The Road Of Life ~ Part 2 of 2

I wonder if I can join the Y and get my insurance to pay for it? I love water aroebics. Used to do them many years ago. I feel very light in the water. :P

Well I'm back from the PT. She tested my range of motion and checked my spine. She said I had functional scoleosis (sp?). She had me to some simple waist twists and stepping up and down a stool. I'm a little sore but it's okay.

Hi Joy,
I hope you're feeling better...glad you found your way to PT. That should help you a lot. A Y membership sounds like a good plan. Hopefully your insurance is one that helps pay for it. We planned on joining the Y when we moved, but it turned out to be too expensive for us..there were other gyms (less fancy, no pool, etc.) much, much cheaper.
Good luck with your back and your class!


Barb,
Sorry you're still having so much shoulder pain. What did you have done to your foot? That's feeling better? I'm glad you have a new chair that is comfortable for you. Take it easy with those grandchildren...you'll need to be careful with that shoulder!

My husband and I are on a little getaway this week. I'm writing you from Lake Placid in the Adirondack mountains...the trees are at peak color, and the mountains and lakes are just lovely. As I sit here, I can look out the windows at beautiful fall colors and mountains.

We're really lucky...my daughter-in-law's aunt and uncle own a condo up here, and she arranges for our visits. We've come up several times in summer and winter, but this is our first fall visit. We're loving it! Tomorrow a couple we've known for over thirty years is coming up to spend a couple days here. Unfortunately, my husband is having knee problems...it popped up suddenly the morning we left. I think it's a torn cartilage, and I'm sure at some point it will have to be fixed. So much for hiking with him!

Hope all is well with everyone. I'm having trouble with my reflux (bile I'm sure) and it's wreaking havoc on my vocal chords, and starting to affect my lungs more. I'm going to call my asthma doc and let him know that I want him to get me an appointment with a GI doc. If he can't recommend someone he likes, I'll check with my PCP and see what he says. I actually have a standing appointment with my old GI doc an hour away, on Oct. 11, so if worse comes to worse, I'll go see him. It's a bummer, but I always knew that all that coughing I did post-op was compromising my wrap and hernia repair. I'm not surprised, and don't blame this on my surgeon or the surgery. Hopefully I'll find a great surgeon for a redo. My husband is more than willing to go to Cleveland Clinic if need be. It's only about 3 and a half our 4 hours away, so that's very doable. Does anyone have experience there?

Take care, all. Off to enjoy the beautiful scenery! I am so lucky. I know!
Hugs,
Denise

Joy that makes sense to find that out first. I hope it helps. I won't miss our fall trek through the cumberland, smokies, and the appalachian mountains. I don't know if we will ever make that trip again after what happened last year and now I have the blood clots to deal with too. I hate the 1200 mile drive but do have to admit the trees are very pretty in the mountains.

Denise, I think it's pretty good for only being 4.5 weeks out. It has helped not having it in the sling as far as the pain in my shoulder blade which was really bad. The chair has been a considerable help too. I had one of my seniors pat me very hard on my shoulder and I about passed out. I may have to put a big sign on it saying don't touch the shoulder. I won't see the grandkids until Christmas. I can't wait! I had a bunion taken off my right foot above my big toe and then had the toe nail on my second toe removed because it was ingrown and had a fungal infection. I only get pain if I over do. Still can't get a shoe on becuse of the swelling and then the pressure it causes on the incision site. I go see the surgeon the 8th. I'm sure he'll want to give me a shot in the incision site to help with the pain. He did that with both my hands. It did help though. I'm going to ask him to give me a shot in what was my good shoulder until I had to use it so much it got irritated now. That one only hurts where it connects to my arm so maybe a shot will do the trick. Has your hubby tried taking some natural stuff for his knee like fish oil or glucosamine? I find the fish oil really helps my knees. I hope you have a nice trip and that you find a solution to the stomach issues. Barb

Joy, you sound about as bad as me. My guy really pushed it to today and I as am stiff. Even my right are really sore. i got more exercises to do. I think they think we have nothing to do other than that. It would help if every one would stop touching my shoulder. I should put a big neon sign on my shoulder do not touch. Well almost feel off my chair it's time to go to bed. Talk to you all tomorrow. Take care every one

Kitt, tell her to look at buying a program car. They are well treated the two years they are leased and sometimes you can get a warrenty with it. I got my car for 12,500 and two year warrenty and it was only two years old when I bought it. It was still in pristene condition.

Barb, I did my "homework" at school today. The kids gave me funny looks at first, but they wanted to join me in the arm raises. LOL!

It helped with the spasms a lot.

Barb and Joy,
You two make a great pair! Hey, Joy...when I had my herniated disk, I ate my lunch lying on the floor, and kneeled on the floor when I worked with kids, to avoid the stress of sitting. I was quite a sight, and my friends, I'm sure, got a chuckle out of my predicament.

I hope you're both feeling better!

Hi Kitt...hope all is well. Good luck finding a nice car!

Hugs to all,
Denise

Denise, I've had got that bad. I just lock up in spasms until I do my exercises and it relaxes.

Kitt, I think sometimes we all need an overhauling. ;)
I'd like to go in for a disk replacement and a new paint job. Maybe knock some of these pounds off. :))

Joy I love the overhaul idea! I sure could use one. Kids are always willing to join in on stuff. It's funny how the things we find painful and challenging they think of it as fun.

Denise, I've been busy dealing with lawyer stuff this week. Yuck! It has my colon all upset. I hope I get it under control before next week. I had enough to deal with, with out that acting up. Tomorrow I get to find out what my protine is. It better be worth me giving up my soy milk, salad, cucumbers and anything else green. This all really bites. Oh well I would rather change my diet and avoid taking more medication. How's your stomach doing? better I hope. When is the grandbaby due? I can just imagine how excited you are.

Kitt, hope your tune up went well. Funny you should mention our trip last year. I was talking to one of my seniors yesterday about it. My husband was also saying he was going to miss seeing the grandkids this fall. Even if I had vacation you can't drive that far with blood clots or fly for that matter. We are just hanging around home enjoying the warm fall weather. We've been working on some organizing around the house so it is ready for some major scrapbooking this winter and family gatherings too. My hubby and I love working on our hobby together. We also make a pretty good team organizing stuff. How is your hubby doing with his knees? Well time for bed. catch you all tomorrow. Barb

Good Morning,

Joy, Tis I that is looking for a new ride not my daughter :) One of my Doctor friends gave me this site which I checked out and then I laughed until I cried. http://www.autosourcemn.com/

 

I am a retired nurse not a working Doctor - oh my.  I won't be making a purchase until spring but it is easy to look while the weather is nice so I have some idea of what I might like best.

Barb,  I am sorry to read you are having issues with your Protime levels.  It is sometimes a hard line to keep those numbers right where the Dr. wants them.  Also reading how close you and your hubby are is so uplifting.  The way you support each other and how you have this wonderful loving family to share with makes me tear up as I do miss my Dad and sisters and brother.  I am so thrilled for you and sharing your stories is very kind of you as I love to read what others are doing. Thank you for that.

Denise,  How goes the tutoring these days?  Did you come back all relaxed from your trip?  I bet it was just  wonderful to enjoy the fall weather in such a stunning place. I have been at Lake Tahoe in the fall once and it was spectacular .

I am looking to make an appointment for a full tune up but alas nobody offers that procedure. 

Bill, Let us hear from you as remember we are here to support so vent away or just talk with us.

Janice,  Did you get that kidney stone dealt with? Thinking of you and keeping you in my prayers.

My best to each of you,

Kitt

Hi all-
Sorry for not posting more. Things are very crazy here with moving and all the VA doctor appointments. I am finally getting some answers though. No lyme disease, but my inflamation markers are WAY up. They think I might have ulcerative colitis or crohns. They said that can show up as joint pains as well. Now I have to go through the complete GI work up at VA. We figure this is best because they can talk with each other easier. Then I irritated the tendons for my left thumb and can't grab or lift anything with my left hand. I had this in my right hand years ago and if it doesn't heal up with a brace I have to have a short surgery to open the area up the tendons go through. So it's ice and rest for that hand for now. Just in time for bow season too.
We are just about ready to move out. Haven't found a new house yet, but am moving in with mom for a while to help her out and give us a chance to find something we like.
seems they may be on track to find out why my guts hurt every time I eat. I am down to eating maybe once a day right now. Figure I did it for 3 weeks in the hospital I can do it on my own too! LOL!

Hope everyone has a great weekend. We have 2 more softball tourneys and we are done til March. My daughter has been subbing for other teams and they have won every tourney she helps out with.

Take care,
Bill

Bill, so sorry to hear about all you've got going on. Maybe they can get you feeling better now since they know whats going on or think they do any way. Fish oil can help alot with UC. My doc had me on it and it made a big difference. Now i take it for my heart any way. It can also help the joints. I'll keep you in my prayers.

Joy that is awesome you are making some progress. I can't ever lay flat my my back self either. They have to put a pillow under my knees and when I get up I have to roll on my side and push up with my arm. It makes a huge difference. The first time I went to therapy I forgot to tell them to put a pillow under my knees and he had to lift me up even after I had rolled onto my side. My PT wasn't too bad today. I got more exercises to do of course. You got me beat on the bike though. I did 3 minutes on the arm bike. Keep up the good work.

Denise, my doc told me to just eat my normal diet but once things went haywire 3 weeks ago I started questioning if it was worth eating those things so I cut stuff out on my own. I told the nurse today that pretty soon there won't be anything left for me to eat between the milk allergy, gerd and the protine. He had to put my medication up because it has been 3 weeks now since it got thick. Now I don't know what the point was of giving up all those things. Makes you want to scream. I have a friend at work that is having issues with her blood being too thick and her and I vent to eachother so that does help. It was her turn today and now tomorrow it will be my turn. Lol.

Kitt, thanks you are a dear. I'm glad you like listening to my ramblings. Lol. I always like to hear about everyone elses families too. Especially dogs and grandchildren since those are the topics so dear to my heart. That is one of my favorite things about my job at the senior center is hearing about the pets and grandchildren and how they are doing in general. They always have such neat stories to tell too. I was always drawn to older people because of the wonderful stories of when they were young. Well time for me to go take a quick shower and then into my lazy boy for the night. I have to leave at 6:45am for the hour drive to my surgeons office. Have a good night every one. Barb

Hi Joy,
Everyone must really enjoy your porch at Halloween! It's fun to decorate! I'll bet you send chills up those kids spines...just think how many trick or treaters you'd have if you got all the little ones who are scared to come near! LOL! I love it when I see houses decorated--getting into the spirit of whatever holiday it happens to be. I have such great memories of going Trick or Treating on Halloween. It has always been such a fun and favorite holiday for kids. It is one of the few customs we have that has been passed down. Can you celebrate at school? I found it very motivating to weave instruction into holiday themes.
Hope you back is feeling better today! Enjoy the holiday weekend.

Hi Barb,
Hey, whatever works! Do you know how long you'll be on Coumadin? I had to stay on it for six months. I was so glad when I got sprung! Hope you're enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

Bill,
I hope things settle down for you soon. It sounds like things are pretty hectic at the moment. Glad that you stopped by to say hi. Don't be a stranger!

Kitt,
We had a wonderful and restful time at Lake Placid! Today we took a picnic to a beautiful place--Letchworth State Park. They call it "The Grand Canyon of the East". Here's a link to pictures: http://nyfalls.com/letchworth-main.html
At the bottom of the picture, there are numbers. If you click on each number, it will show a different picture. It's a really special place, and just about an hour from where we live. We hiked along the gorge and I took lots of pictures of my own. The weather was absolutely gorgeous...not a cloud in the sky--and that delicious fall coolness.

My tutoring is going well. Each Wednesday I head down to my son's third grade class to help out in whatever way I can. I do individual testing, listen to kids read, etc. I tutor my student right after school--his mom is a teacher in the same school, so I just walk down the hall and start my lessons with my little "crumb crusher". It gives me my "teacher fix"!

I checked out your "auto source" and got a good laugh! My son has bought two previously used cars and had great luck. He always gets an extended warranty, which also seems to be an important piece. It always more than pays for itself. We're just finishing payments on our last new car. We'll be buying gently used ones from now on! Good luck with your search!

Take care, everyone!
Denise