[gardeners] OT: a day in a VA hospital
Shirley,George (gardeners@globalgarden.com)
Fri, 22 Dec 2000 06:57:51 -0600
Miz Anne and I got to the VA hospital in Alexandria, LA yesterday about 10:30
after leaving home at 0800. Appointment was for 1100 but got in to see the nurse
at 1200 and then the doctor at 1300. Bad news is that the arthritis in my left
shoulder has advanced to the point that cortisone shots will no longer do any
good. There is a bone spur rubbing on the rotator cuff, which is the reason my
shoulder always hurts, and another on the long muscle that holds the shoulder in
place. Currently I'm taking Celebrex, a new arthritis drug, and doing exercises
to build up the surrounding muscles. More bad news is that if this doesn't work
I'm looking at surgery in mid-2001 to remove the spurs, a prospect I don't look
forward to.
On the positive side I found out that I am scheduled for a cardiology workup in
March 2001, something I haven't had since 1994. Many veterans complain about
their treatment at VA clinics and hospitals but since I have moved to the
Jennings, LA community based clinic and the Alexandria, LA hospital I have
always been treated well and humanely so I have no complaints at all. In
addition I get to sit in the waiting room and swap "war" stories with folks of
my generation and of the "Greatest" generation and that is always enjoyable.
It is cold and dreary out but warm and welcoming inside our home today. We're
washing clothes, baking pies, Miz Anne is finishing some small paintings for a
local gallery, Sleepy is napping on the couch, and I've got some paperwork to
finish up. We finished our holiday shopping at the outlet mall on the way back
from Alex yesterday. So far all is right in our world. I wish all of you happy
holidays and good gardening.
Life is good.
George, Miz Anne, and Sleepy Dawg, warm and snuggy on a chilly morning