You won't be sorry. I promise.
http://www.greatdanepromilitary.com/Battle%20Hymn/index.htm
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Sunday, June 28, 2009
I'm in Pain
I often wonder what ER docs think of patients that come in and complain of pain. Seriously. I'm not one to complain about being in pain for any reason, but when I ask my husband to take me to the ER because I'm in pain, it's going to be a pain level that can't register on any 1-10 scale.
Last night was one of those nights. It has been progressing for a while. I've been staving of some sort of illness. I'd start with symptoms of a sinus infection. It'd go away. I'd feel like I was getting an earache. It'd go away. My throat would start to hurt. It'd go away. See a pattern here?
Well this last week, these symptoms have returned and weren't so willing to go away. The new area of pain is my upper left quadrant of my mouth. Not one tooth in particular hurt. The whole quadrant did. Until Thursday. The pain became focused on my top left molar. ALLLLLLLLL the way in the back, of course. Couldn't bite. Couldn't hold my mouth completely closed. If my teeth tapped, it would send me to the moon.
I first made an appointment with the dentist. 24 hours later, I changed it and made an appointment with the doctor because the pain in my ear, sinuses and throat was worse than the pain in my tooth. I left work on Thursday and went right to the doc's office. Both ears are infected, have strep and a sinus infection. Like I was shocked.
Friday morning I woke with pain in my tooth like I've never had before. I'm anal about keeping my mouth taken care of b/c I hate going to the dentist so much. I floss, I brush, I do all we're supposed to do for mouth health. My wonderful dentist fit me in to take a gander.
He took an xray.
He tapped.
He pushed.
He pulled.
It all hurt like you wouldn't believe. Poor Greg's hand was going to be crushed if the doc couldn't find a reason for this pain. Nothing he did, not even the xray showed the sourse of such pain in my mouth. He gave me another antibiotic as well as a pain pill. Hydrocodone 7.5. I don't like taking pain pills. Towards the end of her life, my mother was addicted. I saw what it had done to her and I wanted to parts of it. So I have a fear of pain meds almost as bad as my fear of dentists.
Well last night (Saturday), the pain was so over the top that I was shaking and crying. I finally gave in and asked Greg to take me to the ER. When you sign in to be triaged they ask what your complaint is. What was my complaint? Pain? Most people go to the ER for pain, right? Most people are in some sort of pain for whatever underlying reason, right? I felt the need to pinpoint the pain. I put "Mouth Pain". As if that is going to get attention quicker. Once I handed my clipboard over, I felt so stupid for sitting there. I couldn't bring myself to leave, though. The pain was THAT intense.
The long and short of it is #1 the ER doc had the coolest last name. We chatted about his name for a few minutes. It put me at ease. #2 The area where I was in the ER was separated by curtains only. EVERY SINGLE person in there complained of pain for one reason or another. #3 the ER doc couldn't find an underlying reason for the amount of pain I was in any more than my family doctor nor my dentist could.
Ask me what his instructions were...C'mon......ask me......
His instructions were to double the pain medications every 6 hours and he added another antibiotic.
Double the pain meds? Are you kidding me, I asked him? He asked me if one is helping. I told him no. Not even touching the pain. He gave me a comforting hand on the shoulder, looked me in the eye and said, "You're far from a drug addict, Nancy. You need the pain relief. It's ok to take 2x the dose your dentist gave you. Quit taking it by Monday evening." I looked at Greg as if to get his approval, too. He gave me 'THE' nod. It was ok.
Guess what?
I've doubled the dose and am in considerably less pain. I go back to see my doc tomorrow. I can feel a difference in the swelling in my mouth. It's still 'touchy', but tolerable.
I still do not like pain pills. I don't like the way they make me feel. Don't have to worry about me becoming an addict. Besides, they make me itch. What's up with that?
ttfn...
Last night was one of those nights. It has been progressing for a while. I've been staving of some sort of illness. I'd start with symptoms of a sinus infection. It'd go away. I'd feel like I was getting an earache. It'd go away. My throat would start to hurt. It'd go away. See a pattern here?
Well this last week, these symptoms have returned and weren't so willing to go away. The new area of pain is my upper left quadrant of my mouth. Not one tooth in particular hurt. The whole quadrant did. Until Thursday. The pain became focused on my top left molar. ALLLLLLLLL the way in the back, of course. Couldn't bite. Couldn't hold my mouth completely closed. If my teeth tapped, it would send me to the moon.
I first made an appointment with the dentist. 24 hours later, I changed it and made an appointment with the doctor because the pain in my ear, sinuses and throat was worse than the pain in my tooth. I left work on Thursday and went right to the doc's office. Both ears are infected, have strep and a sinus infection. Like I was shocked.
Friday morning I woke with pain in my tooth like I've never had before. I'm anal about keeping my mouth taken care of b/c I hate going to the dentist so much. I floss, I brush, I do all we're supposed to do for mouth health. My wonderful dentist fit me in to take a gander.
He took an xray.
He tapped.
He pushed.
He pulled.
It all hurt like you wouldn't believe. Poor Greg's hand was going to be crushed if the doc couldn't find a reason for this pain. Nothing he did, not even the xray showed the sourse of such pain in my mouth. He gave me another antibiotic as well as a pain pill. Hydrocodone 7.5. I don't like taking pain pills. Towards the end of her life, my mother was addicted. I saw what it had done to her and I wanted to parts of it. So I have a fear of pain meds almost as bad as my fear of dentists.
Well last night (Saturday), the pain was so over the top that I was shaking and crying. I finally gave in and asked Greg to take me to the ER. When you sign in to be triaged they ask what your complaint is. What was my complaint? Pain? Most people go to the ER for pain, right? Most people are in some sort of pain for whatever underlying reason, right? I felt the need to pinpoint the pain. I put "Mouth Pain". As if that is going to get attention quicker. Once I handed my clipboard over, I felt so stupid for sitting there. I couldn't bring myself to leave, though. The pain was THAT intense.
The long and short of it is #1 the ER doc had the coolest last name. We chatted about his name for a few minutes. It put me at ease. #2 The area where I was in the ER was separated by curtains only. EVERY SINGLE person in there complained of pain for one reason or another. #3 the ER doc couldn't find an underlying reason for the amount of pain I was in any more than my family doctor nor my dentist could.
Ask me what his instructions were...C'mon......ask me......
His instructions were to double the pain medications every 6 hours and he added another antibiotic.
Double the pain meds? Are you kidding me, I asked him? He asked me if one is helping. I told him no. Not even touching the pain. He gave me a comforting hand on the shoulder, looked me in the eye and said, "You're far from a drug addict, Nancy. You need the pain relief. It's ok to take 2x the dose your dentist gave you. Quit taking it by Monday evening." I looked at Greg as if to get his approval, too. He gave me 'THE' nod. It was ok.
Guess what?
I've doubled the dose and am in considerably less pain. I go back to see my doc tomorrow. I can feel a difference in the swelling in my mouth. It's still 'touchy', but tolerable.
I still do not like pain pills. I don't like the way they make me feel. Don't have to worry about me becoming an addict. Besides, they make me itch. What's up with that?
ttfn...
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Of Course I Said Yes. Silly.
Yes. Shane's hair is blue.
Why?
Because the baseball team did it.
I'm really surprised that the folks that ask me if I 'let him' do it. They were SHOCKED.
Of course I did. Isn't there worse things in life than blue hair that eventually turns green after having your hair bleached 'orange' first?
Of course there's worse things. Blue hair isn't a 'worse' thing.
Honest. It's not.
^Shane being a smart aleck for the camera.
Kelci and Shane. They made a S'mores cookie for the weekend company. Kelci spent the nite Friday nite. Kelci is Michael's girlfriend. Not Shane's.
He almost looks thoughtful, doesn't he? I think he needs to poop.Remember one important thing. It's only hair.
It'll grow back.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Stay off the Sidewalks
The girlfriend of Michael has gotten her permit today. Her first desired stop? No, seriously? She wanted and begged to come see Nancy! Ain't that the coolest? I'm so proud. Just as if she's mine! Awesome girl!
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Update
I've been overwhelmed these last couple of weeks that I've gotten a terrific migraine. It has been so bad that I stayed home from work today. It's no better now than it was at 1:00 this morning.
I've gotten periodic calls from Michael since Monday afternoon when he left here. Let's just say his transition into military life hasn't exactly been smooth as a baby's bottom.
Monday afternoon went well. He went to the recruiting office, filled out the rest of the paperwork they needed done and then headed to the hotel in Dallas. They came and got him from the hotel at 5 in the morning and took him to the MEPS station. The military is all hurry up and wait anyway. Michael had to have his physical, more paperwork & swearing in. They took so long that they missed the flight to Ft. Jackson. There was only one seat left to Ft. Jackson directly. There were 11 others (including) Michael that were diverted to Atlanta.
He's still in Atlanta. They put them up in a hotel last night. They had to check out at noon today. They gave them a $36 meal ticket and a $10 calling card which I've had to recharge twice already. His phone privileges will be revoked soon anyway, but want him to be able to call if he needs/wants to.
He called the last time at about 3:00. The bus to Ft. Jackson won't even be at the airport for them until between 6 & 7 eastern time. All the recruits are essentially fading in and out of a comatose state. They're all so tired. He said he probably won't call again tonight. Ft. Jackson is about 200 miles from Atlanta. They'll all sleep on the bus, I'm sure.
That's about all the news on Michael that's up-to-date. If I hear anything new, I'll let you know. All I have to do now is get rid of this stinking headache. I'm going to lie down on the couch and try to become comatose, too.
I've gotten periodic calls from Michael since Monday afternoon when he left here. Let's just say his transition into military life hasn't exactly been smooth as a baby's bottom.
Monday afternoon went well. He went to the recruiting office, filled out the rest of the paperwork they needed done and then headed to the hotel in Dallas. They came and got him from the hotel at 5 in the morning and took him to the MEPS station. The military is all hurry up and wait anyway. Michael had to have his physical, more paperwork & swearing in. They took so long that they missed the flight to Ft. Jackson. There was only one seat left to Ft. Jackson directly. There were 11 others (including) Michael that were diverted to Atlanta.
He's still in Atlanta. They put them up in a hotel last night. They had to check out at noon today. They gave them a $36 meal ticket and a $10 calling card which I've had to recharge twice already. His phone privileges will be revoked soon anyway, but want him to be able to call if he needs/wants to.
He called the last time at about 3:00. The bus to Ft. Jackson won't even be at the airport for them until between 6 & 7 eastern time. All the recruits are essentially fading in and out of a comatose state. They're all so tired. He said he probably won't call again tonight. Ft. Jackson is about 200 miles from Atlanta. They'll all sleep on the bus, I'm sure.
That's about all the news on Michael that's up-to-date. If I hear anything new, I'll let you know. All I have to do now is get rid of this stinking headache. I'm going to lie down on the couch and try to become comatose, too.
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Who'd have thunk?
As we're raising our children, we know there will come a time that it's time for them to be on their own.
Today I have realized that my job as a mom will never end, but my job to be sure you're ready to be on your own has come to an end. You're ready.
You have come to be a very caring, loving young man. I could never put into words the pride I feel for you. You've had choices in life at a very difficult time in your life. I get compliments on what a wonderful job I have done to raise you. I can take very little of that credit. All I could really do was provide the structure, accountability and responsibility and reinforce it without wavering. You've had to have the desire to make the right choices. You've done that. You've succeeded far beyond my expectations.
Yes, you've made your mistakes. Haven't we all? As hard as it is to watch you make your mistakes, I've had to let you do it. You wouldn't grow otherwise.
You will begin your journey to your future tomorrow. Continue to pray! I love you, Son.
Mom
Today I have realized that my job as a mom will never end, but my job to be sure you're ready to be on your own has come to an end. You're ready.
You have come to be a very caring, loving young man. I could never put into words the pride I feel for you. You've had choices in life at a very difficult time in your life. I get compliments on what a wonderful job I have done to raise you. I can take very little of that credit. All I could really do was provide the structure, accountability and responsibility and reinforce it without wavering. You've had to have the desire to make the right choices. You've done that. You've succeeded far beyond my expectations.
Yes, you've made your mistakes. Haven't we all? As hard as it is to watch you make your mistakes, I've had to let you do it. You wouldn't grow otherwise.
You will begin your journey to your future tomorrow. Continue to pray! I love you, Son.
Mom
Saturday, June 6, 2009
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