I'm currently seeing a sadist....

I saw the orthopedic surgeon (AKA THHS) for another regularly scheduled post-op check last Monday (8/30). He continues to be dismayed and apologetic about the slowness with which my voice is recovering. But he DOES agree with me that there is no reason to return to the ENT for periodic laryngoscopy until I have passed the pre-determined maximum date by which this "temporary" issue should be resolved. Which reminds me, I have an ENT appointment to cancel....

But anyway, the orthopod was trying to send me on my merry way, with instructions to return in 6 months or something, when I finally managed to get his attention and ask if he would refer me to Physical Therapy, because of the persistent spasm I have had in my right neck and shoulder ever since even before the surgery, though it is much worse since the surgery.  And he was more than willing - filled out the orders, and I actually managed to get in to see the therapist THAT VERY DAY for my initial evaluation and therapy.

And may I just say (as I told her on my 2nd visit) she is mean and evil. And I am pretty sure she graduated from the Marquis de Sade Physical Therapy Institute. I have had 3 visits as of this morning, and am doing all my home exercises, and am actually in more pain than when I started PT. But she says it is a process, and we need to give it 2 more weeks.

The surgeon also said that if things didn't improve within 2-4 weeks of PT, that he wanted me to get more epidural steroid injections. Whatever - I am game. Just make it stop spasming!!

Doing a little better

Surgery is scheduled 6/24 - lots of things to get settled before then.

The pain is a little better today - maybe the injection is finally kicking in. I need to go put some ice on my neck and arm, though.

Thanks to everyone who contacted me after my last post - it really is better today.

Really, KM.

And I let my best friend's husband go back home this morning - he was such a tremendous help to me - someone should open up a "Lend a Hubby" business - I think there is a market there!

Some Good News, and Some Bonus Good News

Still am not feeling the best, and yesterday was another exceptionally bad day. I was not really the best representative of my bead store yesterday - it was all I could do to muster a "may I help you", and it was pretty much asking too much for me too actually get up and help anyone!  But today is another day!

I had spend (another) fairly sleepless night Tuesday night - lots of time for thinking. And so around 1 PM yesterday, I phoned the very nice nurse at the PMS office, and told her that I had "accepted in my heart" that the doctor was not going to return my phone calls, so could she please just give him a message. She reiterated, strongly. how "that is JUST not like him," but promised to relay the message.

So I asked her to tell him that I had made an appointment with the surgeon for a consultation, but the earliest the surgeon could see me was the end of June, so could the PMS please just write me enough Rx for the 2 pain meds he had me on, to tide me over until the end of June, and I would never bother him again.

She said she would call him right then and pass that on. Whatever, was my thought.

At 5:30 yesterday, the PMS called me, just as nice as he could be (he always HAS been very nice). And he explained in detail how the neglect to call me had happened, and admitted it was all his fault, and apologized, and then asked me a bunch of questions about my current status. He told me that he wanted to see me in his office first thing Monday Morning (he travels to other states on Wed/Thurs/Fri to see patients, as our town cannot support a full time PMS) so I realized that Monday was the first day he could see me. And he called in more pain meds, and he started me on a huge dose of oral prednisone, which now has me feeling like I could run the New York Marathon, if it weren't fore all the pain I still have.  So maybe things will start to improve. And he was extremely apologetic and empathetic, so I am OK with him now.

And on an unrelated note, first thing yesterday morning a super nice lady came into the shop and fell in love with this:

I fit her well, and she bought it, and turned to her daughter and said, "I deserve it"








So I am going to try to remember that this is a jewelry design blog, and not a bitch fest, and try to return you to your regularly scheduled programming.

And on a side note - a message to my friend Pam (and you know who you are):

Thanks for taking the time to read my drivel, and to visit Bailey.

It is nice to know that someone is reading!

Unlike those other blog awards, where you have to jump through hoops and pick on other unsuspecting souls, etc, just to accept them - this is free.

And don't get me wrong - I appreciate the blog awards that Bailey and I have received over the years, but we just don't have time for that hoopla, so we would feel like big fat cheaters if we just posted the awards.

More of the Same

My pain let up a bit yesterday, and I was able to run a few errands.

Unfortunately, it is worse today, and my Pain Management Specialist (good old PMS, as I call him) is not returning my calls. When I called his office yesterday, and relayed my concerns, the nurse went back and spoke to him, and came back and told me that he didn't see a need for me to come by the office, but that he would call me at 5PM, when he finished seeing patients.

Fine.

He never called.

So I called again this morning, and left another message. Heard nothing all day, so I called the nurse again at 4:45, and she told me that he had just finished seeing patients, and already had a list of 4 that he needed to call, and that she was SURE he would call me.

Of course, he hasn't called.

Now, it's personal. As far as I'm concerned. I mean, I can forgive a 24 hour delay in returning a call. But I am in misery, and have left 5 messages, and as far as I'm concerned, he is refusing to return my calls. And I am about > < far from posting his name here.

I called the surgeon this morning, and made an appointment for a consultation - the first available appointment is June 24. I just don't think I can make it 'til then.