Joel's Father Syd gives ua a scare

Hello all,

 

We're back in PA after a few really scary days. We almost lost Syd this week. He was admitted to the hospital Monday with problems breathing and was diagnosed with pneumonia. Then he had heart, respiratory and kidney failure and had to be put in an intermediate care unit with a BiPap machine (a full face oxygen mask that looks like something from a space project). 

 

When we got called on Wednesday, it was the Doctor basically saying 'get here now.' We drove down as quickly as possible and began camping out in Syd's apartment. Fortunately for all involved, it's just a few blocks from the hospital so getting over to see him was easy. Syd looked awful and it was tough for the two of us to see him that way. He was aware of us there, but couldn't do much.

 

The next day, we were able to communicate with pad and paper. He was telling us stuff he wanted us to get, which included things he wanted for the apartment, which we took as a good sign. If he wanted things for his place, it meant he still thought he was going to go home. However, the doctor also met with us and gave us the big "quality of life/end of life" talk, which shook us all up.

 

It must have really done a number on Syd, because the next day he was breathing well enough to get the Dr's to remove the BiPap mask and place him on a regular nose/nostril feed for his oxygen. By Friday afternoon, he was talking again and no longer needed the notepad. He was also doing well enough to want to watch the baseball playoffs Friday night.

 

On Saturday, the younger granddaughter (Miriam) took the train from Philadelphia and spent the day with us. The Doctor told us that his kidneys were improving their function due to medications, and were no longer the greatest problem Syd was facing. He was VERY happy to see Miriam, and also pleased that he could still watch baseball. His lady friend, Nan, was there on and off, and she has been a big help. 

 

However, Syd still tires very quickly. We were limited in visits to about 90 minutes/ two hours before he would become too worn out and we'd leave for lunch/dinner/errands. The Doctors seem to think that his next step will be a rehab center and then, maybe, he'll be back in his apartment after a few weeks. Given where he was Wednesday night, this is a serious turnaround. We drove back late in the evening with Miriam after spending a little more time with Syd and being kicked out of the hospital because of the hour (and a test they needed to run on a patient in the next bed). 

 

Thanks for all your thoughts and well wishes.

Life Continues to Suck

Things are not going well here. Despite a promising series of interviews (two in person and one phone), I missed getting a job that I was well qualified for. So much for those lucky does in their parking lot.

My unemployment has run out, and I have had to turn to food assistance. I am doing a part time job at the Granite Run Mall's FYE Record store, but it only comes to 10 or less hours a week. I am getting very depressed.

My Amazon DVD Reviews: "House of Numbers"

Utter Bunk  
One Out of Five Stars

"House of Numbers" is a horrible, angering mess. That is the kindest thing to say about it. Basically a rundown of every anti-AIDS conspiracy theory since the crisis began, it repeatedly asks the question over and over; Why Have We not Found The Cure For AIDS? Simple question, sure. But the answers are more complex that this movie wants to address.

For starters, AIDS is a relatively young disease. The main outbreak and plague broke thorough in the late 70's and swelled through the 80's and 90's. While research suggests that there may have been cases far earlier, it wasn't until this period that the Scientific and Medical communities began taking serious research into the illness. In the USA, that research was near nil, thanks to the likes of Jesse Helms and the despicable policies of Ronald Reagan. So asking why we have not found a cure is foolish. Cancer and even the common cold are far older and more researched diseases, yet we still have nothing to cure either. Health Research is not a toaster; things do not just pop out after four minutes.

Then they try and look at the disease itself. They roll out the same tired tropes, like poppers gave you AIDS, the drugs were what caused AIDS deaths (partially true, the misunderstanding of the EARLY drugs - like AZT - harmed people), and the usual crap that gay men having sex were doing it to themselves. The modern 'drug cocktail' has been refined over the course of near 20 years to have balanced the side effects since then, but there's still plenty of conspiracy theorists who will try and convince you that "Big Pharma" is just trying to get your money.

Then they find the Doctors who are happy to tell you their theories why HIV and AIDS are right and the rest are bogus. However, the overwhelming preponderance of the Medical/Scientific have no doubts that HIV and AIDS exist and can kill you if not properly treated. The question raised in "House of Numbers" that HIV may not even be communicable is not just ignorant, it is dangerous. People are exposed to different infections every day (and I'll jump back to that common cold analogy again), but you don't have an illness every day. Illnesses break through in a variety of ways, and sometimes the factors involves vary from moment to moment, even in the same person.

"House of Numbers" raises question and offers no answers. It throws theories out but offers few facts. It questions the deaths of hundreds of thousands, but offers little insight into what killed them. It's easy to cast aspersions on things you do not want to believe. "House of Numbers" drags out stupidity and wild-eyed fear, then tries to offer it as controversy. Like Climate Change or Intelligent Design deniers, there can always be found a small group of true believers willing to argue that there is dissent over 'the facts.' But opinions are not facts and "House Of Numbers" does not offer much of factual info, and that makes it dangerous.

 

When the Boredom, Depression, Unemployment and broken bones get to be too much for you....

...break out the magic markers.  

 
 

"Timmy's Tiger"

Soon to be a major motion picture directed by Jodie Foster.

In which a neurotic gay author tries to rehab his damaged image and relationships by using his broken bone and an imaginary talking tiger in a cast to get his life back into focus.

Casting Call

 

New Status Update: Pt 2

Last week in the series of snowfalls we had, I fell on a patch of ice while clearing the driveway. What I thought was just a minor sprain has turned out to be a fracture in my wrist. I am waiting for the Dr to call to tell me what comes next. This on top of getting let go from work Thursday.

Not my week

   

Just a quick post surgery note.

Doctor visit today, three weeks after surgery. He is happy with the healing so far. Turns out I also had a mole that needed to be removed, and the good news is that the tissue study indicates it was benign.

So...who wants to see my scars?

Thanks to everyone for their well wishes and good karma over the past few days. The surgery went without incident and the fistula was removed. I have not done much else than sleep, nibble, and watch DVD's (Mad Menand District 9, which are both terrific). Joel has been an absolute angel through all of this, making sure I get all my meds at the right times. I am still sore and VERY cranky, even with the help of Demerol.

Nice Sophie Cat note. Wednesday night, before going to bed, she jumped up on the covers and curled up next to me. Normally she does this with the twin demands of attention and petting, but this time she just snuggled up and stayed with me while I was resting.  She's been very attentive since I've been home, as well.


The aftermath has not been fun. Any time in the bathroom is worse than a Spanish Inquisition, and the safe word is not Auughh!, no matter how many times I yell it. Sitting has its own unique challenges, as does trying to find a comfortable position to sleep. I have devloped new-found appreciations for Aloe-Wipes and Gator Ade, and a another confirmation that catheters just ain't my thing. Especially after having one in me for 12 hours. Dr Kitty doesn't approve.

Fistulaectomy

Some of you may recall a post I made back in August where I discussed an infection in a localized area upon wish is usually refered to as a descriptive used to talk about donkeys and ending with the word "Hole." While I made some light of it at the time, the problem has not healed after a pair of anti-biotic treatments. I have been informed that this problem must now be rectified through a surgical procedure called a Fistulaectomy. You can google it if you want to, but suffice to say that sharp objects will be inserted to core out flesh where one does not want sharp objects tunneling.

I go for the pre-surgical exam Dec 30th, then the first hospital visit with an overnighter January 7. Just how I wanted to kick off the 2010 New Year's Action. About the only good thing about this will be that the major irritation that this itty-bitty sore spot has been causing me since the end of summer will finally be gone. And that the rest of 2010 can only go up from this.

The "Billionaires for Wealth Care" Punk/Protest an Insurance Lobbyist's Gathering

It really is this simple.

I believe that no one should die because they cannot afford health care, and no one should go broke because they get sick. If you agree, please post this as your status for the rest of the evening / Labor Day weekend......

But what about the Youth in America?

CAN SHE BE FIRST?

Pain in the Butt!

I am finally catching up after being really medically frustrated since Wednesday morning. On that day, I awoke to an unbelievable concentrated pain in my backside that almost made me scream. I rushed to the bathroom which, when trying to expel whatever was inside of me, increased the burning, searing feeling to a point that Joel came in and asked what was wrong. All I could do in reply was whimper like a very whipped dog. But when I tried to wipe myself, it was with even greater mortification to see blood on the toilet tissue.

I first called my doctor for an appointment and then called work to report out for a sick day. The pain/sensitivity was unreal; it actually hurt to fart. This was not going to be the fun sort of hump day.

My general practice Doctor had an opening at 11, so I sat on pillows until that time. He asked me to describe the pain, and my response was to say that the seven deadly sins, the plagues of Egypt, all 9 circles on Hell and a hornets' nest had been shrunk to the point of a red hot needle and jammed in my backside. That at least got a laugh out of the guy, but he was seriously concerned about the bleeding. He pulled out the rubber gloves and I inwardly groaned. For the first time that day, I dropped trou and bent over the exam table as Dr NotFeelGood probed around with a lubed finger and I yelped when he touched the appropriate sensitive places.

Withdrawing from the lunar surface, he commented that there was a fissure and pus drainage, so he wanted me to see a proctologist ASAP. He wrote up the insurance referal and bounced me to a clinic less than a mile up the road. In that office, there was the usual 20 questions, forms filled and insurance card copying, then it was time to meet Dr Silver. Once again, it was bend over and drop trou, but Dr Silver had the much cooler exam bench. On his, you kneel on the bench-like end, grab the handles up near the head, and the Doctor hydraulically adjust you to the point of greatest accessiblity. Doesn't make the rubber gloving any more enjoyable, and I was certainly barking more than I did at the earlier appointment.

As Dr Silver lowered the bench back to the floor (and I wondered how many dungeons this piece of equipment might be used in), he informed me that I had developed a cyst on the rim of my anus that had abscessed and broken, which was why I was having such an intensely localized pain. Grateful for the slice of information, I asked what could be done about this little problem. He prescribed two medicines and spitz baths for the next week, then in two weeks, my first ever colonoscopy. Ack. I'm getting old.

The serious problems have subsided, my butt now just aches and gets intense during bathroom visits.

Undesired pain is such a pain.