VenaSeal by Medtronics Had Me at “No Anethesia” For Closing Patients Diseased Veins

13 05 2016

 Happy Goddess GirlAll I can say, is, WOW! I’m going to post my photo’s and I’m going to highlight my first hours, days and weeks for those who are considering a venous “ablation”, (a process which damages, shrinks, collapses or nearly destroys dysfunctional veins not needed by the body). There’s a great method used called Radio Frequency Ablation with a probe that heats the damaged vein to the precise temperature to collapse and damage the vein. A fantastic procedure, but it comes with having to numb the “access” sites with a lot of fluid called Tumescent. It’s designed to make the treatment as pain-free as possible. But once the procedure is complete, the patient leaves the office with loads of tumescent mixed with trapped blood and it takes days to eliminate and “ooze” out the anesthesia. VenaSeal doesn’t need or use an anesthesia. I popped up on the “procedure table” at Smalling Vascular Institute, in Overland Park, KS on Wednesday, May 11, 2016. I merely lifted my dress I had worn to work. Removed my dee’s. Was covered and prepped for a sterile field. The music was playing over the surgical room speakers. And the process began. I can discuss in greater detail as we go. But, let me tell you how great I felt after the medical team finished. I was cleaned of ultrasound gel and all of the marker spots mapping my veins that had extra pesky veins, called perforators and tributaries. Once complete, I was told I could put my shoes on and walk out. Looking down at my legs, there was one plastic bandage on each ankle. And I went back to work. The photo’s will show you, if you’re skeptical! So I’ll leave you tonight with my photo’s of my procedure on Wednesday. And I’ll add to my experience over the next days to let you know how it goes. What an incredible ground-breaking new procedure. I can’t say enough great things about this modern, safe and quick varicose veins or refluxing venous insufficiency condition many of us have, yet we cannot “see” the disease or feel burdened by the problems with our legs. So stay tuned. Here are some websites to help find information and to checkout other folks opinions. Hope it helps….

Kansas’ FIRST and ONLY Specialist Who is The Only Current Physician Treating Veins with VenaSeal Glue

Medtronic’s VenaSeal Closure Fast treatment system a few doctors are approved to purchase and use

 

Here you go with the tease……





Finding a sense of self while falling in love with Chattanooga, TN

13 05 2012

Happy Mother’s Day. A son working in Los Angeles after graduating college and a daughter about ready to embark on Manhattan for her own college experience. The nest gets more expansive as the trilling sounds lessen. Bittersweet is a new comprehension for me. The good news is when the nest is empty and I make the move to a smaller abode, I hope I am able to remain in the city in which I have always adored. I’m getting out and about more often. Living downtown, I’m able to walk out my door and grab a Starbucks Chai Tea and read the Chattanooga Times Free Press, walk to The Tivoli to enjoy the cascades of performances on a given evening, or sneak off to escape reality with a movie in the huge LEED Majestic 14 movie theater less than two blocks away from my front porch.

Today as I set off for a typical weekly trail run on Lookout Mountain, TN at the Craven’s House trail head. Getting things ready and while I was stretching, the view seduced me to take it all in. Really look at all the detail of a shiny city between small mountains where the Tennessee River runs through the middle of downtown. I’m on the rainy, tree canopied trail ready to set out for a nice run with my fellow trail runner, Ziggy, my trusty 20-month old Labrador Retriever. She and I take off for a 4 mile run and she chases the squirrels while my mind wanders about all sorts of things. Often a diversion for the uphill ascent and challenge of regulating breath, my mind thinks of the journey I’ve faced the past few years. I think of the people who have come from out of nowhere it seems, to help me or to offer fellowship. I think of the beauty the scenic city possesses. We make the two-mile mark and keep going. Briefly, I recall there is a loop back to Craven’s if I keep going. Ten miles into the run, soaking wet from rain, watching Ziggy approach her first deer and chase it into the dense green growth of the forest, I am coming full circle similarly to ending this last section of this loop on my run.

Two hours and twenty minutes, I find myself again at my SUV and the view of the city below. I am becoming the girl lost long ago slowly. And it’s the city of Chattanooga, the topography, the spirit of the people, the programs being installed and implemented are exactly the tools I needed to endure this tough journey in finding myself again.

Although not completely there yet, a precise career objective still looms, but I am full of happiness, appreciation, beauty and love all because of a place like I’ve not known before in the vagabond life I’ve lived. This place I’ve enjoyed for 7 years, the longest I have ever lived anywhere, has helped me reshape myself, face my fears, find new inspirational passions like trail running and has put a little kick in my step, especially when I walk Ziggy each weekday to greet others walking downtown and my favorite people on my mini journey to my morning ritual of reading the news and grabbing my Chai Tea. What a phenomenal city. I hope I am able to remain here the rest of my days.





Great artist

2 05 2012





To Put a Cork in It, One Must First Remove It

23 01 2012

Have you ever bought something, maybe from years before, only to find that one day the beloved product finally breaks due to wear? It breaks right in your hand in the midst of performing the action the specific little gadget is just about to execute. Oh, drats! My recall hints the ballpark expense of the item, which now needs to be replaced. If memory serves me, it is not inexpensive.

The scenario occurred this past year when trying to begin my evening therapy session consisting simply of two glasses of Pinot Noir, when reaching for my ScrewPull cork remover. Upon injecting the metal curly tip into my top value rated bottle of juice, the ScrewPull disintegrated. Ugh! Seriously? Well, I recall, trying to think positively. “I have my health.” “There are much bigger crisis’ to consider.” “There is a manual back-up corkscrew!”

Of course, I removed the cork and contemplated figuring out how to afford replacing the lovely ScrewPull device that I loved, yet certainly shouldn’t spend the money replacing. I decided to contact the company and inquire about having it repaired. In short, my email mentioned I had purchased it nearly 11 years prior while living abroad and knew the warranty was only valid for 10 years, but I hoped it could be repaired. The customer service was swift and polite asking me to send it back for an evaluation.

Today I’m happy to tell you that I received a box from Le Creuset, the parent company of ScrewPull. Inside, I found the newest reconfigured ScrewPull, the same model I coveted recently in a well-known kitchen ware retailer. A gloriously sleek, beautiful updated tool for which I can open a lovely little bottle of table wine and it’s new. A symbol of my single girl life and a new year.





Someday I’ll Get It Together

25 09 2011

Between having a home on the real estate market, being the “go-to-it Mom” for all things my daughter and her friends need this 12th grade school year and all my other responsibilities, who has time for a blog or finding a job? Well, I guess Super Woman, but I am not trying to fill those shoes. Someone else can gladly step in front of me for that gig.

All I can say is how much I miss not writing and how each day, I awake to jot on my daily “To-Do” list to write my blog. Which nightly, gets moved to the next day’s list. To my reader’s, thank you for just being there and not growing tired of my shenanigans’. I have an upcoming event that will likely allow me some down time, but I’m not making any promises. Until then, I’ll at least touch on a subject that I’ve wanted to write about for a couple of weeks. Yes, Virginia, there is a rule for not wearing white after Labor Day. And by damn, I’m sticking to it. The old tradition didn’t exclude white shirts, but merely bleach white jeans, pants and the like. Traditions are fun and separate our seasons. So when we hear from the style experts of today, saying wear your white jeans. My thought is to hold on to some of those old traditions and ignore those impulses. Besides, waiting until Easter to pull out all your summer whites, is like a surprise Easter weekend. We sometimes forget what great items await in those dusty boxes packed from the previous September.

Until next time, find a bountiful treasure of happiness your way!





One More Thing….

8 09 2011

The worst part of not writing lately, is missing something important. A question was asked that I felt compelled to answer in a formal post. The question was posed from reader Ron as follows:

“When you first considered dating after being married for 22 years, did you feel like you were being unfaithful? Was it weird? Have you made the shift emotionally from being part of a couple to being single? Or, is it a work in progress still?”

What a question. Anyone faced with this question knows the daunting reality of trying to answer it. I know this person asking is also somewhere similar to where I have been, and it breaks my heart. I’m so sorry that anyone has to endure this kind of hurt. Even if one is certain that ending the marriage contract is essential to a better life in the end; It hurts no less. Even those of you who have not faced divorce but have struggled to make a marriage enriching for both you and your partner by being sensitive to each one’s needs, most partners have imagined the fear of facing life wondering if you would make a mistake by ending it or the overwhelming consideration of finding a new life, possibly alone. So, I’ll do my best to answer these questions posed and hope that others with various perspectives will chime in as well.

I never felt unfaithful when beginning the dating process. I guess because we, my ex and I, battled so fiercely toward the end, that we left no doubt we were exhausted and ready to move forward. I think the biggest struggle with beginning the dating process is the fact that I found myself that I had not opened myself up to perfect strangers in a long time. Vulnerable and raw is how I felt and currently still feel. In addition, intimacy seems to move a bit faster. Why? Maybe because most of the characters involved have come from marriages where intimacy was a frequent given. That’s my take on the subject.

So I would lay awake at night after meeting someone interesting and worry myself sick about concerns, questions and uncertainty. Is this new candidate for real? Is he a murderer in a past life and has changed his identity? Is he a player and feeding you all the BS you’ve wanted to hear for the past decade? So many fears, thus creating so much doubt in one’s self. It’s still a struggle I face every time I find someone attractive and consider whether or not I want to take the opportunity  to know that particular person. So, no, I didn’t ever feel unfaithful. Quite the opposite. But weird? Yes. And that aspect has not gone away. I pray often to find an old friend, one of whom I always respected and felt fondly toward, one who might stumble across me and consider a possible relationship. Or at least a chapter in life of fun, monogamy and laughter along with a few of the normal ickies in life.

And finally, the last part of the question series is do I feel single or do I struggle? This too, is complicated for me. I cannot give a definite answer to one or the other. Some days I awake so happy I am single, young, free, healthy and alive. I am ready to tear the world up and sell my writing. Contented knowing that Mr. Almost-Perfect may be right around the next bend. But I have almost as many days where I awake and quickly close my eyes and begin praying that God will help me get out of bed and find the strength to go frolic in the land of the living when all I feel like doing is dying. I think what keeps this scenario from being so tragic is, I felt the latter so many mornings while still inside my marriage, as I’m sure my ex would have concurred. I think it’s truly just life; some days are easy and others we need help to get going. It’s our job to find our motivation. Mine is God, mediation and a fortunate aptitude to be naturally pretty jolly.

To Ron, I hope this helps. I would highly encourage others to share other thoughts or suggestions, too. Until then, please consider whatever it might be that will give you some kick in your step. I found running again and I now, quite surprisingly, but I really like it. A friend showed me a great place off the asphalt and it is serene, quiet and beautiful. I especially like what the act of running is doing for my body composition. Also, I’m pushing myself to get out and about and learn new sports like trail running, kayaking and mountain biking. What has worked for you to get the courage to join the land of the living? And Ron, anything else from you? I’m sorry, too, Ron for being so absent lately. Thank you for the well wishes and the warm welcome back.





I Am Not MIA.

29 06 2011

Sorry to all. Recently I haven’t been able to post to On The Way To Happy due to trying to find a paying writing gig and among other fun things going on in my personal life. I hope to settle down a bit next week and publish an editorial calendar and set up a system that will allow me more flexibility by writing for my blog 3 days a week versus the 5-7 posts I was trying to author. Please have patience and tune in soon. I will get this figured out and still enjoy my personal life while trying to find paid employment. Best!!!





Basic On-Hand Items and A Bit o’ Fish, or Chicken Breast

9 06 2011

Logo website A couple reader’s who know my kitchen shenanigan’s, asked me to post some quick recipe’s for one. Since I have a high school daughter who is very busy with her school and friends, I’ve become fairly proficient on creating the quickest, tastiest dishes that I was asked to share. Here goes with tonight’s recipe.

Downtown Herb Crusted Salmon atop Black Lentils with Steamed Asparagus

PHOTO TO THE RIGHT

Prep and cook time: 30 minutes total. Easy

Items On-Hand:Dried Black Lentils, your container garden herbs, chicken broth, lemon, olive oil, salt,  and pepper,

Dropped by the local Whole Foods: In and out in 7 minutes (Bonus: A nice Pinot Noir & a baguette.) Bought a small filet of Wild Salmon (if fish isn’t your preference, you can sub a small portion of chicken breast. If breast is thick, slice butterfly style for quicker cooking.) A carrot. An onion. One Bunch of Petite Asparagus.

Cooking Tools: A silicon steamer (or parchment paper- come on make some effort here), an Asparagus Steamer (or any steamer device), a small sauce pot, a sharp knife, paper towels, a cutting board, measuring cups, a pair of tongs, cook-top spoon, a small square of foil, a fish spatula.  (If you don’t have a indoor grill, a grill pan)

Pre-heat the grill. 1/4c. of dried black lentils with 1-1/4c of water in a sauce pot, bring to a boil for 3 minutes while you gather herbs.

Best herbs: Parsley, rosemary, thyme, chives. Cut with scissors and a quick chop with a knife. Take the onion and carrot. Peel the carrot and dice into the smallest bits, approximately a few tablespoons of both. Place the diced carrot and onion in a silicon steamer with chicken broth and put in microwave on high for 2 minutes. The lentils have boiled for 3 minutes, now they simmer for 25 minutes. After the microwave dings, put the carrot/onion mixture into the lentils, along with salt and pepper and a drizzle of olive oil. Pat the salmon filet dry, push the herbs on the salmon filet with some salt, pepper and drizzle with olive oil. Put one-inch of water in an asparagus steamer, squeeze a half lemon in the water and drop the portion size you like of trimmed asparagus into the steamer basket. Cover lid and steam for four minutes. While the asparagus are steaming, the salmon goes onto the indoor grill (or grill pan) for 5 minutes, skin-side down. If you have a curved metal lid, cover the fish and vent to assist in cooking the interior of the filet. Everything is nearly ready- the lentils have almost absorbed the stock, the asparagus are waiting in the steamer basket and one last hatch mark on your salmon for 1 minutes (depending on the thickness of your filet), remove, tent with foil while you plate the lentils and asparagus. Then pull the foil off and top with the salmon. Hope the music is ready, your favorite Rhapsody playlist.  A thyme sprig for the plate and sit with a glass of Pinot Noir. You’re almost glad there’s no one around trying to snag a bite off your plate. Enjoy!





Weiner Wants To Get Off The Subject

8 06 2011

Logo websiteI cannot help myself. And I so hate to be mean-spirited, so please don’t take my musing in that manner. However, tweeting the Wiener, or Wiener’s tweet does bring up (bring up, it’s endless) something I’ve been dying to gauge what women’s views on the matter might be in today’s world. Maybe a poll would be appropriate? Poll, or pole, oh my gosh!

First of all, am I right about this one subject?

I don’t think even the most sexually attuned woman really ever wants to see a twitter, text or email with the main male bits of her lover, friend or pen-pal waiting for her in her inbox. The puns are seriously just infinite, I just could not resist with the inbox, sorry. I don’t care how attractive a woman finds a man, we like all of the bits either in person or photo’s leaving a little more to the imagination. Some women I know might even say, “Keep your bits to yourself.” But I have to occasionally get a read on public opinion since I am skewed on sexual topics often due to surviving my own childhood history. By the way, I’ve worked my tail off and I’m in a good place emotionally now, so no worries out there!

But, seriously guys. I’d like to let you in on a lady-secret. And girlfriend’s, please don’t kick me out of the club for sharing some of our girl codes with the fellas: we really need to help these cute men of ours in on this widely regarded little tidbit. Psst, most of us think it’s just not that pretty to the eye. So not eye candy to the average chick. And those parts all sorta look the same on a text, trust me, I speak from being on the receiving end so many times, I don’t quite understand why, however. And don’t ask me, I’m not discussing.

But, help me out, reader’s. Do we females want to see what the guy on the other end of a correspondence is thinking, deep down…..below? I’m just almost positive the response would be a resounding, “Oh, please gentlemen, don’t waste your data usage!”

What are we supposed to do with a photo of your junk? Keep it in our iPhoto album along with photo’s of the children play’s, family get-together’s and our beloved pet’s photo’s? What a quandary we face, delete or import?

Personally, I’m happy to see a fantastic physique. A toned bare chest is pretty. I adore a muscular set of legs, if they’re on an intriguing man’s body. Remember, I am single and very alive. But, I’d rather imagine what’s hidden in that package. There’s a reason that Saturday Night Live’s skit with Justine Timberlake and Andy Samberg was instantly a classic. We girl’s are laughing, not because a pelvic zone gift wrapped box tied with a bow is exactly what we girlies all want most, but because it’s what we girls imagine men think we gals find appealing and such a generous offer. That’s what I’ve noticed the most about my history of relationships, a dude is always willing to be an incredible giver when it comes to the gift down below. Am I right?

All in jest, my sweet friend’s of the male persuasion. I would hate life without my moments with all the great gentlemen I’ve known over my lifetime! But, stop it with the sexting of that one particular item!

(A link to NBC’s SNL skit mentioned, “D*** in a Box.” Be warned, it is crude, but exactly my kind of humor.)

http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/d-in-a-box/51523/





Two Kids Views on Divorce-A Year Out (Re-post, error before)

6 06 2011

Logo websiteToday was finally a fantastic day. One needed since returning from NYC. I needed relief with some worries. I saw my friend, Joan Colmore, a spiritual healer, an RN and author of “Straight into the Heart of Christ.” She is a spiritual intuitive who uses her wide range of gifts to help soothe souls. There aren’t adequate words to express the love she exudes. I finally broke down and scheduled a time for her to help me to tranquillize some pain. I am certain now with Joan’s insight peace will be restored, a little each day. She’s been there for me since my first concerns for my financial future and blessings on my children’s beings. The comfort she provided me was and is always immeasurable. She gave me the strength to see I would survive and my kid’s would rise above and be really okay.

Looking back, thus far, it appears she was precisely correct. My children have survived and rebounded, each from their personal hell. We are all able to be in a room together and even laugh and share stories. Us being in a room together was all our kids needed to experience again.

In 2006, our marriage had finally died, but I couldn’t take the steps to end it for the longest. There was little fighting for a few years, just palpable disconnect and distance. Actually, my son helped free me, free us all eventually. He knew the sadness in my soul hidden behind the laughter and dinner parties. He begged for me to rid my life of the sadness even though he knew that the casualty would be his best friend, his father. It’s amazing how often we adults discount the credit kid’s deserve for their clarity, simply because we see their youth and short life experience as ill-equipped to know fully the consequences.

Why did our kid’s come out on the other side, seemingly well with mere minor scrapes? Communication and love peppered with more love. And when I thought they could see it and feel it. Repeat and repeat and repeat and continue to keep the communication doors open. I made it clear, my kid’s could be mad at me. And express that anger anytime. Respectfully, but anytime they were permitted to share their true feelings. They helped me, help them. I tried to help give them a voice, the ability to make some decisions and always respected their feelings, no matter what they were at any given time.

What was the worst part of divorce? Hands down, the fracture of the family and its effects on my kids. My kid’s came into this world, left me utterly speechless and in awe of their beauty and purity. My children were sent to me to save me. And save me they have done. And now their wish is to see me happy, which I am and strive to achieve daily. Eventually they hope I find a giant of a man and they have wondered what our family will resemble then. They are good souls and my most rewarding achievement. Nothing will ever fulfill me like the two souls sent to be by my side. We succeeded in ensuring they knew we valued nothing more.

Each passing wedding anniversary, they were my world and my life’s work. They were my husband’s world. And not much has changed, nor will it ever fade. Their lives continually enrich mine and I hope I enrich their lives half as much as they have showered me with their love, giving spirit and connection to the earth. How does one measure the impact of divorce and the potential loss for children?

Research is conflicting. Most studies findings are to stay together. But so many grown kids state they wished their parents had been happy and had left their marriages. Society accepts and encourages the fact that children need to see their parents happy or at least contented. The bible, and other religious readings push sticking it out not matter the cost. But, it’s conflicting due to the fact that God supposedly wants us to be happy and nourished by our partner. Sadly the biggest factor for most of us who survived divorce in our own childhood’s, we are often the greatest challenge when contemplating admission we have not succeeded in providing our children with the loving, happy environment of our dreams. Many of us divorce survivor children swear we will never divorce, but grace was bestowed to me at my lowest point. I succeeded in keeping my home in tact for a long time. I knew I could eventually find a better way to enjoy my ex and our future family moments together. I learned to accept my realization when I made those childhood promises to myself, I wasn’t capable of understanding much of a marriage and its needs. The change I made was for my kid’s and time will tell to see if this difference alleviates some of their personal pain. I hold out hope for a better future for them because I communicated so many of the reasons why it wasn’t working, couldn’t work and how we could live together dissatisfied or separate and find our joy again solo. My son’s eyes piercing my soul the moment he told me I needed to leave, will stay with me forever and hopefully will be a reminder for him to select carefully, nurture to the bitter end and love more selflessly than maybe he cannot even currently imagine. Sadness emanates and can be evident to a child even while parents smile and avoid arguing. For my children, the knowledge and witnessing of words spoken, caused great sadness. Anything had to be better.

Three months after my ex and I separated, my daughter said she was proud that I made a stand for a contented heart and that I wasn’t going to allow anyone, no matter the love, commitment and history, be allowed to ignore me, a loving partner and speak to me disrespectfully. They have both said I am much better. I feel much better and they remind me that just seeing me happy is extremely gratifying to them and ensures our time together is joyful and memorable similar to what they remembered growing up in their younger years.

I’m going to take it year by year and keep it all out in the open, always approachable and hope that we continue moving in this positive, upward direction. So far, so good. A year later, I have to admit, I never imagined they would smile the way they now smile. Guttural laughs like years past and I am soothed knowing how beautiful these two are in my life and how they just continue saving me. Joan and our family counselor both agreed last year, that our kids would be better off for our particular divorce. Seeing them today, all evidence points to a resounding hurrah. I am blessed. I’ve never needed Joan to reassure me of my blessings, I have more than I ever thought I would have been bestowed.