Surgery Yesterday

 My long awaited surgery hopefully happened yesterday.  The Neurosurgeon is doing a Lumbar Laminectomy at L4. Basically I have a whole bunch of Arthritis that is pinching off my spinal cord and causing my lower back pain, left buttock pain, left leg pain and numbness.  He will remove all the arthritis.   I hope it all goes off without a hitch.  And if there is a hitch...God is in charge!

Recovery will be slow...the first month I can walk and talk...that is about it.  Then after the first month another two months of restricted activity.  So it goes. To be rid of the horrible pain would be a step in the right direction!

I will recover at home in the woods.  Jen and Andy will be helping out for the first while.  Jen will make sure we are well taken care of.  My baby brother is taking over my lawn mowing duties. 

I am not the easiest patient in the entire world...probably not the worst either..however there was that one time when I had been in the hospital a really long time and tried to escape into the sunshine in my wheelchair...some broad at the desk grabbed my chair and turned me around...I gave her "the sign" and told her to go F herself.  Yup...swore at her and everything...right out loud in front of an entire waiting room full of people.

I will be back or Jen will write something for me in the days to follow. 

Prayers are appreciated!

Far Side 

A Shopper

 My baby brother is a shopper...I think he must surf the net for many unique gifts. 

He brought over a gift for me.  A divided dish that will allow me to completely separate my food because I have Brumotactillophobia...fear of food touching! Note how everything has its own space!!

I gave it a whirl and it worked perfectly for my chicken, french fries, baked carrots and a pickle.  

Ain't life grand!

Far Side

Say What?

 Brumotactillophobia.  Go ahead and say that three times real fast...kinda rolls right off the tongue doesn't it?

I realized I had it when I saw this photograph of my Nephew Kirk and his daughter Jordyn. Kirk had a birthday last week and I think he wants to be a Viking:)

Notice their plates...Kirks is a real mess...but Jordyn ...I coveted her pretty pink divided plate immediately when I saw this photo on Facebook (photo used with permission)

Anyways Brumotactillophobia is an irrational fear of food touching.  It is a quirk I have had as long as I can remember.

My stomach has compartments...I am convinced of it.  Perhaps it is my CDO (Compulsive Disorder Obsessive) in hyperdrive! Or is it a control issue?

Sometimes I have a plate and several bowls at the supper table...you know one plate for my steak and my steak sauce way far away from my steak even though I drag my steak through the sauce I do not want it touching until I want it touching...the other bowls would be a salad and a potato...not together... separate bowls..and if I had a slice of bread it would be off my plate on my napkin...and holy moly if I had a pickle it would never be on the plate or in the bowls...it would be on the far corner of my napkin no where near the bread. Pickle juice on any other food is unacceptable to me...Far Guy doesn't care he balances his pickle and bread anyplace on his single plate.  I try not to look at his plate or anyone elses while eating. 

My eating habits are just chaos...and it is getting worse as I age.  I watch lots of cooking shows...and when they stack food up all nice and pretty...stuff under the meat and stuff on the meat... it nauseates me...I am not a good one to take to a buffet...when Far Guy fills up his plate I cannot look at it because I will start to gag.  

It is exhausting for me to put more than one food on my plate...If I put three foods on my plate I would be continually pushing them far apart as possible.  I will never put Jello on the same plate as meat, veggies and mashed potatoes...ever.  No red/orange/lime colored mashed potatoes for me or melting toward my meat or veggies... Jello Alert!! Jello always needs its own bowl.

I can eat soups and hotdish because it is all cooked together!  So see I am a little bit normal! 

Far Side

Awesome

 Sometimes you have to be reminded that you are awesome! 

Sam sent me a belated birthday gift...a reminder that I may be older but I am still awesome!  I love the project bag too...:) Also included were a compact mirror, fuzzy socks and a drink cup...there was also a candle that we will use out on the patio.   Thank you Sam!

Far Side

Cautiously optimistic

Wednesday as I made my follow up appointments at the Clinic an opening was available for a Physical Therapy consult just prior to Far Guy's weekly Thursday Infusion appointment.   So I took the appointment. 

Good News!!  The Therapist is 99% sure that he can totally relieve my pain.  After seeing my x rays he believes that it is my sacroiliac joint on the left side that is the problem...possibly stemming from an injury on June 29 1980 when I broke four bones in my leg and totally dislocated my ankle.  I was unable to have corrective surgery due to a blood infection.  I spent a very long time ( 6 months) in various casts and had to learn how to walk all over again. ( The Doctors all said I would only walk about 10 years back then...see they don't know everything!)

The Therapist explained that my sacroiliac joint is angry and the large muscles have it locked in a painful place...no doubt inflamed with the RA that I have.  He massaged my back and leg...used some cups to increase the blood flow and found all the pressure points that are causing me pain.  He is convinced it is all muscle not nerve.  So I will see him again when they have a cancellation or in October which ever comes first.  In the meantime I have a few new exercises to do, and he said the hot rice bag should be continued along with my nightly whirlpool soaks. 

So at least we have a plan.  I may not need the fancy expensive RA meds at all.  That is really good news!! 

It is very different walking with no pain...strange in fact.  I might get used to it!

So I am cautiously optimistic...one day at a time. 

Far Side

Ok not fine

 The Orthopedic consult happened yesterday...he thinks my hips, knees and ankles are just fine.  "It must be a problem with your back...sciatica maybe...I don't do backs...I will send you for more X rays and for a Physical Therapy consult.  You should really take 2,000 units of Vitamin D a day it might make a difference.  You can see the PA in our Department maybe he can steer you the right way."  

And how long have I been complaining of this pain...about 2 1/2 years...maybe longer...I have been to PT previously and I do the exercises they recommended at that time. 

On other high notes...I am still in limbo with the Rheumatology second opinion at a different clinic (we will call you in 3-4 weeks to set up an appointment)and the latest arthritis med that my Rheumatologist ordered must be lost in the insurance pipeline someplace.  OK not so fine.

What ever.  I was so NOT impressed with the Dr I saw yesterday....even if I required surgery...I would limp off into the sunset. 

I take part of a THC Sativa Gummy...it is supposed to make me more energenic and have less pain...it just makes me sleepy.  The THC Indica Gummy seems to help more with my pain and of course makes me sleepy too. I have not tried the ones with THC, CBD and CBN  ...yet...of course if I can get comfortable and get to sleep I have no pain. 

We had one day of no wildfire smoke and now we have it again.  Far Guy is staying mostly inside.  

Flowers in the wild gardens.

Far Side

Last of July

 I had a quiet Tuesday, I cleaned the bathroom and did some laundry and tackled some odds and ends and then had an afternoon nap.  Still feeling pretty wiped out.  

Now we can say goodbye to July and hello August.  

Far Side

Oh my

 Well...yesterday I began infusions of a new miracle drug called Actemra at the Infusion Center.  About 7 minutes into the infusion I started  to feel "funny"  ....my throat felt scratchy and constricted.  Something was not right.  A heavy weight descended on my chest, like I might drown.  It was hard to breathe and difficult to swallow.

Luckily Nurse Lynn was there within seconds and stopped the IV and began to administered other meds.   She called a code and soon the room was full of Nurses and a Doctor...more meds were given after another bout of feeling "more funny" ...finally I started to feel better but was still wonky and then began to feel better....just tired. 

I will live to see another day.  The meds made me real sleepy and I spent the afternoon asleep.   Far Guy was with me for the infusion and kept watch over me in the afternoon. 

Darn.  I failed another med.  It seems hopeless...I wonder if they will ever find a RA med that will work for me??  So far I have failed Arava ( mouth and tongue ulcers), Humira ( six months with no change in symptoms), Enbrel (extremely high blood pressure), Orencia ( tremors, headache, fatigue) and now Actemra.

Enough excitement for the week.  My RA Doctor is aware and I have an appointment to see my Primary Care Dr in Grand Forks, ND next week.

Far Side

 

Changes

 I am REAL. tired. of changes in medications.  My last Arthritis medication by injection was just. not. working.   It has taken two months to get the new highly expensive drug ($18,000) for two months...good thing we have good insurance so our copay is $76.00  How ever do people without great insurance pay for these kinds of meds?  What does it have in it anyways...gold?  Anyways it is in the fridge, in the meantime my Primary Care Dr is trying without success to manage my pain and my blood pressure.  Uffda.  I am coming off of the medication for pain...the shits is that it was working...except for the side effects.  The withdrawl is horrid....night sweats...tremors etc.  He may attempt a different med in a month. IF all the side effects are gone.  In the meantime I have yet one more BP med to add to the two I already take and a new arthritis injection.  

One thing at a time...the most important at the moment is my Blood Pressure so I will begin that new med now and give it a number of days before I do the Arthritis Injection. Just in case I have a reaction.

My blood pressure is up because of the pain...and the Dr says Naproxen and Aleve are fighting my Blood Pressure meds...so only take Tylenol.  Alrighty then....I will give it a try. 

It sucks to have medication problems. 

We got some rain on Wednesday...the car was almost rinsed off.  Yesterday was Far Guy's Infusion and errands in town...road construction has started in Osage.   We will be staying home the next few days hopefully.  

I see lots of naps in my future. 

Jen's Bleeding Hearts were blooming nicely.   And yes the dogs were happy to see us! 

Far Side

One by one

 Things are getting crossed off our "to do" list one by one.  Yesterday I had blood drawn at the clinic for my Rheumatologist appointment next week.  I hate the late in the morning almost noon fasting lab appointments...so I took raisin bread toast along! 

  After having breakfast at noon in the car I visited my Mom.  She is tired and still recovering from her bout with Covid.  I fluffed out her small Christmas tree and put a few ornaments on her tree.

Later in the afternoon I had an appointment with a Nurse Ambassador from Humira.  They wanted to be sure I knew how to inject myself just in case some day I mess up the injection or it is a bad batch then I can get a replacement.  So that was a necessary appointment!  ( each injection is very expensive between $3,000 and $4,000) Good thing we have insurance.  So far I am noticing a small improvement about a week after the injection that wains to nothing before the next injection.  I take the injections every two weeks...I feel very tired and have burning bone pain for about two days following an injection. 

 One day at a time. 

Swag outside our door, it was a gift from my friend Susie.  She loves making decorations from stuff found in the woods. 

Far Side

Sorting

 I was at loose ends yesterday so I sorted through some "stuff" on my desk.  It is a work in progress.  I have a large covered  box on my desk...a very pretty box with sunflowers on it and it was crammed full of "stuff" that was out of sight out of mind.  Most of it was dealt with or is in progress of being dealt with.  

Everything has a permanent home or goes into the rummage sale tote or is recycled.  

I am in the process of scanning some older photos, some had been tucked away for safe keeping and some my Mother gave me last Spring.  

This photo appeared on my husbands Facebook page last week on my birthday.  Far Guy said "Hey there is a photo of you on Facebook that I have never seen before." 

Ha it could be a mug shot!  Just kidding.  The person who posted the photo must have been going through some newspaper archives.  The year was 1989 and I ran for School Board and lost.  I did win in a couple of Townships.  So much for that experience...the newspaper had to take photos of all the candidates. 

This one was taken in September 1953 when I was two years old.  That is my Mom helping to hold my cake.  The photo was taken at the farm where I grew up.  

So much for sorting through some old memories. 

Far Side

Me and my shawl project

My third shawl in a ball  shawl/scarf turned out very nice.  I may keep it for myself.

It is very colorful but I am getting tired of this color of yarn!  It can be worn many different ways.

I wrapped it around my neck and asked Far Guy to take a photo.  His attempts were hilarious.

I finally took a selfie...my first selfie.

No makeup...just plain old me.  My hair is getting longer and is very silvery.

See proof I do exist! I could have smiled more...could have opened my eyes more...could have put make up on!

Our go to town adventure was uneventful.  This week no ammonia, no Lysol Wipes...same old stuff missing.  Far Guy got his infusion in record time and we were back at home disinfecting groceries.

Gas was up to $1.76 a gallon tourists must be coming. We always see a increase in the price of gas this time of the year.  Towns all around are probably still at $1.46.

Far Side

Run for your life

I can still run...not like in my dreams where I am slow to take off but then soar above the ground only landing every ten or so steps to kick off airborne again.

I run slow like an old lady...but faster than a bunch of angry Paper Wasps/Hornets.  The Internet tells me that a person cannot outrun them...well maybe not everyone...but then again I am not everyone.

It all began after a trip to town for Far Guys Pulmonary Therapy.  A few months ago I bought some stuff called Wet and Forget. it is a moss, mildew and stain remover good for wood or stone. It was there in the garage saying "Remember this project?"  I mixed up a batch to try on a section of patio brick... my sprayer is wonky...but I got it to half ass work.

THEN I decided to go and get the cedar deck and steps out back...on the north side of the house the steps used to look beautiful but now they are looking mossy and dark...I went up the steps and took my wand and flicked a few dead leaves off the deck when I heard buzzing, I was attacked and stung.  I couldn't believe it.  I took off at warp old lady speed with many wasps/hornets chasing me.  Did you know the first one that stings you marks you with something so the other  wasps/hornets can quickly find you?

I dropped my sprayer just outside the front door and went inside and announced very loudly BEES!"

My husband heard "GEES"  he said Gees what?   What ?  BEES!  I was stung.  You were stung?  YES.

He fumbled getting my epi pen but quickly recovered and got me a bag of ice and stabbed me in the leg with the epi pen.   Sometimes I need an extra shot...but I made it by with one and a Benadryl ...which proceeded to make me sleepy.  "You are going to go to sleep aren't you?"  yes...

It was reported that I was cooperative during part of the long sleep by snoring...the rest of the time he had to check my breathing.

Luckily this time I was only stung once on the outer side of my wrist.  It was very painful...the ice helped and I took Aleve.  After my long sleep the swelling is more up and down my arm versus one spot. My right thigh is almost as sore those epi pen needles are pretty big.

I have been allergic to bees since I opened honey bee hives when I was about three years old.

I had a severe reaction to wasps/hornets back in the early 1980's where my tongue swelled so big I had to hang it out of my mouth to breathe...that time I required many many shots and caused quite a stir in the ER in Fargo.

All is well that ends well...although I did have some other things planned for the afternoon other than a long nap.

Lesson learned never be too far from the epi pens.

Far Guy reports that he has sprayed the wasp nest.

Far Side

Me Day

I finally had a me day.  My "me day" may be different from yours.

Curious? 

I played "52 pickup and put away" at least once.  I deep cleaned the bathroom, washed towels and bath rugs.  Washed another load of clothing too.  I phoned a friend who has encountered many losses in the last month, she said I made her feel a bit better...I hope so.     I mowed lawn over at Katie's old place, then a small area over at my other baby brothers place of business and on the way home I mowed the back road.   I now have 71 Christmas Ornaments ready for stage two.  Stage two is being worked on.  I had a long nap (about 2 hours), and we cooked supper together...pork burgers without the bun, french fries in the air fryer and peaches. I spoke with my baby brother last evening, his daughter is recovering from surgery.  Oh yes Jen called and my other baby brother and sister in law stopped by.

It was really nice to stay home all day. I may not have had much time for "me" but I had the time to do things that were important to me.

Fish Hook River and the old Rail Road Trestle Bridge  August 8 2019.

Far Side

Greek Goddess

When Jen did her Ancestry DNA test, she found out that she has some Greek in her background.  So wanting to know more she gave her Dad a Ancestry kit for Christmas. 

Well guess what? He does not have Greek in his DNA.

So…I must have a Greek Goddess in my background…who knew.

Probably the Goddess of War….maybe Athena who was the goddess of crafts and domestic art…and war!

A cruise ship leaving the Big Island of Hawaii January 2019

Far Side

Recouperating

I am taking it easy.  I had the Oral Surgery on Tuesday.  It was rough even with the Nitrous Oxide and numerous shots of novocain…I had many pockets of infection…the Doctor said no wonder you were sick...   Yuck. 

Far Guy is taking real good care of me. He made the mistake of asking me what I would like to eat since I can only eat soft foods for a bit.  I said “Chicken and Noodles and Lemon Pudding.”  Both were accomplished, he can now make homemade noodles from scratch.  He was quite proud of his meringue too.

We walked outside for a bit yesterday.  Far Guy says “Where in the world did you get those pants?  Have you worn them before?  You are not going to wear them out in public are you?”  I have several pairs of colorful warm leggings that I wear in the winter…usually under a long nightgown.  I didn’t feel like wearing real clothes yesterday so I wore the leggings an old shirt and my raggedy old sweater that has holes in the elbows…comfort clothing.

Chance and I went out again after supper….we walked around in the yard and then sat for awhile.  It was crocs with socks weather.

June report…she is melting.

I am so glad the surgery is over. For the most part I am watching the Food Network and sleeping, using ice packs for the swelling and taking my antibiotics.  I still have a fair amount of pain but I hope everyday gets a bit better.

Snow on Monday

It snowed…heavy wet snow.

There was 15 inches at the snowstick but it snowed quite a bit after that.  We got somewhere between 6 and 7 inches of new snow…covered all the crappy yucky snow up.

Snowstick Monday morning.

Far Guy and Chance returning from mail duty.

I am feeling better after I hit my head on Saturday…spring cleaning will kill you!  I was either unplugging or plugging in the vacuum cleaner ( I cannot remember that part) and hit my head on the old oak telephone that is hanging on the wall….the telephone did not move.  I was dazed for a long time and slept very sound and had a real hard time waking up. Someone hovered and made sure I kept on breathing…he said maybe I need a helmet.

The Hand

The hand is sore.  Pictures will follow.  So you can bale out anytime. Getting older and having body parts wear out is not for sissies.

I had to be at the hospital at 9:30 AM for all the pre op questions and the nurse had no sense of humor. Of course she asked me if I felt safe in my home, well what kinda dummy says No when her husband is right there, I think it is a redundant question…seems to me that a paper and pen with the question written down on a piece of paper would be a better idea.   Then she asked me if I was depressed, I laughed and said “Not today.”  She said depression is NOTHING to laugh at and many people are helped because of the questions that nurses have to ask. Alrighty then. She wasn’t half bad at starting an IV, I have had better and worse.  I had to have an hour drip of antibiotics before going to surgery about 11:45 AM.

There was a young man named Casey just outside the OR reading something highlighted in a book.  I said “Hi I am Connie and I bet you are reading about my surgery?”  He replied “Are you the carpal tunnel scheduled?”  He is a Senior at the high school in Nevis and is shadowing Dr Smith for the summer.  John was waiting for me in the OR….he was the anesthetist.

I had some kind of anesthesia in the Operating Room to make me sleepy and not remember a thing and then they put a tourniquet on my arm. The whole surgery took about 20 minutes yet I lost a couple of hours…go figure.  Supposively the Doctor talked to me after the surgery…I don’t recall a thing that he said…good thing he talked to Far Guy.  I had a tumor near the tunnel that the nerve goes through…they are rarely cancerous. The Dr felt that I should have a good result long term since I had two problems in that area of my hand.

Casey’s Mom was the OR Recovery Nurse.  I heard a familiar voice…it was Paul (Far Guy’s Cousin) he helps push carts and deliver people here and there. The Recovery Nurse and I had a nice chat….and since I was talking so much she took me back to where Far Guy was waiting.  It was about 1:45 PM.

I got to eat some toast and have some juice and take pain pills and get dressed and head home.  We picked up a prescription and we got home about 3:30 PM.

My arm was all wrapped up in packing and gauze and an ace bandage.  I could move my fingers and my thumb.  Ice packs became my friend as they took away much of the pain.  I don’t remember much that happened on Friday or Saturday or even Sunday, I slept a lot.  I watched the weather channel and some marathon reality show and a bunch of Harry Potter Movies…I know I talked to a few people on the phone…who I am not sure. I wrote a couple of blogs and I hope they made sense.  Far Guy helped me bathe everyday and get a fresh nightgown on and brought me lemonade and made sure that I ate every so often and wrote down every pill I took and what time I took it. He brought me bags of ice and retrieved the one that leaked all over and woke me up in an icy bath.  Chance laid right next to the couch and slept when I slept. I know Far Guy cooked…chicken and noodles one night, a steak and a baked potato, a soft shell taco… no one starved to death.

Wednesday was the day I could remove the awkward big bandages. Off it came as soon as I woke up on Wednesday!  Oh I hated to look…if it looked as bad as it felt…wowza. It is a pain in the butt hand.  Some movements are very painful and I just cannot do them.  Taking the top off a water bottle, cutting an apple, cutting up a steak….it took me a few tries to butter toast left handed.  I ate left handed…and still am as it is just easier.  Pulling drawers out hurts…I can push with the hand but not pull…I cannot write decently…I have a hard time with fine motor skills…even holding a piece of mail in between my fingers and thumb. I cannot put my own bra on and Far Guy says he is better at taking them off than putting them on.  My fingers are still numb and I still have some swelling and ice is still my best friend to help control the pain.  I can only take so much and I am off to the couch for elevation and ice.

One day at a time.  Here is the aftermath. One week post surgery.

Noah and I tried to count the stitches we think there are fourteen.  Noah said “It will heal nicely.”  I hope so.

Far Guy says that my hand and arm are very angry with me…I have to agree.  The pain that I had before surgery in my elbow and shoulder is gone and hopefully the pain in my hand will be gone sometime soon.  I get my stitches out next Monday.  I can leave it undressed, but sometimes it likes a little more support so I put a dressing on it and an ace bandage.

Arm

I have been having some troubles with my arm, carpel tunnel problems.  I have been to physical therapy and was fitted for a night time brace.  It worked fine for many months and I was pain free.  Now the pain is back and not allowing me to sleep for very long at a time.  Brace or no brace it is still painful.   We thought perhaps I was wood carving too much, but after three days off it is no better…my fingers go numb and the pain goes all the way to my shoulder.  So I am off to physical therapy once again.  Bummer…the brace is a pain in the butt.  I have knocked myself in the head many times with it. ( It is hard plastic and is formed to the shape of my hand and arm so I cannot bend my wrist at all.)  I can also remove the brace in the middle of the night without waking up…it might be time to schedule the surgery.  Far Guy gives me a daily brace report..it was on. it was off. you were sleeping with your arm in the air again. where was your brace? (Chance had it one night…it was on his back)

I have many projects that I am working on…I am painting some of the Christmas Ornaments, I have 12 more to carve from scratch and about 6 that just need to be sanded.  Three more afternoons and I could be done with the carving.

I have two new hobbies/projects that require two good arms.  I have ordered supplies for one and the other I have most everything. But that is hobby “stuff”…

I have “stuff” that I have been working on outside that needs to be done before the snow flies.  I just don’t have time to baby an arm.

eye eye

It has been 8 hours and my eyes are still big black pools.  I can hardly wait to go to sleep. I cannot be cranky whilst sleeping.  Good thing it was a cloudy day.  Good thing Far Guy had a meeting last night…Chance will put up with me no matter what kind of mood I am in. 

The bean field

We had storms on Tuesday night but the worst of it went south of us.  We got 1/2 inch of rain so the grass will grow again.

I had an eye appointment… my vision is pretty much the same.  I am getting new reading glasses.  Far Guy picked them out because of course I could see nothing. Isn’t it funny that the time when your eyes are getting dialated is when they want you to pick out new frames?  I know the glasses felt comfortable on my face.  I have another appointment for the usual Vision Field Tests…just to be sure I don’t have glaucoma.  My pressures are slowly going up 16 then 17 and now 18. I may have some cloudy spots that will have to be taken care of someday when they get bad enough, the Doc says my implanted lenses are properly in place and look good except for a few cloudy spots.

I have a headache and I am cranky…my blood pressure was way up…we had to wait about 20 minutes past our appointment time.  I know I am whining.  I will be better when I can see properly.

Far Guy was patient.  Chance went along because the high yesterday was 68F or 20C eh! A tad chilly for July but I hear it will warm up on the weekend.

Cross one appointment off the list. No rest for the wicked this week, one appointment or meeting after another. Next week isn’t looking real relaxing either.