I have been trying to get this typed and posted and one thing would get in the way of the other. But I wanted to let the people here know what has been going on. So I will condense it considerably and maybe fill in stull later. Things started pretty well and we were planning trips in our RV. THEN life started happening in April. I went to the doctor to see where we should go with my arthritic hip. It was getting worse and we all decided it was time to consider a replacement. We were hoping to have it done by September so I would have the winter to recuperate. Then in April; as we were heading to Willits to farm sit for our son; we got a call that Rod's mother had a heart attack. Most everyone knows what happened after that. They fixed her heart but she has dementia. Her sister, who had Power of Attorney, shirked the responsibility and everything fell to us. Things got so crazy after that that my hip was put on hold. I did not get back to the doctor until September. I was started on PT and the surgery was scheduled for Jan. 24. Heading into the Holidays things were buzzing along with plans. (This is when LP went down so I could not do updates.) Then I got a text from my daughter telling me to get to the hospital now! So I went then. Her husband, who is on dialysis, had gone in for an outpatient procedure and had a heart attack. The next few days were a blur of driving grandkids, bringing food, crying and worrying. The final upshot was a quadruple bypass on December 10. My daughter and I were all in favor of postponing Christmas but after Kevin survived the surgery the kids were like, NO WAY we want to celebrate, feast or no feast, presents or no presents, house clean or a mess. OUR FATHER IS ALIVE!!! So we changed the brunch venue to their house. The day before Christmas Eve Rod and I went to Walmart to buy enough to make sure everyone had presents to open. Then, on Christmas Eve, my daughter said Kev was going stir crazy and wanted to come here. It actually made it easier for me as I was going to have to haul all my food to their place. They came and all went well. I have a big overstuffed rocker recliner that he was very comfortable dozing in all day. Then I had the major job of making my house safe for an invalid (me). Not an easy task as we are terrible house keepers as well as having too much damn stuff. We still sleep on a king sized waterbed so we had to bring in the trundle from under our son's bed and fit it in at the foot of the WB. There is just room for me to get up and into the bathroom. Surgery was on Friday and went well. My Physical Therapist says I am ahead of curve in my progress. Kevin is recovering but very slowly. He keeps having to have liquid drained from his chest as well as dialysis and he is diabetic. I feel so bad that I am laid up and unable to help my daughter. She has a 19 and a 21yo who are helpful but everyone has jobs. And the 13yo has school. So, that is how '19 has gone into '20.
I can't quite "like" that post, but I do support you in your upcoming ventures in health and patience with family affairs. Here's to hoping 2020 is a better year.
Thanks. One other thing was New Year's Eve. We had no plans other than going with our son and grandsons to John's for some pizza and games early in the day. But the 20yo got sick so we went and picked up the 13yo. After pizza he said he wanted to come to our house. We ended up with a mini party of games and movies and stayed up past midnight finishing with POTC. They are all coming over Sunday to abuse some junk food and play board games along with the football. I had my last in home PT today and he has already graduated me from the walker to a cane. So recovery is going well.
Woohoo!! Graduating to the cane is a big deal! Congrats and keep up the hard work with your recovery. I tell my clients that patience is a virtue for a reason, and patience with one's self is even more difficult during recovery. There is nothing wrong w/ going back to the walker if you're having a "not so hot" day...better to be safe than risk falling.
Yeah, I know. Today Rod asked me if I wanted him to take the walker away. I said no way. Sometimes, like after a pain pill, I am not that sure of myself. I want it around *just in case*. But all that work I did pre-surgery seems to be paying off like they told me it would.
Sorry to hear about all the trouble, but good on you for keeping a positive attitude and that the pre-surgery work is paying off. Hope you're fully recovered and standing in DL lines before you know it.
That is actually a goal I have for July. Doctors assure me that if I follow orders I should be good to go.
WOW!!! When I posted this I had no idea what was ahead. Indefinite plans for Michigan and Disneyland. But, I did walk 1.5 miles today. I will be ready when we can travel.
Great job on the rehab! Especially under these current circumstances. We rescheduled our WDW trip for September...we were originally supposed to leave tomorrow. With any kind of luck (and people listening to the stay home precautions) we should be able to keep this trip as scheduled.
It's a pain that we have to drive 2 miles to get to a place where we can walk safely. We live beyond the sidewalks. But the Dept of Ag building has a sidewalk and one trip around the buildings and parking lot is 1 mile. Then for a cool down we walk around their gardens which are in full bloom now. There is hardly ever anyone around so social distancing is not a problem.
It's a bummer that you have to drive someplace to walk, but at least it's a place where you guys can walk safely and it sounds lovely too.
Uhg! I am not sure what I did but I strained something. Not even sure if it has anything to do with the surgery. But last night I had pain and some swelling. It feels okay this morning but I hate it when things seem to be going along smoothly and then something stupid happens. I am spending the day taking it easy so as not to make things worse. I also got a call that my next ortho appointment will have to be by phone. The only thing that bothers me about these phone visits is I need either the doctor or the PT to watch me walk to see if I am doing it right and help me correct if it is wrong. (I have been toeing in and sometimes swinging my leg out like I did before surgery.) I cannot see myself from behind.
You're doing the right thing by taking it easy for a little while. No sense in reinjuring yourself. My guy is not liking the phone visits either with doctors...he doesn't feel like anything gets accomplished or answered. I don't know how anybody could get good information for PT or orthopedics over the phone because it is a very visual thing.
