Yeah, it's been about 2 weeks since my procedure, and I haven't posted since the night before.
My bad, you can yell at me about this when you're capable of understanding, Andrea.
Anyway, it went without a hitch, however the only wrinkle is that I've used up all of my FSA (Flex Spending Account) for the year on the previous round of Physical Therapy (8 weeks of hell) so I can't afford to do the PT (Physical Therapy) that I'm supposed to be doing - why can't I afford it, you ask?
Because of this little thing called a co-pay. Cigna considers anyone not my Primary Care Physician (PCP) to be a "specialist" and instead of a $20 co-pay, I have a $40 co-pay.
At 3 visits a week, that's $120 I don't have and can't spend.
So, I have to do exercises at home and pray that my shoulder doesn't freeze again.
On other fronts, my gardens are doing very well. I had a neighbor give me a number of canna lilies , in addition to an iris (exact variety unknown at this point) which I put in the side garden. They're in back of the elephant ear and hostas, and when they establish will provide an excellent backdrop for the plants in front.
Your Aunt Sheba gave me a number of moonflower seeds, of which at this writing I've only been able to get 2 to sprout - (I have high hopes for the next round of sprouting, as I'm trying a different technique - besides, if I get more to sprout, I will be able to trade with a neighbor for a climbing rose (unfortunately, Wikipedia doesn't have a page for them, so no link - but as soon as I get them, I'll put up a picture so you'll know what I'm talking about) )
The mints and thyme plants your Grandpa Don gave me are doing well, I'm really hoping they overwinter this year, as the last patch of mint didn't survive.
I have also started a pot of grape tomatoes, so hopes are that they'll take off and I'll get another huge bush of them this year.
Well, at work so must go for now. I'll write more later, probably during lunch tonight.
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label diabetes. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Further frozen shoulder update
Okay, here's what transpired on Thursday when I spoke with the surgeon.
Essentially, he and his resident both agreed that I have a frozen shoulder. (Big duh there...)
So, Wednesday May 14th, I'm going to undergo a procedure known as Manipulation Under Anesthesia,(MUA) rather than Arthroscopic Adhesive Capsulotomy (AAC).
Essentially, for the MUA, I will be given a nerve block in addition to being put under general anesthesia, most likely using a gas such as halothane.
When I'm under, the surgeon will then manipulate my arm, serving to break up the adhesive capsulitis , and then wake me up.
The reason behind MUA instead of AAC is primarily because of my diabetes, because diabetics have a higher rate of infection. And since this is technically a non invasive (read as no cutting involved) procedure, there is zero chance of infection.
Then, I'm to go back to physical therapy for another 8 weeks to make sure that as the shoulder heals itself, it doesn't heal back frozen.
Should this not work out, then I'll be a candidate for the AAC.
And no, this isn't why I'm a crabby SOB.
Essentially, he and his resident both agreed that I have a frozen shoulder. (Big duh there...)
So, Wednesday May 14th, I'm going to undergo a procedure known as Manipulation Under Anesthesia,(MUA) rather than Arthroscopic Adhesive Capsulotomy (AAC).
Essentially, for the MUA, I will be given a nerve block in addition to being put under general anesthesia, most likely using a gas such as halothane.
When I'm under, the surgeon will then manipulate my arm, serving to break up the adhesive capsulitis , and then wake me up.
The reason behind MUA instead of AAC is primarily because of my diabetes, because diabetics have a higher rate of infection. And since this is technically a non invasive (read as no cutting involved) procedure, there is zero chance of infection.
Then, I'm to go back to physical therapy for another 8 weeks to make sure that as the shoulder heals itself, it doesn't heal back frozen.
Should this not work out, then I'll be a candidate for the AAC.
And no, this isn't why I'm a crabby SOB.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
March 15th 2008
Okay, I've really been slack about posting.
My apologies, hon, but I've had a lot going on, and still do.
Medically, I have had 2 warts removed from my leg, my blood sugar I believe has been stabilized, (more on that in a minute), gone off Chantix and on to Wellbutrin for the smoking.
I'm in physical therapy/rehab for my frozen shoulder, 3 times a week for at least 8 weeks, to get my shoulder unstuck.
Dolly Parton has rescheduled her concert due to medical concerns.
(I.e., due to the size of her breasts and her age, her back's giving out and she's been forced to reschedule...) regardless, she's still appearing at the Fox April 29th, just 6 weeks later than originally expected. Grandpa Don and I are planning on going... we have excellent seats, too.
I'm currently up to 40 units of insulin daily, in addition to taking the oral med, Metformin twice a day.
This has brought my morning blood sugar down to "normal" levels - this view is confirmed by what Dr. Springer has said about my AiC levels being excellent.
I'm very seriously considering changing jobs - I don't know where that's going to go though. I've been with this company for 13 years now. More on that in a bit.
This morning, a tornado blew through downtown Atlanta - I saw firsthand the missing windows at the Westin Peachtree Plaza, although thankfully I was at home, in bed when it rolled through the city.
I saw the missing windows downtown because I went to check on Uncle Bobby & Aunt Sheba's house, and they currently live on the side of town that was affected.
They're currently in Tennessee on vacation.
That's about all I got now, I'm going to go eat lunch now.
Love you!!
My apologies, hon, but I've had a lot going on, and still do.
Medically, I have had 2 warts removed from my leg, my blood sugar I believe has been stabilized, (more on that in a minute), gone off Chantix and on to Wellbutrin for the smoking.
I'm in physical therapy/rehab for my frozen shoulder, 3 times a week for at least 8 weeks, to get my shoulder unstuck.
Dolly Parton has rescheduled her concert due to medical concerns.
(I.e., due to the size of her breasts and her age, her back's giving out and she's been forced to reschedule...) regardless, she's still appearing at the Fox April 29th, just 6 weeks later than originally expected. Grandpa Don and I are planning on going... we have excellent seats, too.
I'm currently up to 40 units of insulin daily, in addition to taking the oral med, Metformin twice a day.
This has brought my morning blood sugar down to "normal" levels - this view is confirmed by what Dr. Springer has said about my AiC levels being excellent.
I'm very seriously considering changing jobs - I don't know where that's going to go though. I've been with this company for 13 years now. More on that in a bit.
This morning, a tornado blew through downtown Atlanta - I saw firsthand the missing windows at the Westin Peachtree Plaza, although thankfully I was at home, in bed when it rolled through the city.
I saw the missing windows downtown because I went to check on Uncle Bobby & Aunt Sheba's house, and they currently live on the side of town that was affected.
They're currently in Tennessee on vacation.
That's about all I got now, I'm going to go eat lunch now.
Love you!!
Monday, February 4, 2008
February 4th
Sorry, I got a little slack about the posting - but I'll fill you in on last week - it started with a diabetes class on Monday and Tuesday, during which they started with what to expect in the way of complications in case you don't manage the disease on day one and then moved to how to manage blood sugar by label reading and portion control on day two.
All of that made sense to me, however I wasn't happy about learning that I now would essentially be required to eat 3 meals and a snack daily; in addition, the schedule they were proposing was designed with someone who works day shift in mind, not some schlub like me who works 2nd shift.
With a little tweaking, I did manage to get it worked out, however I'm still having problems with the whole "eating at least 3 times a day" thing. I've gotten by for over 30 years on coffee in the morning with my single main meal late in the day. Only rarely did I actually eat breakfast, and that was closer to brunch than breakfast.
Honestly, I am finding it the hardest thing in the world to eat after I get up. My concession to this has been to do yogurt and toast or a biscuit in the morning, since it's light and still fits into the meal plan I was given.
On the other hand, I did get some things done around the house, putting two shelves up in the kitchen to increase my storage space (wonder of wonders, I now have 2 free shelves in the pantry, in addition to increased storage under the kitchen sink for larger pots and pans)
Friday, I went to see the Dr about the results of the MRI of my shoulder - let me tell you, that was an interesting discussion, because when he opened with "I'm not sure how to tell you this..." I was honestly expecting to hear the worst - but then he followed with "nothing showed up...minor degeneration in the shoulder joint, but that wasn't near enough to cause my issues, no bone spur, nothing else out of place...so I'm at a loss to explain why it's happened"
Thankfully, he decided that the best course of action will be to start with a physical therapist, so that's next on that agenda. My insurance is just going to love me.
Then, we got to discussing my diabetes, and based on the average of my blood sugar readings according to the glucometer, he decided to increase my insulin from 10 units to 15, with the goal of getting it to 20 units to see if that will bring my readings into more of a "normal" range. (That being around 100, I'm currently averaging around 150)
I'm sure my insurance is just loving me right now...I've had a sleep study ($2500) that discovered that I sleep on my side and therefore have no problems with sleep apnea, an MRI, (another couple thousand) that discovered nothing wrong, diabetes classes ($2000), and now a physical therapist.
I hate getting old.
All of that made sense to me, however I wasn't happy about learning that I now would essentially be required to eat 3 meals and a snack daily; in addition, the schedule they were proposing was designed with someone who works day shift in mind, not some schlub like me who works 2nd shift.
With a little tweaking, I did manage to get it worked out, however I'm still having problems with the whole "eating at least 3 times a day" thing. I've gotten by for over 30 years on coffee in the morning with my single main meal late in the day. Only rarely did I actually eat breakfast, and that was closer to brunch than breakfast.
Honestly, I am finding it the hardest thing in the world to eat after I get up. My concession to this has been to do yogurt and toast or a biscuit in the morning, since it's light and still fits into the meal plan I was given.
On the other hand, I did get some things done around the house, putting two shelves up in the kitchen to increase my storage space (wonder of wonders, I now have 2 free shelves in the pantry, in addition to increased storage under the kitchen sink for larger pots and pans)
Friday, I went to see the Dr about the results of the MRI of my shoulder - let me tell you, that was an interesting discussion, because when he opened with "I'm not sure how to tell you this..." I was honestly expecting to hear the worst - but then he followed with "nothing showed up...minor degeneration in the shoulder joint, but that wasn't near enough to cause my issues, no bone spur, nothing else out of place...so I'm at a loss to explain why it's happened"
Thankfully, he decided that the best course of action will be to start with a physical therapist, so that's next on that agenda. My insurance is just going to love me.
Then, we got to discussing my diabetes, and based on the average of my blood sugar readings according to the glucometer, he decided to increase my insulin from 10 units to 15, with the goal of getting it to 20 units to see if that will bring my readings into more of a "normal" range. (That being around 100, I'm currently averaging around 150)
I'm sure my insurance is just loving me right now...I've had a sleep study ($2500) that discovered that I sleep on my side and therefore have no problems with sleep apnea, an MRI, (another couple thousand) that discovered nothing wrong, diabetes classes ($2000), and now a physical therapist.
I hate getting old.
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