Back to the Back

Well would you believe it it's time again for the back jabs, and I'm ready for it the last time it was done it felt very good immediately however it did not last well and after 1 month it felt like it had not been done, so I made an appointment (after all the fuss I made about not needing one) to see the consultant.  He said not to panic sometimes for no reason the injections fail to work he said we should give it another try and he would increase the dosage and see what happens.  I had already gone through the saga of making sure I was on the repeaters list. I phoned and they said I could have a morning appointment for March which would have been early but within half an hour they had phoned back saying it was a mistake it should have been May so I disjointedly said ok but when they sent me the letter for the May appointment it was in the afternoon so I had to phone again to see if I could get a morning appointment no they hadn't got one told me to ring in about 2 weeks as they could not forward book any more appointments so I phoned one week later and got in on a morning appointment what a palaver.

My Dog Charlie

We had a house guest for December that is Charlie my dog did!  Gorgie is his name he is a Cavalier only of the Blenim sort not the tri colour like Charlie.  He came to stay while his mistress went on a cruise! a cruise for a month mind you !!! well Georgie was of course used to the best of everything including food, Georgie didn't take very kindly to Charlie's low fat dried up fat boy biscuits! no Georgie was used to best chicken breast or rump steak cooked of course with a delicious spicy gravy, Georgie's owner is Philopino and likes spicy food and so does Georgie.  So to compromise Charlie will get a little bit of what Georgie has, on a bed of dried up fat dog biscuits, he doesn't know the difference! bless he eats it so quickly it doesn't touch the sides of his mouth, but what he does know is that if he eats his quick enough he stands a chance of snaffling some of Georgie's food. 

Now Georgie likes to take his time when eating he likes to sniff a bit and lick a bit before he decides if it's good enough to eat, he likes it warmed up with plenty of spicy gravey and may be a vegetable or two, he likes to put it on the floor kick it around a bit just to make sure it's dead, by which time Charlie has finished his and is on standby to snaffle anything that Georgie might reject and given half a chance will push Georgie out of the way and pinch the lot!

So we have devised a plan Charlie will do anything for a morsel of chicken so whilst Georgie is kicking his food around the kitchen we hold a nice big chunk of juicy chicken in front of Charlie with a promise that if he waits patiently for Georgie to finish then the chicken piece is his,  at first he can't quite decide if the deal is a good one or not he knows he can easily steal Gorgie's plate full Georgie wont put up a fight however I am telling him he can have the piece I have in my hand if he leaves Georgie's alone and I win !!! Charlies not very bright and the piece I am tempting him with looks so good, I'd like to think he want's to please me and that's why he waits but the eagerness in his eyes to get the piece I'm holding tells me it's just greed.

I am afraid having the house guest has done nothing for Charlies manners, he gulps his food so quick and I'm afraid he's event taken to snatching, so there's to be some re training going on soon.

Georgie is a lovely little dog very polite when eating, gets down form the chair when you tell him, comes when you call and sits on comand, (providing it's all said in a Philopino accent of course). HOWEVER I have never heard a dog snore so loudly I thought Charlie was bad with his snoring but Georgie is the champ some evenings it's so loud we have to shout at him to wake him up because we cannot hear the TV .

 After a month of our guest all the animals are looking so worn out and I'm sure it's Georgie's snoring none of them are getting any sleep.  Although it has to be said that Benjamin our ginger cat has claimed Geories oversized luxury dog bed as his own and though only takes up a quarter of it, his very presence puts Georgie off reclaiming it Daisy the sister of Benjamin who is bottom of the pecking order has the sofa and often shares it with Charlie who is her champion because when her brother decides he is having a bad day and picks on her for just being alive Charlie comes to her rescue and places himself between them to break up the argument, not that Daisy puts up much of a fight, hissing is about the extent of her retaliation.

The usual pecking order in our house is Benjamin Charlie Daisy, so where has Georgie fitted in? well he's at the bottom for once Daisy is not last.  Georgie has never lived with cats before and is constantly fascinated, but after the first few days of coming to close for comfort and getting a swipe across the nose from Benjamin, Georgie has learned that cats claws are sharp, however he still finds them very interesting and having seen Charlie and Benjamin chasing each other in the garden, still cant resist trying to join in only he hasn't quite got the hang of the rules.

Georgie has gone back home now that his owner has returned from her month long cruise and I am now left to pick up the pieces,  Charlie has probably put back the all the weight he lost over the last 6 months and has developed a taste for spicy food, his manners are non existant, but at least he snores quite quietly.

Back to the Back Again

Well it's been done again,  last Thursday to be precise and the reason I haven't written about it before now is becasue it's been so good even in the weeks leeding upt to the 6 month due time the back was working well.  I went down to surgery first thing and was on my way home by 10:30 am he did 3 injections in both sides and it tood about 30 mins.  I did forget to ask him to put me on the repeaters list so when the discharge nurse said he would do a follow up appointment in 4 months I had to ask her to check it with him, she did say a strange thing though she said you cant just go on having repeat denervations forever! anyway he agreed to put me in the next 6 months and then I will have to do the follow up appointment, must remember to ask him about how long I can continue to have this operation done!
Anyway the back is good, not so for the stomach it was fine on Friday had a takeaway indian meal ! wrong thing come Saturday we had a friend over for a meal all went well until Saturday night !!! spent 3 hours in agony belly ach walking up and donw for at least 1 1/2 hours can't sit can't lay down have to keep walking from then on I've had to whatch what I eat toast mostly and sitting up at night to sleep.  Today Thursday one week for the operation I have just begun to feel a little relief from the belly ache Banana's may be the key!!!!!

Back to the Back

Yeh ! it's done the backs been done as scheduled all went well better than expected in fact.
Went down to surgery at about 8.15 and arrived back at recovery 9.05 Thanks to a very unlucky lady who had to withdraw from her planned op as she had complications I think I was given extra time as both sides of my back has been done 3 shots in both sides oh boy should I be jumping in a week or two, hopefully! Was out for the count don't even remember getting back to recovery I think I had a good dose of anesthetic. I did talk to the anesthetist about having trouble with my hiatus hernia after surgery but he seems to think it's the fasting that causes the problem however I did think I had got away with it but low and behold 3 days after the op I'm on the gaviscon again Oh well it's little price to pay and when I go on the 7th for my endoscopy maybe I'll get it sorted for next time.

But Back to the back it's looking good have taken the dog for a walk today although yesterday I had to give up the shopping half way through and let my husband finish it off. Today has been good worked on some jewellery and general took things easy fingers crossed for the next few days.

Oh I've got a bloody back, it really drives me crazy
When it gets to be so bad, it tends to make me lazy
Cos I can't get up and walk away, to give me some relief
It's time for my injections now, cos it's giving me such grief

But when the man with needles sticks them right into my back
I'm so glad and happy as it set me right back on track
I can then resume normality and enjoy to walk the dog
Pain free then or almost for it's such a long hard slog

So if you've got a bloody back now, you know what you should do
Find the man with the needles, the doctor you know who
Will stick them in your back and give you the electric shock
And this will guarantee for you to give the pain the block

It's on the Back

Well it's time again for the back op was due in April but couldn't fit me in until 13 May next Thursday good job to as the last injections started wearing off about 3 4 weeks ago I'm like a clockwork toy that needs winding up slowly running down and in need of winding up. I have made moves to try and get the hiatus hernia sorted as this always gives me so much trouble when I get my back done, I thought at first it was to do with the fasting but last time I was first on the list and it still caused me trouble. I went to the G.P. and got a referral to an NHS centre in Milton Keynes as the waiting list in this area is long so they offered me this earlier appointment. It took us about an hour and a half to get there very ice treatment clinic the down side was the consultant is Hungarian and seems to struggle with English however I'm down for a endoscopy on 7th June fingers crossed. The latest problem of a frozen shoulder is not going to make it easy to have this procedure as at the moment I can't lay on my left side which is going to be necessary to have this procedure, oh lord I have booked some more sessions with the osteopath to try to get it sorted, so far I have had about 6 sessions with him that so far have given me more movement in the shoulder but still have a lot of cramp pain hope he can get me some improvement fingers crossed.

Well the Backs been done!

Well that backs been done I phoned up on the Monday and asked to be put early on the list if possible and guess what come Thursday and I arrive at 7:15 at the hospital and I'm first on the list. Saw the consultant and pushed my luck again and asked if he would redo the left hand side that hadn't worked very well last time and if he could top up the right side, everyone was asking the same question of him his answer was the same in each case "he would see how long it took to find the nerves and if he had time he would do what he could.

It looks to me as if he may have given me two needles in each side, hope so , however this time I am experiencing quite a bit of pain in the back. I got back from surgery about 10 am and I can remember them asking me to keep still and I felt the needles being taken out. I had a little nap at home in the afternoon but by the evening it was quite painful. Nevertheless I did manage to do the exhibition on the Friday and Saturday.

Having been lucky enough to get down to surgery early I though the hiatus hernia would not give me so much trouble but I was wrong it's been a real nightmare this last week so painful it has to be the anaesthetic that sets it off. On the positive note I've lost 4 lb in weight this week with not eating properly. The very best news is that I have now lost 1 1/2 stone since July .

I did well at the exhibition sold 2 paintings the big red poppies and the pebble picture plus lost of jewellery.

Charlie has some good news too he has lost 1k 350g and in doggie terms that's pretty good.

Whats New! 20.8.09

Saw the back doc no problem he is quite happy to put me on his regular list and I should get done about October he says he will make a note that I have a hiatus hernia an that should help me got gone earlier on the list probably after the diabetics so that's good news. The weight is still coming off slowly last week was only 1/2 lb but it's all in the right direction am down to 12st 5 lb now so have lost a total of 9 lb and am feeling the benefit already. Charlie my dog is dieting with me and we commiserate with each other and he is also doing more exercise I have got one of those ball sticks that save you having g to bend down to pick the ball up and you don't have to handle dog slobber balls he's not too keen on fetching but loves chasing the ball while it's still on the end of the stick!!! still it's all exercise. My gym sessions are going well and Tatasha is making sure I do them properly and giving me plenty of motivation she's a nice young girl. I have been doing plenty of painting lately but more experimental stuff so not all will be exhibited, will post photos later. I have been nominated to stand as representative for Age Concern Runnymede by our Art group and would like to get more involved with them but as usual I will probably take on more than I can handle. That's all for now folks, except to say my granddaughter said she didn't want me to get too thin so I pointed out to her that my bat wing arms still had plenty of flab on them to which she stated that grandma's arms don't have any bones in! one for the album I think!

Yet another ramble! 2.8.09

Tomorrow I will be going to see the consultant who does my back operations, I'm going to ask him if he can put me on the regular 6 monthly list instead of me having to phone when I need it doing, I hope by going on the regular listing I will stand a chance of not being last every time not only should this help with the hiatus hernia not having to fast for so long but it may improve my chances of him being able to top up the side that's not having the denervation because when he used to do this the pain was much better. I had arranged a bus trip to the SAA Art Event in Islington for our art group but had to cry off myself because my back was so bad this time it needs doing already and its only been 4 months since it was done.

On an even worse note my weight has rocketed to 14 stone so have for the last four weeks been counting points as in wight watchers lost 3 1/2 lb in two weeks so rejoined them I weighed in at 13st 12.5 and last week 12st.10.5 - 2lb loss so here we go again!. I also went to the gym and got myself a new programme nice young girl she has given me some exercises to strengthen my core muscles will give it a go! Also had my check up blood test for my thyroid and should get the result in about 3 weeks, might have a word with them about some help with loosing the weight!

Whats New Now! 20.3.09

Well it's 3 months since I last worked and I'm not missing it one bit! I have been very busy with the art and the jewellery. Last month we had an exhibition in the Church where I did quite well last year, but this time I sold only 3 pieces might have had something to do with the fact that the local shop opposite had a promotion on that weekend on their jewellery buy one get one free!! however I did pick up a jewellery party which went very well, that's my daughter and me we sold 6 or 7 pieces sell worth turning out for. I'm taking a break from the art clubs for a month it's been a case of too much of a good thing at the moment and I have decided to concentrate on getting fit and tryyyyyyyying to loose some weight I have been to the gym and had a programme built for me taking into consideration the back problem and I have been working hard on the exercise and the diet for about 8 weeks now and have lost 3 lb !!! that's less than half a pound a week still it's in the right direction. so each day I walk the dog for about 20 minutes then twice a week go to the gym do half an hour doing the exercises then do 20 minutes swim on the days i don't do the gym i still swim for about 45 minutes on the weekends I only walk the dog. However I am due to have the back done again on 7th April so I will have to rest for about 2 weeks I am going to ask for less anaesthetic this time as I was groggy for about 2 - 3 days last time.

Today we went to the funeral of an Aunt she was 85 and died quite suddenly, it meant a family gathering which I find quite stressful these days as we do not have any communication with my sister and her family which makes gatherings like this very difficult however this was particularly difficult as my father does not speak to his sister and she was also present at this funeral so we all had to smile and be polite.

What's New Now 9/12/08

Well you know the job I got in September for a few hours a week! It looks like I'm to be made redundant !! I have been nagging the company to get my pay done properly through their pay office as they have just been giving me cheques each month with no pay slips, well it seems they have been trying to sell off the company and the possible buyer has agreed to take on existing staff but as I had not been put through the payroll proper yet I don't qualify!! so unless the new owners want a hand over period I shall be unemployed by Christmas I think I have managed to get the pay office to process all my payments proper so I should get a p45 at the end of it which is something I suppose I hope they get it all done soon because if the buy out falls through it looks like the company may go into liquidation and then I will have a problem sorting out the paperwork, at least my back is holding out and I should be able to look for another job, the trouble is jobs for a few hours a week only are few and far between. I have had one or two Jewellery repairs just recently which I love doing it's as interesting as actually making jewellery making people's treasured jewels wearable again for them.

Whats new?

Well just before I had my back done I started a new job for a few hours a week, going back to work after 3 years is hard even if it is only for a few hours but the up side is that my back is so improved that I am able to do it. The jewellery has proved successfull although I have not yet broken even but still it funds my hobby. So between painting jewellery making and working (notice work comes last) I don't have a lot of spare time, but what time I do have I spend doing the blogs and walking my dog Charlie, yes thats something else I can do now walk the dog.

Back to the Back 21.10.08

It's 2 weeks since my last back de-nervation and I'm just getting over the operation, the anesthetic they gave me this time knocked me out completely and for 3 days I felt like I had a hangover, my hand was badly bruised where they put the needle in and since the operation my hiatus hernia has been giving me hell. I also had a few pains shooting through my back and some general back pain directly after the procedure this time but it has since settled down and the back is feeling good now. Must remember to ask if the anesthetic affects hernias and if they can give me less next time The right hand side was the main one to be done this time but he also topped up the left side so hopefully I will not need it doing again until April 2009

Creativity gone Mad

Well my creative juices are running over I've taken up jewellery making. My daughters bought me a jewellery making kit, beads tools etc. so I started to dabble and hay presto I'm hooked. I started to explore the Internet for beads etc. and came across a couple of sites in China selling metal beads I liked the look of them so ordered a few, I was pleased with them when they arrived and made one or two nice bracelets and earrings etc. Then I discovered metal bashing wow now that was good, so I asked my dad if he still had his metal work tools and promptly commandeered them. twisting the wire and then thumping the hell out of it is quite therapeutic. Joking aside some of the designs I got from my daughters craft work book are really quite pretty. So for the last month or so I have been beavering away and took myself of to hobby craft fantastic place ! fantastic place to spend a fortune and I did! Well I hope I can recoup some of my expenses next weekend at the Virginia Water Open Air exhibition otherwise this hobby will turn out to be just as expensive as my painting hobby!!

My dog Charlie 13.5.08

Well! Charlie who is a tricolour King Charles Cavalier is now a quadcolour if there is such a thing. Yes he's been at my paints again! this time it was Phthalo Green so he's black white & tan with phthalo green lips chin chest and front paws!!! Thank god for baby wipes the paint that he stole from the art room was acrylic liquitex and like the very good mannered dog he is when he stole the tube he came to show me that he had stolen something an when he was sure he had got my attention he then bounded off to the bedroom with me in hot pursuit.. The paint wasn't the only thing he stole today, there was the sewing pin, you know the one's with the coloured ball on the blunt end, it's the second time he has managed to get his sticky little mouth on one of my sewing pins and yet he did bring it to me to show that he had got it before once again bounding off to the bedroom with me hot on his paws, the other thing was a reel of cotton, unfortunately he didn't own up to that one so by the time I discovered he had it, it was squashed flat and covered in dog slob. Charlie's steeling is obviously a cry for attention, because he mostly does it when I'm absorbed in something, so he steels something of mine, but just to make sure he gets my attention he runs up to me stops dead in front of me and puts his head on one side, then when he's sure he's caught me eye he runs off to the bedroom, if he thinks I haven't got the message he runs back to me with the stolen object and with a glint in his eye runs off to the bedroom again, he knows he's in trouble and will often get a tap on the nose for steeling but it doesn't seem to deter him.

Whats happening now 1/4/08

It's the 1st April and my back has been fantastic I am still taking the painkillers but I am able to do a lot more than I could before the decission now is do I cut down the painkillers and do less or carry on doing the things I enjoy and carry on with the painkillers? I don't think the operation will ever allow me to do away with the painkillers altogether,but while I'm still so active it's hard to even cut them down. oh well chin up all three of them .

My Ginger Cat Benjamin

If you think my dog Charlie is a pickle listen to what happened to my cat Benjamin. He came home one day with scratched ears .. nothing new there you should see the state of them, but I could tell he wasn't quite his self he growled at me when I stroked him now that's not like him so I took him to the vets and told them of my concerns, they gave him an xray suspecting he might have been knocked over by a car. They phoned to tell me that he had in fact dislocated his sternum (that's the breastbone) all the vetenary surgeons were amazed they had never seen an injury of this sort before Benjamin was very lucky the dislocated bone had not punctured his lung or yet his heart so no majour organs had been damaged. It was not an option at this point to operate because of the proximity of the organs it would be too dangerous, so we have to wait and see how he does. It's been over a week now and the vet says the bones will fuse in this position and hopefully he will be ok and indead he has been comming on his usual walks with me and Charlie he has also been climbing the gazeebo in order to tease Charlie and show off as usual so I guess he is going to be ok. (I did inform him he has just used 8 of his 9 lives in one go but it didn't cut much ice he still climbs the gazeebo to show off) That's my Benjamin

My dog Charlie

Poor old Charlie's had problems with his ears and now he's got no nuts!!
Well it all started with an ear infection in both ears for which I have been treating with drops but the vet said that he needed an ear wash and that would have to be done under anasthetic, so I thought poor old chap needs to be done so to speak because lately he has been taking rather a shine to his bedding, funny enough only after his evening meal, but anyway I thought we needed to address the problem so if he was going under anastetic for his ears then he might as well get the chop at the same time. So that was done this week poor old thing he doesn't know weather to scratch his ears or lick his wound!

What's Happening

Well the good news is I had my denervation op and all went well I was last to go into theatre as usual which meant I had to wait from 7:15 to 11:30 41/2 hours without any painkillers a bit uncomfortable esspecially as they didn't have a bed for me so I had to wait in the TV lounge, still I was greatful I got done at all. I was wide awake during the proceedure and it was quite funny just laying there listening to the surgeon and theatre staff chatting occassionally stopping to ask me if I was having any pain. The denervation didn't really hurt I felt the needles going in and a slight sting when the electric current went in but that was all not bad at all really. Now it's just a case of waiting a few weeks to see if it has worked. I go back in 4 months for a check up

29/1/08 What's Happening Now

Whoopee I got my date for my back operation 7th Feb only 8 days away not much notice but that's fine by me as i have been struggling lately even the walks with charlie have been difficult and I haven't been to gym since before Christmas swimming is about the only thing that still comfortable. The plan is for the surgeon to do the denervation on the left hand side of my back and at the same time top up the right hand side, which should give me back some pain free mobility fingers crossed