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TKR Sarah Jane's Summer Journey and Fall Frolic

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Well, I went for two days without flirting with the ODIC (Over-Did It Club). And most of today. Until I went to Costco. I wanted to pick up some diet green tea and no-calorie vitamin water, along with this, that, and the other thing. Before my surgery, I could have lifted those heavy mega-packages into my cart myself. Today, I knew better than to try. But I didn't think how heavy the cart would be to push from the beverage aisle to the check out, and from the checkout to my car. My knee was not happy with me.

I asked a passerby for help getting them into the back seat of my car. Where they still sit. I did take the small, manageable box of fruit, cheese, bread, etc. up to my condo. And then rested my knee, made myself a sandwich, and watched TV. My plan, if there's no neighbor around tomorrow, is to take my little old lady shopping cart down to the car, and load up a half dozen or dozen or so and bring them up from the garage to my condo. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat. Rinse and repeat.

I'm icing as I write this. I took an Alleve and a Zantac. And am planning to take it relatively easy tomorrow. No heavy lifting. Some driving: getting my teeth cleaned. My doctor didn't say anything about pre-medicating with antibiotics before dental work, and it's just a cleaning, so when my dentist asked me if I wanted to pre-medicate, I said no. The American Dental Association has come out against the practice. If I were having major, major, major dental surgery, I probably would premedicate at three months out from my TKR. But not for a cleaning.

Hope you all are doing well.
 
Sorry about the over weight shopping you may have to invest in a drone to carry stuff in. I laughed yesterday some children were being asked what they wanted to be when grown up. One wee sprite exclaimed, Dr Who

Legin THR Sep 14
 
@Legin, you may well have met the Nineteenth Doctor. You do know that David Tennant (the Tenth Doctor) decided at the age of 3 (or so, if memory serves) that he wanted to be an actor because of Doctor Who. And that Peter Capaldi (the Twelfth Doctor) was a big, big, big Whovian years before that term came into use, writing the production office, the Radio Times, etc. and wanting to be the head of the Doctor Who Fan Club.

I hope you're doing OK. When's your next CAB training? Still working with the old chap?
 
Yes I'm working with the chap. Other day I went to see if he was awake and he looked to be snoozing. Suddenly he sits up pointe d his finger and exclaimed bang. I of course had to do the OTT dramatic I have been shot routine. His wife was laughing her head off. Next CAB is next week then its schools autumn break.
NASA wee laddie who wanted to be Dr Who was English and of course all the best Dr Who have been north of the border. Ooooops @SarahJane

Legin THR Sep 14
 
... or at least close to the border, since you said you liked Eccleston, who's from Lancashire ("many planets have a north").
 
Hmmmmm true. But me thinks Ecclescake ancestor was visited shall we say when Wallace went south.

Legin THR Sep 14
 
Ouch, it does sound like you overdid it. When I lived on the 12th floor of an apartment building my old lady cart went everywhere with me. I loved it.
 
Yup.. those Costco carts can get pretty heavy pretty quickly.. I'm not going to dissuade you from shopping at Costco.. you just need to plan ahead and "take a friend".. :heehee:

Hope you get enough rest and feel better soon.. :yes:
 
I hope that you've recuperated from the heavy vitamin water experience! Last year when I was on crutches the baggers at the grocery store were so careful about packing my groceries, and they'd put them in the back of my car after I rode out to the lot with the motorized cart. I would always tell them that it didn't matter how they packed the groceries, because I would have to deal with getting them out and into the house by myself. It isn't far from my garage into my house (by the kitchen), but even now I make multiple trips and don't carry anything more than I can hold with one hand (my own "recipe" for avoiding ODIC when it comes to groceries - if the weight can be tolerated by just one hand, I know I'll be fine in walking with that weight). I'm glad that you have a cart, and though it's a hassle to have to make so many trips, at least you'll be able to enjoy your purchases without hurting.
 
Checking in on you..... Did you get all of your goods up to your condo? Are you OK?? Please tell me you did not over do it!!!
We are getting round after round of rain. A HUGE outdoor art & craft show has even been cancelled for the first time ever! And I was so hoping for a sunny, cool, fall weekend with those beautiful leaves! :blackcloud:
We did get out to see a movie today, The Intern, and had a good laugh or two!
Hope you do something fun this weekend!
Hugs from the mtns!
 
Today was my last day in physical therapy. Twelve weeks and two days from my surgery. An amazing journey. Flexion 118, extension 0. Yay!

If you're new to this journey, welcome! I've found that it really has gotten better these past couple of weeks. Much better than I thought it would during those dark, dark early days and nights without much sleep and with more pain than I thought was humanly possible -- take it from me: never, never, never skip a dose of pain medication. You'll feel it. I promise. Ice is your new best friend. Ice, ice, ice.

People who see me tell me how well I'm walking. I don't have that much stamina, and still feel like that leg is weaker than the other, but to the casual outside observer, I look OK.

I am thinking about beginning to hike again. Here in Southern California, there are very few level hiking trails. I talked with the physical therapist about getting hiking poles (hiking sticks). He had no specific recommendations. I've seen a couple of people post about them, but I don't remember who they were. Anyone have any insight or suggestions? I'm short, plump, and not planning to do any winter ice and snow hiking. (Although if it ever rains or snows again here in California, I might be tempted to go see the snow!)
 
:yay:Congratulations on graduating from PT! I look forward to that day.... Perhaps next week? Your numbers look great and you know that flexion will continue to increase. You are accomplishing amazing feats! Who would have thought it possible 12 weeks ago??
 
Thanks for checking in on me, @Thesoutherncook. I have some of the drinks here now, but others are still in my car. I find that I'm grabbing one or two during my jalopy jaunts in this unseasonably hot weather. Hydration.
My parking space is not near my condo, so I have to deal with either a flight of stairs or a long slope. Not as convenient as your garage set-up, @Widget1.
 
Well, today is the 13th week since my right TKR. I'm on track. "Graduated" from physical therapy with 118 flexion and 0 extension. The physical therapist said I'd gain a little more flexion in a few months when the swelling goes away.

I am able to go up and down stairs like a normal human being. I really -- seriously -- do not remember the last time I was able to do that. I had a serious decline in my knee's stabiliy about 12 years ago. I got an off-loader brace, and at some time way back when I started taking the stairs moving slowly: good leg first, then bad leg to same step, good leg again, bad leg following.

I live in Los Angeles, home of 100 degree weather even near the beach this weekend. (Don't know what it's equivalent is in C. maybe 100 degrees there, too.) I took a little walk Monday morning before it got too hot. I was going to go in the pool this morning, but got a call from a friend who's been laid up sick for a couple of days and ended up getting her groceries, lunch for her husband with Parkinson's and doing a little bit of clean-up around the house instead. I might try to go in a little later on -- if the Dodgers-Mets game ends in time. I'm finding that I am not comfortable with the crawl's kick for more than a lap, but I am OK with a leisurely side-stroke. I've never been much for the frog-kick, and I'm not in good enough shape to even attempt the butterfly. I expect "real" swimming will come in time. Right now, I'm mostly just walking in the water, and doing some land-based exercises in the pool. The physical therapist said I would need to use a belt or scarf to assist my heel slides to get the next couple of degrees of flexion. I tried it a couple of times but it was harder than it looked. I felt awkward. And I ended up needing to ice so I could get to sleep last night. Giving it a break tonight.

I *am* taking ibuprophen (sp?), though. I spent a looooooooong time fanning myself with a program at church (which has relied on climate and open windows for all the cooling the congregants needed). And I totally irritated my dormant carpal tunnel/repetitive strain injury in my dominant hand. :::insert unhappy face here:::
 
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Missed swimming tonight because I got another call from my ill friend. Her stomach was feeling queasy. Brought my Zantac, saltines, Melba toast, and antacids. She'd wanted Pepto-Bismol, but I didn't have any and she didn't want me to go to the store to pick up some for her. Even though I told her it'd be my pleasure as the stores are air conditioned! I hope this will pass soon. It's too darn hot to be sick!

I did bring a smile to her face, though. I'd rearranged things in my house before the surgery so what I thought I'd need the most would be at arms length. So when I went to look for my wrist braces, they weren't in their usual place. I looked a couple of other places. No luck. I knew I was at risk of hurting the wrist more by falling asleep with it bent in a weird position.

So, when I showed up at my friend's house tonight, my wrist was wrapped in saran wrap covered with wide strips of green duct tape.

I'm starting a fashion trend! Everybody who's anybody is going to be sporting colorful bands of duct tape around their wrists. You heard it here first.
 
I have used duct tape into the butterfly plaster thingmabob as it sticks better

Legin THR Sep 14
 
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Sarah Jane you are such a kind and compassionate ( and funny! ) friend! I'm jealous of your stair accomplishment as my old knee keeps me "toddler like" going down! You're progressing well!!!
We have a nice cool front with temp this am in low 50‘s and high in 70's. I wish I could send you some cool breezes. But, you have the advantage of pool time! Here they put a bubble over the pool and blow warm air into it for winter swimming. Still not warm enough to suit me! :scare:
My 5 yr old Grand and I have a roll of Barbie pink duct tape.... Should I send it to you? :rotfl: You are so creative and fashion conscious!
Hugs from the mtns!
 
Jealous of your stair ability. Today is my last day of regular in-home PT (they will discharge me Friday) so I think I will ask her to help me with the three stairs I have in my home. Hey, it's a start!

Glad you are doing so well.
 
Please, the next trip take someone with you. It's hard enough to over shop there. My brother lives in CA and hikes a lot. He uses walking sticks he got at a ski shop. He is disabled and loves to hike and won't let anything get in his way. So nice of you to help a friend but also take care of yourself.
 
SarahJane, I read back a few posts that you were thinking about getting some hiking poles. I don't have hiking poles but I have Nordic walking poles. I've had them for years and I really like them because I feel like they do help my knees. They also are supposed to give you a better workout than walking without them. The ones I have are Leki. They are telescoping which is good so you can make them smaller to take with you.
 
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