Well, I've been here for a few days now and figured that I better take the time to update. We've been having a wonderful time together and I have much to report on.
I'll start with my trip up here and get that crap out of the way. My flight was a disaster from the very beginning! When I went to check in to leave Arkansas, I found out that my flight out was delayed. This was caused by the bad storms south of us causing an incoming flight delay and that was the particular flight that was to start me on my journey. Sooooo.......I spent over an hour {quite literally} while the gal at the American Airlines counter tried to reroute me and still get me to Alaska.
First, let me explain that I made this reservation in January. I spent hours finding the best flights, with the fewest stops and shortest layovers, while still managing to get into Fairbanks at a decent time for a change. (I was supposed to arrive at 4;15 in the afternoon, which is unheard of. I usually have to arrive and depart around the midnight hour). I also was attempting to stick with Alaska Airlines so that when I did have to change planes, it would be in the same concourse. And of course, I had my seats all selected. I prefer window seats as I don't have to be scrunched between 2 people. Well, all that careful planning got all shot to hell! I ended up with a 6 1/2 hour lay-over in Seattle and didn't get into Fairbanks until about 11:00 PM.
AND.....even tho' I had arranged for 'assistance' off the plane and from gate to gate.....it didn't happen. I have a serious beef with the American Airline personnel at the Chicago Airport and they WILL hear about it! I actually didn't have much better luck with Alaska Airlines in Seattle; got pissed off and took it upon myself to attempt to make my way to my next gate. It wasn't too horribly far, as airports go, and would have been a piece of cake for a person with no walking issues. I managed because, #1) I was pissed off!! #2) Sheer determination and stupidity. #3)There were lots of places to sit every few yards or so and I had lots of time.
All of my seats on this revised trip, were center seats and one was in the bulkhead row. To say I was uncomfortable the whole time is a gross understatement. My legs ached so badly on the last segment from Seattle to Fairbanks.....I just wanted to scream! No way to get comfortable or even have room to stretch my legs out. I was never so glad to get off a plane in my life!! The absolute best thing to happen was seeing Riley's face from the top of the stairs as she was watching for my familiar suitcases to appear, out of one eye and watching for me out of the other eye! We grabbed each other and it was just OMG!! I made it!!
In view of the discomfort of my trip up, I called today to see about upgrading my seats to 1st Class for the trip home. Well......good thing I did, cuz guess what?? My return reservation had been cancelled because I had never been checked in on the outgoing flight. I can just imagine arriving at the airport on May 28th and not being able to go home! But, I got it all squared away today, except for the 1st Class thing. I have to upgrade when I check in, if seats are available. I don't get that, but will make the best of it and hope there are seats available.
I think that's all for now. I have lots more to tell you and will update later today or tomorrow. Stay tuned.
*~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Yankee Chick~ Tales of a Yankee Lost in the Ozarks ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~*
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Ready to FLY!
In 23 hours I will finally be boarding the plane for my month long visit to Terri & The kids! Yay! I'm nervous about the trip and how well I'll fair, but I did suck it up and made arrangements for a wheelchair to get me from the plane to my next gate and each segment of my flight.
As for my need for a wheelchair, I'll update you on my recent medical issues. My back surgeon finally sent me for X-Rays and finally looked at them and deemed my spinal fusion a total success. All had healed completely and properly and he doesn't feel that my leg pain/issues are connected to my back surgery at all. He has forwarded me to an Orthopedic specialist. Of course, the back surgeon's office screwed around for so long that I can't see the new DR until I get back from Alaska. So walking will continue to be a major issue for my entire visit, but we will all deal with it! AND! My GP, bless his heart, gave me some Vicodin to make the trip a little easier.
And so, I start all over with a new set of issues to deal with. sigh.....I swear that someone (or several someones) out there has a voodoo doll with my name on it and is busy sticking pins in it!!
I do still have some back pain but it all blends in with the leg issues and I often find myself wondering WTF I even had the surgery for to begin with! My GP feels that I had what is referred to as a "Failed Fusion" and that the surgeon (of course) wants me to think that his work was no less than perfect. We shall see, I guess. If the Orthopedic guy can't help me. or thinks I need more surgery, I will put that off as long as possible by going the Pain Management route. All speculation, at this point. I'll have to wait and see what June brings.
On top of all of that, my Cobra insurance ends July 31st and my Medicare won't start until the following March so in all reality, it may be another year before I can really accomplish much of anything. Lovely....just f&%$ing lovely!
Around here it has been raining for 40 days and 40 nights with much flooding of the area. Roads washed out, gigantic hail storms, tornados zipping around our heads, touching down NEAR us, but luckily not too close. And so, I shall leave the mess in Arkansas and go to 'break up' in Alaska, where there is much mud, many pot holes and melting of snow, layer by layer. The awakening of Spring in the Great Land is really lovely to behold. In a couple of weeks, it will be beautiful beyond measure.
But for me, the faces I see tomorrow afternoon will REALLY be what is beautiful beyond measure!!
I will sink into that welcoming home, full of love and comfort and enjoy and absorb every snippet of it! And there will be much celebrating while I am there! My birthday, Mother's Day, Terri's birthday and Riley's graduation!!! So much fun to be had! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
As for my need for a wheelchair, I'll update you on my recent medical issues. My back surgeon finally sent me for X-Rays and finally looked at them and deemed my spinal fusion a total success. All had healed completely and properly and he doesn't feel that my leg pain/issues are connected to my back surgery at all. He has forwarded me to an Orthopedic specialist. Of course, the back surgeon's office screwed around for so long that I can't see the new DR until I get back from Alaska. So walking will continue to be a major issue for my entire visit, but we will all deal with it! AND! My GP, bless his heart, gave me some Vicodin to make the trip a little easier.
And so, I start all over with a new set of issues to deal with. sigh.....I swear that someone (or several someones) out there has a voodoo doll with my name on it and is busy sticking pins in it!!
I do still have some back pain but it all blends in with the leg issues and I often find myself wondering WTF I even had the surgery for to begin with! My GP feels that I had what is referred to as a "Failed Fusion" and that the surgeon (of course) wants me to think that his work was no less than perfect. We shall see, I guess. If the Orthopedic guy can't help me. or thinks I need more surgery, I will put that off as long as possible by going the Pain Management route. All speculation, at this point. I'll have to wait and see what June brings.
On top of all of that, my Cobra insurance ends July 31st and my Medicare won't start until the following March so in all reality, it may be another year before I can really accomplish much of anything. Lovely....just f&%$ing lovely!
Around here it has been raining for 40 days and 40 nights with much flooding of the area. Roads washed out, gigantic hail storms, tornados zipping around our heads, touching down NEAR us, but luckily not too close. And so, I shall leave the mess in Arkansas and go to 'break up' in Alaska, where there is much mud, many pot holes and melting of snow, layer by layer. The awakening of Spring in the Great Land is really lovely to behold. In a couple of weeks, it will be beautiful beyond measure.
But for me, the faces I see tomorrow afternoon will REALLY be what is beautiful beyond measure!!
I will sink into that welcoming home, full of love and comfort and enjoy and absorb every snippet of it! And there will be much celebrating while I am there! My birthday, Mother's Day, Terri's birthday and Riley's graduation!!! So much fun to be had! Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Fusion Anniversary
Well, Wednesday was the 1 year anniversary of my spinal fusion surgery. I went Thursday for my X-Rays and will see the DR next week. I spoke with his nurse Tuesday about some issues I've been having and they are of some concern, so I need to be checked out. I actually thought he needed to see me at then end of a year anyway, but she told me that he had 'released' me because my healing was so well progressed on my 6 month X-rays. I think I missed that, but I'm glad I called because my legs are giving me trouble that can, apparently, occur when a 3 or 4 level fusion is done. {Mine was a 4 level}
So anyway, I still have trouble walking. As a rule, on a daily basis, it just starts bothering me when I walk too far {which isn't far at all} or stand too long. My legs get achy and just don't want to 'go' and my lower back starts getting achy. Some days I can get a lot accomplished, other days, I just can't do it.
Personally, from my research, I have an idea it might be nerve damage. I'll just have to wait and see what he says next week and go from there. I have to learn to accept my limitations and make the best of what ever cards I've been dealt! But I'm not done looking for help, either.
Something just caught my eye, out of my front window, and I got looking and realized that it was my neighbors 2 cats running across the roof of their trailer house. How funny! I know how it sounds to have a squirrel playing around on the roof of our motorhome, so I can imagine the noise 2 big old cats make on their roof!
Gads. I've been blogging so irregularly and yet my head is always full of little tid bits I wanna blog about. I really should make notes, cuz I open up a page to write a new post and they all escape me. Doh! I wish I could be like our dear Poolie and have something fun and interesting to write about everyday.
I have been trying to remember to take my Nikon with me and get some pictures of various "Spring Things" around here, so I'll share some baby cows from down the road with you. They're so cute (and clean-lol)
A couple of babies.
*****************************************************************************
"Hey, Lady. Whatcha doin'?"
*****************************************************************************
"OMG! RUN!! She's got a camera!!!!!"
So anyway, I still have trouble walking. As a rule, on a daily basis, it just starts bothering me when I walk too far {which isn't far at all} or stand too long. My legs get achy and just don't want to 'go' and my lower back starts getting achy. Some days I can get a lot accomplished, other days, I just can't do it.
Personally, from my research, I have an idea it might be nerve damage. I'll just have to wait and see what he says next week and go from there. I have to learn to accept my limitations and make the best of what ever cards I've been dealt! But I'm not done looking for help, either.
Something just caught my eye, out of my front window, and I got looking and realized that it was my neighbors 2 cats running across the roof of their trailer house. How funny! I know how it sounds to have a squirrel playing around on the roof of our motorhome, so I can imagine the noise 2 big old cats make on their roof!
Gads. I've been blogging so irregularly and yet my head is always full of little tid bits I wanna blog about. I really should make notes, cuz I open up a page to write a new post and they all escape me. Doh! I wish I could be like our dear Poolie and have something fun and interesting to write about everyday.
I have been trying to remember to take my Nikon with me and get some pictures of various "Spring Things" around here, so I'll share some baby cows from down the road with you. They're so cute (and clean-lol)
A couple of babies.
*****************************************************************************
"Hey, Lady. Whatcha doin'?"
*****************************************************************************
"OMG! RUN!! She's got a camera!!!!!"
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