Ongoing Projects

Every day or two I pick a project to FINISH.  My desk is cleared off now…so more projects will accumulate there.

Can you guess what this is?

I designed this pattern last year.  No it is not a winter bikini top for a skinny minnie with no boobs.   I used a heavy chenille yarn that is very soft. 

The sleigh bell Christmas ornament project is completed.  Well ahead of the 2018 Christmas deadline. I hope I don’t forget about them.

I contacted a “bell expert”  who said that these bells on a brass stand were most likely used on a dinner table and maybe the guests used them to ring in the new year.  Since I wasn’t planning any such dinner in the future the bells were taken apart.

There was a screw that held the base onto the bell.  Far Guy removed all the bases and ribbons were attached at the point where the screw attached and then the screw was replaced holding the ribbon firmly in place…it worked perfectly…the extra brass “stands” are now in the button jar along with one small bell without a dinger.   It was a fun project but I am glad it is done.

Still guessing what I crocheted?

No… not a bank robbers mask.  It is a face mask that people with breathing problems can use in the winter…the yarn is heavy enough to keep out the cold and the way it is designed air can be warmed up before you breathe it in.  This one serves a dual purpose as it is soft enough that Far Guy can wear it next to the right side of his face where his Trigeminal Neuralgia resides.  When he puts his parka on you only see his eyes.

We have a fellow at woodcarving that complained about breathing in the cold air…so I made him a mask also.

We struggled for years to find something that worked for Far Guy…we have a whole collection of face masks…that were either too tight, too loose, too cold…this one is just right.   One skein of bulky chenille yarn from wallyworld makes two facemasks. 

Fall is visiting and a TN Update

Fall came a visiting yesterday..and is going to stay for a long weekend.  40 F or 4 C.  The snow is melting:) 

Forty degrees in December is something to celebrate in Minnesota.  I sat out in the yard in my shirt sleeves with no coat.

We had a busy day yesterday.  We left before daylight for a long drive.  To a Trigeminal Neuralgia Support Group Meeting.  Far Guy felt like he learned some things and his feelings toward Doctors, medication and the frustrations of TN were validated.  I kept telling him he was not nuts and I was sure that other people shared his feelings..and they do.

No one within the group has had the Steroid Injections in their face..nor had they heard of the procedure.  They made lots of painful looking faces when Far Guy described the procedure. The long needle and the pain he endures during the procedure.

Far Guy’s last injection was on September 20 and it did nothing.  Or at least that is what Far Guy says.  I think it did something, it kept the painful zaps at bay but not the everyday pain.  He is scheduled for another injection soon…he has had it with the zaps..which lately have brought him to his knees and unable to speak.. it is time.  Perhaps this is the injection that will keep the pain at bay for six months or more..other people that we know are pain free..so why not him? 

The guest speaker at the meeting was a Neurologist, she seemed to have different opinions than our Neurologist.  She refers most of her patients to the Mayo Clinic..and most end up having some kind of “procedure” which may take the pain away for awhile..but many report that their pain is back.  One lady there said that she has been pain free since starting her one tablet of Tegretol a day and that the rest of us were scaring her.  One poor fellow is bilateral..he has TN on both sides of his face and has had it for 16 years. Another fellow had a “procedure” at U of MN that made half of his face numb..so he cannot tell if he is drooling or his nose in running. He seemed happy to be numb..he was the only one who saw the same Doctor H. that we saw at the University of Minnesota several years ago..the Dr. H. that told us “Anything we do to you would probably make you worse.” 

And so it goes.  We were happy that the weather cooperated to make it an easy traveling day.  After the meeting Far Guy dropped me off at Menards and waited for me whilst I ran in and purchased a gift that our local Menards was out of.  Five minutes..in and out which included waiting in line..speed shopping at it’s best. Twenty- three shopping days left..one package down and who knows how many to go:)

Blue

There are Bluebirds flying around here and there.  I hope we have two sets..it is hard to tell.

I believe they are feeding young.

The little wild violets are blooming too.

I still have my cold, it is getting old.  Coughing at night until I get enough Nyquil in me that I can sleep through the coughing. ( The Nyquil induced dreams are amazingly colorful)  They say it is just a virus and it takes three weeks to get over..I have only had it for 13 days.

Chance was to the Vet for his annual shots and he is not feeling at all well.  His Blood Panel for Tick diseases came back negative..Yahoo! He has a hot spot over one of his hips..he is taking Rimadyl for a few days.  Last night we had thunder and lightening..he hates stormy weather and will try to refuse going outdoors alone.  He MUST have company.

Four days..that is all Far Guy got pain relief for.  His TN pain came back on Friday morning..he woke up with it.  We are both bummed out..he can have another injection in five weeks.

I will get better. Chance will too. Far Guy will just endure:(

Hatchet or a Magic Wand?: TN Update

Since Christmas Day of 2007, we have seen a number of Doctors..Neurologists. Our first one who we really liked..moved to Florida. We bumped along without one for about six months. Then we got a really cranky old guy who never returned my phone calls, Far Guy said "Fire his butt" ..then we went to the University of Minnesota..to find out if there was any type of Surgical procedure that would stop the extreme pain..nothing..anything they could do might make things worse. After a few months we were handed off back to our GP .. the one who admittedly knows nothing about TN. Nine months ago we got Doctor P..the reason I know it is nine months ago is that he sees his patients every three months and we have seen him three times.


He has changed a little from our first visit. Yesterday he talked about Teamwork and how we are all a team..and we have to all be on the same page! He also repeated that he is available by phone, just in case we hit a huge bump in the road. He told me several times, If my phone call was not returned the same day I left it..then I should call back again because he had obviously lost the message. I think he may read my blog..as most of you long time blog readers know I believe that teamwork and communication are both key to helping Far Guy manage his disorder. Perhaps I can put away the hatchet, well maybe I should just carry it in it's holder for awhile. Maybe I should exchange it for a magic wand.


Trigeminal Neuralgia is one of the most painful, frustrating disorders that I have ever run up against. That is just my view..I cannot even imagine it from Far Guy's view. Recently we visited with another couple, he has TN also..but Type I..he had surgery at Mayo..and is now pain free. They encouraged us to go there.


Well..I suppose we could seek more opinions. . BUT..over the course of the past 23 months..four different Neurologists have said .." I don't believe surgery is indicated" "Your MRI shows nothing that can be addressed surgically" "I would never send you to Surgery, it may make you worse.. (Anesthesia Dolorosa) " "Your type of TN is best treated with medications." So the dilemma..do we go to yet another Clinic..to find one Neurologist that says "Yes" ..and then have to decide if four are correct..or one??


I would like to wave my magic wand and have it all better. We are not going anyplace else. We are going to stick with Dr P ..I hope he doesn't move or croak.


The support group that we helped to form a year ago..is not active. Far Guy keeps track of a number of people, there are so many people that have it in this area. I did what I could..they are adults..I should not have to lead them by the hand.


We found out recently that some new research is being done. Some research involving mice..their myelin sheath that covers the Trigeminal Nerve is destroyed..after we read the article..We looked at each other and said "The poor little buggers, they can't even talk." " There is no escape for them either, stuck in a lab..how does a mouse commit suicide?" We laughed..but really it was not a laughing situation ..especially if you are one of those very unlucky mice.

Some people are still very insensitive.. they ask me in hushed tones "How is HE doing?" Ask him yourself! The mail ( not misspelled, that guy is on my shit list) person that rubbed Far Guys bald head the other day nearly got it with my hatchet/wand. Ladies for the hundredth time..do not hug my husband..I know he is handsome as all get out and you feel you must hug him..but don't.. your hair will touch his face..he will have pain for hours after your lovey dovy hug.


We got permission from the Doctor to lessen the dose of Neurontin..we will see how it goes. Far Guy is more forgetful, we hope some of the fog lifts.. and that the pain does not increase. It really sucks when you have to decide between fogginess and pain..it is all about finding a perfect combination of medications..we have not found it yet.


So I guess I am not quite ready to turn in my hatchet for a wand yet.. we are finally back to where we were back in August before Far Guy had a Wisdom Tooth magically appear..that had to be surgically removed. TN is a strange disorder..Dr P says it has a mind of it's own... and it varies from one individual to the next.
We just keep keeping on one day at a time:)