So Far On My Ipod and, Today in Modern Medicine

Well ladies (et. al.), I told you so. I told you I had "musical issues." I do thank you all for your great suggestions, I am excited for the day that I can actually check them all out. But so far, my Ipod looks like the 90's threw up on it. (The 90's after being a little hung over from the 80's, that is.) I am loathe to divulge to you all how OLD this makes me feel. I feel like I am that pathetic woman in 1990 who just couldn't get unstuck from 1978. You know the one, she was still wearing long, straight hair when everyone else was ratting theirs, she wore the pants that were flared too wide when everyone else was pinch-rolling, wore flowery shirts when others were just discovering the warm coziness of flannel. Or, as I am writing this, maybe you don't know her, because a lot of you were, oh, what...5 in 1990? GOD! I AM OLD.

Here's a sampling of what I have so far...either purchased or copied from my cd collection:

The Bangles
David Bowie
Aerosmith
Colby Caillet
John Mayer
Alicia Keys
The Supremes
Garth Brooks
Elton John
Dixie Chicks
Tina Arena
Jars of Clay
George Michael
The Beatles
Wham!
Sarah McLachlan
Queen
Big Pretty and the Red Rockets
Run-DMC
The Police
Harry Connick, Jr.
The Duhks (thank you Colleen and Kristina)
Oh, and Stevie Wonder, of course

Oh, my embarrassment. This is going to take a committed effort on my part to get out of this deep trench I have dug myself into by listening to NPR on a far too exclusive basis.

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On a completely unrelated topic...I just wanted to update you on my husband's continuing health problems (and I guess I am into lists today, sorry.)

He saw his primary care doctor today (Shout Out! to Dr. Zhang, he's awesome!) who didn't have anything new to tell us. John seems to be getting sicker as the days go by, not better. He had some blood work done last week at my suggestion because it hadn't been done recently. Nothing to show, though. Everything looks normal. Now, I know that's supposed to be good news, but at this point, ANYTHING showing up would be appreciated. The doctor extended John's disability leave till April 19 at the earliest. We are making the trek back down to NYC next week and having faith that they won't tell us he doesn't have an appointment this time.

But, just for fun, we asked the doctor if there is ANYTHING, ANYTHING other than rest, that John could be doing right now to help himself. ANYTHING AT ALL. The doctor...could not come up with ONE thing that he thinks will help John. Not diet, not exercise, not acupuncture (and this guy's Chinese, too), not yoga, not a vitamin cocktail...nothing. He did give us quite a lengthy list of all the diseases/disorders that they have ruled out. I'm going from memory, here, but here is a partial list of what he spouted out for us:

gallbladder disease (he had his gallbladder removed 4/08, just 'cause)
acute pancreatitis (had that, 7/08)
chronic pancreatitis
hepatitis a, b, and c (had hep A 10/07)
liver cancer
pancreatic cancer
stomach cancer
Sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (had a procedure for that, just 'cause, 7/08)
kidney stones
kidney failure
any infectious disease
parasites
Crohn's disease
colon cancer
colon polyps
irritable bowel syndrome (not completely ruled out, but not likely to cause this much pain)
vascular restrictions around the stomach
ulcers

And I know I am forgetting some of the things he listed.

The doctor asked John what he is hoping for. John was at a loss for words, as no one has asked him that before. I jumped in and said "I would like him to be able to function, because right now, he's not functioning at all. I would like him to be able to live, if not a completely normal and pain free life, at least to have his pain controlled so he can do things like, go to work, play with his daughter, enjoy anything." I know, so much to ask for.

Thanks, I mean it, really, THANKS! for your continued love, support, prayers, good karma and vibes, shoulders to lean on, food to feed my family, all of it. Thank you.