Turning Your Sails Into the Wind: Adjusting Our Tact

      It was a hell of a summer with all of our projects.  We completed them despite numerous pitfalls and landmines.  Near the end came some inevitable issues regarding both Barb's and my health.  This is not a blog post of blame, but merely a published realization of what happens at our age.
       For me it was simpler; a matter of my dental bridge installed in 2002 needed replaced.  This required two appointments several weeks apart.  This time they did remove the tooth stub anchors  (that had been root canaled) and replaced them with screws into the jaw line.  4 Adavan 90 minutes prior to the procedure and the subsequent Novocain injections gave me exactly what I needed...…..a lack of pain recognition, or any recognition for that matter.  Dr. Soenen and the folks at Birch Street Dental do excellent work and I have always appreciated their results.  Also, I needed to adjust the prescription for the inhaler for my COPD.
      Barb's history has been more involved.  Shortly after my departure to Washington in late July she made an appointment for pain in her lower left side.  These procedures were accomplished at Au Sable Medical in Grayling due to the unavailability of appointments at Traverse City Munson, Gaylord, or Cadillac.  After several procedures this was diagnosed as a golf ball sized kidney cyst.  They gave her pain medication which helped most days, but not all.

      I returned home the 24th of September happy to be with my family again and able to help Barb through this.  Unfortunately several evenings later Barb experienced a heart attack.  She spent several days in Traverse City at Munson Hospital under excellent care.  She underwent a Chemical Stress Test (where she experienced another arrest) as well as a Heart Catheterization and Angio-plasty where they found very little blockage to define what had happened.  She was released two days later where she recuperated at home.  It took her about 10 days to get back to 'nearly normal'. LOTS and LOTS of sleep.
      However, her cyst pain remained.  They determined the cyst might be aspirated (rather than removed).  This involves draining and backfilling the cyst with alcohol to dissolve it.  Finally she heard from AuSable Medical where they informed her they had referred their recommendations to Munson Medical in Traverse City.  Unfortunately, Munson TC declined to perform the surgery due to the cysts location on the kidney, but in too close proximity to the spleen and bladder.  The next referral was to the University of Michigan Medical Center in Ann Arbor.  We decided to take a more aggressive approach to this.  We became 'patient advocates' where we got answers or demanded them in order to proceed.  3 days later we were informed they would need VA approval in order to perform the surgery.  However, it took us only one day to get the VA approval, forward it to Au Sable and then hound them to forward it to UM.  The final phone call came soon after.

University of Michigan Medical Center

      Unfortunately when the call came it was to schedule Barb for a pre-surgery consult on October 31st.  Surgery would come after.  We were running out of 'weather window' so we packed up the RV and winterized our house in order to depart.  We traveled south to Ann Arbor. Nearly all the campgrounds in this area are only open till the end of October, but we did discover two campgrounds open year around in Monroe, about 35 miles to the SE.  This is farther than we wanted to commute and more than we wanted to pay, but we didn't have much choice this time of year.  Averaging 12.9 mpg on the trip down we set up camp at Harbortown RV Resort.  Full hookups with cable, golf, indoor and outdoor pool, clubhouse, laundry etc. for a pricey $56/day.   A very nice park.  It did, however rain and snow mix most of the time we were here.  Later on when we switched over to the monthly rate it became $675/month.  There are nice laundry facilities here, but they are a bit on the expensive side so we do ours in town.
      We did drive over 2 days early just to test the route and see where we needed to be.  We test drove the route from the campground to UM 2 days early.  Regardless, we came back to camp and made our reservations in the long term loop for November.  Again, a lack of choices, but at least we had a home while we waited.  Her surgery consult appointment on Halloween did not go well.  The Urologist did not think the Cyst on her Kidney was big enough or in the right place to cause pain.  Aspiration of the cyst was a simple outpatient procedure.  However, when he palpated Barb's lower left front she screamed.  He referred us to the Main UM Medical Center Emergency Room. 

Harbortown RV Resort

      We spent 6 hours at the UM Emergency Room to no avail.  Blood Work, Urine, and another CAT Scan turned up nothing.  All internal organs are fine and there is no evidence of Diverticulitis or other Colon Issues.  No fever, no temperature, no infection...….just pain.  They simply updated her pains meds (which didn't make me too happy) and sent us on our way.  So we were forced to regroup again and contact the VA.  We are still awaiting notification for Barb's Gastroenterologist appointment.
      While we waited even longer we spent a bit of time exploring the area when Barb was up to it.  We got to visit the Shipshewana on the Road at the Monroe County Fairgrounds.  We fought out way through hundreds of folks so Barb could buy a new Alpaca sweater and some Amish beef sticks.  We  also checked out the River Raisin Nat'l Battlefield and Sterling State Park on Lake Erie as well.  We endured some pretty cold days/nights while we were here, with about 10 nights being off the grid from RV water and running our tank heaters.    

      While camped here I prepared some tasty meals, among many other things to include: Seafood Gumbo, Beef Pasty/gravy, Hidden Valley Ranch Crockpot Pork Steaks, Miso Soup, Tabasco Smokin' Firehouse Ribs, Clam Chowder, Taco Night, and Wild Boar Meatloaf.  After awhile it became evident that we would be here long enough to enjoy our Thanksgiving meal here as well.  We found the perfect small 'bird' and enjoyed Turkey, Dressing, Gravy, Cranberries, and Deviled Eggs.  Small feasts on the road, but plenty of leftovers!  

Beef Pasties w/gravy and Steamed Cauliflower

Tabasco Smokin' Firehouse Ribs w/corn n tater salad

Wild Boar Meatloaf

Pigs in a Blanket with Brie Cheese

      So for now we are STILL here in Monroe awaiting further word.  We did plan on a shorter travel circle this winter to save money, but this is ridiculous.  It has been 17 days since Barb was first seen at UM.  The VA office in Traverse City has been very supportive and going out of their way for Barb, but the referral process into the larger VA MACHINE is another matter.  So that's it for now.  Unfortunately, we experienced  our first truck malfunction  since our warranty expired back in February.  The throttle body digital fuel injector controller failed and the part had to be ordered which put us behind one day leaving home at the beginning.  Cost? Eight million dollars.  Did you really think I was going to tell you?  During this stop I did upgrade the RV factory onboard battery with a new Trojan Deep Cycle with better amp hours.  It is getting colder these days, but the park has winterized, insulated, heated utility pedestals so we're staying warm.  You do go through a bit of propane during this type of camping, but that is one item here that is relatively cheap.  We cross our fingers and pray that it won't be much longer, but if need be...….it is what it is.  For now we'll just hunker down, enjoy Thanksgiving, and wait on that phone call.  Hey, we're saving money.  We just need to get Barb healthy.

"I am not young enough to know everything" 

Oscar Wilde

WiFi courtesy of Harbortown RV Resort MiFi