Party room- a place for fun, pity, commiserating, or any other thing you come up with

[Leeaelle]

Hi All ~ More sun here. If I don't get some gloom soon, I'm going to go crazy. I know most people think I am already. LOL

Karen ~ Neurontin made me ditzy too. Why not ask your doc about Topamaz? It doesn't make me ditzy at all and I'm on MUCH lower doses too. Whereas I'd be up to about 3500mg by now on Neurontin, I'm only taking 400mg. of Topamax and like I said, I don't feel at ALL ditzy and don't have any side effects at all. No water retention either. It's great. That's not to say that YOU wouldn't have some side effects, but for me it's sure better than Neurontin. On that, I held about 20 lbs of water! YIKES. Just a thought. Is your area dried out from the storms/rain yet? Can you believe we only got just one small downpour and that was it? It only left one little puddle in my driveway, and that was it. Sheeesh.

Mark -- how are you doing? Is the neck any better at all? You worry me, ya know! That neck sounds a little scary. Especially since your arm goes numb & tingly. PLEASE be careful and dont do much huh? I'd hate to have to come down there and hurt ya. LOL

I'm having an awful time after having to use inhalers for COPD. I've discovered they cause bone pain, and BOY do they. It even says so on the FDA site, but yet my doc says he "never heard of that" and wants me to come in to talk about it. HUH???? What's the matter with him? Is he having a senior moment or something? He's really a good doc but this floored me. Oh well. We'll see. I'm taking the product insert to SHOW him.

Nothing else going on. Granddaughter is behaving thank God. I'd hate to hurt HER too. LOL (She's bigger than he) Take care all & God bless. Hugs, Lee

[Mark N]

Lee, sorry the inhalers were causing the pain problem but I hope your doctor can find a solution for your COPD problem that won't increase you pain levels. My cervical spine is really causing me problems right now but I am not giving up on it yet. Massage does help with the muscle spasms and I deal with the pain the best that I can. I am hoping this is just a flare and my spine will get back to its baseline levels of pain. I became a grandfather once again today as Megan had her daughter, Audyn Brynna 9 lb 14 oz
21 inches this morning. Emery was so sweet to her sister being careful around her and giving her kisses. I brought a balloon and hair bands for Emery so everything wasn't for the baby. Emery took them over to show Audyn what she got. It was so sweet watching her bring them close enough thinking Aubryn could see what she had. Audyn is one of the quietest and most content newborns I have been around. I hope Megan and Darrin are lucky and Audyn stays like this as she ages. She does look very similar to what Emery looked like as a new born so everyone is thinking the two girls will look similar. Penny is sleeping over at their house with Emery tonight as I need to be in my chair to keep my pain levels under control. We got three letters from Tyrel and he is adjusting well to processing while waiting for the training company to form up which will be tomorrow. He likes the guys in his unit and is enjoying his time in the Army.
It is good to have this site backup and running again.

[mrsQ]

Congratulations on that new grandbaby Mark! I know everyone must be so thrilled.
I'm glad things are going well for Tyrell in the Army.

Nothing here worth typing about. I'm glad they got the site back up I was starting to wonder.

[Mark N]

Karen, sorry to about all the rain and flooding in your area. I knew from news reports it was bad but someone in the area can give better descriptions about what is going on. Audyn and Megan are back home resting up. Audyn has been a very good baby so far and I hope she continues to be an easy baby to deal with. It is amazing how much she looks like Emery's infant pictures. There are some small differences but it is clear they are sisters. Tyrel called yesterday and it was good to hear his voice. He is happy with his choice and eager to get into the training phase. Things are settling down here other than my cervical spine deciding to let me know it is unhappy. My shoulders and elbows are killing me along with the stiff neck I am deal with. I hope it settles down as I don't want to start any kind of treatment or any more medication.

[Mark N]

What a gorgeous day we had today with temps in the low 70s and clear blue skies. Pain was way up so I didn't get to do as much as I would have liked to do today. I did make a deal to sell our truck that Tyrel drove. I bought it new in 1993 and both kids drove in in high school. It is in great mechanical shape and we could have held out for more money but it is good to be rid of the insurance cost along with getting some money out of it. Penny is already said she will miss it as it has been in the family for so long. I go tomorrow for a massage and I hope it breaks the pain cycle for a bit. I hope people show up now that the site is up and running again.

[mrsQ]

Sorry your having a bad time with the pain I hope the massage will help. The weather has been very pretty here also. I'm thankful for the cooler temps I'm ready for anything to change even if it just the weather.

[Mark N]

Karen, I hope your pain levels are doing better than before the shut down. The new granddaughter has been the quietest and well behaved infant. Emery just loves having a sister and is adjusting very well. She is so loving to Audyn and has the biggest smile every time she is near her. Because Audyn is sleeping through the night it has been letting Megan getting enough rest for now. Tyrel is really enjoying his time in the Army so far. He gets bored right now because they are in the receiving group until they get everyone in to form the training battalion which is supposed to be Friday. Tyrel is adjusting to the Army and knows how to follow orders in fact he commented on how he is about the only one that really knows how to listen and follow the orders every time. He likes the guys at are in his unit and even found a guy that he never knew that was born in the same hospital at the same time despite it being a small town hospital. The guy moved to the city 25 miles away before starting school which is why Tyrel didn't know him before. Not much else going on other than waiting for my medication to knock down these muscle spasm in my neck and arms so I can get back to sleep.

[mrsQ]

I'm glad Emery is enjoying being a big sister & Audyn is behaving so well.
That is neat about the Tyrel running into a guy from the same town, it really is a small world sometimes.
My pain level is ok considering what I'm doing I can't complain much. I hope your muscle spasms ease up so you can enjoy your weekend.

[Mark N]

Karen, good to hear your pain levels are ok. My spasms have gotten better but the pain is still bad just not quite as bad. We went over to the kids house yesterday and took KFC so Megan or Darrin didn't have to cook or have much to clean up. Emery is such a good sister she now hurries up and picks up anything off the floor and puts it in her toy baskets so no one trips while holding Audyn. Emery had me put on her big pink sunglasses thinking it looked so funny. Then she pretended to be snapping pictures of me with the on. It was fun seeing her do that and I got the idea to pretend I was embarrassed the way Emery was in the past and put my hands in front of my face. She started howling with laughter and kept snapping pictures and I would put my hands down as she moved around getting different angles of pictures and I would put my hands back up. I was a bit surprised she understood what I was doing but she is a very smart little girl. Audyn is starting to open up her eyes more and be awake a for a little bit at a time. Megan says she sleeps most of the night but wakes up without crying just cooing. Darrin is more relaxed holding her than he was with Emery since he is more experienced. They have worked hard improving the house and the yard and it looks so much better than when they moved in. Penny has been much more relaxed with an empty nest now I just need to get her to show affection when we meet in the hallway or room. I know it isn't easy with me being tied to my chair so much or sleeping when she is home. She is working at giving more compliments and feels good that we are reducing our bills by a good amount now with just the two of us. We still have to watch the dollars but we have some wiggle room. She has been printing out the family pictures we had done and getting them in frames and putting them up. She loves to decorate so it has been good for her.
Time to get more sleep as it has been very spotty tonight but maybe this morning I can sleep well. Karen I hope your area has dried out and the damage is getting cleaned up. Keep taking care of yourself because getting all wracked up with pain makes life worse, there is all kinds of pain as you know.

[mrsQ]

We are all cleaned up here, the beach area still has some work I'm sure. I'm glad you guys are adjusting ok to the empty nest & I hope time will have a positive effect on the affection aspect. I'm glad even though you are int he empty nest stage the grandbabies are so close that you get to see them all the time & are such a joy.

I have been trying to do my PT exercises more often which I use to not make the time for. Like always it helps one part of my spine and makes the other area flare up but I guess in the long run it is good. Last night it was very much the exact L5/S1 area feeling like it was going to come apart. I just laid here thinking how much of my life has been spent in fear of it getting worse. I'm 15 years past the point the doctors said I would be in wheelchair & all in all I do ok considering. That what if is always there in every choice I make & I can't help wondering what my life would look like without that fear. It is not hurting as bad today & I was actually able to get some sleep today while the sitter has been here with my MIL. It is amazing how much better you feel sleeping four hours straight. I hope you were able to sleep some today.

[newcervie]

August and September have been really hectic around here with birthdays, back to school and unexpected "events".

Mark - congrats on the new granddaughter. Sorry to hear about the continued neck problems. Unfortunately, I can relate as I was involved in another car accident. The car will be in the shop for a week so the other insurance company has provided me with a rental car. I'm trying massage for a few weeks to see if it settles down.

My MIL is not doing well. They suspect she has Alzheimer's but they are running several tests to see if there are other explanations for some stuff. She can barely walk 10 to 15 feet but insists on remaining at her place. I understand but she really needs help on a daily basis with food, medications, etc.

Mrs. Q - I agree, to me, it seems like the PT exercises help one area but aggravate another area. I am still doing the exercises even with the increased neck issues. I was told 6 years ago that I'd need my neck fused within 2 to 4 years. I've passed that 4 yr mark but with the increased problems, I'm not sure I can put it off much longer.

[Mark N]

Karen glad to hear your area is cleaned up from the storm. Yes it is a shame to deal with the fear of how much worse we will get because we are getting worse each year. I have solved that by not even considering it now. I deal with how bad I feel today and work to do the best I can today and on really bad days just get through them until the next day. I don't know if that helps but it did help me.

Newcervie, ah the joys of children and back to school months of August and September. I can remember how hectic it got especially since I was a Teacher along with having our two kids go through it each year. I don't envy you all the hustle and bustle. I may have to do what I threatened to do to one of my coaching friends when he was in one accident after another [none his fault] PAINT a BULLSEYE on your car so they know where to aim(:. I hope the massage helps calm down your pain and tightness. It does help me break a cycle of intense pain as she does a great job finding the knots and working to get them out leaving my back relaxed. Be careful on the road as it can get dangerous.

[newcervie]

Mark - That "bulls eye" comment made me chuckle. I joke about there being a target on my back. I moved to this state 20 years ago (yikes!, how time flies by). I have been involved in an accident every 5 years since moving here. Right on target . . . (knocking on wood) At least none have been my fault. Yes, the massage helps. I was so looking forward to this week's visit but had to cancel as I've caught a cold.

Gotta run, the kids just got home.

[mrsQ]

Ok in five years you need to just take a year off driving.
I'm sorry about your MIL. If she is having a lot of motor skill issues ( walking, standing ) make sure they check for lewy body type dementia. It will only really make a differnce in the how she may react to some of the medications. I never could figure out why my MIL stopped being able to walk long before other people with AD, I now think she had the lewy body type. I hate your family is having to go through this, the diagnosis stage is a very hard one.

Hope everyone has a good weekend.

[newcervie]

MrsQ - Thanks for the information. I know she had an MRI the other day. We are all anxiously awaiting the results of that test. She is showing a lot of the symptoms but these symptoms could be explained by other conditions, too, so it's a wait-n-see. One of my husband's aunts has it and has deteriorated quickly.

Mark - Regarding back-to-school, I think the teachers have a lot of work to do before school starts but they also take great pride in presenting their classroom to the new students (and parents) each year. I admire teachers for the work they do. Since the accident, I've had problems at the top of the c-spine, my guess around C2/3 due to the headaches into the eye. Today was the 1st day without that pain.