On August 29, 2011, I had my cement spacer removed from my right knee. It had held the space for my new titanium knee. There was no sign of infection lingering in my knee. My new prosthesis was inserted in my right knee. The surgery went very well. I went home in 4 days. I began home therapy the next day! I had the Physical Therapist who I had following my initial surgery to remove my stainless steel right knee. He's from India and also studied in Australia. He is exceptionally interesting and can talk to distract you while he continues to have you do therapy. He had taught me to get in the backseat of our car without having to bend my knee at all, while I had the cast which encased my leg from thigh to toes. That still was necessary following the surgery. He taught me to go upstairs before I began outpatient therapy. That enabled me to get rid of the hospital bed from our living room. After 3 weeks of home therapy I began outpatient therapy.
I consider physical therapy essential. 9 years ago following my bilateral surgeries (both knees done the same time) I endured 6 months of PT. The first day my therapist asked me my goal. My reply was, "I plan to walk out of here pain free." I fulfilled that goal and was told "I didn't think you could do that!" Now I'm back in that same spot after 8 1/2 years enjoying walking pain free! I began with 3/wk and now am at 2/wk, both with home exercise. It is exhausting but I am not in pain, which is wonderful. I have more bend than I did the first time around, which is amazing since I'm OLDER now.
I feel better than I have in a couple of years. I'm still weak from chemotherapy, multiple surgeries, staph infection, and oodles of medications. Currently I am working on functions. Last week I ironed, baked cookies, had guests for a chili lunch, and ran the vacuum cleaner (1 room/day).
Prayers are really being answered positively.
"Together we have thought about the wisdom endowed to the body by the creator through an intelligent design....You are a recipient of that gift, and your appreciation and respect for your design and the Designer requires that you seek the path to health and wholeness by personally making a commitment to constantly care for your body." p.79
GOD'S PRESCRIPTION FOR HEALING c2004
James P. Gills, M.D.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Blogging INTERRUPTED
I have been so busy and tired with Physical Therapy at INOVA/Fair Oaks and home exercises assigned by PT that I haven't be physically able to blog!! Sorry but energy level is S L O W L Y progressing.
During my chemo regimen, I continued to have knee pain, excruciating at times. I was on heavy pain medications which clogged my brain. No medical personnel could figure out what was causing the knee problem. Many, many tests revealed no infection. Finally two doctors came up with a staph infection diagnosis. One said let's open her knee (infectious disease dr) while the orthopedic dr said "No way". It was decided to try STRONG ANTIBIOTICS orally. After a couple months with only slight improvement it was decided that I have IV antibiotics at home. This helped another slight amount. By now I was having leakage below my knee necessitating bandage changing every two hours. Suggestions were made that I use a thicker pad on my bandages. I explained that I go to the bathroom every two hours for my bladder problem anyway so I just change the bandage while I'm up. I wanted to have my bladder tacked long before these other problems arose. I went through tests at Geo Washington Hosp and the tests showed I had no problems with my bladder other than incontinence, for which the dr recommended oral medication. By the time I'd given it a fair trial to no avail, I had too many additional problems to have surgery for it. So it continues today! Chemotherapy continued with the main side effect being drops in blood counts. I had oodles of transfusions. One time it took 9 UNITS to bring it back up to "passable." I was very weak & miserable often with no appetite. My last chemo was in November. I hadn't finished my planned course but the oncologist wanted me to regain enough strength to celebrate Christmas. Meanwhile my knee was being treated and I continued to changed the bandages. In February we along with our kids & grandsons went to Greenbrier Resort In WV for Hampton's 74th birthday. It was a wonderful FUN time for all, including Hampton's brother & sister-inlaw (Gene & Tommy Jean) who worked out a co-insiding trip. FINALLY after months of antibiotic treatments, the orthopedist said "I'm going into your knee, I will not let you suffer any longer." Now we have switched opinions! Infectious disease dr saying "Are you SURE you want to do this?" On May 23 I had my 9 yr old right knee prosthesis removed. A cement spacer was put in to "hold the space" for a prosthesis. The surgery went well and the dr felt he had removed all my infection. That evening as he checked everything, the dr decided it wasn't "perfectly straight" so he would put a cast on my leg. This cast was from my upper thigh to my toes. I was not to bear any weight on my foot. OK use a walker & hop on one foot!! Let's mention TIRED again! Unable to do anything while I was "up" I spent most of my time in bed -- sleeping, reading, or a bit of handwork on a quilt. On June 16 the cast was removed. My knee incision had healed but I still had to HOP and only toe touch. This continued until August 29 when I had a new titanium knee put in my leg! Again the infectious asked the day before surgery "Many people live with the cement spacer, are you SURE you want to open this knee a THIRD time?" Again the orthopedist answered "ABSOLUTELY."
"Trusting an invisible God doesn't come naturally. A trust relationship grows only by stepping out in faith & making the choice to trust. The ability to believe God develops most often through pure experience."
from: Breaking Free
by: Beth Moore
During my chemo regimen, I continued to have knee pain, excruciating at times. I was on heavy pain medications which clogged my brain. No medical personnel could figure out what was causing the knee problem. Many, many tests revealed no infection. Finally two doctors came up with a staph infection diagnosis. One said let's open her knee (infectious disease dr) while the orthopedic dr said "No way". It was decided to try STRONG ANTIBIOTICS orally. After a couple months with only slight improvement it was decided that I have IV antibiotics at home. This helped another slight amount. By now I was having leakage below my knee necessitating bandage changing every two hours. Suggestions were made that I use a thicker pad on my bandages. I explained that I go to the bathroom every two hours for my bladder problem anyway so I just change the bandage while I'm up. I wanted to have my bladder tacked long before these other problems arose. I went through tests at Geo Washington Hosp and the tests showed I had no problems with my bladder other than incontinence, for which the dr recommended oral medication. By the time I'd given it a fair trial to no avail, I had too many additional problems to have surgery for it. So it continues today! Chemotherapy continued with the main side effect being drops in blood counts. I had oodles of transfusions. One time it took 9 UNITS to bring it back up to "passable." I was very weak & miserable often with no appetite. My last chemo was in November. I hadn't finished my planned course but the oncologist wanted me to regain enough strength to celebrate Christmas. Meanwhile my knee was being treated and I continued to changed the bandages. In February we along with our kids & grandsons went to Greenbrier Resort In WV for Hampton's 74th birthday. It was a wonderful FUN time for all, including Hampton's brother & sister-inlaw (Gene & Tommy Jean) who worked out a co-insiding trip. FINALLY after months of antibiotic treatments, the orthopedist said "I'm going into your knee, I will not let you suffer any longer." Now we have switched opinions! Infectious disease dr saying "Are you SURE you want to do this?" On May 23 I had my 9 yr old right knee prosthesis removed. A cement spacer was put in to "hold the space" for a prosthesis. The surgery went well and the dr felt he had removed all my infection. That evening as he checked everything, the dr decided it wasn't "perfectly straight" so he would put a cast on my leg. This cast was from my upper thigh to my toes. I was not to bear any weight on my foot. OK use a walker & hop on one foot!! Let's mention TIRED again! Unable to do anything while I was "up" I spent most of my time in bed -- sleeping, reading, or a bit of handwork on a quilt. On June 16 the cast was removed. My knee incision had healed but I still had to HOP and only toe touch. This continued until August 29 when I had a new titanium knee put in my leg! Again the infectious asked the day before surgery "Many people live with the cement spacer, are you SURE you want to open this knee a THIRD time?" Again the orthopedist answered "ABSOLUTELY."
"Trusting an invisible God doesn't come naturally. A trust relationship grows only by stepping out in faith & making the choice to trust. The ability to believe God develops most often through pure experience."
from: Breaking Free
by: Beth Moore
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
Interruption Intervention Inspiration
Some blog readers have asked "How did you make your decision about chemotherapy?"
I spent time specifically asking God for guidance, in prayer, about this major interruption in my life. I prayed for wisdom in making my decision. I had planned for years not to have cancer. I had a hysterectomy at 39 to remove a cyst on an ovary. That cyst turned out to be a grapefruit size tumor. I had suggested/requested a hysterectomy when it was diagnosed. There was no sign of cancer but I felt it would be prudent to have my "female surgery" at the time the cyst was removed. I was avoiding uterine cancer opportunities in the future. My Daddy had told me when I was a little girl not to smoke. He was a smoker but he explained to me that it was a very bad habit and unladylike. This was long before the surgeon general's warning. Both my parents were non-drinkers of alcohol . They explained I shouldn't drink and I haven't; nor have I smoked. I've had regular mammograms, pap smears, and physical exams. I was NOT going to have cancer!
When the oncologist told me, on April 28, 2010, that I had pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and blood clots in my chest I asked HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I had done all kinds of preventive measures to avoid cancer. The oncologist, the orthopedist, the infectious disease doctor, and my family care physician all agreed that I'd done all the right things to ewaiat having cancer. However, I had Stage IV pancreatic cancer which has a 2% survival rate.
Immediately stated my position of no chemotherapy. The oncologist said that was understandable and the decision was mine to make. He said he isn't God and from a medical standpoint the chances of curing my cancer are slim. Hampton from a spiritual standpoint all things are possible. I didn't have to make a decision that day. That's when he talked to my family as I told in an earlier blog.
I concluded that God was telling me to give chemotherapy a try!
Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God"
Mark 10:21
I spent time specifically asking God for guidance, in prayer, about this major interruption in my life. I prayed for wisdom in making my decision. I had planned for years not to have cancer. I had a hysterectomy at 39 to remove a cyst on an ovary. That cyst turned out to be a grapefruit size tumor. I had suggested/requested a hysterectomy when it was diagnosed. There was no sign of cancer but I felt it would be prudent to have my "female surgery" at the time the cyst was removed. I was avoiding uterine cancer opportunities in the future. My Daddy had told me when I was a little girl not to smoke. He was a smoker but he explained to me that it was a very bad habit and unladylike. This was long before the surgeon general's warning. Both my parents were non-drinkers of alcohol . They explained I shouldn't drink and I haven't; nor have I smoked. I've had regular mammograms, pap smears, and physical exams. I was NOT going to have cancer!
When the oncologist told me, on April 28, 2010, that I had pancreatic cancer, liver cancer, and blood clots in my chest I asked HOW DID THIS HAPPEN? I had done all kinds of preventive measures to avoid cancer. The oncologist, the orthopedist, the infectious disease doctor, and my family care physician all agreed that I'd done all the right things to ewaiat having cancer. However, I had Stage IV pancreatic cancer which has a 2% survival rate.
Immediately stated my position of no chemotherapy. The oncologist said that was understandable and the decision was mine to make. He said he isn't God and from a medical standpoint the chances of curing my cancer are slim. Hampton from a spiritual standpoint all things are possible. I didn't have to make a decision that day. That's when he talked to my family as I told in an earlier blog.
I concluded that God was telling me to give chemotherapy a try!
Jesus said, "With men it is impossible, but not with God, because all things are possible with God"
Mark 10:21
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)