Hello @wolfwomen
@IrishMike @Jozilla @Ellejay @dogwheels @tiredwife @lavender @chestnc @pumpkin @gr82cu2 @Jane B. @Minnie's knees @Yorkimom @busylizzie @Maeve @happymum @madinana @jul @hopefaith @Celle @Reebok @amber777 @Nana moon 27 @Ollie @busylizzie
and all my other BoneSmart friends that I haven't listed- sorry,
Thank you for much for your concern and warm wishes and sorry that I have taken so long to update you on my appointments on Thursday.
It really touched my heart reading your posts and I could feel the friendship and bonds that we have made with each other across continents and time zones.
Didn't sleep too well on Wednesday night, as I was afraid that I wouldn't hear the 6 am alarm.
But, was awake before the alarm and out of the house by 6:45 am and arrived at the hospital at 7:30 am before the doctor and his secretary for my 8:00 am appointment.
The doctor was lovely and made me feel very comfortable and at ease.
By coincidence he had orthopaedic foot surgery 18 months prior with my OS and has pins in his foot.
We talked about that first and he gave me a message for my OS who I was seeing at 10:45.
"Please tell Professor ____________ that the pins are staying in for the time being and it may be awhile before I see him".
(Doctors/surgeons who also lecture in University are called Professor rather than Doctor Smith or Mr. Smith
(if they are a surgeon). The Endocrinologist is also a University Professor.
He took my history had the results of my July 2014 pre-op blood work and my HbA1c had been 43 (6.1).
The HbA1c is a blood reading of the last 120 days and is the average reading. The goal is "under 7.0 is heaven".
Told him the in the last few weeks readings ranged from 7.0 to 14.2 and that initially the hospital, rehab centre and my GP said not to be concerned, as it is not uncommon after surgery for the blood glucose level to be raised and if after a few more weeks it was still elevated, to see my Endocrinologist.
We discussed my usual diet and activity level and he felt that the raise Blood Glucose levels could be the result of decreases activity as pre-op was playing golf 1-2 times per week, walking most days for 45-60 minutes, and generally keeping busy.
And possibly as I had been changed to a new blood thinning medication Xarelto in hospital that it may also have an effect. Unlikely, but anything new can effect Blood Glucose levels.
He didn't feel that I have a need for insulin at this time.
Continue with my daily injection of Victoza(a non-insulin injectable medication for Type 2 Diabetes).
He also then prescribed 500 mg Metophage 2 tablets (1000 mg total) in addition to the Victoza daily and 'indefinitely'.
He then sent me for blood work and if it showed any thing out of the ordinary, he would contact me.
Most reassuring he gave me his cell/mobile number and to ring him if I had any other concerns (it's probably not his private one, but one he gives to patients).
My current Endocrinologist is a lovely man and a real gentleman and I have great respect for him.
He retired about 4 years ago from the Public Health System at age 65, but continued his private practice.
He had been unwell last year and again this year, so I felt that I might have to look for another Endocrinologist when he would retire from Private Practice at age 70.
The Doctor/Professor that I saw on Thursday told me that he would be taking on some of the patients on my current Endocrinologists' retirement.
So, in a way it was an opportune time for this appointment, to see what he was like before I had to make a decision to find a new Endocrinologist.
I left his office feeling relieved and that this new course of treatment should get the Blood Glucose levels under control and along with increased activity as the knee allows, should be back on track in a few weeks.
Then into the car and across town to my OS appointment.
The first thing I said to him was, "I was in Tallaght Hospital this morning with Professor_________ and he wanted me to pass on a message to you. I told him the message that the pins were staying in for the time being.
And the OS laughed and said, next time you see him,tell him,"we'll see, they have to come out sometime and see how he gets through the cold and damp winter with them left in".
The OS had me walk around the room, examined the knee and incision, 'eye- balled my Flexion and extension".
And felt they had improved since my 6 week appointment.
I told him that the swelling and stiffness continued to be my major concern and that I felt that was stopping the improvement in Flexion and extension. And also told him about waking at night, pain increasing with activities, discouraged feelings of lack of progress.
He told me that it could take 6 months or longer for the swelling and stiffness to go and that it was still early days and that some people take longer to recover.and could be up to 12 months before the knee starts to behave.
He felt that I had greatly improved from my 6 week appointment.
Not to be so hard on myself and to take it slowly and one day at a time.
This was major surgery and it takes a major recovery time period.
I am to continue to use one cane when out of the house and when I felt comfortable and safe stop using it.
Continue with private PT, if I wanted and the therapy pool would be very good at helping with exercise.
He will see me again on 8 January 2015 and expects that I will be greatly improved with greater Flexion and extension.
Felt, that he really didn't tell me anything that I didn't know, but happy that he felt that the thought of a MUA should be far from my mind, as it is not something he would even be thinking about for me.
Was very tried and relieved after my day and home to rest, ice and elevate.
And then out to Bridge lesson on Thursday night.
And slept
well that night, only awake once at about 3 am for pain relief and to re-ice the knee.
Well, that is my long saga and it does have a happier ending that when I last posted.
Really do want to say to each of you again that, I was very touched by your concern and that is the best medicine of all- knowing that someone cares,
Cathie
Ireland
