Suzette's Guestbook

Suzette Schear  Hi found some stuff on echocardiogram and was really sick. felt the same way before first surgery but found it was an upper respiratory infection thank god. Not happy with my cardiologist so I finally decided to find a new one since this will be a continuing journey for me.  Thank you for your concern.  Just don’t want to be a complainer as I navigate through this 

Suzette Schear  You are correct Richard, I also have been watching the city ground more because of sidewalks are uneven .  I don’t really have that problem on Long Island so I’m thinking to keep with sneakers.  I just get tired a lot I think being my birthday and hitting the big 60 my body just didn’t bounce back the way I wanted it to but I’m still working hard at getting stronger 

Suzette Schear  Betsy you’re so sweet.  No I never got down to the bottom of it.  I rolled my foot under think it might have been poor circulation .  I gave myself a break from the doctors and went on vacation.  I struggled a bit.  I’ll start following up again.  How have you been are you doing okay?  Being your not on often/ is that mean your doing g better☝️

Suzette Schear  I remember reading something - the only difference between human and animals is our ability to reason.  I had a beautiful Bichon could have made him a show dog but I wanted him for a pet.  I know several dogs booted out of daycare you can be consistent either way training but I’m a free spirted person .  I think dogs are the same way at times the smart ones are free spirited and would you really want to break that spirt.  We just came back from vacation and saw the animal human society so many dogs I wanted to adopt 

Richard Munson  After reading about and witnessing todays human population i might question that ability to reason quote. If darwin was alive today he might have a different perspective on things

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Freud talked about the double trends in human beings live and death drives and that we wouldn't overcome our condition towards better until the former surpassed the latter. Now it seems that's not the way things are going.

Suzette Schear  It’s a paradoxical dilemma that why it seems like we all walk on the razor edge.  We are given that extra push with these surgeries and go back to basics.  For me I try hard to stay there but life sucks you back in when you have to be in the rush and grind for survival,  Im too kind and that gets me into trouble.  People can’t understand it. It’s a sad thing.  

Fidel Martínez Ruiz  Yes, indeed Suzette, it´s a paradoxical dilemma the human existence, I like your metaphor "on the razor edge". If you are nice and sensitive and look after the other, perhaps he/she don´t reciprocate or take advantage of you and if you try to be hard or insensitive, you can´t because your own sensitivy is an obstacle. Any way, I prefer to be sensitive, but also sensible and even hard with people that don´t understand such language.

Suzette Schear  I understand. Keep good records and it’s okay to question everything you’re best advocate. It took a bit of patience and time, eventually I stopped fighting expectations and realized everyone’s journey is different. It’s also scary being in unknown territory.

Suzette Schear  That’s pretty cool that you tried.  I agree it’s dangerous for the human as well as the dogs.   Was curious.  I see the stops and how they take animals off the race.  I learned a lot.  Glad you got a cuddler

Suzette Schear  His profile is really pretty.  Knowing about his eyes he probably is so stunning.  Were any of your sled dogs ever had the chance to be sled dogs?  That’s a tough thing.  I watched a show on that.  I like the fact he is a cuddler and you n Nancy get so much love from him.  

Suzette Schear  Thanks Margaret a bit overwhelming but it wasn’t as bad as I thought other than the cold .  I just had to load up on caffeine on Thursday.  How are you feeling?

Margaret Fielden  So pleased you handled the week. I'm sure by Thursday you were feeling the strain. Well done, travelling in such cold weather too. 
I'm doing OK trying house walking as it is too cold out. I've realised I have to stay away from bad news at present, particularly all the old very sick people on local news lining corridors in UK hospitals waiting for help. It was freaking me and tapping into the ITU experiences. So tomorrow positive news only until I'm tough enough for the real stuff.
I hope you don't have to face the cold tomorrow and can give your body and mind some rest.

Suzette Schear  That’s tough, that he gets so traumatized by his nails.  I saw a man put a plate with peanut butter taped to his forehead.  It was funny but worked.  Temple grandin was an Austic lady who developed  a way for the cows to calm down while walking through the machinery to their demise.  She also helped herself with a weird calming apparatus for herself .  I always wrapped a towel around my pets to give them comfort when I had to cut nails clean eyes and all funky stuff.  They even now have blankets for that people use for pets during storms though I never bought one.  Poor Cassie must be very traumatic,  they have dog melatonin I use to have to give Felix  for car rides.  Maybe ask the vet if that’s an option. I used to keep the powder as well.  I always cut the black nails very sparingly.

Suzette Schear  No I will continue post but can now be more helpful than self absorbed with trying to find my situation. I didn’t realize posting my downfalls would actually help others  to realize they were not alone.  Seeing everyone else get better when I wasn’t functioning was a hard thing to accept.   My health was declining rapidly, to the point I thought I was dying.  It’s going to take 3 months but I’m grateful for being given another chance at life 

Richard Munson  Unfortunately i also discovered by chance that your vitamin readings don’t always show up on standard bloodwork. 

Marie Myers  Be sure you are turning frequently to give those bedsores a chance to heal. Even if you can slightly prop yourself to each side with pillows, it can give those areas a break. Did they leave you on your back the whole time in the hospital?

Richard Munson  I know a person that got a very bad infection from a recent hospital stay bed sore. The days of nurse marie are long gone. Too much dependance on machines and not actual people. 

Margaret Fielden  I think the staff didn't focus much on my increasingly sore coccyx. I was on my back for three weeks. In the week of intensive  care they moved me regularly. I have a district nurse visiting twice a week and some plasters and medi- honey cream. I will be checking the soreness level, I can't  actually see the sore! Maybe a mirror?. Thank you

Richard Munson  Hard place to see. Maybe an owl can see it. They also sell pads with gel in them to relieve soreness, or donut pads. Coccyx is tough to heal even if bruised. 

Suzette Schear  Hi Margaret, I’m sorry for the bedsores and all you have been through. I’m grateful they sent you home. Please listen carefully to nurse about and make her look at them.  Richard and Marie are so 100% right.   That’s why they put you in those annoying beds that move up and down.  I still include you in my prayers.  I was not cheery when I first came home it’s okay to be you just don’t get lost in it. You been through a lot and are now on the other side.  Welcome aboard.  People love you and they just want to be there it’s humbling but it’s okay.  Your husband sounds like a  doll. Tiger is getting surgery Friday he just got approved . the tumor in ear triple in size.  I won’t know if it’s cancerous until they do the biopsy.  I have my an appt on 12/16 with neurologist.  I haven’t been on website I try but I haven’t gotten my life back and don’t want to be discouraging to others.  I just don’t feel like I belong.  I asked doc for antidepressants so we’ll see if that is a bandaid fix.  

Margaret Fielden  Hi Suzette, Thank you for being in touch. I am so sorry about Tiger's surgery. I pray the tumour is benign and he will recover fast. He is a such a good companion.
I think we need all types of experiences on this site. Not all experiences are good and we need to feel it is OK to say things are not good for us, as well as report successes. Otherwise, where do those who are not finding recovery easy turn for an understanding ear. I have really valued messaging with you. I think anti depressants are often needed after the trauma we go through, I hope they help you. I don't know how to come to terms with knowing my surgeon didn't think I would make it. I feel guilty I don't feel better. It's five weeks today. Praying for you.

susan harris  please know that sharing the bad stuff is really really valuable to those of us looking in and learning about upcoming surgeries. if only good stuff is said here, we won’t know how to deal w things!  thank  you for sharing anything you feel comfortable sharing!

Suzette Schear  Margaret, I was told if I didn’t have the surgery I wouldn’t be around this year. Based on some of the chats you were really having struggles, but you’re a fighter and owe me a picture in Greece.  sometimes they just really don’t know how bad things are until they go in.  Then the complications after I had 1/2 liter of fluid surrounding my lungs, Tylenol messed up my liver and other stuff.  Oh and please don’t feel guilty for not feeling better.  They told me 6 months to a year.  The surgery changes a person during healing , it’s normal.  For my journey. It really takes time. 5 weeks really isn’t a lot of time and the funny thing is I felt the same way, I should be grateful and I really was until I collapsed.  I thought I was young and healthy I see people on this website who are running marathons and went on to their lives right away not collapsing and getting tested all the time.  Then my best friend Tiger has this tumor and is suffering a bit much.  

Suzette Schear  I’m like an old car & need a tune up.  They just don’t know what to tune up.  So more blood work, a carotid test, getting an eeg. Then back to neurologist then cardiologist.  Neurologist thinks my heart is misfiring that my heart is not pushing the blood correctly.  I haven’t collapsed but I still get off balance. I just laugh it off now and people go along with it.  I put tanning cream on my face so I don’t look pale.  My cardiologist says I need to be a bit more patient.  It been 9 months.  I thought I was being patient. 

Suzette Schear  I just got this message and told my boyfriend if we ended up in Massachusetts we will need to visit you & your wife.  You have been instrumental in helping me through this journey.  I hope the eye patch is gone and you can take a normal shower.  Hopefully the eye growth is a stupid thing like a dirt spec or eyelid hair.  I had stopped posting for a while because I’m suffering and don’t want to be discouraging to others. I do believe the glue products are a problem I have such a rash from the monitor I’m also concerned with products from china and our banking systems etc. three days off heart monitor and my skin isn’t right.  Time should heal it.   I called and got a nurse who was great they see irregularities in results but nothing alarming on the first two weeks of monitoring. Waiting on second two weeks  I’m going to get Ct angiogram then go back to both doctors.  Everything keeps coming back normal I can’t walk a flight of stairs without being out of breath.  My balance is off I get dizzy and heart pangs. I’m 59 in an 87 year old body.  I might have to just get used to this.  Also hope colonoscopy went well.  You need some time with your family and shadow with freedom of this behind you. Retirement is hard it’s an adjustment learning just do for you.  You are good with people you would be amazing helping a youth group. 

Suzette Schear  That’s funny what are the odds- continuing the other posting .  My question what is the correlation between the two the speed of the 8 cylinder?

Richard Munson  Oldsmobile rocket was the name they gave their v8. The 350 which i have, came in 2 sizes primarily a 4 barrel or a 2 barrel. I have a 4 barrel which was 310 h.p. From the factory in 1970. Since i rebuilt the engine and added a hotter cam, headers, etc, it is putting out 325 h.p. 

Suzette Schear  I get it now never knew that.  What’s the the fastest speed you pushed it too?   Original or after market parts?

Suzette Schear  I got it Viking  feet Viking ax.  Thanks Marie.  I was curious how they did it.   I had surgery within three weeks of finding the mitral valve regurgitation.  I didn’t find this website till way after.  

Marie Myers  Dont forget Viking Hand (Dupuytren’s Cotracture). I have that in a mild degree, so i guess I am related to you both!

Suzette Schear  Marie how are your hands does it come and go ? I know my feet it’s painful, but wearing inserts and raising them helps, .  I like the movie Thor he was so handsome until he cut all his hair off.  Sorry I’m side tracking three days with monitor am I already pressed it 13 times .  Your right king of hearts I want to throw this thing across the wall and it’s also itchy. 

Marie Myers  My case of Dupuytren’s is very mild, so it doesn’t bother me at all. You can always see the slightly thickened and contracted tendons in my palms. My Dad ‘s little finger was contracted into his hand, so his case  was much worse. I do a lot of stretching and yoga, so I may have inadvertently helped with my own case. 
  Hope you get some answers to your baffling case soon!

Suzette Schear  Richard I had my inserts made at a pharmaceutical store. I was looking for a picture I had taken if my foot but I had deleted it.  Glad you’re getting back to basics with your eyes and showering.  Since I couldn’t find pics I found a X-ray of my knee since we are swapping war stories.  Here it is.  Oh yeah I had inactive gall bladder that was removed .