The Road Of Life ~ Part 2 of 2

I usually study the human body during this time. It gives me an excuse to have a child size skeleton in the room. I have a friendly scarecrow that stands in the corner to symbolize Fall and a Trick or Treater in ghost costume on my computer. I show them the way to make a pumpkin cut out as I tell the story of the little crooked lady with her cat. I also read "The Tailypo" to them. They love the suspense in it.

Kitt, I finally was able to look at the site. Wow! That's used? Some people think teachers make big bucks, too.

Yes, I'm faithful with my stretches. I've discovered the fish oil I started the other day is easing some of the inflamation. I teach first grade. The kids have a ball in my room. I do my best to make learning fun. Some 12th graders who spot me in stores and tell me I was their favorite teacher. There's one fifth grader who stops by my room in the mornings and tells me he wants to come back to me. :))

I might have spoken too soon. :((
Today my pain came back at 11:00! I did my stretches but I still hurt terrible!

I ate popcorn for the first time today since my surgery. I kept choking on it. :(
I guess no more popcorn. Sigh!

Joy,

May I come and play in your classs ~ I want to see the skeleton, very scary   ?

I am sorry your back is bothering you and you just got through saying it was better.  (((((((((((Hugs))))))))))))

Popcorn ~ dang I was sure you would make popcorn balls for Halloween as that would be worth the airfare to come down there and visit your class. 

Barb,  Stop with the surgery or you will be Ironwoman 1 from the metal in your body I read all you do each day and I am worn out just from thinking about it.

Sounds like you Dr.  enjoys you very much; probably the $$ signs he sees when you appear in his office.  Naw,  really he seems to take good care of you. 

Denise,  I bet your fall colors have peaked out completely over there as ours are now falling and my hubby is trying to bag them all up.  My hubby has been down the road to a neighbors cutting down a couple of trees. 

My daughter has a Halloween party open to the public at her Dog Boarding etc business next week.  She has games, candy, cake and coffee  and lots of fun.  Usually has about 250 people that come through.  My granddaughter (6 year old)  will be there so I can't wait.  I need to find a costume.  How does Bridezilla sound ?

Isn't fall fun ?

Happy Day to all,

Kitt

Hi All,
Great costume idea, Kitt! Yes, our trees are just about at peak. I just love Fall!

Yesterday I went to the Head Neck Center to see a highly respected specialist/ENT. He did a scope of my vocal chords. It was an interesting one. He didn't do the scope through my nose...instead, he had a larger tool that he put through my mouth. That allows him a better view and picture.

It was about a foot long and about the size of an endoscopy tube, but it was rigid, which kind of creeped me out.

I leaned forward towards him, and he grabbed my tongue and held it with gauze pads. He just stuck it in through the top of my throat and took digital/moving images of my vocal chords as I made sounds. It's a stroboscope, and can slow down the vibration image, so the condition of the larnyx is visible.

Of course, as things go for me, it wasn't a clear-cut answer. The swelling/glistening/irritation/redness wasn't as severe as is seen with typical GERD cases. They could have been caused by either small amounts of reflux, or coughing/allergy.

In the end, though, since I've been under allergy/asthma treatment, he was inclined to lean towards the possibility that GERD is causing the hoarseness, so he recommended that I visit the "Nissen Man" in the area ("He does all the Nissens") for an evaluation.

So now I presume that my PCP and allergist will talk about my case and come up with a plan of action. The problem is that my daughter-in-law is a PA, and has opinions about medical practitioners in the area based on first hand experience. She has already nixed the group my allergist recommended.
That's going to be tricky to negotiate as well.

Wish me luck! I just want to move on this quickly. My lungs are already pretty bad...nothing like they were pre-Nissen, but worse than they've been since then. I'm nebulizing morning and night, and coughing out quite a bit of junk. I've cut way back on my steroids (my old PCP wasn't happy with my puffy face when I went to visit him in September), and I'm wondering if I need a little more at this point. I've emailed him to see what he thinks.

Anyway...enough chatter. My husband is in the living room wondering if I'm planning on joining him sometime tonight! Guess I'd better get off the computer!

I spent the day volunteering in my son's class (Gr. 3)...I go every Wednesday, then tutor my student right after school. It's my teacher fix for the week!

Take care, Everyone.
Talk to you soon!
Denise

So sorry to hear that, Joy. That is scary, and I'm sure it is very difficult for your family. I wish you all the very best.
Denise

Thank, Kitt. She's been very quiet about all this and not sharing much. I think she's having problems with dealing with and accepting it. She hasn't told many of the relatives that live close to her. She still lives in South GA and I'm way up here in North GA.
We've kind of drifted apart over the years and have only saw each other once a year at family reunions when she came.

Last night I decided to have some fresh fried squash. It attacked me last night with reflux and this morning with upset stomach! :P
I'm sitting here now with a rolling lower stomach hoping I don't have to run again. :(
No more fresh squash. Sigh.
I'm finding some foods are really fighting me now. Popcorn...Squash...what next?

  This too will pass...

Denise you crack me up!

My stomach finally calmed down. My mother came in my room earlier and offered me some of the left over squash with a big grin on her face. She's such a comedian.

I decided to join Facebook to see what the fuss was about. It's not my cup of tea. I'm thinking of dropping it. Rather boring to me.

Joy,  Your mom is truly a great Chameleon just like me.  We are wonderful reptiles and make great pets too besides loving to tease our children. 

Picky ole me,  I do not like squash so that is not a problem for me but I really have to watch the diet colas and the late in the evening treats.

Bill,  Glad to read you got moved and when you have a chance let us hear about the new digs and how you are doing ~  we are here for you.

Denise,  You qwack me up !

Barb - Hey there neighbor,  how goes it ?

Love yas,

Kitt

Denise-
The only way they saw anything remotely wrong with mine was with the barium swallow and it wasn't that bad. My surgeon finally decided he had to do exploratory surgery to actually see what was going on.

Take care,
Bill

My pain level today was pretty bad when I got to the PT. She was so worried about me she had me to lay down on the table and gave me a trigger point massage fo an hour!
It felt so weird. My shoulder would jump and jerk when she pressed on certain places.

I'm still flairing, but it's not as bad.

I've been coughing a lot lately, but I'm thinking it's my allergies. It's my allergy season right now. Please Lord, don't let it be reflux caused.

Yahoo! I am on cloud nine. Bella gets to come for thanksgiving. I just got done talking to her mom. We got to sing happy birthday to her. She had a big party with all her cousins down there. I'm glad she is by extended family. Just had to share my little piece of heaven with you all. Barb

Awwww Kitt, I'd rather be with you and the dogs than helping with a rummage sale fundraiser on my weekend off. Oh well weather isn't supposed to be so great anyway. Well have to go get Bella's box ready to send tomorrow. Have a good night all. Barb