So DH did go to the doctor, and we got the bloodwork results on Tuesday (last week.) High blood pressure, diabetes and another issue.
Sigh. He had been worried for awhile that he might have developed diabetes. His mom died of diabetes complications in the late 80s. One of his sisters died of complications from it (juvenile onset) a few years before their mom.
Right now he is refusing to meet with the diabetes lifestyle counselor. He says that he knows enough about it, and any questions he has can be Googled. He has agreed that if after 30 days of doing it his way, if he doesn't see improvements, that he will see the counselor.
He does seem to be a little more willing to eat veggies ... and is cutting back on soda a good bit.
I'm really, really trying to not butt in and tell him what to do. To let him set the pace. It's really hard though - especially when he started out by doing 90% protein calories ...
I spoke to a CVS pharmacist about a blood pressure cuff and an glucose meter. They told me that I should contact our insurance to see what was covered.
I did that today - found out that both the meter and strips - of any brand - are 100% covered, but the bp cuff would count towards OOP and deductible. I need to contact one of the local medical supply places here to find a cuff with a large enough extension piece.
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Work ... Sigh. The last week and a half has been extremely busy, hectic, stressful. Last Friday there was an incident where I had two people in a row come to the window asking for route info, logged off the phone, and still had 5 different people call and be placed on hold (then hang up) while helping the people at the window. Then had someone call moaning and groaning about being on hold for 25 minutes.
I kind of vented unwisely to my supervisor ... Usually there is at least one other person there who can help handle an over load of phone calls, but my supervisor was in a meeting and those present in the office weren't ones who generally answer the phone ..
We both left quite frustrated Friday afternoon.
I nearly got sideswiped on the way home which definitely did not help my perspective. Thankfully DH was home and was able to give me some much needed respite so I eventually felt calmer about everything.
Then yesterday my supervisor asked me to come back with her to the conference room.... One of the things she talked about to me about was Friday. We agreed that I should try forwarding more calls to the information line when I get swamped like that.
The other thing she talked to me about though really threw me for a loop. Apparently people have complaining about my area smelling bad. Sometimes about ME smelling bad.
I practice good hygeine - teeth brushed, hair washed, clothes washed, etc. The only things I could think of would be my shoes (which I leave at my desk overnight so I don't have to walk too much in them outside.) Or ... my clothes.
Yes, I always wear clean clothes (or at least clothes that still pass the sniff/smudge test after a wearing or two) But ... I think the issue could possibly be the cats. The smell from the cats.
When you have many multiple litter boxes throughout a home, it seems impossible to NOT have it smell. The chickens in the basement sure don't help either.
I asked my supervisor to alert me when she smells something off, so that way I can possibly pin point the cause better. (Such as - that top was hanging in the laundry room for the past week which is next to the workshop with the chickens and also in a room with a litter box. Or, that was the third time I wore those pants - maybe I was wrong about them passing the sniff test.)
I wasn't upset that she told me about this - in fact I appreciated it. However, at the same time, I'm now feeling mighty awkward around my coworkers wondering who had been talking about me behind my back.
Ugh.
I'm thinking it might be worth it to try to find a few hundered dollars in the budget to have someone come in here and help me figure out what to do to eliminate / alleviate the smell factor. (Supervisor's suggestion was get rid of most of the cats and all the chickens ... Yeah, that's not going to happen. Though maybe I can spur DH to get the chickens outside with the idea that their smell may be affecting me at work!)
(Shoes - I am planning on putting baking soda in them, and also maybe dryer sheets, and a few other ideas I found. Maybe also get some footies to wear with them. Probably also try to take them home with me each night.)
(Litter boxes - I use the scoopable kind with baking soda for multi-cat households. I completely scoop them ALL out daily. I have air fresheners in every room of the house, plus a couple of those things that are supposedly supposed to "refresh" the air ... I also use carpet freshener when I vacuum. The only other thing I can think of to do would be to completely clean out the litter boxes .. but I have done that a few times, and it is nearly an all afternoon ordeal and completely zaps any energy I have for the coming week. And that's only with doing half of them. *and no way would DH help with THAT - he's just barely agreed to take over scooping the basement boxes this last week.)
Speaking of energy ... I thought I was on an upswing and maybe the iron supplements were helping. Maybe I just way overdid it Sunday, but I am beyond wiped Monday and Tuesday. probably the busyness / stress at work isn't helping either though.
*I did see the counselor Monday. She basicaly told me that I'm doing a pretty good job of setting boundaries, but need to work on making DH take care of more of his responsibilities (like how he is eat) hour was barely enough time to scratch the surface. But it definitely was helpful.
Updates ..
August 17th, 2016 at 02:46 am
August 17th, 2016 at 03:26 am 1471404406
August 17th, 2016 at 03:39 am 1471405154
August 17th, 2016 at 12:55 pm 1471438558
And so sorry about your husband's diagnosis! Exercise CAN reverse Type 2. I know of people who have done it!
August 17th, 2016 at 01:30 pm 1471440603
August 17th, 2016 at 02:30 pm 1471444221
August 17th, 2016 at 02:46 pm 1471445200
Diabetes runs in my family and I have pre diabetes. Lately I have been making changes to my diet. I hope that DH gets it under control.
August 17th, 2016 at 09:40 pm 1471470020
August 18th, 2016 at 12:05 am 1471478743
Since I have such odd sized feet I wear the same shoes every day. Even in our dry climate I am sure my feet/shoes always stink. I'd probably be horrified to leave them at work. I might need to get some powder. Makes me wonder if it is just the shoes. But if it's a newer thing then maybe is more the animals. I am glad your boss brought it up and is willing to help you figure it out.
August 18th, 2016 at 12:32 am 1471480326
August 18th, 2016 at 02:32 am 1471487544
CCF - I don't know how long it's been going on. I tried getting my boss to tell me, but she was pretty vague. Which makes it even more difficult to figure out. I've been thinking about contacting a few friends/old co-workers and see what they might say...
Yep, exercise *could* definitely help. One step at a time though I guess .. focus on nutrition, then maybe convince him to add additional exercise. (He feels like he already has tons of physical activity in his day as a delivery driver and doesn't see the need to add more.)
Kashi - how do you keep the knee highs up? I've tried those before and always have them sagging quickly. I do have one sort of air purifier in the kitchen ... probably need to invest in some of the larger/more expensive ones. Also get DH to change out the filters in the hVAC system.
Joan - Currently DH doesn't have that issue at work. But he did a few years ago. Which is when he started washing out his one pair of jeans and one t-shirt and one pair of socks pretty much daily. He doesn't have BO at all - is of 1/4 Native heritage - so very little body hair. It was the cat smell his co-workers commented on.
I have quite a bit more clothes than that ... (well, he does too, just not that fit/that he'll actually wear ...)
What would the generic Febreeze be called?
SecretarySaving - Part of the problem in my area is that it is where all the lost and found items go. Some of that stuff STINKS. We already have quite a few scenty things and air freshener things to help mitigate the smell. I have thought about getting a plug in as an extra though.
I guess I could wear different shoes every day. I think I have a brand new pair of work shoes that I was saving for when these wore out. I probably should also stop leaving my shoes there ... The main reason I did it was because when I walk out for work in the morning, I want the easiest thing to put on possible - usually my sandals, or tennies in the winter.
Thanks Rob.
MonkeyMama - Yeah, I keep telling myself that. That I have to let him figure it out for himself. He knows I'm there willing to help him if he asks. Sigh.
Leaving my shoes at work probably wasn't the greatest idea in the world.... laziness, convenience, etc. ... not worth it if it causes this kind of issue.
DH and I discussed this last night (when he got home on his early night - just shy of midnight ...) and he IS willing to help me completely clean out the litter boxes! And also got that he really needs to get the workshop/basement situation cleared up. As now the smell isn't just affecting both of our desires to entertain, or to have people come by to purchase electronics, but it could possibly affect my job status very negatively.
I'm exhausted by the idea of completely cleaning them all out ... but it might help. Also talking about renting a rug doctor for the carpets. See if that helps too.
August 18th, 2016 at 03:25 am 1471490752
For foot odor I also recommend wool socks. For me, wool has been magic against foot odor. I wear wool socks every day, summer and winter.
August 18th, 2016 at 03:32 am 1471491134
August 18th, 2016 at 10:45 am 1471517141
August 18th, 2016 at 06:28 pm 1471544938
Would your boss be willing to put the lost and found things into some sort of clear, sealed plastic bin? Or do people have to be able to see the items at all times?
August 20th, 2016 at 04:02 pm 1471708951
Kashi - I picked up some knee highs yesterday and m going to try them on Monday. Will see they work ...
The lost and found items are contained in two large metal cabinets, plus a box for umbrellas and a box for the school kids stuff. We have scented stuff throughout the drawers. Some of the stuff that comes in (like backpacks, especially overstuffed ones) wouldn't fit easily in a plastic container. But that idea might be good for the stinky lunch boxes/bags or stinky clothing ... I should take a picture sometime of the lost and found cabinets ... especially in a few weeks once the school kids get into the swing of leaving their stuff on the bus and we get really full.
August 20th, 2016 at 07:54 pm 1471722840
Why are there chickens in the basement? Why not outside? It doesn't sound very healthy for either you or them. Chickens need air and sunshine and a yard.
August 22nd, 2016 at 07:37 pm 1471894669
August 22nd, 2016 at 11:20 pm 1471908001