Monday (11/27/2017)

Update:

I’ve got a busy medical week going.   

It started with an appointment at Wound Care this morning.  I developed a sore on the end of my residual limb about ten days ago.  I’ve using my wheelchair and minimizing the use of my prosthesis while it heals.  Thankfully it is healing and is not infected.  I met a new doctor today and visited a department that I’ve never been to before!!!  YESSSSS!!!  Hey you got to find joy any way you can!!! 

If I was playing “Hospital Bingo” I think I would have about covered my entire card and won the grand prize…but I don’t know how I’m ever going to get an Ob/Gyn appointment to win!??!!  Sometimes “Winning really ISN’T everything…”  Living and surviving is really enough!  Sorry, Vince!

I had an appointment with my Retinal specialist this afternoon and got an eye injection.  My eyes are resistant to treatment, so while my eye sight has been fairly stable, it means I usually get an injection in each eye once every month to keep it that way.  Now there is a way to have a good time! 

Tomorrow (Tuesday) I show up to the hospital at 6 a.m. for surgery for carpal tunnel and cubital release on my right wrist and elbow.  I was in a lot of pain this morning just getting a clove of garlic out of the refrigerator—I think it’s clearly time to “get ‘er done.”  Early next year, I’ll need to get the same thing done to my left arm as well.

Later this week, I have an appointment with my local prosthetist.  I finally get my new pair of shoes and orthotic inserts for my right foot.  That’s like Christmas come early!  I also need to set up an appointment with her to get my prosthetic leg adjusted so I don’t develop any more sores.  Hopefully it is an easy fix (but with my track record, I’m not holding my breath).

I’ve been waiting for the carpal tunnel surgery since this springtime.  Since I won’t be able to use my right arm for a while, I was thankful to squeeze in the surgery before Christmas, before we started getting lots of snow (that I couldn’t shovel), scheduled while there was time to recover before filming my scene for my wife’s movie, and while I was walking well so I wasn’t stuck in a wheelchair without an arm to propel myself.  Oh well, best three out of four, I guess.  I won’t be able to do much traveling in my wheelchair after the surgery (arm use limits and weight restrictions), so I’ll be more housebound since I’m supposed to minimize use of my prosthesis.

Oh, well!  Have you ever noticed that life rarely works out like you planned?  As my middle son reminded me the other day, “Dad, you tend to be a control freak.”  My life has certainly been out of my control on most days over the last four years.  Overall, I think I’ve handled it well with only a few momentary lapses here and there.  I’m not perfect; but I keep trying to turn it over to the Lord God.  His will.  His way.  His timing.  Only by His grace and mercy. Surrounded by His peace.

Thursday (11/23/2017)

Update:  

Thanksgiving Day is the fourth anniversary of my hospitalization that led to my amputation.  By the time my wife figured out it wasn’t the flu and rushed me to the hospital, it was almost too late.  The infection had gotten into my blood stream and the doctors weren’t certain that I would live.  AND YET FOUR YEARS LATER, HERE I AM!!!  Thanks you, Jesus!

I’ve certainly had my ups and downs over the years.  I’ve struggled with diabetes, kidneys issues, liver shock, vision problems, and debilitating nerve pain.  I’ve spent about a year and a half using a wheelchair because I couldn’t use a prosthetic limb.  Starting this summer (just when I thought everything was going well) I’ve dealt with daily constant headaches, heart pain, and with carpal tunnel and cubital tunnel.  And now I have a sore on my residual limb that we are watching to see if it will heal or become infected.  SIGH!!!  I’ve had to significantly cut back on the number of hours I wear my prosthesis and on some of my activities while this sore heals.

Since Thanksgiving Day 2013, I’ve had 360 medical appointments or treatments/labs and spent 23 days in the hospital.  WHEW!!!!  That sounds like a lot, but I know amputees which have had far more difficult struggles than I have had; and I also know amputees who seem to just breeze on through life without much difficulty at all.  Everybody is different.  Each one of us has our own path to walk. 

I can certainly attest that my life is much more complicated than it used to be!!!  The smallest issues can quickly escalate into a serious problem.  And nothing ever gets resolved quickly if you are dealing with the medical field!  Being spontaneous takes much more planning than it used to require (Ha! Ha!).   I have to constantly work on adjusting my attitude so that I accept my current situation and limitations which are ever changing. 

AND in spite of (as well as because of) all that I have gone through (and continue to go through) I AM BLESSED.  I have so much to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.  One of my prayers when I was initially hospitalized was that I might live to see my children continue to grow.  Each day that I get is a blessing!  One of my greatest joys is getting to spend so much time with my granddaughter.  I spend several hours with her each week—it doesn’t get much better than that.  I don’t get to do everything that I would want; but I still get to do plenty.  Every step I take is a blessing.  Most of the time, I am independent and can drive myself to errands, medical appointments; and I’m even able to do some volunteer work.

All that I have gone through has given me a keener sense of gratefulness.  I am filled with joy being able to some of the smallest, “normal” things that I used to overlook and take for granted.   My perspective has changed—and for the better!  Perspective, outlook, or attitude—whatever you call it—is a choice.  Each one of us gets to decide if we are going to focus upon the negative or the positive things in our lives.  We can choose to see the “silver lining in every cloud” or the “cloud in every silver lining.”   I am not saying that my life has gone exactly the way I wanted it; far from it!!!  But I can choose to wallow in self-inflicted misery or embrace the joy found in a positive, upbeat outlook.  I’ve found that there is ALWAYS something to be thankful for.

My life has changed and I am nearly constantly challenged by some new adventure; but I am enjoying the journey much more than when I was abled-bodied and so caught up in life.  I don’t know how many more hours (days, weeks, years, or decades) that God will grant me life; but I look forward to enjoying each and every one—not matter what they bring! 

I am Thankful!!! 

I hope you take a few moments today to express your gratitude as well.

Monday (10/23/2017)

Yesterday (Sunday) I was able to attend church for the first time in over four months!!!!   I had to wear earplugs to block out some of the volume; but I did it.  Yeah!  It wasn't comfortable; but it wasn't as painful and  overwhelming as it had been.  My therapist hopes that over time my sensitivity to sound will decrease and it will get easier.  With the earplugs in I found that I couldn't sing along--that added too much sound in my head, so I just listened.  Kind of frustrating not to sing along; but I'm taking baby steps forward!!!!

It's not just church that has been too much for me to handle.  Many stores and restaurants are too loud and painful for me as well.  I'm not back to listening to music for pleasure yet.  That's still beyond me.  But hopefully one day I'll be able to tolerate it and then get to the point that I enjoy it again.

Weird; but true!!!

Saturday (9/23/2017)

One year ago today had a life-changing surgery done.  I had a revision done to my below the knee amputation by Dr. Janos Ertl.  Before the surgery I was basically wheelchair bound because of intense nerve pain in my residual limb.  My constant nerve pain went from the bottom of my stump all the way up to my lower back.  I couldn’t sit in a chair or ride in a car for more than an hour without terrible pain.  I was using opioids to help make the pain bearable.  With a lot of work, my prosthetist fashioned a leg that I could wear for up to an hour a day, but then the pain was too great to stand any longer.  I was sent by my local doctors to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN; but even there the doctors had no answers and said there was nothing they could do for me.

                                                                                        

Fortunately a FaceBook friend had been politely pestering me to see Dr. Janos Ertl in Indianapolis; and I had nothing to lose so I went to see him.  I am so glad that I did.  I will admit that I was a bit skeptical when he quickly told me he could help me.  I had the surgery done and he delivered more than he promised me.  All I really expected was for a reduction in my leg pain so I could walk again.  Not only did the ERTL revision take away all my leg pain, all the pain in my lower back disappeared as well!!!!  Dr. Ertl gave me my life back!  I’m so grateful to Rob Pinkston for encouraging me to seek Dr. Ertl out.  And I’m so very thankful that Dr. Ertl for doing something completely different than the standard style amputation. 

Here are a couple of articles to read for more information about the ERTL procedure: 

https://opedge.com/Articles/ViewArticle/2010-10_02

http://www.ertlreconstruction.com/2015/07/osteomyoplastic-amputation-reconstruction/

I’ve had a number of other issues in the past year that haven’t allowed me to get back to doing everything that I have wanted to do; but the constant, excruciating nerve pain in the residual limb and lower back is not one of them.  I’m walking today because Dr. Ertl is willing to go well beyond the limits of a standard amputation. 

My original amputation was done on December 3, 2013.  

Sunday (8/20/2017)

Update:

On Monday (8/14) I went to the ER with chest pains.  They did a lot of tests and concluded that I did not have a heart attack.  So I was sent home and scheduled for a follow-up with my primary physician.  I was told to get a cardiac stress test as soon as possible.

On Thursday (8/17) I went back to the ER with chest pains again.  Once again they said I had not had a heart attack.  This time they admitted me to the hospital for observation and further testing.  Lots and Lots and Lots of testing.  

On Friday (8/18) I took the stress test and they found that I had one small area in the lower left chamber that wasn't working correctly (ischemia).

 On Saturday (8/19) I had a heart catherization.  They did not find anything that could be stented, fixed or repaired.  My arteries are all clear.  They are attributing my chest pain to Small Vessel Disease, a common issue with those who have had diabetes.  So they prescribe medicines and discharged me on Saturday night.

Whew!  What a life-changing week!!!  

I am extremely grateful for the care I received.  My Hospitalist and nursing staff were outstanding!!!!  Thank you Sarah, Kendall, Emily, and most especially, Dawn.   I had a three hour episode of chest pain on Saturday and Dawn was with me for almost every second, getting me the care I needed and helping me through it all.

This week ahead, I have two medical appointments to go to and otherwise I am staying home and doing absolutely nothing!!!

I'm scheduled to fly to St. Louis next Monday (8/28).  My brother is getting married Labor Day weekend and I am performing the ceremony.  So I plan on being "good boy" and not take any risks this week so that it actually happens.

I'd appreciate your prayers for the medication to work well with minimal side effects, and that I do not have any repeat episodes of chest pain.  Hopefully, we'll get the med levels balanced and I will be able to resume more of my "normal" lifestyle soon.

Sunday (8/13/2017)

Update:

I've made good progress in reducing the amount and the intensity of headaches, dizziness, and foggy thinking that I've been experiencing; however I still am facing problems and limitations with it.  One of my disappointments is still not being able to attend church.  Puts me in sensory overload.  :-(

Physical Therapy focused upon pinched nerves (especially in my neck) seems to have reduced my symptoms.  I'm able to get out and do more things; but I still have moments and days where I'm in pain. 

Friday (7/28/2017)

Update:

Since the beginning of May, I’ve had constant headaches, mental fogginess, dizziness, stiff and painful neck, buzzing tightness around the head, etc. which has severely limited my activity and ability to function.  I’ve undergone numerous doctor evaluations and tests (around twenty appointments so far in the last 2 ½ months) trying to determine a cause and a cure.  I’m pleased to say that in the last week, we may have stumbled onto something.  It may not solve all my problems, but it has helped some already.  I’ve even had two days where I was able to get out and do more activity than I’ve been able to tolerate at any time in the past three months.  I have a long way to go to get back to normal; but this is encouraging and gives me some hope.

What seems to have helped me is a combination of some exercises for vertigo, a steroid nasal decongestant, and most importantly, physical therapy on my neck.  Apparently I have some impinged nerves causing a lot of the problem.  I’m hoping with continued treatment that all of the symptoms will eventually fade away and I can get back to my normal life (household chores, exercise, volunteer work, driving distances, etc.).  It’s been tough not feeling well enough to do anything but sit around doing nothing.  Hopefully all that changes beginning from right now.