Day 16 - July 18

Today was a non-eventful day except for a few things:

1. I was able to go shopping without a drive around cart!
2. I got a sunburn on my surgery leg and arm
3. My leg ached a little more today

The day started early today. Elizabeth and I cuddled until 10. Then we went to go wake up Meghan. I only took 10 mg of meds at 9..but had to take breakthrough meds. I did my exercises.

Meghan had a book to read for school that we had to pick up from the library. We also took Elizabeth over to Honora's work for a visit.

We ran to the store and Elizabeth and I went shopping for a few things while Meghan walked over to Noodles and Company to get us lunch/dinner.

I was able to WALK the WHOLE time, however, by the time we got to check out (after about 30 minutes) my leg was aching. Then add to that a PAINFULLY SLOW check-out lady and it made for sad ending to a great beginning.

When I woke up I discovered that I had gotten sunburned on my right leg and arm. It is not that bad, but since I am not allowed to use ANYTHING on my leg it makes it a little sad since it does burn a little. My steri-strips are also falling off and for the areas that are not quite healed all the way I am washing with rubbing alcohol and putting a new strip on it. Some places are healing so great! I have a tiny thin scar! The staple holes are the things that are kinda raised. I really think this scar is going to be much better than the one from 15 1/2 years ago!

It is weird, sometimes I feel things in my knee that I do not think I should be able to. It seems like I feel the joint rubbing against each other. But that seems to be impossible since the joint is all fake?? I am confused. I feel it bumping and grinding also. That maybe due to the vibrations that I can feel that...very strange. I wonder how long these feelings will last.

I HAVE to sleep tonight. I am planning on going to bed early tonight (ie before 12 - hopefully as it is 10:30 when I started writing this, than the computer had issues and it is now 11:14). I took 20 mg of my meds tonight... hoping it will help me sleep. I tried only 10 mg last night and slept even worse than before. I need to do my exercises one more time today and then zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Even though I took a nap I still think I will be able to sleep...I sure hope so.

Day 15 - July 17

Today was a good day I was able to catch up on my sleep. I took a really long nap this afternoon 5-8:30pm. Only problem is I am now awake! lol

Anyway, good news. I tried reducing my pain meds today with pretty good results. I only took 10 mg instead of 20 at 9 am today. It worked pretty well and I only needed my break through 5mg one time durning the day after PT about 1pm. I took only 10 mg at 9pm as well and was doing well. But had to take a break through 5mg at about 12am...I am hoping I can wean myself off these narcotics...but I also do not want to let the pain go crazy...balance balance.... I need to go fill my other scripts tomorrow....

It was a sad day because it was the last day with Tanan as my PT we had a great session. She did a lot of hands on work, watched me walk without a cane, up and down stairs and measured me. I finally got a ZERO!!! It was a painful zero...but I got it for the first time since I was 15!!! I also measured a 95 flexion. PT said she is doubtful of the 103 from the DR office...because each person measures slightly different. But it is still more then pre-surgery! I know I will get it even better.
When we did the stairs it was scary. I have fallen down the stairs so many times I do not want to fall ANYMORE...so we can to the agreement that I can go up and down alternating feet when there is a railing, but without anything to hold on to, I will continue to go down like a cripple and go up like a normal person! She said outpatient PT will really work with me on that. Since I have 6 weeks of PT I will learn a lot. She said since I have great mobility already so soon after surgery she thinks the worse part of PT (manual moving the leg forcibly, painfully, and icky) I should not need. I will still have a lot of stretching, massage, etc...but I will do awesome! I really want the next person to push me. I hope he is a good PT... :) I find out Monday morning!
I also saw the nurse this morning and she said I did exactly the right thing with the swollen issues. It is funny...I keep forgetting I had major surgery! ;) she said it was VERY normal what happened and that I handled it good. SO now I know. I have to keep my leg up if I am not using it!
I did my exercises today! I really like doing them. It makes me feel like I am making progress and I am doing something.
Honora, Meghan, Elizabeth, and I had a wonderful picnic outside. We put down a blanket and ate pizza and root bear and Honora got us ice cream from the ice cream man! It was a lot of fun.

Well that is all for today. I have to do my exercises one more time then hit the sack!

Day 14 - July 16 IT'S BEEN 2 WEEKS!!!

Wow...times flies when your healing a knee! :) I can not believe that just 2 short weeks ago I had a totally different knee.

I had a hard day today. When I woke up (after 2 hours sleep) I noticed that my foot was swollen, but I had to go to court so I did not worry about it.

Meghan and I hurried out of the house (with nothing to eat) and ran to get her BF Daniel. It was really cute, he dressed up in a jacket and slacks for court with a cute hat... :)

Than Meghan drove us all to court. We got there early, but that was good because we had to park far away and I can not walk all that fast.

We found out that they double booked court that morning 9-12 so we had to wait until the other case was done (they said it would take 1 hour...it took 2). So we waited and waited. Finally it was my turn. David acted all concerned about Meghan...he just didn't want her to see him being an ass...and asked the Judge if Meghan could be excused from the court room. It was awesome...cause now I have a great reason to get his wife kicked out too! So they both left and it was just David, the Judge and I. It went fairly well.

We discussed the insurance issue first. Since it was my petition I was allowed to talk first. I told the judge about the history of Meghan's insurance - ie David suppose to...did not do...caused huge problems..I got it myself since I could not rely on David...

David than talked...about how how he really tried to get her insurance and that in October he would be able to add her to his work insurance

Judge ruled in my favor and changed it to read that I was going to supply insurance and I would get ALL the money I pay as a credit on the child support worksheet. :) The bad thing is, I do not get credit, reimbursement, or ANYTHING for the 4 1/2 months I paid the insurance premiums...the judge said, "because it was my idea and I did it on my own and even though I had good reason to do it, the order was for David to provide the insurance..." so I lost on that one...since it was 900 dollars...

Then we discussed the medical bills. At first David made it try to seem like he did not know about them and I did not ask his opinion about them. I pointed out that I had proof from all the emails showing OVER and OVER that I tried to discuss it with him and he would not.

So the Judge told us he was going to leave us to talk about it and work something out and he would be gone for 10 minutes. (yah..I know...isn't that the whole reason we are in court???) When he returned I realized he had used it to go have lunch....he was really gone for more than 20 min...Anyway while he was gone. I went through all the bills with David. Told him what they were for and WHY she needed it....yada yada yada...he agreed that he would pay them and told me he would pay me back 100 a month or more...

The Judge asked what we had come up with and David told the judge he agreed and that he would pay it back 100 or more a month. The judge made him tell him exactly what he DEFINITELY would pay so it could be ordered...so in 10 months David will have paid off his debt to me...(IF he pays it) I wish I was that lucky....it was cool also, that he has to pay be back at the higher percentage that was his original % not the new lower %!!! The judge was like, since these bills happened BEFORE the new ruling was in effect, it only makes since that you have to pay it back from the old ruling!!! :) So I won on that.

I told the judge that David did not pay me two child support payments so that was added to the medical bills as well that he has to pay me for.

I tried making David have to PROVE he is paying Honora in order for him to get credit for it...but the judge and David were like "that is a totally different case" it MADE ME MAD!!! Because David is not paying Honora again...so back to court again for that...and believe you me...HE WILL PAY!!!!

Then David brought up getting to claim Meghan on his taxes. I said that it was not fair since when he got to claim her, he got totally free child support for the year and I used EVERY penny I got back on taxes on Meghan and he would not use it on her but for himself.... I lost this battle...but David tried to say that since he had not got to claim her in so long he should get to claim her for the next 3 years (till she is an adult)...I was like HELL NO...I use that to help pay for things she needs and her extra activities...he had the nerve to say that...well if a family can not afford it than the child should not do it..... I was SOOOOO Mad. I was like...oh so you want to tell Meghan she can not be in winter guard and Color guard and such because you want the tax money???? The judge only gave him this year...but it really SCREWS me. I have to change my w-9 at work and I will be getting less money every month now.... grrrrrrrrrrr...I hate that man. I tried convincing the judge that it was not fair that he got way more credits - married, other kids, etc....stupid -itch it was his wife's idea.....

So overall I won...but lost some... :( Now I just have to make sure he gives me the money.....

sigh...if not I will take him back to court for contempt.....

Another bad thing about court was I could not have my leg up for 4 hours...bad news cause my leg and foot swelled even more. We were also STARVING...I had a HUGE headache from no sleep, no food, and stress from court.

Meghan drove us home, I got them us all Chipotle. It was nice Daniel came and kept Meghan company.

We got home and I crashed. When I woke up I saw my foot and leg and freaked a little.

My foot and leg were really swollen. I called Honora and asked her what I should do. She said I should really elevate it and ice the whole leg.....

SO I DID!!!!

I fully iced my leg 3+ times and had it elevated all night. Figured out that the reason it happened was because I was sitting on the side of my bed with my leg hanging down all night preparing for court, and then having to sit in a hard chair all day at court. I also did my exercises and then went back to elevating and icing. FINALLY I saw the swelling go down...it started moving down my foot and then down my leg. Meme kept me company...she was very concerned about me again! :) It really improved by the time I went to bed (ie 2 - I know Becki I need to sleep!!!) I am really glad it went down. I was really concerned and so was Honora...she said if it did not go down we would have to go to the DR tomorrow... :)

Good Night!

Day 13 - July 15 - Post-op Day

I was unable to post this yesterday because I was up all night, literally ALL night (ie 5:30 am) working on making sure everything was ready for court today.

So anyway, Tuesday night I had a really tough time sleeping because I was nervous how the DR visit would go. I stayed up pretty late (ie 2am) doing my exercises. Then I used my CPM machine for an hour, than iced my knee and slept for a few hours. I woke up at 5....walked around some. Iced knee again and tried to go back to sleep. Than woke at 7 and used my CPM machine again, to loosen up my knee. Than I did my exercises for an 1/2 an hour. Than Honora, Elizabeth, and I went to their WIC appointment. (I can not drive yet so I get other people to drive me around)

Than after the WIC appointment we raced over to my appointment. We were a little late, but that was okay because the office always is running late and thus we ended up having to wait anyways.

When I got to the office a lady asked me if I had surgery at Sky Ridge (I did) and she saw me on my surgery day and she said I am walking WAY better than I did before surgery. I still used my walker, but I am walking really well. While we waited my leg started aching and the best thing to do is get up and move, so I did.

Than they finally called me back. Everyone was VERY impressed at how well I was doing. Dr Harrison (the PA) measured my flexion and it was...... 103!!!! It was so exciting. I told the nurse and the PA that I was worried about the staples because of the bad experience last time. She said the same thing "it will only pinch a little" I was like "the last guy told me that to and I almost punched him in the face when he took the first one out." I told him "don't tell people how it will feel if you have never had it done."

These are the tools they used to remove my staples. Then that PA came in. He washed my knee up really well. He had me lie down. Then he removed the first staple...... IT DIDN'T HURT!!!! It was great. Only a few of them stung a little.

Then he put some sort of glue and then covered the whole incision with steri-strips. These will fall off on their own in 5-7 days. I am suppose to use alcohol on them 2x's a day and after every shower. I can take a normal shower (except I can't wash that specific area) and pat it dry. I took a shower last night, the hot water helps relax my muscles.

I showed the DR I could walk without anything! It was exciting. I am doing so well.

I got my questions answered:

1. When can I stop the Oxycontin - within the next week or 2 I have a new script for vicoden
2. can I use a cane instead of a walker - yes as soon as you feel you are ready
3. how am I doing - very good
4. when can I swim and go in a hot tub - 6 weeks after the surgery :( this was sad since hot water really helps the muscle pain
5. Am I doing better/worse than expected - much better
6. can I use lotion - no :( when can I use lotion - after the incision is completely healed (ie scar no scabs)
7. can I use anything help to moisturize, my skin is so dry - not right now, after incision heals after steri-strips fall off can use vitamin E - but don't use too soon, can cause bacteria to grow
8. more nausea script - yes
9. How long do I use the shots - till they are gone (I have 5 more left)
10. How long do I take my antibiotics - till they are gone (I have 3 more left)
11. when can I start to take anti-inflammatory - after shots are done
12. When can I use stairs like a normal person - when I am ready
13. is it safe to kneel on my knee and when - after incision heals and it is fine
14. Home PT or Clinic PT - outpatient clinic PT starting next week (I have a script and set up my appointments for the next 2 weeks)
15. there is a weird sound in my knee is it normal - yes, it will eventually go away
16. when can I stop worrying about blood clots and infections - blood clots by week 6 post-op infection the rest of my life
17. when are bad side effect like pulmonary embolisms, etc no longer an issue - after week 6 post-op
18. Wound care for my knee steri-strips - no lotion, pat dry, 2x day alcohol
19. When do I start scar massage - PT will probably start it next week
20. do I need to use more steri-strips - probably not they are glued down and will fall off on their own

After the Dr appointment we came back home. I was pretty exhausted. I wanted to take a nap but my PT was coming.

My PT came, she was great like always. My knee was much better than Monday. She did her hands on a lot, showed me new standing exercises and showed me how to walk with a cane.

When she left I took a little nap. Meghan, Daniel, Honora, and Elizabeth all headed for her house. they moved her furniture back, took a dip in the pool, and brought back dinner. I took a 2 hour nap. than woke up and wrote a reference letter and finished a work project I had forgotten.

Honora, Elizabeth, and I went for a walk. We discovered that I walk MUCH better without anything. So I am walking independently on my own...no cane, walker, or crutches and it is only week 2 post-op!!

I discovered that I lost my videos of my Meghan when she was little... :( :( it was very depressing.

Than I spent the night getting ready for court......

I did my exercises and went to bed...I did not get much sleep

Day 12 - July 14 - questions questions

Today was a good day. I have exercised and exercised. My knee was pretty stiff again. My muscles are definitely getting a good work out. I took a really hot shower and used my hand held shower head to massage my muscles with hot water. That helped a lot, I will be able to do my 3rd set of exercises. My muscles are still really sore. I am hoping that Meghan will give my leg a massage today...

I went for another long walk today. We (Meghan, Elizabeth, and me) walked down to the mail box and got the mail. I NEVER would have dreamed of walking that far before! It really shows how much I have healed and changed! The pain was starting again about 6ish, so I begged Meghan to go for a walk with me.

She was great. She made us a really yummy lunch today. Turkey cheese burgers with lettuce and tomatoes.

My 1st post-op visit with my Dr is tomorrow. I get my staples out!!!! I am going to ask him some questions:

1. When would be a good time to start weaning myself off the meds
2. When can I use a cane to walk
3. how am I doing
4. when can I swim or go in a hot tub (I think this will help my sore muscles)
5. am I doing better/worse than he expected
6. can I put lotion on my incision? if not when?
7. can I put anything on it to help moisturize it - it is very dry
8. can I get a new nausea script
9. how long do I continue giving myself shots (I have 5 left)
10. how long do I continue my antibiotic (I have 3 left)
11. when can I take an anti-inflammatory
12. when can I use stairs normally
13. is kneeling bad for the knee
14. do I continue home PT or do I have outpatient PT
15. What is the clicking, popping sound in my knee (is it a bad thing or nothing to worry about)

Well that is all I can think of...I hope tomorrow goes well. I am concerned about the removal of the 41 staples...I am worried that I will not be able to extend or flex my leg as much as normal because it is in the morning and I am always really stiff in the morning. I am worried I am not doing as well as I think I am doing.

Well, I got to get some sleep. I have to do my exercises and hit the sack.

I can't believe it has been 12 days....

Day 11 - July 13 - a day of lessons learned

Today started out rough, but it gave me vital information that I can use to help my recovery fuller!

I had PT first thing in the morning and I did not stretch or use my CPM machine before she can. We had a really tough time getting my leg limber and awake. It was also much more painful. This gives me the information:

1. My leg is MUCH stiffer in the morning
2. I need to do stretching and strengthening exercises 1st thing in the AM
3. Before PT I need to use my CPM machine as well as my exercises
4. Before my DR appointment on Wednesday (post-op) I need to use my CPM machine and exercises

Finally after working hard, I finally got the same measurements as on Friday. This really bummed me out since I have worked so hard this weekend on my knee. But I really feel I would have had better measurements if my knee was not so stiff.

I have GREAT news! I am able to walk completely around my house WITHOUT my walker, cane, crutches ANYTHING!!! And I WALK I do not LIMP!!!!! YAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I look like a normal person for the first time in a long time.

I also learned another thing. My 12 hour meds really only last 8-9 hours. So I need to be proactive about this and take the break through meds sooner. However, I only need to take 1 break through med not 2. I am also trying to find a way to test to see if I can lower my 12 hour dosage without causing pain. So after I see the Dr on Wednesday I am going to try to lower my dosage to just 1 pill every 12 hours instead of 2...If it doesn't work I will wait a few days and try again. My focus is on staying pain managed though so I can recover fast like I have been. However, I need to have a plan on weaning myself off the meds. Oxycotin is synthetic heroin and I do not want to become addicted. So this has to be part of my recovery game plan.

Since I waited a little too long to take my break through meds, Honora was worried the pain would get out of control and that nothing would bring it down. But I remember that last time I was in pain Honora suggested that I take a walk and it helped bring the pain under control. So I was like...I need a walk. So Meghan and Daniel came with me. IT HELPED!!! So 1 pill and a nice brisk walk helps the pain get controllable!!!

I also made another major accomplishment. I was able to walk (with my walker) all the way down to the mailboxes and back. I really want to get a pedometer so I can see how far I am walking. Meghan and Daniel came with me and they both said I was walking normal and FAST! That is awesome. My arms, back, and hands were the things to get tired out! My legs did great. My feet also did better than last time. I need to get off the walker as soon as possible because my hands/wrists do not like it much! But I also do not want to compromise my progress. I am dedicated to work my butt off, BUT NOT hurt myself.

It was exciting, after the walk and I iced my knee I discovered that I gave myself a sore right calf!!! It was exciting, it has been such a long time since I used my right calf muscle enough for it to be sore from exercise.

I also had a nice day relaxing and playing with Elizabeth. It really helps me not feel so useless. It also helps me not be so bored. I was also able to do some laundry.

I am very excited with my progress. I think I am doing really well and Honora is really proud of how fast I am recovering. I showed her today how I can walk without my walker!!!!

It has been nice having her here, especially for company. I really do not NEED the help but I do NEED to company. We are use to hanging out a lot, so if she was not here...I think I would be lonely.

Well that is all for now. Meghan has to drive Daniel home (I get to ride shotgun) and then I need to come back and do my 3 set of exercises and go to bed!

Hopefully we can jump start my car, the battery is currently dead. I need to find out what is wrong and get it fixed as soon as possible!

Day 10 - July 12, 2009

I can not believe I have been home for a week. The days seemed to by so slowly, but now that a week has past it seems like it zoomed by.

I was getting cabin fever and we needed milk again, so Meghan took me to the store. It went well, except I forgot to take my scheduled pills and I was a little late taking them. But it wasn't too bad.

I am almost out of nausea pills - and the problem is I took my pain pills without a nausea pill and now my stomach feels icky...I do not know if the 2 events coincide...I hope not.

I did my exercises 3 times today - it was easy! I also went on two walks. I went on a walk with Meghan about 2pm, but it started raining so we came back earlier. I am walking further each time I go out. Than this evening, about 6pm I started to feel like I was in a lot of pain, I took a pain pill, but I get antsy when it hurts. Honora saw I was not feeling good and she suggested a walk to help work out the pain...I had never thought of that before...BUT IT WORKED!!! Very exciting, I walked even further (then had to turn back early again because of Honora needing to pee..lol) It was great!

Today was a good day, I am glad I was able to get out of the house. I am really tired and need to go to bed RIGHT now.

After begging her and begging her I finally get to watch Elizabeth tomorrow. It will be a nice distraction to all the boredom!

My PT comes tomorrow at 9am so I better get some shut-eye!