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

[Melanie]

Ahhh, Tegretol will probably be a much better drug than the Tramadol! Tramadol is a decent pain med for the most part but the Tegretol will address the nerve pain Penny is having much better I think.

It's a cold, wet, dreary day here. I would love to sleep the day away as I've been really exhausted lately, but I have too much to do.

Have a good one!!

[Mark N]

What a beautiful day we had here Melanie. Sorry you didn't get the sleep you wanted on this rainy day. The kids closed on the house so they are now home owners. They are working on finishing painting the cabinets and then getting the crown moulding put up. I hope they are able to get most of their stuff moved in this weekend but I am not sure they can. As long as the cats are out of our house I will be happy. I was over working with them this evening and when the other grandparents came to pick up Emery she came over and kissed my check good bye. Penny had to come home early today because she had a bad reaction to the Tegretol and her doctor told her to stop taking it immediately. It isn't surprising because she is sensitive to many medicines. I do hope she can find something though as her TN pain is getting severe.

[Mark N]

Looks like a quiet day in the room today. It was rainy most of the day here but the temps are warmer. I went to the kids house to help them with a few things as they are trying to move in today. I hope they only try to move the things in necessary to have some entertainment in the evening, to sleep, and to be able to get ready for work. I am not sure they can do it but I hope they can since it is what they want. I am not in great shape for some reason and with Penny still working on getting over quitting the new meds not much is going on here as we both don't feel very good. I hope today is a better day as far as feeling good for both of us. I need to get focusing on the things that need to get done around our house now as I have been spending so much of my energy on the kids house.

[puddykat]

I hope all of you are feeling better today; prayers with you all. Soon we'll be off to watch the Packer game at of fave pub. feel like I'm getting SO's cold which he's finally gotten rid of. Time will tell; started Vit C when SO had his cold; maybe will help and still drinking Ensure. Weather very cool, rainy today. But we need the rain so God bless God.

Have a good day, rest/sleep when you can.......luv to all, kat

[Mark N]

Kat, I hope you had fun at the pub watching the Packers win another game. Your weather sounds like what we are getting today. I hope you avoid SO's cold and can stay healthy.

It was rainy and cool all day today. The rain got heavy this evening and flood warnings were issued for our area. Earlier Penny and I went to the kids house while they were out shopping for tile and a kitchen counter top. Penny cleaned the carpets again trying to get out some spots. I finished putting up the kitchen sink light and putting up ceiling moulding in their bedroom. I also finished the dead bolt for their side door along with edging the sidewalk. They were wanting to move in today but it was too rainy to get that done. They are also running a little behind schedule so they weren't ready anyway. It is a nice night for sleep, rainy and cool, if I can drop off to sleep.

[puddykat]

Sorry about the rain holding up the kids move. But sounds like you and Penny got a lot more indoor work done.
Had a great time watching the game, lots of food as usual; everyone brings something to eat.......yikes!
We're in a low just spinning around us, keeps on raining which could be part of what you're getting. It's been pouring since yesterday afternoon......just seeing a glimpse of sun now; clouds barely moving.
So far cold is staying away; just a tickle in the throat, nose is finally behaving<G>
Hope you aren't in too much pain after all your working, getting some good sleep.....as I hope is everyone else.
Joe, how'd that MRI go.........?
Hugs to all, kat

[puddykat]

PS hope the flood waters stay away from both your houses!!

[Mark N]

Kat, no flood around here but maybe in the outlying area as it was pouring for hour after hour. Glad to hear you had a good time at the pub watching the game. I wish the Colts had the foresight to have a top quality back-up learning from Manning and they wouldn't be in in bad losing streak. I thought this year would have been a great year to go after a QB but I have been thinking that for the past couple of years.

Glad to hear that your are holding the cold off. I hope the vit.C continues to help. I have been having more pain but it is worth it for the short run. I wish it would help me a sleep but unfortunately my sleep still has been messed up. I didn't sleep again last night and hope to be sleeping more tonight after getting a 1 hour nap just a little while ago. I hope our other members have been doing well since the room has been quite the past couple of days. Joe how did the MRI go?

Darrin and Emery came over for dinner tonight. I fixed fried chicken drumsticks, mashed potatoes/milk gravy, and green beans. Emery didn't want anything to eat but wanted to sit on my lap while we ate. Later when things were cold she wanted the green beans and potatoes. She is really into some of the cartoon songs on youtube. The kids are working on getting things moved in this week. I sure wish I could help with the move but that isn't something I am able to do. It was fun having Emery around tonight.

[puddykat]

Sounds like this week we'll be staying home to watch football. He wasn't feeling that great, both started zoning out around the 3rd quarter......he mentioned things just aren't the same here anymore. Yes, I said things have changed at the pub; we used to be younger, had more 'life of the party' in us. If you notice all of us here that used to come, were the life of party with us aren't jumping up and down anymore either. The younger crowd coming up behind us is taking our places. Just how life works. But it can be fun just watching that younger set being silly and sillier.....now it's their time, we had our time. Can be hard to adjust to. Lots of people in same boat of life as we are, they were there Sunday too, quieter too, just like the rest of us aging youngsters :) I still had a good time, did some clapping, shouting, yelling whatever. Forgot my bike horn for TD's<G>

Sure glad the waters stayed away from you guys. I so wish you could get a good sleep pattern going for yourself. Has to be very frustrating and confusing At least those naps must help a bit but a good steady night sleep would be so much better.

SO didn't come home for supper last night so made myself a store bought veggie burger. Didn't look like ones or yore; they used to be nice/thick. This one was so thin; tasted pretty good but somethings in felt like stone grits. Last one I'll eat. With my guts it didn't go well; was on throne every 5 minutes this a.m.

I'm sure you've seen a walking stick insect......There's about 5inch very skinny lizard looking thing hanging on the screen w/long legs, pointed snout. Quite a fat belly; resting after a meal?<G> Never seen one around here. Does it ring any bells with you? Perhaps they live by you also?

Well, time to order my meds from drug store, then call the doctor to mail me my script or we have to pick it up and don't get to that town very often. Take care, hope you get some zzzzzzzzzzzzz's very soon and lots of em! hugs to all, kat

[puddykat]

Dr OZ is on right now doing show on chronic pain........wish i would of thought of posting sooner......sorry.
Know it'll be repeated during winter. He said right off bat he's not going to make doctors happy and with what he's saying, having other docs saying, he's not. Interesting what audience with chronic pain are telling what their docs said they should do......have more sex, in your head......etc. kat

[puddykat]

Mark, heard blurb lots of sunshine for next few days.......sure hope they're right. Now Dr Oz talking about flu, what to do when you cough/sneeze. So 1st half hour was on chronic pain. In essence a lot of docs aren't trained in chronic pain, they think some people are just there to get opiates, they don't believe patient no matter how long they've had their pain; it's a matter of do not stop looking until you find a doctor that really believes in you.....and as he said it can get expensive but hopefully your insurance, if you have it, will cover it.

I know we have pain clinics in our area, tried one, they wanted to try everything but giving meds; can't recall all of it as it's been quite awhile......bio feedback is only one I can remember. My sister had same disorders I have altho she would never have back surgery after she saw what I went through, just swallowed tons of pills that made her goofy in my estimation. Had a doc who also swore by herbal meds so my sis swore by them also, pushed for me to go see her. But seeing my sister's mental condition made me stay on my own path. She also had a bad heart, thought she just had the flu, started to get better, suddenly took turn for worse, died a few days later because of her heart. Apparently was procedure for heart surgery, she declined....Luckily I got to see her a few hrs before her death.....died 6 months after my dad died. 8 yrs older then me......think she was 67 at time? why am I writing this????? sorry, don't know, just came out.
outta here.......luv, kat

[puddykat]

At closing of Dr Oz.......he said try 1,000 mg of Vit E daily to help stop inflammation that causes our chronic pain
more hugs, kat

[Mark N]

Kat, is that insect also called a praying mantis? We have them around here but it has been a while since I saw one last. You are right about what is different at the bar you go to. As we get older we calm down and it has to be the younger crowd that gets fired up. That isn't easy for everyone to accept and Kat you have a good perspective on it.

I finally woke up at 4 am after sleeping for 36 hours catching up on my sleep. I did get up for a few minutes as Darrin, his dad, and granddad were moving the sofa out and Penny said they had tried for 1 hour and wanted me to come and show them. I guess she tried three times before I got up. I came down and told them how to set it up because this is a tight fit and there is only one way to get it out. You have to have one particular end leading up the stairs, you have to have it upside down with it turned at an angle, you also have to think in terms of raising it up to the ceiling and still it takes a bit of muscling to finally get it out the door. Until they got it switched around they were never going to get it out the door. I got them set up and helped at the end with the muscling and got back in bed in 10 minutes. I got out to the doctor for my injection and mailed out a care package Penny and I put together for him. I spent a good part of the morning straightening up the basement after having it messed up so they could move the sofa. I have been fighting feeling sleepy hoping to sleep tonight.

[Big Joe]

Got my MRI results yesterday. I see the surgeon on Monday and will know more then about what we are going to do. Looks like a 3 level fusion L3-S1 but they have to undo the original fusion first. Probably 360 degree. I don't look forward to these next few weeks, but I also don't like living with this pain and inability to do much of anything.

I guess I saw this coming for awhile, but I was able to tolerate it and just put off doing anything... not that it would have made much difference. Anyway, that is where I am now. I'm not sure whether to be frustrated, mad, or worried. However, I've been down this road so far so fear and worry don't need to be there. Frustration only irritates me and does not help my situation. That leaves Mad... but mad at what or who? I guess I'll just settle for being happy in spite of the situation. I think I like that option best .

[Mark N]

Joe, I vote for happy too as given a choice it always is better to be happy when we can't control the situation. Here is some good news, I had a three level 360 lumber fusion done back in 1996 and I still have very few troubles with my lumbar. I would have to say I have no trouble with my fusion as we left two disk alone that were causing less than 10% of my pain. I pray that you have the same success with your fusion that I have had with mine. Good luck with the dr appointment as I hope he has a clear cut strategy that you agree with.