Last Tuesday night, Meagan and the kids stayed overnight at our house. They had an early flight to Georgia to visit some friends, and our house is much closer to the airport. Nathan joined us for dinner before saying goodbye and heading back home.
So fun to watch Madi watching her parents.
Love these two!
Wednesday morning was a bit of a wild ride. Meagan did a fabulous job of getting four kids up and ready to hit the road by 5:15 a.m. so they could be ferried to the airport by their intrepid airport ferry-er, Steve. Breakfasts were eaten, bags were packed, and children were wrangled.
Belle is not used to life moving along at 137 m.p.h. in the morning. She is not used to four excited children and three adults rambling around every which way. Our usual mornings are serene, with me getting up at 4.m. and Belle and Tinker staying in bed with Steve until 6:30 a.m. Excitement just doesn’t exist in our home at that hour.
But it was sure running rampant last Wednesday with four pumped-up kids!
Finally, the children and luggage were all collected, and it was time for a photo before they headed out in a flurry of early morning exuberance.
After I closed the door behind them, I turned around to look at Belle standing in the middle of the kitchen. Her expression very clearly said, “What in the world just happened?!?”
It wasn’t long before she had gathered up her brother so they could lounge about on the couch and recoup their depleted stores of inner fortitude.
One thing I didn’t mention when I posted about my recent trip to Wisconsin was that my intermittent ankle problem popped back up. As I’ve written before, I’ve been experiencing pain and swelling for a couple of months and have had good and bad days with it. Unfortunately, the moment I got into the Charlotte security line, a bad day kicked in. I took a step forward, and it felt like my ankle was going to give out on me altogether. Not a good feeling when I had four million miles of terminals to traverse.
I took another step, and it happened again, in addition to some pretty bad pain. I leaned on my carry-on handle all the way through the line, and thankfully, by the time I got through security, the ankle trauma had backed off. I took off toward my gate in what I thought was a jaunty and youthful manner, only to have a guy pushing an empty wheelchair stop me and ask me if I needed a ride. So much for looking jaunty and youthful.
When I landed in Minneapolis, my ticket indicated a 90-minute layover; however, it turned out to be only 35 minutes, and the gate was located at the opposite end of the terminal. Thankfully, when I stepped off the plane, there was an electric cart sitting there, and the driver immediately asked me if I needed a ride. I thought, “What is it about me that that is bringing in all these unsolicited offers of help?”
I am jaunty! I am youthful!! (I guess not.)
But I gratefully accepted his offer, and he scooted me across the airport, where I arrived just five minutes before they started loading. I would have never made the connection by walking–even on my best walking day.
Three MRIs
The day after I got home from my trip, I had three MRIs scheduled: brain, neck, and right ankle. (A few weeks ago, I also had an MRI on my back.) This was after seeing my regular doctor, a sports-specialty doctor, and a neurologist.
As you can imagine, in the weeks preceding all this testing, I was a little stressed. Not only was the right ankle being looked at, but I have had left foot/weakness for three years or so, which has been getting worse. I’d had a nerve test earlier to rule out a peripheral nervous system issue. I know that central nervous system issues can cause unexplained limb weakness, and I wondered if that was the case with me. The brain MRI would give that answer.
Thankfully, my brain seems to be in pretty good shape–at least they said there is definitely a brain in there, which was good to know.
I also had no idea what was causing the issues with my ankle and was worried I was going to need surgery and be out of work for several weeks. That whole incident in the Charlotte airport ramped up my ankle anxiety all the more.
After the MRIs, I had an appointment with a foot surgeon to get his input on what was going on. Thankfully, he believes the ankle to be non-surgical. There is the possibility that shifting my weight from my left (weak) leg and changing my gait to accommodate the weakness has irritated the arthritis in my right ankle, causing the pain. Also, pressure on certain nerves in my neck and back seems to be the cause of the weakness in my left leg. (See MRI reports below for more details.)
He put me on a new-to-me medicine (Meloxicam), which is 15 times more potent than Ibuprofen but non-addictive and non-drowsy; it also helps with inflammation. I’ve gotten a lot of benefit from the med so far. In six weeks, I’ll go back to the ortho doctor to see how things are going. There is a possibility of doing injections if there isn’t a significant improvement.
So there’s a medical report for you. Although my body doesn’t always behave itself the way I’d like, I am thankful for the health I do have.
I think I’ve written before that I once asked an elderly lady (with many physical challenges) how she was doing. She beamed at me brightly and said, “It is well with my soul.” Her words and attitude have stuck with me through the years. What a wonderful attitude and an example to emulate–no matter what you or I go through.
What about you?
Have you ever looked at your pet and absolutely known what they were thinking by their expression?
Have you ever had an MRI? Did it bother you at all, being so enclosed? I felt a little weird when they put a cage over my face for the brain MRI.
What are your plans for this summer?
MRI LUMBAR
Multilevel facet spondylosis with grade 1 anterolisthesis L5 on S1 vertebrae.
Chronic advanced disc disease L4-L5 disc space.
FINDINGS:
At disc level L4-L5, disc height is severely diminished, most pronounced in the right hemisphere. Loss in disc height and endplate spurring mildly narrows the neural foramina. No disc protrusion or canal stenosis is seen.
At disc level L5-S1, is slightly diminished.
MRI CERVICAL (Neck)
Severe left foraminal stenosis C3-C4 disc space.
Moderately severe bilateral foraminal stenosis C4-C5 disc space, left worse than right.
Multilevel joint spondylosis.
FINDINGS:
Broad-based left paracentral disc osteophyte complex approaches the cord, slightly narrowing the central canal diameter. Facet and uncinate hypertrophy produce severe left and mild right foraminal stenosis.
At disc level C4-C5, a small disc osteophyte complex flattens the thecal sac, minimally narrowing canal diameter.
Facet and uncinate hypertrophy produce moderately severe bilateral foraminal stenosis, left worse than right.
At disc level C5-C6, uncinate spurring produces moderate right and mild left foraminal stenosis.
MRI BRAIN
A small flat lipoma is incidentally seen along the right tentorium cerebelli.
(A brain lipoma is a rare, benign tumor, present from birth, that can remain undetected until later in life. These tumors only represent 0.1% of all intracranial tumors.)
MRI RIGHT ANKLE
Mild tibiotalar osteoarthropathy.
Achilles tendinopathy without discrete tear.
Mild posterior tibialis tenosynovitis.
Subtalar ganglion cyst extends into the sinus tarsi and posterior ankle.
(A subtalar ganglion cyst extending into the sinus tarsi and posterior ankle is a benign, fluid-filled growth originating from the subtalar joint. It frequently causes localized pain, hindfoot instability, and stiffness due to inflammation and pressure on surrounding tissues)
FINDINGS:
Bone Marrow Signal: Subchondral bone marrow edema in the posterior tibial plafond and central talar dome.
Sinus Tarsi: Multiloculated ganglion cyst measures approximately 3.0 x 1.6 x 1.0 cm.
Soft Tissues: Edema in Kager’s fat pad.
A posterior ankle ganglion cyst arising from the subtalar joint measures approximately 2.6 x 1.8 x 1.2 cm.
At roughly 2.6 cm, its largest dimension, it exceeds the typical 1 to 3 cm range for smaller cysts, meaning it has a higher potential to cause a “mass effect” (pressing against adjacent tissues, causing pain, restricted joint movement, or numbness).
Symptoms You Might Experience
Pain: A deep, sometimes burning ache just below and in front of the outer ankle bone, which worsens on uneven terrain.
Hindfoot Instability: A persistent feeling of the ankle “giving way”.
My dogs “talk” to each other all the time! It’s so funny to see them. They act like kids. Remy will even “talk” to us often. If we walk in the door and don’t pet her before anything else, she will go on and on until we pet her. River is not as vocal unless she really wants to get up with us on the couch or in the pool and her way is blocked or her float isn’t where she can get on it in the pool! Whoever said dogs don’t have souls clearly has never had a dog before.
I’m so sorry about all your physical ailments! MRIs are terribly annoying. The last one I had was of one of my ovaries and he started it but then stopped and came to talk to me. He was very confused that he couldn’t find my uterus. (I had gotten a hysterectomy the year before). 😂
I also find it very annoying that it’s so difficult to get a diagnosis about anything these days. It’s always just dr after dr guessing and not really caring to dig deep and figure iut the actual problem. I sure hope all of your drs are doing everything to get you better!
Sending hugs and prayers!! 💜
Lizz,
I can only imagine just how confused your doctor must have been during your MRI. “There is definitely something missing in here!”
While I am thankful for doctors and modern medicine you are correct in saying the whole process can be frustrating at times. The only thing we patients want our answers but it can be a complicated process to get those.
Love hearing about your dogs’ conversations–with each other and with you. No wonder we love our dogs so much! 🙂
Hi Becky, the kids are adorable and getting so big! Wow.
I read your airport story and the same thing happened to me, except it was my calf. Someone banged their carry on into it and it made my knee collapse. I know the feeling of the wheelchair helpers asking if you need a ride, four of them asked me as I was limping along. I also began to think that I must look in really bad shape! You were smarter than me since you accepted a ride. Pride got in my way and I paid for it the next day with a visit to the ER. All is well, healed up on its own.
Speaking of ankles, it sounds like you have a good plan. I have both ankles in trouble now. Xrays are clear, am going to PT to strengthen my calves and an outside muscle in both ankles. I have hypermobility in all my joints as a lifelong condition. It never really caused problems until recently. Foot surgeon said there will be MRIs if no improvement with PT.
Did they ask you what music you wanted to listen to while in the MRI? I always choose Coldplay 🙂
I could not imagine getting 4 kids up and out by 5:15 am. Whew! and can I just remark on the fact that you get up at 4am every morning for work? How do you do it? Amazing! Bravo!
Lesley,
That’s a bad feeling, isn’t it, to be in an airport and have your leg or ankle go wonky on you? I actually turned down the wheelchair for some crazy reason and regretted it for the rest of my walk to my date. Probably like you–a pride thing.
They didn’t ask me about music in the MRI machine although I’ve been asked before. I’m glad you got a choice; music would have been a nice distraction.
Getting up at 4 am isn’t really all that bad. The first 3 or 4 minutes are a little rough as I acclimate myself to being awake but then I’m pretty good. A cup of caffeinated tea while I sit in my chair and read my Bible and I’m good to go. 🙂
I’m not sure I’ve know exactly what either of my grandpuppies was thinking, although they both can have some interesting facial expressions (and the older one will carry on a conversation with you if things aren’t just as he’d like). I hope Meagan & the kids had/have a great trip.
I’ve never had an MRI, but I don’t think I’d like a cage put over my face for any reason.
My daughter & I are going to visit family in Arkansas for a few days and my son will probably meet us there. Other than that, no specific plans ~ just enjoy a couple of months of no schedule.
I hope you have a wonderful (and relatively pain-free) week.
Sue Ellen,
A couple of months with no schedule sounds like absolute heaven to me. Glad you get some time with your family.
It’s funny, isn’t it, how dogs will “carry on a conversation” if they want something done differently. They can really get quite vocal.
Scotty Smith (who writes for the Gospel Coalition) posted this on his Facebook page a few days ago, and it truly resonated with me. Hoping it will encourage you as well:
“My memory isn’t as sharp. My gait isn’t as fluid. My sleep isn’t as long. My energy is a bit more like an aging iPhone battery. BUT Jesus has never been more beautiful, loving, faithful, and trustworthy; and the Gospel has never been more glorious, precious, and real to me.”
Jenny Jo,
I love Scotty Smith’s writing and this paragraph, specifically, is wonderful. It’s good to have someone put it all in a different, encouraging perspective.
(And the “aging iPhone battery” definitely spoke to me.) 🙂 Thanks for sharing that writing with us all.
Love those grandkid pics. Ankle pain and back pain are probably the worst. Hope the med helps you.
I haven’t had a pet myself, but I am sure my husbands parrot looks at me like she thinks I am crazy.
I have had many MRI’s and have to count and keep my eyes closed to not freak out being in the tunnel. My husband always has them put a warm washcloth over his eyes.
We are mostly staying home this summer and I will do 2 farmers markets as a crafter. We are taking a week trip to Oregon for my cousins 85th birthday. Haven’t seen them for 10 years so very excited to go.
Patti,
A warm washcloth is a great idea; it’s soothing and also keeps you from opening your eyes if the temptation strikes. If I open my eyes, I am instantly stressed so I keep them shut and think peaceful thoughts.
Oregon is a beautiful state and how wonderful to celebrate an 85th birthday. Enjoy every moment and I hope your farmer’s markets go great!
I’m sorry you’re dealing with a lot of medical stuff – seems like as we (that would be ME) get older, there are more and more reasons to see various specialists. I am not a good MRI-taker!!
I’m chuckling right now at the pic of Meagan and Steve and the kids—when I first saw it, I thought one of the kids was missing, mistaking Noah for Nathan!!
Stefanie,
I know, right? Noah is getting to the point where he is tall enough to be mistaken for an adult at first glance. I still do a double take when he walks up to the house.
MRIs are not a great deal of fun but at least I’m able to get through one if I keep my eyes closed. The worst one I ever had was a breast MRI back when I was diagnosed with cancer. I had to lie on my stomach for a long time and it was uncomfortable holding that position. They had to pull me out so I could cry and calm down a little bit. I’m thankful for great medical folks who help us through those procedures.