Sunday, March 30, 2014
Gentle vs Aggressive
Although I thought today was starting off "bad", it actually hasn't been too bad. I asked PT if there was "gentle" approach that we could use today. She said there was and while it wasn't completely discomfort free, I didn't need to sleep it off when I returned to my room AND I wasn't too sore for the afternoon session and so could put my all into it as well. I also iced more often today, before and after PT and a couple more times just on my own. My ROM is 90-3/4 on both legs. Straight leg lifts or partial leg lifts continue to be quite painful and near impossible. I am confident I will be much improved over this week. Interesting how different therapy encourages a different outlook.
5 days post op
My apologies for not keeping this up more...pain meds do wierd things and you should have seen some of the things I wrote...once I reread them, I just couldn't post them...although they would have make for great humor!
Pain management is good here at the new rehab. There is still pain and short of being unconscious I don't know what will relieve it. The staff still have to transfer my legs in and out of bed, a real frustration to me; and it just hurts like a sumavitch to bend my knees. I think today I will try more ice packs.
I am on day 3 of full rehab/PT and I want to cry when I anticipate going to PT. I think I am reach a "Val is tired, frustrated, etc." wall. A wall that might be perfectly normal.
Good news...no staples just internal stitching and dermabond. But damn it sure feels like staples when I bend my knees...lol.
Pain management is good here at the new rehab. There is still pain and short of being unconscious I don't know what will relieve it. The staff still have to transfer my legs in and out of bed, a real frustration to me; and it just hurts like a sumavitch to bend my knees. I think today I will try more ice packs.
I am on day 3 of full rehab/PT and I want to cry when I anticipate going to PT. I think I am reach a "Val is tired, frustrated, etc." wall. A wall that might be perfectly normal.
Good news...no staples just internal stitching and dermabond. But damn it sure feels like staples when I bend my knees...lol.
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
Good News and Bad News
The good news is that I am doing great (90 degree range of motion; able to walk down the hallway with my walker). It's still horribly painful to get out of bed, and getting out of the recliner is excruciating. The pain makes me lightheaded. Once I am up...not too bad. All the medical staff have commented that my swelling is minimal (it feels very tight to me), and I found out I have no staples, just internal stitches and glue.
The bad news is that not only is Wilmington Rehab full, according to some criteria I do not qualify for an acute inpatient rehab. In spite of the fact that I need assistance to get up rom anywhere a well as to get back down. No Wilmington, no Magee, etc. I am very upset about this and do not understand the criteria. Danielle, my Discharge Planner, is trying to find something "sub-acute" meaning I am still inpatient but will only require minimal physical therapy. It's all very confusing and upsetting, and in a word it comes down to "insurance".
I'm going to eat some chocolate ice cream.
The bad news is that not only is Wilmington Rehab full, according to some criteria I do not qualify for an acute inpatient rehab. In spite of the fact that I need assistance to get up rom anywhere a well as to get back down. No Wilmington, no Magee, etc. I am very upset about this and do not understand the criteria. Danielle, my Discharge Planner, is trying to find something "sub-acute" meaning I am still inpatient but will only require minimal physical therapy. It's all very confusing and upsetting, and in a word it comes down to "insurance".
I'm going to eat some chocolate ice cream.
Good Morning!
Well, the "easy" part is over and the hard part begins.
We arrived on time at 5 a.m. yesterday. Registration, IV, review, etc . I met the resident, the anesthesiologist, the nurses who would be in the OR. My fear of the spinal was already noted in my chart. I was rolled to the back (crying), I sat on the edge of the bed, slightly hunched over a pillow, leaning on a nurse and the anesthesiologist said 'I just gave you some medicine and it will take about a minute to work." What spinal?...lol. The next moment I remember is being woken up in recovery.
Surgery was at 7 a.m., I was done by 11 a.m., and in recovery until around 1 p.m. and then moved to my room. I was in a lot of pain because the vicodin was not yet working, and the durned therapist shows up at 2 p.m. That was pretty traumatic...I'll honestly admit I was sobbing in pain when he tried to get me to stand up. I became lightheaded and on the edge of passing out, so thankfully that PT session ended.
IV Dilaudid was started, and the vicodin administration updated to every 4 hours (and not a second past it). I tried again at 4 p.m. to get up...better but no go yet; 8 p.m. was the magic time!!! I have been up 3-4 times since then to go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, etc. Getting up definitely hurts, (pain level 5-6); walking hurts a little but once I get going, I would rather keep going. When returning to bed, I have to remember to not "plop" into it as I let go of my walker.
Speaking of my walker, it's all blinged out and everyone has been commenting on it. They love it! In spite of MY insistence, the PT insisted I use the hospital one. However, later when I was trying to stand with the nurses assistance, she brought me the hospital walker and I said, "I want to use mine from home; it has love and magic in it". No problem she said, and out into the hallway went the hospital walker! Whew!
We arrived on time at 5 a.m. yesterday. Registration, IV, review, etc . I met the resident, the anesthesiologist, the nurses who would be in the OR. My fear of the spinal was already noted in my chart. I was rolled to the back (crying), I sat on the edge of the bed, slightly hunched over a pillow, leaning on a nurse and the anesthesiologist said 'I just gave you some medicine and it will take about a minute to work." What spinal?...lol. The next moment I remember is being woken up in recovery.
Surgery was at 7 a.m., I was done by 11 a.m., and in recovery until around 1 p.m. and then moved to my room. I was in a lot of pain because the vicodin was not yet working, and the durned therapist shows up at 2 p.m. That was pretty traumatic...I'll honestly admit I was sobbing in pain when he tried to get me to stand up. I became lightheaded and on the edge of passing out, so thankfully that PT session ended.
IV Dilaudid was started, and the vicodin administration updated to every 4 hours (and not a second past it). I tried again at 4 p.m. to get up...better but no go yet; 8 p.m. was the magic time!!! I have been up 3-4 times since then to go to the bathroom, brush my teeth, etc. Getting up definitely hurts, (pain level 5-6); walking hurts a little but once I get going, I would rather keep going. When returning to bed, I have to remember to not "plop" into it as I let go of my walker.
Speaking of my walker, it's all blinged out and everyone has been commenting on it. They love it! In spite of MY insistence, the PT insisted I use the hospital one. However, later when I was trying to stand with the nurses assistance, she brought me the hospital walker and I said, "I want to use mine from home; it has love and magic in it". No problem she said, and out into the hallway went the hospital walker! Whew!
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
It is DONE!
Some issues with pain cotntrol being worked out.
I did get up amd walk to the door of my room with my magic walker.
Focus is difficult so I will write more tomorrow.
I did get up amd walk to the door of my room with my magic walker.
Focus is difficult so I will write more tomorrow.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Patient Navigator
I received a phone call from Maureen, who identified herself as my patient navigator and she would be seeing me tomorrow morning, but wanted to chat a bit tonight.
Did I have questions? Not really, but in spite of that we managed to have a very interesting conversation with several bits and pieces that surprised me.
There will be no elevated toilet seats, catheters, no CPM (continuous positive movement; a machine that makes your leg extend and retract basically in your sleep), and no ice machine (they use gel packs, etc.). All these items I was expecting. She said Dr. Rothman doesn't like to use them, because patients come to depend on these items rather than doing things for themselves, which is P.T. in and of itself.
I will have a large private room, they are happy for me to bring my own foods or juices and will even refrigerate them for me. Maureen is looking forward to seeing the pimped out walker...lol.
She gave me a heads up on Coumadin and Vitamin K...I love my leafy greens. Elimination from the diet is not necessary but I have to monitor quantity.
I want to thank everyone for their support. The hard part starts tomorrow. I'm looking forward to being able to dance at our wedding.
Did I have questions? Not really, but in spite of that we managed to have a very interesting conversation with several bits and pieces that surprised me.
There will be no elevated toilet seats, catheters, no CPM (continuous positive movement; a machine that makes your leg extend and retract basically in your sleep), and no ice machine (they use gel packs, etc.). All these items I was expecting. She said Dr. Rothman doesn't like to use them, because patients come to depend on these items rather than doing things for themselves, which is P.T. in and of itself.
I will have a large private room, they are happy for me to bring my own foods or juices and will even refrigerate them for me. Maureen is looking forward to seeing the pimped out walker...lol.
She gave me a heads up on Coumadin and Vitamin K...I love my leafy greens. Elimination from the diet is not necessary but I have to monitor quantity.
I want to thank everyone for their support. The hard part starts tomorrow. I'm looking forward to being able to dance at our wedding.
BLING MY WALKER!!!
BLING MY WALKER!!! Or better put as "PIMP MY RIDE"...lol.
It was great to have friends over to help bling out my walker (thanks Alison!!!), have a few drinks in front of the fire and generally bask in the comfort of friends, love and laughter.
Thanks guys!!
Interesting to note the orbs...we've seen them in photos before, and not all on the same camera (so we can't blame the lens). We consider them our resident spirits and they are welcome to the party!!!! Missing from the photo is Lula, who had already left.
It was great to have friends over to help bling out my walker (thanks Alison!!!), have a few drinks in front of the fire and generally bask in the comfort of friends, love and laughter.
Thanks guys!!
Interesting to note the orbs...we've seen them in photos before, and not all on the same camera (so we can't blame the lens). We consider them our resident spirits and they are welcome to the party!!!! Missing from the photo is Lula, who had already left.
Homeopathic Remedies
In previous surgeries, I've used homeopathic remedies with success in terms of minimal bruising and scarring. These will be self administered (and I need to find a pill case for them!).
I am using the following:
I am using the following:
Healing and recovering
Arnica 200C- better known as a homeopathic remedy for bruising, Arnica is also excellent for shocks, and can help reduce bruising and trauma that goes with deep surgery. It can also aid in preventing or reducing blood clots post surgery and help reduce soreness and reduce swelling.
Calendula 200C- known in homeopathy as the magic healer and a great homeopathic antiseptic. It keeps wounds infection and germ free when taken internally and helps wounds heal.
Hypericum 200C- known in homeopathy as another great healer with affinity for nerves, Hypericum can be used to help reduce pain after surgery and nerves to heal after being severed. A great antiviral together with calendula they help keep woulds infection free.
2 pills as soon as you are able to after surgery- take unto 6 times a day to speed up healing and help reduce risk on infection.
Scarring
Naturally one of the main side effects of surgery is scarring and there are homeopathic remedies available to help reduce and minimize scarring. The main ones are:
Silicea 30c- Silicea is a homeopathic remedy traditionally used to help reduce the appearance of keloid scars and even help prevent their formation.
Thiosinaminum 30c- A homeopathic remedy known for its ability to dissolve scar tissue.
Graphites 30c- A great skin remedy. In scarring it helps reduce scarring even old scars.
Calc Fluor 30c- Calc Flour helps keep the skin elastic and has an affinity to connective tissue.
Two pills three times a day as soon after surgery as you can. Take along with Arnica/Hypericum/ Calendula.
I was also going to use Bromelain but because it has a tendency to thin blood and I will be on Coumadin for 6 weeks post surgery, I am not using it.
The normal post op "blood thinner" is Aspirin, twice a day. So why Coumadin for me? I have received bio-identical hormone replacement for several years now in the form of Sottopelle. While the amount of estrogen/estradial I receive is minimal, it was enough for concern by my surgeon in terms of blood thickening and thereby increasing the chance for blood clots, and because they are implanted, I can't stop taking it. So Coumadin is his choice.
I started the Arnica and extra Vitamin C yesterday (every 12 hours).
I started the Arnica and extra Vitamin C yesterday (every 12 hours).
Please keep in mind that I am not dispensing any medical advice and if you are considering using homeopathic remedies, please do your own research and at your own risk. You may also consult a homeopath for advice.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
72 hours from now...
...I will likely be in surgery.
I had initially planned to document my whole journey from paperwork to...whenever, but decided that who cared about paperwork? People anticipating this surgery want to know how others feel, and what they are going through. So be it. Let if suffice to say that my company IS switching insurances one week after my surgery, and that I had to jump through a couple of hoops, and it was VERY stressful but it seems to have all worked out.
Am I nervous? Sort of...I'm more "emotional". For example, we went out to dinner with my fiance's family tonight. As we were leaving, his brother gathered everyone together and led everyone in prayer. I was moved to tears. It isn't the first time I have cried in the last week...there was a meltdown on Thursday. A few days ago,, I envisioned myself being able to dance in a few weeks, and I cried while singing along to "Happy" by Pharrell...lol.
I haven't slept well and so took an Ambien last night, and feel much better today. However, the mini spa day yesterday likely helped immensely (a facial and massage).
I have made it a point to clear my desk of all paperwork and filing.
There are crockpot meal ingredients bagged and ready to go in the crockpot in the freezer, frozen chili, and a couple soups. I plan on another prepping/freezing a bit more in the next couple of days...just maybe a soup or two but am not going to stress myself.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was working with a personal trainer on strengthening my muscles
around my knees and upper body. A family emergency took us to California the week before last and this past week has been catch up. I won't get there again before surgery.
I will be using some homeopathic remedies pre and post surgery starting Sunday. I'll make a separate post in case anyone is interested. I have used them for previous surgeries and found them helpful.
So for those considering any orthopedic surgery, planning and preparation is crucial. The less you have to worry about post surgery, the more you will be able to focus on your healing.
I had initially planned to document my whole journey from paperwork to...whenever, but decided that who cared about paperwork? People anticipating this surgery want to know how others feel, and what they are going through. So be it. Let if suffice to say that my company IS switching insurances one week after my surgery, and that I had to jump through a couple of hoops, and it was VERY stressful but it seems to have all worked out.
Am I nervous? Sort of...I'm more "emotional". For example, we went out to dinner with my fiance's family tonight. As we were leaving, his brother gathered everyone together and led everyone in prayer. I was moved to tears. It isn't the first time I have cried in the last week...there was a meltdown on Thursday. A few days ago,, I envisioned myself being able to dance in a few weeks, and I cried while singing along to "Happy" by Pharrell...lol.
I haven't slept well and so took an Ambien last night, and feel much better today. However, the mini spa day yesterday likely helped immensely (a facial and massage).
I have made it a point to clear my desk of all paperwork and filing.
There are crockpot meal ingredients bagged and ready to go in the crockpot in the freezer, frozen chili, and a couple soups. I plan on another prepping/freezing a bit more in the next couple of days...just maybe a soup or two but am not going to stress myself.
Up until a couple of weeks ago, I was working with a personal trainer on strengthening my muscles
around my knees and upper body. A family emergency took us to California the week before last and this past week has been catch up. I won't get there again before surgery.
I will be using some homeopathic remedies pre and post surgery starting Sunday. I'll make a separate post in case anyone is interested. I have used them for previous surgeries and found them helpful.
So for those considering any orthopedic surgery, planning and preparation is crucial. The less you have to worry about post surgery, the more you will be able to focus on your healing.
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