Hi All,
I though I would give you a quick look at how my leg is progressing. It isn't bad looking or scary just different.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Swimming
Things are progressing with my recovery. My stitches are out and I now only have a couple of regular band-aids. I wear a shrinker on my remaining limb to keep the swelling down and to prepare it for my prosthetic. Next week I have an appointment with the prosthetist to make a cast of my leg and in 7 to 10 day I will have my first prosthetic. In the mean time I am starting to build up my strength and endurance. I am using a resistance cord bench at home for strength training and have started to swim.
Yesterday was my first day back at the pool since last summer. Some of you may know that since my feet were so compromised I took to swimming for exercise, no impact and great aerobic exercise. I utilized the pool before when I was getting ready for Mike and Beth's wedding and recovering from several breaks. So I know first hand it is a very effective way to get back into shape.
My sister Dee came with me and assisted me in and out of the pool and watched me diligently in case I ran into trouble. She of course said that she hoped she didn't have to help me because she didn't want to get her jeans wet. The pool does have a lift but there was no one there to operate it and they weren't sure if it was working. I lowered myself from the wheelchair to the cement and scooted on my butt to the pools edge and lowered myself into the pool. I love the pool. It is the one place where I feel almost normal. I can bounce on my left foot without much impact and I can stand without fear of falling. I am a good swimmer and my upper body is even stronger now from months of lifting myself and using the manual wheelchair. The one thing I was not ready for was my right leg having a mind of its own.
When I made my first lap I concentrated on using both my thighs for motion and not using my lower legs. It was not so bad, but when I tried to swim the backstroke and use my legs I could not get the mechanics right. I felt like my leg was not listening to me at all. When I stopped swimming and rested I noticed my leg kept floating up and I had to really concentrate on keeping it down. It was sort of funny, I say it is trying to get away and find my foot.
All in all, it was a good experience and I have 2 more sessions scheduled for this week and my goal is to swim 3 times a week. I know that each time it will get easier and soon I will do things automatically but for now it is still new and a bit challenging.
Yesterday was my first day back at the pool since last summer. Some of you may know that since my feet were so compromised I took to swimming for exercise, no impact and great aerobic exercise. I utilized the pool before when I was getting ready for Mike and Beth's wedding and recovering from several breaks. So I know first hand it is a very effective way to get back into shape.
My sister Dee came with me and assisted me in and out of the pool and watched me diligently in case I ran into trouble. She of course said that she hoped she didn't have to help me because she didn't want to get her jeans wet. The pool does have a lift but there was no one there to operate it and they weren't sure if it was working. I lowered myself from the wheelchair to the cement and scooted on my butt to the pools edge and lowered myself into the pool. I love the pool. It is the one place where I feel almost normal. I can bounce on my left foot without much impact and I can stand without fear of falling. I am a good swimmer and my upper body is even stronger now from months of lifting myself and using the manual wheelchair. The one thing I was not ready for was my right leg having a mind of its own.
When I made my first lap I concentrated on using both my thighs for motion and not using my lower legs. It was not so bad, but when I tried to swim the backstroke and use my legs I could not get the mechanics right. I felt like my leg was not listening to me at all. When I stopped swimming and rested I noticed my leg kept floating up and I had to really concentrate on keeping it down. It was sort of funny, I say it is trying to get away and find my foot.
All in all, it was a good experience and I have 2 more sessions scheduled for this week and my goal is to swim 3 times a week. I know that each time it will get easier and soon I will do things automatically but for now it is still new and a bit challenging.
Friday, April 3, 2009
One of these things...
Is not like the other... does anyone remember that song from Sesame Street? Not much to say but thought I would give you all a visual of what stage I am at now. Next week the stitches come out and I will post what it looks like then. Hollywood never leaves my side so that is his furry little back next to my left leg you are seeing.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
The Unveiling - and going forward.
First let me say that if you ever need to convalesce go to Peggy's. She made the first few days easy and normal. She did not hover but still there when I needed her. My dogs had stayed with Peggy and they were very happy to run in her yard and her house. Hollywood was even more adventurous then ever and decided he would take a swim one day. Luckily I saw him jump in and only mildly panicked, okay maybe more than mildly, I was screaming "he's in the pool, I can't see him splashing". Peggy got him to safety and later that day Chad moved the stairs from pool so he could not jump in again. It wasn't until later that I heard Peggy recount the story and say there was a brief moment she didn't hear splashing and was a little concerned.
The days vanished and Tuesday was upon me. This was the day I was getting my cast off, my nerve block removed and was meeting with my Prosthetist.
I took a pain pill in advance and ate lunch before Mike picked me up for my appointment. I packed a travel sickness bag and true to me and pain killers I was using it before we left Aurora on the tollway. My stomach was still upset when we arrived at the doctor but we were put in a room almost as soon as we got there and Mike was able to make sure I got a trash can in case I lost my cookies again.
Thomas the Prothetist met us at Kelikian's office so my whole team was there. Kevin, Kelikian's assistant came in and the unveiling began. Thomas had started the process of removing the cast and Kevin came in to finish the job. I felt like he was claiming his territory, after all he has removed nearly every cast I have had in 7 years.
Kevin was not very gentle as he removed the cast and bandages below but after he asked how long it had been since surgery and realized it was only 5 days he slowed down and was a little more tender. As I was being unraveled I was unraveling. The layers peeled off and I turned my head towards the wall unable at first to look for more than a second. We all know that feeling when you fall and knock the air out and you can't breath for a moment or two. That's how I felt. As much as I prepared myself I still had no idea what it would really look like. I forced myself to look but couldn't keep my hands from my face to try to hide it, like a child hiding from the scary movie on the TV. I cried, as hard as I tried not to, I couldn't keep tears back. Thomas and Kevin kept telling me how good it looked, and Thomas was next to me saying it was okay to cry. He said he saw people at all stages of the process and it was okay to cry and my remaining limb looked good. Kelikian came into the room pulled the 6 inches of tape holding the nerve block in place and the nerve block in about 10 seconds. He looked at the sutures, said it looked good, see you in 2 weeks to remove the stitches and staples and told me I was in Thomas' hands now and left. I felt like life would be normal since he was acting like his old self again.
And then my next challenge began. Within minutes of not being able to look at my leg I was learning how to put a shrinker on it and put on the rigid dressing (a cast like cone at the end of my left made for additional protection). And now I am capable of doing it on my own and have cleaned around the area of my knee with alcohol to remove the surgical markings. It is not scary any more and Mike described it best as a baseball with the stitches the way they are located.
I am home now, my friend Al who had come in to town to help me transition to home life again, has gone home and my dogs are sleeping next to me. I started working part-time today and will return to full time next week. The stitches come out on Tuesday the 7th and the next steps to getting my new foot will begin. I will keep posting as the process goes on and will eventually post some pictures of my new leg and me standing. Until then each day I get better and stronger and life becomes more normal, or normal for me.
The days vanished and Tuesday was upon me. This was the day I was getting my cast off, my nerve block removed and was meeting with my Prosthetist.
I took a pain pill in advance and ate lunch before Mike picked me up for my appointment. I packed a travel sickness bag and true to me and pain killers I was using it before we left Aurora on the tollway. My stomach was still upset when we arrived at the doctor but we were put in a room almost as soon as we got there and Mike was able to make sure I got a trash can in case I lost my cookies again.
Thomas the Prothetist met us at Kelikian's office so my whole team was there. Kevin, Kelikian's assistant came in and the unveiling began. Thomas had started the process of removing the cast and Kevin came in to finish the job. I felt like he was claiming his territory, after all he has removed nearly every cast I have had in 7 years.
Kevin was not very gentle as he removed the cast and bandages below but after he asked how long it had been since surgery and realized it was only 5 days he slowed down and was a little more tender. As I was being unraveled I was unraveling. The layers peeled off and I turned my head towards the wall unable at first to look for more than a second. We all know that feeling when you fall and knock the air out and you can't breath for a moment or two. That's how I felt. As much as I prepared myself I still had no idea what it would really look like. I forced myself to look but couldn't keep my hands from my face to try to hide it, like a child hiding from the scary movie on the TV. I cried, as hard as I tried not to, I couldn't keep tears back. Thomas and Kevin kept telling me how good it looked, and Thomas was next to me saying it was okay to cry. He said he saw people at all stages of the process and it was okay to cry and my remaining limb looked good. Kelikian came into the room pulled the 6 inches of tape holding the nerve block in place and the nerve block in about 10 seconds. He looked at the sutures, said it looked good, see you in 2 weeks to remove the stitches and staples and told me I was in Thomas' hands now and left. I felt like life would be normal since he was acting like his old self again.
And then my next challenge began. Within minutes of not being able to look at my leg I was learning how to put a shrinker on it and put on the rigid dressing (a cast like cone at the end of my left made for additional protection). And now I am capable of doing it on my own and have cleaned around the area of my knee with alcohol to remove the surgical markings. It is not scary any more and Mike described it best as a baseball with the stitches the way they are located.
I am home now, my friend Al who had come in to town to help me transition to home life again, has gone home and my dogs are sleeping next to me. I started working part-time today and will return to full time next week. The stitches come out on Tuesday the 7th and the next steps to getting my new foot will begin. I will keep posting as the process goes on and will eventually post some pictures of my new leg and me standing. Until then each day I get better and stronger and life becomes more normal, or normal for me.
The Hospital Stay
There is very little of interest that happened in the hospital except for the food, not the hospital food it really sucked, but the food that was brought in. I had the nerve blocks taking care of most of my pain, in fact one was inadvertently put under the cast so I had it for 3 extra days until the cast came off, providing me with extra pain control and letting me take only a few additional pain pills when I went home. I did feel some discomfort and did take a pain pill on Friday but basically I was still doing well with the blocks. So I can't tell you I was in agony, writhing in pain and go for sympathy.
I kept lifting my leg amazed at how light it felt. Remember in addition to having 2 1/2 pounds of me removed I was no longer wearing 2 1/2 pounds of boot. I felt like someone had put the bike in first gear from 1oth.
Mike came up in the early afternoon bringing me lunch, cheese fries and soup from Portillo's, one of my favorite comfort meals. The doctor came in during my lunch and joked with me about my nutritious lunch, he then commented on my view and told Mike and I about several of the buildings and pointed to where he was born. I didn't see where exactly he pointed I was too amazed that he was making small talk. My doctor is excellent but he does have a surgeons bed side manner.
It seemed like no time at all before Judy and Jim arrived and shortly thereafter Jim took a walk and came back with Gino's East Pizza, deep dish sausage and pepperoni. I think it enticed Mike to stay a little longer. I ate a whole piece, which amazed me because I wasn't that hungry but soon as I took a bite of that cheesy wonder I suddenly was hungry again. There was not a bite to spare.
After everyone had gone I fell asleep easily but woke up again at 3:30. The hospital was quiet and the bed was fairly comfortable but I could not sleep.
Saturday came and one of the nerve blocks was removed but since I was left with the sciatic block my pain was manageable. I had cereal from the hospital for breakfast and picked at the lunch when it came, which was a good thing since I become car sick on the way home.
Mike, Beth and Jack picked me up from the hospital and before I knew it I was on my way home to recover for a few days at Peggy's.
I kept lifting my leg amazed at how light it felt. Remember in addition to having 2 1/2 pounds of me removed I was no longer wearing 2 1/2 pounds of boot. I felt like someone had put the bike in first gear from 1oth.
Mike came up in the early afternoon bringing me lunch, cheese fries and soup from Portillo's, one of my favorite comfort meals. The doctor came in during my lunch and joked with me about my nutritious lunch, he then commented on my view and told Mike and I about several of the buildings and pointed to where he was born. I didn't see where exactly he pointed I was too amazed that he was making small talk. My doctor is excellent but he does have a surgeons bed side manner.
It seemed like no time at all before Judy and Jim arrived and shortly thereafter Jim took a walk and came back with Gino's East Pizza, deep dish sausage and pepperoni. I think it enticed Mike to stay a little longer. I ate a whole piece, which amazed me because I wasn't that hungry but soon as I took a bite of that cheesy wonder I suddenly was hungry again. There was not a bite to spare.
After everyone had gone I fell asleep easily but woke up again at 3:30. The hospital was quiet and the bed was fairly comfortable but I could not sleep.
Saturday came and one of the nerve blocks was removed but since I was left with the sciatic block my pain was manageable. I had cereal from the hospital for breakfast and picked at the lunch when it came, which was a good thing since I become car sick on the way home.
Mike, Beth and Jack picked me up from the hospital and before I knew it I was on my way home to recover for a few days at Peggy's.
Thursday March 19, 2009 Surgery
I decided to wait a couple of weeks to update the blog for two reasons. One, my leg was sore and finding a comfortable position was difficult and two, I wanted to get a clearer picture in my mind of the events of the day.
My time sequence during the day is a little foggy but I am quite clear on my thoughts before surgery. The day started a little scattered. The alarm went off in the morning and I fell back to sleep but I was prepared for this scenario and had already asked Jim and Judy to call me on their way into the city. They were going in extra early to avoid traffic and to get breakfast beforehand. When they called however I thought it was the alarm again and didn't answer. I checked the time on my phone but misread it and thought it was 6:00 a.m. giving me exactly 30 minutes to shower and get ready for the hospital. I panicked and took a quick shower, didn't wash my hair because I didn't believe there was time and dressed as quickly as possible while throwing in the last minute personal items into my bags. I had two bags ready to go, one for Peg's for after I went home and one for surgery. I checked the clock to see how I was doing on time and realized that it was only 5:27 and not 6:27. It was then I decided I maybe getting a little nervous. I called Judy and Jim to let them know I was awake and let them know I was an idiot. I watched QVC and HSN for the next hour.
Mike and Beth picked me up at 6:45 and we made it to the hospital right on time. We needed to arrive by 8:30 and got there about 8:20. I registered and in only a few minutes we were called back. The outpatient surgery only allows 2 visitors at a time in pre op but they let everyone in and even got 2 extra chairs leaving only one person to stand.
Whenever I am highly nervous or anxious in the hospital I start to shake. And gradually my shaking was beginning to start. If you looked at me you would have thought I was very cold. My mind was struggling to focus on everything being said to me, the anaesthesiologist explained what my pain management regimen was going to be - nerve blocks to my femoral and sciatic nerves and a heavy sedative in addition to the regional anaesthesia. Dr. Kelikian came in and showed us where the cut would be and where the flap would come from the back of the leg forward. The nerve block took an one hour and thirty minutes to put in, longer then expected. I do remember before they gave me the sedative that it was painful as they tried to place it in my leg but they quickly gave me drugs because I think my leg kept moving despite my efforts to stay still. I am not sure if I saw the family again before surgery or not but I do remember after surgery everyone walking with me as they wheeled me from the outpatient center to my room in the hospital. Surgery took about one hour 45 minutes. My leg had a cast on it up to my mid thigh so my immediate reaction was that he put on cast instead of a rigid dressing. The size of the cast masked the true size of my leg, and the white of the cast on the white of the sheets also hid how much was taken in the surgery. I do not know what became of my poor foot but I imagine it was incinerated. Since I want to be cremated I truly do have one foot in the grave.
I also remember giving Mike instructions to text and call my boss, and 3 friends that would want to know as soon as possible that I was okay. He used my phone and I had to laugh at his text messages to 2 of my friends.
I remember not feeling much of anything. anywhere. I know that I was having conversations, I remember asking if I had a roommate and finding out it was a single. And I remember that I ate some dinner when it was brought, but I can't tell you what I ate. I do remember one thing clearly, I had a fantastic view. Mike and Beth went home first, and Judy and Jim stayed on after I had dinner but I don't remember much more of Thursday, March 19. 2009 It is sad to know that the day that changed my life so completely is such a muddled memory.
My time sequence during the day is a little foggy but I am quite clear on my thoughts before surgery. The day started a little scattered. The alarm went off in the morning and I fell back to sleep but I was prepared for this scenario and had already asked Jim and Judy to call me on their way into the city. They were going in extra early to avoid traffic and to get breakfast beforehand. When they called however I thought it was the alarm again and didn't answer. I checked the time on my phone but misread it and thought it was 6:00 a.m. giving me exactly 30 minutes to shower and get ready for the hospital. I panicked and took a quick shower, didn't wash my hair because I didn't believe there was time and dressed as quickly as possible while throwing in the last minute personal items into my bags. I had two bags ready to go, one for Peg's for after I went home and one for surgery. I checked the clock to see how I was doing on time and realized that it was only 5:27 and not 6:27. It was then I decided I maybe getting a little nervous. I called Judy and Jim to let them know I was awake and let them know I was an idiot. I watched QVC and HSN for the next hour.
Mike and Beth picked me up at 6:45 and we made it to the hospital right on time. We needed to arrive by 8:30 and got there about 8:20. I registered and in only a few minutes we were called back. The outpatient surgery only allows 2 visitors at a time in pre op but they let everyone in and even got 2 extra chairs leaving only one person to stand.
Whenever I am highly nervous or anxious in the hospital I start to shake. And gradually my shaking was beginning to start. If you looked at me you would have thought I was very cold. My mind was struggling to focus on everything being said to me, the anaesthesiologist explained what my pain management regimen was going to be - nerve blocks to my femoral and sciatic nerves and a heavy sedative in addition to the regional anaesthesia. Dr. Kelikian came in and showed us where the cut would be and where the flap would come from the back of the leg forward. The nerve block took an one hour and thirty minutes to put in, longer then expected. I do remember before they gave me the sedative that it was painful as they tried to place it in my leg but they quickly gave me drugs because I think my leg kept moving despite my efforts to stay still. I am not sure if I saw the family again before surgery or not but I do remember after surgery everyone walking with me as they wheeled me from the outpatient center to my room in the hospital. Surgery took about one hour 45 minutes. My leg had a cast on it up to my mid thigh so my immediate reaction was that he put on cast instead of a rigid dressing. The size of the cast masked the true size of my leg, and the white of the cast on the white of the sheets also hid how much was taken in the surgery. I do not know what became of my poor foot but I imagine it was incinerated. Since I want to be cremated I truly do have one foot in the grave.
I also remember giving Mike instructions to text and call my boss, and 3 friends that would want to know as soon as possible that I was okay. He used my phone and I had to laugh at his text messages to 2 of my friends.
I remember not feeling much of anything. anywhere. I know that I was having conversations, I remember asking if I had a roommate and finding out it was a single. And I remember that I ate some dinner when it was brought, but I can't tell you what I ate. I do remember one thing clearly, I had a fantastic view. Mike and Beth went home first, and Judy and Jim stayed on after I had dinner but I don't remember much more of Thursday, March 19. 2009 It is sad to know that the day that changed my life so completely is such a muddled memory.
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