Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Today's the Day

I'm heading off to the surgery center in a bit.  Yes, I'm nervous.  No, I didn't get everything I wanted done but I did accomplish a lot in the past two weeks around the house.

I'll be non-weight-bearing for six weeks.  I'm a total klutz using crutches on the staircase.  I mean, a serious case of klutziness.  I can barely walk on a flat floor with them but I've been practicing.  As I think I've said here before, I'm ambidextrous.  Although I now focus on my right hand, my left hand is in constant motion.  For instance, I mouse left-handed.  I played reed instruments for years using two hands simultaneously.  I played basketball in high school and dribbled with both hands.  But for the life of me, I cannot use crutches.  I get my left leg going where my right leg should be ... it's not pretty.

I don't know exactly how the upstairs/downstairs thing will work when I get home.  Bedrooms and full baths are upstairs.  But I know me well enough to know that I'll figure something out.  I've readied the sleeper sofa downstairs just in case.

Penny is boarded until further notice.  I have hired someone to come a couple of hours each day to get me up and bathed and dressed, maybe fed.  Friends and loved ones will, I'm sure, be checking in on me.  It'll work.  It just won't be fun at all. 

This year has been a total waste for me, hasn't it?

I'm going to set up my Ezi table with a Bernina in the main house.  I have three quilts that need bindings.  I hope to be able to work on those in a couple of weeks.  I know I won't feel like doing them right away but my goal is to get them finished before I'm weight-bearing again.  That's a small goal. I can do that.

The thing I'm dreading most is the anesthesia.  I get so sick no matter what anti-nausea stuff they give me.  I mean, sick as a dog for 48 hours.  Then it's over.  So that's another small goal for me - not be sick for the first 48 hours.  I'm going to try real hard to do that, too.

Thanks in advance for any good thoughts sent my way today.  I'll talk to everyone on the flip side!

25 comments:

Suzette said...

I'll send a prayer up for you-for a successful procedure and a smooth recovery.

Anonymous said...

Best wishes, hope you sail on. Could be you could ask for a PT specialist to check your crutches, make sure they are not too short or too long so your shoulders and underarms don't get strained. PT rooms typically have a step apparatus you could practice on under supervision and they can give you all their golden tips for navigating. My husband went 2-3 mos with the 3 bones in his lower leg and ankle broken till it could be repaired and the home health PT person who came out was a godsend as he couldn't put any pressure on the leg/foot to dress, get out of bed, or use the bathroom, much less stairs. Keep us posted, will keep you in my prayers. Anyone brave enough to move from L.A. to LA can get past this. Good luck. Stephani in N. TX (Tomazec@aol.com)

Laura said...

My best wishes and prayers are headed your way. You've got this!

Sherrill said...

Remembering you in my prayers for successful surgery as surgeon's hands are guided by the Heavenly Father and for a quick and painless recovery. Hoping all that is restored to the point it should be and needs to be for you so that you can get on with all that you want and need to do!!

Marilyn said...

Gotcha covered!

Gretchen said...

Wishing you all the best for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery! My thoughts are with you and with dear Penny who will miss you and her everyday routines.

Anonymous said...

Praying for you! It will all be okay. I fell in the shower 2 years ago and severed my hamstring - tore the entire tendon off the pelvic bone. I had to be non-weightbearing for weeks after the surgery as well. It was doable. I must say that for around the house a walker was my best friend. And a wheel chair. A walker is much easier, and safer, than crutches. Hoping all goes well for you! Colleen C.

Marlene said...

All the very best for your surgery. Hope it goes well and they have the vomiting sorted this time. Good luck with the crutches.

julieQ said...

No, it has been a wonderful year too!! You got to move home, to an amazing place, and you are working on getting healthy. Great year girl, and more to come!! Best of luck to you on your upcoming surgery!!

Karen said...

You certainly have had a hard go of it for a number of months. I hope the surgery is the final step for you in getting back to the things you love to do.
I used to get sick with the anesthesia too but things have improved with what they use and I have not gotten sick the last few times.

Kyle said...

Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Darlene said...

Lots and lots of hugs! You got this, Sweetie!

ILY

Barbara said...

I broke my ankle and when I told the doctor I lived in a 3 story house, he said "lots of stairs on your butt". So, that's how I got up and down - scooted down on my butt and went up backwards on my butt, dragging the crutches with me. Hardest part was standing up at the top. Trips downstairs to the kitchen were expeditions to be carefully planned and only happened twice a day. I hired a friend to do my laundry, grocery shopping and mail fetching.

Good luck. Hope you recover quickly.

Barbara at Stash Overflow

mascanlon said...

You have got this! I know it's been a long year but you'll be out the other side by Fall and firing on all cylinders! Hugs and prayers.

Mary in Peoria Handmade said...

Oh my goodness. I pray you heal quickly. What a project that must be just to function with daily tasks. Hopefully some hand sewing will help pass the time. Best wishes. Mary in Glendale Az.

Southland Woods Lane said...

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I broke my ankle two years ago and for the life of me could not navigate crutches. Switched to a walker and it was SO much better. I also used a wheelchair. If you have two walkers you can keep one downstairs and one upstairs. You can scoot up the stairs backwards on your butt and scoot forward one step at a time to go down. I could not use my sewing machine and it was driving me nuts. I took up English Paper Piecing. I have a personality that does not take well to being 'trapped' from doing what I want to do. I found that the wheelchair around the house and outdoors was such a relief. It takes a little time to get used to your temporary new normal, but before you know it the experience will be behind you.

crazy quilter said...

Sending healing thoughts your way. I know you can do this. I wish I lived closer I would do the machine sewing part of your bindings then all you would need to do is sit and stitch. I know everthing will turn out just fine. Fingers crossed you don't get sick from the medicine. Keep your chin up! everything will be good in no time.

Ruth Ann said...

Best wishes for a speedy recovery. I hope you managed to avoid the nausea this time.

Susan said...

Good luck with your surgery and recovery! We'll all be right here waiting for you when you get better :o)

Jo said...

Been thinking about you, praying all is healing well and you are in good spirits :0) Bear hugs

Dondi M said...

I hope the new anesthesia helped you. I'm a couple of days late on reading this. I was happily surprised a few years ago to find I didn't throw up as I used to after surgery.

Use lots and lots of ice. Maybe everywhere since you are in the southern LA. Your former LA didn't get too hot, but your new LA gets steamy.

How about if some cute, healthy, nice, sweet, football player volunteers to do weight lifting by carrying you up and down your stairs whenever you need to change floors? I'll go outside tonight and wish for this.

Mimi said...

Wishing you the best Vicky.

Tricia said...

I have just read your surgery post, although a little late! By now, you are through the surgery and the dreaded first 48 hours. Hoping you are hanging in there and getting through the worst of it. Know that we out here in blogland are wishing you well!

suz said...

Hope everything went well for your surgery. I understand your concerns as I had surgery at the beginning of February. It all went surprising well although I was pretty much a zombie for a couple of weeks. Sending you prayers.

Rebecca said...

Hope this finds you mending, no pun intended ;-D nicely. I think about Penny being boarded too. Hope you both will be back together soon, if not already. Also think about the cute kitten you rescued - hope it has a wonderful home now. I saw an adult cat with those same markings just recently - he could have been the kitten's father. But, I don't think so this one is in VA....Take care...time flies so soon you will be kicking high.