Dear So and So

[BleeckerSt_Girl]

Mimi, my thoughts are with you. What a horrible ordeal to go through.

[Catrin]

Mom is still in the hospital, day 13. Personally. I am beginning to wonder if they took out too much of her lung...and they didn't take as much as they wanted to in the first place. Emphysema is a huge complicating factor - they were "pretty sure" her lungs could handle the surgery but we have to wonder. Then again, what choice did they have? Lung cancer is so aggressive...

[Biciclista]

ah {{{{Catrin}}}}, I'm so sorry.. I can't imagine removing lung tissue from a woman with emphysema.
Donald is on day 21 in the hospital and he's got a tube down his throat from another 5 hour surgery. I am hoping they got the leak stopped. The anesthesiologist couldn't sedate him the way he wanted because of his lack of clotting factor... they've been giving him anticoagulants 3 times a day for 3 weeks. DUH... They're going to wake him up this morning.

[channlluv]

{{{Catrin}}}

{{{Mimi}}}

{{{Don}}}



Roxy

[Owlie]

((RD))
((Mimi))
((Catrin))

Dear body,
I wake up with severe stomach pain the morning of the final? Thanks so much...

[Catrin]

ah {{{{Catrin}}}}, I'm so sorry.. I can't imagine removing lung tissue from a woman with emphysema.
Donald is on day 21 in the hospital and he's got a tube down his throat from another 5 hour surgery. I am hoping they got the leak stopped. The anesthesiologist couldn't sedate him the way he wanted because of his lack of clotting factor... they've been giving him anticoagulants 3 times a day for 3 weeks. DUH... They're going to wake him up this morning.

They did a pulmonary test prior to the surgery to determine the odds of her lungs being able to handle it...but of course "tests" aren't the real thing.

I am so sorry to hear about Donald, hang in there! (((Mimi & Donald)))

Oh, and apparently I've something called "degenerative disc disease" in my neck - sounds like osteoarthritis to me - that my whiplash of a month ago apparently fired ip. Well, compared with my Mom, Donald, several women in my church with very serious health problems, I can't complain.

[Biciclista]

yes you can complain. If it's any help, i too have some of that degenerative disc disease. Work on your posture and it won't get much worse. i think i was in my 40's when i got that diagnosis. it is pretty normal i think.

[Catrin]

yes you can complain. If it's any help, i too have some of that degenerative disc disease. Work on your posture and it won't get much worse. i think i was in my 40's when i got that diagnosis. it is pretty normal i think.

They said I've moderate arthritis in my cervical spine, and my heart just plummeted. My mom has quite severe arthritis in the same place and has resisted having surgery for it for years. Hopefully I won't truly take after her in this department.

My posture is better than it once was, and I do think proper strength training helps such things. No reason not to continue

[Crankin]

Mimi, please keep us posted. Thinking of both of you.
Catrin, any more news on your mom? It must be hard to work, when you are getting changing information so often. You are luck your sister is a nurse, to filter some of the stuff.
I think anyone who is over 40 and has been pounding his/her body with exercise has degenerative disc disease. That's pretty much what my rheumatologist told me. Yea, this morning when the core/weights instructor got in my face and yelled/made a face, I said, "Don't you scream at me." I wanted to say, "I'm 58 f****ing years old and I have injuries/chronic things in every part of my body right now. And, it's 5:30 AM..." Not sure if I like this new gym, but it's cheaper, so I will just ignore the queen bees. Maybe they can't ride up a big hill.

[shootingstar]

{{Jack and I wish, Mimi and Don lots of good vibes and strength.}}

Catrin, I really hope your mother pulls through!!

[NbyNW]

Mimi, so sad that Don has been suffering so much these last few weeks. I know it must be hard on you too.

A part of me is glad to hear that he woke up, and that he is well enough to complain about the tube. Here's hoping he won't need it for much longer!

Last year I sent a digital picture frame to a friend in ICU, pre-loaded with photos of people and places that she loved. It seemed to help brighten an otherwise dreary situation.

[Crankin]

Good news, Mimi!