~Experiences~

A new friend asked me what did I experience as I realized

something was wrong with my legs. When I try to think back,

I get a headache... :-D .. no.. just kidding. . I try to put a date,

year especially. I was living in the UP of Michigan when I can

remember my legs would ache if I walked for too long. We

had gone to see a friends car that had gone down the hill at

Horse Race Rapids. Kids drinking and not setting the parking

break when there were signs all over to remind the drivers.

Well they didn't, the car went over the side.. The boys mom

was furious. The DNR even gave the boys, 3 of them, tickets

and they had to work for them for damaging the woods with

that car.!. This was in 90. The year my mother comitted

suicide, she wasn't able to handle the death of my Dad the

year before. She lasted 8 months after he died. They had

been married 56 years. .

When we went to see that we took our fishing gear of course

as there is great fishing there down in the gorge. To get down

there there is a long series of steps...not steep but wide, a

very gradual slope. After we fished and started back up I

noticed I was having pain in the calves of my legs. When I

moved to Green Bay in 90, I had a very strenuous and fast

paced job on your feet constantly.. only time you sat was when

you had your break.. It was a bank clearing house. I would go

for my breaks and sit, then when I got stood up my feet hurt

terribly... I went to the Dr and she said I had severe arthritis

in my feet, heels especially and ankles. She predicted that in

10 years I would possibly be in a wheel chair as I wouldn't be

able to walk. By 2000 I WAS in a wheelchair, but NOT because

of the arthritis, well maybe in part, but it was because my legs

had failed, I had by then at least each leg bypassed 3 times.

They all failed. I had stints put in; I had them ballooned; that

did not work.. It did for a while. but not long.

What I felt was pain that steadily increased in the calf of my

legs. The longer I stayed up and on my feet the worse it got

till I just couldn't stand it and had to sit.. When I sat it got

even worse for a minute or so, then it would gradually subside.

It was horrible pain. And not a thing would stop it until I got

off my feet. Before I had a bypass the pain by then would

almost be constant and I could not be on my feet at all... I

would know it was time for that leg to be bypassed...


Ive had 2 abdominal bypasses as well... The first one in 97,

the 2nd in 2000. That's why I cant lay on my left side. If I

sit just right you can feel it down my side. How I knew some

thing was wrong was because about 20 minutes or so after I

would eat the stomach pains about drove me crazy. I would

almost double over in pain it hurt so bad. The abdominal

artery was clogged and when you eat, those muscles that are

moving that food through your body their blood supply is

lowered cuz its working to process the food you ate. The

same with legs.. When you walk you are using those muscles,

that are fed with blood.. when that main artery is blocked,

less blood for those muscles and then they cramp up; work

harder; thus the pain.. its really the muscles that are hurting.

The abdominal byass the first time was done at the IU Med

Center in Indy. I was high risk and the Dr sent me down

there. I was there for a month. David has family down there

that kept me company and David came down on the week ends

until I went home. The 2nd abdominal was done 2 or 3 months

after my triple heart bypass. NOT FUN! but I made it...

Smoking is the main cause of PVD, stress and high cholesterol

the other.. I did not know smoking caused this. I only knew of

cancer that they even have put warning labels on cigarettes.

I wonder why they don't say you will lose your legs as well. I

do think PVD is a lot like Burgers though, from what I hear

and have read. I don't know anyone with PVD but I know of

2 ladies with Burgers, both are amputees.

Penny came today and we are all clean. We arent really too

messy so Penny really doesn't have to work hard. I have

been planning ahead to Christmas.. There are some special

things I have and need to have them fixed so Penny is on

that mission today. Family things that need to be passed

on and I think Christmas is the best time. I talked to the

boy last nite.. I havent heard from Donnie since he was

here on the 13, which was his birthday, so I remember.

Hes working both jobs and in between trying to get his

garage finished. He stays busy... He knows to be in touch

at least once a week but you know how kids are you have

to remind them once in a while to keep in touch... Every

one is well.. the 3 grands and 4 great grands here are ok,

and from what I gather so are my other 5 grands..I'm

glad.. I have a teeeeny tendency to worry... I think that's

my middle name really :-)

Penny made a tuna noodle casserole for me today and its

really good.. theres enough for tomorrow too. I should be

getting my angel food tomorrow too, restock my freezer,

I get nervous if it looks too empty :-) Time to post this

and get out of this chair for today.. I got up kinda early

but I fell asleep early too.. I missed survivor and I missed

Grays Anatomy.. was the 2 hour premier that I had been

looking forward to watching. I should have taped it.. but

I don't have a VCR plus the fact I couldn't reach it any

way it would have to go on top the TV, then on top the

cable box.. I couldn't reach to put a tape in . Maybe

when I get this bedroom straight I can make arrange

ments to put the TV on something else, then I could

reach a VCR ... Post time but first my GORGEOUS
WEEBLE "nitey nite".

Y'all have a good one now, Y'hear? love ya and THANKS!

Always, Lois ****

"God Bless You", is my prayer today,

I'm so honored to call you "friend".

I pray the Lord will keep you safe,

Until I write again....