BS: Curmudgeon's Medical Woes - Winter 2010

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 08:56 AM

Linn-

Hoping for the best; would settle for even better!

Charley Noble, resident in Brooklyn for the week

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:04 AM

Can't help but think of Trampolina Whangbanger, a character in the movie "Can Hieronymous Merkin Forget Mercy Hump and Find True Happiness".

Linn - you just missed me. I left my desk to get some coffee. I'll call tonight.
M

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:09 AM

Some misspellings there. Oh well.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 10:58 AM

I wonder if that is a common thing after heart surgery. Maybe we are all protecting our hearts after? I've noticed slumping, too, though some of it is breast weight, I think. Anyway, my doc talked with me about it, recently. She told me to stand against a wall making sure my shoulder blades touch it and to tuck in my chin. Now that I am aware of it, I am sitting up better and remembering to do as she said.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 11:36 AM

Here is an interesting take on it. Seems pain between the shoulder blades is a common problem after heart surgery. I would have expected fear of opening the incision across the sternum.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/health/6502499/detail.html

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: wysiwyg
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 12:01 PM

Some of it can be skin adhesions too, not only visible on the surface but in the skin'sunderlayers closed during surgery. Our friend particularly had a hard time rehabbing back to full his ROM (range of motion) because that involved stretching adhesions as well as skin tightened more normally from stitches, and it hurts! (Ever rehab a "new" tendon? OUCH!)

What's hell about it is that any rehab not completed at these ages makes an older person more vulnerable to having the NEXT problem, and then complicates the healing and recovery from THAT. Some folks just are more aggressive in their willingness to do hard, painful work, and are focused more on enjoying life day-to-day-- which can be frustrating to live with, because of course WE want our dearest ones to love forever and be able to do everything they love so much.

When Hardi's dad chose, instead, to slow down, it was hard on all of us who were involved, both as family loving him and for those of us who also were hands-on caregivers. And it's a familiar pattern parochially as well-- that tricky balance between (A) wanting to encourage someone we love to try hard and (B) wanting to respect their own choices.

~Susan

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 12:51 PM

A Mercy Hump, sounds like a charitable screw Mary!

"Come ony man at a' that'll tak me oot o' pity
And it's; Oh dear me, whit will ah dae, if ah dee an auld maid in a garrett"

Yes I know


John CELLAR !!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 01:06 PM

Oh dear, you are so right John. Midges it is and after 3 holidays in Scotland they only had their first taste of me this last summer. Only a few bites but good grief they didn't want to stop itching, even a month later. Potent poison. Song is great... Whole human race started by McAdam and Eve... snort.

Linn - the posture thing. If he is on the PC a lot, then set up an Outlook reminder to "sit up."

I have one on my pc at work that tells me to "take a hike" to remind me to get up and away from the work. Now I often click the snooze button on it. Remind me in 15 minutes or 30 minutes, depending on how engrossed I am. But it may work for posture, she won't have to get up and go away from what he is doing.

Failing that, maybe an electric shock to his chair to remind him of posture.

Mary - I think you should get him a water cannon. No harm done by a little water being shot at passersby.

Hilary - mini tramp heights can vary. Ours is about 8 or 9 inches from floor. We do not bounce. I walk and TSO jogs on it. Guess when he does that he rises another 4 to 6 inches. So you need to add your height to mini tramp height plus 6 inches bounce for running.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 01:31 PM

Mini tramp heights? Munchkin prostitutes?
I am having a hard time keeping up with you, Tam Tam.
SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: kendall
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 02:15 PM

Tom! Dont make me come down there.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 03:16 PM

Mini tramp heights? Munchkin prostitutes?

Now who should be sent to the Cellar!

A Mercy Hump, sounds like a charitable screw Mary!

tsk tsk tsk

This thread has gone totally off the rails.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 03:21 PM

You started it with the trampoline.


Tom will be amused when he finally gets to read this.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: ClaireBear
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 03:28 PM

Re-railing here: I used to have a mini-trampoline myself, and VTam is quite right about it being fun (and easy on the body) to jog or dance on. MGAS, the thing itself is maybe 6 inches high, and it makes you bounce just a few inches higher than you would if you were jogging in place on the floor. You won't be doing any backflips on it, so ceiling clearance is probably not an issue. About 3 feet across though, so room to store it can be an issue.

Linn, anything I can send from exotic California to make either of your lives better? (Note: calamari do not ship well.) You have only to ask...

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 03:59 PM

Calamari here I come,
Smell that parcel, does it hum?
Like being downwind of Spaw's bum
Calamari here I come ♫쳌ô♫

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:26 PM

It won't matter to the guys, probably, but I was told not to use the mini-tramp because of certain loose parts peculiar to the female body and the strain it would put on them. (No, not boobs.:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Jeri
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 04:38 PM

I'm female, and I don't have even one tiny little clue what 'loose parts' might be 'strained', and I would prefer to remain ignorant. On me, though, it's my knees, although a trampoline probably would hurt them. I'll tell you though, Tom is gonna get a real kick out of this thread when he's able to read it!

I'm not going today, as Linn is probably there or almost there, and the Mudge has 'procedures'. I should have mentioned that he should tell the doctors he's in extreme pain whenever he has to lie still for any length of time (I made that up, but my mom had problems). Good excuse for primo drugs.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 05:44 PM

Lips, Kat?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 06:02 PM

If Kat is talkin bout what I thinks she's talkin bout....just do gentle walk, no jogging or bouncing and loose bits won't make you need to reach for Depends (Tena if you are in UK).


my problem is lungs... they want to jump out my mouth and slap me around the head.

then my eyeballs fall out which makes me mis-step, fall of the tramp and do a mighty damage to myself.

talk about loose bits.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 06:10 PM

PLease Tam, I have this picture in my head, and it's not pretty.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 07:12 PM

Yes, Tom is going to be very amused when he reads this thread. I'm very grateful for the laughs this evening as well.

Haven't been home that long. Took Tom some newspapers my coworker brought in. Stopped to pick up fizzy water (seltzer) on the way home...BTW, never stop at a grocery store when you're hungry. Sigh. Mozzarella sticks...cheddar cheese rice crisps...cheddar Goldfish...they weren't on my list. (Do we see a trend here? My Wisconsin heritage showing?) Should have picked up a bag of edamame, but I just really wanted to escape that store. I don't have time to cook, but have to eat, so Lean Cuisine seems to be working.

He had a procedure today to check if the infection has affected his heart. Tomorrow he's supposed to have the scheduled carotid angiogram. He FEELS fine but the drips and tubes and stuff have him feeling strangled. He can't move without a machine going "beep".

Having a bouncy surface to walk in place on would be lovely -- but we don't have any available floor space unless we do something drastic. (Actually, I've been trying to find what passes for a floor here for years.) I sometimes walk in place. Don't think my poor bone-on-bone arthritic knees would take to a trampoline, but, then again, I have a reasonably active indoor job, so I'm in better shape than I've been in years. And have been trying to get Tom more active by example.

I think I've spent enough time here avoiding going out and getting tonight's supply of firewood. (Actually, it's tonight's and enough so I don't have to go out first thing in the morning.)

I'll be back later, after talking to Tom again.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Hollowfox
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 08:28 PM

Yes, it was me what made the phone call. Loved the sexy whispering on the phone. I couldn't hear any of the medical machinery though, and all my witty repartee was entirely unscripted, so I can't say for sure what I said that Tom didn't hear.
'Spaw calls me a character?! I'm honored, I think. Let's just say I'm touched.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:38 PM

Hollowfox, about the only thing he couldn't quite understand was your name. Enjoyed the conversation immensely! Thanks for calling!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Charley Noble
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 09:46 PM

And as evening shadows fall, so ends another episode of Doctor Dare.

Night, everyone!

Charley Noble, somewhere in Brooklyn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: katlaughing
Date: 11 Jan 10 - 11:39 PM

Not lips!

No need for Depends.

Usually only happens when one has had kids, esp. at a young age, and/or is overweight. That is ALL I am saying!:-)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: VirginiaTam
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 01:43 AM

nuff said, Kat.

Linn, we keep our tramp leaned up against the window most of the time and lay her down on floor when we want to use her...

heh heh heh

I didn't know obscene phone calls were permitted to patients with potential heart problems.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: KT
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 02:06 AM

Linn & Tom, I've just now seen this....just want you to know you're being held in a heart way up north. Take it easy.......KT

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: My guru always said
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 07:27 AM

Ok, I'm going to go & measure the room height tonight. I'm not sure that I wouldn't be VERY close to the ceiling (lath & plaster) & probably hitting the 'chandelier' (old wooden one) with my ear on every 'up'! And anyway, I don't have any wall space inside for storage, hmmm.....

Try to have something hot to eat Linn, soup???

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:02 AM

Linn and I had a long chat last night. She's tired - work, the hospital, the wood pile and some very demanding kitties. Add to that dead flying squirrel parts...a full day.
I keep telling my kitty Ed - summer is coming, I promise.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:30 AM

Someone should copyright this thread - If we acted it out we could make a fortune on YouTube and possibly cheer up a few more heart patients - or kill 'em!

Although the culture difference may once more take effect... A porno thread with British tramps might be somewhat less enticing... our tramps tend to have alcohol issues, wardrobe malfunctions and smell bad...

LTS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:35 AM

Can I play the Munchkin prostitute?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:38 AM

You hum it, I'll play it.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: MMario
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:47 AM

Which raises the question - is Munchkin Prostitute best strummed or plucked? What fingering do you use?

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:53 AM

CELLAR! Both of you.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: catspaw49
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 08:54 AM

Actually they're more like bagpipes.....a blow job sort of instrument...........Fingerings are unimportant, juat keep them blowing.....

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: MMario
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 09:48 AM

Hey 'Spaw - there's room in the cellar for yo uas well....

(She's probably just irritated she didn't think of the comments first)

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: jacqui.c
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:03 AM

MMario - Spaw's not allowed in the cellar now - he has to go to the outhouse.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:12 AM

Munchkin prostitutes...the mind boggles. I'm glad our friends aren't a bunch of stoggie sobersides!

In response to query, I'm more or less living on Lean Cuisine which is nutritious, inexpensive, and interesting as there is a lot of variety. Also prepared soups -- the country vegetable one currently bolstered by leftover red lentils. I'm a decent cook (though Tom does most of the cooking); I just don't have the time right now.

If nothing else, this latest AFGO ("Another F#*king Growth Opportunity") has gotten me in the loop with our on-line banking. Some time ago I had nailed Tom's feet to the floor and made him show me what he does, passwords, etc. "just in case". Of course, right now I can't find the paper I wrote it on. Sigh. But he ran me through it again and I just checked our checking balance, transferred some from savings and will stop at the credit union on my way to work to deposit Tom's last paycheck and pay the mortgage.

Then I can pick up a package of kindling at the store and stop at "the Scottish restaurant" for a quick lunch before heading to work. Didn't have to pack my evening lunch today as I had yesterday's -- Sears put out an employee appreciation spread (ham, meatballs, pilaf, corn, salad, rolls, cake, etcet) yesterday, though no one told Optical.

Since I work until 8, I won't get to see Tom til about 8:30, but I'll come bearing the paperwork for a procedure his primary care doc ordered. It seems for some reason they're NOT doing the scheduled (by his vascular guy) carotid angiogram today, but will do it on Friday. Does that mean they're not turning him loose until then?!? I just talked to him a few minutes ago and they still don't seem to know what the infection is, but they don't seem particularly concerned.

Just got a call from Dr. Zeitels' office in Boston requesting Tom's new insurance info, so got that squared away.

I need to reorganize my purse -- I have Tom's billfold, Tom's pocket medical, etc. cards in it besides all of my crap, I mean, necessary stuff. Need to add another notebook for "brain dumps", too.

Gotta go!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: RoyH (Burl)
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:19 AM

Good thoughts coming to you both from Elaine and me. All the best. Burl

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 09:49 PM

Just got home from work, then the hospital for a couple minutes.

Remembered to get the mail from the box. (Forgot last night.) Schlepped the bag of kindling (plus my regular impedimenta, etc.) inside. Raked up the coals and got the fire started easily. I should only have to bring in a couple loads since I'm shutting it down soon -- but need to have enough so I don't have to go out too early tomorrow morning.

I'm very, very tired as can be told by my forgetting little things in the closing routine (maybe; I can't remember).

Took Tom a clean pair of sweat pants -- not purple. Brought the purple ones home to wash.

He got a doomaphlagey in the arm (can't remember what it's called) so that he can dose himself with antibiotics for the next few weeks. Still don't know when they'll turn him lose. He MIGHT have the procedure tomorrow that they postponed from today until Friday. (Did you follow that?) And I think they still don't know exactly what the infection is, but it's not affecting his heart. (They did that test yesterday.)

First thing when Tom gets home is I'm going to learn how to prime the furnace!

Good night, dear friends!

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Jeri
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:04 PM

It's a pump, although there's probably some 24-syllable, hyphenated name for it. Insulin pump, pain meds pump, chemo pump, antibiotics.

The docs don't care so much what the infection is, as long as the antibiotics are working. It's the FWITIW approach. Anyway, it's good that they aren't worried enough to cancel procedures. Just please make sure you take care of yourself.

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 12 Jan 10 - 10:25 PM

Stove going nicely. Got in enough wood so I don't have to go out first thing in the morning. Just opened some cards from some local friends -- very nice, to Tom and to me, too.

Just poured myself a brandy and will shut down the stove and trudge upstairs with not too many things in hand. Will read a bit (and sip a bit) before falling asleep.

Tomorrow, at least, is a day off (meaning at least I don't have to go to work!).

Jeri, he called it something else. One syllable, but not pump, I think. Brain's not working too well right now. I should probably keep it in my sock drawer along with my sanity for safekeeping.

Good night! (Really, this time)

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 12:28 AM

The preferred way to dose is using an A-Line which gets heavier doses of stronger antibiotics as near the heart as possible but they aren't usually sent on home with one as they do require some care. I'm like Jeri.....All I know are various designs of dosing pumps.

Hope tomorrow is a good day for you both!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 12:59 AM

you've certainly been living in interesting times, Linn

sandra

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: SINSULL
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 08:32 AM

Keep a notepad handy, Linn. Write everything down. You can't trust your memory right now and all Tom is hearing is when he can go home.

Get that damn furnace hooked up properly with a thermostat and all you have to do is adjust the thermostat when you want heat. You and Tom are both getting to the point healthwise where it is a necesity not a luxury.

Lecture over,
Mother SINS

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Charley Noble
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 09:03 AM

Another brighter day, hopefully.

Charley Noble

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 09:06 AM

Portal in his arm for antibiotics is the same as he had a couple years ago when he had to do daily antibiotics for a month. If you've got replacement heart parts, they get very twitchy about any and all infections.

We just plain don't have the money for the work that needs to be done on the furnace. Tom said he was thinking (before he landed in the hospital) about checking into what county assistance we might apply for to bring the heating system up to what normal people have. The original furnace when Tom built the house in the late '70s (from a kit) was hot water -- which was totally incompatible with wood heat. The heat from the stove would screw up the thermostat so that the water would freeze in the pipes. This furnace is hot air -- and, after we get the duct work installed, should be fine with a thermostat.

I don't like to think we're getting to old for this -- my great uncle Ernie's wife was chopping (kindling) wood well into her 90s (for the cook stove!) as well as milking a substantial herd alone. They had no electricity in the house, but there may have been current to the barn, so I don't know if she milked by hand or machine (in which case she would have still stripped by hand).

Gotta go call Tom.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: catspaw49
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 09:43 AM

PICC Line is the thing you're referring to Linn. PICC is an acronym btw for peripherally inserted central catheter. Were you amazed at how damn long the things are? Again.....good luck on today!!

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 10:31 AM

That's it, Spaw! Was just about to post that after talking to Tom about an hour ago. He just knew what it was called -- not how it was spelled or what it stood for.

Yeah, snakes all the way from his arm to his heart. He'll be on the antibiotics for about 3 weeks. Very similar to a couple years ago when he had a blood infection from an inflamed bursa on his elbow. I guess they still don't know exactly what the source of this infection is.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: Bat Goddess
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 10:43 AM

Geez. Just got off the phone with Tom again. He's now ANGRY besides everything else. And I need to find out who the hell is actually in charge so I can talk to him.

Tom hasn't been able to talk to a doctor for awhile -- just the nurses and they seem confused at best or they just plain don't know.

Now they're saying he needs to go to a nursing facility (for the next 3 weeks?!?) because he needs the antibiotics every 4 hours.

How does this affect his scheduled vocal cord surgery on the 26th? Well, after I bring him the phone #, he's calling Dr. Z's office in Boston.

Meanwhile, I think he needs to hear from his cardiologist, his vascular guy, etc. He "saw" the head honcho (hospital) infectious disease guy (he's the one who oversaw the infection last time, too) for a couple minutes this morning but he didn't give Tom any info.

Gotta go gird my loins and attack the day.

Linn

Subject: RE: BS: Curmudgeon Fell -- On Way to Hospital
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Jan 10 - 10:59 AM

Linn, maybe the hospital has an ombudsman/woman who can help you get answers, etc. Also, there should be a social worker who could help find out what can be done for the furnace. Some things our ancestors did I think they'd gladly trade for a little less of...i.e. your ancestress might actually think a furnace and running water were just fine, no matter what her ancestress did.:-)

luvyaboth,

kat