Tuesday, May 17, 2022

The storm that wasn't

After a day of increasing warnings, just in case outdoor cancellations, and Gary coming over to storm proof my patio

which included dismantling my new table, this is the entirety of what happened

For 15 minutes. Just torrential rain, no hail.

Then today it's all like this


So I guess it turned south and out to sea.

Gary was very amused by the table and is giving me two more cinder blocks to make another. The tiles I'm using as table tops are his, stored on my deck since the beginning of the fence project, two years ago, when we still believed the work would soon be under way. He's fine with this, since he's looking to dispose of them anyway.

Meanwhile my doctor called with the results of the bonescan which shows my spine's fine, hips not so much. Now osteoporotic. 

So she's having a rheumatologist call to set up a consult to see what's next.  This feels like a real setback, scary. Anyway we'll see. 

When my doctor calls me herself it's when there's something important, but she doesn't want to alarm me, and doesn't want her assistant to make the call.  But her calling alarms me!

So I got on with stitching on the pockets, here just pinned in place.


Next to decide on the length, before attaching the lining.

And since calm was called for, I found myself doing this


And, in case you didn't realize the great lift your participation in this blog means to me, you all do this already

You matter, blogistas. Never doubt it.

Happy day everyone. 





22 comments:

  1. The weather has been similar all of the way up and over here — lots of rain and it got quite nippy last night — below 50.

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  2. South of you, down in MD, we got 2"+ hail, but only briefly. More than a third of an inch of rain in 10 minutes. No damage to my property, but some others around the area did get pummelled.

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  3. I'm glad you'll be seeing a specialist about your hips. Good news about your spine though!

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  4. Debra, years ago I was seeing an endocrinologist who recommended weekly doses of pills for bone density. The side effects were disastrous, and my primary care doctor recommended stopping. I refused after that to take other Rx. I think this is why my doctor recommended a different specialist this time. Different approach maybe.

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  5. Your picture of the storm-proofed patio made me laugh a little. I love it!
    You have the most beautiful skin. Like an English rose.

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  6. Have you been screened for fibromyalgia? I like the email doctor to patient. It takes some pressure off.
    Rumble and rain here except for downed trees up the road north of here. I did see lightening, and cloud formations worthy of making storm arrangements.

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  7. No reason to screen for fibro, since I have no symptoms of it. No pain at all other than the occasional shoulder twinge from stitching, heaving stuff in the garden and so on. As I understand it, pain is the main issue. So I'm lucky there.

    Where are you located?

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  8. I was diagnosed with osteoporosis decades ago. And yeah kinda scary to get that diagnosis. If I fell would I break a bone? I took fosamax for about two years and then went off it to have some dental work done at which point I found out about the horrible side effects dissolving the bone in your jaw, actually met someone that happened to and never took it again. Or any of them and now decades later women on these drugs are still having broken hips. All those drugs do is prevent old weak bone from breaking down and being replaced with new strong bone so your bones are denser but not necessarily stronger. I was very skinny, 98 - 105, so I joined a gym, gained 20 pounds, strengthened my muscles so as to protect my bones. I don't do the gym thing anymore, instead I do yoga 3 - 5 times a week. Still osteoporotic in spine and hips but the odds of breaking a bone are still in my favor. I'm impressed your doctor told you to stop taking the meds.

    Oh, and still horribly dry here. Jealous of your rain.

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  9. Well, better safe than sorry re. the storm warning, I suppose! And at least your spine's in good shape. That's no small thing. The pockets are looking good!

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  10. A phone call from the doctor’s office here is enough to send my husband into heart failure. I’m not much better. I hope the specialist can recommend a course of treatment for you which is helpful.

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  11. Liz
    I live in Upper westside of Vermont.
    Fibro is more than pain. I think it depends on the person which symptoms they experience most.

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  12. SP, I didn't realize it was you! You posted as anonymous, probably comment problems. When that happens, it's helpful to insert some id into the comment box.

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  13. I have no symptoms of anything. It's the bone density measurement test which triggered the call. I now have a July appointment with the rheumo, do we'll see what she has to say.

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  14. Sounds like more medication may be in your future...In the meantime, I'm glad your storm was minimal and that your spine is okay. Have a sweet day/.

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  15. Well, at least you got 15 minutes of rain. I wish the rest of the rain had come our way (pass on the hail, thanks anyway). It's very dry in TX. Hope your next doctor conversation is encouraging and not scary.

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  16. I'm liking that vest! It will be interesting to hear what the rheumatologist has to say - hope it is helpful!

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  17. I am so impressed by that vest! It's stunning.
    Not much I can tell you about bones since mine are in the state of, if I fall, another bone will break. I hope your have useable information from the rhumo.

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  18. It can be unnerving to have a call from your doctor. It's a good thing that she is referring you to a rheumatologist. There are a lot of new medications now for osteoporosis. Maybe there is something that can help without the bad side effects. I'll sure be thinking of you and sending positive thoughts.

    I'm glad your storm wasn't bad. We are supposed to have a bad one late tonight. Maybe it will be more like yours and just be rain.

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  19. You have reminded F that she should have a bone scan done - she was warned about a degenerating hip about 10 years ago and put her head in the sand. (She is of the 'no pain, it must be ok' school of ignoring things.) We hope there is something that modern medicine can do to slow the rate of bone decay. She likes the development of advice that building strong muscles to protect the bones and joints is a good way to go - keep up the yoga then.
    Meanwhile your diversionary tactics are looking good. You knit a lot of socks don't you?
    xxx Mr T

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  20. I knit about a pair of socks a week for a ministry to the homeless. I started this year when I found that none of the nuns doing the knitting for their outreach knew how to knit socks. Since they are a continuing need, I offered to do them.

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  21. Sigh - sympathies on the bone density results. I too will be interested to hear what the rheumatologist has to say (and why a rheumatologist for osteoporosis?). Ellen Abbott's comment makes a lot of sense to me. As you know, I'm a huge proponent of us older folks practicing getting down to the floor regularly, and getting back up from it, to keep those muscles strong. It doesn't prevent a fall, but if relatively undamaged, makes the self-rescue possible.

    Hope you're getting through your sleep-deprived day today and that the mammogram happened and results will come back negative.

    Chris from Boise

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  22. It turns out that osteoporosis is,one of the areas a rheumatologist treats. I didn't know that either.
    I've been checking all the exercises recommended and find they're exactly what I do, have been for years. So that part I keep doing. They especially emphasize stairs, which I do a lot of.

    This makes me think I've probably staved off a lot of bone thinning. I think I'll blog a, bit about this because guess what, I have opinions!

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Please read the comments before yours and see if your question is already answered! I've reluctantly deleted the anonymous option, because it was being abused.