Ron

[olbod]

How is Elizabeth if you dont mind me asking ?

[p38arover]

Much better, thanks Robert. Since amputation of one of her fingers, she's in much less pain. The other fingers are still a worry, though - but at the moment we aren't looking at amputation of the whole hand.

She's still on a fair bit of pain relief with morphine and Lyrica (for nerve pain, not epilepsy) but its manageable unlike before the amputation.

No, she wasn't a smoker or diabetic.

[Redback]

Good to hear Ron, let's hope she continues too improve.

Baz.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Hi Ron

Sorry to hear about Elizabeth's medical worries, I was on Lyrica for a couple of years for neck and referred hand/arm pain, was costing $150/pack at least it's now on the PBS.

Diana

[numpty]

Sorry to hear about Elisabeths woes Ron.

Please give her my regards.

[justinc]

:(:(

remember what I said about hugging her Ron; do it c a r e f u l l y...:)

We are thinking of her...(oh, and you I suppose too...:p)

JC and family

[p38arover]

Will do. Thanks everybody.

We seem to spend our week doing the rounds of doctors, Physio, etc. At least this week we have a relaxing day when we go to Guide Dogs at Glossodia to see the last dog we looked after graduate as a fully trained guide dog. We were sorry to lose him.

We might even take the dog we are currently looking after - she is a qualified guide dog (not that you'd know it!) - whilst her client is away. We've had her for nearly 3 months. She's a lovely dog and thoroughly bonded to me. If I go out, she waits out the front for hours and won't stay in when Elisabeth calls. She'll come in then go out again (we have a dog flap). Anywhere I go, she follows.

[Chucaro]

My best wishes to your wife, i hope that the medicine does not have a serious addiction. I was worried about my wife taken Symbalta :(

Ron, out of topic, what the Guides Dog do with dogs that are not suitable?
Are they selling them or are relocated in other agencies?

[p38arover]

When they took her off the very high levels of drugs they were using to try to control the pain in hospital, she definitely had withdrawal symptoms.

Re guide dogs, if they fail as a guide dog, they try training them as pets as therapy dogs. If they fail that, then they are offered back to the puppy raisers as a pet. If not taken, they are offered elsewhere as pets.

We had a dog a couple of years back that failed both. They were polite and called her "too exuberant" - Reni certainly was! We raised her from a pup until she was 14 months old. She'd have made a great pet. She was really attached to me.

[p38arover]

This is the one who is graduating this week. He was to be a stud dog but he was so good, they took semen then neutered him before training him to be a guide dog.

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/164871-latest-addition-family.html

[Chucaro]

Thanks Ron, I am thinking more and more in having another dog.
Is a toss between having again a Great Pyrenean or between a Labrador or Golden Retriever.

[p38arover]

I'm afraid we are lab lovers. We've had three of our own (plus one border collie). All the guide dogs except one have been labs. The other was a golden retriever which we raised from a pup. She also earned her stripes and became a guide dog.

[Tombie]

:(:(

remember what I said about hugging her Ron; do it c a r e f u l l y...:)

We are thinking of her...(oh, and you I suppose too...:p)

JC and family

Do it carefully. And often :)

Best wishes and thoughts for you both.

[33chinacars]

Hi Ron

Thinking of you & your better half. Hope it all is up hill from now on in.

Gary

[olbod]

Ron, this condition that Elizabeth has been experiencing, does it have a name ?

The thing been giving me a bit of hurry up this year is called "Cervical Spondylosis ".

Hope she gets properly well soon.
Women are much tougher than us, eh.

[Chucaro]

Ron, this condition that Elizabeth has been experiencing, does it have a name ?

The thing been giving me a bit of hurry up this year is called "Cervical Spondylosis ".

Hope she gets properly well soon.
Women are much tougher than us, eh.

Rob, I suffer that condition together with the Lumbar spine for the last 21 years :(
Few doctors like to operate but couple of neurosurgeons said only if I am in a wheel chair.
Another doctor suggested to start killing the nerves one by one :eek::mad:
After several years unable to do nothing by start swimming backstroke my pain improved.
The main problem for me are the prescribe drugs. Pain killers can bring addiction and inflammatory drugs ruin your guts in no time.
Codeine together with valium 4 times a day near kill me.
Now my dear wife have the same condition together with osteoporosis :(

[newhue]

Ron....good on you. It amazes me people like you who have had there share of grief just keep giving. I only know a little of you from bits on here; but to give what you have to this forum and to blind people now I read, just good on you.

I get frustrated with Doctors, often clients of my builder, who charge like no other, park their flash cars in there flash houses, whinge about a movement crack, then have nothing when people like Elizabeth need help.

It's amazing how your efforts to improve people's lives is somewhat different to a doctor, both make the world go round but yours is subtle and free. The would be stuffed without doctors, but also without people like you.

If the dog makes you smile give you reason, keep the dog you deserve it.

thanks

[olbod]

Chucaro, G'day.
I dont worry about the pain that goes with it and at the moment after ten years I dont bother taking anything for it.
Developing problem this year is getting slightly dizzy spells and being unbalanced walking around. Yet to be investigated.
Its unpleasent at times when I try to do things like work on me Disco. What should take half a day can take a day or more at times. I find myself putting off starting something because its too much of a bother. Bugger.
I dont have any trouble when driving because I am sitting up straight and looking ahead and just glancing at the rear view mirrors. Sometimes tho when I get out I wander all over the place rather than a straight line.
Rather tiring because I walk miles further than I need to !!!
I have been thinking that given the problem free driving experience, I could try wearing a neck brace at times when I have to do stuff that requires a lot of movement and twisting and turning ?
We'll see. I will start the medical testing via imaging when I get around to it in the next few weeks after I have some further eye opps at the end of the month. The tear ducts and drains are stuffed and my eyes water constantly which creates blurred and double vision. Combine that with dizzyness and poor balance and I am a joke.
Eye opps called "Tarsal Cautery and Punctal Probe ".
Oh well, if I wasn't doing this I suppose I would be doing something else.
eh.

[Chucaro]

Good day Robert, I will send you a PM so we do not highjack Ron's thread ;)

[DiscoMick]

Never met either of you, but I certainly wish you the best and echo the advice of others to continue regular hugs.
I feel a bit guilty being largely in good health, apart from needing regular botox injections to deaden an eye muscle and stop it twitching. Magnesium also helps.
Dogs are such good therapy - everyone should be fortunate enough to have one.
Funnily enough, I recently asked a former refugee if his family had ever had a dog and he replied, "We did have one, but we had to eat it." :o
Sort of puts it all in perspective, really.

[p38arover]

Ron, this condition that Elizabeth has been experiencing, does it have a name ?

No, it's due to restricted blood supply to the right hand but reasons are unknown. She does have a 90% blockage to the sub-clavian artery on the RHS but they can't stent it as the stent would erode through the oesophagus. Two angioplasties have failed. They could do a graft and bypass but that is considered too dangerous and could possibly cause a stroke.


Ron....good on you. It amazes me people like you who have had there share of grief just keep giving. I only know a little of you from bits on here; but to give what you have to this forum and to blind people now I read, just good on you.

Thanks very much but, in reality, we get far more from the dogs than we give. We love them and they give love back.


I get frustrated with Doctors, ...

Our daughter is 4-1/2 years into her medical degree (she is already an RN working part time in Tamworth ICU) and, boy, do we get frustrated with her! :D

[rb30gtr]

I'm afraid we are lab lovers. We've had three of our own (plus one border collie). All the guide dogs except one have been labs. The other was a golden retriever which we raised from a pup. She also earned her stripes and became a guide dog.

Really sorry to hear about your wife, but I am glad to read things are getting better.

Gotta love a Lab! They are an amazing breed, hard to match the unconditional love they give and give and give and then give some more.