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

[newcervie]

Regarding the insurance, it is in appeals. I got a copy of the plan documents and to me, it really looks like they have to cover it. I know they'll try to wiggle out on some technicality (i.e. hospital didn't notify them daily or some other reason). If the appeal is denied, the HR department will take over and try to work it from their end.

Mark -thanks for the suggestion regarding the state insurance commission. I never would have thought to get them involved. Hopefully, it's settled satisfactorily before needing to involve them. Yes, it makes hard to deal with this stuff and work with all the pain. My boss is definitely not happy. I'm definitely considering quiting and returning to contract work. The only reason I'm hesitant to do this now is for the health insurance. Self-employed health insurance is costly.

Melanie - Yes - no more surgeries but I know I need my gallbladder removed. I was set to meet with the surgeon when this bug hit. Now, I'm leary of any surgeries as I've seen how bad an infection can go quite quickly. The doctors did say there was nothing in my control with this infection. When a super infection hits, it hits hard and fast and usually there's no warning. Next time, if I feel that I want to go to the ER, I'm going despite what the doctors say. I know you had problems with infections after surgery earlier this year. It seemed like you were dealing with it for awhile so I can only imagine what it was like for you.

I just finished my antibiotics from that infection and guess what, I've got a sore throat. I figure it's a virus since I took the final dose this morning. I hope I can fight this off without missing any work since it's quarter end . . .

[Mark N]

newcervie, good luck with the appeals process. I hope they come to the reasonable conclusion so you don't have to pursue it any more.

I had a good day other than increased pain. The kids did call and ask us to come over to help with Emery while they worked on the house. I did clear the shrubs on the side sidewalk that had been covered up so much you didn't know a sidewalk was there except for the side porch indications. Emery and Penny came out to help me care the branches to the alley. It was so cute seeing Emery carrying her branch right along side of us as we took them back. She used the rake while I cleared the dirt and trash off the sidewalk. Emery came around and would point out a place she thought I missed and wanted me to shovel it, nothing like a bossy 17 month old girl. I came home and worked on settling my pain down while Penny dealt with her TN pain.

[Melanie]

Kat, we're just gonna have to get you a book to carry around so you can write down everything so you won't forget! I have one my PM LOVES! It has two pages every day for all sorts of things, meals, weather, how you feel with areas for more in depth info, meds taken, exercise, etc. I found it on Amazon. But you don't really need this, you could just use a regular notebook. Just something to jot things down to help you remember. Only registered and activated users can see links., Click Here To Register...

Mark, it's easy for your brother in his house because it's all familiar to him. I can walk through this house blindfolded and not hit a thing, whereas ds & dh have to have all the lights on to find anything, lol! Just try and get him out sometimes though, he can get isolated and depressed really quickly. It's awful his ex is using the kids like that, I really REALLY hate when people do that. Kids should not be put in the middle of their parents' issues.
I had to laugh at the mental picture of Emery helping. I used to love watching my kids when they were little. Sometimes their 'help' makes more work for us but it's just to sweet to mess with :)

Newcervie, yep! I'm the post-op infection queen. Not a title I enjoy mind you. My first surgery in 2003 was the only time I didn't end up with an infection. After the second surgery in 2003 was the worst though. That one led to more surgeries and 4 months of antibitics, half of them IV. I was happy it didn't get that bad this year. I am pretty sure I have often had a sore throat as my antibiotics ended but nothing came of it so hopefully it's just a weird side effect for you too.

Well I was going to say more but I'm getting dizzy and nauseous so I better go lay down. Hope everyone has a wonderful day!!!

[Mark N]

Melanie, yep it is cute when the little ones help out even though it does cause more work. I do know it helped mom and dad out as it kept her out of the areas with fresh paint. The really funny part was when she sat down in the dirt and grandma had to get her up and brush her off. I had been shoveling the dirt off the sidewalk and throwing it into the flower beds. For some reason Emery decided to sit down it the dirt. Between mom, dad, and both sets of grandparents that girl sure gets enough attention. Are you enjoying the cooler weather? It has been rainy and cool here and will really cool down this weekend.

[Big Joe]

Saw the Ortho Surgeon today. He ordered XRays and went over those. He noticed very clearly that arthritis was very problematic at L3-L4, fusion at L4-L5, and L5-S1. There was also "flat back", which is where the normal curvature of the spine no longer exists. His first indication is that it would require removal of the hardware that is there now and fusing those three levels. However, he wants an MRI first. He is setting that up and will let me know when it is in the morning. I see the surgeon again in two weeks.

I was relatively pleased with most of the meeting. I like that he is not wasting our time and making this take forever to get fixed. I was a bit bothered by one question. He wanted to know why I would even care or consider surgery at my age. I'm just 62. I have lots of life left to live, and I expect to actually live it, not just let it pass by. I believe I helped him to understand :) . Anyway, the process is well under way and we can work towards a viable solution. I do think he and I are on the same page and that is a good thing for sure! I will let you know as I know more.

[Mark N]

Big Joe, glad to hear the appointment went well and good luck with the MRI. I think his question about why you would want to go through this is something that is asked at your age and it sounds like you explained it well to him. I found out when the insurance that first denied my thoracic spinal fusion that 90% of people don't follow through. I can't imagine they can live with the symptoms I was going through and not following through to get the surgery but maybe it wasn't as severe for them and I think that is why the doctor as you that question. Maybe many people don't stop and think if they can live with the symptoms and if asked they say they can avoid surgery while people like you have already waited as long as you can.

I hope the surgery goes well when you finally get it set up. It is a big decision to go through all the recovery once again as I remember what it is like but the final results are worth it.


I woke up at 1 am like usual and I need to get back to sleep. We have friends coming in from up North for lunch and I would like to go but I need to get some sleep. If not Penny will go and have a good time. She wants me to go to the dr with her and I want to but it is early in the morning so I will have to see. She is trying to take the right steps to control her TN pain and it helps her to have me help explain the way it effects her. Good night all.

[puddykat]

Prayers for you Jo; glad you like your MD.
Mark thanks for the heads up. Thinking of your grandaughter and my one granddaughter just got braces on teeth. What a difference from when I had them!! Grow up too fast. Good luck to Penny, hope you get some sleep....hugs, kat

[Melanie]

Good to hear your doc is on top of things Joe. I would imagine the question was to see if you really wanted to go through all the recovery, either that or he's one of those people that thinks everyone is supposed to sit and rock on the front porch after 60!

Mark, that story reminds me of my oldest when he was about 2. We'd had a huge rainfall and the driveway had lots of big puddles. Long story short, there is a picture of my and that future Marine sitting in the biggest puddle playing in the mud :)
I hope things go well at Penny's appt and she finds some relief.

I'm being lazy today, I think I overdid it yesterday. Just achy!

[Mark N]

Melanie, it is good to have a lazy day now and then. Hopefully your pain is calming down as a result. Kids will find any dirty place there is. I can picture your kids in the water puddle as my brothers, friends, and I would get out in the ditch when rain had it flooded. It is no wonder the kids find the dirt as it is fun when you don't worry about your clothes or getting clean.

Kat, the kids do grow up fast as I still can picture ours as small children not adults and one with one of her own.

I didn't sleep but did go to the doctor with Penny. She is starting Tramadol to see if she can tolerate it and how good a job it does on her TN pain. Our friends from up North, Penny's old boss of 17 years, came down for lunch and we had a good visit. The wife's family is from Southern Indiana so they have been visiting. They wanted to see the kids house as he helped with Megan's schooling so he has kept close tabs on her. Penny and I went out to look at a house of 1400 sq ft that is offered at $10K. It is in good shape and only needs pipes in the kitchen replaced along with appliances. If we get it we will use it as a rental for additional income while Tyrel is in college. I doubt we get it as several people are interested and HUD gives tenant owners first options on the house. If it works out we will get a great deal and if not we will check into tax sales the next time they occur. Tomorrow is likely to be a sleep day as I am very tired and need sleep.

[puddykat]

When small, living in city, no place to really get dirty, and don't recall being allowed either. My job was to pick dandelion heads each day. Gotta keep that lawn clean ya know!! Plus I 'had a job', older two were in dating/car ages. 7th grade on moved to farm folks remodeled. Dad commuted to city. I was in heaven; chickens, later 2 horses.....picked boquets dandelion for mom then, stuck my nose in to smell...didn't know I was terribly allergic to them.....luckily back in city I just picked heads before going to school, didn't have time to smell

My bro/wife were here from FL. Bro had all the slides (back in those days that's how dad took them), wife assembled them all on disc, brought her puter with her to lunch (my daughter/family there too), showed us what she had done. They were gorgeous!! Blown up pics of our family's lives. Such great memories.

Hope Penny's new meds help her eventually; they usually take time to get into system before you get relief.
Glad you had a nice lunch, good luck on that house.....

Melanie, hope you're feeling better with each passing day.

Hope everyone's aches/pains are a bit less today, even less tomorrow.....weekend coming up again. Chilly here, low 60's. Just turned FP off, saw kitty curled up in her bed which is near there; all cozy, warm, dreaming..........

Have a great day..........hugs, kat

[newcervie]

Melanie - This was my first experience with an aggressive infection. They're not sure how I contracted it. My usual response after surgery is discovering new allergies to stuff they put over the incision site to help the bandages adhere better/longer. The first time I didn't realize it was a problem until the reaction had spread over most of my chest/abdomen. Oh, the lessons we learn the hard way!

Mark - Hope Tramadol works for your wife. My doctors tried switching me to tramadol earlier this year.

[Big Joe]

I have my MRI today at 1:30. That will give us information on how to proceed. I am glad my doc is moving forward at a decent speed rather than just taking his sweet old time. I meet with him again a week from Monday. That will give enough time for the MRI to be read and forwarded to him. I think the doc has already decided what needs to be done and just wants verification from the MRI. I hate MRI's very much. I have to lay flat on my back while they do them and that hurts beyond belief. Fortunately they have given me some valium to help ease things a bit. Hopefully that will keep me calm for the duration of the test.

[puddykat]

Good luck with your MRI today Joe....nothing to the procedure except the thumping noise in the machine which is very tolerable.
Newcervie, do hope that infection clears up rapidly. I apologize but have forgotten exactly where it is/how you got it. Checked your signature; nothign to help me there.....
Another cool day in WI, spotty showers to come; definitely feels/looks like fall. Seems most of the birds have taken off for parts unknown, warmer parts I hope. Noone eating bird seed except the chippies; one guy had his little cheeks so full, cutest thing. Woodpeckers/coons love suet; new cake out there but noone's touched it. Ready for birds that stay the winter with us. Woods seen from our front windows about 2 miles away is slowly turning colors, different each day.

Time to stock up on pellets for stove in basement. Luckily SO's friend from work will help him as we get at least 4-5 ton, must be hauled from friend that unloads them by patio doors in basement on skids....from there hauled into basement on dollies.
Previous owner framed out a bar which we never finished, put bags behind there; works great, they're not falling all over, neatly stacked. Just getting very hard for SO to get them from there to stove; gets 3-4 bags on dolly, gets them to stove. As long as they are by stove, I can fill stove myself if have to. No lifting, use scoop.

Other changes here...you know SO's a BIG man; had his monthly blood test late last week. He's eating less, not having one/more drinks after work if at all, came right out and said "I don't want to eat so much anymore".....no words about weight loss. He was always afraid of where he was going to put his flabby tummy if/when he lost all the weight. He chats a lot with this particular doc, maybe got some ideas......? Sure hope he stays on this path, stays away from the chips too:)

Always keep my old set of glasses for daily use which I need more/more. I had to finally use my new ones; he only tweeked new ones but enough to make a difference.

Hope you're all having great days.....I must be lonely today to go on and on....thank you for letting me even if you don't read it<G> love to all, may you all feel better, hope you slept well, know I did for a change. hugs to all, kat :)

[Melanie]

Mark, I hope the Tramadol works well for Penny. I was on it long ago and got relief for awhile. It helps with depression in some people too, maybe we'll get a lucky double whammy there :)
Good luck on the house.

New Cervie, I know exactly how I got the first infection, and it was the worst one by far. And because of that I'm more suseptible to them now. This last infection, that one crept up on us, have no idea about that one. I also developed an allergy to the material they used to stitch me up after this last debridment. I had these lovely little railroad track blisters going up my back beside every stitch. It was the most bizarre thing!

Joe, how did the MRI go?

Kat, if SO loses weight slowly his skin should bounce back somewhat. It won't be taut like in our 20's of course! But it won't be as bad as it would be if he drops the weight really fast.

Well I spent the entire morning at the doc's. First x-ray then NS and finally PM. The good news is the fusion appears to be solid finally. So no more surgery!!! YIPPEE!!!! I have to go back in 6 months for more x-rays though, but for now I'm off the hook!!

There's no real bad news though, just my PM messed up my prescription. But they are overnighting me a new one. I could have went back up but it's 45 minutes away and I don't need the meds today. If they send it, that's gas I can save ;)

Have a great day!!

[Mark N]

Melanie, glad to hear the long day worked out well and your fusion is solid. The kids close on the house tomorrow so that is great news. Now we have to get them off the stick and start moving in. I understand their desire to finish the kitchen before moving in though.

Kat, you and SO have a big job ahead of you moving those pellets in the house. Good news about hubby losing weight and Melanie is right about slow weight loss no leaving flabby skin. It feels like fall here too and just North of us the trees have started changing color so we will have the same thing here in another week or so.

Big Joe, I hope the MRI went well for you and you had limited pain with it. It is nice your dr is moving along with this and not making you wait forever.

newcervie, sorry to hear about the infection. I hope the treatment clears it up quick.

I have been catching up on my sleep for the past 36 hours. I just woke up late this afternoon so I have a couple days missing in my life. I saw Penny wrote me a note the couple that came in after us, they will live there, got the house. I don't think we are ready to buy a house yet for income. I am sure the market will be depressed for a few more years. I screwed up on Penny's medication it is Tegretol. I have to take a break so I will talk to everyone later.