Thank you, Ann. Going day to day is sometimes very stressful. The first time that things happen it is very stressful, but then when those things repeat it is in some way easier. I always think about how I feel, or the disabilities that I have, that there are so many people who are worse off than me (and don't have two sweet little Chihuahuas.)
Things won't be moving too soon as far as surgery. I have to get those two MRIs and both of them require contrast. The last MRI that I got was after I was diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, so I had to go for a blood test two days before they could schedule an MRI. I don't think that both MRIs can be done on the same day. If they did, it would mean that they would have to do the two separate MRIs for the knee and spine, then inject the dye and then do the contrasts. I don't think the contrast can stay in my body long enough to do both contrasts, but for my spine laying on that MRI table for the length of 4 MRIs would really not be good. Once I get the MRIs done, I will have to make an appointment with both doctors to see what they need to do, and then they will have to coordinate with dates/times, etc. My spine doc wants the pain mgmt doc there too.but the PA there said that is not how he does it. I will have to talk to the spine surgeon if that is true, and he must have one that does this or else he would never suggest it. So with the MRIs, doctor appts, doctors coordinating dates/times and then coordinating those with the hospital OR, it really may be March before I go for surgery. If the first surgery that they have is late Feb or Early March, then I would just wait the few extra days for Judy & Tony to be gone and I watch Mandy for them. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ann banks Sent: Wednesday, January 11, 2012 5:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Don't Worry Hi Joan, sorry for all your stressful medical problems just now. Wish I could help in some way. But God is going to help you plus help your doctors get you well. Give Dollie and Desi a big hug. Hope tomorrow is a better day Hugs Ann On Tue, Jan 10, 2012 at 9:14 PM, Joan Croft <[email protected]> wrote: I just woke up and the pain is so much less. The doctor gave me Lasix & Potassium to get rid of the excess fluid, and an oral anti-inflammatory med. There were three days last week when I was on my feet for a long period of time. I was marking where there were sidewalk defects on Tuesday and Wednesday and then Thursday a walk of the entire community with the builder. I think someone said once that it is a quarter mile to go through all of the streets, but there was also the standing still here and there. I was using the rollator walker to take the weight off of my knee and lessen the impact of my back. The back of the knee pain actually started before all that walking, though. I slept until about 30 minutes ago. Before I fell asleep, I took my regular meds (Kadian for pain, Norflex for muscle relaxing, and Lyrica for the neuropathy.) In addition to that I took the one Voltaren pill, a Lasix and some Potassium. When I got up - had to turn lights on and feed my pups - I don't have as much pain. But, if I were to stay up and be walking awhile, it would probably get worse. When I walk and stand my lumbar disks are being compressed and I think they might swell and put more pressure on the nerves going down to my legs. I am well medicated and don't want to take the way that I feel right now as what I will feel like at midnight when it is time to take more meds. The ER doctor said that I have to get the back and knee surgery soon. I really want to wait until March so that I can watch Mandy when Judy & Tony go to Chicago. On the other hand, I have to think about me and the signals that my body is giving me. I am not going to worry about the things that I want done first, but only on the things that I will need to do before surgery. The new flooring in the master bedroom, and maybe the new bedspread, curtains, etc. After surgery Tony can help me with the cabinets in the bathroom and some of the other things that I want done. Maybe I can do some of them myself a few months after surgery. When I lived in CA, my doctor was keeping me on Lasix and Potassium because I would get this edema when my back was hurting the most. Therefore, I don't get too excited about the edema. But, my primary care doctor here has planted a seed in my head that what I feel is OK, may really be something else that needs attention. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, January 10, 2012 1:18 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: [Chihuahuas] Don't Worry Joan, after all that checking, it sounds as if they found nothing. So, I am concerned, what is causing the pain? Gloria In a message dated 1/10/2012 1:40:48 P.M. Central Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Hi all, I am having some pretty bad problems for the last 5 or 6 days. First the back of my knee was hurting really bad and then the calf right below it started in. I had assumed that the calf muscle was because the back of the knee was making me walk differently. Then my lower calf was hurting really bad, and the longer that I was on my feet rendered me almost unable to walk any other way than by moving my leg from the hip. Sunday, my leg was itching and so I raised my pant leg a little to scratch.then the delayed reaction telling me that my leg was very smooth. I think took a look and both of my legs had some pretty severe edema and that is why they were hurting so much and the itching too. Sunday night I was thinking and thinking what to do. Everything could possibly be from my spine which a lso was acting up a lot; it could be something that is wrong with that knee - the same one that I injured when I fell 14 months ago; it could be a reaction to the Levaquin; or it could be a blood clot. After all of my thinking, I thought it best to go to my primary care doctor and if he thought I needed to go to one of my specialists he would refer me. I woke up too late for the 7:30 am walk-in appt slots; so I went for the 12:30 walk-in appt. I showed the doctor and he said that my right leg was much more swollen than the left, and then he did a 'homan's' test that showed positive for possible blood clot. He sent me to the ER again. I got to the ER about 3 pm and things moved a lot smoother than when I went there in June. I was assessed by the triage nurse; got an EKG, then interviewed by the gals that put all the symptoms and update everything else in the com puter; then I saw a doctor who read my docs script for what he saw, did, suspects. That doctor put in an order for the ultrasound to check for bloodclots. I got the ultrasound and then another lady needed me to put in my insurance info into the computer (always about money at the hospital). Then I was taken to a little cubicle where the doctor came and told me that there was no blood clots. This is where the visit was different than the one in June. In June the doc talked to me for maybe 30 seconds and then he had his nurse give me discharge instructions and a prescription for Lortabs, when my medical record showed that I was already taking Kadian. Yesterday.after the doctor told me that I didn't have any blood clots, then he said he wanted to ask me some questions before he discharged me. He asked me how long I was having this pain, if it was the same the whole time, and then he actually examined the legs and the knee. I told him that the knee had a torn meniscus, a bone spur on the patella, and some osteo-arthritis. When he heard that, he went back to look at the ultrasound because with those knee injuries a bakers cyst can form in the back of the knee.but that was not the case for me. He then asked me what I could take for pain, and I told him and he said 'OK, you don't need another Rx for pain'. He was getting ready to write a prescription for me, when I pulled the one out that my primary care doctor gave me in case the hospital didn't do anything like last time. My doctor prescribed Lasix, Potassium, and Voltaren tablets (the gel only works when put on the spine centerline or on the knee.) The ER doctor said that my doctor was very well prepared for what I might need. I just had to wait for my discharge papers and then I left. I went to CVS to get my prescriptions filled, and then I di dn't have my new Rx insurance card. I gave them the prescription and told them that I would call with the info when I got home. I called and got another gal and she told me that the meds would not be ready until noon today. This is where I lost my composure.I told her that I had spent the entire day and part of the evening at my doctors office and the ER for severe swelling in my legs and very bad pain and that I NEED that medication tonight. She told me to call back at 9pm. Well.I still couldn't take my pain meds because I can't take them and drive. I called at 9 pm and they told me to give them another 15 minutes. Finally, I left home, got to the pharmacy and got back home again. Needless to say, I am in a lot of pain. I am supposed to keep my legs up until some of this gets better. So, I could move my laptop to where the recliner is but I would have Dolly & Desi on my lap so ther e would be no room for the computer. So.if I don't respond to something or send new email.don't worry about me. I will try to respond to some emails on my phone, but it can't retrieve the messages with attachments, or the fancy signatures. I will check my email only a few times - if any. Monday I go back to my doctor, so I will update all of you then. Thanks. Joan, Dolly Dee & Desi Lou Permanent residents of the Nantucket Clipper Rehabilitation Facility -- Ann & Pedro and Chico Image removed by sender. Picture
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