On to the x-rays....This was mixture of the good, the bad and the ugly. I was pleasantly surprised to find out, after returning to the reception area, that if I wanted, and had the time, I could just go to the x-ray dept. and have the x-rays done. Since I was already registered as an outpatient with the pain center, I would not have to go home, call to set up an appointment, go thru the 3 hour getting ready process and travel back another day and fill out all the important forms. So you know this is the 'good'.
Down the hall we went with my little 'bracelet', you have to have a little 'bracelet'. Within minutes a young man came for me and off we went. How great was that?
We got to the room with some light covers of hot air balloons on the ceiling, I guess to watch while you lay on the table. Then came the bad. Yes, I no longer can 'hop up' on the table, that I believe is made of cement, it is a long process of sitting, lifting the bad leg up and then having to have help from the tech, to get the leg that is like a dead, fallen tree trunk lifted to the table, lay down on my side (as directed years ago, by my neurosurgeon) and then roll on my back. Phew, have accomplished the bad.
On to the ugly, yes, after a few minutes of 'hold your breath, OK breath', we started to have to turn and twist, especially the knee, to the right, a little more, hold it!!!!!!! Did I mention I live in #8 and turning my back or my legs, to far in any direction, moves me to #10. Now, you can't cry, so I grit my teeth, and held!!! I will say, that my tech was very good and fast and I didn't have to 'hold' for very long in any position. Good job!!
As I was wheeled back out to leave, I was already a #10 and hubby and I still had to get some groceries before going home. What we discovered was that if we shop when I am in the throws of #10 we have a lot of pre-prepared dinners and cold cereal for breakfast and our bill is a little less than when I am an #8 and can stand to shop a bit longer to buy the meat and ingredients for home cooked dinners. Hummm, a little less money, no prep, throw it in a pan, microwave or oven and poof, time to eat. I think we made it back to 'the good'.
Dear Diary, tomorrow I will share the results of a few of the x-rays and the MRI that the results prompted my doctor to order. We are on the way to week 2 of 'The Golden Years' with nothing done to help me walk yet. But, I still have high hopes.
Be Happy and Healthy
Saturday, October 3, 2015
Friday, October 2, 2015
THE GOLDEN YEARS
In order to keep this diary honest, I guess I need to go back to 1972, which was the beginning of the 'pain years'. The hoops I jumped thru for the next 30 years, is just more than I could convey. Lets just say, tests, psychiatrists, medication and not one full nights sleep in those 30 years. This was over after a surgery on my cervical spine and I commented to my surgeon that I felt better, but wished he could fix the creeping jerking that went on all night every night and he said he could, by sending me to the very office I tried 30 years earlier (who after tests, sent me to a psychiatrist). But, he was correct, just walked in (by this time there were new Dr's) sat down told my story, doctor said that's restless leg syndrome, gave me a pill to take, poof, all fixed!
Now off to the disc degeneration, first in the cervical area, that prompted the first surgery. That was scary, but what is a gal to do, who is degenerating? Several years later, yep, the same diagnosis at the lumbar area and, yep, another surgery. Now, we can travel to the right knee, yep, degeneration and got a new knee.
We are now getting to the 'Golden Years'. We all know, those of us old enough to remember not knowing anyone who didn't smoke, everything that was wrong with you, from a cavity to an ingrown toenail was caused by smoking. I was hooked to the point that it took me to my 60's to finally quit. Being someone who just trades one bad habit for another, I just swapped smoking for eating. Ending up in the category of morbidly obese. So, you got it, everything wrong with me now*see cavity/ingrown toenail* is due to weight.
Finally, it has come to the point, that, for pain, I can't walk, stand, sit or lay down for any length of time with out crying. I live in the world of '8' on a good day to a '10' on the bad days. (see the little faces on the chart at your doctor's office for the pain chart) At the last physical, I was no longer able to rationally explain how I felt and my doctor really listened. How many of you can say that about your doctors????
All this to get to my adventure with pain management and the Golden Years.
Need to record the first visit in this blog because it was about 2 weeks ago and I have a very short memory span. First, you get a 13 page form to fill out at home, with pictures to draw your pain spots. The whole time I am working on it I am betting with myself as to whether anyone will really read this short story, or if it is just to make me feel like I am important in this examination.
Finally the day arrives and you have to be there 30 minutes early. This means that I will have to start at least 3 hours early to get ready, (refer to the places that hurt) including the 20 minutes it takes to get my pressure stockings on, for the lymphedema I just up and got, out of the blue, a year and a half ago.
At the point of my needing a nap we arrived and signed in and had more papers to fill out and sign. We didn't wait very long in reception before I was called and taken to the exam room, where the normal weight, blood pressure and pulse was taken. He left, saying the nurse would be right in. 7 minutes short of an hour later, in a small exam room with no windows, nothing to read and not even 'mu-sack' to hum with, the nurse came in.
Are you remembering the pain level 8 to 10, after sitting for an hour on a nasty little chair, the only bright spot was that the nurse was asking me, with my 13 pages in front of her, questions about the things I had checked off. Within a reasonable amount of time after she left the room, the doctor came in. Again, we went over the things wrong and the places and severity of pain in each place. No matter how bad I hurt, I still have to smile when asked to squeeze their hand and pull their fingers. I just have visions of the old grandpa with his young grandson, asking that same question. What an old joke. I am not sure I passed, because she said the first thing she wanted was x-rays of neck, back and knees. And, she would see me in 3 weeks.
Wait, 3 more weeks ???, I was so in hope that we were all on the same page about my, 8 to 10, and the fact that getting ready to do or go anywhere was always pushing the #10 and we are just going to take pictures and see each other in 3 weeks???? Oh, well, I was on the road to the Golden Years so might as well give it a try, could I hurt any more??
Tomorrow's post, the x-rays. Just how exciting is this journey? Dear diary, will see you tomorrow.
Healthy and happy wishes
Thursday, October 1, 2015
THE VERY BEGINNING OF PAIN AND THE GOLDEN YEARS
I just can't believe more than half a year has gone flying by with out a post. Could be an indication of the most boring life on the planet or that my PhD in procrastination is so advanced, even I can't comprehend my genius.
This will end up being my own diary of the loss of movement especially on the right side, but before I start my journey into the 'Golden Years'. I want to share a few things I have been doing to keep myself out of trouble.
First, the most fun I have had in a year, of course, would be the visit of Flossie and Mr Wonderful. We, for the first time since they moved to The Villages, FL, did not get to go visit, Disney Land for the over 60's. But, God is good, and they, just so happened, to feel the need to make a visit here, to connect with family they have not seen for several years.
We had so much fun and a great domino tournament. Of course I won with no one even close. Oh, wait, the one with the highest score isn't the winner, oh rats!!!!! We visited, ate good food, shopped, laughed and cried when it was time to part!
We needed some plumbing work done and one of the gentlemen, who did the work, saw my sewing machine. He and friends had been saving Crown Royal bags for years and he was looking for someone, anyone, who would make a quilt for him. He had been looking for someone for a while and was about to give up. I said I would give it a try, having never made a quilt before, let him know I couldn't promise it would turn out like a pro.
Well this turned out to be an, all summer project. Not that you will ever need to know, but the pretty gold stitching that holds the 3 pieces of fabric together will melt, so it all needed to be cut away, before I could wash and iron the pieces. Then, cutting each bag into 4x4 squares, as Pinterest advised me, took over 2 weeks of solid cutting and many cutting wheels. Then came the math. Yes, I said math!!!! How to configure the # of squares to get 2 pillows, one valance, and a queen size bed spread. It couldn't be done with the squares I had, they would have needed to collect for about 3 lifetimes to have enough for that. After a month of drawings and measuring and purchase of backing/coordinate material, I started sewing and piecing and in the end this is what I ended up with:
He said he was pleased, but I knew each little square that was off a bit and each little stitch that wasn't straight as can be. Maybe he will never notice :)
As for my craft online club, Creating The Crafty Life, these are a few things I made:
I made, maybe, only one video all summer, just wasn't up to much and will explain, if you follow my 'search for a cure' diary.
Signing off to start my diary, and hope this finds you all, healthy and happy,
Barb, aka Tilly
This will end up being my own diary of the loss of movement especially on the right side, but before I start my journey into the 'Golden Years'. I want to share a few things I have been doing to keep myself out of trouble.
First, the most fun I have had in a year, of course, would be the visit of Flossie and Mr Wonderful. We, for the first time since they moved to The Villages, FL, did not get to go visit, Disney Land for the over 60's. But, God is good, and they, just so happened, to feel the need to make a visit here, to connect with family they have not seen for several years.
We had so much fun and a great domino tournament. Of course I won with no one even close. Oh, wait, the one with the highest score isn't the winner, oh rats!!!!! We visited, ate good food, shopped, laughed and cried when it was time to part!
We needed some plumbing work done and one of the gentlemen, who did the work, saw my sewing machine. He and friends had been saving Crown Royal bags for years and he was looking for someone, anyone, who would make a quilt for him. He had been looking for someone for a while and was about to give up. I said I would give it a try, having never made a quilt before, let him know I couldn't promise it would turn out like a pro.
Well this turned out to be an, all summer project. Not that you will ever need to know, but the pretty gold stitching that holds the 3 pieces of fabric together will melt, so it all needed to be cut away, before I could wash and iron the pieces. Then, cutting each bag into 4x4 squares, as Pinterest advised me, took over 2 weeks of solid cutting and many cutting wheels. Then came the math. Yes, I said math!!!! How to configure the # of squares to get 2 pillows, one valance, and a queen size bed spread. It couldn't be done with the squares I had, they would have needed to collect for about 3 lifetimes to have enough for that. After a month of drawings and measuring and purchase of backing/coordinate material, I started sewing and piecing and in the end this is what I ended up with:
He said he was pleased, but I knew each little square that was off a bit and each little stitch that wasn't straight as can be. Maybe he will never notice :)
As for my craft online club, Creating The Crafty Life, these are a few things I made:
Signing off to start my diary, and hope this finds you all, healthy and happy,
Barb, aka Tilly
Thursday, February 5, 2015
The Heart Post
This has been a difficult few months. After a wonderful 90th birthday for Mom and another fun time with Flossie and Mr Wonderful, at The Villages, Fl, you turn around and it is holiday time.
Hubby's, 93 year old, Mother was not up to par, Thanksgiving, but she is not a complainer. So, we all dug in for Christmas celebration. If you follow, you know I make the 12 grandchildren an ornament every year. For years the ornament got tossed to their parents so they could dig into the homemade candies, cookies, and hot chocolate mixes, pretzel rods with molded chocolate tops and a bit of $$'s at the bottom.
I am now happy to report that some of the 12 are just now starting to enjoy the ornaments, 2 now have their own trees!! And, are using the neatly tucked away boxes of 'gram's ornaments' to start their trees.
This year, I crocheted snowflakes from twine and then dipped them in a glue/water bath and pinned them down to dry. Just as they were very tacky, I sprinkled glitter on them and just had to hot glue a little bling on them:
Now we are all ready to have a completely uneventful rest of 2015, as Ernie Ford would say 'Good Lord willing and the creek don't rise!'
Next time I promise to have a few pictures of some of the things I have been working on....teaser with thanks to thefrugalcrafter on YouTube:
Hubby's, 93 year old, Mother was not up to par, Thanksgiving, but she is not a complainer. So, we all dug in for Christmas celebration. If you follow, you know I make the 12 grandchildren an ornament every year. For years the ornament got tossed to their parents so they could dig into the homemade candies, cookies, and hot chocolate mixes, pretzel rods with molded chocolate tops and a bit of $$'s at the bottom.
I am now happy to report that some of the 12 are just now starting to enjoy the ornaments, 2 now have their own trees!! And, are using the neatly tucked away boxes of 'gram's ornaments' to start their trees.
This year, I crocheted snowflakes from twine and then dipped them in a glue/water bath and pinned them down to dry. Just as they were very tacky, I sprinkled glitter on them and just had to hot glue a little bling on them:
The hardest part was the pinning and making sure the pins were
made of material that would not rust.
We have also had some hard times at the end of 2014. My dear mother in law had been having much difficulty breathing at the slightest amount of activity and right after Christmas her doctor hospitalized her. That turned out to be a blessing, for she need 3 stents and 48 hours later a valve replacement. From beginning to end, she was in the hospital just short of 3 weeks. Now for the miraculous part, she went home with one of her daughters and had occupational therapy for less than 2 weeks and was ready (at 93) to return to her own home!!!! She is one happy lady. Here with her babies, hubby is the ugly red Christmas tie, guy ;)
You would think this would be enough, but when this family gets started we do it up right. Two weeks ago at a hockey game, one of my nephews passed the puck back to his Dad and the puck went right by him as he dropped to the ice. My baby sister's husband of 38 years at age 52 had a massive heart attack. His son skated to the bench and grabbed his phone, calling 911, one of the goalies had CPR training and started it right away and a young lady worker for the rink also trained and with a portable defibrillator kept bringing him back till the ambulance got there and had to continue the shocking 3 more times before they reached the ER. Once in the hospital, and thru an artery, two stents were placed and he was then kept in a coma for 48 hours till he was approved for a :
“Impella CP” heart pump
This is a relatively new procedure that doesn't require cracking the chest open. Within 5 days from the heart attack he was home!!!! Yes I can see all of you out there, who had their chest cracked open and a part of a vein from your leg to create a bypass to the blocked artery, wishing you were as blessed as this guy, surrounded by his children:
Next time I promise to have a few pictures of some of the things I have been working on....teaser with thanks to thefrugalcrafter on YouTube:
May this find you all healthy and happy,
Barb aka Tilly
Friday, September 12, 2014
MOM IS 90!!!
Poor dear, can't even have her 90th birthday just for herself. Hubby turned 70 and it is so hard to gather the whole family together that we catch as catch can. So I thought I would do this in pink, just for her.
Hubby and Mom
We really had the majority of the family able to make her little dinner at a local restaurant. One of the granddaughters drove in from the other side of the state only to have to drive back for work in the morning. I love my family!
We all pitched in and made her a $$ cake. She really liked it and has just now started taking the money off to buy herself a treat. Silly lady, she didn't want to spoil the cake.
We did get a yummy real cake and we all ate and spent some wonderful time together. We even had a few notes and poems from non-local friends and family for Mom to keep. You must know my Mother does not go around with a tiara on her head and my hubby does not usually wear a blinking bow tie, just an FYI ;)
Baby Sis and spouse, hubby and me
Almost the whole grand and great grand putting a big smile on Mom's face!!
I believe it was a fine fine day when you can sing happy 90th birthday to your Mother!!!
Hope this finds you all happy and healthy, Barb aka Tilly
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
2014 AT THE VILLAGES
I promised the vacation, yes another smashing time at The Villages. Flossie and Mr Wonderful just open their home to us to use as our own, or maybe I should say it turns into a geriatric dorm!!
Hubby and Mr Wonderful were the most active this year, with Flossie suffering from near exhaustion and I in the waning throws of a very bad infection after a little surgery.
And, yes it can be told now, I was feeling so very awful thru the wedding, I was just going on sheer willpower and a whole lot of prayer.
Really the last few days of our time in Florida, I was starting to feel like a normal human again. Flossie and I packed a lot in those last few days, with only a tiny hit to my pocketbook ;)
But the boys, oh my. Off to lectures, Eisenhower Center http://thevillagesideas.com/eisenhower-recreation-center-villages-fl-must-see-video/, dragon boat practice, and hubby went fishing, morning, noon and early evening. Being within walking distance of 3 ponds was his idea of heaven on earth.
Now, none of our ailments stopped our dominos evenings on the lanai. This is a very serious affair, with hubby blocking his dominos in case we are trying to peek and my insisting I am winning, since I always have the highest score.
A little video and a good nite for now. Hope this finds you all healthy and happy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYR-dyM9IOU&list=UUl86FADVCPD77mg0xe5qFHw
Hubby and Mr Wonderful were the most active this year, with Flossie suffering from near exhaustion and I in the waning throws of a very bad infection after a little surgery.
And, yes it can be told now, I was feeling so very awful thru the wedding, I was just going on sheer willpower and a whole lot of prayer.
Really the last few days of our time in Florida, I was starting to feel like a normal human again. Flossie and I packed a lot in those last few days, with only a tiny hit to my pocketbook ;)
But the boys, oh my. Off to lectures, Eisenhower Center http://thevillagesideas.com/eisenhower-recreation-center-villages-fl-must-see-video/, dragon boat practice, and hubby went fishing, morning, noon and early evening. Being within walking distance of 3 ponds was his idea of heaven on earth.
Now, none of our ailments stopped our dominos evenings on the lanai. This is a very serious affair, with hubby blocking his dominos in case we are trying to peek and my insisting I am winning, since I always have the highest score.
A little video and a good nite for now. Hope this finds you all healthy and happy!!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYR-dyM9IOU&list=UUl86FADVCPD77mg0xe5qFHw
Tuesday, July 29, 2014
HOW CAN I GET SO FAR BEHIND MYSELF?? Part #1
How do I do it? How do I think about writing a little each month and I turn around and it has been eons!
It will soon be a year since the Dx of lymphedema. I have been a very good do-bee, and have done my massage and wear my totally stylish 20/30 knee high compression stockings. Now not being a Hilton, or Kardashian, my trying to start fashion statement with these crazy sox is just not happening.
But, let me tell you what has been happening.
The wedding, yes it has come and gone, can you believe?? 250 German origami bells, filled with 5 candy almonds wrapped in netting with the wedding wish attached. A photo board with a large stiffened burlap bow, 25 burlap tags with the table #'s on them and a not so prolific cutting of the white hydrangea bush, that suffered greatly from our super hard winter. My baby sis did hundreds of cookies with the children's initials done in icing served on silver tray on the side of the wedding cake, which was done by a friend. An aunt did the bridesmaids necklaces, they were stunning, and another aunt and uncle did all the photos. Lucy did the #'s on the burlap tags and we did the flowers together with hubby doing a lot of the cutting for us. Lucy did her designer hangers twisting the wire to form the names of all her bridesmaids. They were beautiful.
I have a lavalier made from a single drop earing that belonged to my grandmother, hanging on a small gold chain that I wore, both my daughters and my baby sis wore and now my granddaughter wore on our wedding days. The wedding was a church wedding and the reception was held at a charming winery in our area. A fun 'old' car was parked next to the vine covered walkway with the trunk open for the gifts to be placed and the day was so beautiful we were able to eat outside with the food set up inside the barn along with a separate room where silly videos were being made of all the guests.
Would I ever say oh, my granddaughter made a fair to midland bride??? Not me, and I have no need to, for our 'MacGillicuddy' (for everyone younger than dirt, MacGillcuddy was the fictional maiden name of 'I Love Lucy' Lucy Ricardo, and has been a pet name for this Gram for years and years, for my little Lucy) was stunning. That is the best I can come up with, she was stunning. I have only a few pictures so far and will, as they come in, add more to my blog. Thought I would get to some pictures now, to give you some rest.
I will, I promise, get to our vacation which came 2 days after the wedding and then to my Mother's 90th birthday a week after our return and then another family wedding this last weekend. But, breath easy, I will do these in order in the next blog.
May this find you all happy and healthy and enjoying each day
Barb aka Tilly
It will soon be a year since the Dx of lymphedema. I have been a very good do-bee, and have done my massage and wear my totally stylish 20/30 knee high compression stockings. Now not being a Hilton, or Kardashian, my trying to start fashion statement with these crazy sox is just not happening.
But, let me tell you what has been happening.
The wedding, yes it has come and gone, can you believe?? 250 German origami bells, filled with 5 candy almonds wrapped in netting with the wedding wish attached. A photo board with a large stiffened burlap bow, 25 burlap tags with the table #'s on them and a not so prolific cutting of the white hydrangea bush, that suffered greatly from our super hard winter. My baby sis did hundreds of cookies with the children's initials done in icing served on silver tray on the side of the wedding cake, which was done by a friend. An aunt did the bridesmaids necklaces, they were stunning, and another aunt and uncle did all the photos. Lucy did the #'s on the burlap tags and we did the flowers together with hubby doing a lot of the cutting for us. Lucy did her designer hangers twisting the wire to form the names of all her bridesmaids. They were beautiful.
I have a lavalier made from a single drop earing that belonged to my grandmother, hanging on a small gold chain that I wore, both my daughters and my baby sis wore and now my granddaughter wore on our wedding days. The wedding was a church wedding and the reception was held at a charming winery in our area. A fun 'old' car was parked next to the vine covered walkway with the trunk open for the gifts to be placed and the day was so beautiful we were able to eat outside with the food set up inside the barn along with a separate room where silly videos were being made of all the guests.
Would I ever say oh, my granddaughter made a fair to midland bride??? Not me, and I have no need to, for our 'MacGillicuddy' (for everyone younger than dirt, MacGillcuddy was the fictional maiden name of 'I Love Lucy' Lucy Ricardo, and has been a pet name for this Gram for years and years, for my little Lucy) was stunning. That is the best I can come up with, she was stunning. I have only a few pictures so far and will, as they come in, add more to my blog. Thought I would get to some pictures now, to give you some rest.
I will, I promise, get to our vacation which came 2 days after the wedding and then to my Mother's 90th birthday a week after our return and then another family wedding this last weekend. But, breath easy, I will do these in order in the next blog.
May this find you all happy and healthy and enjoying each day
Barb aka Tilly
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