Here's the Story

It  appears that the situation with the aortic aneurysm is serious.  I am scheduled for surgery on Friday the 24th of June.  Yes, that's only about a week and a half away!  The aneurysm is greater than 5 cm now and really is a potential threat.  The Doctor is very positive about the outcome.  I should only be in the hospital about 24 hrs, including the surgery.  I am otherwise in good health and he says I have the blood pressure of a 20 year old.  I have much to do before the surgery.  I will try to give updates.
I borrowed this from a medical web site:

Endovascular Stent Surgery: Most thoracic aortic aneurysms are now treated with a minimally invasive approach called endovascular stent-graft repair, instead of conventional surgery. In this approach, a catheter is used to insert and guide a stent-graft (a polyester tube covered by a tubular metal web) into the aorta to the site of the aneurysm. The procedure begins by making a small incision in the groin and inserting the stent-graft into the femoral artery (which descends directly from the aorta). Using fluoroscopy (a continuous x-ray technique) and transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), the stent-graft is guided through the aorta to the aneurysm. With the stent-graft in place, blood flows through the stent-graft instead of through the aneurysm, eliminating the risk of rupture. This procedure may not require general anesthesia, and patients may have only a two-day hospital stay.

I will be under general anesthesia.  I have rather bad arthritis in my lower spine so spinal anesthesia  isn't the best option.  I kind of think just waking up after the whole thing may be best any way.  Well more later.

Love,
Shel

Up-Date - Sort of

Well, I went to the vascular surgeon and he said, Hmmmmm. He looked at CAT scans back to 7 years ago and said ......... " I need a new CAT SCAN.  These things need precise measurement."  As he talked and the way he talked I became more and more certain that he was talking surgery, sooner than later.  I have had the CAT scan and I see the Vascular Surgeon again tomorrow.  I suspect I will leave that appointment with some more concrete information.   He did say to me that the surgery I would be looking at was the less invasive "Stent Insertion" procedure. This is a kind of a relief.  There is less in the way of recovery.  The downside is that there is much more follow-up.

In the mean time, for fun I had a colonoscopy!  This is a part of my normal follow-up from the past colon cancer.  The good news is that everything looks pretty good there.

I seems that I move from one Doctor's appointment to another.  This will probably continue for a while.  Aside from the actual appointments and occasional procedure this all seems to intrude on my life in a minor way.  I know that if I have the Aneurysm fixed, even with the stent, there will be a period of convalsecence, but that is better than it being a fatal condition.

My attitude is good and I am physically strong and that can only help.

How are other things going?  Well, I continue to fill in on Sunday Services, take event photos, write blogs, and fix computers.  I just finished working on two major Community Projects.  I am busier than anything.  I had to stop Saturday and do laundry and work on my Sermon, there was no other time.  By the way I took the above picture while on a recent job.  I had to really cut it down to get it to upload.

I keep you informed about the health.  Peace!
And as usual Love,
Shel

Health Concerns Again

I know that I have mentioned this before, but I know it has been a while ago.  Recent events make this a concern again.  Back when I had surgery for cancer I started to have CAT Scans.  In those scans it was discovered that I have an Aortic Aneurysm in my abdomen.  It is midway down and when it was discovered it was significant, but apparently not a surgical concern.  In the almost 7 years since that original CAT scan the Aneurysm has grown.  The growth has been slow, but the size is now at the verge of being a surgical concern.  The surgery is usually successful, but it is surgery and it IS major. 

Later this month I will be seeing a thoracic vascular surgeon and I will learn more.  Life is so strange.  You deal with one thing and there is always another thing. I'll post when I know anything new.

The long missing

I have been missing for some time.  I looked at my last post and said to myself, "WTF!"  I must have been in some serious state of mind!  That is past as are many other things.  Let's catch up.  Christmas was quite difficult, mainly because I was sick the whole season.  Yes, the whole time.  I caught a respiratory bug and I was literally sick from Christmas Eve Day until New Years Day.  That whole time is pretty much a lost blur for me.   I didn't do anything much for that whole time.  I am fully recovered now, thank God.

The weather has been just beastly!  We have had lots of snow, so much that there are piles at corners that are hard to see around.  We have also had wind and cold.  Just recently we have been having ice on top of it all.  Buildings in Connecticut with weak structure or flat roofs have been collapsing.  Driving has been a nightmare.  And I have been SAD (more appropriately affected by SAD [seasonal affect disorder].)  I have cabin fever.  I have also had a string of Sunday Church Jobs.  There are a bunch of Church openings nearby so fill-in Priests are required.  I mostly work Sundays during the Summer during Clergy Vacations so this is special.  I have been having a blast. 

I am now beginning to think about a visit to Arizona to see my family out there.  I need to plan the time and flight, etc.  This should get me through the rest of the winter.

This is Birthday month.  My Birthday was yesterday.  My oldest Son's Birthday is next week and my granddaughter's 5th birthday is later this month.  Additionally, I have friends with February birthdays.  I kind of vegged yesterday.  I got phone calls from my family and lots of good wishes on Facebook.  There was also cake here last night.  All in all it was a good day.

I am going through a cycle of Medical visits.  So far everything has been good.  The Aortic Aneurysm has grown a bit (not alarmingly yet) but I need to consult a vascular surgeon for a plan for the future.  This is a treatable condition as long as the aneurysm doesn't rupture.  I also had a LAP-BAND "Fill".  The Doctor actually removed some of the restriction.  For the first time the doctor watched how the band was working with a fluoroscope.  It had been set too restrictive for quite some time.  I kind of knew this because I was throwing up a bit too much.  I feel much better now and I am actually able to eat meat again.  Denser foods like meat are better because they satisfy longer and I don't feel like snacking.

Sadly, our Dog, RJ died quite suddenly.  He went into my room and I believe had a heart attack.  We found him as he was dying and were able to sit with him as he died.  He was a good dog and loved us all.  I have been very upset about this.  We went and got a new dog about a week later.  I still miss RJ but Shiloh is a real sweet dog and her vigor and life have helped.

I have been trying to post a piece about RJ, but I get too emotional.  I will eventually gather my thoughts and some pictures and post them.

For now this is it. There is sun out right now and I am very happy about that  This morning the was ice all over and my day plans totally changed.  Keep warm and safe and stay well.

Love,
Shel

Ultimate despair

That's a dire title and maybe it's a bit over stated but I have a way of occasionally sinking into one of these moods.  I don't do this spontaneously but it is usually a combination of things.  Tonight it consists of the Christmas season, having no relationship, thinking about it and watching absolutely the wrong movie.  I have a real talent for choosing the wrong movie for the moment and I did it tonight.  I found myself on the verge of tears.  The movie wasn't sad it was just the wrong movie for how I was feeling.  I was sad or sad enough that the movie touched me in the wrong way.  I am now sitting here feeling like I need to break out in full tears.  Sigh!  This too will pass... I hope.

Peace and as always my Love,

Shel

OMG!

OMG!  I am sorry to have neglected this blog so long.  I could use the excuse that I was busy and I was, but I wasn't THAT busy.  The truth is that I have been working more at things that involve the computer and this means I use the computer less for recreation.  When I was working doing Computer Networking Training I seldom used the computer outside of work.  Today I am working a lot at photography and since the cameras are now digital I post process with the computer.  I am also doing some professional work on Blogs so this seems to take a back seat these days.  When I was recovering from Cancer and the after effects of Chemo this was one of my few outlets.

Let's catch up a bit.  My father turned 99 on Sept. 1st.  Can you imagine that?  He was born September 1, 1911 in Granite City, Illinois.  He was the youngest child and is the only survivor of his brothers and sisters.  His brother's wife, Aunt Naomi, died this past summer at the age of 102.  She was totally invalid, but my father lives on his own and still drives.  I visit him every other week and bring home cooked food for him.  This past visit I brought him home cooked split pea and ham soup.  I must say it was good!

I have been well, mostly.  This week the arthritis in my back has bothered a bit.  Speaking of arthritis, my knees are bothering me a lot these days.  I want to walk more, but it begins to hurt after a while.  I guess there are a few down-sides to growing older.  My granddaughter is thriving out in Arizona, along with her parents.  They are doing well and seem to be very happy.  I talk with them on Skype whenever I can.  My other two sons were caught up in the closing of the Shaw's Super Market chain in Connecticut.  They are still looking for jobs.  The economy stinks!

This is about enough for now.  I will try to be more faithful at blogging.  You all be well.

Love,
Shel

Paen to my Big Black Dog

Just about 13 years ago my ex partner and the kids and I brought home a little black Labrador puppy.  He was soon named Scout and joined our family.  He grew from a puppy to an adult and though a large dog he was always gentle and friendly.  He had a loud bark and terrified anyone who visited, but truth be known, he was harmless.  He had a great disposition.  He grew up with the boys (three of them) and was a friend not only to us (his people), but to the two Beagles and to the cats (there were many and various.)

Scout was enthusiastic and loving.  About six years ago I moved out of the house.  Scout stayed with my ex, but I still thought of him as my dog.  Whenever I visited he greeted me cheerfully, I was not forgotten.  As he aged he had developed gray hair so he was no longer all black.

Last week, Scout became unable to walk.  His rear legs became paralyzed.  My son and I took him to the Vet.  Apparently, it is common for large dogs to have spinal and hip degeneration in old age.  Scout could no longer be himself.  He couldn't go out and run as he once had loved to do. He couldn't control himself.  The decision was hard but Scout's final moments were with my son and I.

What can I say about a good dog other than I will miss him.  He was part of my family and I loved him.  I sure hope there is a doggie heaven and that Scout is with Lady and Max, the beagles who were his companions for so many years.   Goodby Scout!

Love,
Shel

PS:  This wasn't really a classical paen because it wasn't a song.  It was meant to be a tribute, and in that sense, I believe it is a paen.