Where is the aide?

I haven't had a shower in six days.  Yuck!!!  With the state and federal cutbacks, the home health agencies can only afford inexpericed kids who only stick around for a month or so.  Now the agency does not require certified nursing assistant training.  They will hire anyone who passes the drug screen and will work for minimum wage.  It takes a few weeks to figure out that half of the pay goes into their gas tank.  I seem to get a new one about every month.  I got one fired for stealing $25.00 from me a few months back. Oh well, the Buckeyes won last night so all is well with the world.  Have a great day.

I am still around!!

I am thrilled to say that the spinal cord simulator is a çomplete success.  The sciatica pain is totally gone.   Sadly, it does not effect the other sources.  My pain doc is now talking about a morphine pump for the upper back and neck.  It will be a challenge to find a nearby surgeon to do the work. My back is a bit of a mess after twelve surgeries.  I am anxious to move about again.  Fingers crossed.

The Nexus 10 is here

I am having difficulty getting it to connect.  I DO have wifi in the apt. but I keep getting a message stating that the tablet does not reognize the router.  It does work and support my antique devices.  I found a web community that strictly deals with Nexus 7 and 10s.  I posted my problem and advised them of my medical challenges..........not to forget that I am android ignorant.  Numerous knowledgable souls jumped on it, asked all sorts of questions and came to the conclusion that the problem is most likely the router.  It came from my internet provider almost seven years ago.  It does support my antique devices but the assumption is that it can not support this much more  high technology.  My aid comes today and I will have her toss me into the wheelchair and take me downstairs to a neighbor who has a much newer router and see if I can get the tablet to work there.  It sure sounds logical to me.  If this is the case, I will have Judy get me a new router and I will be good to go.  I am so excited to have a new device on my bedside table that meets all of my needs.  Life is great.  Have a good day.

Getting rather anxious

I didn't think it would happen to me but I am getting anxious about having this procedure done on an outpatient basis.  It is scheduled for 1:00 PM which means that by the time they are done and observed me for a while, it will be the end of the work day and I will be sent on my merry way and I have no idea what I am supposed to do for post op pain mgt.  My current meds will not do the job for the first night and the next few days.  I  am not concerned about the incissions in the upper lumbar and thoracic area for running the leads.  I am concerned about the implantation of the device in my butt.  That one is going to be rough.  I hate having to have it done 2 hrs away from home and my pain doctor.  There isn't anyone skilled enough in this town to deal with my heavy metal back.  LOL!!!  I will see my pain doc on the 11th and discuss these concerns with him.  I am certain we can come up with a battle plan.  Boy, this better work.

There is always someone who has it worse.

I live in a small one bedroom apt in a senior/handicapped security building.  It is a real blessing to live in a safe place since I live alone.  One of my neighbors has lost two adult children and a well loved son in law in the last two months.  As if she needs anything else, my neighbor has an inoperable brain tumor which appears to be controlled with an oral chemo.  So far it does not appear to be growing.  Fingers crossed.  Life has a way of testing our faith.  I guess it is up to us to decide how we will respond.   Back to sleep, now.

Coming shortly

I expect to have my Nexus 10 within a week.  What a joy!!!!!  It  is so difficult to get up and change things about on the current computer and it is truely failing by inches.  I will be able to put it on my bedside table and it will meet all of my regular needs without struggling to get out of bed, on the rollator and  over to the computer.   While the mouse works across the room, I have great difficulty reading the screen in order to effect changes.  

I was naughty over the weekend and feasted on a huge bowl of raw veggie and pasta salad...............light on the pasta.  Sadly, I dressed it with Balsamic Vingegrette........just a hint but that was enough to cause a huge candida flare.  The problems were the sugar and vinegar which is a ferment.  The fungus went wild.  Honestly, a preventative diet is so limitted and it drives me crazy.  No sugars of any kind.  No artificial sweetner as the brain does not differentiate between it and the real thing and causes a sugar crave.  No grains or flours.  Corn is a big no-no on several levels.  Potatoes convert to sugar.  I am so tired of meat protein and green veggies with lemon squeezed on  them for seasoning and dressing.  It is worse than a diabetic diet. 

Back to bed and hope to squeeze in a little more sleep before I am up for a while. 

Happy Thanksgiving

I am thankful for all of the traditional reasons.  My two daughters are healthy.  They have satistying marriages with spouses that they love.  Their children are healthy and quite bright, all personal bias aside.  I have a most generous, considerate and loving brother.  I don't know what I would do without his constant, humorous support.  He brings a lot of balanced thought into my life.  Since he lives hundreds of miles apart and also deals with chronic back issues, we go for years without seeing eachother.  I am so thankful that I can pick up the phone and call him any hour and not worry about a huge long distance bill.   

I can't start to express how thankful I am that I do not live in an area that was damaged by Sandy.  I wonder what the people with chronic illnesses are doing to get their very real needs met.  Doctors have lost their offices and have had to relocate.  Some of their patients won't be able to get to them due to transportation issues.  Pharmacies have been destroyed and patients have had to try to find a new pharmcist.  This can be a painful process for the chronicly ill with serious pain issues.  It takes a while to establish a mutual trust relationship with a pharmacy when you take a boatload of serious pain meds, even when the scripts are written by a pain specialist.  Your best bet is to try to get established with a "Mom and Pop" pharmacy rather than the large chain pharmacies.  The pharmacist gets to know all of his/her customers and knows their needs.  When I call in my refills, he always asks if I have a good supply of all of my over the counter meds ie vitamins, stool softners etc.  They provide free delivery.  Can you imagine that kind of service from Walmart?  

I wonder about the victims of Sandy who have chronic pain issues and no warm place to live.  The cold weather must be hell.  While isloation is not good for one's mental health, I am glad I have a nice warm little apartment where I can hybernate all winter.  I only stick my nose out when I have a doctor's appt.  While physically alone most of the time, I do have a home health aid who comes in three times a week to assist with bathing,cleaning and running errands.  What a blessing.  Then there is the internet.  I remain in near daily contact with fellow spinal patients that I have chatted with, off and on, since 1995. 

Today is a very quiet day.  I live in a sercurity building for seniors and the handicapped.  Most of my neighbors have been picked up by family members for the day.  Since we had our feast last week, I hung a do not disturb sign on my door and plan on sleeping as much as possible.   

What are you thankful for?  Have a great day, full of blessings.