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re: sleepy picnic 2009
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I knew you'd try and get the jump on me while on the road. We arrived in Yuma, it's Bob's older sister (not aunt) but her husband is in stable condition and doing much better than expected with his history. He has only 39% of his heart working. He has had over 50 heart attacks in the past twenty years and several surgeries, he is from Alaska and been in Arizona the past 5 years. He came here to be in a heart study at the Arizona Heart Institute five years ago and the meds have all kept him alive and in good quality of life as well. He is unable to have any more surgeries, do to his age 72 and health history, so this is alot unerving for family. We just have him in our prayers.
Yes, I was so relieved after my appointment at Mayo. Mayo is absolutely the apitamy (sp) of what health care should be everywhere in America. You are truly treated like you are a king or queen and their only patient. They move alot of people through there daily, but it is so organized its unbelievable. My appointment was a 9 am and I was called back to the doctors office at exactly that time. I had a whole 1 1/2 hour with that doctor. Plus that doctor has her own office, desk, computer, exam table and all that is needed and when you are brought back she is already in the room waiting for YOU. I was truly impressed. They leave no stone unturned and they have everything, medical records, etc. before you show up. No waiting around for a follow up because someone has dropped the ball. She intently listened to everything I had to say, answered all my questions, explained my MRI, frame by frame. She put in a referral to see a thoracic pulmonologist in the computer and when I stopped at the appointment desk down stairs they already had my appointment made. I will be going back on the 17th of April for pain intervention, probably a chorisone shot around the T 8-9 vertebre to reduce the buldging disk, it is pushing on a nerve root, causing much pain. Basically my back is a result of age, degenerative disks, but no osteoperosis, and the doctor said actually my back is not that bad. So good to here after what the radiologist said from the other hospital. Mayo didn't agree with their findings. My advice is always get a second opinion. I believe that this was truly a door opening for me to see a sleep specialist. This doctor I saw did scold me for not seeking help. She also said that falling asleep with chin on chest is not a natural human position and after decades causes so much strain on the neck and upper back, possibly a great deal of my back problem. At least I'm happy that I do not have to look forward to surgery.
Thanks, Pat, for your kind words as always and your pleasant conversation and sharing of stories, while we were there. Wish we could have stayed the week. We of course will be back to Phoenix next Tuesday for Bob's appointment at the VA. Give little Hunter a hug, he is the cutest black and tan, half chihuahua half weiner dog I have ever seen. Keep up your good work, you help so many people.