More Medical update

Well, I hate to update the medical info since it's so incomplete.
In the last week or 2:
I've had my right thumb injected to ease the arthritis pain.
Paul had an MRI on his right shoulder (but no report till Feb 1st.)
I had an impression for a TMJ splint (probably finished Feb 1st)
I had an MRI of my left shoulder (and my report is Feb 3rd.)
Paul did another sleep study (he's lost enough weight that his C-PAP needs adjusting)
Paul had an x-ray of his lap-band to find a leak (which they didn't find yet)
In between we've seen a few movies: Hugo, War House, The Artist, and We Bought A Zoo (all were good)

That's it in a nutshell, discouraging to us both that we aren't home in Homer. The weather here is upper 60's to 70's, NOT pleasant to a hot body like me.

As soon as we can complete the necessary medical care, we'll be home.

Karen's Orthopedic Doctor visit

Just as I figured, there's nothing broken or fractured so the doctor applied to the insurance for an MRI.

Unfortunately, they figure 2 weeks for approval, another week or more to get in to a machine and another week to get in to the doctor for the diagnosis. And that's only the beginning if there is any damage that needs repair.

Meanwhile, Paul has his MRI on Monday afternoon (tomorrow).

Las Vegas, the details

Starting with December 26th 2011: We got a message that Paul's brother-in-law had passed away that morning. (That was his sister, Vyonne's, husband) For the next couple days we contemplated the options. Fly down to the funeral together or Karen stay home to care of the house, cat, keeping the home fires burning, as well as visiting teaching, knitting group and an occasional opportunities to help others.

Then, Wednesday morning December 28th, I was directing Paul to back the truck and log splitter into the driveway when I slipped and fell. I landed on my shoulder then butt, then head. (There probably would have been less damage if I'd landed on my head first instead of last) Since our health insurance is only available in Las Vegas and the fall indicated a torn rotator cuff, it became obvious that I was flying to Las Vegas WITH Paul. Apparently the Lord knew something I didn't and wanted me in Las Vegas.

After the funeral, Paul saw his doctor and found out that his lap band has a leak. Wow, that's something we couldn't have handled in Alaska. Sooooo on Jan 25th they will do a fluoroscope with dye to see where the leak is and replace the offending part.

Also, he has had ongoing pain and loss of range of motion in his right shoulder. Now's the time to research that. Also, with losing 30+ pounds, he needs his c-pap sleep study re-done and the machine adjusted.

Oh, and it's time to have my thumb injected for the arthritis as long as we are here. That could have been done in Homer but it is cheaper here if we are here anyway.

AS of today, I see orthopedic surgeon tomorrow and take next step in diagnosis for shoulder. (I expect he'll apply to the insurance company for an MRI).

Monday Jan. 16th, I have my thumb injected.

Following Monday Jan 23, Paul does pre-registration at hospital for floroscope.

Wednesday, Jan 25 is the floroscope.

We have space in our calendar to fill in with more appointments and hopefully we'll get the calls for both MRI's soon.

Any Questions? Kind of a mess, huh?

I saw on the news the other day that Cordova Alaska was declared a state of emergency because of huge amounts of snow fall. Cordova is in our stake but over the mountains fom us and they got tons more snow than we did in Homer. Our home is fine and our geography is such that we are protected from the initial onslought from Pacific storms by a mountain. Places like Cordova, Seward and Valdez are more like a funnel for the storms.

Can you believe we're BACK in Las Vegas?

Long story but a funeral and my fall has us stuck here yet again.

We are currently on our way to Long Beach for Paul's daughter's banquet for nomination to S. Cal. Teacher of the year. Tomorrow I should be able to expand on the reasons we're down here.

I've talked to friends at home and I've seen the weather in Cordova, Alaska but Homer is not pummeled.

Much more later,
Karen

Home at last

Homer at last!

Paul and I made it home yesterday evening. It took us a week and a half but we made it.

We visited Chris in San Clemente, Sara from Huntington Beach, Candy in Elk Grove, Kimberly, Julie, Kelsey and Dad in Paradise, Bobby from Brookings and Kristi in Portland. I saw all 7 of my children between Nov. 24th and Dec 9th, That's no small accomplishment, they live in Oregon, Colorado and California.

We cleaned out the motorhome and put in storage in Chehalis WA. It's only one flight home from Seattle and one flight back.

Paul is doing very well with his weight loss. He's down about 30 pounds. He has a VERY quick recovery from his surgery too. We're both very happy to be home.

Fantastic News

Paul had his lap band 2 weeks ago today. The doctor said it was a difficult surgery and Paul would be very bruised. Well, he had almost no bruising at all. He has 5 very small incisions on his abdomen and tape over them. He came home the following day and only took 2 doses of pain meds. Wow, he did great.

These last 2 weeks he had to be on a liquid diet. There goes Thanksgiving dinner!!! Instead, we drove to Cedar City Utah to visit my son and his family. We were away from tempting foods and had a wonderful visit with the 3 grand kids too. Courtlyn had a loose tooth for 2 months that she wouldn't let her daddy or mom pull. BUT, she did let grandma pull it, Wow, I'm honored.

Her parents teased her about how much the tooth fairy would leave under her pillow for several minutes. I whispered in her ear that grandma would give her $5 for it and she answered in a heartbeat, "YES, that's more than the tooth fairy would pay". I told her I've pulled many teeth from my own children but that's the first grandchild tooth I ever pulled and it would be a good souvenir. We both won!

We went to the doctor yesterday for Paul's first follow-up appointment. He was very pleased with the nearly painless outcome and 15 pounds weight loss. He said we can go home and have another doctor do the lap band adjustments.

Wow, this is the shortest visit for doctors here in Las Vegas we've had so far.

We made flight arrangements for Dec. 13th. We will visit several children on our way to the airport and store our motor home again. See you soon.

3 Weeks and No Internet

Surprised to hear from me? I'm surprised to be here, lol.

I haven't had internet for the last 3 weeks because the download time on the air card for the computer was used up until this weekend. And the wifi at the RV park is off and on (mostly OFF).

So to get you up to speed, we are back in Las Vegas and ready for Paul's lap band procedure this coming Wednesday. We have been waiting for the approval from the insurance and then waiting for the next opening in the doctor's schedule.

Wednesday morning at 6:30am Paul goes to Desert Springs Hospital and will spend the night. The procedure is only an hour but with heart and diabetes, they probably want to watch him and be sure he's fine. He should come home Thursday.

The doctor told Paul that he only needs to spend 3 weeks or so after the surgery before he can go back to Alaska. WOW, this will be the shortest visit here, EVER!!!