Today is much calmer. I spoke with Pat, she’s the friend whose dad died yesterday morning. I felt the need to keep them anonymous.

She actually called me after I’d just gotten up. I was commencing to get ready for my blood test at Quest Diagnostics, so I couldn’t talk long. But, she was calling me to tell me that someone from Oviedo Medical Center was trying to reach me and my voicemail box was full. I guess they got her number from my orthopedic’s office. Pat texted the number, which turned out to be non-functional. That was ok because I’d already called that department yesterday asked had the number in my phone. I called and connected with the pre-op nurse, Karen.

She wanted to take down my medical history and schedule my in-person pre-op meeting. I told her I was trying to get to my blood test with Quest, so could we just make that appointment and I’d call her back later after I’d eaten and had coffee.

The Quest appointment turned out to involve blood and urine samples. And, I had to specify to do the most recent test ordered, which should have been ordered by my primary’s PA, Sari. You’d think that it would be obvious that the most recently ordered test is the one that was needed, but that’s not what happened a couple of weeks ago. Go figure.

When Pat called she thanked me for being supportive. Of course. No brainer. I love her like she’s my sister. She and her family took her dad’s death stoically, gracefully. They were relieved he was no longer in discomfort and they’d had a good amount of time to process the eventual loss of a loved one. Pat said their experience with the hospice nurses was wonderful and the funeral home was great too. There is not going to be a service—just private burial in a national cemetery; her dad was a Navy veteran.

I felt better that she sounded strong. She was concerned about my impending surgery and that I get in touch with the nurse, Karen.

After the blood and urine tests and a visit to Publix, for toiletries, I arrived home and ate a bagel and salmon cream cheese with two scrambled eggs with coffee.

When I finally got on the phone with Karen she went through the typical questions: any heart conditions, other surgeries? Any other implants? Cancer? Diabetes, kidney issues, stomach and gastrointestinal problem? Neurological diseases, brain disorders? Smoker, or former smoker? Sleeping issues, such as sleep apnea? Gratefully, my answers to most of these questions and more was, “No.” I am completely grateful for that, because that means my health is so much better than it could be.

I gave her a list of my six medications and she asked about my regimen. She told me to not take the Levothyroxine on surgery day, but to take my bipolar meds normally. I can take antacid, but no supplements, no NSAIDS.

She said my pre-op on Monday would be really quick: just a MRSA test. That will happen at 1:30 pm on Monday.

Thus, I feel like this has been a productive day, despite only getting to sleep after 6am today. I have been so antsy, stressed, worried, and exhausted. I’m calmer knowing Pat and her family are dealing with the death in a focused, calm way. I feel way less pressure to drive over there to help with whatever they need. I definitely will if needed. But, her dad’ s death was a huge reminder that I need to spend much more time in her company drinking some tasty red wine and laughing hysterically over events in our childhood going back to the fourth grade. I am truly blessed and lucky to have her as loved one. She has an awesome family too. Time spent with her will drastically improve my moods and mindset.

Today’s events calmed me because things are flowing. My money is tight—scarily so, but I don’t care. I’m sick of financial stress. I’m going to focus on all the steps I have to take to get through this. And focus on ways to add other income to my disability funds.

It seems counter-intuitive that I’m feeling calm even though I’m not going to be working. I feel relieved I don’t have to go there. That’s a big clue.

Hopefully, I can relax enough to freely relax and get to sleep at a normal time.