Hope in sight

I got an appointment with the pain management doctor tomorrow (Tuesday March 1st) to evaluate my neck MRI. I think that means that we can do an injection every Thursday, one week on my low back and the next on my neck. (It takes 2 weeks to jump through the hoops and have the next injection on each individual area)

I'll let you know if it's going to happen this way. That would surely shortcut the process. I keep praying that it happens fast (but in the Lord's time of course) so I can go home(r) and get back to my life.

First Injection, it's a start

Last Thursday I had my first injection in the low back. Today was the first visit with the doctor for follow-up and make the future plans.

The first one was helpful. I usually needed to lean over a grocery basket to walk thru the store. Friday I walked in to Walmart and out without hanging over the basket. Woo-hoo!!!

I didn't get any relief for my painful feet yet so the doctor decided to skip the second shot in the same place and opted for a different approach. She's going to insert a catheter and inject the medication on several levels down the low back. We're both thinking that should effect the feet.

It will take two weeks to meet the insurance guidelines for each successive injection BUT, I also need my neck fixed so we're going to try to alternate between low back and neck and then I can have an injection every Thursday. Time will tell if that works, it's great in theory.

There is still no light at the end of the tunnel yet so we don't know when we'll be home. When I finally do see the light, I may be fearful that it's the train and not the end of the tunnel.

Busy Week

Busy Busy!!!

Paul and I have been in San Francisco visiting Denny, Gilroy having dinner with Tim and Irene Day, Elk Grove celebrating Candy's birthday, Lake Mindon (just north of Sacramento) visiting with long time friends Sandi and Duane Talbot, and finally Paradise visiting my dad, Kimmie, Julie, and Kelsey and their families. All this between Tuesday and Saturday, see what I mean?

Oh, did I forget to mention that I spent 4 hours today with Kelsey and Kimmie's families watching the Super Bowl. AND, we rooted for Green Bay, HOORAY!!!

I'll do a little more visiting for a few days and then we'll meander back to Las Vegas for the next round of doctor's appointments. Tuesday is Paul's follow-up and Thursday is my first back injection. Pray for me.

Unexpected Change of Plans

Some of you know that I was planning to use my two weeks without doctors appointments to go to Houston Texas to visit Lyn and her family. Paul drove the little RAV4 down from Homer to leave it with the motor home so we could tow a car when we travel. All looked settled. We would leave Monday morning and start the 3000 mile round trip.

Sunday afternoon I got a call from my dad and Kimmie that my brother was in bad shape. He has been having chemotherapy for Acute Aggressive Leukemia since June/July. We all thought he was 'out of the woods' and having his last treatment when we got the news that the leukemia was back in full force. It looks like he's as bad off as he was in June when the told him he had 2 weeks to live.

Needless to say, I'm in California to visit my brother! Paul arrived from Alaska Sunday evening and we hit the road Monday at noon.

Paul and I parked the motor home in Morgan Hill (85 miles south of UCSF hospital) at the Thousand Trails campground. From there we drove the little car and visited Denny for 1 1/2 hours Tuesday afternoon.

His spirits are up and he's confident and patient. His energy was pretty good too. He was able to talk fairly clearly (for being on pain meds) and hold a thought beyond interruptions. I feel better now that I've seen him and talked to him. He's not out of the woods yet and he has some pretty serious junk to endure but it looks encouraging.

Since I still have a small break between doctors visits, we're going to visit friends and family for a couple days. I will go back and see Denny again before we leave Morgan Hill and tonight we're having dinner with Tim and Irene Day. We've been friends since 1969 or 1970.