OT December Chit Chat

[Cherie]

Had my pre-op visit with the doc yesterday for cataract surgery on the 14th. Went in today for EKG and pre admission testing. They are doing it under general anesthesia since I am allergic to most of the local anesthetics including the numbing eye drops. Lots of PVCs on the EKG today. They are concerned. However, I feel so much better than I have in a VERY long time!

[MaryLiz]

Hi Everyone,
I wish I could remember everyone's name without scrolling back but you can sympathize and forgive me I hope!

Falls are a b***h and my heart goes out to everyone who has fallen in the last few weeks. I fell over a month ago and my wrist still has twinges. And tumors oh my. But, hopefully you get the Christmas present that they are benign and there isn't much to do for them.... Sally glad you are getting better!

It's HOT here and I'd love some of that freezing but no snow weather. But here in Paraguay is where my work is so here I'll be (In air-conditioning as much as possible). I'm getting ready to go to Columbia for two months for work. Talk about hot! But I couldn't let the chance go to cross going to Columbia off my bucket list before I get too disabled.

I can't get Copaxone any more here. I'm expecting that the import company is waiting until after the holidays and it will be miraculously back for 3 times the price. Which of course I can't afford. This is really sad because Copaxone was really working for me. No, relapses since I started and only two falls in 3 years. I only had to deal with the relentless fatigue and occasional mental fog It is virtually impossible to import it from the States and since I don't qualify for any assistance.....well you know how it goes.

Anyway, sorry I'm not a more frequent contributor but I love keeping up with you all!
Hope your Christmas is Merry and your Holidays are VERY happy
MaryLiz

[SalpalSally]

Thanks Gary for your expert opinion of my car seat choices. I can just see me and the Van tipping over..E-GADS!! The mobility guy is going to drive a minivan with one of these in it to see if it's viable for me. So I'll let you know if I get too tipsy..lol

Renee, I like the way you think..:o

Cher, good wishes and prayers for your upcoming surgery..Hugs.

Hi MaryLiz, do I know you?

Hi Ann and everyone else..:o Ann is having a chocolate give away for y'all..

[agate]

MaryLiz, that's really too bad that you can't get Copaxone. Sometimes it pays to keep calling and looking into every possible resource--but I'm sure you've done that already.

Cherie, good luck with your cataract surgery. I hope you'll share details when you're able.

I had another MRI last week, and this week there will be a trip to the neuro to discuss the MRI. If it looks worse than the 2009 MRI, he will conclude that Copaxone was helping and advise going back on it. If there's no change, I'm assuming he won't push the Copaxone idea.

[Cherie]

Agate,
keep us posted as to results of MRI and treatment choices.

Mary Liz,
Agate's right...squeeky wheel and all.

I have to be at the hospital 12 hours from now as the first case of the day. Hope my doc's a morning person. I really only know him as an evening person socially altho' he is the doc back in 1994 that ordered the first MRI when I had ON and helped me get a diagnosis after 19 years of intermittent symptoms.
Don't look for me back here till after the post op visit Thursday morning.

Got some of the decorations up today. Did an on-line financial class. Booked my room for the MSF cruise April 2012.

[Gary]

Cherie we will be keeping you in our thoughts. Even though it IS a scary proposition you are making the right decision.

My daughter has been telling me for the last 3 weeks that I would love my Christmas present this year. This is the child that we never told her what anyone was getting for a present because she would get so excited that she would end up blabbing it to everybody. We went to grand daughters Christmas program last night and she kept grinning and looking at my wife and SIL was even doing it. So when we got home she called and said she needed to come over and borrow insulin as she was out. That should have been a tell tale sign as she is would NEVER run out and my wife said so.

When she got here she said our Christmas present had been delivered and we needed to come out to her car and see it. There was something covered up in the back. She pulled the blanket off and OUR SON was hiding in the back!! He had ER duty and could not come home, we were kind of depressed as we are used to having everybody home. He does have to be back by Christmas Eve but we get him home for 10 days. I am so lucky we have the greatest kids ever. You just could not get a better present ever.

[SalpalSally]

HooRah for Gary and Family!!! What a wonderful gift.

[MaryLiz]

Hi Gary that is GREAT news. What a Christmas present! I'm sure you are smiling still.

Sally, I've been on the board for a long time but rarely post. We may have written it the past but since there is no way to check my old messages and my memory being what it is....I'm going to say what the H. if we didn't know each other before we do now!

I'm going to keep being a squeaky wheel. And we'll see if I can't come up with some more meds.

Hasta Pronto; and I don't say it later, Please have a warm and wonderful Christmas
Mary

[Jeanie Z]

Prayers for David please

:) Hi everyone. Gary I agree that was a great gift. Cherie I hope your surgery went well. I have Cherie's phone number and I will check on her and post.

Today David had his appointment with the Chief of Staff of the Liver cancer department at the VA. His MRI showed 4 tumors. The largest is about the size of a walnut and 3 smaller ones. He has scheduled David for a biopsy but I felt he was pretty much saying it is cancer. There are 4 treatments, and a team of doctors meet to discuss each case and the best route to go depending on the biopsy.

Over 20 years ago David was in an auto accident in St. Thomas and received blood transfusions and contracted Hepatitis C. He now has cirrhosis and tumors. They are all confined to the liver now.

They can inject ablation into the hepatic artery to destroy them, do surgery, or a liver transplant. Surgery may be out if not enough liver would be left to function. Needless to say he is very worried, as am I.

We had planned to go to my Mother's Christmas eve and be there for 2 or 3 days. Now we will have to play it by ear as the medical issues take priority. I would appreciate any prayers. Thank you for being there everyone. Jeanie

[SalpalSally]

Aw Jeanie, You and David are still in my prayers. I will say a special one tonight.

[stillstANNding]

Jeanie, I am so sorry. What a blow! I was praying they would be benign hepatomas. I see how the history led you to worry. Yes, I will pray for your family.

ANN

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. Thank you Ann.

I called Cherie but had to leave a message. I think the number I have is her cell phone and she may not have it on at home. When I hear from her I will post. Jeanie :)

[agate]

I'm so sorry about the news, Jeanie. Not fair, not fair.

[Cherie]

Just got off the phone with Jeanie. She truly sounds worried. We all need to hold her firmly at this point along with David. Looks like biopsy will be Monday or Tuesday and they will go from there with treatment plan.

Cataract surgery was so easy. I had general anesthesia due to my allergies to local anesthesias but was awake less than an hour after the procedure began and home 45 minutes after that. Really blurry yesterday but less so today. Vision this morning at post op check was 20/60 (20/200 prior to the surgery) and he said once the edema in the eye goes down it should be 20/20. I can't believe how much light I am seeing. I thought the darkness was from repeated bouts with ON over the years but everything is brighter and more colorful. No anxiety at all about having the other eye done on January 11.

David is having more and more intractable arm pain from C4-5 being almost totally squeezed off in one spot on MRI. He had a fusion 7 and a half years ago and the doc said he might need another in the future and I guess the future is here. However, the earliest the neurosurgeon can get him in is January 23. I hate seeing him so uncomfortable. At least massage and traction helps and I can do that for him.

[Gary]

Cherie I am so glad that everything worked out so well. We have a friend who postponed the surgury for s long time. When he finally had it done he was in tears when he realized how simple it was and how much he had missed not being able to see.

We still have not had any snow or rain. It is cold and we have a big inversion going on. Looks like downtown Los Angeles in July. I forgot how much I hate the smog.