About Me

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Delta, British Columbia, Canada
I took very early retirement from teaching in '06 and did some traveling in Europe and the UK before settling down to do some private tutoring. As a voracious reader, I have many books waiting in line for me to read. Tell me I shouldn't read something, and I will. I'm a happy, optimistic person and I love to travel and through that believe that life can be a continuous learning experience. I'm looking forward to traveling more some day. I enjoy walking, cycling, water aerobics & and sports like tennis, volleyball, and fastpitch/baseball. I'm just getting into photography as a hobby and I'm enjoying learning all the bits and bobs of my digital camera. My family is everything to me and I'm delighted to be the mother of two girls and the Gramma of a boy and a girl. I may be a Gramma, but I'm at heart just a girl who wants to have fun.

Thursday, June 26, 2008

Double (and maybe triple) Trouble

The good news: My August 29th consultation with an orthopedic surgeon was bumped up to today.

The bad news: I definitely need surgery. It actually sounds a bit worse than I had expected. Although I was prepared for a spinal fusion, apparently I might need fusion in three locations.

*big sigh*

The next step: an MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) to check my entire spine to make sure that's "all" the surgeon needs to do. He asked me if I had any metal inside me, like a tiny speck of metal in my eye. Huh? I said, "No, that's a strange question but I guess you have your reasons for asking." He told me that an MRI is a huge magnet and it can do weird things to your eyes if there's any metal in them.

He put me on the "slate" right away and his secretary faxed the MRI requisition over to the hospital immediately. If I don't hear within 3 weeks, I'm to call her to expedite things. She also gave me all the paperwork to fill out so I'm ready to go in if they have a cancellation.

I have a feeling I'll get a cancellation and won't have to wait those lengthy months some people have to wait for a couple of reasons. First, my condition is serious and the surgeon said there is no question that I need the surgery or I won't be walking for much longer. Second, I have an "in." He's the friend of a friend. That always helps.

Oh, by the way, he's also quite yummy. lol

21 comments:

Carver said...

If you have to have a surgeon I'm glad he's yummy. A sense of humor is high on my list with docs too. I'm sorry the news wasn't good but I hope once it's behind you that you will recover swiftly and it will help a lot. I've had the MRI of the spine (cervix was done with brain and then thoracic and lumbar spine were done together). I was worried when I had my first MRIs because I'm a little clasterphobic but it wasn't anything like as bad as I feared. Hopefully they'll give you headphones and a music selection. In spite of how noisy MRIs are, I tend to dose off. I hope it will be like that for you. Sending good vibes your way.

Jo said...

Leslie, omigosh! Well, I'm so glad you're getting this done now. I have a feeling your MRI will be before the next three weeks. (I can get it expedited for you too if you like.... I have contacts.)

Good luck with everything, and please keep us posted!

And now that you have a spiffy new guest room, we can all take turns staying at your place and looking after you. Well, there's method to my madness. First of all, I enjoy looking after people, and second, I just want to stay in your new guest room! *heh*

Leslie: said...

Thx carver. I don't get claustrophobic and actually find all that humming to be doze inducing. Oh, and the yummy doc? Worth waking up for, right?

Yes, Josie, you'll be on the list of people to come and nurse me back to health. I have to be able to chase that yummy doc, y'know! LOL

Ruth L.~ said...

Well, that explains the pain. Three times the pain, I guess. Big sigh is right, and get it over and done with so you can be back to picking up those grandbabies. Any idea what the cause is, Leslie?

jmb said...

Oh, oh. I hope it all goes well Leslie and you don't have to wait too long for the surgery or the MRI.

Michele said...

Oh wow... such big big news for you Leslie... mixed feelings for you, I am sure.
I have been on a waiting list for an MRI for already 5 weeks but mine isn't urgent but of course for different reasons. To me it's urgent so I can get my seizures under better control, I think but apparently hospitals don't think so... sigh.
But I can only imagine the anxiety you must be feeling and wish I could take that away for you.
It'll be nice to get this done soon so that life can get back to as normal as it can... I'm sure this waiting is awful.
Hugs to you, my friend.

Paulie said...

You are in my prayers -- I just know everything will go right and you'll be good as new shortly!

Claire said...

Well if this is going to get rid of the pain and this is the way to get it done and the surgeon is yummy then get on with it shame you will be asleep so much. MRI scans are routine but a bit unnerving for the patient think about lovely things like chocolate and George Clooney! Love :-)

sally in norfolk said...

best to get these things sorted as soon as possible...sure all will go well for you :-)x

Daryl said...

Glad to hear this will all be fixed soon!

I had an MRI a few years ago and honestly the rhythm of the clanging put me to sleep!


:-Daryl

Liz Hinds said...

Why would you have a piece of metal in your eye? That you'd just leave there?!

I'm sorry the news isn't good but it is good if you get to be relieved of the pain sooner. And yummy surgeon. Is he married? How old? Etc?

Leslie: said...

LOL Liz! I "did" notice there was no wedding ring. But, not ethical for him... blah blah blah... but since he's a friend of a friend, I'll find out soon enough. Even if he is married, he's nice to look at - and I absolutely love his South African accent! *sigh*

Lone Grey Squirrel said...

Best wishes to you for a quick and successful operation and MRI. Glad you are being distracted by the yummy doctor.

Anne in Oxfordshire said...

Best wishes for your operation. I hope that you don;t have to wait to long..It sounds a lot quicker than the UK..and and least it is getting sorted. :-)

Welshcakes Limoncello said...

Sorry you need surgery, Leslie but at least the surgeon's yummy! Ask him if he has a twin brother?

Jerez Sherry said...

Leslie,
I think many people will be holding your hand!
Thinking of you...

kml said...

Hope all goes well for you - you will be in many peoples' thoughts!

Anonymous said...

Oh, bless you Lesley. Now you know what you are up against, it's downhill on the other side, towards getting better. Yummy doctor with Hippocratic oath is a shame...except he is about to make you better so won't be your doctor forever! Once discharged, write him a thank you letter...every week! Take care, Shirl & Pete & Lola xxx

Barbara said...

At least things are getting going with this, sorry to hear your back may have to be fused in three places. I do hope you you don't have to wait too long.

RiverPoet said...

I am so sorry you're going to have to have back surgery. I've had three neck surgeries, including a three-level fusion. The fusion itself wasn't bad. I can honestly say the recovery wasn't anything like I expected. Please keep us posted, and I'll add you to my prayer list.

Peace - D

Country Girl said...

Oh, Leslie! I just read this post and I'm routing for you. My prayers are with you. I am glad that you have a yummy doctor and you've got a lot of support.