I'm Alive!

My friends were probably wondering what happened to me. Well, I got sick, really sick. Just before we left for Mazatlan I got what I thought were back spasms. Then I developed a cough and it hurt my back to breathe. I went for acupuncture twice and my acupuncturist was concerned when the pain didn't go away, he felt there was something wrong with my heart and lungs. He advised me to go to a Western doctor if I wasn't better after my trip.

Well, I was sick the whole two weeks, finally the Tuesday before we left for home I called a doctor. I figured it was pneumonia and he treated me for that. But I didn't get better, I started getting worse. We had a long flight home that Friday with three layovers, we left at 6:00 A.M. and got home at midnight. I couldn't walk through the airports so I requested wheelchairs.

The next morning, after sleeping sitting up on the couch I got dressed and had Stan drive me to Urgent Care. They flipped out! They took a chest x-ray and started a breathing treatment. When the x-ray was developed the physician's assistant sent me to the hospital, she said my heart was enlarged. She wanted to call an ambulance but I thought it was silly, given that Stan was in the waiting room and I'd survived 18 hours of flying the day before.

After several hours in the ER I was diagnosed with viral pericarditis. The pericardium is a sac around your heart and mine was full of fluid,  my heart was enlarged and my inflammation markers were off the chart. Plus the albuterol from the breathing treatment put me in a fib. I was admitted and spent two hellish days battling with the staff-they didn't care that I was either allergic or sensitive to ask the drugs they gave me. I was sicker when I left the hospital than when I was admitted.

After being discharged I spent the next few weeks sleeping sitting up on the couch. It became obvious that if I didn't want to be sick anymore I'd have to take matters in my own hands, so I started taking colloidal silver. They had told me that the virus in my heart could be any kind-cold, flu, stomach bug-it was in my body and chose to hit my heart. Colloidal silver is a fantastic antiviral and it worked.

I was really sick a total of about 2 1/2 months. Just before my birthday I went for acupuncture and he told me I had really scared him. He did a moxa or mugwort treatment and by Sunday I was almost completely well! Thanksgiving was tough but our great kids came over and did all the cooking and cleanup. By Christmas I was able to do pretty much everything

I still have to be careful, no jogging yet or heavy lifting but I feel so thankful to have survived. I told Stan the best Christmas gift I got was that I got to live. He was pretty happy about that, too! I actually have been knitting and started sewing again just after Christmas.

It's been so cold I made the dogs some sweaters. Chloe loves hers but Merlin hated his and rolled around on the floor until it came off. Silly boy, wait until he gets a haircut, he'll like it then!

These are bowl cozies. You place your bowl of soup or whatever in it and put it in the microwave and it keeps you from burning your fingers when you take it out. I made 24 and gave them as Christmas gifts. 

The grandkids didn't get homemade pajamas this year, I wasn't up to that until too late too get them done.

I quit my job just before we left for Mexico. I do miss it, but there was a situation I couldn't tolerate. I am enjoying my free time very much and I have a burning desire to do tons of sewing and knitting. And I've been asked to give knitting classes at a new craft/gift shop here in town-that should be a real hoot!

Busy, Busy, Busy!

Lots of stuff going on, not sure why it's so busy but here we are at the end of summer.  How did that happen?

I took Sam to Starbucks for his birthday coffee.  He's playing a game on my Kindle.

Started a pair of socks to keep in the car.  It's been just too hot to knit something big, even though I should be. 

I love the colorway in this yarn.  I love this yarn, it's 50% Merino wool, 25% nylon and 25% bamboo.  Soft as a baby's bottom!

The blanket is growing.  I decided to make it for a friend who is due to have a baby next month.  Except she told me that she's been having contractions all day.  I might have to burn some midnight oil!

It's so cool how you just pick up the stitches instead of sewing the squares together.  I think I'd like to make one in two colors and do an even pattern instead of the random I'm doing here.  Gotta get this one done, first!

Still going back and forth to the doctor, but I think I'm on my way to recovery.  By replenishing my potassium I've pretty much stopped the afib and SVT.  But I was having a hard time finding a blood pressure drug that didn't have terrible side effects.  Gotta love allergies!  Anyway, I decided to completely wean myself off all blood pressure meds and control it with diet and exercise, with the blessing of my doctor.  It seems to be going well, it's only been a couple of days but I'm okay.  The doctor prescribed a pill that is half the dose of my current one, so when I started cutting it would be easier.  They are triangular shaped and halving them is fine, but quartering them makes crumbs.  The half dose will cut just fine and will be the equivalent of a quarter of the larger pill.  My acupuncturist is working to help the transition too, and has ordered some Chinese herbs to go along with his work.

I am starting to feel great, so grateful for that!

Getting There

Thought I'd better let you all know I'm still kicking.  I kind of lost three weeks of my life, a couple of bills got paid a little late and my house is a pit, but I'm breathing.  I got really frustrated with the cardiologist-what he wanted to treat me with was making me sicker.  One of my Afib triggers is when my blood sugar drops.  The beta blocker he gave me made my blood sugar drop-huh?  So I was really a mess.  We tried cutting the dose in half but as it built up in my system the side effects got worse and worse.  So I decided to quit it on my own-DON'T EVER STOP THESE DRUGS COLD TURKEY!  Yikes, my blood pressure was on the rise!  So I quickly got back on my old, milder beta blocker.  I added a bunch of supplements, too.  The cardiologist was talking all kinds of procedures and blood thinners but I just don't think I'm ready for that.

So I'm doing acupuncture and yesterday I saw a Chinese herbalist that consults at my local, wonderful, supplement store.  She reinforced what I'm doing and added a couple other things.  She reassured me that I wasn't taking too much potassium, and gave me a little education on how blood levels work with your body.  I was supposed to be there 20 minutes but we talked for over an hour!

At the end of the day I am feeling much, much better, the episodes of Afib and tachycardia are decreasing every day, and I am sleeping like a champ!  I am trying to reduce my stimulants as well, but I think a very healthy body can handle a cup of coffee every now and then.  My blood pressure is perfect and so is my heart rate.

Stan's brother wants to come over Monday to finish a door frame he promised to do a long time ago, so now that I've paid the bills I'd better get the house in some kind of shape so I can entertain his wife.  Stan offered to help and I am holding him to that!!

Millie will finish her pacemaker procedure on Tuesday, prayers are requested for that.  I really hope she ends up with more energy and a better quality of life, poor girl!

Sydney has been here for a little over a week, it's been great to have him back.  He'll spend a couple more weeks with his mom, then back to home for the school year.  I miss the little stinker when he's gone!  So do his cousins, they played and played yesterday.  Syd and Sam will be fast friends their whole lives.  Well, off to the post office then home to clean.  Cheers!

Good Hands

I am so very glad I picked the massage therapist I did.  This gal really knows what she is doing, and it isn't prejudice because she's an old friend.  She took my history and filled out the forms.  Then she went to work on my, er, bum muscles, then turned me over and worked on my knee scar.  She showed me pictures and illustrations of healthy tissue and scar tissue and what massage will do to smooth out the tangled scar tissue fibers.  She only got to the one side-that took a whole hour!  We'll be doing two massages this week and next, then we'll see how it goes.  Of course insurance probably won't pay for it-I did have the doctor write prescriptions for massage and for acupuncture in the off chance they do pay-so I'm not sure how many I can afford.  Even 4-6 sessions will really make a difference.

Knee doc actually thought I was doing OK.  He wishes I could bend my knee better but I did get him to admit that there is still time to make it work.  Especially with Stacey working on that scar tissue!

Tutu

I really have been crafting-mostly knitting, but today I finished this for Gracie:

She has been wanting a tutu for a long time.  She takes ballet lessons and the class is pretty laid back, so I'll bet she wears it to practice!   It's a really simple pattern.  I cut a piece of elastic to fit her waist and sewed it into a circle.  Then I cut tulle into 6" strips, then cut the strips in half.  Then I put a light pink and a dark pink strip together and tied it on the elastic.  I used 11 yards-5 1/2 of each color.  Her favorite color is pink, but what do you bet she'll want blue, green, purple.......  I stitched a ribbon bow at the waist just to give it a nice touch.

 I'm knitting socks-pretty constant thing-but I found this sweater pattern on the Lion Brand website, so I started it. 

I remembered that I had a box of nice worsted in a soft ginger color that was among my mom's things when she passed.  Since I'm the only one who knows what a needle is for, the family gladly gives me all the materials-Stan's family is the same, so I really have a lot of fabric, yarn, and notions.  It was funny that she had this color, she was usually into bright colors and pastels.  I wonder if she meant it for me.

This sweater will be all mine-if I like it I'm going to make it in several colors.

I know you must be getting sick of hearing about my health, so I won't say much.  Doing the exercises from the book Contessa recommended, and am actually feeling quite a bit better.  I'm only going to physical therapy every other week now-I think Jason knows the exercises hurt more than they help.  Monday I have my 3-month with the knee surgeon, we'll see how that goes....  Oh!  And I have an appointment for a massage on Monday, too!  My friend Stacy is a massage therapist and is anxious to see what she can do for my leg, too.

Onward and upward!  I'll get better really soon-have to-Mazatlan is in our near future!

Quick Update

Had my shots today.  I was supposed to get two on L4, but they gave me two on L5 also.  We came right home and I went right to bed.  I slept for a couple hours, got up and ate lunch, then settled in my chair for the duration.  At 5:30 I decided I should lay down again.  I slept until 7:30!  I got up, went downstairs, lay down on the couch and fell asleep again.  Stan cooked a little supper and now I'm in my chair again.  It's 8:54 and I'm ready for bed, but I'm wondering if I'll sleep tonight!  Might have to get out the melatonin.

It was a good idea to lay low today!  Really can't tell about the pain yet-I think the right side is better, but they didn't do the left side, since it came late to the party.  I suppose that will be another session.....

Update-I went back to bed at 9:00 and slept til 4:30.  12 1/2 hours sleep in 24-unreal!  I'm alert now, must have been one of the things they stuck in my back.  I feel a little better today, but I didn't have the quick relief like I did last time.  I'm taking that as a good omen.

Hanaukka!

There is a group of Jewish families that have settled in our small town.  Super neat people-as a deacon I have worked with the rabbi on various situations involving the homeless.  At one time one of their group ran a shelter in Bozeman.  Now I must tell you that this group is Messianic-which means they accept Jesus as the final piece in the puzzle.  They observe all the Jewish holidays, Sabbaths and traditions, but they add the worship of Jesus as Messiah.  About four years ago, it was decided to add a menorah to the Christmas decorations downtown.  Some of the men went to work in their shops and made this beauty:

I don't know if the glass lights were hand made, but they kind of look like they might have been.  Very nice!

On to other things-Millie is doing well.  She had a reaction to one of the pain meds so they've changed it to something else.  She said this one works better.  She should be able to go home tomorrow.  Now comes the hard work and the long healing process.

As for my recuperation, I had an MRI and they found a ruptured disc.  I had one set of pain injections two weeks ago that did absolutely nothing.  They tried another drug that gave me some pretty interesting side effects-my hands and feet went numb.  I have the number to the orthopedic office memorized!  I had issues with some of the schedulers in the office-one made me wait three weeks for those injections.  And the knee doc's scheduler was condescending when I called and asked for a referral to the spine surgeon.  This is someone we've known for years-he repaired Stan's back, Millie's neck, and my nephew's femur after a nasty auto accident.  He calls me "Mrs. Santa."  The scheduler acted like I was too stupid to know what I was talking about and why would I want to go to a "surgeon?"  I told her to just pass the message along to Dr. LeGrand, and sure enough yesterday he called me and said he had gone over my MRI with, of course, the spine surgeon.  I need another set of injections that should relieve the pain and give us a definite diagnosis.  The hint was that eventually I'll have to have back surgery.  Not something I really want, but when you have that much pain you become willing to do anything.  Then a week after the shots I will see the spine guy's PA to see what my treatment will be.  While I had Dr. LeGrand on the phone I complained about some of the schedulers' behavior.  The next two calls I got were back to back-griping works if you reach the right person!

Oh yeah, and the guy that I had so much trouble with?  When that office called, I talked to a woman and she told me she just started working for Dr. Slocum yesterday.  Hmmm-wonder where that guy went-do you suppose they got rid of him?  The only downside is the soonest I could get in to get the next shots is next Thursday.  I don't want to wait, but any port in a storm...............

I Must Be Healing

I must be healing because, boy am I stircrazy!  I really want to get out and do something, but Stan is hunting, all my kids are working, and I am not cleared to drive yet.  I would just love to pop into town, do a bit of shopping and stop at my favorite coffee spot.

I've been doing a lot of things, fix my own meals, etc., but no housework.  I have heard of people that drive at two weeks but I wouldn't feel safe-my "brake muscles" aren't working right yet.  I need to be patient, it will come, but right now I'm really antsy.  It's a good sign, like I said, so healing is on its way.

Stuff

Well, the pain was not a blood clot but severe sciatica.  The PA said, "If you saw how we treat your leg you'd know why your sciatic nerve is so irritated!"  And the tourniquet they have to use to keep me from bleeding to death also irritates the nerve.  A nurse friend on Facebook said that is the most brutal surgery one could ever have!  Nice to know now-no wonder I was reluctant!  The pain in my knee is subsiding, slowly day by day, now if I can keep that nerve quiet I'll really feel better.  I've been walking around the house a lot, and making my own coffee in the morning.  I'd love to go somewhere but that doggone nerve makes it really painful to ride in a car.  I'll have to get creative about that!  Since  it hasn't snowed yet I'm going to try walking on the street again-just with the cane.  Whenever I used the walker I ran into little pebbles on the pavement and came to a grinding halt.  My shoulders get so tired I come in early.  But my gait is more surefooted every day, so I think I'll try it without.

I forgot to tell you the results of Stan's Holter monitor.  They found a bit of irregularity, but don't think it's anything life threatening and the meds he's already on are enough to keep it under control.  In fact the doctor said the meds probably masked the irregularity for a long time.  Good thing-I'm in no shape to take care of him!  I don't think he's as vigorous as he used to be-he went hunting Saturday and came home early-too exhausted to stay out longer.  Plus his knees were complaining about walking the hills.  He might be next for a knee replacement or two!

Today

Today I should get my staples out.  I'm very happy-they itch like mad, and I think my "bending therapy" will go better without those dern things pulling.  I had to cancel my PT session with Jason this afternoon because I almost had an overlap.  My appointment with Jason at Bridger Orthopedics is at 1:30 in Bozeman and my appointment with Jason at Excel PT was at 3:00 in Manhattan (30 minutes away).  Didn't sound like I could make the PT so I cancelled.  I still have my machines at home.  I kind of have an abundance of Jasons!  I have some pain in the back of my leg I want Jason (Bridger) to look at, just to make sure it's not a blood clot.  I have 9 blood thinner pills left and if all goes well I will graduate to aspirin.  I decided that, given my age, I would stay on baby aspirin for the rest of my life.  Just a little insurance.  I am able to lift my leg up onto my hassock now, so that's progress!

I have been knitting some.  I am making a toddler's sweater-not sure for what purpose, but it was just a really cute and easy pattern.  I knit a few rows, Facebook a bit, nap a bit, then walk around the house working on my gait-who knew I'd have to learn to walk all over again!  Most of my big blocks of time are spent on my passive motion machine-I'm supposed to do 6 hours a day!  Not there yet, but I'll get there.  The physical therapist said a lot of people get in it at night, turn it on and sleep.  When Millie told Jason she wanted to go back to work after 4 weeks he told her she wouldn't have time-she needs that time to get her new knee in shape.  I will be going back to the church next week, but I only have to work for 5-10 hours a week so I shouldn't stiffen with that much.  Only thing is Stan will have to drive me in, so I probably will work from home for part of it.

A Bit of Progress

My recovery is coming along, hampered only by the fact that I can't take any narcotics.  There were a few bad pain times and I only had Tylenol to take the edge off.  I think I'm beyond the really bad part, now.  I still am sleeping in the guest room so I can prop my head up.  But I can't get past 3:00 A.M. yet.  Of course I'm out by 9:00 P.M. so it isn't horrible.  I work so hard to get the leg limber and after it lays for a bit it stiffens again.  Had my first physical therapy session on Monday, another one today.  I will go twice a week with a goal of a leg extension of 0 degrees and a bend of 120 degrees.  A bit of work, but I'm at 7 degrees and 90 degrees so it could be worse.

I'm still mostly camped in my office, but my bum is getting tired of the same chair and I think I need to walk more.  I'm hoping that today after therapy I'll feel perky enough to stop at the local cafe for a bite of lunch.  Maybe later (or tomorrow) if it doesn't snow I can walk a bit on the street.  I alternate between walker and cane because my upstairs is not particularly set up for a walker.  I'm hoping to spend more time downstairs in the next couple of days, too.  Goals are good.

Well, I think I'm going to instruct Stan on how to make hot buckwheat cereal for a change.  And finish the paper.

Glad That's Over!

Well, I'm home from the hospital!  Tired and sore, and not liking my physical therapy, but time will pass and every day will get better and better.  They tell me 2 weeks are the marker, that after that I will start being glad I did it.  It is very good to be home, and I had superlative care.  They were very careful to note all my allergies.  I ended up not getting much for pain besides Tylenol because even with the anti-nausea meds the narcotics still made me sick.  I could live with the pain.  The anesthesiologist phoned me in pre-op and discussed my allergies.  He told me he would do a spinal and a femoral nerve block.  He must have used more painkiller in the block because my leg has not regained its strength and is in danger of buckling, so I have to wear the immobilizer.  I took it off at home, but I'm very careful-falling would really hurt!

I had THREE allergy wristbands-the admitting nurse said she wasn't taking any chances!

Only thing, I don't think they quite knew how to read the allergy panel report I brought and she listed everything that was on the test, not just the allergens!

 

It was just fine-I would rather they err on the side of caution.  Well, back to resting.  I have a ton of work ahead of me to get the new knee into shape.  They sent me home with an extension board to keep my leg from freezing bended, and a CPM, or continuous passive motion machine which keeps my knee bending.  And I go to a physical therapist.  Whew!  And I can't drive for a while, so I might as well work on my knee.

Tomorrow

Tomorrow is the big day-I get a new knee!  Still kind of shaky about such a big surgery.  I have lots of allergies and it's going to be tricky balancing pain control with the reactions those meds might cause, but I have spent a lot of time discussing this with all the staff involved, so here goes nothing...

Thanks to all those who are praying for me and thinking of me.  I don't know what time it will happen yet, they will call me soon with that bit of info.

I set up my office as a kind of recoup room, since we have stairs in the house and no bathrooms on the main floor.  I have a TV, and my laptop, lots of knitting and my phone so I should survive.  I put together a box of things like napkins, salt and pepper, silverware, cream and sugar to have there-to save Stan a few steps.

I'm off to town to find a footrest and a little table to set up in there.  And to get my City Brew fix before I get cooped up.  Stan has to see the cardiologist today because he has been having some irregular heartbeat so they're fixing him up with a Holter Moniter to wear for a few days.  We're going to look like a fit pair in the hospital!

I should be able to blog a bit unless I'm really out of it, so once I'm home (approx 3 days) I'll be talking to you.  See ya later, Blogland!

Better Today

My knee is not nearly so swollen today, and the pain is a lot less. I still have to be careful climbing stairs, and I won't be doing any crouching for a while, but I think I can coast for a day to see if a doctor's visit is in order. I don't swell much or bruise easily so sometimes it's hard to tell what's going on. My self-diagnosis is that I bruised the bone pretty badly and hopefully there isn't a crack or bone chips. I fell directly on it with all of my *** pounds so that's a lot of force.

The last two trips we've taken, we've had family along that couldn't walk well, or had no energy, so I've been looking forward to doing some hiking or just lots of walking. We don't leave til Tuesday and we'll be there ten days so even if most of the walking has to wait until the last half of the visit that won't be horrible. I kind of need some "happy hour watching the sunset" time anyway.

Well off to the sewing room. I have a set of lined curtains to finish for the neighbor before I leave and I have a couple of hours left on them. Hubs went fishing, the bum!

Reunion

This weekend my high school class celebrated 40 years. We had a fun time, and today a few of us met for lunch, to get just a bit more visiting in and so two who couldn't make it on Saturday could see one lady who lives in Arizona.

I've really been doing a lot of remembering and thinking, thanks to this weekend. We had one girl in our class who was a holy terror. From the first grade on, she bullied me, and judging by the comments today, a few others. I hold no grudge-I'm sure the reason she was the way she was had something to do with either her home life or maybe a chemical imbalance. She actually came to the reunion, but it's pretty obvious life has done a pretty good job of crapping on her.

I left high school and got married about a month after school started in my senior year. I went to another high school for a while, but my high school diploma came in the form of a GED. I even went to college for a while and have taken lots of community classes.

Seeing this lady and remembering all the things she did were actually very freeing because now I realize that nobody can make me a victim like that unless I give them permission. Even though the bullying lasted 11 years, I never took ownership of being the victim. She was very reluctant to talk to me and I think it had to do partly with guilt, but also with the fact that I came out just fine, and she is stuck in her dysfunctional life. I don't think she's matured past junior high.

It was very eye-opening to hear others talk about being bullied by her. If I'd known this before I probably would have enjoyed high school more and probably wouldn't have dropped out.

But if I hadn't dropped out I wouldn't have married Stan, or had my three terrific sons, or all those darling grandkids, so life does have a way of working itself out.

And even though I knew it, it was nice to be reminded that this person has no power over me.