Update

We still haven't been able to change the minds of the insurance company about my MRI. I go for the back X Ray on Monday and then we will go from there. I'm so angry that they just won't let me have the MRI. If it's my MS it won't show on an X Ray and the doctor said that it won't be detailed enough for the other potential problems. So for now I will play their little game but mark my words I will get that MRI one way or the other. They want to send me to PT when I don't even have a diagnosis. I'm not about to let someone with a two year education mess with my back when we don't know what the problem is.
I can't walk, sit or stand without being in pain. I can only walk a few feet before I have to sit down. I can't bend over or stand up without holding onto my cane or furniture and my wheelchair is back in service when I go out.

My gut feeling is that this is a new symptom of MS which isn't good. My MS has mainly attacked my spinal cord so that's why I think it's MS. I'm also tired all the time and my hand tremors have been a lot worse.

I'm not doing much of anything right now other than playing The Sims 3 and watching my collection of TV DVD's of old shows.

Chelsea is still spending the weekends with us but she will be gone on a school trip this weekend. She has been pretty upset over my being sick but she knows that this is going to happen from time to time. She was only four when I got sick so she doesn't remember a lot about me before then.

Now that I have rambled aimlessly I'm going to try and get some sleep. I will post again when I know more.

Love and Hugs,
Lisa Ann

Brookgreen Gardens 2 and an Update

I have had a hard time deciding on the photos to post. None of them do this place justice.






Now I have an update for you. I wish I could tell you that things are looking better but they aren't. In fact things are looking much worse than we had thought. This problem is a new development so it's added to everything else. I am in a great deal of pain when I walk, my back hurts non stop and I can't bend at the waist. The doctor gave me three possible causes. A collapsed vertebra, spinal stenosis or MS. My insurance company is refusing to pay for an MRI before I have X rays and a month of PT. By the time we get everything set up I won't get my MRI before the first of the year. I have been ordered off my feet so I will be in my wheelchair for awhile. I'm very upset as you can imagine. Please pray that we can get the insurance company to change it's mind. Michael and my doctor are trying to get through to them. The doctor says that the x ray and the PT aren't going to do anything to help me.
Until we know what the problem is my doctor can't do anything to help me.
I will let you know what the insurance company says but I'm not holding my breath.
Hugs,
Lisa Ann

Brookegreen Gardens Part One

This is my favorite place to visit when we go to Myrtle Beach. It is an outdoor sculpture garden. It was founded in 1931 by Archer and Anna Huntington. You can find out more about it at http://www.brookgreen.org
We took over one hundred photos but I will try to pick out a few of my favorites today and share some more next time. Click on the photos for a better look.

The Huntingtons.

This is my favorite place. These trees have been here since the 18th century. There are benches to sit on and just enjoy the peacefulness.






Hugs,
Lisa Ann

Home Sweet Home!

It's always good to come home. We had a wonderful trip. Health wise I managed. We just took things slow and I spent a couple of days in the hotel. It was fine by me. I could see the ocean from the sofa and the bed so I had the doors open and just enjoyed the breeze and the view. The weather was perfect all week.
I have a bunch of pictures to share but I'm going to break them down over a couple of posts.
This was the view from our room.


How I managed to read eight books with a view like that I don't know.

We went to the Imax, did some shopping, visited Brookgreen Gardens and enjoyed the amazing food. It was nice to have some time with it just being the two of us.

Next time I will post the photos from Brookgreen Gardens. I took a ton of those. I'm not having a great day and I don't feel up to posting them right now. I have managed to make it to a few of your blogs today and left a comment or two. Maybe tomorrow I will get to a few more.

Love and Hugs,
Lisa Ann

Doctor's Visit

I just wanted to give you a short update. I saw the doctor on Friday and it went about like I thought it would. He increased my Cymbalta and ordered an MRI of my spine. As usual he tried to talk me into going on another injection but I don't want to do it. I tried one for six months and developed some major problems with it. So we just try to treat the symptoms and ride it out. There's just not much they can do.

We are leaving for Myrtle Beach in the morning. I don't know how I will do with such a long drive. It's a six hour drive and I'm having issues with sitting so it may be a rough ride.

Please keep Chelsea in your prayers. I don't want to go into details but she is headed for trouble. I didn't sleep at all on Thursday night. Being a teenager today has to be awful. It was bad when I was young so I can't imagine what it's like now.

I guess that's about it for now. I will take lot's of pictures. We still have to pack so I better get going.

Update

I want to thank everyone for their sweet comments, thoughts and prayers. That said I'm doing a little better. My hands aren't shaking as badly. My pain issues come and go right now. I guess the correct term for that is "break through pain."
I have a doctor's appointment on Friday but I really don't expect much based on past flair up's. I will post an update when we get home.

We are still going to the beach in a week. I'm not about to miss that trip. I will rest when I need to and do as much as I can. Michael just wants to get out of town for the week.

If you would keep Michael in your prayers to. He's having some problems with his Diabetes. He's also applying for a promotion at work which would mean an extra $10,000.00 a year. I don't want him to do it because it's a lot more stress than the job he has now. I will support him regardless but I don't like the job. Running two clinics is just to much for one person.

I will do my best to visit everyone this week. I love and appreciate all of you so much.