NBA Blues

[Man in Black]

I appreciate that J. I've been feeling quite a bit better for the last few days. I still don't feel like I'm getting a full breath, but it's way more air than I was getting.

[Jason]

Hopefully it was just some type of virus that goes around. If it makes you feel any better, that sounds like something that's happened to me before. But very rarely has it happened. I struggled breathing a bit all day and when I did take breaths, it felt like I was inhaling ice. It felt like my throat was frozen after every breath. Does that sound a bit like what's been happening

[Man in Black]

No, it just feels like there's an elephant standing on my chest constantly. It doesn't feel any different when I breathe. When I try to do anything (including just standing up) my heart starts beating like crazy, like it's going to come out of my chest.

My doctor finally called me about the results and said that they did find some things he called "anomolies" in the cardio tests. I have to go back Monday afternoon to see the cardiologist. Doctors sure are stingy with information... I could be looking at anything from another daily pill to open heart surgery for all they've told me.

I hope it's something as simple as getting a pacemaker or even more darned pills. I know problems with the heart aren't good but I'm thinking it might be better than the RA in the lungs deal... I think they give you at the most 10 years with that.

[Jason]

Let's hope for the best. You'll be in my thoughts, MIB. Hopefully Chris and I can meet up with you somewhere on our way to Tennessee. I should be making my way there in October for the Denver-Tennessee game.

[Man in Black]

That sounds like fun.

[Jason]

Are you okay? You seem pretty down.

[Man in Black]

I'm getting some better now. I guess I have been pretty down and run down. I have been bounced around to so many doctors I've lost track and never got even a small answer. I was getting pretty frustrated at not being able to do anything with my son. Then Marii and I got into it the night before my appointment with the cardiologist. She brought out things from like years back... she says we are good now, but it still took a lot out of me.

The good part is that when I saw the cardiologist he said my heart was completely healthy and saw no reason to do any more testing on that end. He couldn't tell me what was wrong, but it wasn't my heart.

Then two days later I got to see my Rheumatologist. I told him the whole story and he said that unfortunately he sees this exact scenario about once a month. Here is what he said happened to me...

My doctor gave me a huge dosage of steroid to get a large amount of swelling down around my vertebrae. When I took that it made my blood pressure shoot way up... then not knowing what else to do I quit taking the steroid, even my daily dose. Stopping the daily dose was what really got me into trouble. My adrenal glands quit for several weeks. My body just stopped trying to do much of anything, including breathing.

Now I wish I'd called my Rheumatologist first... but I never know who to call when things happen... it's like a lucky guess on my part. At least nobody thinks I'm dying and I'm starting to get back to as normal as I can get.

Sorry for the long winded answer, but I felt I owed you a good explanation since you've been such a good person to talk to about all this. Thanks for that.

[Jason]

That's great news! I'm glad to hear everything is okay.
I know about those arguments. Bringing up old things from way back. I never liked arguing, it always hurt me a little, no matter whose fault it was, but Stacey never seemed to care. It's good to hear you guys are good now and that you'll be getting to do activities with your son. Have you heard from any parents about the pictures you took?

[Man in Black]

About the pictures, all the moms I handed cds to thanked me over and over at the time, but I haven't had any feedback on how they liked them yet.

And I really do thank you for talking with me about everything. I know you have had some rough times lately also. Maybe it has helped us both.

I didn't mean that "it sounds like fun" comment to sound sarcastic if it did. I absolutely look forward to seeing you then if you come this way. And like I said you are always welcome here if you can make it some time.

[Jason]

It didn't come off as sarcastic to me at all. You just seemed like you had been feeling down is all and I was wondering if you were okay.

That's why I'm here, really. I know I've been having a very rough time lately, too. But things have really brightened. I've gotten over the break up. As complicated as the situation was and how clueless I still am, I still know a lot about what happened and I still know I treated her like royalty every step of the way in our relationship. There was never a time where I told her no. Not one time was I not there for her. But I was pretty much stabbed in the back. We broke up for 2 months, but it was as if we weren't broken up. Like everything was normal, then things literally changed overnight and she completely ignored me. Come to find out, she started having little feelings for some kid and she felt it was best to cut me off. I almost feel bad, because I know that nobody will treat her even half as well as I treated her. Or care for her half as much, either.

I'm really glad that stress was taken off our shoulders about the possibility of the RA spreading to your lungs. It seems like good times and bad times are contagious...... And kidney infections.

[Man in Black]

I do literally and figuratively feel like a weight has lifted off me now that I finally learned what was happening to me. Now if I can pass this stupid kidney stone I'll be good... it almost killed me Wednesday.

I don't know what it is with women. I told Marii the other night when she was so upset with me that I can't understand why they always go for the bad boys. I pull out chairs, I open doors and I listen... they all talk about wanting a guy like that, but none of them seem to want us after they have us. It's almost like they are not happy if they aren't getting burned.

From what I could gather out of all that the other night, I think Marii is scared that she is going to have to take care of me or something... I don't know what will happen, she says she's OK now, I but I'll never be sure about what a girl says.

I'm really sorry about your relationship, the only good thing is that you guys were not married yet.

[Jason]

It's weight off of my shoulders as well. Now I just need to cross my fingers and hope the kidney stone internet virus doesn't spread my way.

Yeah, I've noticed the same thing with women. It seemed like Stacey was different and actually wanted somebody caring, like myself, but it doesn't seem to matter now. I still have no idea why she broke up with me. I can't believe a word she says anymore. It's a shame what happened to her, really. She lost a TON of weight, (WAAAAY too much) and is hanging around with her old, skanky friends again. Horrible influences. Horrible, horrible influences. She's deep down a great person, but whenever she hangs around them, she becomes completely different.

It is a good thing we weren't married. Although if we were, I imagine things would be a little different than they are now. I'm not going to even consider a relationship with anybody for quite some time. I'm going to soak in the single life until I get my fill. If I could do anything right now, I would just take a road trip for who knows how long and meet tons of different people. I'd love that! I'd stop by your place a few dozen times along the way, too.

[Man in Black]

You'd just need to stop by here twice... once to get me and once when you've had enough of me ;D I loves me some road trips... plus I'm invaluable as a navigator and expense planner... nobody can do it cheaper and safer.

How's your kidney infection?

[Jason]

I'll probably end up asking you for some advice as the trip gets closer and closer. I plan on saving about 1500 bucks for this road trip. Including gas. It's going to be awesome, I've looked foward to it for so long, I almost HAVE to go now.

The kidney infection has gotten better, but it seems to have brought back some of that same old back and bowel pains from months before. Hopefully that goes away soon!

[Man in Black]

Kidney infections suck... I'd rather have the kidney stone... they hurt really bad for a bit then it usually stops... kidney infections are just miserable, so I'm glad you feel better. You having a kidney infection makes me think again that you might have had a stone before when all that crap was happening to you... men don't usually get kidney infections out of the blue, it usually happens when a stone scratches something in there. At least that's what my docs told me when I had one last.


I'm not trying to inject myself into your road trip, but seriously if you want a partner, I'm willing to tag along and pickup at least half the costs if you ever want to take one together. Bus tickets are incredibly cheap if you get them 21 days in advance and I could meet you pretty much anywhere.

I have any and all camping equipment we would ever need (if you like camping it can save tons of cash), I've got a good GPS and many years of experience. My biggest plus is that I am super easily amused and will go along pretty much anywhere and do anything anybody else wants to do without getting bored. My downside is I can't drive for long periods anymore... that's why I'm always begging into other people's road trips.