Monday, May 31, 2010

Memorial Day Weekend

Just a quick update. I am having surgery on my finger in June. Those lesions from the scleroderma are eroding through the skin, hurting like crazy, and look really bad. At the same time, I will be having an EGD on my esophagus. I've been having a lot of digestive problems, again from the scleroderma. So, hopefully, I'll get some relief from these major annoyances. I have been taking short walks up & down the street with Alan. It feels great to have the strength to walk. I also went to picnics over the weekend & my energy & endurance was greatly improved. Hope everyone enjoyed a safe & healthy weekend. Linda

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Hi Everyone. We have been having a lot of trouble with this blog. Kara is working on it. If you were able to pick up the comments on the last blog, you saw the MRI was OK on my back. Yay! I am preparing for surgery on my finger with Dr. Schwendeman, and an EGD with Dr. Marina. I'm hoping they can coordinate things and I'll just get one anesthetic, etc. Have a good day. Keep cool, Linda

Thursday, May 20, 2010

Hi Everyone. I think it's time for an update. I have been going to physical therapy and I do think it's helping. My legs are much stronger, I can walk further distances and I don't feel as weak. I had the second 2-D echo of my heart and it still showed a small amount of fluid around the heart. The cardiologist said he didn't feel it was causing any symptoms or compressing the heart. He said it would be too risky to put a needle into the sternum and try to withdraw the fluid because it could lacerate the ventricle. He also said they could do a pericardial window in surgery, but I said NO WAY! That's not going to happen-sometimes you just have to say no! I also have been having a lot of pain in my back so I had a bone scan on Tuesday. After I got injected with the radioisotope, I had to drink water for two hours prior to the actual scan. I went to surgery and got to see everyone while I waited. It was really great to see everyone. The scan took about an hour and the Dr. called and said there were two spots on the thoracic spine that they want to double check. He thinks it is degenerative arthritic changes. Now, I have to have an MRI. Then, I'll be in limbo once again just waiting for results. That is very difficult. Hope this gets everyone up to date. Thank you for the prayers-you are all very special people. Linda

Thursday, May 6, 2010

I've had 2 sessions of physical therapy. They were spent mainly concentrating on proper breathing techniques and some very gentle strengthening exercises. Basically, I wasn't using my left side of my chest to breathe. It is so sore, I was favoring it so much and also developing a bit of a frozen shoulder. We are working on range of motion for the left arm. My therapist said I was breathing much better than I was on Tuesday. I am practicing breathing from the diaphragm and utilizing all of my lung tissue available. I thank everyone, once again, for the beautiful cards and prayers that just keep coming. It means so much to me. Carole, thank you for the gift card. Happy Mother's Day! Linda