After two weeks away, I'm home with my new right knee! I had no cold symptoms at the hospital, so the surgery was done. It took less than 2 hours! I understand it's a very bloody surgery, another reason that I didn't want to watch one on you-tube.
I had a dressing from thigh to foot, which got annoying real fast. It was on til Saturday morning. Wednesday was a space in and out day. Thursday I couldn't stay awake, and I realized why when they said they substituted another beta blocker for one of my meds. I refused that, and my head cleared and I woke up by the end of Thursday. I had a nerve block that kept the knee mostly pain free for the first 24 hours, then I was on morphine, which I only used once. Vicodin was the drug of choice for the pain.
Physical Therapy got me upright on Thursday, but I felt like I would vomit, so they put me right back down. Friday I was able to get up to a commode with assistance and a walker, and PT walked me about 8 feet in the morning, and about 15 feet later.
Saturday PT showed me how to move my dead weight leg in the bed, and I walked about 30 feet with the walker. I felt like I did so much! Saturday evening I was transferred to rehab
Sunday I was evaluated by PT at the rehab, and was able to walk to the bathroom with the walker. PT really wanted me to wait for an aide, but as I told them, I'd put on the light, go the the bathroom, and be back in bed before anyone showed up to help.
I worked hard in PT and OT. As I told them, I was there to be able to get out, not to screw around. I did everything they instructed me to. I could see daily improvements. Yesterday they said I might be able to get a few more rehab days, but I was ready to come home. I will get home PT and OT til I can easily transport to outpatient.
The outer part of my leg started out one big bruise, which is now mostly resolved. The 29 staples came out yesterday, and I can get it wet tomorrow. It still feels like there is a tight band around my knee area, and that area is hypersensistive to the touch. I have to work on flexion and extention. I can flex better than extend at this point.
I'm so glad to be home~
Holly
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Maybe
I sneezed all weekend. Yesterday I had a runny nose all day, and last night I started coughing. I was up and down all night. This morning I sounded terrible, so I called the surgical scheduler. We decided to wait and see. By 3 p.m.after sleeping all day, I sounded and felt somewhat better.
The ortho said our choices were to either postpone (which would be at least 2 weeks, with next week being July 4), or come in tomorrow and let anesthesia decide. I chose that option. So I have to be there at 0630. If it had been a one week delay, I would have chosen that immediately, but two weeks bumps everything else back. So we'll see.
So I'm almost all packed. Two duffles, one for the hospital, one for rehab. The baby kindle has a bunch of books on it, and the iPad will come up with Ralph Thursday or Friday.
My mom asked if I'll sleep tonight. Who knows?
Holly
The ortho said our choices were to either postpone (which would be at least 2 weeks, with next week being July 4), or come in tomorrow and let anesthesia decide. I chose that option. So I have to be there at 0630. If it had been a one week delay, I would have chosen that immediately, but two weeks bumps everything else back. So we'll see.
So I'm almost all packed. Two duffles, one for the hospital, one for rehab. The baby kindle has a bunch of books on it, and the iPad will come up with Ralph Thursday or Friday.
My mom asked if I'll sleep tonight. Who knows?
Holly
Sunday, June 24, 2012
Getting ready!
72 hour til surgery! Yikes!
School is finally out for summer break! Not vacation, vacation implies pay, and we don't get paid for the time off. Which is OK! It's worth it to have a break.
Today we're going to MacKenzie's 5th birthday party.It's hard to believe that she and Julianna are 5 already.
We had a spell of awful heat- it was near 100 the middle of the week. It's calmed down to the 80's now.
And it's almost July already. In July we have birthdays- Steph and Dan start the month. We also have John, Helen, Connor, MacKenzie, and Nadia.
The end of July I get my ablation for the afib. Such a fun summer! Surgery, rehab, and a procedure. Some people take fun vacations, I get body parts fixed.
It's amazing how different it is to read on the Kindle or Nook versus a book. It takes a very short time to get used to, and it's so convenient. I adore the iPad, but the Kindle and Nook are more of a book shape, so for just reading, they can't be beat.
So the next time I post here, I'll have a new right knee!
Holly
School is finally out for summer break! Not vacation, vacation implies pay, and we don't get paid for the time off. Which is OK! It's worth it to have a break.
Today we're going to MacKenzie's 5th birthday party.It's hard to believe that she and Julianna are 5 already.
We had a spell of awful heat- it was near 100 the middle of the week. It's calmed down to the 80's now.
And it's almost July already. In July we have birthdays- Steph and Dan start the month. We also have John, Helen, Connor, MacKenzie, and Nadia.
The end of July I get my ablation for the afib. Such a fun summer! Surgery, rehab, and a procedure. Some people take fun vacations, I get body parts fixed.
It's amazing how different it is to read on the Kindle or Nook versus a book. It takes a very short time to get used to, and it's so convenient. I adore the iPad, but the Kindle and Nook are more of a book shape, so for just reading, they can't be beat.
So the next time I post here, I'll have a new right knee!
Holly
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Ten days to go!
Ten days til my new knee! One more doctor appt, with my primary for clearance. No problem, she said if it's good with cardiology, it's good with her.
It's been so nice and cool at night. We've been making the cat happy and sleeping with the windows open.
Today is Father's Day, another Hallmark Holiday.
Barbara came down yesterday and basted her double wedding ring on the HQ. She plans to handquilt it this winter, and this way she doesn't have to worry about anything shifting, or pin marks. It's a huge quilt, queen sized, and just gorgeous.
I saw the ortho partner in charge of rehab, Dr. Nolan. Day one and two postop will be in the hospital, getting out of bed with a walker, and CPM. He recommends acute rehab starting day 3, to jumpstart the rehab. It would be PT three times a day, and last a week to ten days. His office will get that into the works.
I had dinner with Roseanne Thursday night. We email every day, but rarely see each other, so it was great. Her daughter Lauren works in an EPS lab, and she sent me a powerpoint presentation on afib ablation. I think I'll wait til after the procedure to read that. Ignorance can be bliss!
John is coming up for a long weekend, arriving the day after my surgery. So I won't get to see very much of him, but it's always a bonus to see him.
EasyShare is being discontinued, so I have to figure out another way to post pix. I was considering a new camera, since mine is 6 years old, but Ralph is keeping his on the computer desk so I can use that. Another summer project.
Four more days of school! We are always the last district to get out, because of all the ridiculous holidays we have off.
I read the newest Jennifer Chiaverinni book, The Wedding Quilt. I think that series has run it's course- this book was set 25 years in the future. It's one of those series that I'm not sure why I read.
And the beat goes on!
Holly
It's been so nice and cool at night. We've been making the cat happy and sleeping with the windows open.
Today is Father's Day, another Hallmark Holiday.
Barbara came down yesterday and basted her double wedding ring on the HQ. She plans to handquilt it this winter, and this way she doesn't have to worry about anything shifting, or pin marks. It's a huge quilt, queen sized, and just gorgeous.
I saw the ortho partner in charge of rehab, Dr. Nolan. Day one and two postop will be in the hospital, getting out of bed with a walker, and CPM. He recommends acute rehab starting day 3, to jumpstart the rehab. It would be PT three times a day, and last a week to ten days. His office will get that into the works.
I had dinner with Roseanne Thursday night. We email every day, but rarely see each other, so it was great. Her daughter Lauren works in an EPS lab, and she sent me a powerpoint presentation on afib ablation. I think I'll wait til after the procedure to read that. Ignorance can be bliss!
John is coming up for a long weekend, arriving the day after my surgery. So I won't get to see very much of him, but it's always a bonus to see him.
EasyShare is being discontinued, so I have to figure out another way to post pix. I was considering a new camera, since mine is 6 years old, but Ralph is keeping his on the computer desk so I can use that. Another summer project.
Four more days of school! We are always the last district to get out, because of all the ridiculous holidays we have off.
I read the newest Jennifer Chiaverinni book, The Wedding Quilt. I think that series has run it's course- this book was set 25 years in the future. It's one of those series that I'm not sure why I read.
And the beat goes on!
Holly
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Busy, Busy
Running around to physician's appointments! I've seen cardiology, had a repeat stress test, had my pre-admission testing. This week I see the rehab doc.
It's was a really nice week weather wise, in the 70's. Yesterday the temp started to creep up, and today we turned the AC back on. This morning I went out and got backless sneakers for rehab.
Yesterday we went to Kevin and Naureen's house for an 8th grade graduation party for Nadia. Good food and good company. Before the party, we called Verizon and found out that we could upgrade our awful android phones, so we went and got iPhones. They are very similar in use to my iPad, and we have Dan for our tech resource.
Friday was Manda's 31st birthday! She's been wanting a Kindle, so Ralph, Cliffie and I sent her one. Like me, she loves her Nook, but Amazon has so much more to offer than B&N, both in terms of books and customer support.
Most of the schools are finished or almost finished. We have 9 more days of school. Having a lot of ridiculous days off prolongs the school year.
Jacob's birthday was yesterday. Our Millenium kid is now 12! In September, Jake will be in 7th grade, Zach in 6th, Connor in 5th, Eddie in 4th, Justin in 1st, and Julie and Kenzie in K! Tori will be a junior, and Nadia a freshman!
And the beat goes on!
Holly
It's was a really nice week weather wise, in the 70's. Yesterday the temp started to creep up, and today we turned the AC back on. This morning I went out and got backless sneakers for rehab.
Yesterday we went to Kevin and Naureen's house for an 8th grade graduation party for Nadia. Good food and good company. Before the party, we called Verizon and found out that we could upgrade our awful android phones, so we went and got iPhones. They are very similar in use to my iPad, and we have Dan for our tech resource.
Friday was Manda's 31st birthday! She's been wanting a Kindle, so Ralph, Cliffie and I sent her one. Like me, she loves her Nook, but Amazon has so much more to offer than B&N, both in terms of books and customer support.
Most of the schools are finished or almost finished. We have 9 more days of school. Having a lot of ridiculous days off prolongs the school year.
Jacob's birthday was yesterday. Our Millenium kid is now 12! In September, Jake will be in 7th grade, Zach in 6th, Connor in 5th, Eddie in 4th, Justin in 1st, and Julie and Kenzie in K! Tori will be a junior, and Nadia a freshman!
And the beat goes on!
Holly
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Forty years!
Wow! Today is our 40th (ruby) anniversary! How do 40 years go by so fast? As the old saying goes, the days may drag, but the years sure fly!
We had a little get-together at Steph and Dan's last night to celebrate. It was on fairly short notice, and a lot of the family couldn't make it. We picked up the moms, and Heather, Ed and the kids came, Charlotte, and Margie and Bob (Dan's parents). Several of Steph's friends from high school came over. We had pizza and cake, and it was such a nice evening.
Steph enlarged and printed a bunch of pictures. One was of Ralph and I with our grandparents at the wedding reception. I am so glad we have that picture, since our grandparents have long passed away.
And tomorrow is Memorial Day. We have a lot of Veterans. Ralph and my Dad, Uncle Pete, Bob, my friend Carol, and my grandfather were Navy. My cousin George is retired Air Force. Rocco and Big Ed and Lou were Marines. Memorial Day is always sad for me. My Dad loved Memorial Day- he'd ride his bike in the parade every year, and he flew the flag proudly every day. Ralph and I stopped in the cemetery yesterday, and one of the Veteran's groups have flags on all the Vets graves.
One month til I get my new knee! It's been hurting more and more, even with meds and using the cane.
We broke down and turned on the AC yesterday. It was just to muggy to not have it on. We were able to turn it off last night, but it went back on today. Ralph just saw on the weather channel that we have a bad storm coming our way, so it'll go back off for that.
And the beat goes on!
Holly
We had a little get-together at Steph and Dan's last night to celebrate. It was on fairly short notice, and a lot of the family couldn't make it. We picked up the moms, and Heather, Ed and the kids came, Charlotte, and Margie and Bob (Dan's parents). Several of Steph's friends from high school came over. We had pizza and cake, and it was such a nice evening.
Steph enlarged and printed a bunch of pictures. One was of Ralph and I with our grandparents at the wedding reception. I am so glad we have that picture, since our grandparents have long passed away.
And tomorrow is Memorial Day. We have a lot of Veterans. Ralph and my Dad, Uncle Pete, Bob, my friend Carol, and my grandfather were Navy. My cousin George is retired Air Force. Rocco and Big Ed and Lou were Marines. Memorial Day is always sad for me. My Dad loved Memorial Day- he'd ride his bike in the parade every year, and he flew the flag proudly every day. Ralph and I stopped in the cemetery yesterday, and one of the Veteran's groups have flags on all the Vets graves.
One month til I get my new knee! It's been hurting more and more, even with meds and using the cane.
We broke down and turned on the AC yesterday. It was just to muggy to not have it on. We were able to turn it off last night, but it went back on today. Ralph just saw on the weather channel that we have a bad storm coming our way, so it'll go back off for that.
And the beat goes on!
Holly
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