Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Serious topic--it all Depends?


Urinary Incontinence---

If this subject embarrasses you or doesn’t apply or you don’t really care, stop reading now and come back tomorrow and I will try my best to have an amusing post then. But I really want to tell my story to any woman who has urinary incontinence and is not doing anything about it.

For almost seven years I suffered with Urinary Incontinence. I began wearing Poise pads starting with the Panti-liner gradually going to the Ultra Thin then the Regular, Extra, Extra Plus and finally graduating to the Ultra Plus pad. The next step up would be the Depends diaper.

I hated it, was embarrassed and ashamed but never once mentioned this to anyone including my doctor. Of course, my husband knew about all this but we never once talked about my “problem” together. I guess we both thought it was just part of the natural aging process and we would just have to deal with it.

I kept postponing a Pap smear and pelvic exam until three years ago when my doctor insisted that I was way overdue and insisted that I have these procedures.
During the pelvic exam the doctor discovered I had a cystocele.

After the examination was finished, he sat down with me and explained and discussed what my options were. In his opinion, we should set up an appointment with a local Urologist who was highly recommended.

After the initial examination by the Urologist he set up an appointment in one of the local hospitals for a cystoscopy. On that day, the prep staff at the urology department had my husband and I watch a film about a new procedure for women with urinary incontinence. This was called a trans-vaginal taping TVT

The cystoscopy was not too uncomfortable and the staff in the operating room was very kind and gentle and very professional. A follow-up appointment was set up to see the Urologist in his office to discuss his recommendation of the TVT. After many days of on-line research at home, I decided that I would have this procedure and an appointment was made for the operation.

I arrived at the out-patient area of the hospital a little apprehensive but also excited that maybe I would be “normal” again. The operation didn’t take too long and I was soon back in the urology recovery area where they monitored my catheter. They then did a test to check my urine output by filling my bladder with a sterile solution that I would void. If I could not void a certain amount, I would be sent home with the catheter still inserted. Let me tell you I was determined that I was going home catheter free. I passed the test with flying colours and went home that afternoon.

I spent the next four weeks at home doing nothing and did not lift anything heavier than a paper back book. I was still leaking a bit of urine but not anything like the volume that I was used to. After the month was finished I saw my Urologist who rescheduled another follow up appointment twelve weeks later. The three months flew by and I was semi-happy because I only had to wear Ultra-Thin pads instead of the bulky Ultra-Plus. The Urologist rescheduled another cystoscopy and found that the taping was too loose so rescheduled another Trans Vaginal Taping for me.

I had this operation done ten months after the original one and spent another four weeks doing nothing and lifting nothing again. No leakage, but I was in a lot of pain and after some urine tests my Urologist diagnosed a bladder and kidney infection. The next week I had another cystoscopy where it was discovered that the taping was too tight.

So back I went for my third time to have the taping loosened a little.
By this time the staff in the Urology department and operating room at the hospital was on a first name basis with me and thought that I was eligible for frequent flier miles or something like that. After the loosening of the tape I can now say that I am 100 percent dry at all times for the past year.

You are all probably wondering if I had to do it all over again, would I?
YES YES YES
I no longer have the embarrassment of wearing incontinence pads and the worry that other people would detect an odour from me.
I had my life given back to me.

I guess I feel like Goldilocks and the three bears, the first time was too loose, the second time was too tight but the third time was just right.

Monday, April 28, 2008

Dancing with the Stars

I am probably one of the last people to have just STARTED to watch this show. I really am enjoying it and even have convinced Ted E to watch. I would love to take ballroom dance lessons and Ted E said he wouldn't mind trying either. We are very busy in the Spring and Summer but I think that will be a good project for us this Autumn . (I was going to say Fall but you know what a Klutz I am.)
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Update----I really like Jason Taylor and Edyta Sliwinska . Will vote for them.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Spa Day

Whenever life seems to be unBEARable, it is so nice to be able to visit a Spa and allow yourself to be pampered. Today is my day for me and only me.
Ted E purchased a gift certificate as a get well gift from a new spa that recently opened here in our neighbourhood.
I am getting a manicure, pedicure and facial there.
Then it is off to see my hairdresser where she will shampoo, highlight, lowlight, cut and style this unruly mop that is on my head.
Tonight I am sure that I will feel like a new me.

Friday, April 25, 2008

I can Bearly read


Is it just me, or does anyone else have difficulties with pages on the web that have dark backgrounds with a lighter colour print?
When I find a blog that is formatted that way, the content better be pretty darn interesting, because I will not return to read any new content on those blogs.
Sorry, if this applies to any of you out there in the Blogging world.
I imagine that the reason for that type of format is that it is supposed to be "artistic." All I am saying, is that my aging eyes have a difficult time reading "artistic."

Thursday, April 24, 2008

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Effects of my medication


Whenever the pain in my shoulder is too much for me to BEAR, I take one of the pills that the doctor prescribed.
The only problem is that I feel very sleepy and all I want to do is just lie down and snooze.
Good thing I was not planning on operating any heavy machinery today.
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ


Sunday, April 20, 2008

Need A Geek


Ted E Bear and I are not the most technical savvy boomers in the world and yesterday we found out that the younger generation really do not have a lot of patience with us.
Last September we purchased an LCD television on sale at our local Sony store and had problems with the remote control for it right from the beginning. A short time later, just before going away for our annual trip to Mexico, we went back to the same store to get some batteries for the digital camera that we had purchased at this same store. (One of MANY things we have bought there.)
Ted E mentioned at that time about our problems with the remote and the salesman suggested that we bring it back in to the store after coming back from Mexico.
Yesterday morning we finally got around to checking on the Sony store website and found out that the remote we were given was not the correct one for that TV. So we went to the store yesterday and the YOUNG salesman who had originally sold us the TV was disgusted that it took us so long to come back and want to get the CORRECT remote.
So we are feeling that maybe what we need is a technical Geek around here to help us out (and maybe teach us how to use the DVD properly.)


Friday, April 18, 2008

Yes I am a Klutz




Well yesterday I saw the orthopaedist and he has scheduled an ultrasound to see if I do have a rotator cuff tear. He also gave me a cortisone shot in the shoulder to try to get the inflamation down. I guess I won't be able to go to China now and enter the Olympics since I have been injected with a steroid.

This morning after taking my pain meds I got up and walked two steps, tripped and fell down and NOW I have a broken bone in my foot (and a nasty rug burn on my knee.)

What next---------maybe I should get a walker. --------------- NO WAY

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

Doctor's appointment


Today I have to go to the fracture clinic and have another x-ray to see how the arm fracture is healing. After that I have to see my orthopaedic surgeon to see whether I need to have an MRI to see if there is any damage to the rotator cuff. I never knew that I even had a rotator cuff in my body. Sounds like something that belongs in a car----------like a transmission or a differential. All I know is that I can not use my shoulder and if I try to raise my arm it is VERY painful. Wish me luck.

Hurting


I fell and dislocated my shoulder and broke my arm. --------I'm in a great deal of pain and I am so angry with myself. I feel like such a klutz!!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope this is not a sign of what I have to look forward to in the future.
Getting old is not fun.