Long Overdo Rant - Personal Family Story

Clip Art from Microsoft Office

Dear Friends,

Today is my RANT DAY - something I have never done before on my blog  I usually tend to not get involved with controversial issues because I don't exactly want lots of negative comments.  But after yesterday's shooting at an elementary school, I have to say something.

My heart goes out to the parents of the students involved.  This was another senseless act that could probably have been prevented.   I'm not Einstein and my brain  isn't always all there, but we need to wake up in this country.   I know this is a very complex issue and one that is not going to be solved anytime soon.  But we need to start somewhere.  

When are we ever going to stand up to the gun control issue.  I value the freedoms we have in the US, but when it comes to guns, why do we need so much freedom.   Yes I know our Constitution says we have the right to bear arms.  But I don't remember where it ever said we had the right to kill people!  And apparently the public can't be very responsible to having those same guns so readily available.  Just yesterday a twitter friend from another country made the comment "The US's gun laws are too lenient!"  My sentiments exactly!

I live in the "hunting state of Wisconsin" and am apt to have everyone I know down on my neck.   I have nothing against hunters using their guns to hunt (although I find this idea repulsive myself because I love the same animals they hunt).   But I don't like those same guns sitting around at home in a closet or gun case that can easily be broken into.  If you are a hunter, I certainly hope you have whatever guns you have safely locked up somewhere were children or young adults cannot get to them.   You never know when someone will get into those guns (yes, even the best behaved kids experiment with them).  

Case in point:  My husband (Don) comes from a family of 3 boys (all 2 years apart in age with Don being the oldest) and a girl about 10 years younger than Don.   All three boys grew up with guns, learned all the safety rules, took hunter's safety courses, and went hunting quite often to kill rabbit and squirrel (they always ate what they caught).   One afternoon, Don and one of his  brothers were fooling around in a basement room with the guns.  Don had pointed the gun out the window just to check the site.   He put his finger around the trigger, just for fun, and accidentally pulled it.  It blew out the basement window and made a hole in the curtain.   The sad part is that his youngest brother had just seconds before walked by the same window.  Had Don shot that rifle seconds earlier, he would have shot his brother.  A very close call indeed and a move he regrets to this day..

My point is - why were those guns so readily available in the house.  Why were they never locked up! Don was in high school at that time and certainly knew better, but he still took a risk!  Now you put those same guns into the hands of someone who might have some mental problems and it's an accident waiting to happen,.. It was an accident waiting to happen in Don's house.  I don't know the situations behind the shooting yesterday, but obviously the guns were not that hard to get.   My guess would be they were available right there in his home.

I have also heard in the media that this young man had been diagnosed with Asbergers Syndrome .  Now this should have certainly been a red flag.   Why was he allowed around guns.   I don't know and we'll probably never know.

Wake up people - this same thing could happen anywhere, anytime and to any of you.  Schools can only go so far with protecting our children.   It's up to parents to get guns out of your homes so that no student has easy access to a gun.   We have seen this same thing happen too many times over the past few years.  The problem isn't going to go away by itself.

If writing this saves one child by a parent removing guns from their house, then I will consider it a personal victory.   If you know of someone with gun around the house, speak up and express your concern.   We have to start somewhere!

Mary

The Ongoing Drug Saga!

Photo of the Bay of Green Bay, Wisconsin

Hi Friends,

I feel like I'm writing an ongoing saga of drug problems!   I'm sure they are the work of the devil but  they are a necessary evil!  Just kidding  but that's how I feel some days.

The newly prescribed Sinemet drug arrived 2+ weeks ago. .  I purposely waited until a Saturday to take it.  It's a good thing I did because I got very sick to my stomach again!!   Nothing like spending 4 hours on a Saturday morning bent over the toilet "flipping my cookies,"- unable to leave!  I was really hoping the major brand (not a generic) would solve the problem.  But NO!  

I immediately stopped that drug and contacted the doctor.,   He prescribed another  pill to  go with it - another dosage of Carbidopa in addition to the Simet pill which is a combination of Levodopa and Carbidopoa.   He feels that it's  the Carbidopa portion that makes people sick to their stomach.  So, he prescribed another pill of Lodosyn (25 mg), which Levodopa only to take with the Sinemet pill.   

I dragged my feet on starting the drugs again for  fear I'd react the same or worse to the addition to the new drug.  Last night was the night to begin.   

Well, I got sick again this morning after the morning doses of pills - only this time I was not as sick as the first time.   I also found myself losing my balance more this morning so have to be very careful to use my cane and hold on to walls etc.  That has encouraged me to give it another try tonight.  We'll just have to stay home tomorrow morning and not go for breakfast.    I want to stay on this drug as it's my only recourse - if I can possibly tolerate it.  It's still in the trial stage!    

Stay tuned for the next  post to see what happens.  I Will be contacting the doctor on Monday, if he's in.  

Have a nice Thanksgiving all. We are invited to our daughter and son-in-law's home for dinner and I for sure want to go to  that - if I have to prolong taking the proper drugs until after the holidays - so be it!

Before I leave I want to bring to your attention the blog of another Twitter Kitty's human - @VincentRocket's mom.   I just discovered earlier in the week that Vincent's human has ET disease.  Essential Tremors is similar to Parkinson's so she experiences similar problems.  Both are often misdiagnosed. Today she posted a wonderful video that explains ET.  It's worth checking out to broaden your knowledge. http://vincentrocket.blogspot.com/2012/10/essential-tremor.html    You never know when one of these neuro diseases will strike you or one of your loved ones - it doesn't just strike old people either.

Until next time, have a wonder Thanksgiving.

Mary




Until next time, thanks so much for visiting.

Mary

Udates - Kitty Jamie and Health

Tree in our neighbor's  yard, which has already shed most of it's leaves!

Dear Readers,

GREAT NEWS - on Kitty Jamie that is.   He left Greenville, S.C. by car with @Brian106sc as the first driver at 8:30 this morning.   So far they are on schedule and he's already past Jacksonville, Fla.   I'm guessing - half way to his new home.  All reports from the drivers indicate he's stolen their hearts and they all wanted to keep him.  I'm so happy Brian decided to rescue him & find him a home.    I'll never understand why someone dumped him!!  

I was a little worried yesterday morning with the hurricane so close to where Jamie was in S.C.  But fortunately, by this morning's departure time, Brian reported blue sky!  The drivers are awesome and all love cats.  So Jamie is in the best of hands while en route.   He's expected to arrive in Hollywood, Florida around midnight - plus or minus  an hour.   We wish him well in his new home and I know @MizzBassie will take very good care of him.

Several of you have left comments wondering if that shot worked that I had a couple of weeks ago!  It might have helped a tiny bit, but it did not help as much as I wanted it to.   I'm still taking pain pills.  So tomorrow it's back to Physical Therapy, and I also meet with the Physician's Assistant tomorrow morning for a briefing.  Meanwhile, the sacroiliac joints are getting very sore,and I'm overdue for that shot.   I'll have to check with the doctor tomorrow to see when I might get that.  I'm debating going back to the doctor in Appleton that has been giving them to me.   With him I know there is no need to be sedated.   Haven't decided what I'm going to do on that.  By the way, the the recent shot didn't hurt at all since I was sedated, and insurance and medicare should cover it.


Regarding the shot and the outbreak of meningitis:  I got the shot on a Friday - the same day they announced that those type of shots were causing problems and it was from one pharmacy located out East.  I was concerned, but not alarmed.  The next morning I did call the hospital just to let them know that I saw the article in the newspaper and questioned if what I received was from that pharmacy.   They assured me that it was NOT that pharmacy - they get their drugs from a different one.  When the news channels talked about the story, they showed the map of the US, and Wisconsin was not one of the affected states.  So I felt pretty confident that it was okay, but still wanted to check with the hospital to make sure they were on top of it too.  They were fortunately.   One just never knows tho so it's good to stay on top of things.

When I saw the Neurologist a couple of weeks ago, he changed my medication back to the Leva/dopa, carbo/dopa.   The medication arrived Friday, but I'm holding off on starting it until I've finished the pain meds for my tooth.  You'll remember I had trouble with the generic version of that drug, so I'm a little apprehensive about taking the new drug.   Part of me wants to test it, but the other part says be careful it doesn't knock you flat on your back again!   So stay tuned!  I'll probably start if later this week on a day where I don't have to go anywhere - just in case.

My thoughts and prayers these days are with all of our friends out East that are dodging the Hurricane - Sandy.   We hope everyone is safe and has shelter.  The poor animals that don't have food and shelter!  I don't even want to think about it.

Thanks for being faithful readers of my  blog.  It is appreciated.

Stay safe everyone.

HEALTH UPDATE and We Need Your HELP!

Dear Readers,

As most of you know, I LOVE animals - cats, dogs, horses, goats - you name it.  No reptiles tho please - I run from those!   Well this little kitty lives in Greenville, S.C. and desperately needs a home FAST.     

Jamie was abandoned along the road,   The person that found him didn't feel they could keep him, so called shelters in the area.   All shelters were full, except the high-kill county shelter and a dog shelter.  The Dog shelter said they'd take Jamie on a temporary basis - but obviously this isn't  a good situation for Jamie.  They need to turn him over to the high-kill shelter.  YIKES!

Please go over and read @Brian106sc's post about this little guy., http://ow.ly/2syEcK. What is so heart breaking is that this little boy has such a super disposition, is very loveable, and loves laps. What a great cat he will be for someone. Mario is this type of cat, and he's the best cat we've ever had.

We need a permanent home FAST or a foster home until we have time to find him a permanent home.   If you know of anyone  in the southeastern part of the US that might take Jamie, please contact Brian at at


Brianfrum@gmail.com or

Jenna Gutierrez in care of - tomjeng@Charter.net - or - call Jenna at 864-801-3177.

Mini Health Update

As most of you know, I went to the doctor last Thursday to get a shot in the lower spine area to help with the pain in my very arthritic spine.  I'm happy to report that the shot has helped some.  At least my back is tolerable now instead of being painful.  I was "chicken" tho and opted for getting "happy juice" so I wouldn't remember anything or feel any pain.  It's the way to go, although I think I might have been okay with out the shot.   

I'll do a better up date early next week - I promise!   I want to keep rolling on trying to resolve the issue about Jamie.   His situation really weighs on my mind because he's such a sweetie.

Until next time.   

Mary

Finally!!

Dear Friends,

Some good news for a change (I think!)   Yes, I'm headed for the big needle with the hopes of getting relief for my back.   That will happen next Thursday.    I met with a new spine doctor (Pain Management doctor actually) this morning and she confirmed that my back is a mess.   
She is the first doctor to tell me that in the past 18 years.   (Yes, I've been complaining about my back at least that long.)

Most doctors usually tell me "well it's not that bad to be causing you that much grief".   Well, maybe it's not that bad compared to some, but I'm very sensitive to pain.   We'll try an epidural and see if that helps.   I've been getting shots in the sacroiliac joints for at least 4 years now (or longer), which really helps my butt cheek and leg,, but it never did much for  the back.  The doctor in Appleton kept saying all my problems were related to the sacroiliac joint when I felt all along that it was back related.   Sure enough, the MRI shows that L1 in the spine is bad - no wonder I've been complaining for so many years.  (It's all  arthritis related.)   I  will be one very happy person if this works.  ha ha - If it doesn't work, I'll eat humble pie and you'll hear me complaining again!!

The doctor also approved a back brace for me to try, and she's authorized PT starting next week.   My friends have had the back brace, so I know it will be uncomfortable sometimes, but maybe give me some relief overall.  We'll see.  I'm willing to try it and she recommended trying it as a possibility.   At least she's willing to try whatever is necessary to give me relief.  

She did mention the possibility of stronger medication, but then said she felt it might be too much for me since I'm taking Parkinson's meds that already make me tied.   I might turn into a zombie if I take anymore drugs.  We don't need that as there are already days that I feel really out of it.

Our  days presently are wonderful weatherwise.   Bright sunshine, temps hovering in the high 60's - just perfect for fall.   Don took Mario outside this afternoon, and he was one happy cat. These types of days are numbered - in another week it's going to turn very cold.  It's my kind of weather for sure.

Will close for today.  Just wanted to share some good news for a change instead of always griping.   By the way, Harrison and his dad are still doing the yard for us.   His grandmother/mother just had serious back surgery - they put 2 steel rods down each side of her spine - from the tail bone up to the shoulder.   Her husband called Wednesday night after surgery and said all went well.   I'm hoping that is still the case, but he hasn't corresponded since Wednesday night.  She needs some prayers, if you can, because she has really suffered with her back longer and more than I have.   This is her 3rd surgery on her back.  It makes me shudder to think about what she has gone through and will go through before she's healed.

Thanks for reading my blog and taking this walk with me.    I'll get back on track with PD related things soon but presently I'm status quo on that subject,

Mary

What A Night Aain!

Mary  & Don in Cannes, France
2008 on Italy Cruise Trip

Dear Friends,

Before I give you the latest update, I wanted to apologize to my faithful readers as I know some of you and some of Mario's faithful followers on Twitter have been worried about us not being around much.   I have  been giving most of my energy the past 2-3 weeks on advertising the #nipclub Monthly's latest DinoPawty on Twitter.   Because of a bad back, I can only sit at the computer for short periods of time or i really pay for it.  I especially feel bad that we haven't been around reading your wonderful blogs because we really do enjoy reading them.   I hope to rectify this in the coming weeks.   

If you read my last post a couple of weeks ago, you'll remember I had to play detective again with my meds.   I definitely know it was the Amantadine that was/is upsetting me stomach,.   I have been limping along with taking 1/2 the dose every day instead of the full 2 pills twice a day.   It's much better, but I'm still a little woozy.    I'm especially tired and woozy tonight because last night was a very "short night" at our house.  The sad part of this change in meds means that I do shake a little more than I should be when the Amantadine dose wears off.  I'll see the Neuro in October, so we'll see what he has to say about the situation.  Meanwhile I put myself back on the first blood pressure change of medication that my family doctor originally prescribed as that med is not the one making me dizzy and sick to my stomach.  I told my family doctor what I had done when I saw him Friday.  He said he was proud of me for taking  matters into my own hands and solving the problem.  Well, in my way of thinking, it was the logically thing to do.  Even the Neuro doctor said to stop the med if it was giving me trouble!

About 2:30 in the morning last night I awoke to someone yelling "Please let me in!"  This scared the daylights  out of me as we did have two of the bedroom windows open due to having such beautiful, cool weather the past few days.   I quickly looked out the bedroom window I was in to see if anyone was around.  No one in sight.   Then I thought of calling the police to have them check our house outside and inside with me!  But that meant getting dressed. UGH!  Okay - put on your "brave hat" and check the house yourself.  

After walking thru the upstairs (main floor) and finding the doors locked, I decided the basement should be checked just to be on the safe side even tho there is no access to the outside from the basement other than little skinny basement windows that would have to be broken to enter.   Now I was too chicken to go down there myself, so I woke Don up.   I convinced him to go to the basement for me.  he he - neither one of us would be capable of fighting off an intruder of any size if we were to ever find one!

Obviously Don did not find anyone in the basement either.   We are now thinking that Don must have been dreaming and shouted out loud what he was dreaming.   He has been known to talk in his sleep.  I'm comfortable with that theory - especially after turning on all  lights in the house and finding the doors still locked.  Meanwhile Mario was sitting under the kitchen table watching his two insane humans running around the house checking it out in the middle of the night.  That was one time I wished we would have had a dog to alert us with some woofing had the situation been real!   Mario was just sitting under the table calmly taking his Friday night bath!  What a guard cat we have!

I have also been having a few computer issues, which our wonderful son-in-law fixed tonight.  He spent about 2 hours with me on the phone while he worked remotely on my computer from his home.   What a life saver that special tool is that allows him to do things remotely on my computer.  It saves him at least an hour because of not having to drive to and from his home.

I think I have mentioned several times that it takes me so much longer now to accomplish anything - either mentally or physically.   There were some days in the past two weeks (while programming tweets in Tweet Deck to go off automatically for me) where my mind just went blank and I couldn't think of how to change the sentence around to make it different from others so TD and Twitter would accept it.  Is that a sign of just getting older or is it part of the PD. Who knows!

Well, it's  off to bed for me tonight.  I'm hoping for a good night of sleep with NO interruptions!  I'll try to get around to reading blogs this next week.  Thanks for being so understanding.

Mary

BINGO - Here We Go Again!

Dear Friends,

I have to apologize for not being around for awhile, but it's  been a couple of busy weeks on Twitter, and Mario keeps me pretty busy over there.

What happens to you when you look at the picture of the spiral?  It makes me dizzy (ya, I know, I'm dizzy most of the time - or is that ditzy!  he he).  Anyway, I'm curious to know how it makes you feel when you look at it. so please let me know.  Why, well, I've been feeling quite dizzy (light headed) for close to 3+ weeks now and to the point where i now walk around with a cane at home most of the time as I'm never sure if I'll topple over or not..

My primary doctor switched my blood pressure meds to a new one because the old one wasn't doing the job any longer.   He put me on a lower dosage of a very common, widly-used brand.  

I started it and within three days I was feeling dizzy.  Well, it has to be from the  new meds - right?   My primary doctor then changed the med to a different brand and told me to wait 3 days before taking it so the other medicine was out of my system.    It was after 3 days - no more dizzy!

I followed his instructions for a second time and the same thing happened.   This time when I called he said he'd try a new brand again, but if the same thing happened, I should come in to see him.   

I visited that doctor last week and after checking my blood pressure himself, he looked at me and said "I don't think this is blood pressure pill related - I think it's PD related and maybe we'd better get your neurologist involved.

In the meantime I was to stop all of the new BP medications, stick with my old one that wasn't very effective any longer, and check with my neurologist.  And my primary doctor said to make an appointment in a month with him again.   I now have a call in to my Neurologist.  I happened to think that I started a new medication from him about the time I started the new blood pressure meds.  Upon checking the fact sheet that comes with my drugs - BINGO!!   The second side-effect listed is "May cause dizziness."   

I do believe the medication gods are mad at me!!  It seems like any medication the neurologist suggests, I end up with side effects!  One of these days I suspect he'll drop me as a patient!  (Not sure if that would be good or bad!) - just muttering here or as Mario would say -  MOL)

I haven't heard back from him after leaving a message yesterday.   I checked my PD handbook and dizziness is a symptom that falls within the PD disease, so maybe it's just natural progression too.   Unfortunately, the doc doesn't have any openings until the middle of October, unless after reading my message from yesterday he decides to find an opening to see me.

It's going to be an interesting and challenging several weeks until I can get in to see the Neurologist again.   As a Twitter friend told me one day - "Getting old ain't for the faint of heart."  She is so right!  Stay tuned.

For now.......

Mary

Update at 11:30 this morning.  The neurologist's office returned my call and will check with  doctor.  So they are working on it. In the meantime, I'm not as dizzy as I was early this morning or yesterday.