Things are slowly starting to get back to normal here. Rich is healing up real good; that is, if he doesn't tear something out. Last night we made a stop at Menard's to get an odd light bulb and some salt for the ice on the sidewalk. He said, "I'll just run in and get a gallon container". OK, no problem; I waited in the car. He comes out pushing a cart with a 20 lb bag of salt. He is not supposed to be lifting more than a gallon of milk and he put it in the cart. Just can't tell him anything. Just because he feels like he can do it doesn't mean he should.
I am starting to feel better. I am not taking any prescription pain meds any more, just a muscle relaxer at night and ibuprofen when needed. My insurance denied my upper spine mri, wanting me to wait to see if the pain subsides. The problem is that I still don't know what caused my 6 1/2 weeks of back pain. I have an appointment next week and I hope the mri will be approved so I know what I'm dealing with in case it flares up again.
I am glad they discovered the damage to my esophagus from the reflux. Since I've been on the medication for that, I have no more chest pain and I have lost about 3 to 4 inches around my middle from bloating. That is a huge improvement.
Today I am trying to get some of the things done that have been ignored for the past month and a half.
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Old biker friends
Yesterday was our annual winter get together. Every January a bunch of us that ride together and sometimes bike trip together gather at a central point and have lunch and a few drinks.
There were 17 of us. It was good to get out and spend time with old friends. Of course Rich had to deal with all the neck and dead guy bone jokes, (he has a cadaver bone in his neck) which he did with his usual witty come backs. (Probably why people like him.)
It made me look forward to riding season again. Last summer we didn't do too much riding because of Rich's pain and the record hi temps we had. We are hopping for a better summer this year.
We talked about a 4 day ride to the Chain of Rocks Bridge crossing the MS River and on to Devil's Elbow in Rolla, MO.
It was a good day for both of us, but I paid for it when I got home. I went to bed early with a pain pill, a book, and a heating pad.
There were 17 of us. It was good to get out and spend time with old friends. Of course Rich had to deal with all the neck and dead guy bone jokes, (he has a cadaver bone in his neck) which he did with his usual witty come backs. (Probably why people like him.)
It made me look forward to riding season again. Last summer we didn't do too much riding because of Rich's pain and the record hi temps we had. We are hopping for a better summer this year.
We talked about a 4 day ride to the Chain of Rocks Bridge crossing the MS River and on to Devil's Elbow in Rolla, MO.
It was a good day for both of us, but I paid for it when I got home. I went to bed early with a pain pill, a book, and a heating pad.
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Day 5 after surgery
Other than his high blood pressure, everything has gone real well. he was in the hospital a total of 22 hours. His pain is still at 10 on and off. The Dr said this is normal for about 2 weeks. It takes about that long for the swelling of the nerve that was pinched to go down. He does have some pain from the surgery it's self but all within normal. He can't drive for 10 - 12 weeks because he is not allowed to turn his head at all. This for me is the hard part. I don't mind getting up in the middle of the night to help him get repositioned. I am on pain meds and muscle relaxers my self so I just go right back to sleep. Driving brings my pain level up, probably because of the position. If I use my left hand to drive, it goes numb and I have pain in my arm. I can't hold the phone in my left hand for the same reason. It's hard to drive with Rich in the car, he is used to being in control and is not a good passenger. Example...coming home from dinner last night he reprimanded me for turning left at a green arrow in front of a car. He didn't realize I had a green arrow, he thought I had a regular green light. He said, "you just turned in front of that other car, he had the right of way, you had no way of knowing he would turn instead of going straight since he didn't use a signal." I had to point out we both had a green arrow and both of us were in turn lanes, not just a green, and told him he is only paying half attention and needs to keep quiet so he doesn't cause me to miss something myself by distracting me. I don't like to have to explain everything I do when I am driving.
As far as things around the house, I do what I can and try to close my eyes to the clutter that is starting to accumulate. It seems I can only do things in small amounts as my pain tolerates. A friend has offered to come and help clean, but my pride won't allow it. I keep the dishes and the laundry done. Seems that's the best I can do at this point. Getting groceries in the house is the toughest. We have been going out to eat more than usual. It gets Rich out and I don't have to worry about a mess to clean up. As long as we stay close to home, it's not too bad. Since we live in a small town, we don't have allot of options. The next town is 10 minutes away but it is also small and limited.
I manage to go to work everyday and sometimes that gets pretty bad. My pain level is at it's worst when I have to sit up. It's hard to work in a reclined position. I lowered my chair and monitor so that I can get my chair under my desk as much as possible and get me close enough to reach the keyboard with a small pillow for my lower back so I am slightly reclined. This is starting to take a toll on my lower back.
Rich has been dealing with this pain since early spring, mine started Dec 2. My insurance has denied my upper spine and neck mri so my Dr is appealing it. They said it is not consistent with my symptoms of chest pain. Thing is, now that I am on meds for the reflux, most of the chest pain is gone. The mri is to find out what my upper back and left arm pain is. The fact that it starts in my back and travels into my arm and around my side makes the neurologist believe it is probably a pinched nerve in my neck, Especially since an unbearable pain in the center of my back is suddenly brought on when I touch my chin to my chest.
Rich said once that if he ever got to the point of constantly talking about his health, aches and pains to just shoot him. I asked him the other night if he still felt that way. I jokingly told him I happen to know where a 45 is, and I know how to use it. He said, "no I guess I'll just deal with it". We have to joke about our current state when ever we can just to keep our sanity. I keep telling him and myself that it's only temporary and we'll get through it.
I just hope the insurance company comes around soon so I can find an answer for my pain and get it taken care of. I am hoping a shot of cortisone or steroid will get me buy till next year. I have allot going on at work right now. I may have to fly to Dallas for testing of a new software the company is going to. Someone from each department will be going to test it to see what needs to be tweaked for us. then once they have it complete, I will have to go through training. I will want a good solid month working with it under my belt before I take time off.
As far as things around the house, I do what I can and try to close my eyes to the clutter that is starting to accumulate. It seems I can only do things in small amounts as my pain tolerates. A friend has offered to come and help clean, but my pride won't allow it. I keep the dishes and the laundry done. Seems that's the best I can do at this point. Getting groceries in the house is the toughest. We have been going out to eat more than usual. It gets Rich out and I don't have to worry about a mess to clean up. As long as we stay close to home, it's not too bad. Since we live in a small town, we don't have allot of options. The next town is 10 minutes away but it is also small and limited.
I manage to go to work everyday and sometimes that gets pretty bad. My pain level is at it's worst when I have to sit up. It's hard to work in a reclined position. I lowered my chair and monitor so that I can get my chair under my desk as much as possible and get me close enough to reach the keyboard with a small pillow for my lower back so I am slightly reclined. This is starting to take a toll on my lower back.
Rich has been dealing with this pain since early spring, mine started Dec 2. My insurance has denied my upper spine and neck mri so my Dr is appealing it. They said it is not consistent with my symptoms of chest pain. Thing is, now that I am on meds for the reflux, most of the chest pain is gone. The mri is to find out what my upper back and left arm pain is. The fact that it starts in my back and travels into my arm and around my side makes the neurologist believe it is probably a pinched nerve in my neck, Especially since an unbearable pain in the center of my back is suddenly brought on when I touch my chin to my chest.
Rich said once that if he ever got to the point of constantly talking about his health, aches and pains to just shoot him. I asked him the other night if he still felt that way. I jokingly told him I happen to know where a 45 is, and I know how to use it. He said, "no I guess I'll just deal with it". We have to joke about our current state when ever we can just to keep our sanity. I keep telling him and myself that it's only temporary and we'll get through it.
I just hope the insurance company comes around soon so I can find an answer for my pain and get it taken care of. I am hoping a shot of cortisone or steroid will get me buy till next year. I have allot going on at work right now. I may have to fly to Dallas for testing of a new software the company is going to. Someone from each department will be going to test it to see what needs to be tweaked for us. then once they have it complete, I will have to go through training. I will want a good solid month working with it under my belt before I take time off.
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Surgery went well!
The surgery went good. They are having a hard time controlling his blood preasure. They went in through the front of his throat and removed the bad disc, smoothed out some bone spurs, and took care of some arthritis. They replaced the bad disc with a cadiver bone and put a plate in to hold it all together. When I left he was in no pain and dialing the phone.
Hope everyone had a happy new year!
Hope everyone had a happy new year!
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Sucks getting old.
It's probably not so much getting old as it was all the things we did in our past for thrills. I'm 54 and Rich is 58. Don't know that I would have changed anything if I knew what I know now. The stock car racing was probably the hardest thing on my body, along with the 23 years I worked in a book bindery. The racing, sky diving and twisting wrenches is what got Rich. I only had a couple sky dives when Rich decided to get out of it, After 15 years of jumping he was starting to feel it.
He has healed up real good from his carpal tunnel surgery and, as I thought, it did not take away much of his pain. He is scheduled to go in on Monday and have his neck surgery done to replace the disc. It will be a 12 week recovery for him because of his line of work. I am going into work on Monday morning to do some last minute billing and taking off at 11. His surgery is at 2 so he needs to be there by 1:30. I work in West Chicago and he has to go to Rockford for the surgery. 45 minutes home to pick him up and then about an hour to Rockford.
Driving is very painful for me, it must be the position. Plus my left hand and arm goes numb when I drive, so I end up just using my right hand. I'm just not looking forward to the hour and a half drive going from work to Rockford for visits. Bright side is, I can get on the toll road and Cruise. He should only be in the hospital for 3 days.
It's very painful for me to sit up straight to do anything. I have a small pillow at work that I have at my lower back so that I am in a somewhat reclined position just to get through the day and I am on pain killers nonstop. The neurologist gave me a prescription for something that helps control pain with out being a narcotic. It doesn't take away the pain but it does take the edge off, as long as I take them constant. I am able to get through the day by only taking the narcotic pain relievers when I first get up so I can get moving.
I was scheduled for an mri of my neck today but it had to be postponed because my insurance is still pending approval. The neurologist thinks I have a pinched nerve causing my pain. The pain has been pretty much nonstop since Dec 2. Rich's has been since early summer. I hope I don't end up having the same surgery as Rich. Wouldn't it be nice if it was just sympathy pain and mine goes away with his surgery. If only it was that simple.
I'll take care of him for now and if it comes to it, he will take care of me later. It's what we do.
He has healed up real good from his carpal tunnel surgery and, as I thought, it did not take away much of his pain. He is scheduled to go in on Monday and have his neck surgery done to replace the disc. It will be a 12 week recovery for him because of his line of work. I am going into work on Monday morning to do some last minute billing and taking off at 11. His surgery is at 2 so he needs to be there by 1:30. I work in West Chicago and he has to go to Rockford for the surgery. 45 minutes home to pick him up and then about an hour to Rockford.
Driving is very painful for me, it must be the position. Plus my left hand and arm goes numb when I drive, so I end up just using my right hand. I'm just not looking forward to the hour and a half drive going from work to Rockford for visits. Bright side is, I can get on the toll road and Cruise. He should only be in the hospital for 3 days.
It's very painful for me to sit up straight to do anything. I have a small pillow at work that I have at my lower back so that I am in a somewhat reclined position just to get through the day and I am on pain killers nonstop. The neurologist gave me a prescription for something that helps control pain with out being a narcotic. It doesn't take away the pain but it does take the edge off, as long as I take them constant. I am able to get through the day by only taking the narcotic pain relievers when I first get up so I can get moving.
I was scheduled for an mri of my neck today but it had to be postponed because my insurance is still pending approval. The neurologist thinks I have a pinched nerve causing my pain. The pain has been pretty much nonstop since Dec 2. Rich's has been since early summer. I hope I don't end up having the same surgery as Rich. Wouldn't it be nice if it was just sympathy pain and mine goes away with his surgery. If only it was that simple.
I'll take care of him for now and if it comes to it, he will take care of me later. It's what we do.
Sunday, December 16, 2012
No cancer!
I had not even thought about cancer, but the biopsy was apparently done to rule out cancer. None to be found...very happy to hear that. The results are consistent with reflux damage which can be controlled with medication.
The back MRI shows several small perineural cysts on 7 exiting nerve roots in my spine with some stenosis. Don't know what any of this means as far as what's next.
I will have to see a neurologist to know more. I have been in constant pain for 16 days now. I am functioning on pain meds, trying to use them as sparingly as possible. I don't want to get dependant on them.
My boss has been great about the whole thing. This is an amazing company to work for. She told me that I am a good employee, this is just temporary, and we will get through it.
Rich's carpal tunnel surgery went well as far as the carpal tunnel is concerned. He is still in allot of pain so it looks like he will be having the surgery to his spine where the nerve is pinched. They were hoping the carpal tunnel surgery would relieve enough pressure from the nerve that he would have less pain.
I'm not liking this getting old thing...it just doesn't agree with me.
The back MRI shows several small perineural cysts on 7 exiting nerve roots in my spine with some stenosis. Don't know what any of this means as far as what's next.
I will have to see a neurologist to know more. I have been in constant pain for 16 days now. I am functioning on pain meds, trying to use them as sparingly as possible. I don't want to get dependant on them.
My boss has been great about the whole thing. This is an amazing company to work for. She told me that I am a good employee, this is just temporary, and we will get through it.
Rich's carpal tunnel surgery went well as far as the carpal tunnel is concerned. He is still in allot of pain so it looks like he will be having the surgery to his spine where the nerve is pinched. They were hoping the carpal tunnel surgery would relieve enough pressure from the nerve that he would have less pain.
I'm not liking this getting old thing...it just doesn't agree with me.
Friday, December 7, 2012
Killing time
Just sitting here killing time till it's time to go. I have a date at the surgery center today. Hopefully this will put an end to the constant pain I'm in. I hope they find something that is easy to deal with. I really want to go back to work Monday. It would suck to wait this long for a job only to loose it because of this. My boss is being real nice about it, but I also knowthat next week begins crunch time.
On the 17th we have a corporate meeting about the new software. She told me she needs me there since I will be on the ground flour with this. It's a good opportunity and I can't blow it.
Rich just go up and we will be leaving in about 20 minutes.
Till next time...wish me luck.
On the 17th we have a corporate meeting about the new software. She told me she needs me there since I will be on the ground flour with this. It's a good opportunity and I can't blow it.
Rich just go up and we will be leaving in about 20 minutes.
Till next time...wish me luck.
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