It always amazes me how our bodies heal. It is also amazing how strong the mind and a positive attitude can be in this process. I've seen it countless times working in a hospital and have experienced it firsthand in my own healing process.
I like to imagine my immune system is made up of thousands of Doozers. You know, those tiny builders from Fraggle Rock. Always working away just so the Fraggles can eat their creations; architecture is meant to be enjoyed, after all. In my case I just pretend there are no Fraggles eating up my healing scaffolding. So every day before I go to bed I mentally dispatch the Doozers and set them to work on making my legs better than before.
So far, it seems to be working. After all, I am up and dancing already!
Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock.
Work you cares away,
Dancing's for another day.
Let the Fraggles play,
We're Gobo, Mokey, Wembley, Boober, Red.
Dance your cares away,
Worry's for another day.
Let the music play,
Down at Fraggle Rock.
Down at Fraggle Rock.
Down at Fraggle Rock.
Fraggle on.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Saturday, July 26, 2008
Been Too Long
Sorry for the long delay kids but I have been one busy grrrl. Here are some of the post-op milestones (so far):
1 week post-op: DRIVING! I had to don a "driving shoe" because the giant black boot is not fit for pedal pushing. It felt so free to finally be able to get out of the house on my own terms, roll the windows down, and sing along to my iPod. Additional perks: adding 10-15 minutes to each trip to account for boot removal/strapping on, getting excited to go to the grocery store only to realize I had no way of pushing a cart, grabbing groceries, AND maneuvering my crutches...curses! And finally, the handicap parking pass giving me the best parking spot wherever I go!
1 1/2 weeks post-op: workworkwork. I was so excited to be out of the house that I even picked up extra shifts. We sat around and discussed interesting uses for crutches...sounds like a good blog topic for later...
2 1/2 weeks post-op: suture removal and the "a-ok" to ditch the boots! Doc said "no running today" to which I instantly replied "so that means I can run tomorrow, right?" He just chuckled. That means "yes" to me so the next day I ran 3:30 around the pond next to my apartment. It felt A-mazing!
Today: Ran 5 minutes and walked for ??? maybe an hour. Yikes! Stopped by the karate school to say "hello" and I can't wait to go back to class next week.
The marathon is still a "go." I refuse to quit what I've started so I'm going for it. I'm going to run every day this weekend before my first PT appointment on Monday so if they say no running yet I can say we-ell, I've been running for 5 days and I feel fabulous! You've got to outsmart those conservative healers and prove them wrong, see. Yeah, they have never seen the healing power the likes of me; I've read books on it and the Universe knows I've had plenty of practice!
My cat has grown accustom to my homeboundness these past few weeks and she loudly protests every time I get ready to go out. She is extra extra talkative when I get home as I suppose Rico Valentino is not a very good conversationalist...at least in cat-speak...he's rather fluent in chinchilla and poor Annie Kitty only understands Mrarw-raw-raw, "kitty night-nights," Annie-Kitty! Kitty Annie!, and the shakeshake of her treats. Silly kitty.
I'm posting from work right now but the next time I post from home I have oodles of pictures to share so get yer bandwidth ready!
Press on.
1 week post-op: DRIVING! I had to don a "driving shoe" because the giant black boot is not fit for pedal pushing. It felt so free to finally be able to get out of the house on my own terms, roll the windows down, and sing along to my iPod. Additional perks: adding 10-15 minutes to each trip to account for boot removal/strapping on, getting excited to go to the grocery store only to realize I had no way of pushing a cart, grabbing groceries, AND maneuvering my crutches...curses! And finally, the handicap parking pass giving me the best parking spot wherever I go!
1 1/2 weeks post-op: workworkwork. I was so excited to be out of the house that I even picked up extra shifts. We sat around and discussed interesting uses for crutches...sounds like a good blog topic for later...
2 1/2 weeks post-op: suture removal and the "a-ok" to ditch the boots! Doc said "no running today" to which I instantly replied "so that means I can run tomorrow, right?" He just chuckled. That means "yes" to me so the next day I ran 3:30 around the pond next to my apartment. It felt A-mazing!
Today: Ran 5 minutes and walked for ??? maybe an hour. Yikes! Stopped by the karate school to say "hello" and I can't wait to go back to class next week.
The marathon is still a "go." I refuse to quit what I've started so I'm going for it. I'm going to run every day this weekend before my first PT appointment on Monday so if they say no running yet I can say we-ell, I've been running for 5 days and I feel fabulous! You've got to outsmart those conservative healers and prove them wrong, see. Yeah, they have never seen the healing power the likes of me; I've read books on it and the Universe knows I've had plenty of practice!
My cat has grown accustom to my homeboundness these past few weeks and she loudly protests every time I get ready to go out. She is extra extra talkative when I get home as I suppose Rico Valentino is not a very good conversationalist...at least in cat-speak...he's rather fluent in chinchilla and poor Annie Kitty only understands Mrarw-raw-raw, "kitty night-nights," Annie-Kitty! Kitty Annie!, and the shakeshake of her treats. Silly kitty.
I'm posting from work right now but the next time I post from home I have oodles of pictures to share so get yer bandwidth ready!
Press on.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
POD #3-6
POD #3 - I took my last Percocet yesterday and made it through 2 hours of lecture and 2 hours of lab this morning without so much as a twitch. Things are going much better than anticipated. I finally got to unwrap my legs and take shower today but it was quick as I am quite wobbly without the moon boots. As soon as I upload my camera I'll post the pictures of my incisions. I know, I know, ew but all you fellow medical people can marvel at the fine work :)
POD #4 - FINALLY got out of the house to go to the gym! I tried my best to avoid eye-contact but it gets tough when everyone is staring at you-the gimp on crutches with 2 huge black boots on. Sheesh. I did good, though. Rode the stationary bike for a whopping 20 minutes, stretched (which felt Amazing after lying around all week), and lifted weights! It felt so good to move I can't wait to back again tomorrow...
POD #5 - Today I biked for 30 minutes and hung out with mom, dad, Little Wheel, and Uncle Garry. He made a sweet rice/salsa/tofu thing that was delicious and it felt good to be social for once this week. Oh, and nobody banters like him and Little Wheel...it's an earful to be beholden...and laughed at. Went home and watched "The Amityville Horror" which, to my surprise, was actually quite good-and quite scary. Annie Kitty even gave it two paws up.
POD #6 - Today I woke up early and Dad picked me up to go to the gym again (I'm not allowed to drive yet) and I rode the bike for 40 minutes before lifting weights. My legs started to ache and pinch around minute 32 but I figured they'd be ok for another 8 minutes or so and I was right. They swell up a little after my gym excursions but that's nothing a little ibuprofen and ice can't cure. Felt good to feel strong again. I miss that.
Ok, there's only so much sitting around on my arse I can take. It has gotten quite lonely hanging around my apartment all day and all night with nobody to play Monopoly with but my cat. She's a poor sport and ends up messing up all the pieces. No fun. Rico Valentino (my chinchilla) is also a poor sport and won't even come out to play when Kitty is around. I've watched more movies than one person should watch in a week, seen all the crappy television a girl can handle, played video games until my thumbs hurt, and read hundreds and hundreds of pages. AHASHDFHSEWHEIUD!!! I really do appreciate my mom being here at the beginning of the week and my dad coming to visit but it would be nice to talk to someone else besides myself...I mean, I'm awesome and everything but I'm starting to get on my nerves...
I've already read my entire Chemistry textbook and I'm almost done with my "fun" book, I can't play my violin because it needs to be restrung (again), and I'm missing a string on the guitar, I'm video-gamed out, I'm not hungry, I am sick of the idiot-box, and I can't really go anywhere to do anything about it! Argh! I can't even dance around my apartment properly due to the leg-attachments and that is just no fun at all!
/rant
Press on.
POD #4 - FINALLY got out of the house to go to the gym! I tried my best to avoid eye-contact but it gets tough when everyone is staring at you-the gimp on crutches with 2 huge black boots on. Sheesh. I did good, though. Rode the stationary bike for a whopping 20 minutes, stretched (which felt Amazing after lying around all week), and lifted weights! It felt so good to move I can't wait to back again tomorrow...
POD #5 - Today I biked for 30 minutes and hung out with mom, dad, Little Wheel, and Uncle Garry. He made a sweet rice/salsa/tofu thing that was delicious and it felt good to be social for once this week. Oh, and nobody banters like him and Little Wheel...it's an earful to be beholden...and laughed at. Went home and watched "The Amityville Horror" which, to my surprise, was actually quite good-and quite scary. Annie Kitty even gave it two paws up.
POD #6 - Today I woke up early and Dad picked me up to go to the gym again (I'm not allowed to drive yet) and I rode the bike for 40 minutes before lifting weights. My legs started to ache and pinch around minute 32 but I figured they'd be ok for another 8 minutes or so and I was right. They swell up a little after my gym excursions but that's nothing a little ibuprofen and ice can't cure. Felt good to feel strong again. I miss that.
Ok, there's only so much sitting around on my arse I can take. It has gotten quite lonely hanging around my apartment all day and all night with nobody to play Monopoly with but my cat. She's a poor sport and ends up messing up all the pieces. No fun. Rico Valentino (my chinchilla) is also a poor sport and won't even come out to play when Kitty is around. I've watched more movies than one person should watch in a week, seen all the crappy television a girl can handle, played video games until my thumbs hurt, and read hundreds and hundreds of pages. AHASHDFHSEWHEIUD!!! I really do appreciate my mom being here at the beginning of the week and my dad coming to visit but it would be nice to talk to someone else besides myself...I mean, I'm awesome and everything but I'm starting to get on my nerves...
I've already read my entire Chemistry textbook and I'm almost done with my "fun" book, I can't play my violin because it needs to be restrung (again), and I'm missing a string on the guitar, I'm video-gamed out, I'm not hungry, I am sick of the idiot-box, and I can't really go anywhere to do anything about it! Argh! I can't even dance around my apartment properly due to the leg-attachments and that is just no fun at all!
/rant
Press on.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
POD #2
Recovery is going much faster than anticipated. I am down to 1-2 Percocet/day for pain and 2-3 Vistaril/day for muscle relaxation. I am getting around quite easily with the aid of crutches and my main issue has been figuring out ways to pass the time as I am getting quite a case of cabin fever!
Today was a busy day. Mom drove me to class this morning and to the doctor's this afternoon. Tonight I am flying solo and just about to back to the living room and catch up on some reading before going to bed for the night. Everything is a process now. I can't just get up and go to the other room, I have to plan these things out. Put on the boots, hobble to other room...oops, forgot my phone...hobble back, grab phone, finally settle down in other room and dang! I have to go to the bathroom. Must be what it's like to have a toddler around.
Tomorrow I have a 4 hour marathon of class and lab back to back. Should be a tiring and painful morning so I am resting up tonight. It's chemistry and I already read the book so I'm not too worried about lecture, it's the lab that may pose a problem. Working with all those solutions and glass beakers and such...crutches and pain pills added to the mix make for a volatile situation but I'll make do. I always do.
My hamstrings and quads have tightened up significantly from being so inactive so my goal tonight is to get in a good stretch and drink lots and lots of water.
My book is calling me...
Press on.
Today was a busy day. Mom drove me to class this morning and to the doctor's this afternoon. Tonight I am flying solo and just about to back to the living room and catch up on some reading before going to bed for the night. Everything is a process now. I can't just get up and go to the other room, I have to plan these things out. Put on the boots, hobble to other room...oops, forgot my phone...hobble back, grab phone, finally settle down in other room and dang! I have to go to the bathroom. Must be what it's like to have a toddler around.
Tomorrow I have a 4 hour marathon of class and lab back to back. Should be a tiring and painful morning so I am resting up tonight. It's chemistry and I already read the book so I'm not too worried about lecture, it's the lab that may pose a problem. Working with all those solutions and glass beakers and such...crutches and pain pills added to the mix make for a volatile situation but I'll make do. I always do.
My hamstrings and quads have tightened up significantly from being so inactive so my goal tonight is to get in a good stretch and drink lots and lots of water.
My book is calling me...
Press on.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
POD #1
Post-Op Day #1
The surgery went very well yesterday. My surgeon said that as soon as he made the incision through the fascia, the muscle relaxed significantly meaning the surgery definitely needed to be done.
The pain hasn't been bad at all and I've been moving about the apartment on crutches very well. I made it to chemistry lab today and will venture out again tomorrow for class. I'm still on Percocet for pain and a muscle relaxer Vistaril neither of which I am taking a lot of.
I am already getting antsy. With the pain at a minimum I want to jump out of bed and get to doing things but doc said "no." Mom is here Kristie-sitting as well and she's keeping the reins on tight. Doc said I could bike this week as long as I do it with the boots on. Yay! By Friday I hope to take a field trip over to the gym to get in a little workout. Today my goal is to do some push-ups and sit-ups and keep drinking lots and lots of water.
Thanks to everyone who called yesterday and talked to my mom. I was asleep most of the day so thank you mom for being my personal secretary :) I suppose I should get back to bed and put my legs up. This whole sitting down business doesn't feel the best and my room is...all the way in the next room!
Press on.
The surgery went very well yesterday. My surgeon said that as soon as he made the incision through the fascia, the muscle relaxed significantly meaning the surgery definitely needed to be done.
The pain hasn't been bad at all and I've been moving about the apartment on crutches very well. I made it to chemistry lab today and will venture out again tomorrow for class. I'm still on Percocet for pain and a muscle relaxer Vistaril neither of which I am taking a lot of.
I am already getting antsy. With the pain at a minimum I want to jump out of bed and get to doing things but doc said "no." Mom is here Kristie-sitting as well and she's keeping the reins on tight. Doc said I could bike this week as long as I do it with the boots on. Yay! By Friday I hope to take a field trip over to the gym to get in a little workout. Today my goal is to do some push-ups and sit-ups and keep drinking lots and lots of water.
Thanks to everyone who called yesterday and talked to my mom. I was asleep most of the day so thank you mom for being my personal secretary :) I suppose I should get back to bed and put my legs up. This whole sitting down business doesn't feel the best and my room is...all the way in the next room!
Press on.
Monday, July 7, 2008
DOS
Day of Surgery
So it's 4:20am and I've been up since 2:30. Can't sleep a wink. It's about time to shower up and sanitize. This morning I get to scrub-a-dub in HibiCleans which makes me sanitary for surgery. Good times. I packed my "surgery bag" last night complete with a book, my iPod, extra underwear, and of course, my trusted companion Puppy. Puppy is a stuffed animal my grandma made me before my first kidney surgery when I was 4. He's been to every one since then and always keeps me safe. I know I'm too old for a stuffed animal but I don't care. Surgery is scary and it's nice to have a safety-blankie in the form of a puppy who's been there since the beginning.
Mom will be picking me up in about an hour so it's off to the shower I go!
Press on.
So it's 4:20am and I've been up since 2:30. Can't sleep a wink. It's about time to shower up and sanitize. This morning I get to scrub-a-dub in HibiCleans which makes me sanitary for surgery. Good times. I packed my "surgery bag" last night complete with a book, my iPod, extra underwear, and of course, my trusted companion Puppy. Puppy is a stuffed animal my grandma made me before my first kidney surgery when I was 4. He's been to every one since then and always keeps me safe. I know I'm too old for a stuffed animal but I don't care. Surgery is scary and it's nice to have a safety-blankie in the form of a puppy who's been there since the beginning.
Mom will be picking me up in about an hour so it's off to the shower I go!
Press on.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Pre-Op
Tomorrow's the day. I'm heading to bed a little early tonight, mostly because I'm nervous. Better to be nervous with a good night's rest than over-tired and nerve-racked. If all goes well I'll be home tomorrow afternoon. If all goes super I'll even shluff myself outta bed and hobble over to the office to post an update!
Send some positive thoughts, mmm-kay?
Press on.
Send some positive thoughts, mmm-kay?
Press on.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
