Columbus, OH

At long last it looks like I will have time to sit back and catch up my correspondence and our blogs.

Suffice it to say that -- despite my fervent wishes and desires -- this year the focus has not been travel, but on medicine. Old age and irresponsible habits have combined to take a toll on our bodies.  

We are afraid to get our hopes up too high, but by this date it looks like we might make it to the Gulf coast in January. Since our last brief post, Bobbi has continued a remarkably rapid recovery. Most important, she has continued to lose substantial weight in the face of holiday temptations, and there is hope that we will be able to stem the rate of her physical deterioration and limit it to "normal". Neither her knee nor her back seem to constitute a significant limitation for her anymore, and she is in a better mood than in some years -- always allowing for the recurring sorrow when something reminds her of the death of her mother last year. She has been attending church and driving for some weeks now, and has resolved to try to return tomorrow to her post in the prison hospital. This will be the acid test.

Columbus, OH

At last some things are turning around.

7 October the orthopods installed a new knee in Bobbi's right leg.  Thank God, her recovery has been swift.

(I have a form to fill out, so this is to be continued later).

Columbus, OH

This must be a pro forma entry because, honestly, there has been no significant change.

Bobbi spent almost the entire day, every day, going to a variety of doctors  and attending physical therapy.  And Lew had to go with her.  So essentially nothing else has been done -- both have barely kept up with essential email.  

In view of the time that has passed since Bobbi has been able to overnight in the Airstream, calling this blog "Trailer Trash" is more than a bit of a misnomer.  Of course we hope to be able to hit the road again, but with Bobbi facing a knee replacement, and Lew always facing the possibility of a spinal fusion, all bets are off.  

We will continue to post here for the sake of anyone who cares to read about what is happening, but we need to consider changing the name to something more medical.  Only God knows what will happen.

Columbus, OH

Things are not improving.  Bobbi had her MRI.  The report came back saying in very precise Graeco-Latin terms that her knee was toast -- ligaments partly or completely torn, the menisci gone, the cartilage on both femur and tibia destroyed, some substantial calcified bodies floating around.  No wonder it does not support her body.

Bobbi was shook and agitated.  On the 22nd she returned to the orthopod who had ordered the MRI.  He told her the obvious: the knee had to be replaced.  And very bluntly,  he was unwilling to do the surgery himself until Bobbi lost at least 25 pounds.  She saw her PCP the next day, and he was able to calm her a bit, though he couldn't really offer her anything to relieve the pain beyond what she already was taking.  

So Bobbi set about losing the weight.  Easier said than done.  Our rather abstemious previous diet (pretty much vegetarian) provided just enough calories to maintain our weights.  We cut that fairly drastically, expecting quick results.  And indeed, both of us found our clothes fitting looser within a few days.  Another lesson in humility: today on our usual scales neither of us had lost a pound!  We will have to go back and cut some more.

So at this point we are set up with another month of nearly daily appointments, either with doctors, or with physical therapy.  I guess all we can say is "stay tuned" once again.

Columbus, OH

Luck is still holding.  To date, all of Bobbi's tests have come back negative -- obviously, she does still have severe osteroarthritis of her right knee -- the left is a bit better.  There is still nothing to account for the edema she had last week -- all the usual culprits check out OK.

So there are more tests -- an MRI tomorrow and another consultation with an orthopod next Wednesday.

I know everyone must be bored -- but stay tuned.

Columbus, OH

The luck hasn't changed.  The specialists continue to come up with negative lab results, but Bobbi's symptoms not only continue, but they increase.  In the last week she has developed slight right-sided foot drop and leg weakness, dull aching pain in her right leg, and series of unusual-looking bruises down the inside of her right leg.  So the PCP wants to see her tomorrow or Tuesday, and on Tuesday she has an appointment to see a cancer surgeon about her mammogram.

Her sister had her surgery last Friday -- a lumpectomy for a small minimally invasive lesion.  She is now to get daily radiation for five weeks + chemo.  But they did no lymph node dissection, which leaves me very uncomfortable.

So we sit here on hold. 

Columbus, OH

Our luck hasn't changed.  

Lew was all ready to go on 1 July.  Even Bobbi wasn't asking to postpone beyond 5 July.  Almost a month earlier, she had had two steroid injections in her right knee.  Then she began to look all bloated, and lo and behold, had 2+ pitting (ankle) edema.  Quick trip to PCP.  Yup, there was edema, in both her face and below her knees.  BP = 142/86.  Blood sacrifice, and orders for chest film, stress echocardiogram, and ?.

Results altogether boring.  Yes, the blood work revealed a serum sodium of 147, (high normal), and potassium just under the normal range.  Liver and kidneys checked out fine.  Chest film was completely normal, and even the stress echo was unexciting.  Now what?   It will be back to the PCP tomorrow, I suppose.  At least her back surgery appears to have cured her back pain.

While all this was going on, Paul and Lew took the Airstream up to Toledo for an uneventful few days.  Lew showed Paul many of the sights and sites of his childhood, including the Cathedral and the surrounding flamboyantly extravagant late Victorian and Craftsman homes of the trendy "Old West End".  The next day they went to the Art Museum, so Paul could see where Lew preferred to spend his time before he moved to Columbus.

I did check the temp today in Copper Harbor.  It was 48.

Columbus OH

At last!  Bobbi returned for a followup with her orthopod a week ago, and the orthopod released her to "normal" activities.  She still is not permitted to lift over 8 pounds, but has traded her walker for a cane, and encouraged to daily walking to rebuilding her atrophied lower limbs.  

Bobbi continues to attend Activities Therapy regularly, currently having graduated to pool exercises -- with great trepidation due to her long-standing fear of the water.  But she flip-flopped and became a convert, so is going around evangelizing all her friends to take up pool therapy as well.  She already has succeeded in talking Lew into it -- not difficult in view of the back pain he continues to experience.  Both are making significant progress, though this is a slow process.

Bobbi continues to be increasingly active in church, participating in a weekly book study, helping with the garage sale, gifting one young lady with a scholarship, etc.  But most gratifying for her is that the orthopod released her to go back to work beginning the 17th.  This week she is to be installed as the bishop's assistant for prison ministry in the synod.  Lew welcomes this too, since it removes the last physical impediment to traveling.  He is looking forward eagerly to at least 2 and 3 day outings in Ohio, before escaping the heat in July and August by trekking to the north.

So maybe this blog can return to its original purpose!

Columbus OH

Another month.  How do I enter nothing?

Oh, Bobbi continues to heal.  She currently is walking a couple of blocks (which is farther than Lew can walk).  She is talking about giving up her hospital bed within the next few days.  She has made one trip to the gate at her prison (to deliver flowers).  She has shopped once at Kroger using the electric cart.  She has driven once or twice.  So there is progress.  But oh, is it ever slow.

But she remains under orders not to go back to "work".  She stilll is under orders not to bend, lift more than eight pounds, or twist.   

But she does feel much better than before her surgery.  Especially, the numbness she had developed in her toes has remitted almost completely.   So the prognosis is good, if she only can get her  weight down.

Lew on the other hand is having more trouble with his back.  He is painfree so long as he does not stand -- but when he does, the pain (especially in his left leg) flares up severely.  So life is OK so long as he does not stand or walk too much.  But this is sort of an unstable condition, so he continues to exercise (PT) regularly and assidously, while he searches for a treatment that will not lay him up as long as Bobbi's did.

Travel?  Well, in theory we still can do that.  So starting this month Lew is pushing for some short in-state trips, just to ameliorate the cabin fever.  Just hang in with  us.

Columbus OH

Believe it or not, Bobbi is making progress.  She now is on a three-times-a-week physical therapy schedule, and already is able to do a number of useful tricks: walk around the house, walk up to half a block round trip, get out of her hospital bed or chairs and back in -- indeed, most items of self care.  She has made it to mass the last three weeks, and to Ash Wednesday.   She says the back pain is much less than before the surgery, the numbness is remitting, and she is recovering strength in her lower extremities.

However, Bobbi still is under strict orders not to bend, lift, or twist.  So Paul or Lew have to get things for her from the lower shelves of the fridge, etc., or anything that requires any lifting whatsoever.  It is  fortunate that she has progressed this far, because Paul is due to return to school in a week or so, which will leave only Lew around during the day to assist Bobbi.  

Travel remains Lew's greatest frustration.  It has been more than a full year since he last was on the road, which means a full year since he has seen any relatives or friends (outside of a very few in Columbus).  "Cabin fever" does not begin to describe his clinical state.  However, he sometimes is able to take advantage of Paul's presence to go sit in the Airstream, catch up on his correspondence, and surf.  With the time on his hands, he has started up a blog for the alumni of his old high school -- consumes quite a bit of the time because he feels he must research everything.

So this is the latest update.  As always, Lew hopes to be able to go at least a few miles, see some other part of Ohio, and visit with a few friends and relatives.  But circumstances have proven unpredicatable -- so stay tuned.

Columbus OH

Even less than usual to report.  But what there is, is good.  We remain housebound in Columbus while Bobbi slowly heals.  Last week she went to the surgeon for followup, and he relaxed some of her restrictions.  Bending, lifting, and twisting are still prohibited, but she can walk as much as she feels like now.  Bobbi, being an impatient patient, immediately started getting out.  We went to mass two weekends now, Ash Wednesday a week ago, and a Bible study last night.  But she still has to sleep in a hospital bed, so we can't travel as yet.  She is hoping to be OK'd soon for physical therapy, and then she should be able to do a whole lot more things.

Well, it's not all good.  Anyone who is interested can go to weather.com and type in 43221 to see what we are putting up with.  A few days ago the low was in the single digits (with a little snow, thank you); tomorrow the high is to be in the 60's.  Good weather for the respiratory specialists.

The enforced inactivity does have some benefits.  Lew has been able to finish off the interior of the Airstream, with a new shower curtain and carpeting up both walls on the center bedroom (now all that really remains is to get the outside shined, but there certainly is no hurry about that).  And Bobbi has become such an internet junky that she only takes her eyes off the screen in order to eat and sleep (is that good or bad?).

More later.  But don't expect daily posts -- that is for when we are traveling.

Columbus OH

As we watched the storm approach Columbus, Bobbi was very anxious, well aware that additional snow would make it impossible to get her transferred into our house.

Fortunately, just an hour before the snow started (we watched on radar) we got an ambulette to take Bobbi to the house and got her inside. Then we all hunkered down to wait out the storm.

Also fortunately, we were not among those who lost electric power. Yesterday we started to dig our way out and freed up one vehicle (the minivan). Lew was able to pick up a few essential groceries.

Today the roads were a bit more passable. Lew got to the pharmacy, and Paul got out to get some other groceries. But people are getting overconfident... and the snow started again tonight. Predictions are for snow showers over the next several days. What will that mean? A few little dustings, or another storm?

More to come.

Columbus OH

I suppose we should apologize once again for our tardiness. Our excuse is that it has been a very busy two weeks (that's not a surprise, is it?).

First, the most important news. Bobbi had her surgery as scheduled on the morning of the 13th (it was still dark out, but we did manage to make it in time to wait around for an hour). The surgeon came out about 9 to report in glowing terms how well the surgery had gone, and Bobbi was back in recovery by 9 -- stoned out of her mind! Takes me back to 1969.

Since she woke up, Bobbi has made slow but steady progress. Tuesday she remained rather out-of-it, but by the next day was in sufficient contact to complain after her nerve block wore off. Pain was the major issue the next few days, but she was scheduled for release that Friday (the 16th). The house had been all prepared, with a hospital bed and various other assistive paraphenalia.

However, it had snowed heavily of the 13th and over some of the succeeding days, after which the temperatures plunged even below zero. This left a heavy blanket of snow on the ground. Now the house has no walkways -- only stepping stones, which become like ball bearings when a layer of ice or compacted snow is over them (and there was). The lawn is old, and with exposed tree roots the rest of the yard is quite uneven, endangering one's ankles even in the summer. So the family put its collective feet down and insisted she could not get from a vehicle into the house without a gurney. The hospital grumbled, but eventually got to work and transferred Bobbi to a rehab center.

Since the transfer Bobbi has continued to improve over the weekend and was even walking around a bit today -- but people still haven't solved the problem of getting her into the house without a gurney.

So the pets and Lew will spend another night in the house without Bobbi, while Paul stays with her as a private duty nurse. And it remains to be seen what they do when it comes time to discharge her.

Keep tuned.

Columbus OH

New Year's greetings to you all!

But as you can see from the heading for this post, we still are stuck in Columbus. No visiting this winter -- and we miss you all terribly -- especially the grandchildren. (OK. We also will miss the warm weather, the sunny skies, and the irresponsibility of the Gulf coast.)

The countdown continues, with Bobbi scheduled to go under the knife next Tuesday -- then invalidism for a prolonged but indefinate period. We will forced to some rather extreme adaptions: Bobbi will require a hospital bed for some time, and because of the narrow doorways and right angle turns, the only practical place to put it will be in the living room. Not that this is unprecedented -- we did the same thing 14 years ago when she fractured her ankle.

She also will be on total bed rest for a while, then in a removable turtle-shell body cast for a while, then no weight bearing for some more time, then slow rehab to increase weight bearing. The surgeon said to figure on 6 mo off from work -- what do poor or even middle-class people do?

Paul has arranged his affairs so he can act as nurse for Bobbi, just as he did for her mother. This will be a tremendous help because Lew is limited to lifting no more than 15# -- Paul can go up to 50#! And both have to sleep sometime.

Without grandma, holidays were quite different this year. The three children did Thanksgiving their own way. Bobbi and Lew took carryout to our priest-friend who was in a nursing home recuperating from his foot surgery. But the siblings did try to get together for an "old-fashioned" Christmas at Rhonda's house. They did plan a menu like grandma always used (actually great-grandma Georgia May's), but deviated here and there -- primarily in having less of everything. And there was no gift-opening. Everyone's house already was crammed to the rafters with the contents of grandma's house and her two cousins'. So the sibs agreed to give the money to charities in each other's names, and share the names of the recipients at the dinner. It worked out well enough, but there still was a pall over the festivities. New Year's was even less notable -- we pretty much avoided exposing ourselves to the streets because everyone stayed home, slept in, and did nothing.

Throughout the holidays we did sit around writing and addressing Christmas cards, in no particular order -- and we still are not finished. So please don't be offended if you are one of the later recipients; after all, in past years we have been sending out Christmas cards in April and May. We're not snubbing anyone, we're just disorganized. Maybe Bobbi will be able to catch up during her convalescence.

Stay tuned.