skip to main |
skip to sidebar
Well, Happy New Year to all. Here is hoping that 2014 will bring peace and good health to all!
I had my MRI done New Year's Eve and thanks to my sweet daughter I got through it without a hitch. I had really gotten anxious about it since the last one I had I got a little claustrophobic and they had to stop and give me something to calm down. This time I kept the rag over my eyes and Jamie was able to sit in the room and put her hand on my foot. I don't know why that was reassuring but it really worked. I'll get the results on January 10th. and I see the surgeon on January 16th.
I have an appointment with my primary doctor on the 7th and I'm going to ask her about prescribing something for depression and anxiety. I'm afraid my emotions are running away with me and my anxiety over Mike is just wearing me down. I've got to get a grip on all this. If for no other reason than I really need a good night's sleep!
Christmas was quiet. My niece was admitted to the hospital on the 23rd by her dad. She's going downhill like a bobsled. Her drinking has just increased and it's definitely put her health at risk. Her dad (my brother) wants to believe her and support her but I'm afraid it will be to his detriment. She will suck the life out of him physically, emotionally and financially if he doesn't set some boundaries. But she isn't my daughter and it is easier for me to say that.
I'm not going to be posting regularly for awhile. I have just too many irons in the fire right now. My boss is hiring someone to replace me with the understanding that when I'm rebuilt from the waist down I will have the option of returning if I want to. That's a promise I hope is honored. Of course we all know how retirement can be forced upon workers and they may happen in my case. Fortunately I have enough leave to cover me through this year while I get overhauled. I'll be 66 in 18 months and that will be just about enough time to get all the surgeries behind me (I hope).
My next big hurdle is to see if my insurance will approve these surgeries...............keep fingers crossed because I don't know what I'll do if they don't.
Saw the dentist this morning and he doesn't know what is wrong with my jaw. He thinks it may be my tooth but it isn't conclusive. It also may be due to the fact that I grind my teeth. Going to watch it awhile and see it it gets any worse. I have a crown on that side of my mouth and it may be that tooth and might need a root canal. He wants to be very proactive since I'm looking at a hip replacement soon and you have to be extra careful that you don't have any kind of infection when you have surgery.
Speaking of surgery......I have been investigating this surgery and there is a new procedure called the anterior approach. It requires a 2-3 day stay in hospital and you leave walking. No therapy time involved. No pain.
This is because they go through the front of the hip and do not cut through any muscle. This speeds up recovery and healing extensively.
I sent the doctor an email and I'm going to call later today. I want to see if I am a candidate (most people are) and see where to go from there. Ron and I can fly to Houston, have the surgery and be home in about 4 days. It would be so worth to me if I could do it. I'd be able to have the second hip done a lot sooner too. Keep your fingers crossed that I can make this happen!!!!!!
My outlook has improved so much because now I know what is wrong with me and their is a light at the end of the tunnel. I hope that after the surgeries I will get my life back and be free of pain. I had gotten so depressed when I thought that I was never going to get any relief.
They made the decision yesterday to double fill my position here at the hospital. They will be hiring my replacement and I'll have a few weeks to work with the selection before I have the first surgery. I'm good with the decision because it will take a lot of stress off me and I can concentrate on rehabbing my hip after surgery. The position will remain double filled until I'm ready to retire which may be in 18 months or if I feel like a new person I may choose to work longer. Who knows.
Next thing on my list is to see the dentist in the morning. I have a painful lump on my jaw and I want to see if it a tooth or what. Ron ended up having to cancel his last surgery because of an infected tooth. I don't want that happening to me.
If anyone out there has had a hip replacement please let me know how it went. I am familiar with knee replacements but not hips. I'm nervous and don't know what to expect.
Well, I finally found out what is causing me so much hip pain. It wasn't bursitis but instead I need two hip replacements and two knee replacements. I was caught off guard to say the least.
I'm starting with spinal injections to help with the slipped disc and nerve pain then I'll schedule the right hip replacement. We'll see how that goes and then decide when to schedule the left hip. I probably won't address the knees until I absolutely HAVE to and that may be after I retire.
Jan 2, I have the MRI and then Ron has his CT scan in mid January. We need the results of his scan before I schedule surgery for myself.
We are never prepared for a surprise! Just when I think I have my life plotted out I get a big surprise! Our biggest decision is when to tell Mike. It won't be until we have to because he gets really anxious if anything is going on with Ron and I. I only have to refer to Ron's lung surgery.
I was so saddened to learn about the passing of Patrick Leer. He wrote the Caregivingly Yours blog and was just a fine man. He was primary caregiver for his wife Patti for over 20 years. Patrick chronicled their experience and provided invaluable information to other caregivers. He will be missed.
I spoke with the financial adviser today concerning purchasing the house for Mike and selling the current house. I don't know if I'm enlightened or just hopelessly confused. Gosh I wish I was smarter! If I had known how much I was going to use my brain when I got older I would have taken more math!
I have had a rough week between back pain and hip pain and no sleep. On top of a winter storm that made me afraid to step out on the ice. Fortunately I was able to stay at home for most of it and ice my back.
I'm looking at a house that is for sale directly behind ours. It is a cute 2 bedroom home that would be perfect for Mike. We could put a gate in the fence and he could walk over anytime he wanted. We talked to a realtor yesterday and toured the inside of the house (with Mike). The only question Mike had was, "How am I going to use my goggles in that shower?" Instead of a walk-in shower it has a tub/shower combination. That threw him a curve ball I guess. But he went home and "practiced" by taking a shower in the tub/shower combo in his current house. He said, "It can be done."
Now, my anxiety level is way up there because I don't want to make a bad financial decision, I don't know if I'm physically up to moving Mike and I don't know if that is just TOO close for comfort. The reality is that we are taking care of him 24/7 as it is and this would just make it a lot more convenient. The taxes are lower because it is a much smaller house than what he is in now. It has been completely renovated with new windows/new siding/paint and carpet so we wouldn't have much maintenance.
So, I'll pray about it and try to make this best decision for everyone concerned.
Cyber Monday.....this is about as cyber as I get today. I have a board meeting in about 40 minutes and the golf cart parade is at 6:00. This has already been a long day and just getting longer.
Our Thanksgiving was good. The girl's 1/2 brother and his wife were here and they had a great weekend getting to know one another. I was very thankful that they have found one another and seem so happy.
I've been down in my back since last Wednesday and I'm really anxious to see the orthopedist on the 15th. I know I'll have to do an MRI before I know just exactly what if anything can be done.
I'm going to try and post pictures tomorrow of the parade.
