BCSAnna
member
Hello everyone,
With surgery just five days away, I am in the final stages of getting my "To Do" list completed.
Yesterday was Gardening 101 for my hubby. I had previously written up instructions on which plants are "heavy drinkers," which are drought resistant and which plant foods go with the difference plants. Gardening is one of my hobbies. My hubby knows how to mow the lawn but couldn't tell a hydrangea from a butterfly bush. Instructing him on the care and feeding of my prized hybrid tea roses was akin to a graduate school chemistry course! But, we got through it and hopefully all my rose bushes will survive.
Yesterday was also hair salon day with color; deep conditioning; and cut. I have been going to the same stylist for over twenty years. She is a wonderful person and has graciously offered to come to my home if I can't make it to the salon following my surgery. Tomorrow is nail salon day to have my acrylic nails removed!And to get a pedicure. I've decided to go with blue painted toes in honor of "arthritis awareness" blue. When I had my prior cancer surgeries, I worn teal and then pink respectively. Hopefully this will be the last of my "awareness statements" in the OR!
Today, was the first day I had to begin my 2x per day Mupirocin, up the nostril ritual. My medical center requires the procedure to help prevent a MRSA infection. Now I ask you how many college graduates does it take to determine how much 1/2 gram is? In my house the answer is two college graduates! We finally pulled out one of the syringes from the first aid kits for our cats to see just how much 1/2 gram equals.
The best part of my week was receiving an email from my OS which contained a link to Penn Medicine Orthopedics Department collection of videos on total joint replacement. The videos were grouped in sections such as "Day of Surgery," "Pain Control," etc. Then, each section was divided into smaller segments. In total, there was over forty short, You Tube, length videos. I viewed all of them and then my husband and I watched them together. All I can say is wow.Before retirement, I had a long career in HR Management. During that time I viewed and presented a lot of employee motivational videos, some good, some not so good. When it comes to joint replacement patient motivational videos, I can honestly say that I have been viewing the best! I am so pumped up and ready for "game day!"
In typical Penn Medicine fashion, the videos were upbeat; friendly; highly informative; but pulled no punches. On the video, my OS said his job is 2 hours long while his patient's job is 52 weeks long. Those videos answered questions on things I didn't even think to ask. As a result, any fears I had are now gone. Any lingering doubt over having this surgery is now gone. I am now physically; mentally; and emotionally prepared to go forward and reclaim my mobility and decent quality of life.
Finally, the most moving part of the videos was the previous patient stories. One in particular really touched me. As a self professed beach bum, living in a coastal resort town, I love walking on the beach and boardwalk. Both of which I have not been able to do in sometime. Seeing and listening to one of my OS's previous patients say that she knew it was time for TKR when she could no longer do what she loved...walking on the beach...truly touched my heart and my soul. I sat before my computer crying my eyes out!
Five more days. I am ready for this surgery and I am more than ready to enjoy walking on the beach again!
Hugs
Anna
With surgery just five days away, I am in the final stages of getting my "To Do" list completed.
Yesterday was Gardening 101 for my hubby. I had previously written up instructions on which plants are "heavy drinkers," which are drought resistant and which plant foods go with the difference plants. Gardening is one of my hobbies. My hubby knows how to mow the lawn but couldn't tell a hydrangea from a butterfly bush. Instructing him on the care and feeding of my prized hybrid tea roses was akin to a graduate school chemistry course! But, we got through it and hopefully all my rose bushes will survive.
Yesterday was also hair salon day with color; deep conditioning; and cut. I have been going to the same stylist for over twenty years. She is a wonderful person and has graciously offered to come to my home if I can't make it to the salon following my surgery. Tomorrow is nail salon day to have my acrylic nails removed!And to get a pedicure. I've decided to go with blue painted toes in honor of "arthritis awareness" blue. When I had my prior cancer surgeries, I worn teal and then pink respectively. Hopefully this will be the last of my "awareness statements" in the OR!
Today, was the first day I had to begin my 2x per day Mupirocin, up the nostril ritual. My medical center requires the procedure to help prevent a MRSA infection. Now I ask you how many college graduates does it take to determine how much 1/2 gram is? In my house the answer is two college graduates! We finally pulled out one of the syringes from the first aid kits for our cats to see just how much 1/2 gram equals.
The best part of my week was receiving an email from my OS which contained a link to Penn Medicine Orthopedics Department collection of videos on total joint replacement. The videos were grouped in sections such as "Day of Surgery," "Pain Control," etc. Then, each section was divided into smaller segments. In total, there was over forty short, You Tube, length videos. I viewed all of them and then my husband and I watched them together. All I can say is wow.Before retirement, I had a long career in HR Management. During that time I viewed and presented a lot of employee motivational videos, some good, some not so good. When it comes to joint replacement patient motivational videos, I can honestly say that I have been viewing the best! I am so pumped up and ready for "game day!"
In typical Penn Medicine fashion, the videos were upbeat; friendly; highly informative; but pulled no punches. On the video, my OS said his job is 2 hours long while his patient's job is 52 weeks long. Those videos answered questions on things I didn't even think to ask. As a result, any fears I had are now gone. Any lingering doubt over having this surgery is now gone. I am now physically; mentally; and emotionally prepared to go forward and reclaim my mobility and decent quality of life.
Finally, the most moving part of the videos was the previous patient stories. One in particular really touched me. As a self professed beach bum, living in a coastal resort town, I love walking on the beach and boardwalk. Both of which I have not been able to do in sometime. Seeing and listening to one of my OS's previous patients say that she knew it was time for TKR when she could no longer do what she loved...walking on the beach...truly touched my heart and my soul. I sat before my computer crying my eyes out!
Five more days. I am ready for this surgery and I am more than ready to enjoy walking on the beach again!
Hugs
Anna