Walk In Bathtubs

After I consciously acknowledged that it was becoming dangerous getting in and out of the bathtub. I decided to look into the new ads I've seen for the 'Walk in Bathtub'. While researching, I found that there is a product that's MUCH less expensive out there that is exactly what I need. It is called a Bathtub Conversion kit. The center of the bath tub is cut out and replaced with a finished piece that allows one to step into the tub through the opening. Yeaaaa. It looks like the tub was made that way. However,I'm having a huge problem finding a company here in Southeast Florida that installs that particular product. I really don't want to nor need to replace my bathtub with a new tub that comes with the middle already cut out...It would cost at least twice as much. I'll keep checking around..with hopes of finding it locally.

More New Beginnings

I usually use the local [60 cents each way] bus to my doctor's office, but because we've had so much heavy rain this week I decided to prearrange for para-transit service [$2.50 each way]. Was I ever happy that I made that choice...just before I was to be picked up the skies opened up... very heavy rain with lightning and thunder. It was raining when Ireturned.

At my first Berevement Support meeting I was disappointed becauee it was just me and the facilator. However, I was happy at today's meeting where there were 5 of us plus the facilator.. Rather than looking for another group, I look forward to getting together with this group. It was interesting.. one lost a mother, one lost a wife and another lost a son.
After the meeting was over I found that I have a new friend. She volunteered to drive me home and as we talked, we found we have a number of interests in common.

JULY MEDICAL CHATTER

I've been given a series of 3 epidurals every 6 months since the first of 2008. In March I had 3, which did not work,so in April, I had 3 more using different meds..they helped some. I had 3 this month which they said were 'more specific' [aka a new med]. A Pain Management Physician in a Surgical Center does the procedure. He had recently mentioned that he would like to see a medical report re the condition of my back. Over the weekend when I was filing papers, I found 3 MRI reports as well as a Bone Density report, which I took today for him to see. After reviewing them, he said that my back is really bad and he's suprised that I'm able get any pain relief.
Last week, he said that 'my back is so tight' that it is difficult to get the meds to the area where they're needed. Well, the pain during the procedure today was greater than EVER before..it made me scream. The OR staff was trying to reassure me that it was hurting so much because the meds were going where it was needed. I'm praying that they were right. Later or next week, hopefully I'll learn that they were right and not just helping me to endure the pain.

Because of the increasing negative changes I'm observing in my body, I know that in the not too distant future...I will need assistanance maintaining my mobility.. When I leave home I use my cane. I can manage inside without it because my apartment is comapct. Last month I asked my Primary Physician if there's a possibility that my insurance and/or Medicare would pay for a scooter for me. She firmly assured me they would not!! So I started to research small portable scooters. When a quarterly dividend check arrived,I decided not to reinvest it as usual...I purchased a scooter which I feel will be exactly what I will need and be happy with in the near future.
The pain doctor's comment today re my back's condition confirmed that I made a wise decision to purchase my scooter.

I'M GLAD TO BE BACK

It's a great feeling to be back blogging again.. There have been so many times that I wanted to return to my blog but there was so much to write about that I couldn't decide where to begin.. I felt like I was about to begin in the middle of a story. I understand now that it would have been so much easier/better if I had done short blogs rather than waiting to write regular length blogs.
Meanwhile, I joined Facebook on a dare and I'm so happy that I did because I've reconnected with many of my former TWA coworkers.
You must forgive me if I seem to ramble as I try to catch up.
Yesterday I attended my first Bereavement Support meeting at the Senior Center.. Because it's summertime when people are away on vacation and/or just have other things to do, the usual number of attendees did not show up. It gave me the opportunity to bond with the facilator. It's not my first support group, and I expect this one will be a lot different, but in what way I'm not sure.