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Dawn-Marie
Hi Everyone!
I've missed you all so! I could read everyone's messages, but several letters on my keyboard were not working (due to my spilling food on them as i have a bad habit of eating all my meals at the computer). Now i've got a new one and it's working fine
).
I've had a date for a couple weeks now, but i had an accident at my microwave where i was heating a 20 oz. cup of boiling water for my bedtime tea and my neighbor banged on my door really hard and it startled me and i jerked my arm and the cup hit the side of the microwave and tipped over. My electric wheelchair was turned off, so i could do nothing but sit there and have all the hot water run all over my left hip, the top of both my legs and on the side of my right leg. Mostly Second Degree burns, but one that was almost Third Degree. All are healed now except for the one that was really bad. My visiting nurse has to call Dr. Strzalka's office (my heart surgeon) and tell them on Tuesday how the burn is. If it's still open, which i'm afraid it will be, he may delay surgery another week. I hope it's not delayed though as i just need to get it done because, you're right, it's the thinking about it that is so hard. I wake up every morning and start sobbing. It really scared me when he said the other doctors in his practice said he was crazy to touch me, plus that there isn't much chance i'll get off the respirator. I agreed to stay on the respirator for 2 months trying to get off of it (which he said i had to commit to if he operated), but after that i will ask to be removed from it. It's not my idea of what a life should be, if you know what i mean. I've been on a respirator twice after surgeries on my spine, and i absolutely HATE respirators, especially when they suction me. I still haven't found anyone who wants my two Ragdoll cats, Maggie and Smudge, who are 6 years old. They're my only family and i worry about them so much! Everyone i've asked wants cute little kittens. I think worrying about them has been the worst thing. At least the man who i bought them from is coming over and feeding them every day for me while i'm gone.
I have a question for all of you. Do all of you see Cardiologists after your surgery? Dr. Strzalka said i shouldn't need a cardiologist...that i can just see Rod, my Physician's Assistant. He's nice, but back in 1997 his clinic found that i had Aortic Stenosis, but they didn't find the Bicuspid Aortic Valve. He told me that it was "nothing" and would never bother me, and never again checked my heart. Then i ended up with Congestive Heart Failure in November, 2007 and i ended up in Buffalo and they found out that i had critical aortic stenosis. I'm not really sure if i feel safe just going to my PA's clinic. I have a cardiologist in Erie, Pa. who did the TEE on me and he said he would be more than willing to have me as a patient. His father did all my surgeries on my ribs and lungs when i had cancer back in 1980 thru 1984 (the same cancer that was in my spine). His father was the best dr. i've ever had and his son is very meticulous too. I'd feel much better going to him for checkups than just seeing my P.A. What would be your advice??? Thank you!
Well, i have to be going..i'm waiting for John to come over (who's taking care of my cats while i'm gone). I have dial-up for my computer and we have a security phone downstairs for my apartment complex so i have to be off the computer to buzz him in. I have to show him where everything is for taking care of them.
It's SO nice being back. Hopefully, i'll have a chance to be in here on and off the next few days. I still have to get all packed since i will be in the hospital, and then whatever rehab. or long term care facility they can find for me that knows how to take care of someone on a respirator and with a spinal cord injury. He said even best care scenario, i'll be in the long term care facility for 3 months. I'm hoping and praying he'll be wrong and i'll be back much sooner.
Bye for now,
Dawn-Marie
I've missed you all so! I could read everyone's messages, but several letters on my keyboard were not working (due to my spilling food on them as i have a bad habit of eating all my meals at the computer). Now i've got a new one and it's working fine
). I've had a date for a couple weeks now, but i had an accident at my microwave where i was heating a 20 oz. cup of boiling water for my bedtime tea and my neighbor banged on my door really hard and it startled me and i jerked my arm and the cup hit the side of the microwave and tipped over. My electric wheelchair was turned off, so i could do nothing but sit there and have all the hot water run all over my left hip, the top of both my legs and on the side of my right leg. Mostly Second Degree burns, but one that was almost Third Degree. All are healed now except for the one that was really bad. My visiting nurse has to call Dr. Strzalka's office (my heart surgeon) and tell them on Tuesday how the burn is. If it's still open, which i'm afraid it will be, he may delay surgery another week. I hope it's not delayed though as i just need to get it done because, you're right, it's the thinking about it that is so hard. I wake up every morning and start sobbing. It really scared me when he said the other doctors in his practice said he was crazy to touch me, plus that there isn't much chance i'll get off the respirator. I agreed to stay on the respirator for 2 months trying to get off of it (which he said i had to commit to if he operated), but after that i will ask to be removed from it. It's not my idea of what a life should be, if you know what i mean. I've been on a respirator twice after surgeries on my spine, and i absolutely HATE respirators, especially when they suction me. I still haven't found anyone who wants my two Ragdoll cats, Maggie and Smudge, who are 6 years old. They're my only family and i worry about them so much! Everyone i've asked wants cute little kittens. I think worrying about them has been the worst thing. At least the man who i bought them from is coming over and feeding them every day for me while i'm gone.
I have a question for all of you. Do all of you see Cardiologists after your surgery? Dr. Strzalka said i shouldn't need a cardiologist...that i can just see Rod, my Physician's Assistant. He's nice, but back in 1997 his clinic found that i had Aortic Stenosis, but they didn't find the Bicuspid Aortic Valve. He told me that it was "nothing" and would never bother me, and never again checked my heart. Then i ended up with Congestive Heart Failure in November, 2007 and i ended up in Buffalo and they found out that i had critical aortic stenosis. I'm not really sure if i feel safe just going to my PA's clinic. I have a cardiologist in Erie, Pa. who did the TEE on me and he said he would be more than willing to have me as a patient. His father did all my surgeries on my ribs and lungs when i had cancer back in 1980 thru 1984 (the same cancer that was in my spine). His father was the best dr. i've ever had and his son is very meticulous too. I'd feel much better going to him for checkups than just seeing my P.A. What would be your advice??? Thank you!
Well, i have to be going..i'm waiting for John to come over (who's taking care of my cats while i'm gone). I have dial-up for my computer and we have a security phone downstairs for my apartment complex so i have to be off the computer to buzz him in. I have to show him where everything is for taking care of them.
It's SO nice being back. Hopefully, i'll have a chance to be in here on and off the next few days. I still have to get all packed since i will be in the hospital, and then whatever rehab. or long term care facility they can find for me that knows how to take care of someone on a respirator and with a spinal cord injury. He said even best care scenario, i'll be in the long term care facility for 3 months. I'm hoping and praying he'll be wrong and i'll be back much sooner.
Bye for now,
Dawn-Marie
