This weekend my Mom told me that I need to stop worrying so much about the future - how I'm going to be next week or the week after, how I'm going to manage going back to work, what I'm going to do when my rehab appointments are finished, etc. This is a continuation of the convo Rick and I had last week. Mom says that, although I can't see it now, this won't last forever and that I need to concentrate on just one day at a time. I am going to make a concentrated effort to do that, and I'm going to say that this trait must be deeply engrained because I'm having trouble doing it. Already today, I've reminded myself several times that today is a new day and I can get through it better than yesterday. You're never too old to need your Mom.
My friend, Nurse Sebbie is my babysitter this week. Having Debbie here this third week was planned because she figured I'd need somebody to light a fire under my butt. She hasn't exactly said so, but I think she's pleased with how I'm doing. Now if I can just get past all the weepiness, the better I'll be. Deb says that it takes those nasty narcotics between one and two weeks to finally get out of my system. No one wants that more than me.
I'm still trying to eat and it's a struggle. A real struggle. Not that I couldn't afford not to eat for a few weeks or months obviously, but this is not the time. If I don't eat, I won't heal. I managed to eat some oatmeal this morning and when we got home from rehab, I was a bit shaky. I ate some cheese and crackers and it didn't go too bad. I'm hopeful that maybe I've turned the corner a bit and if my digestive system would get back to some semblance of normalcy, it would be a good thing indeed.
I worked hard on my exercises this weekend. My right knee hit 100 degrees this morning, and the biggie, my left knee, finally hit 90 degrees of flexion. This was a huge goal for me. Although, with my old mindset, I blurted out, "I really thought I'd do better than 100 in my right knee." Deb told me to knock it off, that I did good, and that I should be thrilled with the numbers. The truth is that I'm really happy with the 90 in the left.
One problem I've had is that I can't see the progress. There are no mirrors at rehab, so I can't see how I'm doing nor compare it to anything to see the improvement. My brilliant Mom suggested taking some pictures so I can get a visual. Smart woman my Mom. Although I haven't looked at them yet, Deb took a few today so I can get a look.
Today I actually walked on the treadmill! Ok, it was only going 1-1.3 mpg, but I did it! Doing not quite 1/2 revolutions on the bike, but in the beginning it was only 1/4 so that's improving too. That's something I can actually see. As part of the in-patient rehab program, I've been doing some knee bends all along, but it was hard not to use a good bit of upper body strength to get back up. Today we did them leaning a bit diagonally on the wall. This was so much better and much easier to use my thighs to stand back up.
So far today, it's been a good day. I'm trying to see it for just that and be happy with just that.
2 comments:
Hey, Cuz, I can't believe everything they've got you doing!
Paul did his in-house PT once a day and slept for 3 weeks! and that was only one knee at a time. You are amazing! You are Awesome!
Thanks for the kind words Memory. You and Paul have been so helpful. I'm hoping I can get to 110 and 100 within the next 2 weeks. I hope that's a realistic goal.
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