My week

This mild weather left me with an opportunity to turn the heat off only later to return to the thermostat after 4 days.

Tuesday I got my reject notice from the VA for hearing and tinnitus and filed an appeal the following day.

I got our TDIAV (Therapy Dog International Active Outstanding Volunteer) certificate and pin in the mail.  I am so proud to provide smiles to those who lover her but can not maintain a pet.  I share my Sophie.

Wednesday I had lunch with Michael at 11:30 at County Market and then later at Peases/Bun as a little "thank you" gathering for one of the parting board members of the Lincoln Monument Association.  That night, Sophie started barking in the dark about midnight.  She doesn't see well in the dark and something startled her and got me up.  Makes for nice small talk on TDI visits.

Thursday morning I had my appoint with Dr Watson at the Orthopedic Center of Illinois.  I explained that in addition to the pinched nerve down the back of my legs that I was feeling tingly in my feet now.  I was half expecting an injection for my back since I was told that I needed the MRI to make sure the injection wouldn't go into any cyst on my last visit.  Instead I was told that the MRI was worse than the x-ray.  He was surprised that I wasn't in tears more than I am.  Upon hearing that, I began to tear. Crap! I do have trouble sleeping and the first 2 hours after getting out of bed is worst with a pinched nerve. I use a cane during this time.   I was told to pick up an appointment with either Dr Williams or Dr VanFleet.  I started to get Dr VanFleet's next available appointment for like March 11th but when the clerk checked, she said Oh...we've already scheduled you for Dr Williams at 2pm on Mar 7th so you'd be in the line faster.  Double crap! I'm afraid now.

So far I've heard good things about Dr Williams.  Here's a pic from the MRI if you understand this stuff:

Who knows, this surgery could be scheduled months down the road considering how slow these appointments are moving along from primary care to specialist to MRI to surgeon.  Duh.
Well I need to make a checklist of things that need done or cancelled in my life.  I've cancelled my trip to Mississippi with with Civil War Round Table that I was to go on in the end of March.  They refunded my fee.  I put my Powerworks gym membership on a 3 month hiatus.  I canceled my church ministry schedule.
I need to make a list of questions like:
*What about the full moon on surgery.
http://www.moongiant.com/Full_Moon_New_Moon_Calendar.php
*hospital stay
*recovery time and walker
*exercise and physical therapy.
*will I need a handicap parking placard?
*will back surgery make me taller?
I have been pressured wit questions about when and where for which I haven't even met with the doctor till Mar 7th.  Perhaps I should call  his nurse.  I think I'd feel much better waking up in a coma after 3 months.

Here's the timeline:
Dec 30 ~ 9 of 10 out-of-pocket visits to a chiropractor(see blog)
Jan 19 ~ xray with primary care doctor and a referral
Feb 9 ~ Dr Watson Specialist
Feb 16 ~ MRI
Feb 23 ~ Expecting an injection but Dr Watson refers me to a surgeon
Mar 7 ~ Dr Williams who will perform the surgery


Friday I went to New Salem to turn over a period dress for a new volunteer to start up with and love.  Then I went to the funeral for "Tip",  a member of our AMVETS post. Two other members of our post were also there for him.
Afterward, Ann and I had lunch.  I ate lunch at Incredibly Delicious. They messed up our order with another table's order but with those fancy names on the menu, you wouldn't know what it looked like set in front of you.  We only noticed that soup came with the meal.  They corrected it after they discovered we ate it.   I got the right order to go and had it later.
Then I went to Aldi to pick up a few things.  I needed coffee and milk and hoped to find a walker that they used to have but it was gone.  Instead I got a bed rail for about $14.

Saturday I went to a reenactor swap meet.  I sold a hoop slip that was too big for me and a mourning bonnet since I had 2.  I had other bonnets available to sell too but they came home with me.

Sunday I was a reader at Mass.  Here's the audio
http://ccc.usccb.org/cccradio/NABPodcasts/17_02_26.mp3
I used the railing to approach the alter.  It seems each day I feel more and more painful.  I rock back and forth in agony looking for a comfort spot.  I hope it wasn't psychological since I heard the news that I need surgery and the doctor told me how bad the MRI proved.  It seems like it's taking forever.