TEDDYTEDDY's SparkPeople Blog

Second Avastin injection and good prognosis...

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:14:53 EST

The specialist I have changed to could see an improvement in my right eye (the one with the wet macular degeneration) in just 2 weeks. She said she would continue the injections at 4-5 week intervals until the retina is flat. What I thought was a dark spot in the middle of my field of vision was probably the blood in the vitreous and it has almost completely dissipated. I am greatly relieved that my eye is showing improvement after only one injection and I am not so scared about having pe...

Don't know my right eye from my left....

Mon, 13 May 2013 17:01:13 EST

In my previous blog I confused right and left regarding which eye I was talking about. My right eye has the wet macular degeneration and had an Avastin injection. My left eye is nearly perfect vision with dry macular degeneration.

I spent most of last weekend taking naps and looking for things I had misplaced, including most of my prescriptions.

I finally did find my best glasses on the floor next to my bed (where I found them last time I "lost" them).

I...

Renewed driver's license with no problem...

Sat, 11 May 2013 09:09:40 EST

My right eye which is close to 20/20 passed even without glasses. The other eye did pass with glasses on and just for laughs I tried it without glasses, but could not read anything. My vitreoretinal specialist said to wait until after 3 Avastin injections before changing my prescription on the glasses as I might have some improvement from the injections.

On Thursday this week and part of Friday I had a strange occurrence where I had pulsating light versus dark floaters which coin...

I saw the vitreoretinal surgeon yesterday.

Wed, 1 May 2013 12:39:15 EST

I was told by the scheduler that the eye drops might last 24 hours so I took 2 days off work. I felt more confident of receiving excellent care for the AMD from my new doctor (Jill Johnson) and I felt we had better rapport than I had with the previous ophthalmologist. I will return to see her in 2 weeks for another Avastin injection.

I had to take a cab to and from the doctors' office yesterday and spent about $40 even though it is only about 4 miles from my house. And, of cours...

I'm Just Bidin' My Time

Sun, 28 Apr 2013 15:30:19 EST

'Cause that's the kind of gal I'am."

I find music helps relieve tension and get my mind off of my main concern which is macular degeneration and I have made a vow not to read any more info regarding that until after I see the vitreo-retinal specialist on Tuesday of this week.

Right now I am listening to an audio disc I got with a book of classic jazz music with about a dozen great renditions at intermediate level which I believe is the level of piano playing I am at....

I am trying visualization with my mind's eye....

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 06:19:08 EST

Today I am having a small degree of difficulty with my "gooder" eye and am a somewhat worried about the eye's condition. Will be checking the Amsler grid daily in case of similar symptoms as I had in the right eye. I am still able to read with the left eye but the right one which had the Avastin injection at this point is useless for details.

This is a very scary proposition, that I may get wet macular degeneration in both eyes. I want to be able to drive safely and continue t...

SUNDAY AND DECIDED TO WRITE IN CAPS DUE TO DIFFICULTY READING

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 10:54:18 EST

SOME PEOPLE SAY THAT CAPS MEANS YOU ARE YELLING OR BEING RUDE ON THE INTERNET. BUT I THINK AN EXCEPTION CAN BE MADE WHEN PEOPLE HAVE LOW VISION WHICH I RECENTLY ACQUIRED IN ONE EYE.

I STILL FEEL A BIT SHELLSHOCKED REGARDING THE VISION CHANGE IN MY RIGHT EYE. I AM PRAYING THE AVASTIN WILL WORK TO KEEP MY WET MACULAR DEGENERATION UNDER CONTROL. I HAVE ALSO READ AND HEARD THAT THERE IS SOME KIND OF EYE SURGERY THAT CAN BE DONE IF THE INJECTIONS DO NOT HELP.

MY RIGHT EY...

Yesterday was payday and I got my Federal tax refund...wow

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 08:35:18 EST

I returned to work yesterday following an Avastin eye injection the afternoon before. It went pretty well but I did a lot of closing of the right eye so I could see better with the good one. I remembered one of our coworkers had only one eye and he seemed to be able to work well. He was let go because I think he goofed off a lot so was not as productive as he should have been.

My pace was a little slower on some of my tasks due to having difficulty reading small print but I ha...

I knew this might happen.. re: macular degeneration

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 06:37:00 EST

Yesterday afternoon at work I had a sudden change in vision with things looking double and difficulty reading. I did a quick check with the Amsler grid and saw very wavy line on the left side of the grid with my right eye so I called my ophthalmologist's office and they got me in yesterday afternoon. They mapped my macula with a special test and visual acuity in the right eye was 20/70 (I could only see two of the extra large numbers at the bottom of the chart).

I was told ther...

Monday...already?

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 07:03:54 EST

I had a 3 day weekend. Most of Friday was spent at a funeral for one of my few cousins. I was pleased the family invited my husband and me to sit at a table reserved for the family. I was seated next to my other cousin who is my godfather. He is the older brother of the cousin who died and he is 83 or so. He has just moved out of his mother's home to assisted living and told me he has trouble getting rides to the doctor, etc. His brother's wife was happy to hear that I can help out wit...

What? Can my primary doctor cancel a prescription ordered by a specialist?

Sat, 13 Apr 2013 16:19:56 EST

And no one told me until I called pharmacy inquiring why it was taking so long to renew my prescription.

The pharmacy told me the prescription for sleep was discontinued by both a specialist and my primary care doctor.

After several complaints to the pharmacy it turned out to be an error and apparently a lot o doctors are having problems with the new computer system of odering prescriptions. Eventually (after over a week) I did finally receive the refill for the m...

Monday morning and a new kind of cough...more like allergies now

Mon, 8 Apr 2013 07:17:50 EST

It is what my mother would call a "spring cold." Well it is a "cold spring" so why not? I think it may be allergies. I was into some dusty places this weekend with spring housecleaning so I think it is a dust or mold allergy. I have asthma, also, and need to be sure I have my inhaler with me at work today.

I got a really good deal on mangos (the smaller yellow ones) at the Whole Foods store on Saturday; They were 10 for $5 and I have been eating one a day and plan to bring on...

Tax return amazing!!!

Sun, 7 Apr 2013 19:52:36 EST

I was flying high and took my hubby out to Red Lobster for a celebration lunch...Even ate lobster. (I can't remember the last time I had that!)

I was quite excited and called my daughter. I am getting back all the Federal withholding partly due to my age and also because I put 5% of my gross pay in 401K and got a tax credit for that which brought the amount of Federal tax owed to zero. I could hardly believe it. Also am getting half of the withholding to the state and 1/3 of t...

Teddy's ready to face the CPA tax lady today at 11:00!!!

Sat, 6 Apr 2013 08:43:38 EST

I knew I could do it. It wasn't too bad. I even did a dry run myself to see whether I would get a refund. I should get enough back from the Federal to pay my airfare to go to my daughter's wedding in the fall. That also means I should be getting something back from the State.

Woke up with a pretty husky cough, so I think the spring allergies are kicking in. The cough settled down after I used my inhaler and drank lots of coconut water to hydrate.

334 ...

Another half day of work...

Fri, 5 Apr 2013 07:31:56 EST

I slept so little on Wednesday night, I got off work at 11:15 and took a 4 hour nap yesterday afternoon and went back to bed at 10...Will have to get my tax papers ready today and early tomorrow morning. (I told you I was a procrastinator!)

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working half day...to get papers ready for tax lady...

Thu, 4 Apr 2013 07:00:29 EST

I have been going to the same CPA for about 15 years. She is a little pricey but she is thorough and finds deductions I never think of. I used to do my own taxes but I am sure I missed out on a lot of deductions when I did that.

I am such a procrastinator but I will be ready by Saturday morning....

Cough, cough, gasp, etc.

Wed, 3 Apr 2013 12:53:10 EST

I still have occasional outbursts of choking/coughing but it is much improved over a few weeks ago. I am hoping I will do better when I get on a larger dose of Norvasc.

I still am carrying lots of tissue, cough drops, nose spray, etc with me everywhere I go. I am starting to think it is allergies and the Claritin I have been taking for a couple of years just doesn't seem to be helping at all. I am staying well hydrated but noticed when I went to the thrift store yesterday I st...

Monday...off to the nursing home to play piano...

Mon, 1 Apr 2013 12:55:06 EST

I brought some "new" old music today, including It's Only a Paper Moon 1933, Mona Lisa 1934, I Don't Care if the Sun Don't Shine 1939, Paper Doll 1930 and You Light up My Life 1976.

I am waiting for some music I purchased on Ebay and am excited about playing something different next week.

My main criteria is no more than 4 flats or 3 sharps. I usually do well with intermediate level arrangements.

quick update...

Thu, 28 Mar 2013 07:33:12 EST

So now after over 2 months of coughing which I attribute to 2 different antihypertensive medications, my doctor has started me on the 3rd one plus hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) to counteract the possible increase in edema which may be a side effect of Norvasc. I already have edema of the legs so she warned me to watch for increased edema (duh!) I hope I can find something that works without causing untoward side effects. This cough has come back on full force and people at work are concerned ...

Today is Monday, you know what that means...

Mon, 25 Mar 2013 07:21:05 EST

After work I play the piano at Ebenezer Nursing Home during dinner time. There are several people who look forward to hearing those old songs they love: Peggy was ecstatic when I played "Peg O My Heart Last time. She also like to yell out woof, woof when I play "How Much is That Doggy in the Window." Several others enjoy "Sioux City Sue" " her eyes are red, her lips are blue, I'd swap my dog and horse for you." LOL...

Eidelweis from the Sound of Music got a nice reaction fro...

Volunteerism...

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 09:51:22 EST

I have been playing the piano for an hour once a week (except for February when I was sick with asthma and URI and out of work for a week) and decided I would like to do something in addition to the piano playing for volunteer work. For 20 hours of volunteer work (up to 3 x a year) I will earn a $100 donation for an approved nonprofit and decided it will take a long time at 1 hour a week to earn the maximum donation. So I have signed up for being a reader for a blind person. I hope they ac...

Back to the drawing board...shoes for daughter didn't fit...

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 12:34:36 EST

She said they were too wide and probably were worn by some "fat" woman....

She said not to send any more shoes.... Today I am sendng her vintage jewelry.

I have given up on finding shoes for her.
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Mother of the bride finds wedding shoes at thrift store....

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 12:50:24 EST

Daughter is thrilled. I found a beautiful pair (exactly her size, 9-1/2) yesterday at one of my favorite thrift stores.

I showed them to her on Skype yesterday and she loves them!

How much? Only $2.99.

Will add a picture tomorrow.

Daughter found the "perfect" wedding dress!!!

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 16:25:01 EST

She went to a vintage store and walked in and literally found it in a minute. She sent phone pictures and it is darling. (She calls it a fab dress.) Ivory satin, tea length (she is having it shortened a few inches as it is a bit too long), cute bows on the shoulders and in the back. Fits her to a "T" and the price is under $100 which was her original plan.

Now she has to work on finding the right shoes and accessories. I will share a picture from the wedding on my blog. It ...

Saturday...mundane shopping list..

Sat, 2 Mar 2013 11:35:56 EST

Get totally salt and mud covered car washed at Paradise Car Wash (half price coupon from Happenings Book).

Shop the sale at Goodwill's Second Debut store.

Highlight of the day: Go to gym and swim, steam room and whirlpool to work on generalized stiffness due to lack of exercise for the past month with chronic coughing, etc.

Another boring blog..

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 13:42:38 EST

I am a bit better today. Will be shopping this afternoon as we are out of quite a few things.

Hopefully, will be feeling "back to normal" soon and won't be reporting dr visits, medications, etc which is quite boring stuf to talk about. 252

Taking today off work..saw Dr. yesterday...

Fri, 22 Feb 2013 09:35:47 EST

I had a chest x-ray which was clear or normal. (I did not read the actual report.) The dr saw me and gave me an inhaler ($63 copay) with more steroids in it to use short term until I am ovr this "exacerbation of asthma." I also got a pill called Tessalon Pearls which look like vitamin D capsules. They are to be taken 3 times a day and actually work! They help with the coughing and last night was the first night in awhile that I slept through the whole night without breathing and coughing ...

Slept more last night...

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:30:43 EST

I woke up only a few times during the night and hope I am getting to the end of the croup, etc. As they used to say in a teen magazine when I was a teen (many, many years ago)...it's catarrh! It drives everyone at work crazy cause it sounds so awful..... sounds like I am choking (I may be) but I struggle along and finally stop the gaggin noises. Coworkers are afraid it is contagious but I think it is related to my asthma. 24

Sick and tired of being sick and tired....

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 20:07:51 EST

So the Z-pack did not work and now the prednisone taper does not seem to be improving my coughing and wheezing. I have a call into the dr or nurse and they will call me tomorrow. I am hoping for a suggestion as I have had trouble sleeping due to breathing problems at night even with my CPAP machine. I have been spending extra time in bed to increase the possible sleep I might get.

Sick and tired of being sick and tired.

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Inhaler malfunction due to user error...

Tue, 19 Feb 2013 07:33:40 EST

I did another test spray of my inhaler and there is nothing wrong with it. I had accidentally taken it apart and the first 2 sprays were defective but after that it was fine. I am a bit paranoid as I want to get over this coughing stuff and feeling run down.

Hope today brings some improvement. It is below zero windchill this morning so have to remember to cover my mouth and nose when walking outside from the parking ramp to my department. Yesterday I breathed in too much cold...

Monday, Monday!

Mon, 18 Feb 2013 06:43:41 EST

Would love to hide out at home this week but must go. I have no fever (temp 97.0 this morning) and that is the criteria my doctor used to send me back to work. I noticed the inhaler I got as a "rescue inhaler" doesn't squirt out much of a mist and plan to bring it to the pharmacy to have them look at it to see if it is defective. Have to wait until after work to do this. I will bring my other inhaler with me to work today just in case the new one doesn't work. I sprayed it in the air a c...

Still coughing and using inhaler quite often.

Sun, 17 Feb 2013 19:53:14 EST

Sleep disturbed by coughing. Hope I sleep better tonight cause I have to go to work tomorrow. Coworkers were surpirsed dr sent me back to work on Friday as my cough is still quite deep.

At least I was able to do some laundry today so will have a clean outfit for work tomorrow.

Have gotten behind on housework and feel quite overwhelmed by it all. 198

Feeling a bit better (could be cause it's Saturday?)

Sat, 16 Feb 2013 14:01:39 EST

I have had three days of prednisone for my asthma exacerbation and was also given a "rescue inhaler" for wheezing. I think I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! and not the one that ends in heaven....LOL (pardon me, I usually laugh at my own "jokes.")

I was able to sleep late today and think I was in bed a full 12 hours.

Started out the day with the flashing lights (in my head and eyes) and thought I would need an Imitrex for an impending migraine but waited ...

Reluctantly returning to work..today

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 07:15:12 EST

Since I do not have a fever and checked with my doctor yesterday (exam and blood tests) I was diagnosed as having an upper respiratory infection (cold) with asthma exacerbation. I was put on a prednisone burst for about 6 days and told I need to return to work. I am still coughing quite heartily and feel very tired but have been off work the maximum amount allowed for a "nonserious medical condition" and so I am up at 5:00 and will be leaving the house shortly. I was given a return to work...

Home sick from work this week and wedding dress search continues.

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 10:12:06 EST

My daughter's second dress from Overstock was tight, also, and it appears that the made in China dress is cut too small in the chest area. She even ordered a 10 and she usually wears 5s. So back to the drawing board on her search for a dress.

I went to work yesterday but seemed to be runnig a fever and cough was extremely bad. I went home after 45 minuters. I told them I probably would need to be out three days but when I called my doctor's office they said to go to bed and the...

Disturbing cold and cough...etc.

Sat, 2 Feb 2013 11:53:51 EST

I saw my internist on Thursday and Strep culture was negative. Dr. did give me Rx for cough syrup to help with sleep (cough is waking me up at night) and she said I could use it at work as there is a minimal amount of codeine in 5 ml (1tsp). She also gave me a handwritten 'script for an antibiotic in case my sinus symptoms worsen.

Dry foods hurt to swallow so have been limiting my food intake to foods high in water content. Apples are good, especially if cooked and peeled. ...

Wedding dress saga continues...

Fri, 1 Feb 2013 06:57:32 EST

First one did not fit but ordered another in the next size but different style. Daughter likes the just below the knee dresses as they are having an outdoor wedding. Hope the second one fits perfectly.

Need to add that my new low weight is staying steady. I even reset the digital scale to be sure it is weighing correctly. Would love to lose at least 25 lbs by September, especially since everyone will be staying at the hot springs for 3 days of which the bulk of the time will ...

ordered a wedding dress ...

Sun, 27 Jan 2013 10:12:03 EST

For my daughter's fall wedding. She picked it out on line. I hope it fits with little altering needed.

She said she had to end all the well intentioned suggestions from family and friends.

I can tell she is getting excited. Her fiance' is really a great guy. They have dated for about 5 years. They are both 37 and this is the first wedding for both of them.

I am nervous about being "the mother of the bride" and the only guest from her side of the family. ...

daughter's wedding in the fall...

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 12:48:06 EST

Now I am really under the gun to re-lose some of that weight I lost before. So far, so good...my pants actually buttoned this morning. 15

Slow and steady wins the race....

Mon, 14 Jan 2013 07:33:30 EST

Since a year ago I have lost about 11 pounds.

This month I have lost about 3 pounds so far. I am really watching portion size and avoiding fried foods, espcially in restaurants. (I asked at a couple of fast food places what kind of oil they used for the fries and did not get specific information. One place said "vegetable oil." I have a sensitivity to cottonseed oil and found that some restaurants stretch out their olive oil by adding cottonseed oil to reduce the cost.
<...

co-worker's back in hospital

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 06:51:28 EST

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Laura's lungs are not working well. She has fluid in the lungs. Otherwise have only heard her kidneys are still not functioning well and she is on chronic dialysis until they start working better.

Good news about co-worker...

Wed, 2 Jan 2013 15:58:25 EST

She is reported to be doing better and might be going home sometime this week.

Everyone is greatly relieved. Thanks for your prayers and good wishes.

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Honored on Christmas to play piano for famous singer...

Sun, 30 Dec 2012 10:03:44 EST

So there I was playing the piano at Ebenezer Nursing Home in Minneapolis for the dinnertime in the evening when this very nice man came up and asked if I could play The Christmas Song (Chestnuts roasting on an open fire...) as he like the way I played it. He mentioned he was in a biographical play (which he didn't tell me that he wrote and had the lead in) about Nat King Cole. When he sang he sounded just like Nat King Cole, and so I figured he must be playing the lead. He only sang one so...

No further updates...on co-worker's condition

Sat, 29 Dec 2012 11:21:16 EST

Everyone at work was hoping to hear how Laura has been doing but we have not heard any more news from her son-in-law. Our supervisor is not allowed to pass on any information but I suspect she is still on dialysis. The last email from her SIL said they they were thinking of transferring her to the University Medical Center for further care.

So we are still waiting to hear good news and praying every day for her recovery.

Tragic news at work...regarding a co-worker...

Thu, 27 Dec 2012 19:39:55 EST

Laura had her tonsils out last Friday to clear her airway so she can breathe better at night and not snore.

When we got back to work on the 26th of December there was an email from another co-worker (Laura's son-in-law) telling how Laura suddenly lost consciousness and had to be rushed to the hospital. At that time, Christmas Eve, she was noted to have pneumonia, a collapsed lung and an infection. On the 27th of December, we got another email saying she was on dialysis and even h...

Try to remember when deep in December, then follow...

Sun, 16 Dec 2012 08:58:50 EST

We are having frightfully strange weather this year. I live in Minnesota and last weekend we had 10 to 12 inches of snow with deplorable driving condition for most of the past week due to the fact that we got ice and chunky road surfaces covered by snow and the salt and brine mixtures didn't work cause it got so cold right after the storm.

Now this weekend the roads were better and we even had rain that helped the roads but it doesn't look like a white christmas. Today it is gett...

Please, Christmas, don't be late....

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 14:40:54 EST

If you are as old as I am you might remember this Christmas song by The Chipmunks. I also have the words memorized from the flip side of the 45 RPM record I had in about 1960.

As I recall, it was one of our saddest Christmases. Our family car was repossessed, my step father went to a locked ward in a state hospital and my mom, half sister and I lived in the principal's (of my junior high) basement until he was able to find us a cheap apartment to live in (about 2-3 weeks). We ...

Have to take a picture...it will last longer...

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 22:25:45 EST

I planned an art project for our group of 3 employees. Our department was divided into 9 groups and given a garland to decorate. We did this last winter holiday season, also, and enjoyed it so much we are doing it again this year.

Each group was given a 9 foot garland to put on a ledge in our office. We were allowed to spend some "company time" planning and decorating. (My daughter cannot believe we get paid to do these "projects" but I think it is an exercise in cooperation...

Not a complaint free Sparker....

Sat, 8 Dec 2012 23:03:53 EST

Today was a miserable day for a continuing headache (started yesterday)...and also jaw pain and neck pain. As I was standing in a line for about 15 minutes at the post office my neck even went into a somewhat severe spasm and anyone watching me probably wondered what the hell I was doing as I tried to get the kink out of my neck, including bending over and stretching my shoulders up to try to relieve the spasm.

I do feel a lot better this evening after going swimming and then wh...

Food sensitivities and Thanksgiving...

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 07:04:00 EST

Let's see: Must be gluten free, onion free, green bean free, pork free, egg free, dairy free, peanut free, cottonseed oil free, bee pollen free, soy free (may be missing one or two).

No tofurkey but can have plain turkey meat smothered in my homemade cranberry sauce (sweetened with stevia). If there is a green veggie other than green beans I can have some of that (without butter).

It sounds good to me!!!!