Surgery on the Horizon

So much has happened in the last month. And so much is going to happen in the coming month! Unfortunately, we lost a great man in our family. My Uncle David passed away (My dad's brother-in-law). This man had strength that nobody I know ever had...with the numbers tattooed on his arm from the concentration camps, it was always known that we were not to discuss with Uncle David his story. I wish I had known his story...but I did find out that he was a survivor of 11 concentration camps. What strength! He will be missed.

Michele is having a baby on Thursday! It is truly amazing and she did a great job baking this baby in a complicated, high-risk "oven!" If all goes as planned, I will have a little Nephew on Thursday, May 12, 2011!

I am so proud of Uncle Mickey! He made the most amazing, brave, decision to have lap band surgery and he did not get cold feet! (I would not let him!) He came out of surgery well today and his new life and lifestyles will lead him to a healthier way of life!

Now...for Me. I am still battling with 'hospitalitis'... maybe a little bit better since I got some flowers. Although I have lost now close to 60 pounds, and I look great, I am not losing it the right way so the doctors are trying to figure out what's wrong with me. They better work fast... I unfortunately need surgery on my wrist which will take place on Friday, June 10th. I do not think I have ever had surgery on a Friday before. It is taking place in a different hospital than my "team Stacy" doctors practice so a whole new team of doctors need to be put together for me before I can have an operation in another hospital. My post-operative plan is what will make or break my recovery so it needs to be clear to these new doctors what needs to take place. Frankly, it petrifies me... however, there is not a local doctor at my hospital that deals with the "complicated..." Did you all know that I am complicated? Do you know how many doctors have called me complicated? A lot! It is not a great feeling... nor does it leave me much hope, but my hand surgeon, Dr. Capo, is a great surgeon who came highly recommended and I have faith he can fix my hand/wrist. (I hope!)

For those of you who do not know...I have a blood clot disorder. For that reason, I am on blood thinners for life. January 2009, I was diagnosed with 2 pulmonary embolisms in my left lung and a subclavian blood clot on the blood thinner Coumadin. This is why I remain on the blood thinner Lovenox which is an injection in my belly nightly for life. I received a letter from my insurance company telling me that I need to take anti-inflammatories before they would OK a MRI before my hand surgery! Due to my being on Lovenox and my blood clot disorder, I am not allowed to take ANY anti-inflammatory medicines ..nothing! Even as much as 1 Advil can be detrimental to my health. It remains very frustrating that the underwriting doctors at these insurance companies do not pay attention to the medications that I take. See, I have a complex case manager (because I'm complicated) and she knows all of my medications....she is a nurse!

I did call the insurance company back and I informed them that If I take
anti-inflammatory medications they will be responsible for paying for my funeral. I think they got the hint!

To be continued...
Stacy