2/17/22

It's Thursday.  I think.  I had to look at the newspaper yesterday to figure out what day it was.  Being retired is SOOOO nice.  Wow, did I have a long doctor appointment yesterday.  It was very productive, tho, and I was happy to invest my time.  I saw the neurosurgeon and like him a lot.  What a difference from my last spine doctor.  By Tuesday, I still hadn't heard anything, and hadn't gotten a call back.  I only get the answering machine every time I call.  So, I drove to town, walked in his office and fired him.  Told him to send my records to the new guy and, no, I don't want to reconsider.  It was life changing.  I felt SO good.  The new guy has all my records and is going to take my old spinal stimulator out and put in a brand new model.  It has bluetooth for programming.  It's gonna be so cool - if I can remember what all the buttons do.  It's very tiny and does a lot more than my old model.  My old one had been in for 7 years.  The new guy thinks my best course of action is to put in a new stim.  We went over all my other options and they suck.  I will go back next Wednesday for a pre-op appointment and will have surgery close to the end of the month.  We have to do it that way so that I can come back for a 2 week follow-up and I'm going to be gone a lot in March.  The arthritis is getting worse, and I have degenerative disk disease.  My lower back is downright ugly inside.  I know.  I saw the pictures.

I saw the cardiologist on Tuesday and they ordered a bunch of other tests.  I think it's a waste of time and money, but I'll do what I'm told.  Next Wednesday I'm having a CT scan of my chest, then in 2 weeks I'm having a PET scan of my heart and an Echo done afterwards.  I'm just that special.  They will be looking for 3 specific things in these tests, but if they find something else - well, bully for them.  In the CT scan, they're looking at the lungs especially.  Perhaps an embolism snuck in there.  I've had 2 before and they didn't feel anything like this, but I couldn't sway them with that knowledge.  The other 2 tests will be looking in my heart.  It's being naughty.

I still haven't heard from the eye doctor, so I may have to contact my oncologist for that reminder.

I stopped taking my cancer drug yesterday.  I broke out in hives and the chest pains were back with a vengeance, so I quit and sent a note to my oncologist.  I haven't heard back yet, so we'll see.  I asked if I should cut it in half or just quit and try the third pill on the market.  Since I'm having surgery soon, and they won't operate unless my blood work is OK, I would sure like to stop the drugs and just concentrate on eating enough protein for now.

I won't be able to submerge my body for 6 weeks.  No swimming, snorkeling, bubble baths, etc.  Showers only.  So, the activities on my cruise 3/5 to the western caribbean, will need to be altered.  Rats.  I was disappointed, but my mind swiftly shifted to the positive and I'm OK with it.  I'm simply happy to be able to go on a cruise at all.  Last year at this time, I had no faith AT ALL that I would be on a cruise within the next 12 months.

I'm still looking forward to all my excursions in March and even the surgery.  At least something's being done and perhaps my back will be better soon. I'm not quitting yet.

Have you been watching the Olympics?  Lots of winners.  Except Finland.  No one from Finland will be crossing the finish line.

Because Finland closed it's borders.


Ha, Ha!  Get it?


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