Catching up

Man, it takes a lot to catch up with this group. I just peak in now and
again. It's been a rough year. I have not had any classes so, I moved
to a lower cost place. If I could EVER catch up, I'd do ok, but now,
with my hysterectomy not paid off, my knee has decided to rear it's
ugly head after 25 years from an original partial ACL tear. Now it's
all torn. Even though it is a problem the wierd thing is I got a really
bad calf strain when I wanged the back of my calf with a car door.
THAT has been utterly debilitating. But it made me face that that leg
is just having trouble. It is very slowly getting better. Advice, DO
NOT EVER STRAIN YOUR CALF. Man, oh man, way painful. So, now, I face an
ACL reconstruction. Which really SHOULD be a good thing, but the idea
of such a huge thing is kind of overwhelming. For now I have a brace,
which helps and tomorrow I do my first pre-op physical therapy. I hope
to build the leg up so it is in shape when I finally have an operation.
Of *course* I moved to a second floor apartment with no elevator just
before all this happened. DOH!

I'm sure I'll get it all figured out and at least it is not something I
have to rush in to, because I would sure like to pay off the doppler
and MRI that I have not even gotten bills for yet. If I can put it off
until next year, using the time wisely to lose more weight and get my
legs in shape, I can switch to a higher insurance plan which should be
mui helpful. The good news is another University picked me up and I
start that Sep 1. It even uses my lectures! I did not realize, probably
many online Universities do. I have to find out which ones and maybe I
can keep a rotating file going. So, hopefully, income will pick up and
all this med stuff won't be so bad. Boy, straining that calf did teach
me that you simply need to do everything to stay mobile! Life is very
hard when you aren't.

The girls are pretty good. Sugar has chronic constipation and I choose
not to aggressively diagnose why she has such trouble. Lactulose and
propulsid keep her oiling along well and she acts as zippy as ever as
long as she is regular. We've only been doing that a month or so, but
it seems to work fine. Pearl has her days, but really overall, she does
wonderfully for all her troubles. Her fur got really icky for a while,
but it seems to have really cleared up again. The funniest thing has
been how after being offered Love a little freeze dried chicken treats
again and again and totally ignoring them, Sugar suddenly discovered
last week those are THE thing. One night when I was giving Pearl a
snack of Avoderm with some crumbled on top, Sugar's nose literally went
into overdrive. She *stuck her head under Pearl's to get Pearl's food*!
Pearl had to finally HISS at her to get her out of the dish! LOL! That
was just so funny. Pearl was totally shocked, offended, mortified and
disgusted. My only trouble is getting Sugar to eat enough real
FOOD. Got her off the dry but she INSISTS on crumbled freeze dried on
her wet food and wants me to add more. Ugh. Well, at least she eats. I
could wish she were a tad heavier and Pearl a bit lighter, but that's
how it always goes, eh?

I will try to do a better job keeping up. It's funny, when I have time,
I was a bit depressed and didn't want to intrude, and now that I have
more to do with a class coming up, I feel better and want to join in.
Go figure. But I'm sure I'll have a LOT of time one of these months
when I have my knee thing. It sounds like it is usually quite a
successful procedure, if arduous. It would be nice to have a "real"
knee back again and they say reconstructions are as strong as the
original if you do your rehab really well.

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

Karen, Sugar and Pearl

Have 3 friends who have had this. Two successful, one not. THE ANSWER is
in "THE REHAB". Two did it faithfully and the third said it was too hard
and painful at first. You will be fine.

In case you wonder, two of them got injured rock climbing, a mountain not an
indoor thing like chicken me. The third fell down some steps with ice on
them.

As I said, with your spirit about things, you will do fine.
"Karen" wrote in message
news:2008081319411475249-kchuplis@alltelnet...
Man, it takes a lot to catch up with this group. I just peak in now and
again. It's been a rough year. I have not had any classes so, I moved to a
lower cost place. If I could EVER catch up, I'd do ok, but now, with my
hysterectomy not paid off, my knee has decided to rear it's ugly head
after 25 years from an original partial ACL tear. Now it's all torn. Even
though it is a problem the wierd thing is I got a really bad calf strain
when I wanged the back of my calf with a car door. THAT has been utterly
debilitating. But it made me face that that leg is just having trouble. It
is very slowly getting better. Advice, DO NOT EVER STRAIN YOUR CALF. Man,
oh man, way painful. So, now, I face an ACL reconstruction. Which really
SHOULD be a good thing, but the idea of such a huge thing is kind of
overwhelming. For now I have a brace, which helps and tomorrow I do my
first pre-op physical therapy. I hope to build the leg up so it is in
shape when I finally have an operation. Of *course* I moved to a second
floor apartment with no elevator just before all this happened. DOH!

I'm sure I'll get it all figured out and at least it is not something I
have to rush in to, because I would sure like to pay off the doppler and
MRI that I have not even gotten bills for yet. If I can put it off until
next year, using the time wisely to lose more weight and get my legs in
shape, I can switch to a higher insurance plan which should be mui
helpful. The good news is another University picked me up and I start that
Sep 1. It even uses my lectures! I did not realize, probably many online
Universities do. I have to find out which ones and maybe I can keep a
rotating file going. So, hopefully, income will pick up and all this med
stuff won't be so bad. Boy, straining that calf did teach me that you
simply need to do everything to stay mobile! Life is very hard when you
aren't.

The girls are pretty good. Sugar has chronic constipation and I choose not
to aggressively diagnose why she has such trouble. Lactulose and propulsid
keep her oiling along well and she acts as zippy as ever as long as she is
regular. We've only been doing that a month or so, but it seems to work
fine. Pearl has her days, but really overall, she does wonderfully for all
her troubles. Her fur got really icky for a while, but it seems to have
really cleared up again. The funniest thing has been how after being
offered Love a little freeze dried chicken treats again and again and
totally ignoring them, Sugar suddenly discovered last week those are THE
thing. One night when I was giving Pearl a snack of Avoderm with some
crumbled on top, Sugar's nose literally went into overdrive. She *stuck
her head under Pearl's to get Pearl's food*! Pearl had to finally HISS at
her to get her out of the dish! LOL! That was just so funny. Pearl was
totally shocked, offended, mortified and disgusted. My only trouble
is getting Sugar to eat enough real FOOD. Got her off the dry but she
INSISTS on crumbled freeze dried on her wet food and wants me to add more.
Ugh. Well, at least she eats. I could wish she were a tad heavier and
Pearl a bit lighter, but that's how it always goes, eh?

I will try to do a better job keeping up. It's funny, when I have time, I
was a bit depressed and didn't want to intrude, and now that I have more
to do with a class coming up, I feel better and want to join in. Go
figure. But I'm sure I'll have a LOT of time one of these months when I
have my knee thing. It sounds like it is usually quite a successful
procedure, if arduous. It would be nice to have a "real" knee back again
and they say reconstructions are as strong as the original if you do your
rehab really well.

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

Karen, Sugar and Pearl

"Karen" wrote in message
news:2008081319411475249-kchuplis@alltelnet...
Man, it takes a lot to catch up with this group. I just peak in now and
again. It's been a rough year. I have not had any classes so, I moved to a
lower cost place. If I could EVER catch up, I'd do ok, but now, with my
hysterectomy not paid off, my knee has decided to rear it's ugly head
after 25 years from an original partial ACL tear. Now it's all torn. Even
though it is a problem the wierd thing is I got a really bad calf strain
when I wanged the back of my calf with a car door. THAT has been utterly
debilitating. But it made me face that that leg is just having trouble. It
is very slowly getting better. Advice, DO NOT EVER STRAIN YOUR CALF. Man,
oh man, way painful. So, now, I face an ACL reconstruction. Which really
SHOULD be a good thing, but the idea of such a huge thing is kind of
overwhelming. For now I have a brace, which helps and tomorrow I do my
first pre-op physical therapy. I hope to build the leg up so it is in
shape when I finally have an operation. Of *course* I moved to a second
floor apartment with no elevator just before all this happened. DOH!

I'm sure I'll get it all figured out and at least it is not something I
have to rush in to, because I would sure like to pay off the doppler and
MRI that I have not even gotten bills for yet. If I can put it off until
next year, using the time wisely to lose more weight and get my legs in
shape, I can switch to a higher insurance plan which should be mui
helpful. The good news is another University picked me up and I start that
Sep 1. It even uses my lectures! I did not realize, probably many online
Universities do. I have to find out which ones and maybe I can keep a
rotating file going. So, hopefully, income will pick up and all this med
stuff won't be so bad. Boy, straining that calf did teach me that you
simply need to do everything to stay mobile! Life is very hard when you
aren't.

The girls are pretty good. Sugar has chronic constipation and I choose not
to aggressively diagnose why she has such trouble. Lactulose and propulsid
keep her oiling along well and she acts as zippy as ever as long as she is
regular. We've only been doing that a month or so, but it seems to work
fine. Pearl has her days, but really overall, she does wonderfully for all
her troubles. Her fur got really icky for a while, but it seems to have
really cleared up again. The funniest thing has been how after being
offered Love a little freeze dried chicken treats again and again and
totally ignoring them, Sugar suddenly discovered last week those are THE
thing. One night when I was giving Pearl a snack of Avoderm with some
crumbled on top, Sugar's nose literally went into overdrive. She *stuck
her head under Pearl's to get Pearl's food*! Pearl had to finally HISS at
her to get her out of the dish! LOL! That was just so funny. Pearl was
totally shocked, offended, mortified and disgusted. My only trouble
is getting Sugar to eat enough real FOOD. Got her off the dry but she
INSISTS on crumbled freeze dried on her wet food and wants me to add more.
Ugh. Well, at least she eats. I could wish she were a tad heavier and
Pearl a bit lighter, but that's how it always goes, eh?

I will try to do a better job keeping up. It's funny, when I have time, I
was a bit depressed and didn't want to intrude, and now that I have more
to do with a class coming up, I feel better and want to join in. Go
figure. But I'm sure I'll have a LOT of time one of these months when I
have my knee thing. It sounds like it is usually quite a successful
procedure, if arduous. It would be nice to have a "real" knee back again
and they say reconstructions are as strong as the original if you do your
rehab really well.

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

Karen, Sugar and Pearl

Hi Hi Hi! I've thought of you and the girls. I know I haven't emailed in a
bit but when I did you seemed ok and I thought you were more involved in the
feline diabetes group for Pearl. I'm so sorry to hear of your own problems
along with the work problems, PLUS having to move again.

I'm sorry you felt too depressed to talk to us. I understand though. You
never know what sort of reaction you'll get but you're a sweetie. I still
think of you every time I read about Feliway. )

You've obviously been busy. I suspect you could also use some purrs.
Consider them on the way.

((((((Karen))))))

--

Joy

No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of
masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. - Leo Dworken

"Karen" wrote in message
news:2008081319411475249-kchuplis@alltelnet...
Man, it takes a lot to catch up with this group. I just peak in now and
again. It's been a rough year. I have not had any classes so, I moved to a
lower cost place. If I could EVER catch up, I'd do ok, but now, with my
hysterectomy not paid off, my knee has decided to rear it's ugly head
after 25 years from an original partial ACL tear. Now it's all torn. Even
though it is a problem the wierd thing is I got a really bad calf strain
when I wanged the back of my calf with a car door. THAT has been utterly
debilitating. But it made me face that that leg is just having trouble. It
is very slowly getting better. Advice, DO NOT EVER STRAIN YOUR CALF. Man,
oh man, way painful. So, now, I face an ACL reconstruction. Which really
SHOULD be a good thing, but the idea of such a huge thing is kind of
overwhelming. For now I have a brace, which helps and tomorrow I do my
first pre-op physical therapy. I hope to build the leg up so it is in
shape when I finally have an operation. Of *course* I moved to a second
floor apartment with no elevator just before all this happened. DOH!

I'm sure I'll get it all figured out and at least it is not something I
have to rush in to, because I would sure like to pay off the doppler and
MRI that I have not even gotten bills for yet. If I can put it off until
next year, using the time wisely to lose more weight and get my legs in
shape, I can switch to a higher insurance plan which should be mui
helpful. The good news is another University picked me up and I start that
Sep 1. It even uses my lectures! I did not realize, probably many online
Universities do. I have to find out which ones and maybe I can keep a
rotating file going. So, hopefully, income will pick up and all this med
stuff won't be so bad. Boy, straining that calf did teach me that you
simply need to do everything to stay mobile! Life is very hard when you
aren't.

The girls are pretty good. Sugar has chronic constipation and I choose not
to aggressively diagnose why she has such trouble. Lactulose and propulsid
keep her oiling along well and she acts as zippy as ever as long as she is
regular. We've only been doing that a month or so, but it seems to work
fine. Pearl has her days, but really overall, she does wonderfully for all
her troubles. Her fur got really icky for a while, but it seems to have
really cleared up again. The funniest thing has been how after being
offered Love a little freeze dried chicken treats again and again and
totally ignoring them, Sugar suddenly discovered last week those are THE
thing. One night when I was giving Pearl a snack of Avoderm with some
crumbled on top, Sugar's nose literally went into overdrive. She *stuck
her head under Pearl's to get Pearl's food*! Pearl had to finally HISS at
her to get her out of the dish! LOL! That was just so funny. Pearl was
totally shocked, offended, mortified and disgusted. My only trouble
is getting Sugar to eat enough real FOOD. Got her off the dry but she
INSISTS on crumbled freeze dried on her wet food and wants me to add more.
Ugh. Well, at least she eats. I could wish she were a tad heavier and
Pearl a bit lighter, but that's how it always goes, eh?

I will try to do a better job keeping up. It's funny, when I have time, I
was a bit depressed and didn't want to intrude, and now that I have more
to do with a class coming up, I feel better and want to join in. Go
figure. But I'm sure I'll have a LOT of time one of these months when I
have my knee thing. It sounds like it is usually quite a successful
procedure, if arduous. It would be nice to have a "real" knee back again
and they say reconstructions are as strong as the original if you do your
rehab really well.

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

Karen, Sugar and Pearl

No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of
masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. - Leo Dworken

I love this, printed it out gonna frame it. Goes for dogs too. Thanks.


"Joy" wrote in message
...
You've obviously been busy. I suspect you could also use some purrs.
Consider them on the way.

((((((Karen))))))

--

Joy

No amount of time can erase the memory of a good cat, and no amount of
masking tape can ever totally remove his fur from your couch. - Leo
Dworken

"Karen" wrote in message
news:2008081319411475249-kchuplis@alltelnet...
Man, it takes a lot to catch up with this group. I just peak in now and
again. It's been a rough year. I have not had any classes so, I moved to
a lower cost place. If I could EVER catch up, I'd do ok, but now, with my
hysterectomy not paid off, my knee has decided to rear it's ugly head
after 25 years from an original partial ACL tear. Now it's all torn. Even
though it is a problem the wierd thing is I got a really bad calf strain
when I wanged the back of my calf with a car door. THAT has been utterly
debilitating. But it made me face that that leg is just having trouble.
It is very slowly getting better. Advice, DO NOT EVER STRAIN YOUR CALF.
Man, oh man, way painful. So, now, I face an ACL reconstruction. Which
really SHOULD be a good thing, but the idea of such a huge thing is kind
of overwhelming. For now I have a brace, which helps and tomorrow I do my
first pre-op physical therapy. I hope to build the leg up so it is in
shape when I finally have an operation. Of *course* I moved to a second
floor apartment with no elevator just before all this happened. DOH!

I'm sure I'll get it all figured out and at least it is not something I
have to rush in to, because I would sure like to pay off the doppler and
MRI that I have not even gotten bills for yet. If I can put it off until
next year, using the time wisely to lose more weight and get my legs in
shape, I can switch to a higher insurance plan which should be mui
helpful. The good news is another University picked me up and I start
that Sep 1. It even uses my lectures! I did not realize, probably many
online Universities do. I have to find out which ones and maybe I can
keep a rotating file going. So, hopefully, income will pick up and all
this med stuff won't be so bad. Boy, straining that calf did teach me
that you simply need to do everything to stay mobile! Life is very hard
when you aren't.

The girls are pretty good. Sugar has chronic constipation and I choose
not to aggressively diagnose why she has such trouble. Lactulose and
propulsid keep her oiling along well and she acts as zippy as ever as
long as she is regular. We've only been doing that a month or so, but it
seems to work fine. Pearl has her days, but really overall, she does
wonderfully for all her troubles. Her fur got really icky for a while,
but it seems to have really cleared up again. The funniest thing has been
how after being offered Love a little freeze dried chicken treats again
and again and totally ignoring them, Sugar suddenly discovered last week
those are THE thing. One night when I was giving Pearl a snack of Avoderm
with some crumbled on top, Sugar's nose literally went into overdrive.
She *stuck her head under Pearl's to get Pearl's food*! Pearl had to
finally HISS at her to get her out of the dish! LOL! That was just so
funny. Pearl was totally shocked, offended, mortified and disgusted.
My only trouble is getting Sugar to eat enough real FOOD. Got her off the
dry but she INSISTS on crumbled freeze dried on her wet food and wants me
to add more. Ugh. Well, at least she eats. I could wish she were a tad
heavier and Pearl a bit lighter, but that's how it always goes, eh?

I will try to do a better job keeping up. It's funny, when I have time, I
was a bit depressed and didn't want to intrude, and now that I have more
to do with a class coming up, I feel better and want to join in. Go
figure. But I'm sure I'll have a LOT of time one of these months when I
have my knee thing. It sounds like it is usually quite a successful
procedure, if arduous. It would be nice to have a "real" knee back again
and they say reconstructions are as strong as the original if you do your
rehab really well.

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

Karen, Sugar and Pearl

Karen wrote:

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

It's great to hear from you, Karen, though the news could be better.
Lots of purrs coming up for your procedure. Glad to hear your job
situation improved. I hope the girls are being good nurse kitties.

--
Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.

On 2008-08-13 20:49:12 -0500, "Cheryl" said:

"Karen" wrote in message
news:2008081319411475249-kchuplis@alltelnet...
Man, it takes a lot to catch up with this group. I just peak in now and
again. It's been a rough year. I have not had any classes so, I moved
to a lower cost place. If I could EVER catch up, I'd do ok, but now,
with my hysterectomy not paid off, my knee has decided to rear it's
ugly head after 25 years from an original partial ACL tear. Now it's
all torn. Even though it is a problem the wierd thing is I got a really
bad calf strain when I wanged the back of my calf with a car door.
THAT has been utterly debilitating. But it made me face that that leg
is just having trouble. It is very slowly getting better. Advice, DO
NOT EVER STRAIN YOUR CALF. Man, oh man, way painful. So, now, I face an
ACL reconstruction. Which really SHOULD be a good thing, but the idea
of such a huge thing is kind of overwhelming. For now I have a brace,
which helps and tomorrow I do my first pre-op physical therapy. I hope
to build the leg up so it is in shape when I finally have an operation.
Of *course* I moved to a second floor apartment with no elevator just
before all this happened. DOH!

I'm sure I'll get it all figured out and at least it is not something I
have to rush in to, because I would sure like to pay off the doppler
and MRI that I have not even gotten bills for yet. If I can put it off
until next year, using the time wisely to lose more weight and get my
legs in shape, I can switch to a higher insurance plan which should be
mui helpful. The good news is another University picked me up and I
start that Sep 1. It even uses my lectures! I did not realize, probably
many online Universities do. I have to find out which ones and maybe I
can keep a rotating file going. So, hopefully, income will pick up and
all this med stuff won't be so bad. Boy, straining that calf did teach
me that you simply need to do everything to stay mobile! Life is very
hard when you aren't.

The girls are pretty good. Sugar has chronic constipation and I choose
not to aggressively diagnose why she has such trouble. Lactulose and
propulsid keep her oiling along well and she acts as zippy as ever as
long as she is regular. We've only been doing that a month or so, but
it seems to work fine. Pearl has her days, but really overall, she does
wonderfully for all her troubles. Her fur got really icky for a while,
but it seems to have really cleared up again. The funniest thing has
been how after being offered Love a little freeze dried chicken treats
again and again and totally ignoring them, Sugar suddenly discovered
last week those are THE thing. One night when I was giving Pearl a
snack of Avoderm with some crumbled on top, Sugar's nose literally went
into overdrive. She *stuck her head under Pearl's to get Pearl's food*!
Pearl had to finally HISS at her to get her out of the dish! LOL! That
was just so funny. Pearl was totally shocked, offended, mortified and
disgusted. My only trouble is getting Sugar to eat enough real
FOOD. Got her off the dry but she INSISTS on crumbled freeze dried on
her wet food and wants me to add more. Ugh. Well, at least she eats. I
could wish she were a tad heavier and Pearl a bit lighter, but that's
how it always goes, eh?

I will try to do a better job keeping up. It's funny, when I have time,
I was a bit depressed and didn't want to intrude, and now that I have
more to do with a class coming up, I feel better and want to join in.
Go figure. But I'm sure I'll have a LOT of time one of these months
when I have my knee thing. It sounds like it is usually quite a
successful procedure, if arduous. It would be nice to have a "real"
knee back again and they say reconstructions are as strong as the
original if you do your rehab really well.

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

Karen, Sugar and Pearl

Hi Hi Hi! I've thought of you and the girls. I know I haven't emailed
in a bit but when I did you seemed ok and I thought you were more
involved in the feline diabetes group for Pearl. I'm so sorry to hear
of your own problems along with the work problems, PLUS having to move
again.

I'm sorry you felt too depressed to talk to us. I understand though.
You never know what sort of reaction you'll get but you're a sweetie.
I still think of you every time I read about Feliway. )

Yeah, I spend a lot of time on that board. You are so sweet! I try not
to complain. There are certainly worse off in the world.

On 2008-08-13 20:13:54 -0500, "Granby" said:

Have 3 friends who have had this. Two successful, one not. THE ANSWER
is in "THE REHAB". Two did it faithfully and the third said it was too
hard and painful at first. You will be fine.

In case you wonder, two of them got injured rock climbing, a mountain
not an indoor thing like chicken me. The third fell down some steps
with ice on them.

As I said, with your spirit about things, you will do fine.

That is what it seems like. You have to work hard, not under do or over
do. I definitely will be commited.

On 2008-08-13 21:25:48 -0500, Marina said:

Karen wrote:

Well, just thought I would post a lil' update.

It's great to hear from you, Karen, though the news could be better.
Lots of purrs coming up for your procedure. Glad to hear your job
situation improved. I hope the girls are being good nurse kitties.

I see your kids are looking spectacular! I have to go back and see if
you have island pics up.

Karen wrote:
I see your kids are looking spectacular! I have to go back and see if
you have island pics up.


I do. They're at

http://s120.photobucket.com/albums/o...Island%202008/

Also a few short videos at

http://www.youtube.com/user/frankiennikki

--
Marina, Miranda and Caliban. In loving memory of Frank and Nikki.