Wednesday, June 9, 2010
Buckaroo Bonzai
Wasn't that a movie or a book or something? Jason sent me the coolest Bonzai plant - very Zen. When the box came, the aide asked me if I wanted help opening the box. I was unable to see any writing due to the position of the box, and it didn't look like your typical "flower" box. So, I was thinking, "Wow, that walker I ordered must really come in a lot of small pieces. I didn't know it would require so much assembly." (I like to rationalize this by thinking that the meds have made me this loopy rather than admit the fact that I'm just not too bright!) When the aide pulled the plant out the box turned and I saw the FTD label! What a great surprise, and so much better than a walker or toilet seat! LOL! Thanks Jason.
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Visitors - A Good Thing
Renee, Jeff, and Kendall came down tonight. After hearing that I'm most likely here until Saturday, it was a great pick-me-up. That Kendall is quite the card sharp and Uno is her game. I'll be looking for a rematch soon! As Sarah told me, I should have plenty of time to practice.
What we also learned from this visit is that the cafeteria upstairs closes at 5. So, if you get off work and then make the 1.5 hour trek to Allentown, there isn't a restaurant available to you when you get here. Little did I know that this would work to my advantage. The lack of a restaurant forced them to head for McDonald's and guess who was the reipient of a great big icy cold Diet Coke? MMMMmmmmmm, it doesn't get any better than that.
What we also learned from this visit is that the cafeteria upstairs closes at 5. So, if you get off work and then make the 1.5 hour trek to Allentown, there isn't a restaurant available to you when you get here. Little did I know that this would work to my advantage. The lack of a restaurant forced them to head for McDonald's and guess who was the reipient of a great big icy cold Diet Coke? MMMMmmmmmm, it doesn't get any better than that.
Tuesday, June 8
It was definitely a day of highs and lows. I was pretty psyched this morning when I received the daily schedule and found that the PT sessions were all between 30-60 minutes after taking the percocet. The first session went pretty good, and while the left leg is still being stubborn, the overall pain following the session seemed better. The muscles were definitely fatigued, but I wasn't in pain.
So far so good, and shortly after finishing PT, my friend Diane arrived for the day. Paul had a meeting in Joisey and drove an extra 4 hours today so Diane could be with me. Do I have incredible friends or what?!
Diane went to Occupational Therapy with me and observed that she was getting tired just watching me struggle! Diane brought her camera today because she knew I'd want to scrapbook this experience. About 30 minutes into it, I was just beat, the left !@0$!~@# knee hurt, and the meds were done. After lunch it took the meds quite some time to kick in so on went the headphones with the towel over my head. Ok, just like a baby or child who covers their head when they've done something wrong, I know that anyone could actually see me sitting in that wheelchair with a towel over my head. Of course I do. But, if you can't see my tears then I'm not officially crying.
Round 2 of PT started off rough but ended up marginally okay. Diane said I was barely lifting the left leg at the beginning of the exercise and it was looking much improved by the end.
Brent came in this evening and we had a little engineering/project meeting with the case manager. LOL! The CM had answers for everything which makes Brent feel better and at least somewhat more organized because he's armed with an updated list. Lists are very important in both Brent's professional and personal life. Ok, I am making fun of him, but this is one of those times where I appreciate it.
The most important outcome of that meeting is that I may be here until Saturday. Five days for bilateral replacemens is light, but initially it's all the insurance companies will approve until they see how things are progressing.
I have mixed feelings about this. First it would indicate that I'm not doing as well as I thought. I sure wouldn't want to go home if everything wasn"t great though. Like I said it was a day of highs and lows....and something in between...I think.
So far so good, and shortly after finishing PT, my friend Diane arrived for the day. Paul had a meeting in Joisey and drove an extra 4 hours today so Diane could be with me. Do I have incredible friends or what?!
Diane went to Occupational Therapy with me and observed that she was getting tired just watching me struggle! Diane brought her camera today because she knew I'd want to scrapbook this experience. About 30 minutes into it, I was just beat, the left !@0$!~@# knee hurt, and the meds were done. After lunch it took the meds quite some time to kick in so on went the headphones with the towel over my head. Ok, just like a baby or child who covers their head when they've done something wrong, I know that anyone could actually see me sitting in that wheelchair with a towel over my head. Of course I do. But, if you can't see my tears then I'm not officially crying.
Round 2 of PT started off rough but ended up marginally okay. Diane said I was barely lifting the left leg at the beginning of the exercise and it was looking much improved by the end.
Brent came in this evening and we had a little engineering/project meeting with the case manager. LOL! The CM had answers for everything which makes Brent feel better and at least somewhat more organized because he's armed with an updated list. Lists are very important in both Brent's professional and personal life. Ok, I am making fun of him, but this is one of those times where I appreciate it.
The most important outcome of that meeting is that I may be here until Saturday. Five days for bilateral replacemens is light, but initially it's all the insurance companies will approve until they see how things are progressing.
I have mixed feelings about this. First it would indicate that I'm not doing as well as I thought. I sure wouldn't want to go home if everything wasn"t great though. Like I said it was a day of highs and lows....and something in between...I think.
Monday, June 7, 2010
Monday June 7
More of the same. Although I see some improvements, they are incremental.
Had PT twice today. First did the foot/knee slide with much the same results as yesterday. Walked 65 yards. She told me to step heel first, apparently I was pointing my toes. Who knew I was so graceful! Then I laid on this bed and they put a bolster under my ankles, requiring me to make my knees bend until the heels hit the bed. The only good thing I can think of to say about this is that when it ended I got the good ice packs. You know, the gel ones that really form around your knee. Unlike these pseudo paper things they deliver to the beds. They are less than worthless.
Second round started with the foot/knee slide. It is so frustrating that the right knee goes so great with barely any pain. Then the left leg will barely move and hurts like hell. They put a ball between my knees and I pressed my thighs together. Walked another 65 feet and then did 3-4 stairs. I didn't actually count the mothers...I was too busy cursing them. Going up wasn't terrible, but coming down was just horrendous.
This therapist took the time to bend my left knee where she wanted it and showed me the movements which was helpful. I don't know that I can actually replicate it, but I have a better chance now.
Many thanks to mine brither for visiting me this evening. I got a bit emotional, but it was just the lift I needed at the end of the day. Well tomorrow's another day and I can't wait to see where the pt trail will take me.
Had PT twice today. First did the foot/knee slide with much the same results as yesterday. Walked 65 yards. She told me to step heel first, apparently I was pointing my toes. Who knew I was so graceful! Then I laid on this bed and they put a bolster under my ankles, requiring me to make my knees bend until the heels hit the bed. The only good thing I can think of to say about this is that when it ended I got the good ice packs. You know, the gel ones that really form around your knee. Unlike these pseudo paper things they deliver to the beds. They are less than worthless.
Second round started with the foot/knee slide. It is so frustrating that the right knee goes so great with barely any pain. Then the left leg will barely move and hurts like hell. They put a ball between my knees and I pressed my thighs together. Walked another 65 feet and then did 3-4 stairs. I didn't actually count the mothers...I was too busy cursing them. Going up wasn't terrible, but coming down was just horrendous.
This therapist took the time to bend my left knee where she wanted it and showed me the movements which was helpful. I don't know that I can actually replicate it, but I have a better chance now.
Many thanks to mine brither for visiting me this evening. I got a bit emotional, but it was just the lift I needed at the end of the day. Well tomorrow's another day and I can't wait to see where the pt trail will take me.
Sunday, June 6
First things first. Thanks to Brent for posting updates and thanks to everyone for responding. I think between Facebook and this blog we managed to easily communicate with everyone. Your comments have been so helpful, especially when I've been in pain. I have gone back and read your kind, encouraging thoughts multiple times. I can never thank you enough.
Sunday was the first day for both occupational and physical therapy. Occupational therapy is basically getting to a point where I can do daily care type activities such as getting out of bed, doing a sponge bath, brushing teeth and getting dressed. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Just getting out of bed is a huge trial, and just because I made it one time doesn't mean I can make it the next time. The therapist made a comment about my strong thighs, about what it took to hold my legs out straight, but would I please bend them! LOL! The counter top with the sink is wheelchair height so it works out great that once I get out of bed and into the wheelchair I can slide under there and do things like brush my teeth. I always knew I would one day need to know how to spit like a guy. I'm learning.
PT really sucks. Part of the issue is coordinating therapy with the meds so that you can push it as much as possible without hurting so bad. This has been an on-going issue. I have taken to setting an alarm over night to insure that I get the good stuff in a timely manner. Right now I'm doing percocet every 4 hours and oxycontin every 12 hours. The thought is that since the percocet isn't lasting the full 4 hours (more like 3), the oxycontin can help bridge the gap. In theory I suspect this works if you can actually get the meds in that time frame. That aside, they put a pillow case under each foot and I had to bend the leg in, on each side as far as I could go without hurting. Right side - excellent. Right side - very painful. Then I wallked 36 feet to a bed where they measured the bend. At hospital was 30% bend, and after this first rehab session it was 60% bend. The right knee was 35% bend and is now 62%.
But the best part of yesterday was a bath which meant clean hair. I don't care how ugly it looks, as long as it's clean. I've lost all manner of modesty at this point. As I shuffle along with my walker and my bum hanging out, I just put on my headphones and tune my painful world out.
Sunday was the first day for both occupational and physical therapy. Occupational therapy is basically getting to a point where I can do daily care type activities such as getting out of bed, doing a sponge bath, brushing teeth and getting dressed. Sounds simple, right? Wrong. Just getting out of bed is a huge trial, and just because I made it one time doesn't mean I can make it the next time. The therapist made a comment about my strong thighs, about what it took to hold my legs out straight, but would I please bend them! LOL! The counter top with the sink is wheelchair height so it works out great that once I get out of bed and into the wheelchair I can slide under there and do things like brush my teeth. I always knew I would one day need to know how to spit like a guy. I'm learning.
PT really sucks. Part of the issue is coordinating therapy with the meds so that you can push it as much as possible without hurting so bad. This has been an on-going issue. I have taken to setting an alarm over night to insure that I get the good stuff in a timely manner. Right now I'm doing percocet every 4 hours and oxycontin every 12 hours. The thought is that since the percocet isn't lasting the full 4 hours (more like 3), the oxycontin can help bridge the gap. In theory I suspect this works if you can actually get the meds in that time frame. That aside, they put a pillow case under each foot and I had to bend the leg in, on each side as far as I could go without hurting. Right side - excellent. Right side - very painful. Then I wallked 36 feet to a bed where they measured the bend. At hospital was 30% bend, and after this first rehab session it was 60% bend. The right knee was 35% bend and is now 62%.
But the best part of yesterday was a bath which meant clean hair. I don't care how ugly it looks, as long as it's clean. I've lost all manner of modesty at this point. As I shuffle along with my walker and my bum hanging out, I just put on my headphones and tune my painful world out.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Donna Update Saturday 6/05
Donna is now at the Good Shepherd Rehab Hospital, 850 S. 5th St. Allentown PA in room 206-B and will be there until Thursday at least. She is doing very well – in the course of the day she dragged herself to and from beds, wheelchairs and toilets a dozen times. At this stage she’s got a pair of pretty sore knees and while the docs are happy with things there can be some pretty significant pain involved when lapses occur in pain meds. We had to use the bite bullet for a while this morning but things are much better now. Better living thru chemistry!!!! They will be giving her two 1.5 hour sessions of PT each day so she will be up and moving quite a bit. Thank you for all the support, prayers and encouragement; Donna finds it quite inspiring. If you would like more detailed information on her location, etc. please email or call me (Brent)
Friday, June 4, 2010
DONNA UPDATE FRIDAY 6/04
Good news continues as Donna is progressing very well. With help (but mainly encouragement) from PT she got out of bed, stood on her new knees at her walker, then sat in a chair with knees partly bent for two hours. She then got back in bed. She met the highest expectation for the day after; a lot of people do not even make it out of bed. There was a lot Donna power going on!!!! Her pain is being managed well so she has been mostly comfortable.
She will go to the rehab hospital tomorrow!!! To begin 5 days give or take of intensive physical therapy. She will do PT in the AM and PM, sounds sort of like the Olympic training Center for knee replacements. I will give specifics on her location and contact info tomorrow after she is settled; please don’t hesitate to email or call for detail. Kera, Chris, and Gwen and bro Rick were here today so it was a good day.
Stay tuned, Brent
She will go to the rehab hospital tomorrow!!! To begin 5 days give or take of intensive physical therapy. She will do PT in the AM and PM, sounds sort of like the Olympic training Center for knee replacements. I will give specifics on her location and contact info tomorrow after she is settled; please don’t hesitate to email or call for detail. Kera, Chris, and Gwen and bro Rick were here today so it was a good day.
Stay tuned, Brent
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