Monday, October 24, 2016

Back in the Saddle Again. Sort of.

Hi gang. Sorry for the unexpected vacation. As you probably figured out from my abbreviated post a couple weeks ago, I took a little detour through our local hospital.

I had quite a time. I got sick on Sunday but I didn't want to go to the ER on a Sunday evening - who wants to be treated by the only doctor who couldn't manage to get Sunday's off? - so I pushed through to Monday morning and managed to get an appointment with my family doctor...

...who immediately sent me to the ER.

I got there mid-day Monday, did the usual waiting around thing, had a CT scan, and was admitted. On Tuesday morning I was told things weren't too bad and I should be released that afternoon, but that afternoon someone took a second look at the scan and thought they saw "micro-air bubbles". Now, many people would say I'm always full of hot air but it seems there are some places in the body where air bubbles are a big deal and not in a good way. I was informed I was staying another night and having a second scan.

My husband was keeping our sons apprised of my progress via text messages. As soon as he informed them of the micro bubbles, my eldest texted me this link:



You knew what it was going to be, didn't you? Yeah, my boys love their little old gray haired mother.

I had the scan Tuesday night, and figured I'd be getting out on Wednesday. But on Wednesday morning a doctor came charging in, telling me not to drink or eat anything... the second scan showed more bubbles and I was having emergency surgery.

SAY WHAT?!?

Several doctors came in and out, all confirming I'd be having surgery as soon as the surgeon was available and she'd explain it to me when she got there. So I waited, in surgery prep mode, until 2:30 that afternoon, when the surgeon arrived and told me...no, she wasn't going to do surgery.


(Feel free to pause and listen to this. It's one of my favorites, from the Peter, Paul and Mary Holiday Concert)

Basically, the surgeon wants to try a non-surgical approach first (which is pretty unusual for a surgeon). She certainly didn't get any argument from me.  So I spent a couple more days in the hospital until I was deemed well enough to be at home and that's where I am now. That whole surgery option is still out there but I'm taking the optimistic view and hoping to avoid it.

Wish me luck.

And I owe you a couple funnies.

Have you seen this fella? 


 Yeah, I had a couple like him.
Had to love them anyway.

How about a travel joke?

A Travel Agent looked up from his desk to see an old lady and an old gentleman peering in the shop window at the posters showing the glamorous destinations around the world.

The agent had had a good week and the dejected couple looking in the window gave him a rare feeling of generosity. He called them into his shop, "I know that on your pension you could never hope to have a great holiday, so I am sending you off to a fabulous resort at my expense and I won't take 'no' for an answer."

He took them inside and asked his secretary to arrange two flight tickets and book a room in a five star hotel. As could be expected, they gladly accepted, and were off!

About a month later the little old lady came in to his shop.

"And how did you like your holiday?" he asked eagerly.

"The flight was exciting and the room was lovely," she said. "I've come to thank you, but one thing puzzled me...

Who was that old bugger I had to share the room with?"


(Did you see it coming?)



Have you been spending a lot of time online?
Wonder what else you could be doing.


Well, it's just a thought.


And, of course, your weekly "aw".
Here's a face for you.


You know you said it.


That's all for today. I hope I gave you a chuckle, a smile, or even a good old LOL. Have a great week and I'll be around to visit you soon.


Thought for Today:

During a long drought, the mayor called for a town meeting to pray for rain. Everyone turned out to pray. But one boy brought an umbrella. 

And that is the definition of faith. 

29 comments:

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi LD - gosh ... well I'm glad you're home without surgery, and just hope the surgeon's ideas have saved you from the knife. Good luck ... and thanks for the funnies ... take care - cheers Hilary

Mason Canyon said...

LD, so glad you're home. Hope all goes well and no surgery is necessary. Always enjoy your funnies and the 'aw' photo.

L. Diane Wolfe said...

Goodness, LD! Like you needed that scare. I'm so glad you are home now and hope you don't need that surgery.

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

I'm sorry! Good to hear you're home now though.
That was a funny thing your son sent you.

Maria Zannini said...

If you're blogging, that must be a good sign.

I wanted to email you last week but I came down with a killer sinus infection and then Greg, not to be outdone, countered with slicing his finger down to the bone.

We're both better now. I hope you are too.

Stacy McKitrick said...

Wow! Hope it turns out you never have to have the surgery.

Laurel Garver said...

Glad to hear you are home. What a roller coaster!

mshatch said...

Very glad to hear you're home and no surgery! That IS a Hallelujah!
Great funnies as always :)

LD Masterson said...

Hilary - Thanks. You, too.

Mason - I'm glad you enjoyed them.

Diane - Thanks. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Alex - Yeah, he's a character.

Maria - I owe you an email as well. Violence on the homestead. Horrors!

Stacy - Oh, me too. Big time.

Laurel - I'm not even a fan of them at amusement parks.

Marcy - And amen.

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I pray that non-surgery option works. My boys would have sent me the same thing. My parents had seven kids and my dad's parents had 13. I guess they didn't get bored.

Jemi Fraser said...

Why am I not surprised your son shares your sense of humour! :) Glad you're avoiding the surgery - and hope that continues!

Did NOT see the 'old bugger' coming - too cute!

Keep well!!

Donna K. Weaver said...

I love your kid's sense of humor. So what's with the bubbles? In you, not in the song.

Rawknrobyn.blogspot.com said...

I'm glad you have a surgeon who's caring and competent enough to exhaust all other options before surgery. Sending good thoughts your way.

Kaye George said...

hope you never have to have the surgery, but also hope you have a quick full recovery! take it easy. i didn't know bubbles were so bad.

LD Masterson said...

Susan G/K - LOL. Sounds like your family knew how to killed time without the Internet. And I'm glad I don't have the only wise guy sons.

Jemi - What? I blame his father.

Donna - Oh, bubbles just mean air is leaking through places that aren't supposed to have holes in them. But tiny bubbles mean tiny holes and that's a good thing. Or we're back to Don Ho. (ho ho ho)

Robyn - Oh, me too.

Kaye - It's not the bubbles, per se. See my answer to Donna above. And I hope you heal quickly.

Unknown said...

So sorry you're sick, but it sounds like the doctors are alarmists. I hope no surgery is in your future. Yes, I ahh-ed at that adorable dog! Feel better soon!

LD Masterson said...

Lexa - I thought I was bad posting my previous comment at 2:14 a.m. What are you doing on Blogger at 3:51? Get some sleep, woman! (And thanks.)

Carol Kilgore said...

Prayers for you, Linda. How scary! Hope you will be able to continue to avoid surgery. Love ol' Getbackhere :)

Tyrean Martinson said...

Love the faith one at the end! And, you definitely had me chuckling.
Thanks for sharing, and know that my prayers are with you for good health!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

My husband pulled that prank on me once onboard a flight. The stewart was caught off guard, until my husband started laughing. Not funny, I said! Thanks for the chuckle, LD!

Susan Flett Swiderski said...

Well, it's encouraging that the surgeon is the one who said to hold off on the surgery. I hope you're feeling better now, and those tiny bubbles disappear on their own. (Obviously, your son got his sense of humor from you.) Take care of yourself.

No... I did NOT see the punch line coming about the old dude. Love it!

Stephanie Faris said...

Tiny Bubbles? He's so funny! I'm so sorry to hear you're going through this. Yes, non-surgical is always best if it'll work! Prayers for healing.

LD Masterson said...

Carol - Thanks. And I had a dog once whose full name was "Comebackhereyoustupidanimal".

Karen - Thanks, but aren't you supposed to be on vacation?

Tyrean - You're the first person to mention that faith line. I thought it was great.

Joylene - Yup, my husband does things like that.

Susan F.S. - Hah! Got you with a punch line. And actually, my wiseguy sons take after their dad. I don't stand a chance with the three of them.

Stephanie - Well, he thinks he's funny. (yeah, he is) Thanks for the prayers. Always welcome.

Karen Lange said...

Thanks for the smiles. :) Glad to hear you are home. Wishing you a speedy recovery! Will be thinking of and praying for you.

Crystal Collier said...

I'm so glad you're back up and kicking. I got worried while you were away. Seriously. Let me send some cheese to squash those bubbles and keep them away!

LD Masterson said...

Karen - Thank you very much.

Crystal - But cheese has bubbles, too. AT least Swiss cheese. *grin*

Mike Keyton said...

It's wonderful we live in an age and place that is so medically efficient. You sound well, and I'm glad. Was it a lung problem? I'm an expert on those buggers having had a pleurectomy and still breathing : )

LD Masterson said...

Mike - Nope, digestive system. Easier, I think, than deal with lung problems. Be well.

Empty Nest Insider said...

I'm sorry that you were in the hospital, and hope that your doctor's non-surgical procedure helps. Yes, it's always best to weigh all of the options first. Hope your tummy trouble resolves itself soon.

Julie