Category: My Life

Today I sent Hubby out with a list of errands to run, groceries to get, and permission to go to see a movie, that I wanted to see, but right now, couldn’t sit through if I wanted to.

I stayed home with the pooches, and did laundry, watched TV and actually fell asleep and took a nap.

Today I sort of started to feel a little nervous. The hospital called to preregister me, and suddenly it all seemed so real.

Tomorrow I will pack my suitcase, have Hubby help me change the sheets, and probably take a nap and watch TV.

Moving the old neck around is not a good thing, so just sitting in my love seat surrounded by dachshunds, watching the TV, is very comforting.

I am nearly done with my Christmas shopping. I have done it online, and some will have to wait until after Christmas when I can get out again.

But life, although scary right now, is good. Soon the operation will be over and I will be on the healing end of things.

The hours are ticking down until my surgery on Thursday. I’m trying to get things done, and at the same time, keep myself comfortable.

I finished addressing my Christmas cards, worked on ordering Christmas presents,  and then took a little nap.

But in the early part of the day, I was feeling kind of crappy, and all I wanted was to pick up the phone and call my Mom.

That’s the really hard thing. Once your parents are gone, there are no more phone calls, no more assurances, no comfort.

So, I picked up my phone and called my cousin. I explained how I was feeling and she said the magic words. “Oh poor baby.” (Said in a good and loving manner.)

So, we are going down the final stretch. Thursday, I will be in surgery and after that it’s recovery!

Yes, life is looking up!

In a bit I am off to meet a Neurosurgeon at Dartmouth Hitchcock. I am praying that he can help me, and operate sooner, rather than later on my spine.

I admit to being rather grouchy lately. That’s probably putting it mildly. In fact currently, I really don’t want to be around myself.

I have a friend whose motto is “No Excuses”, and I really should follow this and not allow my grumpiness to leak out.

But, (here’s the excuse), I don’t do pain well. In fact, I do pain really, really, badly.

Currently, the dackels are the only ones who are putting up with me. Lili, (since she knows she has caused this to a degree), is steering clear of me. Every once in a while, she does come up and tries to apologize, but as I have said, I’m just not in that good a mood!

So, I am hoping that all will go well at my appointment today, and that relief will be on the horizon!

Well, I need spinal surgery. I met with the surgeon, who seemed very nice, but told me that it would be about 6 weeks until he could do this.

Um, I’m thinking it would not be a good thing to wait six or more weeks, taking heavy painkillers and basically not able to move very much.

I feel like crying. Both from the pain and from the frustration. I said to Hubby, that perhaps I should call my Rheumatologist and ask his opinion. I will do that in the morning.

Meanwhile, I’m hanging in there and hoping that it will work out, one way or another.

Over the weekend I joined a Facebook Group for people going through exactly what I’m going through, with disc problems in their neck. Who knew that there would be a Facebook group just like that, for me!

Anyway, I have been reading all their comments about the procedure, recovery time, and most of all, the pain afterward, I think I can deal with this.

The surgery is done from the front, and the scar will actually be quite small.

But, as I have said, with all the scars on my forehead and nose, what’s another scar, right?

My biggest desire is to just get rid of the pain I am in now, and they have all said the same thing. It’s gets better as your scar heals up.

One person told me that it was hard to swallow for a while, without pain. This could be a great start toward losing weight at Weight Watchers class! lol!

I really hope they can get me in quickly, so I will be up and ready to celebrate Christmas with Mandy, Matt and Savannah. I know that even if I simply sit there with them, it will be a happy event.

Meanwhile, I am trying to keep moving, so that at least my leg muscles stay in shape.

Have a great Monday and week ahead!

Here I sit/lie down, as I wait for Monday to meet my surgeon. Hubby has been so nice and is trying to take care of me, the best he can. But it is so hard, as fours dogs plus one sick wife, are pretty demanding,

I’m glad to know why I hurt so badly, and I never knew that a blown disc could cause this kind of pain.

Thank goodness my doctor is not only a great diagnostician, but has those skeleton spine things, so he could explain my rather bizarre symptoms.

I can honestly say that I like my PA better than my GP. I think in the future, I will simply request to see him instead.

Meanwhile I am moving around the house, slowly, but I’m trying to keep my leg mussels in reasonably good shape.

However, I can hardly wait for the surgery, as this pain really pulls you down.

I made it through Thanksgiving and today the appointment was made for my MRI. I will have it late Tuesday, which means I probably won’t know anything until Wednesday afternoon.

I will say that this is one very painful ailment. I just cannot seem to find a comfortable position unless I am flat on my back.

My doctor thinks it is a cervical disc, but until I have the MRI we simply won’t know for sure.

I am quite thankful for my new bed. At least while I am stuck in bed, the rest of my body is very comfy.

The dackels are happy with it, except Anneliese. She is not big enough to climb the steps up to the bed, as this bed is about two-three inches taller.

I will update things, as I find them out. I am hoping and praying this is something that can be fixed without surgery.

Well, this just stinks!

A few weeks back I injured my neck. I’m really not sure how I did this, but suffice to say, it hurts like heck, and it is sidelining me. Just being on my feet to make meals, caused me a lot of pain.

But I think the thing that scares me the most is the numbness in my left arm and hand, and the shooting pain from my neck to my shoulder to my fingers.

I’ve had strained mussels, I’ve torn ligaments and tendons, and I have broken bones, but nothing even comes close to this.

The MRI should be done at the beginning of the week, and once we have a firm diagnosis, we will have to figure out what to do next.

Quite honestly, I just want the pain to stop! Despite pain pills, and a sedative to relax me, I’m really not doing too well.

So, if it is not too much, please keep me in your prayers.

Here I am December of 2002 after my first retinal detachment. That was pretty painful surgery. But, I made it through.

And here I am this morning after eye surgery, yet again! It was not the retina, but actually a cyst on my eyelid.  

I think it looks worse than it actually feels.

Looking back at the last 57 years, mostly they have been good ones. Certainly, I have been very fortunate to be surrounded by love.

So sit back and enjoy this short video. It highlights my happiness, my joys, and my loves.

Happy Birthday to me!