See ya later PEG

    Just a quick note here before I get started. My computer crashed shortly after writing this and it's taken me this long to recover the files ( still haven't gotten the computer up ). I wound up having to remove the hard drive and transfer all of the files to another hard drive that I keep as a backup. And no, I hadn't had a chance to back it up just before it crashed. Mostly I'm letting everyone know so that in case I don't get this figured out it might be a while before I can post again. This is being done on a borrowed machine. That being said, on with the news.

2-25

   Wow, today was one for the record books. We were getting ready for two appointments this morning when the GI lab called to reschedule an appointment we had had to cancel Monday due to the weather. It had been nasty with ice covering everything, so rather than risking life and limb, we had called to cancel Monday. They actually had an opening today, so we just added that one to the pile. The weather this morning was rain and snow, and if you have ever had to travel through DFW traffic with this type of weather, you could appreciate the fact that we were a little apprehensive about driving 75 miles in that stuff. However, the first appointment wasn’t until 1:00, so we waited until 11:00 to leave. By then almost everything had melted and there wasn’t any problem with traffic.

   The first stop was the dental lab where they took impressions for the dentures the VA will provide. The doctor there asked why I wasn’t going to the Ft. Worth clinic and I told her that it was because they had set it up for Dallas. She then called the Ft. Worth clinic and made arrangements to have the rest of my dental appointments done there. Score one for the VA saving us gas and time by moving it 30 some miles closer.

   Next was the GI lab to get the PEG tube removed. I had done some research on the web about this and I was more than a little nervous about this, and as I was about to see, for good reason. The doctor there said she was going to yank it out, that it would hurt, but only for a little bit. #%&@ Man was she ever right about that one. It felt like I had been hit in the stomach with one of those sling shots that you draw back to arms length to shoot. The pain only lasted several minutes, but it was intense. This thing had a mushroom looking thing on the end that was in my stomach. The doctor said that the stomach should seal itself in about 8 hours or so, and the hole in my abdomen would heal in several days and to stay out of soaking bathes until then.

   Then we were off to the ENT clinic for a routine checkup. Everything was fine there and soon I should be able to schedule these appointments a couple of months apart. We were in and out of there in about 15 minutes, another record.

   The greatest thing about today was that since the weather was expected to be bad this morning, traffic was a bit lighter than normal and there weren’t as many people clogging the halls to push your way through. In all, we drove 75 miles, made it through three appointments, drove back 75 miles, and made it back home by 4:30. That’s why I thought it should be a record.

   Also worth mentioning, everyone, and I mean everyone at the VA today was extremely nice and very helpful. While this isn’t a record by any means, it certainly deserves mentioning. I don’t know if it was the lighter patient load, ( although it was only down by a third or so ) or if there was just something in the air, but all in all it was a very good day there.

   Later that evening

I waited as long as I thought was necessary, (actually my stomach was growling) and I had my usual lunch of ramen noodles with an egg cooked in and some sausage with cheese. Thankfully there were no repercussions with the stomach. Normally I would have had some ice cream a little later, but I didn’t want to push it. Tomorrow will be another matter.

   3-2

   As you can see, several tomorrows have come and gone. My scar looks more like a bullet hole and I'm eating better than ever.

   If I can revive one of the laptops I have I'll try to get something more out before Teresa's surgery at the end of the month. I know my audience is limited, but I can honestly say I appreciate every one of you. Thanks for all of your prayers and don't be strangers.