It's Not Working

So, I'm on simvastatin to lower my not high, but not ideal cholesterol level according to our health plan to keep us at the best rate for insurance. I've added back in a healthy dose of psyllium and other things that I used to do in order to have a good cholesterol number and after several weeks of consistent use of the drug (I'm no fan of taking prescription drugs to begin with), I believe that I'm having way too many side-effects.

As Jennifer will tell you, I've been complaining of getting headaches, which is something I don't usually have, I've woken up with a headache and just feeling depressed lately, and most importantly, I don't feel sharp, at all. I'd best describe it as brain-fog. Things just aren't clicking right and it all completely goes hand in hand with taking simvastatin, which is the generic for Zocor. When I first tried the drug in late December, I was having muscle pain, but it was difficult to tell whether that was related to having been sick or the drug. I additionally was having the brain fog problem. I believe at this point in time that the muscle aches were truly due to being sick, but the brain fog, it's just like before and it only takes a few days to really start causing a problem.

I've read through several medical reports on the subject, reports from users, and I've found a great resource at spacedoc.com, where former NASA astronaut and Dr. Duane Graveline and the team there have endless resources dedicated to showing with evidence of the ill-effects of these drugs. It's also interesting that the doctor notes issues with CoQ10 and statins. Our physician told me that as well, that there might be a need to use CoQ10 as there is a depletion issue that then leads to many side-effects and physical problems.

I'm going back to treating this with natural methods like I used to and I hope to achieve the desired numbers for the next annual testing. What's even more frustrating is that their research along with many others show that cholesterol numbers aren't actually accurate benchmarks for heart issues and that it's all basically a bunch of garbage sold to doctors by the medical industry all in the name of profit. It's so frustrating. All I know is that I've woken up yet again feeling terrible and it goes hand in hand with the use of the medicine.

Taking it all Back?

I feel as though I've lost my way. I've let an unhappy job situation cloud every judgment I have when it comes to health, rest, finance, and content living.  Even blogging!  So I've taken some control back.  I've updated my resume, posted all new information at monster.com and will be passively keeping an eye on new opportunities.  But until that time comes, if it does or doesn't, I've got take back control over myself and my life.

I've made a meal plan, or rather a list of meals when can made each evening.  That way there will be no scrounging around looking for a meal.  It'll just be picking a meal and cooking. It's a small step, but an important one for us.

Monday starts the wellness challenge at work and I will be participating.  I'm excited for the tasks ahead.

And right now we are trying to tie up the loose ends with our antenna project.  It is all kinds of crazy! Missing channels and a thousand trips to the attic. But thankfully not for me. ;-)

Here's to more writing and just letting it go.
Jennifer

It All Adds Up

We've wrestled with the idea of downgrading our DISH service for quite some time, but $10 here or there basically led us to lose the channels that we actually watched. Month after month, it's $105 for us to basically watch five channels plus the locals out of over two-hundred that we could be watching. When we decide to do something, we do it. End of story. Period. So, here's where we are now: a majorly downgraded DISH service, a Channel Master aerial antenna, and streaming through Roku, iPad, XBOX 360, and whatever other gadget we have in our house with Hula Plus and Netflix, which we will be dropping.

The big question is where does this get you? Saving a lot of money is where. Our out-of-pocket monthly expense is going to be $8.99 for Hulu Plus and $50.00 for DISH. Our DISH service was $105.50 per month, so we're saving $55.50 for the service plus indirect costs. With DISH, our bedroom constantly had the churn of the VIP612 DVR, which not only made constant noise, but is also an energy hog that consumes more energy than a refrigerator each month! By removing the DVR receiver and a second, we're saving around $6.00 per month in electricity. When you do the numbers, we're saving $52.51 overall each month. Not too shabby! On top of the savings, we're going back to watching a bit more high quality television as our DVR became almost shameful with the junk that was being recorded.

Getting our house wired with coaxial cables has been a mess because the original installer made a complete mess and has so many splitters, it's a surprise that certain rooms even get a signal. The house wasn't built with coaxial cable running throughout and was retrofitted later on. The Channel Master antenna cost us $59.99, various cables and parts about $40.00, and the Roku was $99.99. We'd been planning on getting a Roku, so I guess you don't look at it so much as a cost here, as it was going to be bought anyhow.

We downgraded from the America's Top 200 package on DISH to the DISH America (HD programming only) package. We have the 222 dual room receiver, so even though we're paying for TV on one set, we actually get a second television that gets DISH programming with the ability to watch different channels. (The signal can be split to another TV that would get a mirror image of one of those.) The only negative is that it's a standard definition feed, but we are getting more than fifty over the air HD & digital signals as well. We could lower the DISH cost even more by getting rid of HBO ($16/mo.) or DISH all together, but I think this works. We get programming, but have halved our monthly cost.

This evening will be more time spent getting everything set-up properly throughout the house. I've grown quite accustomed to our attic and cables. :)

E

Endless Torture

Yes, it has been some time since I last wrote.  That's wrong of me.  But every time I thought about writing I just got too tired.  It has been a non-stop beating-fest at work.  Egos can only take so much, especially when they are small to begin with!  I know no one loves every aspect of their job, but I always felt I had a career before.  Now it has been deduced to a job and I'm just adjusting.  Friends and co-workers say just to let it go, do what they want and go home.  And that is what I'm trying to wrap my mind around.  I feel like I'm not being a good employee when I take that attitude.  But I guess it is no different than anyone else at any other job.  So I will continue on, not taking any of it home.  It's just not giong to affect me anymore.

So cheers to my new take on working!
Jennifer