Well well....HB knees!

Tomorrow is a busy day. Hopefully won't be starting a 'new' journey. But will be visiting the same hospital for a follow up mammogram from the 11th.

BUT! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY KNEES tomorrow!

I feel great, not perfect. But I did it, and it was worth it. And I have a bottle of Brut in my fridge, and I am going to make a Bellini later tonight, I think. Not sure. I still get tired LOL.

A whole year. Awesome. It was tough. But thank God. It's a huge emotional day today and tomorrow. And my kid got a job.

I just want to laugh and cry at the same time.

Thanks to my sweet cuz and my family for following me and taking care of me this last year. One day soon, I WILL WAKE up and NOT think about my knees!

11 months!

Wow-wee! It was just over a year ago I was told I needed new knees, July 16th to be exact. What a year!

Went off of celebrex due to insurance not covering it. It was a hard drug to get on, then I was on it, and fine. Then ran out. Have some again thanks to a friend who gave me her samples. Hard time getting back on it. Having some trouble with all over arthritis. Everything generally hurts which is odd. My knees just have regular aches.....no pain. Not sure what's going on. But Celebrex may kick in..dunno. Won't go to my August appt. as I had a lot of follow ups after my fall and insurance won't cover it.

Knees are doing very well. No problem walking. Hop on the bike when I feel weakness in the upper muscle/groin/hip area. Need to keep it up! Someone spank me.

Had a great time in the Bahamas. My selfish gift to myself and family that put up with those 10 months. It was great. I did love that water. But, I did not end up snorkeling . Well, excuse...everything just takes longer than it used to. It's hard to explain. Just dressing tougher. But I was given different advice on frog kick swimming. And I just chose to float. Didn't want to pull 2 knees out in a foreign land. It was WONDERFUL!!

Put my big girl panties on the other day and chose to call whom I owed. And hospital was typically rude as sh22t. They have been paid 20K by my dumb ass cat. insurance and over 70 on my carrier. And we are fighting over a hundred here and there.

I was able to find the Director of Rehab center where I went. She was kind enough to look over my bill questions and got them settled. Well almost. I think I may refuse to pay one of them. I think they should have run my insurance b4 they took me in and didn't. Said I signed a waiver. See what you sign when you get double knees knocked off!

Knees are doing well. I am wearing shorter stuff. Stamina...still working on. Peeps generally kind. Kiddos joke around about my still existing toilet seat. Life is good.

Wish I had my Mom and Dad. Don't like being the adult.

: ) Life is good to me. Just help me Lord find a job.

Thanks for reading.

Quick check in at 10 months.

Wow, it's been ten months today. Memories are scary. But, the legs are doing really well. Drs visit 2 weeks ago went well....the knees are strong and not swollen. I did kneel on the rug to get something from under the sofa the other, so they are a little ouch as far as the tissue from doing that. But it's all okay. Never thought I'd say that. I'm a little lazy on the excercise side of things.

Dr. was very busy last visit, and office was a little bit not friendly. Lesson learned---don't go to a dr's officeon a Friday afternoon. Didn't quite get all my questions answered. But on the flip side, I'm fine so they didn't think I needed much attention.

Not sure if my body will totally be the same. My ROM will probably never be as good. So I will not be completely normal. Things take longer in everything I do. And it gets frustrating. But it's a lot better than the other side.

Scars are a little bit hypertrophic for my skintone which is unusual. But all is good.

Well, that's it for checking in. It sure helps me make a reference point when I go back to recall my progress.

A hot summer. Kiddos seem okay. Once just returned from Chicago for 8 days. Glad she got to see part of the USA she'd never seen. Other one hanging in there nannying and doing some p/t office work for a friend of mine. Will look good on the resume one day. I am trying to find some type of part time job again. Economy not doing so well so that's going to be nearly impossible. Anything to pay some bills. I think I may have said that last month.

Have a good summer, stay cool, stay healthy, and thanks for reading.

9 months today

Don't think I stopped in last month, don't recall, know I didn't post a picture. But wow. 9 months.

Started PT again. It went really well, the strength training. Went out of town for a week, back to PT. The regular PT guy was out sick. The girls there spent the hour plus chitchatting. So I was more or less on my own. Could have gone to my girl's gym or ridden my own bike if no one wanted to assist me. But how does one complain to the ones whom are supposed to help you.

And don't have any appointments for this week.

Trying to stick to celebrex for the knee pain. Doing some funny walking too. I step into an elevator and kind of have to do a swivel thing to catch myself. There was a nurse in the elevator and had to explain my dilemma. Got caught again doing it. And went to try on bras today and misstepped in the dressing room while sales lady was helping.

Think the arthritis in my shoulder is funking up one side of me too. The passport lady kept telling me to straighten up. I notice the few picks of me, I am not standing up straight. So anyway, this is all just for recall so I can look back and diary all the anniversary dates.

Go back to the actual OS on the 4th of June. So will see what's up. Just some tough times out of pocket.

Otherwise, life is cool and groovy.

9 months. Babies are born after 9 months of rut roh. Oh my. It's been a long travelled road for sure.

Will report back the 4th or 5th.

: )

A little follow-up....

Thank God, my hip x-rayed fine. because if I needed them replaced, I'd have to go to a 3rd world country to do so. Seems I have bursitis in both knees, tendonitis behind knee cap I fell on, and hip flexar bursitis or whatever. These things all come together to cause this new pain and limping. So they prescribed 3 weeks of 3 PT sessions. And nope, insurance does not cover this. BCBS turned me down. Knee replacement's automatic turn down. United Healthcare, which I applied to online, called yesterday, while I was headed to PT, and boy were they a mess.

They think I had a baby. They wondered why I had blood thinners, NSAIDs, and you name it. What dodo's. It will never go through. Guess if something goes out, I will wait like Canada or UK for help as they do. Won't get into that any further. Poor Doctors. My Doc, Grandfather, must be awfully restless now.

Kiddos are fine. Nanny business slowed down a little bit over the last week or two, but Mary has some appts. and it may pick up. Otherwise, she'll have to do more. L is in Destin in her traveling office. She was able to be personal escorts at food show this past weekend....doing so with Paula Deen and hubbie Michael, Mario Batali...too cool, Bobby Flay, and one other.

Mary is headed to Nashville to the Steeplechase in the morning. A friend of ours was kind enough to drive to the field and check out the conditions.

My friends in Memphis, Nashville, and even Atlanta....what devastation. My house we sold almost 4 years ago flooded in Sept. Most of the neighborhood was flooded hugely, and they are still out of their houses, with 5' flooding at least, Didn't make the news I guess. Our old house, we had 2 FEMA policies, that only covered if the house was taken off its foundation and declared a total loss, but no contents. So if we were still living there, our ground floor would have been uninsured. God bless these folks in these areas in this new devastation. areas

Lastly, Dr. switched me to Celebrex. It causes some severe nausea...kind of like being pregnant. Barfing feeling goes away as the day goes on. Plus, of course, my catastrophic policy doesn't cover RX...and it was 250.00. Think I may go back to Mobic.

But besides my weak leg, I am DOING GREAT!!! Life is great. Kids are great. Economy still sucks. Ran into 2 folks who lost their jobs last week, just yesterday.

Happy Mother's Day to all Mom's, step-moms, to Moms who raised us we remember, and to anyone who is a woman who takes care of anyone.

Oops...I didn't forget!

It's the 27th and I didn't forget it was knee anniversary day, Sunday the 25th.

Sunday was kind of a hard day and was waiting to post here. I think my anniversary dates are jinxed or something. Anyway...with the rain over the weekend...someone asked my spouse why I was limping. I was in the process of walking away and overheard it. Yes, I knew I was hurting and not sure why/what was hurting.

Sunday my daughter turned to me, and said, "Mom, you are walking all wrong. You've lost your gait. You are limping, and one side of your body is lower than the other." Oh my. I went to my knee messageboard to see my buddies. The nurse there thinks it sounds like my hip. Oh, I am praying so hard it's not. I haven't even celebrated my new knees yet officially, waiting for husband's slip 'n fall case to be conintued or settled that he's been working of for over 4 years. So we never get to go anywhere.

Anyway, PA just called from the OR and I am going in on Thursday to see what's going on. She says it may just be tendonitis, or did she say bursitis? Oh well.

Good excuse to take one of those little pain pills I squirreled away for a couple of days. The Advil and ES Tylenol work but are pretty hard on the little tummy.

Anyway, enough of that...got my diary of my knee documented.

Mary's doing well in her nannying, seems to have almost enough work to keep her busy. Daugther L, did get that job and is quite busy. I may even be able to go to the Foodnetwork Metro Show Friday for free.

Anyway, hi Lois. I have tried to respond to your blog but I think BLOG thing has changed, just trying to sign in on here after a month. Maybe I have it figured out.

Till Thurssday.

Knees are doing very well, just gone one that slowed down a little after falling. Try not to fall out of the bed.

7 months!

Just quickly typing in, for future reference. Knees are doing pretty good. The one I fell on is giving me fits though. Painful and makes my hip/groin area hurt. I think I'd rather sit on my ass than have the hips go! Makes me wonder if I should have seen the Doc over the PA. Just don't know what to do about it. Guess I'll wait until July. Ugh.

Kids are busy with their jobs, oldest ones last day serving tables is tomorrow. She is working for a security firm now, and has a couple of resumes out...had an interview this week. This job would actually be in her field...can you believe that? Praying it goes the way that's best for her. Other kiddo plugging away at her nanny/sitting job. Spouse is waiting for a ruling from a judge. Me, well I may bake cookies tomorrow with my new mixer. (forget the job thing)

This economy sucks. Healthcare thing really sucks. Not that it didn't need improving...but my goodness where is the money going to come from?

Off to get another popsicle.

: )

Slippity, do, da..........

Slipped right on out of the bed Saturday evening.. and fell on top of my knee cap, and shoulder. Ice took it down a good bit. Daughter thinks it looks terrible, it really doesn't to me. Must have some swelling in it as it's popping. Yes those PERFECTLY operated knees are POPPING!! Slapping myself on the head.

Messageboard Nurse says it's really hard to mess up a knee, they can take huge hit, and it's probably got fluid on it which is making it pop. But I will probably call the darn PA today to let them know, as I have released from OS's office until July!!!

Tomorrow is my knees 6-month birthday!

Supposed to snow in about an hour or so.

Yesterday was a really good day re: my kiddos. Can't explain now. But will later. They are great kiddos. God bless them, God has blessed them. Spouse gone downtown to seminar. Dogs and I have house to ourselves! I think I will make spaghetti. Did I get off topic or what????

Dear Diary,

Dear Diary:

I have been busy. How about you?

It's been almost 3 months!!

I was busy with a BFF funeral, a family wedding, and the holidays!

Now let's get to the point of my Blog. It was 'go back to the Doctor' day today! After almost 3 months, I have been anxious. I'm doing pretty well. Haven't regressed any since my insurance won't pay for PT, which is good. They had some suggestions for me to get some better strength and range of motion. All went well. I reminded them about my shoulder (OS does them too). They decided to do an X-ray. And sho'nuff, my friend Arthur Itis has made his entrance. A spur in the rotator cuff, which means, bone is rebuilding from degrading and it makes spurs, as it did in my knee. Thanks Arthur! I will live with it, or do injections or scoping is last resort. Arthur, PLEASE stay away.

I am now officially off of Ultram for 2 days...so feel a lot of weird things around my body. I have the non-extended Ultram to-be-filled to wean off. Hopefully my short term memory short recall problem will go away.

Just not sure how to deal with 2 bad knees, neuroma in my foot, and my newly diagnosed arthritis in my shoulder. I don't know how to define myself. I do not think I can work any longer. I need to work for money, insurance, mind, sanity, and you name it! Don't know if I am insurable as I need to change it. I really defy being a cripple, so I will work harder on that and check back with you!!

Anyway, they have given me excercises to do, to strengthen my arm...kind of like the knee thing. So I will be at the gym tomorrow.

Kind of feel bummed tonight as you see. BUT my kiddo went with me and was such a big help in recalling what Dr's office said. I went back to the Rehabilation Center I was in. Ick. It was helpful mentally to see it and leave it again. Yucky icky o.

I am grateful though and love life enough to fight this. I have just got to step up and fight harder.

Bye diary. I'll check in sooner next time, I promise!!!!!!!

Neur what?

2 month visit went fine and dandy. Got my hug from the good looking Doc!!!

No more PT. I am on my own. Got something for swelling....swelling is normal and is called lymphdema...just the lymphs trying to find their way back to normal.

Also have a neuroma. Never heard of that. Thought it was my knee shooting off pain to the foot. It's a nerve pain caused by old age.

The 'c' button fell off my computer. Makes typing tough.

Orders are to keep moving and active: My mission...guess I better join a pool or gym. Not exactly the gym type. But guess I gotta do something.

Hanging in.....

Have my 10 week operating surgeon visit tomorrow (Monday). Guess I need to make a list of 'gripes'. Well, I guess I didn't realize recovery was going to be so 'long'. Or that I still would not be sleeping after 2 months, or my walking would barely be...not sure what I call 'my walk'. Well standing is tough too. And always having to 'stash' the good pain pills for an emergency such as sleeping. Oh well.

Now that this freaking health care bill is up for talk, I now recall 3 months ago, in joint replacement class, all the people SCARED this would happen...and it's now oh so close!

Anyway, hopefully my visit tomorrow will be good. He's a nice Dr. Guess the main thing to work out is PT, which insurance won't pay for. I need to get the list in my head on paper so I won't appear all over the place.

See ya later! : )

Another one at 5 weeks

5 weeks

Just stopping in....

Oops...it has been a while. So busy with PT and trying to get life back to near what it was.

I'm at 7 weeks now. Doing farily well, honestly, I think I would have been further along. But sobeit.

Trying really hard to get through the soft tissue and ROM issue...it's made things a little bit ouchie.

My next step is to get to a gym and move more....and I am not a big 'gym' person. I've done it before. It can get boring. But this time, I have got some work to do. I will try to post a pic or two meanwhile.

Take care my readers, those far and few between. Welcome Surfer! You are a real inspiration!

Monday, Monday...

Spouse is taking the car into the body shop as I type. Finally found a ride to follow him. A woman hit the Navigator in the hospital parking lot. Poor girl, she was nice enough to leave a note. Her husband was electrocuted and shattered his ankle. They haven't had enough money to pay for the car damages until now...and spouse was nice enought to wait.

PT going pretty slow. I had my first post op visit last Friday. Doctor wants me to do out patient PT now. So need to call and set up the visits. It's in Vinings so it's very close! Last week, home nurse called to say insurance required me to write a check for 75.00 per visit. So I guess that means money will start to fly out the door....so need to make the most of every visit!!!

Not much else going on. Getting a little bored, guess that's a good sign.

2 weeks out! I'm back!

Wow. It's been 2 weeks. Boy, did I ever not think I'd get this far. And finally I am feeling like my old self. I can't walk yet, but I'm getting bored and that's a good sign!

Boy what a trip that hospital stay was. A couple of bumps in the road...with 2 units of blood, chest x-ray because I had fever, 2 leg dopplers checking for blood clots. And a confused nurse who took pricked my finger, thinking she was in another room with another patient! Mostly, the care was very good. Just a couple of dodo's to make things on edge. And when your blood is low, no bleeding from finger pricking is needed. Oh and I did pass out one time during therapy. It was a quick pass out though. I've never fainted before either. It was probably well deserved though! I scared a lot of people.

So I returned home Friday. I still have to learn to walk again. I lost my gait, walking to avoid pain. Waiting on insurance to go through to start up PT. Tomorrow is Wed. and hope to hear something soon. Got my staples out today! And had in-home OT.

Anyway, I will tune in and give a couple of thoughts on the situation at hand and some experiences at the hospital. There is light at the end of the tunnel today!!

I guess the most important thing I did learn from being in the physical rehab place, was health is so precious. So many younger people with strokes, MS, brain tumors, diabetes complicating so many with these afllictions too.

Today's the day!

In a couple of hours, daughter L, will be picking me up to go to the hospital! And I am just not going to complain this time around.

Obviously, I can't sleep!

Carpets got cleaned and look nice, still awfully wet though. Got a few things to round up in the morning. I will miss my dogs.

I guess that's about it.

Oh, I think I get the MJ drug to go to sleep. I hope my Anesthesiologist isn't Conrad! I hope I don't say anything stupid. Maybe I should practice saying something so that I do not totally humiliate myself.

Mommmmmmy

I'm having a "Mommy I don't want to go to school", day. I used to have them when I was 6.

My stomach hurts, and I don't want to get out of bed. I think the Mexican food upset my stomach. And I'm just a bit FREAKING scared.

Doing some laundry, waiting for carpet people.....and hanging out in the bed.

I did speak to a couple of friends I hung out with on Saturday, yesterday. They said they had fevers Sunday. Not sure if they really did or not. But I do kind of feel 'funny'. Oh well, I guess if I start to 'feel' funny, at least I will be in the hospital on drugs.

Maybe it was just the food and some allergies.

Uggh.

It's today. Well, I mean IT'S tomorrow.

Cleaning up the basement to prepare for Stanley Steamer to make this into a temp bedroom.

Not as anxious as I thought I'd be.

Trying, trying to be strong. Can't say I haven't shed a couple of tears.

Hoping I have strength later in this new day.

Take care.

Laundry, packing, friends, family....

Getting one stack for hospital, one for the nursing home (that has rehab in it), some old clothes I will simply have thrown away once I get to the hospital so no one has to fool with it.. Doing laundry. Throwing out trash.

Phone and IM's going on.....I think peeps realize, like I, that time's a tickin'.

Not feeling too anxious today. Am okay. I think.

Disc is showing no reaction at all. Bandaid is more irritating to the skin.

Sun is shining...feel fall coming on. I love fall. A new beginning arrives.

So all is well, and like my Cousin, I also feel blessed. She's cool. (Ok, I'm still mad at my knees)

I think my family is taking me out to dinner! I think I am going to pick something that won't be easy to get for the next few weeks. Mexican! OLE!