Tammy--Back in 1989, after rupturing a disc in my back, the first doctor wanted me to have a "saddle block". I think that was way back when they were first doing them. I asked for a second opinion. My fear was (and I am afraid always will be) that I would be feeling better and wouldn't be as careful with my back and do more damage. Now all these years later, I hear more and more about them, but still have that fear. We will see what the new doc says Thursday. In all the years since that I have been dealing with back problems and the FM (diagnosed in 2003) no one has suggested a pain management clinic.

I do feel lucky to be bowling. September 2004 I bent over to pick a towel up off the floor and my back went out. For the next 3 months it took all I had to walk. Many evenings I can't bowl and have to sit there watching eveyone. And then there are nights like last night where I hurt so much I can't even think about getting dressed and going to the bowling center.

Anne--One thing I don't miss is snow. I was born and raised in upstate NY and then lived in Michigan for 12 years. If we get snow here (VA), everything closes up and everything is cancelled. Over an inch of snow. If snow is predicted, everyone runs to the store for milk and bread. It is so funny.

Joanne--I hope that after Thursday you can see better. It can't be any fun.

Meme--I still haven't set all my clocks to the right time yet. I was in hubby's car today and noticed he had change the time in it. Said something to him and he said nope, he didn't change it....He hadn't changed it in the spring!!!! I am sure I will have mine done before that...it is driving me nuts.

Well, I have been sticking like glue to this diet the Naturopath has me on. I haven't had sugar, white flour, yeast, starch or anything good for 6 weeks. I have, however, lost weight. The yeast is slowly dying off, which is great.

Tammy - When I had Facet Joint Injections, I had to go to the hospital and a Radiologist had to do them, following the CATSCAN xrays. They froze the area first, and then they injected right into the Facet Joint, trying to recreate the pain, which they succeeded in doing. On a scale of 1-10 the pain was at LEAST a 20. I had tears streaming down my face, and the nurse was holding my hand telling me it would soon be over. I had to have 4 of them. If they didn't hurt, then they didn't get them in the right place.

I think there are different kinds of Facet Injections, but the ones I had were brutal. I had them 3 different times. The Epidural was a picnic compared to the Facet Injections. They only lasted 2 weeks for me, but it was 2 weeks - pain free, and then one day I woke up, and the pain was all back and it seemed worse than ever, as I hadn't had ANY. I sure hope you get better results. I think most people do, but my back is just so ratched from the surgery etc.

Joanne - Ihope you get your eyes together soon. Maybe after they do the other eye things will be a lot better for you.

Chris - I don't mind the snow, or the cold, because it is usually very dry. Not too much humidity in this part of the world. So pain wise, I feel good. I just NEVER like the first snow to drive in. It takes a little while to get back into winter driving conditions and then it's ok. I love the quietness of a blanket of fresh snow.

Anne--I am stuck and am in misery just about all the time. Heat and humid make me hurt more. The short days of winter and the overcast skies bring on the SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), major depression. I had always thought it was the fact that I hate the holidays and it may still be to some degree.

My shrink has ordered a light box to help with the SAD. Apria sure is taking the care out of healthcare. First I was told it would take 6-10 weeks to get it. Got it in 2 weeks time..only it was the wrong light box. They sent me a tanning light that is used for skin disorders. So we are now back to the 6-10 week wait. I don't understand how it can take that long when there is overnight shipping.

Chris, that IS a long time, alright. I was reading an article on SAD the other day, and they said it should be a blue light, as that is the most natural. Here, we have a lot of sun, even though it is cold. I would take that any old day over rain. I hope you get it sooner. 10 weeks and winter is half over!!!

I am terribly thankful that I have never suffered from depression. It must be terrible. I have a blue day now and then, but that it about it. I consider myself really lucky, because I have had severe chronic pain for over 30 years!!!

Good morning.Brad's "thing" on his back has a name-seborrheic keratosis-and is not suspicious-sure was to me!!
Oh my left hand hurts!!! Always a new pain!! I heard acupuncture was good for osteoarthritis so I guess I will have some needles in my hand next time.
Cleaned the living room floor with wood cleaner and a mop-it's 24 ft x24!!!
Called the lady and told her the apt wouldn't be ready-she thought so too, Nice relief.
Happy halloween-hey, Chris, are you still at the party?
Auntie doesn't feel well so I don't know if we will wlk-maybe grocery shop.
Bye for now Mima

Chris, I still have my little bowling trophy that I won for most improved bowler one year. I was very proud of that thing. I was on a league that bowled every Friday night. We had so much fun with all of our laughing and gabbing. lol to the people running to the store with a little snow. That's crazy about the length of time to get that lamp!!

Anne, a radiologist did my injections while looking at the x-rays to see what he was doing. They did tell me that the pain is much less now with all of the advancements that they've made with the medicine they used to numb me. I was extremely thankful for that. The doctor is hoping that since I had good luck with the cortisone injections in the knees last January, that this will last for a while too. It is so nice being able to do just simple things. Good for you for sticking to that diet. I know it couldn't have been easy to do, and I'm proud of you!!

Mima, glad the "thing" has a name and that it isn't suspicious. Will the doctor remove it or just let it be? I've heard of people using acupuncture, but I've never checked into it for myself. Did you and Auntie get to do anything today?

This is my off day, so it was nice just sleeping in this morning.

Happy Halloween

Anne--I am on disability due to the depression and not the fibro, degenerative disc disease, OA, or any of the other ailments I have. I have always hated this time of the year. If I had a choice I would go to bed about Oct 1 and wake up about March 1. The shrink looked over my mood jounral and said I have SAD. I had always figured it was because I have no family and the holidays are all about the holidays. I still a big part of it is. I am suppose to call the branch manager of Apria this morning and see what is up with this light.

Mima--Nope not still at the party. Sorry I forgot to post how it went. Lots and lots of goodies and bad bad food. I didn't touch a thing and I was in charge of the food table...setting it up and replenishing food and taking the empty plates off the table. One of the other moms asked how on earth was I staying away from the food. It was simple...I didn't want to lose the same pounds again.

Glad the "thing" has a name. So glad it isn't anything to worry about.

Tammy--we don't get trophies any more. :?: But I do have 2 key chains for most improved bowler. I have done that twice. The way my season has started if I can pull it back I just might get it again. My average has dropped real bad to 106. I am beginning to see a pattern in my bowling. Late summer, Fall and winter my average is low. Spring time and early summer I bowl much better. Guess it has to do with my mood and the pain level.

I've never heard of that thing on his back. But I'm glad it's nothing to worry about. Too bad you couldn't have rented your apartment to a man before you left ... but maybe next year.

I'm a lousy bowler. My average is only just over 100. Sometimes not even that high if I'm in my fibro fog mode. When I was a teenager I was pretty good best I remember but the last church we went to started bowling and I tried when they first started ... not so good. Besides, it hurt really bad and I had to quit. The guys I was bowling with thought I was good for a laugh. They didn't want me to quit them ... even though I brought their scores down. :p

It rained on our Fall Festival but stopped in time for the kids to do 'Trunk or Treat'. We decorate our trunks and put candy in them then the kids come out with their treat bags after food and games and get their candy from the car trunks. First I put black plastic on the floor and across the backs of the seats in the back of my van, then I put a little bale of hay with pumpkins on and around it on one side and a stuffed scarecrow on the other. I put pinecones and red and orange leaves on the floor and taped leaves all over the plastic on the backs of the seats, then I put 4 florescent flashlights under the leaves. I cooked all day today. I made a crock pot full of chili, 2 dozen cup cakes, 4 dozen brownies & 4 dozen peanut butter cookies to eat and a Milky Wonder cake for a cake walk. The Milky Wonder cake has 6 Milky Way bars, a bag of walnuts and 1-1/4 cups of buttermilk in it. There were a lot of people fighting over it at the cake walk ... I told some of them it was NOT the cake you wanted to get if you were on a diet! The woman who finally got it wound up cutting it into pieces before we left and giving several people some to take home with them. Funny! One family dressed up like the Little Rascals ... The mom was Darla, the little boy was Alfalfa and the dad wore a black curly wig and painted his face and hands black and came as Buckwheat. They were so cute. There were some really cute costumes ... we even had the Cat in the Hat who brought along Thing #1 and Thing #2. I didn't dress up ... didn't know there were going to be so many doing that. I probably will next year. I was thinking, I may get a long blond wig, some boots and stuff a DD bra and go as Dolly Parton. Wouldn't that be a hoot!

I told hubby tonight after we got everything brought in from the car. Tomorrow, I'm taking the whole day off. Doing NOTHING! (He said OK.) I can't do two days in a row and today nearly killed me.

I don't know how I missed all those posts but I just read them and was laughing!!! Especially about the clocks!
Joanne, I think you will be better after the second eye is done. And glad to get it over with!!
Brad just mentioned that we should go bowling!!Even my daughter likes to bowl. I was on a team in college and I was pretty good. That was a long time ago.
Meme-that trunk thing is a riot. What imagination to do that.
I would love to have 3 massages in a week-they are so awesome. Do you have to pay for then , Anne. I have to pay $60. And a $13 co-pay for the chiro. I go to him every 2 weeks.
That is sad not to have a family around, Chris, We have family, with all their quirks, etc. But then we have a church family with quirks too, but that feels so wonderful. And we have them on 2 coasts. I really wish that for you, Chris. That you could have church family.
Speaking of church, going over there this morning . First Mass, and then I will try to get craft things organized so they can have a table at the ham dinner in Dec. I will be gone but others will help.
And I will deliver 3 bibs after that. Lady finally called me back-she lost my number.
Didn't go with Auntie because of my stomache-I got stupid and ate 2 apples. Couldn't be happy with one.
Anyone watching Dancing With The Stars.? I seem to get addicted to those shows easily-must be my competitive first-born nature.
Bye for now, Mima

Morning Mima.

Hope your tummy feels better today. It is NOT nice to eat something that sets this off. I will be going, from now on, once a week for a massage. She charges $56.50 per visit, for a one hour massage. My insurance pays up to $250.00 for massages and I pay 10%. The Chiro is paid for by Alberta Health Care, but he does have an additional charge of $23.00 that is picked up by our insurance benefits. Not everybody has the extra coverage, as it is optional and most things are paid for by Health Care, such as Drs., Tests, MRI's,CATSCANs etc. Glad Brads back was not as bad as the name:^:

Meme - great idea about the trunk party. That seems like a fun, safe way to have Halloween. Only problem with doing that here, is that the poor people having to be with the cars, would freeze!! I met the cutest little pirate I have ever seen yesterday. She was 5 and was dressed up, as she was heading to Kindergarten. So cute.

Chris - having no family must be a bummer. Sometimes, I think I have too much family:o I have a huge extended family and we are all pretty close. Also, I have had mu friends for 54 yrs now and we remain very close. They are the sisters I never had.

Tammy - a friend on another board just had Facet Joint Injections in her neck and said they really hurt. I wonder if they all use different stuff to freeze with? Whatever, I am just so glad they have worked for you.

I am off today, thank goodness. It has been wild the past 2 days. My poor old back needs a rest. Hopefully by tomorrow, I will be good to go again.

Have a nice day everybody. Hi Joanne.

I watched Dancing with the Stars a couple of times, and I enjoyed it when I did. I agree about church families being a good thing. My WW leader invited me to visit her church here in town. This winter I just might do that instead of driving to the church we usually attend.

Anne, I wonder about the stuff to numb the area too. A friend at school said that hers hurt for much longer than mine did, and she didn't get the pain relief that I have already. I'm praying that the relief continues. Did you try to relax on your day off? I'm looking forward to tomorrow to sleep in a little. Then I'll get up and go get my glucose test done at the hospital.

OH ... I totally agree about church family. I love my new church family. We've only been at this church since March but I feel like I've been in this family all my life. We all went to Cracker Barrel to eat tonight and it was just like one big happy family. We have the restaurants in town fighting over us actually. IHOP told us last week that if we would come there every Wed. night they would have their whole back room cleared out and waiting for us with fresh coffee. Shoney's gives us their back room, too. It's so good being loved! :D We have a huge group that goes out to eat every Sun. morning, Sun. night and Wed. night so all the restaurants in town knows us. Some of them can't accomodate us, though ... not enough room! :p We have so much fun (but some of THEM get a little noisy sometimes ... NOT ME!) ;)

I'm hurting tonight. Stayed in bed today. Phone started ringing at 6:30!!! this morning. I didn't answer it. I'm so proud of myself. I didn't get up until after 10 and didn't start answering the phone until after I took my shower. Said I was taking today of, and I did ... most of it. It rained so hard today. Some idiot pulled up in the drive way ... way out by the road ... in a pour down of rain and blowed his horn. I just let him sit out there and blow. Fool! I wasn't going out there in the rain. (Watched the A Team again today ... that MR. T is really rubbing off on me!) :devil:

Mima ... have all my clocks set now except the one in the dining room. It's too hard to get off the wall by myself. I'll have to have hubby do it ... it'll probably be like Criss' hubby's car clock. I got him to set my watch in church Sun. morning. I can never get the stem out. He just rolls his eyes at me. Guess I'm hopeless. Oh well, at least I can set the VCRs and DVD recorder ... he can't do any of those! :p

Good morning-I am achy and have a sore throat-sure hope it's allergies!!! Taking zinc.
I finally had a shopping spree. We have a store called Ocean State job Lot and I hadn't been in there for a while-got Auntie a sweater for $8-beautiful chenille. A thermos carafe-2 pillows . a mat for the tub with a pillow-good thing because there was super mold under the other one and I didn't know it. And more. Everything was so reasonable. Those are the only stores in my immediate area-those discount ones. The city next to us is pretty poor. It used to be so nice when I visited there when I was a kid-Auntie lived there. Anyhow, where I live is affluent-we don't fit in either place. But we have enough.
Still trying to get cheaper insurance on our mobile home.
I bet you are one of the quiet ones, Meme. NOT!!!!
I am so glad that shot is working, Tammy.
Love those massage prices, Anne. I pay $50 because I am a senior. But I give her the $60 because she is so good.
Supposed to go with Auntie and it's freezing and rainy-probably just lunch. I have to give her, her present. I am making her a bib for a joke.
Bye for now, Mima

Hey There
 

I may have found the church that I enjoy going to.It is just 3 blocks from my house. I have been there 2 times and it has been pleasant . Everyone seemed really nice. Not any young groups though. Just a handful of small children. mainly seniors.The minister and his wife are really nice.It seems the Methodist has the cornerstone in young people. I am glad that they are going somewhere.
R eye today at 4 pm.. Then the long wait for reading glasses. I bought some cheapys. Not so good but I will tolerate them for a couple months.I stopped wearing my current glasses as it just distorted things too much. I see better at a distance even if it is just with one eye.Can't wait for this whole thing to be over...
Hello Everybody...Joanne

Meme, that's great that people get together so often. I know there are several couples from our church that go out for lunch after the service. I can't believe someone was calling you that early. I agree about not answering it. You and Mr. T are getting to be twins!! lol

Mima, hope you feel better! Good going on your shopping trip! lol about Meme being one of the quiet ones. I don't think so either for some reason!! Wouldn't we all have a blast if we could ever get together??

Joanne, glad you like the church. I attend a Methodist Church. We have all ages there from infants to people in their 90's. Our Wednesday Night Bible Club is for ages Preschool (4 or 5year olds) to 6th grade. We are having about 90 kids each week. Our junior high and high school groups meet on Sunday evening because there isn't room for them on Wednesday. Some of them come to help out though.

I wondered what time the surgery was. I have your name on my calendar! Prayers are with you! It will soon be over. Take care.

Hummm ... maybe ya'll know me too well! Extreem possibility. ;)

Hubby's going out of town until Sat. evening. Ya know - a lot of women would be doin' the: "Oh no, I'm home alone, whatever will I do, I'm afraid, I can't get along without my man" - freakin' out thing. But not me I'm goin': "YIPEE!!! I'm HOME ALONE! I can do whatever I want." - Guess I'm just weird. :p I'm going to go tomorrow and rent a movie & get some popcorn and a pizza. Tomorrow night, I'm closing down and locking up at 5 P.M. Taking my shower, putting on my jammies and being a couch potato for the rest of the night. Having a one woman pajama party.

Joanne ... how did the surgery go? Hope you can see out of BOTH eyes soon. I hate not being able to see.

Mima, sounds like you did good on your shopping trip. I love getting bargains like that. We have a similar store here called Big Lots.

Tammy, 6:30 is nothing! I had a customer come tonight. Hubby had gone to town. I sold him a trailer and did all the paper work. Was all set to go out and hook him up and guess what. No keys! We keep all our trailers locked up, well, hubby had not put the keys back on the shelf where they belonged. I called him and he couldn't remember where he put them. Said check his jacket pocket IN THE BASEMENT. I had customers standing in my kitchen. NO .. he still has not got a building set up for me yet. I'm still bringing customers (MEN) into my house after dark when I'm home alone. It doesn't seem to bother him at all. And it doesn't bother him that it bothers me. The keys weren't in his jacket. So I called him back and said THINK ... where were you the last time you used the keys. He said he thought he was using his other truck. I looked in his truck and there were the keys. Those two men stayed in my kitchen without me all that time and I hated that. Plus I was so embarrassed for taking so long to unlock the trailer. When he got home I told him that was it. See, I did have two sets of keys ... he laid one set in the back of his truck and took off with them, they bounced out and he lost them. I told him he either got all new locks with 2 sets of keys so I'd have my own set (see this isn't the first time he's misplaced the keys) AND got my building so I don't have to bring these men in my house or I quit. I will stop answering the phone and I will not go out to customers any more if he doesn't do those 2 things and do them NOW. I told him we have to go next weekend to get the building ... or that's it for me ... I'm done. And I mean it this time. As the country song says ... He can 'take this job and shove it'!

Sounds like you like your job as much as I like doing the books for the business-although that is sure easier than selling trailers/
Love your way of dealing with hubby being away.
The phone call you hate-come back and have another mammogram-one week after I was done. 2 places that need more evaluation.I had something before that had an ultrasound so I will be sure they have that info. At least I got am appt today. Going away Tes to work-I prayed for a timely evaluation, as well as a good one.
We have Big Lots too, Meme.
Did walk with Auntie and then I felt better. I am not babysitting today-both kids are sick. I am greatful DIL wasn't going to bring them over. But I did want to take care of them.
Bye for now, Mima

Meme, you should have told us and we could have come for the party!! I'm with you about having the place to myself too sometimes, and I'm sure Bob feels the same way if I'm gone, except it drives him crazy with the dog following him around. He doesn't follow him when I'm here.

I don't like that with you having people in your house when you are there alone. It isn't safe!! And I know that song! I'll be singing it the afternoon of Feb. 28.

Mima, I've had to do that with the mammogram also. Prayers are with you!! Sorry that the kids are sick. Hopefully they'll be up and at 'em soon.

Off to school!! have a great day ladies!

Sorry I have been MIA. The past couple of days have been busy to say the least. I would have much rather it not be. Wednesday dinner with DSD went well. We went to Texas Steakhouse as planned and I had chicken. I had prepared for it so I was still within my points for the day.

Then we are told the hubby's EX is going to WV and pick up hubby's mother. MIL and ex get a long well...they have a common thread...they both hate me. It was decided that hubby and I, plus mil, hubby's ex and children are all going out to dinner Saturday night. OHHH MY. I would rather go to the dentist and the GYN in the same day than have dinner with my mil and the ex.

MIL came into town yesterday and she was at the bowling alley. Thursday nights is the adult/youth league and DSD bowls with us. I think MIL spoke, maybe, 10 words all night to me.

MIL used to live with us until she started some crap. She was off telling the family we made her pay $500 a month to live with us and she had to pay 1/2 the grocery bill. Which is all lies. We never asked her for a penny for the 2 years she lived with us. Then she told the family that she HAD to do all the cooking and cleaning. Yes she did do most of cooking and cleaning...but she do it all while hubby and I were working. She didn't want to wait for us to come home and make dinner. She wanted it as soon as we came in the door. She was bored and did the cleaning. She would tell I was doing everyhting wrong...I did nothing right in her eyes. I told her 100 times she didn't need to. Her and I had a fight and she said it was HER house because she did the cooking and cleaning. I told she needed to go find another place to live. Hubby stood right there with me and agreed. It took her 3 months to find a place to live. But the rest of the family things all the bad things she said was true. No one came to hear our side of this mess.

MIL isn't going to be real comfortable at the ex's house. EX is a SLOB. Last time we were there, there was a path thru the house but you still had to step over things.

I will be so glad when MIL goes back home. She lives in KY now newar her DDs. One of the DDs brought her half way and ex went the other half to pick her up. She is going home on Monday. At least she isn't staying here.

Oh I don't envy you, Chris. Last year Brad had to deal with his ex when his son got married. She never missed a chance to say something. This year she's fine.
Angela must have told me 4 times why she didn't bring the sick kids here-They went to the ex's. I didn't want them here with colds but I have a suspician that wasn;t 100% of the story, Who knows-who cares.
Thay took a lot more xrays and everything was fine. Another doc will look at it-good-but i most likely won't hear anything about it. PTL
We are freeezing!!! Mima

Chris, it sure sounds like things could get interesting with all the people getting together! Oh my!!

Mima, glad things with the x-ray are fine!! Woo hoo!

It's pretty nippy here too. I told Bob that I wish we were going south over Christmas break. It was so nice last year. We'll be heading to Georgia in March though.

Maybe you can be snowbirds, Tammy?
My sinuses must be swollen because I have an earache. And a stomache ache.
While I was waiting for my mammo, I saw a girl from my church who was there with her daughter while she got her 3rd round of chemo.
Anyone want to trade places with either one of them?
Concert tonight!!! Suzanne is coming to go to church with me. And the the concert.
Bye for now, Mima

Mima, you may be right about the snowbirds. We've seriously discussed it. Last year when we were in Georgia, we visited some places that are available during the winter months.

I don't think I'd want to trade places with either of them. I went through that with my mother, and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

Enjoy the concert! Give Suzanne a hug from all of us. How is she doing?

I've been napping quite a bit today. I think it's a combination of the cold and the fibro aches. I had been doing great this week, but maybe I overdid things.

I have been tired all week from the clock change.
The concert was great-6 artists who sang songs they wrote-one was Richard Lee who sang Don't you make my brown eyes blue-he wrote that. Darren, my daughter's friend's bf, has not sold any of his songs yet but he has a beautiful voice. He has a place in Nahville and he travels back and forth. I will need a nap today-before or after church!
Hope you enjoyed your tme alone, Meme.
Bye for now, Mima Joanne, are you ok?

Time for a new thread ladies. Page 8, already. I will take Mima's post along and post it on the new thread.

http://www.3fatchicks.com/forum/show...12#post1461612