Bits of this and that

Our friend/neighbor/cousin that lives close to the SSB succumbed to his brain cancer yesterday morning.  I really had wanted to attend his funeral.  After all, we did have so many things in common - his wife had gotten sick at the same time I discovered my cancer, and he did have cancer.  His was different however.  It was fast growing, and killed him so quickly.  We had planned to see him the next time we were at the SSB, the last time he was getting treated by hospice and we were going to be leaving the next day.  Sad.

I had my follow-up with the nephrologist.  He said my potassium was high, so he gave me a diet that would limit my ingestion of potassium.  It is something that I simply cannot really adhere to because the very first part flies in the face of what I consider healthy.  With pre-diabetes, I try to avoid white foods.  This diet says to eat white bread and white rice as opposed to wheat bread and brown rice.  Guess I am going to have a problem there.

Today I went to the cardio doc.  I told him that I had quit Lipitor on my own because I couldn't stand the muscle cramps in my legs at night.  I thought he was going to tell me that was just tough and get back on it.  I figure I will be 67 (ouch!) in a few weeks.  My heart is in good condition.  What is going to get me first?  Cancer recurring or a massive stroke or heart attack.  Let's face it, there simply aren't too many more dances in my future!

Doodle Bug had to go back to the clinic yesterday.  It is still not clear if there is a fracture or not.  I found out this was in the elbow.  So she is in a splint for a few days then heading to a bone doc.  We will see what happens now.  She flipped out at first about the splint, but she is doing ok with it now.  It is pink.  It is ok.

Tomorrow I will try to post some pictures of the trip.  I especially want to post that first hotel in Hot Springs, Arkansas.  It was horrid!  The pictures don't seem to do it the way it really was.  It was just so bad.  I still shudder when I think of it.  I hope I never have to stay in 100 year old hotels!

Peace.

Just had to show you ...

This is the wreath I made for the front door.  These fabric gauzy wreaths were the rage around here at Christmas, and I never got it made for Christmas.  So I thought I would make the wreath for general purposes.

I have an embroidery design to make the letters on shamrocks, so I thought it would be cute.  For a first try with the material, it's not a bad wreath.  I am going to begin the Easter one this week or so.  I'm just not sure I want to do those letters again.  They are filled with thread.  It took almost an entire spool!

Get to go for the nether region check this afternoon.  I am not looking forward for the obvious reason, but I also have to go at 3:30.  He is in the new professional building.  They don't have free valet parking, plus there is very little regular parking around there.  At the time I am to be there, I am sure there will be NO parking - so I get to park in the parking garage - and pay.

That doesn't make sense to me.  One part has free valet, and the other you have to pay.  That's what I would expect from Dr Rear End.  He was my first Radiation Oncologist.  All his patients called him that - or worse - because he never really looked at the patient.  He was always turned around to the computer to input his data.

The weather is post card perfect - although, as usual, we could use the rain.  But it is mild, sunny and breezy.  I just wish those tornadoes would stay away from everyone!

Peace

Pictures that are placed in places that bombard you with radiation

I don't know why these people who work with radiation think putting pictures of birds, trees and flowers on ceilings and walls make the time less of a pain in the rear, but apparently they do because when I was getting radiation everyday for six weeks, I became very familiar with those birds, flowers and trees!

After the squeeze test (mammogram), I was whisked into the room where the bone density testing is done.

I had almost forgotten this picture on their ceiling, but it took me only about 10 minutes to remember what I found rather interesting although a little unsettling.  I guess they didn't mean for this picture to be intensely view by wildlife biology people!

After getting me all settled on the bed (board), the tech leaves the room while the unit scans the lower body.  Left to my own limited devices, I looked at the picture for a bit, and then partially dismissed it.  Oh, yeah, the two male sparrows sitting on what appears to be an azalea branch with some kind of legume plant growing with it.  Strange composition, but ok.  There is a mocking bird almost out of sight, and some other kind on the right.  I remember this picture, and I remember wondering about some of the composition.

Then I looked further.  On the right, out of focus, are some larger birds seemingly high in the sky above.  On the left, there is a large bird, in pretty fair focus, that is ... a hawk!   What in the world is a hawk doing there obviously circling above these birds?  Who decided to place this bird in the picture.  Did they have some sort of perverse sense of humor, or what?

Well - needless to say, this gave my depraved mind something to do while my legs were pulled into a position that wasn't the least bit comfortable.  I laid there contemplating how long it would take this bird to swoop down on these little sparrows after the camera was gone.  Not long I would think.  They were spotted, and as soon as it could, that hawk would get one of them.

The situation reminds me of one gynecologist I went to.  He had Garfield posters plastered on his ceiling.  I enjoyed them - the first time.  As time went on, and they aged, the humor was gone.  I almost despise Garfield today (just kidding).

Thank you Blogger for one thing!  You save my ramblings.  I thought this post was history because my fingers hit the wrong key.  Nope - there it was.  I am so glad.

And speaking of fingers - thanks for the support and advice with my new meter.  It worked beautifully this morning because I went to the tried and true "finger tip prick" method in the place of the suggested palm, sides of the fingers, arm, leg, etc pricks.  Now to drop 50 pounds to get rid of the meter!

And the comments continue to appear.

Well, I guess removing the authentication means my comment count will rise.  There has been a comment each day.  Yesterday the comment appeared on the appropriate post.

I guess what I did incorrectly was to allow anonymous comments.  I will delve back through the labyrinth of Blogger to find the right way to change this.  I just don't know that I have another several hours to do this!  I am so computer literate, don't ya'  know.

Went to the bone doc yesterday.  There is nothing wrong with the right knee - thanks God!  The problem lies in the lumbar region of my back where the sciatica, stenosis, degenerative changes, and arthritis reside.

I told him I stopped the pain clinic because I want to be drugged all the time.  Since I am now ancient, and on Medicare, I can go to the pain clinic he prefers.  Perhaps I won't feel like I am visiting skid row now.  It was actually getting a little scary at the other place.   I am not being snobbish, but the folks there were seriously scary.  I am pretty sure some of them were selling the drugs they got.

Anyway, I came home and called the new clinic.  Bone doc said they would treat me without the accompanying meds.  That means the injections in the back, and they do work.  When I asked him who would be good to "work on the back" he told me to not let anyone cut on me.  So I am looking forward to the new clinic.  I see them next Thursday.

It is really getting to be absolutely necessary because I cannot stand for more than a couple of minutes.  The pain makes me feel like I am being pulled over to the right side.  I was beginning to worry about scoliosis.  I don't think there is any of that going on, but the doctor said my back was like Christmas - something for everyone going on there.

So it is all good.  G has a torn meniscus in his knee.  He got a steroid injection.  If that doesn't work - well it will be arthroscopic surgery for him.  The doc said that it's easier to treat a tear than a break.  Words of wisdom.

Peace.