another Dr. visit

Today I had an appt. with Dr. Bishop for bloodwork. He was asking me what has happened since I last was in his office. I won't be going back to see my eye Dr. until early June. By that time whatever vision I have by then is what all I'll be getting. I hope to get most or all of it back. He asked if i had seen Dr. Efobi lately and I told him the last word I got from StoneCrest was that if i had an "exacerbation", to call them and we'd schedule therapy and a visit with Dr. Efobi. I am doing well as to be expected, I guess. The only thing new is weakness in my left arm. Sometimes my right acts up, but it's mostly in my left arm. I thought I was just overdoing it and started carrying my purse and all etc. on my right arm for a change. But the weakness is still there. So he made an appt for me to see Dr. Efobi again, just to check everything out, and to see if anything new has happened. Dr. Bishop did bloodwork today. You'd think that with the Rebif injections I am currently taking; the needle wouldn't hurt. But it still stung going in. (it was in my left arm too) he said I was done with him, but now I am wondering....was I supposed to have made an appt. for next time? When will the results of my bloodwork be done? And will they call me about any results? I was just so relieved to be out of there I didn't think about any of this until I was home all ready. I guess I'll call his ofice later. Gary and I went to see Dr. West(orthapedic) about my right foot and ankle. And he looked at my X-rays and after the usual questions, set me up for an MRI. The MRI showed that I had a old fracture of my 5th metatarsal, and I still had a very limited range of motion after wearing the brace all this time. He mentioned cortisone shot and getting in there with a scope to see what was going on. But he felt he wasn't fully qualified to diagnose any further, so he referred me to Dr. Derr at the Bone and Joint Clinic in Franklin. That Dr. did a "digital" X-ray. Gary and I were looking at the X-rays with him. He showed me the area around my ankle and started talking about how in this certain area of my right ankle there were two bones that were supposed to have "space" between them. This is supposed to happen around the puperty age, and was common. But for some reason mine didn't ever separate, and what ever "trauma/fall" I had so long ago knocked everything out of place and that has been causing all this pain and swelling. From what little medical knowledge I have I guess I was doing fine with not having that "space" between. But it took just the right circumstances to make everything get out of sync. So I have another follow-up with him on February 25th. He wants me to still continue wearing the brace and he commented that I had a very limited range of motion again. And we'll see how I am doing by that visit. My next visit with Dr. Efobi is on February4th. Dr. Bishop asked me if I needed a note from him to my work to shorten my hours...I don't think I'm at that point yet. With the way the economy is going now, Gary and I need all the $$$$ we can get. He's at a new job site in Columbia. He's at some TVA down there working on subcontractors. I don't know how long this new job will last. He was working in Smyrna, until he got laid off @ a week ago. It was the day of my appt. with Dr.Derr in Frankiln, and some one from the Union Hall called the house and was asking if he had his "OSHA 10". And since he did he went straight to the Union Hall, then to take a drug test, the back to the Union Hall to get the details abd address on the new job. He's come home from work so tired in the last two days....don't have a clue what kind of work he's doing. I know I haven't wrote latlely. I have been meaning to, but I get so tired. But that's normal.

We got a call from our wedding photographer. We have to write a few paragraphs about how we met and our wedding and etc. for the "Bridal Supplement" that the Camden Chronicle puts out every year in the spring. Gary told Robin that she could pick out what photos to use. I just hope it's a flattering picture of me. I don't mean to sound vain, but if this is going to be seen by anyone who reads the paper....I want to look good. I was thinking since my sister is Production Manager at the Chronicle.....maybe I could get my picture on the front page of that special supplement? Only time will tell....

doctors, doctors, and more doctors......

just thought I'd keep you up to date with my latest round of Dr. appts.
On Tuesday I went to Southern Hills (here in Nashville) to have an MRI done on my right foot and ankle. This MRI was requested by DR. West, an orthopedic dr/surgeon. For those of you who have had an MRI done before....I don't know what it is...the longer I lay down while that is being done...I get so comfortable and have the weirdest thoughts and visions come into my head, and this last time I fell asleep for a few minutes. I guess it's the humming of the machine and the noises that make me that way.
Any way....I had an appt. with Dr. Maria Pereles (GYN) this afternoon. That went really well, the usual questions were asked, and she didn't find anything out of the ordinary. But she did give me some paperwork to set up for a mammogram. Yes, you read right....I've never had one. So I have to set up that appt. and tell them that this will be my first one. I've heard all kinds of stories, both good and bad, about mammograms; so we will see what happens with me.

Then Gary and I went back to Dr. West's office to find out the results of my MRI. He told me that it showed I had a possible fracture of the 5th Metatarsal on my right foot. He wasn't sure if it was an old fracture that had tried to heal up somewhat, and it might have not healed completely. He asked me if I could remember any trauma to my foot and ankle because I still had a very limited range of motion in my ankle joint. He mentioned of having a scope to get in there and look around to see what actually is going on, and mentioned using "cortisone" for the pain. And he also said that I had arthritis in that ankle which resulted in that limited range of motion. but for all what he told me in that room, he then said he wanted me to see a foot and ankle specialist. Because he felt that he wasn't the best man for the job, to do the procedure as it were. So before Gary and I left the lady behind the desk had my charts and she was going to set an appt. for
me to see a specialist at the Bone and Joint Clinic in Franklin. (that is the same place Gary had his surgery, and Gary's Dad will be having his upcoming surgery for his shoulder pain....what a coincidence....

So I'm just waiting on the call from Dr. West's office to let me know when my appt. in Franklin will be, or who I'll be seeing, but I'll let everybody know when I do.

Then at the end of this month I still have another appt. with Dr. Bishop
(the 29th). I have to remember "no eating after midnight" on the 28th....that night before. I have to work that day(28th), and I won't be home until @8:30pm or later depending on whom is working that night also.
So as soon as I come home I'll have to go straight to bed, make sure my alarm is set early because my appt. is at 8:15am. I'll have to force myself to settle down as soon as possible....working this odd shift has made my sleep schedule all topsy turvy. I am used to staying up till @12:00 midnight or later....


Anyway, I got to be at work tomorrow so I'll write more later. Hope everyone is doing well.

didn't expect this....

I came home from work tonight. Gary tells me he got laid-off from his job. He said he went to file for unemployment after he got his paycheck today. He got it @1:30pm. And had to go back to Concentra for a drug test. From what he tells me taking the drug test was a standard policy in these situations. He said things were really bad when they start laying off the apprentices. And since he was the lowest on the "totem pole" at his site...he was the lucky recipient. Hopefully this won't last too long. He told me that sometimes people can be laid off for six weeks or more. He said we'll be all right, but if things got too bad; he would go up the road and apply at Domino's or if he found work anywhere that he got 20 hours or less at he could still keep getting unemployment until he went back to another job sie. And he also mentioned that he could even put his application in at the union hall to be a substitute teacher, if the occasion ever called for it. A long while back one of his teachers asked him if he had ever had any interest in teaching a class. This instructor said he really seemed to pick up things easily...book wise that is. I guess Gary just has that way about him. A long time ago he was studying to be a teacher, but with so many rules and regulations being enforced....you couldn't teach YOUR class the way you wanted to help all your students. He loves being with kids, playing with them, etc. but with the way the education system is now.....just all the passion left him.
I hope to write on a more positive note in my next post.

my MS injection

Gary did my Rebif injection tonight. I was reviewing him on how to do my needle, and I was kinda mad because he kept watching the TV instead of paying attention to me. It was kind of weird for me as well. Because tonight I was on a new "site" on my body. Either the top of my butt or on the bottom of my arm. Both are difficult places to get unless you have someone helping you. I had a small drop of blood after he pulled the needle out. And he put a bandage on, and when he started to massage the site--it hurt. He must have been doing it too hard with his hand, or he was doing it with his wrist. I told him he'll have to help me watch for any "site-reactions" within the next few days. There is still a very faint spot on my stomach where that bruise came up. my left arm is still slightly weak. But not as bad as it was before. I'm still planning to "baby" it. Tomorrow I have to be at work, I had 3 days off in a row. Seems like they went by so quick.....and when Gary is off on the weekend....I'm going to be at work. Tomorrow will be so cold as well....the high is only going to be low 20's. It seems like forever until the next weekend. I had requested that weekend off because I was trying to make our reservations for an MS meeting in Brentwood. I have called several times and no one has returned my call. I thought "oh well, I'll just have a relaxing weekend at home for a change...." Then yesterday Gary tells me of this place near his jobsite in Smyrna. It's one of those "mystery murder" places. He went there after work today and they didn't have any openings for Saturday night(24th), but there were several places still open on Friday. We couldn't do Friday, I'll still be at work. So we are on the top of the waiting list for Saturday in case there are any cancellations. Not sure what will happen, but I guess if we haven't heard anything by 3pm-4:30pm at the latest...we won't be going. Maybe we'll get to go, maybe we won't......

Dr's , Dr's & more Dr's

I am off work today and all I feel like is "to be lazy". I feel so exhausted and tired, although I haven't done very much. Gary and I both got up this morning, I made his breakfast and lunch, although I felt like collapsing on the floor while doing it. Kissed him goodbye, then promptly went back to bed. My body must have needed rest because I didn't wake up till @10:30am. I didn't sleep very well the night before. I never could get comfortable, whether I was on my side or my back. I was burning up the whole night, (not a fever-just temp wise, it seemed so hot upstairs), and I had a slight headache.
Ever since the middle of last week my left arm has been hurting. Hurting like I did 10,000 reps with the 5lb weight barbells, on that arm alone kind of hurt. The right arm is fine. I thought it might be because I carry my purse, my lunch to work and whatever else on that arm, like I am used to. I thought if I use my right arm instead....the left would have a chance to rest. But no, the feeling it still there. I know this feeling is caused a lot due to my MS. I need to pull out those exercise sheets that "Renee" at StoneCrest gave me and see what they list for arm exercises. The words keep playing over in my head....."if you don't use it-you'll lose it". I was looking up on the Internet arm weakness with MS last night, and as I was reading that I got to thinking, will this get worse, will I have to go back to therapy, will I eventually have to use the aid of a cane or walker( like in the video I saw on the web last night..) and also my mind was thinking how much my medical bills are piling up, and since this is a new year we have to meet the deductible on the insurance. And every new thing that comes up...there's another Dr. for that.
The last time I was at Southern Hills I went to see Dr. Bishop about my right ankle that has been bothering me for god knows how long. Again I had to repeat the story about how I went to see Dr. Berger in Bruceton, how he just gave me an ACE bandage and sent me on my way.....Dr Bishop referred me to a Dr. West in that same complex. And when he looked at it he was taken back by how long i had put up with this and after looking at the X-rays he told me that I had a heel spur on the bottom of my right foot. Plus there was some kind of a white mass in the area where the bottom of my leg meets the top of my foot. He said I could have some ligaments/tendons broken, torn or damaged. And I needed to do an MRI just to see exactly what was going on in there. He asked if i played a lot of sports, and commented that I had a "very limited range of motion in that joint". I had to laugh to myself....me? the sporty type? The closest I ever got to sports was watching on the TV. All I ever did was stand on my feet @10 hours a day at work in Bruceton, then try to walk at least two miles at the park after work. Then after I quit Tiger-Mart I was spending most of my last few days in Bruceton packing up things at the trailor, and stressing over last minute wedding details, and doing the usual pre-moving details (i.e. disconnecting phone, cable and making sure all your mail gets transfered, and other things like that). Is life considered a sport? I think I let my own personal health take a back seat to working and making sure the bills were paid. Plus I had no health insurance at my job, so that was a major factor as well.
So to make a long story short....I have an appt. on the 19th to have an MRI of my foot and ankle done. Then on the 20th, I all ready have an appt. with Dr. Pereles (GYN), at 1:20, for the usual female stuff....., then at 3:30 that afternoon I'll be going back to Dr. West's office to see the results of the MRI and see what he says after that. Then on the 29th, I have another appt. with Dr. Bishop, this is the "no eating after 12pm the night before" appt. So I guess he's going to draw blood work, and see what my levels are and etc, he asked when was the last time I had a complete check-up/ physical....to which Gary's Dad quickly said......"it's been too long". So who knows I could be on a whole new set of medications after that.
Work is still work......I am still in the deli at Wal-Mart and some days it's all right and sometimes I find my mind wandering, wondering how long before I can get trained in a new department. the last night I was at work "Betty" made a comment that she could tell I had been back here--it was actually clean for a change. I am still on the 11am-8pm shift so i don't really feel the need to learn how to officially close the deli for the night unless my schedule changes. Gary said he wished I could get a different shift eventually....he misses not having me at home on the weekends when he's off work. He said it just wasn't right not having me at home.
We were talking one night, and I was telling him I would like to be on a different shift eventually as well. It had always been a "pipe dream" of mine to take some classes somewhere and get a better job than Wal-Mart. I just had no idea what I wanted to do/be when i grew up. After I had made supper one night....Gary was remarking how he thought it would be a wonderful idea if I enrolled in that cooking school here in Nashville-"The art institute-culinary program". He knows how much I enjoy watching the food network, trying out new recipes and how I am always into the kitchen kind of stuff. I can't do anything like that just now...with starting a new job and all. And having all my Dr. visits , I might have to get surgery because of my ankle, he did say I'd need some physical therapy during that last visit. Plus I need to work to get some money coming in to help pay off the medical bills. And if i changed my availability at work now..I'd get even less hours and that would mean less money for bills. Plus you'd have to consider the money involved for tuition, books, materials, gas to and from school and etc. We just can't afford it now. And is a profession like that going to be profitable in the future? The name of the game is" how much money do you make a year?" And the top $$$ amount wins. How much money you make a year determines how successful you are in today's world, and that makes me really sad. Write more later-hope everyone is doing well.

work as I expected it

I went to work Sunday, not expecting much from the day. I'm back there and it was like I thought. At least 5 people at one point and not nearly as busy as it was on Saturday. What's up with that?? That was so ridiculous! And I know "who" makes the schedules.....ahhh the joys of being "just an indian"- and not a chief". Day went rather smoothly. Dragged on until the time for my lunch came around then it was all down hill from there. We ordered pizza for dinner, ate that and watched "One Missed Call" before going to bed. I made the comment "I am on a totally different schedule compared to yours now". Being since I was still wide awake and wanting to get on the computer. Gary said "I know-and I don't like it". He's just waiting for the day I can get a schedule similar to his so we can spend more time together, and have the same days off. I felt really bad on Sunday also, it was my sister's birthday. I was used to going to my Mom's and having dinner whenever "birthdays" came around. Also used to having weekends off and going back home to see familiar places and faces....I can only do that if I schedule them off way in advance now. Which I am getting the next to the last weekend off of this month. My therapist wanted me to go to a meeting for MS in Brentwood. I called and called to reserve our spots and to try and get more information. But my call was never returned. That really pissed me off! you'd think at least someone would have the courtesy to return a call and tell you that all the spots were filled up. Maybe I didn't call early enough. I also got a letter about another meeting in Franklin, hosted by my Rebiff nurse, Denise. There was a mistake printed in the letter and it is actually Tueday, instead of Wednesday. Gary's class is on Tuesday......so we can't go.
Gary had his final exam last week. He did great on the first two problems.....but on the third? Due to a simple mathmatical error on his part.....he got the wrong result and used that "error" to calculate the rest of the problem. Problem was he didn't realize his error until the teacher pointed it out to him as he was grading the paper. But there is an upside to this....Gary was part of a class that had to be combined with another class during the semester. This other class was taught a different way to work this problem. And the teacher also realized that several other people from Gary's group made the same "mathmatical error". So just to make sure everyone was on the same page....this teacher decided to give all those who failed, another try.
Apparently this "second teacher" was teaching his class a totally different method, one which Gary's instructor had never seen. Gary said he didn't know when the test would be, but his teacher was going to review the material with the class again before the test was to be taken again. let's hope this time Gary passes with flying colors.

First post on my blog....Not sure what to write at this time. Came home so tired and pissed off from work, I was ranting to my hubby about the day. But know all the emotion has left me. When I get more time, I'll write more later.