AN UNUSUAL SURVEY.

PARTICIPATING IN ANOTHER SURVEY!

Yesterday I had a most unusual survey conducted; of all places in my home.

Nowadays the normal methods for conducting a survey are to:

1. Call on the telephone and ask you questions.

2. Fill out a survey on line.

3. Volunteer to a Survey Company, who will then call you to a meeting of other volunteers who then express an opinion on some product or marketing campaign.

This latest survey started last week when I received a call from KS&R, who are located in Syracuse, New York. Over the course of three phone calls it was established that I was a great candidate for their survey. This survey was concerning how people with Osteoarthritis dealt with their affliction in everyday life in their home and in their work.

A fourth phone call was a screening call with the questions directed at my osteoarthritis and how I was dealing with it. The end result of that screening ended up in them asking me to receive up to four people in my apartment, wherein they would look at my living space, and do audio and video recording of the entire interview. Said interview to take up to 2 hours. 

So yesterday I had four people come visit me, after flying all the way down from Syracuse, New York. There were 2 women and 2 men. So for two hours we discussed my osteoarthritis and the pain associated with it. This included my knee replacement, hip replacement and the Radio Frequency Ablation performed on my back, all of which was done to alleviate the pain associated with my osteoarthritis. We also discussed the fact that I still have pain, and how I deal with that. 

The discussion included taking pain pills and what kind. Exercising, and what kind and how often. What doctor's do I see, and how did I get hooked up with them. Also, we discussed what kind of questions and what kind of  subjects I had with my doctor's on treatment options that were available to me.

All in all it was a very interesting and illuminating discussion. I learned a lot as did the interviewers.

When we were done they gave me a gift card for a substantial sum of money. 

And no I'm not going to tell you the amount, but like it I do.

Oh! I also learned what procedure they were looking to push. It is an alternative procedure which should cost much less then replacing a joint, and is non-addictive, as is the case with some pain killers.

As an aside, they were surprised and fascinated by the toys I make. They also admired Claudia's paintings and needle work.

That's all today from the ga hillbilly.

"(C) Copyright by Victor Winebrenner"

MISSING MY MEDICATION CAUSES BIG PROBLEMS.

THAT'S RIGHT, MISSING A SCHEDULED DOSE OF MY MEDICATIONS, CAUSES PROBLEMS.

It happened yesterday evening. Tuesday's are my day to take my granddaughter Felicity to her Tae Kwon Do classes. Her Class starts at 5:30pm and ends at 6:30pm. I had promised her I would take her out to dinner. I did this as a treat for both her and for me. You see I don't like to go to restaurants alone to eat, it isn't any fun to go eat alone.

Anyway, after the practice and going to dinner I got home to a hungry dog. So I fixed Dahli her dinner, then I settled down to watch the election results. Completely forgetting to take my medicine.

After going to bed, I was awakened with severe pain from angina. I had to take a nitro pill to reduce the pain. I went back to sleep and was again awakened with severe angina pain. Once again I took another nitro pill, and then I realized I had forgotten to take my evening dose of medication. So I went ahead and took my meds, and was finally able to go back to sleep and not be awakened by angina pain.

So, now I have learned a valuable lesson, I really need to take my medicine as scheduled or suffer the consequences.

That's all for now. God Bless from the gahillbilly.

"(C) Copyright by Victor Winebrenner"

Waking up to pain.

I was awakened by my dog Dahli this morning around 8:15am, because she wanted a treat. Side note, it's my own fault, I started giving her a milk bone the first thing in the morning. And of course she now expects one every morning, oh! and she wants it before I let her out for her morning bathroom ritual outside.

During all of this I am having extreme pain just getting up and moving around, not to mention being as stiff as a board. I am not kidding when I say I have to force my joints to bend and move, that includes my fingers and toes. Excuse me, time to get a cup of coffee, be right back. Aaah! there is nothing like that first sip of steaming hot coffee, that, along with the wonderful aroma of freshly brewed coffee makes getting up and moving just a little easier to manage.

I remember as a child and a young man seeing my old relatives getting up and trying to move around. Most of them had twisted and swollen joints, especially in their hands and feet. Back in those days they didn't have the medications available today for reducing the pain and keeping the joints from swelling and twisting. Nor, did they have the pain medications that are available today.

I remember staying at my Aunt Jane's house one time when I went to see Grandma Winebrenner, I was sound asleep when something woke me up. When I got up to check, I find Aunt Jane up walking around. I asked her what was wrong and she told me that her arthritis was so bad that if she didn't get up about every two hours and move around she wouldn't be able to move at all. That was over 25 years ago, and I can now appreciate what she was going through.
I don't get up every 2 to 4 hours, but I sure have a hard time getting moving after sitting or laying around for a few hours.

Well God Bless us all.

the gahillbilly.


"(C) Copyright by Victor Winebrenner"

Growth on my Kidney.

Just talked to my doctors office nurse. Found out that the growth on my left kidney is a benign cyst and it is nothing to worry about.
So, that isn't the cause of my abdominal pain, so the question is, what is causing it. I asked the nurse if there is anything else that might be causing it, but I have no wish to be filleted. I already have more then enough scars, I don't need anymore. According to the research I have done on this condition, cutting me open to take a look is not likely to render a cure.
I also asked if taking a pain killer might help, it might do so for the knee pain, but I suspect it won't help at all with the abdominal pain.

Well, God Bless us all.

the gahillbilly.

"(C) Copyright by Victor Winebrenner"

My Injured and Swollen Leg.

For those people that read my postings on Facebook and here in my personal journal, you know that I hit my shin on the corner of my coffee table, several days ago, and that it swelled up twice normal size. Well, here it is a week later and I'm still swollen and black and blue on my shin, but here is what is weird, my ankle is black and blue all the way through on both sides, and my ankle is also swollen to about twice normal size.
The really weird thing is that I have no idea why my ankle is so bruised and so swollen. I don't remember hitting or twisting it, and no I haven't jumped off a high place, or even done any sky diving. So go figure.

I have to tell you, that I have been having more then my usual problem with walking, since the leg I injured is also the one that the knee needs replacing. In fact I should have had it done at least four years ago. I have been tempted to take pictures of the injuries but I think it would gross most people out. Either that or Facebook would censor it.

I have been using an arthritic rubbing cream on the ankle, shin, and knee which seems to help in reducing the pain. My tolerance for pain is extremely high or I'm sure I wouldn't even be walking around with this injury.

God Bless us all from the gahillbilly.

"(C) Copyright by Victor Winebrenner"

Claudia's Having a Very Bad Week.

Hello folks,

Well folks, this past week has been an extreme trial for Claudia and I. Last Thursday Claudia got dumped face first on the concrete in our driveway. She was tooling her power chair down the driveway and she hit a very steep area that she normally avoids and the chair tilted forward and slammed her down face first. Her leg caught between the wheel and the foot rest and broke her right leg. In addition she was bleeding from her forehead which later required two stitches.

I called 911 right away and the paramedics arrived to care for her and take her to the hospital.

The next day the doctor operated on her and had to go in through the knee, drill a hole in the femur and stick a rod up through the middle of the bone. All in all she has been very miserable.



I was able to bring her home today, March 24, 2009. When I came to work I left her resting fairly comfortably.



The biggest problem with all of this medical stuff is the fact that we have no medical insurance and haven't been able to get medicare or medicaid. Not for lack of trying. Hopefully, this time the Patient Advocate from the hospital will be able to have better luck getting her approved for medicare or medicaid or both. I certainly hope so.

When we add this problem to the fact that Claudia lost the little business she had back in October of 2008, our income has suffered as a result of that loss.



If it sounds like I am rambling a bit here, it is probably because I am so upset. Claudia and I will be married 38 years this year.

really worried,
the ga hillbilly

Follow-up on replacement hip.

Hello everybody,

This is the gahillbilly following up on my replacement hip. As I mentioned in a previous post, I was looking forward to having this operation done. My hip was replaced on April 16 this year, and I am glad I did. I was out of bed walking on the hip the next morning. I had to use a walker as my muscles were really sore and bruised, but there was no pain in the joint, no sound either. Hurray!

I keep steadily improving with my range of motion, and my freedom from pain. I am going to rehab three times a week for about a full hour of physical therapy. Rehab includes range of motion, strengthening, and endurance exercises. Believe it or not I am enjoying the exercise. My PT Instructor(who is a very cute young lady) tells me I am too aggressive. Funny thing, my wife says that too. What does that mean? do I charge in and hurt myself? Yes I have a tendency to do that, so I have forced myself to slow down so I do not pop the new joint out and have to go through this all over. AT age 72 I am healing very quickly and I am feeling very much better now.

That's all for now.
gahillbilly