1/14/23

 Saturday, January 14, 2023

In bed at 9:20, up at 5:20.  22 degrees, high of 33, wind chill is 16 with wind W at 5 mph, 3 to 12 during the day w/ gusts to 20.  Sunrise at 7:20, sunset at 4:40, 9+20.

Amitriptyline is knocking me out.  I am on Day 2 of one 25 mg. pill a night at bedtime and I'm experiencing 3 side effects: drowsiness, dizziness/balance challenges, and dry mouth.  Yesterday I seemed to be napping all day.  Today the dry mouth was with me all morning along with the balance and drowsiness.  I'm hoping these side effects of the drug will subside and wondering if they will increase with the prescribed increase dosage: one pill per night for 7 days, then 2 pills per night for 7 days, then 3 pills per night.  I also may be experiencing some 'plumbing' effects but will probably need another couple of days to know.  Finally, I seem also to have some 'brain fog' but I suspect that is simply part of the drowsiness symptom.  I haven't noticed any improvement in the chronic pelvic pain but I'm pretty sure it's too early for any relief to occur.   In any event, I looked up amitriptyline side effects on the Mayo Clinic website and discovered that they list 118 different side effects, listing alphabetically from abdominal pain to yellow eyes and skin, with little nasties in between, like drooling, inability to speak, loss of muscle control, seizures, and so on. The one I have to be most aware of is decreased urination since the diabetes med I'm on, empagliflozin, flushing blood glucose out through the kidneys requiring me to take in and expel a goodly amount of water  each day.  Keeping fingers crossed.  Now I want to nap . . .

CPAP mask seal has been 2-/20 for 7 staight days.  New mask is great.

Watching "The Son", Russian documentary.  Filmmaker's cousin Dima, a soldier, was killed in Dagestan.  Special Forces troops, fresh graduates from boot camp,  being sworn in:  "I swear that I will fulfill my military duty with dignity, that I will bravely defend freedom, independence, and the homeland." During the ceremony, soldiers moving with the peculiar goose-step the Russian Army, and many others, employ.  The uncomfortable, awkward movement accentuates the soldier as an automaton, a machine, without mind, spirit, will of his own.  Soldieers interacting with parents, family members, girl friends who have come to watch the ceremony.  Sadness visible on the faces of mothers, girlfriends, pride and eagerness on the faces of the soldiers.  Footage of a field exercise, footage of life in the barracks. Memories of Quantico. Footage of grave being constucttied, father of Dima looking on. Russian Orthodox priest with thurible chanting "To a believer asleep forever, grant oh Lord, eternal peace for the warrior Dmitri, your deceased servant, and make his memory eternal.  Save his soul.  Eternal memory to the warrior Dmitri, in these Easter days, the warrior Dmitri fulfills one of Christ's precepts.  He has done the greatest thing that can be done, he gave his life of us.  The Lord died on the cross.  He defeated death and the warriors who sacrifice their lives for othersfulfil one of Christ's precepts.   And this is why he is now a citizen of the Heavenly Fatherland.  He prays for us and we pray for him.  What other do we need?" Candles are lit and placed before an icon.   Family gathering after funeral.  Father stoic, showing no affect. Back to soldiers: conditioning march/run, reminding me of the Hill Trail at Quantico.  "Close it up, close it up.  Asshole   to bellybutton!"  Blood y boxing matches, reminding me of pupil stick matches.  Much comaradery among the soldiers.  Redberets awarded to 34 of 112 candidates. Dmitri was a 21 year old Red Beret when he was killed.  Back to barracks, soldiers mounting up, one stares at camera "We are going to war.  We are going to kill!", smiling.

Succession.  We started watching it based on kudos by theGoldbergs and the Lowes.