Happenings
Posted: July 7, 2011 Filed under: Knee replacement, Surgery Leave a comment »As you can see, it’s been a while since I last posted. I won’t post all the reasons I’ve been absent but I’ve had some new difficulties pop up. My knees have gotten so bad now that the injections have been put on hold and I’m scheduled to see a surgeon about my right knee. My left knee is the one that had been x-rayed but the right one is the one that has been giving me so much trouble lately.
I hope that I’m able to have surgery on both knees. I need to lose a little more weight before the surgery, not an easy thing to do. The girls have had to take over all the cooking and most of the cleaning. Most days I have to rely on crutches to get around the house and I dare not even attempt to walk further than 30 feet on my own. I have to use a wheelchair when going out and I have to avoid the stairs completely (except for the steps on the deck).
I hope all of this can be resolved before November, which is the start of baking season. I will be so glad to have some pain relief, if all goes well.
Crocheting, taking care of the finances, and roaming around on the internet keep me busy. I wish I were more active but for now I’ll have to find areas where I can contribute something. It’s important to me to not give up. I’m sure I will see some improvement in the months ahead.
More tales of our spoiled dog
Posted: December 4, 2010 Filed under: Pets, Tales of a spoiled dog Leave a comment »Mr. D continues to do things only he can get away with, things Cesar Milan would not approve of, I’m sure.
He seems to think my spot on the couch, with all it’s pillows, is the place to be.
He likes to stare at me waiting for a treat and when I ignore him, he jumps up on me.
He woke me up by landing his front paws on my lap. He must weigh at least 75 pounds.
He likes to take the kid’s coats and drag them wherever he likes.
He comes over to the basket of yarn I have on the floor, eying the one he’ll trot off with next.
He now has a new toy, a stuffed toy duck with it’s annoying built-in duck call.
Has adopted the neighbors as a second family. He loves them! If they’re outside he makes a bee-line for them and he doesn’t care that they don’t give him treats. I wish he felt the same about us when we don’t give him treats.
Meat, from where?
Posted: December 3, 2010 Filed under: Weird Leave a comment »And now for the news of the strange and bizarre…
A guy came up to our house and wanted to sell us some meat from the back of his van. Seriously? You think we would want that? Even if it wasn’t road-kill, ummm, I don’t think so!
Out with the quilt, in with the yarn
Posted: November 29, 2010 Filed under: Helping hands, hobbies, quilting Leave a comment »I haven’t totally abandoned quilting, it’s just that, for the moment, crocheting has taken up my time, hobby-wise. A friend of mine offered to finish a quilt for me that I had started many, many moons ago so I took her up on her offer.
Crocheting for me is easier as I can have all the equipment right near me without having to get up too much or exhaust myself with fabric preparation, pressing and cutting. It’s much easier for this fibromite to crochet a project within a short amount of time than it was with quilting. I wish it weren’t that way because quilting is the first craft that I felt I was any good at.
Maybe at a later time I will pick it back up again, after all, there are still a few quilts that I haven’t finished.
How to make someone’s day
Posted: November 8, 2010 Filed under: hobbies, quilting Leave a comment »Just send them a craft book they’ve been wanting for quite some time.
No, I’m not hinting.
Although…..
Three years and still going
Posted: October 25, 2010 Filed under: Friends, Helping hands, pain, Success Leave a comment »I made the decision to get off a prescription pain med. I was told by a friend that I was taking too much. He told me that there were better ways of dealing with pain. I didn’t like hearing that since the pain I was experiencing was chronic. I really felt I needed to be on the meds or I wouldn’t get through the day. They made me sleepy, irritable, anxious, weepy and depressed but I was convinced I needed them.
I’m so thankful that friends helped me through those first days and weeks. I remember thinking, “I’ll never be able to make it 24 hours without a pain pill.” I was able to get through 24 hours without a pill but then I would need one but at least I was taking only one every 24 hours. Then I got past the 24 hour mark and got to 28 hours. I thought this was great! I’m onto something. But let’s just see if I can make it even farther. I went to 32, then to 48 hours! That was a milestone for me. It had been years since I had gone 24 hours without taking anything.
I knew I was onto something-that I would be able to make it to a week if I just summoned the strength. Strength came in the form of two friends who made themselves available whenever I needed them for moral support. I knew I had to make it to the 2 week mark because that was the longest I had ever been without a pain pill in the 4 1/2 years I had been on it.
Once I made it past the 2 week mark, I knew I was going to make it. I gave the remaining pills to my doctor. He was very supportive of my decision to get off the pain meds. I was thrilled when I made it to a year and then 2 years.
Unfortunately, I’ve had to go back on them because of an injury. But at least this time, I’m in control and I do not have a habit of taking this pain med. So, even though I’m back on it, I still feel successful because I have conquered the feeling that I need to have this strong of a pain med to make it through the day. I am on less strong medications for pain but even those are used sparingly.
Good friends, faith and support can make all the difference.
Catching up on things
Posted: October 21, 2010 Filed under: Misc Leave a comment »It’s been quite a while since I’ve posted anything. This is mostly due to depression. Some of it’s due to other events going on in my life and of course dealing with the fibro.
Since it’s difficult to remember everything that’s been going on, I’ll just hit the highlights.
_Daughter decided to go back to college to earn a degree.
_Got a wheelchair real cheap…less than $51.
_Saw my regular Rhuematologist who assured me that my knees will be taken care of (meaning surgery), he doesn’t think I’m too young to have the knee replaced.
_Went shopping with friends and then had lunch each week for a couple of weeks. Now one has gone back home and won’t be back till Spring.
_Discovered some things that have been annoying me lately.
_Decided to stop dieting for good. But I have decided to take better care of my health by eating healthier. I just have to figure out what’s best for my body.
Those are some of the highlights as I can remember them.
A message for my much older sister…
Posted: August 1, 2010 Filed under: Sisters Leave a comment »I’m sorry.
I’m sorry I missed out on years of who knows what.
I’m sorry I’m your most difficult sister.
I’m glad I had a chance to see you again after many years…
I’m glad you seem to be doing well.
I’m glad you still have your beautiful long hair.
I’m glad I had a chance to give you a hug.
I’m glad we share a new found common interest.
I’m glad we had a chance to swap stories.
I’m glad we spent some time together.
I hope we will continue to share things.
I hope I get to see you again soon.
I’m happy I have this sister that I miss and love very much.
See you later, sis.
When one’s down they all follow
Posted: August 1, 2010 Filed under: Uncategorized Leave a comment »At least in our house.
One family member brought home a flu-type bug and passed it on to another. In the meantime one family member decided to develop an inflammation, and me, I’m the usual sick self.
When one of us goes down, we all go down.
The healthiest of the bunch gets to wait on the others hand and foot.
I can’t wait till they get better.
Get well family. 
We shall see
Posted: July 20, 2010 Filed under: cranky, Doctors, Knee replacement, Surgery Leave a comment »Well, I got some shots to my knee. We’ll see how that goes. So far I’ve noticed a slight improvement.
When I go to my Rheumatologist, we’ll see what he has to say. I’m hoping he will at least consider surgery in the near future. I like this doctor and don’t want to be at odds with him on anything.
I’d also like it if he were supportive of my using crutches and a wheelchair for getting around in stores and other places that require a lot of walking and/or standing.
Mornings and coffee
Posted: July 17, 2010 Filed under: good day Leave a comment »It occurred to me that my mornings go smoother if I have coffee and chocolate.
The family is happier too.
Since I can’t get any worse
Posted: July 2, 2010 Filed under: Arthritis, cranky, Knee replacement, Osteoarthritis, pain | Tags: Exercise, Knee replacement, Osteoarthritis, symptoms, weight loss Leave a comment »I’ve decided to go ahead and exercise. I’m going to use the stationary bike and total gym. My doctor suggested yoga. If I can work that in, I’ll do that too. I figure I can’t do much more damage and they want me to lose the weight so I’m going to go ahead and see what happens.
Yesterday I did 5 minutes on the bike and a few exercises on the total gym. Today I ache all over. I’m fatigued. Crabby…etc…
I’m going to rest today and try again tomorrow. At least when I go back to the surgeon I can tell him I’m starting to exercise.
Surgery and Fibromyalgia
Posted: June 23, 2010 Filed under: Appointments, Arthritis, Fibromyalgia, Phobias, Surgery Leave a comment »Earlier this week I “injured” my knee. I was getting dressed when I felt a “pop.” It hurt immediately and as I tried to move it any which way it hurt even worse. Thankfully my daughter was home at the time and was able to get my crutches because I was unable to put weight on it.
I tried the usual…rest…heating pads…meds…pain-killers…tens unit…pillows. When that didn’t work, I tried a shower, then a bath. Nothing I tried eased the pain plus I was unable to bend it or straighten it out.
I went to the doctor to get pain-killers because I thought it would go away in a few days and I could return to normal. Well, the doctor took x-rays and came back with the news that I had some type of problem with my cartilage being worn down due to the arthritis. I already knew that part. But he said I needed to see a surgeon immediately. So I have an upcoming appointment to determine what type of surgery is needed and how bad the damage is to the knee.
