I saw the Dr. today and thought I'd share the latest. The bottom line
is that I have a bad back. He said that this is just something I will have to
learn to live with and not to blame fibromyalgia but just accept it and learn to
adjust my life to a much slower lifestyle. No lifting more than 10 pounds, no
twisting, turning, bending, etc. Buddy has taken over quite a lot of my every
day chores and Pam does my cleaning for me. Quite the life, huh? I can't
drive until I'm off drugs and that should be in a month or so. I'm to see how
an antiimflamitory like Aleve will do. I also need to wear the corset when I'm
out and away from home. It's not terribly comfortable, but it does its job.
We can't say enough good about Dr. Alberstone and St. John's Hospital.
I'm so thankful that my problem was taken care of so quickly. I was referred
to Dr. Alberstone because my neurosurgeon, Dr. Herman was going on vacation and
my primary care Dr. Gary Wikholm was also going on vacation but recommended Dr.
Alberstone. God just had a hand in it!!! I see the doctor again in six weeks
and I hope to be off the drugs by that time. Remember me in your prayers.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Monday, July 20, 2009
Here I am again
Boy, what happened to our cool June weather? I'm sort of trapped in
the house and no air conditioning. I'm not griping. We have ceiling fans
that do a great job.
I'm getting better each day,but the fibromyalgia(I guess that's what
it is) keeps me thankful for pain pills. Don't worry, I've learned something
from Michael Jackson- get off the pills as soon as possible. I take the pain
pill every four hours and someone said "what do you do for an alarm clock?" and
I said "Pain!!!!!"
Thanks everyone for your prayers and thoughts and gifts. I hope I got
a thank you card to everyone. If not, let this be it.
Buddy has done a good job of helping me get through this. He is not pain
free himself. I guess like all the "old people", we are making up for all the
things we shouldn't have done to our bodies when we were young.
Keep remembering us in your prayers as we do you.
the house and no air conditioning. I'm not griping. We have ceiling fans
that do a great job.
I'm getting better each day,but the fibromyalgia(I guess that's what
it is) keeps me thankful for pain pills. Don't worry, I've learned something
from Michael Jackson- get off the pills as soon as possible. I take the pain
pill every four hours and someone said "what do you do for an alarm clock?" and
I said "Pain!!!!!"
Thanks everyone for your prayers and thoughts and gifts. I hope I got
a thank you card to everyone. If not, let this be it.
Buddy has done a good job of helping me get through this. He is not pain
free himself. I guess like all the "old people", we are making up for all the
things we shouldn't have done to our bodies when we were young.
Keep remembering us in your prayers as we do you.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Home at last
Whew, I don't want to go through this again!!!!! I got to go home on Tuesday,
and I was ready.I can't say enough good things about St. John's Hospital. The
staff, the facility-everything was just wonderful. If I've talked to you, you
know my "FIRSTS". 1.First time with Socrates for a nurse (everyone called him
Soc. 2. First time to wear a paper diaper, and 3. First time with a male nurse
at clean-up time.
One nurse (bless her heart) felt compelled to help me extend my time between
medications. There was a notation in my room white board that said "My personal
goal was to get the pain under control. After a couple of these incidents, the
floor doctor said he'd let the head nurse know that if I really needed medication
I could have it shorter than the prescribed 4 hours.
I'm glad I chose and was accepted into rehab. I didn't feel ready to come
home after a week and the additional 5 days really was a help. Buddy was not too
good at taking care of himself, let alone me.
I won't be having physical therapy for a few weeks. Dr. Amberstone said
they could sometime be a little too physical. I learned some simple exercises I
can to to get me more mobile.
If I had any doubts about having Fibromyalgia before, they have been laid
to rest. My pain is seldom concentrated in my surgery site. Good ole Fibro, goes
from head to foot and I plan to be on meds for several weeks.
We had a surprise visit from Buddy's cousins from Arkansas. Sedalia has been
a big help and we are so close. They left earlier than we wanted, but when Charlie
gets ready to go home, they go home. I felt the poor host. It was Kentucky Fried
chicken, Jack-in-the-box and the like. The bad part was that they gave us good
"ole southern cooking when we were back there last.
Nancy has made herself sick taking care of things. I knew she was doing too
much, but you usually don't argue with her. Pam and Steve were right in there too.
Pam did my hair twice. The "helicopter" look wasn't too good, and she does a
greatjob.
You will notice there are no pictures with this blog. I didn't even like to
look at myself, let alone let others see me.
Lastly, thanks for all the thoughts and prayers that went up on my behalf.
I'm pretty much confined to home except for short jaunts.
and I was ready.I can't say enough good things about St. John's Hospital. The
staff, the facility-everything was just wonderful. If I've talked to you, you
know my "FIRSTS". 1.First time with Socrates for a nurse (everyone called him
Soc. 2. First time to wear a paper diaper, and 3. First time with a male nurse
at clean-up time.
One nurse (bless her heart) felt compelled to help me extend my time between
medications. There was a notation in my room white board that said "My personal
goal was to get the pain under control. After a couple of these incidents, the
floor doctor said he'd let the head nurse know that if I really needed medication
I could have it shorter than the prescribed 4 hours.
I'm glad I chose and was accepted into rehab. I didn't feel ready to come
home after a week and the additional 5 days really was a help. Buddy was not too
good at taking care of himself, let alone me.
I won't be having physical therapy for a few weeks. Dr. Amberstone said
they could sometime be a little too physical. I learned some simple exercises I
can to to get me more mobile.
If I had any doubts about having Fibromyalgia before, they have been laid
to rest. My pain is seldom concentrated in my surgery site. Good ole Fibro, goes
from head to foot and I plan to be on meds for several weeks.
We had a surprise visit from Buddy's cousins from Arkansas. Sedalia has been
a big help and we are so close. They left earlier than we wanted, but when Charlie
gets ready to go home, they go home. I felt the poor host. It was Kentucky Fried
chicken, Jack-in-the-box and the like. The bad part was that they gave us good
"ole southern cooking when we were back there last.
Nancy has made herself sick taking care of things. I knew she was doing too
much, but you usually don't argue with her. Pam and Steve were right in there too.
Pam did my hair twice. The "helicopter" look wasn't too good, and she does a
greatjob.
You will notice there are no pictures with this blog. I didn't even like to
look at myself, let alone let others see me.
Lastly, thanks for all the thoughts and prayers that went up on my behalf.
I'm pretty much confined to home except for short jaunts.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Birthday Bash
Whew!!!! /what a day. I talked with the kids and the grandkids and we all
think everything went off perfectly. It was not a surprise, but WAS IT A
SURPRISE.
The church was a perfect place for the party. The sound system was already
in place, the tables and chairs were available, Most everyone knew where it was.
I didn't get the count, but it was a good house full.
The food was delicious and suited most everyone. There were leftovers, but
not much and Buddy and I took home a lot for today. It was good the second
time around.
I was so pleased that all family members had a part. Of course I loved the
music, especially the quartet. I could see feet patting all around. Nancy, Joe,
Steve and Pam have sung before and they said they had some time to practice. I
think there was a joint effort in the "For my Nana" presentation, though I
think I heard a little "Cassie" in it.
It was so nice to see some Old, old, friends. Not so much in age as in
time known. I could see a lot of visiting going on and people meeting new
people.
I just wanted you to know that there is a young 30 year old inside this
old 75 year old body. It's just that the 75 year old can't keep up with the
30 year old, but that gives me time to do some slower fun things.
I've outlived my dad but not my mother. They would have really enjoyed
yesterday.
think everything went off perfectly. It was not a surprise, but WAS IT A
SURPRISE.
The church was a perfect place for the party. The sound system was already
in place, the tables and chairs were available, Most everyone knew where it was.
I didn't get the count, but it was a good house full.
The food was delicious and suited most everyone. There were leftovers, but
not much and Buddy and I took home a lot for today. It was good the second
time around.
I was so pleased that all family members had a part. Of course I loved the
music, especially the quartet. I could see feet patting all around. Nancy, Joe,
Steve and Pam have sung before and they said they had some time to practice. I
think there was a joint effort in the "For my Nana" presentation, though I
think I heard a little "Cassie" in it.
It was so nice to see some Old, old, friends. Not so much in age as in
time known. I could see a lot of visiting going on and people meeting new
people.
I just wanted you to know that there is a young 30 year old inside this
old 75 year old body. It's just that the 75 year old can't keep up with the
30 year old, but that gives me time to do some slower fun things.
I've outlived my dad but not my mother. They would have really enjoyed
yesterday.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Texas-Arkansas trip
Well, we're back home safe and sound. I tried to add a picture
to my blog and it didn't come out right so I did it this way.
That is a picture of Buddy's cousin's wife' dog drinking out
of her iced tea glass. Not with her approval, of course, but
I thought it just s aid the right thing for our trip. We had
a wonderful trip, but were glad to get home. The weather and
the countryside are beautiful and GREEN!!! The Fosters in Texas
are wonderful hosts and fed us like royalty. The same in
Arkansas. Such good food!!! I'm going to try and take some of
those pounds off now that I'm home.
We both had wheelchairs this time. That had to be a funny
sight-two hop-a-longs on a trip. Believe me, though, that is
the way to go. Fake it sometime and see how nice they all
treat you. They take you exactly where you want to go and
quickly too.
Now that we're home, I still need to go through the "stuff"
we brought back to town from the ranch. There shouldn't be
any needy homeless now. I've given away a ton of things-and
still need to go through things again. Buddy and I both made
the trip well. Buddy had very little vertigo and I made it
on several shopping trips. Again---it's good to be home.
to my blog and it didn't come out right so I did it this way.
That is a picture of Buddy's cousin's wife' dog drinking out
of her iced tea glass. Not with her approval, of course, but
I thought it just s aid the right thing for our trip. We had
a wonderful trip, but were glad to get home. The weather and
the countryside are beautiful and GREEN!!! The Fosters in Texas
are wonderful hosts and fed us like royalty. The same in
Arkansas. Such good food!!! I'm going to try and take some of
those pounds off now that I'm home.
We both had wheelchairs this time. That had to be a funny
sight-two hop-a-longs on a trip. Believe me, though, that is
the way to go. Fake it sometime and see how nice they all
treat you. They take you exactly where you want to go and
quickly too.
Now that we're home, I still need to go through the "stuff"
we brought back to town from the ranch. There shouldn't be
any needy homeless now. I've given away a ton of things-and
still need to go through things again. Buddy and I both made
the trip well. Buddy had very little vertigo and I made it
on several shopping trips. Again---it's good to be home.
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