Well, the physical therapist has upped the ante. Today we started working on the knees in addition to the back, in preparation for surgery in January. I asked for it. I asked that they do what they normally do for a patient who has bad knees. I need to have the surrounding muscles doing a good job before they slice me open :).
Am I worried? Scared? Not really. I guess I just got tired of the constant pain, except when I sit down, and then the painlessness is not a given any more.
It seems that when we were in Lancaster County I did too much walking. I didn't think I was hurting anything, even though my body was trying to tell me something, I suppose of the total-muscle-cramp days.
At least the doctor visits are over for at least a week, then they start up again. Yippee!
ttfn
Friday, September 30, 2011
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Another day, another doctor visit
Tomorrow, hopefully, is the last one for a while.
Alan's oncologist called yesterday (well, not the doctor, but his head nurse) and told me, because Alan wasn't here, that Alan's creatin level was high, and that his kidney function was lower than last time. So I wrote all that down, and was telling this to Alan.
Low and behold, this a.m. my doctor's nurse called to tell me that I had a bladder infection and she was prescribing Cipro for me, and that I should make a date with her for 10 days from now. Okay, done! Then the nurse preceded to tell me that there were a couple of other "issues". My kidney function was down (again) and I should drink more water. I told her I was drowning now, but I'd drink more water, then she tells me that my creatin levels were a bit high. Sound familiar. My creatin level was the same as Alan's, and my kidney function wasn't much better.
Golly it's fun getting old.
Then she told me that my cholesterol was high and I should cut out red meat. I told her I eat red meat, maybe, twice a month. And she asked if I was taking my Rx for cholesterol. I told her, "No. I've read too much about the bad effects of Lipator and Crestor, and I'm going to die someday anyway. Does it matter which way I go, or when I go?" She laughed, and said, "You think just like I do."
We're both about the same age (the nurse being about 5 years younger than I am), and about the same weight, only she has diabetes.
The good news is: my blood sugar levels are good and there is no evidence that I'm on my way to diabetes, and my BP is really good.
So thankful for good news!
Alan's gets to see our GP tomorrow and gets to find out about a few matters that his oncologist wanted him to check with our GP, including his ability to faint dead away at any time of the day or night, at the most inconvenient times, and for which even his neurologist cannot find a reason. Hmmm. Maybe it's because he, too, is getting older?
Next time I go to my favorite doctor, that being my GP, I'm going to ask her to refer us to a gerontologist and cry as I wave goodbye to her. I really do like Dr. Caoili (pronounced ko-wheel-lee) and she always spends as much time as I want or need to just listen to me.
Finally, I've been crying a lot lately. I cry when I see a 55 MPH sign on the highway (just kidding, but you criers know what I mean). Well, I had forgotten that the fibromyalgia medicine that I cut out because of the charley horse problem I had on vacation where my whole body locked up, and charley horses was a side effect of this particular medicine. Well, I should have backed out of it slowly instead of cold-turkeying out of it. That aside. The medication is also an antidepressant, which I had forgotten about, because it wasn't prescribed because I have a problem of being depressed. Well, the crying, she said, is probably because I cut myself off from that medicine.
So, as I'm weeping here, trying to finish today's epistle, I just want to say that I feel good. I had a good physical therapy session in which I actually rode a bicycle for several minutes before my knees quit on me (that fact makes me cry -- the fact that I could ride a bike for a couple of minutes) and I got my weights increased that I have to lift with my legs and arms, so it was a good session.
And I'm crying because my personal assistant came today and got my house back in order, all the laundry from our trip put away, the house now smells clean, and a new slew of groceries was purchased. I really missed her while I was away, but she kept my house clear of unwanted visitors while I was away and I always enjoy her company.
And that's all I have to say about all this stuff written mostly for the benefit of my family.
ttfn
Alan's oncologist called yesterday (well, not the doctor, but his head nurse) and told me, because Alan wasn't here, that Alan's creatin level was high, and that his kidney function was lower than last time. So I wrote all that down, and was telling this to Alan.
Low and behold, this a.m. my doctor's nurse called to tell me that I had a bladder infection and she was prescribing Cipro for me, and that I should make a date with her for 10 days from now. Okay, done! Then the nurse preceded to tell me that there were a couple of other "issues". My kidney function was down (again) and I should drink more water. I told her I was drowning now, but I'd drink more water, then she tells me that my creatin levels were a bit high. Sound familiar. My creatin level was the same as Alan's, and my kidney function wasn't much better.
Golly it's fun getting old.
Then she told me that my cholesterol was high and I should cut out red meat. I told her I eat red meat, maybe, twice a month. And she asked if I was taking my Rx for cholesterol. I told her, "No. I've read too much about the bad effects of Lipator and Crestor, and I'm going to die someday anyway. Does it matter which way I go, or when I go?" She laughed, and said, "You think just like I do."
We're both about the same age (the nurse being about 5 years younger than I am), and about the same weight, only she has diabetes.
The good news is: my blood sugar levels are good and there is no evidence that I'm on my way to diabetes, and my BP is really good.
So thankful for good news!
Alan's gets to see our GP tomorrow and gets to find out about a few matters that his oncologist wanted him to check with our GP, including his ability to faint dead away at any time of the day or night, at the most inconvenient times, and for which even his neurologist cannot find a reason. Hmmm. Maybe it's because he, too, is getting older?
Next time I go to my favorite doctor, that being my GP, I'm going to ask her to refer us to a gerontologist and cry as I wave goodbye to her. I really do like Dr. Caoili (pronounced ko-wheel-lee) and she always spends as much time as I want or need to just listen to me.
Finally, I've been crying a lot lately. I cry when I see a 55 MPH sign on the highway (just kidding, but you criers know what I mean). Well, I had forgotten that the fibromyalgia medicine that I cut out because of the charley horse problem I had on vacation where my whole body locked up, and charley horses was a side effect of this particular medicine. Well, I should have backed out of it slowly instead of cold-turkeying out of it. That aside. The medication is also an antidepressant, which I had forgotten about, because it wasn't prescribed because I have a problem of being depressed. Well, the crying, she said, is probably because I cut myself off from that medicine.
So, as I'm weeping here, trying to finish today's epistle, I just want to say that I feel good. I had a good physical therapy session in which I actually rode a bicycle for several minutes before my knees quit on me (that fact makes me cry -- the fact that I could ride a bike for a couple of minutes) and I got my weights increased that I have to lift with my legs and arms, so it was a good session.
And I'm crying because my personal assistant came today and got my house back in order, all the laundry from our trip put away, the house now smells clean, and a new slew of groceries was purchased. I really missed her while I was away, but she kept my house clear of unwanted visitors while I was away and I always enjoy her company.
And that's all I have to say about all this stuff written mostly for the benefit of my family.
ttfn
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Issues
Well, Alan and I have ALMOST finished our quarterly round of doctors' appointments. I finally got a cortisone shot in my knee and it has helped quit a bit, but the handwriting is definitely on the wall.
I finally found a surgeon (sports medicine surgeon) would has no problem with doing a total knee replacement on my right knee even though my weight is as it is. He would like me to lose some weight, but after Weight Watchers, Atkins, Jenny Craig, etc., and nothing working, including eating only one honeymoon salad a day with lemon squeezed on it for dressing, for a month, and still not losing weight, I don't think any weight loss is going to happen.
I am scheduled to reappear in his office after Christmas for another pep-talk and scheduling date for the surgery. Can't wait for that to happen -- NOT.
Anyway, I have other issues which I will not divulge yet, at least not until I see one more doctor -- that's coming up on Monday. Alan also has been referred to another doctor by his oncologist, because what's wrong is probably not a cancer problem, but his GP can order the tests for checking it out.
Now, family and friends, don't start worrying. It's just another bump in the world of aging and we're riding over these bumps like all the other ones.
We may not like them, but we tolerate them.
Alan and I actually got to church together for the first time in ages tonight. It was a real blessing to be back. I have to amend the first statement, we DID get to church in NJ -- we went to church in Runnemede, and I have to say, that little church is still my favorite. Not many folks that I know, or knew, are left there, but Alan and I are always received like best friends whenever we go back there.
So, stay tuned, more to follow after our Monday appointments.
ttfn
I finally found a surgeon (sports medicine surgeon) would has no problem with doing a total knee replacement on my right knee even though my weight is as it is. He would like me to lose some weight, but after Weight Watchers, Atkins, Jenny Craig, etc., and nothing working, including eating only one honeymoon salad a day with lemon squeezed on it for dressing, for a month, and still not losing weight, I don't think any weight loss is going to happen.
I am scheduled to reappear in his office after Christmas for another pep-talk and scheduling date for the surgery. Can't wait for that to happen -- NOT.
Anyway, I have other issues which I will not divulge yet, at least not until I see one more doctor -- that's coming up on Monday. Alan also has been referred to another doctor by his oncologist, because what's wrong is probably not a cancer problem, but his GP can order the tests for checking it out.
Now, family and friends, don't start worrying. It's just another bump in the world of aging and we're riding over these bumps like all the other ones.
We may not like them, but we tolerate them.
Alan and I actually got to church together for the first time in ages tonight. It was a real blessing to be back. I have to amend the first statement, we DID get to church in NJ -- we went to church in Runnemede, and I have to say, that little church is still my favorite. Not many folks that I know, or knew, are left there, but Alan and I are always received like best friends whenever we go back there.
So, stay tuned, more to follow after our Monday appointments.
ttfn
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Great vacation
One of the must-stop places in Lancaster County is the Bird-in-Hand Bake Shop. Such good stuff and I have to recommend the cinnamon buns with raisins (they also come plain and with nuts and with nuts & raisins) and the three cheese bread -- soft loaf, sandwich style, which makes the best BLTs in the whole wide world.
Just one of the gorgeous breakfast appetizers we enjoyed at the Apple Bin Inn. I think this was on day four. Not one single appetizer or main course breakfast dish was the same in the 7 mornings we were there.
This picture was taken through my side mirror. The Amish do not like you to take pictures of them and I was really trying for the horse and buggy (at rest) since all the buggies we had seen were on the road and we were definitely going to get a picture of them. The little girl in the picture was a bonus.
This is a photo of one of the many family-style Amish restaurants that are in the area. This one is at Stoltzfus farm and there are 16 dishes delivered to your table which you can refill as you wish. Amazing, and goooood!
Just one of the gorgeous breakfast appetizers we enjoyed at the Apple Bin Inn. I think this was on day four. Not one single appetizer or main course breakfast dish was the same in the 7 mornings we were there.
This picture was taken through my side mirror. The Amish do not like you to take pictures of them and I was really trying for the horse and buggy (at rest) since all the buggies we had seen were on the road and we were definitely going to get a picture of them. The little girl in the picture was a bonus.
First, let me say that Lancaster County, Pennsylvania is probably not high on any of my neighbors' or family's vacation list, but it should be. We had really great accommodations at the Apple Bin Inn in Willow Street, PA, and our host, Steve, was such a blessing. He built a ramp to the door to the kitchen entrance, just for us. That's going beyond...
Second, my body locked up when we arrived in Lancaster County and didn't unlock until today. I can't explain it, but for one week I cold barely move, not just because of sciatic back pain, or knee pain, but my whole body just didn't want to move. Today? Barely a whisper of a pain. How I wish all my days could be like today was.
We went to Sight and Sound -- a really professional production of Bible accounts -- on stage until the end of October if Joseph. Next Spring is Jonah. I might just head east for a few days just to see that production.
We spent another day at the automobile museum in Hershey, PA. I sat in the car and read, while Alan scooted around the museum. Glad we don't have to go there again. I think two, five-hour stints is enough.
We spent two days just traveling the back roads in the county looking at farms, looking for a phone shanty, which I never found, trying to get photos of at least one Amish school. The ones we saw were fenced and I couldn't get a good shot, so I bought a book.
Then I ran out of battery power and our road trip(s) were over until next time.
ttfn
I am putting up just a few of the pictures I took in Lancaster County. I loved the place and want to return, and it's only an 8 hour drive, doable if my body is working as it should for a 68-year-old in one day.
Monday, September 19, 2011
Back home again in KY (not Indiana)
Trips take more and more out of me, I find, and the difficulty seems to be increasing exponentially.
Take our most recent trip for instance.
Alan and I went back to New Jersey. The purpose? I wanted to attend my 50th high school reunion, and I was determined to go with or without Alan, even if someone had to push me in on a gurney. Well, Alan went with me and if anyone was going to rolled in on a gurney, it was Alan.
We always have some "health" disaster when we travel, and really, that makes the trip all the more exciting, right? Wrong? We pray each time we go for protection while driving, and for health, and for rest. We praise God that we had no driving problems, unless you consider a 4-hour traffic delay on the Schuylkill a problem. The rains of Thursday morning (Sept. 8) in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area caused flooding which caused many roads to be closed which meant since the Schuylkill was high and dry all seven million drivers in the Philadelphia area on a Thursday afternoon (I made up the number) funneled onto the Expressway and I could have walked the distance from Valley Forge to Downtown almost as fast, assuming I had good knees, which I don't.
Finally...we arrived at the DoubleTree hotel in Mt. Laurel -- reunion headquarters -- after dinner time on Thursday evening. We didn't venture forth, because traffic was so bad, still, so we fasted that evening -- no food, in other words. The room/suite was lovely and the big bonus was that we had two TVs. Alan's and my taste in programming are as far apart as New Jersey is from one mile off the coast of New Jersey traveling West past China, Europe, etc. You get the picture?
I must also mention that our health disaster this time included another trip to another hospital and I took another picture to add to Alan's hospital album. Alan fainted or something right after breakfast. No one knows what happened, least of all Alan, but when the breakfast lady came rushing out into the lobby where I was sitting shouting to call 911, I knew Alan had done it again. Yes, he had.
When I entered the breakfast room he was on the floor, unconscious. I figured his blood pressure had dropped suddenly, and he would be fine, which is what happened, we think. He felt dizzy, decided to lay down on the floor, and while doing that he lost consciousness and hit his head on the table leg. He was infused with fluids and released to his family doctor after about 4 hours.
Friday I had a wonderful lunch with my cousin Joan. She prepared manicotta and several other dishes as well as several desserts and a wide range of appetizers. Joan is a terrific cook. I took several desserts back to the hotel for Alan, as well as a dish full of the main course foods, and he loved them, especially the cheese cake which he devoured while I attended the first evening's party. He wasn't supposed to eat the whole thing. I would have loved to have had a piece, and I should have known better. Put something sweet in front of my SWEETheart and it disappears very quickly.
I guess the highlight of the lunch besides the food was seeing each other again and getting to share a few things that we hadn't thought about for years. Joanie is a beautiful woman, both physically and spiritually.
The Friday evening party was a lot of fun and since I was on the scooter I was able to mingle freely without worrying whether I'd fall down or not be able to walk back to the room -- and not because I had imbibed too much, but because the knees wouldn't work right.
Saturday night's dinner dance was a hoot as well. And all those free breakfasts got us (my classmates and me) sharing more about our years in between June 1961 and September 2011.
After the reunion weekend -- I wish we could have stayed for Sunday, but couldn't -- we went on to Lancaster County, PA and stayed in a small cottage at one of the B&Bs in the county. I had been reading many books about the Amish and Lancaster County recently before I made the reservations for us to go there. the trip through the country lanes was especially enjoyable.
So, we're home. The trip home was good, except for some rain through Ohio, the weather was really nice. I'm really happy to be home again.
ttfn
Take our most recent trip for instance.
Alan and I went back to New Jersey. The purpose? I wanted to attend my 50th high school reunion, and I was determined to go with or without Alan, even if someone had to push me in on a gurney. Well, Alan went with me and if anyone was going to rolled in on a gurney, it was Alan.
We always have some "health" disaster when we travel, and really, that makes the trip all the more exciting, right? Wrong? We pray each time we go for protection while driving, and for health, and for rest. We praise God that we had no driving problems, unless you consider a 4-hour traffic delay on the Schuylkill a problem. The rains of Thursday morning (Sept. 8) in the Philadelphia and South Jersey area caused flooding which caused many roads to be closed which meant since the Schuylkill was high and dry all seven million drivers in the Philadelphia area on a Thursday afternoon (I made up the number) funneled onto the Expressway and I could have walked the distance from Valley Forge to Downtown almost as fast, assuming I had good knees, which I don't.
Finally...we arrived at the DoubleTree hotel in Mt. Laurel -- reunion headquarters -- after dinner time on Thursday evening. We didn't venture forth, because traffic was so bad, still, so we fasted that evening -- no food, in other words. The room/suite was lovely and the big bonus was that we had two TVs. Alan's and my taste in programming are as far apart as New Jersey is from one mile off the coast of New Jersey traveling West past China, Europe, etc. You get the picture?
I must also mention that our health disaster this time included another trip to another hospital and I took another picture to add to Alan's hospital album. Alan fainted or something right after breakfast. No one knows what happened, least of all Alan, but when the breakfast lady came rushing out into the lobby where I was sitting shouting to call 911, I knew Alan had done it again. Yes, he had.
When I entered the breakfast room he was on the floor, unconscious. I figured his blood pressure had dropped suddenly, and he would be fine, which is what happened, we think. He felt dizzy, decided to lay down on the floor, and while doing that he lost consciousness and hit his head on the table leg. He was infused with fluids and released to his family doctor after about 4 hours.
Friday I had a wonderful lunch with my cousin Joan. She prepared manicotta and several other dishes as well as several desserts and a wide range of appetizers. Joan is a terrific cook. I took several desserts back to the hotel for Alan, as well as a dish full of the main course foods, and he loved them, especially the cheese cake which he devoured while I attended the first evening's party. He wasn't supposed to eat the whole thing. I would have loved to have had a piece, and I should have known better. Put something sweet in front of my SWEETheart and it disappears very quickly.
I guess the highlight of the lunch besides the food was seeing each other again and getting to share a few things that we hadn't thought about for years. Joanie is a beautiful woman, both physically and spiritually.
The Friday evening party was a lot of fun and since I was on the scooter I was able to mingle freely without worrying whether I'd fall down or not be able to walk back to the room -- and not because I had imbibed too much, but because the knees wouldn't work right.
Saturday night's dinner dance was a hoot as well. And all those free breakfasts got us (my classmates and me) sharing more about our years in between June 1961 and September 2011.
After the reunion weekend -- I wish we could have stayed for Sunday, but couldn't -- we went on to Lancaster County, PA and stayed in a small cottage at one of the B&Bs in the county. I had been reading many books about the Amish and Lancaster County recently before I made the reservations for us to go there. the trip through the country lanes was especially enjoyable.
So, we're home. The trip home was good, except for some rain through Ohio, the weather was really nice. I'm really happy to be home again.
ttfn
Thursday, September 1, 2011
More family
This is Grace. She is growing up so fast and is getting prettier every time I see her, as is Annie her sister (picture following Dan's). Grace is very caring and very much like her mom. And oh, my kitchen is such a mess. These pictures were taken right after breakfast and nothing had been cleaned up yet.
Dan is getting so tall. He's 13, but he doesn't realize that teenagers are supposed to sleep later than 7:30 a.m.! He and I love to spar with each other. He often wins!
This is Annie on her daddy's lap (Quinn). She's almost 11 and very affectionate. She's the only one who gave me a hug without my asking for it. Love that.^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^
Last night my oldest daughter came into town with her husband and her children. We had a really nice time of talk (no TV) and we finally stopped talking a little after midnight. I was falling asleep, I was so very tired.
I barely woke up in time to get ready to go to therapy, but I was able to make it with a minute to spare. If you know me, I'm always EARLY. I can't stand to be late. I guess one minute early is still early.
Anyway, the pictures are labeled and are Becky's family. Becky wouldn't let me take her picture. She's still in a lot of pain and can't really sit down well. She is still laying on the couch or in bed a lot.
They'll be back tonight to pick up their stuff, which they left here so they could spend a day at The Beach.
ttfn
Family
Jack is so shy. He usually has his hand in front of his face, but I was able to get a quick picture of him with his hands down. He's so cute.
See, here he is trying to hide from me. So we play a game where I cover my face and "hide" from him. Eventually, he lets his hands down. I just love this child.
This is Ellie Mae, posing for me. Yes, that is not a design on her shirt, but because she was wearing a hungry shirt, we could call it I love my breakfast (the shirt is talking there).I just dropped in on my youngest today and spent about five minutes visiting. These are the only two children that are still at home, until the new baby comes along. The other four are in school. The new baby is a girl, but no name has been picked yet. Cyndi looks beautiful, as always, even without make-up, and she is carrying a basketball under her shirt. LOL.
I was glad to have these few minutes with her, the children, and even Shandon who was working on his Viper. Jack was helping him. So sweet.
ttfn
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