BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 02:31 PM

Remember that scene from Moonstruck? WHACK! Snap out of it!

Don't do it, Linn.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: MikeL2
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 02:20 PM

Hi Linn

Having been through the throat cancer loop I know only too well what devastation it brings to the families of the sufferers.

All my love and best wishes to you & Tom.

Stay with it.....it will come good soon.......

You are in my prayers.

Love

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: gnu
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 02:07 PM

It ain't a contest, Linn! >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 02:02 PM

I just yelled at Tom. He helped me bring some grocery items in from the car, sat down, and complained about his knee hurting.

DAMMIT!!! That's MY affliction! Leave it the f**k alone! He's got enough stuff wrong with him -- leave me my bone-on-bone knees to complain about and maybe get some sympathy for. Sheesh! Selfish son of a... (well, that's my opinion of his mother; but that's a whole 'nother story...and she's no longer around to afflict me...or him).

He's been in touch with his cardiologist and is getting some suggestions as to how to feel better, etc. (And if HE feels better, I'LL feel better!)

Just returned from a short interval of NOT multi-tasking -- lunch at Good 'n Plenty (HAD to get a mushroom burger) with a good book, which is about as close to mono-tasking as I can get these days. Sorry, Jeri -- I thought about calling you, but I didn't actually want to have to make conversation. (And it's more economical of time to go alone -- I've still got more stuff to do today.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: ClaireBear
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 11:56 AM

It surely is, Linn. Sorry, wish I had words, but I know just how you feel. Love from afar.

C

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 11:43 AM

I will just feel a LOT better when

a) his long postponed vocal cord surgery is accomplished, and

b) his damned defibrillator is taken care of.

I'm worried about his health, his safety, etcet etcet. Don't tell me not to worry; watching him I can't help it. I'm still doing most of the physical work around here (no, I'm not whining) and things are always, uh, "interesting" at work. (Never a dull moment -- but I DID win a king-size comforter yesterday in some Sears contest or other -- that's a first. And I'm not even a Sears' employee.) My stress level is through the roof even when I'm not conscious of it (too busy working) or even trying to lower it.

And so many of our friends are sorting out major health problems or "life" problems, etcet etcet, as well.

Spring is coming...isn't it?

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10:55 AM

Sleep will help with the energy level too. February 23 for you. Kendall next week. Lily starting chemo. We have our work cut out for us team.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Janie
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 10:44 AM

Hope you find you have a little more energy now, Tom, with the adjustment.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 10 Feb 10 - 09:57 AM

Tom is still asleep (almost 10 a.m.) -- but that's good. But he's making waking up noises and asked that I turn the coffee on.

He's been having trouble sleeping. Last night he got to sleep okay, but woke at 2:30 and couldn't really get to sleep. When I woke at 6, he said he'd just taken an aspirin and was waiting for it to kick in. Kick in it did; he slept quite soundly until just a few minutes ago.

Yesterday he got the defib re-adjusted to a compromise position between what it was and what his cardiologist asked for. According to Tom, his cardiologist really doesn't understand how he feels after the adjustment because the cardiologist learns from books. His tech knows the reactions because she deals with the people who have had the adjustments made and knows how different people react to the adjustments. Tom's extreme inertia and trouble catching his breath did not surprise her.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:31 AM

Spaw-

Thanks for the full disclosure of what's involved with a Transesophageal Echocardiogram.

It's amazing what the medical professions likes to stick up or down our various orifices. I'm all for having them implant a chip at birth and simply taking a periodic reading. That's what my mechanics do when I bring the van in for check-ups.

Cheerily,
Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:26 AM

My point exactly! What kind of person designs tests like that?

"Just need to smash your tits right here Ma'am."

I mean really...........Plus, I am often only "mildly sedated" when others get Versed so I get the full enjoyment of a colonoscopy for instance.

The TEE is diabolical. I think every cardiologist and nurse who do the things need to have had one themselves.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 08:13 AM

Ever have a mammogram, Spaw?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 06:44 AM

That would make it taste funny afterwards, Spaw.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: catspaw49
Date: 09 Feb 10 - 04:06 AM

That's it!!! Enough already! I demand fair play. Tom got a TEE and he was under for it?   No fair!!!!!   Since my only known allergy is to Versed, the "knockout drug of choice" for short procedures, I had to do a TEE with only some light sedative......AND IT SUCKED!!!!!!!

I've often believed there is some sick fuck somewhere who designs tests, maybe a whole roomful of them. And the biggest, nastiest, most sadistic, sick fuck in the whole damn place designed the TEE.

TEE means Transesophageal Echocardiogram. The idea is to get an Echocardiogram from the best and closest location which sadly is your esophagus. The test starts by numbing your throat then shoving a flex tube, which feels about the size of a garden hose with ridges, down your throat. Since I was only lightly sedated my gag reflex still wants to work and the friggin' nurse keeps reminding me to breathe.

"Take deep breaths Sir."   How the hell can you do that with a garden hose down your throat? Then the Doc joyously starts rotating the tube and sliding it up and down during the twisting. If I caould have reached my Cardiologist's balls at that point I'd have ripped his bag off. Then the gawdamn nurse again with that breathe deeply crap......My only reply is, "ARRwarrgeGGooogaGunhGunargurwaraaarrgagagaghuuhuuhiiiik," which is Hose-In-Throat language meaning, "I hope your gawdamn tits fall off you fuckin' bitch."

My last TEE was 8 years ago and I tell you true, it is the last one I ever intend to have. Somebody wants to try one of those again, they're going to have to retrieve the TEE flex tube from deep in their ass first.


Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:55 PM

As long as his priorities remain straight. LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:50 PM

He was home long enough to tell Linn about the mushroom burger.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 08:36 PM

You didn't leave him sleeping anywhere, did you, Jeri? I mean, he is home, right?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 07:37 PM

Tom had a chicken salad sammich. I had the 'shroom burger just to make you jealous. No, seriously, I wanted it and it was good. Forgot the mayo and asked the mean waitress who told me "no" because "You should have asked when you ordered!" Perfect dead-pan expression. I forget what I said, but she laughed and gave it to me.

Tom was sleeping so well after the procedure (because of the anesthesia) the nurse didn't want to wake him right away. I didn't have to be anywhere, so she let him sleep for a bit.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bobert
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 07:27 PM

Another "still here" here...

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 07:25 PM

Tom meets with the anesthesiologist at Mass General on the 18th -- solo trip to Boston, because I have to work. That's the deciding factor for going ahead with the surgery now re-scheduled for the 23rd.

I guess today went fine. He was under for the procedure.

I heard that Jeri had a mushroom burger (they make their own fries, by the way) and Tom had, what did Tom say he had?

He wasn't able to reach the defib tech today -- she went home early.

He's tired, but he was told today's procedure (and the anesthesia) would make him tired.

I'm tired too -- it was a very busy sales day all by myself at a store not my own. Did more than twice the business of any day for the past week in this store. Why? Who knows, but it sure kept me occupied (and maybe made me a little money -- very little I fear).

Got a call earlier that I'd won something at my home host store, but I'll have to wait until tomorrow to find out about that.

All in all, not a bad day (even if I did miss lunch at Good 'n Plenty).

Thanks, Jeri!
Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 08 Feb 10 - 10:12 AM

So, how did it go? Did Tom eat? Did Jeri have an omelet or a burger?
Are all systems go for the surgery?
M

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 10:08 PM

Thanks for the thanks, but I'm just driving. I hope Tom FEELS like going for food afterwards. I don't know what sort of drugs they're gonna give him. I'm trying to decide if I want a cheese omelet or a mushroom burger.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 09:45 PM

Good Luck, Tom. You are in good hands - Jeri's, I mean.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 07:29 PM

Yes, thanks , Jeri, for being there when I can't. I'm alone all day at a store not my own bailing out the manager who needs a day off. She's training a new optech, so I'll be back to my normal Monday schedule in a few weeks. But it would be really complicated to try to take tomorrow or part of tomorrow off to shuttle Tom back and forth from his procedure.

(But, lucky you, you get fed at Good 'n Plenty on the way home!)

And tomorrow I'll get some bucks for some cubic footage I've de-cluttered -- unused Pfaltzgraf serving pieces (longtime discontinued) that one of the host store managers is THRILLED to acquire.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: AllisonA(Animaterra)
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 06:55 PM

Jeri, thanks so much for helping Tom and Linn!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 04:46 PM

Nice to know I was right...

                            ...I DON'T know everything.

T.E.E.=transesophageal echocardiogram (even if Firefox's spellchecker isn't happy with it.)

Same plan: 7:30 at the end of the driveway.
If it's freezing cold and windy, don't freeze your bits off. I will notice you aren't frozen at the head of the driveway and go to the other end.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: curmudgeon
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 04:38 PM

The telephone message was wrong; the patient registration office doesn't open till 7:00. The procedure is a T.E.E.

The defib also has a pacemaker. It was slowed down to save th battery so that there will be enough juice for a full zap if needed. The doctor doesn't think it should affect me, but the tech who does the readings and resettings has assured me that every lowering of speed in the unit will lower my energy level. But somwhow, it has to be brought back up to some higher level; I'm barely functional as it is.

Thanks for the continuing good thoughts = Tom

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 03:10 PM

I don't know nuffin... that's why I am such a expert.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: gnu
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 03:06 PM

You sure about that, Jeri? >;-)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 03:04 PM

...always a possibility (and I hate to admit this) that I don't know everything.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 03:03 PM

A defibrillator is for emergencies. It's an internal version of the thing with the paddles and the electricity that doctors and EMTs slap on people and yell 'CLEAR'.

It is NOT a pacemaker.

I think Tom's was read when he went into the hospital and he hadn't been having a problem with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 12:00 PM

fingers crossed everything goes to plan.

I agree on the battery thing. Seems like a weak battery, is not going to keep the defib going at optimum, which means heart is having to do more work than it is used to. That would make one more tired.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: jacqui.c
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 11:46 AM

Jeri - just a guess, but could it be that there isn't a lot of juice in the battery so it isn't doing the full job that it should?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 10:50 AM

They often have people come in way too early so they can get check-in administrivia out of the way. It's like showing up an hour early to catch a flight, but they likely don't really need him there. Still, calling is good.

I still don't understand what a defibrillator battery has to do with his energy level. Could be several things, but I don't get battery connection.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 10:32 AM

Seems like it's just one thing after another...

So...Tom is having a procedure at Wentworth-Douglass on Monday. He was told by his doctor 8:30 -- be there by 8:15.

Yesterday (Saturday) we got an automated reminder call from Scheduling that said he had to be there at 7 AM. I can tell you THAT'S not going to happen!

So he has to call Scheduling TODAY (Sunday) and hope there's someone there who has a clue.

Tomorrow, too, he has to talk to his cardiologist about the defibrillator situation. It's not just having an energy level slightly higher than a rock, but he has to stop and catch his breath after every short walk (like to the bathroom). The anesthesiologist at Mass General ain't gonna like THAT one bit!

Arghhhh!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 10:09 AM

me too

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: jacqui.c
Date: 07 Feb 10 - 09:38 AM

As Janie said - still here.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Janie
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 08:40 PM

don't know what to say, other than I'm still here.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Charley Noble
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 08:33 PM

Linn and Tom-

One would love to fast forward to recovery, flowers, and some wine.

We're preparing a recovery care package that we plan to deliver February 20 at the Press Room shanty session.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: gnu
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 06:46 PM

Sigh... I know the feeling. It just gets to the point where you say to them... I just can't.

Keep the faith. T&Ps.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 06:30 PM

Tom is still physically tired -- but it's the weekend, so he'll HAVE to stick it out til Monday and he can again talk to his cardiologist about the defib adjustment.

Sorry, we can't do a month of this.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 06 Feb 10 - 12:18 PM

Some sort of procedure looking into his heart, ordered by Dr. Scheisskopf -- oh, did I just say that out loud? -- the Wentworth-Douglass cardiologist. But his primary care doc, etc. have okayed it.

Hope they wash their hands, fer-pete's-sake! Don't want ANOTHER hospital-originated blood infection.

Yesterday got the date for the long-postponed vocal cord procedure (removal of the bit of cancer on the left vocal fold and injection of Tom's body fat to build up area of right vocal fold) -- Feb. 23. So we'll be in Boston on Monday and Tuesday of that week. Tom thinks we'll be taking the train home Tuesday after the surgery. I think we'll prolly be spending the night and returning Wednesday morning. Depends a lot on what time the surgery is scheduled for and when they release him from Mass General. Plus exactly how he FEELS afterwards.

Tom will make a solo trip to Boston on the 18th to meet with the anesthesiologist.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: katlaughing
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 10:46 PM

Have they been checking his oxygen saturation levels?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 10:44 PM

Some sort of procedure at WD???? what the fuck?????
Jeri - you're in charge and we want answers NOW!!!!!


And not a breakfast menu.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Jeri
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 08:02 PM

I didn't quite understand why the defibrillator battery had anything to do with his feeling tired. Anyway, I had lunch with Linn on Wednesday (still having fantasies about that place), and will do breakfast (if they're servin' it, that's what I'm gettin'!) with Tom on Monday. I may one day eat a meal with both of you, at the same time.

I just thought of this: I get to bring the wood in on Monday. If he's not supposed to drive, carrying wood in isn't a good idea.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 07:49 PM

His cardiologist's office called back -- he shouldn't be this tired, but it's not dangerous. (So they say.) He asked Tom to stick it out until Monday and see what it feels like then.

Tom also spoke with Dr. Zeitels' office today -- his vocal cord surgery is rescheduled for February 22-23 (actual surgery probably early morning Tuesday, Feb. 23). He has to go down on the 18th for a consult with the anesthesiologist, but he'll go down alone (and back the same day); I won't have to take time off from work.

Monday he's got some sort of procedure at Wentworth-Douglass -- since he's not supposed to drive himself home, Jeri is taking him over and bringing him back and they'll get breakfast or lunch at Good 'n Plenty. I, alas, HAVE to work -- I'll be alone at JCP Optical giving the manager a day off. (She's got a new optech training.)

Tom was at The Press Room session tonight, but left early. I got there late, thanks to a meeting at work, but stuck around a little later than Tom. I'm wiped. Can barely keep my eyes open.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 05 Feb 10 - 08:34 AM

Tom is calling his cardiologist's office today -- if he hadn't suggested it, I would have.

On Wednesday they made an adjustment to the defibrillator to extend the battery until they renew it in March (WHY, exactly, do they keep postponing this?!?) -- but that means HIS energy level is about as low as it can be without actually stopping his breathing and heartbeat.

It took him over a half an hour to force (and I do mean force) himself out of bed. Walking up or down the stairs requires sitting down for a few minutes to recover. Daily wood schlepping (I try to do as much as I can) is a major project, with each trip needing to be broken into stages with rest in between. Every physical expenditure has to be planned and executed by sheer determination.

Needless to say, my stress level and worry is through the roof. I'm concerned about his safety when I'm at work.

Hope they've got a fix for this -- and SOON! (He just talked to his cardiologist's nurse -- one of them will be back to him within the hour.)

The good news, though, is Tom's SADD and/or depression seems to have taken a vacation. Other than concerns about being physically non-functional, he's in a good state of mind.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 12:25 PM

Careful Linn, you are in danger of sounding like a pirate.


Keep working that phone Tom, but try not to let them get ya upset, stress is bad for us.

John

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 10:52 AM

No time -- thought Tom might post. He's been working the phones 'twixt doctors' offices working out schedules to get his cancer treatment back on track.

Monday he saw his vascular guy who asked, "Do you know why you're here?" When Tom said no, he said, "I don't either." And explained that his carotids are, yes, a little bit narrowed, but not enough to be concerned about or to do anything about until after the cancer is taken care of. Yesterday he saw his cardiologist, who postponed his defibrillator battery change until March (after vocal cord surgery), but then they adjusted it so that it uses less energy to extend its life, but which saps Tom's energy. (Can't win, can we?)

Today he's waiting to hear from Dr. Zeitels' office as to when the surgery can be rescheduled.

It would be really nice to have dates so I can arrange things at work. (Double "arghh!")

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010
From: SINSULL
Date: 04 Feb 10 - 09:22 AM

No news is good news?
How are you doing, Tom?