Thanks Ginnie, for all of your advise and kind words. Thankfully I have lot's of pain med's that I take daily for my knee. This really helps with the arm/hand/neck pain too. I have everything from anti anflammatory's and muscle relaxers to narcotics. I also have lot's of deep penetrating muscle rubs. This is a bad cold, it seems that everyone is getting sick this time of year. Thankfully my doctor dose not need me to repeat the preop testing. I will use this time to bake my christmass cookies, that I thought I would have to miss out on this year Thanks again, Karen

Glad you are Ok regarding pain medications. Just get well. I had to go out today and I hated to. I live in a high touriest area in Fla. and there are people sneezing all over the place. I hear one and I walk the other way. I am trying like crazy to avoid what you caught. Hope it goes away quickly. I hate being sick too. The tourists come down here with all the flus and colds from up North. I feel like this place is a floating petri dish! Anna Maria is a small island south of Tampa Bay. Get well so you can enjoy some of the holidays. Stay warm. ginnie

I am in Cheetowaga New York, where it's just starting to get really COLD and SNOWY !!!It seems that everyone is sneezing !!! Well at least we got the christmass tree all decorated today

What a beautiful name for a town. I know it is cold up there. Try to keep warm and out of the snow. I wish I could send you some sunshine from down here. Fla. does get down to freezing, but I suppose that is warm compare to NY. Our cold season hasn't been too bad at all yet. Average is about 70. I sure try to avoid the crowds at this time of year. take care tigerbear, ginnie

It's a good thing that I did not have my surgery on Monday after all. I am a cat lover..I have 5 of them. My oldest is 16 and he is not doing too good. I will have to make the hard decision on putting him down soon. I am a total wreck about this !!! With all this stress my painscale has gone off the charts again !!! I have been into the chiropractor twice this week alone. Everything is tight and painfull starting from my neck and all the way to my numb fingers. Things are going form bad to worse !!!

Hi, Sorry for the change of date for the surgery. Hopefully you will have a relaxing holiday season and be healthy for the new surgery date. Hope my long email was helpful. Are you having your surgery in Buffalo? The town sounds familiar from when I went to SUNY Geneseo.

I am a cat lover too. I lost my scruffy last year, a 21 year old rag doll. I do hope your kitty can go on for awhile yet. I so understand that pain of having to let a pet go. When I put Scruffy down, I only waitied 5 months before I adopted Sammy a very very big adult cat. He has allowed the grief to pass. I only have the one right now, but just maybe I will adopt again. There is nothing better than a kitty in bed with you, well maybe a dog for the dog lovers. ginnie

Ok, so I had to re do all my persurgery testing. Things are on schedule for Jan11th. I am going to stay away from anyone who sneezes. I have been taking vitamin c daily also.I have also been to the cyro 2x a week. This has helped a bit. My pain is still intense in my arm and neck. It is a good thing that my surgery was rescheduled. My belovid cat passed yesterday and I have been crying nonstop !!! I hope I feel better when my surgery comes around than I do now. I am a total wreck !!!

who knows
maybe just maybe she'll be lying in bed with you licking your
pains away

[I am so sorry your beloved friend passed away. I know what you are experiencing so very well. I lost scruffy last year my cat of 21 years. I cried for months, and I still do now and then a year later. He was my best pal. I teared up thinking of what you must be feeling right now. I believe we see our pets on the other side, that they are still with us during our time of need.
It is hard when we are in pain, and then no longer have that comfort by our side. I hope you get through the holidays OK, and know that I am praying for you as you get to your surgical date. It is OK to cry. peace be in your heart. ginnie