Finally Some Answers To My Health Issues!

Well, if you've read my blog recently you now that I've been sharing about some issues I've had with my left leg/foot since last November.   I started out going to my orthopedic surgeon who took a foot x-ray and stated I didn't seem to have a stress fracture and that he didn't see any need for an MRI at the time.   I didn't argue with him as I HATE MRI's and thought "he's the doctor and he knows best".    I ended up going to him twice, after which he referred me back to my general doctor....from there I went to a neurologist for nerve testing (showing negative results), another trip to my doctor for blood work (normal), and then a vascular surgeon for an ultrasound for deep vein thrombosis testing...negative for that as well.   Based on all the tests and doctor visits over a seven month period, according to them I was "normal" but I was getting worse and to the point I could hardly walk.   A simple trip to the grocery store put me in excruciating pain and I had to spread out my errands over several days as I simply could not walk comfortably.

After getting some great suggestions from comments on my blog, I went back to my GP and insisted on an MRI.   He knows how claustraphobic I am and said I could take 3 Xanax for my anxiety.    Let me tell ya'll, that did the trick!    I climbed up on that thing, put a washcloth over my face, requested classical music and my husband sat next to me rubbing my shoulder and talking to me.  

The results are that I have a bulging disk(disc?) at L4-5 and spinal stenosis.    I had that same diagnosis several years ago but didn't have this kind of pain.    Why didn't someone (doctor) even suspect that and why did it take 7 months and me having to demand an MRI to get to this point?   All those co-pays and prescriptions!  

Anyway, I decided to go to my chiropractor who has treated me in the past for this problem before going to the orthopedic.    I believe all he'll do is send me for PT and to me that's just a legal form of torture!     As of today, I've had three "adjustments" and my chiropractor has given me more information than all those other doctors combined.    I do feel some relief and realize I didn't get this way overnight and it won't be a quick fix.    One of the issues is a calcium build up around the vertabrae which of course causes the nerve to be compressed and the pain ensues down my leg.    I'm going to go this route for at least a month and then maybe will go to the ortho to see what he suggests.

Thank you all for your comments, concerns, thoughts and prayers!    I know they have helped me.

On a lighter note, this past weekend we celebrated my mom's 96th birthday!   What a milestone.    She is amazing....reads her Kindle (just ordered her a 2nd one) and is very involved in activities at her nursing home....especially bingo.   They call her the bingo queen because she wins a lot!    Other than loss of her most of her hearing, she is quite the steel magnolia.    Is up to date on the news and follows the current election antics!  

Here's a little collage I made of my kids and grandkids at the birthday party....I can't believe I couldn't find the one with my mama in it!   They brought her some ice creme (her favorite) and she wore a Mexican sombrero while they sang Happy Birthday!  

I'm sure most everyone has big plans for the 4th of July weekend.   We normally go to my sister's lake place and have a big cookout but this year we're going to our son's house and my sister and her family are going to the mountains.

Hope you all have a wonderful and safe 4th!

Fresh and Fruity Summer Drinks

I don't want you to get the idea I'm a big drinker at all but I occasionally do like a glass of white wine or a "girly" drink as my husband calls them.    I only like the fruity drinks, you know the ones that might have a slice of fruit or little umbrella attached.

  
During one of our last visits with my son and DIL she made me a drink she called "Hey Girlfriend" and it was so good.   I don't like to taste the alcohol at all, just the sweetness.    With summer upon us and July 4th coming up, I thought I'd share a couple of my favorite drinks with you all.

 HEY GIRLFRIEND!

• 1 shot Malibu Coconut Rum
•  1 glass ginger ale
• 2 freshly squeezed limes (or more if desired)

 That's it....so easy and soooo good!

 Here's another recipe I found on a site I follow on Facebook

OFFICIAL SUMMER POOL DRINK

• 1 can pineapple juice (46 oz)
• 2 cups Country Time lemonade mix
• 2 cups water
• 2 cans Sprite
• 1 bottle of Pineapple Coconut Rum

via

Obviously, this makes more than one drink!

Another good fruity drink is an Amaretto Sour.  My sister and I always order one whenever we're out with our Misters.

   (via)

Classic Amaretto Sour Recipe 

This delightful combination is among the easiest drinks to make.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 ounces amaretto liqueur
• 3 ounces sweet and sour mix
• Splash of lemon-lime soda, such as 7 Up or Sprite
• Maraschino cherries

Directions

1. Combine and shake the liqueur and mix in a cocktail shaker.

Pour the contents into a glass and add crushed ice and as many cherries as desired.

(source)

Like I said before, I'm not a big drinker at all, but whenever I do order something one of these would be on my list.   In fact, there's a bottle of white wine in my refrigerator now that's been in there over a year! 

"We Have Fire" and Health Update

We saw that note taped to our favorite Chinese restaurant a few years ago and it sure was appropriate for us a couple of weeks ago.

My husband owns a lawn and landscape business and has more business than he can handle sometimes (which is a good thing, right?)   Anyway, Mondays are his "off" days from his City job so he still works on Mondays, just not for "the man".    He has 6 yards in and around our home he cuts on Mondays in addition to his other cutting jobs all over town the rest of the week.   

He was cutting our neighbor's yard and I had gone out to open our back gates so he could pull his truck and trailer into the back yard when he finished.   As I was going to open the gates, I noticed one side was open, and he was running up the driveway yelling for me to move my car, which was parked on our driveway parking pad.     You know how things happen and it seems like it's in slow motion...that's how I felt.  I thought I noticed one of his riding mowers on fire at the end of the driveway but it was just a little flame.    He was trying to get to the water hose but it wouldn't reach where the mower was.    I jumped in my car and moved it to the back yard.    About that time I heard a "whooosh" and the mower was engulfed in flames!    The gasoline was running down the curb toward his new truck parked there and I was terrified it would catch on fire and explode!    I ran in the house and called 911 but the fire seemed to get worse.   He was able to move his new truck across the street but there was no containing the fire.    Finally, after what seemed to be a looong time, the fire department got here, but in reality it was probably no more than 5 minutes or so.    They were able to contain and put out the fire quickly.   

While that was bad enough, what we have experienced with our insurance company has been a nightmare.    I'm pretty familiar with how they work as one of the attorneys I worked with was also an insurance adjuster and we represented insurance companies for years.    They have a number they are authorized to offer but always start low, hoping you will take the first $$ offered.    Without getting into that nightmare, we finally got our "offer" this week and it's a joke!   My husband had to go replace the burned out lawnmower the next day and let me tell you, those things aren't cheap at all.    It's part of his livelihood so he had to replace it quickly.    Thank goodness we had the resources to do that and not have to wait for the joke of what they are offering for "replacement" cost.     He has a lot of equipment insured with this company and I believe they will either (a) raise his rates or (2) cancel us but they need not worry, we won't be staying with them after this experience.    He has never filed a claim before.     Even the adjuster who called us with the replacement cost was surprised his "boss" offered such a low ball figure.    We have not agreed to the offer yet and naturally have not signed a release at this time.

When something happens like this it makes you aware of how quickly things can escalate into a tragedy.   Although we lost a mower, things could have turned out a lot worse if we'd lost the truck or our home had caught on fire.  

Now back to my health update.    I'm not going to get into the whole story, but try and give a brief synopsis of what's been going on.    Back last fall I started having a lot of problems with my left leg and foot.    I went to see my orthopaedic in November and he said he couldn't tell what it was.     Since then I've been to my regular doctor for blood work, a vascular surgeon for an ultrasound, my neurologist for nerve testing, then back to my ortho and regular doctors two more times.    All tests turn out negative and they are at a loss as to what it is.   I've been prescribed some pretty powerful pain medications, none of which help.    I don't like taking medication at all so since they haven't helped I don't take them.   I went back to my regular doctor this week and insisted on him referring me for an MRI which I will have this Friday.    I'm am extremely claustraphobic and although it's supposed to be an "open" MRI I've had that before and it's still scary to me.  

 
My doctor has prescribed an anxiety Rx that I will take, and my husband will be in the room with me talking to me and helping to calm me down.    My doctor said he thinks the problem might be with my back so we'll see.   If the MRI doesn't show anything, I have no idea what my next step will be.    All I know is my leg/foot is getting worse and I'm unable to do things such as housework, shopping, exercising, etc. without being in extreme pain.    This has got to stop!

If you've read this far you get a star today because I know this has been a pretty boring post.    But I haven't been around in a while and just wanted to check in with ya'll.

Hope to be back soon with a little outdoor project I'm hoping get started on soon.