Showing posts with label other doctor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label other doctor. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Tuesday, May 4, 2010
5/4/10 Pre-Op Process (Self-pay or Covered)
*Portions of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book---------------------------------------------------
The closest I come to understanding the medical system abroad is when 'someone very close to me who will remain anonymous lest her friends read this...like they'd ever want to' spent a semester abroad in France. She made a trip to the ER in the middle of the night just 10 days after her arrival to France (very bloody diarrhea)...which involved a move in
an ambulance to another hospital outside of town, a 5 day stay, a lab analysis of the bottle of Pepto Bismol (yes, I sent her there with a huge bag full of every medication possible...I'm surprised they didn't stop her at customs and do a strip search) that I insisted she take with her to the hospital (they'd never seen Pepto before). NO one at the hospital spoke more than a few words of English and she didn't speak much French at all yet (she attended an English speaking college, and part of her education was learning more conversational French there). In the few minutes a day we got to talk to her (cell phone had almost no battery left and she didn't take the charger to the ER) we received the following information (and yes, I would have flown out the first day if I'd had any clue this was going to be 5 days):
- Day 1: NO one here speaks English!...No, we all applied for our France health care cards, but we hadn't received them yet...I'm perfectly fine now...I think they'll send me home today.
- Day 2: They took my Pepto Bismol and my phone is about to die...No, I don't know what hospital I'm at, but I'll try to ask them if that's it...No, there's NO one here who speaks English that you can talk to...anyway, I think they'll send me home today.
- Day 3: OMG get me out of here! The TV costs cash money and I only had 5 Euros in my pocket when I went to the ER...I've been staring at the wall for 3 days! People stop by all day long to try out their 'English' on me; I keep thinking 'FINALLY! Someone who speaks English! But after they point and say 'American!' or 'How are you?' really slowly I learn that's all the words they know!...Yes, about as many words as I am fluent in French!...I think one of them said something about a 'test'...No, who knows if it was a Doctor or the janitor, they all wear the same thing!...I think maybe they'll send me home after the test today.
- Day 4: GET ME OUT OF HERE!!! They brought me some meat for dinner last night and I turned it over and it had TASTEBUDS ON IT...IT WAS A LITTLE TINY TONGUE!!! I'm starving!!! They stuck a camera up my bum today and the Doc spent 30 min. trying to communicate with me with no English...I don't know, I think I heard the word 'inflammation' and 'polyp'. Two of my friends from college took the train out to see me and they couldn't find out what was going on either...and they speak FRENCH!...No, no one from the college program has called or come to see me...I don't know why they're keeping me so long...I pray they send me home today!
- Day 5: I'm home. I was scared, but luckily I had just enough money to buy the train ticket back to the city. The Doctor told me I have to 'come back' for a 'Colonoscopy' I think to take out the polyp...Yes, I got a copy of the report, but I'M NEVER GOING BACK!!!!
After two different trips to two different Dentists there, with no tooth symptom relief, we all decided she needed to come home after one semester (she was supposed to be there all year). Back in the US, after lots of help from our insurance co., getting the foreign medical bills paid and then the hospital report translated, she had the colonoscopy and the polyps removed, and then had to have the tooth pulled out...she likes to show people the spot where her molar is missing and calls it her 'souvenir from her trip to France'. No, I'm not saying the medical system abroad is bad (I've been told France has a great health-care system), but from a teenagers view it was LOL! And yes, she should have been able to speak more French as it's not their problem to know English. Thank Gawd she's a very independent girl and could handle herself alone!
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The closest I come to understanding the medical system abroad is when 'someone very close to me who will remain anonymous lest her friends read this...like they'd ever want to' spent a semester abroad in France. She made a trip to the ER in the middle of the night just 10 days after her arrival to France (very bloody diarrhea)...which involved a move in
an ambulance to another hospital outside of town, a 5 day stay, a lab analysis of the bottle of Pepto Bismol (yes, I sent her there with a huge bag full of every medication possible...I'm surprised they didn't stop her at customs and do a strip search) that I insisted she take with her to the hospital (they'd never seen Pepto before). NO one at the hospital spoke more than a few words of English and she didn't speak much French at all yet (she attended an English speaking college, and part of her education was learning more conversational French there). In the few minutes a day we got to talk to her (cell phone had almost no battery left and she didn't take the charger to the ER) we received the following information (and yes, I would have flown out the first day if I'd had any clue this was going to be 5 days):
- Day 1: NO one here speaks English!...No, we all applied for our France health care cards, but we hadn't received them yet...I'm perfectly fine now...I think they'll send me home today.
- Day 2: They took my Pepto Bismol and my phone is about to die...No, I don't know what hospital I'm at, but I'll try to ask them if that's it...No, there's NO one here who speaks English that you can talk to...anyway, I think they'll send me home today.
- Day 3: OMG get me out of here! The TV costs cash money and I only had 5 Euros in my pocket when I went to the ER...I've been staring at the wall for 3 days! People stop by all day long to try out their 'English' on me; I keep thinking 'FINALLY! Someone who speaks English! But after they point and say 'American!' or 'How are you?' really slowly I learn that's all the words they know!...Yes, about as many words as I am fluent in French!...I think one of them said something about a 'test'...No, who knows if it was a Doctor or the janitor, they all wear the same thing!...I think maybe they'll send me home after the test today.
- Day 4: GET ME OUT OF HERE!!! They brought me some meat for dinner last night and I turned it over and it had TASTEBUDS ON IT...IT WAS A LITTLE TINY TONGUE!!! I'm starving!!! They stuck a camera up my bum today and the Doc spent 30 min. trying to communicate with me with no English...I don't know, I think I heard the word 'inflammation' and 'polyp'. Two of my friends from college took the train out to see me and they couldn't find out what was going on either...and they speak FRENCH!...No, no one from the college program has called or come to see me...I don't know why they're keeping me so long...I pray they send me home today!
- Day 5: I'm home. I was scared, but luckily I had just enough money to buy the train ticket back to the city. The Doctor told me I have to 'come back' for a 'Colonoscopy' I think to take out the polyp...Yes, I got a copy of the report, but I'M NEVER GOING BACK!!!!
After two different trips to two different Dentists there, with no tooth symptom relief, we all decided she needed to come home after one semester (she was supposed to be there all year). Back in the US, after lots of help from our insurance co., getting the foreign medical bills paid and then the hospital report translated, she had the colonoscopy and the polyps removed, and then had to have the tooth pulled out...she likes to show people the spot where her molar is missing and calls it her 'souvenir from her trip to France'. No, I'm not saying the medical system abroad is bad (I've been told France has a great health-care system), but from a teenagers view it was LOL! And yes, she should have been able to speak more French as it's not their problem to know English. Thank Gawd she's a very independent girl and could handle herself alone!
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Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
3/20/10 Welcome Spring!
FINALLY Spring is here! Here's how I know; I can't breath!
We've had beautiful days here...70 degrees! We spent half the day starting the cleanup of the garden beds. I LOVE gardening...it's like meditation for me. I have Spring Fever. The first green buds and bulbs are starting to pop up.
It's allergy season here. I don't think (blonde) I told you this story already (so humor me).
DS2 was diagnosed with Asthma a few years back, so we made an appointment with the Allergist to see if that would help him. His brother, DS1 has had a runny nose since he was a 2 yo...I swear it's true. Until he learned how to use a Kleenex by himself, he had 2 lovely lines of green snot running from his nostrils into his mouth. Yes, I'm a bad mother...I couldn't be there every minute to wipe his nose...good thing for him, he was adorable as everyone was always wiping his nose...and there isn't such a thing as a 'nose bib', trust me, I looked (DD was a spitter-upper so she was perpetually in a bib...I even found ones with a pocket at the bottom...problem solved). If you want to make millions...invent a nose bib...I'm not the only one with a snotty nose kid.
Where was I...Oh yeah, so we decided to take DS2 to the Allergist as well and then DH decided that he needed to go since he was having some issues and thought he might have seasonal allergies. I didn't think I had any allergies (this was before my 12 week cough and the Asthma diagnosis), except maybe some skin ones (I knew I was allergic to some harsh detergents and my skin is the kind you can write your name on and it will swell and turn red)...but decided why not, I'm a team player...let's make it a family event! It's almost as fun as a day in the park, right? So I made appointments for all four of us together (DD was away at college then).
The Allergist talked to each one of us about our symptoms first and asked us a list of questions before they did the testing. The boys went first.
The testing was interesting...they did the skin pricks on the insides of both your arms (at least 25 on each arm). DS1 was allergic to absolutely nothing...surprising...he was given some nose spray. DS2 started having reactions and it was actually kind of cool watching his arms (OK, I admitted I'm a bad mother already) swell up as one by one the red bumps started to form and spread out a little...some were raised and a few got twice as big in diameter. DS2 was about ready to claw his arms off by the time the 'don't move your arms' period was up and the nurse measured an logged each bump...then sweet relief with the Bendryl cream. DS2 was allergic to most environmental things (no foods) and highly allergic to a few.
DH and I came next. I went last and met with the Allergist to answer the questions...he predicted by my answers that I wouldn't have allergies. Then came the skin pricks...I went into the room with the kids and DH...he was already in the waiting period and only a few minor bumps were showing up on his arms (he has a few very mild allergies). The boys were getting bored by then and complaining to leave. I assured them we'd be able to leave as soon as my waiting period (timer on the table) was up as he Allergist didn't expect I'd have any reactions.
The nurse then did all my skin pricks. Holy Hannah Montana!! Before she even got done with my second arm I was getting reactions. OK, NOW the boys weren't bored anymore. I became the entertainment...as I sat there with both arms out on the table so itchy that I wanted to take a scrub brush to them, my three guys are giving blow by blow commentating 'There goes another one!' 'WOW, look at that one go!' Then, like all guys, they started taking bets...'I've got these two!' 'OK, these two are mine!' 'Look at 'em GO!' Hysterical laughter so loud the nurse came back in to take a look. Now she's having fun...'WOW! We don't get many reactions like that!' I give her the death glare as by now I'm squirming in my seat trying to hold my ams steady as I'm now ready to shove them both into a wood chipper!
5 min. to go and by now the laughter and comments are at a fever pitch. They're now taking bets on which two bumps are going to touch each other first. Then it was which one was going to encompass the most other bumps (the nurse is furiously writing so she can note reactions before some of the huge ones take them over). By the end when she finally goes to get the cream, I snatch it out of her hand and start squirting everywhere on my arms as she's yelling at me to stop scratching or they'll get infected. The boys are in hysterics by now as I 'made them come to the Allergist' and now I'm the one with all the allergies...see me laughing...not.
I found out that that feeling of swallowing all the time is because I have post-nasal drip in a bad way. "Nasal" sounds like my kids snotty nose, right? How was I to know that it can also run like a waterfall down the back of your throat...GROSS!! I didn't know that not everybody has that feeling...I'd always had it. Apparently I'm highly allergic to everything environmental...some so badly I'm off their charts. The boys were even watching the whole way home as I had two reactions that just kept on going...even two hours after I was home. One of them was still the diameter of an golf ball two days later...'Timothy Grass'...had to ask what that one was...Hay...no wonder I can't breath on hayrides (and I thought it was all the dust from the kids throwing the hay at each other).
Get this though, they suggested allergy shots for DS2 (and some seasonal meds) and for me, just meds...because of my age!!! Apparently, unless I was planning on getting a dog or a cat in the future, the meds. would work fine and they didn't recommend that anyone at my age would need to go through 4-5 years of allergy shots.
I was well into year 3 (yes, my blonde brain cells) of taking DS2 to the Allergist weekly for his shots when it dawned on me...the Doc said he was getting better and no longer even needed the nose spray or the daily antihistamine (only as needed now)...I was the one had to take him for these shots every week (pain in the butt as they only have evening hours one day a week and there's only one allergist near us, but not close)...umm...couldn't they have just given me the shots at the same time?!! I didn't know we could get off the meds if we did the shots!!! OK, they asked me about pets, but did they bother to ask me what my favorite pastime is? GARDENING!!! I'm outside from Spring-Fall! No, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle to start shots now as he's almost done.
The fish are moving again in the pond (netting to keep the leaves out in the winter).
So it'll be another beautiful day here tomorrow and I'll be outside again. Me and my stuffy nose...and you know what...I'm happy it's stuffy...it means it's finally SPRING!
********************************
THINK POSITIVE
Your life is your garden,
Your thoughts are the seeds.
If your life isn't awesome,
You've been watering the weeds.
We've had beautiful days here...70 degrees! We spent half the day starting the cleanup of the garden beds. I LOVE gardening...it's like meditation for me. I have Spring Fever. The first green buds and bulbs are starting to pop up.
It's allergy season here. I don't think (blonde) I told you this story already (so humor me).
DS2 was diagnosed with Asthma a few years back, so we made an appointment with the Allergist to see if that would help him. His brother, DS1 has had a runny nose since he was a 2 yo...I swear it's true. Until he learned how to use a Kleenex by himself, he had 2 lovely lines of green snot running from his nostrils into his mouth. Yes, I'm a bad mother...I couldn't be there every minute to wipe his nose...good thing for him, he was adorable as everyone was always wiping his nose...and there isn't such a thing as a 'nose bib', trust me, I looked (DD was a spitter-upper so she was perpetually in a bib...I even found ones with a pocket at the bottom...problem solved). If you want to make millions...invent a nose bib...I'm not the only one with a snotty nose kid.
Where was I...Oh yeah, so we decided to take DS2 to the Allergist as well and then DH decided that he needed to go since he was having some issues and thought he might have seasonal allergies. I didn't think I had any allergies (this was before my 12 week cough and the Asthma diagnosis), except maybe some skin ones (I knew I was allergic to some harsh detergents and my skin is the kind you can write your name on and it will swell and turn red)...but decided why not, I'm a team player...let's make it a family event! It's almost as fun as a day in the park, right? So I made appointments for all four of us together (DD was away at college then).
The Allergist talked to each one of us about our symptoms first and asked us a list of questions before they did the testing. The boys went first.
The testing was interesting...they did the skin pricks on the insides of both your arms (at least 25 on each arm). DS1 was allergic to absolutely nothing...surprising...he was given some nose spray. DS2 started having reactions and it was actually kind of cool watching his arms (OK, I admitted I'm a bad mother already) swell up as one by one the red bumps started to form and spread out a little...some were raised and a few got twice as big in diameter. DS2 was about ready to claw his arms off by the time the 'don't move your arms' period was up and the nurse measured an logged each bump...then sweet relief with the Bendryl cream. DS2 was allergic to most environmental things (no foods) and highly allergic to a few.
DH and I came next. I went last and met with the Allergist to answer the questions...he predicted by my answers that I wouldn't have allergies. Then came the skin pricks...I went into the room with the kids and DH...he was already in the waiting period and only a few minor bumps were showing up on his arms (he has a few very mild allergies). The boys were getting bored by then and complaining to leave. I assured them we'd be able to leave as soon as my waiting period (timer on the table) was up as he Allergist didn't expect I'd have any reactions.
The nurse then did all my skin pricks. Holy Hannah Montana!! Before she even got done with my second arm I was getting reactions. OK, NOW the boys weren't bored anymore. I became the entertainment...as I sat there with both arms out on the table so itchy that I wanted to take a scrub brush to them, my three guys are giving blow by blow commentating 'There goes another one!' 'WOW, look at that one go!' Then, like all guys, they started taking bets...'I've got these two!' 'OK, these two are mine!' 'Look at 'em GO!' Hysterical laughter so loud the nurse came back in to take a look. Now she's having fun...'WOW! We don't get many reactions like that!' I give her the death glare as by now I'm squirming in my seat trying to hold my ams steady as I'm now ready to shove them both into a wood chipper!
5 min. to go and by now the laughter and comments are at a fever pitch. They're now taking bets on which two bumps are going to touch each other first. Then it was which one was going to encompass the most other bumps (the nurse is furiously writing so she can note reactions before some of the huge ones take them over). By the end when she finally goes to get the cream, I snatch it out of her hand and start squirting everywhere on my arms as she's yelling at me to stop scratching or they'll get infected. The boys are in hysterics by now as I 'made them come to the Allergist' and now I'm the one with all the allergies...see me laughing...not.
I found out that that feeling of swallowing all the time is because I have post-nasal drip in a bad way. "Nasal" sounds like my kids snotty nose, right? How was I to know that it can also run like a waterfall down the back of your throat...GROSS!! I didn't know that not everybody has that feeling...I'd always had it. Apparently I'm highly allergic to everything environmental...some so badly I'm off their charts. The boys were even watching the whole way home as I had two reactions that just kept on going...even two hours after I was home. One of them was still the diameter of an golf ball two days later...'Timothy Grass'...had to ask what that one was...Hay...no wonder I can't breath on hayrides (and I thought it was all the dust from the kids throwing the hay at each other).
Get this though, they suggested allergy shots for DS2 (and some seasonal meds) and for me, just meds...because of my age!!! Apparently, unless I was planning on getting a dog or a cat in the future, the meds. would work fine and they didn't recommend that anyone at my age would need to go through 4-5 years of allergy shots.
I was well into year 3 (yes, my blonde brain cells) of taking DS2 to the Allergist weekly for his shots when it dawned on me...the Doc said he was getting better and no longer even needed the nose spray or the daily antihistamine (only as needed now)...I was the one had to take him for these shots every week (pain in the butt as they only have evening hours one day a week and there's only one allergist near us, but not close)...umm...couldn't they have just given me the shots at the same time?!! I didn't know we could get off the meds if we did the shots!!! OK, they asked me about pets, but did they bother to ask me what my favorite pastime is? GARDENING!!! I'm outside from Spring-Fall! No, I decided it wasn't worth the hassle to start shots now as he's almost done.
The fish are moving again in the pond (netting to keep the leaves out in the winter).
So it'll be another beautiful day here tomorrow and I'll be outside again. Me and my stuffy nose...and you know what...I'm happy it's stuffy...it means it's finally SPRING!
********************************
THINK POSITIVE
Your life is your garden,
Your thoughts are the seeds.
If your life isn't awesome,
You've been watering the weeds.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
3/10/10 Wednesday Words
*Portion of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book
- DH and I went to DS2's Theatre class performance today. We arrived a little early and it never ceases to amaze me that every teacher always says the same thing about him to us 'He's such a nice kid, and he's SO funny!' When he was little, I used to worry when they said this as I was afraid he was the class clown and causing the teacher problems...nope...well behaved, and gets all the teacher's laughing as well. He's got the same humor skills his Dad has...he's very 'quick witted' and can get me laughing in seconds. Apparently this skill has been 'unleashed' in his semester of theatre class...he's 'very good at improve'. It wouldn't surprise me to be watching him do stand-up sometime in the future.
- DH and I grabbed a quick lunch (Chinese) after the performance...we never get to get out together at lunchtime (he works far away) so it was fun. Funny thing was I kept thinking of how we wouldn't be having these school day events any more (just after school activities) our youngest is starting HS next year...where did the time go?!! How did I get so old?!! ACK! GASP! Oh yeah...chew, chew chew!!
- DS1 is enjoying his Spring Break at home and catching up with all his HS friends he hasn't seen in awhile. My 'three boys' have been playing lots of video games together in the evenings; the 2 boys say Dad is getting good...they even made me come and play one of those 'soldier games' (no blood thank you)...let's just say they were all laughing hysterically at me as I'd get stuck facing a wall (apparently the Wii Fit isn't really a 'video game')...they took great pleasure in seeing how long they could follow me around before I'd finally figure out how to turn and then 'BAM'...I'm dead. I complained until they gave me 5 seconds to turn and shoot...still didn't help...I spent hours playing and I only shot one of them (and don't tell them, but it was accidental...after awhile I just run around willy-nilly firing). As they were all laughing at me I reminded them of my first endeavor playing a game like this with them...it was years ago when they got their first soldier game (WWII Normandy) and they had been playing it for almost 6 months before they invited me to play. I started playing and came upon a tank...so I got in it and started driving the tank around...you would have thought they'd seen a miracle!!! 'WHAT'S THAT NOISE? WHY'S THAT TANK MOVING?!!' me 'snicker' 'MOM?!! YOU CAN DRIVE THE TANK??!!! HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT?!!' me 'snicker snicker...It's just me defending my country!' 'MOM!!' Apparently, they'd been running around all the little towns and never realized they could drive the vehicles that were sitting around parked...so there! I might not have good soldiering skills, but I can think outside the box...or maybe that's the tank LOL!
- DH and I went to DS2's Theatre class performance today. We arrived a little early and it never ceases to amaze me that every teacher always says the same thing about him to us 'He's such a nice kid, and he's SO funny!' When he was little, I used to worry when they said this as I was afraid he was the class clown and causing the teacher problems...nope...well behaved, and gets all the teacher's laughing as well. He's got the same humor skills his Dad has...he's very 'quick witted' and can get me laughing in seconds. Apparently this skill has been 'unleashed' in his semester of theatre class...he's 'very good at improve'. It wouldn't surprise me to be watching him do stand-up sometime in the future.
- DH and I grabbed a quick lunch (Chinese) after the performance...we never get to get out together at lunchtime (he works far away) so it was fun. Funny thing was I kept thinking of how we wouldn't be having these school day events any more (just after school activities) our youngest is starting HS next year...where did the time go?!! How did I get so old?!! ACK! GASP! Oh yeah...chew, chew chew!!
- DS1 is enjoying his Spring Break at home and catching up with all his HS friends he hasn't seen in awhile. My 'three boys' have been playing lots of video games together in the evenings; the 2 boys say Dad is getting good...they even made me come and play one of those 'soldier games' (no blood thank you)...let's just say they were all laughing hysterically at me as I'd get stuck facing a wall (apparently the Wii Fit isn't really a 'video game')...they took great pleasure in seeing how long they could follow me around before I'd finally figure out how to turn and then 'BAM'...I'm dead. I complained until they gave me 5 seconds to turn and shoot...still didn't help...I spent hours playing and I only shot one of them (and don't tell them, but it was accidental...after awhile I just run around willy-nilly firing). As they were all laughing at me I reminded them of my first endeavor playing a game like this with them...it was years ago when they got their first soldier game (WWII Normandy) and they had been playing it for almost 6 months before they invited me to play. I started playing and came upon a tank...so I got in it and started driving the tank around...you would have thought they'd seen a miracle!!! 'WHAT'S THAT NOISE? WHY'S THAT TANK MOVING?!!' me 'snicker' 'MOM?!! YOU CAN DRIVE THE TANK??!!! HOW DID YOU FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO THAT?!!' me 'snicker snicker...It's just me defending my country!' 'MOM!!' Apparently, they'd been running around all the little towns and never realized they could drive the vehicles that were sitting around parked...so there! I might not have good soldiering skills, but I can think outside the box...or maybe that's the tank LOL!
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Monday, March 8, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
2/19/10 My 'Bander Meal'
Today's blog may seem like I'm diverting a little from my 'nutrition series', but to me, this is part of my nutrition...at least partly with vitamins/supplements...and the other part is medications, but since some of us also have the same 'obesity related comorbidities' I thought I'd include them as well. I know when I was starting out I wondered what kinds of vitamins and supplements others were taking, especially since all this 'pill' stuff was new to me.
*Portions of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book
Yep, this is how many pills I take a day...morning on the left/plate (I use the lg. daily pill box), evening on the right/plate (I use the sm. daily pill box...yes, today is my day to refill them), and 'as needed' in packaging. Just a few years ago I was taking absolutely NO pills, unbelievable. I had some daily mulitvitamins that I'd try to remember to take when I was dieting (remember, I was ALWAYS dieting or gaining), but I almost never took them. Now, as DH says, I'm consuming a whole 'Bander Meal' of pills LOL...yep they're filling (and I will admit having to 'search' through a PB to see which ones came back up once...not fun). I'm not someone who was ever into supplements or liked adding medications without a need, but you'll see that almost everything I'm now taking was Doctor recommended. Am I happy that I'm taking this many pills? No, but I'm getting my health back and it's working.
OK, this is going to be dry reading and not something that anyone will need ALL this information. Skim down through the sections in CAPS/bold and just read the ones that pertain to you. Feel free to ask me anything as I'm an open book, and I'd love it if you shared information you have that's different from mine in any of these areas.
COUGHING/ALLERGIES/ASTHMA:
*I have had Pneumonia about 6 times in my life and have always had a problem with many bouts of Bronchitis and other things effecting my lungs. A few years ago I had a very severe 12 week cough. I went back to my (then) PCP's and saw three different doctors over that cough before they finally sent me to a Pulmonologist (of course by then the cough was done).
*Testing: Lung x-rays (twice), blood tests (one Doc thought I had 'hand/foot/mouth disease), strep test, chest CT (one doc thought I'd had some pulmonary embolisms that had dissolved on their own by the time they ordered this test-at the end of my cough).
*Medications: I was put on several different rounds of different antibiotics (some thought it was Bronchitis), prescription cough suppressants, even a narcotic shot, throat numbing tabs, and mucus treatments. I was also put on several types of inhalers.
*Our whole family (minus DD who was at college) went to the Allergist for testing. To everyone's surprise (even the Allergist) I found out then that I am highly allergic to almost everything environmental (no foods). My lung function was also very impaired.
*My new PCP got me to a different Pulmonary specialist group and after going through all the breathing testing I found out I had Adult Onset Asthma and severe Post Nasal Drip. Asthma can be aggravated by Obesity.
*My new PCP gave me the Pnemonia vaccine and I am now on several medications for the Asthma and the Allergies. I haven't had any major lung problems since then.
-Rx: Fluticasone Proionate---50 mcg---1 spray each nostril---2x/day---for Allergies and Asthma
-Rx: Singulair----------10 mg-----1 tab---------------------1x/day----for Allergies and Asthma
-Rx: Albuterol Sulfate--17 g-------2 puffs AS NEEDED-4-6 hours--for Allergies and Asthma
-OTC: Antihistamine---10 mg---1 tab----------------------2x/day----for Allergies and Asthma
-OTC: Halls Methol-----7 mg----1 drop AS NEEDED---2 hours----for cough
INCONTINENCE:
*Most of you will remember all my incontinence issues and the doubled surgery I had for it (Hysterectomy and Bladder Sling), which both failed (my Urologist said I'm the only one he's ever had that's failed…great). Yes, stress incontinence can be related to Obesity. I had given up, but went back to the Urologist (this was several years after the surgery) and went through both the Urodynamic testing (lots of wires and TMI) and later the bladder scoping again (both fine).
*He sent me to a specialist. She gave me an exam and sent me for both a bladder and abdominal ultrasound and internal ultrasound as well as abdominal x-rays. She gave me this daily pill and it works very well (YAY, no more peeing my pants...I'm down to tiny pads, really my 'security blanket', and off those MEGA pads!).
-Rx: Vesicare----5 mg------1 tab--------1x/day---for Incontinence
JOINT PAIN/OSTEOARTHRITIS:
*I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my lower back about 10 years ago. It had gotten to the point where I was taking a lot of anti-inflammatories and using a heating pad most nights. After pulling some major muscles across my back and left shoulder lifting a couch a few years ago, my shoulder had been progressively been getting worse, I had sporadic back and arm muscles spasms and even numbness and tingling in my hand. I just figured I would have to eventually have shoulder surgery like my Dad had. I was also beginning to have more pain in my knees and feet (Can you say Obesity?).
*My new PCP sent me for spine and shoulder x-rays and sent me to Physical Therapy for the first time. I found out that I have osteoarthritis not only in my lower back, but also in the spine near my neck and that is what was causing the shoulder problems. I also found out from the x-rays that I had mild scoliosis/curvature to the side and pretty severe lordosis/sway back (yes, this can be aggravated by Obesity…just take a look at my fat a$$ my back had to hold up).
*The treatment I got through Physical Therapy helped the shoulder a LOT, and the lower back somewhat (I'd highly recommend PT). Getting the weight off has also helped tremendously.
-OTC: Glucosamine Chondroitin---1,500 mg---1 tab----1x/day----for healthy cartilage and joint support.
MIGRAINES:
*I got my first migraine about 20 years ago and they had very slowly increased in frequency to the point where a few years ago I had some weeks where I had them 3x a week. They were completely debilitating and OTC meds were no longer helping (had been helping if I started them soon enough).
*My new PCP sent me for a brain MRI ('unremarkable', hee-hee) and had me keep a migraine journal (coming off caffeine and other trigger foods didn't help). It was determined that I was getting severe migraines as well as rebound headaches from all the OTC pain relievers I was taking for both the headaches and the osteoarthritis pain.
*They started me on a migraine daily preventative which worked really well until recently when I've been getting some again and now they've increased the dosage and that seems to be helping. This is the only one of my pills that I only take in the evening as the migraines almost always begin in the wee hours of the morning. The PCP also gave me a non-NSAID pain reliever to use when I get one (after LB we can't take NSAIDS), and they also gave me a 'vomiting remedy' prescription as I can get violently nauseous (bad with the Band) with some migraines (I have used this twice since banding for vomiting).
-Rx: Amitriptyline----75 mg------1 tab----1x/day at night---for Migraine prevention
-Rx: Isometh/APAP (generic Midrin)--1-2 caps AS NEEDED--every hour, up to max 5/12 hrs.---for Migraine pain
-Rx: Ondansetron-----8 mg----1 tab AS NEEDED-----2x/day----for severe vomiting (I'd recommend all Banders have something similar on hand for severe vomiting of any kind).
HYPERTENSION/HEART:
*I had consistent hypertension for a year before the PCP started me on medication for it (when I started it was 158/110). They had to double the dosage to get it under control. Recently I was at the PCP and my lower number had finally come down into the mid-low 80's, so I asked about cutting down on the meds. She's OK'd me cutting my pills in half as a test and I was finally able to get a BP check at the Cardiologist the other day. I was thrilled to see the best reading I've had in years 120/80 and he said if this keeps up I could go off the medication in about 6 months.
*I had to go to the Cardiologist for my LB clearance due to my family history. Dad has had 2 heart attacks and 3 stents, one sister has had two mini strokes, and both are on BP meds. I had a heart MRI (normal), an EKG, and a clearance exam/visit pre-op. Five days post-op I was back at the hospital with chest pain and pain breathing. A clot was ruled out, my lungs weren't inflating all the way, but my EKG was abnormal so they kept me overnight for a stress test (normal, some ribs were displaced in the surgery).
-Rx: Lisinopril-----5 mg------1 tab-----1x/day------For Hypertension
-OTC: Vitamin E--400 IU----1 tab-----1x/day------Cardiovascular health
-OTC: *Fish Oil--with 300 mg Omega-3's--1 softgel--2x/day------ " "
* As soon as we use up this bottle, I'm going to buy the Costco/Kirkland, Enteric coated fish oil, which has a higher concentration of the Omega 3's needed:
Omega 3 EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) 410 mg
Omega 3 DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 274 mg
I'm hoping I'll only need 1 of the new kind/day, but am interested in your opinions on how much is needed.
OTHER:
*GASTROENTEROLOGIST- We all had to have colonoscopies after finding pre-cancerous polyups in the family. Mine was clean. We also were sent to a Genetic counselor who found no genetic testing was yet needed.
*OBGYN- I go for annual checkups (no more PAPs after the hysterectomy), I also get yearly mammo's (dense breast tissue and lots of benign cysts usually have the tech gasping). I have had left breast pain for about 10 years (they tell me cysts can be painful, cancer isn't). A few years back the OBGYN put me on a estrogen and testosterone pill, but I went off of it after a few months at my PCP's recommendation (I was having sudden dizziness and joint pain). This year I decided to try and just address my hot flashes…my face gets beet red and it can be embarrassing, not to mention uncomfortable. The OBGYN started me on the following pill and it has been working really well for this:
-Rx: Venlafaxine---37.5 mg------1 tab-----2x/day---for hot flashes
*OPTHAMOLOGIST- Both of my parents have Macular Degeneration, although different kinds. Both my Mom's sisters also have it as well as several grandparents (so I'm screwed LOL). The Opthalmologist recommends a daily dose of this:
-OTC: Lutein------20 mg------1 softgel---1x/day---eye health
LAP-BAND:
*Portions of Post Deleted for Lap Band Book
Yep, this is how many pills I take a day...morning on the left/plate (I use the lg. daily pill box), evening on the right/plate (I use the sm. daily pill box...yes, today is my day to refill them), and 'as needed' in packaging. Just a few years ago I was taking absolutely NO pills, unbelievable. I had some daily mulitvitamins that I'd try to remember to take when I was dieting (remember, I was ALWAYS dieting or gaining), but I almost never took them. Now, as DH says, I'm consuming a whole 'Bander Meal' of pills LOL...yep they're filling (and I will admit having to 'search' through a PB to see which ones came back up once...not fun). I'm not someone who was ever into supplements or liked adding medications without a need, but you'll see that almost everything I'm now taking was Doctor recommended. Am I happy that I'm taking this many pills? No, but I'm getting my health back and it's working.
OK, this is going to be dry reading and not something that anyone will need ALL this information. Skim down through the sections in CAPS/bold and just read the ones that pertain to you. Feel free to ask me anything as I'm an open book, and I'd love it if you shared information you have that's different from mine in any of these areas.
COUGHING/ALLERGIES/ASTHMA:
*I have had Pneumonia about 6 times in my life and have always had a problem with many bouts of Bronchitis and other things effecting my lungs. A few years ago I had a very severe 12 week cough. I went back to my (then) PCP's and saw three different doctors over that cough before they finally sent me to a Pulmonologist (of course by then the cough was done).
*Testing: Lung x-rays (twice), blood tests (one Doc thought I had 'hand/foot/mouth disease), strep test, chest CT (one doc thought I'd had some pulmonary embolisms that had dissolved on their own by the time they ordered this test-at the end of my cough).
*Medications: I was put on several different rounds of different antibiotics (some thought it was Bronchitis), prescription cough suppressants, even a narcotic shot, throat numbing tabs, and mucus treatments. I was also put on several types of inhalers.
*Our whole family (minus DD who was at college) went to the Allergist for testing. To everyone's surprise (even the Allergist) I found out then that I am highly allergic to almost everything environmental (no foods). My lung function was also very impaired.
*My new PCP got me to a different Pulmonary specialist group and after going through all the breathing testing I found out I had Adult Onset Asthma and severe Post Nasal Drip. Asthma can be aggravated by Obesity.
*My new PCP gave me the Pnemonia vaccine and I am now on several medications for the Asthma and the Allergies. I haven't had any major lung problems since then.
-Rx: Fluticasone Proionate---50 mcg---1 spray each nostril---2x/day---for Allergies and Asthma
-Rx: Singulair----------10 mg-----1 tab---------------------1x/day----for Allergies and Asthma
-Rx: Albuterol Sulfate--17 g-------2 puffs AS NEEDED-4-6 hours--for Allergies and Asthma
-OTC: Antihistamine---10 mg---1 tab----------------------2x/day----for Allergies and Asthma
-OTC: Halls Methol-----7 mg----1 drop AS NEEDED---2 hours----for cough
INCONTINENCE:
*Most of you will remember all my incontinence issues and the doubled surgery I had for it (Hysterectomy and Bladder Sling), which both failed (my Urologist said I'm the only one he's ever had that's failed…great). Yes, stress incontinence can be related to Obesity. I had given up, but went back to the Urologist (this was several years after the surgery) and went through both the Urodynamic testing (lots of wires and TMI) and later the bladder scoping again (both fine).
*He sent me to a specialist. She gave me an exam and sent me for both a bladder and abdominal ultrasound and internal ultrasound as well as abdominal x-rays. She gave me this daily pill and it works very well (YAY, no more peeing my pants...I'm down to tiny pads, really my 'security blanket', and off those MEGA pads!).
-Rx: Vesicare----5 mg------1 tab--------1x/day---for Incontinence
JOINT PAIN/OSTEOARTHRITIS:
*I was diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my lower back about 10 years ago. It had gotten to the point where I was taking a lot of anti-inflammatories and using a heating pad most nights. After pulling some major muscles across my back and left shoulder lifting a couch a few years ago, my shoulder had been progressively been getting worse, I had sporadic back and arm muscles spasms and even numbness and tingling in my hand. I just figured I would have to eventually have shoulder surgery like my Dad had. I was also beginning to have more pain in my knees and feet (Can you say Obesity?).
*My new PCP sent me for spine and shoulder x-rays and sent me to Physical Therapy for the first time. I found out that I have osteoarthritis not only in my lower back, but also in the spine near my neck and that is what was causing the shoulder problems. I also found out from the x-rays that I had mild scoliosis/curvature to the side and pretty severe lordosis/sway back (yes, this can be aggravated by Obesity…just take a look at my fat a$$ my back had to hold up).
*The treatment I got through Physical Therapy helped the shoulder a LOT, and the lower back somewhat (I'd highly recommend PT). Getting the weight off has also helped tremendously.
-OTC: Glucosamine Chondroitin---1,500 mg---1 tab----1x/day----for healthy cartilage and joint support.
MIGRAINES:
*I got my first migraine about 20 years ago and they had very slowly increased in frequency to the point where a few years ago I had some weeks where I had them 3x a week. They were completely debilitating and OTC meds were no longer helping (had been helping if I started them soon enough).
*My new PCP sent me for a brain MRI ('unremarkable', hee-hee) and had me keep a migraine journal (coming off caffeine and other trigger foods didn't help). It was determined that I was getting severe migraines as well as rebound headaches from all the OTC pain relievers I was taking for both the headaches and the osteoarthritis pain.
*They started me on a migraine daily preventative which worked really well until recently when I've been getting some again and now they've increased the dosage and that seems to be helping. This is the only one of my pills that I only take in the evening as the migraines almost always begin in the wee hours of the morning. The PCP also gave me a non-NSAID pain reliever to use when I get one (after LB we can't take NSAIDS), and they also gave me a 'vomiting remedy' prescription as I can get violently nauseous (bad with the Band) with some migraines (I have used this twice since banding for vomiting).
-Rx: Amitriptyline----75 mg------1 tab----1x/day at night---for Migraine prevention
-Rx: Isometh/APAP (generic Midrin)--1-2 caps AS NEEDED--every hour, up to max 5/12 hrs.---for Migraine pain
-Rx: Ondansetron-----8 mg----1 tab AS NEEDED-----2x/day----for severe vomiting (I'd recommend all Banders have something similar on hand for severe vomiting of any kind).
HYPERTENSION/HEART:
*I had consistent hypertension for a year before the PCP started me on medication for it (when I started it was 158/110). They had to double the dosage to get it under control. Recently I was at the PCP and my lower number had finally come down into the mid-low 80's, so I asked about cutting down on the meds. She's OK'd me cutting my pills in half as a test and I was finally able to get a BP check at the Cardiologist the other day. I was thrilled to see the best reading I've had in years 120/80 and he said if this keeps up I could go off the medication in about 6 months.
*I had to go to the Cardiologist for my LB clearance due to my family history. Dad has had 2 heart attacks and 3 stents, one sister has had two mini strokes, and both are on BP meds. I had a heart MRI (normal), an EKG, and a clearance exam/visit pre-op. Five days post-op I was back at the hospital with chest pain and pain breathing. A clot was ruled out, my lungs weren't inflating all the way, but my EKG was abnormal so they kept me overnight for a stress test (normal, some ribs were displaced in the surgery).
-Rx: Lisinopril-----5 mg------1 tab-----1x/day------For Hypertension
-OTC: Vitamin E--400 IU----1 tab-----1x/day------Cardiovascular health
-OTC: *Fish Oil--with 300 mg Omega-3's--1 softgel--2x/day------ " "
* As soon as we use up this bottle, I'm going to buy the Costco/Kirkland, Enteric coated fish oil, which has a higher concentration of the Omega 3's needed:
Omega 3 EPA (Eicosapentaenoic Acid) 410 mg
Omega 3 DHA (Docosahexaenoic Acid) 274 mg
I'm hoping I'll only need 1 of the new kind/day, but am interested in your opinions on how much is needed.
OTHER:
*GASTROENTEROLOGIST- We all had to have colonoscopies after finding pre-cancerous polyups in the family. Mine was clean. We also were sent to a Genetic counselor who found no genetic testing was yet needed.
*OBGYN- I go for annual checkups (no more PAPs after the hysterectomy), I also get yearly mammo's (dense breast tissue and lots of benign cysts usually have the tech gasping). I have had left breast pain for about 10 years (they tell me cysts can be painful, cancer isn't). A few years back the OBGYN put me on a estrogen and testosterone pill, but I went off of it after a few months at my PCP's recommendation (I was having sudden dizziness and joint pain). This year I decided to try and just address my hot flashes…my face gets beet red and it can be embarrassing, not to mention uncomfortable. The OBGYN started me on the following pill and it has been working really well for this:
-Rx: Venlafaxine---37.5 mg------1 tab-----2x/day---for hot flashes
*OPTHAMOLOGIST- Both of my parents have Macular Degeneration, although different kinds. Both my Mom's sisters also have it as well as several grandparents (so I'm screwed LOL). The Opthalmologist recommends a daily dose of this:
-OTC: Lutein------20 mg------1 softgel---1x/day---eye health
LAP-BAND:
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Friday, December 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
11/17/09 Doing A 180
What a difference a day makes! See that grin on my face?!! I woke up to a loss this morning...180 lbs. for the first time in a long time! Yeah baby...I'm headed back to the 70's (let's hope soon!)!
I had a follow up with the Urology Specialist today downtown at Magee Hospital (the one who put me on Vesicare...working great still BTW!). I first saw a nurse who I'd not met before. After 'suiting up' and leaving my sample, the doc finally came in. She started with 'I saw you walk by my office and didn't even recognize you!! I had to ask the girls if I had a new patient today they forgot to tell me about!!' Then she went on and on about how great I looked and asked me all kinds of questions. The best part was when she must have looked up my age. She explained to me that they just had a group of medical school students in yesterday and in medical school they teach the students to describe the patient's (I think she called it) apparent age...do they look older, younger or about their actual age. She went on and on about how much younger I look than my actual age (just the thing that someone who just went through the trauma of turning 50 needs to hear).
OK, I'm gloating here and she was probably laying it on thick as she complimented me at least a dozen times...I was embarressed actually, but it made my day, make that my week. I can count the number of NSV's I've gotten from people outside my family on one hand (sad, but I expected that as people generally see you lose slowly and I've lost weight before), so I'm allowed to revel in this a moment. OK, gloating over...but I've still got that stupid grin on my face! I had a little bit of a down day yesterday, but today turned me around...I'm Doing A 180!!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Monday, April 27, 2009
Friday, April 10, 2009
4/9/09 The Continuing Saga of a Woman and Her Bladder
DD found a ride home from college (saved me a 4-5 hour trip tonight, whew), so I’m back from the track meet and all packed for the trip tomorrow, so onto my day…
Stop reading if you don’t want to read about my incontinence issues, yes…again (it never ends). I went in this morning (after taking DS1 to get blood work and to school) to get my ultrasounds done for the incontinence Dr. (Urology Specialist). After drinking the prescribed 32 oz. plus some an hour before the appointment, I arrived 15 min. early as instructed, full and ‘ready to go’. My appoinment time came and went...then I sat for another 15 min., then another 5…my back teeth were floating by then and my eyes starting watering…I crossed my legs and said a prayer of thanks that the good Dr. had put me on Vesicare, or it would have been all over by now. 5 more min…I’m in some serious pain…and then I gave up…I walked up to the receptionist (with my knees locked together) and asked politely for the bathroom key. ‘Oh, but I think they need your bladder full for this procedure’. I glanced around at the men sitting in the quiet waiting room...OK, I'm way beyond caring. I nicely said ‘I understand that, but they are late for my appointment and I have to go NOW!’ (Do they understand that I am here for an incontinence issue??!! What about a full bladder and having to wait longer than expected don’t they understand??!!!) She saw the desperation in my eyes…or maybe it was the tears of pee streaming down my face…either way, she showed me right in.
The tech lady had a ‘trainee’ gentleman with her, so I tried to be brave. The rest was textbook, well sort of…ultrasound of my bladder (yeah, push on my bladder a little harder with that thing…I dare you), then kidneys, then ovaries (do you know your ovaries move around with age, yes, even without a hysterectomy…I thought that was interesting). Then she handed me the lubed up ‘probe’ and asked me to place it up the vajay-jay (Oprahism). She sought out the ovaries internally…all I’ve got to say is that I’m glad she knows what she’s doing…looking for a baby on an ultrasound is a piece of cake compared to finding ovaries that are no longer where they are supposed to be (I think mine were touching...awww, cute). Even looking at the screen it all looked like fog to me…no dark spots, no light spots. Don’t you always try to read the tech’s face just to know that they didn’t find something bad? Am I the only one who thinks I’ll be watching the tech’s face and they’ll gasp when they find the 70 lb. tumor (that’ll explain the weight gain anyway). Sometimes I can even get something out of them…this one wasn’t budging, not a thing…I even pulled the ‘I’m having abdominal laparoscopic surgery in less than 2 weeks.’ Nothing…no indication…I’ll get the results by Monday. I’ll try to post about my pre-op visit today this weekend…it was…interesting.
Stop reading if you don’t want to read about my incontinence issues, yes…again (it never ends). I went in this morning (after taking DS1 to get blood work and to school) to get my ultrasounds done for the incontinence Dr. (Urology Specialist). After drinking the prescribed 32 oz. plus some an hour before the appointment, I arrived 15 min. early as instructed, full and ‘ready to go’. My appoinment time came and went...then I sat for another 15 min., then another 5…my back teeth were floating by then and my eyes starting watering…I crossed my legs and said a prayer of thanks that the good Dr. had put me on Vesicare, or it would have been all over by now. 5 more min…I’m in some serious pain…and then I gave up…I walked up to the receptionist (with my knees locked together) and asked politely for the bathroom key. ‘Oh, but I think they need your bladder full for this procedure’. I glanced around at the men sitting in the quiet waiting room...OK, I'm way beyond caring. I nicely said ‘I understand that, but they are late for my appointment and I have to go NOW!’ (Do they understand that I am here for an incontinence issue??!! What about a full bladder and having to wait longer than expected don’t they understand??!!!) She saw the desperation in my eyes…or maybe it was the tears of pee streaming down my face…either way, she showed me right in.
The tech lady had a ‘trainee’ gentleman with her, so I tried to be brave. The rest was textbook, well sort of…ultrasound of my bladder (yeah, push on my bladder a little harder with that thing…I dare you), then kidneys, then ovaries (do you know your ovaries move around with age, yes, even without a hysterectomy…I thought that was interesting). Then she handed me the lubed up ‘probe’ and asked me to place it up the vajay-jay (Oprahism). She sought out the ovaries internally…all I’ve got to say is that I’m glad she knows what she’s doing…looking for a baby on an ultrasound is a piece of cake compared to finding ovaries that are no longer where they are supposed to be (I think mine were touching...awww, cute). Even looking at the screen it all looked like fog to me…no dark spots, no light spots. Don’t you always try to read the tech’s face just to know that they didn’t find something bad? Am I the only one who thinks I’ll be watching the tech’s face and they’ll gasp when they find the 70 lb. tumor (that’ll explain the weight gain anyway). Sometimes I can even get something out of them…this one wasn’t budging, not a thing…I even pulled the ‘I’m having abdominal laparoscopic surgery in less than 2 weeks.’ Nothing…no indication…I’ll get the results by Monday. I’ll try to post about my pre-op visit today this weekend…it was…interesting.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
3/31/09 UPDATES: Track, Pipes, LB
OK, some updates for anyone who cares…
TRACK: From my whinefest yesterday: Just as I was pulling on my long-johns yesterday for the 4 hour freezefest I got a call from DS2 saying it was cancelled as the other track team felt it was too cold (OK, someone agreed with me). Apparently it was NOT too cold for our team. Our coaches made the kids practice outside for 2 hours anyway and then they scheduled an impromptu away meet today. OK, I had already rescheduled Monday’s guitar lesson to Tuesday (and paid for it)…you know, from the day OF the meet to the day of NO meet. He’s not going to the meet (and he’s fine with it…half the kids won’t be there as they have a chorus event)…apparently I wasn’t done whining yet.
PIPES: Cover your ears NOW if you don’t want to hear about my pipes/dia-pee issues. I’m living on the edge over here. I ‘borrowed’ some of DD’s thin little girlie almost-thong-sized mini-pads. I feel like a man who’s been surgically castrated…there’s something missing between my legs. I’m thinking my new trial pack of drugs might be working pretty well. If this keeps up I’m going back downtown to my dealer for a refill. These pads are so thin you can see through them, but I’m a risk taker (and I have nowhere to go today…oh yeah, the guitar lesson). I’ve just started measuring my water intake and pushing fluids for post-op (I’m the queen of good timing). We may have a repeat of the ‘big flood’ of ’05. That’s when I had to call (from the bathroom) for DS2 (he was the only one home) to run and bring me some towels and a pad…that’s when I scheduled my bladder surgery and took out stock in Poise…and when DS2 dubbed pads ‘dia-pees’. Yes, I continue to scar my kids for life…and what was I saying yesterday about parents embarrassing their teens? Actually we were both laughing hysterically at the time, and every once in awhile he still loves to tease me about it and laughingly whisper to me that he’s going to tell everyone (so don’t tell him I’ve already told the world…shh, it’s our little secret). That’s when I pull out my tube top threat or bribe him with treats…we have a wonderful relationship…it’s all based on secrets, threats and bribery…I’m a good mom that way. So far, so good,
LAP-BAND: I still can’t get the ‘Insurance Specialist’ at my surgeon’s office to call me back. Love the woman when I talk to her, but if she's that busy (which I'm guessing is true) they need to get her an assistant. I started calling her last Monday (8 days ago) and every day since then. I left a fourth message on her voicemail today asking for a 5 min. meeting with her on Wednesday morning so I can bring my last papers in and GET A TENTATIVE DATE (and I told her I was going to call the surgeon’s Admin. Asst., Susan). I just called Susan and nicely asked if Patti’s been out…nope, so I told her my issues and asked if I could just come down tomorrow, nope, no welcome-mat, I have to talk to the ins. gal. OK, HOW can I do that? She apologized and took a message for me. I’ve now risked pissing off the ONLY person who can help me get approved or not, which I certainly didn’t want to do, but that shows you how much pressure I’m getting to set a date (I'm sure my ears will be burning/ringing soon). I think the world will probably implode if I don’t get this done on Wednesday…so if you hear the BIG BANG, run for cover. Here comes the ‘yadda-yadda-yadda’ *just keep saying this in your mind as you scan the rest of this as quickly as possible until you get to WHEW while I release a quick (well, that depends on how fast you can scan) bit of pressure off the cooker*…I’m not telling anyone but DH, so I don’t want to be on the pre-op diet and traveling to my family for Easter. I’ve been avoiding calling my Mom (who had foot surgery last week and I haven’t talked to since…it’s killing me) because she’s been bugging me to come there (Ohio) for Easter and she needs to get the house ready, Easter baskets ready (yes, I always tell her I’ll do them, she won’t have that) and did I mention she just had surgery? DD calls me daily to see if we’re going for Easter because she wants to bring the BF and he needs to plan and she needs to ask off work and talk to his Mom about leaving…I’m all out of excuses. DH is getting big pressure from work (in the throes of layoffs there) to schedule several more work trips in April (he just called me a min. ago to ask AGAIN "Do you think you'll get a date tomorrow?", and DS1 still hasn’t taken Easter weekend off work yet, so who knows if he’ll be able to at this point. We’ve also got several kid doctors’ appts. scheduled that Friday that will need to be rescheduled, but within a few days as they’re time sensitive visits…the closer we get the less likely I’ll be able to do this. I’m being pressured from EVERYONE! *WHEW* So, I’ll either be back here ranting or doing the happy dance tomorrow…coin toss now! I’m really not impatient to get surgery ASAP...I really don't care if it's in May at this point; I just need to know WHEN it might be!
TRACK: From my whinefest yesterday: Just as I was pulling on my long-johns yesterday for the 4 hour freezefest I got a call from DS2 saying it was cancelled as the other track team felt it was too cold (OK, someone agreed with me). Apparently it was NOT too cold for our team. Our coaches made the kids practice outside for 2 hours anyway and then they scheduled an impromptu away meet today. OK, I had already rescheduled Monday’s guitar lesson to Tuesday (and paid for it)…you know, from the day OF the meet to the day of NO meet. He’s not going to the meet (and he’s fine with it…half the kids won’t be there as they have a chorus event)…apparently I wasn’t done whining yet.
PIPES: Cover your ears NOW if you don’t want to hear about my pipes/dia-pee issues. I’m living on the edge over here. I ‘borrowed’ some of DD’s thin little girlie almost-thong-sized mini-pads. I feel like a man who’s been surgically castrated…there’s something missing between my legs. I’m thinking my new trial pack of drugs might be working pretty well. If this keeps up I’m going back downtown to my dealer for a refill. These pads are so thin you can see through them, but I’m a risk taker (and I have nowhere to go today…oh yeah, the guitar lesson). I’ve just started measuring my water intake and pushing fluids for post-op (I’m the queen of good timing). We may have a repeat of the ‘big flood’ of ’05. That’s when I had to call (from the bathroom) for DS2 (he was the only one home) to run and bring me some towels and a pad…that’s when I scheduled my bladder surgery and took out stock in Poise…and when DS2 dubbed pads ‘dia-pees’. Yes, I continue to scar my kids for life…and what was I saying yesterday about parents embarrassing their teens? Actually we were both laughing hysterically at the time, and every once in awhile he still loves to tease me about it and laughingly whisper to me that he’s going to tell everyone (so don’t tell him I’ve already told the world…shh, it’s our little secret). That’s when I pull out my tube top threat or bribe him with treats…we have a wonderful relationship…it’s all based on secrets, threats and bribery…I’m a good mom that way. So far, so good,
LAP-BAND: I still can’t get the ‘Insurance Specialist’ at my surgeon’s office to call me back. Love the woman when I talk to her, but if she's that busy (which I'm guessing is true) they need to get her an assistant. I started calling her last Monday (8 days ago) and every day since then. I left a fourth message on her voicemail today asking for a 5 min. meeting with her on Wednesday morning so I can bring my last papers in and GET A TENTATIVE DATE (and I told her I was going to call the surgeon’s Admin. Asst., Susan). I just called Susan and nicely asked if Patti’s been out…nope, so I told her my issues and asked if I could just come down tomorrow, nope, no welcome-mat, I have to talk to the ins. gal. OK, HOW can I do that? She apologized and took a message for me. I’ve now risked pissing off the ONLY person who can help me get approved or not, which I certainly didn’t want to do, but that shows you how much pressure I’m getting to set a date (I'm sure my ears will be burning/ringing soon). I think the world will probably implode if I don’t get this done on Wednesday…so if you hear the BIG BANG, run for cover. Here comes the ‘yadda-yadda-yadda’ *just keep saying this in your mind as you scan the rest of this as quickly as possible until you get to WHEW while I release a quick (well, that depends on how fast you can scan) bit of pressure off the cooker*…I’m not telling anyone but DH, so I don’t want to be on the pre-op diet and traveling to my family for Easter. I’ve been avoiding calling my Mom (who had foot surgery last week and I haven’t talked to since…it’s killing me) because she’s been bugging me to come there (Ohio) for Easter and she needs to get the house ready, Easter baskets ready (yes, I always tell her I’ll do them, she won’t have that) and did I mention she just had surgery? DD calls me daily to see if we’re going for Easter because she wants to bring the BF and he needs to plan and she needs to ask off work and talk to his Mom about leaving…I’m all out of excuses. DH is getting big pressure from work (in the throes of layoffs there) to schedule several more work trips in April (he just called me a min. ago to ask AGAIN "Do you think you'll get a date tomorrow?", and DS1 still hasn’t taken Easter weekend off work yet, so who knows if he’ll be able to at this point. We’ve also got several kid doctors’ appts. scheduled that Friday that will need to be rescheduled, but within a few days as they’re time sensitive visits…the closer we get the less likely I’ll be able to do this. I’m being pressured from EVERYONE! *WHEW* So, I’ll either be back here ranting or doing the happy dance tomorrow…coin toss now! I’m really not impatient to get surgery ASAP...I really don't care if it's in May at this point; I just need to know WHEN it might be!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
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