by Judy Handley | Oct 26, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 299: If Only I Had Known
Date: Thursday, October 26, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 67, Low 58 degrees F; Sunset 5:47 pm (-0)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
If only I had known that a cortisone shot directly in my hip and knee could take away so much pain, I certainly would have had it sooner. I had a cortisone injection in the back in August, but that did nothing, and the pain management doctor said there was nothing else he could do. Not so. I don’t know how long this will last, but I had an almost normal day today for the first time since late August. I walked only a half mile with Shadow, and I did get a little ‘stitch’ in my side, but no pain in my hip or knee. What a relief!
The weather this week has been just beautiful and warm, but I unfortunately have had to spend most of it indoors taking care of business. This morning I had a lovely talk with Justin on the phone and then launched into calls to Blue Cross Blue Shield to get an address change so my sister’s things get mailed directly to me. That meant scanning in the Healthcare POA and sending it and talking on the phone for what seemed like forever. But the woman helping me was wonderful and we got it done. I had to do the same thing with two other medical groups that send bills to my sister that don’t get paid because no one knows about them until months later. Then I launched into finding a new dentist for her that will take Medicare Advantage and then making an appointment and did the same with an eye doctor. I then made arrangements with Home Helpers to make sure she has a driver for those appointments. Whew! I was so glad when it was time to go pick up Sam and Jonah from soccer practice. Jed was out of town today and Heather had to take Ollie to a dentist appointment and then tennis lessons. I had only been out of the house for Shadow’s walk, so the second excursion was just what I needed. No more work tonight. I think I’ll go watch some depressing news.
by Judy Handley | Oct 25, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 299: Knee Surgeon Appt, Dining-In at the Baranowski’s
Date: Wednesday, October 25, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 64, Low 55 degrees F; Sunset 5:47 pm (-1)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
The appointment with my knee surgeon was a winner. I will hear from his scheduler and hopefully set the surgery for late February. But the really good news was that he listened to the issues I have been a experiencing and he made an unexpected (at least by me) diagnosis. He says the extreme pain I have been having in my hips is bursitis caused by the nerve pain from the herniated disks. He can’t fix any of that, but he recommended, and I agreed, to have cortisone shots in my right hip and knee (he can only do two in one visit), and then make an appointment for me for next week to get a cortisone shot in the left hip. It is possible that this won’t work, but it is certainly worth a try. My right hip is already somewhat better tonight, and I have been able to walk without the limp caused by the pain in my right knee ever since leaving his office. I asked him why my pain management doctor had not mentioned this and his only response was that doctors in this country are so narrowly focused on one aspect of treatment that they don’t recommend beyond that. If these shots get me through my trip to Puerto Rico for Thanksgiving, I will be most thankful to Dr. Kinkead for taking the time to explain why I have been having the pain.
This evening I went to Karen and Peter Baranowski’s for our monthly dining-in group. The food was fabulous as always and we had a great time visiting together.
by Judy Handley | Oct 24, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 298: Still Working on the Voyage of Windbird Presentation
Date: Tuesday, October 24, 2023
Weather: Mostly Sunny; High 60, Low 55 degrees F; Sunset 5:48 pm (-5)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was spent finishing the revisions to the Voyage of Windbird presentation. This version includes more about what it is like living aboard a boat while traveling around the world. I now have to shorten it a bit, but at least I have added the photos needed to tell the story. I am spending my days trying to heal. So far my back issues are not responding, but I will continue taking it easy and hoping for the best. Tomorrow I meet with my knee surgeon about surgery to replace my right knee. Am I having fun yet?!!!
by Judy Handley | Oct 23, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 297: Visit with Tommy and Candi
Date: Monday, October 23, 2023
Weather: Beautiful Day; High 60, Low 44 degrees F; Sunset 5:53 pm (-2)
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
My nephew Tommy and I started our day with a breakfast at home and a quick tour of Woods Hole. Tommy and his wife Marilou have been in Woods Hole a couple of times over the years since Mark and I returned from our sail around the world, but he wanted a little “refresher.” We then headed up to the Cape Cod Canal to meet my niece and his cousin Candi, who lives in Billerica north and west of Boston. We had lunch at Fisherman’s View on the canal
and then drove over to the Coast Guard station for a walk out to the entrance of the canal.
It was an absolutely beautiful day and I was so thrilled that I was able to make the short walk.
Tommy then left for his conference in Chatham and Candi headed home. And I headed home, thrilled to have have spent a couple of hours with family.
by Judy Handley | Oct 22, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 296: My Nephew Tommy Visits
Date: Sunday, October 22, 2023
Weather: Sunny and Windy; High 59, Low 45 degrees F; Sunset 5:53 pm
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
My nephew Tommy lives just north of Charlotte, NC, but he flew in this evening as he has a conference on the Cape for the next couple of days. Heather, Jed, and the boys, plus myself, met him in Woods Hole for dinner at the Quahog Republic Leeside. I had not been there since it changed names and owners. It was different than I expected, more of what I call bar food than a real dinner menu, but it was perfect for tonight. We had a wonderful dinner together.
Happy birthday to my friend Lynne. She is back in Michigan with family and will leave for New Zealand on Wednesday.
Otherwise, Shadow and I had a quiet day with a tiny, little walk, some house cleaning, some grocery shopping. Just life.
by Judy Handley | Oct 21, 2023 | 2023 Life Logs |
2023 Life Logs, Day 295: Encore Mingle & Mix
Date: Saturday, October 21, 2023
Weather: Rain, Windy Late Day; High 61, Low 51 degrees F; Sunset 5:53 pm
Location: At Home on Lakeview Avenue, Falmouth, MA
Today was overcast and rainy, but Jed and the boys came over to help me get the little window air conditioner out and put it, and other summer furniture, in the basement. I can now turn on the heat and not feel guilty about having the air conditioner in the window leaking the heat to the outside. Then late this afternoon I went to an Encore Mingle & Mix, the first in over three years. This is a casual event where people sign up to bring an appetizer and their own drinks to a member’s home who has volunteered to host for the month. I really wanted to get this social back up and running again, so I have been working with the coordinator to make it happen. This first one was small, only nine people. But that is fine. It is supposed to be an intimate setting so people can really get to know one another. Tomorrow evening, my nephew Tommy from North Carolina will arrive. He has a business conference on the Cape starting on Monday afternoon, but it will be great to have him here, even if it is for only one night. Heather comes home from Rhode Island tomorrow and she, Jed, and the boys will join Tommy and I for dinner.
