no go. My head is spinning even now. I feel like I'm gonna pass out. I hope I can get to sleep okay.

The one constant in my life is Jean Luc. He's such a chiflado cat like no other. He likes to lay with me in bed, so I've got something to distract me.

I will see what tomorrow brings.

Chif out of it.

Tremors

So I was looking at my hands when I realized they're not trembling as much as they used to before the meds. I'm also on the right combination of meds for my tremors. HP says I can now eat soup. That's what friends are for, huh?

I'm gonna be adventurous and attempt to shave myself rather than going to my barber. It's a big step for me. I gotta go to Walgreen's and get some shaving lotion. Cross your fingers for me.

Chif out.

Mental Health Day

Went to go see my psychiatrist yesterday. Everything's cool. He has me on the right dosage of medications that are helping me a lot. Don't know what I'd do without them.

Dr J is fabulous. He's gorgeous and intelligent and I'm very satisfied with him. The only problem is that now he's taking his patients with insurance in the medical center. It's well out of the way for me what with crossing Fredericksburg Rd, but he's well worth the trip.

While I was up there, I called Einstein's Bagels to get some asiago bagels that I got hooked on in Ann Arbor. I also found them available in Palm Springs when Steve and I were up there for my birthday so long ago.

Nothing much else.

Chif out.

Birthday Girl

Happy 66th birthday to Liza, with a Z, Minnelli. Daughter of the late great Judy Garland, nee Frances Gumm. We love you Liza.

Chiff out.

Housing

It's not as if I have a busy life, but I get lazy keeping this up to date. Last week I went to SAHA to update my status with them.

Of course when one gets called in to someone in charge, one gets a bit nervous and anxious.

Long story short, I got approved for another year. So long as one as one's under the poverty line, one gets approved. I never thought I would be happy to be where I am financially.

Chiflado out.

WTF!

I think Lupe updated my blog. This is not the format I had originally. Guess Lupe did this the other night. He apparently ate a bag of marshmallows while he was at it.

Wonder what else he's done. First thing Chiflado does when he does wake up is check to see if the door's locked.

Chiff out.

Nada

Nothing going on. I'm trying to get an inspection stick under the counter for HP. He gave me the info so I'm hoping my carcacha gets a sticker.

Nothing going on although I did watch JLO's attempt to find acts for a Latino perspective at one of the Las Vegas hotels. We'll see what comes out.

Jen and Marc Anthony are going all over South America looking for talent. Some are good and some are downright bad. We'll see what comes out. Some are good and some are not. You know who I'm rooting for.

Chiflado