Sunday, January 30, 2011
RX: Music & Muses
Parkington Sisters was standing room only at Snow Library yesterday. Bummer! Didn't have the nerve to work the crutch angle. Will pay to see them...only hope it's soon. In the meantime, enjoy some of the video clips posted above from one of my favorite bands! The first clip on left, "Sailor Song," is awesome...listen to the entire song, you'll be glad you did.
Plugging Along
Gee, who knew a week could go by so fast when just staring out the window and trying to stick to 3 rounds of PT/day!
It's been a bumpy week. So I'm hoping this week my body and routine will be a little steadier.
Last week on Monday the PT introduced resistance to a number of exercises with one of the colored elastic bands. After the morning set and the afternoon set, I was feeling it. Sore and stiff, I was swallowing pain pills closer to every 4 hours than my usual 6 hours.
It didn't help that I was expecting my period. Or that my Uncle Bill's funeral was on Tuesday. I'd been hoping to go and as Monday evening wore on, I realized I needed to rest. Solution: Stay home on Tuesday, let Gary be our family rep at the funeral and lay off resistance and do only a few of the standing, sitting and lying down exercises rather than the full routine. It worked.
Tuesday was my first day home alone, so I started with a phone call to my friend Kris, then a text from Kathleen who stopped by with coffee, pumpkin muffin, and her collection of Freaks & Geeks DVDs....
Hilarious and too true comedy series of early eighties in high school. Great for a laugh and a lift of spirits. Of course a visit from Kathleen, complete with designer shoes is always fun!
Next our best man, Robb, called. He was headed to Provincetown for a work project and stopped in with flowers on his way back up Cape. Short lunch visit at the kitchen table where I'd already started watching Freaks & Geeks while eating some yummy soup from Joan. Feeling pretty good by now.
Climbing back into bed to rest around 1:20 when Anne and her daughter stopped by with a purple plant and my new business cards...with my Boston address!!!! Yes, we can now meet at One Post Office Square Boston in my brother's new office space. www.bostonoffices.com
By Wednesday, I was ready to try resistance again. And I went to the office for a few hours to check emails. Also started riding the exercise bike for two 7 minute intervals. And, of course, more snow.
Thursday was a snow day and my period finally started. Stayed in doors, snuggled and read William Trevor's novel Love and Summer. Thumbs up!
Friday, more Freaks & Geeks, a short trip to the office, and some effort to organize at home between rest and PT exercises. Garrison coaching me all week long, helping to hold the resistance band or counting along at my side.
Saturday, may have overdone it. Trip to the toy store for Lego Ninjago starter set...hot toy for young boy. Some clothes shopping at winter sale in town. Tried to catch the Parkington Sisters, but it was standing room only....Listen to Cool Tunes By Parkington Sisters Then off to the PTC Winter Ball for a couple of hours. Probably too much walking, standing, sitting...don't know, but knee is really acting up...
We'll see what this week brings...thanks for listening and I'll try to post more regularly.
It's been a bumpy week. So I'm hoping this week my body and routine will be a little steadier.
Last week on Monday the PT introduced resistance to a number of exercises with one of the colored elastic bands. After the morning set and the afternoon set, I was feeling it. Sore and stiff, I was swallowing pain pills closer to every 4 hours than my usual 6 hours.
It didn't help that I was expecting my period. Or that my Uncle Bill's funeral was on Tuesday. I'd been hoping to go and as Monday evening wore on, I realized I needed to rest. Solution: Stay home on Tuesday, let Gary be our family rep at the funeral and lay off resistance and do only a few of the standing, sitting and lying down exercises rather than the full routine. It worked.
Tuesday was my first day home alone, so I started with a phone call to my friend Kris, then a text from Kathleen who stopped by with coffee, pumpkin muffin, and her collection of Freaks & Geeks DVDs....
Hilarious and too true comedy series of early eighties in high school. Great for a laugh and a lift of spirits. Of course a visit from Kathleen, complete with designer shoes is always fun!
Next our best man, Robb, called. He was headed to Provincetown for a work project and stopped in with flowers on his way back up Cape. Short lunch visit at the kitchen table where I'd already started watching Freaks & Geeks while eating some yummy soup from Joan. Feeling pretty good by now.
Climbing back into bed to rest around 1:20 when Anne and her daughter stopped by with a purple plant and my new business cards...with my Boston address!!!! Yes, we can now meet at One Post Office Square Boston in my brother's new office space. www.bostonoffices.com
By Wednesday, I was ready to try resistance again. And I went to the office for a few hours to check emails. Also started riding the exercise bike for two 7 minute intervals. And, of course, more snow.
Thursday was a snow day and my period finally started. Stayed in doors, snuggled and read William Trevor's novel Love and Summer. Thumbs up!
Friday, more Freaks & Geeks, a short trip to the office, and some effort to organize at home between rest and PT exercises. Garrison coaching me all week long, helping to hold the resistance band or counting along at my side.
Saturday, may have overdone it. Trip to the toy store for Lego Ninjago starter set...hot toy for young boy. Some clothes shopping at winter sale in town. Tried to catch the Parkington Sisters, but it was standing room only....Listen to Cool Tunes By Parkington Sisters Then off to the PTC Winter Ball for a couple of hours. Probably too much walking, standing, sitting...don't know, but knee is really acting up...
We'll see what this week brings...thanks for listening and I'll try to post more regularly.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Home
Good news! I came home on Day 2 -- Thursday evening! You're on the "fast track," Dan the physical therapist told me. When I voiced concern to the case manager, I was told, "Don't worry, we won't kick you out of the hotel Baptist." My doctor's nurse stopped in and suggest that I wait to see how I feel on Thursday. Sure enough, I woke ready to go, especially knowing that I could spend the whole day at the hospital before Gary picked me up at 5:30pm. It's all the physical therapy I had pre-op. And the great care I received at New England Baptist.
Now, I'm sitting at my computer looking out to a snow-filled sky and wintry marsh. The full moon high tide over the weekend covered the marsh and one of the local great blue herons was standing just a few feet from our kayak yesterday afternoon, surrounded by winter ducks -- all fishing for food in the shallow waters. Looks kinda like this shot below, minus the birds!
Before surgery, I had been thinking of going to rehab as a great jump start to recovery, yet when the different nurses, physical therapist and case manager all commented on my strength relative to their other patients, I realized that going home would be the better option. Especially when I thought about the fact that I wouldn't have a private room and more importantly...the risk of INFECTION!!!
NEB has a low infection rate. First, they do not have sick patients, it's all elective surgery and no emergency room/trauma. So they keep the infections out. Then, they alter procedures to reduce the risk of infection. For instance, I don't have stitches. I've been glued together and tomorrow I take off my bandages and that's it. Just supposed to leave it dry and open to the air. Guess they'd rather see me come unglued at home than get an infection in the hospital when the stitches are removed.
Another post-op highlight: I walked around the middle school track one time yesterday!!! Gary says it's a 1/4 mile...maybe. Whatever it is, it feels good. I felt it this morning more than yesterday, so I went for a shorter walk on our street before it started snowing.
Now, I'm sitting at my computer looking out to a snow-filled sky and wintry marsh. The full moon high tide over the weekend covered the marsh and one of the local great blue herons was standing just a few feet from our kayak yesterday afternoon, surrounded by winter ducks -- all fishing for food in the shallow waters. Looks kinda like this shot below, minus the birds!
Before surgery, I had been thinking of going to rehab as a great jump start to recovery, yet when the different nurses, physical therapist and case manager all commented on my strength relative to their other patients, I realized that going home would be the better option. Especially when I thought about the fact that I wouldn't have a private room and more importantly...the risk of INFECTION!!!
NEB has a low infection rate. First, they do not have sick patients, it's all elective surgery and no emergency room/trauma. So they keep the infections out. Then, they alter procedures to reduce the risk of infection. For instance, I don't have stitches. I've been glued together and tomorrow I take off my bandages and that's it. Just supposed to leave it dry and open to the air. Guess they'd rather see me come unglued at home than get an infection in the hospital when the stitches are removed.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Standing Tall
Here's how I know the new hip works:
yesterday,several hours after surgery, I walked from bed to window with Dan, the physical therapist, at my side. As I stood up from the bed, he said "stand straight" and I did and I could without any of the crazy pain or contortion! I looked at him, "I can!
That's my new hip?!" "Yup,that's your new hip."
Dan came back around 7:30pm and I walked with crutches out into the hall!
By the way, I'm in the room next to the Celtics suite...it's vacant at the moment.
Doc stopped in this morning. He's good-looking in a brainy sort of way, round specs with quiet serious demeanor. Asked him how it looked when he got into the joint. "Nasty," was his one word response.
Well not any more!
yesterday,several hours after surgery, I walked from bed to window with Dan, the physical therapist, at my side. As I stood up from the bed, he said "stand straight" and I did and I could without any of the crazy pain or contortion! I looked at him, "I can!
That's my new hip?!" "Yup,that's your new hip."
Dan came back around 7:30pm and I walked with crutches out into the hall!
By the way, I'm in the room next to the Celtics suite...it's vacant at the moment.
Doc stopped in this morning. He's good-looking in a brainy sort of way, round specs with quiet serious demeanor. Asked him how it looked when he got into the joint. "Nasty," was his one word response.
Well not any more!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Almost There!
 |
| Ah! If only I had his cartilage... |
...guess I'll make do with modern medicine. Heading to the finish line for this worn down femur and hip socket. Our little guy has had enough of hospitals this year...Dada in May for a heart valve and now Mama for a new hip. It shows in the extended snuggles as well as the extra meltdowns. Of course, I look for a book and not sure which is better, purchase two: How to Help Children Through A Parent's Serious Illness and Raising An Emotionally Health Child When a Parent is Sick.
I bought both last winter once we knew Gary needed heart surgery. Although I've spent alot of time with How to Help..., I first found out about these resources from the Mass General program: Parenting At a Challenging Time.
Of course, my hip is fixable, but my life with a cane and a weird walk have definitely impacted our son. These two books are excellent resources and help guide my thinking about Garrison's needs as we navigate this transition in and out of the hospital and back to playing tag...
What I like about How to Help... is the breakdown and continued review of developmentally appropriate levels and examples of information a child should receive. Written by a child life specialist at a large children's hospital, the author uses real life stories to illustrate her points about the necessity of communication about a parent's illness as well as the challenges and opportunities for growth even in the most difficult circumstances.
Raising... is the definitive "how to" covering the developmental needs/challenges, along with chapters that range from practical suggestions for harnessing volunteers to help with flow of information so you don't spend all your time on the phone or writing emails to the variety of coping styles and needs of children with ill parents. Both books go all the way to end of life issues and discussions. Raising... embraces the concept of leaving a legacy and devotes a whole chapter to this important piece of planning.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Time to Turn It On!
Hey You Guys! In a week I'll be in Boston and ready for 8am surgery on Tuesday, January 18, so send me all the power you've got to spare and enjoy the Electric Company clips!
New England Baptist gets an A+ for its pre-op appointments and 2 hour education class. I get what's gonna happen to me and all the goings-on that will be happening around me...still anxious, but much more grounded now that I know what to expect. Level of detail is WAY better than MGH provided for Gary's heart valve replacement...never mind my Dad's failed hip replacement at MGH some 17 years ago.
It's clear all the pre-op review has become more comprehensive than a chest xray and ekg. I don't expect to follow my Dad's experience from arthoplasty to autopsy in less than 24 hours, yet those memories have been stirred up, that's for sure. Enter Lorazopam (sp??)! I'm ready for the big day now ;)
All drugs and kidding aside, it's been surprising to realize that I am as challenged emotionally as I am physically in preparing for this operation. Lots of old feelings. Doing my best to give them their space and to keep moving forward.
New England Baptist gets an A+ for its pre-op appointments and 2 hour education class. I get what's gonna happen to me and all the goings-on that will be happening around me...still anxious, but much more grounded now that I know what to expect. Level of detail is WAY better than MGH provided for Gary's heart valve replacement...never mind my Dad's failed hip replacement at MGH some 17 years ago.
It's clear all the pre-op review has become more comprehensive than a chest xray and ekg. I don't expect to follow my Dad's experience from arthoplasty to autopsy in less than 24 hours, yet those memories have been stirred up, that's for sure. Enter Lorazopam (sp??)! I'm ready for the big day now ;)
All drugs and kidding aside, it's been surprising to realize that I am as challenged emotionally as I am physically in preparing for this operation. Lots of old feelings. Doing my best to give them their space and to keep moving forward.
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