There's a signpost up ahead...Malaise, CA 95350 Population: 1

If you speak the title of this blog aloud in your best Rod Serling voice, it helps to understand where this is all coming from.

Malaise (pronounced mal-aze) is a feeling of general discomfort or unease, an out of sorts feeling. Medically, it can be accompanied by fatigue, or a feeling of not having enough energy to accomplish usual activities.

Fortunately, we (Loretta and I) are still in the "let's maintain our sense of humor about all of this" mode. We joke about it, we laugh in its face, we wake each day hoping it will be this day when it begins to subside. We pray that the doctors are listening to what I say about my well being each time I see them. Their usual order of business: make a minor adjustment on one or more of the medications I gag down each day and say, "Let's see how that makes you feel in a few weeks". Bottom line: I don't feel any better.

An example of the lack of immediacy: I had a sleep apnea evaluation over a week ago. Yesterday, I received an email (no phone call) stating I could pick up a CPAP machine in 5 weeks. The CPAP helps force oxygen into the lungs while you sleep. So, for the next 5 weeks...?

Obviously, my lack of sleep is a contributing factor to my overall lack energy, fatigue, and feeling of malaise. No one is "home" for three days this weekend, so a phone call to the doc would be fruitless until Tuesday. And Tuesday is also the day my current LOA letter runs out, ie, the time my doctor has taken me off work. It really doesn't look like I'll be going back yet as I don't feel any different from three weeks ago.

The good news: I'm not getting any worse, and, my chest cold has just about run its course. That leaves the sciatic nerve lameness, the lack of breath, lack of energy, the stuporous stare, and general fatigue and malaise to battle. I can handle all of that for as long as I have to. At the grocery store, I can now make it from the cucumbers to the cumquats without stopping to catch my breath!

Hey, I tried that Fusion V-8 Juice the other day. I've always been a fan of V-8, and this stuff is pretty good. One eight ounce glass provides one serving each of veggies and fruit. Must be careful though. If I drink too much, I really am not in any shape to be running to the shitter!