Troutbirder II

Troutbirder II
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Thursday, July 19, 2012

Catching Up

So, as I was saying, I had to go to the Mayo Clinic for some consults. Then our ten year old Dell Computer died. We then with our friends Gary and Rosie went for a two week vacation in southwest Montana, camping and hiking in the mountains. That was great until two trees fell across a forest service road trapping us on Trapper mountain in the Bitterroot Range. Then we returned to Minnesota just in time to catch a horrible heat wave. Naturally our air conditioner quit working. Thus far June and July could have been a bit better....
A recurrence of my A-Fib problem after a 5 year hiatus led me back to Cardiology. A slightly revised regimen of medication seems to be working. Then it was off to Neurology where I learned that I had something special. On of those 1 in 10,000 people conditions. Lucky me. For those interested in the truly unnusual here in there own words is the Mayo Clinic description for lay people.
"Cervical dystonia, also called spasmodic torticollis, is a
painful condition in which your neck muscles contract involuntarily, causing
your head to twist or turn to one side. Cervical dystonia can also cause your
head to uncontrollably tilt forward or backward.
A rare disorder that can occur at any age, even infancy,
cervical dystonia most often occurs in middle-aged people, women more than men.
Symptoms generally begin gradually and then reach a point where they don't get
substantially worse.
There is no cure for cervical dystonia. The disorder sometimes
resolves without treatment, but sustained remissions are uncommon. Injecting
botulinum toxin into the affected muscles often reduces the signs and symptoms
of cervical dystonia. Surgery may be appropriate in a few cases
The most common type
of twisting associated with cervical dystonia is when your chin is pulled
toward your shoulder. Some people experience a combination of abnormal head
postures. A jerking motion of the head also may occur.
Most people who have
cervical dystonia also experience neck pain that can radiate into the
shoulders. The disorder also can cause headaches. In some people, the pain from
cervical dystonia can be exhausting and disabling.
In most cases of
cervical dystonia, doctors don't know why some people develop the disorder and
others don't. Some cases, however, appear to be linked to:
Head, neck or shoulder injuries."
Fortunately, the condition is more seriously annoying than seriously fatal. Botox may provide relief. What I find really discouraging is that, in my case, the involuntary head movement is to the right. And as a life long liberal I find that very hard to take .......

25 comments:

  1. I am glad you are back no matter which way your head turns!

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  2. I have been so worried about you and I'm glad you're back. Looks like this season has not treated you well at all. Glad the A Fib got back under control and oh so sorry about the cervical dystonia. I hope you get some relief from the Botox and I'm glad you kept your sense of humor in spite of it all. Take care, blogger buddy.

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  3. Welcome back!

    As someone who deals with neck and back issues, I sympathize. Hope you find some relief.

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  4. So glad to have you back and only somewhat jerky.

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  5. Hey, welcome back! Sorry about your troubles, it seems like it's always something...the older we get the "more" we get! LOL Best wishes to you. Enjoyed your last sentence...

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  6. Whew!! Trapped on Trapper Mountain seems appropriate. What a June and July you've had! So glad to hear you're sense of humor is intact.

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  7. .... As you were saying.... Sorry to hear of your neck troubles, but also glad to find it's not debilitating and can possibly be managed. Welcome back! :-)

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  8. Welcome back! Southwest Montana and Trapped..what an adventure. Yes the heat sucks and the humidity too.
    So you are one in 10,000..if it ain't one thing it is another. I am glad your afib problem is resolved and now with involuntary movements..I suppose that could be worse..but it is still the pits. Do you suppose the botox will take care of some wrinkles?:)

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  9. I was wondering where you were! Oh my gosh ~ you've had some crazy months! I'm sorry about your condition ~ but I am loving your attitude towards it! Although, not being exactly a 'political' person, I don't quite get the "right vs the left" in politics. But I know there is a joke in there somewhere.... LOL!

    Wishing you ease in your discomfort!

    Hugs!
    xo Catherine

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  10. Finally! You had us all worried in your silence. Imagine, going to the Mayo Clinic and the computer died! Well, I'm sure that your new orientation in life (keeping to the right) will bring us some new revelations worth reading. (Hey, does the Botox help the neck wrinkles, anyway?). You keep on keeping on, TB!

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  11. I figured you were just playing too hard.Sorry to hear of poor health.The heat is even up to your border and I would love to escape it.

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  12. Oh my goodness, sorry to hear of your unfortunate summer of 2012! I'm glad to hear that the potentially serious heart condition is back on track for peaceful co-existence with you, and that your attitude about the torticollis is so good-humored. Best of luck with the botox. Maybe they could put some into your knitted brow, crows' feet, and frown lines (that is, of course, if you have any!) while they're at it, so you emerge as the New Younger Troutbirder :-)

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  13. I'm sorry to hear about your medical setbacks, but glad that you've retained your sense of humor in the face of such unpleasantness. Best of luck!

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  14. Criminy TB it looks like you are smack in the middle of a boils and sores period.I am so sorry for all your mishaps and scary ailments but hopefully the bad is behind you. These spells eventually do reverse.
    That is a new to me ailment and as I was feeling so badly for you and was sporting a wrinkled concerned brow over your condition, I fear I just burst out laughing at your head leaning discription.
    So glad you humor is still intact.
    Hope yours is one of those that goes away all together.

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  15. I hope the rest of your summer goes better than the first six weeks or so have gone. I'm going to assume that only your head is turning to the right. I hope you are soon better on all counts.

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  16. I am really sorry to hear what you have been going through. I am very happy to see you back.

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  17. Ha, ha, Yes, if only the movement was to the left, you could feel that at least you were leaning the correct direction!
    Seriously, sorry to hear you've had so many problems lately. Hope August starts a better trend.

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  18. I read the diagnoses with interest and hope you don't have too much pain connected with it. Your last two lines prove that you face adversity and still come out smiling ...wonderful... & I agree with the leaning left !!!

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  19. i was glad to find your humor at the bottom of this tale of woe. so sorry to hear all this, seems you had a round with Murphy's law and health issues. i just saw a saying on another blog.
    Old age comes at the wrong time in life, that is ME. thanks for your comment today, we can all relate to our health issues for sure. i have never heard of this cervical disease.

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  20. Oh gee it has really been a bad two months for you. I can't even imagine! Hang in there and things will get better for sure. Welcome back.

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  21. Glad to see you back posting again. And sorry to hear about all the various troubles. I sympathize as I have some over-zealous neck & back muscle issues as well.

    Good to see your sense of humour is still intact!

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  22. I want your wife to capture your head movements on video. Just because.

    Glad you are okay -- wondered what was going on. PS -- how is Barron doing with all of these happenings?

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  23. Troutbirder, I'm so glad you are who you are. Not only do you give clear, concise information on everything, but you do it with humor. Guess that's the best way to deal with whatever looms before you.
    Good lesson for me to remember, too! :-)

    Hopefully there will be relief, even if you do find yourself Leaning towards the Right. Keep us posted.

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  24. Sounds manageable, though troublesome. Hope you have none of the more painful symptoms.

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  25. Thanks for visiting my blog the other day. I'm sorry to hear about your neurological problem! I also have one of those pesky movement disorders and have been getting botox for several years now. It's not so bad and it really helps manage the symptoms. Yours is much different than mine, but if you have any questions let me know!

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