Burn the nerves!

This morning Tim and I headed to the Pain Management Surgical Center in Frederick so that the doctors could knock me out and perform - Radio Frequency Ablation. They must have been good, because I don't remember a thing about them burning the nerves that have been causing me the near constant pain for the last year and a half or so.

Pain relief isn't experienced until about 2-3 weeks after the procedure when the nerves have completely died. The nerves will eventually regenerate but the pain may not come back with it. If the pain does recur when the nerve grows back, the procedure can be repeated. Some patients never have a return of their pain - I'm hoping for that result - others the relief lasts up to 15 months. Still I have to go back since they only did the left side and the right side needs to get its turn.

BACK IS IS A BUMMER AGAIN

Well, I've had the steroid shots in my back and they relieved the pain for about 4 weeks. So I went back to the Pain management Doctor and we did another series of shots called Facet blocks and those did nothing at all to relieve the pain. I'm headed back to the Pain guy again to talk about the next proposal - Radio frequency ablation.

In the meantime I have started back at water aerobics so lets hope that eases some of the pain. We're headed to Orlando the first week in October and I would like to be able to enjoy some activities while we're there.

I'll keep you posted.

Miss Stella has arrived!

My newest granddaughter, Stella Reese, arrived on Saturday September 10, 2011 at 12:16 PM weighing in at 8 lbs. 14 ozs. at measuring 21½" long. Mother and baby are doIng fine.

Not so fast...

Today has been a major disappointment. First I was supposed to start my water aerobics class but when I checked before leaving, I found it had been rescheduled and doesn't start now until September 12th. Major bummer. I was really ready to cool off in the pool but it's closed for maintenance.

Next, I don't understand...if we have an entirely new AC unit installed why is it freezing up like the old one? Why is it making a strange vibration noise? And why, oh why does it have to do these things when I want to sleep in cool temperatures? I have been waiting to sleep in my nice cool 68˚ and have yet to have that pleasure. I don't sleep well in warmer climes so I haven't had a good night sleep in nearly a week. Last night, maybe 2 hrs. which only made me so tired I slept most of the day away.

Is there a patron saint of weather or AC?

Ahhh...cool again!

Tim and I have been surviving the last few days with two fans...one upstairs, one down.

Wednesday afternoon I mentioned to Tim that it didn't seem to be cool in the house and he checked and determined that the coolants in the AC had frozen up so he turned it off. We headed to bed - our room normally a cool 68˚ but this night a warmer 75˚. With a floor fan we suffered through and he headed off to work instructing me to turn it back on when I came back from my errands Thursday morning.

So when I got back, and it wasn't too bad temperature-wise, I decided to leave off a little while longer. When he came home from work, on it went a few hours later, he came downstairs and asked me what the strange smell was. I thought my PC was overheating (I smelled something burning) but he decided it was the AC and turned it off again. Last night our room was a warmer 79˚ and we both got little sleep.

This afternoon when the repairman came and examined the equipment, he said that if we had left it on for a few more hours, we would have burned the house down. Guess the good Lord was watching over us.

Now we have a brand new AC unit and the house is cooling down again. Can't wait for 68˚ tonight!

Too bad, so sad

Well, one of the main reasons why I went to all the trouble to get those shots in my back, was so that I could feel better and would be able to participate in some activities with others.

I had been looking forward to a golf tournament with my golf group with guests (my SIL and Niece) . I was so excited that they were both taking off work and we were going to hit the course together. Unfortunately, last week the shots started to wear off, and today when the event was played, again I was sitting on the sidelines literally. The weather which had been my biggest worry - would it be too hot? - turned out to be perfect and my foursome (without me) did manage to grab first place (YEAH!) but I just wish I could have joined in other than just riding around in the cart and keeping score.

I have my appointment to go back to pain management but dang...why couldn't it have held out a little longer?

Progress is made!

I know that for most people a trip to the grocery store isn't something to brag about but the trip I took today was a great achievement on the Pain Management front. It has been over a year since I have been able to walk the aisles of the grocery store pushing a cart and not had major pain. Today was the first time that I was able to complete the entire circuit without having to stop because my back felt like it was about to give out. I will admit I stopped for a few minutes to have my blood pressure checked in the little machine (120/70) but other than that, I went the entire store without a break.

Hallelujah!

Progress is being made on the Pain front!

Last Friday I went to Penney's to get my hair highlighted and since I was feeling good, I decided to see if I could get some shopping done. Wow! 45 minutes later, two bags in hand, I walked out and my back still hadn't twinged. KNOCK ON WOOD!!!!!

I've been able to stand and cook, go up and down stairs more, and even do a bit of walking on the treadmill, ( SHHH! don't tell Tim) along with my Wii exercises.

Wednesday there is one more shot scheduled for pain management and it seems that they are really going to ease some of my pain. YEAH!

My only question is....Why did I have to wait so long?

Maybe my luck is changing.

Yesterday a friend I had lent money to several years ago sent me a check - just out of the blue - I never thought I'd see that money again.

Yesterday, my husband Tim and I went to visit friends in Sheperdstown and while the boys played in a charity golf tournament, the girls went to the baby store where I got the cutest things for all my grandchildren. Then after returning to my friends house, another of our friends arrived with her Daughter-in-law and her new grandson - all of 7 weeks old. When he got fussy I was able to just rock him and sing to him and calm him down. It was a very peaceful time. Wish I could do it for my grandchildren. Then we went to dinner, meeting the boys who won 2nd place in the golf tournament, and I won the 50/50 drawing of $640. I thought the charity should have most of the money so I gave them back $370 and I kept $270.

I can spend it all on books! My Nook is going to get a big chunk of that!

37 years - hard to believe

A beautiful day dawned this morning, reminding me of the type of weather that occurred 37 years ago. A little different though, May 25th 1974 was a tiny bit windier than today. A chance of showers and a small overcast of clouds, but still a beautiful day - mainly because I'm still married to the love of my life, Tim. He may not be everyone's idea of the greatest guy, but to me, there isn't a better guy in the world. He's my knight in shining armor and he treats me like a princess. And everyone knows I love being treated like a princess.

37 of the most wonderful years filled with love and caring -- may God great us at least 38 more!

I want to get to that 75th anniversary!

Wii is down, bummer!

I've kind of gotten use to a little exercise on my Wii so when it blacked out on me Thursday, I was a little bummed. I was right in the middle of a really good step aerobic session and it just blacked out. I think it's a battery thing, but Tim hasn't taken the time to figure that part out. Hopefully, soon.

What do you mean, you're done?

What a great day! Okay, so it's raining again and we are still under a flash flood warning, but today is the day that I started those pain injections.

I worried that Tim wouldn't be home in time (my appointment was for 2:45PM) and I told him the actual time - usually I fudge ½ hour so that when he's late we can still be on time. But he came through for me and we headed off to the Pain Management office. WRONG! The Germantown office where I had originally seen the doctor sent me to the Olney office for the "procedure" so when we arrived (right on time at 2:45pm) we were told we needed to be at the hospital down the street and that the front desk would tell us where to go. So we hop in the car and drive over, Tim drops me at the door and I go up to the desk, and they have no idea where I'm supposed to me.

Luckily, a very pleasant young lady came by from registration (just as Tim came from the parking lot) and got us to the right people so that I could be taken care of. They took me off to "pre-op" where I was asked a bunch of health questions (I guess the 21 page questionnaire from last week wasn't detailed enough), they whisked me into OR3, I crawl/dive onto the table, and before I had a chance to close my eyes, the doctor says, "okay, all done, See you in 2 weeks." What!?!? All done? How can that be? I wasn't on the table for more than 2 minutes. The nurse in OR says, just relax, I can't let you go until I finish the paperwork. So I laid on the table for about 10 more minutes, was wheeled out, got dressed and was home by 3:45PM.

Sure hope the shots work as fast as that doctor!

Has it been that long?

Mama mentioned that I hadn't put anything new on my blog and when I looked, I said, OMG, has it been that long?

So let's catch up....

My three "grandchildren" are healthy and growing quickly - Jackson is now 2, Molly Kathryn is 7 months old and Isabella is 4 months old. There is a new grand-baby in the making - Stella Reese Stoehr is expected September 9th or there abouts. So I have been working away on baby things for all my beautiful grand-babies!

February, first, I got my new car for the next 3 years - Town & Country van with a bunch of bells and whistles (2 DVD players, Bluetooth, Navigation system, etc). Tim and I drove it when we went to Hilton Head to visit with Mother and Tina and Mary-Ruth and Peter were there one day with us also. Tina had brought her Wii so I got to try it out and now I have one of my own which I use at least 3 times a week.

March we flew down to Florida for a long weekend to celebrate Mike 's (Tim's Brother) 60th birthday but the afternoon we arrived, he went into the hospital with a possible heart attack so we had to party without him. Luckily no heart attack, but some blockage so he had to have a stint inserted. Doing fine now.

Kathy (Tim's sister) and her hubbie David came up the end of March for the DC tour at the perfect time for the cherry blossoms. It was great to visit.

The end of March and early April were taken up with activities for the Ladies 9 Holers - I'm now the Treasurer as well as the secretary. I played duplicate bridge 3 times with my friend Rosemary and been playing Mah Jongg just about every week.

May has started out busy as well. I'm on the Social committee at the Country Club - and we are starting a Ladies social group called the LILIES - Ladies Involved with Like Interests, Efforts, and Specialties - I worked really hard for that acronym! So I have been working very hard on getting that started (I was named the Committee chair) - getting a list of topics for the gatherings (I don't want to call them meetings) and then finding speakers or experts to talk about the topics. Our first gathering is June 22nd!

Lastly, on the catchup scene, I went to the doctor about my back again, and I have been sent to the Pain Management specialist. Next week I will be starting some special injections into my back to try to relieve the near constant pain in my back. Keep your fingers crossed for me and a few prayers might help.

Needless to say, I have been reading all along, and currently have read 42 books for 2011. If you are interested in what I read, check out my book blog at Cheli's Shelves.

I'll try to do better from now on keeping up with what's happening.

Bella's Here!

Little Miss Isabella Noelle was born today to Christopher and Melanie arriving at 7:16am , weighing in at 6lbs. 9 ozs. and measuring 19½ ins. in length (when does it get to be height?) She has auburn hair. Both Mel and Bella are doing fine.

Nana and APapa are on their way to Louisiana for the big event.

Pictures as soon as they come!