Small Talk: Out of Genoa

[miamama]

52 minutes ago, jewel21 said:

Thank you all!

I wish I could say I hadn't googled, but I googled for the week it took me to finally get an appointment with my doctor.

Googling wasn't so bad, it was my mother calling me up saying "what if it's cancer?" that freaked me out more than anything.

In the end it was an abscess/boil/cyst, call it what you will. The doctor looked at it and drained it and told me to come see her again if it comes back and use warm compresses.

I will say it was an abscess/boil/cyst where no abscess/boil/cyst should ever be allowed to grow. And it hurt like a motherfucker.

lumps and bumps that hurt are usually good signs -- i.e. not cancer. That is based on my earlier Google searches. 

[NinjaPenguins]

Glad you're alright, jewel! Sorry you had to endure that for a week though. And yeah, the siren song of Google is hard to resist even when you know it's a bad idea.

[peacheslatour]

Quote

Googling wasn't so bad, it was my mother calling me up saying "what if it's cancer?" that freaked me out more than anything.

Ah yes, good old mom. I love my mother dearly, but she does shit like that too. Glad you're o.k.

Edited July 12, 2016 by peacheslatour
words

[PatsyandEddie]

Glad your "situation" was not so dire jewel!

Miamama,you folks are in my thoughts and prayers. St.Mike's is a great hospital and I hope that whatever is causing the blood loss can be diagnosed and addressed quickly. 

valley,how are you doing? 

[valleycliffe]

hi everyone..got my staples out this afternoon, for the most part didn't hurt but a few made me wince.

doc said because of the medications i take for my ra, it will take me a little longer to heal but i go see him again in 8 wks.  for the next 6 wks, i HAVE TO use either a walker or at the very least my cane.

miamama, hoping everything goes well for your dad..

jewel, happy everything turned out...it's the not knowing that's the worst..

[Shicklove1]

Valley I hope you are feeling better soon it is never fun being limited by surgery.

[peacheslatour]

Are you feeling better, valley? No more pain pills?

[valleycliffe]

still taking the painpills plt, i typically only have one during the day but at night in bed i take them ( 1 every 4 hrs) cause i can't get comfortable..it was hard lying like a plank on the bed and then when i moved the pain would hit.  getting better now and the dr. said i could lay on my right side but had to put a pillow between the legs.

 i should be hearing from the hospital soon so i can start my physiotherapy.

[Petunia13]

This site is so quiet now.  even the busy forums have less than half the traffic of normal. 

[miamama]

Just an update on miamamaPapa. They have delayed his procedure (double balloon enteroscopy FYI) until tomorrow because they would prefer to have a cardiac anaesthetist on hand (due to dads recent heart surgery). They will do procedure in an OR as a result (to be safe) and one is not available until then.

Patsy: Love St. Mike's. That hospital has been so good to us over the years.

I am feeling seriously grateful right now for these kickass doctors in my kickass country with its universal healthcare. And the nurses at our local hospital hugged my mom before my folks left this morning. How damn sweet. 

Gratitude feels so much better than terror. I highly recommend it. :)

[Snaporaz]

If you only knew the horror stories about your universal healthcare that get tossed around here.  I always find it amusing/depressing that those stories in no way line up with the first-person accounts told by actual Canadians!

[miamama]

1 minute ago, Snaporaz said:

If you only knew the horror stories about your universal healthcare that get tossed around here.  I always find it amusing/depressing that those stories in no way line up with the first-person accounts told by actual Canadians!

Yeah. I've seen a bit of that stuff. Lol. And our health care is not perfect by any means but its heart is in the right place: every human being has a right to the best health care we as a community can provide. 

My dad has spent 14 weeks in hospital (32 days in ICU), had two open heart surgeries, received 48 units of blood, numerous expensive tests, been transported to an out of town hospital (they let my mom ride with him gratis), and received world class health care (this procedure is only about 15 years old and not available in a lot of places, even in North America).

All this -- apart from his television service (which the nurses are going to have rate reduced if they can) and our parking (mom got a discount because of the long stay) -- and he has not had to worry about cost/insurance for *one second.*

❤️❤️❤️❤️

sorry if this is political mods. I just feel relief after weeks of stress over his health. :)

[peacheslatour]

1 hour ago, miamama said:

Yeah. I've seen a bit of that stuff. Lol. And our health care is not perfect by any means but its heart is in the right place: every human being has a right to the best health care we as a community can provide. 

My dad has spent 14 weeks in hospital (32 days in ICU), had two open heart surgeries, received 48 units of blood, numerous expensive tests, been transported to an out of town hospital (they let my mom ride with him gratis), and received world class health care (this procedure is only about 15 years old and not available in a lot of places, even in North America).

All this -- apart from his television service (which the nurses are going to have rate reduced if they can) and our parking (mom got a discount because of the long stay) -- and he has not had to worry about cost/insurance for *one second.*

❤️❤️❤️❤️

sorry if this is political mods. I just feel relief after weeks of stress over his health. :)

Goddam, that is awesome. I thought in America we had the right of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. I guess not.

[NinjaPenguins]

So glad your dad has such excellent care, mia! Good luck tomorrow.

Maybe one day my country will join the rest of the civilized world re: healthcare. 

[Petunia13]

Yes good luck and sending healing thoughts and well wishes to your dad and the members of the board under the weather or with chronic illness. 

Any of you have time or interest this site's beauty forum can always use some more opinions and tips or questions. It's all about makeup but also skin care, fragrance, hair, nails, shaving or waxing. Ect. 

[Cupid Stunt]

 

Political cartoonist Louison

 https://twitter.com/Louison_A

Edited July 15, 2016 by Cupid Stunt

[jewel21]

So guess who has to drop her lemon of a bird off at the vet Friday morning at 8:30 am on her way to work so they can do an exam and x-rays. X-rays alone are $116, and I have to miss a half hour of work because I can't drop off at 8 am.

And despite all this, I'm worried. My poor little baby, I hope he's okay. Please don't let it be neurological or something super serious or overly expensive.

Why can't he be a normal, healthy, robust cockatiel?

In other news, it appears my credit card got frauded so I have to wait for a new card to be issued next week. Luckily, it was only for a small amount $26, although it appears they tried a second time. Visa guy told me the second time Starbucks refunded me for the purchase. I don't even know.

And lastly, my abscesses appear to be coming back. Oh, yay.

[valleycliffe]

aww, sorry to hear that jewel21...

going back to see the dr?

[peacheslatour]

I'm so sorry about Steve McQueen, but I'm sure Sainted Vet will fix him right up (let's not think about the cost til later when we can feel relieved).

Quote

Why can't he be a normal, healthy, robust cockatiel?

"I have three kids and no money, why can't I have no kids and three moneys?"

Hey valley,how's your hip?

[valleycliffe]

it's getting better everyday plt.

i'm down to about 2 (very rarely 3) pain pills.  considering dr. said to take 2 of them at a time every 4 hrs, i think i'm doing pretty good.

looking into renting a 4 wheel walker with hand brakes and seat and basket.  i think in about 2 wks i will be able to go out during the day, just have to use a walker..actually, what i am thinking of doing is going to the casino for a bit, maybe an hr or so. it is 5 wks tomorrow that i got out of the hospital and my incision is looking better.

[PatsyandEddie]

Hope your little buddy is ok jewel! 

Not so much fun with the boils :P

[NinjaPenguins]

Good luck to your bird buddy, jewel! Sorry about the abscesses.

[miamama]

Poor Steve McQueen. :(

[Petunia13]

@jewel21 I hope Steve feels better soon. Sending good thoughts and vibes. It's such a helpless and sick feeling when a pet is ill. Take care of yourself and stay strong. 

@valleycliffe good for you on your progress and keep kicking ass. I think getting out will do wonders for you. It'll be great when the pain and recovery becomes a distant memory. 

My comments are so trivial. I barely go out in the sun but my actinic prurigo (it's a genetic skin condition indigenous people have) has made me so itchy this year. Basically it's a sun allergy Native Americans have. It's weird and uncommon. Also my coworker is still mucho annoying. I really like this forum since you guys literally slay me with your jokes and I love to hear what you're up to. The chemistry is so real and warm. It reminds me of friends I had in college. 

[jewel21]

Thanks for the thoughts and good vibes. I hope Steve will be okay, too. He developed a tremor in his right foot that is noticeable when he climbs or descends his cage. I just hope it's nothing too serious.

I hope everyone is doing okay.

Valley, I'm glad you're getting along better.

Petunia, I'm sorry to hear about your shitty co-worker and your skin allergy. I hope you start feeling better soon. And I agree, it's terrible when your pet is sick. It stresses me out so much because there's always something wrong with Steve and it's usually not little things. Chronic respiratory infection, liver failure, etc. He only just turned 4 years old but he's got the health woes of an old man, heh.

Edited July 21, 2016 by jewel21

[jewel21]

I'm super terrified for tomorrow.

[PatsyandEddie]

Hugs and smooches jewel! 

[NinjaPenguins]

Warm and positive thoughts for your feathered friend, jewel. We're here for you.

[Snaporaz]

Steve McQueen is a bad-ass, just like his namesake.

[miamama]

Big big hugs, Jewel!!!! Sending good Prevert thoughts for Stevie!!!!

[boes]

13 hours ago, jewel21 said:

I'm super terrified for tomorrow.

It's awful with a sick animal,with no way to allay or ameliorate their fears the way we can do with a person.  You're left with this dread.  Our hearts are with you both.

[klopek]

 I wish animals could talk... tell us what hurts and how we can best help them.  : (    Paws and claws crossed for you both.

[jewel21]

Thank you everyone for the warm thoughts, it appears it worked! Preverts are magical, it would appear.

Physical exam and x-rays came back normal. But the techs noticed when cutting Steve's claws, that one appeared to be cracked almost to the vein and they think the pain of that must have been causing his foot to tremble when climbing and descending his cage. Poor guy was like that since Sunday and I had no idea.

They said he might still be in pain for the next couple of days but hopefully the trembling should stop. I've been watching and haven't seen it happen again so fingers crossed. Mostly, he just seems exhausted.

And I somehow managed to pick up a cold. Sore throat and sneezing but I don't even care because Steve is okay.

*hugs*

[PatsyandEddie]

Awww jewel! Thank goodness it's something that can be fixed so that he can get back to being himself. It's so hard when your babies aren't well. 

Sucks about your summer cold. 

[peacheslatour]

Yay for Steve McQueen!! Thank (insert_deity_of_your_choice_here) Preverts truly are magical! ((hugs))

[Petunia13]

Thanks God it was the pain of the cracked nail causing his food to tremble and him to be reserved. I know that sounds stupid to say! But you know what I mean. 

[jewel21]

It doesn't sound stupid at all. I'm glad it's something that can be fixed, and not a neurological issue because then I don't know what I would have done.

Steve woke up hopping around and singing. I still see the foot tremble a bit but it's much less noticeable and seems to be happening much less often. Hopefully by Monday he'll be back to normal.

Thanks again for all the love and support *hugs*

[valleycliffe]

aww, jewel21, we are preverts, and we are here for you, or me, or anyone of us who need it..

kumbaya y'all...

[Cupid Stunt]

Did any of you catch the Live-Tweet Feed by Leni Riefenstahl from Nuremburg?

Fabulous and so inspiring! 

 

It's really not my color, but I'm being fitted for my Brown Shirt right now!

[peacheslatour]

Jesus Christ, he scares the shit out of me.

[valleycliffe]

cupid stunt, is this a real picture or a photoshopped one?

if real, i wish it was shown in every newspaper in the usa.

[peacheslatour]

I'm pretty sure it's 'shopped. I don't think even as nasty as he is, even Trumpf wouldn't have the balls to use a swastika.

[pearlite]

I guess Der Trumpster can concentrate on thinking about his Mexican wall, because a lot of Canadians would pay for the gigantic wall needed to keep Trump and his followers out of our country.

[jewel21]

Fuck, I'd help build that wall myself.

[NinjaPenguins]

Just let me get on the Canadian side of the wall first!

[peacheslatour]

I'm pretty close to the border here in Seattle. Vancouver is a beautiful city...hmmm..

[valleycliffe]

7 minutes ago, peacheslatour said:

I'm pretty close to the border here in Seattle. Vancouver is a beautiful city...hmmm..

it sure is plt....

i was happy to see pics of some of the cast who went for the kate linder tea at the 4 seasons in vancouver got out to do a little sightseeing of our gorgeous city...thankfully i get to go there now at least 2 times a year for a weekend when i go see my rheumatologist..  and my daughter of course..i go again in september but i sure wish it would switch to fall rates instead of keeping them at the "summer" or "high season" one..but, it's my birthday present this time (it's tomorrow) so i'm not going to complain..

[peacheslatour]

I adore Vancouver. My friends and I used to go every year for New Years and we stayed at the Four Seasons. I had literally the best hamburger I have ever had in my life at the Four Seasons Grill. And the city itself is so cosmopolitan! I love the way people dress up there, I remember to first time I ever saw a man wearing a full length fur coat over a three piece suit. Oh, and the way you can see people skiing on the slopes right from down town. Just a all around gorgeous city. I envy you getting to go every year.

[Petunia13]

Ugh the past few days (including today! !!) have been so stressful ?

[valleycliffe]

you ok petunia13?