back to work!!!!

Was sleeping so soundly until Gary came upstairs and woke me up to tell me Wal-Mart called... I got called in to work today. Hoping to have a day off to rest but I thought "we need the money". So called "Yolanda" back and told her I would come in. I'm just wondering what is going on because the sign by the time clock is still posted saying "please do not advice customers we have jobs-we don't". Then every other couple of days you see a new orientation group having a tour of the store. And other people start talking about hours getting cut.....then today I get called into work?? (You'd think everyone would be wanting to work all they could given the state of the economy now. ) Something smells rotten in Denmark....Or they could just be trying to weed out certain associates in other departments because of their poor job performance? Instead of just right out firing them?
Anyway....Gary stops by from his way back from LaVergne. He took some scrap copper up there to sell. He stops by and tells me he's got some news.....he says "I won't be getting my unemployment check's anymore" He said it with such a straight face to, so I am thinking Oh God, what's going to happen now.....banked hours for our insurance is almost running out, I am not working full time, the cost of my medicine and Dr. visits. etc... he then tells me that he got a call from the Union Hall about a job that he will be going to on Monday. Not sure where it's at yet, or what shifts/days he'll be working. He'll be getting a call from the girl at the Union hall in the AM with the results of his standard drug test from "Concentra", then he'll get his referral paperwork, and then off to the contractors business and then he'll find out where the job is and what hours and etc. I hope this one lasts for a while.....he was out of work for over a month and going stir crazy here at the house.

so far behind...

well I was at work today....day was going like usual then I find out that a co-worker was getting fired. Problem was that this person didn't know about it. my department mgr. had confided this information in me and had me promise not to mention it to anyone else. Then later i hear my department mgr. telling two other employees this same information. What's up with that?? I guess the cat's out of the bag now....then tomorrow when I go into work it will be the talk of the day. What me and some other co-workers are wondering...what took them so long to get rid of this person? "He" was never around when you needed him, always took extended breaks and long lunches. On several occasions he would have a "family emergency" and called out from work. (this happened on paydays...coincidence you think?) From what I heard he opened the deli today, then @9:30am went to work in another dept., was supposed to be back in the deli by a certain time; but he never showed up. We saw him working in produce, but why a higher up mgr. didn't tell him to come back to & stay in the deli is beyond me. Then I am told that they are getting rid of two more from my dept. and one of them is one of the more harder workers and is always nice and polite and rarely calls out. WHAT??? I don't understand who has the right to make these decisions, "keep the bad employees and get rid of the good ones", doesn't sound like a good judgment call from the higher-up management. Anyway will blog more when I have a chance. I need to post some pictures, and catch up on e-mails, and tweet some. But working all kinds of hours with no set schedule is catching up on me.
Still on "Copaxone" for my MS. Haven't had any "seizure" episodes so far. (Dr told me if I had another one I'd be classified as an epileptic). I have a eye Dr. apt on the 9th-will tell you what comes of that later that day. Gary has been laid off for over a month now and is not happy about it. There are times I come home from work so stressed out, and upset at having to do laundry and clean up the apt. and etc-I some times take it out on Gary. I just wish he'd help me out a little more. The program that he's in says that he can't take any job unless it's through the Union. That's just crazy to me. We hope he gets back to work soon. After a certain time we will have gone thru all of our "banked hours" for our health insurance, and will have to start paying @ $300.00 a month, like we can really afford that now. (for those of you who understand the terms "subsidizeing" and are familiar with "COBRA" when reading health insurance articles - you know what we are facing.) Anyway--that's what's going on in my side of the world right now. Just wondering what's going to happen next. Write more later, just wish I had a clone to help me catch up on things around the house or fill in for me at work. Blog more later.

bored

I have been on personal/medical leave from work since the 28th of April. I was at work that night and as I was finishing up my shift while I was talking to a fellow co-worker. The next thing I knew I had one of those "dizzy spell" feelings come over me, I tried to fight it off as best as I could then next thing I knew everything was going dark. All the light was was disappearing from my sight, from the outside in. I felt more dizzy than I had ever felt since these feeling first began happening. the next thing I know I can hear "Billy" asking me if I was all right and I could remember seeing my hands shaking in front of me. I was trying to keep myself from falling over and I was really tired, hot and extremely thirsty. I opened my eyes to find myself on the bakery's prep table and Billy was calling for a manager to come over immediately. I felt like I was in a trance as he was leading me to a chair so I could sit down. I still felt so light headed as the manager came over to ask me if I was all right. I explained to him that I had MS and what medication I was on. I was feeling so "wiped out", I didn't know what was going on, I couldn't hardly talk, all i felt like was lying down. We walked back to the lockers and I told him I was going to call my neurologist EARLY in the morning to see if she wanted me to come in so we could see what was going on. I talked to one of her assistants on the phone and she said the DR. wanted me to come in as soon as I could. She did some more tests and after checking me over i was told that I had had a partial seizure. She told me to stop taking my "Rebif" immediately. Rebif is the injected medication that I was taking for my MS. in a small % of people, Rebif was known to cause seizures. And I guess I turned out to be in that %. She gave me another RX for an anti-convulsant-in addition to the one I was all ready taking. Plus another RX to give me more energy in the morning. She told me she wanted me to start taking "Copaxin" for my MS. (another injectable med., this one is everyday verses the 3 times a week with Rebif) I was told that I'd have to wait for the Rebif to get out of my system and since all my meds have to be approved by my insurance co.--it was going to take a while before I would get it. Lots of red tape-I thought health insurance companys were supposed to help people.
All of this happened the week before my sister's wedding. It was so scary not knowing when these spells were going to happen next. I wasn't allowed to drive. (but I did that anyway-had to go to work, had to earn a paycheck, had bills to pay) I was so hoping I wouldn't have another big one the day of her wedding! There was no way I was going to miss that! My Dr. told me no driving whatsoever, and if I had another big one like before I would be classified as an "epileptic".
My follow up with her was on the 6th. And she extended my leave of absence, because I was still having the dizzy spells. She told me that she had sent "Medfusion" my RX for the copaxin, and I assume "medfusion" will call me to set up shipment or I might have to make some phone calls myself if I don't hear anything from anybody.
My sisters wedding was so beautiful and romantic. An outdoor wedding like she wanted. The rain held off, and we had the reception inside the Paris Landing State Park Hotel. We had lots of family and friends there. It was a wonderful day. I have lots of pictures on my digital camera-I want to save them to my "memory card" so I can make copies and send them out, and I want to post some on my blog here and on Facebook when I have time. She and Jason went to Florida for their honeymoon. She sent me pictures from her cell phone. It sounds like she and Jason are having the time of their lives. I'm so happy for the both of them.

being lazy

haven't posted a new blog in a long time....I guess work has caught up with me. Now that the scheduling has gone all computerized, I won't know what times I'll be working till I see them posted on the wall. There was some question is I was going to get the days off that I had requested. But after being pulled around in so many directions-I was told by personnel that as long as you have your request in by the time-frame needed-you were ok. So I don't hold too much faith in the manager "Cynthia" anymore. I seems like I am working the weirdest hours, either I am opening and working till 1 in the afternoon or I come in at the late afternoon and work till closing. And that's not being helpful with my MS. This coming Monday will be an injection night and Gary will have to come up and help me with it. I've explained something of this to my department manager, mark, but I got the impression he still didn't know what all that would entail. Knowing the way the schedule will work is that I will be the only one left in the deli after a certain time and when it comes time to take my injection, I will have to leave for the bathroom and just about that time we will have an angry customer come up and complain that no-one was there to wait on them. (Something like last Sunday when 2 people called out and I was left alone after 8pm. People get really mad if you aren't there to "jump at their every beck and call" so to speak.) Life is too short to get all riled up over something like that. I just wonder what today is going to bring.....
My sister's bachelorette party is coming up this Saturday. I was sent an e-mail about the days agenda, and was amazed at the cost of some of the events. (I would love to see the Parthenon.!!) I have so many bills to be paid now, becuase of my medical situation, I don't know what to do. Gary tells me to take the money and go splurge on myself for once, but I keep thinking the money could be used to make payments on my ever growing medical bills. I work at the Wal-Mart deli....my hands will be covered up with gloves most of the time anyway. Going club hopping really doesn't interest me at all....so I guess you can call me an old fogie. We have to plan about the weekend of her wedding also. Gary will be working that Friday morning, so we'll be making a mad dash to Paris for the rehersal dinner that night. Then her wedding is that Saturday afternoon, Then I'm sure Gary will want to go to church in Holladay that Sunday. I just wished we didn't live so far away. it would make the weekend's events a little less hectic. I guess I'll have to make up my mind and send an-email to Stephanie soon. Just have to see what the money situation is. I'll feel like the designated driver along with a group of young-20 somethings having a wild night out on the town as the day draws closer to her party. The MS makes me so tired most of the time. I'll have to make it an early night because I know I have to be at work early that following Sunday morning.
Then on the 22nd. my Aunt and Uncle from Missouri will be in town. They will be visiting with friends the night before and we will be meeting up for breakfast on the next am. I called yvonne and told her I'd be working till closing that night before, so she'll have to call me and let me know what the plans are for that day as the time draws nearer. Then Jimmy plans on coming up late on the 24th. He wants to enter a gospel singing contest on the 25th. He wanted Gary to enter with him also, but Gary read the rules and regulations part, and he decided against it. You have to be free all the dates they specify and it would conflict with his job and classes. I called Jimmy's cell and told him about it. But as of yet he hasn't called me back. If he still wants to enter we will support him. But if he doesn't we will still welcome him if he wants to stay the night with us here in Nashville. I'll call him later today and see what he's planning on doing...

contemplating on the future

I haven't blogged in the last few days, just tired from work and all...I had a mandatory deli meeting at work on Monday....just as I figured nothing much accomplished in that...meeting was run by a "non-people person manager; Cynthia". More or less it was be more professional, don't call in so much, follow procedures better. I think part of it has to do with the way "Ember" runs the deli....she's kind of a pushover and other associates take advantage of that. I came into work Thursday and things were running almost perfect....then the night shift came in....a.k.a. "Betty & Ron"..... Ron doesn't want to do anymore work than he has to, and Betty is not the kind of person to be serving the public. I had another co-worker talking to me in the breakroom about how he didn't think Betty should be serving the public at any place because of her attitude, but we as "indians" have no control over that, only "chiefs" have that powe. I have also had other co-workers say to me as I'm waiting on them...."how can you stand to work with the people back here?" "You are so nice compared to them.....I like it when you work....you're my favorite person over here.....etc. I just hope the job situation improves for me, either being moved to anothwer dept. or a new job. I don't think any of those things are going to happen soon. With the way the economy is and how Wal-Mart works.....
Anyway on to more important things. I had some bloodwork done, turns out I am slightly anemic. I was just told to start taking a multi-vitamin. My cholesterol was good, big suprise there! Then later that day I had an at home visit with my "Rebif" nurse. I was telling her about how I'd been having all these dizzy spells and feelings of light headedness, and spacing out sometimes. She commented that either I needed to change my medication for my MS, or reduce the amount that I'm taking now, or cut back from work. She faxed her paperwork to Dr. Efobi's office and I origionally had an appt. scheduled for March the 11th.
I went to see Dr. Bishop today, and he made me an appt. with Dr. Efobi for this coming Monday. And he also gave me a slip that stated no driving until I see Dr. Efobi on that day. My first thought was "what about work?" I have to work Sat & Sun. I guess Gary will have to drive me....I can drive fine, I just have those sudden feelings come on, and as soon as the come they seem to go. I was driving home from work last night and I was passing the Taco Bell and I had one come over me. (I had one just now as I was typeing that last sentance.) I don't know what Dr. Efobi will tell me. I guess the worst senario will be I'll have to be off work for a while. And that will make me more nervous, because we won't have that much $$ coming in to pay the bills.
I had another visit with Dr. Frankfather(foot Dr.). He wants me in a more ridged brace that what I have now. One that is custom made for my foot and ankle. He said it takes about a month to get it in, it's called an "Arizona Brace". There's no telling how much this thing will be, and how much the insurance won't cover.... He told me that I had a "coalition" in one of the joints in my ankle and that in turn created "a domino effect" for the other two joints in my heel and ankle and that in turn developed and " arthritic condition".( my joints have fused together where they shouldn't be...and I have alimited range of motion in that foot.) That doesn't mean I have arthritis.....just the condition he said. So after I get fitted for this brace we'll see how that goes and if we have to go to surgery to fix this problem? I'll be on crutches and no weight on that foot for 3 months! There's no way I could work in the deli....and how would I be able to manage the stairs in our apartment? I'd have to find a way I guess.
I turned in my "time adjustment" sheets to request the weekend off for my sisters bridal tea. I gave them to Cynthia after we finished the deli meeting this past Monday. lets just hope she remembers to schedule me off those days. I had another day all ready requested off for a Dr. appt, and I was scheduled for that day anyway....My appt's at 9:30 that morning but I don't have to be in for work that afternoon until 3pm. Not really at time conflict, but I am also scheduled to work till 11pm that night before. I'll have to really push myself to get out of bed and get going that morning. I'm not going to say anything about that, but I do need to know if I'm going to be able to get that weekend off for sure. I'd be really mad if I was "conveniently scheduled", then my sister would be mad, because it's supposed to be her day! And there's no way i'd miss my own sister's bridal tea!

i'm sick with what I don't know....

I came home from work on Sunday afternoon sick. I had woken up that morning and Gary asked me are " you all right?" I said "I've felt better", but I knew we needed the money, so I got up and started the day. I got to work and the same old stuff was going on. I had the same feelings of "nobody else is working here but me..." Two of the younger associates that worked in my department were off in their little corner talking and there I was cooking and waiting on customers at the case. How I wished that place were more organized and professional. I still wasn't feeling very good and after what seemed like an eternity, my break time arrived. I went to the restroom and all I felt like was crawling under the covers and going to sleep...that is if I had any. My throat was still scratchy and I had been downing Halls "fruit breezers" like they were candy. For the past few days I had been congested also and I assumed it was just my sinuses draining or allergy related because I always seem to have a runny nose. (Always runs from my right nostril! I can't explain it.)
But when I started getting changes in my voice, I started to wonder if there was something more to this. I would be talking to customers and my voice would get scratchy and I'd wished I had some cold water to drink. I was texting Gary and I was telling him that I still wasn't feeling good. And he said it was my choice if I thought I needed to come home. I knew how much I needed to work but home was sounding better and better by the minute. I went to the mgrs. office and there was Cynthia(co-mgr.) and my dept manager, Ember; discussing the upcoming Deli Associates meeting that was coming up on Monday. Ember said she had noticed that I wasn't my usual self and said that my voice had been going in and out. So there was no question to Cynthia that I didn't need to be working back there and she told me to go home and get better. i have the next 3 days off from work. But I can't lay up in bed all that time. On Monday I have to be out for that "Deli meeting", then I have to do some shopping at Wal-Mart anyway. Then on Tuesday-I have to have bloodwork drawn at Dr, Efobi's office that morning, then later that afternoon my MS nurse is coming by for another visit/check-up, also I need to ask her about why I have been having these light headed feeling all the time.
Then on Wednesday, I have another follow-up with Dr. Derr in Franklin at the Bone and Joint Clinic. I am not looking forward to the drive to Franklin all by myself. I went to see Dr. Frankfather at Southern Hills (via Dr. bishop's office) and he told me that I had some coalitions in the joints in my ankle and heel. And he wanted to fit me in a more sturdy brace and see what happens from there on out. he gave me some medication to reduce the swelling and wanted to see me again for another follow-up. He said surgery would be the last resort, but if that had to happen....I'd be on crutches for the whole time and would have to be off work for @ 3 months and couldn't put any weight on that foot. So we will wait and see what happens. Also during our visit we discussed about coming solely to him for my check-ups because most of my Dr.s were all ready in Southern Hills and I didn't see why I would have to make a special trip just to see Dr. Derr. Also I have heard many wonderful things about Dr. Frankfather from gary and several other of my co-workers. I let everybody know what happens later.
Then I have another visit with Dr. bishop on this coming Friday. I'm not sure what will all be discussed at this visit, but i am going to ask him if I have just a cold or something else. Because of my scratchy throat, runny nose and sometimes I cough up mucus as well. There has been talk of Strep Throat, some kind of virus going around, "good weather for pneumonia" others say......what ever it is I have I'll get it worse because of me having MS...my immune sysytem is less resistantant to infections.
I'll have more to write after I have this "deli" meeting I'm sure...