"I'm really pleased with the outcome!"
I had my 9 mos. appointment with my orthopedic surgeon after my second hip replacement. Linda took my bilateral X rays, and I told Dr. Larry that "I'm really pleased with the outcome!" I told Linda before she took my X rays that "I'm really glad to be Post-op."
After the exam and questions from me (few if any restrictions on movement [right angles, crossing the midline, and rotating inward] and 4-5 years before my next X ray set), I told Dr. Larry that "I couldn't have asked for a better outcome."
Labels: BAD.health, surgery
Health Check 2009
I'm up early for a big day---for a health check-up with the specialist. Mom is going to her today, as well.
I read Marissa's blog about their mini Christmas vacation fiasco. Boo Hoo Hoo (or is it "Ho Ho Ho" as Solomon would say?) I loved her recounting of their stories of Santa love.
~~~
15.45
Upon returning from our yearly health checks (and a Taco Bell run), I wrote a couplet to respond to a poem and po'card from a couple I know:
Just finished my yearly check-up[s], and yearly mammogram this week.
All is well up to now...
Hopefully a bellwether for 2010!
My two total hip replacements I had (in 2008 and 2009) will once again allow me to Nordic ski, as I was wont to do on my way to class when at Wellesley.
Many well-wishes for your 2010.
I will tuck into the confines of my apartment three pillows made by Lalang. I hope my visitors will enjoy them as much as I do.
Labels: BAD, Christmas, deltiology, dining, family, friends, health, Lalang, surgery, travel
Yearly Check-Up
I rode the bus to my doctor's office, and had my yearly check-up. "No Complaints," I declared, and also gave her my current list of prescriptions and nutritional supplements. My BP was ~135/75, and my BMI indicates that I am overweight. I told her about my procedures this past year, and the good outcome of them (she was there, visiting me in the hospital after my surgery)! I asked for a script for a procedure tomorrow, gave her a Christmas card for herself, family, and staff, and was on my way.
After my appointment, I made my way to a 24-hour computer lab on campus (the adjacent building had a power outage) and found the doors locked. Went to the computer lab/libe. Am printing out some work.
Labels: BAD, blogs, Christmas, computer, email, health, surgery
The Mantra
One of my friends reminded me today to keep my immune system well, by taking vitamins, prophylactic antibiotics before going to the dentist, and washing my hands to protect my endoprosthetics from infection.
I told her that I have a mantra at the end of each weekly class:
Wash your hands
before you touch your face
touch your hair
Eat or
Drink.
It's great---but tough---being a bionic person!
Labels: BAD, health, safety, surgery, teaching
Views of Christmases Past
The past few days, with the snow and slick weather have called for my use of my cane on occasion. This brings to mind (Christmases) past, when it was necessary for me to use the cane to get around. Now, I use the cane as my insurance against another surgery.
Labels: BAD, Christmas, seasons, surgery, weather
Heaven on Earth: A Second Life
When at a street fair in Philadephia this past month, I overheard someone saying, "And when dancers stop dancing...." referring to the second career of dancers after their oft-times truncated performing life is over. I turned to my friend Sara and said, "There's not a whole lot of us dancers who dance again after stopping. [and, as in explanation:] Now, my new hips let me dance again."
I know that my original acetabular structure should not have allowed me to dance--no, wait, to WALK. But I was able to dance (en pointe), run, hurdle, rockclimb, horseback ride, ski (downhill and nordic), do aikido (including taking high falls), and a multitude of other activities. It's a wonder that I could even walk (and I've been told that by others, too). I was blessed.
Then the structures became arthritic, and I am fortunate that I live in a time and place on this planet that I could get physical therepy, then subsequently obtain operations to "repair" my hips. I'm older now, and can't do most of the activities I mentioned that I could do fifteen or more years ago, due to limitations on my new bionic hips. But I'm doubly blessed, because I've been given a second chance on life. I can still walk. I can still dance. One of my friends calls my situation a "second life." And it is so. You hear people talk about Heaven as a place where there is no pain, and where one can dance and play like when younger, and where you are surrounded by people who love you. My, my, my, then: I am now living a Heaven on Earth! [*Pyuh, pyuh, may I not be jinxed*]
It reminds me of the song sung by Lee Ann Womack, "I Hope You Dance."
Labels: BAD, dance, exercise, love, music, Songs, surgery, walking
1.5 mph
I now walk approximately one and half miles per hour, as determined by my jaunt to mid-Oakland this afternoon after work.
Labels: BAD, surgery, walking
The Flu
Two instructors this week at work have been out with the flu. I covered one section last night. I could sense that a small group of students were perturbed by my suggestions on how to work more efficiently, so I stated, "I'd be less irritating if I didn't care as much." All in all, they were a good, hardworking class.
When I returned after work and the computer lab last night in a light (barely) drizzle, Auntie Chi had already arrived. She and I shared stories of what had occurred (who had visited and whom we had visited) since her last visit here in April 2009. I did a little side-stepping dance to show off my new hips.
Mom is off for some blood work this morning: I will treat her and Dad to breakfast afterwards.
~~~~~
Mom, Dad, and I went to Primanti's in the Strip District. Dad and I split a Colossal Fish Sandwich, and Mom and Auntie Chi split a pastrami / corned beef sandwich. Dad and I had the fries and slaw on the side. It was a fun early lunch before I headed in to work.
Labels: BAD, biology, dance, dining, health, student, surgery, visitor, work
Busy Busy Day: First Day of Choir Practice
Thursdays will be my busy days this semester. Even without classes yesterday, my Thursday was busy.
I took my prophylactic antibiotics before a routine teeth cleaning, met Eric for computing help while covering for B for an office hour, sitting in office hours while a handful of my new students came to catch up and make up, (a second consecutive day at) physical therapy, and then our first day of choir practice.
To introduce myself, I said, "Hi, I'm Grace---And I'm standing," which brought a round of applause. I also said, "I've been in choir since '98, with a hiatus...And I teach at Pitt."
Don explained that "[I] now have..."
"..hips!" I exclaimed, joyously.
~~~
4.50am Sunday 13 Sept 09
Oh, also missed the Steelers 2009+ season opening game.
Labels: BAD, biology, Choir, games, health, school, sports, student, surgery, teaching, teeth, work
First Day Without a Cane
Yesterday, I went to physical therapy, grocery shopping, to the eye doctor's, shopping/grocery shopping, and out for roast chicken with bacon sandwiches, all without a cane! They all required short jaunts, but there was some uphill-ish walking (grocery shopping), as well as stairs (dinner). I am SO proud of myself!
Labels: BAD, exercise, surgery, water exercise
What I Can Do Now! IV
I can walk with a minimal wobble, for short distances.
I can go in the therapy pool without covering my incision.
I can carefully dance, O so gently, so gingerly.
Yay-Ah!
Labels: BAD, dance, surgery, walking, water exercise
Progression: What I Can Do III
Last week, I went to Mass and sat without a pillow.
Today, I can walk with just a cane. I will also sit in church without a pillow.
~~~
13.30
At Mass today, I stood for the Gospel, Creed, and General Intercessions. I stood and (slightly) wobbled to receive Communion!
Labels: BAD, Church, exercise, Mass, pain, surgery, walking
Progression: What I Can Do Now!
I can shower standing up now (except for my feet).
I can mobilize using only my cane/fold-out chair (which I will use to ambulate about Ornella's art exhibit).
Labels: art, BAD, Choir, exercise, friends, pain, surgery, water
What I Can Do Now!
As of Sunday, I can
1. Do my "Jane Fonda" side-lying exercise continuously for 10 repetitions, with no breaks.
2. Get up out of a chair without assistance (almost consistently)
3. Wobble about with no assistive aids (cane, crutch, etc.)
Labels: adventure, BAD, exercise, surgery, surprise
Just Relaxing
I'm just relaxing between exercises to build my strength again. I have only four more exercise sets to do for this morning!
Labels: BAD, exercise, surgery
First Outpatient Physical Therapy Session for my Second Hip
I drove (with Mom) to my first outpatient physical therapy session for my second hip this afternoon. All went well, and as a goal Keelan honed down the exercises I should do up to several times a day for my health. We both agreed that the (what I call) "Jane Fonda" [aerobics floor] move that Greg S. described yesterday morning is really difficult, but necessary. No pool therapy yet.
Labels: BAD, exercise, patient, surgery
Surgeon's Post-operative Appointment
This morning I have my surgeon's post-operative appointment. I am looking forward to it. I hope to find out all kinds of things, such as when I can stop using certain medicines/medical devices and when I can start to do such things such as outpatient physical therapy, pool therapy, drive, do laundry/work the dishwasher (waow!), and dance.
~~~
19.00
My post-operative appointment was with the physician's assistant, Greg S. After a short round of X rays, he removed all of my Steri-strips (which were hanging on), taught me a "Jane Fonda" exercise after having me demonstrate it. It is truly difficult, but necessary if I don't want to walk with a wobble. We looked at the X ray films, and I discussed them. I now have two screws holding in my acetabular cup on the left, which is 2 units smaller than my right socket.
And I asked my questions:
I mentioned the various types of pain I have (probably attributable to healing and the changes in my legs/hips due to surgery).
When can I be fully weight bearing? (now, starting with a single crutch or cane, and gradually progressing to no accessories).
Blood thinner injections in my soft underbelly? (no more).
Fashion statement hose/ old lady hose (no more).
Stated my lack of any pain medication since Monday morning, my problems getting to sleep, and, should I need pain medication, if I could take the Extra Strength/Arthritis Tylenol.
Outpatient physical therapy? (Yes, Greg would write me a Rx for 3x/week for four weeks.)
Pool therapy? (As long as there is no broken skin, scabs, or blood, I'm fine. BUT NO HOT TUBS).
Driving an automobile? (Yes. And NO OTHER movement limitations.)
Dancing? (When tolerated.)
Omega-3 fatty acids, which I had dropped ten days before surgery? (Go ahead and take them).
I was instructed to get a set of X rays every two years or so, so as to prevent foreign body expulsion of polyethelene cup liner degraded pieces.
~~~~~
This morning, I contacted my outpatient physical therapist, who quickly booked me an appointment for tomorrow.
Labels: BAD, dance, dreams, exercise, health, list, pain, patient, surgery, walking, water exercise
negative slope for Pain Medication Administration
I've skipped the last two doses of my pain medication (on purpose). I skipped the lunchtime dose, as well as the dose about an hour ago. I'm not taking a whole lot of this oral pain medicine, anyway, (half of a tablet). But I want to see how little pain medicine I can get away with...since I went for a walk of ~1/3 of a mile at eleven today with Margie, the physical therapist.
We are readying for Emily and Sally B. (Joyce's former coworker's family) to join us and William's family for dinner tonight.
Labels: California, dine, exercise, neighbors, pain, surgery, surprise
No More Big Bruise
The big bruise I had faded away last week: It was gone yesterday. The Steri-strips, however, are hanging on for dear life. I also occasionally feel a dull ache/smarting in my gluteus maximus, especially when sitting for a while. O, life! (The process of healing.)
~~~~
Found the hypertext link for the encyclopedia which I was working on last year (was lead author on one of the articles).
Labels: BAD, excited, pain, surgery, writing. health
My Goal: Debut Today at Mass
I am excited about my afternoon today. My goal today is to make my "debut" (as my friend Alroy stated last year/last hip) at Mass. I will bring my own pillow to sit upon (not as highly decorated as my sit-upon from Brownies), and sit close to the front to minimize movement during Communion. I will either do steps or make my way all the way around to the other side of the building to the elevator.
After, I will take Mom and Dad out to treat them to lunch---as tradition goes---if they will allow me.
~~~
We DID go to Mass, where I walked up the eastern transept steps (with mom's help), and sat through the service... We also went to lunch at the Mexican restaurant in northeast Oakland: The location we went to right before Mom and Dad brought Ornella and I to the airport for our trip to Ireland in July 2007.
Labels: adventure, celebration, Church, dining, excited, exercise, family, hair, health, Mass, St. Paul Cathedral, surgery
