Oct 16: The day after the anniversary, updates

Yesterday, for those of you who keep track (?!) was the seventh year anniversary of the first surgery. That has always been the date I've felt the most drawn to, although next July will be the 5 year anniversary of the last surgery, and that's where my focus will shift. This anniversary no longer has the meaning to that it did previously, but still serves as a touchstone to how far I've come and where I am now. The other issue for this year was that without the foot fractures this would have been the day of my return from my Greece/Turkey trip.

So, updates:

 

Firstly, the foot is more complicated than originally thought (and where have you heard THAT before regarding my health?!). At the four week mark when another X-ray was done it confirmed that there are actually three bones broken: 4th & 5th metatarsal and the cuboid bone which sits behind those two. While this wasn't a surprise, the podiatrist had figured the other two were at least cracked due to my history, there was an unpleasant surprise: the amount of bone demineralization in one month of non-weight bearing. She was 'stunned' at the bone loss, even more so when I told her my calcium & vitamin D intake. This is the result of genetics (I'm entirely English, Irish & Scottish ancestry except for a grandmother in the 1780s who was American Indian) and women of British ancestry have, along with Asians, the thinnest bones to start with. My mother and grandmother both have/had osteopenia/osteoporosis, so it was a good indicator that I was going to have an issue as well. I've always been a huge milk drinker--love the stuff--from childhood and for years now drink more than a gallon of milk a week plus cheese, yogurt and cottage cheese. The additional issue was the years of mega-doses of steroids for my asthma which, while a true problem, was clearly aggravated by heart failure. Steroids due a number of bad things while decreasing inflammation, two of them are leech calcium from bones and cause a retention of fluid. The retention of fluid aggravated my mitral valve problems, but the increased wheezing wasn't realized to be heart failure and, ironically, lead to increases in the steroids to cope with the perceived asthma.

The answer to this is a bone stimulator, which I'm currently wearing. It usually isn't used until the fractures are non-healing for three months, but with my history and the demineralization it was approved more quickly. I'm actually quite  pleased with this because the area of treatment covers not only the current fractures, but the old ones as well, so this may leave me better off than before I re-fractured the adjacent areas. It has to be worn 10 hours a day but doesn't hurt, just increased weight on the boot cast. It's typically used for three months, so that would carry into January. It's a lot of time, but if the foot can be treated and improved in four months instead of partially healed in over two years it is still on the plus side.

 

As of Tuesday I'm finally allowed minimal weight bearing as it's now seven weeks out, still have to use the roll-a-bout when out of the house and the boot at all times. Being able to walk a few steps makes life WAY easier. My next appointment is Nov 2, and the anticipation is being able to walk with just the boot, which will also improve life. It no longer hurts, obviously a big bonus.

As mentioned previously, Tabitha went to stay with my Mom. At first she was rather put out that she had to find places outside of her apartment for all her plants, which Tabitha eats. This exposed wires she'd disguised with well-placed pots as well as dried flower arrangements, etc. It took a few weeks, but she realized that a fuzzy companion was actually better. Tabitha is a wonderful lap cat, a good talker and just an all-around good kitty. So the decision has been made that she will stay now with Mom. I miss her very much, only Chester comes on my lap occasionally, and no cat has ever been as good at keeping me company in bed, but she was so unhappy here with the other cats picking on her. So now I'm down to three cats, a number which will NOT increase!

 

Carol, my friend from Fellowship, is still in Abington Hospital, recuperating from the major stroke. While she is making great strides figuratively she is still very compromised compared to pre-stroke. Only now is she able to talk, closing off the trach tube and getting the rhythm of breathing and speaking. She has a PEG tube in for feedings, so still nothing by mouth. Her handwriting has gotten very good, her right-sided movements very refined and fluid, she moves herself more and with less help. But she's still paralyzed on the left side.

 

I try to get in to visit her at least once a week, but it's difficult with my decreased mobility. Seeing her struggle keeps me from feeling sorry for my situation, but it has also given me insight in other areas as well. I have carried around a resentfulness for the lack of visitors I had during my recuperations, the lessening of cards and phone calls. But having my own life and trying to make time for a friend has made me think of things much more differently. Not being there doesn't mean I'm not thinking about her, doesn't mean I don't care, doesn't mean she's not important. But life goes on and the demands in my life keep me from being there for her as much as I'd like. This has allowed me to let go of some of that negativity, which is always a good thing. 

The last two weeks have been spent at home as much as possible, so as to stay off the foot. As I mentioned previously, since my work doesn't allow any unused days to be carried over there was no sense in not taking them. Other things cropped up, as they so often do. Tabitha got very sick over at my Mom's with pancreatitis. My tenant has told me she needs to look for a first floor apartment as her arthritis/fibromyalgia is getting worse and she is having more problems coming and going. This means having to find another tenant, although no time frame yet as the current tenant is still looking. While I had anticipated her being there longer and being able to save more money there is now going to be a major expenditure to get a washer and dryer up there. I found that was one of the first questions asked, with many prospects not being interested at all without those appliances. So, to increase the pool of people and have a wider choice to find the best fit for me, I need to get those in. I didn't spend as much time reading or writing as I'd hoped, but did watch vast amounts of TV, not nearly as productive. 

So tomorrow I return to my normal schedule. It's tiring to lug this boot and stimulator around, so last week the one day I worked was exhausting. Three days will be enough, although I suspect they'd like me in Friday as well to get more of these charts in to the electronic chart.

That's more than enough for now, thanks for checking in, Laurie