I haven't been able to post anything for the whole year of 2013. I can't give you a reason why but now that it is up and running, I hope to post more.
As most of you know, last year was not a great one to start off with because I had fallen and broke my ankle in 3-4 places. Spent a week in the hospital and another 3 weeks in rehab. I tried to have a new puppy but she didn't work out. I can't say that she was the thing that caused my accident but I was being stubborn as I was told Molly was my dog and I would be the only one taking care of her.
I was exhausted that evening but I was so angry at that statement, I pushed myself to stay up with the puppy. I did have some light on but I still got walking too fast to sit down, could not stop myself, tripped, fell, and heard the crack. Molly was given away. It was very hard to but I was not in a position to now take care of a puppy.
As the year went, discussions about my upcoming birthday were talked about and I wanted to go back to Disney World as it had been at least 20 years. I had gone to Disneyland while in California but DW is so much bigger with so much to do.
2014 came to be and again I had hopes that this would be the year of being free to do things. We had planned our trip for Disney, arranged for the hotel, had Frankie taken care of for a few days, and we were ready!
It has not gone according to plan. I had just seen my orthopedic doctor and he decided to keep in my hardware for at least another 6-12 months. Well...a week later I started to get a lot of redness and swelling. I had a spot open up and was bleeding a small amount. Back to the doctor and he said it might be an infection. Antibiotics given and the decision to remove all the hardware. Disney is in question once more because I am not able to walk too long as it is sore and hurts. Ahhhh! A decision will be made on Wednesday about whether to go now or delay again.
Monday, February 17, 2014
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Happy New Year 2013
It is a new year. What will it bring to one and all? As we get older, it seems that days get busier and busier and we run out of time. This happens even if you are retired; from your job, from volunteering, from making a life choice to change your life. What has happened to us that we run out of time? We used to take time to visit neighbors, to talk to our kids, to see and visit with family. The economy plays a part, as well as, family and friends being spread across the country. Why can't we stay connected? Is our life so busy that we can't just stop to say hello?
I saw our grandchildren for Christmas in 2012. It was an effort to plan and to travel to do it. I enjoyed being with my grown and successful children and my 7 grandchildren. It was still hard to try and fit in all the time needed and wanted by the grown children and still trying to give attention to the grandchildren. There was such maneuvering and planning, with disappointments included, when one could only be at one place at a time. You can only do the best you can to accommodate all the plans and needs from everyone. Sometimes you are successful and sometimes you are not. Someone will always be unhappy in the end.
I always want to make everyone happy. I try to see everyone's point of view and need, to work with the time I have to give, and yet I seem to fail in accomplishing the goal I have set for myself; to give an equal amount of time.
I do not have the resources to have a place in each state to accommodate everyone's desire. I really wished I did and with it, the resources to cover my travels. Limitations are always in the forefront of every decision; whether it be travels, purchases, visits, your life!
Is there any answer to this quandary? What does one do to keep moving forward in life without sacrificing connections? Do we need to go back to a slower way of life? Was there ever one?
I saw our grandchildren for Christmas in 2012. It was an effort to plan and to travel to do it. I enjoyed being with my grown and successful children and my 7 grandchildren. It was still hard to try and fit in all the time needed and wanted by the grown children and still trying to give attention to the grandchildren. There was such maneuvering and planning, with disappointments included, when one could only be at one place at a time. You can only do the best you can to accommodate all the plans and needs from everyone. Sometimes you are successful and sometimes you are not. Someone will always be unhappy in the end.
I always want to make everyone happy. I try to see everyone's point of view and need, to work with the time I have to give, and yet I seem to fail in accomplishing the goal I have set for myself; to give an equal amount of time.
I do not have the resources to have a place in each state to accommodate everyone's desire. I really wished I did and with it, the resources to cover my travels. Limitations are always in the forefront of every decision; whether it be travels, purchases, visits, your life!
Is there any answer to this quandary? What does one do to keep moving forward in life without sacrificing connections? Do we need to go back to a slower way of life? Was there ever one?
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Surgery
It is 10 days now before the surgery of my thyroid. I am doing OK with this for now. I have researched and researched information about the surgery and the types of surgery that are offered.
My surgeon is one that will make a small incision to try and avoid a big scar. I am also going home the same day, which in the past was not the case. I am lucky on those two counts. I am worried and so is Sam/Dad. He seems to be more this time around then usual or maybe it is because of the type of surgery.
I think he could handle the other surgeries because it didn't involve anything close to my neck. Now, I will have my neck cut to remove a very large tumor. I am not sure how much of the thyroid the doctor will take as it depends on what he sees when he goes in the area. I am not sure if the whole thyroid will be removed but I have heard a good portion of it. I may or may not have to take medication afterwards.
What is another pill, for me anyway? I take so much now so an addition will not amount to anything.
The months of November and December are turning out to be quite active. Sam/Dad will be flying up to Bethesda, Maryland, on November 7 and having a large meeting on November 8. He will fly back home November 8, but it will be a late flight.
On November 13, I have my surgery. Depending on how I am doing afterwards, will make our other plans work or not. We have a couple of craft shows coming up then and we wanted to attend. Sam/Dad will fly to California on November 26, to work on the bid for an addition to a hospital in San Diego. The bid is on November 29.
The other function, on November 29, is a retirement dinner for a Clark person that Sam/Dad has worked with while he has been with Clark. This retirement dinner is in San Francisco. This will mean that he will finish the bid up in Costa Mesa, maybe by 3 PM, try to catch a flight to San Francisco for the dinner (which is about an hour and a half), and then return to Costa Mesa the next day to finish up the bid.
We just found out when the holiday party will be this year for Clark and it is December 4. Sam/Dad was to return on December 1. The quandary now is whether to stay longer in Costa Mesa for the party. The party will be on the Queen Mary 2. It sounds like a neat venue for a party.
We are also thinking that if everything goes right, we could stop off in Denver, before our return, for a few days.
All of these plans, will depend on how I am doing from the surgery. That is the biggest question we have right now. I don't have a crystal ball to know that answer. It will definitely be a lot of flying. I believe that could be handled but what about Frankie? The time away will be quite long and I have other doctor appointments already booked. Doctor appointments can be rescheduled. I have my indecisions with all of these activities.
We just have to wait and see what happens in a week and half.
My surgeon is one that will make a small incision to try and avoid a big scar. I am also going home the same day, which in the past was not the case. I am lucky on those two counts. I am worried and so is Sam/Dad. He seems to be more this time around then usual or maybe it is because of the type of surgery.
I think he could handle the other surgeries because it didn't involve anything close to my neck. Now, I will have my neck cut to remove a very large tumor. I am not sure how much of the thyroid the doctor will take as it depends on what he sees when he goes in the area. I am not sure if the whole thyroid will be removed but I have heard a good portion of it. I may or may not have to take medication afterwards.
What is another pill, for me anyway? I take so much now so an addition will not amount to anything.
The months of November and December are turning out to be quite active. Sam/Dad will be flying up to Bethesda, Maryland, on November 7 and having a large meeting on November 8. He will fly back home November 8, but it will be a late flight.
On November 13, I have my surgery. Depending on how I am doing afterwards, will make our other plans work or not. We have a couple of craft shows coming up then and we wanted to attend. Sam/Dad will fly to California on November 26, to work on the bid for an addition to a hospital in San Diego. The bid is on November 29.
The other function, on November 29, is a retirement dinner for a Clark person that Sam/Dad has worked with while he has been with Clark. This retirement dinner is in San Francisco. This will mean that he will finish the bid up in Costa Mesa, maybe by 3 PM, try to catch a flight to San Francisco for the dinner (which is about an hour and a half), and then return to Costa Mesa the next day to finish up the bid.
We just found out when the holiday party will be this year for Clark and it is December 4. Sam/Dad was to return on December 1. The quandary now is whether to stay longer in Costa Mesa for the party. The party will be on the Queen Mary 2. It sounds like a neat venue for a party.
We are also thinking that if everything goes right, we could stop off in Denver, before our return, for a few days.
All of these plans, will depend on how I am doing from the surgery. That is the biggest question we have right now. I don't have a crystal ball to know that answer. It will definitely be a lot of flying. I believe that could be handled but what about Frankie? The time away will be quite long and I have other doctor appointments already booked. Doctor appointments can be rescheduled. I have my indecisions with all of these activities.
We just have to wait and see what happens in a week and half.
Monday, October 15, 2012
October 22, 2012
October 22, 2012, is a Monday, time 3:30 p.m., I will meet with the surgeon. I hope I will be able to get some answers to the thyroid problem.
I have so many questions about what will happen next. I am sure a biopsy will be done. I have a greater chance that it will be benign then cancer. I still know, from what I have read, that the mass will need to be removed and along with it part of the thyroid. Just how much will be determined once the thyroid is exposed.
These are all things that I have read and partly been told by the Endocrinologist. I also was told that this surgeon, Dr. Stanley Wilson, is conservative in his approach in regards to surgery.
Is this on my mind? You betcha! Are we talking about it much? Not really as there are so many unknowns.
Dad/Sam has other things to concentrate on right now. He has a bid at the end of October. He is flying to California, today, October 15. He will be there until Saturday and fly back to South Carolina, to be here for the appointment on October 22. Whatever is decided at the appointment, will determine whether he fly's back to California. Right now, he has a flight back the next day, October 23.
I have a lot of people praying for me and for good results. I know I will deal with whatever the outcome, as I am strong and have handled major problems in the past.
"It is what it is". Can't change things so I just have to deal with it. It is still scary about the unknown! I am one that needs to know exactly what will happen, so I can organize it in my mind, research and learn more, have things in place. I still will get nervous and anxious, but I will know more.
Now to wait until Monday
I have so many questions about what will happen next. I am sure a biopsy will be done. I have a greater chance that it will be benign then cancer. I still know, from what I have read, that the mass will need to be removed and along with it part of the thyroid. Just how much will be determined once the thyroid is exposed.
These are all things that I have read and partly been told by the Endocrinologist. I also was told that this surgeon, Dr. Stanley Wilson, is conservative in his approach in regards to surgery.
Is this on my mind? You betcha! Are we talking about it much? Not really as there are so many unknowns.
Dad/Sam has other things to concentrate on right now. He has a bid at the end of October. He is flying to California, today, October 15. He will be there until Saturday and fly back to South Carolina, to be here for the appointment on October 22. Whatever is decided at the appointment, will determine whether he fly's back to California. Right now, he has a flight back the next day, October 23.
I have a lot of people praying for me and for good results. I know I will deal with whatever the outcome, as I am strong and have handled major problems in the past.
"It is what it is". Can't change things so I just have to deal with it. It is still scary about the unknown! I am one that needs to know exactly what will happen, so I can organize it in my mind, research and learn more, have things in place. I still will get nervous and anxious, but I will know more.
Now to wait until Monday
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Changes Part 2
I don't have great news to write about right now. My thyroid mass grew from 3.4 cm to 3.7 cm. I am being referred to a surgeon and I am awaiting his call to set up an appointment. I really don't know what will happen or when. It is so hard to wait for something to happen as you want that something to happen now.
They say patience is a virtue and I do have patience most of the time. I can wait in a doctor's office for quite awhile when he is behind, as long as I know, I can deal with traffic, I can wait for that repairman. I can get a chance to reschedule if necessary. This other waiting, waiting for that phone call to continue on with a problem, is so difficult. You can't reschedule something that might be wrong with you.
I don't know why my neurologist in California did not say something to me. It wasn't his right to dismiss it. I had the report and yes, it did say that I had a large mass, but I did not know that this was an issue that should have been checked. What made the neurologist I have here, suggest for me to see someone? Were they more aware of the necessity? I really don't know the answer to the question. I am angry though that I wasn't given the option to decide for myself in California. What made that doctor decide that this was not something to look at or not to feel the need to even discuss it with me?
I know that is history or as I have said "water under the bridge". I have to deal with the here and now. So I wait! I want to call so badly and get an appointment. This surgeon may not have all the results yet or hasn't had time to review. Why can't an appointment be made anyway? Patience is a tough word for me right now.
I am trying to stay busy. I have been typing up notes for Sam to take for his bid in California for a hospital. This is another issue, Sam wanting to fly to California for this bid and staying until the end of the month of October. He wanted to leave this week, but changed and stayed an extra week. He really needs to leave next Monday and will be there until November 1. I would like to go but things are so much up in the air.
Life has thrown a curve ball. How do you deal with the uncertainty? I guess you have to trust in God, your friends support, and to keep reminding yourself that you are strong and you will get through it.
It is still hard to wait....
They say patience is a virtue and I do have patience most of the time. I can wait in a doctor's office for quite awhile when he is behind, as long as I know, I can deal with traffic, I can wait for that repairman. I can get a chance to reschedule if necessary. This other waiting, waiting for that phone call to continue on with a problem, is so difficult. You can't reschedule something that might be wrong with you.
I don't know why my neurologist in California did not say something to me. It wasn't his right to dismiss it. I had the report and yes, it did say that I had a large mass, but I did not know that this was an issue that should have been checked. What made the neurologist I have here, suggest for me to see someone? Were they more aware of the necessity? I really don't know the answer to the question. I am angry though that I wasn't given the option to decide for myself in California. What made that doctor decide that this was not something to look at or not to feel the need to even discuss it with me?
I know that is history or as I have said "water under the bridge". I have to deal with the here and now. So I wait! I want to call so badly and get an appointment. This surgeon may not have all the results yet or hasn't had time to review. Why can't an appointment be made anyway? Patience is a tough word for me right now.
I am trying to stay busy. I have been typing up notes for Sam to take for his bid in California for a hospital. This is another issue, Sam wanting to fly to California for this bid and staying until the end of the month of October. He wanted to leave this week, but changed and stayed an extra week. He really needs to leave next Monday and will be there until November 1. I would like to go but things are so much up in the air.
Life has thrown a curve ball. How do you deal with the uncertainty? I guess you have to trust in God, your friends support, and to keep reminding yourself that you are strong and you will get through it.
It is still hard to wait....
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Changes
Fall has arrived. We are having warm temperatures during the day and cooler temperatures at night. We actually opened our bedroom windows last night instead of using air conditioning. This has not happened for a very long time.
The electric bills have not been extremely high because our house is very efficient with keeping a good even, cool temperature. Thank goodness!
I had three MRI's done in the last couple of weeks. One for my head, one for the spine, and one for my neck. Everything is stable with the MS but the MRI showed a mass on my thyroid, about an inch and a half. The doctor reading the MRI or my Neurologist could not figure out what it was showing, so I was asked to go to an Endocrinologist to have it checked.
Being in Bluffton, South Carolina has great advantages with location, easy living, and good friends that were made. The biggest problem, though, is finding good doctors. I have had to drive to Savannah, Georgia, for some appointments, which is about 30-40 minutes, which isn't a bad drive. I have my Neurologist in Port Royal, SC, which is about the same distance from us only going North.
The other issue is finding a specialist that takes our insurance too. I thought I found one in Savannah, who takes our insurance, said they were taking new patients, and had my Neurologists office send all my information. I was told I would be called to make an appointment, either on Monday afternoon or sometime on Tuesday of this present week, September 24 or 25.
I waited and waited, but I did not hear from anyone. By early afternoon, on Tuesday, I placed a call to the doctor's office in Savannah, Georgia. I was put into voice mail and I left a message with her nurse. I did not receive a call back on Tuesday and I am still waiting for a call today, Wednesday. I even called my Neurologist, on Tuesday late afternoon, to let them know I had no response yet from this doctor and they placed a call to get someone but also was put into voicemail. How can a doctor's office calling another doctor's office, not get a response back?
S o o o o, I let my fingers do some walking on the Internet to find a doctor maybe in Charleston. Charleston is a longer drive, about 2-1/2 hours but we are willing to go anywhere to get the help we might need. I did find another doctor in Charleston, who takes our insurance, called my Neurologist's office today, gave them the information, and they were going to try and get an appointment for me. Again, I have not heard a thing! If this new doctor I am trying to get, does not respond either, I have another one to call. Why is this being so hard? Can't someone understand that the person who has an issue with any part of their body, needs to have an answer to put their mind at ease or for them to determine what their next step would be, to handle the problem?
This is so frustrating!!!!
I have hooked up with a local support group. I am not actually a leader for the group, but someone that will help them out. The group is mainly made up with people from Sun City, though there are a couple of us "outsiders". It has been hard to fit with this group, as conversations tend to go with the doings at Sun City and they want to socialize. So far, not a lot has been accomplished, but I hope I can help out with this issue.
I have a hard time following conversations when multiple conversations are going at once. I get distracted, from the main speaker, when people are having "side bar chats". I have decided now to ask people to not talk while someone is talking. As I usually say, "One Conversation at a Time". You would think that this would be common sense but I also realize the need to say something before it is forgotten. We just have to learn to take our turns.
The electric bills have not been extremely high because our house is very efficient with keeping a good even, cool temperature. Thank goodness!
I had three MRI's done in the last couple of weeks. One for my head, one for the spine, and one for my neck. Everything is stable with the MS but the MRI showed a mass on my thyroid, about an inch and a half. The doctor reading the MRI or my Neurologist could not figure out what it was showing, so I was asked to go to an Endocrinologist to have it checked.
Being in Bluffton, South Carolina has great advantages with location, easy living, and good friends that were made. The biggest problem, though, is finding good doctors. I have had to drive to Savannah, Georgia, for some appointments, which is about 30-40 minutes, which isn't a bad drive. I have my Neurologist in Port Royal, SC, which is about the same distance from us only going North.
The other issue is finding a specialist that takes our insurance too. I thought I found one in Savannah, who takes our insurance, said they were taking new patients, and had my Neurologists office send all my information. I was told I would be called to make an appointment, either on Monday afternoon or sometime on Tuesday of this present week, September 24 or 25.
I waited and waited, but I did not hear from anyone. By early afternoon, on Tuesday, I placed a call to the doctor's office in Savannah, Georgia. I was put into voice mail and I left a message with her nurse. I did not receive a call back on Tuesday and I am still waiting for a call today, Wednesday. I even called my Neurologist, on Tuesday late afternoon, to let them know I had no response yet from this doctor and they placed a call to get someone but also was put into voicemail. How can a doctor's office calling another doctor's office, not get a response back?
S o o o o, I let my fingers do some walking on the Internet to find a doctor maybe in Charleston. Charleston is a longer drive, about 2-1/2 hours but we are willing to go anywhere to get the help we might need. I did find another doctor in Charleston, who takes our insurance, called my Neurologist's office today, gave them the information, and they were going to try and get an appointment for me. Again, I have not heard a thing! If this new doctor I am trying to get, does not respond either, I have another one to call. Why is this being so hard? Can't someone understand that the person who has an issue with any part of their body, needs to have an answer to put their mind at ease or for them to determine what their next step would be, to handle the problem?
This is so frustrating!!!!
I have hooked up with a local support group. I am not actually a leader for the group, but someone that will help them out. The group is mainly made up with people from Sun City, though there are a couple of us "outsiders". It has been hard to fit with this group, as conversations tend to go with the doings at Sun City and they want to socialize. So far, not a lot has been accomplished, but I hope I can help out with this issue.
I have a hard time following conversations when multiple conversations are going at once. I get distracted, from the main speaker, when people are having "side bar chats". I have decided now to ask people to not talk while someone is talking. As I usually say, "One Conversation at a Time". You would think that this would be common sense but I also realize the need to say something before it is forgotten. We just have to learn to take our turns.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Where is the time going?
It is almost Fall! The start of craft shows, warm apple cider, fires in the fireplace, cooler nights, and beautiful days. Before you know it, it will the holidays.
We have had a busy summer this year. We spent a good portion of July in California and in August, we had Gabe and Sophia, our grandchildren, stay with us for a few days. Tony and Abby were finally able to see our house in South Carolina and that was very special. We don't get a chance to see any of the family much, so this visit was wonderful.
We continue to change things around the house. Right now, a bookcase is being built for either my craft room or maybe the office. We are not sure where it should go. The craft room is looking pretty good as we had put up a shelf above my work table, that holds baskets right now but it looks great. It has given the room a more finished look. It is still a work in process.
I will have a girlfriend from High School visiting this weekend, September 15-18. We have stayed in touch all these years, since 1971. I have a few other friends that I also stay in touch with from High School but Cathy will be the first one to visit.
I have to come up with ideas for sightseeing. She likes history and there is definitely history around here. We only have a couple of days to visit so we need to plan the best sites in a short amount of time. I guess it is time to let my fingers to do the walking on the Internet.
I did get good news about my eyes. They are both doing just fine. The specialist said he saw a couple of small spots that looked to be swelling but it was not anything for him to worry about right now. I am to have my ophthalmologist keep an eye on them, which I see every three months.
I also had two MRI's done, one last week for my brain, and this week for the neck and spine. I will see my neurologist in a couple of weeks to get the results. I am still on the oral drug called Gilenya. This may change once I see the doctor. I have had issues with walking and stumbling but I haven't fallen, which is a very good thing.
We keep looking at trips or cruises but we haven't decided on anything. My issue is the walking of places. I would like to see so many different things but I have to either not see them or to figure out a way to do so. So far, the figuring out has not been very successful. It is so very hard to not be able to do things without a second thought. I have to plan for my energy and the length of time of walking. I have to make sure I am not in really hot heat for a long time without getting my body core back down to better temperature. If not, I won't be able to function for very long. You would think that the cold would be better for me, but if the cold is too cold, my legs won't function either. Can't win either way!
We are doing well in South Carolina. We have really gotten into the slower pace. We don't seem to worry about things as much as we did in California. Going out on the boat is so relaxing. We go about 4 mph. and that is all the way in speed. It is OK, as we have nothing else to worry about right now.
We have had a busy summer this year. We spent a good portion of July in California and in August, we had Gabe and Sophia, our grandchildren, stay with us for a few days. Tony and Abby were finally able to see our house in South Carolina and that was very special. We don't get a chance to see any of the family much, so this visit was wonderful.
We continue to change things around the house. Right now, a bookcase is being built for either my craft room or maybe the office. We are not sure where it should go. The craft room is looking pretty good as we had put up a shelf above my work table, that holds baskets right now but it looks great. It has given the room a more finished look. It is still a work in process.
I will have a girlfriend from High School visiting this weekend, September 15-18. We have stayed in touch all these years, since 1971. I have a few other friends that I also stay in touch with from High School but Cathy will be the first one to visit.
I have to come up with ideas for sightseeing. She likes history and there is definitely history around here. We only have a couple of days to visit so we need to plan the best sites in a short amount of time. I guess it is time to let my fingers to do the walking on the Internet.
I did get good news about my eyes. They are both doing just fine. The specialist said he saw a couple of small spots that looked to be swelling but it was not anything for him to worry about right now. I am to have my ophthalmologist keep an eye on them, which I see every three months.
I also had two MRI's done, one last week for my brain, and this week for the neck and spine. I will see my neurologist in a couple of weeks to get the results. I am still on the oral drug called Gilenya. This may change once I see the doctor. I have had issues with walking and stumbling but I haven't fallen, which is a very good thing.
We keep looking at trips or cruises but we haven't decided on anything. My issue is the walking of places. I would like to see so many different things but I have to either not see them or to figure out a way to do so. So far, the figuring out has not been very successful. It is so very hard to not be able to do things without a second thought. I have to plan for my energy and the length of time of walking. I have to make sure I am not in really hot heat for a long time without getting my body core back down to better temperature. If not, I won't be able to function for very long. You would think that the cold would be better for me, but if the cold is too cold, my legs won't function either. Can't win either way!
We are doing well in South Carolina. We have really gotten into the slower pace. We don't seem to worry about things as much as we did in California. Going out on the boat is so relaxing. We go about 4 mph. and that is all the way in speed. It is OK, as we have nothing else to worry about right now.
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