U.S. Residents: At-Home COVID-⁠19 Tests

We weren’t offered free tests - ☹️ but my son sent me info to buy some.

https://rapidtestcanada.ca/product/covid-19-rapid-test-maple/?attribute_box-size=5+pack

Bought a 5-pack

Hope we don’t end up having to use them.

We paid 65$ plus tax and shipping for box of 5 tests

My friends and I have frankly been surprised the site hasn’t crashed yet.

You must be clairvoyant, because I've recently been having an even worse time with sleep than usual. The past couple of days, in fact, I've only had 1-3 hours sleep per night. This morning, I slept for about 2.5 hours, before I was awake again...but I stayed in bed and eventually went back to sleep for a few more hours. It's been rough.

How are things with you? How's the job?

Last night was another disappointing attempt at sleep. In addition to restless legs, I was worried/anxious over a meeting I had this morning. So, that was on my mind, too. Fortunately, it's now over and I can calm down a bit.

[As a side note, I've gained much more weight that I realized, over the past two years. I couldn't even fasten the button on one set of dress pants. What a drag. I've not eaten away from home in seven months and I've not had any junk food for at least two months, but I think more like three months. Before long, I'll have to buckle two of my belts together, in order to get them around this rotund "Michelin Man" belly!]

That's good that you sleep quite well, though not as good pre-Lyme. Your pre-Lyme sleep must have been pretty spectacular.

The Lyme Mind -- evaluating how you feel, monitoring for symptoms -- will likely fade in time. Sure, it could be worse, but it still sucks. I think there's a lot of wisdom in your idea about possibly reducing the length and frequency of visits to the forum, if only for a while. That might help you shift your mindset a bit.

Well, I'm going to waddle my flabby self to bed and try to take a nap. Hopefully, the bed doesn't collapse under my weight. *sigh*

Thanks for the encouragement, Bailey. Perhaps I can become height/weight proportionate again, one day. All I have to do is lose 20 pounds...or grow four inches taller.

I appreciate the suggestion of magnesium. Currently, in addition to whatever may be in my diet, I take 400 mg of supplemental magnesium citrate daily with meals. Previously, I've tried magnesium oil transdermally, too.

Though I don't notice any difference when taking supplemental magnesium, I continue it, since it can be hard to reach significant amounts in the diet. Or, in my diet, at least.

Additionally, I've previously been diagnosed with both Central Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea. These diagnoses were the result of two in-clinic sleep tests (under private health insurance, eight years apart, in different states) and one at-home sleep test (provided by the Veterans Administration ("VA")).

I received a CPAP machine from VA hospital #1, but couldn't sleep with it through the night. Then, I moved to another state and received a second CPAP from VA hospital #2. (Even though I told them I already had a CPAP machine.) VA hospital #2 gave me different settings on the second device, but I still had trouble sleeping with it more than an hour or so. VA #2 then decided to administer an in-home sleep test for me, too. The result? They determined that my waking 12 times per hour wasn't sufficient to warrant a CPAP, anyway.

(It's too bad I can't sell them. At least, I don't think I can. Neither VA wanted the machines returned.)

Regarding my weight and (obstructive) sleep apnea, my face, neck, chest, arms, legs, and my behind are all slim. The only place I have any excess weight is my midsection. But, I've had sleep issues for years, even when I was slimmer. It was 2003 that I first noticed my sleep wasn't as good as just a few years prior. Since then, it's been a long, gradual decline in quality and duration. Via an MRI, in 2003 or 2004, a neurosurgeon noted that my pineal gland was calcified and suggested removing it. I declined, suggesting I don't have any spare parts.

In addition to Sleep Apnea, the first in-clinic sleep test (2008) also diagnosed me with Periodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD). The medical profession loves acronyms. The PLMD isn't the same as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), though there is overlap.

These days, I sometimes sleep every other day and can be awake up to 36 hours or more. With that happening, being unwell, unemployed, worried about money, and not sure where I'll be living in a few short months, I suppose some weight gain isn't entirely surprising. Maybe I should just give up and go along with it...maybe have a standing order of a case of Talenti Madagascan Vanilla Bean Gelato to be delivered weekly.

Finally, just to make this even longer than necessary, I take 1-2 mg of Low-Dose Naltrexone (LDN) at bedtime, as well as 0.3 mg of low-dose, extended-release melatonin. While not a sleep medication, per se, if I go more than one or two nights without LDN, my sleep in worse. I've confirmed this multiple times, over the last several years I've been taking it. My inconsistent sleep and wildly varying bedtime likely isn't helping my LDN dosing, either.

My apologies for the lengthy reply. Fortunately, I provided the short version.

Sincerely,

Michael Fatly
Lard of the Dance

No thanks needed, but I'm grateful for your support.

So, what...no hugs? Where do I file a complaint for discrimination?! The marginally overweight demand justice!

Actually, I assume it's around 20 pounds. But, I don't own a scale. So, it could be a 25 pound weight gain. But, no more than 30 pounds, for sure. Probably. Without question, though, it's less than 35-40.

The most recent CPAP I received was in October 2020. It seems identical to the first one I received in 2019.

It's been a while, since I took Benadryl, so I can't recall if it made me sleepy. What I could do, however, is use liquid Benadryl in my CPAP, rather than water. Maybe mix in a splash or two of scotch. (Actually, I only drink.)

Or, I could try NyQuil Chicken. (I weep for our country.)

You're certainly right that there's a lot of work-from-home jobs now, due to Coronavirus. The problem is the low pay that many of them offer. While I don't necessarily expect to earn what I did previously, I can't live on most of the salaries currently being offered. And, for the ones that pay higher, I've generally not been able to secure any interest or an interview. Part of that is due to me currently being unemployed. The other factor is my age.

Skinny pants? You mean, like this? Yeah, that ship has sailed.

Actually, it didn't sail far, before it was sunk by a torpedo. R.I.P. my youth.

Fair deal on the fluffy suit. I just placed an order for this little number.

I appreciate the spiritual support, regarding a job. I like that you specified a good job, rather than just any job. I'd also add a job that I don't hate, can tolerate, and maybe even mildly enjoy. And, a job that I can actually do...and keep. All that's a big ask, considering how burned-out I remain. Bleh. But, again, thank you.

I'd seen that previously, but had forgotten about it.

Because I blocked it out with hypnosis and psychotherapy.

Now, it's back...tight pants and a muffin top...seared into my brain...like a hot poker from the fireplace.

I'll definitely not sleep tonight, either. I'll just lie there, crying, rocking in place, and sucking my thumb.

Thanks. Thanks a lot.

: )

Actually, yes, that means a lot. Thank you very much.

I figured people must think I'm a goof and that I can't be serious. Certainly, they would have ample evidence to draw such a conclusion! Whether right or wrong, in good times and bad, I've always hidden behind humor.

Previously, I was the "laughing on the outside, crying on the inside" type of clown. Now, I'm crying on the inside and the outside. That way, it conserves energy and is much easier to manage.

Again, I appreciate you.