Everything Sven

04/01/2026

ROUGH WEEKEND HERE. Using speak to text apps, bear with us trying to copy and paste from MS documents to social media. (I'm old school)

We were out with Grammy, driving around headed to Trader Joe's for some holiday dinner shopping. When I experienced a strange episode with my eyes again. The left one suddenly had an ink blot, it shot up like a snake, then spread and fanned out. I could see, but barely, We're at a red light and I shut one eye, then the other trying to figure out what the frig is going on now. Where to pull over, what to do. Am I stroking out? Did my eye just rupture? Bleeder vs. Floater? We make it to the parking lot and I get a space to park. I call Grampy just in case. I look in the mirror, I don't see blood, things look ok, but everything is hazy, like dirty lenses. Sigh. The black inkiness keeps changing, maybe it's draining? Trying to decide if I need EMS or not. I don't have a migraine or even a headache. DO I DARE leave Grammy & Sven in the car together? Nope, that's a bad idea.*&! Figures right. We quickly grab what we came for and get in line to pay so I can leave and hand Grammy off to Grampy and go get my eye checked out. When this woman starts hammering away 5+ times wanting to know what kind of dog Sven is, She's got no clue what my illness is or what's wrong with me or why I have a service dog and doesn't seem to care, just demanding to get her questions answered. I can barely see what I'm doing or what bank card and PIN I'm using and making sure I don't blind Sven with the peg board at check out and not lose Grammy in the crowd and still his woman is hammering me... it came to a point where self-preservation supersedes any form of politeness when someone is interfering and verbally assaulting or barraging as disabled person - I lost my s**t in front of god and everybody on a Blue Blood Church Lady type. Grammy with her dementia switches sides... and now she's calling me names too. Ugh. I hand off Grammy and made it to the ER still in once piece. Scans, Checks, bloodwork and hours later I look like death warmed over but I'm released to go home, follow up with specialists.

Grampy needs a few heart procedures and tests of his own right now, we're trying not to stress him out, I'm his driver and person for these procedures, and a friend is going to take Grammy to lunch, so she's none the wiser. My siblings don't do a whole lot for my folks these days. One of them kept telling Grampy he's not fit for the procedure and ought to get his affairs in order and just carrying on. As if any of that is helpful to him by stressing him out more. But after all that, shopping and prep, today my sibling invites my folks to dinner... they seldom get invited, so I told them to go, we'd have our holiday on another weekend. Easter is scrubbed for me at least. Probably just as well, I need to rest my head/eyes/nerves.

And then ... as if I don't have enough stress, property mgt. has been harassing us about fictious dog smells. The city/town folk gave a rather famous service dog organization a very hard time and tried to drive them out and well... because my service dog is also a Great Dane, albeit not from this organization, they are now giving me a hard time. Any excuse they can think of. So much so, we're going to have to get the attorneys and maybe the news channels involved. People wear depends adult diapers, they have kitty litter boxes, and babies wear diapers, there's enough other smells to go around far and wide. Sven's clothing is all in totes and so are his blankets, dirty laundry, etc. We have no rugs or things to smell, he gets baths regularly, and we have creams, powders, shampoos galore. Sven is in the public eye all the time, we go to stores, restaurants, medical appointments, hospitals, blood labs, vaccine booths, etc. I'm highly offended at the pettiness. We're not even allowed to wash our laundry here on the premise under the excuse other people might have allergies and they don't want dog fur in the machines. Yet people with cats get to do laundry when people can be allergic to cats. My dog is clean, my car his clean and our unit doesn't smell. Shampoo the lobby carpets if you're so concerned. We have rights and I'm not putting up with these BS shakedowns, its landlord retaliations for calling them out on no following laws, charging fees, not repairing things they're supposed to and unlawful entry.

Below is a few pics, that's Sven's belongings, gear, bedding all in totes, downy bead boxes in all the totes. Nothing smells, save for maybe the lavender swiffer mop wipes. I even Lysol my trash barrel after every change. Unreal.

03/24/2026

There aren’t any visible outward signs to vestibular disorders, and it’s hard for sufferers to describe what they’re experiencing. Feeling off-balance, spinning, disoriented, brain foggy, swaying… to the uninitiated, that could mean anything!

A loved one or friend should know that the nature of a vestibular disorder is often misunderstood by doctors and other health professionals, which makes compassion even harder to come by.

“But you look normal…”

Very likely, the people around you have never experienced a balance disorder, let alone know someone who has. Bursts of brief, even split-second vertigo attacks or what some patients describe as “jolts” can shock a person’s nervous system so intensely it can spike an extreme anxiety response. The person may just be sitting and simply watching TV or having dinner, then have an episode.

When this occurs, those around might think or even say unhelpful things — it’s just in your head, you must be stressed, it’s all psychological, you’re making this up for attention — leaving you feeling alone with your symptoms.

But the judgment you feel from others is just a natural reaction to something they can’t relate to. A broken leg is easy to see and understand. A broken vestibular system? Not so much. So, take a deep breath, and teach.

https://www.wuzivertigo.com/post/4-ways-to-explain-your-invisible-vestibular-illness-to-loved-ones

03/24/2026

There was a tragedy (Murder) in Grampy & Grampy's neighborhood a week or so ago. I don't want to make the story about us, because it's not. But it affected everyone townwide, simply because it could have been anyone one of us at any given moment and we're deeply saddened for the family and person that it did happen to. I grew up there, went to school there and trained Sven there, something like this was just inconceivable. I'm heartbroken that times are changing so much, against our wills. Prayers for this family & the world at large. Thank you to those of you who spotted the suspect, spoke out and police were able to capture the suspect. No telling what else may have been prevented because of your actions but I'm certain it was.

In other news, it was a busy weekend, we finally did the rest of the laundry, OMGs. 6 of the giant machines, and we still have to go back to do the bedding and towels. I'm wiped out. Sven stuck by my side, all night, he was worried for me, even kept his head on the footrest of my recliner. Couldn't ask for a more faithful dog than him. - Once I sat down, everything seized up on me, it was tough to move or get up. I was reluctant at first, but I'm really glad Grampy talked me into getting a lift chair. It paid in spades this weekend.

Car is in the shop for a leak; Diagnosis is that it needed an oil pan replacement. I kind of felt like if you changed the oil, you ought to of seen and known what was going on under there. Alas, s**t happens as they say and the seller is fixing it at no charge to us. I'll zip my lip on that. Hopefully it solves the problem and that's the end of things for a while. I really like driving it. Hope to keep it around for a few more years. I saw a few videos on the new hybrid concept car of the same make and model... I really hope they come out with it. We'd love a new one.

Sven is doing ok. Fur is finally growing back in from the allergy related alopecia. Supplementing some Taurine in his meals. Cures one problem but causes others.
Progress is slow going.

Having Grampy & Grammy over for Easter Dinner, working on the shopping list. Hopefully after that we can start getting outdoors and walking again. Then again, with pollen season it might be more or less mall walking for us. Have to see how it goes this year.

03/19/2026

Nothing much ado today. The newer car sprung a leak. We had an oil change, and typical of Hondas, there's a washer that's only good for 2 or 3 times then needs to be changed. We're hoping that's all it is, but the mechanic is away this weekend, and needless to say we're sticking close to home just in case it's more serious than that. Only half the laundry and errands got done yesterday as mom split up the chores. Just as well to have a break, it was really a raw cold morning to have to go out for anything anyway.

Below is pic Sven's new living room padded mat. He seems to like it and opted to sleep out there all night. He saw me come out with the nail clippers and has been sitting on his paws on his bed ever since. He's already decided today is nap day, NOT spa day.

03/17/2026

♥️

03/17/2026

Feels weird, while we're not technically Irish, its a big Bostonian holiday, we had a lot of marriages, cousins in the family over the years that were Irish, so we always celebrated it growing up. And now that I'm older, it's the first year in many years I didn't cook a boiled dinner for St. Patty's. My folks went visiting with others and the Ex is long since gone. We swung by Henery's Market for a fully cooked dinner instead and even a few treats. Fig squares, buns. etc. Sven supervised of course. Feels weird celebrating mid week too.

Ah well, just thankful to be able to afford a dinner when so many around the glove still go hungry.

Waiting on Amazon and FedEx today, Sven's padded mat and new sweatshirt and birthday treats should be arriving.

03/15/2026

Back into action again, finally after Mom's eye ordeal.

Sale of the former car went smoothly, and we got a fair price for age and condition. The New-to-us vehicle is finally ours and, on the road, we had a bit of a debacle with the paperwork to transfer Ins and Plates and cancel ins. on former vehicle. We ended up having to go back and forth several times to the Ins. & RMV & Seller to sort it out, but eventually after two days, we prevailed. Got our inspection sticker and away we go.

Almost hit a tree in the road the second night out with it. OMGs. Trying to get a few errands done before the big rainstorm coming Monday, and it's just a reminder to me on why I seldom drive at night on windy days, especially after all these storms, the broken limbs get shaken out. Its just not worth it on those windy backroads.

We hit up AutoZone twice, locking gas cap, radiator fluids, quart of oil, bunch of stuff I can't even remember, dry gas, carburetor cleaner, etc. then over to Starbucks/Target for a return, Walmart because everywhere else was out of wiper washer fluid. I forgot how much I hate going there on the weekends. We had to duck down a few aisles to avoid the mosh pit of inane questions. Lastly, the First tank of gas fill up was $43. Yikes.

A few pictures below. Sorry everyone, I was a bit addled about just getting things done and wasn't too with it as far as getting the angle right on any of them.

Bonus pic... Sven who rarely counter surfs smelled whipped cream cheese, something I don't normally buy, I turned for a hot second to get my coffee from the machine and he stole a lick, He gave me the 'ole Vinny Barbarine look "what?" .... I had to taste test it for you Mah. And how can you be mad at that face. And I'd swear he knew that too.

03/06/2026

FEB & MARCH - Struggles with migraines took on a whole new level of madness recently. I had no physical energy from all the shoveling and the cold weather this year was murderous. I have been short of breath, insomnia, etc.

Without going into a lot of detail here and for brevity's sake, I'll just say I have troubles with Thyroid, Lupus, Migraines, Fibromyalgia, Anemia and 4 serious cancer scares that left me going to oncology & hematology for 3 years. A medication was causing the anemia. Lupus causes Intra Retinal Fluid in my eyes. Something I've been seeing a specialist for. I don't sleep a lot due to insomnia, sometimes when I do get sleep my eyes have a bit more fluid than usual. Slow drainage. My eyes are also a bit slow focusing from nearsighted to farsighted and vice versa.

A few times over the summer while taking Sven out for his potty breaks, my eyes would haze over and get all rainbow-ish. I thought well I just woke up, it's bright out here, and fluffed it off. Turns out that is a dead ringer sign for Glaucoma, unbeknownst to me. I had suspected I had it already due to eye pressures in my eyes at exams, but I had a doctor that wouldn't prescribe eye drops to treat it. Her standard of care was different than some other specialists and I've already dismissed her as my doctor over this and in the process of insurance referral's to a new one.

Anyway, it had all the makings of an impending disaster.

Prior to any of this - all month I was having problems with eggs, it seemed I was getting sick each time I had them, either at home or as a breakfast sandwich. I couldn't figure out the source but threw away an eggs at home thinking maybe they're old or bad. They smelled like sulfur, stood up on the float test. A lot of times food will bother me and i go for a stint not being able to eat certain things. I somewhat assumed this was another episode of that happening.

Well, Towards the end of the month of Feb. I had a migraine that almost did me in. It started in one eye and back of the then before moving the other eye. Something that never has happened before to me involving both eyes at the same time.

I couldn't see, pain from light was excruciating, my balance was off, i was constantly dizzy and exhausted, couldn't keep my eyes open. Nauseated, I took tums to maybe lower acid and avoid vomiting. This went on for days. Pain was intense and everyone was saying go to the ER, only I couldn't drive and Sven was also home sick. The thought of putting him in a kennel wile he's sick was just too much to bear. Nobody knows him like I do, after all.

I took some OTC/PM cough medicine and immuno-support vitamins and tried to sleep it off. I didn't have any new numbness, tingling, slurring and didn't think it was a stroke, albeit Dr. Google did.

I didn't really feel as if I needed EMS with all the bells and whistles, but undoubtedly needed a medical visit but with all the storms it just didn't seem feasible either. I decided where I wasn't continuing to get worse and worse, that I could manage being home and able to watch over Sven. As I really couldn't and shouldn't attempt that either. I needed a bandana over one eye and sunglasses just to minimize the pain from light. I did a lot of voice activated AI Dr. Google searches just to be sure. I recalled from working in the medical field sensitivity to light was a serious symptom. I'm looking up Botulism, Meningitis, Stroke, Anemia, Tumor, etc. Checking and ticking off boxes just to be sure. Calling Grammy & Grampy, saying don't drive here in the bad weather, I'm fine, well unbeknownst I really wasn't fine and could have lost my eye sight, but fine enough to totter around the apartment in the dark with the dog and my walker for the night.

Ultimately, aside from having the migraine, I was taking a daily supplement that had B!2 in it along with generic Nyquil for a night or two and that was causing problems with increasing the pressure in my eyes and is contra indicated if you have Glaucoma, making everything so much worse for me. Yikes. Talk about an ah-ha moment. And that really needs to be on a warning label on every bottle manufactured. Jesus F**k. RFK ought to be worrying about that rather than Dunkin's.

Once I stopped taking it, the pain and pressure started to recede. Holy Wow. Amazing. Thank God I checked with Dr. Google or I'd have kept taking it.

And now checking in with P*P, it's agreed I need appointments with a new eye specialist for eye drops to manage the underlying glaucoma, something my former eye specialist refused to do.

We bumbled and tottered around together in the dark for the last several days and are starting to improve. I'm lucky I live in a day and an age where I can order line and have things delivered to us and didn't have to go out for anything. I'm thankful spring is on the way and temps are expected to be in the 60s next week and will finally melt some of this snow. I have a mountain of laundry to do, but we'll survive.

As for the cause or treatment of the extreme exhaustion, same as it ever was more tests needed.

For now it's just one day at a time and a huge learning curve that eventually will lead to a solution. As is the case most of the time with me, I'll go in for MRI for arthritis, come out with Lupus, get a scan for torn muscles, come out with tumors. Sometimes treatment of one aliment can save you from another. In this case, blindness.

p.s. for those curious, the pain was from fluid and pressure in the eyeball and my eyes were stuck being dilated.



A few pics below.

03/02/2026

Bath Day again already. -

02/24/2026

Happy 7th Birthday to the bestest goodest boy in the world !!! I wouldn't change a thing, and I hope we get another 7 yrs together.

The storm put a wrinkle into plans this week, but we'll go shopping for gifts & treats real soon.

02/24/2026

Well, we survived Thankfully snow totals were a bit less than predicted and we didn't lose power here, a lot of towns surrounding us did.

The windows were shellacked in snow paste yesterday but seem to be melting today thankfully. I had a migraine with vomiting again, rapid changes in the barometric pressures can sometimes do that. The snow froze in front of the doors trapping us inside again for over 24 hrs. Finally got out this morning to clear the car off only to discover the snowbanks are at least 7 ft outside our front windows.

Also, pretty miffed about our HP space being swiped by a neighbor that really didn't need it. She's been abandoning her car for weeks at a time in all the freshly shoveled spaces, which is really rude considering she backed in and isn't even using the handicap hashtag area next the car properly, it's supposed to be on the side of the car or van you exit on, literally rendering it useless and pointless I, especially when she could have just stayed in her own space all along because she hasn't moves a snowflake herself all winter or made other arrangements if disabled. Could she be any ruder when the space doesn't even belong to her building. We live in an HP unit, the spaces are designated for our building. It'd be like us going around the corner and taking another building's space. How does Sven get out of the car to assist me when cars are on either side of us. If that doesn't frost your butt, she had the gaul to take the HP placard out of the car to go out shopping with her daughter, which is illegal if you're parked in HP, private property or not you can be ticketed. And she had the nerve to give my Dad the side eye. Unreal.

02/21/2026

Ugh! Here comes another wallop!!! Yes, we're New Englanders and used to it. But this is a lot, we've already had 3+ feet this season. We're right on the 16 +/- line between Newburyport and Gloucester.

Eric Fisher has your latest weather forecast.