Doc says Alan's ulcer is healed!!!
 

Well, I have no idea if this is good news, or if we are jumping the gun, or whatever, but Alan just came home from the new podiatrist.

He's been wearing the boot and using regranex as directed.

The doctors over at Methodist looked at his foot and said "your ulcer is healed". Now he had brought his newer orthotics to show the doctor last week and the doctor had made mention that when he started to wear his shoes, it would be one hour a day.

Well, it seems that Alan is so healed, the doctor told him "Alan, wear the boot for half a day and your regular shoes with the orthotics, the other half of the day".

So Alan (wearing the boot), came home from the doctor's office, took off the boot, put the newer orthotics in the Propet Orthopedic shoes he used to wear AND HE COULDN'T PUT THEM ON. These newer orthotics (he has never used them yet and today would have been the first day), well he puts them inside and tells me "I can't get my feet in these shoes". I just looked at him and said "well, what are you going to do?" So he found one of his New Balance shoes and the orthotics fit. So we went shopping. He then turns to me and says "my tailor bunion is killing me".

He had originally had surgery 4 or so years ago, on the other foot's tailor bunion (that was successful). So now, (and I have no idea why this is happening), the right foot (the one with the ulcer), well this big thing is sticking out of the right side of his foot. It actually makes indentations in his shoes. It doesn't hurt him when he wears the boot. But now he is wearing the New Balance Shoes and there was rubbing. He even put a piece of moleskin on the right side of the bunion. It helped but this is what Alan said: "I need bigger shoes if I'm going to wear these brand new orthotics. Alan usually wears a 10 1/2 5 E shoe. He now says he needs a 10 1/2 6 E. Trying find that!!!!

Then after we came home from shopping, we examined the underside of the foot where the ulcer was and there was no change. It was fine. So Alan said "oh that's good, I walked for an hour and nothing happened."

The doctor told Alan he has to check his feet several times a day.

Then after we came home, he took off his shoes. He got the older orthotics (they were re-made for his ulcer also), but they look completely different than the newer ones. The older ones were made by Langer and I have no idea who makes the newer ones but they look completely different and they are thicker than the former orthotics.

So Alan took the blue former orthotics, put them in his shoes and proclaimed "oh, this is much better".

I told him to call the podiatrist and tell him what happened but of course he's stubborn and won't call. His next appointment is two weeks and he said "you have to come with me, you know what to ask the doctor".

So in two weeks, I'll go (oh, if his ulcer recurs, we'll be there much sooner), and I'll ask questions about what kind of shoe he needs and if anything can be done about the tailor bunions.

Oh, and the podiatrist loved the stuff about the cotton balls. He went and gave Alan little toe separators. (The stuff that I saw on the website).

I am making my own home made version out of visco-elastic foam that I have in the house. We'll put some between his toes and I'll rig up a piece to go next to the tailor bunion.

At least he got to walk today without the boot, the pn is much better because he does the flexor thing from Harriet Carter, and wore the cotton balls between his toes, and hopefully this darn ulcer won't come back. He's had it for 18 months.

Amazing. We are just crossing fingers that it doesn't re-cur.

Just wanted to share.

Melody

That's great
 

Melody,
Tell Alan that this is wonderful news! And I know it is for you too. But perhaps the new orthotics are made to take pressure off the area that forms the ulcer. It might not be safe to wear the old orthotics.

I'd be calling the doctor to tell him what is happening.

Billye

Wonderful!
 

Hi Melody and Alan:

I am sure we are all holding our breath hoping and praying that Alan's ulcer is truly healed and that you are able to find the right orthotic for him to use.

It is always inspiring to hear good news.

Shirley H.

Hi Billye: You made a boo boo. I said in my post "
Then after we came home, he took off his shoes. He got the older orthotics (they were re-made for his ulcer also), but they look completely different than the newer ones."

See, the older ones are not that old....they were remade for the foot ulcer to remove the pressure.

These newer ones (since he switched insurance hmo's, he's entitled to a completely new pair of orthotics). The older ones have been refurbished (the most recent refurbishment was a few months ago (FOR HIS ULCER). So he actually has two perfectly good orthotics perfectly made for his foot ulcer.

Only the brand new pair does not work with any of his shoes. So he either uses the refurbished pair in his shoes. Or he buys yet another pair of shoes to make the brand new orthotics fit.

I told him "don't buy any new shoes yet. You have two weeks. Wear whichever shoes you feel comfortable in for half the day". He says he is fine with the refurbished orthotics.

See, it doesn't matter which orthotics he wears, they were both made for his ulcer. But the newer ones are a little higher (or thicker).

I think that once we see that his ulcer won't re-cur, we can think about blowing another $100 (oh my god), on another pair of shoes. I went to zappos and they have 6 E.

So now it's just a wait and see and put the little things between his toes, and put some moleskin on his tailor bunion.

And he uses the little flexor thing from Harriet Carter. He loves these two things. for 10 minutes, he just sits there and flexes his toes. He says it helps the pn.


Shirley....how are you???

lol

Melody

p.s. Would you guys believe we are freezing here in Brooklyn, NY. The weather is absolutely nuts. I wore a coat today.

Oh, Melody, you are cruel to tell me that. It was 100 degrees here today.

It's 100 degrees where you live????


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

I'm freezing my knickers off and I would kill to have 100 degrees. I have no pain whatsoever when it's 100 degrees. Not that I could run a marathon, but believe me, when we had a heat spell and everyone was croaking in the street, pouring water bottles over their head, I took my IPOD, took my water bottle, took my fanny pack and I marched one mile.

Never felt better. I do very well when it's 100. People look at me like I'm crazy. They can't even stand up straight and there I go with my IPOD.

But it has to be really hot and no humidity.

I would do very well in New Mexico or the Sahara lol

Melody

Finally!
 

Glad that things are better...just keep an eagle eye out for it all, as I know you will.
Happy walking to you both - j

Wonderful news! Doctors must love you and Alan. You guys are so systematic about following the doctors directions. (very intelligent too...) I'm glad you've been rewarded.

Also, don't know if you've ordered from Zapho's before (online? right?) but I have and reading the comments about the shoes helped me a lot. The pair of shoes to buy had comments that said they ran small so I ordered a size larger and I was VERY glad I did so I'm sure you do it already but just in case you don't, read the user comments, caveat emptor (or something like that.)

Hi Texas Geek:

GREAT NEWS!!!!

We just came back from PAYLESS.

Let me tell you what happened earlier this morning. Alan had gone to his doctor for his blood test. I was on the avenue after going out for Dunkin dounuts coffee all my myself.

I passed this pharmacy and they had these Orthopedic shoes on a stand outsife of their doorway. So I am looking and I walk in and I tell them. "My husband is not diabetic but he wears a size 10 1/2 5 E but he might need a 6E because he has a tailor bunions.

She said "I have the exact shoe for him" She runs downstairs, and she brings up these PROPET (now he has worn this brand before). and they are 10 1/2 5 E. Well, I'm about to tell her that no way would a 5 E fit him when I take a look at these shoes and I go WHOA!!!!!

These were the biggest toe box sandal sort of shoe I hve ever seen.

I said "can you please put these aside, I'll bring my husband in later". She said fine. Now this is an ordinary pharmacy on the avenue. No special medical supply store or anything like that.

So Alan later comes home, I tell him about the shoes (They are $90, by the way). Oh, I had gone to Zappos on line and they were over $100, we have shoes by them also).

So he says "lets' go to PAYLESS first, they have buy one and get one half price. I said 'Do you really think they are going to have a size 10 1/2 6 E? He said: "No, but I might be able to fit in larger shoes with my newer orthotics." (He hadn't been able to wear them as of yet).

So we take the laundry, I go to the laundromat and he goes across the street to PAYLESS. I then walk to meet up with him, and there is my husband trying on Shoe after Shoe size 13 W. I just looked at him and said WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING, YOU DON'T WEAR A SIZE 13??

He said "oh yeah??? well, in this store, I do and with these orthotics I most certainly do!!!!" So he puts his orthotics inside these nice black dressy shoes and he starts walking around the store. He walked around the store 5 times, just to make sure. He said "these I want". So he puts another pair of shoes on Size 13W. These were more athletic " HE LOVED THEM. No pinching of the tailor bunions.

So here's a picture of the two pairs of Size 13 W shoes he got at payless. Total price for the two pairs $37.00

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2..._13W_dress.jpg

and here’s a photo of the dressy shoes size 13W
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...sstrekkers.jpg

Now here’s where it gets interesting.

We then went to the pharmacy to see the Propets. I knew that as soon as Alan saw them, and put them on, he would HAVE to buy them.

The lady then took the $90 shoes, walked Alan over to a chair, took out the inserts that were already in the shoes, took Alan’s orthotics, put them in, she then put these shoes on Alan and told him to “walk around the store”.

Well, as you can see ‘ALAN WALKED HOME WEARING THESE SHOES”. In his words. "I LOVE THESE SHOES". Oh my god, they are so comfortable. He let me take them off to take these pictures.

Here they are: And these are Size 10 1/2 5E

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...t/sandals2.jpg

http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...t/sandals1.jpg


Oh, I thought I'd take some pics of these orthotics.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...thotic_one.jpg

and here’s the bottom of the orthotic.
http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i2...orthotics2.jpg


So Alan now has 3 new pairs of shoes (oy veh, credit cards lol).
the $90 pair is 10 1/2 5E and the two Payless shoes are Size 13 W.

WHY SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE SHOE SIZES????

Melody

P.S. remember, spongy things between the toes. They spread the toes apart so no compressing. In Alan's feet, these things work.

Sorry you had to spend so much but I'm sure you have heard that alternating shoes is the best way to make them last longer. With 3 pair, it may be 10 years before Alan has to buy another pair of shoes!!!

Those Propets look interesting. I wonder if they are made in Europe. I had a wonderful pair of shoes (size 40 since they were European sized) that lasted me forever that had a similar look to what you have shown. I may check and see if there is a store here in Houston who sells that brand. (I would really like to try them on first if I have the option rather than online and support a local retailer if possible.) Thanks!

p.s. bet those Propets last a lot longer than the ones from PAYLESS but who knows!

p.p.s. I'm editing to add that I think a nice part of the Propets is sandal type top. I've heard it here before and it is my experience that when my feet get hot, the pain is much worse. Sandals are a good thing, even in winter (maybe with some thin socks.)

Hi Texas Geek:

How are you doing today??

Just saw your edit about sandals.

Alan has never worn sandals in his entire life. These really are so comfortable.

I now have a big bag full of useless shoes that Alan will not let me throw away. Why guys have to keep shoes (I thought us gals were bad), but pulleeeeze!!!!

He says "don't get rid of those, I might need them someday"

I am putting them away. If he doesn't look at these shoes in 3 months, I'll be ditching them. He cannot wear any of his old shoes with his newer orthotics and the purpose is to keep the ulcer from coming back.

We actually might be able to go for a walk outside tonight. Won't that be something new??? Been married 27 years and his feet are now a walkin!!!!!

I hope this ulcer stays gone.

But I'm prepared. You never know. It was there for 18 months.

Keeping everything crossed.

Oh, I have a question if anyone knows the answer to.

Alan has a tailor bunion. He might need surgery. I have no idea. We will talk this over with the new guy in two weeks.

Now he had the other tailor bunion done 4 years ago. He had to be off his foot for 6 weeks, (only to go to bathroom and to bed).

I had to wait on him hand and foot.

If he has the other bunion done, will he be able to utilize the new boot and walk around?? God, that would be so great.

Anybody know what they do now with tailor bunions? Or is it the same story?? Off of the feet for 6 weeks.

Melody

That's really good news! I'm so glad to hear that he's healed.

Barbara

It's just like with clothing. I'm sure you've gone shopping thinking you know what size top or jeans you wear and then several different stores have several different sizes that fit. It's because of who makes the clothing. It seems there simply is no standard for US womens sizes. Most likely the same thing for shoes. Stupid isn't it?

Oops!
 

Melody,
You are so right. I made a boo-boo. Blame it on tired dried out eyes. The swimming pool (therapy) fumes of the stuff they put in the water really affect my eyes. So reading is a difficult chore for me right now. I'm glad the orthodics are working for Alan and I love the Prophet shoes.

Billye

Hi All:

I am still crossing fingers and toes, but I had to update you all.

Alan wore the shoes home from the store. He was commenting. "oh my god, oh my god, these are soooooo comfortable".


I've been checking his foot all day, and it's still good. SO THAT'S GOOD!!!

Then after dinner he goes "Want to take a walk"? Now my husband has never uttered those words in his life, he hasn't WALKED anywhere voluntarily in over 18 months because of the foot ulcer. And for 5 years, he has had the PN so bad he quit driving because he can't feel his feet. The pn between the toes was horrible.

But in the last few days, since we have done the spongy thingees between his toes, well, I guess it's working. Also, the toe flexor thingee is good too.

But the best, the absolute best, is the Propet Shoes he bought.

He only took them off when I demanded to check his foot. He would wear them to sleep, that's how much he loves them.

So he goes "Want to go to the Feast"??

If anyone doesn't know what a Feast in Brooklyn is, it's a bazarre kind of festival with food, dancing, lots of good music, jewelry stands, food stands, tee shirt stands, they sell handbags (I know what I'm buying tomorrow night, believe me), they sell cd's. Well, it's 12 blocks of a lot of people walking on both sides of the street, people selling stuff and you eat a lot of good food (we don't but other people do), Sausage and pepper sandwiches.

It's a lot of fun, and for 10 or so days, it's right around the corner from my house. Alan hasn't been to a Feast in 5 years. He couldn't walk for long periods of time, and after the foot ulcer, well, forget it!!

Tonight, my husband WALKED. He walked the 12 blocks going to the Feast, and the 12 blocks back. We walked slowly, but he felt fine. He also said "It's amazing, I have no pain". He also looked a whole inch taller because of the orthotic and the Propet shoes. And maybe, because he is feeling better, and less stressed????, well his psoriasis cleared up behind his ears, and his eyebrows. Honestly, he looked HEALTHY!!!

But he actually asked me if I wanted to WALK!!!

Boy, what a good doctor, a good Shoe Boot, Regranex, and lots of love can do!!!

Now, I 'm not kidding myself. I know that this ulcer might re-cur. But we'll deal with whatever we have to deal with.

All I know is that tonight, I took a walk with my husband.

That's a good thing.

Melody

Nice story, Melody and yes, I totally agree, walks are good things.

My husband and I would probably be divorced were it not for the fact that our dogs DEMAND to be walked everyday. (sometimes we might have to skip but they give us HELL) and sometimes my feet hurt like hell but I get my cane and give it a try and take it very slow usually. During our walks, it seems it's the best time for us to talk about things, positive as well as negative.

If we're sitting at home, I may be cooking or we're both watching TV but just doesn't seem the time to talk about anything really. Walks are different somehow, we talk about the good and bad (as well as what we see...). We've even had arguments in the middle of the street, LOL (not a bad thing if that is what it takes to communicate IMO as long as we don't give out too much noise pollution...).

I recommend walks to everyone. So sad that many of us with PN can't partake. I"ve seen a few people on those little carts. I may have to get one of those one day so I can keep on getting out. (and gotta keep the dogs happy..)

( must tell you what happened last night!!!
 

And if someone (who knows more than I do about the feet), tells me we shouldn't be doing this, I will tell Alan, but for now, it works.

Here's what happened.

He got the new Propets, he puts the spongy thingees between the toes, he walked during the Feast, we came home, checked his feet. All was good.

Bedtime came. Now Alan takes xanax and melatonin and usually (if the weather outside is cooperating,), well he falls asleep and stays asleep till the next morning.

Well, last night, he comes to bed (after taking his pills), and he's tossing and turning, he can't find a comfortale position. I just looked at him and said "what on earth is the matter" and he said "my neuropathy is killing me". I said "do you have the spongy things between your toes"? and he goes "I don't know"

So I said to myself "well, if he's good with the spongy things, then he'll be great with the Toe Flexor thingees".

So I got the toe flexors, and let me tell you, getting these two things to go between Alan's tight toes, well, it's a struggle, but I did it. Then I put his socks right over the toe flexors.

He fell asleep in two minutes. When he woke up this morning, I asked him "How are the toe flexors working? and he said "I felt so good, I didn't know I had them on".

I really think we are on to something here.

He wore the PROPETS this morning, when we went to Dunkin Donuts.

Did a little shopping, Came home and we checked his feet. Still great.

Thirty minutes ago, while he's sitting in the chair, I see him shaking his right foot (that's the one with the worse PN sometimes). Now he has no neuropathy when he walks. Feels no pain. It's just when he sits for longer periods or lays on his back.

So I just put the toe flexor things on his toes and told him to flex his toes and exercise the toe joints or ligaments or nerves, or whatever is being compressed.

I just walked over to him and asked "how are you doing? and he said "Oh, these things are working, I'm much better".

So, because this is not a drug and has o side effects, is there any reason why, when he sits int the chair, he can't wear these toe flexor thingees indefinitely. He's sitting there right now, doing toe exercises.

Let's put it this way. You know when you are a kid and you put braces on your teeth and they realign your teeth??? Maybe this toe flexor thing is realigning his ligaments and de-compressing his nerves. Maybe????

What do you all think?

Oh, I just came back from the eye doctor. Wait until you hear what he said about my eyes. I'm posting a new thread on this.

Melody

Sounds very good all way round, i am glad to hear the ulcer is healed, awfull things they are...and what you worked out with his toes is just fantastic, i am happy for you both :)

I don't see any reason--
 

--he can't wear those things on his feet as much as he wants, as long as they don't otherwise disturb his gait or shift his weight in such a way that it might impact his bunions or ulcer.

It is very likely that the positions they put his toes in take some of the compressive forces off nerves in his feet/toes. With the theory of "double crush phenomenon", you might be removing one factor contributing to his neuropathic symptoms, enough to really reduce them.

I also think that is part of what Dr. T's treatments were doing.

Thanks guys. I have no guarantee that this darn ulcer is going to come back but if it does, he has the boot thing. I think he should wear it for half the day. But he won't listen to me. He likes the PROPETS. No arguing with him.

But something interesting did just happen.

We just met up at Dunkin, and ate and came home. He said "I think something is wrong with my ulcer". I said "oh my god, why, is it bleeding??, and he still had his socks on and he said "I don' know" (I think he is just apprehensive because of 18 months of this going back and forth to podiatrists every week).

So I unwrap his foot, and it looks perfectly fine. Looks just like it did on Wednesday. Now when he came home from the podiatrist on Wednesday (after the podiatrist pronounced it HEALED), well there was a little bit of red in the middle. But the podiatrist told him it was healed and to use bacitracin, wear a bandaid, wear the boot for half a day and your orthotics in the shoes for the other half a day). Since he likes the Propets, that is the only thing he is doing differently than the doctor told him to do. He does not walk anywhere like regular people do. After 18 months of not going anywhere you tend to be a little apprehensive, I completely understand this. So the only real place he walked was to the Feast and back, and maybe to the store and back. No hikes, no marathons, you know what I mean!!!.

So I'm looking at his foot and it looks just fine, and I tell him "No, everything looks fine". Now, remember, Alan's feet have been completely numb for 5 or more years. I mean completely numb that he doesn't know if he even has a sock on.

So I get the foot lotion and I go on the other foot (not the ulcer one), and I'm putting on the lotion and he says "what are you doing?" and I said "I'm putting on lotion, why"? and he goes: 'because I can tell you are doing something" I said "are you serious? you can feel that I'm applying lotion?" And he goes "yeah, I can". We look at each other and he goes "oh, does this mean I might get my feeling back in my feet". I said 'hey, who knows, but let's keep doing the spongy things between the toes when you walk, and the toe flexor thingees when you are not walking, sitting in your chair, and going to sleep. I just put the toe flexor thingees on his feet. He is now fast asleep.

I think the toe flexors are spreading out his toes. Nerves, that were compressed, are now not being compressed. His ankles (while they were not cold before and he was always told that he had blood flow, and no circulation problems), well now his ankles feel nice and warm, just like the rest of his body. I have absolutely no idea what this means, because he has taken the dopplers for the Peripheral Vascular Disease test, the circulation test, every test in the book and everything was normal. They raised his legs, they looked at the color of his feet, (he's had this done by every doctor), every thing was normal. They would cluck cluck and go "good blow flow". They would put stethoscopes to his ankles and lower extremities and go "good blow flow, blah blah".

But always the PN. But since the toe thingees and while he wears them while he's sitting down, he does the toe exercises, well maybe he's stretching nerve stuff and ligaments. I really have no idea.

I do question why, after 15 years, not one doctor, not one podiatrist, ever told Alan, "wow, look at your deformed toes, they are all squeezed, especially your pinky toe, (his pinky toe is so small and it is so into the toe beside it, it takes me forever to get the toe flexor pushed all the way down so it separates each toe from each other.

Now how come, after 15 years of going to doctor, after doctor, specialist after specialist, and asking question after question, and yes, while I never mentioned toes being squeezed into each other, I did mention, "maybe he has a nerve problem that is compressed in his back, and maybe it is going down his spine and compressing something, and maybe THAT'S WHY HE HAS PN?? Every single doctor told me "no, it's idiopathic, we have no idea why he has this, this happens sometimes.".

When he did go to his newest neuro and she ordered the spinal tap, and they found protein in his spinal fluid, she did say "oh, he should have IVIG, there's auto immune stuff going on.

But in my honest opinion, (and I'm no medical doctor, but I have been taking care of this guy for 27 years), I think his toes are all squeezed together, the nerves have been compressed, and that's why he has PN.

So we shall see if someday, he tells me, "wow, I can feel my feet".

My god, now wouldn't that be a miracle???

Thanks for all the nice words.

It could also be a combination of spreading out the toes, exercizing them and ivig.

Hi Joe:

Guess we'll never really know but at least he is able to walk a bit, and sleep when he needs to sleep.

I remember 5 years ago, when he had to have the fentanyl patch, vicodin, and they tried neurontin and he got deathly sick.

Nothing worked.

So if it is indeed the combination of toe flexors, exercising of toes and IVIG, well, hurray!!!

He goes back to neuro next month. I can't wait to hear what she has to say when he brings up the toe flexors.

Indeed, I can't wait to see what the podiatrist says two weeks from now.

Just pray the ulcer doesn't re-occur. That's all we really care about right now.

He deserves a break.

Melody

Well, i know its just terrific if his out of pain and that rotten ulcer doesn't reappear, it would be great to read that you drove back and forth to Dunkin donuts one day :) most blokes love their cars, i say , aim for the sky, know body knows what tomorrow may bring. [ maybe not tomorrow, but i think you get me drift ]:D, good stuff Mel.
all the best
Brian :)

Hi Brian:

Hope you're feeling chipper today. I love the way Aussies call guys Blokes!!!

That is so adorable.

Alan just left to go to his nighttime security guard shift.


He slept 7 hours today with those toe flexor thingees on. He woke up saying "I cannot believe I am not in any pain, these things are amazing". We took them off. He never mentioned pain again during the evening. So maybe this uncompressing of the toes has a residual effect?? Something might just be happening. That would be so lovely after 15 years.

And we would never drive to Dunkin. It's right around the corner.
Finding a parking space alone would drive us nuts.

But it's fun meeting him on Saturday and Sunday Mornings. I get all dressed up and he never knows what I'm going to be wearing. We say we are going out on a date.

Imagine doing this at 60 years old???

How fun

Melody

Mel 60 is not old, especially when your creeping up to it or have passed it :) crikey, i remember when i was young i thought 40 was old, trouble is, the time just goes so quick, far to quick, i think for everyone.
take care
Brian :)

Alan's in better shape
 

Hi Melody:

I am so glad that things are looking up for Alan. The foot lesion healing is so wonderful and I hope that continues to be OK.

It is wonderful that you came up with both the cotton balls and the other thingies for between his toes, that is seeming to relieve pain there. This home made remedy reminds me of Sister Kenny's method - doctors at that time condemned her moist hot pack method and were putting kids in heavy braces which were the worst thing possible for polio and made them end up with usless limbs. Sister Kenny took off their heavy braces and put on wet hot packs. She believed in "treating the symptoms". The time did come when the doctors changed their minds and approved her methods, but it was a long and painful period for her till then. But the way, my late husband was believed to be her first patient in Minneapolis in the l940s when she came to this country. He had heavy braces on both legs. Had she come along sooner he might have been able to walk without crutches. As it was, she helped him immensely.

I believe that if something works, do it! I think you have hit on something with this toe separation thing and hope that it keeps on helping Alan. Wouldn't it be something if you turned out to be the Sister Kenny of toe pain?

Shirley H.

Shirley:

Boy did you bring back memories when you wrote about Sister Kenny. See, I have this kind of memory that I remember pieces of dialogue from anything I saw years and years ago (especially Star Trek), People would bet money on me and call me up and they made bets because they knew I could recall every word of every Star Trek episode made. I'll never forget my boss getting a phone call and saying "melody can't do Star Trek trivia now, she's busy". Now I can't remember walking into the kitchen and putting away the milk but give me the name of a movie and if I saw that movie, it all comes back to me.

As soon as you wrote Sister Kenny, I remembered Rosalind Russel, standing over the kid in the crib and putting hot compresses on the kid's legs and everybody is telling her she's wrong.

I remember the words Infantile Paralysis from that movie. And I remember her instructing someone to put the heat in a certain part of the person's leg. They all thought she was nuts, but now we know she was the genius of her day.

But the best thing of all, was, when I saw this film, I had to have been a young woman in my 20's before they invented VCR's, tapes, Turner Classic Movies or American Movie Classics, (way before Cable came out), I believe I saw this movie on Million Dollar Movie on Channel 9. They would play the same movie all day long, (all day long, really) for 7 days straight.

Anybody here remember, Million Dollar Movie??? They played Mighty Joe Young with Terry Moore so many times, my mother would come in and turn the TV off. But I did indeed see Sister Kenny, over and over.

Now here comes the funny part. For years and years after I saw that movie, I though Rosalind Russel played a nun. Because I was raised Catholic and went to all Catholic Parochial Schools, I was taught by nuns. By Sisters of Saint Joseph, by the Franciscans, by the Sisters of Mercy.

So there's Rosalind Russell on the screen and everyone is calling her Sister. And then she's having some sort of romance with a guy who wants to marry her and I'm saying to myself "what the heck kind of nun can get married??" I will never forget this if I live to be 100 years old.

Only years later, when I either was discussing this movie with someone, or maybe I went on the Internet, I don't know, but when I discovered that they call nurses in Australia, "sister", well, I burst out laughing.

I cannot tell you how this all came together in my mind. I said 'oh, she wasn't a nun". Now this makes perfect sense"

I mean really, how can they expect Americans to understand that they call nurses Sister in Australia. Over here we call nurse's NURSE, if we want to get their attention, not Sister!!!

And what about if you are a nun in Australia?? What do they call Nuns in Australia?? I'd love to know this.

Alan just came home from work and we met up at Dunkin.

I just checked his foot (5 days now) and area of ulcer looks exactly the same. There is a bit of dried skin around the area of the ulcer, like it's forming a callous or something. I don't care, I just but bacitracin on it. Maybe it's a piece of hardened bacitracin?? He's had so many meds on this ulcer, but the problem was inside the quarter size (let's refer to it as a boo-boo) for want of a better word.

Where he used to have this gaping hole, and it would bleed, well, it looks exactly as it did when he came home from the podiatrist last Wednesday.
So all is good. And he didn't even need the toe flexors to go to sleep just now. When he wakes up, and sits inside, he'll do the toe flexor for 30 minutes and squeeze, squeeze, squeeze.

What a nifty little item!!!

So thanks for the Sister Kenny comparison.
I'm going to try and find that movie on cable. I haven't seen it in over 40 years.

Melody

Sister Kenny
 

Hi Melody:

I too did not know, for many years, that Australian nurses were called "Sister" - so there is nothing unusual about your confusion. She was a "bush nurse" in Australia, meaning out in the country as we would say, I guess.

I am so happy that Alan is doing so well.

Your morning dates at Dunkin Donuts sound like such fun and very romantic of you two married people! When my late husband and I would go out to eat at restaurants, there was one man who asked if we were married, because he said we were having such a good time talking with each other. Yes, we always had something to talk about in 37 years of marriage.

Shirley H.

Shirley:

Wow, 37 years, that's terrific. I am so sorry he is not with you anymore.

Hope you're doing okay today. I just finished watching Perfect Stranger with Halle Berry. Now tell me something. How can a woman who is 40, look like Halle Berry? My god, she'll look like that when she's 60.

Absolutely amazing.

mel

Looking good.
 

HI Melody:

You're looking pretty good yourself in your user picture. I'd say 40s. It is a recent picture, isn't it? Your joyous spirit shines through.

Cheers...
Shirley H.

Hi Shirley:
That picture was taken last year and I'll hit the big 60 on November 4th.

I have been making some major changes in my appearance because none of my clothes fit me and I had to buy some skirts and blouses and handbags. I went from being a frumpy overweight person to the person in my photo.

I thought I looked good and I thought Alan liked the way I looked when I would meet up with him at Dunkin Donuts. Boy I couldn't have been more wrong.

I asked him tonight, "do you notice the changes I am making, how does that make you feel??" I just wanted his opinion. Well, it seems he thinks I'm being ridiculous. He says it's vanity. Women shouldn't be vain. It's a sin.

Isn't that nice?? After all the stuff I have done for him, gone to doctors, taken care of his feet, day after day, he says such a thing to me.

Well, as of my typing this post, I am not talking to him. He is absolutely clueless. What a shame.

I do appreciate your taking the time to give me some nice words. It's nice that somone does. Not happening in this house.

Melody

It's not so bad
 

Melody,
Alan fell in love and married you when you were a "frumpy overweight" woman. Perhaps he is just afraid you will be noticed by someone else. He knew he really had a treasure when he found you.

Billye:hug:

I wish I could post a photo of what I looked like when I married Alan

I was 32 years old and looked like Elizabeth Taylor. No joke. people would stop me in the street. All that changed as I got older, had my son, he gave us problems, I ate, ate. And oh yeah, I got really big. And so did he.

But he just walked in the computer room and said 'I know you are not speaking to me, but you don't have to tape Big Brother for me". I said "I had no intention of taping anything for you because I'm not speaking to you".

He then said 'I have no idea why you are mad at me, what did I do (CLUELESS!!!!!)

I then said 'when a woman has done all the things I have done for you, then she loses weight and looks better than she has looked in years, and when that woman gets dressed up for you to go out for breakfast, you are NOT supposed to tell that woman that she is vain"

His response "but you asked me'. We both burst out laughing. I said 'you are indeed clueless" I do believe he has aspergers (just like his son), or perhaps it's the reverse. My son has his father's asperger traits.

I mean, I really do believe he meant no harm but jeez, give me a break.

He just said 'I guess we are not going to Dunkin Donuts tomorrow morning." I responded "oh, I'm going, and if I meet a nice guy, he can buy me breakfast". He's now sulking in the other room.

I love this. lol

Melody

P.S. when you said he married a frumpy overweight woman, I nearly laughed my head off.

Tell him your not vain but proud of your hard work in taking care of yourself. I hope he compliments you. I know many men don't like change it threatens them. Maybe you can pick up a younger man at dounkin donuts. Just kidding. I did think of you today cause I got a fancy donut roll this morning from there. Its my favorite and coffee of course.

Thank you very much for giving me good thoughts.

We gals have to stick together and bolster our self-esteem.

Alan realized what he did and came over to me last night and hugged me and said "I'm sorry, can we please go to Dunkin Donuts tomorrow morning".

We both laughed.

I do believes that if you can laugh after you almost hit someone with a wet noodle, well, you can face stuff together.

So you be good to yourself. You go and eat at Dunkin and smile at people.

You might even meet a nice guy there.

How's your pain level doing??

Melody

OOPs
 

Well,
Melody, I tried. Thinking only of boosting your thoughts. Again, I'll blame this on the Sjogren's brain fog. :p

Billye

See, Alan shouldn't have made me angry at him. I just came back from the Feast. Bought another handbag.

See what happens when I get annoyed???? lol

I'll be up to my neck in handbags.

Melody

And Billye, don't worry about your brain fog. Some day, I must get out some old photos of me and put them on a disc and upload to photobucket. You'll all laugh. My god, how we looked at 20, and now at 60.

Oh, want to hear something interesting? When Alan was in college, he joined a fraternity in Seton Hall and joined the Pershing Rifles.

These are the guys that do the Silent Drill precision stuff (like the Silent Drill Marine Team).

I looked at Alan and said "you mean, you did the spinning of the rifles, and throwing of the rifles over your head at the other team members??, you've got to be kidding!!!" and he laughed and said: "yeah, I was a member of the Pershing Rifles for two years".

Who knew that my husband threw rifles????

Here's how the Marines do it. Alan used bayonets also.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y90UPLLo6nY