Fraggle Rock

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.

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.

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 #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.

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.

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.

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.

workworkwork

I working. A lot. I figure I've got to get in as much as I can before surgery just in case I have to take more than the 2 days off I'm planning. I still don't know for sure if it's ok that I come back to work on crutches. I should find that out in the next couple days and if it's not, then I'll be taking a good week or two off. That would not be good as I have a tendency to get stir-crazy when forced to be cooped up. Plus the not making any money part.

I'm situating my NetFlix queue so I have some good movies to look forward to next week. Anyone have any suggestions? I also started reading a pretty good book that should last me another couple weeks. I always have a stack of books yet to be read so I should be gravy even if I finish early.

This week my goals are to get my apartment cleaned up, the fridge stocked, and my bills paid so I won't have anything to worry about the week or two post-op.

I am also coming to the realization that the Twin Cities marathon may not be a realistic option for me. I need to speak with my doctor this week but I've heard others having the same surgery say they weren't allowed to run for at least 3-6 weeks post-op and even then it was slow-going. Hrmph. Reality can suck it. My brain isn't wired to set my sights low; in fact, I think it's a physical impossibility for me to under-achieve. I was dubbed KOA in my anatomy class, after all (Kristie Over-Achiever). So the marathon is a "go" until and only if reality forces me to admit otherwise.

Press on.

I'm going to Italy and Greece!

Next May I will be going on a 13 day tour of Italy and Greece as part of a study abroad opportunity at my college! It'll be a jam-packed couple of weeks but it will be my first time across the pond and what a way to make the most of it! Somehow I am going to figure out a way to get a run in while I'm there to get a good feel of the land, so to speak. Time to brush up on my Greek...anybody know Greek who can help me out?

Here is the itinerary:
Day 1 - Fly overnight to Italy

Day 2 - Rome
Arrive in Rome

Day 3 - Rome
Visit to Vatican City:
Sistine Chapel
St. Peter's Basilica
Take a guided tour of Rome:
Forum Romanum
Visit the Colosseum
Take a walking tour of Rome:
Pantheon
Trevi Fountain

Day 4 - Rome
Enjoy a free day in Rome
Optional: Florence

Day 5 - Capri • Sorrento
Travel to Capri
Take a guided tour of Capri
Take an island cruise
Continue on to Sorrento

Day 6 - Pompeii • Brindisi • Night ferry
Travel to Pompeii
Take a guided tour of Pompeii
Continue on to Brindisi
Board an overnight ferry to Patras

Day 7 - Patras • Delphi
Arrive in Patras and travel to Delphi

Day 8 - Delphi • Athens
Take a guided tour of Delphi:
Temple of Apollo
Visit the Delphi Museum
Travel to Athens

Day 9 - Athens
Take a guided tour of Athens:
Olympic stadium
Omonia and Syntagma squares
Visit the Acropolis:
Parthenon
Temple of Athena Nike
Take a walking tour of Athens:
Plaka district
Temple of Olympian Zeus
Optional: Greek Evening

Days 10-13 - Greek island cruise
Cruise the Greek islands:
Mykonos
Rhodes
Patmos

Oh no, the big three oh!

Yeah, so I'm officially OLD. Good thing I have therapy on Monday so I can talk about everything I think I should have accomplished by now. Blech. I may be in some serious denial for awhile here...no, I didn't turn thirty...I just turned 29...again! Yeah, right. Is it really as bad as I think it is? Probably not but hell, I'm going to be irked about it until I can run it out tomorrow morning.

Speaking of running...

I found out I can map my running routes and find out how far they are! Sweet! Here's tomorrow's 4 mile route with a cool down included:

...
...
...

Frick, it doesn't work. Well, I'm running 4 miles at 0800 tomorrow and I'm going to be grumpy until then.

Press on.

Hydrate!

What Not to do the First Day of the Marathon Clinic:

• eat pretzels and drink Vault Zero all day in order to stay awake
• not sleep for 36 hours
• start drinking water 1/2 hour before the run while sitting in traffic
• forget to go pee before heading out
• wear a 10 year old sports bra
• go counter-clockwise around Lake Calhoun as the sun is setting

Luckily, it is rare that I'll make the same mistake twice. In the future, if anyone sees me drinking anything other than water, you have my permission to smack the back of my head and remind me about Day 1 of the Marathon Clinic.

Sheesh.

Press on.

Future Homeowner?

I am looking into buying a house and am thoroughly excited at the prospect of being a homeowner! I spoke with a lender today and he is working on getting me pre-qualified so I can begin working with a realtor. With the market being in the crapper right now I will be able to get a lot of house for not a lot of cash. I brainstormed some ideal qualities for my first house and here they are:

3 BR
2 BA
> 1500 sq ft
2-car attached garage
newer roof & windows
large deck & yard
walk-in master closet :)
wood-burning fireplace
close to work/school (within biking distance)
open floorplan
plenty of counter space and storage in kitchen
new(er) appliances

Obviously this is a dream list; did I miss anything? If I can get all that in my price range I will be one happy woman! This set-up will be perfect for the animals and I to settle in and make homey with plenty of room for visitors and a little bambino if I ever decide to adopt.

Does anyone have any tips for a first-time homebuyer? Any recommendations or warnings?

Press on.

Happy (almost) Birthday

I get nervous about posting people's real names on here since they didn't exactly volunteer to be fodder for my online tell-alls. So until you let me know otherwise, you are all reduced to the first letter of your first name...unless you are a puppy, kitty, or chinchilla. Their names are waaay to cute to hide anyway :) There will be exceptions, like in today's post where the nickname is sufficient to mask your true identity and yet provide some continuity for the reader.

Lexicon for today's post:
Little Wheel - little sister that is big
Middle Wheel - middle sister

Today I celebrated my (almost) birthday with the fam. It is always a riot when we get the gang together and somehow we all manage to revert back to 10 years old. As you can imagine, we always end up laughing. A lot. Add in a 15 month old nephew and Middle Wheel & J's new puppy Nugget, well we almost had to call shenanigans the cuteness was so unbelievable! This time around we had a new addition: Little Wheel's bf W. A bit on the quiet side but they all are at first. Just look at J, he's known our family for years and I still think he gets a little nervous around us! S is becoming much more outgoing but she has the excuse of being the mommy of the cutest (and only) baby in the house so I don't know if that counts. Babies are an unfair advantage, especially when you've got the first and only one in the family. I think meeting our family must be like traveling to another planet where you don't know the language and everyone is nuts-o...but in a good way! Yes, yes, he did just fine. Looking forward to seeing the fine young lad again sometime.

I promised Middle Wheel I would post a photo of me wearing my new t-shirt. I don't have one yet but I will shortly and believe me, the wait will be worth it! I even got matching buttons and a CD sticker. For those of you not in the know...wait for it...wait for it...

Time to enjoy my dad's old 80GB iPod he gave to me, complete with all his awesome music! I now have more Sam, Bob, Van, and Buddy than I know what to do with! Hooray! Life is so so sweet.

My goal for tomorrow is to take some of those goofy self-shots in random places with my awesome new t-shirt. Let awesomeness ensue...

Press on.

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.

If only you could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.
-Fred Rogers

I wonder if people realize their impact on others. Just a simple smile in passing, the holding of a door, or a simple "hello" can make all the difference in a person's day. It doesn't even take extra energy to do these small things and what I've found, is that by doing, you create energy for more doing. It's a perpetual cycle of positive energy wherever you go. Perhaps that energy is contagious. If only one person out of ten "catches" that energy, think of what a difference you can make! I've always believed that you can change the world one person at a time. I may not be traveling the globe in the spotlight flaunting my deeds for the next cover story but I am doing my best to make the world around me a better place.

So the next time you wake up on the wrong side of the bed, try a little experiment. Smile today at everyone you meet. Whether they be a stranger in passing, or a longtime friend, simply smile. If it suits you, as soon as they are gone you are free to frown to your heart's content! I guarantee that by mid-day you'll wonder how the wrong side of the bed turned into the right side.

Press on.

Surgery Date

Ok kids, I've finally got a date for surgery: Monday, July 7th bright and early in the AM! It'll be a same-day deal so I should be home by evening. Mom has kindly offered to "Kristie-sit" that week as I will be more or less incapacitated. Visitors will be welcome, especially if you bring egg-free cookies and episodes of Scrubs :)

I've decided to restart running and continue until surgery. Mainly because I'm going crazy without running but also because it's much easier to suck it up with a definite end in site. Only two weeks and I can finally begin putting all this business behind me.

My post-op goals:

• off all narcotics by Wednesday, July 9th
• ditch the crutches, start running, and go back to karate ASAP (I need to talk with my surgeon to set a reasonable goal-date for this)
• try not to drive my Mom (and any other Kristie-sitters) crazy!
• teach my cat how to fetch ice and Advil for me :)

Press on.

neat-o

As a personal reward for doing well in therapy this week I ordered the latest album from Mates of State "re-arrange us." For those of you who don't know, Mates of State are pretty darn neat. A bit on the quirky side with striking harmonies, damn catchy melodies, and epic endings. Listening to them makes me feel so...happy!

When I woke up this afternoon I felt like a little kid on Christmas; my Mates of State was due to arrive! I ran across the street to the office and sure enough, there it was. I double-stepped it home and tore open the package, carefully scanning each of the jewel case inserts pleasantly surprised to find the lyrics to each song printed neatly. I love lyrics and yes, I'll have the entire album memorized before the weekend hits. Popped the disc into my stereo and it was on! I can't remember the last time I had so much fun dancing around my apartment like a woman on fire.

I had some running around to do this afternoon and I had a blast singing along, windows down, basking in the afternoon sun. Sorry to anyone who drove next to me, I know my singing is wildly off-key but I don't care. I was enjoying the heck out of myself!

Thanks for the happy day Mates of State; you make me dance without reserve, sing at the top of my lungs, and goofy-grin all the day :D

Press on.

a little more inspiration

"To succeed you have to believe in something with such a passion that it becomes a reality."
-Anita Roddick

"It's unnatural for people to run around the city streets unless they are thieves or victims. It makes people nervous to see someone running. I know that when I see someone running on my street, my instincts tell me to let the dog go after him."
-Mike Royko

Tubular.

I am met by a cool rush of recycled air as I enter the oversized sterile room. Sitting prominantly in the middle of the room is the giant tube that looks like a grey Twinkie with the middle sucked out. The tube breathes a constant noise like a blood pressure cuff inflating...

ka-weesh, ka-weesh, ka-weesh

The cold plank I am to lie on is uninviting but the warm blanket provided by the friendly tech is much appreciated. She explains the procedure and asks again if I'm claustrophobic. "Not yet!" I may change my mind but for now that's a safe answer.

The oversize headphones block out the tube's breath and the silence is welcome but short-lived.

crank, crack, whirrrrr...

"Is that it?" I think to myself, "this will be a piece of cake."

clickclickclickclickclick, clackety clack, clickclickclickclickclick...

So far so good. The music gently hums in my ears. Lite Rock. Not bad, not good. I chuckle a bit to myself as "Sister Christian" starts to play. Who writes this stuff anyway?!

ka-RACK, ka-RACK, vrooooommm, chugchugchugchugchug

Ok, that's getting kinda loud. At least I have these handy headphones. A whiny man-boy complains about his feelings in my ears and I start to get irritated.

dadadadadadadadadadadadadada...

Sounds like a jackhammer...on my head. Bette Midler tries, and fails, to harmonize with the tube. For some reason, I want to break things. Must be the music.

wreee, wreee, wreee, CLANK!

Argh, now it sounds like that noise the phone makes when you forget to hang it up.

WREEE, WREEE, WREEE, clank!

Wonderful, the tube is harmonzing with itself. A regular doo-wop sensation. Rod Stewart's voice fills my head and compared to the rest of the soundtrack sounds rather manly. He rounds out the trio quite well. Puts a little shama lama in this ding dong.

ka-weesh, ka-weesh, ka-weesh

Time to flip over and scan my legs. I will be stuck in a rather uncomfortable position for the next 20 minutes but I deal.

clank, clank, whirrrrrrr!

The extra element of the discomfort added to the loud noises and the god-awful music is more than irritating at this point. Now I want to go outside and start punching people. In the throat. Intersting how rageful I get when trapped in a tube and forced to listen to soft rock.

clickety-clackety-clickety-clackety-clickety-clackety

There must be someone out there who uses this as a method of torture. I'm pretty sure I could stand a few hours of this but after that I'd be spilling my guts. Punching people seems too tame, now I want to kick them in the face. Oh wait, I'd rather start chopping down trees with my feet, like Jean-Claude Van Damme in Kickboxer. I'm awesome.

dip-dip-dip-dip, dooo-WAH!, hum-mum-mum-mum, BOP!

Oh these harmonies are fabulous :) I really love doo-wop but this is getting ridiculous. I really don't like lite rock and the combination is beyond ridiculous. "Are we there yet?" I realize every muscle in my body is clenched tight but I'm afraid to relax; I don't want to mess up the scan and have to prolong this madness. Yes, this is definitely a form of torture somewhere in the world.

ka-weesh, ka-weesh, ka-weesh

"That's it, you're all done!" says the friendly tech. I think excessive friendliness is a job requirement for MRI techs. Either that or they should be required to wear throat protection for those patients who come out swinging. By the time I collected myself and my belongings I felt better. My violent urges had subsided and I walked outside into the sunshine and went on my way.

Press on.

more tests

Met with the surgeon yesterday and he told me that he has never seen someone with both Popliteal Artery Entrapment Syndrome and Chronic Exertional Compartment Syndrome. In fact, there isn't even a case study that exists of someone having both.

Heh, he doesn't know me and my medical history very well.

If he did he would know that if there has never been someone with both, then the chances of me having both are pretty damn good.

I am scheduled for a pre and post exercise MRI on Monday to hopefully get a better idea of what is going on here.

So no answers or explanations yet. I am rather frustrated and despite the gorgeous weather, rather down. I think I will get outside today to lift my spirits.

Press on.

Updates Galore!

My internet has been down all weekend so depending on how soon it gets fixed I may not be able to update again until I go to work on Wednesday night.

The compartment pressure testing showed I definitely have compartment syndrome and I have an appointment on Friday with the surgeon who will perform the fasciotomy. I'll spill all the gory details on what's involved with that surgery later!

I also made the decision to put off any running or lower-body activity until after surgery. I gave it the old college try and sucked it up as long as possible but the pain is just getting to be too much and it's making me tired, both physically and mentally. My pre-op regime will include the goofy arm-bike (try not to snicker please) and the opportunity to get ripped in the weight room! Sweet! Tickets for the Big Guns Show will be on sale soon. Try not to push as you all rush to get in line!

Press on.