It’s Complicated

Andy phoned the place for the spinal tap/lumbar puncture this morning and their answering machine said to leave his name and information and they would phone back within 24 to 48 hours. We were relieved about that…it meant we didn’t have to drive to Santa Fe today.

Monday evening we got an automated call about Andy’s appointment with the neurologist tomorrow, saying it was in Española, not Santa Fe. The gal who phoned Friday evening said it was in Santa Fe, that when we got there if someone at the front desk said it was in Española just insist that was wrong.

Andy phoned this morning just to be sure and to tell them I would be coming too. The gal said before COVID that would be no problem, but she would put it in their notes so they would know. Andy and I have decided if important information is discussed, for either one of us, we both need to be there so we can both hear it. It’s way too much trouble trying to remember it all and tell it to the other person. If we’re both there we can talk about it on the trip home and get it into our longer-term memories. That’s just the way it is, and it cracks me up.

Anyway, we’ll leave around 8 tomorrow morning for the 9 o’clock appointment.

Andy had another episode up on the land yesterday afternoon. Again it lasted about 15 minutes. We think he’s not having mini strokes, it’s more apt to be a brain bleed. The symptoms are similar, but much more mild, than the time he wound up in the hospital for a few days two years ago.

To be continued….

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28 Responses to It’s Complicated

  1. The OP Pack says:

    We will keep you both in our thought and prayers.

  2. Cindi says:

    I’m so glad when I had someone with me when I met some of my doctors.
    That way we both got the information and I didn’t doubt what I had heard or how I understood it.
    And especially with you and Andy, you both need to have all the information!
    I will have you both in my thoughts and prayers tomorrow, thinking only really positive happy thoughts drive carefully!
    XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO

  3. Rose says:

    You know, so far I have not had to deal with having a hard time going with Roger. I hope it goes that way with you two. Will have you both in my thoughts and prayers…

  4. I hope you are able to see the best doctors and get good answers. Thinking of you. I agree it is so good to have 2 people hear the doctor… Hope they let you do that!

  5. Hootin' Anni says:

    You both will be on my mind and in my prayers…this has to be scary.

  6. Ann Thompson says:

    A doctors appointment is much more difficult now than it used to be. Every patient should be allowed to have someone with them.
    Hope all works out for Andy, I”ll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers

  7. I wholeheartedly agree about both of you needing to be there to hear what the doctor has to say. (Even Tom’s oncologist said so, years ago.) ‘Just checked the time in N.M.; holding y’all in my thoughts and prayers!

  8. MadSnapper says:

    not sure what time zone you are in, it is 9:08 here, prayers for a safe trip and for the test to find the problem and a way to address it and for his good health…. we do the same thing, both must be in on the talk from any doctor… we have had no pushback from his doctors about us both being there… one doctor said she always advises the patient to have both.

  9. Wow, I hope he’s not going up to the land alone!

    When Andy is in a doctor’s office alone, could you have him call you and put the cell phone of speaker so you can hear the conversation? My niece did that with her father once.

    • Linda Sand says:

      You appointment should be over by now; I hope it all went well.

      Misadventure’s comment made me wonder if I could record a conversation with my doctor so we can both replay it? I tend to think of my questions after having left the office.

    • Jean says:

      Of course he goes up to the land alone! That’s why we have his Garmin tracker complete with an SOS button. And we also have the internet up there so he can email me, and our cell phones so I can text him (the reception is poor so he can’t always text back.) See for instance Bless Email and the Garmin.

      I went with him to his appointment and the doctor was happy I did.

    • Jean says:

      Linda,
      Thanks. I would ask the doctor if he minds. Or else get in the habit of writing things down. We often write down questions for the doctor before we go in. One reason for us both going to important doctors’ visits is it would be such a pain to have to relay all the information to the other even if we had perfect memories, which we don’t!

  10. My heart goes out to you…

    You certainly do have a good attitude, which has to be helpful.

    And as to being allowed, or not being allowed (because of Wuhan Virus rules) to accompany him, into doctor……..

    We say we each, need the other. For example,…. I can see better than he can, and he can hear better than I can, and he needs me, to walk into the office.

    We thus, had no problems, going in, together.

    ?????

    • Jean says:

      We didn’t have any problem with me going too, and when I went to see the implant surgeon a few months ago they usually wanted only the patient, but when it was time to talk to the doctor they called Andy so he could come in too. I’m guessing I’ll have to wait in the car when he gets the lumbar puncture, and I have to wait in the car or outside of the waiting room when he goes for his eye treatment. That makes sense so we don’t object.

  11. Praying it all went well today.

  12. Bruce Taylor says:

    Vibes! Good Vibes! Coming your way.

  13. am late to comment – agree with everyone else – that all is going to just be part of your continued journey together…

    • Jean says:

      Yes, we make a good team. Fingers crossed we get a few more years together, but the main thing is we’re making the most of what we have.

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