Latest on the healing front

Brandi, the Physical Therapist, just left after a very good session.  Using the walker I was able to get out the door, then down the steps and out to the driveway.  Rest, and then back up the steps and into the house.  Will I do this on my own right now?  Nope, but after a few more times with her probably.  She also got my knee to 96 degrees of flex - whew.  Cannot do that one on my own, needs the extra push.  Still working on getting the leg straighter.

Yesterday I got on the scale and discovered I've lost a few more pounds, although feeling the leg muscles I think I know where most of that weight loss is.  It will come back as the leg gets stronger, and wait till I get back to dancing.  :-)

Guy has been a sweet cuddler the last few days, asking for cuddles at all hours, nay demanding them.  Sweet in the afternoon, not so much at 6am.

Sitting on the front porch outside today, knowing I got there through my own energy, felt so nice.  Feeling the leg supporting more of my weight, bending and doing more of the needed effort, all of this leads to a bit of a glow as I rest.  Looking back to January and that quick moment that led to this, the length of time to get here, the time to go till I'm back to that ability level - 2012 is going to be an interesting year.

Oh yeah, that whole cutting back on the meds thing - that means forget a good night's sleep. 

I've mentioned it before but I'll probably keep saying it until I feel I've said it enough, and some of that will have to be in person - Thank You.

I want to thank all those who've been there for me along the way.  The folks who donated funds and stuff to give me some peace of mind financially.  The folks who donated time and effort working on the house to give me a place to move back in to.  The clients who bore with me while this went on during tax season and beyond.  The folks who sent healing thoughts and prayers.  I am surrounded by wonderful people and lead a fortunate life.

I really want to thank my brother Keith, who did the lion's share of the work and all of the coordination on the house, my sister Felicia who came down twice, once for the house and once to help me settle in, my father Eldon and step-Mom Ginny who helped on the house and found the awesome porch lights, my aunt Sandy who called and sent cards to let me know I was always in her thoughts.  I have a great family!

Okay, enough mushy stuff - time to get back to work on client stuff.

Tax day gone, now the meds to go

So today was the day to go see the GP and discuss the process of getting off the heavy duty base med, Oxycontin. I agreed it was time as I no longer had pain in the leg when I hadn't recently used it. We came up with a weaning schedule that should work. Hvaing been a few hours late with a dose one night, thought I had taken it but hadn't, I know I don't want to go cold turkey on this stuff if I can avoid it.

Angela, friend and client, came and got me, then treated me to lunch at Trout's in Woodsboro. They were doing BBQ in the parking lot, apparently a warm weather tradition for them. We both had the pulled pork, chatted with the guy who does the creation of the rubs and sauces, and in general had a nice break in the day. The BBQ was good, and I had enough for another meal. I have to remember to get up there for their coleslaw though - not too sweet, or creamy, very crunchy, nice flavor and the right touch for the BBQ. I don't know if it is a one day thing or if they are doing it all weekend but they mentioned they do it roughly once a month.

Afterwards we went to CVS to fill the Rx, which we were able to wait for. Then down to Walmart to pick up milk, produce and cat food. She got a kick out of just how much of the trip was for cat food. I did splurge and get some ice cream, now I need to practice self-control and not finish it faster than the milk. :-)

The really great news, and the reason I went over all that we did in the 4.5 hours I was gone from the house. I got home and I wasn't exhausted, looking for pain meds, or otherwise regretting the length of the trip. Granted it was wheelchair based not walking. However, this was the first time I was able to be seated for that amount of time and not regret it. Next errands trip I'll throw in walking and see how I do - but that's at least a week away.

Meanwhile, the PT has been going great. My bending range of motion seems to be increasing, even the straightening may be increasing. I was able to walk up and then down my single inside step a few times. I have my list of daily exercises, did some today but not all, and am feeling the leg getting a bit stronger each day.

Now for a change of subject - got home and Guy was sitting in the window waiting for me. Got in the house and he came up and slept in my lap for the next few hours. He's been very cuddly all evening to reassure himself that I am here and the world is okay.

I put some of the real turkey down for him and he tore into it. I had ended up with walmart turkey last week and Guy let me know that is not real turkey. It made me think about the news stories about pink slime. I wonder if there is white slime and that is why you have "poultry" products which are so much less expensive than others.

So, while I'm not up to dancing just yet - can barely walk forwards, forget backwards. I am thinking it might be nice to go to a dance, say hi, listen to music and get the in person feel again. Hmmm.

I also came home to having the basement trap door looking a lot more finished. I had Woody come by yesterday and today to work on our plan. He got the flooring on yesterday and today did the drywall and worked on the pulley/rope system. With all the work Keith, Kevin, Cat, Paul, Felicia, Cam, Mark and others (apologies if I've left off your name) put in on the first floor I realized that I just needed a teensy bit more and those two rooms would be finished. It looks so like I envisioned it way back when, and is such a fantastic feeling to see it this far along. Gives me hope the house may one day be finished with major construction.

Oh well, I should really get to bed. I have either 1, 2, 3, or 4 clients stopping in tomorrow. I've managed to lose the note I was keeping. I don't think anyone was due before 1pm, but...

Today was a nice day outside of my four walls, and made me realize how much I look forward to getting out and about again, seeing all my friends, saying thank you to folks in person....

Tax Crunch Day

So, it's the 17th. Yes, I am working to get yet more returns finished. Just a quick update to say - Yay, solo trip to bathroom with walker accomplished with no mishaps. Biggest ongoing problem - making sure there is room on the twin size hospital bed for the cat. :-) So happy that is the biggest ongoing problem, and so happy to have him back with me. Thanks to all the cat care folks who did such a great job keeping him happy and healthy for all those months.

Day 3 of Weight Bearing Update

So, Wednesday Brandi started me on weight bearing exercise by...... Walking. Yes, that's right, using the aid of the walker I started in with walking. Let me tell you, for a study in mindfulness there is nothing like thinking through the process of taking a step. Heel down, gradually increase weight on foot as you get more of your foot on the ground, lift heel once the other heel as encountered the ground, shift weight to other foot - oh and don't forget to straighten the leg in there or you walk with a bit of hitch.

Wednesday night my leg wouldn't stop twitching as the muscles so long unused realized the easy days are over.

Thursday had some standing exercises added to increase my tolerance for weight. Brandi also gave me some tips to help decrease my surface sensitivity on the leg. Thankfully the leg no longer needed to twitch so it has already worked through use vs relax.

Friday I did my standing exercises. I had let Brandi know I was not yet ready to go for a walk, needed a few more escorted walks to gain confidence that the leg wouldn't simply give way under me.

So the question is - will I recover my walking skills and weight bearing enough to walk into my doctor's appointment on May 22. Stay tuned, I'll let you know how I progress.

Breaking... no, Healing news

Fresh from the doctor visit this afternoon - I am able to start weight bearing to my tolerance now. No waiting till May 3rd, the tibia is healing nicely and it is time to start giving it some weight loads. This on top of the news yesterday that the leg is bending to 88 degrees and is at a -10 degrees on straightening. Good news two days running.

A big thanks to Noel-Marie for taking me to and from Baltimore for the appointment today.

Okay, enough basking in the glow - back to work...

Report for the first week home

So, the week started with some real highs (home, guy, friends) and lows (fall, ER) and swiftly went to a mid-level range, thank goodness. Felicia stayed till 6pm on Tuesday helping problem solve, pick up a 2nd wheelchair, shop and in general make the transition to home much easier. She also came up with the method for getting me in and out of the house while I am using a wheelchair. By the time I get out and back in I'm exhausted, and my helper who is wrangling a wheelchair is pretty well worn out as well. However, it works and has minimal risk of a fall.

The week has gone quickly with PT on M, W and F. A schedule which will continue for the foreseeable future and should. Both my PT and myself were able to talk with my insurance case manager about my being sent home perhaps a bit soon. I hope it has them take a look at their policies and rethink the decision process. The fall on Sat could have gone bad in so many ways, it was good fortune that it ended with a bruised shoulder, scraped knee and little more.

Sadly, while the computers are all talking together they all seem to be talking different languages. So my work is still being done only on the laptop I had at the rehab center. Nor have I been very productive this week, it is taking far longer to get settled in than I had anticipated. Ah well, this to shall pass.

So, off to work, and yes I am very fortunate to work for myself out of my home with so many fantastic clients. I don't know how I will ever be able to thank them for being with me through this journey. Nor how I will ever be able to thank all my friends who have come along for this ride, helped out, lent support, given support. I am a fortunate person truly blessed with a full life.

Whew....

So, a report from the first 24 hours back home. Well, it started with the excitement of a fall which on the day after seems to have no further effect than giving everyone involved some stress and excitement. My sister, Felicia, and brother, Keith, stayed the evening. The move from the rehab center went well with help from Karen and Steve. We made a stop at CVS where I got my exercise walking in to hand in the scrips for all the meds that are part of my life right now. Sadly they only had five days worth of the Lovanox so I need to go back and pick up the rest.
After thetrip to the emergency room the first bit of settling in went well with help from Mary Lou and Carolyn as we sorted through what I needed. Mary Lou and Keith did a great job of bringing things down from upstairs and getting the office area all set up for me. Carolyn took on the monumental task of trying to clean up the dust from all the construction. She worked on it Friday and Saturday and I am thankful as there are no clouds of dust as one moves through the house downstairs. After Carolyn and Mary Lou had both left Keith started work on plumbing and things he needed to do. Later Felicia went to the Common Market to gather some food from the soup/hot bar for dinner. As we ate we discussed plans for the evening and the following days. I was also introduced to my guard dog, if you come to visit I will be certain to introduce you as well.

Today Felicia and Keith brought in tables and chairs from over the garage so that I will be able to host the Frederick South game days for a few months till I regain some independent mobility. I was also shown the exercise bike :-( Keith bought for me which will allow me to exercise and strengthen my arms and good leg. However I was exhausted today and so spent much of the day sleeping. Guy is due back home around 7pm and after he gets back and a bit settled in we will head out for some dinner and some shopping of groceries and such.

Today