What Did You Do Today?

[Blueyes]

Diana, I hope you have a good party and it doesn't rain! I hate that your niece is having so much trouble.

Gayle, Mike has regular bone density tests because his Lovenox causes bone loss. So far, so good!

Mike's surgery went fine today. Now we just have to wait until at least Monday for the biopsy report. Gonna be a long weekend!

[DianaB]

I would be on pins and needles too. I'm praying for good results.

Janet's not having a good day. The news from the doctor was hard to take and not what she wanted to hear. Keep her in your prayers.

[Blueyes]

I saw Janet's post on FB. No wonder she's been in so much pain! She is certainly in my prayers. When you get bad news and you are feeling so much pain, it just makes it a million times worse.

[gja1000]

Betsi, I'm glad Mike's surgery went well. I know it will be a long wait till Monday!

I'm glad Janet found out what was wrong, even though the news was not the best. I'm hoping the Prednisone and rest will do the trick!

[Janet]

Thanks everyone for the prayers. Diana is right, it was an awful day. When I arrived at the Drs. office I had to fill out more paperwork...same old information, but very painful to sit and try to write.

I was called to a room and then to another to have a couple xrays taken. I was standing for these xrays and just cried. It hurt so bad to have my arm hang down like that. I was only in the patient room a few minutes when the Dr. came in. His name is Dr. Brkaric and very nice. The same Dr. that did Rick's back surgery.

I wish I could show you the xray, but the best way to visually explain it is if my spinal column was a pencil and there were two notches out(pinched)...one right below the other. If I can figure a way to get the xray on here I will, but it will have to be tomorrow or later.

If you click on this link http://www.indianaspinecenter.com/education.html and then click on Surgical Procedures and then Anterior Cervical Discectomy & Fusion it will show how the surgery would be done IF it has to be done. If you then cick on non-surgical procedures and then click on Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection it will show how the injection would be done. He said the injection may not work the first time but can be repeated two more times at two week intervals.

Tomorrow I also have to start taking 6 MethyIPREDNISolone for each two days and then take 5 for two days....etc until down to 0. I also have to make the appt for the injections and then start PT 4 times a week for 2 weeks. I can't drive the bus till my next appointment which is in 3 weeks.

What a mess huh? As long as this pain will go away...I'll do anything.


I sure pray the rest of you and your husbands stay healthy. Maybe we should all pull our money together and build our own nursing home for 4WT ladies and their families. We could all take care of each other...

[gja1000]

Janet, this is exactly what Gary has, but his is not nearly as bad as yours, at least I don't think so. He can't have an MRI due to his pacemaker so we don't really know, but I don't think his pain is as bad as yours. I'm hoping that you can get relief with the shots. And if it isn't complete relief, maybe you can get enough relief to make it to summer before you have to have surgery. But we won't think about that now! I know you'll do what the doctor says, I just know it!

[gja1000]

Gary has to go see his electrophysiology (pacemaker) doctor tomorrow. We saw his cardiologist Wed. and she thinks his pacemaker needs to be adjusted. She called the pacemaker doc while we were in her office (thats one good thing about docs having cell ohones). It's a fancy pacemaker with an internal defibrillator and so he has to go to the electrophysiology lab to get it adjusted. They must have thought it needs to be done quickly because I called today and they told us to come in tomorrow. I was going to Houston tomorrow, but I guess I'll wait and go on Sat. if Gary is OK. Abi has a v-ball tourney Sat. and I really want to see her play.

[Blueyes]

Dear mercy, what a week! Janet, Mike has had epidural injections and they always help him. I hope the pred pack gives you some quick relief.

Glad the doc caught that Gary needs his ticker adjusted and they are doing it quickly. It's kinda scary when they get you in the next day, huh? I hope you still get to go see the kids. I'm trying not to think about the possibility of NOT getting to see mine for a long time... But first things first!

[gja1000]

I don't know how you do it Betsi, (wait so long to see your kids) but I guess you just have to. I'm so sorry.

Yes, it is a little scary when they whisk Gary right in the doc's office.

Hey you northern gals, read about the Texas version of the groundhog. http://kriv.m0bl.net/w/main/story/53085913/

[gja1000]

Another Texas spin on the groundhog's prediction.

http://austin.ynn.com/content/mobile...n-early-spring

[judy]

Scary things! I am praying for Mike, Betsi, that his biopsy is benign. Praying for Gary that his pacemaker adjustment is a one time thing, and that he gets a nice space of feeling well.

Janet, I am praying for you that the shots work. I know several people who go for the shots, and they do work well. Let's just be positive, and go for that goal! I'm also praying that the prednisone helps the pain quickly go away.

Jessie is supposed to come over today. She has a backpile of medical pills to get reimbursed for, and I am very good at organizing that kind of thing. Mackenzie sang at the talent show last night. She was terrific! The mike was a bit too low for her, and she kept brusing her hair out of her face. Now that she sings so well, the technical things show up to me, I guess. I am so proud of her. She texted a boy that she likes him yesterday! He kept asking her and asking her who she likes, so she finally told him. If he comes up to her nose, I would be surprised! He is a nice boy.

[judy]

Oh...and I am ready to spit! The dental insurance company wants MORE information! I can see why people give up. I feel like forgetting about it. They just get under your nerves, and after a while, you just want them out of your life!

[gja1000]

Originally Posted by judy

Oh...and I am ready to spit! The dental insurance company wants MORE information! I can see why people give up. I feel like forgetting about it. They just get under your nerves, and after a while, you just want them out of your life!

I think they are hoping you will give up. At least that is what I think they do in these cases. If you give up, they win.

[gja1000]

They are checking Gary's pacemaker right now. It stores every heartbeat since it was implanted in 2004. He had some chest pain yesterday at 5:15 PM and his pulse was irregular , so they are checking that time period to see what his heart was doing at that time. He felt fine Wed. when he saw his cardiologist, but he didn't feel good yesterday or today. You know, it's always something. he also had an episode last night about 1:00 AM, he felt like he couldn't breathe. Hope they find the perfect answer today!

[Blueyes]

Most medical technology is amazing! Let us know what they find. I hope they figure out the secret ingredient Mike is feeling pretty good today. Not much pain at all