Lessons Learned in Atlanta
I haven't blogged for a few days - so busy, I'm sorry. But this morning I fly back to St. Paul from Atlanta and I'm so excited to see Gerry and the kids, and I thought I'd finally take 5 minutes to post.
It's been very nice to be back in Atlanta, but I feel like I've hardly left this Gwinnet Center complex for 3 days. Here are some things I've realized while in Atlanta this time around:
My bags are packed - I just have to get myself down to the breakfast and the shuttle at 8:35. I took a cab here ($80!) so I'm taking a shuttle back to the airport. Then I have another 2 hour trip to get to my terminal (not quite, it just feels like it...) and finally home at 1:45.
The kids both had playdates in the past few days, and from what I've heard on the phone they had very good times. That's a wonderful feeling - I'm glad the kids are making good friends.
I'll post more later when I don't feel so stunned with exhaustion. I'm glad I get to sleep in tomorrow. Thanks for reading!
It's been very nice to be back in Atlanta, but I feel like I've hardly left this Gwinnet Center complex for 3 days. Here are some things I've realized while in Atlanta this time around:
- Folks in Atlanta are very nice
- Folks here are terrific knitters
- Lou, Doug and James are great guys
- Fiona is a most excellent roommate
- Drivers here are a little - well - distracted
- Tiredness has a way of catching up
- I like to teach in pants
- I need more than a haircut, I need a style
- Lugging the Men Who Knit trunk show up and down hills with no sidewalks sucks
- iPod makes traveling much better
- (I'm currently listening to A Needle in the Right Hand of God)
- I love biscuits
- It's hard to teach in low light
- Gerry officially has Osteoporosis (see below)
- His doctor feels that Vertebroplasty is the best treatment
- We're both nervous
- I can't wait to get home
My bags are packed - I just have to get myself down to the breakfast and the shuttle at 8:35. I took a cab here ($80!) so I'm taking a shuttle back to the airport. Then I have another 2 hour trip to get to my terminal (not quite, it just feels like it...) and finally home at 1:45.
The kids both had playdates in the past few days, and from what I've heard on the phone they had very good times. That's a wonderful feeling - I'm glad the kids are making good friends.
I'll post more later when I don't feel so stunned with exhaustion. I'm glad I get to sleep in tomorrow. Thanks for reading!
Risk Factors for Osteoporosis
which don't apply to Gerry
Factors that increase the likelihood of developing osteoporosis include:
Being femaleAdvanced ageA family history of osteoporosisBeing past menopauseAbnormal absence of menstrual periodsAnorexia or bulimia- A diet low in calcium
- Long-term use of medications such as corticosteroids or anticonvulsants
- Lack of exercise
SmokingExcessive use of alcohol
18 Comments:
My father had Vertebroplasty several years ago on 2 separate vertebrae and it made an amazing difference in his comfort level. He also has osteoporosis and has had no additional problems since (he's on medication to help strengthen his bones.) Hang in there and I hope that it helps your family as much as mine!
On the knitting front, I love your patterns and your blog!
Annie & Gerry - Robin here... (I urged pain meds in earlier blog)... So great to know that there is a diagnosis with an Actual Treatment so soon! I've had many procedures where they go into the back while looking at your spine on the monitor. This sounds like a relatively easy one as far as back surgeries go. What will medicine find in the "garage" to fix us with next... they glue instead of stitch, put rods & screws in, and now they are injecting cement into bone. With the wonderful anesthetic drugs they have now, they can keep you at a point where you can answer questions but sort of have temporary amnesia so you don't remember. A feeling of "pressure" is the only pain during most of these type surgeries (for me). Meaning, don't panic about the pain of this procedure. The pain you have felt now is worse than this probable "fix". Hope this info helps in assuring you that there is hope of a better life after this pain. Sounds like you will always have to keep a watchful eye on your body/back but it's better than having no "plan" at all and lifelong pain. A positive outlook is essential. Sincerely, Robin
YIKES! Osteoporosis... has Gerry been tested to see if he has a malsorption problem something that is causing him not to absorb vitamins and minerals.. such as celiac or somthing? That hit my brains as soon as you started talking about all this.
I am always wanting to know why!! That's me..
My very best wishes for Gerry! I hope that the treatment goes well. From the link, it sounds like a very good "best treatment" to have. Will he have it done soon?
Glad to see that you replaced your iPod. Did your mover's insurance pay for it? Just wondering--I'm a true believer in replacing things that really make a difference in your life!
That's amazing that he got that with so few markers for it, especially since he is young yet. I hope the superglue works!!! It has a high success rate.
I'm so sorry for Gerry. I'm sure that now that it's been diagnosed, you guys will be able to treat it, but I can see why this would be very scary. My heart is with you.
I have my fingers crossed for you both. I read the whole page on vertebroplasty that you linked, very interesting. Facing something so critical is very frightening. So I wish you all the best and a speedy procedure and recovery.
Gillian
Hooray for treatment options with high success rates!! Last winter, three 40-somethings in our office had bad injuries due to falls on the ice. The worst one was a broken hip, and the fellow had to push hard to get his doc to order a bone density test, and it turned out he has osteoporosis. Tall, lean, active guy. It was quite a surprise. Here's to a smooth procedure, and a speedy recovery!!!
Annie-
Glad to hear that you finally get a diagnosis for Gerry (I am the one who met you in the Cub Foods in Eden Prairie this summer and took your class at Yanrzilla). Now that you are in the Twin Cities you have access to the world's most wonderful medical facility in the Mayo Clinic. While only a bit over an hour away from your house, the medical care is eons beyond anything you will find. It might be worth getting a second opinion from them - they are really terrific for that type of thing. While you are there, you can also decide whether you want to do the operation there or in the cities. My daughter is recovering from and Eating Disorder under the care of the miracle workers at Mayo and I look forward to our weekly drives down route 52.
Good luck and welcome to town!
Hey Annie,
Hope you made it home without too much trouble. I wish you and Gerry the very best. I especially wish you both some good rest for the remainder of the weekend. I have rheumatoid arthritis so I know a little about pain...life is always a gamble, nothing you can do but live it to its fullest and I think you and your family do that in spades.
All my best to you and yours.
I know you and Gerry must be relieved to have a diagnosis that is so treatable. Hopefully this can be resolved and his bone density improved with medication.
After a series of supposed stress fractures in one foot my BIL (then late 30's) was diagnosed with osteoporosis secondary to anti-seizure medication. He has responded well to treatment and his bone density is back to near-normal.
Wishing you all the best.
Kat
crossing my fingers for gerry. hope whatever you decide goes well
and would you believe the public library does't have a copy of "The Needle?" i'm upset, it sounds interesting. i may go for an interlibrary loan
I'll volunteer a cut and style designed just for you and your mane when you come to one of my dear LYSs in Houston!!
It will be magical and offer you complete ease in styling, hair artist that I am. I promise on all the wool I bought at the knitting retreat I just left!
I'm glad to read that you now have a diagnosis for Gerry's back pain especially since it sounds like treatment can offer relief very quickly. I hope the docs can arrest the osteoporosis and repair the damaged vertebrae soon. I read the link you posted and then googled others with great interest as my brother has had bad back pain for years and his surgery was a major ordeal and recovery was excruciatingly slow and not complete. I wonder if he could be helped by vertobroplasty?
Good luck! My husband was diagnosed with osteoporosis at age 36. No known risk factors. You are lucky to have the Mayo Clinic so close. We travel from California to Mayo clinic for update appts.
Actually, the combination of low dairy diet and longterm corticosteriods trumps being female every time. Hope the treatment works well.
I'm so glad there's actually been a diagnosis for your husband - hopefully that will mean some treatment and relief from the pain.
And we in Atlanta loved your classes, Annie, and it was so great to meet you and get to chat a bit not to mention learning so much! I'll never look at my needles in quite the same way when I start cabling on my scarf from Fiona's book! LOL. I put the picture of us and with her on my blog with some thoughts on the classes.
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