Day 6 - July 8, 2009

Well I knew when I woke up this morning it might be a rough day. I did not sleep very well again. I had to sleep sitting up so that I do not get pneumonia, but the problem with that is I can not use my CPM so my leg gets very stiff and sore by morning. I took my morning pills an hour early today. That helped. Meghan was still sleeping so I let her sleep and I got myself breakfast (cereal). I also put my leg in the CPM as well as did my PT exercises.

The day ended up going well. Since I let Meghan sleep in she was in a much better mood today. She was back to being her wonderful self. I rested off and on all day. The pain stayed under a 4 all day, except when I had muscle spasms in my leg....crazy feeling :). Daniel also came over today, so Meghan had a nice distraction.

I did my PT exercises 2 1/2 times today, it really helps my knee. I have also done a LOT of straighting exercises. I talked to Honora in the AM, she is still sick :( I was telling her a little about the PT lady yesterday and she got very upset. She told me I needed to let my home care people know that I wanted a new PT person. The more I talked and listened to her, the more I knew she was right and I had to be an advocate for my health. So I called them and cried a little. The more I talked about everything that happened the more I realized how much it affected me and bothered me.

She: made comments that she lived really far away and did not want that to be the reason she did not come see me as much, she said that I probably would not get much more flexion and extension as what I had pre-op. I had 2 issues with my walking and she did not know how to help me with them and thought maybe if she help my hips I would be able to figure out what I was doing wrong. I NEED someone to TEACH me how to move and walk again. It has been over 16 years since I did not limp...I NEED HELP. That is what physical therapists are suppose to be able to do, see what you are doing wrong and tell you how to fix it. She also said she totally understood why I was favoring my bad leg...it was normal. BUT I DO NOT WANT to be NORMAL. I want to recover and have both legs be my "good" leg. I did not have this surgery so that everything could stay the same.... it was really hard. She said that she did not want to push me too hard or have me do too much (this was after I repetitively told her I WANTED to be pushed, I would DO WHATEVER she said so that I could have a fast recovery and get back to being normal). She also was not prepared. She did not have supplies with her to help me exercise. She did not know what exercises Dr. Xenos wanted me to do...she was flying by the seat of her pants...and relying on me to tell her what I was suppose to do. She was a nice person and all, but I do not think she would have helped me.

The Home care people said that they would get me a new PT person and they were very sorry and the big boss was going to call me about it. It was nice to know I was not over-reacting and I was able to get the care I needed.

My new PT person will be coming tomorrow. I am nervous but excited. Hopefully this will be a good match. I want someone to push me and make me push myself. I WANT this to be successful. I want someone who is on my side and wants the same thing I do.... and NORMAL leg!!!

So I did my exercises and even went for a walk yesterday. I also moved my leg and knee a lot all day long stretching it and strengthening it!!

TMI - I finally got the back door plumbing fixed! After no #2 since the surgery I was able to go 3 times yesterday!!! I was very worried about this. I was also started to have discomfort in my stomach.

I am also proud to say that my appetite is better. UNLESS I have to decide what to eat. I would rather not eat than think that much about food...it makes me nauseous. But I was able to eat a nice size yummy lunch that Meghan fixed for us. Hot dogs, cherries, chips, apple juice, and 3 cookies :)

Meghan also made a good dinner, but I was not as hungry. We had cheese ravioli and green beans.

THANK YOU MEGHAN!!!!

Around 7 I got some great news! Honora called and just told me that she is feeling good enough to come back over!!!! I am just so glad she is on the road to recovery. She was really jacked up sick again!

My constant companion Meme...is so happy I am stuck at home and in bed! She is a very happy kitty to have me near her all the time.

I still got a little of a fever tonight 100.8, it went down again with Tylenol, but I do not like it. I still have a little cough, so I can not sleep in my CPM machine (cause I have to be lying down) but I was able to do it more during the night. I slept a little better last night. Not much better, but a little. Because I was able to use the CPM during the night a little, I was not quite as stiff and sore.

All in all I had a great day! I am recovering well. Honora is very impressed with how lucid and painless I am doing. I am proud of my self. But I still have a long way to go to make sure I meet my goals EVERY DAY!!!

BTW, I love walking! It is a great feeling...I am still struggling with my 'good leg'. It really does not know how to walk. Though Meghan said I looked better. My 'good' foot HURT!!! lol :) it was funny. My bionic knee felt great, my biological knee felt good - the foot was like....what the hell! I definitely need to teach it how to walk.