I received a phone call on Saturday from Jane telling me she was admitted to the hospital on Friday because of blood clots in her legs. Dr. Knight had ordered an ultrasound and the results came back with clots from her ankle up to her groin. She had been suspecting clots for the past month, because of the continued swelling and pain. I feel so sorry for Jane having to go through so much. She didn’t get to really enjoy her visit with her son that just got here late Thursday night. He left on Sunday around noon.

Garnet and I went to see Jane this afternoon. She was so delighted to see us both. She was smiling as if she was not experiencing any pain. She informed us she was being given medications for the pain and to thin her blood and another to dissolve the clots. Jane offered her car again to me to borrow. She is so nice and sweet to do that for me. Our visit was short, because Garnet had to preach this afternoon at the senior apartment complex. I pray Jane gets better soon. Garnet said prayer over Jane and her health. I thanked Garnet on the way to the apartment complex.

With the stress I was under this past week, I took an R & R day mostly. I really needed it. I got my MRI results from my doctor. He said “it looks like bone crushed up against bone in your shoulder” and “it would take time to heal”.

I was not pleased with the answer my doctor gave me. I was confused. If bone is crushed up against bone, where is the cartilage or the thin inner lining (synovium) of the joint allowing the smooth motion of my shoulder joint? How can that just “take time to heal”?

I further asked him about why he did not order any kind of xray on my painful sternum problem. He again stated “I did not feel it was necessary, since it is “cartilage” (false ribs).” I continued to ask him how can cartilage be this painful when I roll on my side in my sleep that it wakes me up with a sharp acute pain. He said “he didn’t know”.

As I sat there listening to his “excuses” for not treating the two painful problems I am experiencing and charging me for two office visits at $135 per visit plus the MRI cost and the radiology doctor bill who reads the MRI. I was not happy with what I was told basically I have to just live with the pain, the grinding in my left shoulder, the limited range of upward movement from the side AND the immediate pain in my breastbone or rib area, the popping sound of what sounds like 2 ribs hitting each other when I move wrong. I requested to be referred to an orthopaedic surgeon. Since I have already seen 3 of the orthopaedic surgeons at the center, I figured what could it hurt to get another professional opinion from a group of surgeons I have trusted in the past.

I was informed by my doctor’s nurse that she would call me with an appointment to a orthopaedic surgeon. That was on Wednesday and now it is Friday, still no phone call from my doctor’s office. I maybe getting a new regular doctor if I keep getting the run around. My youngest daughter finally got a new physician after my doctor made a serious misdiagnosis on her. Anyway on Monday, I will be calling and seeing if they did set up an appointment for me to see one of the othopaedic surgeons.

I have been doing some research about areas of my body that are experiencing the pain. Orthopaedic surgeons provide treatment to the musculoskeletal due to injuries and diseases of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons and muscles. I feel like I am going in the right direction in getting proper medical care. If the orthopaedic surgeon tells me that it is just osteoarthritis in my shoulder, I want a solution to what can be done. I am already taking alendronate sodium tablets USP 70 mg (generic for Fosamax) once a week for my osteoporosis and also calcium 600 mg with vitamin D 400 IU twice a day.

So today, I just took it easy most of the day. I even laid down and took a nap this afternoon. I am feeling better and not using my arm so much today, the pain is a little better in my arm. Will keep you updated as I know more.

When I do not get enough rest and I have had to get up very early the last two days, my mind and body are really starting to feel overwhelmed. I thank God that George went through his heart cath procedure wonderful on Monday. The doctor even let George go home later that afternoon.

I came home from the hospital after his procedure and found on my answering machine several messages from my friend, Betty. I had forgotten we were suppose to meet that morning for Bible Breakfast. I had told her about George being in the hospital the day before and he was having the heart cath. I figured she would have realized where I was, nope she didn’t. The final message was she was clearly upset with me for “not returning her call”. I did call her back as soon as I heard all her messages. I explained how early we had got up and gone to the hospital. It took a bit to calm her down, she still wanted me to meet with her. I was so exhausted from lack of sleep the night before. There are still too many noisy, loud music cars driving in my neighborhood on and off all night. The police still have not increased patrol as they promised me or else they would be ticketing or arresting the drivers. Anyway, I begged off with Betty and apologized.

As I laid on my bed trying to take a nap, thoughts kept running through my head about how precious time is with Betty and Jane. Betty will be 90 years old in October. Jane just turned 89 in February. Both ladies have always been very active in the community and many organizations. I know I should have gone anyway with Betty. Guilt seems to plague my mind, but I have to take care of my health too.

I got up early Tuesday after another restless nights sleep. Around 8:15 my doctor’s office called about my MRI results. The nurse told me that the doctor requested for me to come into his office to discuss my MRI results. This kind of request is never good news. I informed the nurse I could not come in till Wednesday due to I had other plans already. After I hung up the phone, I sat on the side of my bed praying that this did not mean surgery.

I had asked a family member to help me today get Jane moved from the nursing home over to the rehab assisted living home. I was so amazed at how well she is walking now since she had broke her femur on April 24th. I was concerned about Jane coming out of the nursing home temperature to the outside temperature of 91. Today was the hottest day so far this year. Thank goodness Jane wanted me to bring her car, it has a great air conditioning. Jane wanted to do a few errands and go out to a simple lunch before going to the rehab assisted living home. So my family member stated he would take all the belonging over and take them to her room and just go back home. Then Jane and I had some time to ourselves for the next few hours. She also wanted to go by her condo and get a few more things. I really enjoyed my time with Jane, talking and laughing. However as the time was going by so quickly, we both realized all her suitcases had to be emptied. So we headed to the rehab assisted living home. For the next hour, I spent unpacking her belongings. After I finished, I was exhausted from the whole day and the heat from getting in and out of the car plus assisting Jane. Jane was kind enough to let me take her car home. I will be seeing her again in two days to take her for another outing.

I knew my house would be warm from the hot day and decided to eat dinner out since I was getting light headed. I enjoyed a nice tuna salad on a bed of lettuce and fruit plate of strawberries, grapes and pineapple. I am glad I ate out, because when I got home it was 87 degrees in my house. Guess it is getting to be the time to put the window air conditioning units in. Taking a nice cool shower and going to bed. Tomorrow I have to go to doctor for the MRI results on my left shoulder in the morning. Nite.

For two days, I have been trying to figure out what I downloaded or updated. My ISP provides McAfee Security Center for its customers. Previously they provided Norton Security Suite and decided to make a change after the ISP’s system was hacked. I never had a problem with the Norton. Now that I have McAfee on my system, many things are popping up including a recent attack on my system by a Generic PUP.z. The path was in my C drive and the i386 folder. The PUP stands for potentially unwanted programs. Yesterday, I followed the McAfee instructions for “fixing” the problem. It required a restart on my computer, which I did.

Today, I received another alert from McAfee that another Generic PUP.z was attacking my system. This time I noticed the path was different in my C drive. It was in my System Volume Information folder, then the Restore. Again, I followed McAfee removal instructions. I checked my Protection Status Report as I did yesterday and it states my system is protected. I wonder how it came back today.

I have been searching the web for a solution of removing Generic PUP.z. If you have had any problems with this attacking your system and have found a solution on the removal, please let me know. From what I have read on it, it will not infect or inject your computer from mine.

Another roller coaster week concerning the health of loved ones and friends. Rev. Garnet had to go to the emergency room last Thursday night for breathing problems. A friend, Marvin, from Club Jesus went to the Lord this past week from Stage 4 cancer. Marvin only found out he had cancer 5 weeks before. Reminds me of how short life is and to live it to the fullest.

Thursday, I had my MRI on my left shoulder. I was surprised my doctor did not order anything about my sternum or ribs. I was told my results on the MRI I would hear from my doctor. I am having trouble sleeping when I roll on my left shoulder or the pain in my chest area around my sternum or ribs starts up. My doctor did not prescribe any pain killers. I am taking 2 Acetaminophen 650 mg each. It seems the only thing I can take to help the pain. I normally take one for my arthritis daily.

This Friday, my ex-father-in-law was having chest pains but waited till his wife got off work to say anything. She took him to the emergency room immediately as soon as she was told. Nitroglycerin patch was put on him in emergency room. He was admitted. Due to the weekend the hospital does not perform heart caths. So on Monday, a heart cath will be performed on him early in morning. He has at the present time, 3 different medications being injected through his IV. The nitroglycerin patch was taken off in his room when the IV was connected. He just had his 73rd birthday a few weeks ago.

We all are suppose to go to Michigan near the end of the month for my ex-husband’s brother’s 50th birthday party. Seems odds are against us. My ex and my son-in-law can not get off work to go to Michigan. Now my ex-father-in-law, George, in the hospital. Called my ex-brother-in-law, Ed, to tell him of his biological dad was in the hospital. We may have to make other arrangements for another weekend to all go up to see Ed and celebrate. For now, we all just have to play it by ear.

I called my niece tonight to see how her Uncle Rick was doing since his car accident three weeks ago. Her husband answered and said she was in Florida. There was a memorial service for Rick. He had been on life support equipment and the family decided to take him off the machines. Rick lasted only 20 minutes after he was disconnected. Rick was unfortunately drinking when he was driving. He had stopped drinking alcohol for a while, but he started back drinking a few weeks before his accident. As far as the other person that Rick’s car hit, we understand they are doing better. My ex-husband and daughter both knew Rick very well and they are both sad about hearing of Rick’s passing on May 29th. We all just learned about it today. So sad to die so senseless after just seeing his daughter graduate from college. This is a reminder for all people, Don’t drink and drive.

I have been making more changes to my diet lately. I am continuing to lose more weight each day. So far in 20 days, I have lost 6.8 lbs. I have been eating more fresh steamed vegetables, fresh fruit, salads with fresh spinach and fat free or low fat dressing on the side and yogurt. Trying not to eat canned vegetables that have salt in them. The sodium or salt makes me hold too much water. I even buy canned tuna packed in water, instead of oil.

I have started walking more since I have not been sitting at this computer for 10 to 12 hours a day. I have even gotten back on my recumbent bike and started riding again. I had backslide for about 4 weeks.

I very rarely drink any diet soda pop anymore even though I love my Coke Zero. The more I read about carbonated soda and the side effects it is causing people. One article I read stated that drinking more than 4 diet sodas a day can lead to brain cancer. That made me do some heavy thinking.

I finally purchased my own water machine after renting one for 10 years at a cost $1,660. The new machine was a little over $90. I am still buying the 5 gallon bottles of water for the machine. The water is Artesian Spring water.

I have been drinking lots more water with the warmer weather we have been experiencing plus I just wanted to. I have slowed down on the amount of coffee and iced tea I consumed too.

The other day, a friend and I stopped at McDonald’s because she wanted an ice cream sundae. I ordered their plain yogurt parfait with strawberries and blueberries and a granola pack. Sometimes I do not eat the granola and just enjoy eating the fruit and yogurt. It is a delightful cool treat for me and healthier than the ice cream.

I had to go to the doctor yesterday because injured my left shoulder rotator cup, then my sternum. So I am getting an MRI on Thursday morning. The lady said it may takes up to 3 hours to do this test. I think that is sure a long time, but it is necessary so the doctor can pin point what exactly is my problem and if surgery is necessary. I pray to God that will not be necessary. Sometimes I think if my arm was in a sling and I didn’t have to use it so much, it would heal quicker. Even though it has been a month since I first injured it.

Well, it is getting late and I have a long day again tomorrow with the OWLS luncheon and meeting, then taking Betty to see Jane. I need to make sure I keep a watch on myself about not over doing it and wiping out my energy. So goodnight…..