“My doctor gave me six months to live, but when I couldn’t pay the bill he gave me six months more.”
The wind howled all night. I could hear tree trunks moaning and creaking. Even now the wind is so strong tops of pine trees are swaying. Brown leaves at the tips of the branches blow sideways like flags. It sounds like a wind tunnel out there.
This will probably be my last posting for at least three days. Surgery is tomorrow, and I’m leaving at 6:40 to catch the bus to Boston. I hope you’ll be here even though I’m not. Keep Coffee going while I’m away. I love your comments, and you know you’re always welcome to comment to each other. My iPad is coming with me just in case I’m feeling okay enough to check e-mails or even post. I’m hoping this surgery, which is really the other one all over again, will have a quicker recovery time.
When I was growing up, we never saw doctors unless something was wrong. I remember only three doctor’s visits until I was in college. One visit got me stitches when I fell down the stairs, another got me checked for a heart murmur and the last one told me I had allergies which I really had already figured out. My mother was of the generation that avoided doctors. When she visited my sister one year just after Christmas, she was coughing constantly. My sister dragged her to the doctor’s who diagnosed pneumonia. That was my mother’s first visit since my sister’s birth close to fifty or so years before that. Dentists fell into the same category. Only a toothache meant an appointment though I did see an orthodontist for my braces.
My sisters and I have broken with tradition. I even joke about my stable of doctors: my primary, my cardiologist, my allergist-asthma doctor, my optometrist and a couple of others hanging around, but I only see them every five years or so. My dentist jokes with me about the yacht I’ve financed with my crowns and caps. Him I see every six months when he drops in to say hello during my teeth cleaning. Even Gracie gets her once a year well dog visit.
Well, I have a list of stuff to do today so I’d better get in gear. Stay in touch!
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March 7, 2011 at 1:17 pm
Much the same over here when it comes to doctor appointments. I saw him once when I was little because I broke most things in my right arm,that was when we realized that I´m both right and left handed. I had no problems what so ever to cope with my left hand instead 🙂
But my sister and I together have gotten the most things we can get so lots of visits to the doctor now when we´ve gotten older 🙂 🙂 🙂
But it was a totally different thing when it came to dentists. Even though our mother is so scared by the dentists that she rather die than go there, she always sent us to them 🙂 I was lucky with my dentists so I liked going there 🙂 My sister however wasn´t that lucky. But I seldom have any problems with my teeth because of that and I´m grateful that my mother did send us to the dentist. But here they don´t charge anything when going to the dentist until one is 21 I think (it might be 18, I´m not sure) But it does cost nasty much above that age tough 🙂 🙂 🙂
Good luck with the surgery!!!!!
Christer.
March 7, 2011 at 9:50 pm
Christer,
I have seen far too many doctors of late-enough is enough!
I had to have all my teeth filled before I went into the Peace Corps so I have been very careful to maintain with my own dentist. He’s a nice guy but there is just something about dentists!
Thanks!
March 7, 2011 at 2:16 pm
I’m at the twice a year stage of life as far as the doctor visits. He checks the lab readings, tells me to lose weight, and renews the prescriptions. And then, once a year we, shall I say, fall in love all over again. Well, the guys on this blog will understand that one.
Now the dentist? That’s becoming another story. I’ve sorta passed the cavity stage of life but am losing fillings and breaking teeth almost regularly. But, at least their my own teeth I’m losing and breaking. So,,,, I see her a lot more often than I used to. But, she’s young, cute, and has a great sense of humor, so, for once in my life, I look forward to dentist visits!
March 7, 2011 at 9:54 pm
John,
Like you I’m breaking or cracking teeth, and I do like him, but it’s never inexpensive for crowns. I just had another put on about a month ago-broke the tooth on a lemon drop.
I get blood tests three times a year: the cardiologist has me take them before I see him. I don’t mind. I figure it’s better now that the equipment is so much older.
March 7, 2011 at 2:19 pm
Good luck with the surgery. I’ve had so many I actually feel comfortable in those awful gowns they put on you. I’m going to come out with designer gowns and sell them on the internet to people getting ready for surgery. I hope to anyway, don’t give away my million dollar idea. I’ll be at the Cancer clinic getting this darn port cleaned and begging permission to have it surgically removed and soon! I think this time they will say OK. Best to you Kat and we’ll be here waiting for more Coffee.
March 7, 2011 at 9:56 pm
Thanks, Z&Me
I doubt I can ever be comfortable, but everyone there is in the same godawful outfit so I’m never self-conscious.
Best to you as well. I hope you get permission to have it removed.
March 7, 2011 at 5:12 pm
Hope your surgery goes well and you have a quick recovery!
March 7, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Thanks, Marge
I guess I just have to think of the last time as practice.
March 7, 2011 at 5:47 pm
Speedy recovery!
March 7, 2011 at 9:57 pm
Thanks, Caryn
March 7, 2011 at 5:57 pm
May your surgery go well, no pain, no superglue. Will miss you. Now you’ll have all the screws in the right place.
March 7, 2011 at 10:03 pm
Lori,
Thanks! I asked about Gorilla Glue but he didn’t seem all that enthusiastic!
March 7, 2011 at 7:22 pm
A ridiculous question/comment, but…. since they botched the surgery the first time, do they charge you all over again for the second one? I’m sure they do, but it doesn’t seem right. Heck, they should even throw a few bills your way for unnecessary pain and suffering. The paranoid in me wants to think they screw up on purpose in order to get paid a second time. If it’s the same doctor, I hope you trust him/her not to repeat past sins! Good luck and a SPEEDY recovery. I’ll miss you while you’re away.
March 7, 2011 at 10:01 pm
im6,
I asked that very question. He laughed, sort of!
The doctor said he couldn’t say how that piece became unattached. He said he hadn’t ever seen it happen before. I like the guy and do trust him.
Thanks on the speedy recovery. It can’t be as bad as before.
March 7, 2011 at 7:37 pm
Medicine is a science when the patient lives and an art when he dies. I hope your surgery goes well and you are back posting by the end of the week. For you medicine will be a science.
March 7, 2011 at 10:02 pm
Bob,
Thank you, and I do quite agree!
March 8, 2011 at 5:45 am
It’s 6:44 my time. I hope your surgery goes wonderfully and you’re back with us soon. Best of luck!
March 8, 2011 at 6:26 am
Thanks, Cuidado,
I’m leaving in about 15 minutes. I’m hoping to be home far quicker than I was.
March 8, 2011 at 7:23 am
dearest kat,yesterday when i first read this it said be the first to comment, ha, i found myself at a loss for words. coming back this morn i am delighted that so many jumped right in. i did think about you and this surgery this morn as i awoke so here i am. the birds are quite loud here, we have a bluejay which squawks and bullies the others away; he is my arch nemesis. yesterday i saw white bell flowers in clusters, Spring is coming. Having surgery on fat tuesday just doesn’t seem right, however i shall eat some king cake and celebrate with you in mind this evening, hopeful of your speedy recovery!!!!!!!!! Love and laughter are coming your way..speedy recovery kat xoxoxoxoxoxox
March 8, 2011 at 10:16 am
Hello Coffee-ites, this is Kat’s sister reporting in to let you know that I will be reporting in later to let you know how her surgery went. I agree with you Splendid, Fat Tuesday is no day to have surgery – king cake and beads should be the order of the day! Until later …
March 8, 2011 at 1:03 pm
Thanks!
Over here Fat tuesday means a bun (with cinnamon and cardamon) called Semla. It´s delicious with whipped cream and something very much like marzipan 🙂
Christer.
March 8, 2011 at 1:06 pm
Strange!! I just left a comment but is disappeared??
Looking forward to that info later on!
Over here Fat Tuesday means a bun called Semla (with cinnamon and cardamom) decorated with whipped cream and something very similar to marzipan (but not that thick and hard though).
Christer.
March 8, 2011 at 10:23 am
I am up here in New Brunswick looking out across a vast snow covered field. The trees have been dipped in ice and they glimmer in the breeze. The hundreds of birds that feed on our farm are enjoying the blinding sun. All we hear is the clatter of the branches and the bird song. It is peaceful. I hope you have that peace with you over the next couple of days. When things get hectic here I have counted on your site to calm it all. You do a wonderful job of letting us into your life and I thank you.
Good luck and Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler
March 9, 2011 at 9:35 am
Talked to the doctor yesterday who said everything went very well. Kathleen just called me this morning. She has 8 screws in her back, so you can imagine she’s not feeling exactly tip-top, but she has already given me orders, so it seems she has started on the mend.
Rick – Kat forgot to bring your phone numbers with her, so I am looking them up today. She is calling me back tonight after she gets a pen and will be calling you before you leave.
Thank you for all your good thoughts. Will pass them along to Kat. Let’s hope this recovery is a lot quicker than the last one!
March 9, 2011 at 9:48 am
Rick – Can’t find your numbers in the comments. Could you re-post them please?
March 9, 2011 at 12:37 pm
Kat . . . the surgery is over by now and I bet you’re sitting up in bed begging for a cheeseburger. I have to see yet another specialist before getting consent to remove this port. So I set it up for next wednesday, it can’t be soon enough for me. And I know how you felt about aches and pains from the previous surgery. I pray all went well and you are comfortable.
March 9, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Hi Kat!
Eight screws? Oh my…
I am guessing with all that new metal in you that, if you turn your head slightly and raise your right arm one inch, you can recieve a great many radio stations in New Jersey, including an NPR affiliate…
🙂
Feel better! We all await your return!!
March 9, 2011 at 7:54 pm
Well, that seals it. What I’ve always suspected is official…. you’re screwy. You’ll be getting piercings and tattoos next. Rebel.
Keep the 3-in-1 oil handy and get well soon.
March 9, 2011 at 10:31 pm
Sheilmack welcome! Kat, Guess we could send some WD40 in a pretty ribbon for a bouquet. Sending hugs and doggy kisses to Fern and Gracie! xoxoxoxoxxoxo
rainy here in the oHIo valley, uneventful ash wednesday good day for recovering!
March 9, 2011 at 10:41 pm
Sending prayers and hugs! Hurry back, my friend!
March 10, 2011 at 11:27 am
Lets hope none of the screws get loose this time. Get well soon, Kat.
March 10, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I hope you told your doctors- this time- no do-overs! get it right this time- no third times a charm!
Hope you are up and around soon!
pat
March 11, 2011 at 12:26 pm
I can’t imagine where they put eight screws but it sounds like a life long journey back and forth to get those screws tuned and turned. My Mother in Law had to do that with the screws in her ankle. Every year the same old drill till one rusted away and broke off entirely. But at 91 what were they to do? So it’s a nice fix if you can move around again and do healthy exercise. My prayers are with you!
March 11, 2011 at 3:34 pm
Sending continued thoughts of speedy and pain-free healing!
March 13, 2011 at 12:17 pm
Thinking of you, missing the entries, hoping you are recovering quickly and in good order.
March 13, 2011 at 12:44 pm
Kat, I was hoping we’d hear something from you by now. How did the surgery go? How soon will you be home? Home is always where you get the best care, the good feelings of safety. Let’s hope you’re on your way home!
March 13, 2011 at 4:41 pm
Missing you kat and keeping you in my thoughts
xoxoxoxoxoxox
March 13, 2011 at 8:15 pm
Praying for your good and speedy recovery!
March 14, 2011 at 7:20 am
One week has past and no idea how things went and how you are. There should be a site where I can check. Now I worry.
I hope you’ll have less pain after the surgery.
Get well soon, so you can enjoy spring.
March 14, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Does anyone checking in here know what’s up with Kat? This is a rather long stretch, even for back surgery, not to learn something.
March 15, 2011 at 1:44 am
Hope all went well with the surgery. Let us know, please.
March 16, 2011 at 6:47 am
I haven’t heard anything from Kat either, but i am praying no news is good news and we shall hear from her before this weeks end.
xxoxoxoxoxoxoxo
March 16, 2011 at 3:44 pm
I do hope things has gone well with You Kat! I´m missing Your daily observations and memories!
Christer.
March 17, 2011 at 1:04 am
I heard that she died
March 17, 2011 at 10:19 am
Thinking of you and hoping you are doing well. We sure do miss you!!
March 17, 2011 at 12:52 pm
Happy St.Patrick’s day to Kat and everyone! Hore is a prayer that she is doing well.
Loreena McKennitt- Bonny Portmore – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lnQiADRQz0Y&feature=related
Mary Black – Song for Ireland http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRdDnpkR3AQ
Danny Boy – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCbuRA_D3KU
March 17, 2011 at 2:21 pm
*Hi Kat
Hope you are feeling better by now. It seems that the older we get the more we get to visit the surgeons. hope you are all done with this back problem. Miss your posts. Herb
March 17, 2011 at 3:25 pm
search party, anyone? maybe kat is happily roaming the streets of boston with the st pat’s crowd..
March 17, 2011 at 3:57 pm
Today of all days she would be bar hopping in Boston. But I don’t like it when someone goes into hospital and says nothing, not even a note with a release date. I wonder if she is still there or they sent her to rehab and she can’t access a computer. Does anyone know her sisters phone number out West?