Rocket Jones has just undergone it's longest stretch of inactivity in its two year life. I've been... distracted... which is as good a word as any to describe my mind lately.

If you've been around for any length of time, you know that my wife has some rather severe medical problems (check the "seriously" and/or "boring stories" archives if you wanna know). While difficult, they're not life threatening, so we count our blessings and get on with life.

For the last couple of months, she's been seeing various specialists as they try to figure out the latest medical mystery. Each one has given us good news, in that a whole roster of very scary possibilities have been eliminated one by one. But each negative test result only ratcheted up the tension, because no one could point at something specific and say, "ah-Hah! Here's the problem!"

I've been a basket case, and I have the easy job, being the understanding and supportive husband. You can imagine the state of mind Liz has been living with.

On Tuesday I got a phone call from the Urgent Care clinic, letting me know that Liz was there with chest pains. By the time I'd gotten there, most of the lab work was complete and they knew for sure that it wasn't a heart attack. Diagnosis: stress and possible panic attack. No question as to what could be the underlying reason.

On Wednesday, we got the "ah-Hah!" moment we've been waiting for. It's not a brain tumor (thank God), but Liz will have to undergo some rather delicate surgery in the very near future. They'll be going up through the sinuses with their lasers and cameras, which is good because they won't have to drill holes in her skull. The bad part is that there is a remote possibility that she may lose her eyesight in the process. The surgery isn't all that uncommon, but there are definite risks because it's working near the finicky bits around the eyes.

Once it's done (and we're assuming it'll be successful), she'll have to stay on meds for the problem for life, and have annual checkups with the specialist.

We go on a long-overdue (and badly-needed) vacation week after next, and on the following Monday Liz goes in for her surgery.

Think good thoughts people, it couldn't hurt. Thanks.

Posted by: Ted at 05:39 PM | category: Seriously
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1 I've been wondering where you've been. You know you guys are always in my thoughts, and I'll send a little extra good ju-ju your way post-haste. Let me know if there is anything I can do -- I can be there as soon as I-95 traffic will allow!

Posted by: dawn at July 02, 2005 06:42 PM (Dh1V0)

2 Welcome back,Ted!Sorry to hear about Liz's misfortune.I hope it turns out alright.I know that this is easier said than done but don't worry about it.If there's nothing you can do right this second then it doesn't help anyways.That comes from a world of experience.I too had my head invaded with lasers and cameras about a year and a half ago.Mine was sinus surgery.I had never had that much problems with my sinuses until it reared it's ugly head suddenly one spring day.It started out with two bouts with dizziness a couple of weeks after I had the flu.Each time I almost passed out.After the first attack the dizziness went away for a while.After the second one it didn't.I still have problems with it to this day.However,it was the invesitgation into the dizziness that led to the discovery of the sinus problems.They just kept swelling until they finally closed themselves off completly.I couldn't breath well or even hardly swallow.If I had not had my surgery when I did the concensus is that I would have eventually choked to death in my sleep because I also have sleep apnea on top of it all.
Well anyhow I still have problems with dizziness.For some reason the humidity this summer has helped it.Don't ask me why because I have not a clue.Plus,I now take Flonase and Advair for sinuses and Asthma.Remember how jumpy I used to be at the launches?It was the meds.They're steroid based and they make you fidgety and nervous as hell.Not nearly as bad as their oral counterparts that they gave me at first though.Those things are a real rollercoaster ride.zooooom!!!! then screeeeeech!!! ooooowwww!!!
Anyhow y'all enjoy your 4th and don't worry too much.

Posted by: Russ at July 02, 2005 07:02 PM (ObxzR)

3 >>>>Good Thoughts>>>>

Best wishes to Liz for a safe procedure, and a full and speedy recovery.

Posted by: JohnL at July 02, 2005 07:51 PM (gplif)

4 It's good that they found out what it is, a little nerve wracking that she has do have surgery. All my best thoughts to you all there, have a good holiday and I hope everything goes without a hitch.

*ohmmm.. good thoughts.... ohmmm*

lol

Posted by: Oorgo at July 02, 2005 09:00 PM (4R+lz)

5 The good news, of course, is that they think they have isolated the problem, and there's a good chance they can beat it into submission with a procedure with which they have experience.

Look at it that way and it becomes less scary.

Posted by: CGHill at July 02, 2005 11:50 PM (AUDQP)

6 Well, life is nothing if not an adventure. The trick is learning how not to be surprised.

Will Liz be joining us on the 12th?!

Posted by: Tuning Spork at July 03, 2005 02:36 AM (1aD6w)

7 Thinking all the good thoughts I can come up with. Have a great holiday, and my very best wishes to Liz.

Posted by: Pixy Misa at July 03, 2005 02:45 AM (+S1Ft)

8 I admit I was getting a little worried too. All of our best wishes for Liz, and please call us if there's anything we can do.

Posted by: nic at July 03, 2005 06:53 AM (IBRcA)

9 All of you are in my thoughts. All of my best.

Posted by: Tink at July 03, 2005 08:16 AM (3yWKZ)

10 I hope everything goes as well as possible for you both.

Posted by: Maelstrom at July 03, 2005 09:33 AM (319UO)

11 I'd like to add my warmest wishes also...and second Nic's suggestion to call us if there's anything we can do to help.

Posted by: Victor at July 03, 2005 04:42 PM (IBRcA)

12 Thinking of you & Liz + the rest of the family...

Posted by: Cindy at July 03, 2005 08:49 PM (aTTRh)

13 First, since it's now the 4th, Happy 4th.
Second, I'd like to add my own wishes to the bunch. I hope everything goes smoothly and as planned.

Posted by: Paul at July 04, 2005 05:29 AM (TsODD)

14 Hey, happy 4th, hope things with the wife improve!

On an unrelated note, I blew some shit up in your memory last night ted. I guess none of my rockets were as carefully crafted as yours, but the went pretty high before blowing up!

Posted by: shank at July 04, 2005 02:51 PM (jfEhX)

15 Thanks everyone for the kind words and good thoughts.

Shank, if the rocket held together long enough to do the job *boom*, then it was perfectly built. Mine are designed to fly over and over without the boom - my all-time veteran is approaching 50 flights, but I know of a couple high power rockets with 70-some and over 100 flights each - so we tend to use better materials and stronger construction methods, not necessarily better craftsmanship.

Posted by: Ted at July 04, 2005 04:27 PM (+OVgL)

16 Good Thoughts being furiously thunked here in Australia.

I've had a few interesting health problems of my own recently, still not explained. Glad that they'v found out what the problem is with Liz, even more glad it's amenable to treatment.

Time for some more Good Thoughts again. Hope they help.

Posted by: Alan E Brain at July 06, 2005 12:29 AM (tAq8A)

17 I hope everything goes well. An aside related to heads, medicine, and your story above about joking around with daughters ... a couple of years ago, my daughter needed her head x-rayed. I asked the technician if she found evidence of a brain.

Posted by: wheels at July 07, 2005 12:43 AM (pSq2X)

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