November chitchat

[flatcap]

Too late to edit my post immediately above this one, so I'll add this here.

The doc asked me what I thought of the idea of getting a walker. I told him I am not ready for that, so we agreed I would get a cane. I have been thinking about it for some time, actually, and have identified one I like. Of course, it is out of stock, so I looked some more on the same site and found three others I like. Out of stock.

I am going to look on Etsy for a cane and/or wait for one of the out-of-stock sticks to become available.

[Snuggles]

Flatcap, I am sorry to read about your falls. I hope your rib is feeling better each day. I fell in February and broke (fractured) my arm that I used to break my fall. I had to keep it in a sling for a while but then was told to use it but not lift any heavier items. It healed fine. I hope you did not break a rib. I do have a cane and used to use it on longer walks but in the past several years I started walking in a local park and seemed to build up my stamina and I no longer use it for a slow paced walk that is 30-50 minutes. After 50 minutes or so I can feel my coordination starting to get more clumsy and I feel my legs are more jellylike and I would use my cane for a longer walk.

Virginia, You are fortunate to have family that cooks and brings you the fruits of their labor! I would enjoy that every so often instead of cooking myself or ordering takeout. Your family seems so close knit. You are very lucky to have that support around you.

Agate, I am sorry I posted my last post on the October thread. I wasn't paying attention. I do not use the swiffer to mop. Many years ago I used one and I thought it left streaks on my floor so I gave it away. I also use the O-Cedar mop thingy but I don't fill up the water/soap dispenser. I just remove the micro fiber mop pad and rinse it under the faucet with hot water and wring it out by hand periodically during my mopping. My floors are usually not too dirty and all they need it a light mopping. I do use the swiffer to dust the floors between vacuuming with my my robotic sweeper.

I am trying to decide what to make for dinner tonight. Last night was a lazy day dinner of Hamburger Helper Lasagna. Brown a pound of ground beef, add contents of box with some milk and water and simmer. Added some sliced Italian bread and dinner was on the table. It wasn't the most gourmet meal but it filled our bellies!

Enjoy the day!

[agate]

Snuggles, no need to worry about what thread you're in. With MS you can get away with just about anything.

Agate, I am sorry I posted my last post on the October thread. I wasn't paying attention. I do not use the swiffer to mop. Many years ago I used one and I thought it left streaks on my floor so I gave it away. I also use the O-Cedar mop thingy but I don't fill up the water/soap dispenser. I just remove the micro fiber mop pad and rinse it under the faucet with hot water and wring it out by hand periodically during my mopping. My floors are usually not too dirty and all they need it a light mopping. I do use the swiffer to dust the floors between vacuuming with my my robotic sweeper.

That is a brilliant modification for the O-Cedar mop device. I think one reason I don't use it as much as it probably should be used is the dreary task of filling that water dispenser. Getting it off and on isn't so easy. And now that I find that the spraying is about to ruin the wood cabinet doors, I'm glad to find a way to keep on using this thing but not spraying with it. It was hard to squeeze the handle to work the spray too. It was made for someone with huge hands.

[Virginia]

Snuggles, I am always happy to get food I just have to heat up but especially when it is something I really have been craving like that chili.

I still like doing my tile floors with a steam mop but of course that doesn't work on the area where I have hardwoods. Then the carpet has to be done with a vacuum. Too much work!!!

Flatcap, I got the nail files you recommended on here. I have used them once and I liked it. Thanks for telling me about them and it says they are lifetime so I should not have to buy anymore.

[flatcap]

Oh, no, not homemade chili again.

If you don't knock it off, I'm gonna make you send me some.

[flatcap]

Flatcap, I got the nail files you recommended on here. I have used them once and I liked it. Thanks for telling me about them and it says they are lifetime so I should not have to buy anymore.

You are most welcome. I am glad you like them and hope they last you.

[flatcap]

I forgot to mention anything about my appointment with my optometrist today.

Long story short, I have a "dense dropout of ganglion cells with visual field loss," not attributable to glaucoma.

The doc said she is virtually certain the cause is my MS. She offered to refer me to a neuro-ophthalmologist, but when I asked, she said there was nothing they could do about it. I said it didn't make sense for me to see one, then, particularly in view of the fact that it would involve a roundtrip of about 500 miles without any support. She seemed to agree with this, but wanted to get my PCP involved. Fine by me. When I saw him yesterday, I mentioned the vision issues, so he asked me to have my optometrist's office send over my records. I had already signed off on this at the front desk before I saw her in the exam room.

Although it seems an academic exercise, it will be interesting to see what comes of all this.


ETA: On the upside of things, we have Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register.... Remember those? The friendly postman delivered some today. I was saving them up, so to speak, to bring an Amazon order just short of it above the free-shipping threshold. I haven't had them in much longer than I can remember. When I was a kid, we always thought they were a treat. I don't plan on saving them, but I hope they last a while.

[agate]

I remember Luden's cough drops. I didn't know they were still around. The standard remedy at home was something called Cheracol cough syrup but at school sometimes kids shared their Luden's cough drops.

Nowadays I'm fond of Ricola sugar-free lemon drops for coughs and scratchy throats.

[agate]

Snuggles, I tried out your modified method of using the O-Cedar mopping device with great success. It resulted in a somewhat wetter floor but I'm pretty sure it was a cleaner floor. And all I had to do was rinse out the mop pad afterwards. No more filling that container. This is freedom.

[agate]

A recent experience trying to get medical records from one doctor to another is an example of how important it is to be persistent in making sure our medical care is being tended to and not to assume that everything is ticking along.

When I had the first Xray and discussion of the broken foot bone at the podiatrist's in early June, I specifically asked them to send the records to my PCP, and they assured me they would. I went to the PCP some weeks ago and learned that she had nothing from them. At her request I immediately called the podiatrist's office and put in a second request. About a week later I decided to make sure they had been received.

They hadn't. I put in a third request. About a week later I learned that they apparently hadn't been received either. But the PCP was too busy to give a good look-around just then.

At this point I was considering my next move, which would have been to ask the podiatrist to send me a copy of the records. If they could do that, then I'd have them in my own hands and could personally deliver them to the PCP.

Later yesterday, after quite a few calls, the podiatrist's office called me just to check on the fax number they had been using. They were wondering why their attempts at sending the records weren't working. Sure enough. I had a more up-to-date fax number than they did. It looks as if their fourth try might have worked.

It can be something as simple as a wrong fax number that stands in the way of doctors communicating with one another and transmitting their records.

This was a low-priority matter just now as the foot isn't giving me any trouble though the fracture "won't ever heal." But it might act up at some point, and then surgery would be the only answer, or so I've been told. The PCP wanted those records, and I'm glad she did. If I can possibly arrange it, she will have them. But getting them there has taken some effort.

Yesterday I

[flatcap]

I hope you are okay, agate. You kind of trailed off there, and it seems you have more to say.

I agree records can be an issue, although I don't usually keep them myself. The healthcare system most of my providers are in has a patient portal. I can access my records there anytime.

I mentioned above I was having my optometrist send over records to my PCP. She is not in the system; hers is an independent practice. I noticed, however, that she was able to bring up my PCP on their computer, so they might be able to transfer my record electronically. They at least have his phone number. I gave them a hardcopy of my PCP's website.

That possibly not being enough in my mind, I messaged my PCP that the records should be coming, and if they do not receive them, to please let me know. I will probably also give it a week or two, then call my PCP's office to make sure they got them.

Meantime, my message to my PCP also included the diagnosis I received concerning my eyesight. I also told him my optometrist is pretty sure it is a consequence of my MS. In addition, I mentioned that she said the condition is not treatable but offered to refer me to a neuro-ophthalmologist, which I declined on that basis. If it cannot be treated, there is no point in seeing one.

So, my PCP knows pretty much all there is to tell concerning my eyesight issues. I didn't mention to him that I also have cataracts — it turns out I have them in both eyes — but I imagine that will be reflected in my records. Even if they don't receive them, that ball is squarely in my optometrist's court.

Next up are my records from my behavioral healthcare provider. My PCP wants those as well for some reason. I think it is probably because I scored high on the PHQ-9 at his office, but that is just a guess. I will be taking a similar approach to making sure my PCP gets what he thinks he needs. He is a very good doctor, and I trust him.

[agate]

Sorry about the half sentence there at the end of my post, flatcap. I must have added a paragraph, then thought I'd deleted all of it but didn't check. It's too late to edit it out, worse luck.

The PHQ-9 is a way of measuring the level of a person's depression, I think?

I don't usually keep medical records either any more because of the patient portals. But some medical providers don't have patient portals, and my podiatrist is one of them.

I agree that allowing time to pass--a week or more--before checking to make sure something has been done at a medical provider's office is the best course of action. I know they feel besieged with patients calling just about routine rx refills and other matters that aren't urgent.

Re cataracts: I don't think I'd want just an optometrist dealing with cataracts but I've thought about it, when feeling pressured about surgery by the ophthalmologist I've been seeing for 14 years now--and hearing about the need for that surgery. Since optometrists can't do surgery and ophthalmologists can, I have a feeling I wouldn't be hearing nearly so much about needing surgery from an optometrist.

[flatcap]

Yes, the PHQ-9 is a short screening test for depression. I forget how many items are on it, but there aren't many. My behavioral health specialist administers it at every appointment. I see her again next week.

The optometrist I saw years ago was the first to tell me I had cataracts. He said mine were normal for my age. The one I am seeing now has told me they are not far enough along to require a referral. She mentioned a few signs to watch for, such as having trouble driving at night.

I don't think I've had the correct perspective regarding my optometrists' role in my eye care. I have always looked to them only for glasses. Now, I am starting to see mine as more of a PCP for eye care. I trust her to refer me to a specialist for my cataracts if/when the time comes. On that issue, she expressly told me she would.


ETA: I mentioned above that I am looking for a cane. When searching for one on Etsy, I found this one. The price is way out of my league, and it isn't very practical with its ball-end tip, but I think it's pretty neat.


Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

[Virginia]

Flatcap,.I am not familial with "dense dropout of ganglion cells with visual field loss". I have had some weird stuff with my eyes, but that I haven't heard of. I had something one time that truly scared me. I wrote down the name of it, but all I knew was it was something close to the macular. I went to a specialist on my own. I ended up seeing her for a period of 3 years mostly every 3 months and toward the end every 6 months. If surgery had been required I would not have let her do it. Not because I didn't think she was a good doctor but the surgery is some of the most " delicate" eye surgery done. She told me if I ever needed it she would get me in to see the best. I always want to know as much as possible when it comes to my eyes. It is so important. There is a possibility that an ophthalmologist without being a Neuro ophthalmologist could tell you anything you need to know. My ophthalmologist treats me as well as a Neuro ophthalmologist could. He was already my ophthalmologist when I was diagnosed with MS and he treats people with MS so I just stayed with him.

I went out today. I went and put gas gas in the car and got air in the tires, then I went to the pharmacy and then to the grocery store. There was a drop in the temperature here between yesterday and today. I like to sleep in a cool room so last night before bed I had to turn on the air conditioning and now tonight I have my gas logs turned on. I think it is supposed to warm back up in a couple of days. I imagine flatcap has had some pretty cool weather, but I don't know about Agate. I spent a week in Washington state, but I haven't been to Oregon.

I need to go wash my face and take my makeup off. The wind was blowing here today and my eyes are still burning. Maybe it is all this talk about eyes.

[flatcap]

I am not familiar with a "dense dropout of ganglion cells with visual field loss," either. About all I do know is what I looked up, all of which confirmed what my optometrist said. I have no doubt I have it. I saw the test results myself, and it was very clear even to me that something is wrong. Knowing its name helps, I guess, but I am not much interested in researching it any further. There doesn't seem to be any point.

I should add a bit about my eye care. Until now, where I went for it was largely a function of the glasses themselves. The exam was almost secondary. Eyeglasses had become a hobby.

My previous optometrist was very good indeed, but the selection of frames was very limited. In addition, they didn't carry the brand of lenses I had settled on after doing much research: Hoya. They were also very slow at filling orders, the lab they use often produced lenses with issues such as crazing, and their opticians were essentially untrained. That is allowed if they work under an optometrist in this state, but I prefer having a licensed optician to help me with my glasses.

I am now much less of a hobbyist, but I am still stuck on Hoya lenses and coatings. I shopped for frames online this year, knowing the restrictions my optician's office works under: basically, if it is not a Luxottica brand, they can't get it. I went with Ray-Ban frames, so it was not a problem: they got two of them for me.

I might someday get another boutique-brand frame, but it would not surprise me if I don't. I have two high-end sunglass frames that remain in excellent condition, and one could be used as an eyeglass frame in a pinch. There is also the cost to consider. A really good frame will last a lifetime if you take care of it, but none of them are cheap.