The bare facts are these: I'm completely immobile. I have great pain in my left leg whenever I get into or up from something, be it chair of a car or a car. We figure maybe the rod that is in my leg from the hip surgery may be rubbing against bone or something else. The doctors give us zip. We do have an appointment with a pain manager doctor next week,,,I'm 87 year's old; why do I have to deal with this problem at this stage of my life? Oh well, this too shall pass. As my aide and I were driving to the hapabaric place, I thought of my father, who died on July 2, and I didn't get a chance to have fun with fireworks. My father was completely immobile also. Like father, like son.
Friday, July 1, 2011
"I could be well content to entertain the lag end of my life in quiet hours.." Henry IV
.....Tomorrow should be my last day to be stuffed into a big glass tube that they fill with oxygen. I'm talking about the cyberbarack treatments. I'm required to be there every day at 11:30 am. But I'm used to sleep until that hour. Before I get in I feel like an astronaut; they take my blood pressure, they look in my ears, and for some reason they test my sugar level which is quite low. Meanwhile I'm lying on a bed just in front of the tube; a bed where they give you pillows and shove a couple under my knees. When all is ready the bed slides into the tube, and you're there captured for an hour and a half.
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Stay with me to see the end of this story.
ReplyDeleteI will stay with you as long as I live, and even longer if possible, but I believe that there is much more story for you to tell. Be of the best cheer possible and enjoy Bonny and Sean who are among the legions who love you.
ReplyDelete11:30 AM is much too early for a Baron to rise and shine. And 87 is far from being a centenarian. Onward and upward!
Did you not have a Life Link or other such device that you wore around your neck in case you fell and could not get up?
ReplyDeleteIf so, why did you not use it at once? If not, you must get a reliable alarm with which you can call for aid immediately if not sooner.
It is very important to those who love the Baron that he make his life as glitch-proof as possible.
Hi cuzzin Baron - sorry that you are still feeling so awful, but I'm glad that your medical team think your pain must be due to SOMETHING. It's taken them rather a long time to come to that conclusion, although there might be some reason for that. How is your heel? Did the cipher-barrack treatment do anything to "heel" that? Much love, Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDeleteHi Everyone, Yes, Phil, Norman does have a device to wear, but he only wears it when he is alone in the house. This week, we will be going to a pain management Dr., since we are very unhappy with the pain pills, yes pills, many different pills, that our primary Dr. prescribed. Even our pharmacy was alert to note that the combination of pills would cause a bad reaction. Norman will also be starting another 20 hyperbaric treatments this week. The aide is a wonderful lady, bright & charming. Norman likes her, and she fits right in with our family. I enjoyed my weekend in NY seeing my granddaughter, Ilana, graduate, with honors, from high school and off to Penn St. to continue her education. Norman was most disappointed that he couldn't go to her graduation. He was looking forward to being in NY with her. Cousin Ruth, I know I'll get to writing you a newsy letter very soon. Your suggesstion of Lady Grey tea is getting me through the rough spots. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWe are all thinking of you and wondering why modern medicine seems to have completely failed in terms of diagnosing and treating the serious pain and disability you are coping with. I will say that you lived a much longer fuller life than your father whose death left such a void in your life.
ReplyDeleteBut small comfort.
I too am curious about whether at this point you see any benefit from the course of hyperbaric treatments.
Er...I'm not sure if this is the right time and place to say this, but it is convenient, so Happy Independence Day to all my US rellies 'n' their friends!
ReplyDeleteCuzzin Rhoda - forgot to thank you for your courteous message, sorry sorry sorreeeee! Yes, Lady Grey is the greatest tea ever produced. And I look forward to hearing from you. Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDeleteYes, Ellin, there is a benefit from the course of hyperbaric treatments. The wound on Norman's heel has improved and has gotten smaller. The circulation in his legs is very poor and these treatments help to get oxygen to the bottom of his feet so that healing can occur. Norman also relaxes to the point of sleeping in the chamber which is also a benefit. Being able to relax also helps the healing process. When he is home he is on the computer or doing something, but not relaxing. If we can only make him believe that he is not like his father. His Dad was a triple amputee because of the gases he was exposed to in WWI. This is not the situation in Norman's case. His long time smoking, etc. have caused him to have poor circulation. When we abuse our body, things happen to it. Please keep writing positive comments to Doc to encourage
ReplyDeletehim to continue on the road to recovery.
Norman, buddy, you are a fast learner so PLEASE wear your protective device whether or not you are alone in the house. PLEASE.
ReplyDeleteRhoda, I well remember Hana and her sister (sounds like a Woody Allen film) from when we visited them in their home. Those little kids were a lot of fun so it is hard to believe that one is on her way to Happy Valley. It's not very original but tempus does fugit, so we must gather our rosebuds whenever we can.
Cuz Ruth, your positive approach to life and to our dear friend, the Baron, is much appreciated. Since you never complain, we can only hope that you are in good health.
Norman, straight up, there is a very good chance that you will regain your mobility. I was virtually unable to move, but have improved a little more than somewhat, and expect to be even stronger shortly.
Better days are coming for you and yours. In fact they are already here with the visit of Joel and Barbara. Joel is the only one of your progeny to marry a Jewish girl which is of great credit to both of them.
Ellin Bliss Jaeger, you deserve a special commendation for your obvious caring about The Great Man.
To all the Baron's family and aficionados, the best of everything, and double good fortune to Le Rouge himself.
Dear Phil, thank you so much for your kind concern for my health. I've had an "iffy" winter and spring, but am feeling much better now the northern summer days are so long. I'm thinking of going to Europe for a holiday - somewhere hot, with a swimming pool, and where I can speak a foreign language: that's all I need for a good hol! Btw, how I wish that Greece would leave or get kicked out of the Eurozone. The Greeks would then revert to the drachma, which would be worth so little that I could afford to spend MONTHS there improving my Mod. Greek. ("Drachma" comes from a Middle verb in Ancient Gk., "drassomai," "to grab." "The grabbable thingy" is a decent translation. So many jokey words in A/Gk! NB If you don't know what a Middle verb is, don't start worrying now. It's complicated and of interest only to Grammar freaks like me!) All love, Cuzzin Ruth
ReplyDeleteDear Cuz Ruth, You are a cultured lady in the highest sense of the word, and should consider moving to a warmer clime. England may be Merrie and Old but its winters leave a lot to be desired. The summers are not so good either, but what is so rare as a day in June?
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to your continued flourishing. The world needs more like you.