Friday, December 07, 2012

Another Surgery


BLUF: Michael will have what we believe will be outpatient surgery on 11 Dec. We ask you pray for no drug reactions, no complications, total fix and the flu bug to LEAVE OUR HOUSE (arrived Thursday)!

Those who know Michael well, may have noticed he's been "off" his game lately. He seems pre-occupied at times, a bit grouchy  tense when not engaged in a conversation, he isn't eating much, isn't working out much, often is seen holding various spots on his stomach and staring into space. Some of you have noted he isn't on outings with the kids and I  on his days off (no marriage problems to report).  I have been authorized to share his secret; he has been in chronic pain for months. He has had many sleepless nights of pain. I have no idea how he has managed to keep up the pace he does, feeling as poorly as he has.


For a man who doesn't take drugs, had never had an I.V. or stay in the hospital, and is in good shape, this year has been a rough one. 

It started with Acid Reflux which turned into Gall Bladder, and was pooh-poohed by the clinic until it was acute and gangrenous. Surgery was a rough recovery. His body didn't like the drugs, there were a couple of complications. Then the heart scare in June/July.  While we were traveling he began to have sharp pains in his right "side." 

We got back to Misawa and all our docs had moved. This meant starting over with doctors who don't know you and are looking only at records.  Michael had a couple of appointments with whoever he could get into when it was particularly bad. Unfortunately, it would seem some docs don't look further than the "obvious." The obvious in this situation is that Michael is "older," was complaining of lots of pain when working out, and had just had surgery. The obvious dx was "surgery adhesion" or, you know, someone trying to game the system and get out of  PT tests. The cure seems to be lots of laxative? 

We googled the pains he was having and none of the things we found looked good. Michael continued to wait. It seemed pretty pointless to continue going to appointments as they kept saying, "It's surgery adhesions and you'll need to learn to live with the pain." 
Unique pain management techniques? 

Michael continued to cope with the pain (non-medically - which explains the tense blank looks, the deep breaths, the holding of stomach). He finally went in to see his new PCM (Primary Care Physician), who BTW we really like. Nolan has seen him too. He listens.  He ordered an ultrasound.  Five months of chronic pain and finally a test. They found a hernia and referred him to surgery. The Surgeon wanted another test as he thought he found something else.  They discovered two more hernias. I maintain it's all the crunches... ::snort::  

In any event Michael will have a triple hernia surgery on the 11th of Dec. He is counting down the days to feeling better. This should be three laprascopic incisions and should be out patient.  He will be on convalescent leave until 25 Dec.  You won't see our family around much because the winter driving ban on "someone" has been reinstated....so don't worry...we're just cocooning. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

Day 7


Oy vey! Nolan had flu-like symptoms yesterday. He seems to be better, but Arielle is laid low today.  I'm praying this thing STOPS....we don't need a flu bug right now. 

Michael wasn't feeling well today, Arielle wasn't feeling well today, I was feeling worn out...we spent a restful day at home. 

Tonight we talked about Jesus as the Holy One.  Ah, look at Jared on the tree. ::grin:: 

Clue number 7 was "I'm as cool as a cucumber!" It didn't take long for them to figure this out!  



I had heard this was a good movie and got it for one of the gifts. It was - but it is a tear-jerker too!  I do believe the message to cherish every moment will stay with us.  We watched it tonight. 

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...

SHAKING IN MISAWA


It's been quite a while since we've had a real rattler. Tonight, as dinner baked, Stacia screamed. I had just sent her up the stairs with the laundry, Michael was taking the trash out, Arielle was sick in bed, the boys were playing on the computer upstairs....

Stacia doesn't usually scream when putting laundry away....it seemed the house was shaking. About the time I realized this the rest of the kids realized it. Stacia is our advance earthquake alarm...she lets us know if there is a HINT of a quake and sometimes she's right. Tonight she was.

7.3....it was long...it was loud as things began to fall.... I began to get "land sick." ::snort::  I felt confident to remove bungee cords from the shelves a few months ago.....Zander got under the table and was promptly beaned by the MOCA prayer journal notebook. 
Notice the laptop was sliding off too

The clock fell off the wall

Several dolls fell off their perch

Basket of computer cords

A medium quake....they fell over but none of my pictures fell off the shelf

It was enough to get our attention...maybe our last good rattler before we move. The power stayed on, the water and gas are fine, no tsunami warnings and the phone lines stayed up....all's well.

Choosing Joy!
©2012 D.R.G.
~Coram Deo~
Living all of life before the face of God...