I met a new slot machine yesterday and I'm in love. I think its true love even tho we've never done the bonus round (there's a euphemism I'm giving away for free) I don't know the name of it, but the lovability comes from a feature called the Scottish Scatter. A little frame that moves from spot to spot while the reels are spinning. After the reels stop, the frame lands on a symbol. If there are 2 or more like symbols anywhere on the screen it acts as a scatter pay.
In other news, people are moving actual furniture out of my new house. Rita spoke to the current owner and they hope to be out by the first of October.
In other, other news, I finally bought a wrist immobilizer for my right wrist. Erika referred to it as a wrist thingy but I shy away from that word because in my married life thingy meant something else. But I digress. I got the immobilizer home last night a put it on right away. It felt fantastic. I woke up about 4 in the am with an itch and a pain I couldn't ignore. I removed the immobilizer to find that I had left my bracelet on underneath it and now had a permanent imprint of my bracelet. I left it off for the rest of the night (and took off my bracelet) and the imprint seems to be gone now.
I can do most things I need to do with it on and when I feel myself impaired its only to realize that those were the areas when I was over using my wrist. Typing is good but the remote control is now a two handed tool because the fingers of my left hand don't know where all the buttons are.
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
Sunday, August 21, 2005
Twenty Five cents richer
Rita stopped over today and brought me some more Kelly green cucumbers (this is me chuckling at that pun). Kelly has planted a garden in his yard and is reaping a plethora of cucumbers. I really like them. I had forgotten how much better they taste when really fresh. She pointed out the one picked this morning and I am going to eat that one as soon as my poppin fresh rolls are finished cooling off.
She went cushion diving for me and came up with a quarter and a peanut but no nail file. I told her she could keep the quarter but she didn't. Hence the title.
I had a nice little IM conversation with Marcel last night. He reminded me that it was Bernie's birthday and we went back and forth about what we remembered about birthdays when we were kids.
Monica emailed me about a Laser Spine Institute that Kim may be using. Kim has spinal neck problems that seam to mirror my lower back spinal problems. She has cancelled a scheduled surgery to check out the laser route. I am going to ask my next doctor about it and wait to see what Kim's experience is.
She went cushion diving for me and came up with a quarter and a peanut but no nail file. I told her she could keep the quarter but she didn't. Hence the title.
I had a nice little IM conversation with Marcel last night. He reminded me that it was Bernie's birthday and we went back and forth about what we remembered about birthdays when we were kids.
Monica emailed me about a Laser Spine Institute that Kim may be using. Kim has spinal neck problems that seam to mirror my lower back spinal problems. She has cancelled a scheduled surgery to check out the laser route. I am going to ask my next doctor about it and wait to see what Kim's experience is.
Friday, August 19, 2005
Big Black Hole
I just spent the last 10 or 15 minutes searching for my nail file. My only "good" nail file. It is somewhere in the big black hole around my chair.
After "icing" my wrist for a while I decided to tackle my fingernails. They are getting very long and strong and I'm always afraid I will poke Jackson with one. I got out my manicure kit - had out my clipper, file and emery board. I clipped one nail at a time then filed it. I ended with my left thumb nail. I clipped it down, put the clipper down in my lap, picked up the emery board to get the big edges, put the emery board down in my lap and went to pick up the file for the finishing touches and the file wasn't there. I had just used it on the previous nail. I stood up (figuring it had gotten lost in the folds, lets pretend its the folds of my clothing). Nothing fell out. I looked around the floor, around in the chair, patted myself down, no nail file. Good grief. The cushion on my chair doesn't come off but I put my hand down the sides and still didn't come up with anything. Next person here with smaller and healthier hands needs to go cushion diving for me.
After "icing" my wrist for a while I decided to tackle my fingernails. They are getting very long and strong and I'm always afraid I will poke Jackson with one. I got out my manicure kit - had out my clipper, file and emery board. I clipped one nail at a time then filed it. I ended with my left thumb nail. I clipped it down, put the clipper down in my lap, picked up the emery board to get the big edges, put the emery board down in my lap and went to pick up the file for the finishing touches and the file wasn't there. I had just used it on the previous nail. I stood up (figuring it had gotten lost in the folds, lets pretend its the folds of my clothing). Nothing fell out. I looked around the floor, around in the chair, patted myself down, no nail file. Good grief. The cushion on my chair doesn't come off but I put my hand down the sides and still didn't come up with anything. Next person here with smaller and healthier hands needs to go cushion diving for me.
Thursday, August 18, 2005
Oh Brother
I can't believe its been so long since I posted. On the Doctor front I have an appointment with Dr. Hall on 9/12 and I'm hoping there will be a non-surgical remedy for my back pain. I never did return to physical therepy because they never contacted me and I'll show them.
The therepy I had helped enough for me to resume my version of normal activity. I can dress myself and walk short distances etc.
In other news we had a really nice weekend with Erika and Jackson and Steph and Arn. Arn had lost both his grandmother and another close family friend last week and then he has been nursing our steph during her disability so I hope he had a good time. We played "bowling dice" (thanks Adrienne) and it was unbelievable how hard it was to keep score. Arn was the only one that could do it. I was a bookkeeper for more than 30 years and I'm sure I could have put my mind to it and conquered it but the pay wasn't good enough for all that work.
As for Brother Kayser. After my original indignation (as soon as she said I nominate Kayser, I pushed the rewind button) I decided I will probably keep watching BB but have no enthusiasm left. My least favorite line of the whole show was Ivette's (and I paraphrase) I don't care if America voted him back on, this is our game not America's.
The therepy I had helped enough for me to resume my version of normal activity. I can dress myself and walk short distances etc.
In other news we had a really nice weekend with Erika and Jackson and Steph and Arn. Arn had lost both his grandmother and another close family friend last week and then he has been nursing our steph during her disability so I hope he had a good time. We played "bowling dice" (thanks Adrienne) and it was unbelievable how hard it was to keep score. Arn was the only one that could do it. I was a bookkeeper for more than 30 years and I'm sure I could have put my mind to it and conquered it but the pay wasn't good enough for all that work.
As for Brother Kayser. After my original indignation (as soon as she said I nominate Kayser, I pushed the rewind button) I decided I will probably keep watching BB but have no enthusiasm left. My least favorite line of the whole show was Ivette's (and I paraphrase) I don't care if America voted him back on, this is our game not America's.
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Dr. Dawn
That's Dr. Tartaglioni, Neurosurgeon. I got there early enough to fill out the requisite paperwork. I can't believe, in this day and age, they can generate that form with my basic information (name, address) already on it.
I really like Dr. Dawn. She showed me the pictures (it turns out they are mine to keep). Showed me the several things that were wrong, told me which things could be helped and which couldn't. The only surgery she recommended was - well I would be having to refer to the pictures to explain it to you. The upshot was there was something that can be done to alleviate some nerve roots and their passageways. She showed me a couple of places that were very narrow and said "I don't know how you can stand it".
The benefit of this surgery would be that I could stand longer and walk farther. I'm thinking that I already have one arthritic knee that's giving me problems. The only reason it doesn't hurt more it that I don't stand on it or walk on it very much. It seems to me that's like fixing the axle when the transmission is ready to go. I told her I do not want surgery.
Then she referred me to another doctor (Dr. Hall) for non-surgical pain management. I will call for an appointment with her (I think she referred to Dr. Hall as her) tomorrow.
I really like Dr. Dawn. She showed me the pictures (it turns out they are mine to keep). Showed me the several things that were wrong, told me which things could be helped and which couldn't. The only surgery she recommended was - well I would be having to refer to the pictures to explain it to you. The upshot was there was something that can be done to alleviate some nerve roots and their passageways. She showed me a couple of places that were very narrow and said "I don't know how you can stand it".
The benefit of this surgery would be that I could stand longer and walk farther. I'm thinking that I already have one arthritic knee that's giving me problems. The only reason it doesn't hurt more it that I don't stand on it or walk on it very much. It seems to me that's like fixing the axle when the transmission is ready to go. I told her I do not want surgery.
Then she referred me to another doctor (Dr. Hall) for non-surgical pain management. I will call for an appointment with her (I think she referred to Dr. Hall as her) tomorrow.
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Real reality
I have started watching a couple of shows on E. One has got children of celebreties or just the very rich doing a cattle drive and the other is a group of quasi celebreties that have been on other reality shows making a movie. Gretchen, you won't believe, but Toni is back. After the Love Cruise, and Paradise Hotel, she's back on this show. Others that I recognize are Johnny "Fair Play" and Ethan from Survivor. Both shows are pretty stupid but interesting enough to fill in time while I am taping the "real" shows that I want to watch.
Monday, August 08, 2005
Neurosurgeon
I have an appointment to see a neurosurgeon on Wednesday the 10th. I just picked up a packet of "pictures" from my doctor's office to bring with me. I am tempted to open the envelope and look at the pictures but I have visions of opening the envelope and being greeted by a notice "Void if exposed to natural light."
There is a letter attached to the front that details the findings of the mri and say a lot of things about disc herniation, effacement upon thecal sac, lots of things about nerve roots and degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joints.
In other words I'm a mess.
There is a letter attached to the front that details the findings of the mri and say a lot of things about disc herniation, effacement upon thecal sac, lots of things about nerve roots and degenerative changes of the sacroiliac joints.
In other words I'm a mess.
Friday, August 05, 2005
Today is the day
I still take extra strength tylenol every six hours for my wrist. It hardly ever hurts any more, unless I try to use it. Some of the things I can't do is open pop bottles or pill bottles. To that end, I don't put the cap on the tylenol bottle all the way but just set it on top. I was fully aware that one of these days those pills were going to go flying all over the room. Today is the day. I think I got them all picked up but people with pets and small children be warned.
I was at Randazzo's yesterday and they had corn 10 for $1.00. I planned to get 10 and I could peel them if I took one layer at a time. On the 5th one, however, there was a long tail and I forgot that all my parts weren't working properly and tried to break it off. That brought an end to the corn and any other shopping.
On the pt front. I called them today and found out that Bob should be back the week of the 15th. I asked them to schedule me for that week. The reason for my call, however; remember when I noticed all the errors in their information screen? I got my first Medicare Summary Notice and they are not paying anything on my pt because the medical ID number (read social security number) is missing or wrong. Its not like I could have given it to them wrong, they have a copy of my insurance cards.
We have to get Kaysar back in the house.
I was at Randazzo's yesterday and they had corn 10 for $1.00. I planned to get 10 and I could peel them if I took one layer at a time. On the 5th one, however, there was a long tail and I forgot that all my parts weren't working properly and tried to break it off. That brought an end to the corn and any other shopping.
On the pt front. I called them today and found out that Bob should be back the week of the 15th. I asked them to schedule me for that week. The reason for my call, however; remember when I noticed all the errors in their information screen? I got my first Medicare Summary Notice and they are not paying anything on my pt because the medical ID number (read social security number) is missing or wrong. Its not like I could have given it to them wrong, they have a copy of my insurance cards.
We have to get Kaysar back in the house.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
Eee-Oh Eleven
Marty is probably the only one old enough to understand the title line (if he's still reading blogs). That is what Ron Simko used to say at the Dad's Club Bingo every time B-11 came out.
My reference here is that the Janet Evanovich book "Eleven on Top" was in the bag of books from Inga. Gretchen was looking for it, and I could see that the top book in the bag was Evanovich but it was a paperback and Gretch knew that the eleven wouldn't be in paperback yet. Inga (corner unit on the Suchy side) has been giving me books and I hadn't gone through the new bag yet.
In other news, I found the chair I wanted for the living room. I found it at Big Lots would you believe. I went out and bought it and Jeff is meeting me there after work today to bring it home for me (and I'm hoping perform the "some assembly required") and take my old chair to Stephanie.
I called the PT office and asked what had happened to Bob and was it just temporary and got the dreaded "I don know". I cancelled my appointments for the rest of this week. I didn't like the 3:20 time slot when everyone wanted to go home. My appointments next week are for 8:20 AM and I said I would call them Monday morning to find out if Bob is back, but I didn't want to go to the new people.
My reference here is that the Janet Evanovich book "Eleven on Top" was in the bag of books from Inga. Gretchen was looking for it, and I could see that the top book in the bag was Evanovich but it was a paperback and Gretch knew that the eleven wouldn't be in paperback yet. Inga (corner unit on the Suchy side) has been giving me books and I hadn't gone through the new bag yet.
In other news, I found the chair I wanted for the living room. I found it at Big Lots would you believe. I went out and bought it and Jeff is meeting me there after work today to bring it home for me (and I'm hoping perform the "some assembly required") and take my old chair to Stephanie.
I called the PT office and asked what had happened to Bob and was it just temporary and got the dreaded "I don know". I cancelled my appointments for the rest of this week. I didn't like the 3:20 time slot when everyone wanted to go home. My appointments next week are for 8:20 AM and I said I would call them Monday morning to find out if Bob is back, but I didn't want to go to the new people.
Tuesday, August 02, 2005
No New Machines
When I went to therapy on Friday I had a re-evaluation and my leaning numbers (front to back and side to side) had improved to almost normal. Bob (the PT guy) scheduled two more weeks of therapy and said he would start me on some machine exercises on Monday. I was very encouraged about this since I have a lifetime membership to Fitness USA and would be able to go there to continue machine use.
I figured Bob would set me up on a series of exercizes that would be more helpful than harmful since right now I don't know the difference.
I got to my appointment on Monday and felt like I had gone to the wrong place. No Bob or any of the assistants that I was used to. The main person seemed to be George who was Indian and hard to understand, his assistant was Eva who was Polish and hard to understand. They asked me what I usually had done, and of course, I didn't know the proper names for any of it.
When George got an inkling of what should be done after finally looking at my chart, he walked over to one of the high tables and said. "OK, get up on the table on your stomach." I said, "I can't breath when I lay on my stomach and I will need a chair to get up on that table.".
He gave me a lower table (they were all empty I was the only one there) and told Eva to begin my Deep Heat Stimulation (that's what Bob always called it but these people were using letters, I think it was IFC). She started to connect the ports to my back and I asked if they were going to put a heating pad on the table. After she sighed, she asked the American male gopher to get her a heating pad. As she was setting me up on the machine she talked to the kid telling him many times how this was so much easier to do if the person was on their stomach.
So, when that was done, she did my Ultrasound massage again letting me know several times that she had never done this to a sitting patient before.
After that she asked me what else I did, I showed her the exercises I did and she added 3 or 4 more to be done on the floor. I told her I could not get down on the floor. She was not happy with me. I was happy to be in the West because I'm thinking that in the Eastern Bloc they have ways to get to on the floor.
While I was doing the exercises, Eva and the kid were talking about the fact that George was leaving at 4:30 (My appointments this week are 3:20, and it took them almost a half hour to decide what to do with me.) Eva and the kid discussed how much lunch and break time each of them had had and what time they would be able to skip out after George left.
The upshot was I only did half my exercises and told them I was done and got out of there. There was no traction and no new machines.
I figured Bob would set me up on a series of exercizes that would be more helpful than harmful since right now I don't know the difference.
I got to my appointment on Monday and felt like I had gone to the wrong place. No Bob or any of the assistants that I was used to. The main person seemed to be George who was Indian and hard to understand, his assistant was Eva who was Polish and hard to understand. They asked me what I usually had done, and of course, I didn't know the proper names for any of it.
When George got an inkling of what should be done after finally looking at my chart, he walked over to one of the high tables and said. "OK, get up on the table on your stomach." I said, "I can't breath when I lay on my stomach and I will need a chair to get up on that table.".
He gave me a lower table (they were all empty I was the only one there) and told Eva to begin my Deep Heat Stimulation (that's what Bob always called it but these people were using letters, I think it was IFC). She started to connect the ports to my back and I asked if they were going to put a heating pad on the table. After she sighed, she asked the American male gopher to get her a heating pad. As she was setting me up on the machine she talked to the kid telling him many times how this was so much easier to do if the person was on their stomach.
So, when that was done, she did my Ultrasound massage again letting me know several times that she had never done this to a sitting patient before.
After that she asked me what else I did, I showed her the exercises I did and she added 3 or 4 more to be done on the floor. I told her I could not get down on the floor. She was not happy with me. I was happy to be in the West because I'm thinking that in the Eastern Bloc they have ways to get to on the floor.
While I was doing the exercises, Eva and the kid were talking about the fact that George was leaving at 4:30 (My appointments this week are 3:20, and it took them almost a half hour to decide what to do with me.) Eva and the kid discussed how much lunch and break time each of them had had and what time they would be able to skip out after George left.
The upshot was I only did half my exercises and told them I was done and got out of there. There was no traction and no new machines.
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
New Machines
Kewadin was full of new machines. Its fun to try new machines except when it isn't. It isn't when you put your $5.00 in and hit the button and get nothing. Then you hit the button 9 more times and get 9 more nothings. Those new machines are sucky and you haven't learned anything about them.
Angels and Devils is one of the new penny machines. I put my $5.00 in and hit the button. (For some reason, most of the new penny machines have 21 lines instead of 20). My first spin brought up a bonus. I got to take my choice of the number of free spins. 20 free spins with prizes multiplied by 1, 10 free spins with a multiple of 2, 7 spins with m/3 or 5 spins with m/4. I chose the 7 spins. The second free spin brought up the same bonus so it added 7 more spins. Each win was multiplied by 3. Within the free spins I hit a different type of bonus with the angel on reel 1 and the devil on reel 5 and I chose the angel and she shot an arrow into 996 points. Anyways I made like 2,500 points (read pennies) on that bonus. I cashed out a ticket for $25.00 and put in another $5.00 to keep playing. I continued to get wins and bonuses until I cashed out another $15.00 ticket and put in another $5.00. Each time I got the free spin bonus I chose the 7 spins with m/3 option. During one of these I hit 5 of the biggest prize that paid 2,000 points and it was multiplied by 3. Read 6,000 pennies. I ended up with a ticket for $66.00 and change. That was $106.00 from that penny machine.
King of the Grill was also very good to me this trip and I ended up with $48.00 from the little piggy. I didn't see any of the Milk Money gendre but then, I don't walk the whole casino any more.
Those wins were enough to keep me in the black for this trip and maybe a couple more.
Angels and Devils is one of the new penny machines. I put my $5.00 in and hit the button. (For some reason, most of the new penny machines have 21 lines instead of 20). My first spin brought up a bonus. I got to take my choice of the number of free spins. 20 free spins with prizes multiplied by 1, 10 free spins with a multiple of 2, 7 spins with m/3 or 5 spins with m/4. I chose the 7 spins. The second free spin brought up the same bonus so it added 7 more spins. Each win was multiplied by 3. Within the free spins I hit a different type of bonus with the angel on reel 1 and the devil on reel 5 and I chose the angel and she shot an arrow into 996 points. Anyways I made like 2,500 points (read pennies) on that bonus. I cashed out a ticket for $25.00 and put in another $5.00 to keep playing. I continued to get wins and bonuses until I cashed out another $15.00 ticket and put in another $5.00. Each time I got the free spin bonus I chose the 7 spins with m/3 option. During one of these I hit 5 of the biggest prize that paid 2,000 points and it was multiplied by 3. Read 6,000 pennies. I ended up with a ticket for $66.00 and change. That was $106.00 from that penny machine.
King of the Grill was also very good to me this trip and I ended up with $48.00 from the little piggy. I didn't see any of the Milk Money gendre but then, I don't walk the whole casino any more.
Those wins were enough to keep me in the black for this trip and maybe a couple more.
Friday, July 22, 2005
Whaaat
I went to bed at 9 last night because I knew I had to get up early today. I didn't sleep well but I was up at 4 and drove to Windsor to take Jeannette to the train station. I had to pass right by the casino and wasn't even tempted to stop. (I'm going to Kewadin on Monday so I didn't need a fix or anything). I got back home about 6:30 and tried to watch tv for a while. I finally felt so exhausted that I went back to bed. I just got up and I have a sneaking feeling that I'm supposed to know what day it is. Boy, I hope its not Monday, or I will have missed my trip to Kewadin.
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Dr. Cathy
I finally got to the doctor for my wrist and her name was Dr. Cathy Beitman. I liked her very much. They x-rayed the wrist and it showed arthritis, of course, complicated with tendonitis. She will add it to my pt workup and told me to take Tylenol Arthritis every 6 to 8 hours for 2 weeks.
The MRI results were in and it turns out that it showed arthritis, of course, along with herniated discs. She mentioned the numbers of the affected discs but I forget. 4 and 5 sounds familiar. She explained why I can't stand for more than a few minutes and why sitting down seems to take the pain away. After I finish with the pt, it the pain persists she will send me to an orthopedist.
I have a one pound bottle of planters peanuts that I put on the top of my refrigerator next to the stove. It must have been too close to the edge because after I had opened and closed the freezer and refrigerator doors a couple of times the jar fell down on the stove. I saw it falling and visions of broken glass and peanuts all over the floor danced through my head. However, the bottle didn't break and all I got is a chip on my stove about the size of a dime. At the time that seemed like the lesser of the possible evils, but now that doggone chip is starting to look ugly.
The MRI results were in and it turns out that it showed arthritis, of course, along with herniated discs. She mentioned the numbers of the affected discs but I forget. 4 and 5 sounds familiar. She explained why I can't stand for more than a few minutes and why sitting down seems to take the pain away. After I finish with the pt, it the pain persists she will send me to an orthopedist.
I have a one pound bottle of planters peanuts that I put on the top of my refrigerator next to the stove. It must have been too close to the edge because after I had opened and closed the freezer and refrigerator doors a couple of times the jar fell down on the stove. I saw it falling and visions of broken glass and peanuts all over the floor danced through my head. However, the bottle didn't break and all I got is a chip on my stove about the size of a dime. At the time that seemed like the lesser of the possible evils, but now that doggone chip is starting to look ugly.
Monday, July 18, 2005
A Bullet Dodged
My heavy weekend schedule brought back all the pain in my wrist and hand and I was looking to make a doctor's appointment for today or tomorrow. Of course nothing was open when I was ready to call so I was just filling time. I have a Stress Test scheduled in my calendar for 7/28 and they had sent me some preliminary papers to fill out and bring with me. They were sitting here on my computer desk so I decided to fill them out while waiting for the doctor's office to open.
When I got to the last page of the papers it said "Date of test 7/18/05". I checked the calendar and that is today. As soon as the clock hit 8:00 I called to verify. Yes they said, I was scheduled for 9:00 am. There were lots of conditions about eating and drinking before the test and luckily I hadn't violated any of them yet so I said I would be there, except that the papers said the test was 4 or 5 hours and I had a physical therapy scheduled for this afternoon. They re-scheduled the pt for tomorrow and I went for my tests today.
The first one started at 9 with an injection into my veins (like the bone scan did) and instructions to drink a full (10 oz) glass of water. After the stuff had gotten through my veins there would be an x-ray type of picture taking. Actually is was like a cross between an x-ray and an MRI. I had to lay flat on a table and the picture taking device, a disk about 3 feet across, started on the far left side of my chest and took about 20 minutes to move over to the far right side. But it wasn't in an enclosure or anything.
While waiting for the vein flow, I was taken in for an echo cardiogram. This was an ultra-sound picture thing that looked on the screen just like the baby picture ultra sounds. I was poked and prodded all over getting pictures from different angles. First from under my left breast, then under my left arm, then in the center of the bottom of my ribs, (she really had to push hard there) then from the throat area.
I dodged another bullet there. She was entering my information of her computer and I could see the screen and she had my first name as Patricia. I called that to her attention and while she was changing it I looked over the rest. They had my date of birth as 2/12/32. When I told her that was wrong, she left to go to the desk and make sure they changed it there. It never did change on her screen though.
I can just see my insurance company getting billed for a 73 year old Patricia Van Houten. How many years would that have floated around before it got straightened out.
I was sent home and told I could have juice until 11:30 and then just water after that. I go back there at 1:30 for the last set, a new injection and more pictures. It is a stress test that does not require me to walk the treadmill. They do it chemically somehow.
Now I have pt scheduled for tomorrow morning. I am too busy medically to go to the doctor.
When I got to the last page of the papers it said "Date of test 7/18/05". I checked the calendar and that is today. As soon as the clock hit 8:00 I called to verify. Yes they said, I was scheduled for 9:00 am. There were lots of conditions about eating and drinking before the test and luckily I hadn't violated any of them yet so I said I would be there, except that the papers said the test was 4 or 5 hours and I had a physical therapy scheduled for this afternoon. They re-scheduled the pt for tomorrow and I went for my tests today.
The first one started at 9 with an injection into my veins (like the bone scan did) and instructions to drink a full (10 oz) glass of water. After the stuff had gotten through my veins there would be an x-ray type of picture taking. Actually is was like a cross between an x-ray and an MRI. I had to lay flat on a table and the picture taking device, a disk about 3 feet across, started on the far left side of my chest and took about 20 minutes to move over to the far right side. But it wasn't in an enclosure or anything.
While waiting for the vein flow, I was taken in for an echo cardiogram. This was an ultra-sound picture thing that looked on the screen just like the baby picture ultra sounds. I was poked and prodded all over getting pictures from different angles. First from under my left breast, then under my left arm, then in the center of the bottom of my ribs, (she really had to push hard there) then from the throat area.
I dodged another bullet there. She was entering my information of her computer and I could see the screen and she had my first name as Patricia. I called that to her attention and while she was changing it I looked over the rest. They had my date of birth as 2/12/32. When I told her that was wrong, she left to go to the desk and make sure they changed it there. It never did change on her screen though.
I can just see my insurance company getting billed for a 73 year old Patricia Van Houten. How many years would that have floated around before it got straightened out.
I was sent home and told I could have juice until 11:30 and then just water after that. I go back there at 1:30 for the last set, a new injection and more pictures. It is a stress test that does not require me to walk the treadmill. They do it chemically somehow.
Now I have pt scheduled for tomorrow morning. I am too busy medically to go to the doctor.
Sunday, July 17, 2005
A matter of time
The pain in my hand has subsided enough to give me a wide range of motion but I still have almost zero strength in it. Taking the cap off a pop or pill bottle is a major undertaking.
I always eat my meals in the living room in front of the TV. So I was having soup this afternoon. I tucked a tea towel into the collar of my T-shirt because I know I usually have a few drips even tho I hold the soup up close to my face while I eat.
I don't know what happened this time, but the whole pot sort if tipped over but only half of it spilled out before I could right it again. The tea towel had protected my shirt and the throw rug in front of my chair took most of what fell on the floor. I rolled up the towel, rolled up the rug, rubbed out the few drops that had hit the carpeting with a swiffer-wet. Those things work pretty good on a lot of spills. I used one to get some blood out of the carpet last week when I had a toe bleed.
Well, it wasn't until I walked back into the living room after dispatching all the soup soaked things that I noticed the big blob of soup on my chair. A wet towel and another swiffer-wet took care of that the best I could and I can hardly notice it any more, and I can hardly feel the burn on my inner thigh any more either.
I guess it was just a matter of time till I had that kind of disaster but I hope I have a lot of good years till the next one.
I always eat my meals in the living room in front of the TV. So I was having soup this afternoon. I tucked a tea towel into the collar of my T-shirt because I know I usually have a few drips even tho I hold the soup up close to my face while I eat.
I don't know what happened this time, but the whole pot sort if tipped over but only half of it spilled out before I could right it again. The tea towel had protected my shirt and the throw rug in front of my chair took most of what fell on the floor. I rolled up the towel, rolled up the rug, rubbed out the few drops that had hit the carpeting with a swiffer-wet. Those things work pretty good on a lot of spills. I used one to get some blood out of the carpet last week when I had a toe bleed.
Well, it wasn't until I walked back into the living room after dispatching all the soup soaked things that I noticed the big blob of soup on my chair. A wet towel and another swiffer-wet took care of that the best I could and I can hardly notice it any more, and I can hardly feel the burn on my inner thigh any more either.
I guess it was just a matter of time till I had that kind of disaster but I hope I have a lot of good years till the next one.
Friday, July 15, 2005
more bugs
I was talking with my friend Pat Specht (Jake Johnson's mother). We don't talk often but when we do its a talkathon. Anyways the lightening bug incident came up and she said that when she was a kid (in Pittsburgh) they used to catch fireflys and draw rings on their fingers with the phosphorencence and they glowed in the dark.
I didn't even think to ask if they killed the bugs first or just went around drawing on themselves with live bug butts.
I didn't even think to ask if they killed the bugs first or just went around drawing on themselves with live bug butts.
Thursday, July 14, 2005
Doctor, doctor
Bob, the pt guy, after determining that the pain in my wrist had not deminished, suggested that I see the doctor and get it x-rayed. I brought the doctor's phone number upstairs to bed with me so that I could call for an appointment first thing in the morning and not wait until I came downstairs.
However, when I woke up this morning, the wrist pain had moved into the middle of my hand and to the top set of knuckles. I thinking that pain from something broken wouldn't move around. So now I am just going to wait for it to keep moving till it reaches my fingertips and moves off the planet.
However, when I woke up this morning, the wrist pain had moved into the middle of my hand and to the top set of knuckles. I thinking that pain from something broken wouldn't move around. So now I am just going to wait for it to keep moving till it reaches my fingertips and moves off the planet.
Wednesday, July 13, 2005
Lightening Bugs
Are lightening bugs lucky? I want to believe they are, even when the phosphorescense is sticking to your fingers after you have crushed him to death. Not my fingers, Gretchen's.
What made him come into my bedroom in the first place. I don't even want to think about how he got in. Didn't he know I had an Amazon Daughter ready to come to my rescue? I have always depended on the kindness of daughters.
What made him come into my bedroom in the first place. I don't even want to think about how he got in. Didn't he know I had an Amazon Daughter ready to come to my rescue? I have always depended on the kindness of daughters.
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Movin Right Along
had an MRI this morning. The test itself is painless. They had to make sure I had no metal on or in me. People my age tend to have implants of one sort or another. They asked about permanent eyeliner which reminded me of Steph's tattoos. She is supposed to have an MRI near the end of the month and they will have to find a way to cover her tattoos. I didn't think that a decision about surgery on her knee had been made yet. As for the MRI itself, I remembered that chamber as being a little bigger. It is embarrassing to scrape the sides as they slide you in and out.
The MRI place was very easy to find. I had good directions and they led me right there. Twelve mile across to Northwestern and right on Northwestern and the clinic was on the right. There were no directions to get out. Northwestern is the highway from hell. The clinic was like the last building accessible before the road turns into the Lodge Freeway. The freeway, Northwestern, Franklin, 12 mile and God knows what-all else, all seem to merge right at that corner. It took me a little longer to get home.
My latest ailment is my right wrist. I can hardly move it. I have trouble with the mouse and with the remote control so you know this needs to be fixed. Its been since about Saturday so at Monday's pt session I asked Bob, the pt guy if he could wrap it for me. He said that Ace bandages were considered a "durable medical apparatus" and they didn't have them there. He did suggest a cold pack and did that for me and suggested that frozen vegetables work best at home. After the long drive this morning, using both hands to work the gear shift, I stopped at Farmer Jacks and bought a bag of frozen corn. I put it around my wrist and it felt pretty good. I stopped at the drive in at Burger King and had the corn over my arm while I clumsily used just my left hand to hand over payment and receive change and take in the food and it occurred to me that you probably don't get as much general sympathy with a bag of corn on your wrist as you do with a cast or something.
Sorry to hear that Mary is in the hospital but glad to know she is getting good care.
The MRI place was very easy to find. I had good directions and they led me right there. Twelve mile across to Northwestern and right on Northwestern and the clinic was on the right. There were no directions to get out. Northwestern is the highway from hell. The clinic was like the last building accessible before the road turns into the Lodge Freeway. The freeway, Northwestern, Franklin, 12 mile and God knows what-all else, all seem to merge right at that corner. It took me a little longer to get home.
My latest ailment is my right wrist. I can hardly move it. I have trouble with the mouse and with the remote control so you know this needs to be fixed. Its been since about Saturday so at Monday's pt session I asked Bob, the pt guy if he could wrap it for me. He said that Ace bandages were considered a "durable medical apparatus" and they didn't have them there. He did suggest a cold pack and did that for me and suggested that frozen vegetables work best at home. After the long drive this morning, using both hands to work the gear shift, I stopped at Farmer Jacks and bought a bag of frozen corn. I put it around my wrist and it felt pretty good. I stopped at the drive in at Burger King and had the corn over my arm while I clumsily used just my left hand to hand over payment and receive change and take in the food and it occurred to me that you probably don't get as much general sympathy with a bag of corn on your wrist as you do with a cast or something.
Sorry to hear that Mary is in the hospital but glad to know she is getting good care.
Monday, July 04, 2005
Happy Birthday America
I spent America's birthday in Canada. Me and Rita and Jeannette went to Windsor Casino on the bus trip. Because of the carnival and Westland Festivities we couldn't park by the city hall as usual and had to park across Ford Road behind the Blockbuster Video (in the Kroger parking lot). I got there kind of early and was like the 2nd car from the back of the store. I spent my allotted amount of money in Windsor and them had the horrendous ride home.
First of all the bus driver didn't even try to get into the tunnel and took the bridge home. We were 1/2 hour in line to get through customs at the bridge. Then he dropped off the Dearborn people and proceeded to Westland. Ford Road was closed off so he went past Ford Road on Wayne to Hunter and across to Civic Center, making a very iffy U-Turn to head sough on civic Center, past the library and into the Kroger parking lot. The trouble was that the parking lot and all of its entrances and exits were packed with people trying to jockey for position for the fireworks tonight.
And besides, by this time it was raining very very hard. The driver finally gave up on the parking lot, went up to Ford Rd. around the barricades, made a left turn around the police cars that were blocking the road and pulled up in front of the blockbuster store to let us out there. That left quite a little walk to our cars. We all got soaked. If you ever wanted to see a senior citizen wet T-shirt contest-- Good thing I was smart enough to give Jeannette my keys and say "you will get to the car way before I will". and Good thing she was smart enough to get to the car and drive it in my direction so I didn't have to walk that far.
It is sooo nice to be home and in my nice warm dry jammies.
First of all the bus driver didn't even try to get into the tunnel and took the bridge home. We were 1/2 hour in line to get through customs at the bridge. Then he dropped off the Dearborn people and proceeded to Westland. Ford Road was closed off so he went past Ford Road on Wayne to Hunter and across to Civic Center, making a very iffy U-Turn to head sough on civic Center, past the library and into the Kroger parking lot. The trouble was that the parking lot and all of its entrances and exits were packed with people trying to jockey for position for the fireworks tonight.
And besides, by this time it was raining very very hard. The driver finally gave up on the parking lot, went up to Ford Rd. around the barricades, made a left turn around the police cars that were blocking the road and pulled up in front of the blockbuster store to let us out there. That left quite a little walk to our cars. We all got soaked. If you ever wanted to see a senior citizen wet T-shirt contest-- Good thing I was smart enough to give Jeannette my keys and say "you will get to the car way before I will". and Good thing she was smart enough to get to the car and drive it in my direction so I didn't have to walk that far.
It is sooo nice to be home and in my nice warm dry jammies.
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