Thursday, August 7, 2025
Jerry McCloskey plays sheepshead with us every Tuesday, and seems quite laid back.
But today he treated SRS with Irish musicians and Guinness beer in appreciation for being at SRS.
It was a lovely afternoon to be on the piazza, complete with complimentary Happy Hour.
Sunday, August 3, 2025
I've had a nasty irritation in my genital area for years, right at the clitoris. I notice it when I took a shower with a very sharp pain. I saw Dr. Gundamraj about it once, and she gave me a small tube of cream. That seemed to clear it up, but only temporarily.
Whenever it flared up again, I applied Neosporin, that seemed to work. I made an appointment to see a doctor at one time, but it seemed to clear up, so I had nothing to show.
Eventually, it was getting more frequent, and more painful.
Now it is so painful, I can barely walk. When I urinate, I feels like I was getting hit by a blowtorch. I screamed in pain.
I applied Neosporin, an anti-biotic ointment and a cream from a dermatologist; all gave me extreme pain initially, but it seemed to subside. Now I applied petroleum jelly just to keep urine away from the infected area. I see stars when I apply it.
I'm going to see Dr. Gundamraj tomorrow.
Monday, August 4
I had a very sleepless night, with the pain and worried what Dr. G would find. And what could she do in her office with such an extreme condition? I have to check in to Emergency. Should I call Claude? Should I push my button for an ambulance to take me (the ride in an ambulance is impossible.). Should I wait for Claude early in the morning? That seemed to be my best option.
I woke up Claude with my phone call and he managed to be at SRS by about 7:30 a.m. We got taken rather promptly at St. Luke's and I was situated in the Emergency section. What I dreaded most was for anyone to touch my affected area; I could not touch it, and I'd scream if anyone else did. I explained my condition: how long I've had it, what I was doing for it, etc. I implored the nurse to give me something to numb the area. She checked with the doctor and there was a liquid application that she would apply in drops to the affected area. After a period of waiting, it seemed to work and the doctor could determine what I was suffering from. Diagnosis: UTI (Urinary Tract Infection), Vaginitis and vulvovaginitis and Hypertensive urgency (my blood pressure was over 200).
The nurse explained the antbacterial medicine that I would be taking and the various applications that I would be using and did the initial applications. I was definitely not to use Neosporin, A & D or the cream that I use for eczema.
My blood pressure was shooting through the roof: 200+, 199, 240. Pills did not help to lower it. The nurse inserted an IV which was certain to help lower my blood pressure.
I was trembling; I was so cold. Claude stayed with me the entire time, except when I was exposed. He put a blanket over me and kept reporting the readings. A heated blanket helped. Lying on my back is not my normal position, and I asked an attendant if I could lie on my side; he said that I could. I felt more comfortable, and the trembling stopped.
Even with the IV my blood pressure was a big problem. The doctor advised me to stay overnight so that my blood pressure could get under control. It lowered slightly, which was a promising sign, but then shot up. I really wanted to go home and I promised that I would watch my salt intake and avoid salty foods. He said the it was my decision, but I could change my mind. I was determined to go home, but had strict orders to see Dr. Gundamraj as soon as possible.
We waited quite a long time for the final orders to be prepared, when a young 26-year old nurse came with the required documents. A last blood pressure check: 184/79! the lowest it was the entire time. Claude and I were ecstatic. We were on our way out.
Claude picked up a foot-long chicken sub at Subway before taking me home. We split the subway and I was glad that I could offer Claude a can of Riverwest Stein; I had water.
Claude got rid of the program that has been bothering me as a start-up on my computer. It took him a few tries to figure it out, but it would have been really beyond me to do it.
He restarted my TV that had No Signal; it really was simple, but I did not feel like doing it before leaving for the hospital.
Claude also mounted the plant hanger for my rosary plant. It really needed to be hung since it was trailing on the floor.
Before leaving for home, Claude picked up my medications from Walgreen's
What a gem! I am so blessed with this marvelous family.
Friday, July 8, 2025
Throughout the week the pain continues when I sit or bend, but most severely when I urinate. My new seating pad helps somewhat, but I have to sit down gingerly.
I checked the test results that get sent after a visit and everything was abnormal. What bothered me most was my clear urine. I looked it up and the information said it's caused by the kidneys not filtering. That was very alarming. Will I have to have dialysis?
I had my follow-up with Dr. Gundamraj today, with Angel as her nurse. My blood pressure was within range, still higher than normal.
Dr. G looked over my results and said that everything looked good. I asked her about the clear urine. She didn't know what I was referring to. I asked about my kidneys not filtering. She said my kidney is better than people half my age. I was so relieved.
Dr. G also said that I should apply A&D over the other medication to protect the area when I urinate.
Friday, July 31, 2025
Emma did my hair today, since Jacelyn is away tomorrow.
I went to the Kohl's at Point Loomis to return Peter's razor, and bought a couple of tops.
I had a basil BLT at Panera's, but did not find any basil. I took half of the sandwich home to add my own basil. As close as I was to Leon's I overcame the urge.
Next, to Walgreen's to pick up a prescription and photos that I order at half price.
Finished my errands at P & S, buying items for Saturday's breakfast pot luck.
Totally exhausted after putting everything away.
Wednesday, June 4, 2025
We had a heavy rain through the night, but it cleared up by noon.
I drove Cheri Franch to Milwaukee Eye Care on Port Washington and Brown Deer Rds. She is being treated for macular degeneration.
On the way back to SRS, I picked up a prescription and a couple of lemons. I needed the lemons for Janice's salad dressing recipe, with the roasted almond butter.
I made the dressing and poured it into a container that I thought would make a nice salad cruet. I made a large salad with lettuce, red pepper, cherry tomatoes, celery, basil, scallion, and mushrooms. The dressing was so thick that I had to really shake it out of the bottle, but it was delicious.
I arranged a plant rack that I could suspend the bottle from and let the contents drip into a small bowl. It needed some prodding to get started, but it emptied out pretty well. I transferred the dressing into a small wider mouth jar.
I will definitely make it again.
Monday, July 28, 2025
A great day for the six of us to travel to Lake Geneva for a Wildlife Safari; our group included our driver and Program Director Betsy Rowbottom, Mary Jo Stadler, Susan Callopy, Cookie Anderson, Arthur King and myself. The ride put the seat cushions to the test, and if not for the jarring noise of the bus, it would be considered very smooth.
There was a slight glitch finding our name in the reservation list, but it was resolved with no problem.
Our bus got in line with other vehicles along a dirt road through the open area where animals moved about freely. The experience tried to replicate an actual safari, which it accomplished quite well.
We saw many familiar animals, plus some that I'd never seen before. Betsy purchased three cups of animal pellets that she could feed through the bus window. Some of the animals were exceptionally greedy.
https://www.facebook.com/stritasquare/videos/621073957287428/?app=fbl
We went through an enclosed portion which included a petting area and a pool with the largest living rodent, native to South America, called a capybara; here are two sisters.
Saturday/ Sunday, July 26 & 27
After my hair I went to the Goodwill on Capitol Drive, hoping to find a glass baking dish. What luck! I found just what I needed for $3.99; Walmart had them for over $20. I also found a nice butter dish and a very pretty cut glass bowl.
I bought my groceries at the P & S on North Ave. and bought a dozen roses for $8.00. I could not believe the price; the other bunches were $12.00 and up. With the hydrangeas from the side of the building, they made a beautiful arrangement.
