Well. The Broncos won their AFC title game last Sunday and are off to the Super Bowl. Our son Toby called us to see how excited we were at this development and was somewhat chagrined to learn we are not that excited. It would be nice if the Broncos win but it won’t crush us if they don’t. We just hope for a good, close game that is well played by both teams. I will, however, dig out my Broncos sweatshirt and wear it for the game.
This last week has been a bad one for me. I was off work all week with a medical problem. I was experiencing stomach cramps and abdominal pain. Turns out there was an adhesion problem in my abdomen which caused a partial blockage of my small intestine. Part of the intestine was stuck to the wall of the abdomen.
My first visit to the doctor, last Monday, resulted in a prescription and X-rays. By Wednesday the X-rays were back but the doctor wanted a CT scan as it would show more soft tissue detail. It was that or a colonoscopy, so I opted for the CT scan. Results of the scan showed there was no mass inside the intestine, good news for me. By now I was on a regime of anti-gas medication, stool softeners, and orders to pump liquid into my diet. By Friday I was able to eat three smallish meals, the first time I was able to do so all week. Today I am feeling OK but not 100%.
If the intestine does not come unstuck by itself I may need surgery to separate the intestine from the abdominal wall. The doctor thinks the intestine may be stuck to the scar tissue of my appendectomy, done when I was in grade school.
Good Lord. One thing I don’t want is hospital gowns, poking and prodding, and stool softeners. This could impact our plans for the summer, not to mention the severe discomfort that would result from abdomen surgery. Hopefully the intestine will un-stick itself and any more intervention will be unnecessary. Odds of that happening are not in my favor, though, so we will have to see what the next few weeks bring. The doctor did clear me to go back to work tomorrow.
Once again, our sympathies to family and friends in the Midwest who are putting up with below-normal temperatures. We had the coldest December on record, but January has been near (and sometimes above) normal. As I look outside my window I can see some of the ice on the edge of the road starting to melt, indicating today will be above freezing as it has been for the last week or so. Average daytime temperatures for this time of year are in the mid to upper 30’s.
Thanks for the comments regarding the cabin dreams. Our biggest decision concerns what we intend to do with the house; use it as a weekend getaway or would we use it in retirement as a full-time house, even for part of the year? The answer to that will influence our choice of house plans and we are continuing the debate.
There has not been a lot else going on this past week. We did put up a few more framed photos and Pam bought some foam to make cushions for the glider bench. Maybe this week will be more interesting!
That’s it for now. Thanks for looking in!
Pam’s Two Cents Worth:
Our oldest cat, Mira, visited the vet for several overnighters with intestinal problems Tuesday and Wednesday. Intestines seem to be the topic of the week.
Men are not good patients. Cats are better patients.
Happy Trails
Time-lapse satellite photos show the northern/western hemisphere’s polar vortex tearing off “chunks” of arctic cold and, spinning like a counter-clockwise merry-go-round, throwing “globs” of cold through Minnesota/Dakota’s, into Wisconsin, and beyond.
Looking at -50 wind chills again by Tuesday a.m., with 3 days staying entirely below zero.
No end in sight, though it appears to be getting (a little) warmer…
I’m wondering if (we) ever were as enthusiastic as Toby is over his sports teams?
Traveling back almost 50 years, I remember listening to a Packers-Detroit game on the radio after a Sunday bowhunt at “Meadow Valley”. I remember watching the “Ice Bowl”, Ron Vander Kelen’s comeback and almost win at the 1963 Rose Bowl vs. USC, and even State basketball tournaments. I don’t ever remember myself being lost in deep enthusiasms. I also don’t remember you, during the “Orange Crush” days, being that excited…
Different times, maybe?
‘can only hope the intestinal difficulty can be handled without surgery. It would appear to be something micro-surgery might handle, though I can see where complications might occur.
As a man, I’d much prefer to be less “patient” (intentional) than more patient — definitely not a cat…
Jeez, Jer! Why would you ever want to have intestinal trouble!
We completely sympathize, empathize, and generally feel badly about your extreme discomfort! Mikey and Virg