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.
It was in an April post, 6-months ago, when I first wrote about “The Gimp” in reference to my sciatica. See Post #2512. I continue to struggle with the pain in my left leg, particularly, in the early mornings when I let the dogs out. I hobble down the sidewalk, regretting that moment when I have to bend over to pick up the poop. My wife claims that I haven’t been proactive enough in getting treatment, despite an Ultrasound, MRI, numerous chiropractor sessions, ice, heat, two steroid treatments, and purchasing a brace that puts pressure on the nerve. She’s just as frustrated as I am, awaiting the services of a pain doctor that rudely rescheduled an appointment last week after a month of finally getting that appointment. What else can I possibly do?
She just left to take the dogs to the park, while I write this post. By the time they return, my leg pain will have dulled, and I will make my way to the resort fitness center. Walking on the treadmill, with the support of the side rails, is the only approved exercise I can do over the next month, following prostrate surgery. I’m anxious to get back in shape but there have been too many obstacles in the way. At least, I’m no longer in diapers but have yet to see any improvement in my bladder control. It’s just one more frustration in my life.
I’ll take the dogs for their monthly grooming while my wife does her aquafit class, hurrying back for the IU football game against Washington. Ironically, it was a former IU quarterback, Michael Penix, Jr. that led the Huskies to the National Championship game last year. It could be our turn this year, although the undefeated season still has a long way to go. Without our starting quarterback today, it will be an even tougher challenge to remain in the playoff picture.
Last night, the Dodgers’ Freddie Freeman’s triple and walk-off grand slam to beat the Yankees in World Series game one was reminiscent of Kirk Gibson’s heroics back in 1988. Both limped triumphantly around the base path, despite their injuries. It once again reminded me of my morning sciatica struggles and Pulp Fiction’s “The Gimp.”
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.”
It’s probably better that I focus on writing about sports today rather than bladder control and Depends. I will say that the prostate surgery went well, but I feel like Baby Huey in his signature plastic panties, primarily worn as a precaution. It will apparently be some time before my bladder returns to normal. In the meantime, I will begin a “pain management” program for my unrelated sciatica. Relief is on the way!
In an uncomfortable situation like this, I refer to the movie, “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles,” where Steve Martin wakes-up-side-by-side in the same motel room bed with John Candy….”Those aren’t pillows.” They break the awkwardness with the words: “See that Bears game last week?” I’ll use that same distraction in avoiding details about my current health issues.
Da Bears did win last week and had this weekend off. It was the remarkable Indiana football Hoosiers that made my day. Despite record-setting trips to the restroom, I was able to enjoy the stunning victory over Nebraska and a 7-0 start to the season. Baby Huey’s Ducks also claimed the top spot in this week’s polls after crushing helpless Purdue.
After a quick trip to the toilet, I’ll try to finish. Purdue is already looking forward to basketball, where they are expected to win the BIG, while I.U fans can’t wait for the Bucket Game and have a chance for a title and major Bowl appearance. Basketball is not a priority for once, even after a taste of hoops during Hoosier Hysteria on Friday night, all part of the Homecoming Hoopla! The exhibition game against formidable Tennessee is only a week away.
Aside from my love of the Hoosiers, Shohei Ohtani’s Dodgers have made it to the World Series with a ticket to play Aaron Judge’s Yankees. The two likely season MVP’s will get a chance to compete against each other head-to-head for a Championship. Ohtani’s move from the Angels have led to his very first postseason experience and a chance for the World Series MVP, the perfect cap to a sensational season.
IU’s QB Kurtis Rourke will miss next week’s Washington game with a thumb injury. Tayven Jackson replaced him in the second half of the Nebraska game and will be challenged with the task of maintaining the unblemished record. Michigan
State, Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue loom ahead on the schedule, followed by a Bowl game yet to be determined. The Ducks and Hoosiers top the BIG TEN standings, with what was unimaginable years ago before league expansion and the portal. There’s a lot to look forward to despite the Baby Huey Blues!
My last post was anything but humorous, but I’m feeling better this afternoon, more soreness than pain. I had an inspector look over some of the minor storm damage, while still expecting the screen repairmen. It’s great to have a home that can withstand such powerful, turbulent winds. I’m reminded of the story of the “Big Bad Wolf,” instead it was Hurricane Milton who huffed and puffed, trying to blow our house down. Fortunately, it’s constructed of brick, concrete, and steel, not straw or sticks and other vulnerable materials. I’m honestly surprised when they put up a wood-framed structure in our area.
I’ve caught up on all the TV streaming series, now that we have power. This afternoon, I watched the 4th season, final episode, of Slow Horses on Apple, and last night it was Murders in the Building on Hulu. Tonight, should be the wrap-up of Bad Monkey, also on Apple. The new Bosch season starts soon on Netflix, one of the few channels that I currently don’t have access. Prime Video was just renewed, along with Max and Hulu, now part of the Disney Channel, who can live without that? I also have access to most of the sports channels, something my wife could live without, so I give her the Broadway Channel. Max may soon be traded for short-term Netflix renewal, trying to stay within some semblance of a budget.
I had a big outing last night in my neighbor’s Miata at Farlow’s, one of the few restaurants in nearby Englewood still functioning after the storm, knowing I would be fasting tonight, recovering from surgery over the weekend, and catching up on sleep after a 5:30a start. To add to the torture, I also scheduled flu and Covid shots. It will be a quiet weekend of sorting baseball cards, watching the MLB Playoffs, IU football, and the NFL. An Indy friend is also stopping by for a night. He was there for my vasectomy 40-years ago and just in time to wave goodbye to my prostrate. That’s what good friends are for! My wife is tired of all my moaning and groaning, so he can provide some comedic diversion. I’ll return the favor, as I did all those years ago, when he’s tired of making frequent bathroom trips. Too much information?
For fifteen consecutive years, without fail, I got up every single day and did a run without much complaint. Nowadays, I whine of pain and discomfort – not the same person. There is no more running, just limping while wishing I could turn back the clock. My wife is sick of it, insisting that I’m not being proactive enough in dealing with the doctors. They too, seem to ignore my pleas for relief.
My chiropractor is at least sympathetic, saying that I’m a good sport about it. With my pessimistic nature, I rarely hear that about myself anymore. He called my doctor, requesting an MRI of my lower spine, where the pain seems to originate, before it radiates through my left leg. Sometimes, it feels like a cramp in my thigh, while other times it can be debilitating. As the day goes on and it loosens with activity, the intensity diminishes, until I start to relax on the couch before bedtime. It’s been going on now since I stopped running, just before my open-heart surgery in mid-January. Ever since then, my body has resisted recovery by rendering my left leg stiff and useless.
The Ultrasound revealed no circulation problems, and the pelvic MRI showed arthritic deterioration in my lower spine, but the report suggested a second scan, as was initially recommended by the chiropractor. The doctor didn’t think so, consulted a neurologist, and they stubbornly proceeded with looking primarily at my pelvic area. Wrong – thinking like too many others that chiropractors are uneducated quacks!
The doctor did put me in a pain management program, but it’s been three additional weeks of pain, and I’ve yet to have gotten in to see him. The chiropractor’s steroid doctor, another futile side-step, provided some pills that gave only temporary relief, but didn’t solve the problem. So, I wait another week for my consultation, where he will probably suggest getting the second scan and I’ll have to struggle another two weeks waiting for insurance approval. I was simply trying to get that process moving forward before the consultation, but my doctor once again ignored me in favor of waiting for her man to see me. Easy for her to patiently recommend, while my pain persists!
My body is slowly falling apart, fulfilling the fear that this would happen if I stopped running. I have out-patient prostrate surgery tomorrow, a taped-up right shoulder from a bicep tendon strain, and an injury to my right heal from apparently overcompensating from the pain in my left leg. That leaves just my left arm that I’m typing with this morning. At least, I can express my frustrations though this blog. Thanks for listening, hopefully your hearing isn’t getting worse like mine!
Next week is my first true test as a Senior Citizen with a medical appointment every day except Tuesday – and there’s still time to complete the sweep. Mondays are typically a standing visit with my Chiropractor, but instead I’ll be having a TEE procedure, another steppingstone on the path to repairing an aortic aneurysm. After a day of recovery, I drive to Sarasota to speak with my cardiologist and review both the TEE and Heart Catheterization tests that I will have undergone. Most likely, we’ll set a day for surgery. On Thursday, I drive to St. Petersburg for more tests regarding my prostate issues and perhaps a firm date for that procedure. On Friday, I will be at the mercy of an Ophthalmologist and a painful Prokera eye surface treatment in preparation for cataract surgery. Most likely, I will be sight-challenged and uncomfortable the following week.
I’m facing three major surgeries, heart, eyes, and prostrate, in such a short timeframe, after 72-years of no operations. It’s a sure sign that my parts are wearing out, with thoughts of Hollywood:
“The Six Million Dollar Man was an American science fiction and action television series, running from 1973 to 1978, about a former astronaut, USAF Col. Steve Austin, portrayed by Lee Majors. After a NASA test flight accident, scientist Oscar Goldman proclaims, “We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better, stronger, faster.” As a result, Austin is rebuilt with bionic implants which give him superhuman strength, speed and vision.
In my particular case, perhaps The Wizard of Oz story is a better example. I do run with the speed of a Tin Man, with heavy steps and in need of a good oiling. However, as The Wizard says to the man in need of a ticker: “And remember, my sentimental friend, that a heart is not judged by how much you love, but by how much you are loved by others!” I will not get the strength or speed of Steve Austin but perhaps better vision and a heart that is no longer a ticking time bomb.
Austin was retooled by the Office of Scientific Intelligence (OSI), while mine is hopefully mostly paid for by Medicare. I will also have a super woman by my side to get me through this, my own Jaimie Sommers. My wife and our friends/family have been truly supportive and sympathetic. I truly am loved, but still will be just the same old fart with some brand-new parts! (I feel a poem coming on…stay tuned)
Once a week I get an “idea” email from Storyworth, hoping to inspire another report on my past. These are the questions that have been posed this month, as I continue to add chapters to this book:
What places can you travel to over and over again? My favorite place on earth is still the Italian Mediterranean Coast. If there weren’t so many places yet to see and unlimited funds, I would be a regular visitor to Amalfi, Capri, and Salerno. Food, history, hospitality, and beauty make it special.
What were your favorite cartoons growing up? I was definitely part of the initial television generation (1946-1964), growing up with a diet of Captain Kangaroo, Romper Room, Disney’s Wonderful World of Color, and Bonanza. Cartoon characters like Mighty Mouse, Underdog, Roadrunner, Yogi Bear, Deputy Dawg, Fred Flintstone, Snagglepuss, Tom & Jerry, Huckleberry Hound, George Jetson, Mr. Magoo, and Bullwinkle were some of my regulars.
What were your friends like in high school? I have always made friends easily. My closest is probably still Tim Steffen, a relationship dating back to grade school. He inspired me to run and get involved in wrestling. When I first met him, my parents were concerned about how frail he seemed – how wrong they were! Grant Balkema and I were chemistry partners. He was a true genius and the Best Man at my wedding, who set me up with my first girlfriend, Debbie Osborne. Our makeshift experiments taught me about electronics, pyrotechnics, wine making, explosives, mechanics, and science. He went on to get his Doctorate and became a college professor but died at an early age. Dennis Pippinger, Bob Grove, Dave Geiger, Frank Weiss and I were like the “Rat Pack,” often together as a group for overnight Risk game sessions, slumber parties, innertube races, and bicycle adventures. Alan Harper was a fellow choir member who showed me through example how to gain self-confidence. He was part of my earliest travel adventure to California, inspiring my dad’s famous quote, “Thank God There’s an Ocean.” I also had neighbor friends, classroom buddies, fellow competitors, and club acquaintances that extended my range of companionship – but few girls.
What are some good and bad choices you’ve made with respect to your health?
I’m struggling with several health issues of late after decades of problem-free living. As I write this, my hands shake from what they call an essential tremor – although I’m still trying to figure out what could possibly be “essential” about being unsteady. It’s hard some days to hit the right keys on my computer and find myself constantly correcting my work. It takes away the fun of writing. I tried to hang some decorative fixtures yesterday and it was difficult to use a level or even a screwdriver. It now takes me twice as long to do simple tasks involving my hands, but I know that I need to keep moving or it will probably get worse. This is my justification for running every day despite balance concerns, simply to keep moving forward rather than succumb to these challenges.
My daily running streak, that hopefully will reach fifteen full years at the end of December (2023), is in jeopardy. My feet are relatively numb due to peripheral neuropathy but there is no pain involved, unless you consider how slow my pace has become. On a more serious note, doctors are now talking about operating on an aortic aneurism that was discovered in January of 2019, after abruptly halting my run as my head began spinning and I was forced to sit down in fear of passing out. In retrospect, it was probably related to dehydration, but it was a rare trip to the Emergency Room, surrounded by a cardiac team. Tests proved that my heart was fine, but finding this bulge in my aorta has turned out to be a family medical concern over the past four years.
In our family, there is both a retired cardiothoracic surgeon and a PA that have raised alarms regarding my health. Obviously, if it bursts, it could spell the end of me. However, my doctors have found little change in its size and have established a 5.5 cm threshold. It has been relatively stable at 5.3 cm, but they have decided to run a few more tests. If they decide to operate, I might have to start a new running streak, if I have the motivation. The nurse asked if I had ever had surgery and my answer was an out-patient eyelid procedure. She smiled and said, “well, then you’ll be going right to the top!” I’ve been in the hospital for both rabies shots and bronchitis as a young child but have since spent only a single night for a kidney stone as an adult.
The other health issue that I’m dealing with is an enlarged prostrate that causes frequent urination and other embarrassing malfunctions. Let’s just say that I’m considering an experimental butterfly procedure to relieve the pressure on my bladder. Unfortunately, too many old-timer discussions end up in toilet humor related to this common problem. Alcohol and caffeine seem to make things worse. There were times in life that I abused these things, along with drugs, but the best health decision I ever made was not to smoke. As a result, most of my medical conditions are probably inherited and therefore unavoidable due any lack of care or nutrition.
I rarely missed a day of school or work due to sickness, but I have experienced some mild symptoms after two positive Covid tests in the last few years. Daily exercise has been the other great decision I made in life. Push-ups, sit-ups, stretching and running are the daily routine, but it still doesn’t keep me from taking eight pills a day for hypertension, cholesterol, and prostate relief. My diet could have certainly been better with a preference for sweetness, red meat, and starch. I’m definitely a steak and potatoes kind of guy, with Diet Coke and cookies my greatest nemesis – they call me The Cookie Monster – take that Mighty Mouse!
I finished my run this morning all wobbly-legged like those competitors you see at the end of the Boston Marathon just before they collapse. It was eighty degrees and 100% humidity with a light mist. I thought to myself: it’s just a leisurely 5k not a frickin’ marathon. What are you …seventy years old? Just yesterday, I still had a lot in the tank for the last mile, but today was a different story. I thought a lot about a friend of mine anticipating prostate surgery, and how lucky I should feel to just have to worry about another day of running.
There are many familiar markers along the route I take, including a pot hole at the half-mile mark, a Dodge Charger that sits in someone’s driveway, the utility box that sits at one mile, two benches that I think of as benchmarks, and the Venetian bridge at the half-way point. When I pass them all the second time I know “I’m getting closer to my home.” Sometimes, even Grand Funk comes up in the music rotation to perform that very song as I make my way back. I’m a sweaty mess when I finally make my way to the pool – this morning in a light rain. Schnauzer Tally sat under cover rather than perform her normal lifeguard duties.
Tally had a big day at the beach yesterday. We even shared a Chicago dog even though today is technically National Hot Dog Day. The entry to Broward Beach is a dog park with secure fences to protect us all from the alligators that lurk in the surrounding swamp. The exit leads to a wooden walkway and access to the sand. It’s one of two dog-friendly beaches in our area. Tally can sit in the shade of our umbrella or romp with the other dogs, even though many of them actually get in the water. She stays on the fringe area, avoiding the water at all costs, just as she jokingly performs her lifeguard responsibilities with me while swimming in our pool. There was a brief moment where she tried to follow me into warm Gulf, but a wave soon sent her scurrying back to safety.
We were all tired from a day in the sun, even more reason to get in under the covers at the standard 10 p.m. self-imposed curfew. It’s well past the time when most of our neighbors roll up their sidewalks. There isn’t a bedroom light to be seen when I take Tally for her final outing. Back in Portland, I didn’t have to stay up late to watch sports, but here most games don’t even start until 8 or 9p. I usually check the scores before bed time but typically have to wait until morning for the final results. I uncharacteristically took my phone to bed and happened to check it after doing some reading. The Milwaukee Bucks were about to claim their first NBA title in 50 years, so I stayed up for the celebration, monitoring it on the small screen. At the same time, both the Sox and Cubs were pulling off miracle comebacks. It was the most remarkable half-hour of TV sports I’ve witnessed in a long time. The Cubs scored 6 runs in the ninth to stun the rival Cards, the Sox came back to beat the Twins, and Giannis scored 50 to claim the crown. It made for sweet dreams – Grand Funk!