I don't know if it is the switch of the weather, but I had this same problem this same exact time of year last spring.
My back is working on going out.
Last year, it was a 2" dip (yes, 2 inches) into K's closet to get something that threw it out. I have tried twisting, twirling and rocking back and forth like an egg. I smell of Icy Hot. I've taken Advil.
I feel 80.
Because the theme of life around here is not to stop, I must press on and make a frame for a church auction. When is it due? Like any good artist I know, I've kept up the tradition-- it's due today.
I have my mom and grandpa to thank for the back. My sister has it, too.
:Elvis lip snicker:
Ouch. The good news is that this should be over in a week. Hopefully.
Showing posts with label Achy-breaky parts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Achy-breaky parts. Show all posts
Friday, April 12, 2013
Monday, March 26, 2012
Upright and functional.
I know that each and every one of you were sitting on the edge of your seats just waiting for the next installment of, "Oh, snap! My back!" Well, I'm happy to report that I was able to get it stretched all back out and other than a bit of sciatica on the right, I'm good to go.
I can twist.
I can move.
Hooray!
Have a good day!
I can twist.
I can move.
Hooray!
Have a good day!
Friday, March 23, 2012
Why yes. Thank you for asking. I do have the air of Ben Gay about my person.
Y'all, my sister and I have been gifted the crap back that my mother has. Now, I've had a spit-spot of trouble every now and then, but nothing like what hit me yesterday. I was in a big box. I was looking for some potting soil to use to start patching the grass in the yard. I found it in Big Box that is being reconstructed. Big Box had it on a shelf, at about high rib cage high on me. (Remember, I'm 5'1", so that's not that high to the average human.) I picked up the first back and thought, "Hmm." I walked a few paces and opted to get another. That's when it happened. It felt like someone was standing behind me and beating me with a very stiff, wire brush in about a 12" band across the mid to lower back. At this point, I knew that I had to lump it and carry on. I cashed out and heave-hoed the offending bags of soil into my vehicle.
I couldn't sit comfortably at all, but knew that I was in close enough proximity to the thrift that I wasn't going to waste the trip to have to run back out with gas prices hovering around $3.99. I did score on a boat load of bed sheets that were immediately laundered when I got home. K- got home and we had to run up to another section of town to pick up a remaining Easter basket item for Hubs. While that direction, we hit the craft store for a t-shirt K- requires for the 2nd grade tie dying project. We hit the local discounter to look for grass seed, but cashed in on lots of lovely produce and some food items.
It is at this point that my back still felt like it was going to fall apart and I, of course, opted to not take a cart. K- suggested. K- nearly insisted. "Nah. We won't need it." I'm just thankful that the cantaloupe that she dropped did bounce and not break. Yes, we did buy the one she bounced.
We made it through rush hour traffic and I was still having sitting issues. Truth be told, I was having mid-section movement issues. I hobbled out of the car. I hobbled into the house. I got dinner prepared (homemade safe pizza, pasta salad and steamed broccoli) and after dinner, I was out. I was down for the count.
I was in bed at 6:45 PM.
I tried heating it out and I wasn't certain of the success. In the middle of the night, I decided to snuggle up with an ice pack. Hubs had apparently tried to come to bed, thought the better of it and shuttled off to the couch. I think that he just felt so bad for me that he was afraid that any movement might hurt. The ice pack that I could find at 3 AM without waking Hubs was one of those hard gel filled numbers. I wrapped it in a towel, and wedged it under my back with one of Hubs' abandoned pillows.
It may have helped but I can't tell you for sure.
This AM, I woke up and was mighty stiff. Dr. W- was definitely on my list of things to schedule in for the day. I got up, made K-'s lunch, got her to the bus stop and came home. I decided that I would try to roll myself up into a ball and I rocked back and forth all over the bed. The success was that my hip popped. I know that sounds odd to consider that success, but I seriously thought that perhaps my back would crack next. While that has yet to happen, I've been able to stretch things back out and while I am still not pain free by any stretch, I can now tie my shoes, wear pants other than the yoga pants that I had to wear today and (TMI) bathrooming is much, much easier. I'll just say that when all you can do is to sit and stand straight, any side twisting movement is killer. I was able to carry on with my day and I skipped a trip to Dr. W-. (He's a D.O., so he is pretty proficient in manipulation. I figured he could give me a chiropractic-like adjustment if needed. He did it right after K- and I were in the accident that totaled the previous RAV.)
Mom told me to go buy Icy Hot. I was thrilled to see the Icy Hot (deodorant-like) stick and right underneath it was Epsom Salts. Can't hurt! Hubs came in, "What stinks?" "Oh, that would be me. It is my new geriatric perfume."
Now if you'll pardon me, I've been out of the tub for long enough to now slather myself up again with my new scent.
Have a great night!
I couldn't sit comfortably at all, but knew that I was in close enough proximity to the thrift that I wasn't going to waste the trip to have to run back out with gas prices hovering around $3.99. I did score on a boat load of bed sheets that were immediately laundered when I got home. K- got home and we had to run up to another section of town to pick up a remaining Easter basket item for Hubs. While that direction, we hit the craft store for a t-shirt K- requires for the 2nd grade tie dying project. We hit the local discounter to look for grass seed, but cashed in on lots of lovely produce and some food items.
It is at this point that my back still felt like it was going to fall apart and I, of course, opted to not take a cart. K- suggested. K- nearly insisted. "Nah. We won't need it." I'm just thankful that the cantaloupe that she dropped did bounce and not break. Yes, we did buy the one she bounced.
We made it through rush hour traffic and I was still having sitting issues. Truth be told, I was having mid-section movement issues. I hobbled out of the car. I hobbled into the house. I got dinner prepared (homemade safe pizza, pasta salad and steamed broccoli) and after dinner, I was out. I was down for the count.
I was in bed at 6:45 PM.
I tried heating it out and I wasn't certain of the success. In the middle of the night, I decided to snuggle up with an ice pack. Hubs had apparently tried to come to bed, thought the better of it and shuttled off to the couch. I think that he just felt so bad for me that he was afraid that any movement might hurt. The ice pack that I could find at 3 AM without waking Hubs was one of those hard gel filled numbers. I wrapped it in a towel, and wedged it under my back with one of Hubs' abandoned pillows.
It may have helped but I can't tell you for sure.
This AM, I woke up and was mighty stiff. Dr. W- was definitely on my list of things to schedule in for the day. I got up, made K-'s lunch, got her to the bus stop and came home. I decided that I would try to roll myself up into a ball and I rocked back and forth all over the bed. The success was that my hip popped. I know that sounds odd to consider that success, but I seriously thought that perhaps my back would crack next. While that has yet to happen, I've been able to stretch things back out and while I am still not pain free by any stretch, I can now tie my shoes, wear pants other than the yoga pants that I had to wear today and (TMI) bathrooming is much, much easier. I'll just say that when all you can do is to sit and stand straight, any side twisting movement is killer. I was able to carry on with my day and I skipped a trip to Dr. W-. (He's a D.O., so he is pretty proficient in manipulation. I figured he could give me a chiropractic-like adjustment if needed. He did it right after K- and I were in the accident that totaled the previous RAV.)
Mom told me to go buy Icy Hot. I was thrilled to see the Icy Hot (deodorant-like) stick and right underneath it was Epsom Salts. Can't hurt! Hubs came in, "What stinks?" "Oh, that would be me. It is my new geriatric perfume."
Now if you'll pardon me, I've been out of the tub for long enough to now slather myself up again with my new scent.
Have a great night!
Monday, November 7, 2011
Busy week = bloggy break.
I had a busy weekend, one that was more busy with home stuff than outside stuff. That's good. For the first time since ye ole snapping o' the metatarsal, all laundry is brought up to speed, folded and! put away. Navigating the steps with laundry was not something so easy for me to do up until this point, a day of going through K-'s drawers for items grown out of and making space for new things, hauling laundry up and down landed me with a rather sore foot at the end of the night. No, I don't think it is what Dr. W- meant by "don't do anything crazy," but at least I accomplished good things for the pain that I endured. A good thing is that now I can stand on the front of my feet (like I'm standing in heels.) I showed Hubs. He asked that I not do that again. I think that the loud crack is still too loud in his head.
I've assembled 290 PTA directories for our school. The assembly alone took me probably 7 hours, but that part is done. I now have to staple membership cards to the front of each book and sort according to classrooms. The classrooms I have to look up, so that will take an awesome amount of time, as well. All told, so far this membership gig has taken probably 60 hours in in-put and directory creation. I easily have another 3 hours to go in just membership card stapling and piling for distribution. The lady who handed this job off to me never made mention of all that. Argh.
Yesterday, I did grocery shopping with many coupons. I'm not an extreme shopper and they wouldn't at all be impressed with my spending vs. saving, but I did save $35.00 in coupons and yes, it is for things that we need. A lot of baking things were on sale and I had coupons. We needed cereal and granola bars. I bought toothpaste and other basics. It took a lot of time, though. Thank goodness K- brought her DS with her. She sat in the cart and played while I shopped.
This week, I have the final decorating push before the Holiday Open House. I'll be working longacious hours.
Sometime this week, 200 shirts will be ready for me to sort and distribute at school.
Friday, I have a pizza party for 45 kids.
K- has decided to grow her bangs out. That leaves me trying to figure out how to pin her thick bangs out of her face everyday so that she looks nice and not like a shaggy dog. I think I'll get it figured out. This morning, a touch of hair spray had to be used. She was none too pleased with that, but I told her that girls aren't having bangs so much in the 3rd grade anyhow, so it is perfect that she's decided to grow them out now. Once they get far enough along, I'll take her for a real hair cut (it'll be her first not done by me) to blend those puppies in. I'm not thinking that is until late spring, though.
:deep breath:
Oh, and did I fail to mention that my brother has managed to pull a stint at our local federal housing? What does that mean? What that means is that he got tossed in jail. It's a big mess of yucky detail, but I can say from the bottom of my heart that though I know that he's made bad decisions, he could have left and didn't, I believe that he was falsely accused and that he's in the big house for sheer stupidity. :glove smack: I love my brother with all my heart, but until he starts making better decisions for himself and removes himself from toxic situations, we can't do anything to save him until he comes to that conclusion on his own. In the meantime, we pray.
I shuttle onward. I've borrowed a big ole stapler that I have to drop off at school while on my way to work. The PTA directory is going to kill me before my brothers dumb decisions do.
Have a great week!
I've assembled 290 PTA directories for our school. The assembly alone took me probably 7 hours, but that part is done. I now have to staple membership cards to the front of each book and sort according to classrooms. The classrooms I have to look up, so that will take an awesome amount of time, as well. All told, so far this membership gig has taken probably 60 hours in in-put and directory creation. I easily have another 3 hours to go in just membership card stapling and piling for distribution. The lady who handed this job off to me never made mention of all that. Argh.
Yesterday, I did grocery shopping with many coupons. I'm not an extreme shopper and they wouldn't at all be impressed with my spending vs. saving, but I did save $35.00 in coupons and yes, it is for things that we need. A lot of baking things were on sale and I had coupons. We needed cereal and granola bars. I bought toothpaste and other basics. It took a lot of time, though. Thank goodness K- brought her DS with her. She sat in the cart and played while I shopped.
This week, I have the final decorating push before the Holiday Open House. I'll be working longacious hours.
Sometime this week, 200 shirts will be ready for me to sort and distribute at school.
Friday, I have a pizza party for 45 kids.
K- has decided to grow her bangs out. That leaves me trying to figure out how to pin her thick bangs out of her face everyday so that she looks nice and not like a shaggy dog. I think I'll get it figured out. This morning, a touch of hair spray had to be used. She was none too pleased with that, but I told her that girls aren't having bangs so much in the 3rd grade anyhow, so it is perfect that she's decided to grow them out now. Once they get far enough along, I'll take her for a real hair cut (it'll be her first not done by me) to blend those puppies in. I'm not thinking that is until late spring, though.
:deep breath:
Oh, and did I fail to mention that my brother has managed to pull a stint at our local federal housing? What does that mean? What that means is that he got tossed in jail. It's a big mess of yucky detail, but I can say from the bottom of my heart that though I know that he's made bad decisions, he could have left and didn't, I believe that he was falsely accused and that he's in the big house for sheer stupidity. :glove smack: I love my brother with all my heart, but until he starts making better decisions for himself and removes himself from toxic situations, we can't do anything to save him until he comes to that conclusion on his own. In the meantime, we pray.
I shuttle onward. I've borrowed a big ole stapler that I have to drop off at school while on my way to work. The PTA directory is going to kill me before my brothers dumb decisions do.
Have a great week!
Sunday, October 30, 2011
My husband pulled me in a wagon and my aunt still wants to buy me diabetic orthopedic shoes.
Thursday was trick or treat at my parents house. I sent K- and Hubs off to go treating with my sister and her clan. I stayed back, my niece and I talked about funny things, but I still felt left out. T- and I went trick or treating by car to the neighbor's house.
"Vern, I broke my foot or I would have trick or treated with the family. :while holding out a trick or treat bag: May I still have my Cracker Jacks?"
He smirked and said certainly. Plunk and in fell my yearly box o' Cracker Jack goodness.
Friday was my daughter's Halloween parade for school. I would have walked the parade route, but Dr. W- would hunt me down and beat me with the Aircast that he just sprung me from. Instead, I hung back at the room and got everything ready for the kids.
Saturday was our trick or treat. My sister and her entourage arrived for dinner, then we went off to trick or treat together. LeAnne and her partner brought their flat bed wagon. (The sides need replaced and M- hasn't gotten to it yet. He works and is kind of busy.) I was going to have them leave it back, but Hubs said that he would haul it. It only took me hoofing it what would be the equivalent of around an entire city block to have to park and ride. I was outfitted with the red light saber so that people didn't hit us, and Hubs dragged me for the remaining blocks. God bless the man. I'm just not the 97 pounds I was when we married.
My aunt has insisted on my having new shoes. She insisted on springing for those for me. (Not necessary, BTW.) Since I was dodging the Dr. Comfort catalog in hopes for a wonderful pair of Saucony, Hubs, K- and I went on down to DSW and found these. Street shoes didn't satisfy Aunt Donna. She's decided that the diabetic hikers that she wants to buy me are these. :insert big frowny face: I love my aunt and that is why I boldly told her, "I will never wear those." Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to hurt her feelings, but it seems insane to purchase expensive boots for me that will never ever ever ever ever (get that?) be worn ever. (Just in case you didn't get the first 4 evers.) The Saucony's were only $47.50 with tax (I had a coupon.) I thought I got out for cheap and that she would be thrilled. As we talked, I mentioned that Hubs just bought me new LL Bean hiking boots at the end of the summer and even Aquasealed them. I explained that hiking boots are all Hubs wears for work and that he takes hiking boots very seriously. He won't buy cheap for himself and didn't buy cheap hiking boots for me. She seemed to be a bit more satisfied and almost relieved when she found that I had a new pair of hikers waiting in the wings. She did make me promise that I would still peruse the fine offerings of specially crafted diabetic orthopedics in the catalog that she sent me home with.
Her heart is in the right place.
"Vern, I broke my foot or I would have trick or treated with the family. :while holding out a trick or treat bag: May I still have my Cracker Jacks?"
He smirked and said certainly. Plunk and in fell my yearly box o' Cracker Jack goodness.
Friday was my daughter's Halloween parade for school. I would have walked the parade route, but Dr. W- would hunt me down and beat me with the Aircast that he just sprung me from. Instead, I hung back at the room and got everything ready for the kids.
Saturday was our trick or treat. My sister and her entourage arrived for dinner, then we went off to trick or treat together. LeAnne and her partner brought their flat bed wagon. (The sides need replaced and M- hasn't gotten to it yet. He works and is kind of busy.) I was going to have them leave it back, but Hubs said that he would haul it. It only took me hoofing it what would be the equivalent of around an entire city block to have to park and ride. I was outfitted with the red light saber so that people didn't hit us, and Hubs dragged me for the remaining blocks. God bless the man. I'm just not the 97 pounds I was when we married.
My aunt has insisted on my having new shoes. She insisted on springing for those for me. (Not necessary, BTW.) Since I was dodging the Dr. Comfort catalog in hopes for a wonderful pair of Saucony, Hubs, K- and I went on down to DSW and found these. Street shoes didn't satisfy Aunt Donna. She's decided that the diabetic hikers that she wants to buy me are these. :insert big frowny face: I love my aunt and that is why I boldly told her, "I will never wear those." Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to hurt her feelings, but it seems insane to purchase expensive boots for me that will never ever ever ever ever (get that?) be worn ever. (Just in case you didn't get the first 4 evers.) The Saucony's were only $47.50 with tax (I had a coupon.) I thought I got out for cheap and that she would be thrilled. As we talked, I mentioned that Hubs just bought me new LL Bean hiking boots at the end of the summer and even Aquasealed them. I explained that hiking boots are all Hubs wears for work and that he takes hiking boots very seriously. He won't buy cheap for himself and didn't buy cheap hiking boots for me. She seemed to be a bit more satisfied and almost relieved when she found that I had a new pair of hikers waiting in the wings. She did make me promise that I would still peruse the fine offerings of specially crafted diabetic orthopedics in the catalog that she sent me home with.
Her heart is in the right place.
Friday, October 28, 2011
Out of the boot and Epi-fied.
The good news-- my foot is healing and while it is not fully healed, I'm out of the Aircast boot. Dr. W- said that if we didn't get me out of it, I would end up with mobility issues, particularly with my ankle. He told me that things are healing, look great, I have good muscle support (or something like that) and to ditch the boot and get into a good supportive shoe :insert pointing at my tennis shoe: and NO FLIP FLOPS. Um, it's about 46 F now and it was 30 this AM when I walked K- to the bus stop. Don't worry. I will not be wearing flip-flops. I'm supposed to take it easy and "don't do anything crazy" and I'll ride it out and be okay. I asked if he needed a follow-up and he said, "Not unless you do something dumb." :insert Dr. smirk: Okay then.
I gave him the bee sting story. "Oh yes. Well, then, you need epinephrine." He explained to me IGG's and IGE's (I'm needing to research) and how now each reaction will only get worse. I'm to take a dose of Benadryl and a dose of Zantac when I get stung. Give it 15 minutes and if I end up worse/major . . . , I must do the EpiPen. I also have extreme reading to do with that. I did talk to the pharmacist who said that the instructions are very detailed and that if I had any questions whatsoever, to give her a call and she will go through it step by step with me. (I may need back-up EpiPen knowledge here, Janeen.) I do know that the little tiny purse that I own isn't going to cut it anymore and now I'll need to graduate to the bigger one that I have from long ago and far away. Hooray! I found it!!! It needs a good polishing and some mink oil and it will be good to go.
A side story, but related-- my lovely aunt wanted me to go and get my feet fit for some specially made diabetic shoes so that she knew that I had excellent shoes to wear. Now, as much as I appreciate her thoughtfulness, I find nothing attractive about the shoes she wanted me to purchase and asked if she was insisting, may I please just buy another pair of Saucony? She said that was fine, she just wanted me to have good shoes. I have good shoes. My shoes weren't worn during the two months of casting because I didn't want to kill one and have one. Bless her heart.
So, I'm very carefully limping my way along. I've now been slowed considerably, as I am back to building up the muscles in the lower portion of my leg. I'm also cautious, as I don't want to re-break the metatarsal, as it is a very easy thing to do.
So I'm bootless and Epi-ful. Have a great weekend!
I gave him the bee sting story. "Oh yes. Well, then, you need epinephrine." He explained to me IGG's and IGE's (I'm needing to research) and how now each reaction will only get worse. I'm to take a dose of Benadryl and a dose of Zantac when I get stung. Give it 15 minutes and if I end up worse/major . . . , I must do the EpiPen. I also have extreme reading to do with that. I did talk to the pharmacist who said that the instructions are very detailed and that if I had any questions whatsoever, to give her a call and she will go through it step by step with me. (I may need back-up EpiPen knowledge here, Janeen.) I do know that the little tiny purse that I own isn't going to cut it anymore and now I'll need to graduate to the bigger one that I have from long ago and far away. Hooray! I found it!!! It needs a good polishing and some mink oil and it will be good to go.
A side story, but related-- my lovely aunt wanted me to go and get my feet fit for some specially made diabetic shoes so that she knew that I had excellent shoes to wear. Now, as much as I appreciate her thoughtfulness, I find nothing attractive about the shoes she wanted me to purchase and asked if she was insisting, may I please just buy another pair of Saucony? She said that was fine, she just wanted me to have good shoes. I have good shoes. My shoes weren't worn during the two months of casting because I didn't want to kill one and have one. Bless her heart.
So, I'm very carefully limping my way along. I've now been slowed considerably, as I am back to building up the muscles in the lower portion of my leg. I'm also cautious, as I don't want to re-break the metatarsal, as it is a very easy thing to do.
So I'm bootless and Epi-ful. Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
Tales from the Trenches: The great travels of an Aircast boot.
It's gotten packed in mud.
It's been water-logged from a lovely walk through a puddle that I didn't see in the dark.
It's been over inflated.
And under inflated.
The people at work say that I can't sneak down the steps since I THUNK, THUNK, THUNK down them instead.
My people have bruises. I accidentally walked on K-'s knee, I clocked Hubs in the knee cap (hard) when I flipped while sleeping and I've clocked him in the knee a few times on the couch while we were watching TV.
My people have literally gotten underfoot. Hubs reports having toes rolled over with the Aircast like having them crammed into a vice. I'm guessing that it doesn't feel good.
I've walked in poop twice now. That calls for assistance in cleaning. Hubs got it once and my sister got it once.
I have to pull myself far closer to the steering wheel than I should be (please no lectures about the air bags-- I'm short and it is something I'm too close to anyhow) so that I can depress the gas pedal without it being a full body experience.
I'm out of the season where it smells like little kid foot. It's cool enough now.
Speaking of, it has vent holes and sweet Pete when the cold wind blows through the holes. Ventilation it has. A bit more than I realized. Eeek, it can get chilly!
I've learned the perfect way to make a 2 minute rain boot cover from a gallery bag, a pair of scissors and two tabs of packaging tape. It's waterproof from up top, but not down below.
The kids at school (nearly all 500 of them) have stopped asking when I'm getting the boot off. I think that they've given up. I've been casted the entire school year so far.
I think that the teachers have given up, too.
Either the straps are stretching or I'm suffering from atrophy. Or both. The straps pull a lot tighter than they used to. I have no swelling, so that's also something else to consider.
The seasonals at work don't notice that my foot is broken until I tell them. Since the jeans cover the Aircast and my tennis shoes are the same color, most people don't notice.
Joe threatened me today when he saw a ladder in my work area. Yes, I had to climb up once (a tall step ladder) because Steve was there to hang my Christmas tree up for me. I've been working off of two step stools (big area for my feet). All I could think of was Dr. W- coming in (since he knows where I work) and busting me for being on a ladder.
I forgot to loosen the straps last night and woke up with my foot feeling rather vice-crunched. "Need. to. move. please," said my cramped toes.
I may have mentioned this, but I cannot run in the Aircast. Well, I suppose that I could if I really put my mind to it, but if Dr. W- doesn't want me walking decent distances, I'm thinking that running is out of the question, too.
It's fully unrelated, but I'm presently fighting a battle with a cold sore. I'm hoping to win.
With that, I have a PTA directory hanging over my head. Must get typing.
Have a great day!
It's been water-logged from a lovely walk through a puddle that I didn't see in the dark.
It's been over inflated.
And under inflated.
The people at work say that I can't sneak down the steps since I THUNK, THUNK, THUNK down them instead.
My people have bruises. I accidentally walked on K-'s knee, I clocked Hubs in the knee cap (hard) when I flipped while sleeping and I've clocked him in the knee a few times on the couch while we were watching TV.
My people have literally gotten underfoot. Hubs reports having toes rolled over with the Aircast like having them crammed into a vice. I'm guessing that it doesn't feel good.
I've walked in poop twice now. That calls for assistance in cleaning. Hubs got it once and my sister got it once.
I have to pull myself far closer to the steering wheel than I should be (please no lectures about the air bags-- I'm short and it is something I'm too close to anyhow) so that I can depress the gas pedal without it being a full body experience.
I'm out of the season where it smells like little kid foot. It's cool enough now.
Speaking of, it has vent holes and sweet Pete when the cold wind blows through the holes. Ventilation it has. A bit more than I realized. Eeek, it can get chilly!
I've learned the perfect way to make a 2 minute rain boot cover from a gallery bag, a pair of scissors and two tabs of packaging tape. It's waterproof from up top, but not down below.
The kids at school (nearly all 500 of them) have stopped asking when I'm getting the boot off. I think that they've given up. I've been casted the entire school year so far.
I think that the teachers have given up, too.
Either the straps are stretching or I'm suffering from atrophy. Or both. The straps pull a lot tighter than they used to. I have no swelling, so that's also something else to consider.
The seasonals at work don't notice that my foot is broken until I tell them. Since the jeans cover the Aircast and my tennis shoes are the same color, most people don't notice.
Joe threatened me today when he saw a ladder in my work area. Yes, I had to climb up once (a tall step ladder) because Steve was there to hang my Christmas tree up for me. I've been working off of two step stools (big area for my feet). All I could think of was Dr. W- coming in (since he knows where I work) and busting me for being on a ladder.
I forgot to loosen the straps last night and woke up with my foot feeling rather vice-crunched. "Need. to. move. please," said my cramped toes.
I may have mentioned this, but I cannot run in the Aircast. Well, I suppose that I could if I really put my mind to it, but if Dr. W- doesn't want me walking decent distances, I'm thinking that running is out of the question, too.
It's fully unrelated, but I'm presently fighting a battle with a cold sore. I'm hoping to win.
With that, I have a PTA directory hanging over my head. Must get typing.
Have a great day!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
My broken foot came with no owner's manual.
After mulling over the Thursday x-ray results, I decided to go pay a visit to Dr. W- to get some details sorted out. Do you know what you do when you start to compile a list of questions? You research on the internet and add to that list.
Dr. W- came in, pulled up a chair and knew we were in for a lovely chat.
"Is my foot actually healing?"
"No."
"Um, okay."
:insert look of concern, confusion and oh crap:
He went on to tell me that x-rays, which are behind the times in giving information, aren't indicating healing, but that isn't to say that there isn't healing on a subcellular level that would be picked up on a different type of scan such as an MRI. He assured me that everything is where it is supposed to be (with visuals and sound effects!) and that I'll have another x-ray on Oct 28, at which point he'll make a determination whether bone growth stimulation needs to be done. No surgery is needed, no pins, no screws and it is just a time thing.
While patting on my unattractive medical gray duck bill aircast boot, "Not that I'm pressing, because I'll be in it for as long as I need, but any time frame?"
"No."
I told him that I read about how it can be a rather slow healing process.
:insert shaking head in agreement:
"Very slow."
He told me that walking on it is fine. I did my two weeks off and walking on it (in the aircast) is actually good for cell growth. He told me not to go all crazy with stuff, but to do what I need to do. When I told him that a coworker wanted to basically strap me down to a stool and not let me up, he said, "Oh, God, no!" I told him that I don't sit very well and people were giving me crap for being up. I also told him that he would be happy to know that though I've been busy trying to coordinate a walkathon for 600ish people, that I won't be walking. "As well you shouldn't be," said my doctor who seems to be understanding my ADD tendencies more and more each visit. His parting words were, "I know when you were in here last time, you were talking about concerns with ladders."
:insert disapproving face:
"Um, yes."
:add in the doctor chuckle:
For some reason, I don't think he trusts me.
Dr. W- came in, pulled up a chair and knew we were in for a lovely chat.
"Is my foot actually healing?"
"No."
"Um, okay."
:insert look of concern, confusion and oh crap:
He went on to tell me that x-rays, which are behind the times in giving information, aren't indicating healing, but that isn't to say that there isn't healing on a subcellular level that would be picked up on a different type of scan such as an MRI. He assured me that everything is where it is supposed to be (with visuals and sound effects!) and that I'll have another x-ray on Oct 28, at which point he'll make a determination whether bone growth stimulation needs to be done. No surgery is needed, no pins, no screws and it is just a time thing.
While patting on my unattractive medical gray duck bill aircast boot, "Not that I'm pressing, because I'll be in it for as long as I need, but any time frame?"
"No."
I told him that I read about how it can be a rather slow healing process.
:insert shaking head in agreement:
"Very slow."
He told me that walking on it is fine. I did my two weeks off and walking on it (in the aircast) is actually good for cell growth. He told me not to go all crazy with stuff, but to do what I need to do. When I told him that a coworker wanted to basically strap me down to a stool and not let me up, he said, "Oh, God, no!" I told him that I don't sit very well and people were giving me crap for being up. I also told him that he would be happy to know that though I've been busy trying to coordinate a walkathon for 600ish people, that I won't be walking. "As well you shouldn't be," said my doctor who seems to be understanding my ADD tendencies more and more each visit. His parting words were, "I know when you were in here last time, you were talking about concerns with ladders."
:insert disapproving face:
"Um, yes."
:add in the doctor chuckle:
For some reason, I don't think he trusts me.
Friday, September 30, 2011
Agony of the foot: The update.
I saw Dr. W today. He and I had a fine discussion about my foot, the fact that the swelling and bruising have subsided nicely and the need to ditch the cast. I talked with him about my job as display staff at a gallery, my need to do pretty intensive display here very shortly and his thoughts about me, my foot and a ladder.
:insert disapproving face:
I told him that my concern was that I am up and down stairs, up and down ladders and quite literally hanging from the ceiling and that standing on a ladder has me rocking right on the part of my foot that I broke.
:insert squinty face:
"Could I break this again?"
With no hesitation whatsoever, "Absolutely." I asked if there was anything that I could put in my shoe to keep my foot from rolling and with a shake of his head and without hesitation in his voice, "No."
The bone breaks easily. It needs a good 6-8 weeks to properly mend. I was farmed off to the fine folks at radiology. After the radiologist took my x-rays, she offered to take me back up to the office in a wheelchair.
"So, it is still broken, huh?"
:insert funky look:
"I know that you couldn't tell me if it was."
"Really, it isn't a problem for me to wheel you up there."
Mmm, hmm.
Dr. W said that the office would phone. Phone they did. "Alignment is still good, but nothing significant has changed. Stay in the boot. The doctor wants to see you back in 4 weeks."
October 28th it is. I'm not disappointed. I'm one who would rather do what we need to do and do it right the first time. When Dr. W was talking, "Well, it is either the boot or orthopedics," I stopped and said, "Really? Orthopedics?" He chuckled and told me that it was far down his list. Very far. Good. Let's keep it that way. Until October 28th or later, we're still bootin'.
Smiles in my day:
- Having an in-depth discussion with Dr. W about the blood clotting disorders, how the MTHFR that I test for is really not anything that effects anything other than making sure that the cholesterol is tended to and kick in a baby aspirin if I want. I told him that I've been doing that, along with a prenatal vitamin for the extra vitamin requirements. He was pleased and I'm glad that we got to discuss it in full and be done with it.
- Having a good talk with K-'s teacher today and a lot of updates on testing that was done.
I've had a pretty intense past few weeks. Gosh, I'm tired. Perhaps the stress will lift soon.
Have a great day!
:insert disapproving face:
I told him that my concern was that I am up and down stairs, up and down ladders and quite literally hanging from the ceiling and that standing on a ladder has me rocking right on the part of my foot that I broke.
:insert squinty face:
"Could I break this again?"
With no hesitation whatsoever, "Absolutely." I asked if there was anything that I could put in my shoe to keep my foot from rolling and with a shake of his head and without hesitation in his voice, "No."
The bone breaks easily. It needs a good 6-8 weeks to properly mend. I was farmed off to the fine folks at radiology. After the radiologist took my x-rays, she offered to take me back up to the office in a wheelchair.
"So, it is still broken, huh?"
:insert funky look:
"I know that you couldn't tell me if it was."
"Really, it isn't a problem for me to wheel you up there."
Mmm, hmm.
Dr. W said that the office would phone. Phone they did. "Alignment is still good, but nothing significant has changed. Stay in the boot. The doctor wants to see you back in 4 weeks."
October 28th it is. I'm not disappointed. I'm one who would rather do what we need to do and do it right the first time. When Dr. W was talking, "Well, it is either the boot or orthopedics," I stopped and said, "Really? Orthopedics?" He chuckled and told me that it was far down his list. Very far. Good. Let's keep it that way. Until October 28th or later, we're still bootin'.
Smiles in my day:
- Having an in-depth discussion with Dr. W about the blood clotting disorders, how the MTHFR that I test for is really not anything that effects anything other than making sure that the cholesterol is tended to and kick in a baby aspirin if I want. I told him that I've been doing that, along with a prenatal vitamin for the extra vitamin requirements. He was pleased and I'm glad that we got to discuss it in full and be done with it.
- Having a good talk with K-'s teacher today and a lot of updates on testing that was done.
I've had a pretty intense past few weeks. Gosh, I'm tired. Perhaps the stress will lift soon.
Have a great day!
Saturday, September 24, 2011
Look! A break and I didn't even expect it.
No. I'm not even the president.
I have the appointment to check in on my foot on Thursday and I came to realize that on my last appointment, I've neglected to share some fairly vital information with my doctor regarding the whole story of Bailey, my hospitalization and the blood clotting disorders (homozygous for MTHFR and PAI-Type 1.) There are new studies that have been done on the blood clotting disorders and information that I don't know. I'll take him a copy of the genetic testing that was done and perhaps we can have a bit of a brief sit-down about it. Tears will be shed on my part and I know that he'll feel bad that he inadvertently tossed a freight train at me the last I was there. I've had discussions with myself numbering more than I could approximate on about how to get all of the information out there, have it be concise enough without sounding like I'm blathering on, but still be coherent and intelligent. He is a great guy and when he finds out that his bedside manner fell short that day, he will feel like a total heel. My point is not to make him feel bad, I just need to know the updated information and how that has a bearing on my physical health. Still, I've chewed and gnawed on the conversation nearly all month.
I love my doctor. Truly. He is a great guy. That has made my thoughts of the conversation even harder.
I'm busy with tons of stuff, still cruising on a foot that I'm thinking needs to remain booted for a little while longer while carrying a rather heavy mental load.
I'll be checking in. Don't worry. I didn't forget about you!
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Tales from the Trenches: When Aircast boots attack.
My poor husband. I didn't sleep well last night, flipped over, awoke half-flip and in time to see my aircast boot nail him squarely in the knee.
Talk about a rude awakening.
Poor guy. When you sleep with someone who has to wear a boot, you need to put up some fluffy wall of defense. Don't worry. He only moaned for a short while.
Smiles in my day:
- Though not what I signed up for, K- woke me up at 4 AM to "count her dollars" that the tooth fairy left for her. She counted them in full voice. No whispers. Let me repeat the time. 4 AM. I'm glad that she was so excited to finally get that first tooth out of the way.
- Scented candles at work when nothing else smells pleasant. The building smelled funky when I got in, then people in general smelled gross. Thank goodness for scentedness!
Have a great day!
Talk about a rude awakening.
Poor guy. When you sleep with someone who has to wear a boot, you need to put up some fluffy wall of defense. Don't worry. He only moaned for a short while.
Smiles in my day:
- Though not what I signed up for, K- woke me up at 4 AM to "count her dollars" that the tooth fairy left for her. She counted them in full voice. No whispers. Let me repeat the time. 4 AM. I'm glad that she was so excited to finally get that first tooth out of the way.
- Scented candles at work when nothing else smells pleasant. The building smelled funky when I got in, then people in general smelled gross. Thank goodness for scentedness!
Have a great day!
Saturday, September 17, 2011
Crutch-free
When I had my bedazzled purple cast cut off, the doctor who put me into the cam boot said that I could technically walk on my foot. Dr. W- told me limited weight bearing for two weeks. I opted to stay with the original instructions. Thursday, was my first day out, crutch-free.
It is grand.
Grant you, I walk as if I am a victim of a displaced stick, but it's all good. I have to keep a tennis shoe on, though. The height of the cam boot vs. a flat foot is quite different. I have to walk on my toes if unshoed on the left.
My crutches are still in the truck if I need them. I'm looking forward to going to the grocery today. I hadn't gone before, as I didn't care to go in a motorized shopping scooter.
I go back on the 29th to see what progress I've made and if I'm shoe-ready. I dare not walk anywhere without my boot. I even sleep with it on. Better to be safe than sorry, even if when I take it off, it smells like little kid foot. Eeeeewwwwww!
Smiles in my days:
- Busy, busy. We had an open house Thursday evening where we were able to go to our child's class and get the full run-down of what they do with their day. It helped to explain a lot of things and clarification is always good. I could tell that the teacher was nervous, as she apologized the next day for things that she had missed. I told her how much I appreciated it. She needed an atagirl. You know, sometimes it's a lot easier to get in front of the little people that their parents. If you do something goofy in front of the kids, they'll laugh, you'll laugh and all is done. Parents take things way too seriously.
- Mike, the wonder neighbor, is back from his quick trip to Myrtle Beach. Some old guy ran a stop sign and hit him with his car, though. Mike rolled over the hood and landed on the other side. The man saw that he appeared unhurt and he WAVED AND DROVE AWAY. I told Mike that I'm sure that he'd rather it be him than his girlfriend, Ruth. Wow.
- We caught our last monarch yesterday. The tally sheets will be mailed on Monday. The butterflies will begin arriving in Mexico in about mid-November. We'll see if any of ours made it. Of course, we're really pulling for PMA 912. I mean, I busted my foot for that butterfly and all! I'll keep you guys up to date on whether any of our butterflies make it.
Have a wonderful weekend!
It is grand.
Grant you, I walk as if I am a victim of a displaced stick, but it's all good. I have to keep a tennis shoe on, though. The height of the cam boot vs. a flat foot is quite different. I have to walk on my toes if unshoed on the left.
My crutches are still in the truck if I need them. I'm looking forward to going to the grocery today. I hadn't gone before, as I didn't care to go in a motorized shopping scooter.
I go back on the 29th to see what progress I've made and if I'm shoe-ready. I dare not walk anywhere without my boot. I even sleep with it on. Better to be safe than sorry, even if when I take it off, it smells like little kid foot. Eeeeewwwwww!
Smiles in my days:
- Busy, busy. We had an open house Thursday evening where we were able to go to our child's class and get the full run-down of what they do with their day. It helped to explain a lot of things and clarification is always good. I could tell that the teacher was nervous, as she apologized the next day for things that she had missed. I told her how much I appreciated it. She needed an atagirl. You know, sometimes it's a lot easier to get in front of the little people that their parents. If you do something goofy in front of the kids, they'll laugh, you'll laugh and all is done. Parents take things way too seriously.
- Mike, the wonder neighbor, is back from his quick trip to Myrtle Beach. Some old guy ran a stop sign and hit him with his car, though. Mike rolled over the hood and landed on the other side. The man saw that he appeared unhurt and he WAVED AND DROVE AWAY. I told Mike that I'm sure that he'd rather it be him than his girlfriend, Ruth. Wow.
- We caught our last monarch yesterday. The tally sheets will be mailed on Monday. The butterflies will begin arriving in Mexico in about mid-November. We'll see if any of ours made it. Of course, we're really pulling for PMA 912. I mean, I busted my foot for that butterfly and all! I'll keep you guys up to date on whether any of our butterflies make it.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Friday, September 9, 2011
Monarch Watch Tagging: The broken foot version.
 |
| You take a butterfly that you've caught while in a boot for a broken foot. |
 |
| Figure out whether it is a male or female. |
 |
| Get your sticker on. |
 |
| Get it set to fly away. Good luck PMA 928! We hope you make it to Mexico! |
- K- won first place in her category at the Garden Fair today! She was so excited!
Have a great weekend!
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Life doesn't stop for the orthopedically challenged.
I've been busy making daily updates to the Just Between Friends PTA membership software, because I'm the Membership Chair for our PTA. I'm currently having a membership drive and staying on top of all of the information is a very good thing.
I was busy organizing the Garden Fair this week, because I'm the Garden Fair Chair. That's tomorrow. I've had to send forms out to all of the staff and students, get ribbons handled and as much filled out on the backs of all beforehand as possible, made and copied a certificate for participants, told the janitor how beautiful he is today so that he gives us less flak for needing tables for the plants tomorrow, arranged for transportation for a carless board member to come to GF judging, had Hubs pack our two shepherd's hooks into my truck so that the two girls who grew tomatoes in Topsy-turvies will be able to have their plants judged hanging in a pot and not sprawled all over the ground and got Mr. B- to smile.
That alone has been a work in progress. You see, Mr. B- has been stressing. Today is the absolute first day in probably 4 months that I've seen him smile in an unforced way. He was laughing.
The swing space has required all of our elementary students to be bussed regardless of distance to the school. The transportation has been such a nightmare that Mr. B- was telling us today that he has been going to bus stops to hang out with the kids in the morning to try to get the challenges handled. Add to that the 94 degrees that we've dealt with this week in a school that is not air conditioned and not well ventilated. The children and staff looked like they had walked through a shower when I was there last Friday. Day to day administrative gunk goes on and Mr. B- is on every single thing. He walks the halls, knows every single child by name and takes his principal job more to heart than anyone I've ever seen. It is good to see that his stress is starting to lift and that once again, he is able to be the smiling principal that we know and love. Whew.
I've been busy getting back and forth with the tutors in charge of 100 Book Challenge. I'm unable to set our update board for the kids (you have to stand on a bench) and the other tutor is doing it. It is making me twitch, because she isn't doing the classrooms in order, and she hung a class up in opposite alphabetical order. She's good with it, but I'm going to have to switch it. The principal isn't thrilled that she's putting the rooms up out of order and the lack of alphabetical order is going to tip him over the edge. I fear that I'll be resetting the board when my foot is better. I won't do it unless Mr. B- requests it.
Speaking of, I'll be meeting with Mr. B- over the coming weeks to plan our fall fundraiser. I'll be organizing a fundraiser for 505 students, 60 staff members, PTA board members and parents who would like to attend. To incorporate healthy living, Mr. B- decided that a walkathon would be good, and it was quite a success last year. I can't hike the walkathon route right now, but perhaps I'll be out of this boot come Sept 29. (My next doctor's appointment.) If not, I'll be booting along in the walkathon. To quote Mr. B-, "This boot is made for walkin'." I know not to overdo. I'm following the doctor's instructions and am only heel walking if needed. I haven't actually walked on my full foot yet. I don't plan on that until Saturday, Sept 17th, when the two week point has passed. Even then, I'll be very gentle.
The PTA peeps and I tackled the PTA room today. Kay and I had worked on it last Friday, but we finally got everything squared away today. Our room used to be the teacher's lounge when the school was the middle school. We had to wash the walls down from as high up as we could reach to the floor. There was coffee splattered everywhere. I understand that they were moving into a new building and that their dregs were being passed off to us as a swing space while our building is built, but have some pride, people! Geeze o' Pete was that place disgusting. Is that typical of teacher's lounges? Gross. I spent 15-20 minutes alone just cleaning the phone. I don't know that it had ever been cleaned and I think that people drew in the handset cradle with pen as they talked. Nastiness.
Tonight is the first night that I've prepared dinner in over a week. It has been catch as catch can in these parts. Between the break, the walking on a "raw" break for two days before casting, the casting, the uncasting, the booting and the starting back to work has really put a crink in my general weekly routine. Laundry can be washed, but I can't get it upstairs without help. K- has been good about bringing it up to me. I've folded but I'm behind on putting it away. That has nothing to do with the foot, but the general pace of life I'm living lately. I'm taking my one trip down (one trip only, Rachael) to drop some laundry into the wash. I'll take a one trip down tomorrow to flip things. I did about 4 round trips yesterday and felt a bit of the too-much-done burn on the foot. Nothing serious and a good propping and some Advil settled it. I'll give myself one round trip and if that doesn't do it, I won't.
It's funny. I didn't want to waste my one round trip on skittering down to the basement to retrieve my raincoat. It was pouring when K- was due to get off the bus, so I drove the lot and a half down to the corner and sat. Between the lack of raincoat, the umbrellas stowed in the under belly of the truck and running crutches over wet and partially crushed acorns, I decided that if anyone wanted to make fun of me, I was good with it. I don't think anyone blamed me! I do feel bad that the neighbor, with an umbrella big enough to cover the entire bus stop, was talking to me, I flicked on the windshield wipers and everytime they went back and forth, he was getting flipped in the face with water. Eeek! I apologized! All he could do was laugh.
So, there you go. Not stationary, though I should be a bit more. I sit on the floor a lot and crawl on my knees a bit. The PTA peeps finally stopped looking at me with a sideways stare. I think that they figured that if I needed to quit, I would.
And yes, if I need to, I promise that I will. I'm trying to be good and "listening to my body" as we've taught K-. I'm doing my one round trip and I'm out for the night.
'Night!
Smiles in my day:
- Dinner together at the table. Turkey kielbasa, mac & cheese and peas. Nothing high end or fancy, but it served the purpose.
- Going through the yard with K-, helping her to select her lovelies for the mixed vegetable basket that she'll be submitting tomorrow.
- Many things accomplished.
Have a great weekend!
I was busy organizing the Garden Fair this week, because I'm the Garden Fair Chair. That's tomorrow. I've had to send forms out to all of the staff and students, get ribbons handled and as much filled out on the backs of all beforehand as possible, made and copied a certificate for participants, told the janitor how beautiful he is today so that he gives us less flak for needing tables for the plants tomorrow, arranged for transportation for a carless board member to come to GF judging, had Hubs pack our two shepherd's hooks into my truck so that the two girls who grew tomatoes in Topsy-turvies will be able to have their plants judged hanging in a pot and not sprawled all over the ground and got Mr. B- to smile.
That alone has been a work in progress. You see, Mr. B- has been stressing. Today is the absolute first day in probably 4 months that I've seen him smile in an unforced way. He was laughing.
The swing space has required all of our elementary students to be bussed regardless of distance to the school. The transportation has been such a nightmare that Mr. B- was telling us today that he has been going to bus stops to hang out with the kids in the morning to try to get the challenges handled. Add to that the 94 degrees that we've dealt with this week in a school that is not air conditioned and not well ventilated. The children and staff looked like they had walked through a shower when I was there last Friday. Day to day administrative gunk goes on and Mr. B- is on every single thing. He walks the halls, knows every single child by name and takes his principal job more to heart than anyone I've ever seen. It is good to see that his stress is starting to lift and that once again, he is able to be the smiling principal that we know and love. Whew.
I've been busy getting back and forth with the tutors in charge of 100 Book Challenge. I'm unable to set our update board for the kids (you have to stand on a bench) and the other tutor is doing it. It is making me twitch, because she isn't doing the classrooms in order, and she hung a class up in opposite alphabetical order. She's good with it, but I'm going to have to switch it. The principal isn't thrilled that she's putting the rooms up out of order and the lack of alphabetical order is going to tip him over the edge. I fear that I'll be resetting the board when my foot is better. I won't do it unless Mr. B- requests it.
Speaking of, I'll be meeting with Mr. B- over the coming weeks to plan our fall fundraiser. I'll be organizing a fundraiser for 505 students, 60 staff members, PTA board members and parents who would like to attend. To incorporate healthy living, Mr. B- decided that a walkathon would be good, and it was quite a success last year. I can't hike the walkathon route right now, but perhaps I'll be out of this boot come Sept 29. (My next doctor's appointment.) If not, I'll be booting along in the walkathon. To quote Mr. B-, "This boot is made for walkin'." I know not to overdo. I'm following the doctor's instructions and am only heel walking if needed. I haven't actually walked on my full foot yet. I don't plan on that until Saturday, Sept 17th, when the two week point has passed. Even then, I'll be very gentle.
The PTA peeps and I tackled the PTA room today. Kay and I had worked on it last Friday, but we finally got everything squared away today. Our room used to be the teacher's lounge when the school was the middle school. We had to wash the walls down from as high up as we could reach to the floor. There was coffee splattered everywhere. I understand that they were moving into a new building and that their dregs were being passed off to us as a swing space while our building is built, but have some pride, people! Geeze o' Pete was that place disgusting. Is that typical of teacher's lounges? Gross. I spent 15-20 minutes alone just cleaning the phone. I don't know that it had ever been cleaned and I think that people drew in the handset cradle with pen as they talked. Nastiness.
Tonight is the first night that I've prepared dinner in over a week. It has been catch as catch can in these parts. Between the break, the walking on a "raw" break for two days before casting, the casting, the uncasting, the booting and the starting back to work has really put a crink in my general weekly routine. Laundry can be washed, but I can't get it upstairs without help. K- has been good about bringing it up to me. I've folded but I'm behind on putting it away. That has nothing to do with the foot, but the general pace of life I'm living lately. I'm taking my one trip down (one trip only, Rachael) to drop some laundry into the wash. I'll take a one trip down tomorrow to flip things. I did about 4 round trips yesterday and felt a bit of the too-much-done burn on the foot. Nothing serious and a good propping and some Advil settled it. I'll give myself one round trip and if that doesn't do it, I won't.
It's funny. I didn't want to waste my one round trip on skittering down to the basement to retrieve my raincoat. It was pouring when K- was due to get off the bus, so I drove the lot and a half down to the corner and sat. Between the lack of raincoat, the umbrellas stowed in the under belly of the truck and running crutches over wet and partially crushed acorns, I decided that if anyone wanted to make fun of me, I was good with it. I don't think anyone blamed me! I do feel bad that the neighbor, with an umbrella big enough to cover the entire bus stop, was talking to me, I flicked on the windshield wipers and everytime they went back and forth, he was getting flipped in the face with water. Eeek! I apologized! All he could do was laugh.
So, there you go. Not stationary, though I should be a bit more. I sit on the floor a lot and crawl on my knees a bit. The PTA peeps finally stopped looking at me with a sideways stare. I think that they figured that if I needed to quit, I would.
And yes, if I need to, I promise that I will. I'm trying to be good and "listening to my body" as we've taught K-. I'm doing my one round trip and I'm out for the night.
'Night!
Smiles in my day:
- Dinner together at the table. Turkey kielbasa, mac & cheese and peas. Nothing high end or fancy, but it served the purpose.
- Going through the yard with K-, helping her to select her lovelies for the mixed vegetable basket that she'll be submitting tomorrow.
- Many things accomplished.
Have a great weekend!
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Tales from the Trenches: Just remember how well I told you that I HAD been doing.
It was 2 AM Monday morning when I woke up hot, sweaty, uncomfortable and in an absolute panic attack. My ankle felt like someone was continually rubbing an emery board against it and my leg felt as if it was wrapped in a wet blood pressure cuff that was continually tightening. I envisioned a sore that was developing beneath the cast. No care or air could get to it. Most certainly, it would get gangrenous. My leg wasn't swelling, but it felt as if the cast was shrinking. I had fallen asleep watching the 9/11 88th Floor program, remembered hearing people screaming in my dreams and I woke up absolutely losing it.
I had to wake my husband up to come talk to me.
A pair of scissors weren't far from me. I had seriously considered trying to cut my cast off.
The more I tried to NOT think about my discomfort, the more I thought about it. The more I thought about it, the more it drove me absolutely mad. To say that all my marbles were nearly gone from my mental state is definitely not a lie. I had made the decision that the cast had to come off. Hubs said that they wouldn't take it off, but would probably give me drugs instead.
I got myself sufficiently worked up to think that I was going to have to go doctor shopping to get the purple rhinestoned cast cut off of my leg. My friend Kay offered her assistance. "We have tools!" The dremel tool in my studio was looking mighty fine. Rest assured, I was getting the cast cut off today no matter what.
I hobbled down to K-'s bus stop with her. As we waited for the bus to arrive, I phoned the doctor's office. Dr. W- was on a few days of vacation, but she asked me, "How about Dr. R-?" I told her that he would be great. He cared for Hubs when he had rotavirus and seemed like a truly understanding and caring soul.
Dr. R- walked in. "What can I do for you today?" I explained my rubbing discomfort, then I launched into my bigger complaint. "Dr., I suffer from pretty severe claustrophobia. Never did I ever think that would effect my having a cast on, but it has. I have had panic attacks and have been brought to tears. Is there anyway that you can take this cast off? Is there any other option for me other than the cast?"
"Did you break your ankle?"
"No."
"What did you break and do I have films?" (No, he wasn't being lazy. He had truly just walked in the room and I had never come to see him before. Obviously, he checked out the records after he figured out that I was a part of the practice and had received care there/at the attached hospital.)
I told him that the films were done just down the hall and that I broke my 5th metatarsal near the base.
"Oh! We can put you in a cam boot for a 5th metatarsal break. I'll take the cast off." Then he shared a story with us about his daughter. It seems as though she suffered from the rubbing problems that I was suffering from. He said that he changed her cast every 2-3 days because of her discomfort.
We changed rooms and he set to task. He cut and cut and cut. Then he asked, "Who put this cast on?"
"Dr. W-."
"Sean?"
"Yes. He really did do a very good job. It isn't his fault. I had no idea that I wouldn't be able to stand having a cast on."
He went on to say about how very thorough Dr. W- was, as he had bound my foot with layers and layers of casting material to be certain that it was kept immobilized and would heal well.
Changing to the cam boot has taken me from a 4 week recovery to a probable 6 week recovery, but I told him that my mental well-being was quite fine with that.
When we went to leave, Dr. R- said, "You know, I've never broken anything, but I don't think that I could do a cast, either."
I told him to make sure that he doesn't break anything, then he doesn't have to find out.
Rachael got many e-mails from me. Bless her dear soul. At one point, I told her that I thought that they were going to put me in a beautiful white coat that allowed me to give myself a psychiatric hug. She worked hard at not only listening to me losing it, but also praying that I didn't lose the rest of my rapidly fraying mental status. A friend offered the vodka in her freezer or the fine chocolate flavored wine that she had. It's been probably 9 years since I've had anything with any alcohol in it (family history of alcohol/substance abuse), but I did seriously consider her offer just as a calming effect. Hubs offered melatonin and had me sleep in bed with him, even though sleep wasn't something that he knew that I would actually be able to do. Kay offered to help me cut the cast off. Mom kept calling in a very serious tone to see if I had taken the dremel out yet.
My claustrophobia is no light matter. Hubs made me promise, as I was soaking in a hot tub while giving BOTH legs a shave, that I would never ever be put in any type of cast that I couldn't exit from on my own ever again.
Poor man. Poor child. They were both very supportive as I cried and panicked and apologized for my irrational behavior.
"Honey, you need to distract yourself. Don't you have PTA things that you could do?" I ended up working on PTA things for 2 hours in the AM and 4 hours in the PM. At least my attempt at distraction did accomplish things.
:deep breath:
Claustrophobia is a bad thing. A very bad thing. Who knew that a cast would cause me to flip a lid? My lid is now turned back upright and properly screwed back on.
Praise God!
Smiles in my day:
- I'm free!
I had to wake my husband up to come talk to me.
A pair of scissors weren't far from me. I had seriously considered trying to cut my cast off.
The more I tried to NOT think about my discomfort, the more I thought about it. The more I thought about it, the more it drove me absolutely mad. To say that all my marbles were nearly gone from my mental state is definitely not a lie. I had made the decision that the cast had to come off. Hubs said that they wouldn't take it off, but would probably give me drugs instead.
I got myself sufficiently worked up to think that I was going to have to go doctor shopping to get the purple rhinestoned cast cut off of my leg. My friend Kay offered her assistance. "We have tools!" The dremel tool in my studio was looking mighty fine. Rest assured, I was getting the cast cut off today no matter what.
I hobbled down to K-'s bus stop with her. As we waited for the bus to arrive, I phoned the doctor's office. Dr. W- was on a few days of vacation, but she asked me, "How about Dr. R-?" I told her that he would be great. He cared for Hubs when he had rotavirus and seemed like a truly understanding and caring soul.
Dr. R- walked in. "What can I do for you today?" I explained my rubbing discomfort, then I launched into my bigger complaint. "Dr., I suffer from pretty severe claustrophobia. Never did I ever think that would effect my having a cast on, but it has. I have had panic attacks and have been brought to tears. Is there anyway that you can take this cast off? Is there any other option for me other than the cast?"
"Did you break your ankle?"
"No."
"What did you break and do I have films?" (No, he wasn't being lazy. He had truly just walked in the room and I had never come to see him before. Obviously, he checked out the records after he figured out that I was a part of the practice and had received care there/at the attached hospital.)
I told him that the films were done just down the hall and that I broke my 5th metatarsal near the base.
"Oh! We can put you in a cam boot for a 5th metatarsal break. I'll take the cast off." Then he shared a story with us about his daughter. It seems as though she suffered from the rubbing problems that I was suffering from. He said that he changed her cast every 2-3 days because of her discomfort.
We changed rooms and he set to task. He cut and cut and cut. Then he asked, "Who put this cast on?"
"Dr. W-."
"Sean?"
"Yes. He really did do a very good job. It isn't his fault. I had no idea that I wouldn't be able to stand having a cast on."
He went on to say about how very thorough Dr. W- was, as he had bound my foot with layers and layers of casting material to be certain that it was kept immobilized and would heal well.
Changing to the cam boot has taken me from a 4 week recovery to a probable 6 week recovery, but I told him that my mental well-being was quite fine with that.
When we went to leave, Dr. R- said, "You know, I've never broken anything, but I don't think that I could do a cast, either."
I told him to make sure that he doesn't break anything, then he doesn't have to find out.
Rachael got many e-mails from me. Bless her dear soul. At one point, I told her that I thought that they were going to put me in a beautiful white coat that allowed me to give myself a psychiatric hug. She worked hard at not only listening to me losing it, but also praying that I didn't lose the rest of my rapidly fraying mental status. A friend offered the vodka in her freezer or the fine chocolate flavored wine that she had. It's been probably 9 years since I've had anything with any alcohol in it (family history of alcohol/substance abuse), but I did seriously consider her offer just as a calming effect. Hubs offered melatonin and had me sleep in bed with him, even though sleep wasn't something that he knew that I would actually be able to do. Kay offered to help me cut the cast off. Mom kept calling in a very serious tone to see if I had taken the dremel out yet.
My claustrophobia is no light matter. Hubs made me promise, as I was soaking in a hot tub while giving BOTH legs a shave, that I would never ever be put in any type of cast that I couldn't exit from on my own ever again.
Poor man. Poor child. They were both very supportive as I cried and panicked and apologized for my irrational behavior.
"Honey, you need to distract yourself. Don't you have PTA things that you could do?" I ended up working on PTA things for 2 hours in the AM and 4 hours in the PM. At least my attempt at distraction did accomplish things.
:deep breath:
Claustrophobia is a bad thing. A very bad thing. Who knew that a cast would cause me to flip a lid? My lid is now turned back upright and properly screwed back on.
Praise God!
Smiles in my day:
- I'm free!
Sunday, September 4, 2011
A thankfulness post: If you've got it, be happy and accessorize it.
K- and E- had a good time treating the cast as a canvas. K- helped me to glue rhinestones to the top. I was going to go overboard, but the neighbor mentioned that when they run films again to make certain it has healed, they will reflect on the film. Oops. The lower ones won't cause a problem.
Hubs and I had a discussion earlier about my foot, his habit of injury and the fact that no one else has the odd issues that our match provides. I told him, "People might not understand when I say this, but I hope that you do. I'm glad that I broke my foot." Being the husband he is and knowing how my mind works he said, "Tendons and ligaments would have probably ended up in surgery." "Exactly. And, I hear that a severe sprain is worse to get over than a break." Truly, I am very thankful. It hurt when I first did it, but nothing that brought me to tears. The lump that instantly appeared on my foot paired with the loud crack upon landing pretty much sold me to the thought that I broke it, but it really could have been much worse. All the bones lined up. No setting or surgery were required. I could wait until the next day for medical intervention. I have insurance. Let me repeat that. I have insurance. So many other people don't. I have a doctor who could handle my care in office. I have wonderful people at work that have e-mailed to say not to sweat it, they'll find desk work for me to do. I had worried. I had worried that I couldn't find the "permission slip to work" from the doctor and that Tuesday, they would turn me around and send me home. They are happy to have me come to hang out. My mom kept calling to see what she could bring. My aunt came over on her mobility scooter to drop off 3 giant dark chocolate bars, because she couldn't think of anything else to do. (She felt a little useless.) The neighbor drove me several places for hours while my foot was casted, I retrieved crutches and tried to find the illusive cast boot. (I finally did find it later on my own.) My PTA mama friend, Kay, helped me to start cleaning the PTA room at school. (We're in a swing space and our room is not a closet anymore, but the previous teacher's lounge and it is gross.) My in-law's had us over last night for dinner, even though they were supposed to come to our house. My daughter has kicked in and really helped and is currently in training to become a laundress like her mama. (No Cinderella here, but it doesn't hurt for the child to learn how to do some basic laundry helping.) Hubs is always a big help around the house and he's also picking up my slack. He's out shopping at Sam's right now. (And has called me twice already.) My SIL and BIL in the Chicagoland area are calling in pick up for us at a local Italian restaurant tonight. And again I reiterate, I can drive. That I worried about, as well.
It's all good. It'll be a short month and sooner than I know it, I'll be shaving two legs at the same bath time again.
Friday, September 2, 2011
We can't run it with just plainness!
 |
| You can note that we have added artwork and my toes are now glittery. I would have painted them last night, but I didn't know if they needed to see the true color of my toes before casting. |
As the day has worn on, my high tolerance to pain couldn't mask the fact that my foot is still broken and in the midst of being in fracture fits. My toes were sausaging and the bruising up at the top is a bit more purple than before.
I'm happy to report that I can drive! Because they were kind enough to leave my toes exposed, I can press the gas with my big toe (thank goodness it isn't winter!) and press the brake with my left foot. It took a one-time run to get the more gentle nature needed, as I was a bit herky-jerky and felt as if I was going to give myself whip lash. I did finally find a cast boot, after going three places and spending a few hours on trying to track it down, but I do need to remove it to drive.
This is my second post for the day. Read on!
Smiles in my day:
- As I admit that my underpits (as K- calls them) are aching in a way that I cannot describe, my foot is relatively pain free. I really am quite lucky in that I only broke a bone (fully, but just one), nothing needed to be set and everything was well in place. I have a great doctor who could deal with all of it in office. He casted it himself and truly did a very nice job. The office laughed at my story and different ones were asking me what color I got when I left. See, I am quite the advocate for conservation and monarch migration. I'm a poster child of, "Hey! Ask me what I did!" Sure. That was my intention. Uh, huh. :S
- Hubs just caught an American Copper, which is a rare butterfly for us. Yet another confirmation that we're doing something right on our little rectangle of earth here.
I'm going to go hang my leg out of the tub and get myself bathed. It was in the mid 90's today and between the heat and the crutches and working up a sweat for a variety of reasons, I need a bit of a soak.
Have a great weekend!
The latest in migratory tagging footwear.
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| Who would have thought that the simple act of catching butterflies would land me in a permanent purple leg for a month? |
Thursday, September 1, 2011
BUSTED!
My 5th metatarsal was the one that made that loud crack sound last night. Pardon me as I continue icing, per instructions from the doctor, so that I can go in tomorrow, get a non-waterproof cast in a color of my choice with some lovely crutches to boot.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Have I failed to mention my lack of athleticism?
I am not the picture of grace.
I did not excel in sports, except volleyball. I wailed on the ball.
This evening, I told Hubs and K- that I was going to go out to the back yard for one last look for monarchs. "You know, I believe I'll join you," Hubs says. Quickly, K- was in tow.
I had a monarch in my sights. It fluttered to the other side of the fence, and I decided that would be the side to pursue on. K- followed me, but hung back where I told her, so as not to scare the monarch.
I stalked the monarch. I was quiet and stealth-like. I made the leap. I made the swoop. I caught it!
Then I landed. On an incline. In Birkenstock's.
With a crack.
Audibly.
It was so loud that Hubs heard it from probably about 10 feet away. "Honey, WHAT did you just do?"
I got myself turned around while keeping the monarch in the confines of the butterfly net. I told him that he needed to come help me. I thought that I potentially broke my foot.
I instantly took my shoe off. Best to remove than to cut or pry my shoe off. Hubs bent down and started caring for my foot. All I could think of was the butterfly.
"Get the butterfly."
"Amy, I need to see what you did."
"No, seriously. You need to get the butterfly." He and K- complied with my request. They sexed, tagged and released.
I got up, started to hobble down Mike's driveway (which has cameras and Hubs is pretty certain that I should blog my catch or put it on You Tube), then I hear my aunt. "AMY! AMY!" She was very sing-songy.
I did not feel so sing-songy.
I told K- to go get her and I told Hubs, "Oh, I just can't do it tonight." She was on a ride about and as it turns out, she was okay. I talked to her a bit, mulled over the potential of taking a trip to the ER, but neighbors and my mom weren't around. K- starts school in the AM, I didn't want to keep her up late by taking her to someone elses house and I didn't want her all stressed out about me.
So where am I at tonight? I'm sitting on the computer chair with my foot, not aching, but swollen and showing slight bruising. My plan is to get K- onto the bus in the AM, drive out (of course it is my right foot) to retrieve the RAV from the body shop and onward to my doctor's office. (More on the RAV in a later post. Not crashed but damaged by the belt on the windshield repair guy.) My doctor's office is in one of the local hospitals, so if my foot requires a scanning of some sort, which I believe I've won the lottery for, they'll be able to do it on site.
My toes bend. The whole row. I can flex them back and forth. My ankle flexes back and forth. I can walk on the inside of my foot. The outside of my foot has a swelling that doesn't belong there, a slight haze of purple and I can't walk on it.
Good times, right?
Yes, I'll keep you up to date on my orthopedic health.
In the meantime, just remember that I caught and got that butterfly tagged. Oh, I just can't wait for the doctor to ask what I did.
I did not excel in sports, except volleyball. I wailed on the ball.
This evening, I told Hubs and K- that I was going to go out to the back yard for one last look for monarchs. "You know, I believe I'll join you," Hubs says. Quickly, K- was in tow.
I had a monarch in my sights. It fluttered to the other side of the fence, and I decided that would be the side to pursue on. K- followed me, but hung back where I told her, so as not to scare the monarch.
I stalked the monarch. I was quiet and stealth-like. I made the leap. I made the swoop. I caught it!
Then I landed. On an incline. In Birkenstock's.
With a crack.
Audibly.
It was so loud that Hubs heard it from probably about 10 feet away. "Honey, WHAT did you just do?"
I got myself turned around while keeping the monarch in the confines of the butterfly net. I told him that he needed to come help me. I thought that I potentially broke my foot.
I instantly took my shoe off. Best to remove than to cut or pry my shoe off. Hubs bent down and started caring for my foot. All I could think of was the butterfly.
"Get the butterfly."
"Amy, I need to see what you did."
"No, seriously. You need to get the butterfly." He and K- complied with my request. They sexed, tagged and released.
I got up, started to hobble down Mike's driveway (which has cameras and Hubs is pretty certain that I should blog my catch or put it on You Tube), then I hear my aunt. "AMY! AMY!" She was very sing-songy.
I did not feel so sing-songy.
I told K- to go get her and I told Hubs, "Oh, I just can't do it tonight." She was on a ride about and as it turns out, she was okay. I talked to her a bit, mulled over the potential of taking a trip to the ER, but neighbors and my mom weren't around. K- starts school in the AM, I didn't want to keep her up late by taking her to someone elses house and I didn't want her all stressed out about me.
So where am I at tonight? I'm sitting on the computer chair with my foot, not aching, but swollen and showing slight bruising. My plan is to get K- onto the bus in the AM, drive out (of course it is my right foot) to retrieve the RAV from the body shop and onward to my doctor's office. (More on the RAV in a later post. Not crashed but damaged by the belt on the windshield repair guy.) My doctor's office is in one of the local hospitals, so if my foot requires a scanning of some sort, which I believe I've won the lottery for, they'll be able to do it on site.
My toes bend. The whole row. I can flex them back and forth. My ankle flexes back and forth. I can walk on the inside of my foot. The outside of my foot has a swelling that doesn't belong there, a slight haze of purple and I can't walk on it.
Good times, right?
Yes, I'll keep you up to date on my orthopedic health.
In the meantime, just remember that I caught and got that butterfly tagged. Oh, I just can't wait for the doctor to ask what I did.
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