Another night of vitals being taken. I had a better night's sleep, however. This day, the mosquito (the lab tech) came to draw blood at 4 AM!! He was very nice, but 4 AM? REALLY??? I know that he was only doing his job, and I don't even remember the poke, though he warned me. I guess if you are going to wake people up like that, you do your best to be good at what you do.
One, two, three, ZIP... the catheter was removed. That was at 7 AM. I had until 1 PM to be successful in the bathroom. I didn't want to find out what would happen if I wasn't successful. I was really pushing the fluids, so within an hour, I was ready to try. Piece of cake! Done with that test!
I had all of the early morning visits from Amanda, Dr. McEvoy with another courtesy visit (He really said that, yesterday, and today he asked again if there was ANYthing I needed...at all. That's nice to know that some doctors are just nice like that. No charge, just care.) and Dr. McMath.
Dr. McMath's visits are the ones I look forward to because he sees all of the reports, puts it all together and then lets me know how I'm doing. So far, so GREAT! Well, he didn't say it that way, but he really has been encouraging.
Then, there was breakfast and Mitch with Occupational Therapy. He talked me through putting on my right shoe (nothing changed with the left), and then coached me as I DID IT MYSELF! With the aid of the reacher and the long shoe horn, I was successful. Tying the shoe will have to be left up to Mark, or some other kind person, for awhile, anyway. Robert Church showed me that I WILL be able to do this by myself someday. Mitch left and I finished breakfast. The omelette was sort of cold, but does that really matter when I put my shoe on BY MYSELF?? :)
"Tammy from Physical Therapy" arrived. I remember Tammy because I had her 3 times in a row for therapy...AND for some of the things that she helped me do, or did for me. She helped me put on my "unmentionables" and my sweatpants! I had to do most of the work, but she helped when I couldn't quite get it finished. Thank you, Tammy! We went through the torture routine. I still was unable to "swing" my leg back in by myself, but I was able to get it out. The Hardest exercise was the last one...each time. Attempting to lift that right leg that is filled with 1 ton of lead bee-bees was no simple or fun task. Tammy was encouraging, though, when she said words to the effect, "Not bad, Cindy. You got your heal off the bed!" I just laughed! Then we went for a walk. It's getting easier, and I'm going farther. I don't trust that new prosthesis, yet. It's a matter of time and practice...and faith. Tammy took me to a stairwell and taught me how to "do the stairs." That all came back pretty easily, after all, I've been here before. Then, we went into a small sun room and we practiced getting in and out of "the van." "The van" was a chair that had a seat about the height of a van seat. So she talked me through everything I would need to know about that and I practiced a couple of times. Then, she took me back to my room.
Respiratory Therapy came to watch me breathe in the spirometer. I think that's what it's called. The exercise is a VERY CONTROLLED breathing in as you fill your lungs to 2500 mL. Sounds easy enough. It's not. Ten times every hour I'm awake. Thankfully, they didn't wake me from naps or from the night time "sleep" to get those exercises done.
This day, Mark brought his lunch and we ate together. I could get used to eating lunch with this guy! I showed off my sweatpants to Mark. I was really impressed with myself, can you tell?
Mark returned to work and at some point (I'm sorry I can't remember when), Sharon and Robert Church came to visit. It is nice to have personal friends who have gone through this before and can share the triumphs. They were both encouraging and our visit ended way too soon.
I waited all afternoon, and all night, actually, for Respiratory Therapy to return. I was told that they would come eventually, even if it was the middle of the night. And we have to PAY for this treatment? Well, RT never came, but I did keep working on my breathing. This whole adventure has been too long coming, and WAY too expensive (with or without insurance) to blow it by getting pneumonia!
At some point, "Tammy from Physical Therapy" came back. She took me through the torture routine again, with no more success than this morning. Then, she said, "Let's go for a walk." I usually went to the door and turned right. I don't know why. Tammy said, "You can go either direction you want to, but if you turn left, there's something I want to show you." I said, "I like surprises," and I turned left. There are 4 short halls that connect the two long halls where all of the patients' rooms are, and a plethora of other rooms. As we would come to one of these short halls, Tammy would say, keep going, keep going. We came to the end of the hall and she walked me into another sun room, but this was about twice the size of the one we used earlier. She sat me down in a rocking chair and said, I want you just to enjoy the sunshine for a little while. I have to go work with another patient, but I'll be back. Enjoy!" O, the Lord is good! His mercies are everlasting! The room was so bright, I could have used sunglasses, honest! The sun felt so good!! I tried to read the newspaper, but I mostly just sat with a huge grin on my face, squinting out at Findlay! When Tammy came back, maybe 20 minutes later, she asked how that was and I told her it was wonderful - Thank you for the treat! She said, "I just think sunshine is good for the soul," and she had a big smile on her face, too. :) She took me back to my room and said, "I'll see you once more in the morning." Yay!!
Later, I had dinner and no evening visitors, so I started this blog.
I really hope you are enjoying my adventure. I am long-winded. I'm just so thankful, it's hard to hold it in, so I decided to share it with you.
Thanks for reading.
Monday, February 11, 2013
Saturday, February 9, 2013
On the Road to Recovery
Vitals taken for the um-teenth time just before shift change at 5 AM, blood drawn at 6, breakfast at 7, then "bath" by 9...with visits from Amanda (Dr. McMath's physician's assistant, or PA), Dr. McEvoy (family physician) for a "courtesy call," and Dr. McMath, himself, all before 8:30.
There's NO rest for the wicked...I must be very wicked. Or is that weary? I was extremely weary! But, OH SO HAPPY!
After my bath, my morning continued with Occupational Therapy. Two entered my room together, one the OT, whose name I can't remember, and the Student OT, Mitch. Mitch was left in charge to talk to me about all of the equipment I would need: the extended shoe horn (thank you Mama and Pop, 2 Christmases back), the "sock aid" (thank you Jessie and Richard, again, 2 Christmases ago), the reaching tool (thank you fellow Bionicle, Robert Church), and the long handled bath "brush" (mine is a nylon scrubbie). Mitch didn't literally show me how to get dressed, but he was pretty detailed in his explanation.
Mitch left and Physical Therapy arrived. I'm sorry that I can't remember her name, but, she was the first one to get me on the road to independence again. (I will return to a thought about independence in a minute.) We talked about, but didn't practice stairs, the walk-in shower, and the car transfer. We did, however, take my maiden voyage around a short square in the hall. She said I was doing very well as I made my way around the "block."
Sometime before lunch, Respiratory Therapy arrived. Deep breathing can make one light-headed, especially when it is SSSLLLOOOWWW deep breathing. And dry-mouthed!
As we rounded the last corner, there stood Jessie at my door. "Look at you walking down the hall!" I must admit that I was a little proud. She had brought Mama to visit before lunch at Primrose, so we finished up PT and had our little visit. I go them caught up on my busy night and morning. Mama caught me up on the folks at Primrose asking about me. Mama and Pop have their hands full telling everyone my "latest news."
Jessie took Mama back to Primrose. After a bit, my lunch arrived. After another bit, Mark arrived to visit over his lunch break, so I caught him up on my night and morning happenings. After another little bit, Jessie walked in the door with a tray from the hospital cafeteria to have lunch with me. Mark should have brought his lunch. We could have had a veritable feast!!
Mark returned to work. When Jessie and I finished our lunches, we took a walk so that she could make sure that the physical therapist was working me hard enough! I think that she was pleased with my progress so far. Then, Jessie had to return to Muncie. :( I knew it couldn't last, but I am so thankful that she was able to visit for the time of my surgery and part of the following day. She could answer questions that I forgot to ask my therapists.
Well, the afternoon was much the same as the morning, minus Occupational Therapy. Apparently, they only work with patients once a day. I went twice as far around the "block" this time with physical therapy. It was a busy afternoon, and I think it might have involved a little "exploituting." That means "napping" for those who live outside of the world of Team Pagano.
Sanny Sutton came to visit on her way home from work and to fix a meal for Mark and Jessie...who left...poor Mark! There would be PLENTY for Mark over the next couple of days for lunch. That was nice of Sanny. The "Life Group" that we are in is bringing meals every other day for the next week. We will eat like a king and queen!
Mark visited again on his way home from weight training with the high school girls he coaches in soccer. Tiffani (my "supervisor" at Primrose) was visiting me, giving me a blow-by-blow about the helicopter activity. While she was catching me up on all of the things I was missing at work, on come the flood lights, right outside my window! We watched the helicopter land...and we thought it might come right through my window if it didn't quite make the turn! Happily, there was a controlled turn and landing. After awhile, once Mark arrived, we all watched it take off. Then, visiting hours were over and the both had to leave.
Tomorrow is another day. Thanks for reading.
Cindy
There's NO rest for the wicked...I must be very wicked. Or is that weary? I was extremely weary! But, OH SO HAPPY!
After my bath, my morning continued with Occupational Therapy. Two entered my room together, one the OT, whose name I can't remember, and the Student OT, Mitch. Mitch was left in charge to talk to me about all of the equipment I would need: the extended shoe horn (thank you Mama and Pop, 2 Christmases back), the "sock aid" (thank you Jessie and Richard, again, 2 Christmases ago), the reaching tool (thank you fellow Bionicle, Robert Church), and the long handled bath "brush" (mine is a nylon scrubbie). Mitch didn't literally show me how to get dressed, but he was pretty detailed in his explanation.
Mitch left and Physical Therapy arrived. I'm sorry that I can't remember her name, but, she was the first one to get me on the road to independence again. (I will return to a thought about independence in a minute.) We talked about, but didn't practice stairs, the walk-in shower, and the car transfer. We did, however, take my maiden voyage around a short square in the hall. She said I was doing very well as I made my way around the "block."
Sometime before lunch, Respiratory Therapy arrived. Deep breathing can make one light-headed, especially when it is SSSLLLOOOWWW deep breathing. And dry-mouthed!
As we rounded the last corner, there stood Jessie at my door. "Look at you walking down the hall!" I must admit that I was a little proud. She had brought Mama to visit before lunch at Primrose, so we finished up PT and had our little visit. I go them caught up on my busy night and morning. Mama caught me up on the folks at Primrose asking about me. Mama and Pop have their hands full telling everyone my "latest news."
Jessie took Mama back to Primrose. After a bit, my lunch arrived. After another bit, Mark arrived to visit over his lunch break, so I caught him up on my night and morning happenings. After another little bit, Jessie walked in the door with a tray from the hospital cafeteria to have lunch with me. Mark should have brought his lunch. We could have had a veritable feast!!
Mark returned to work. When Jessie and I finished our lunches, we took a walk so that she could make sure that the physical therapist was working me hard enough! I think that she was pleased with my progress so far. Then, Jessie had to return to Muncie. :( I knew it couldn't last, but I am so thankful that she was able to visit for the time of my surgery and part of the following day. She could answer questions that I forgot to ask my therapists.
Well, the afternoon was much the same as the morning, minus Occupational Therapy. Apparently, they only work with patients once a day. I went twice as far around the "block" this time with physical therapy. It was a busy afternoon, and I think it might have involved a little "exploituting." That means "napping" for those who live outside of the world of Team Pagano.
Sanny Sutton came to visit on her way home from work and to fix a meal for Mark and Jessie...who left...poor Mark! There would be PLENTY for Mark over the next couple of days for lunch. That was nice of Sanny. The "Life Group" that we are in is bringing meals every other day for the next week. We will eat like a king and queen!
Mark visited again on his way home from weight training with the high school girls he coaches in soccer. Tiffani (my "supervisor" at Primrose) was visiting me, giving me a blow-by-blow about the helicopter activity. While she was catching me up on all of the things I was missing at work, on come the flood lights, right outside my window! We watched the helicopter land...and we thought it might come right through my window if it didn't quite make the turn! Happily, there was a controlled turn and landing. After awhile, once Mark arrived, we all watched it take off. Then, visiting hours were over and the both had to leave.
Tomorrow is another day. Thanks for reading.
Cindy
Thursday, February 7, 2013
The New Bionic Cindy - Part 2
As my dad, Mark, Jessie, and I waited for the folks to take me to surgery, Pastor Ben walked in to have a prayer with me. That was very unexpected, but wonderful. He read Psalm 121, a very comforting and reassuring psalm.
I spoke with Amanda, Dr. McMath's physicians assistant (PA), the anesthesiologist, probably a few nurses in there (the primary one being Jen), and finally Dr. McMath arrived. What nice people, all of them! Dr. McMath initialed my hip, literally, with blue permanent marker...so they all knew for certain where to make the first cut!
My dad had another prayer over me with Mark and Jessie. What a blessing it is to have so much prayer covering me. It is very humbling! After this prayer, Jessie took my dad back home to Primrose Retirement Community. Pop had to pick up Mama and take her to an eye doctor appointment, since I was sort of busy and couldn't take her.
Steve came to take me to the operating room. I said good-bye to Pop, Jessie, and Mark (or maybe Pop and Jessie were already gone...anesthesia does that to you) and went away with Steve. I met Tasha outside of the operating room. I can't remember what her part was, but she helped prep me.
They helped me get onto the operating table and I remember them talking about something, but my eyes started to have a hard time focusing and I knew there was no turning back at that point. The next thing I knew, Jen was saying hello to me in the recovery room. They have some new name for it now, PACU, and all of those letters stand for something, but I can't remember what, but it still means recovery. I had a very hard time getting my eyes to focus, but eventually Steve rolled me away to my room, 6168, on the Ortho-Neuro floor.
Suffice it to say, everyone here at Blanchard Valley Hospital has been fabulous to me. I have had fun joking with the staff, and so has my dad and my husband. It really has been a blessing to be here, close to family and friends, and not be an hour away, like I was at St. Luke's in Toledo all those many years ago.
I did not have any therapy (maybe I had respiratory therapy?) the day of surgery as we all expected. Jessie was NOT amused, so she gave me some bed therapy to do. I was ok with not having therapy the first day. Jessie's workout (a portion of what I would be doing later) was good enough. I was pretty tired and still woozy from the anesthetics, so I was sort of glad it didn't happen as we all expected.
During a rather sleepless first night in my room, I was awake for awhile between 2 and 3 AM, doing some of the isometric exercises that Jessie had given me (which I might add were very easy to do, but very painful as well, pre-surgery). As I was doing one that had been particularly painful, I realized that I was having no pain. I mean, No Pain. No, really, I mean, NO PAIN! I laid there and did them a couple of times just to see if I was right...and I was! I laid there thinking, "It was all worth it. It was really all worth it." And I slept...a little in spite of all of the interruptions.
So, I'll end this rather lengthy post and let you wonder what my first day of therapy was like...
Thanks for reading.
Cindy
I spoke with Amanda, Dr. McMath's physicians assistant (PA), the anesthesiologist, probably a few nurses in there (the primary one being Jen), and finally Dr. McMath arrived. What nice people, all of them! Dr. McMath initialed my hip, literally, with blue permanent marker...so they all knew for certain where to make the first cut!
My dad had another prayer over me with Mark and Jessie. What a blessing it is to have so much prayer covering me. It is very humbling! After this prayer, Jessie took my dad back home to Primrose Retirement Community. Pop had to pick up Mama and take her to an eye doctor appointment, since I was sort of busy and couldn't take her.
Steve came to take me to the operating room. I said good-bye to Pop, Jessie, and Mark (or maybe Pop and Jessie were already gone...anesthesia does that to you) and went away with Steve. I met Tasha outside of the operating room. I can't remember what her part was, but she helped prep me.
They helped me get onto the operating table and I remember them talking about something, but my eyes started to have a hard time focusing and I knew there was no turning back at that point. The next thing I knew, Jen was saying hello to me in the recovery room. They have some new name for it now, PACU, and all of those letters stand for something, but I can't remember what, but it still means recovery. I had a very hard time getting my eyes to focus, but eventually Steve rolled me away to my room, 6168, on the Ortho-Neuro floor.
Suffice it to say, everyone here at Blanchard Valley Hospital has been fabulous to me. I have had fun joking with the staff, and so has my dad and my husband. It really has been a blessing to be here, close to family and friends, and not be an hour away, like I was at St. Luke's in Toledo all those many years ago.
I did not have any therapy (maybe I had respiratory therapy?) the day of surgery as we all expected. Jessie was NOT amused, so she gave me some bed therapy to do. I was ok with not having therapy the first day. Jessie's workout (a portion of what I would be doing later) was good enough. I was pretty tired and still woozy from the anesthetics, so I was sort of glad it didn't happen as we all expected.
During a rather sleepless first night in my room, I was awake for awhile between 2 and 3 AM, doing some of the isometric exercises that Jessie had given me (which I might add were very easy to do, but very painful as well, pre-surgery). As I was doing one that had been particularly painful, I realized that I was having no pain. I mean, No Pain. No, really, I mean, NO PAIN! I laid there and did them a couple of times just to see if I was right...and I was! I laid there thinking, "It was all worth it. It was really all worth it." And I slept...a little in spite of all of the interruptions.
So, I'll end this rather lengthy post and let you wonder what my first day of therapy was like...
Thanks for reading.
Cindy
Wednesday, February 6, 2013
The New Bionic Cindy, Part I
Oh, the places you'll go!
Thirty-two and a half years ago my life was put on hold as I spent six weeks in the hospital and 8 weeks in the home of my parents, healing and recuperating from a car wreck in which I was the passenger. We were hit on my side and that type of hit was called being "T-boned," by the surgeon I met about 2 months ago, Dr. McMath. I had multiple injuries, but the main one was a smashed pelvis.
I had great therapists in the hospital and an excellent (sports medicine) orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Herkimer. Dr. Herkimer explained to me that there were too many parts to put back together and I was too young for a hip replacement. I was to "wiggle in bed and shape a new socket for the ball," which was in fine shape. For thirty years I have had good days and bad days, fluctuating between no pain and...well...much pain.
I have been seeing a great chiropractor, Dr. Petro, for the past 7 or 8 years, and I credit him with getting me off of mega doses of ibuprofen and working on stretches and isometric exercises, keeping me out of surgery for those years. Recently, we (Dr. Petro, my wonderful husband, Mark, and I) decided that it was time for new X-rays and a trip to meet Dr. McMath to hear what his opinion was on my hip. I have been having more and more trouble with everyday things like putting on my right sock, walking the stairs (we live in a split level home), standing or sitting for long periods of time, and most recently, waking in the middle of the night with "referred" knee pain. All of this was due to loss of cartilage in the hip joint (leaving me with bone on bone), bone spurs, and the flattening of the ball from years of rubbing in the misshapen hip socket.
Dr. McMath sent me for physical therapy where I learned some new stretches, worked on some of my old stretches, and whatever new kind of "torture" they could put me through. Seriously, Gordon, Shannon, and Jay got me ready for the inevitable total hip replacement surgery that I have been waiting for, for over 30 years.
As I was coming into my 5th week of therapy, I got a call from the surgery scheduler: "There has been a cancellation in the schedule. Instead of your April (or as I was going to ask for a May) surgery, could you have your surgery on February 5th?" After a couple of conversations with Mark and my co-worker/supervisor, Tiffani, I called back and said, "Sure, that will be fine." I hung up the phone and realized that instead of 3-4 months away, it was going to be a week-and-a-half away!! Yikes!!!
Over the past week-and-a-half, I have seen more medical professionals than I have seen since July 2, 1980, the day of the wreck. With all of the doctor visits done, and tests run, I turned out to be a healthy candidate for a total right hip replacement.
On the very early morning of February 5th, our daughter Jessie, Mark, my dad and I all met at the hospital for this next life-changing event...
...But, this is getting long, and it is getting late, so I'll save some of my story for tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Cindy
Thirty-two and a half years ago my life was put on hold as I spent six weeks in the hospital and 8 weeks in the home of my parents, healing and recuperating from a car wreck in which I was the passenger. We were hit on my side and that type of hit was called being "T-boned," by the surgeon I met about 2 months ago, Dr. McMath. I had multiple injuries, but the main one was a smashed pelvis.
I had great therapists in the hospital and an excellent (sports medicine) orthopedic surgeon, Dr. Herkimer. Dr. Herkimer explained to me that there were too many parts to put back together and I was too young for a hip replacement. I was to "wiggle in bed and shape a new socket for the ball," which was in fine shape. For thirty years I have had good days and bad days, fluctuating between no pain and...well...much pain.
I have been seeing a great chiropractor, Dr. Petro, for the past 7 or 8 years, and I credit him with getting me off of mega doses of ibuprofen and working on stretches and isometric exercises, keeping me out of surgery for those years. Recently, we (Dr. Petro, my wonderful husband, Mark, and I) decided that it was time for new X-rays and a trip to meet Dr. McMath to hear what his opinion was on my hip. I have been having more and more trouble with everyday things like putting on my right sock, walking the stairs (we live in a split level home), standing or sitting for long periods of time, and most recently, waking in the middle of the night with "referred" knee pain. All of this was due to loss of cartilage in the hip joint (leaving me with bone on bone), bone spurs, and the flattening of the ball from years of rubbing in the misshapen hip socket.
Dr. McMath sent me for physical therapy where I learned some new stretches, worked on some of my old stretches, and whatever new kind of "torture" they could put me through. Seriously, Gordon, Shannon, and Jay got me ready for the inevitable total hip replacement surgery that I have been waiting for, for over 30 years.
As I was coming into my 5th week of therapy, I got a call from the surgery scheduler: "There has been a cancellation in the schedule. Instead of your April (or as I was going to ask for a May) surgery, could you have your surgery on February 5th?" After a couple of conversations with Mark and my co-worker/supervisor, Tiffani, I called back and said, "Sure, that will be fine." I hung up the phone and realized that instead of 3-4 months away, it was going to be a week-and-a-half away!! Yikes!!!
Over the past week-and-a-half, I have seen more medical professionals than I have seen since July 2, 1980, the day of the wreck. With all of the doctor visits done, and tests run, I turned out to be a healthy candidate for a total right hip replacement.
On the very early morning of February 5th, our daughter Jessie, Mark, my dad and I all met at the hospital for this next life-changing event...
...But, this is getting long, and it is getting late, so I'll save some of my story for tomorrow.
Thanks for reading.
Cindy
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
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