One week down, three to go

One week down, three more to go. My pain is being managed better, except when I forget to take meds and everything wears off. I'm currently alternating tylenol and advil. I'm not elevating my ankle quite as much, but it doesn't want to be down either. Today it's been laying out on the couch. I'm still icing alot. The air temp has high enough that I can feel the cool of the ice pack.


Here is a picture of my poor leg.









I've learned a few things:


* With a Mr. Clean Easy Reach, I can clean the bathtub and shower.


* With a plastic grocery bag and a plastic container with a lid, I can carry food back and forth to the couch by myself.


* People are generally unaware when they see someone using the little motorized grocery carts and will be right in your way.


* My girls like taking care of me (or maybe that's because they spent a week at grandma's house.


* I miss taking a shower


* jacuzzi tubs are nice on sore shoulders (but when you have no air conditioning, it's a bit uncomfortable to stay in a warm tub for too long.


* My DH is good at alot of things, but asking what I need isn't one of them. Last night I mentioned that I wasn't eating at the table (I really need my leg up at least parallel to the floor), I'm guessing he took that to mean that I wasn't eating dinner because he didn't bring me a plate while I was serving food, he just took his and sat down to eat. I finally asked for a plate and then had to ask separately for him to bring it to the couch for me. He did later ask if I wanted bread with dinner.


*If I have a cup with a handle and a lid, I can carry any beverage while using my crutches.





Anyway, I've finished one week of the cast, I have three more to go. If I wanted to drive to Minn, they would change the cast at 2 weeks, but I'm not seen the surgeon for my follow ups. The girls get to help me take off my cast as it's already split, and then I put on a walking boot (which I'll use with the crutches as I'm not sure my leg will know what to do) and have a follow up with my family doc at four weeks. At 6 weeks, I start physical therapy.





I hope that I soon am able to spend a little more time with my leg down without it hurting my incision. Work next week will be very painful if I can't put my leg down.





I need to start some stuff for dinner. Ta.

And for a change of pace

Today I went to visit Walmart. Why Walmart - well, I was bored and I wanted to get out of the house. They have motorized carts (as does the grocery store), and I wanted to pick up some pics I dropped off for the girls last week.

I learned that driving around in a little motorized cart with your let propped up on the basket does nothing to get you the right-of-way in the isles. I did manage to get everything I had on the list, but I was pretty well exhausted by the time we headed to the checkout.

My pain is almost managed. I'm down to Tylenol and Advil only. It's not quite enough, but the vicodine wasn't quite enough either. I did sleep for 8 hours last night without the pain waking me up, but it hurt a bit when I woke up.

I've been taking daily jacuzzi baths - which help - and while at Walmart today I bought a Mr. Clean bathroom cleaning pad on a long rod. So, when I was done with my bath tonight, I cleaned the bath tub and shower.

My friends are bringing me food, but my stomach is a little too messed up to eat. I did manage some popcorn earlier.

I have a hour massage scheduled for tomorrow. I hope I have enough energy to let me manage the entire hour. If my leg isn't up high enough, it does start to hurt.

I need to lower my heart level to that below my leg, so I'll sign off. Reading a bit, but it's too hard to type on the computer.

Waiting is boring

So, I'm waiting for my surgery. I'm in the lounge - staring at a pot of coffee I can't have, wishing I had some water and something for the dehydration headache as I wait for my turn to wander back and put on a hospital gown.

DH has finished his newspaper and has gone on to find something to eat. I love that hospitals have wireless to entertain their patients.

I was talking with DH's Aunt the other night. I really like her, and she was one of the first family members I met. She looked at me and asked how I was doing about the surgery. The way it was spoken, it was obvious that she meant because of the last time. My last surgery was almost fatal. Not that I anticipate problems, but you don't expect problems when you have a child either. Routine isn't anymore and I was so amazed that this woman who I've seen a half a dozen times in the past 12 years understood. I just loved it.

The girls are now at their grandmas and I really want to call and see how they are doing after their first night. I'm sure they are fine, but I almost missed my little ones hugging me this morning - except that it was nice to wake up in a king sized bed and just roll over and read until it was time to wake up.

I really want coffee.

But, I just can't wait until I can have some coffee!