May chit-chat

[Cherie]

Jeanie,
Glad you got the radiator fixed and have a trustworthy mechanic to have done it. Grateful Andy showed up when he did. You can always use your broom handle to prop open the hood...

Howie,
Wondered where you were and if you were OK. Glad to hear you are back and have saved data that could have been lost.

Went to a Business after Hours networking event this evening at our local community hospital (the only community hospital left in the State). My business card was chosen for the 60 second "elevator pitch" of what I do. I said, " My name is Cherie. I have been an RN for 40 years. I earned an additional degree in Gerontology more than 15 years ago. I am one of 600 Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurses in the World. I am a Resource finder. " 15 seconds and some wonderful contacts as a result.

On the other end of the spectrum...I am better but not great yet. A lot of hip pain and standing for long periods produces a lot of discomfort which I will have to deal with for the next few days. Got all of the paperwork back to the State office for SSDI in the disability determination office that wants to stop my SSDI after 13 years on just 4 months shy of retirement age. The good thing is that as I was gathering records, there is SO much documented evidence in the form of lab and test results and Dr. visits for specific MS related problems, that I am not sure how they can even go beyond paperwork review on this.

[Frog42]

Cherie, I have to wonder if SSDI isn't hoping you'll just get frustrated enough to give up and go away.

[Cherie]

I suspect that may have something to do with it. But there is a very "little man" with whom I have been dealing with in that office over the past 3 years. He doesn't like it that I call him by his first name instead of Mr..... This review has his name written all over it!

[Parsi]

It's about time you showed up, Howie.

Jeanie and Cherie. Pain is such a pain. I wish none of us had to ever live with it.

[Cherie]

53 and raining here through tomorrow , they say. Shorter work week with less intensity and stress (or is it that I'm feeling better and can cope?)

Just came from the hospital from visiting a friend who is 51 and has MS. He was walking with a walker till three years ago now is not ambulatory. He went into a coma for nearly 3 weeks that they think was caused by an overdose of Baclofen. Has been in ICU for 5 weeks but hopes to be discharged to rehab on Monday. Long haul.

CPR certification tomorrow morning at the office. Afterwards, we are loading the car and heading for the condo...just the two of us...for the long weekend. Will stop on the way back to celebrate Eli's 3rd birthday then late afternoon be back for the Memorial Day Cookout at our boat club down the street. We are not taking kayaks and are just planning on kicking back after spring cleaning and putting summer linens on the beds. I need this!

[SalpalSally]

So glad that you are able to do all of this Cher...carry on and have fun.

[Gary]

I have been reading everyone's posts. I continue to have problems with tingling creeping up it is slowly. So maybe it will just stop. I hate to go back to doc. I haven't mentioned it to my family as the last thing anyone needs is me whining.

My laptop on switch is giving me fits. So I am using my wifes tablet. I guess that you could get used this touch screen but........ and you know the back up everyone needs and is suppose have? Of course I never have gotten around to it. My nNorton anti virus software asks me evey time I use it and its always next time.

Something I miss on this screen is my right click mouse this isn't real handicap friendly especially for someone with the shakes! But I remember getting used to a mouse instead of just using keystrokes

Good to see Howe back.
L
I will post more when I can type without continually making everything disappearing. I just noticed that it gives you several suggestions for many of the words you type. Kinda nice

[stillstANNding]

Hi Gang :)

Just back from our 3rd trip to PA to see Mom this year. She is doing great. During our Jan trip I became sick w a UTI and Bronchitis. My birthday trip (to share w Mom who was the first there;)) crossed over w other family members who clogged plumbing w "wipes." Major cleanup by a disaster company.:( This visit we hoped would just be fun and it was. Mom is great and I am thankful to still have her.

I have been reading- mostly on my phone- so I do know what you all have been up to.
Gary, I am worried. Talk to Cherie, or your daughter if you won't talk to doc.
Howie, glad you got your hard drive fixed.;)

We still don't know where or how we will marry but are thinking about August. We just want people to quit asking us!

Be well/eat dark chocolate if you can. ANN

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. Gary Ann is right. Do tell someone preferably the doctor. Glad to see you back Ann.

I did get my RX and got it filled. I had the permanent and still unhappy as she cut some more hair off and now it is a short perm instead of a long one like I wanted. After I visited my 103 year old friend. She is to go home on Monday. I pray that she does as she is longing to see her home again after months there in rehab.

I bought an electric heating pad to use on my leg and groin pain. All of the ones offered were made in China. I sure would not go to sleep using it. Jeanie :)

[Gary]

No worries folks. I am pretty stable right now and as I have been down this road before if it changes I will do something. I didn't mean to worry anyone. I am just sick and tired of being sick and tired!

Son is coming down for the weekend he has a wedding to go to Saturday so it will be nice to see him. He is still moving back in the middle of June. We are going up to haul some stuff down and since we are taking the motor home it may be necessary to do some fishing on the way up.

Today was the last day of school so my wife is happy having the summer off. This completes the 28th year of driving a school bus. Its a small town so she has lots of second and now third generation on her bus.

It is hot temps in the mid eighties too warm to do much outside anytime after lunch until about 6 or 7. But as I have everything on timers for watering it's convenient for me I even have a remote control to turn the sprinklers on and off from my recliner.

And that is how we roll down hereon tobacco road

[Jeanie Z]

:) Hi everyone. My DIL left the hospital and went to her Mothers since their AC was not working. Yesterday the company had a crane there to lift the old unit off the second story and place the new one up there. It took the whole day.

Andy says the whole place feels better. The old unit had not worked well for a long time. I loaned Andy $1000. since their landlady cried poor. She owns several townhouses and seldom fixes things. They usually get things fixed and deduct the money from the rent over a few months. They will reduce the rent $100 a month until they get the money back.

Any of you who have pain all the time, what do you do for it? I do not want to stay on the Fentanyl, an opiod and it is not taking all the pain away. In fact today is the first day on the new stronger mcg patch and I am hurting a lot. 10 of these go for $338. Right now insurance is paying but I will be before long once I reach $2500. The pain is in my left groin going to the outside of my thigh and down the outside of my leg to my calf. I get som small spasms of the lower leg when I sit at the computer.

If this is my sciatic nerve causing it do any of you have treatments for that? It is hard getting things done when I hurt most of the time. It never completely goes away, just at times seems less strong. I've had the pain since 4/1. Any advice appreciated. Jeanie :)

[agate]

Jeanie, I've had sciatic pain for years but thankfully off and on. When it's really bad it's very hard to take and pretty much immobilizes me.

The only way I know of to help it is rest and more rest, and letting lots of time pass as it very gradually kicks up less. If that still doesn't work, I go for physical therapy. I've done several courses of PT for it, and they have all helped.

It seems to be a combination of the electrostim, ultrasound, plus appropriate exercises that does the trick for me--but everyone's sciatic pain is probably different from everyone else's.