Yesterday I went to the Orthopedic surgeon for the last time. It's been two months since my surgery. I went to the visit wearing Crocs which I thought may irritate the doctor but he didn't say a word about the absence of the boot. The physician's assistant came in first and checked me over and asked me to press my foot against his hand. He asked how I was doing and I told him I have been doing well and would have had the surgery years ago if I knew it was going to go like this. I said I thought it would take months to be able to walk without the aid of a stroller or cane. He said I am where it takes many people six months to get to. He said I am doing very well to be walking like I am without the boot at eight weeks. I didn't tell him but the boot has been under the motorhome bed for almost a month.
I still have discomfort after I walk a certain distance which they said is very normal and will subside over time. I told them the pain doesn't increase but just stays at the same level. We always park at the farthest parking places at Walmart or other stores. Earlier I would stop at one of the shopping cart corrals and get a shopping cart to lean on which would help significantly. Over time I didn't need to get the shopping cart on the way in at all so I know I am making progress.
My next health calamity. We went to the Farmers Market two weeks ago and I ate a breakfast bagel sandwich at about 11:00 am. That evening I had a pain in my lower left side and the worst flu like symptoms you can imagine. I thought I must have contracted food poisoning so I just sucked it up and was sicker than hell over the weekend. On Monday the flu symptoms went away for the most part but I still had a pain in my lower left abdomen but not near as intense as on the weekend. I did my normal internet self diagnosis, which by the way I apparently misdiagnosed the first time around, and I am now sure I have Diverticulitis. So I ate light and the pain subsided. Then I would eat a little more and the pain came back. After a week of this I went to a walk in clinic and they agreed I had Diverticulitis which I now understand is very common, especially with people over 60. They gave me an antibiotic and told me to come back in a week. On Wednesday Janet called them and said I continued to get sicker and sicker by the day. At first I thought it was just the side effects of the medication but the doctor said to stop taking the medication immediately. Oh by the way, I lost 20 pounds from Monday to Friday. It's amazing how much you lose when you just stop eating all together. Only 30 pounds away from my goal. That isn't that big of a deal when you have the pounds to lose I do. Now that I will be able to walk without pain I am planning on losing weight. In fact I no longer do tequila shots or shots of any kind. I have not had much to drink from an alcohol standpoint since March first. Maybe that is why I got diverticulitis since the alcohol kept me in balance (just kidding). I am feeling better since I quit taking the medicine but I still have a lingering low level pain in my lower left abdomen. I go back to the doctor on Monday and will probably ask to have a cat scan to see if they can tell for sure that it is diverticulitis.
Huli and the dogs are doing good except for Huli getting tore up by no see ums. About three days ago in the evening she was over talking to a neighbor and got about 50 bites on her legs. The neighbor didn't get one bite. There is something about Huli's composition that attracts the no see ums. The other thing that really has bothered nurse Huli is she wants me to go to the doctor immediately when I have something wrong from a health standpoint. That is not in my nature unless I think it is something very serious. This infuriates her.
We are leaving the park on March 29th and will be heading up to Ocala to see Joann and Wally for a couple of days. We then plan on heading over to Gulf State Park for a few days and will then head back to Indiana. We need to be home by the middle of April since Huli has an appointment with an orthopedic surgeon the following week. She has had a hitch in her knee for some time so she wants to find out what is wrong and what can be done to repair it. We know it is a little early to be heading home but we have several things we want to get done this summer. We have to get warranty work done on the motorhome in May and the collision damage fixed June 2nd. Precision Painting is doing the work. Very professional in the quoting process and extremely detailed whereas Newmar was the opposite. The first quote I got from Newmar included zero labor. I had to point out mistakes and omissions on Newmar's quote four different times before I got what was the final quote of $5700. The check from the other person's insurance company is $4600 which should cover everything at Precision. The damage to the motorhome is very superficial with two small scrapes and one small fiber glass piece missing and one scratch above the step and a scratched rim. I think I was in the wrong line of work. We also have a few house projects we want to do. I am looking forward to getting home this year for some reason. Probably because I have been either crippled or sick since the first of the year.
Sorry for the rambling. Hope you can translate it so it makes sense.
A journal written about life, retirement and our journey throughout the United States in a 5th wheel, along with our two Shih Tzus, Tanner and Syndey. Written not for notoriety but for our sons, family and friends, so they know where we are at any given time. And particularly for ourselves. Finally, we get to slow down and smell the roses and we don't want to forget any of it. You are welcome to join us as we go 'Down the Road a Piece'.
