No word from anybody in the health field today. I was just so happy to do the chores, pull a few weeds and watch the Olympics. Celine Dion’s finale brought tears to my eyes! I recently watched her documentary called I Am: Celine Dion on Prime Video which tells of her recent health struggles. I am now a fan forever after seeing her perform at the opening ceremonies. It will take your breath away.
Thank you for so many nice cards! Oh my goodness! One in particular had a gift card inside and no return address. Now how can I thank you without an address??? I gave it to Bob for his gas yesterday – we have a nice Kwik Star right here in Garner. What a thoughtful gift! Many thanks!!
I haven’t had a chance to decide what I’ll work on next. I’d still love to have your sewing room pics – so fun!! Any more funny husband stories? I’ve got another reader question to ask very soon.
I had to miss the fair this year which is very disappointing. I guess I could go tomorrow but all I’ll get done is answer questions about why I didn’t hang quilts this year. So I guess I’ll watch the Olympics and read a good book in the porch. Maybe pull a few more weeds?
I’m missing our good friend Betty from Rapid City so I hope she reads this and leaves a comment.
P.S. I set up the Mayo portal this afternoon. Done!!
I hope you hear something from Mayo early next week, as a result of your trip to Rochester this week. I liked the suggestion from a reader regarding seeking out a patient’s advocate person.
Keeper is such a sweet pup; I hope he enjoyed Molly’s visit.
Some dear friends who live about a mile out of town invited us and another couple over last Saturday evening. We sat out enjoying a couple “iced teas” and the beautiful evening, while our host manned the grill.
By Monday, I was having allergy symptoms; clearly, I need to pay attention to when the corn tassels.
So Mary, does Farmer Tim’s corn cause problems for you or Rick?
Take Care/Sending Prayers, 🥰
Jeanie – I don’t believe the corn pollen bothers either of us although Rick had asthma when he was young. Thankfully I think he outgrew it.
It is a tedious process but my dear friend listed:
– the doctors she had visited
– the tests that had been run noting results, “no results”.
– Symptoms. If they were aggravated by food or activity.
– Allergies or sensitivities.
– Special diet considerations, if any.
– Pain, how long.
– What happened at the emergency room
– Future sheduled follow up appointment.
– Date of last MRI, x-ray, or infusion
Then, at whatever given appointment, gave the physician’s assistant or doctor or medical technician the list. The MRI people seemed to really appreciate being able to scan the list as a checklist. Kept five extra copies handy in case the visit involved more then one attendant.
A husband story:
For some reason an insurance form had to be updated so DH was on the phone explaining to the young lady that the company was texting a land line so he could not submit what they asked for. She agreed to help him and started by asking:
“Are you married?”
His answer: “Yes. Sorry”
After a pause he added: “Well. You already have my number.”
Things like this happen all the time.
Like the day he went to Target for a toaster. The clerk announced over the loudspeaker the request and answers echoed in response:
“Posters are next to Office Supplies on Aisle 5.”
“Coasters are in Kitchen/Appliances in the middle of Aisle 12.”
“Roasters? We don’t have any left.”
I guess it depends on the way one phrases the question to begin with.
Li- hahaha!!! Yes, I guess it must make a difference – a couple funny stories there – thanks for sharing them with us. I have obviously have not kept all those tiny details since this all started but dates of visits and phone calls are there. Who knew I should be keeping such tedious records???
So glad to hear you got the portal , hopefully that will help. Worked in my flowers this morning & did other odds & ends. Getting hot out there, suppose to be a heat wave for a couple days, good days to stay in & sew or read or watch the Olympics.
Celine did a wonderful job, good for her !!
Mary, I wondered if you set up the portal for your medical facility in Mason City. I was hoping perhaps there might be information from your visits there. I hope you get some help this week.
Cindy – I have an appt with a Mercy Dr on Tues so I’ll catch up then.
Celine is definitely an inspiration. I was diagnosed with follicular non-Hopkins lymphoma almost two years ago stage 3. I was told I am treatable but not curable and it is a slow growing cancer so it may be 5 years before I need treatment. They say treatment at my stage won’t work so it is just a watch and wait game. It is a little nerving but I have concluded to enjoy what I can when I can and the place I go will be a lot better place than here. I do check your blog often to see if they have contacted you at all. Not knowing is defintely the worse part.
Hoping you hear something in the portal. I like it too, helps me keep track of past doctor visits, compare my cholesterol results from years past.
Take care, Mary, try to rest as much as possible. Reading on the porch sounds like my kind of summer. We’ve had some nice weather here lately. Never did get to the pool as I had planned. Don’t want to think about what I look like in a swim suit. Too hot in SC to sit by the pool!! I just want to be 40 again and not be so self conscious. Our roads are being blacktopped and all I can think is that my grandson would have loved to see all these trucks when he was four or five. lol. He’s 18 now and I miss him terribly. He’s in the Marines now at infantry school in NC. They grow up too fast!!!
Many blessings to you
Hi Mary. I hope you get answers soon. As we get older and have health problems, we want to know what it is and how to fix it. I thought Mayo was a top notch hospital. Maybe they need a reset and do a patient survey and FIX the problems, not just ignore what people say. Patient health is Number 1, That’s why their there!
Regarding the Olympics. Celine was wonderful. Not so wonderful, was the gay representation of The Last Supper!! As a Christian, I do not believe in mocking Jesus! So sad!
Can’t believe Mary that you haven’t got the results yet. Hopefully soon. I have found when something is bothering me working outside just soothes the soul. Patti sorry that you have been feeling poorly. Hopefully the meds kick in and you can see the doctor sooner rather than later.
Yesterday I pulled weeds from a fence line and the day before cleaned up the old canes and weeds in the black raspberry patches. I think I’m down till fall cleanup. Pulled the onions this morning to dry down and hubby and I scrubbed the back porch and the sidewalk below.
Now I hope for some sewing.
Tomorrow will be my 71st birthday. Glad to be still able to do the things I want and need to do.
Enjoy the last few days of July everyone!
Happy, happy birthday! I hope that you get your favorite cake, favorite ice cream, and favorite people to celebrate with you!
Rita, I hope your birthday is a fun one! Stay cool as the temperatures have really bumped up!
Happy birthday Rita! I’m also 71 and find the older I get, the creakier and crankier I get but I still am enjoying this wonderful craziness called life. Hope you enjoy your craziness to the fullest.
I hope you get answers soon about your health. I am also glad you feel like done a few chores and maybe some sewing. I pray the test results are something they can repair easily,so you can get back to your busy life. I know how much you miss the fair-maybe there is another fair nearby that you can visit later on. Keep your spirits up!💗
It is so awful that you have to wait and wait for test results…..What???? Sitting with a book on your great porch sounds good to me….and Keeper will be so happy that you are home.
…Too hot here today to pull weeds…I need to go out at five in the morning if I have too….After being under water for a month, we actually need rain now…My garden is just stunted from being mud for so long…I will not get much this year..
I will watch the Games today!!! Celine was Great!!!
Celine’s performance was spectacular. The dress was beautiful.
I saw a lot of negative comments about the opening ceremony… I thought it was rather cool! The rain was a bummer, but the teams on the boats were so unique. Lighting the cauldron, well the cauldron itself, was spectacular. I’d like to know how they are going to keep the balloon hovering over the games.
I’m glad you got your medical portal set up. Was there any info on it? After I finally got mine set up, there was a lot of past, as a well as current, info on it.
You must be feeling a little better if you’re pulling weeds. Don’t start cooking…you’ll be expected to prepare a whole meal.
It rained lightly yesterday. This morning is beautiful. 56 degrees, no smoke, sunshine.
My daughter in law is coming over, from Laramie, we are going to do computer work and possibly some shoe shopping. She loves new shoes.
Have a wonderful weekend.
Jo – oh, you’re lucky you have someone to help with computer work,,, I just wish I had someone to sit down beside me and let me ask questions. I don’t know what complaint anyone would have about the opening ceremonies – I watched it twice I loved it so much!
I have always heard no news is good news. So we will hold on to that. I hurry everyday to the email to see what has developed. So glad you are feeling better everyday. Take it easy and it will all get done in do time.
Mary,
I came across this article about patient access to their testing information. Thought you might appreciate it.
https://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=98f81042-e15d-42a8-a45f-38f389db162d&appcode=DMNUAT&eguid=28563d35-cd42-40ca-86c3-d291b83aba77&pnum=17#
Watched the Olympics and enjoyed Celine Dion’s performance too. I had tears too and could not understand a word she sang. What a thill for her after all the health problems she has had. I too will following the olympic games and will enjoy seeing the sites that will be shown of Paris. Hope you are feeling the sunshine and enjoying your morning on your porch. Go easy!
Mary, glad you are feeling somewhat better. As others have said, take it slow and easy. Easier said than done, I know.
I was out of town for a bridal shower and am trying to get caught up on the blog posts I missed. So many beautiful quilts. The blue wedding quilt was just stunning. And how quickly it was made boggles my mind. I’m still working on my dragon quilt but at least have a game plan, thanks to some wise counsel from our favorite blog host.
I’m also enjoying the sewing room pictures. Such a great variety of setups to pluck ideas from. My room could use all the ideas it can get! I really need to work on impulse control. Haha
Monsoon season is finally making an appearance. We’ve had over one and a half inches of rain in the last day. Sounds puny to a lot of people but to us in the desert that is huge. Of course now it will be muggy as all get out but that’s the payoff.
Take care all
Pat in AZ
Good job on the portal. I assume you’ve checked with your local doc (even though you don’t like her) to see that she doesn’t have the results? Unless you have a dr @ Mayo, there wouldn’t be someone to call you. Unless they told you different in the ER up there. So glad friends took you up there. Take it easy, it’s looking like a hot week.
Mary H – since she has not taken one single call from me since July 3, I doubt she has the results. The pathology dept has assured me each time I call they will call me – and she puts the emphasis on THEY.
Ok, glad pathology will call. Hope you can find a new local provider. Any friends have a recommendation? Our small town is blessed with having quite a few providers. You should be able to see CT results in portal too. Hang in there. I’d be going crazy!
Mary H – I have an appt on Tuesday with a new GP, actually Rick’s doctor in Britt. I have told my “story” so many time I could throw up. At the ER I’ll bet I went thru it 7 or 8 times. Every time someone else came in the room, I had to start over again. When I breathe deep, sneeze , hiccup I can feel the mass affecting me. Not pain necessarily, but discomfort.
So glad you have an appointment. It is awful to have to re-hash the details. See if he also uses My Chart or some type of portal. Prayers for you. I often ask for a printed copy of reports for my own file. Don’t over-do.
Mary H – I tried to get a printed copy of my biopsy report for my chiropractor who requested it but I was told they now “push” reports – no paper. It was my chiro who originally felt a “nodule” – as my dr. Ignored me.
Oh Mary! What is going on with Mayo? This is unacceptable! Glad to hear you are feeling better, but don’t over do it especially in this heat. My funny hubby story: there were a few years that were very rocky in our marriage. We had gotten into an argument and I called him a narcissistic a***ole, knowing he would not know what narcissistic means. As I stomped past him, I told him he will have to look that word up. His response was how can I if don’t know how to spell it. Needless to say I burst out laughing. BTW,we will be married 49 years in November.
MN Jo – love your story!!! Quite a quick comeback on his part!!
Hey Miss Mary! Please don’t overdo, think of the weeds as a new ornamental grass. My funny husband story: Darrell mainly wears overalls and carries a bandana in his back pocket. I had an article show up in my Google feed about gay men flagging. Apparently you signal by a different color bandana which sexual activity you are interested in and either left or right pocket either giver receiver. His favorite color is orange: translated to “down for anything “ ! He was totally mortified with embarrassment and so glad no one approached him 🤭
Pamela – I am so sheltered that I am shocked at this fact. I would have no idea what color bandana would be. I’ll bet Darrell yanked that orange one out of his back pocket pronto –
I am so happy to hear you are feeling better!
It’s so hard to ignore those weeds! But you should probably just sit back, enjoy the Olympics and maybe enjoy a good book.
I just finished “Sisters Under the Rising Sun” by Heather Morris. It was very good.
About nurse and other women prisoners in the pacific during World War Two.
Please take care of yourself!
I read that book also and could barely put it down!
Oh Mary, I hope you get your results soon. I use My Chart and it’s so nice to have everything in one place. We don’t have enough doctors so it’s nice to have a portal to ask questions and get results. Patti, kidney stones are the worst. Make sure you drink lemon water everyday. Take care, I’m off to watch the Olympics
Oh Mary, all you have been through is so frustrating. I’m glad your portal is up but as you said I doubt it will make any difference.
I did enjoy the opening Olympic ceremony. I can’t believe how it poured there the whole time and everyone just performed. My husband questioned whether those grand pianos would ever be the same after getting so wet. There were rumors Celine would be there. I can’t believe with everything she’s been dealing with that she’d be able to sing again. I know she’s been working hard physically and vocally. Her performance was amazing. Her voice was strong. I watched her a second time in the evening. Yes just a grateful heart she was able to do it and cheering her on. Looking forward to today’s events.
It’s been so brutally hot here. Not as brutal as the west and south have been. The wildfires there are frightening and devastating. Another massive fire in California and Oregon I believe.
All that rain they had in Paris I was wishing we had. Today is just a tad cooler, but just today before it’s back to 90’s.
I’m hoping you get some news on Monday. Praying, praying. I hope you have a reasonably ok weekend. I do check for updates from you each day/night. Thanks for informing us as to what is NOT happening.
Pat in Md
Pat – did you watch Celine’s documentary? I happened across it otherwise I probably wouldn’t have known and yes, the only thing she wanted to do was sing again – and in her native language!!!!! When she stepped on the stage she took my breath away. I, too, was heartbroken over the grand pianos but I suppose that cost is just part of it. I could be watching the Olympics right now but just can’t give up my porch routine. The terror of a wildfire must be horrific! What will all those people do????
I usually start a hand project at the start of the Olympics and watch a LOT of Olympics. I wasn’t ever an athlete but I am glued to the tv during the Olympics. I always say there are the athletes and there are those who cheer them on that is ME.
Mary glad you got the portal set up it was confusing at first but love it now. Instead of calling and going through all the prompts I just ask my question and tell them they can leave a message and I think it is easier on both ends.
Hope you keep feeling stronger and DON’T OVER DO IT
Angie – I am trying very hard to not take on too much but it’s what I like to do! I, too, am an Olympics fan and after they’re over we go back to basketball!!!! Yahoo!
Like everyone else, I hoping you get answers soon. Glad to hear you’re feeling well enough to do some weeding.
I too, was wondering why we haven’t heard from Betty in Rapid City. I miss her comments and hope everything is well with her.
Husband story – he put new license plates on the car from a standing position, bending at the waist. Never stood back to check his work. Later someone noticed they were upside down. I guess bending down, they looked ok.
My son in law has a t-shirt that is printed upside down that says If you can read this, pull me back in the boat.
Most hospitals have what’s called a patient advocate. If you have a problem with the system, no matter what it is ask for the patient advocate and they should help.
Being a former nurse and palled that where health system has gone. It should never be like this!
I pray you get answers soon and am so sorry for this long wait. Feel better quickly.
I was so thankful when I set up that medical portal, too. Test results come to me within a few hours, and it’s helpful to see the results and figure out what questions to ask. You can ask a question right on line, and I have found the office gets back to me very quickly; much faster than calling the office.
We were working on raffle baskets last night at the campground and that’s all the conversation was on is Celine singing and her amazing performance. I will try You Tube when I get home and see if I can view it since we don’t have TV reception. Everyone said it brought tears to their eyes. She’s a fighter in light of her health. I have played many of her CDs when I sew.
Glad the portal is now set up. Yesterday I had my yearly Medicare physical and some changes to meds were made and by the time I drove the mile to come home from their office, all the updated information was there for me to read again (even though I do get a paper copy too). I like that my blood work results are there for me to read before my doctor many times so that way when he reviews them and sends me a follow up note, I can have any questions back in my reply to him all ready.
Kathy – I’m glad I wasn’t the only one in tears watching her sing again and so strong! I wonder how she is today – do you suppose she collapsed after her performance?
I agree with everyone else, don’t overdo the weed pulling; enjoy a good book; easy sewing or tv instead.
Hi Mary, I hope you get word this week from the medical people. Hurry up and wait, seems to be the motto when it comes to getting those answers. But I do hope you can keep the pain at bay.
Here is my funny husband story. My husband still works. He gets a hour for lunch. Once he eats he heads to his car for a power nap. One day, he takes the nap and heads back into work. The police pull up and the manger goes out to see what’s up. They had a report of an old guy in silver Toyota that looked dead. Manager says, ‘He just finished his nap and is back to work. Do you need to talk to him to be sure?” We’ve laughed for days. He needs to put a sign in the window that says “I’m just napping.” I’ve always told he sleeps like the dead. However, I appreciate someone was concerned enough to call for help.
Hope this story gives you a chuckle.
Deb in Ohio
Deb – how is it that men can fall asleep in a blink? I would not know how to take a Power Nap, would you? Yes, be glad someone was concerned, I guess. He might have been having a medical emergency.
Good for you getting the portal set up! During the two years that I cared for my sister when she had pulmonary fibrosis, having a portal saved my sanity. Its like having a copy of the medical chart in your hands …tests and reports are recorded there, and you can communicate directly with doctors and nurses (much quicker than phone calls).
Patti – so sorry to hear of your pain, you’ll be in my prayers!
Patti, I’m so very sorry to hear about your ongoing pain. Hopefully, they will find help for you. Mary, It seems unanimous that you should take time off pulling weeds. They will still be there next week. In my ongoing challenge to get rid of too much stuff, I brought 3 grocery bags of books to our library. They sell them at their book sales for .50 cents for paperbacks and $1.00 for hardcover. They must make quite a bit because the sales are always popular. Truth be told, I think I bought most books at the library. Oh well, recycling works. This week has had me home with a cold. Nothing serious but I don’t want to spread it around and I’m tired anyway. Take care all.
Janet – Connie was working her library’s book sale last week, too.
Hi Mary, you must be feeling a bit better, but don’t overdo the weed pulling! Hi to pauline in south Australia, we visited adelaide on the cruise around Australia, a beautiful city, l bought some chocolate macadamia nuts from Haigh for a quilting friend when we went out to Glenelg. I hope Patti is feeling better, kidney stones are murder!
I went to our quilt guild today,we are going to have a big celebration for the 40th anniversary next may,really looking forward to that! Take care everyone, best wishes from Sandy
I hope you get some answers soon. I thought it was our health care system in Canada that was a mess but yours sounds like it is as well. Keep on.
Mary – So glad you got the portal set up. Yahoo!
Yes, Celine sounded wonderful. I got tears in my eyes. Wow!
I haven’t been in my sewing room for over a week. Unbeknownst to me, one of my cats got into the room and got into some thread stored in a drawer in an old steamer trunk. He was having trouble eating and drinking and was wheezing along with excessive drooling. He acted like he had a hairball. I got him into the vet on Tuesday. He was examined and turned out he had at least a yard of thread down his throat and wrapped around his tongue. He couldn’t get it up or down. We were both (me and Kiki the cat) relieved to get the thread removed. So the vet (who has a great sense of humor) told me I need to put a NO CATS ALLOWED sign on the sewing room door! I have to make a few adjustments to the room before either of my cats steps a paw in that room! Hope to get you a photo of my sewing room soon
Have a nice weekend.
No weed pulling, Mary.
Just take it easy and rest.
Hugs to you.
Sharon, that must have been terrifying. Thank goodness everything worked out.
Sharon G – how is Kiki? I’d say you’ve had your share of “issues” recently, too.
Pat and Mary – It was horrible. I had no idea what in the world was wrong. with Kiki.
Kiki is doing okay. He stopped drooling the same day as the thread removal. He drank a lot of water after the thread removal, and he’s eating kibble again. He had to be watched over by me for a few days for more serious issues such as vomiting or diarrhea He’s back into playing with his twin brother and has been getting back to giving me a kiss or two and cuddling. A pin or needle would have been fatal if one had been attached to the thread and he’d swallowed it. The drawer where the thread came from doesn’t have pins or needles. I couldn’t understand why it happened in the new house, but not in the old house. The steamer trunk where the thread was is closed. Can’t take a chance on the two of them getting into it again. And I still can’t believe they were able to open the drawer to get thread. I am going to move the thread and make a few changes in the room to make it safer for them in the event they get in there.
I was mesmerized during Celine Dion’s performance. I have enjoyed her music over the years and have always wanted to attend one of her concerts. I’m hoping that she returns to Vegas. I watched the documentary on her struggles with her condition. You just have to admire the strength she has. Please don’t overdue pulling the nasty weeds. Sitting in the porch and reading a good book on these hot days is so much better for your aching body. I’m still in ND with my daughter and grands. Tomorrow we will be going to Minot and collecting the 4H static projects from the State Fair. The grands recieved all blue ribbons and one red each. The chickens recieved red, blues, and one reserve champion. It was terribly hot there the first four days we were there. I’m hoping that tomorrow’s a little cooler. I do hope Mayo gets back to you soon.
One of my good friends always had the funniest stories about her husband, Fritz. Here’s my favorite. Fritz was a consultant (anyone with a brief case who is more than 2 hours from home, lol!). Fritz had a business meeting in the city, about 2 hours away (what did I tell you.!). So he was busy getting ready for his road trip … gathering his brief case, wallet, glasses. etc… He happened to notice his toupee and thought he’d just slap it on top of his head (which already had a ball cap on it), so he wouldn’t forget it. So, off he goes on his road trip. He decided to stop in a town along the way to get some money at the bank (probably pre-ATM days). He goes into the bank, and the teller says, “oh, that’s quite the look you’ve got there”. Fritz didn’t know what she was talking about, so when he got out to his car, he looked in the rear view mirror. There was his toupee still sitting on top of his ball cap, right where he’d put it. Even Fritz had to laugh at himself! This has to be one of the funniest stories I’ve ever heard!
Candy – really and truly this happened? Can you imagine what that teller must have really thought?
Oh, for sure it happened! I’ll share a couple more ‘Fritz’ stories another day, just to keep us all entertained, and shaking our heads, lol! Fritz was indeed a character!
mary, glad to hear you got your portal set up so you can get information. but sorry you haven’t heard anything yet,
i finally went to e.r. about 5 pm. pain was so bad i mostly dozed all day. turns out yes i have a kidney stone but it is safely ensconced in the kidney. it is my lower back again. appears i have another bulging disc and the doc could feel my back spasming. no wonder it won’t quit hurting. had blood work and a ct scan. yep, the pneumonia isn’t gone yet either. told me to follow up – have an appt the end of august. doc suggested i get in sooner and mentioned the possibility of the ‘c’ word. don’t want to hear that. doc agreed but better to find out quickly and take care of it. i wonder if he realizes how hard it is to get into a doc in less than a month – tis usually more than that, but i will try. i also have to contact the spine doc again. fortunately he had already said call me if you have an issue and i’ll get the authorizations rolling. really good doc. by the time i got home from the e.r. i went on the portal and got the results of my blood work – all good now – stuff that was bad a couple weeks ago is okay again. also saw the ct stuff. really like this ‘my chart’ app. will get meds early tomorrow morning and hopefully they will kick in quickly.
i truly hope you get info soon. so glad to hear that you are are keeping track of your contacts. i use my aqs desk calendar as a diary and keep all that info there – as well as my quilting progress. i have them back to 1993 i think. prayers for feeling good and for info. gentle hugs, patti in florida (who does run on sometimes – comes from being a ‘shut-in’ i think)
Oh, Patti! I’m so sorry you’re having so much pain. I like those medical portals also. The only problem I’ve had is when I went to a doctor outside my doctor’s group, test results can’t be sent to that portal.
Patti – I am so sorry you’re in such pain once again! The portal is set up – do you think I’ll get results any faster? I doubt it
Hi Mary. Here in South Australia, I didn’t get up at 4am to watch it all, but this morning we saw the last half hour, including Celine. Magnificent! I, too, had goose bumps, and not because of our winter weather. I can watch it again this afternoon in the replay.
We have lots of weeds to pull, because we’ve been away, but it’s too cold out there for now.
Glad you are feeling a bit better than you were when I caught up reading your posts when we returned. Cheers, Pauline in Oz.