Weekend. Friday was pretty good. We went to The Red Lion Pub for supper. Got seated right away, but our waitress was tied up with a party of 10, so we waited about 10 minutes to have our order taken. Luckily we had our iced tea and really didn't mind waiting. We got our order in ahead of the large party and it was delivered quickly. Glad for that as we were both hungry by then. Their liver and onions tasted delicious. Cooked just right, also. No room for dessert, even though I had left part of my meat for Traveling dog.
Saturday was a bit of a blah day, I had to have a little pity party. TM pretty much forgot about pinochle until they called him around 7:05p and then he was out the door. Didn't bother me, I had a good book. It was also an opportunity for me to do a thing or 2 on my own - like take my shower and do my hair. I survived just fine.
I am walking around the house without using the cane now. I mean, after all, we live in a small space and I can't go anywhere that I can't hold on to something. Although I feel confident, I am still taking the cane when I leave the house.
Sunday we had another preacher candidate and his family in. Nice people and it was good to meet another of my on-line friends. Finger foods and ice cream after evening services.
Today, 4 weeks after surgery, I decided it was time to start walking again. Pauline and I walked for about 30 minutes, which is not as big a deal as it sounds since it was slow walking. By the end of that time, I had pretty much had it. I had taken tylenol instead of prescription pain killers - huge mistake. Not weaning time yet. Later in the day, I went back to the script. I took one and about an hour later took another since one just was not doing the job. Once I got the pain under control things went much better. But I still wasn't up to going grocery shopping.
Let me tell you that my husband is one of the greatest guys ever! He has been a brick and not complained thru this whole thing. I have been treated like a true VIP.
Guess that is about it for now.
God Bless
Monday, February 28, 2011
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Torture continues
Yep, he was here on Wed. and made me suffer. We are working on extension since I remained 3 to 5 degrees off. Wed. we did manage to get it to 1 degree and he says that is good enough. He will be back tomorrow to see if I have maintained it. Ouch!
That left me to do all my therapy exercises on my own. Due to time constrains I did the standing and sitting sets all together. Talk about exhasting.
Next week have an appt. with the outpatient therapist that Tony has recommended. Supposed to be working on strength and stamina. Looking forward to trying out the aqua treadmill.
Monday we had lunch with our preacher candidate and his wife. Managed to make it last 2 hours (as if that was a problem) and really enjoyed being with them. They sure did hate to go back to Michigan after their weekend here. Enjoyed his preaching also. But we have 3 more candidates to hear. The next one is coming this weekend. His wife is known to me thru an on-line group and I am looking forward to meeting her (and him) in person.
Today was Mellan's birthday and we had lunch with her and Richard, Rita and Mike. Also had their granddaughter and friend there. We had such a nice time. We went to Santa Fe Cattle Company and enjoyed the food. I am so glad we are able to celebrate her birthday together
Tonight was potluck at the campground. TM enjoyed it, as always. I did not go as I was feeling a little tired and had some pain. He brought me a plate of food home. Such a sweetie. Didn't get to see the lift-off from the cape because of cloud cover. Have already seen pics on facebook though.
That's it for now.
God Bless
That left me to do all my therapy exercises on my own. Due to time constrains I did the standing and sitting sets all together. Talk about exhasting.
Next week have an appt. with the outpatient therapist that Tony has recommended. Supposed to be working on strength and stamina. Looking forward to trying out the aqua treadmill.
Monday we had lunch with our preacher candidate and his wife. Managed to make it last 2 hours (as if that was a problem) and really enjoyed being with them. They sure did hate to go back to Michigan after their weekend here. Enjoyed his preaching also. But we have 3 more candidates to hear. The next one is coming this weekend. His wife is known to me thru an on-line group and I am looking forward to meeting her (and him) in person.
Today was Mellan's birthday and we had lunch with her and Richard, Rita and Mike. Also had their granddaughter and friend there. We had such a nice time. We went to Santa Fe Cattle Company and enjoyed the food. I am so glad we are able to celebrate her birthday together
Tonight was potluck at the campground. TM enjoyed it, as always. I did not go as I was feeling a little tired and had some pain. He brought me a plate of food home. Such a sweetie. Didn't get to see the lift-off from the cape because of cloud cover. Have already seen pics on facebook though.
That's it for now.
God Bless
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Perfectly clear
From my last post, let me make one thing clear, TM did not leave me when I was so sick. I urged him to go play cards and neither of us realized how my temp was going to spike nor how bad I would feel. Please, he has been taking wonderful care of me and would never have left the house if we had known then what we know now. I am so, so blessed to have him. I thank God daily for my traveling man.
That said, we will move on to torture. Tony (therapist) has been pushing me to do more reps of each exercise. I am ok at the beginning, but by the time I get 4 or 5 different ones done, I am spent. Those last couple are not only the hardest, but I am already in pain, etc. when I start. One is the flexation exercise and I did get to 120 degrees, which should be my goal, but it was not at all comfortable. Still can't get full extension, so I guess it is time to concentrate on that for a while.
Traveling dog is much happier now that we don't have the walker in the house. The cane doesn't bother him at all. At first he looked at it kind of funny, but I just walked around like it was natural, not teasing him with it or anything, and he settled right down. He does wish he could get closer to me. I am nested here in the corner and it is not easy for him to get close, and he certainly cannot lay down next to me.
I have been able to get back to my beads a bit - 45 minutes or so at a time. So many patterns and so little time. TD can get closer to me when I am at the table doing that work and he likes that.
1 week now I have stayed healthy, no little setbacks (like strep). Thank you, my God for your care. Thank you my friends for your prayer.
God Bless
That said, we will move on to torture. Tony (therapist) has been pushing me to do more reps of each exercise. I am ok at the beginning, but by the time I get 4 or 5 different ones done, I am spent. Those last couple are not only the hardest, but I am already in pain, etc. when I start. One is the flexation exercise and I did get to 120 degrees, which should be my goal, but it was not at all comfortable. Still can't get full extension, so I guess it is time to concentrate on that for a while.
Traveling dog is much happier now that we don't have the walker in the house. The cane doesn't bother him at all. At first he looked at it kind of funny, but I just walked around like it was natural, not teasing him with it or anything, and he settled right down. He does wish he could get closer to me. I am nested here in the corner and it is not easy for him to get close, and he certainly cannot lay down next to me.
I have been able to get back to my beads a bit - 45 minutes or so at a time. So many patterns and so little time. TD can get closer to me when I am at the table doing that work and he likes that.
1 week now I have stayed healthy, no little setbacks (like strep). Thank you, my God for your care. Thank you my friends for your prayer.
God Bless
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Believe it
So I haven't finished my hospital stay, etc. But willing to answer any questions you might have. The thing is I never really got to feeling good, just tolerable.
Then Saturday the big one hit. Can you believe strep throat? Sat. night was bad. Took my pain pills (which I needed anyway) and did some sleeping. TM went to play cards and I watched a short movie. Unable to concentrate on anything and with words blurring, I turned off the light and slept in my chair. And I mean I slept deep. Woke up thinking how late is he going to be? only to find it wasn't yet 10pm. TM got home about 10:15 and put me to bed. I did manage to sleep most of the night, but knew I was running a fever. Sunday morning was worse yet, could barely swallow and temp at 101. Called the doctors service and asked for antibiotics. The operator was a ditz for sure. I told her my story and then she asked what message I would like to leave. I said I just told you. Anyway I figured it was a lost cause and began looking for walk-in clinics open on Sun. Amazingly I did get a call back and was able to tell the PA what was happening. He was a bit skeptical until I mentioned the fever. Immediately he said he would call in the script. When Walgreens finally figured out they had received it, was able to pick it up before noon. Took all 4 doses between noon and 8pm. Around 11-11:30 my fever broke and I felt pretty human. It has been getting better daily as I continue to take the antibiotic.
Went in today and had my staples and stitches taken out and had an xray of my new knee. All went well and I have few restrictions now. Got to keep up the therapy probably 6 more weeks; but in-home therapy only another week. Then outpatient therapy. We just have to decide about finding a place here in town or going to Celebration 3 times a week. It would be more convenient to stay in the Winter Haven area, but Celebration has such a great facility.
Was able to go to class tonight, but came straight home as knee was starting to stiffen.
God Bless
Then Saturday the big one hit. Can you believe strep throat? Sat. night was bad. Took my pain pills (which I needed anyway) and did some sleeping. TM went to play cards and I watched a short movie. Unable to concentrate on anything and with words blurring, I turned off the light and slept in my chair. And I mean I slept deep. Woke up thinking how late is he going to be? only to find it wasn't yet 10pm. TM got home about 10:15 and put me to bed. I did manage to sleep most of the night, but knew I was running a fever. Sunday morning was worse yet, could barely swallow and temp at 101. Called the doctors service and asked for antibiotics. The operator was a ditz for sure. I told her my story and then she asked what message I would like to leave. I said I just told you. Anyway I figured it was a lost cause and began looking for walk-in clinics open on Sun. Amazingly I did get a call back and was able to tell the PA what was happening. He was a bit skeptical until I mentioned the fever. Immediately he said he would call in the script. When Walgreens finally figured out they had received it, was able to pick it up before noon. Took all 4 doses between noon and 8pm. Around 11-11:30 my fever broke and I felt pretty human. It has been getting better daily as I continue to take the antibiotic.
Went in today and had my staples and stitches taken out and had an xray of my new knee. All went well and I have few restrictions now. Got to keep up the therapy probably 6 more weeks; but in-home therapy only another week. Then outpatient therapy. We just have to decide about finding a place here in town or going to Celebration 3 times a week. It would be more convenient to stay in the Winter Haven area, but Celebration has such a great facility.
Was able to go to class tonight, but came straight home as knee was starting to stiffen.
God Bless
Thursday, February 10, 2011
Another day
Actually, I think it was night. Around 4am the lights came on and I was given stuff so I could sponge bathe and brush my teeth. The CNA helped me dress and moved me to the recliner where I would wait for breakfast. Then someone woke me up to take my vitals. Then they woke me to take my blood (these folks are addicted to blood). By 5am I was left alone to wait for breakfast. Did I mention that I was awakened at 4am and they don't start delivering breakfast until 8am? Good thing I could sleep in that chair (I think the morphine helped).
Around 8am I was awake and hungry. They delivered my breakfast around 8:45! I do believe I was the first to be awakened and the last to be fed. The breakfast was actually good - eggs not overdone.
TM got there about 9am and I have already told you about my walk around the unit. Got back to the room and fell asleep again.
Mellan and Richard came by and visited for a while. Was so good to see them and sure appreciated them making the drive. Especially since they brought candy! Really, we had a nice chat. I do enjoy my sister -and her family.
Then it was group therapy - ugh. It wasn't so horrible, but I had the drugs in me. Also TM as my coach kept telling me I was doing great and just keep going. After that they "let" me walk around the unit again. Finally took me to my room and I had a chance to rest.
For supper I had barbeque chicken. Too bad they gave me the leg and thigh. Thighs I can take, but do not like legs. I ate it anyway, because hard as I try I cannot exist on candy alone.
There you have my exciting day.
God Bless
Around 8am I was awake and hungry. They delivered my breakfast around 8:45! I do believe I was the first to be awakened and the last to be fed. The breakfast was actually good - eggs not overdone.
TM got there about 9am and I have already told you about my walk around the unit. Got back to the room and fell asleep again.
Mellan and Richard came by and visited for a while. Was so good to see them and sure appreciated them making the drive. Especially since they brought candy! Really, we had a nice chat. I do enjoy my sister -and her family.
Then it was group therapy - ugh. It wasn't so horrible, but I had the drugs in me. Also TM as my coach kept telling me I was doing great and just keep going. After that they "let" me walk around the unit again. Finally took me to my room and I had a chance to rest.
For supper I had barbeque chicken. Too bad they gave me the leg and thigh. Thighs I can take, but do not like legs. I ate it anyway, because hard as I try I cannot exist on candy alone.
There you have my exciting day.
God Bless
Monday, February 7, 2011
The deed has been done
One week ago I had the knee replacement surgery and things are going pretty good.
We arrived at Celebration Hospital around 11:30a, almost right with Sheila. Went up to the surgical suite and let them know I was there. Wasn't 10 minutes before they took be back to get into a hospital gown and get my IV ports placed and, of course, take blood.
Then Sheila and TM came back to entertain me for a while. I kept telling them they did not have to stay; to go ahead and get lunch. You know I had not eaten since midnight, guess I just wanted someone to have a full tummy. Had people in and out telling me who they were - as if I was going to remember. Dr. Dore came by and we marked my knee so that he would do the correct one. Finally the anesthesiologist came in to give me my spinal. Yep, did a spinal block and then happy juice in the IV. I was out before we left the cubical for the OR. Next thing I knew someone was asking me how I felt. Groggy - duh! Sheila and TM came in for a few moments and then went to take my stuff to my room in the Joint Replacement Center. I was taken down about 1/2 hr. later.
Now, this is the point where I got sick after my gall bladder surgery, so I was a bit concerned. Everything went ok and we arrived just fine. I think they were going at a slower pace and I did not get dizzy. Sheila and TM stayed about another hour and then each went home. After all, I was not particularly good company.
My night nurse was Evelyn and she kept me nice and comfy with Vicodin and morphine. Druggyland was a great place to be that night!
Because of the spinal block I did not have immediate pain when I woke up, just gradual "feeling it again." The next morning the physical terrorist, uh, therapist came in (TM was already there) and said let's go for a walk. Oh yeah, that sounded fun. I just jumped right out of bed and asked if anyone wanted to race. Ha! Slow and easy the order of the morning. So here I go with my walker, TM, the PT and the aide who followed me with my recliner. When we got back to the room, they are like "she made it all the way around the unit!" And I'm like, "uh, isn't that what you said to do?" Seems one of the reasons they follow you with that recliner is that most people do not make it all the way around the first time. If they had told me that to start with, I would have been sitting in that chair being pushed real quick after we left the room. Next time, better ask more questions instead of obeying (what I thought were) orders.
More to come.
God bless
We arrived at Celebration Hospital around 11:30a, almost right with Sheila. Went up to the surgical suite and let them know I was there. Wasn't 10 minutes before they took be back to get into a hospital gown and get my IV ports placed and, of course, take blood.
Then Sheila and TM came back to entertain me for a while. I kept telling them they did not have to stay; to go ahead and get lunch. You know I had not eaten since midnight, guess I just wanted someone to have a full tummy. Had people in and out telling me who they were - as if I was going to remember. Dr. Dore came by and we marked my knee so that he would do the correct one. Finally the anesthesiologist came in to give me my spinal. Yep, did a spinal block and then happy juice in the IV. I was out before we left the cubical for the OR. Next thing I knew someone was asking me how I felt. Groggy - duh! Sheila and TM came in for a few moments and then went to take my stuff to my room in the Joint Replacement Center. I was taken down about 1/2 hr. later.
Now, this is the point where I got sick after my gall bladder surgery, so I was a bit concerned. Everything went ok and we arrived just fine. I think they were going at a slower pace and I did not get dizzy. Sheila and TM stayed about another hour and then each went home. After all, I was not particularly good company.
My night nurse was Evelyn and she kept me nice and comfy with Vicodin and morphine. Druggyland was a great place to be that night!
Because of the spinal block I did not have immediate pain when I woke up, just gradual "feeling it again." The next morning the physical terrorist, uh, therapist came in (TM was already there) and said let's go for a walk. Oh yeah, that sounded fun. I just jumped right out of bed and asked if anyone wanted to race. Ha! Slow and easy the order of the morning. So here I go with my walker, TM, the PT and the aide who followed me with my recliner. When we got back to the room, they are like "she made it all the way around the unit!" And I'm like, "uh, isn't that what you said to do?" Seems one of the reasons they follow you with that recliner is that most people do not make it all the way around the first time. If they had told me that to start with, I would have been sitting in that chair being pushed real quick after we left the room. Next time, better ask more questions instead of obeying (what I thought were) orders.
More to come.
God bless
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