Situation IS getting better:)

[emergRN]

A...Ewww..on the liquified rodent!  I don't think I would have handled that well either!  Speaking of cars, I am contemplating my next vehicle!  I have figured out in our very hilly, snowy climate that a bigger vehicle with 4 wheel drive makes absolutely no difference in how hard or easy it is to get around.  It is all about the tires here.  My Honda Civic could go anywhere here!  I thought that by buying a bigger vehicle, that it would be better for getting around...nope!  I am really starting to think about a hybrid!  I just have to figure out now whether I want to get the Civic or the Prius!  You can put an amazing amount of stuff in a Civic!

I hope that your knee settles down enough by the end of March before you have to go back to work full time! 

I am completely, and utterly exhausted!  A good night's sleep has been eluding me for far too long.  I go to bed at night, and I am drop dead tired,  It starts out OK, but then the legs(both of them) are like they are crazy.  My back is an issue with all of this as well.  Last night, I was stretching my hamstrings, doing the stretches for my piriformis muscles, stretching my back muscles...nothing was working.  I then thought about my quads.  That is what has been very tight.  I gave my quads on my good leg a very good stretch!  Ahhhh!  Then I had to figure out a way to stretch them in my bad leg.  I had to lie on my side and try to reach my ankle, and gently pull my ankle toward my butt!  OMG..the feeling was the strangest thing I have ever felt.  It was a tight feeling that i haven't had before.  It was also in all of the same areas that I have had the quad pain that I have not been able to describe well.  I think I may have to keep trying that!

I took one of my father's flexeril for tonight to see if I can get my muscles to relax enough to knock myself out!  At this point I do not care about a hangover effect!

Dad is doing better today, but I think he has a way to go.  He really needs massage therapy, but I am having a hard time convincing him.  I have been telling him for years that the muscles around your spine will tighten up to protect the spine when there is a problem.  He kept telling me that the pain was in his spine.  Well, the doc yesterday told him the pain was coming from his muscles.  He is spasming like crazy.  At least he can walk upstairs today!

Well, not much going on here.  I hope everyone is having a decent day!

W

[seerobinbike]

Hey Everyone!

I hope everyone has had a semi-decent weekend excluding any angry body parts.  Ahhh…the weather sure has been fine in this neck of the woods and I’m looking to shorts and t-shirt weather.   

Brams…I hope when you read this, you will be feeling better than you did when you last posted.  Crips Craps.  It’s sad that more people don’t know about this awful and painful disease.  Seems that when you deal with more obscure diseases, they never get the proper funding for research.  So hugs to you because I don’t know what else to say except that I think you are extremely brave and strong.  Stick with Lottie.  You two are good for each other!

Lottie…Hope your weekend was nice and that Reggie behaved himself.  How sweet of you to be there for Brams when she needed you.  Hope all’s well on the home front and that the three ‘kids’ are behaving themselves!

Tez…Hey!  I had to laugh when I read about you feeling like you’d like to take your head off so you could cut your own hair!  Maybe this will be possible in the next century.  Naw…I like to relax while others give me a massage although I sometimes do wonder what my touch feels like to others.  Hope the sleep is somewhat in check.  Any leads on the new Mini?

A…Oh, my.  That is a horrendous commute you have!  Hopefully the traffic isn’t bad.  LOL…I bet the kids miss you being home.  Yep; the babies need shoes and the kitties need food and toys!  I’m hardly a rock star A. for a measly 45 minute bike ride.  I’m used to being on the bike for 2-3 hours at a shot.  I must say that I walked today and that made me feel pretty proud.  I think I did about 2 miles but I had no pain even on the hills!  Sorry the knee remains not so good.  I’m happy that you are able to stay at half time for the next several weeks!!!!  Hope that helps.  Don’t sweat the increase in drugs; if you didn’t need them, you wouldn’t be taking them.

Nick…It sounds like you had a nice time with your new friend.  That was very sweet of her that she offered to pay for her meal! 

Rk…Only one more sleep until you are able to see the doctor for your medications.  You’ve almost made it as we all knew you would.  I’m sure it wasn’t pleasant but you did it!

Snowy…Hope you had a Snowy weekend.  It’s almost bike weather!

W…Ah, what can I say.  Thank you for your up to the minute advice on Friday night regarding my knee.  It was much appreciated and right on the money!  Sorry to read about both your mom and dad having health problems.  It’s so tough to watch your parents get older.  Hey, you figured out a quad stretch and relieved the pain on your back and piriformis mms.  If you are able to start riding the bike, go for it.  This strengthens the gluts and hammys.  (You’d think it’s all quads but it’s not.)  Good luck with PT tomorrow.  Don’t let him push you too much.

So, I’ve had an interesting weekend!  M. and I ended up needing the use of the ambulatory dept. at Brigham’s  due to a red nodule alongside my scar line that seemed to grow overnight.  I was kinda  freaking out about it being something and honestly I don’t know that it’s nothing but was told by a nurse, an intern and one of the orthopedic docs that it was a pissed off stitch trying to make its way out.  If it was just the bump, I wouldn’t have been all that worried but the knee swelled and was soooo stiff that I didn’t do any exercises at all yesterday.  I was told that I should contact my OS if the thing continues to grow, oozes or I develop a fever.  It doesn’t feel all that badly today; I did a decent bike ride (HA!  Hit 20 MPH for the first time since surgery!)  Anyway, we shall see what tomorrow brings.  I’m going to try to get M. to take a close-up pic of the knee later and try to post it.  I’m curious as to what you guys might think!  Anyway, be well all and thanks again W. for all your help.  Much appreciated.

Hugs, Robin  xx

[Snowy]

Ack, Robin - so sorry to hear about the strange nodule. Much better to get it checked out, and to go back if there's any change or you still have a strong feeling that something isn't right. Without wanting to sound alarmist, I still remember my family doc laughing off my concerns about the inflamed hamstring harvest scar being an infection...and then finding out three weeks later that I had MRSA and was technically a biohazard. Definitely better to play it safe if you have any reason at all for concern. And on a more positive note, yay for the 20MPH triumph! One pedal turn closer to a full recovery.

W - sorry to hear about your folks. I hope they bounce back soon. Sounds like your family comes by its toughness honestly.

FMR - kitties are a delight as always. Smokey and Freya are taking great delight in trying to gain access to Jen's new seedlings. Tonight I caught them sitting on the cayenne peppers. Laya has taken to sleeping on our pillows at night, which makes her happy but makes for very cricked necks in the morning.

Brams - so glad that you and Lottie were able to have a good day regardless of the best (worst?) efforts of the crips.

Nick - delighted to hear about your positive date. It sounds as though it may work much better for you being with someone who really understands the AS.

Tez - have you been trying the melatonin for the lack of sleep? I've struggled with insomnia (not so much early waking, but difficulty going to sleep) since my teens, and it's the one thing that really seems to help without making me feel drugged. (To be honest a couple of glasses of wine usually does the trick as well, but I try to avoid that on work nights.)

Rk4 - sounds like you're hanging in there. I hope you're able to get some proper pain relief soon - it's really not fair that you should have to cope with this just because your doc is away.

And the big news from Vancouver...the first Knee Geeks ski trip is happening tomorrow! I have helmets, goggles and a spare knee brace packed and I'm meeting Superrat at 5pm...keep your fingers crossed that she has fun up on Grouse Mountain! 

[Rknees4]

Hey Gang,
Stupid oclock here.
The torture twins are up to the usual.
Better go get my ice and try and sleep.
Take Care all.
W sorry about the parents stuggle, glad to hear your dad can do strairs now. Nothing worse worse than a sore broken down back.
Rk4

[Brambledog]

Hi Rk4,

That sucks.  Hope you are asleep by the time I've posted this, and managing to get some relief from all the pain. You're having such a crappy time of it, its just soooo not fair. When do you see your OS again for a check-up? It just doesn't seem right that you should be enduring all this for so long, especially when it's stopping you getting decent sleep too. My crips is crappy, but it does it's worst and then I get some time off... Yours is so relentless, you're coping well, but you shouldn't have to be toughing it out to that extent.

Anyway, just wanted to pass on a <<hug>>. Take care of yourself.

Brams 

[seerobinbike]

Hey Guys,

Snowy...I appreciate your feedback.  Ick.  I remember that you developed MRSA!  I am going to at least call my OS's office this morning and follow up.  Truth is, I had a feeling they gave me the bum's rush out the door; they were closing at 8pm and we were there close to closing time.  I believe that's why the intern mentioned incising it and then changed her mind.  Hey, have an awesome time with Superrat and thanks again!!  xx

Rk...Sorry hon that you had yet another bad night.  Glad that you will be able to get the much needed pain meds. to at least quell the problem. 

Oh, it's time for PT!  Fancy that!  Will chat later.

Robin xxx

[emergRN]

Snowy.... No fair!!!!  I was supposed to be part of that!! . Tell Super not to go backward!  I will expect a video of this one..lol!!

Robin, I think it is wise to follow up with your OS!  I still think what we discussed may be the case.  Aren't you folks down there swabbed for MRSA pre op??  Don't worry too much!  See what your OS has to say first!

Some good news to report from PT this morning!  I can almost touch my butt with my bad knee!  I AM going to get my full flexion back!  There is no block there what so ever!  It is just a matter of working on it now!  I haven't really been working on it.  It is kind of happening on it's own.  I was actually trying to stretch my quads, and this is what we discovered.  My PT figures that if he pressed on my foot a little bit, that I would be all of the way there....so cool!  Now, if I could only get the patellar tendon to behave so I could get my quad strength back!  I'll take the improvement though!  I am starting to realize that I am going to be the girl of small victories!  All I need now, it to be able to sleep.  Darned crazy legs!  Myofascial release again today.  PT wants me to go to my chiropractor.  Part of all this no sleep thing is my back.  I need to be cracked!

W

[tez27]

Hi folks some one asked me about my mini hunt, well its proving difficult to find an automatic one with the spec I want, and the kind of mileage I would prefer, in a colour I like I know just far too fussy but I just have seen a peuogot 307 convertible that I really like, it is bigger than the mini with a much bigger boot, and when I took it for a test drive it felt pretty good, so I'm thinking I may change my mind and get that or similar instead... I am terrible about making decisions, so if anyone has any experience with a 307 please give me some input.

W sorry your folks are going through such a hard time, I would think it must be so frustrating to you not being able to help them more while they are both suffering, but with luck before long you can get back to taking care of the folks rather than them taking care of you.
    
Robin I think your right to get the strange sticky outy thing checked out, and if your still concerned about it then take yourself back to see someone about it and dont let them fob you off this time. Apart from that your doing brilliantly, what with cycling and walking and massaging....your a star.....
I hope there is nothing to worry about but if you feel it is then trust your own instincts.

RK4 so sorry you've had another bad stupid o'clock kinda night, I hope your appointment with the GP today goes ok and you get the meds you need, and roll on the 30th for your OS appointments so you too can have a plan to get things sorted out.

Snowy I have tried melatonin, the lovely Vicky brought me some back from one of her trips to the States, because I couldn't find the stuff over here,  sometimes I think it works well, other time not so much, I try not to take anything too often though if I have had a few interrupted sleep then I do try something.
As someone else has said it has been a pretty tragic year for the ski community, which must be hard for you being a big part of it, just wanted to send some sympathy your way and hope everyone has had all the bad luck there is for this year.

Brams sorry your still struggling with the whole crps thing, it sounds like a really horrible way to live your life, I hope as the Lyrica gets into your system properly you start to get some long term improvement.

Lottie I hope reggie continues to behave and all is well in Lottie land with you R and the kittys.

A so pleased the tramadol is helping I find it a life saver, though I dont think it works as well as it did when I first started taking it. I hope this week at work is a little better than last week.

Nick I hope you had a good weekend and work is not too bad this week.

Super I hope you have wonderfull time with Snowy on your ski outing, stay safe though....

I hope all is well with everyone else take care
Tez

    

[Brambledog]

Hi all,

I'm tuning in to my support group again, but not for myself this time...

Just had my cat Josh put down. He was 21 years old, a half-Persian with beautiful long black fur. I watched him being born while still at home living with my parents. He shed only one white hair in his life, a whisker, when i was single and living at home. Having read of an old story about the magic of a white whisker from an all black cat, i put it under my pillow. I met my husband a few months later, and I've always given him a bit of credit for that. He's been wth me through everything, meeting my husband, living together, getting married, first child, then another, Bramble arriving... At least four house moves as well, and he's taken it all on his stride, with the grace and charm only a cat can have. When I met my husband I told him we came as a pair, he could have me, but only if he took on Josh as well. He'd never had any pets himself, so it was a steep learning curve for him.

When me and my husband met, he was living in a bedsit, and when we got our first proper home together, we had to be able to have Josh there too. We moved in, he moved in. I remember we let him out of the cat carrier in the front room, and he disappeared straight into the base of one of those big rocker/swivel type chairs and wouldn't come out. We couldn't sit in or move that chair for three days! We crouched next to it calling him for hours, put out tempting bits of food, cream, nothing worked. He would wait until we went to bed, then would creep out and eat, use the litter tray, and go up there again. Then on the third day he just crept out while we were watching television in the evening, and decided everything was fine and he was happy. Funny wee cat.

We had a field behind the house, and we used to go for walks in it. We would call him once we got to the area near our back garden, and he would shoot out of the hedge and accompany us. He had the funniest run, his two front paws would sort of move round as he ran, and it was a bouncy kind of run. He used to make us laugh all the time, and charmed my husband, wound him round his little finger. Always had the most amazing purr, deep, low and loud. It was one of those sounds that is almost hypnotic, like a mantra saying everything is fine, there's nothing to worry about...

He's been getting more and more confused over the last few months, he'd gone pretty deaf, and had lost a lot of weight. That beautiful fur got more and more matted, and he grew to hate being brushed or having them removed. His skin got so papery and thin that I didn't dare to tackle them anymore on case I cut him. This morning he went upstairs and did the low mournful meow he's developed over the past few months, which sometimes means he's going to mess upstairs, so I went and called him. He started to come down but sort of ended up halfway looking thoroughly lost and I had to go and get him. I opened the front door for him and he just stood there looking lost, then shook himself a bit and his back legs just wobbled to one side and he had to gather himself back up. He looked up at me, and I just knew.

I rang the vets and spoke to them, and they said we shouldn't wait. He wasn't going to get better, and we didn't want him to get hit by a car, or stuck somewhere unable to get home, or any one of a thousand other things that would have been worse than this. So our favourite vet came out himself, and I had Josh on my lap on his cushion, purring away, with my husband sitting next to me. We all fussed him, and then the vet put him to sleep very quickly and cleanly. Josh purred right up to the end, a trooper all the way. He was such an ace cat.

In between the phone call to the vets, and them coming out, Josh was asleep on his cushion behind me. Our other cat Marmalade jumped up on the sofa next to me, then up onto the back and walked along to Josh. I watched as he bent and licked the top of Josh's head a couple of times, and they made that little cat chirrup to each other. I think they were saying goodbye.

Anyway, there it is. My eulogy to my most constant companion, and the symbol of my youth. Can't believe he's gone.

Bye Josh mate, thank you. Safe journey. xxx

 Brams 

[Rknees4]

OH Brams so sorry to hear about your buddy Josh.  We do get attached to the little darlings don't we.

Well went to GP and got a script but not for ty 3's for ty2's so I am going to be cranky a lot more. Not totally surprised though. Well better than a kick in the head I guess but not much. It was an all nighter last night so I am going to go sleep for a bit.
Rk4

[iamsuperrat]

Hurray for Knee Geek first ski attempt. I will try not to ski backwards. I'm sure if that happens, Snowy will report that I've mastered this trick.

Oh Kitty Josh, two hugs for your mom.

[Lottiefox]

Oh Brams, I read the eulogy on Facebook and cried bucketloads. Josh has had a long and happy life. You've had such a rough few weeks losing Zorro and now Josh. Big hugs. It is going to feel mighty weird with him gone but you loved him right up to the very end. Words don't really say anything but I know exactly how you feel having gone through it myself. Most of us on here will understand exactly how it feels. Take care. You cheered my day today with my wonderful birthday flower arrangement, teddy (with soggy derriere now dried out!) and chocs (mostly gone....). That was a lovely thought.    

Quick reply as we're off out for some steak at a fab place in Warwick. Hope everyone is doing OK and Robin I hope you get that knee checked out all OK. W, good work on the flexion and the fact nothing is blocking it. That must be a big smile factor. Hugs to everyone else, will write more tomorrow. Bath half marathon was fab day - mate did it in 1 hour 43 minutes, shaving 24 minutes off his previous PB and generating a big smile of pride.

xxxxxx

[emergRN]

Brams...So sorry to hear about your Josh!  I have to say that you even got me with that eulogy!  You do have a way with writing!  It is a tough thing to have to do, but we do it out of love for our animals.  You do know when it is time!  I am sure you will shed a few tears when you least expect it, but with time, you will see a picture of Josh and you will just smile and remember the wonderful years that you had him!

Lottie...Happy, Happy Birthday!  I am glad that you had a nice day!  The flowers were very pretty!

Rk4...I am glad you got something for the pain!  Not long now until you see the OS again!

Tez...You can always "order" your mini!  Just go into the dealership, tell them all of the specs that you are looking for, and have them get it for you.  You may have to wait awhile, but it can be done!  Sorry...I can't give any input on a Peugot!  We don't see many here!  How about an Audi?  I like Audi's!!

W

[seerobinbike]

Brams...I'm so very sorry to read that you had to let Josh go.      What a beautiful eulogy you wrote.  I, too, balled my eyes out while reading this.  How lucky for both you and Josh to have found each other and for Josh to have lived such a wonderful and long life.  You did the right thing, Brams.  It wasn't a minute too early or a minute too late.  Please know that I'm thinking of you today.  Big mammoth cyberhug to you ((Brams)). 

Robin xx

[Brambledog]

Aww thanks you guys, you are all (as my fourteen-year-old daughter would say) EPIC.

Thanks for all the kind thoughts and support everyone. Sorry if I've downed you all tonight wth my news and my rabbiting on. When I get emotional I rarely use one word where three or four or five would do the job... He deserved thought and time on it tho. Bless his furry little self. x

Lottie - can't believe I made you cry on your birthday!! Sorry! I deliberately didn't text you as I wanted you to enjoy your birthday without sharing my boo-hoo's...forgot that these darn smartphones alert you on the FB stuff...

Everyone else, sorry will post properly tomorrow. Tonight I am just wrung out. I look awful, can't cry and look good, don't know how people do it!

Just got in the car to go out for tea, not much grub in the house, and husband suggested it as a kind of wake for Josh...(aww). Started car, all lights went on in the dash, car over-revving, got to end of road, smelling a bit funny, had to drive back and abandon thought. Grrr. Life can be a s**t sometimes!! Ordered a taxi now, waiting for it, all hungry...ah well. That's life.

Brams