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Borrego Springs, CA

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Pretty boring around here

My days this week so far haven’t exactly been worth blogging about.  The weather has been chilly, and each day either a nurse comes to change my dressing, or a physical therapist comes to put me through my paces.  Of course, they don’t work the same days.  The therapy has been challenging, but I’ve been religious about keeping up with all exercises that the therapist wants me to do.  I’m moving right along with improvements and hope to move from the walker to a cane by the end of the week.

IMG_1531I’ve been in a state of withdrawal as far as taking pictures is concerned.  The robins running through the campsite are about the only thing that happens when I do get a chance to sit outside.  So that’s it for pictures the last three days.

There were a couple of personally exciting things that happened today.  We got up before the crack of dawn to get to a doctor’s appointment in Waycross, an hour away.  First thing was x-rays of my hip.  Sure enough, I got to see them and admire my bionic parts.  All of the nurses were surprised that I was getting around so well and not in a wheelchair.  Then after waiting a while, I had the 21 staples in my incision removed.  It went a lot easier than I expected.  The home nurse warned me that I had better take a pain killer for that procedure, but it wasn’t necessary.  I did count each one as it clinked into the pan.  Disappointed smile

Then they put on a much smaller dressing without so much of the horrible skin ripping tape.  After that, I got to ask some questions, and halleluiah!  I don’t have to wear those compression socks that go from my toes to my crotch anymore.  They are terrible to put on, and I needed Kurt to put the one on my right leg.  He was as ecstatic as I at this news.  It’s been a real struggle with those things. 

So how boring was this afternoon?  Well, after doing my exercises, I ended up cleaning my six year old remote control device with Q-tips and rubbing alcohol.  Now that is a sad state of affairs in my book.  I’m really chomping at the bit to get back to normal activities.

Several folks have asked for an Emma update.  She is still enjoying her time with the dog lady of Folkston.  She is doing just fine, and enjoying her playtime with some of the boxers.  I’m hoping to be far enough along to have her come back some time early next week.  Right now I can’t take a chance on her causing me to lose my balance and fall down.

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

44 comments:

  1. Judy, now known as the Bionic Bird Lady of Blogland, it sounds like you are making excellent progress. Keep up the good work!

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  2. Oh Judy, how you made me laugh about the stockings! I had back surgery 2 years ago and had a blood clot in my leg as a result. I still have to wear a compression stocking on that leg because the lymph system never returned to normal. I cannot do this alone, so my dear husband has this chore each day. It is no fun for him trying to wrestle that stocking over my foot and then to get it stretched evenly. I'm sure that your brother hated that chore, but thank goodness he could help. Sounds like you are a good patient and that makes for a good recovery. I'm looking forward to more of your nature photos when you are up and about again.

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  3. Very glad to hear you are doing so well. Keep up the good work.

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  4. I winced when I thought of the skin ripping bandages they use. You seem to be bearing up reasonably well even with all the horrible things you have to go through. You are so right to not have Emma there until you can take care of her and not allow her to hurt you. She is so exhuberant and it wouldn't take much to know you off balance. What a homecoming it will be though.

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  5. Isn't it nice to hear the nurses surprised at your pace of recovery...it is always nice to have a challenge. It sounds like you are doing a super job.

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  6. If cleaning the remote isn't thrilling enough, try counting the grains of salt in the salt shaker. ;c)

    Glad you're doing well, despite all the stocking wrestling. Hope to see you doing the Charleston soon!

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  7. You are making extraordinary progress! You know, it all adds up to a positive attitude and DOING all the things you're supposed to do. I don't know why people are lazy about physical therapy, it can only help you get back to normal faster. Of course it's not easy and hurts, but no pain - no gain. My dad was the same way after having brain surgery, and his recovery was better than expected because he and my mom were diligent about his PT. At 90 years old, he's still going strong.

    I am so happy for you! Aren't you glad it's January 23 and not December 23? (That's what I always think: thank goodness it's today and not last week, or last month, etc. so the difficulty is behind me.) :)

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  8. Judy, good on that your recovery is proceeding better than expected. Continued success with beating the schedule. We miss your pictures.

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  9. I can only echo the above thoughts. I truly believe a positive attitude makes all the difference... and I'm positive you have a great attitude! About that remote... just think... it won't need cleaned for 6 years.

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  10. Glad to hear you are continuing to meet my expectations of you. Keep up the good work on getting your mobility back.

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  11. I can totally relate to those awful compression stockings. When I had back surgery, I had to wear them. I understand why they want us to wear them but for such a long time? Glad you are improving each day.

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  12. You and your bionic hip and me with my bionic knees... someday we can run a race. Just rest there will be plenty of fun ahead!
    Get well
    Donna

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  13. Good to hear that you are continuing to improve. Those stockings are a pain, I would have to help my Dad put them on and take them off. He had a contraption that you stretched the sock on to hold it open and then you could put your foot into it, but we still had to pull the sock up the rest of the way and make sure it was straight.

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  14. Judy, it sounds like you are an exceptional patient...Do everything they tell you to do..and is sounds like you are...Walking with a cane will be so much better...I'm sure Emma is going to be happy to see you, but for now it is best she doesn't knock you down....Your recovery is amazing..things will get less boring very soon...hang in there!

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  15. Good to hear that Bionic Woman is on the road to being mended ... keep up the good work.

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  16. Yep, you know you're bored when you start cleaning the remotes. You are making GREAT progress!

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  17. Judy So glad your recovery is coming along so good. My wife had both knees replaced several years ago. One at a time.When she came home I held our poodle till she got in the house. He likes to jump at the back of her legs when wecome home. Didn't want him doing that. Keep up the PT That is what works the fastest.

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  18. I know you still have pain from the surgery but is it soon enough to tell if that horrible pain before the surgery is gone. You are sure an excellent encouragement to anyone getting ready to go through something like this!

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  19. I thought you and Nurse Rachet were going to try to beat the tar outa each other playing card games? Anything but cleaning remotes... or cleaning anything!

    They say Patience is a Virtue. I guess we impatient ones are not too virtuous! Heal well.

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  20. So glad to hear you are doing so well. Maybe it might be a good thing to be sitting down when Emma greets you for the first time.:)

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  21. Glad to get the report on Emma and totally understand why you are waiting a while for her rambunctious return. Happy to hear the stockings are history as well. But it is very sad to hear you have had to stoop to remote cleaning. Goodness there must be something else you can do...........I'd have to be desperate to clean anything.

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  22. Next thing we will hear you have taken up needle point! Glad Emma is being a good dog. Hate to have her worry you with bad behavior. She probably thinks she is on vacation!

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  23. I had a good laugh at the cleaning of the remote. . .now THAT is bored!

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  24. Good news at the Dr. visit. Those stockings are brutel to get on and off. As a matter of fact I was cleaning out anothe drawer today and found mine. Did't look like I ever wore it. Since I love alone I could never get it on. Keep up the good work Judy!
    And good new about Emma. Hope she will be happy to come home.

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  25. Wonderful news on your progress. That's great that you even impressed the nurses. Keep up the good work!

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  26. Good to hear you are recovering so quickly. I'm sure the birds and alligators in the swamp are awaiting your return. And Emma will be glad to get home too.

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  27. Great to hear you are progressing so well. Emma will be glad to get home but I bet she will be tired after time with those high-energy boxers.

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  28. So glad to hear you are doing so well, but we all knew you would! You are our Hero! Tom & Lynn

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  29. Glad to hear you are progressing so well Judy! When Mike's Dad had heart surgery that's the only thing he needed help with right after surgery--getting those stockings on.

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  30. Glad to hear you are making such great progress - even cleaning the remote is something most of us never get around to!

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  31. Isn't it bad when the HIGHLIGHT of a day is seeing a doctor? Or cleaning a remote? Need to have more birds attacted to that campground.

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  32. Sounds like you have slowed down a bit. Boring it may be, but it will be good recovery time for you.

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  33. Love the moniker "Bionic Bird Lady of Blogland." Good one Carol K! Sounds like you are making great progress and will be out and about in no time at all. If you run out of remotes to clean, feel free to come visit. We're right next to the World Birding Center here in Mission, TX so I'm sure there must be some birds about... ;-)

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  34. You are a terrific patient and coming along nicely...Way to go with your persistence and effort! It's paying off!

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  35. It sounds like you are doing well. It was a good time to get that remote control cleaned up, cause once your back up to speed you'll be much too busy to mess with that kind of stuff!

    Mark

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  36. I hope your recovery is quick. A friend of mine had a hip operation and she is doing well but one of her legs is a bit shorter now and that makes her limp a bit. I hope that does not happen to you. I don't know why but it happens sometimes. Good luck and don't try to do too much because you are bored :-)

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  37. I hear you; I had the flu, lay flat on the couch and thus looking at the RV from a different angle, like the underside of things. Bluhhh....some things you never really clean, do you?
    Also read a lot of magazines and came a crossed this: http://www.trailerlife.com/tag/georgia/
    Did you see it?

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  38. butterbean carpenterJanuary 24, 2013 at 6:03 PM

    Howdy Judy,
    Sounds like you and Kent are having a blast!! Man, I hate those stockings, I've had to use them twice.. THE PITS!!! Be careful and don't 'boogie' too much!!! Give Emma a pat for me, when you get her back...On 2nd thought give Kent a big slap on the back, for doing such a good job!!!

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  39. 21 staples and compression socks-those thoughts ought to keep me awake tonight:) Glad it is going so well. I am sure Emma is ready to come home.

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  40. Q-Tips and alcohol... Right up my alley. I took apart a broken five disk CD player last winter and cleaned the heck out of it and put it all back together and it worked again. I enjoy Q-tips and alcohol! OK, that was too much information.... ;))
    Ps. VERY impressed with your progress.

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  41. That youngster would be three handfuls while you're recovering. I'm glad you found someone to look after her.

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