My Week

My week began with Spring 

I was without a car last weekend because it was towed to the shop.  My car cost me $538.41 (that was after a 10% discount for being a church member by the manager).  That includes tow, spark plugs, key fob battery, gasket, and emission cleaning.  In the evening I drove for the first time in 3 days to the VFW meeting in the evening.

My DNA matched a 2d cousin, Rob Campbell, in Florida who had been adopted. Our common ancestor is Ida Terres' sister, Lillian Maria Terres.

Ancestry.com is linked to a defunct email and won't let me change it. I deleted Yahoo a few months ago after the 2 major security breaches.When I attempt to change it:
"We're sorry, we were unable to update your email address because the email address you entered is already in use."
Above, Ancestry says my hotmail already exists via Roostweb merger with Ancestry years ago. There's nothing in the help topics for me.  Rootsweb apparently allows multiples on an email but Ancestry doesn't. I am a free member too and I don't believe being a paid member will correct this problem either. I have 9 account IDs with rootsweb (3 have unknown passwords).
https://www.ancestry.com/boards/topics.ancestry.ancsite/15116/mb.ashx

Wednesday morning I got my recycles out just in time for pick up.
Then the finishing touches on my sun room trim and remnants in the garage were cleared out.
I may need a landscape specialist because the deck is about a foot further out and I see a plant coming up through the boards.    I had lunch with Michael and visited a fellow VFW member in ICU.

I made a pocket for my civil war skirt similar to the linen pocket only darker so it won't show.   I figured out the stitches used from the linen one.  Women wore these under their skirts and they were removable.

Friday I got my pre-operative instructions in the mail.
April 4, 2PM Lab work
April 25, 2:30PM Pre-Op visit with doctor with my son present
April 27, 5AM arrive at Memorial surgical services
May 12, 2PM removal of stitches

Saturday I went to a presentation by General Grant.

It was raining afterward so I had to wait to get to my car.

Last year I had a wreath hanging from my porch light and it had a nest. The wrens are back. I picked this up at the Goodwill and they seem interested.  I'm not sure about how I strung up the bird house.

Sunday morning began with painful tears.  I didn't get to go to my usual 8AM Mass but felt well enough to go at 10:30.  I finally got to take Sophie for a short, slow walk and got IT OUT OF HER. She doesn't have sympathy for me when I feel down and out. Still wants me to bend over and pick up her toy and throw it.

My son helped me put the furniture in the new sun room.   This room will be nice during recovery when I'm grounded to the house and still want that outdoor feeling.

Here is my first asparagus of the season.  There is a little one right behind it so maybe I'll eat tomorrow.   I ate it. I broke it into 3 little pieces in the microwave with water.  I noticed that some grass seed in the bare spot where I used to park the trailer is also perking up green.

 Well, I just keep telling myself, I'm not that bad if it's a 2 month wait to fix with surgery.  I'm a sissy!

My Week

Suck it up Buttercup!
(Childishness)

https://blog.victoriantradingco.com/2017/03/09/victorian-flower-symbolism/

I did misunderstand the date for my surgery that seemed questionable on a Saturday. What sounded like April 22d on a phone was really April 27th.  I did call and verify that I'm on a cancellation list.  I have nothing to live for but this day.  Meanwhile I rest, wait and accept my Lenten sacrifice.  The only other crying I've done on this level is when I lost my husband.  I may look OK in the middle of the day but mornings and evenings are not pretty.

Monday night was sleepless so by 3 AM I took Aleve PM.  I don't want to take a sleep aid but how do I know in advance that I won't be able to sleep?  Springfield had 3.5 inches of snow on Monday.  Fortunately I didn't have to shovel because it was wet heavy snow that accumulated on the grass.  Tuesday there were snow flurries but colder.

Tuesday I went to our Womens Overseas Service League meeting. Afterward I got some new underwear for my hospital travels.  Now Walmart carries muffin top panties!

Wednesday I took Sophie to Bubbles of Fun.  I have to drop her off early when they open which is also my most painful time of the day. Oh is she pretty now. While waiting for Sophie, I shopped at Goodwill on Senior Day.  I found some slip on shoes that I won't have to bend over to put on.  I didn't think I'd like shoes that don't have a back on them because I don't like flopping heals but the front and sides hold them so they don't flop.  I'll probably be dragging my feet more anyway.  LOL.  I just know that I'll be dressed comfortable but I don't want to look like the "People of Walmart" either. 

Well I felt a little better since I picked up a strong prescription (Hydrocodone 5/325 mg 1-2 every 4 hours). It takes about an hour or more to function in the morning after the ice pack and pill. When I took that first pill last night, I felt better and was able to do light house work. Oh I can still feel bones rubbing and tight tendons on the back of my thighs but I'm not in tears.  However, after one pill on Wednesday, 3 on Thursday and 3 on Friday the nausea side effect turned into vomit before I went to bed.

I'm on the prayer list at church so I have a lot of hope. Although I don't have to give up anything for Lent. My sacrifice is pre-assigned! Thanks to Facebook "For sale in Chatham", I found a power lift recliner for $150 and also thanks to facebook. I put out a request for help to haul it from Loami to Chatham and got a response for Friday after school. I had my mom's old power lift chair but it became an old stained eyesore and I had put it in the construction dumpster when my sun room was installed.  This chair used to have a heat pad which no longer works but it has the lift feature that I need.

Through a kind response I made on facebook, a friend named Cathy, offered her family's manpower and truck to transport the chair from Loami to Chatham and set it up for me.  This will sure help a lot.  Immediately, Sophie hoped up and tried it out.  I guess that's how I celebrated St Patrick's Day.  My DNA says I have 6% Irish.  My son has 2%.
https://www.ancestry.com/dna/ethnicity/07818982-9028-4265-9A98-6EAA70C84470

 I got a strange text for an appointment with Dr Nester (cardiologist). I wonder how much of this surgery prep work is like "ambulance chasing". I've never gotten an appointment on a text but when I asked on FB, I was told it was a system used by Springfield Clinic.  I called Dr Williams' nurse who said she'd cancel the appointment since my EKG and recent stress test passed.  Whew!

Suttons Construction asked if potential customer could look at my sun room and I said not until I can enjoy it. There's no floor so I can't move furniture in it. Friday I finally had tile installation started in my sun room and to be continued on Monday.  Then I can move my patio furniture in and appreciate it.  Meanwhile, patio furniture is stuffed in the family room since November. Lately, I'm converting my house to be more handicap accessible. Although when I bought this ranch, I had that in mind for old age.  

I feel that a lot of what I refer to as "nothing" appointments are like "ambulance chasing".  For example, the appointment that my son was with me was only a visit with the doctor to see if I wanted consent to the surgery on 3/7/17.  I had told him I was willing at the previous appointment (3/3/17) but apparently he wanted me to think about it and sign a paper.

Amount Billed: $166.00

TRICARE Payment: $53.52

Patient's Responsibility: $17.84

The appointment on 3/3/17 had a similar explanation of an MRI which I'd already seen in Dr Watson's office (he's the spine injection doctor) who referred me to Dr Williams (surgeon).  Then repeated by his Physicians Assistant who like to tap down my spine and say "tell me where it hurts".  The PA also put the hammer on my knees to test reflex which had already been done by others.  He already should have known all this but just needed to get paid too.  With this being Lent, I am so thankful that there is a future for me and not like those with cancer whom I feel so sorry for.

Saturday morning my car didn't start.  The neighbor tried to jump start my car which I didn't feel was necessary since my battery was less than 5 months old.  I had to get it towed to One Stop Auto.  I'll be without a car for the rest of the weekend.  The tow man did get it started but boy did it stutter and smoke.  He thinks it's a fuel filter.  I did get a call by One Stop and they had it started. It has been stagnant with my staying home more.

More patches to poking boning on my corset.  The other half hanging down is just as bad.

 Time to order a new one.  This plastic stuff is not correct anyway.  Here's a link to corset myths:
http://www.foundationsrevealed.com/index-of-articles/extras/562-busting-corset-myths 

Sunday I missed church since I didn't have a car.  I relined my underwear drawer as seen on Sunday morning CBS Morning (The direct link here but they want me to disable my ad blocker http://www.cbsnews.com/videos/decluttering-queen-marie-kondo/) using the Kondo Method.  When going through items, you ask yourself,
"Does this bring me joy?"  If no, a brief prayer of thanks for being a part of my life and placed in a recycle bag. http://www.tidyingup.com/
To Kondo, the humble act of housecleaning is transformed into sacred ritual, performed in a pure-white outfit, and starting with prayer.  De-cluttering as a ritual   performed by Marie Kondo.
Dump all your clothes in a heap, keep only what makes you happy, and say “thanks” to each possession before throwing it out.  I have a long way to go and only did 2 drawers Sunday.  I had remnants of wrapping paper to line the dresser which had paper over 15 years ago in the bottom.

One thing that I learned from the nursing home:  residents are usually in day clothes (with a few exceptions).  Now that I'm not going out much because of this pain, I try to dress by 10AM when I'm able to pull up my trousers.  Dignity dictates a schedule of night and day.

That dog stroller with the bent frame affecting the front wheels is only good for hauling my recycle bin out to the corner.  The back wheels are fine so I can push with the front up like a wheel barrel.  Junk!  See previous blog for photo.

I fixed lunch for my son and myself on Sunday.  I had Salisbury steak, carrots, mashed potatoes.   Two days off those nauseous pain pills and my apatite is coming back.

I learned that my DNA matched another who was adopted via my grandmother's side (Terres)
https://www.ancestry.com/dna/insights/07818982-9028-4265-9A98-6EAA70C84470
I do have a problem that it won't let me edit my email account from a defunct account because it says the converted to email is already in use.  Duh!  I'll never get an email sent to my old Yahoo account that I closed.  When I try to change the email, "We're sorry, we were unable to update your email address because the email address you entered is already in use."

Major tip....Search your name and opt-out of these public records. Identity thieves will get you.  I did and it takes 48 hours. http://time.com/money/4634434/family-tree-now-opt-out-protect-yourself/

 

My Week

Monday I signed a consent for surgery after being told I needed it within 2 months.  When asked, I replied "next week?".  He didn't say yes or no but nod.  So I assumed that it would be so.  Friday I called around 2:30 to find out that the nurse was delayed because she had a sick day but that she'd call before the end of the day.  She called around 5PM.  I was notified that my back surgery is tentatively scheduled for April 22d.  She said that was the soonest they good get me in.   I look at my calendar and that's a Saturday!  Maybe, just maybe, I am not as bad as the doctor said I was because of this 7 week wait.  I just need to suck it up more.  Feels like a year away when I suffer daily.  I'm told not to do anything that hurts.  I wonder if that includes looking up in the sky at birds and sneezing.  

Child proof caps are no match for me.

Monday I met at McDonalds with the lady who had back surgery in November and told me about her recovery process. Then I had two therapy dog visits and a walk. I'm tired. Sophie was sung to at the nursing home.  Later, the activity Dir at St John's told me about some of the other therapy dogs.  She said they have another King Charles spaniel but the handler doesn't put it on laps like Sophie. Others dogs are all full size.  I let patients hold Sophie.  I'm just there to supervise so no harm is done on either side.   I don't see the point of having patients pet a dog while the owner holds the dog.

I scanned this page from the Illinois VFW News for March where my picture is shown from last week's ceremony.

Tuesday, I had an 8:50 appointment with Dr Williams.  This time my son came with me.  Dr Williams and his nurse wanted to know if I had any questions and if my son had seen the pictures from the MRI.  He did.  I explained that I read the pamphlet but got more information from a friend who recently had the surgery in November but on a waistline vertebrae.  Dr Williams was glad that I did because he knew  that I understood it was not going to be an easy recovery.  He did however say the my MRI showed my condition is worse than hers and he wasn't even familiar with her case. I think he meant that anything she told me, that my recovery will be more difficult.  He said it should be done soon within the next 2 months.  My reply "next week?" and so the arrangements are in the works.  He ordered an EKG which I got at my local clinic.  Also on the doctor's wish list was a bone density but I had one within the last year so that is being requested to be pulled up.  I want to get this long recovery process on the roll.  It's inevitable.

I have interviewed a cleaning lady whom I hope will fit me in before and after surgery.

I did have an appointment for my taxes on Mar 23d but explained the extenuating circumstances and dropped them off instead.  Vicki said she'd try to get to them in her spare time. 

My dog stroller arrived on Tuesday.  I put the wheels on it.  It seemed uneven at first so I didn't take it on the visit on Tuesday but I did on Thursday.  It rolled so bad.  I think it's junk.

Wednesday got a new stove delivered.

Saturday I tried to register the SN online.  It's not on book. The book said to get it off the stove. I pulled it out of the wall...nothing. I looked inside the oven...nothing. Then I looked on the bottom storage drawer there it was on the inside. Lot of crawling around for someone with a bad back.

I sold an old drum that I had in the house and bought some scrubs at the Goodwill with pockets to keep my phone handy while I recuperate.   I almost forgot about our AMVETS meeting until my son reminded me about the agenda.

Thursday evening I went to our Catholic War Veterans meeting and it was a painful evening.  Despite finding a soft seat chair, I grimaced and wiggled around in my seat looking for comfort. I tried to keep a straight face but it showed.

Before I got the call about my surgery that I was waiting for, I had a call from the nursing home inquiring about the April calendar therapy dog visits...that's not the call I was waiting for.  Then I got a call from my primary care doctor's office wanting to change my July appointment by one day...that's not the call I was waiting for either.  The call came about 5PM which is mentioned at the beginning.

I went to our church's OWLS pot luck (older wiser lovable seniors).  I brought my noodles and sauerkraut dish (and a few other secret ingredients).  I picked up our new church directory that had our picture taken in it from last October.  It's nice to put names with the faces in church.

Sunday I got  up with my body clock because of daylight savings time (formerly 6am).   I went to Mass with the Catholic War Veterans at the 10:30 Mass.  I usually attend 8AM Mass.  There's a little bigger crowd at the later service.  Afterward we went out for lunch.  I asked my son to put the Christmas decorations up in the attic.  I had tried to climb the ladder but after 4 steps, I deemed it unsafe.  My son helped when he came over.
In the evening I went to church for the "Table Prayer".  It's like a bread and soup meal spaced by conversation and song in ritual pattern.

Here is the song that was sung

Here is the choir ensemble


 The pastor has been having us carry a stone for Lent that we could take from the wheel barrel in church.  Similar to a pet rock.  There's a metaphor for the stone story here:
http://www.johndavies.org/sermons/nm_11_03_09.html
We were asked to dip the stone in the fountain and carry it with us during Lent as a reminder of something....I forget.  I didn't take one since I have so many rocks in my yard already left from river rock landscaping that let weeds grow through.

I said to my Google Home, "hey google, my dog's name is Sophie" She said "Ok, I'll remember that". Then I tested it.  Google Home knows my dog's name. 

I close this with an overnight snow in the forecast.  Ug!  9 days til spring.

My Week

Monday I didn't leave the house.  Before I would have at least gone to exercise but I've put that on Hiatus with my back problem.
Tuesday I put on my uniform and headed to the state capitol for the Desert Storm Remembrance.  I was part of the living history group from the branches of service that laid a rose for the fallen.  Members of many of the veterans organizations were present and of course, I belong to most of these.  It was an honor.  Here are links to the news:
http://wtax.com/news/101101-capitol-remembers-operation-desert-storm/

Desert Storm ended 26 years ago today. 17 Illinois service members who died are being remembered at the Illinois State Capitol -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9W3fLxtjKys

Here is the program (my name among the Living Historians)

 Clipped from the newspaper.  Four branches of the service rotated placing a rose for the 17 fallen.

TV news:
http://www.wandtv.com/clip/13138789/desert-storm-service-members-remembered
Full video here and you can see me around around 25 min in:
http://khqa.com/news/state/watch-illinois-honors-service-members-killed-in-desert-storm
VFW News:
http://vfwil.org/ViewNewsletter.asp?FileID=610

Here is the photo that was later posted in the IL AMVETS news:

Before going to reflections, I walked Sophie and came across my postman.  He pointed out a ream of yard waste bags in the middle of Park Ave that probably fell off a truck and asked me if I was interested.  I said sure but I was not going to carry them on my way out.  He then offered to put them in his truck and drop them off at my forthcoming address.  After my Therapy Dog visit, there they were by my mailbox.  How sweet!

In the evening I went to a presentation on reenacting at the ILES House but I wriggled in my chair in pain.  I couldn't wait to get home.

Wednesday morning, I went to Mass and received ashes.  Fr John had his ashes placed on the crown of his head and after Mass he explained it was a Toncha like the monks who shave the crown of the head.  I tried to google this word and couldn't find it.  So I changed the search terms and believe I misheard the word.  It may have been tonsure.  There was also a wheel barrel of rocks in the vestibule to take a rock home for Lent. I don't need a rock.  I have a few I'd like to be rid of from the original rock landscape.
I picked up a loaner medical toilet seat riser and then went to lunch with Micheal at County Market.  In the evening I went to our Legion Riders meeting and our president was late. The same president of our Interveterans Council and he forgot our last meeting. As I left, I felt another pinched nerve.  Murf remarked "but it feels so good when it stops".
Thursday, just after midnight, I was sleepless and in extreme pain. I tried to change positions and nothing relieved me of the pain.  Standing with a walker I borrowed was the least painful but that's not feasible for hours when I should be sleeping.  From 3AM to 7AM I had little shut eye and a lot of tears.  I got a little light rest in the rocking chair with a strait and firm back.  By 7:30 I called the after hours number at the orthopedic center where my next appointment would be.  I knew that the emergency room could not have done anything for my pain except perhaps a shot.  Besides, I didn't feel capable to drive either.

I got a call returned around 9:30AM and the Tuesday, March 7th, appointment was moved up for the following day on Friday at 10AM.  Well, the nurse mentioned a CAT scan prior to that appointment so do that first and she'd get Tricare approval working on it.

I was going to pick up a walker later that day that I found on Facebook's "For Sale In Chatham" but coaxed the seller into a home delivery since I was still in pain.  So here's my new wheels.  I'm thankful the seller delivered it.

The new wheels got flags lest I loose my reputation.

Some point later, the pain went to what I'd refer to as "every day pain".  I caught up on some sleep.  After I got up from a nap on the couch with knees bent to help make up for last night. That felt a bit better.  By that I mean I could stop crying.  The value of the the pain scale that used to record a 10 has changed.

Then I got a warning about Tramadol
http://www.itv.com/news/utv/update/2016-10-06/prescription-painkiller-claiming-more-lives-than-any-other-drug/ 
I prepared the following letter so I would know what to tell the doctor:

March 2, 2017
Dear Dr Williams
I have had a run of what I call “nothing appointments” because nothing directly fixes my problem but they all lead to a goal. Meanwhile, I’m tortured with pain. Sure it’s Lent but this sacrifice has been assigned to me. Dr Sheedy referred me to Dr. Watson who referred me to Dr Williams so from my point of view it is slow and difficult.
Dr Watson took and x-ray (Feb 9) and MRI (Feb 16) and when I thought I’d return for a relieving injection (Feb 23), I instead got a referral for a surgical consult 2 weeks later (Mar 7). Although Dr. Watson did save me 3 days in the waiting line for an appointment with a surgeon because the Mar 7th appointment was waiting at the desk when I was told to get an appointment with Dr. Williams or Dr. VanFleet. The clerk said I had already been given an appointment that I was not aware of. Still seems like a long time for constant and fluctuating pain spells. The pain went all the way down my legs.
Most of the time I put on a good front but Thursday I was in tears and rocking back and forth. I had little sleep since midnight and wiggled out of bed about 3:30. I have a bed rail, cane, walker and toilet extension. I had difficulty dressing and pulling up my pajama bottoms. I almost called an ambulance but tried to tough it out till daytime when I called orthopedic center about 7:30 in tears.
I appreciate your nurse moving this appointment up.

The prednisone that Dr. Sheedy assigned had run out weeks ago. The tramadol (which I’m concerned about side affects), which I’ve used conservatively, is now almost gone. Mar 2d I took 2 pills since I was in tears and couldn’t sleep. Some of the questions I have:
*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 write this story down so that I can remember the timeline. I also worry because I’m widowed and live alone with one son in Springfield. No pain ~ No Gain has evolved to No Pain ~ No Pain.

Rosemary Connolly, A Patient patient.

Friday I had a cat scan and then waited with all the other cripples in the waiting area.  We are issued buzzers like you get at the big restaurants to be called.  I was seen by the nurse, then the physicians assistant and then the surgeon and some student with him.  It's quite emotional. My Tuesday appoint moved to Friday (today) and I still have a Tuesday morning appointment. I met Dr William's nurse whom I spoke with on the phone yesterday. Then I met a physician's assistant, who explained the images and options (like I hadn't been doing behavior modifications already when I asked what he meant), Then Dr Williams and a student perhaps with him. He said surgery will require six screws and some rods. I asked "cadaver?" Reply: "some".  He had me take my shoes off and tested the strength in my big toe forward and back.  Then said something to his assistant as if a training term was observed.  Dr Williams didn't see anyway around it. I did get a little emotional. That could have been fear of surgery but a little bit of happy tears knowing that this will make me better and there's relief from pain in my future.  I also learned this problem is more common with petite, Caucasian women. Go figure. 
It will could be 2 days in the hospital. I asked how long the surgery lasts and it would be 3 hours.  I will not get a handicap placard because he wants me walking.  No pain killer pills because he doesn't want me to build up an immunity prior to surgery.  Oh the suffering.  I took this picture of the monitor. 

The lower left show bulging.  The upper right shows my butt on the table and the dark dot in the middle is closed off fluid which should show a white spinal cord in the middle but there's only a pin size white dot (had I shown the time lapse scroll thru the spine, it shows further above this).  The Dr. could move/zoom all the was down the sliced torso (like a magician that slices the lady in the box in half) and as the camera went down to the lumbar the white spinal nerve got smaller and smaller till it seemed to disappear.  The nerve is surrounded by fluid for wiggle room and there is little.
I was given a brochure on the procedure to read. Mostly it's about the terms used like spinal decompression and spinal fusion.  I seem to be learning more from a lady who had back surgery in November whom I know from Powerworks.  Well if all this seems to be going over your head, imagine how I feel.

I did order this pet stroller on ebay that I can use as a walker partner for Sophie.  I figure there may be less bending over and plus I can use it as a brace/walker.

I could still take her for a walk along side this and use this to hold on to instead of a cane.  It would make me look less crippled and serve a function now and in the future too.

Saturday, my sister scolded me for vacuuming.  I'm looking for help.  I tried to clean my stove and the whole top half where the knobs are fell off.  It works but I may as well get a new stove.  I will have it delivered on Wednesday if I don't have surgery first. With all the problems, I left the store and forgot to ask for my discount so I went back and the clerk put $98 back on my credit card. Funny thing is that I usually go to Lowes for my discount even on small purchases. Here is a purchase that made a difference in that 10% discount.

With everything going wrong, I figure I better stop procrastinating on lining that coffin in my back family room. Funny thing is I'm working harder and should be taking it easy.  I finished lining this coffin that I bought in Oct 2015.  Inside I'll keep linens and my final arrangements.  

It had big nails protruding on the inside so any lining would be snagged.  I then realized my home siding that was removed for the sun room was the perfect height to cover up for those big nails so I sewed a sleeve for them out of thrift store satin table cloths and put the pad that I made inside.  Almost professional.  It could use a little pillow.  Do you think I should do something about the window or let the US flag and pall take care of that?  It has character you know.

I'm up to episode 9 on Versallies on Netflix. 
Sunday I went to Mass (with my cane).  Sr Judy added me to the prayer line.  After church I stopped by the office and I dropped off my car insurance in the nearby mail slot and got groceries at County Market.  For the store not being so crowded, it's ironic the two isles I needed had people chit chatting where I needed to be.  Oh well, not a total problem.
I shall pick up where I left off publishing this blog this Sunday evening.  I hope to have 2 therapy dog visits on Monday but visits will be cut off too.