I've Fallen & I Can't Get Up!

Oh, we've all seen that TV commercial with the old white haired lady, who falls down and cries out "I've fallen and I can't get up"...gotta tell ya--you can be a 54 yr old brunette and so the same thing--yikes! Dumb me...had to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night-ya think I would have turned on the light? But, nooooo, I just grabbed one crutch and started hobbling across the room--boom! tripped over the other crutch lying on the floor, right onto Xena--yeowwww! I was able to pull myself up by using the bedpost. Now I really DO worry about the white haired lady--how DID she get up?

Luckily I did not damage anything but my ego. Took it easy with PT the next day and today in PT I had an awesome time! I am really working at that straightening move, trying to stretch out and elongate my leg, so Xena will lie flat. Got pretty doggone close today! I am also getting around much easier on one crutch--which is good and bad. The good part is I can carry stuff around which also is the bad part. I am feeling a bit too good which means I am feeling like I can start cleaning out my cabinets and work on heavy machinery (well, not really, but you catch my drift) Taking it slow is tough for me! But I must remember I am only 3 1/2 wks out from this surgery...and time will heal all wounds! ;-) I still can't drive, but that should be coming up in the next few weeks. I am foreseeing the future as being pretty boring until then. But I slept outside on my futon couch/bed on my front deck last night--sweeeet! The stars were awesome!

Course: Knee Replacement 101

I have discovered several things about returning home...first of all....Arts and Crafts Projects are THE BEST!! Those ugly white anti-embolism thigh hi hose you have to wear? They look AWESOME if you "tie-dye" them...and crutches? If you put animal print/leopard skin fabric over them, they are alot more fun! ;-) So, as you can tell by my photos--no more ugly white hose for me! I am stylin' in tie dye! and my crutches are now adorable, not boring! And, my knee is healing nicely! NO brusing or oozing for me!!

Xena has been getting along very well...my right knee was becoming a bit jealous, so I ended up giving her a name..."Knee-na"...they are sort of fraternal twins with twin names. I am getting along very well on my leopard skin crutches--in fact, at times, I am able to just use one crutch! (which, cousin Kathy thinks, looks like a long skinny giraffe leg with a knobby knee! the crutch, that is.) One crutch makes life SO much easier since it allows me to carry things around with my free left hand.

The in-home nurses only had to make two visits with me, as I am doing so well! and my in-home PT, Charles, comes just twice a week. EVERYONE, including the medical professionals, who have checked out my knee, are so amazed with the beautiful incision, healing, lack of swelling, but most of all, NO NO NO bruising!! This is SUCH an invasive surgery and there is always some sort of bruising--not with me!! I truly believe it is due to the pre-surgical meditation and hypnosis CD's I was faithful about listening to for the weeks prior..this truly proves the "mind over matter" theory. I worked with my subconscious to not bleed much during the procedure, to not bruise, to lessen my pain, etc....and it worked! ;-)

I have had some WONDERFUL Julie-sitters the past 10 days--in fact, in some ways, it has been more like a social gathering at my house...my "helpers" come over to do things I have not been able to accomplish with two crutches: laundry, plant watering, fixing up my "ice machine" for my knee, etc...and then they prepare dinner...usually someone else will show up, and more and more--dinner for six, perhaps? Carol, Loretta, Kathy (leopard skin crutch artist), David, Lisa (who was the winner of the name Xena contest!), Sue (tie-dye queen)Ann, Fred/Tammy/Jessica, Katz, Lori C...and more characters to come!

PT is REALLY anguishing....yeeeeks! Yes, it HURTS! but I know it is for a good cause! I am really doing an awesome job of walking with fluid motion on my crutches--no limping!..and my knee flexion, bending it, is unbelievably great! but, it's that straightening that has me struggling. The PT does measurements each time he is here to see the "degree" I am at..I am two weeks ahead of schedule on the bending--he can push it to about 120 degrees (max for a titanium knee is about 140 degrees)! but I am at 3 degrees for straight leg--minus 1 degree is good for women as we tend to naturally hyper-extend. AND getting me to 3 degrees is a HUGE struggle and a nasty push down onto the swollen Xena. Pounding my fists on the floor and not crying is included in THAT adventure!

In a couple more weeks, I will be heading for outpatient PT which I hear is even tougher...trying to get muscle tone back and strength to wimpy, reconstructed innards is rough. Good news is, Xena weighs 3 lbs, and they only took out about 2 oz...so I have a small excuse for weight gain! heh heh...I still can't drive and won't be able to for at least a few more weeks--and not until I am off the pain pills.

Ice, ice and more ice...plus pain pills, as needed--found out it is important to not be overly macho about not taking pain pills...our brains and bodies need them to help us relax to give the "newbie" parts of my body and the parts that have been rearranged a good chance to slowly heal. The "ice machine" is a slick little cooler that recirculates cold water thru a hose to a soft pad that surrounds my knee...much better than re-using dripping ice packs every twenty minutes. This little machine can go for 4-6 hours! And oh JOY!! I can shower without wrapping my knee in a baggie! yip yip! I do have a cute little handicapped shower chair to assist me, but its great, other than afterwards struggling to put on the super dooper realllly tight elastic (tie-dye) hose! arrrghhhhhh....

My Kiva girl is doing awesome! Thanx to all of you who cared so well for her...she is a bit mystified about the crutches and why Mom can't take her for a walk!! grrrrr....but she is happy--I am figuring in a couple of weeks it will be time to find a new "buddy" for her from a rescue organization..she really has become a "pack" girl and I know she misses little Greta girl...so do I...*-(

I got some good news today....my current renter is moving out at the end of the month, but I have a darling little couple who are getting married in late August that will be moving in July 1st--well, she will, he won't til after they are married. They are both 23 yrs old, full time students at night, with full time day jobs...I think it is going to work very well for all of us!

Well, its time for me to do my daily exercices, personal PT...I have to continue to be motivated so that I can get back by late fall to all of my fun activities! Please please feel free to put comments on my blog...and thanx for reading! Love, Julie, Kiva, Xena and Knee-na (Thanx to Connie Hayes for naming my other knee!) :-)

Joy Joy Joy!! Home at last!

You know that Peanuts cartoon where Snoopy is just dancing around with "happy feet" (happy paws) looking up in the sky with that cute doggie smile on his face? Well, that is ME!! (if I could dance without crutches) I AM HOME!! WOOOHOOOO!

What a bit of a difficult adventure with my insurance company regarding my after care rehab hospital stay. They felt that I was too young (reverse discrimination) to be needing a rehab center--that I could just go right home--even though I live alone and have multiple flights of stairs to deal with at home. In fact, when I went to HealthSouth last Friday, I was not approved by insurance to go there...and even as of Weds. morn, I was not approved! Go Figure!

So Weds. around 1pm, my insurance, not-so-lovely UHC, called and told HealthSouth I had to leave there by 2pm--ONE HOUR NOTICE!! right! I had no one to take me home, no one to care for me there, no groceries...needless to say I was upset and so was HealthSouth. I cannot say enough good things about them--truly my advocates! plus wonderful care--great PT--good nurses--decent food. Anyway, HealthSouth stood by me and said I was not going to leave Weds, so I stayed until Thursday mid-morn....when I packed up my plants, flowers, cards, clothes, new "Canadian style" crutches and came home.

AHHHHH...home sweet home...nice cozy yummy bed, FABULOUS views, yippeee! I decided to have home PT for the next 10 days or so...since I won't be able to drive for another 4 to 6 weeks. And then, I will continue to go to HealthSouth for rehab--they have a van that will pick me up.

Visited Dr. Momberger on Weds--he is VERY happy with my knee!! Healing up well, X-ray looks like we had great positioning and I am pretty flexible! I do have struggles with straightening my leg out, so they will be a long road of painful rehab I am sure....and....I can shower without a plastic bag over my knee! I am now the proud owner of a "shower stool" and a "toilet seat riser"... boy, do they make my life easier!

I have to thank all of those who visited me in the hospital, to watch me puke, and in rehab to watch me smile....the lovely flowers, cards, plants, etc have been amazing! I know I am doing so well due to the outpouring of such warm support and love. My biggest challenge being at home will be to "NOT DO TOO MUCH"! I need to let this knee heal slowly, on it's own timetable and not get into "Julie Time"! Even as I write, I am looking at my back patio thinking--oh those flowers need to be deadheaded, oh look at those weeds, yikes--my pantry is a mess--etc etc etc....

"Ah Breathe Grasshopper"--it can wait! ;-) Thanx again for everything! Hugs, Julie and Xena

Saw the Surgeon today and got a new room!!

Oh joy, oh joy!!

Yesterday, Healthsouth moved me into a private room...sooooooo much nicer than sharing with the, well, a bit psychotic woman I was sharing my other room with. She wasn't THAT bad, but it is a lot nicer to be with my millions of flowers and plants that have been given to me, instead of her. I have had SUCH wonderful fun visits--thank you to all of you who have stopped by!

I took the handicapped van (wearing my tiara, of course) to see my surgeon Dr. Momberger this morning...He was very very pleased with my knee, the x-rays show a great fit--wound is healing up nicely...the key, now, is patience...yup, Julie and patience don't usually add up! But, I will be workin' on it. This is truly a long slow healing process and Dr. Momberger wants me to stay on the heavy narcotics (!) for 4-6 weeks....YIKES! Did you know if you are pulled over while driving a car, and you are on narcotics, it is a DUI?? I do believe this is where I will be needing some helpers--run errands, for PT appts, etc....

Also a big thank you to everyone who took care of my Kiva girl....I know she had some little doggie anxiety attacks---I think the combo of having Julie Mom gone and her buddy Greta Girl, as been tough on her....she seems to be doing well now, though....she really love to put on her "doggie therapy bandana and ID" and come trotting into the hospital...;-)

So far, so good! Did I mention I found the secret good coffee machine??!! BINGO---she shoots, she scores!!! Hugs, Julie and Xena

I Finally named my knee.....

Well, it happened this evening...the name just felt great! XENA......!!! yippeeee!! What a perfect name! I have been working REALLY hard in PT and OT--but am often annoyed with the term they use...."your surgical knee"--they don't want to say "your bad knee" since it is negative but I didn't like their term. "Oh move your surgical knee" "your surgical knee should go first" whatever!... But MY knee is; strong, loyal, faithful--a warrior---Xena, my left knee--she weighs 3 lbs, she is a female knee made of titanium....look at her! is she hot or WHAT!??? Thank you for all of the fun ideas and suggestions...they told me here at the rehab hospital and at the surgical hospital, they had never met anyone who had named their knee....what's up with THAT!?? I can't wait for you all to meet her!

four days after surgery

Whew...it is June 6th...and I am still alive and kickin! On the 2nd, when Dr Momberger got "under my skin" he could see why I was in so much pain....lots of swelling in soft tissue and in the bone...it was NOT a pretty left knee! Surgery went well and I did not have much bleeding at all (I take credit for my good subconscience meditation about that!). Monday afternoon, when they tried to get me to stand up, I puked all over everyone....sorry....

I was truly puking for those first two days straight....couldn't keep anything down, including the pain meds....so I was NOT having any fun...Tuesday was even worse...I just felt lousy. Started feeling better as the week progressed....was going to miss my great single private room at the new TOSH facility...but they kicked me out on Friday night....

I am now at Healthsouth Rehab...it's okay....sharing a room is not my favorite--and the food is, well, you know hospital food....but the rehab therapists are good and my laptop is up and running....oh yipppee!!! I have had plenty of fabulous flowers!YUM! and wonderful sweet visitors! Including my cute little Kiva girl who came by last night with Katz....Kiva was right at home! I am doing okay....I just want to be slow and take my time so I don't dive into any of this too fast and ruin the good that has been done with this surgery. slow slow slow.

I am not sure how any of this blog stuff really works....if anyone knows, plz tell me!! I know people can "subscribe" to my posts, but I want people to be able to write back....anyone knows how that works?? thanx for the love support and prayers...julie and the new knee....

PS: I still am struggling with what I want to name my new knee....I am taking suggestions!!! anyone?

night before continued....

I am a bit nervous for the spinal instead of general anesthesia...ugh....guess they will block my entire leg with a femoral sort of paralyzing block, too...freaky!

So, I have decided to name my new knee. Since I am going to have a long relationship with this new foreign alien within my body, it should be named....I am taking suggestions! The winner will get a new sports car worth hundreds of dollars!! $$ I kind of like "R2-D2"....sort of short, metal, very smart and loyal...anyone??

In advance, thank thank thank you all for the support and concern! I have had so many great phone calls tonight and well wishers---I couldn't back to everyone...I was too busy trying to water plants, pack up Kiva, pack up Julie for 10 days, do bills, blah blah blah....but...each one of your calls and emails means SO much to me! I am surrounded by THE BEST!!

Ok--time to jump in the shower---though, I can't shave my legs....eeeks! they don't want any little nicks and scratches that might get infection! oh my! gotta quit drinking, eating, and being by midnight! Cross your paws!! hugs to all, Julie

Twas the Night Before Surgery

Whew.....

I got the EARLY morning surgery spot! woohooo! 6:15am report, 7:30pm digging begins! Surgery should take around 2 hrs...recovery 45 mins, though last time I was in recovery for about 3 doggone hrs! Yipes! I hope to be in my deluxe private room with the pool and built-in cabana boys by 11am-12noon....hoping someone will call my Dad (hint hint) to get info to put on this blog to share with everyone....

ALMOST have everything done at the house....little Miss Perfection at work here! Who knows how I will sleep? Who cares? I will be sleeping for the next three days anyway! ;-) Got my first choice for anestegiologists---hope he can spell it! ;-)