Chit Chat in VOLTVILLE Thread #2 :)

[SandySu]

Hiya Peeps!

I'm back to typing again, but I've gotta rest my left wrist on my knee to do so. That may be a little tough to envision how I do that, but I assume strange positions at my desk.

Guess I should explain what happened on Wednesday. Doc didn't so much "jerk" my thumb, he just rotated it all around and around like he was winding a Jack-In-The-Box. It sounded a bit like a rock tumbler when he did that. He said that I have virtually no cartilage left in that thumb. What he was doing was searching for just the right entry point for the needle. That thing was scary-big!! Then he marked the point of entry and sprayed my thumb with the ether until it was ice cold. I recognized the smell from previous surgeries and he confirmed that it was ether. I didn't even feel the needle go in, but I sure felt it inside.

He did the same with my wrist, but he couldn't go in from the underside in the carpal tunnel where it hurts when I lift anything. It's too dangerous with all of the blood vessels and nerve bundles. He had to go in where the knot is on the outside of the upper wrist as it meets the hand between the bones to get the carpal tunnel area. He did the same thing. Wound my hand up on the wrist, marked the spot, sprayed with ether, and then injected.

My biggest problem was the ether. I was so stoned from the fumes that my BF almost had to carry me down to the car. I was nearly sick for most of the hour and a half drive home and kept my eyes closed much of the time. I was being inundated by sharp stabbing pains and that nasty hive of bees.

Later, the entire area swelled up alarmingly and I couldn't move anything so I just put on a sling and didn't move it. Up until this morning, I was still woozy from that derned ether. I have bad reactions to drugs. I'd asked what supplements would be beneficial in trying to rebuild cartilage and the bones that are deteriorating. He recommended glucosamine/chondroitine, Vitamin D3, and Calcium Citrate. Those have now become part of my plethora of daily supplements and meds.

But, I can type now and move it fairly well. Lifting or twisting anything is out of the question, but I can get along without that for now. I have high hopes but I know that I'll never repeat that procedure!



Not out of the question. Just sayin'.



Really nice shot!! But, I'm so jealous!! I haven't seen a deer since the last hunting season except on my trail cameras and surveillance systems. They're really spooked around here. Hopefully, they'll get more courage with the new growth of cover this spring ... if it ever arrives!!

I hope the supplements and injections help, Rave. Horses often have their hocks injected, so I've heard a little about it from the equine end, though I never had it done to Penny, so I don't have any direct experience. But what I've heard is that it really works for maybe 6 months or so, then you need to do it again. If you have to have it done again, why not tell the doctor about your reaction to ether and see if he could use something else.

Do you think the reason you see so few deer lately is because of all the lumbering activity? That might have scared them off, but I bet they'll get over it and be back like before.

We're having a warm spell. That's nice, after all the cold this winter. Days in the 40s, nights in the 30s for the next few days. Some rain. Then, Sunday, they are saying "ice pellets."

 

[rave]

BTW - Wuzz wanted for me to say "Hi" to all of you. Things are looking better for him and his wife. He's waiting for them to fix the forum before he comes back.

 

[rave]

I hope the supplements and injections help, Rave. Horses often have their hocks injected, so I've heard a little about it from the equine end, though I never had it done to Penny, so I don't have any direct experience. But what I've heard is that it really works for maybe 6 months or so, then you need to do it again. If you have to have it done again, why not tell the doctor about your reaction to ether and see if he could use something else.

Do you think the reason you see so few deer lately is because of all the lumbering activity? That might have scared them off, but I bet they'll get over it and be back like before.

We're having a warm spell. That's nice, after all the cold this winter. Days in the 40s, nights in the 30s for the next few days. Some rain. Then, Sunday, they are saying "ice pellets."

Oh dang! What I've heard is that the first set of shots can last for a year. But, no, I won't do it again. Repeated injections can cause tendon damage, which is the last thing that I need. It's just that doctors have a standard set of procedures. First, they want to do physical therapy, then do the gel thing. If that doesn't work, they do the cortisone shots. Finally - they will actually surgically fix the problem. I'm more than half convinced that I have carpal tunnel in my wrist because he didn't see any bone damage in there. I agreed to the shot in the thumb ONLY if they'd shoot my wrist too. If it is self-generating inflammation causing the problem and pinching off the nerves, then this could fix it. Otherwise, it can only ultimately be fixed by surgery. The thumb - well, I'll just have to regrow cartilage and bone, I guess. That's the plan.

I don't think that the deer are missing because of the lumbering activity. The TrailCam that picks up the most deer activity is about 15' behind where my son will be building his house. There's been more tree-felling there than anywhere! But, there is also more cover in that ravine than anywhere.

Bummer about the ice pellets. I suppose spring comes far later for you up there than for most of us. We'll have days in the 50's here for awhile.

 

[awsum140]

The woods in the background is only a strip a few hundred feet wide at this end, but it widens out and basically goes for miles, broken by streams, creeks and roads of course, all the way to Joint Base MDL. Those deer know they're safe here and do come across the street later in the night. I've seen tracks in my lawn and most of the neighbors as well. They haven't shown up on my security camera, yet, but may be put off by the scent left from Bo. Next time, I'll put some shoes on and see if I can get a little closer.

All I can say, Rave, is hang in there. I had a cortisone shot in the elbow years ago and didn't get any numbing agents at all. It looked like a 16 or 18 gauge needle to me, but my viewpoint might have been a little skewed, LOL.

 

[SandySu]

I just got back from visiting Penny. Yes, Sunny is ripping Penny's blankets. The one she was wearing had another tear in it, and when I put on her lighter blanket and turned her out, I saw him take a bite of that one. Maybe he'll calm down once he establishes his authority. Maybe it'll get warmer, and she won't need a blanket, though do I want him biting her? No serious wounds, but it does make her look moth-eaten.

It's warm now, practically 60 degrees. But it's windy, and up at the farm, the wind is always stronger, so it was pretty breezy there. A strong wind always makes horses spookier than usual. I had Penny out in the yard eating grass while I groomed her, and things seemed peaceful till she decided to spook at a car pulling in the driveway. Why, I don't know. She sees plenty of cars pull in. She must not have been paying attention, and then the movement surprised her. The ground is slippery from melting snow and recent rain, and Penny slipped and fell. No harm done, but she was wet all along one side, and I had to stay and groom her till she dried before I could put on her other blanket.

Funny thing, falling must have shaken her up, because she got to her feet and walked straight to the barn and went inside. I groomed her there for a while, then tied her to the hitching post outside, since I figured the wind would dry her long, shaggy hair faster.

I brought the torn blanket home, scrubbed the areas around the rips, and it's outside hanging on the porch railing so it can dry and then I'll apply duct tape to the rips. This is getting old.

 

[tmcase]

I found some new .gifs and thought this one was appropriate.

I thought it was Spring.

 

[awsum140]

Say hi to Wuzz for me next time you talk to him, Rave.

I got a Cool Fire 2 yesterday and it's "the bomb", LOL.

 

[tmcase]

Say hi to Wuzz for me next time you talk to him, Rave.

I got a Cool Fire 2 yesterday and it's "the bomb", LOL.

No kiddin.

 

[Renolizzie]

Hi back, Wuzzz. Can't blame you for not liking the new set-up where you can't go to last read.

Raven - You are a trooper!

Awsum - I so miss green sometimes. Loved the photo.

Terry - Love the GIF. Made me laugh.

We are supposedly on track to get some rain tonight and/or tomorrow. I certainly hope so.

 

[SandySu]

We are supposedly on track to get some rain tonight and/or tomorrow. I certainly hope so.

Take some of ours! It's mud season here. At least you don't have to worry about losing a boot in the horse pen. Actually, where I board Penny now is about as good as it gets. The mud may stick on my boots, but it's not so deep I lose them walking in it. And you don't have to add sand footing to your round pen. It comes with the territory. I'd miss the green, too, but you have a number of advantages.

 

[tmcase]

Take some of ours! It's mud season here. At least you don't have to worry about losing a boot in the horse pen. Actually, where I board Penny now is about as good as it gets. The mud may stick on my boots, but it's not so deep I lose them walking in it. And you don't have to add sand footing to your round pen. It comes with the territory. I'd miss the green, too, but you have a number of advantages.

Oh man do I remember those days. In Colorado the mud was so sticky you'd walk right out of your boots.

 

[3mg Meniere]

Early this week the brakes went out on my car. Very mushy, but still operable if I went slow. I took it to my mechanic in town. He fixed the brakeline. Just before the brakes went out, it got noisy, so I talked to him about a new muffler. Later he backed out of it, because he knows my regular mechanic, and he could do it. So, the muffler got replaced. OK, here it gets good. All the while, there was a nasty sound when I would try to start my car, but it would start. I hoped it was just dirt in my starter, and would fix itself. Yesterday, it was raining, and the extra moisture, it wouldn't start at all. A friend put me into contact with yet another mechanic, and we bought a junk-yard starter. He towed the car, and installed the starter. He was afraid it was a gear tooth where the engine met the starter, but it was just the starter.

I think everything that was frozen up in my car unfroze, and one problem followed another, and followed another, just because those parts didn't have a protective coat of ice.

The snow is mostly gone now.

 

[SandySu]

I'm glad your car is working now, 0mg. Losing your brakes is scary!

 

[tmcase]

Early this week the brakes went out on my car. Very mushy, but still operable if I went slow. I took it to my mechanic in town. He fixed the brakeline. Just before the brakes went out, it got noisy, so I talked to him about a new muffler. Later he backed out of it, because he knows my regular mechanic, and he could do it. So, the muffler got replaced. OK, here it gets good. All the while, there was a nasty sound when I would try to start my car, but it would start. I hoped it was just dirt in my starter, and would fix itself. Yesterday, it was raining, and the extra moisture, it wouldn't start at all. A friend put me into contact with yet another mechanic, and we bought a junk-yard starter. He towed the car, and installed the starter. He was afraid it was a gear tooth where the engine met the starter, but it was just the starter.

I think everything that was frozen up in my car unfroze, and one problem followed another, and followed another, just because those parts didn't have a protective coat of ice.

The snow is mostly gone now.

That's the problem with cars. It's one problem after another. My car has had a short somewhere for over a year. BF has checked everything and he's a good mechanic but he can't find the short so he installed an outside shutoff switch to the battery so it can't drain while sitting for several days. It's a PITA but it works.

Glad your car is better now.

 

[Renolizzie]

Take some of ours! It's mud season here. At least you don't have to worry about losing a boot in the horse pen. Actually, where I board Penny now is about as good as it gets. The mud may stick on my boots, but it's not so deep I lose them walking in it. And you don't have to add sand footing to your round pen. It comes with the territory. I'd miss the green, too, but you have a number of advantages.

I do have some advantages. The snow rarely lasts a week, there are almost no bugs [there are buffalo gnats which I am allergic to in the spring and mosquitoes in the summer], the sand is wonderful. Even if you track the wet sand into the house, you can vacuum it up, no problem

 

[Renolizzie]

Early this week the brakes went out on my car. Very mushy, but still operable if I went slow. I took it to my mechanic in town. He fixed the brakeline. Just before the brakes went out, it got noisy, so I talked to him about a new muffler. Later he backed out of it, because he knows my regular mechanic, and he could do it. So, the muffler got replaced. OK, here it gets good. All the while, there was a nasty sound when I would try to start my car, but it would start. I hoped it was just dirt in my starter, and would fix itself. Yesterday, it was raining, and the extra moisture, it wouldn't start at all. A friend put me into contact with yet another mechanic, and we bought a junk-yard starter. He towed the car, and installed the starter. He was afraid it was a gear tooth where the engine met the starter, but it was just the starter.

I think everything that was frozen up in my car unfroze, and one problem followed another, and followed another, just because those parts didn't have a protective coat of ice.

The snow is mostly gone now.

Yep, older cars are much cheaper to own but they need fixing every so often. Glad you are back on the road Zero.

 

[3mg Meniere]

I just hope this string of bad luck doesn't continue. You know, elderly cars sometimes get more expensive to repair than they are worth. I bought her because she was ugly on the outside, and nice on the inside.

 

[tmcase]

I just hope this string of bad luck doesn't continue. You know, elderly cars sometimes get more expensive to repair than they are worth. I bought her because she was ugly on the outside, and nice on the inside.

What kind of car do you have?

 

[tmcase]

Sandy...I think I've caught your drawing fatigue. I haven't touched my drawing in 3 days. I'm not having any problems with it but I just don't feel like working on it. I hate this!

I read where another artist said she works on several works at the same time, alternating between them so she doesn't get bored or in a hurry to finish. I might try that. I haven't gotten very far on this drawing so I shouldn't be bored but I just can't seem to get motivated. I wonder if it's the nerves again.

 

[3mg Meniere]

What kind of car do you have?

'92 Buick LeSabre. By nice on the inside, I also mean under the hood. She is spotty green, bad paint.

I find with writing that I switch off on various tasks, depending on my mood. Creativity flows from the inside, you can't force it to conform to rigid rules of what to do when.