Thursday - July 16

 Dr. Olga Freeman, my primary in Fort Myers is my SAVIOR for recommending I stop taking the Meclizine.    I feel sooo much better today - not 100% but nothing like yesterday - that stuff gave me such a weird feeling + the dizziness and wooziness.

So........my Captain decided we would take off and he would take care of everything - I had orders to just sit.   At 8:12, we were leaving Manistee (got to know this town really well).    BIG problem today was the very poor visibility (3/4 mile) and awful smoke smell.    Mark drove from down below and we kept the door and windows shut.    Radar was big help as there was a fishing tournament going on outside Ludington, so lots of boats - can't believe there were so many other crazies out there.   But the lake was nice and calm with winds from the north (and that's why the smokey haze is so bad blowing from Canada).

We were settled in our slip at the Adelaide Pointe Marina off Muskegon Lake by 2.    Walked up to the dockmaster and ship's store to check in - not going outdoors anymore today. 

After lunch we each took a nap and so happy to be here, feeling better and out of the nasty weather conditions!!!!!!

Yesterday Maeve and Graham met for the first time!

60 years ago today (7/16/66), my cousin  Billy (16) and a friend were killed in a horrible moped accident south of Sublette, IL (my hometown).   I will never forget that very tragic day and the sad days that followed.   Billy was my Aunt Marian's son.    I had just graduated from high school that spring.

Our friends from Port Clinton (boat sister, Chris and Michael) had planned to spend today thru Sunday here in Muskegon.    We were so looking forward to some fun times, BUT with my head issues, they canceled and probably a good thing especially with all this smoke.

We are renting a car tomorrow for a week - Ron is picking Mark up in the morning, so will be good to be out and about (well.....depending on the smoke)!   Latest update for air quality here is "very unhealthy".   So glad we got here ok and Ron and Pat did not have to make the trip to Manistee.  

2 of my faithful blog readers commented after last night's blog they knew things were bad when I didn't feel like going out to eat!!! 😔

Wednesday - July 15

 This is the 7th day of my head nightmare and I so want it fixed.   Woke up feeling good until I'm ready to get out of bed and then oh my............not so much the vertigo but really bad dizziness and sick feeling.    Been in touch with the Meijer pharmacist who suggested I take 1/2 the dosage of Meclizine.    The mornings are definitely worse and gets better as the day goes on, but never great.    I'm very dependent on Mark to hold onto....

We have a bench just outside Catrina on the dock - have sat there frequently - just a change of scenery and off the boat.    Walks feel good, too but still dizzy off and on and never without Mark (my ROCK).

Kay, the medical assistant in Fort Myers called and said Dr. Freeman suggests I try the Vestibular exercises.    Mark printed off those instructions and ready to give anything and everything a try.

There's no rental cars or taxi service or Uber in Manistee....but very thankful we had Kevin.

We've gotten several alerts on our phones about the poor air quality in our area from the Canadian wildfires.....the sunny start to the day turned into a very hazy day and there is a smell of smoke.

We are hoping to move on to Muskegon tomorrow - Mark called our friend Leon to see if he would be available along with a friend.    I could ride back in the car and Mark and whoever could bring the boat.   Well, unfortunately, Leon has been in the hospital for 2 weeks after a nasty fall,    So sorry to hear this,

Then we called friends Ron and Pat - they could drive up here in the afternoon and I would ride back with Pat;  Ron and Mark would come on the boat.   We'll see what tomorrow brings...

Kay called again at 4:30 and said Dr. Freeman wants me to stop taking the Meclizine as she feels it doesn't help.    So.....................that's what I'm gonna do!

Mark and I had wanted to take Kevin and Heather to dinner (thank you for taking us to the ER and Meijer)) and talk about our "Loop" travels.    Tonight was the night at The Golden Stag downtown.   But I just wasn't up to it....if I'm propped up with pillows, not bad but any other movement.....arghhhh.   Been sleeping a lot, too.

Heather and Kevin

Mark had a great dinner (they said "no" to him buying dinner but he did get their drinks) and visit and I'm so sorry I missed it all.    

One thing they mention is to keep the eyes focused so reading, games, puzzles, etc. seems to work - to an extent.    And glad I can keep the blog going.    

Tuesday - July 14

 HAPPY  BIRTHDAY  CONNOR

Connor and birthday dessert at Biaggi's

Connor is 20 today - we remember (7/14/06) so well and also got a new car that day - Honda CRV.    So proud of this young man and all he's accomplished.   He just completed the 1/2 Ironman, loves his music (guitar),  has excelled in school and will be attending the University of Illinois majoring in engineering.    And working at Lowe's this summer.

Slept well last night but felt woozy much of the day and blah.   Mark walked with me, we talked to a nurse about whether I should continue with the Meclizine and his thoughts on my head!!!   The nurse was in Traverse City - not much help.   Later we went downtown and I had a few bites of an apple/cinnamon muffin at Trophies.    Then another nap.   It is a beautiful day.

We had some excitement here at the marina today.....2 things.    First there was a major boo boo or disaster at the fuel dock as 3 boats had to be pumped out - diesel got into the gas tank and gas into the diesel.   NOT good.....guys have been here working all day.    Sure makes for a mess when traveling (this problem has gone on since last week but today was the earliest the "Blarney Castle Oil Co. could get here.)

Then a HUGE freighter (The Calumet) came down the river - it was probably hauling salt as there is a big salt mine on Manistee Lake where it was headed.   This sure brought out the townsfolk.    Freighters come thru about every 2 weeks and have either salt, iron ore or lumber.    Kevin (our good Samaritan friend from yesterday) sent Mark a text that it was coming (not that we would've missed it....ha!)    Kevin and his wife Heather came to watch it pass (SLOWLY) by.

Here comes the Calumet

630' long; 68' wide

Kevin took this pic - you can barely see "little" Catrina down below

Had a good chat with Connor.    He and 2 friends are playing at "Make Music Normal" event Saturday evening - this 2-day event is for promoting local artists.    Wish we could be there to enjoy his talent.

Mark went to The Outsider and brought back supper - smashburger for me and gourmet "Whammy hot dog" for him    Both were delish!

At the suggestion of the nurse this morning, I called my primary Dr. Freeman in Fort Myers and left a message with Kay, medical assistant.    She called late afternoon - keep on with the meclizine and some side effects may happen but takes time, so.....

 

Monday - July 13

We decided to try and get to Ludington today (26 miles south), but with SW winds, not sure - on a good day, could be rough let alone dealing with vertigo.    Well, it was not pleasant so we turned around and came back into the municipal marina.

Mark had looked into "urgent care", "prompt care", or "walk-in clinic" which was listed for the hospital here in Manistee.(3.5 miles away)    Thru the "Looper" association, some towns have "harbor hosts" to assist those doing the Loop with whatever they may need.    There was one listed for Manistee, so Mark called Kevin and he came and took us to the "walk-in clinic" which does not exist.    Arghhhh - I had to go thru the ER for Munson Healthcare - several buildings on campus but no "walk-in" place even though Google and their website gives a specific address.

Mark and Kevin talked "boats"and he and his wife plan to do the Loop in the future.    Long story short and 1.5 hours later, I had a Rx for Meclizine and a print out for the Epley maneuver.   Dr. Stull diagnosed me with  BPPV (benign paroxysmal positional vertigo).

 Kevin came back to get us, we stopped at Meijer for the Rx and on back to the marina with big thanks to Kevin.   I was feeling pretty good so we walked downtown to TJ's Pub (great lunch again).    Then back for naps and a quiet afternoon.    Meclizine makes me drowsy.

Mark did the Epley maneuver late afternoon but boy, my head was spinning every which way - vertigo is soooo awful.    I've never been in a clothes dryer, but that's what it feels like when the vertigo is happening and I'm spinning outta control.

Other big news - our new grand dog, "Graham" arrived today at Erin and Ryan's.    We hope he'll bring them many years of joy and adventure.    Welcome to the family, Graham!

Graham and Erin

Sunday - July 12

 Beautiful day but I'm feeling really blah.....Mark rode his bike to the pharmacy and got me some Dramamine - sure has made me drowsy, so I took some good naps.

We did walk downtown and shared a delicious breakfast burrito at Trophies.   Later in the day Mark got a dish of ice cream to share.

Liam is back in Minneapolis tonight on a high from his big weekend and doing his 1st 1/2 Ironman.    He really enjoyed it all and never once thought "Why am I doing this"?