Hello Bonesmart World ... here I am appearing out of the mist again. What has happened since my last visit to the forum? Well, firstly I have been visited on my thread by some truly inspiring and amazing, caring people - all of whom I wish so much that I could meet.
Thanks so much for all your kind thoughts and concern about the passing of Kimbo. Mikki and I are recovering from that, but of course there are still times when I call him or ask Mikki where her brother is. At least now I have stopped putting down two bowls of food. Mikki has been helped by the fact that my son Matthew, and his wife Davina, have moved in for 3 months between rental houses. Matthew has a lovely dog, Red (a kelpie cross) and while they don't interact much as Red is only 2, she seems a lot more relaxed just having him in the house and sleeping beside her. Matthew and Davina also have a manx cat, Caspian (their first cat was called Narnia - see the connection????). My cat Jet is not impressed by the introduction of another cat and tends to hiss most times she sees him, but slowly, after a couple of weeks, the hissing is getting a bit less. Also, they have two lovely Malamutes - Teyha and Shadow - who were not supposed to be coming to my place, but have. They are mainly outside dogs, so it is working out okay. After a number of months on my own, it sometimes feels quite crowded with other people and dogs and cat, but otherwise is working out well.
I had my gallbladder op on 17 October as planned. I was a bit nervous about being "asleep" on the table and in recovery for a while with my knee flat (well, sticking up a bit because I still haven't attained 0-degree extension). But the nurses were wonderful and arranged a pillow beautifully under my leg so that the leg was slightly bent and it was supremely comfortable. The op itself went very well, the surgeon said, but this is me and you just know there is something, don't you? Well, apparently the anaesthetist had a terrible time putting the breathing tube down. According to the surgeon there were packets being ripped open, attempts made, tubes being pulled back out when they wouldn't go down and then being thrown all over the theatre. He said at one stage everyone in the room, except for him, was helping. He explained the bruising on my throat and the extreme soreness that went along with it (on the outside, not the inside) was due to them applying the "Vulcan death grip" to get my jaw open wider (also explains the very sore jaw hinges). I also had an extremely fat lip from multiple tubes being pulled back out. Thank heavens I was asleep for all that. However, eventually I was intubated and the op itself proceeded smoothly. Was in overnight and home the next morning. Did have more pain than I expected, or was told about, particularly the navel incision, but that is almost gone now.
Now, for the knee. At 10 weeks post-op tomorrow, thankfully, the pain I was experiencing has almost gone and is only intense if I bend it too far or try to push the straightening. At the check-up I had at the 7 week mark, the surgeon was quite happy with my progress. He thinks eventually I will get flat extension and he thought my right knee was in a better place than my left at the same time in regards to flexion. He said the pain under my kneecap and beside it could be a "pulled" internal stitch and would resolve in time. Would there still be stitches at 7 weeks? This is where the pain is although, as I said, less now than it was. I have to see him again at the six month mark.
He also said, as did all you lovely wise people on here, that I was doing too much for a new knee. In my mind, what I think happened, was that I dealt with my left knee for so long , that this new right knee sort of ran in together with the left and I was treating it as much older than it really was. I have eased back a bit and with Matthew and Davina here, it is easier for me to leave things because they will do them.
I am back to work next Monday - 3 November - for the week and finish up completely on Friday 7 November. How strange that will be after having basically worked for nearly 45 years.
I have a few very pleasurable activities planned - 2 week cruise to New Zealand leaving on 30 December. Then a round Australia cruise for 4 weeks in March - which also goes up to Bali for a stopover. Then in August/September my dream trip - Canada/Alaska.
So, that's up to date for me at the moment. Thanks so much to all my very patient, regular visitors for your caring and concern. Big hugs to you all - Jean
@jeano Jackie
@tiredwife Lyn
@Ellejay Cathie
@marmora @kneeper Debbie
@Reebok and GG
@GimpyGal.
@Reebok ... whereabouts in WA do you live? My round Australia cruise calls into a few places in WA. Would be lovely if I could meet you in person.
I will try to stay in more regular contact. I hope you are all doing well and recoveries are proceeding without a hitch.
Love and Hugs ... Ellen
United Kingdom
)
After 45 years of working.
Still, there's the x-trainer and the treadmill and all the upper body exercise equipment.
