After a very slow start, I made it down to the Lake Ginninderra Stakes at lunchtime with Bob, hoping to help out. I hadn't counted on how limited my movement would be and was no help at all. It was a glorious, if typically windy, late winter's day, and a good turn out of 27 runners were out to enjoy themselves on the 7km course.
I had had plans to do all sorts of errands, however once I got home I was so tired all I wanted to do was lie down and go to sleep. After a drink and banana for energy I grabbed the ever sweet Rudi and headed down to buy petrol - Rudi increasingly enjoys the trips in the car, and can be reluctant to get out when we do return home. Although not an exciting trip, it was good for us to 'get out' and have a tankful of petrol for when we are up to actually up to getting things done.
My left leg is painful in a manner it hasn't been for a while now, and I quickly went to sleep when I did lie down. My knee hurts, my calf hurts much more, and I am generally not getting around like I was even 24 hours ago. I'm sure a good night's sleep and resumption of the exercises and ice will send me on the correct road to recovery tomorrow!
Although I didn't have the best night, with pain (leg, left) keeping me awake until the second newspaper hit the driveway, when I did eventually wake my knee was pretty good.
I made it upstairs to the kitchen without my walking stick and walking pretty normally. My pretence at dancing around the living room to point this out to Bob didn't instantly sink in, but eventually he seemed to understand. Whether it was the removal of the dressings yesterday, or just that it's time had come, I couldn't believe at how well I could move around.
Bob and I both headed into Customs at lunchtime, once again finding driving no problem in driving. The fences were going up at Floriade and it took a little time to park. Eschewing my crutches, I padded down to the start with a walking stick instead, concentrating on attempting to have as normal a gait as possible, heel down first, and wherever I could, taking one leg past the other instead of taking one one leg up to the line to the other.
While holding the stop watch at the start waving the runners off, I talked to Rad, and stood up most of the time. I was feeling pretty damn fine. After the event we had arranged to meet Rad and Friar for a bite to eat and a coffee at The Deck. It was here, as I struggled up to the car that I thought that perhaps I had overdone it. It was much more difficult to walk, and my knee was agony.
After a pleasant hour in the sun on the deck at Regatta Point, I had to head off to my physio appointment. My knee had stopped hurting quite so much while sitting outside in the faint late winter sunshine, my leg didn't hurt so much after resting up on a chair, although walking to the car was still rather difficult.
I made it in time (just!) to the physio, carrying in my crutches and leaving them leaning in a corner, expecting to leave them there. I was keen to obtain a bit more information from my physio than from the Surgeon in his cursory assessment yesterday. Advice to me that I would know when I could get rid of the crutches and I was obviously sensible (! really? news to me), I'd know what to do. Physio wouldn't be much benefit he thought.
Bob had already made the appointment early in the week, and by the time I got to the appointment I was keen to get some more detailed information on what I could and shouldn't do.
The physio appointment lived up to my expectations and then exceeded them. Graeme thought (rather acutely on reflection), that the doc had thought that I had just had a arthroscopy, quite possible as the nurse had removed my dressings, and the only examination was from afar as i was directed to straighten and bend my leg while he tapped notes into his apple laptop. With such a huge throughput of post-op patients that afternoon while I was in the waiting room, this is plausible.
The good news, the very good news, was that Graeme thought that it would be possible for me to be running (jogging, very slowly) in about eight weeks. I can handle 8 weeks! No swimming yet (then with a pull buoy). More exercises of the same sort that that I had been doing. Most importantly I need to get on the exercise bike - not the wind-trainer - to move my leg through the whole range of motion in a slow, measured manner.
I was told to keep using the crutches when I got fatigued (as I did this afternoon), so no getting rid of them just yet. By the time I got home, my knee ached terribly and I was hanging out for ice and a good lie down. Nevertheless, the news from the physio was good and better than I could have expected.
So not too much, too soon, but things are heading in the right direction!
What a difference a week makes - yep, it's a long time in politics and a seemingly even longer time post-op. Whereas the pain (the horror, the horror) was apparently intractable in the first few days and over the weekend, it still has its moments, however is aemeliorating somewhat.
After a test drive around the block on Tuesday to see how I could handle it, I was able to drive to Hansel and Gretal for coffee and the Library yesterday . . . driving is fine, good in fact, it's just the getting in and out of the car, and then moving around once I'm at the destination that's a little tricky.
Today I had a few more things on my dance card: my haircut which was postponed from last Wednesday (I was still in hospital) was squeezed in today - very fortunate, as one has to make appointments literally three months in advance with Angelo. I have something of a pageboy cut this time which reminds me of when I had my first head shawn from long to short when I was 5 in Mrs Dykman's kindergarten class at French's Frorest Infants. Unfortunately, I am rather more chubby now, and itching to change.
Straight from the hairdressers to my checkup with the surgeon ~ or as straight as I could hop along back to the car in Civic and from the car park to his rooms with crutches, a big warm coat and a backpack to carry things around. This time I was prepared from the long wait, although it was funny to arrive into a waiting room full of people with crutches and leg braces. It only struck me as the first pair of patients (he always has two lots on the go in seperate rooms) turnaround in the waiting room and the next two patients arrived, that I was the only patient without an attendant driver / carer.
My visit was certainly quick and straight forward. I hobbled out grinning with the thought that I was already way ahead of schedule in my post-op progress and doing very well. Unfortunately, apart from a few comments along the lines that I would know when I could do things (Hello! I am not the most sensible duck on the block), I was not much wiser about what to expect.
I have an appointment with the physio tomorrow which will give me a chance to suss out more fully what I can do, can't do and when. Until then, I'll keep my leg up and iced.
I think that the pain overall is getting better, although there are still intense bursts of sharp, burning pain in my shin that feels as though there are sutures pulling away. Only thing is that there are no stitches there . . . I am sure it is where the autograft (hamstring) is threaded through the hole drilled in my bone (gruesome, huh?) pulling in a way that it shouldn't.
Did I say that it really hurts???
Anyway, the bad pain is still, well, let us just say that I'm not very pleasant to be around when it's at it's worst, but it is possibly less frequent than before.
I am delighted with the ACT Library Service which I have recently rediscovered after a long absence. It's fanstastic how you can search for items on-line, reserve them, and then get an SMS to advise when they are available. Not only is there a great collection of books available, but there are also CD's, DVD's, and electronic resources to download.
Where has all the morphine gone? (Long time passing . . .)
Published Saturday, August 18, 2007 by Carolyne.
I felt pretty damn smug about beign able to straighten my leg and (just) get it to 90 degrees with the physio before I was sent home with my list of exercises and instructions on how to use the crutches for going forward on the flat, and up and down stairs.
I slept really well on my first night and envisaged an early and sucessful return to running (blow just running, I'd be winning all before me before you'd know it).
And then the slow release morphine and the nerve block (good stuff) wore off. Ouch.
subject [Flash Duck 2007] Back from Hospital
As the PRB will attest, I am in better nick (knick?) now than I was only a day or two ago!
I thought that I would, for once, not over pack for a quickie in-and-out day surgery; so no watch, one (small) book and not much else. At the last minute I threw in a small AM/FM radio, earphones and my iPod shuffle for the waiting time.
I arrived at the appointed time of midday, not having eaten since the morning before, or even before that. I had been hoping to get up at 6am to have a coffee and water before my nil-by-mouth curfew, but after a night sweaty night and a return to cold zero degree mornings, I stayed in bed too long.
Shown to a shared room on the surgical ward, Bob and I said our goodbyes and the waiting started.
And the waiting continued.
The staffing shortages become more acute each time I go to hospital, having accrued my frequent patient points over the last decade or so. I know the rub, although have (relatively) less experience in surgical procedures. With little fanfare someone eventually came in, whose lack of knowledge of spelling and my answers to the questions made me feel that she must be a nurses aide, and did not overly inspire confidence. She brought in a betadine scrub for me to prepare my knee. A gown was left with no instructions. It was assumed that I had shaved down my knee (no mention had been made of this earlier - it would have been useful), and prior experience led to me to ensure that I had no nail polish, jewellery etc on.
Imagining that the time would be drawing near, I put on the not so attractive white gown and threw on a jacket (OK, it's a cardigan, but with a zip) in an attempt to keep warm. If I sat right next to the window, I could almost get a scratchy reception of Radio National, but it was poor. My nose started to run, and on checking the drawers of the bedside cabinet, usually a receptacle of tissues, pens, phone books and a Gideon bible, I found only empty space. Cautiously crab walking to the nurses station so as to limit the exposure of my bare behind, I made a couple of trips to grab some tissues from the desk.
Without warning, a single wardsman arrived, so I reluctantly removed my warm top and jumped into the bed. I felt sorry for the wardsman pushing me on his own to the theatre. Into the recovery area for another, long, boring wait. Eventually a nurse came to ask all the usual questions again, and she attempted to bail me out with some magazines. Those on offer were however, not so easy to read - and I'm not even blaming my lack of glasses or the by-now pounding dehydration headache.
There were four magazines on offer; the Women's Weekly, Madison, Marie Claire, and Outback. I thought that Outback would be the most duck friendly, however, apart from one small half page article on an off road cycle, it was just Oh so country music and virtually unreadable.
Onto Marie Claire which I just couldn't find anything plausible within. Madison was marginally better (?) and then I opened the Weekly much to my chagrin. The anaesthetist popped in and my rather complicated medical history was discussed. Due to my allergy to sulphur drugs, it was discussed that if following the arthroscope it was confirmed that I required a reconstruction, then I would probably have to have a nerve block in the femoral nerve in the inguinal fold. He explained the possible complications, and its effects.
I still didn't know what procedure was being done.
After another long delay I was wheeled into the ante room adjacent to the operating theatre, where I had my cannula inserted, a large arrow drawn on my left leg to indicate which was the correct knee. electrodes were placed on my chest. More confirmation of name, date of birth and serial number. More waiting.
Finally, just after 4pm I was given a magic jab into the IV and wheeled into the OR.
The next thing I know I was in the Recovery room, feeling pretty good, although shaking in a shivering kind of way, uncontrollably. Back on the ward, I found out that I had had the full monty, and the nurse 'thought' that I would probably be in overnight, as it was written up that my dressings were to be changed in the morning.
No confirmation though, so more waiting.
Eventually the surgeon came around, scrubbed after his session in theatre. Instructions not on any circumstances to get out of bed on my own, as I had the nerve block and besides being numb, the muscles would be paralysed and give way beneath me.
Now resigned to an unprepared night in the hospital, I was stuck in my revealing hospital gown for the duration. Dehydrated, I still had my drip in, but was parched. I had to ask for a jug of iced water which was finished off quickly. Time for the SBS news, I found that the tv volume required earphones listen (not supplied). Luckily I did have my pair with me, even though they were a bit too short.
I had finished my book, so started to read my chart and was able to find out what was done.
--
Posted By Carolyne to Flash Duck 2007 at 8/15/2007 12:43:00 PM
Findings
Medial Meniscal tear:extensive bucket handle non repairable lesion noted > resected.
LM (lateral meniscus) OK
Medial compartment dja grade 2A
ACL ruptured from femur
Patella Normal
Technique
EUA left knee
Grade 2 Lachmans & minor pivot
MCL OK
Arthroscopy left knee
Medial meniscectomy as not repairable
ACL excised and reconstruction hamstring 8mm
Fixation:transfix x 50mm / staple and delta screw: 28*8mm
Secure
Isometric
Full rom (range of movement)
Closure in layers
Prosthetics
Round delta tapered bio interference screw 8mm x 28mm
Transfix implant 3x50mm
12mm x 23mm Fixation style with spikes
When Bob and I arrived at the 12 noon appointed time, and were shown up to my shared room on the surgical ward I didn't bother about settling in, as I would be out in a few hours.
No one came around to see me, so I tried to tune in Radio National on my radio by sitting as close as feasible to the window. It was scratchy, poor reception. I half read by book, before a nurse (?nurses aide . . . her responses to my answers to medical questions and her atrocious spelling indicating a distinct lack of clinical training). She 'left me' with a theatre gown and tossed me a betadine scrub ("you've shaved down haven't you?") with no further explanation.
Still dressed, I made my way into the bathroom to scrub my knee, thankful that I had indeed had a wax to smooth my legs the day before, due to an awareness of the practicalities of getting around post-op, rather than any direction given to me beforehand.
I reluctantly changed into the all-too-revealing hospital gown, sat by the window and waited. My nose badly needed blowing and I found that I was out of tissues. The bedside cabinet, usually such a good source of tissues, pens, telephone books and a Gideon bible, was completely void and empty. I crab walked my way to the nurses station to grab some tissues from the counter twice to provide relief.
Without any warning, a single wardsman appeared to take me to theatre - I felt so sorry for him having to manoeuvre me on his own. More questions, name, date of birth, serial number, and more waiting, this time giving me time to do little else other than examine my cuticles.
Went really well. More later.
Findings
Medial Meniscal tear:extensive bucket handle non repairable lesion noted > resected.
LM (lateral meniscus) OK
Medial compartment dja grade 2A
ACL ruptured from femur
Patella N
Technique
EUA left knee
Grade 2 Lachmans & minor pivot
MCL OK
Arthroscopy left knee
Medial meniscectomy as not repairable
ACL excised and reconstruction hamstring 8mm
Fixation:transfix x 50mm / staple and delta screw: 28*8mm
Secure
Isometric
Full rom (range of movement)
Closure in layers
Prosthetics
Round delta tapered bio interference screw 8mm x 28mm
Transfix implant 3x50mm
12mm x 23mm Fixation style with spikes
It wasn't my lack of fitness or bung knee which was so responsible for my DNS - it was (Bob's) cold which he was suffering so much from last weekend, that he kindly passed onto me. Aaaggghhh. I was not at all well on Saturday or this morning. My ears were/are blocked, my chest ached and I was not a well lassie (woof, woof).
I picked up somewhat this arvo, even making it outside the house for the first time in 48 hours for what turned out to be a long drive as we had once again run down the car battery again not having driven the car on Saturday and Bob having left the map reading light on since Friday. Getting jump start assistance and meeting our new neighbour was a bonus.
I can breathe much better now however, and expect to continue to improve on Monday and Tuesday. My tissue consumption is declining rapidly as well. Yay!
There is something very un-running and not-me related that I opened this blog to post about, but as usual I have forgotten and cannot recall despite my best efforts. Maybe next time!
And I'll Huff, and I'll Puff, and I'll Bllloooowww Your House Down!
Published Friday, August 10, 2007 by Carolyne.
A quiet day today, to be spent 'getting better' and lobbing up to my GP this afternoon for an appointment that I made three weeks ago (then the first available). I'm not exactly sure what I'm going to talk to him about, as I will no doubt minimise my barking chest cold (so as to not risk delaying the knee surgery on Tuesday), and I guess just check in on the 'renal insufficiency' and haematuria. Ho Hum.
If I can get on to Rad, I will also go along to Customs to say 'Howdy', however I may pike out of holding the watch today in the howling wind, and retreat inside instead.
I should probably stay out of bed however, for my schnoz runs more, and throat hurts more when I am lying down. I'm relatively bright if sitting up, lounging on the sofa.
Rudi will keep my company (he becomes a better puppy every day), and we will no doubt spend a few hours playing fetch.
Bob's heavy cold seems to be lifting, and he was able to lob into work yesterday afternoon after a physio appointment. Unfortunately, I woke up with a very sore throat, and felt generally unwell . . . no doubt catching the dregs of his cold. Dash It! I know that I have to be well enough to undergo the knee surgery next Tuesday, so I changed my plans to go along with Bob to the physio and pick up some crutches (luckily Bob is the same height), and thence to Mt Ainslie to catch up with Rad and Friar.
As it turned out, Rudi spent a good hour and a half curled up in the crook of my arm for a much needed afternoon sleep.
I will drive Bob to work today - it is unwise for him to cycle in the cold air so soon, and standing at the bus stop probably isn't smart. I then need to begin my preparation for a (nother) renal ultrasound over the other side of town. The last one I had in April was hampered by the confronting protethis stopping the very new, very shy sonographer from actually checking my kidneys. It was a pity, as I had lots of renal pain at the time and thought that I was lucky that they could catch it.
So this time I have arranged for a friend to do it, meaning that I will travel over to the far reaches of town to have it done. I tore the house apart on Friday looking for my old x-rays and images (I do have one of Canberra's better private collections), and after leaving no box unturned, managed to find them. I only have a couple which cover my kidneys, but they do indicate a shrinkage in size from 2002 to 2006 which may be significant. Fortunately, the appointment I made with my GP three weeks ago is 'up' this Friday afternoon . . . I didn't cancel it when I got in to see him earlier, so may as well keep it to suss the results of the scan with him then.
In the meantime, I'm tired, very sore of throat with an occasional 'sick dog' cough, and dying to catch up with Aki who is so busy with the school musical production.
I am enjoying my morning cuppa though!
After a somewhat misguided and frustrating attempt to replace the kettle with one that was 50% off without it's box or instructions (I can live without instructions for a kettle. Plug in. Turn On. Boil), I found that it didn't work, and had to wait until Saturday to return it. Bob took it upon himself to quickly find a replacement whilst I went through the paperwork . . . and found that choosing one wasn't quite as easy as it seemed. Upon mentioning that I had seen one at David Jones which was clear glass, and my preferred model (as Bob attempts to boil each time with the minimum amount of water, resulting I'm sure, in our rapid turnaround recently), he agreed that thought that this was a good idea.
Dropping him home, I headed into Civic to secure the said kettle. Found a parking spot without too much drama, and found that the kettles were 10% off. Woo Hoo! Unfortunately, asking revealed that they had sold out of that model (damn). A phone call to Woden confirmed the same from that side of town.
Think. Think. Think.
I saw the same brand at Bing Lee out at Fyshwick during previous kettle run. A call to CallConnect to get me through was more-or-less successful.
Me: "Hi, I'm looking for a Morphy Richards electric kettle that is all glass . . ."
Judy: "Would that be the Alumina?"
(uncertainly - Alumina sounds like the antithesis of a clear glass appliance to me. Don't I have shares in Alumina? I'm sure their not in the glazing business.) "May---be, I don't know the model name, but it's all glass and you can see through it"
"The Alumina, Alumina! The one with the blue water?"
(Whoa! Blue water? I want to make tea! Green tea, white tea, lemongrass tea. Not Blue water tea) "I don't know, it's clear and you can see through it"
I was at the end of my tether, and really didn't want to revert to the ten dollar special on aesthetic and sensory grounds. I got her to put it away - a process that didn't just require my name "Flash", but full name, rank, address for the last 20 years, phone numbers and electronic communication options, and the details of Rudi's next of kin. By now I was nearly at their door, having supplied the details while driving from Civic to Fyshwick. (Don't worry Joyce, I was using the Flash Ears all the time when I was driving).
Iluma
Stainless Steel, Plastic, and a few vivid colours, but no clear glass. Except for this rather intriguing thing. I'm due to be at Bonython at 2:00pm to look after the kids, and the time is ticking away. I haven't had anything to eat (OR DRINK - hence my desire for the kettle now) and finally decide Bugger It, to go for it.
After driving home with more of the strangely behaving Canberra motorists (lately I seem to be besieged by drivers who insist on keeping a good 3 car lengths from the car in front at traffic lights, usually in the left lane where there is a left turning lane preventing traffic from moving. Sandwiched by these, I was also aware of the jaunty bounce of a pair of fluffy ears ahead for the length of Parkes Way as some guy on a low powered motorsickel tottered along. I had to do a double take however as he gave the appearance of the White Rabbit himself (I'm Late! I'm Late!) as he stretched up to scratch behind his ears - although on reflection it was likely that he was checking their attachment).
As I bounded into the house, I ran a bath and popped some soup into the microwave. I had only a few minutes before I was due to leave. I suggested that Bob leave the kettle in it's box until I return so that I could read the instructions first. "But I can read instructions" Bob pouted. It's true, he can. But, alas he doesn't.
We did take it out of the box and plug it on before I left. Bob read the instructions, especially noting how much water needs to be in the jug before it is turned on. Although the glass is coated so that it gives the funky impression of highly polished stainless steel, when held up to the light (of the window for example) it is clear what the water level is.
On turning it on, all Judy the Saleswoman's sins and enunciation were forgiven as a blue neon light lit up inside (Cool!) and it started to heat. It got more exciting, and apparently a brighter light as the heat rose . . . so at first the small bubbles started to appear at the bottom and rise around the centre of the heat. As it turned into a rollicking boil, the rollicking bubbles grew large and were obviously having a rollicking good time. Glowing a bright, alien blue it is quite a sight. It's rather disappointing when the power cuts out, and the blue light disappears and it resumes it mild mannered facade of a shiny electric jug.
About me
- I'm Carolyne
- From Canberra, Australia
- I love to run! Staying in Weymouth, Dorset on the South West Coast of England until October. I'm 46, live in Canberra with Bob and have been running since 1990. This has been interrupted by long periods of illness, however I am extremely stubborn! I'll never be a fast runner, however I give it everything, and am slowly learning to read my body better and adjust my training and expectations accordingly. Or rather I would, if running were possible at the moment - I will retuyrn soon.
- My profile
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Hartley Lifecare Fun Run 5k 17 NovemberWagga Tri-ants Duathlon 10k/40k/5k 30 OctoberACTVAC Half Marathon 21.1k 28 AugustCanberra Half Marathon 15 May injured
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moon phases
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214
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201
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188
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182
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255
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246
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155
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159
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200
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62
Year to Date
2,267
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Chip Time (3:47:13) Sydney 2005
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10
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10
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10
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4
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7
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8
July
9
August
11
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11
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11
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9
December
Lots. ?15