Friday, January 18, 2013

The LeROY HEALTH WATCH

Friends, we're at it again. Suzy got jealous of all the attention I was getting, so she just had some more surgery.

Not as simple as that, of course.

Last Friday we had our regular "Chat With the Board" meeting, where the Park's Board of Directors meets with any park residents who care to come, the Directors share what's been going on, and the residents have an opportunity to make announcements or bring up issues. Shortly before the meeting, Suzy told me her stomach was slightly upset. By the time the meeting was over and the visiting was done, she was really in pain. We called our AARP RN nurse service who advised a visit to the local ER.

Benson Hospital's ER is very small, not equipped for anything terribly serious. They learned by X-ray that Suzy had a bowel obstruction, and shipped her off to Northwest Medical Center in Tucson. She left by ambulance at 10:15 pm. I went home to pack up some stuff and get a little sleep, since I recognize I'm not the world's greatest night driver. (Have you noticed that dark is getting darker these days, and oncoming lights are shinier and more starry-looking? Who caused that to happen?)

Mid-morning, Dr. Burpee, the surgeon who had done her bariatric surgery a year ago, popped in. He was on call this weekend and had two surgeries scheduled, but he had not been notified until morning that Suzy was here. He sent Suzy for a cat scan, discovered that a loop of bowel had twisted itself around and folded over on itself. He told me that that the bowel would begin to die if not repaired and that he was moving her directly to the operating room for surgery, which he would perform.

The surgery amounted to a bowel resection: Dr. Burpee cut out and discarded a section of the bowel and sewed the two ends together. The surgery itself took less than an hour, but that left me in the waiting room for at least three hours, although it felt like three days.

I spent Saturday, Sunday and Monday nights at a motel in Tucson, the days at the hospital. I had taken my laptop, even the keyboard and mouse that I use regularly, so I could stay in touch. Unfortunately, I didn't bring the far end of the two-piece power cord, so I was out of touch.

We came home Tuesday to hear two rumors. In the first one, a friend came and said, "Oh, it's such a shame your bariatric surgery failed!" Well, that surely would have been a shame, if that had been true, but this had nothing to do with the other, except that the same surgeon did both surgeries. As soon as we got to our home, a visitor announced that she had heard Suzy had had a heart attack, from taking care of me after mine! We live in a microcosm of the larger world, and we have the same type of gossiping and rumors that every other place has. It's just a whole lot closer, and the rumors fly faster!

So now here at home, Suzy is recovering well, feeling fine except that she is understandably tired and sore. The afternoon we got home, our next door neighbors brought us a a meatloaf for dinner. Thursday a couple stopped by with a complete meal: two quarts of a delicious vegetable beef soup (marvelous flavor), a big green salad with cheese and tomatoes on the side, a loaf of homemade bread, and four slices of bundt cake! Before we had a chance to eat that, another lady stopped in to promise us another meal to be delivered Saturday! We hardly know these two ladies, but there they were with food!

Why all the largess? The SKP Saguaro Co-op, our home here, is a community built on volunteerism. Escapees are known by a phrase, "Escapees care and share." The park has a committee called Helping Hands, who will help anyone who needs it, with a meal, with assistance in shopping, cleaning, laundry, or a host of other duties -- for a limited period. This is our home, and we love it.

On the weather picture, to look a different direction, we have been having the coldest weather in 39 years! Our nighttime temperatures while we were away got down as low as 12 degrees! Fortunately, we knew it would get to a hard freeze while we were away, so I turned off the water at the pedestal before I left. When a friend called the next day, I asked him to come by and disconnect the supply hose. We still live in an RV, although it hasn't moved in nearly four years, so we have to be careful with our water supply!

So that's it for us. We are trying not to make a hobby of hospitalizations. We hope to have a happy story for you in the next episode of ... Our Life on Wheels.

23 comments:

  1. I'm glad the operation was performed quickly and that Suzi is recuperating at home. Hopefully she will feel a little better each day and soon be back to square one. I'm heard a lot about the SKP help ethos, and it's nice to hear that you were on the receiving end.

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  2. I'm so sorry you both are have a round of hospital visits but you know you have true friends there to help, in spite of the terrible rumors. God bless you both and a speedy recovery. They weather is great, enjoy.

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  3. Sure glad all turned out well and you are both back home.

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  4. A hobby of hospitals!!

    I hope that means your next visit will be a cheery one.

    You are certainly in the right place at this time.

    Wishing a speedy recovery for Suzy and don't you overdo things. Just in case you haven't been told this ..... Stress is the greatest cause of heart problems. Not food, not lifestyle. The thing to do is find a way to live that reduces stress. It's so very important to get that the right way round. Deep breathing is supposed to be pretty good.

    You know .... breath in happy thoughts forever and the sun will shine .... not breath out all the junky thoughts that are keeping you form being superman/woman.

    Oh and I just read this report on some research on elderly folk ..... Walk 15 minutes 3 times a week and you live forever .... well longer at least. *smile* We should be home and hosed on that one.

    Blessings

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  5. Well that reads strangely. I meant NOW breath out so try again.

    Blessings

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  6. So happy to hear you are back home and on the road to recovery. We will continue to keep you in our prayers. Glad the Escapee members are taking good care of you.
    Betty and Joe

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  7. Wow - okay guys that's enough. No more hospitals for you guys or for my Jim either. So wonderful that the surgeon realized that she needed to be operated on immediately and was able to fix everything. So nice to have good neighbors and friends.

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  8. Oh, my goodness!!! You guys have certainly had a run!! Glad it had nothing to do with the Bariatric surgery... They were worried about that with me for awhile, but things have settled down, which is a BIG relief.. So nice you have such great neighbors and caring Escapees!!!

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  9. I think we may have to come down to Benson and keep a watchful eye on you two. So far, at least as far as I remember, you haven't both been down at the same time. That's a good thing! Seriously, Suzy, I'm glad to hear that you are on the mend after your unexpected surgery. Now stay that way--both of you! And don't get the flu! ;)

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  10. Wow you guys have have your share of medical setbacks in the last year, hope this is it for awhile and Suzy has a quick recovery. Be safe out there , you guys are in our prayers. Sam & Donna..

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  11. Glad Suzy was diagnosed and treated so quickly. How nice of your neighbors to bring all that food.

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  12. WOW...how wonderful that Suzy's surgeon was on duty. That must have made you two feel much more relaxed. So happy she is doing so well.

    What a great organization Helping Hands is. So glad you are in a park with such helping caring people.

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  13. Sounds like you folks are having yourself a kind of medical leap frog going on onver there in that Benson place. Knees, hips, hearts, & twisted innards to mention a few. A roller coaster of medical procedures & emergencies. Isn't this aging thing exciting. And to think, some say they look forward to these.....Golden Years. Yikes!! Anyway, stay as healthy & strong as you both can.............

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  14. What a scare for Suzy! We're glad things got worked out okay. Take good care of her and we'll pray for a fast recovery. Although rumors tend to fly in your neighborhood, it's nice to know there is a lot of caring and sharing there.

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  15. So happy to hear that you both made some speedy decisions and headed to the hospital ....... I tend to drag my feet and that can make things worse......I just learned a lesson ..... THANKS ! Rest and take it easy as you mend ...... Helping Hands sounds like they get the job done .....that is a real plus and with such care........ You two are ready for a clean bill of health ....... Feel better !!!!!

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  16. So pleased that Suzy is on the road to recovery. Some things just seem to act up as we get older. Good for you Suzy! You did a great job - not ignoring the early symptoms.

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  17. Glad Suzy is doing well, prayers for complete healing and continued good health for both of you!

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  18. Dad gum Jerry, so sorry to hear of Suzts problem...Praise the Lord she came out alright.... I will be thinking of you both and shooting a prayer or two your way...Give Suzy a big hug from us ....Hopefully its gona warm up a little......

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  19. Oh my, so sorry to hear of another medical emergency. But glad that Suzy got prompt care and is on the road to recovery. Sending prayers and hugs your way. Now if you can just stay warm...

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  20. You are getting a first hand education in the medical side of things, Jerry. Don't go getting any ideas for making a movie now, or anything like that, o.k.? There are enough medical shows on television now, too, so that's probably not a good idea either. Happy that you and Suzy are doing just fine, in spite of all the rumors to the contrary. Sorry for all that cold weather, there. We had to drive to the coast today in order to find some sunshine. We've tired of grey skies and cold, wet Eugene weather. You stay warm, we're trying to.

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  21. OK, you two...QUIT IT!! Sheesh, you two have been through enough...Now,take a deep breath and everyone group hug...Let's maintain that PMA (positive mental attitude) that you guys have had throughout..and just kick back and relax for a while..Sending good Karma to you from the Cave People.

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  22. Life certainly has had its medical challenges for you two lately. I hope this is the end of those experiences. Glad to hear fellow Escapees are helping out. :)



















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  23. Well now you have that taken care of and over...! Perhaps the rumor mill can concentrate on some of the other neighbors.. Or even problems of their own.... But Escapees are a wonderful lot with the best of nature, so how would you get along without them..? Anyway we have our fingers crossed for your joint recoveries... And by the way we paid our dues again this year to Livingston even though we aren't traveling as much.. Wouldn't want to give up that membership.... Rod

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