HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

The Road Of Life ~ Part 2 of 2

Support Forums
>
GERD & Acid Reflux
✚ New Topic locked
1 23 4 5 6 7
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/29/2010 2:35 AM (GMT 0)
Ouch is right Joy big time! Hope your feeling better.

Kitt I'm glad you finally have a DX. I hope they can come up with a plan of action.

Bill sorry you were unable to go. I hope your appointment went well.

Denise the foot is nothing compared to the shoulder pain. I called the hospital to ask what they wanted me to do about my asthma and my surgeon was on call. He said once the pain pump runs out my breathing should improve. That really gave me a scare when I noticed I couldn't suck my Advair in very well and when I checked my peak flow and it was way down. I don't want any problems with that. He told me too take 2 sleeping pills tonight so I can sleep through the pain. yeah I don't think so. He also said to me "Barb your going to make it through this and each day the pain will get better". I wonder if he has ever had shoulder surgery? Tomorrow I get to take off all the tape across my chest side of my neck and shoulder. The foot has to stay covered and dry though. I'm going to sit on a shower chair and put my foot outside the tub so I can shower. the small things sometimes are the things we take for granted. well tme to go watch movies.

Hey Janice hope you are doing ok. Barb
Posted 8/29/2010 2:42 PM (GMT 0)
Barb,

I am glad the surgery is behind you and now the healing starts.  I had a bone spur removed 10 years ago from my great toe and the Dr.  did not mention to me ahead of time that the surgery was like breaking a bone in your toe.  I sure do understand your pain must be far greater than what I went through. 

It was really good of your doctor to talk with you re your small lower jaw and also he took the time to talk with your daughter.  That was very kind of him to advise her as well as you. 

I went back to work after my foot surgery to soon and had a lot of pain and swelling to my foot.  So back to the Drs. and he put me in a cam walker as long as I refused to stay home ~ that worked like a charm for my foot.  My hubby just took off his cam walker that he has been in for his nasty sprain and torn ligaments but he also found it worked excellent in keeping his ankle immobile.

A cam walker is an adjustable orthopedic apparatus that looks like a boot. Its primary purpose is to prevent or limit ankle and foot movement after a serious sprain, surgery or removal of a cast.

I am sorry to hear the should is such a pain - shocked .  It does sound like they did a lot of digging and cleaning out and I hope you were able to get some sleep last night. 

Denise,

I bet that is one lucky little guy to have you as his tutor.  I understand not wanting to just stop teaching completely as being a teacher is part of who you are.  My MIL  introduces me now as "this is my daughter-in-law, Mary, she used to be a nurse.  I sort of puff up when she says it but as she is 85 and frail I keep my tongue tied.  I will always be a nurse and I have my license to practice whenever I choose. Just like I will always be a grandmother and you will be soon too. cool

Thank you for your kind words in one of the posts.  I read through the threads and I am always learning more from each of you that responds so kindly to the new members as well as to our oldies.  You are a wealth of information and I thank you.

Joy,

Twenty years huh ?  turn   You will be amazed how quickly time goes by when you get to retirement.  I used to laugh when people said that to me and now I laugh no more.  I sure am glad when you decided to stay in school. 

When I graduated from high school I never wanted to go back to school again and now I love to keep learning.  I went back to college and nursing school after I had my four children.  I loved school and take many course online to keep my license and just because I find them educational.

Hope your stomach is all better after that awesome treat you had the other day.

Your support of the members is awesome and I learn from your posts.  You have so much empathy for the newbies and for the "wrappers" 

Bill,

I am sorry you did not make it to the funeral but remember your health must come first and no guilt. I missed a major family wedding due to my depression back a few years ago now but there was no way I was in any shape to attend. I felt so dang gulity that I beat myself up over it.  Now I know through therapy that guilt is a wasted emotion and I made the right choice for my own health at the time.

Remember I am hear if you want to talk.

Janice,

I am here with all the rest of the gang for you and let us hear how you are doing as you know we care.

Take care everyone and I wish you peace.

 

Kitt

 
Posted 8/29/2010 9:30 PM (GMT 0)
Joy,
Yes, my little tutoring subject is headed for a rough year in second grade. He should have been seeing me more than once a week during the summer. I left materials with his mom, but many weeks she didn't have much time to spend on practice.

I've collected a lot of materials for my tutoring (and for future grandchildren!), and I am in the midst of organizing it all in the basement. I got a lot done, then got busy and haven't been down since. It's great to have it all organized, so it's easy to put my hands on whatever I need. That's how my classroom was organized, and it saves a lot of time.

I hope I can get my house organized as well! I think once winter hits my life will slow down a lot. I want to get all my drawers and closets as well organized as I'll have my teaching stuff. I've got tons of books that I've collected over the years, and I'm organizing them too--reading levels, series, easy nonfiction, etc. I love playing school in my basement. My daughter in law says I'm setting up a classroom in the basement, and she's very happy about it. She feels confident that her kids will be well taught by me before they ever enter school! We shall see...they're not always that cooperative. I'm looking forward to it, though! I've got all the tools...once a teacher, always a teacher.

Barb,
I hope your pain subsides soon. I do remember those early days post-surgery. It is excruciating for a while, then things calm down. Can you use ice? I hope you get the meds that work for you, so you can get some sleep.

We're all rooting for you to feel better soon...it's not easy those first days, but before you know it, they'll be behind you.
Here's your group cheer:
yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
We're all thinking of you and sending healing and pain-relieving thoughts your way!

Kitt,
Thanks for your kind words. Yes, once a nurse or a teacher, a nurse or a teacher! You are so sweet to let your MIL's comments go uncorrected. I do think most people think of us as teachers/nurses, although we've retired.

We don't lose our expertise...I'm sure people are always asking you medical questions! Your responses on the forum show your knowledge and experience. We're all very lucky to be able to take advantage of your nursing expertise! Like all good nurses, you serve your medical knowledge up with a good dose of kindness and empathy. You are a gift to all of us, ((((Kitt)))).

Bill,
Don't let your absence from your family funeral, or anybody's reaction to it, get to you. You did the right thing by making your doctor appointment. You would be no good to anyone if you were in pain. We're with you!

I hope you know that your kind encouragement and shared knowledge were critical in helping me gain the courage to have my Nissen. Your very positive outlook (in the face of some significant swallowing issues) helped me to realize that even in the face of post-surgical adversity, the positive effects of surgery outweighed the negative effects of not having it. You were always realistic, giving, and encouraging. I thank you for that.

I hope you're having a good weekend.

Janet,
I hope things are going well, and you've changed the direction of that handbasket! Take care of yourself, and come back for a visit when you can.

Take care, everyone!
Have a great week.
Denise
Posted 8/29/2010 9:32 PM (GMT 0)
Janice that is...Sorry about that! redface
Posted 8/30/2010 10:20 AM (GMT 0)
Hi all, my road in life just got a whole lot bumpier. Saturday night I noticed swelling in both legs and pain in back of left. I finally called Sunday afternoon and talked to my surgeon about it. He said I needed to come down there to the ER (hour drive from my home). He told me it wasn't optional because the alternative was death. The same sister ended up bringing me as no one else was around. I was sure glad she was there to advocate for me. I told her when she dropped me off that in addition to being my fav sis to camp, scrapbook and swim with she was now officially the one to hang with in the ER. We had each other laughing a number of times. It's a small hospital. I was not impressed with the hygiene. The nurse wore no gloves, didn't clean her hands and touched my pain meds and blood thinner with bare hands. She even gave the shot for blood thinner without gloves. I went to school and graduated in 1994 as a medical assistant and all that was a no no. I didn't get to bed until 1am and was up by 3am due to rash from adhesives itching and rash, along with the fact that I now have yet another dangerous disease to deal with as well as daily shots a new oral med and weekly blood tests now all of which I can't afford. It's a good thing the ER doc decided to check my surgical leg too for clot just in case even though it didn't hurt. I have a deep clot behind right knee and then several surface ones in the left leg. I have to see my doc at 8am today. Well going to try to take a nap now that I ripped all my dressings off my shoulder so it would stop itching. Hope you all have a great Monday. Barb
Posted 8/30/2010 2:07 PM (GMT 0)
Wow, Barb!
Good thing you didn't ignore those symptoms. So now you get to give yourself Lovenox shots in your belly...fun, fun, fun! You'll have purple polka dots all over! Glad you got treatment...it's not fun, but it sure beats the alternative.

I don't know if you remember that I had a big clot behind my knee after foot surgery in 2008. The fact that it happened after surgery is a positive...it's the ones that appear out of thin air that are especially unnerving to the medical community. Have you had blood clots before?

I guess once you have one, whenever you have surgery thereafter, they put you on blood thinner.

It's too bad they can't find an adhesive tape that you can tolerate.

I hope you have a good day, and that your pain is under control.
Take care...I'm thinking of you! Sending healing thoughts your way...
Denise
Posted 8/31/2010 10:20 PM (GMT 0)
I just heard from Joe in Iowa. He had his surgery today. He's resting well and feeling okay.

Joy

Posted 8/31/2010 10:54 PM (GMT 0)
Barb,

I left you a post re your DVT but it seems to have disappeared or I did a boo boo when posting it.  I hope you are doing well and I am sure glad you went into the ER to see what was going on.  Keep us posted and know I wrote a really great post but danged if I can remember it word for word.  :(

 

Joy,

 

Glad to read Joe is doing well.

Gentle Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 9/1/2010 12:33 AM (GMT 0)
Barb-
So sorry you are having such a rough time again. I hate those dang thinner shots. I like it better when they put them in the back of my arm. They refused to do so when I was in the hospital for being stupid twice about a month or 2 ago and had a huge bruise from them. I am praying they get cleared up and don't come back ever.
As for me...I found out what low BP can do to you. With all the new meds and increases they weren't checking it enough and I was at 70/35 and 74/40. No wonder all I wanted to do was sleep. Couldn't stand up or walk very well either. Mom brought over her BP cuff and I check it several times a day now at home. stopped taking the atenalol and got it up to 128/72 and am feeling a lot better. I think I will be able to stay on here more often now again since I can sit up without getting dizzy.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/1/2010 12:40 AM (GMT 0)
Kitt, I bet that was an awesome post too! you always have such good info and you being a nurse is a good experience to draw from too. I'm just trying to hang on at this point. yesterday from 8am to 4pm was all medical appointments and tests. it was very overwhelming. All the foods I can't eat have pretty much shoot my diet. I'm not eating a whole lot at this point anyway. I ended yesterday with a rectal exam because the young doc I had was worried about me bleeding out from there because when he asked about any bleeding in the last 2 weeks I had to admit i had some the day of surgery because I had stomach upset from being so nervous. he didn't find any blood though. He also sent me for blood tests and they had poked me in the same vein they had last week and sunday night. by the time i got to the hospital for the chest scan because he thought a blood clot had broke off that vein had enough. i layed there crying and begged her to stop. i even offered her my neck vein. when she pulled out and went to get another person to try i decided i had enough. when the guy came in i had my arm folded up and told him we weren't using that arm any more. I told him "this is the game plan we take the arm out of the sling and use that as i was told i could take it out 2x a day and let hang straight down" he got in pretty easy other than the part when he tried to pull it out and had to keep reminding not too. I was proud i stood up to them like that.

Denise i think i do remember that you had one after your surgery. mine is in the same spot on the surgical leg and the the painful ones are on back of leg and the side. I've all ready mastered the shot thing. it doesn't even hurt. don't know what to do about the adhesive allergy.I take it off at night and wear a sleeveless top so nothing catches on it. I feel so much better after my shower last night and then trip to hair dresser to braid my hair. I still need to get more sleep but last night was a good start on it. how are your allergies doing? mine are starting to act up more with the itchy eyes and post nasal stuff. Oh well just have to deal I guess. At least I am getting my 3 month old 550 glasses i ran over with wheel chair replaced for nothing.

Joy what did joe have done? my hubby is from iowa.

Hey bill new season start? hows your stomach doing. Barb
Posted 9/1/2010 2:14 AM (GMT 0)
Bill so glad your doing better. I don't like the back of the arms. i already get the allergy shots there and they hurt and bruise. today she couln't hardly touch them it hurt me so bad. that is the arm everyone picked on. i'm surprised i'm not leaking when i drink water i have so many pills. did the blood thinner make you sick. i had the dry heaves for a short time last night. still don't feel like eating much. maybe i'll lose some weight. are you still on blood thinners? I'm on the shot and cumadin by mouth. I'm glad you'll get to be around more. off to watch a movie with hubby. He is like having a really crabby nurse around. shot at 10pm. he won't let me get by with anything. Lol, Barb
Posted 9/1/2010 4:58 AM (GMT 0)
Barb-
I was only on the blood thinners while I was stuck in the ICU and not allowed to get out of the bed.

Bill
Posted 9/1/2010 6:30 AM (GMT 0)
They gave me shots in The hospital to keep from getting blood clots when I was stuck in bed down in TN Not a fun thing to get to done. My shot tonight didn't go so great. It hurt going in and hurt afterward too. I also had bleeding from the site too. Oh well time to head for bed. Catch you tomorrow. Barb
Posted 9/1/2010 10:17 PM (GMT 0)
Joe had the nissen. He posted today.

I'm back from the urgent care center. Today my back kept spasming after three advil so I decided I needed more. I got x-rayed and a MRI set up for next week. :( ($600 deductable) :O
They gave me a strong anti-inflamatory and flexaril. I'm beginning to feel a little loopy from it, but most of the pain has eased. ;)
Posted 9/2/2010 12:04 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Joy, sorry to hear about your back pain. I hope they can get you fixed up. My shoulder and the blood clots in my leg are my biggest pains right now. I found out today i have been up too much. well better go eat some sweet corn and get my feet up. take care everyone. Barb
Posted 9/2/2010 1:26 AM (GMT 0)
Joy,
Sorry to hear your back is killing you! Backs are bad...you can't get away from them. I had a herniated disk, so I know about back pain. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Barb,
Hang in there...get lots of rest and don't overdo it! I don't remember the Coumadin bothering my stomach, but I did always take it with food to avert a problem.
Hope you're healing well and feeling better.

Take care, All!
Denise
Posted 9/2/2010 12:02 PM (GMT 0)
Joy and Barb-
you 2 are trying to take over for me or what?! Easy there you 2. Seriously, I could have thought we had most of us all healed up a while back.
I got another dx added to the list yesterday by VA. Seems they think I have major depression, GAD and that triggered PTSD buried in my mind from my Navy days and the gulf war and such. So he put in a rush to see the VA PDoc and get going with them. He also wants me to see a rhumatoid and pain doctor there also. Here we go again, a bunch of new doctors. Knew I should have made a verbal cd of everything to just give them every time I see a new one.

Kitt you had any luck with your PTSD yet?

Denise- how's things up your way? Getting any thunder storms this go round?

Bill
Posted 9/2/2010 2:33 PM (GMT 0)
Joy and Barb,  I am sending each of you a large roll of duct tape ~ smhair I am sorry to hear you are both going through a rough time and let's get you on the mend.  I find duct tape very useful.

Bill,   You now have my diagnosis, thank goodness as I was trying to give it away shocked .  Actually I am doing better with therapy in learning to not let the trauma I have lived through rule my day.  My traumatic experience was the death of my son in the car crash that also took the life of his best friend.  I was not at the scene but on the TV news that night they showed video clips of the car and of my son lying dead on the side of the freeway covered with a tarp.  I carry the horrible picture in my mind and whenever something triggers me the whole day is replayed in my mind.  I will simply break down and feel all the feelings of that horrible summer day in 1990. I have learned to let the feelings flow and give myself over to the feelings and then move on.  My therapist taught me that the actual day only happened once in my life. 

I had never thought I had PTSD as I associated that dx with war veterans and victims of violence.  Actually the essential feature of this disorder is the development of characteristic symptoms following exposure to an extreme traumatic stressor. What could be more extreme for parents than the death of their child? This is the greatest nightmare of any parent.

Just understanding what is wrong and why I react at times helps me know that I am ok and then I can keep on moving forward.

I wish you the best with the new therapist so please know that you can get through this and learn ways to cope.  Just keep believing in yourself as I believe in you.

Denise,  Tomorrow is the start of the long holiday weekend and I guess those of us that live in the upper midwest are grateful that "Earl" is not coming to vist us. We have no great plans but I am sure we will get out and about,  see the granddaughters and just make memories.

Janice,  thinking of you as always!

Happy Holiday Weekend to All !

Kitt

Posted 9/2/2010 2:58 PM (GMT 0)
Kitt
I am very sorry to here about your son. We lost our Daughter in 2002 from a congenital heart defect she was only 4.5 months old. She died on Fathers Day in my arms so that time is very stressfull for me. You never forget you just learn to get by..
Posted 9/2/2010 10:25 PM (GMT 0)
Ritch-
So sorry to hear that. I have had many waking nightmares of my children being taken from me. I constantly worry when they aren't home on time.

Kitt- Thanks as usual for some great info and support. I figure if anyone knows about this the VA should.

Janice- Praying you have a nice holiday weekend my friend.

We do have our first high school games this weekend. A double header! It has begun again. My daughter will miss 1 weekend of H/S games this fall due to travel ball though. We are playing in some college exposure tourneys this fall too. Hard to realize it's time for that already. Seems like just last season she was that little squirrelly 10yo, now she is almost 16.

Take care,
Bill
Posted 9/2/2010 10:45 PM (GMT 0)
Ritch,

Thank you for your kind words.  My hubby has Crohn's also so we share more than one commonality.  I am sorry for your loss and I will keep you in my prayers.

Bill, 

Yes the VA should be a great source for you to find help with your problems. 

May your weekend games be all you hoped for.

Kindly,

Kitt

Posted 9/2/2010 11:16 PM (GMT 0)
Feeling groovy today. :D
The anti-inflamatory the doctor gave me kept me mostly pain free today. I had a great night's sleep last night. I fell asleep in the recliner at 7:30 and slept for an hour, woke up, and crawled into the bed for the rest of the night. My mother asked me how I was doing after my nap. I couldn't speak coherently to her. :P
My tongue was not under control enough to say, "sleepy." It came out, "theepy". :D (ROFL)
Needless to say, I didn't take it my muscle relaxer today before going to work. I'll take one before bedtime though.
My insurance nurse just called me and we discussed the possiblity of seeing a pain manager. I told her I'd prefer to see a OT to get some flexability going. I don't like to get on a pain drugs regularly. They interfere with my thinking.
Night ya'll.
Posted 9/3/2010 11:11 PM (GMT 0)
Joy,  Glad to hear your feeling better and I hope your Labor Day weekend is a good one.

Kitt

Posted 9/5/2010 2:21 PM (GMT 0)
Check in time - how is everyone doing ?  Hope you are all enjoying the long weekend.

Hugs,

Kitt

Posted 9/5/2010 6:21 PM (GMT 0)
Relaxing at home...
Back is doing better. Don't like the anti-inflamatory med too much (cataflam?) It seems to cause too many mood changes for me. My nerves got very raw Friday with my students and I broke down. :(
I've never acted that way before with a class. Not even the year I wanted to tear up my certificate and work at Wally-World. I had 13 students in a third grade class who couldn't read on 1st grade level that year. Oy Vey!
The children wrote letters of apology to me for being so bad, told me they love me, and will listen better. I felt like a heel when it was all over.
I'm feeling better today (no cataflam today). I'm off tomorrow, then it's parents' day for conferences on Tuesday. The children will be back on Wednesday.

Hugs to all!
✚ New Topic locked
1234567