"Tony" Thought Journal 3.0

[Yvonne Smith]

Tony, I understand your frustration. I have had to revise my expectations for myself when it comes to regular physical tasks and it really annoys me. I try to "power through" but unfortunately my power isn't much to brag about these days. So just putter and do what you can.

I have mentioned before that my mother dragged a lightweight aluminum (webbed) lawn chair around the yard when she was older. She'd sit and hoe or water, determined to keep up with her flowers.

I hope the new neurologist can help you.

I remember when you mentioned that before, and I thought it was a great idea, since getting down on my knees (and having to get back up again) does not work for me anymore, and the bending over gardening makes me out of breath fast.
We went to Walmart and got those plastic lawn chairs, and I have one in the front yard and one out back, and that is pretty much how I do all my gardening nowadays , too.

I really like the idea of that rolling gardening stool, @Ed Wilson ! I have looked at those on Amazon, but they are pretty expensive.

 

[Mary Stetler]

My last visit to the cardiologist he felt the pain I get from my upper back left to my chest is caused by a problem in my spine in my neck. He gave me a referral to a neurologist to have it checked out. I made an appointment with the neurologist for this coming Monday. Since it's a different neurologist that I had for my spinal stenosis in my lower back, I'll talk to him about pain relief in both areas.

Like most of us our age it seems like it takes forever to get things done. I'm still working on hooking up the water outside it's been over a week now. This is no more than a 4 hour job for me and I'm still at it. It's got me very disgusted. I haven't started on the beds for my vegetables I'm almost ready to throw in the towel and give all my seedlings away. I'm feeling very useless and of no value, why am I here? My legs are numb making it hard to walk, I can't bend over without feeling I'm going to topple, my back pain is raw sometimes, plus I'm taking a hormone pill that leaves me tired all the time. I don't sleep well at night because of the upper back pain, feel like I'm in a fog. Yet my hopes and dreams were too have my last Garden. I'm starting to panic because it's getting close to planting time and I haven't even made the beds yet.

Some of the delays have been caused by rain and cold weather however yesterday was a very nice day and couldn't get out there to do some work because I was completely exhausted. I have to try and do what I can on my good days.

Just don't overdo because you feel good like some idiot you know. Our parts are more fragile than they used to be if we don't develop them slowly.

 

[Beth Gallagher]

I remember when you mentioned that before, and I thought it was a great idea, since getting down on my knees (and having to get back up again) does not work for me anymore, and the bending over gardening makes me out of breath fast.
We went to Walmart and got those plastic lawn chairs, and I have one in the front yard and one out back, and that is pretty much how I do all my gardening nowadays , too.

I really like the idea of that rolling gardening stool, @Ed Wilson ! I have looked at those on Amazon, but they are pretty expensive.

My mother-in-law had a nice lightweight walker with a seat and a basket. It also had larger wheels so it would roll over rougher terrain, so it would probably have been good for a bit of gardening. My MIL wasn't a gardener so I don't really know.

 

[Don Alaska]

My last visit to the cardiologist he felt the pain I get from my upper back left to my chest is caused by a problem in my spine in my neck. He gave me a referral to a neurologist to have it checked out. I made an appointment with the neurologist for this coming Monday. Since it's a different neurologist that I had for my spinal stenosis in my lower back, I'll talk to him about pain relief in both areas.

Like most of us our age it seems like it takes forever to get things done. I'm still working on hooking up the water outside it's been over a week now. This is no more than a 4 hour job for me and I'm still at it. It's got me very disgusted. I haven't started on the beds for my vegetables I'm almost ready to throw in the towel and give all my seedlings away. I'm feeling very useless and of no value, why am I here? My legs are numb making it hard to walk, I can't bend over without feeling I'm going to topple, my back pain is raw sometimes, plus I'm taking a hormone pill that leaves me tired all the time. I don't sleep well at night because of the upper back pain, feel like I'm in a fog. Yet my hopes and dreams were too have my last Garden. I'm starting to panic because it's getting close to planting time and I haven't even made the beds yet.

Some of the delays have been caused by rain and cold weather however yesterday was a very nice day and couldn't get out there to do some work because I was completely exhausted. I have to try and do what I can on my good days.

Sorry things are not going well, @Tony Page

 

[Don Alaska]

We got one of these. It helps you get up and it provides a pad for the knees and a place to hold tools as well.

 

[Tony Page]

@Beth Gallagher thank you for your suggestion it's a good idea. You're right I have to get used to the new me and stay within the boundaries of what I can do.

@Ed Wilson thank you I will check out the rolling garden stool it looks made well.

To all:
I was up most of last night with my upper back pain it felt like somebody had a knife in my back. The last time it was this bad I wound up in ER thinking I was having a heart attack. It usually starts about an hour after I go to bed apparently my neck position sets It off. If I sit up in time the pain will reduce to a manageable level. Usually I'll sit up in my favorite chair until the pain reduces enough for me to try going back to bed again. Last night the pain stayed a long time.

After I wrote that post this morning I put some lidocaine on my neck and went back to bed I was able to sleep for about an hour. I got up feeling rested and clear-headed which is a big plus. The pain in my back is bearable now.

I try not to take Ibuprofen unless I really have to a few years back I was living on them over 300 pills a month. I was taking them, till I started feeling internal problems. When I do take them I take four pills at a time every 6 hours.

The good news is I'm feeling better I'm going to do something today like maybe some grocery shopping. I have to make a stop at the bank also, we have to replace a bathroom and a kitchen faucet, can't believe it they're only about 3 years old. I need to get cash for the plumber he'll be here Thursday.

Sorry for being off this morning. Everyday is a new challenge.

 

[Tony Page]

We got one of these. It helps you get up and it provides a pad for the knees and a place to hold tools as well.

My wife used something like that. My biggest problem is once I sit I find it hard getting up off of it. Somebody should invent a gardening stool or chair so that when you want to get up they're a handles like a walker to grab onto. Sitting in a chair might be good for a raised bed but if you want to do planting in the ground it's too high I think.

 

[Tony Page]

I was looking at Craigslist I came across Sphinx kittens for sale. I remember hearing of them but I've never seen them they are strange looking. They were asking $2,000 each they have a male and a female.

 

[Krystal Shay]

I was looking at Craigslist I came across Sphinx kittens for sale. I remember hearing of them but I've never seen them they are strange looking. They were asking $2,000 each they have a male and a female.

View attachment 1505


View attachment 1506

I have had people tell me they are very sweet loving cats, and are good cats to have if you are allergic. They are very odd looking, though. I still prefer a cat with fur. Also dogs! I have seen hairless dogs too.

 

[Tony Page]

last night my left side of my back had some very strong pains. I put heat on it it took four Advil. this morning it's feeling much better.

I had to go out to get my hormone prescription, I decided to make a trip to Home Depot as well. I picked up a few things I needed like a female hose end replacement connector, bird seed, and I found some soil by Scott's the company known for their lawn products that I will use to mix with the soil I already have for my raised beds.

When I got home there was a Mockingbird singing to the top of his lungs at the peak of my house roof. Below is a photo.

I'm hoping to get a few more things done outside and start on my raised beds tomorrow.

I just ordered two more raised beds from Walmart they say they will be here tomorrow we'll see. They will have to be assembled that's another job I will add to my already long list.

 

[Tony Page]

I've changed my Cardiologist, Neurologist, and PCP recently.

I've seen my new Cardiologist in March everything seems good. This was my first visit in about 20 years to a Cardiologist.

My prior Neurologist was very good. I didn't care for His Pain Management Group. The last time I visited them was in 2017.

My new Neurologist is a referral from my Cardiologist it's his doctor also. I've printed out test reports to bring with me on my 1st visit tomorrow. I have my MRI report for my spinal stenosis, and an MRI report for my brain scan for a benign tumor I have on my pituitary gland. I've never read this report before in detail, it says I have besides the tumor, "white matter disease." I've never heard of this before so I looked it up online, some of the symptoms I have could be from this, I always attributed these to my bad back now I know it's possible it's from this white matter disease. It also says it's common in seniors. I haven't had a brain MRI since 2017, the doctor recommended I get one a year to verify the tumor is stable and not spreading. I'm hoping this new Neurologist doesn't want me to start up brain scans again.

We also have a new PCP. We made a change because we had problems with the one we have. My wife went in with fatigue problem about 6 weeks ago, they sent her home without doing anything. I called the office told them they should have at least did a blood test. They agreed. My wife took the blood test and they found she was low on B12, so they gave her a B12 shot. They told her to come back in 3 weeks so they can check her blood again, when she did, they were clueless on why she was there.
It's because of this same group, that my wife has a stoma. She went in for help, doubled up with intestinal pain. In my opinion the doctor because of her extreme pain, she should have either gone to the ER or prescribed an antibiotic. Instead they prescribed a scan that they said would take 3 days because of authorizations needed. That night she was so bad I called emergency, I wasn't going to wait any longer. when she got to the hospital she was brought immediately to emergency surgery. She had a perforated intestine. She wound up in the hospital for 10 days of which 3 days were in ICU. She had peritonitis and was septic. The surgeon told me that if I didn't call emergency when I did she'd be dead. This was when Covid was prevalent, no visiting was allowed. It was difficult not knowing how my wife was doing not seeing her in person. about 3 months after the surgery she went back into surgery to get the intestine reattached, it turned into a horror show. The stitches didn't hold, it was a real mess. she wound up in the hospital for another 10 days. She decided to keep the stoma.

This happened about 2 or 3 months after completing chemo and radiation treatment, and surgery for breast cancer, she was in remission.

At least by having these three new doctors they all use the same portal so that should make reviewing appointments and reports easier.

 

[Marie Mallory]

@Beth Gallagher thank you for your suggestion it's a good idea. You're right I have to get used to the new me and stay within the boundaries of what I can do.

@Ed Wilson thank you I will check out the rolling garden stool it looks made well.

To all:
I was up most of last night with my upper back pain it felt like somebody had a knife in my back. The last time it was this bad I wound up in ER thinking I was having a heart attack. It usually starts about an hour after I go to bed apparently my neck position sets It off. If I sit up in time the pain will reduce to a manageable level. Usually I'll sit up in my favorite chair until the pain reduces enough for me to try going back to bed again. Last night the pain stayed a long time.

After I wrote that post this morning I put some lidocaine on my neck and went back to bed I was able to sleep for about an hour. I got up feeling rested and clear-headed which is a big plus. The pain in my back is bearable now.

I try not to take Ibuprofen unless I really have to a few years back I was living on them over 300 pills a month. I was taking them, till I started feeling internal problems. When I do take them I take four pills at a time every 6 hours.

The good news is I'm feeling better I'm going to do something today like maybe some grocery shopping. I have to make a stop at the bank also, we have to replace a bathroom and a kitchen faucet, can't believe it they're only about 3 years old. I need to get cash for the plumber he'll be here Thursday.

Sorry for being off this morning. Everyday is a new challenge.

Glad the lidocaine helped you Tony. I may keep some of that around for Jake and I.
Good luck with the faucet.

 

[Marie Mallory]

I've changed my Cardiologist, Neurologist, and PCP recently.

I've seen my new Cardiologist in March everything seems good. This was my first visit in about 20 years to a Cardiologist.

My prior Neurologist was very good. I didn't care for His Pain Management Group. The last time I visited them was in 2017.

My new Neurologist is a referral from my Cardiologist it's his doctor also. I've printed out test reports to bring with me on my 1st visit tomorrow. I have my MRI report for my spinal stenosis, and an MRI report for my brain scan for a benign tumor I have on my pituitary gland. I've never read this report before in detail, it says I have besides the tumor, "white matter disease." I've never heard of this before so I looked it up online, some of the symptoms I have could be from this, I always attributed these to my bad back now I know it's possible it's from this white matter disease. It also says it's common in seniors. I haven't had a brain MRI since 2017, the doctor recommended I get one a year to verify the tumor is stable and not spreading. I'm hoping this new Neurologist doesn't want me to start up brain scans again.

We also have a new PCP. We made a change because we had problems with the one we have. My wife went in with fatigue problem about 6 weeks ago, they sent her home without doing anything. I called the office told them they should have at least did a blood test. They agreed. My wife took the blood test and they found she was low on B12, so they gave her a B12 shot. They told her to come back in 3 weeks so they can check her blood again, when she did, they were clueless on why she was there.
It's because of this same group, that my wife has a stoma. She went in for help, doubled up with intestinal pain. In my opinion the doctor because of her extreme pain, she should have either gone to the ER or prescribed an antibiotic. Instead they prescribed a scan that they said would take 3 days because of authorizations needed. That night she was so bad I called emergency, I wasn't going to wait any longer. when she got to the hospital she was brought immediately to emergency surgery. She had a perforated intestine. She wound up in the hospital for 10 days of which 3 days were in ICU. She had peritonitis and was septic. The surgeon told me that if I didn't call emergency when I did she'd be dead. This was when Covid was prevalent, no visiting was allowed. It was difficult not knowing how my wife was doing not seeing her in person. about 3 months after the surgery she went back into surgery to get the intestine reattached, it turned into a horror show. The stitches didn't hold, it was a real mess. she wound up in the hospital for another 10 days. She decided to keep the stoma.

This happened about 2 or 3 months after completing chemo and radiation treatment, and surgery for breast cancer, she was in remission.

At least by having these three new doctors they all use the same portal so that should make reviewing appointments and reports easier.

Tony sometimes our medical staff is overtaxed or just not paying attention,
We really have to try to be as informed as possible about our care, and that i hard too.
I'm sorry your wife had to deal with this.

 

[Tony Page]

I can't get out of my mind something that happened to me last Friday.

Those of you who have been reading my post know I believe in prayers. I direct my prayers to God, Jesus, Mary, or to a specific saint.

Friday morning I was praying to Jesus. Because the prayer subject was important to me, I asked Jesus to somehow let me know he received it.

Later that day my daughter had a hair appointment. She asked me if I could take my grandson and his father to a marshall arts class.

The class is in a shopping center, that has a thrift store I like looking around in, mostly for books for my other grandson. I went in, I immediately went to the wall where the books were. I saw this book with no name on the spine, it was small, thick, and had a leatherette cover. It immediately peaked my interest and I wanted it. I pulled it off the shelf and on the front cover was the title "The Greatest Man That Ever Lived". It was the story of Jesus, with beautiful color drawing, the book was crisp like brand new.

I didn't think of it at first, but after a few moments of flipping through the pages, I got this chill and the feeling that this was a sign Jesus had responded to me that he received my prayer.

I realize a lot of folks will say "oh it's just a coincidence." Maybe, but for me it was the real deal.

When I got home I handed the book to my for him to keep, his face lit up like a Christmas tree, with a meaningful smile. I think he felt this book was special just like I did.