How'd it go today?

[FireFighterZero]

Hyponatremia can present itself as low blood sugar.

 

[FireFighterZero]

Our recreational load out from yesterday.

 

[Burnham]

Yes, @Burnham, I'm a big believer that people commonly go around dehydrated Dehydration - Symptoms and causes - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dehydration/symptoms-causes/syc-20354086 without realizing it.

There is a good range of hydration without constant intake.


Somewhere I have heard that thirst in the first indicator of needing to replenish water, as a result of being depleted. It's like hunger, as in if your noticeably hungry, you're late in eating. It's like being at the bottom of the oil dipstick, rather than being in the 1-quart variable operating range.

I've been jokingly known as Clear and Copious Kroll, as it came from our daily Safety Meetings in my previous work place in Nevada (proper hydration and good diet...watch for the Umbles...mumbles, grumbles, fumbles, stumbles...aim for clear and copious urination).
Once, while working on the Eureka Sand Dunes in Death Valley NP on a restoration project, where there wasn't really a place to walk to pee in private, my crew tried to secretly out-pee me. They told me about it after the day was done. hahaha.

Hyponatremia seems to be a rare situation, and avoided with normal food intake. When I took a Wilderness First Responder class in college, the instructors told of Grand Canyon Hikers being examples of sufferers of hyponatremia Hyponatremia - Symptoms and causes - https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hyponatremia/symptoms-causes/syc-20373711, as it was hot, people had water accessible, and sometimes didn't eat enough in the heat, and were sweating a ton.

I've never run across hyponatremia, but have run across dehydration so many times I've lost count.

Once, in Lake Tahoe, one of our international volunteers started acting loopy. He was dehydrated. When asked about his urine output, we got a new catch phrase...Brown and stinky, take a drinky.


WFR trainers said, "Don't be a DIChead"...Disoriented, Irritable, Combative--symptoms of dehydration.
If you want to get an irritable, combative response from someone who is mentally unfocused from dehydration, tell them they are dehydrated.

I've observed this in myself, when I've tried to tell myself that I am getting dehydrated.

Thanks for your thoughts, Sean.

I listened to a piece on NPR the other morning that had a physician addressing the "recommended" water intake that for many decades has been what always seemed to me to be an ungodly amount. He warned of the risk of hyponatremia, which was my first intro to the condition. His take was that if you eat a well-balanced diet, you don't need to drink more water than your thirst drives you to consume, and that you won't need extra salts.

Just one opinion.

I never have seen much in the way of cases of dehydration, myself. Dunno why, maybe I'm just not observant.

 

[Fiddler]

Update: Ended up back in Emergency this afternoon.

Went directly to the hospital I had stayed in (not where I went to emergency before) and My sister even remarked that was the fastest ER visit she's ever encountered..

They did another IV cocktail, some nasal squirt, & re-upped my prednisone (smaller dose) prescription until I can see the neurologist.

Feeling better now. Had to puke a little bit, but it's better than the damn headache. It's still there in the wings waiting, but tolerable at the moment. Actually got some sleep finally after I got home.

D.r in ER mentioned I might want to have house air inspected

 

[SeanKroll]

Hyponatremia can present itself as low blood sugar.

Would you say more, please, @FireFighterZero ?

 

[SeanKroll]

For me, lips are a go-to indicator for hydration.

Thoughts?

 

[FireFighterZero]

Would you say more, please, @FireFighterZero ?

Hyponatremia can cause the same kinds of symptoms as insulin shock or hypoglycemia.

Generally the big one being confusion....or altered mental status.


It's more common than gets reported, especially with hard working folks like tree workers and firefighters.


Been drinking loads of water...but have not replaced any electrolytes.

Generally either a heat injury or dehydration is suspected because of the environment which the individual is found in or working in.


It's kind of funny...I am in an EMT refresher class right now.

 

[SeanKroll]

I've heard that people look at the situation, sometimes, and are concerned about dehydration, exacerbating the dilution.

 

[SeanKroll]

Played with a new to me 10"x5" Jet planer from an auction on a piece of maple that I've had in my barn for a decade +/-. I need to fix the plug housing with some superglue.

Figured wood tears out with a standard planer, so it'll need some good sanding.

I am going to get my ShopSmith going in a bit to cut the block into smaller pieces with the bandsaw, and maybe to my neighbor's shop for the sander.






Comedy Central's Drunken History is FUNNY!

 

[FireFighterZero]

I've heard that people look at the situation, sometimes, and are concerned about dehydration, exacerbating the dilution.

Yes. Exactly right.

You can't really hurt someone with Gatorade or say Pedialite.

I think that's what Butch used to prefer.

 

[cory]

Played with a new to me 10"x5" Jet planer from an auction on a piece of maple that I've had in my barn for a decade +/-.

Spalting ftw!

 

[CurSedVoyce]

Finished this up. Maybe a little paint and bondo shell buff out...
Hit the very valuable walnut though.

 

[CurSedVoyce]

And now heavy knocking from diesel and tons of smoke. Fug my life.

 

[Burnham]

Oh hell, Stephen.

 

[Fiddler]

New "regular" Dr. today for a follow up.

Got lots of my questions answered, but nothing much of progress. Doc. told me I was their "mystery of the day"; neither symptoms nor test results relate much with common things they suspect it could be. Well, I just feel so dog-gone special...

Did manage to get steroid prescription extended until I see Neurologist in March.

Had a good talk with the social worker on duty about possible available assistance on costs for when the bill storm hits...she gave me some good avenues to look down for a start.

 

[vharrison]

Call that neurologist every day to see if they have a cancellation. The idea if waiting till March blows my mind.

 

[Fiddler]

yeah, might blow my mind too

Had their office working on finding an earlier appointment this afternoon.

No luck yet but keeping fingers crossed.

 

[lxskllr]

Fairly routine day. I /think/ I fixed the leaky chainsaw. I put a leather washer on the cap, and it stopped dripping, but the washer's wet with oil. If it didn't stop it completely, it at least slowed it down a bunch.

Saw this oak on a job. I thought the form was particularly attractive. I don't think the pic does it justice...

 

[cory]

yeah, might blow my mind too

From my armchair wayyyy over here, I'm thinking what you have might be handled by antibiotics. Has the possibility of Lyme been investigated ?

 

[flushcut]

Just a hinge on a shitty sugar maple removal. No good rigging points, some rot, some old storm damage, wires, garage, brand new driveway, house, blah!!! And two elms to canopy raise.

 

[Fiddler]

Lyme been investigated ?

Not to my knowledge...hasn't been mentioned.
I suppose it's as much a possibility as anything, though as with everything else, the symptoms don't line up much. No fatigue or rash & only joint issue was bursitis in one elbow. I did work out in a lot of tall grass this year, but never found any ticks or bites of any kind.
I believe I will bring it up at the next meet with a Doc though....thanks.

 

[SeanKroll]

I hit the clamp on the mill for my first mistake, besides breaking off the fuel lever (on order) with the recoiling starter handle.

some 2"x2"x12' for strips for hoop house purlins, resawed some 4" elm slabs into two pieces, each, flattening them before going into the planer, and sanded some little chunks of interesting maple into fidgets or "worry" blocks, key chains or backpack decorations for my daughter.

She had been selling origami to classmates with her friend, but newness/ interest from kids has warn off. She might like to make some backpack 'flair' blocks as her next item. She and I started a free website for her craft biz interest, but I think it may have been lost.

 

[cory]

Not to my knowledge...

I may have already mentioned this earlier- a good friend, lives in FL, developed an unexplained bump on his elbow, maybe a "spider bite", lived with it for a bit, it got worse, eventually it was resolved with daily IV antibiotics for a month but it got very serious before it got better.

 

[Fiddler]

I figure it's a good suggestion and as good a bet as any.

Work conditions make it very possible and it's about as close symptom-wise as anything the Dr s have guessed or tested for so far.

Wrote My Gen Practitioner and a neurologist this morning on maybe testing for it tomorrow when I go in for my scheduled blood draw. Still waiting on an answer.

 

[Fiddler]

Talked to hospitals financial counselor today.

Bills still rolling in. 32K so far, but I;m not on the hook for all of that.
Still, I thought it might be good to explore some options...glad I did.

After some typical income/asset questions she seemed very confident that I not only qualify for help from Medicaid, but also total forgiveness from hospital system on anything left over. That's a pretty big relief, as the last time I had a hospital stay they wiped out my retirement nest egg & I've never built up enough since to give them any more large amounts.

I guess calling when you have 26.98 in the bank and $1 cash on hand is the right day to pick...haha...didn't mention my 3/4 tank of gas or the 1.5 doz eggs though...

Also got myself on the "cancellation" list. so if another specialist in the system cancels an appointment I may be next in line. Going to be checking in periodically there.

Adjusted timing on my meds so I just have a bad headache all the time instead of being incapacitated for around 8 hrs each day. I'd say things are not happy, but in the "tolerable" category now. If it continues as today went I may make it without seeing the ER again.