Christmas Cheer
Twenty- Five years,
Of Christmas cheer.
So Happy Together.
With family near.
Megan on her way,
And Miranda soon.
It’s as big an event,
As the one every June.
Gifts for the kids,
And leg of lamb.
While the pups will expect,
A big bite of ham.
We got to four continents,
And my fiftieth, Maine.
But most of this year,
I’ve been in pain.
You’ve been very loving,
Always by my side.
You deserve gold,
But sadly denied.
Medical bills & auto repairs,
Have eaten our reserves.
While the fireplace and hurricanes,
Have thrown us curves.
A Limoges souvenir,
From our Majorca adventure.
Is all I can offer,
For your loyal indenture.
I’ve moaned and snored,
Hobbled and complained.
But you keep smiling,
Though patience strained.
For better or worse,
You took on a lot.
Your heart is much bigger,
Than the new parts I got.
Mike’s in there somewhere,
Not the stranger in your bed.
“I love you more.”
Is easily now said.
Hopefully the new year,
Will bring him back.
And you can once again,
Plan and pack.
It’s now been eleven months since heart surgery and other than the scars there is little evidence. My left leg continues to be the biggest issue in this recovery, a factor that can only be assumed to be a by-product of the surgical procedures. Nonetheless, it was never once a concern prior to the operation while undoubtedly the biggest obstacle in my recovery. The sciatica pain keeps me awake at night and limits my ability to walk or exercise despite three injection attempts to heal the inherent damages.
I hobble to the fitness center nearly every day, hoping to one day regain the stamina that enabled me to run every day the past fifteen years. Where is the old me? I do about 45-minutes on the stationary bike, cautiously lift some lighter weights, and occasionally walk a mile or so on the treadmill. Discomfort in the form of a Charlie Horse in my left thigh and balance are my enemies. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to run again like the old me.
Pain medication helps me sleep but makes me groggy in the morning. I’ll discuss the options with my doctor during my upcoming appointment. The steroids seem to have aggravated rather than soothed my nerves as expected. Surgery is probably in my future as arthritis continues to eat at my spine. While I paid strict attention to my knees and hips all these years, it was apparently my spine that took the brunt of all those miles. Time to pay the piper!
My heart seems to be functioning well, and my breastbone has finally healed. It no longer hurts to cough. However, all my focus has been on the leg pain, so it’s easy to ignore all the other aches. I might even soon be able to get back into a pushup routine that would make my body feel normal again. It was apparently too soon when I tried to build up the reps a few months ago. I keep going back to a neighbor’s advice at the beginning of my recovery. He said, “the surgeon’s knife is a year long,” and I’m beginning to believe in that truth. The new year will provide a path to finding the old me.
It’s probably a bit too soon to write about the New Year, but I’m lost for positive subject matter. This blog has not been filled with humor and poetry as intended. Instead, it’s been a tough year of surgery, doctors, and pain that have taken away from the joy of travel. Yes, we did get to South America, Africa, Spain, and even Maine, my 50th state. But in between, were 10-days of hospitalization and over 90 doctor appointments. One thing led to another, so I’m hoping for a better year of health.
On the positive side, we did get a new puppy, Fosse, that seems to have extended the life of her older sister Tally, at 100 dog years and counting. My wife had a good year of staying away from doctors and finding some passion in teaching youngsters. She continues to tap dance, take the dogs to the bark park, go to the beach, play bridge, and exercise in the pool, all of the benefits of resort living. She’s also been very supportive with my recovery, doing more than her share of keeping up the house – a bundle of energy. I’m still very much in love with her. Thank You, Sweetie pie!
My grandchildren are getting taller and older, although they have recently been living on the East Coast of Florida, far from us and the need for our companionship. Our last hurrah as a family was Thanksgiving, but they will be back for Christmas. We have two new drivers in the family that have yet to make a solo trip. My days of shuttling them around are growing few.
I’ve been well educated about my aging body by Cardiologists, Physician Assistants, nurses, surgeons, Ophthalmologists, Neurologists, Urologists, rehab specialists, x-ray technicians, doctors that don’t necessarily end in “ist,” dentists, chiropractors, etc. Some are family members that have been extremely helpful in my time of need. “I don’t need no doctor,” has been my motto throughout life, until this year’s barrage. Worst of all, I had to give up my running streak of 15-years, the foundation of my health.
My muscles are now disturbingly flabbier and I’m currently about 10-pounds heavier, despite daily trips to the fitness center. Running always kept the weight off, while the winter months and holiday libations have always been a problem. I do still have a Florida tan, so I look pretty good on the outside, although rusted out on the inside, as my poem reads: (See post #1811). Unbelievably, IU football has made the College Football Playoffs!
I’ve had my share of problems, but when I look around our retirement neighborhood or stop by the hospital, I really have very little to complain about. I’ve also lost a number of high school classmates this year. Thankfully, I haven’t been sick once, despite all the time I’ve spent in the unhealthy environment of medical offices or a wife that regularly hangs out with first graders. I’m just hoping for fewer doctors in 2025!
I felt like I was in a Monopoly game yesterday and drew a Chance card that read, Go Back Three Spaces.” I woke up this morning after a restless night’s sleep to some dizziness and weight gainj. By fasting for the injection procedure, I obviously threw off my medication schedule. It was particularly noticeable in the shakiness of my hands. We also stopped at Arby’s after the surgery center so I could gorge myself on a celebratory Janocha Shake. Although, there wasn’t much to cheer about, and it only led to an unsettled stomach that added to the tossing and turning.
The cramp-like symptoms returned to my left leg and left me hobbled. Nurses helped me to the bathroom and car, but ice packs and rest did not resolve the pain. In fact, after leaning on my poor wife too many times for assistance, I had her bring “Sky Walker” out of retirement to get me around the house. She took over all the dog duties while I sat on my butt, ate more junk, and watched Yellowstone, Landman, Curse of Oak Island, and The Unbelievable. I’ll continue today with Gold Rush, Shrinking, and Before. We then have Thanksgiving dinner plans with my son and his family.
The good news is that I didn’t really need the walker this morning but there’s still a certain tightness/soreness in my leg and lower back. It can take up to three days for the steroids to work, although it has been known to provide immediate relief in some people. That is not the case for me, as I deal with the frustration of going back in time about eight months, following my open-heart surgery in January. The sciatica issues came on slowly after starting with these Charlie Horse-like cramps in my left calf and thigh. It has never affected my right side. At first, they thought it might be related to circulation, but MRI and Ultrasound tests have proven otherwise. Steroid tablets did not do the trick, but the first round of injections brought relief. The second round has hopefully only temporarily set me back.
On a humorous note, a friend sent a cartoon yesterday, with a family of generous pigs visiting a heart valve patient like me. It made me smile, with thoughts of the College World Series and the obnoxious Razorbacks with endless chants of soooooey! I woke up from being sedated to watching the I.U basketball team go down in flames. Unfortunately, it did not turn out to be a bad dream. They have a chance today to redeem themselves in the Bahamas, but the loss left an ugly scar on Coach Woodson’s team, who sadly took a step back in time, just like me. They too, may need an operation!
While hyped a bit on ‘roids, I also sent out a photo of the “No Matter What Shape (Your Stomach’s In)” album done by the T-Bones back in 1964. It was available on E-Bay, while my copy is long lost. My dad brought it home from a recording session in NYC where he worked with the agency who produced this promotional piece for Alka-Seltzer. It featured the jingle, “Plop, Plop, Fizz, Fizz, Oh What A Relief It Is.” It’s as appropriate for Thanksgiving as Alice’s Restaurant, two of my favorite Holiday songs. This will soon be followed by the movies “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” along with “Christmas Vacation,” to get me in the Holiday Spirit and well distracted from this disturbing “Step Back.”
It’s now been a full month since prostrate surgery, while ten months have passed since open heart. I feel pretty good lately thanks to the epidural injections I got last week to relieve the sciatica pain. My lower back is still very stiff and sore, but more shots next week should ease that discomfort, if only temporarily. I continue to go to the fitness center, hoping to take some weight off, especially after last week’s food and drink splurges. It was a beautiful, sunny morning, despite a very early start since my wife had jury duty. A good day for me was not so good for her.
My weekend football fortunes were not so good, thankfully the Hoosiers had an off week. Da’ Bears suffered yet another heartbreaking loss, so I hope that this misfortune doesn’t extend into the upcoming Ohio State game. The Buckeyes are twelve-and-a-half point favorites, another slap in the face by the experts during this undefeated season of doubt. The pessimist in me can’t see a victory and potential battle of the unbeatens against Oregon for the BIG championship, let alone a national playoff spot. Basketball was at least a bright spot for both the IU men’s and women’s teams. I’m much more accustomed to winning in basketball than football.
I’ve felt much more like socializing, making phone calls, and enjoying the sunshine this past week. I’m starting to put this difficult year of recovery behind me. I’m convinced that some of my back issues are related to not being able to move forward. It’s time to do so and relish yet another good day.
I drove up to Tampa yesterday, stopping in Brandon to pick up more tiles for the fireplace, and at several restrooms along the way. The hernia specialist said that surgery was not necessary, but I was glad it was officially in the records as a follow-up to my heart surgery. The abdominal lump is apparently common when they weaken the muscles by cutting into the chest cavity. It formed at the bottom of my incision, adding to the deformity, but causing no real harm. If it grows larger or causes any discomfort, then we will revisit the issue.
I’m relieved that there is currently no surgery in my future, but there’s still the issue of sciatica, another by-product of the heart procedure. The back brace certainly helps, but I’m still at least a week away from getting the steroid injections. In the meantime, I continue to be non-productive, although the weight-limit restrictions on lifting from the prostate surgery have lessened. I did manage to do laundry, take out the trash, and store a few more Halloween decorations. I’m waiting for the window washer and tile guy to come this morning before I can take the dogs to the park. There is also a crack in the ceiling to repair, florescent bulbs to replace in the pantry, and something stuck in the outdoor kitchen vent. Most of these projects require a ladder, so I may try to pawn them off. I also have a birthday call to make. Just more of doing nothing, while being busy thinking about it.
I’m having a good hand day. The shakiness and lack of coordination seems better. I see the neurologist tomorrow afternoon to maybe make some adjustments to the medication. Fortunately, it’s nothing serious. The screen repair guy also comes tomorrow morning, as all the election results slowly filter in. I may need to install armor rather than screens. It seems like the decision comes down to those voting for or against Trump. I voted early, so my decision has been made, and it will be a relief to get all the political ads off the air, so we can focus more on Medicare enrollment options.
My wife leaves for San Francisco this weekend, so it will be just me and the dogs for a few days, as I continue my busyness doing nothing. Before she flies out, we have lunch with one of her old college pals and her husband. I will then be driving her to and from the Sarasota airport between dog outings. The pups get to go to Schnauzerville on Saturday to be groomed. I’ll go to the baseball card shop while I’m waiting for them to get finished, and will finalize plans for a few drinks with a neighbor, as a weekend bachelor. Watching sports on TV will, of course, occupy my busy schedule while I do nothing!
The numbers on my post somehow got out of line and so I spent several hours readjusting them. It’s just another indication that I’m getting old, right in line with too frequent mistaken directions and memory lapses. I’m now in the 2600 numbers rather than the incorrect 2500s, after starting this retirement blog at the end of 2016. My last day of work was December 30th of that year, so 2,853 days have passed. The goal was a post every day but, so far, I’ve missed 219 entries. I’ve definitely gotten a little lazier every year, but some of this is related to health issues and travel.
Categories like open-heart surgery, prostate issues, and sciatica were never even considered when this all started. The first mention of the word “sciatica” was in Post #2543 (June 14, 2024), having never run across the condition prior to this time. Now, it’s a daily problem. I did have concerns about an aneurism when this all started, but never envisioned open-heart surgery. I was also about half-way through what would turn out to be a 15-year running streak. I now worry about what monster is lurking behind the next unopened door and wonder which portal will unveil good fortune?
Travel and sports are still favorite subjects of mine, but sadly I haven’t felt much like writing humorous poetry. Pets have become a bigger part of my life, after taking on a feisty puppy. Baseball card collecting has kept me busy, but I need to find something more constructive to do with my spare time.
We continue to watch the Old Man series on Hulu, although I find it hard to believe his strength and resilience at that age. My job today is dusting, more in line with old man capabilities. Window washing is still beyond my skill level, so we’re bringing in the expert in a few weeks. Laundry continues to be my responsibility, with the exception of items that require ironing. Most of the lawn duties are handled by the HOA. It’s been 25-years since we’ve owned a lawnmower. Our pool guy is right down the street this morning, headed this way.
Another 2,000 plastic sleeves arrived in the mail yesterday, so I’ll be sorting baseball cards again today. I’m finished with my son’s boxes that I will keep here while he moves over to the Atlantic Coast temporarily. He’s renting his property here in our area, so this will give him an opportunity to rejoin his girls.
My wife has the day off from substitute teaching and will take our anxious pups to the park on their golf cart. I take them when she’s working, which has been four days a week of late. She also gets to go to her tap-dancing lesson while I hit the fitness center for a 2-mile walk on the treadmill. We’ll dine in again tonight and try to find something new to watch. Not much going on as I continue to recover from prostate surgery, at least my blog posts are no longer misnumbered.
“Diaperession” is what old men like me get when forced to wear diapers. It’s a humbling experience but not without a bit of humor. I made the “Baby Huey” reference in yesterday’s post (See # 2632) about my stylish gray Depends, hardly a fashion statement. I’ll try to be patient in the months ahead while recovering from prostate surgery. In my ways, I’m fortunate to have avoided cancer in each of these procedures this year.
I may need to add a TV to the bathroom and a toilet to my office chair. It would certainly save a lot of inconvenient trips down the hall. Right now, once an hour is the norm, but I did manage several two-to-three hour stretches overnight. It’s certainly an improvement from every five minutes that wore me out on Day 1. I’m supposed to drink lots of water, but the catch is that it accelerates the cycle.
I hope to get a little more sunshine today, but a dip in the pool could lead to infection, so I’m restricted to a comfortable chair. I’ve been very involved in two good books, “The Waiting” by Michael Connelly on my Kindle and the audiobook, “Persuader” by Lee Child. Both authors are favorites and have kept me distracted during this unpleasant time. The audiobook keeps me occupied while walking on the treadmill, the one form of exercise that is allowed for the next few weeks. I continue to struggle with the transition from running every day to finding new exercise outlets. A taped shoulder is an indication that I’ve yet to find a comfortable routine.
Walking is plagued by sciatica discomfort in my left leg that ranges from stubborn leg cramps to unbearable pain. I bought a stimulating device on Amazon from the manufacturer, BeActive+, that several friends have found effective. I was waiting for the appointment with a pain management doctor before doing anything, but they cancelled my appointment yesterday. I nearly cried out of frustration after already waiting more than three weeks to see him. The soonest they could get me in was another 9-days, so I’m desperate for relief. What it tells me is that there are many folks in this area battling pain – so I’m not alone.
This has been a constant battle since open-heart surgery in January, long before the very recent prostate procedure. Once I stopped running every day, my fitness level has suffered, and I battle weight gains. Every new routine that I’ve employed has been interrupted by discomfort, not that running was ever that enjoyable. However, a consistent exercise approach is important, and I’ve had to give up sit-ups and push-ups at the very foundation. It’s nagging leg pain, a sore foot, bicep strain, and surgeries that have constantly disrupted my active lifestyle, so no wonder I have “diaperession.”
I went to find an image for this post for “Sub-200” and it came up with a bunch of pictures of machine guns. I only meant to imply that my weight is temporarily back under two-hundred pounds. It’s been a calorie battle since surgery in January, losing that daily burn from running that helped me comfortably maintain between 190-195 on average. I could eat and drink anything back then, and yes there were occasional blips of over 200 on the scale after spending weeks on a cruise ship, but it came off easily. This battle has been different.
With limited exercise, I was on an upward trend that was getting out of control, at least from my perspective. Ten or fifteen pounds can be easily hidden under baggy shirts and loosened belts. However, I wasn’t comfortable and for months prohibited from any heavy lifting. I thought walking more might be the solution, but it wasn’t working. I then started to get cramps in my legs that escalated into full-scale sciatica – more pain than I’ve probably ever experienced. It brings me to my knees every morning, as I try to simply pick up the dog poop. Neighbors have seen me on the ground, wondering if I’m OK? The stiffness escalates when I first get out of bed, even despite frequent trips to the bathroom and stretching overnight. My first stop is at the kitchen freezer, that now works properly, for an ice pack.
Moving around for a few hours completely eliminates any pain. I go to the fitness center every morning, spend about 45-minutes on a stationary bike, 10-minutes rowing, and do several sets of light weights. I then try to do some evening walks with the support of the dog buggy. Push-ups have made my pec muscles/cartilage tender, so I’ve backed-off a bit. I’ve also cut back on sweets and alcohol. Bottom line, my weight registered 199.5 this morning. Five more pounds to go, and I’ll be satisfied, if I can at least stay Sub-200!
For the first time, our schnauzer puppy Fosse didn’t whimper or scream when my wife went to work this morning. She was quiet and came to sit on my lap, with some coaxing, hopeful that I would take her to the dog park. Tally, her older sister, went back to bed. What has traditionally been Tally’s role of taking over my office chair, has now become Fosse’s. I’m third in line for my own chair. Taking them out this morning was again very painful, but my leg is starting to loosen up as I sit here writing. By late morning, I’ll be out in the yard tending to some plants and then off to the fitness center. The pain will return on occasion but will not be a debilitating factor until just before bedtime.
I was hoping that last evening’s walk might help, so we put Tally in the stroller and did about a mile-and-a-half. Admittedly, I slept better but the sciatica flared-up with vengeance this morning. Between the dog park, chair yoga, and the stationary bike yesterday, I didn’t have time for a walk on the treadmill, but spent some time in the pool later. I’m trying different routines and stretching exercises to relieve my discomfort. There doesn’t seem to be a pattern with the pain, as last night there was discomfort in my calf muscle.
As I look back over some of my previous posts, this leg issue has come on gradually. On our cruise and in the weeks before, two months after surgery, it first appeared as cramps in my thigh and calf. It was not until two months ago that it got really painful, especially in the morning. It’s not like a sleep for eight hours without any movement. I’m usually up every two-hours and headed to the bathroom. Sometimes it’s bothersome at that time of night and sometimes not, making the whole thing very confusing and frustrating. It aches when I get back to bed, and I try some massage, tracing a tender path from my pelvis down the side of my left leg into my calf. This seems to be where the irritation comes from, but there’s also the soreness in my lower back. My entire leg is either sore or stiff, depending on the time of day.
As I write this, I continue to search for a reason why this is happening and what to do about it. Hopefully, the MRI in 2-weeks will reveal some answers. I’ve tried heat and ice applications, stretching, yoga, sitting on firmer surfaces, lying on my back in bed, exercise, and rest. The bottom line seems to be that I just have to keep moving!
