NO BLOOD CLOTS

I just got back from the hospital after them running some tests on my leg to see if I had any blood clots and GREAT NEWS no clots thank goodness that was probably the scariest few hours of my life

I went to my orthopaedics office first and he took an x-ray to determine if the intense pain I was having was from some of my pelvic bones shifting around but he said everything looked perfect so that was good news but he sent me to the hospital for more tests just to be sure there was no blood clots and they came back negative so that was a sigh of relief!!!!

So I have my next appointment next Friday!!!!

I was sure to ask when I could drive and he said not until im full weight bearing BUMMER
that day cannot come soon enough I am sure of that

FREAKING OUT

So I called the Dr. this morning to be on the safe side about my intense calf pain and they took it as an emergency call and pretty much told me I have all the classic signs of a blood clot and that I need to be seen immediately so they made me an appt for 11:30 today.


Not really sure what they will do to determine if I have one or are at risk for getting one but I am freaking out at this moment because they said if they determine I do I will be admitted back to the hospital....

WILL KEEP YOU UPDATED

ONE MONTH POST-OP

I CANNOT BELIEVE IT HAS BEEN ONE MONTH!!!!!!!!

I have officially hit the one month mark although it really seems like longer, I guess that is what sitting in the house day after day will do to you.

Sitting here thinking about the past month, it has been a lot easier than I originally thought it would be I think my friends, family and WESLEY have played a huge role in my cheerful recovery. They have kept me grounded and my spirits high ;)

ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
* I can get out of bed and go to the bathroom all by myself
* I can take a shower and get dressed by myself
* I am now using only crutches
* I can get up and down the stairs ( not the normal way) I have to sit down and schooch up and down the stairs mostly because I don't want to risk falling.
*I have lost 21lbs ;)
* I can lift my leg up to about 90 degrees and put it straight out in front of me
*I can sit in a chair for about 4 hours max (before surgery about 2 hours was max)
* I have gone to Target 3 times ;)
* I get out and about around 4 times a week
* my friend Shirra and her mother took me to the fair
*I have been on a date with Wesley!!!!!
* My incision is almost scab free, I have started putting Vitamin E oil on it
* Muscle spasms have started and at times can be pretty intense so I take a 750mg Vicodin which seems to help
* I attempted to lay on my right side last night, that lasted around 15 minutes and I realized that was a bad mistake after doing it, ooooo how I long to lay on my side but I guess that will come soon enough.
* I have hung out with my co-workers three times in the past two weeks!!!
I would like to thank all the friends and family who have made this recovery as painless as possible. I have gotten out quite a bit in the past two weeks which has truly helped raise my spirits.

Here is my incision at one month post-op!!!!!

I will update again soon!!!!!!

ITS OFFICIAL!!!!!

So Wesley and I are officially boyfriend, girlfriend and I couldnt be happier ;) He is the most amazing guy I have ever met!!!!!

We went over to a friends house Saturday night to watch the game
although we lost I had a good time and it was nice to get out of the house.

This past week has gone rather well. Only thing to complain about is muscle spasms have started in my hip I have combated those with ice and a heating pad as well as a Vicodin every now and then. Also the calf muscle on my left leg is SUPER sore I am guessing from not using it in so long so I have been keeping the heating pad on that.

Saturday was an action packed day my brothers girlfriend Heather took me to run errands and then I went with my friend Claudia to run errands then went with Wesley to a friends to watch the game!!!!

Sunday was pretty laid back just sat around the house.

This morning I went downstairs and started a load of laundry!!!!!!!
I sure do miss my own room hopefully Dr. Piehl will clear me at the next appointment to move back down there permanently.

I am going to Mellow Mushroom tomorrow with Claudia and my co-workers and I cannot wait YUMMY!!!!!

Then Thursday night I am hoping to be able to go to pottery for Jennifers going away party!!!

I will update again soon.

3 weeks post-op

Well today is officially three weeks post-op!!!!!

Things have pretty much remained the same for the past two weeks although I am a little bit more mobile I can take a shower all alone once I have a seat in the shower I can take the shower and get out and get dressed all by myself!!!!!

I made my first trip downstairs yesterday all alone!!! To see my own room and get some clothes to wear.

I went out on Tuesday night with my co-workers for Jennifers last hoorah before she up and moves to Oklahoma on us ;( It was really nice to see everyone

I have officially hit the weight loss mark of more than 20lbs ;)
lets just hope I can keep it off
my appetite has definitely taken a turn for the better I don't snack at all and I have not had a soda in over a month so NO CAFFEINE!!!!!

I somehow over did myself yesterday cause last night I was in a lot of pain probably taking a shower and making it down and then back up the stairs did it.

I was able to see Wesley last night!!!!!!!!!!!!
He always puts me in a GREAT mood and a big smile on my face we had dinner with the family and watched The Proposal it was HILARIOUS.

I still have the constant muscle fatique feeling in my hip but Dr. Piehl said that is normal and will be there for quite some time until I can regain control and start walking again on my left leg.

My incision is healing quite nicely when im in the shower
I slouth off the dead skin around the incision which should
help in the healing process. Dr. Piehl said next week
I should be able to start putting Vitamin E oil on it which will aid in the healing process.

I get to see Wesley again on Saturday!!!! and I cannot wait ;)

will update again soon

GREAT day!!!!!

Well today started out GREAT Wesley killed his first deer of the season I am so proud of him 8pt 150lbs!!!!!!

Played some cards with my mom for a little while in the wheelchair then went and took a cat nap before my friend Jennifer came over and visited for a little while she was in town from Aiken so it was nice of her to stop by.

Tonight was pretty bad my very naughty dog Lillie decided to do her business in my parents room and my mother has pretty much had her fill of my bad dog, I felt awful because I am so helpless and I couldn't help clean up the mess, plus she threw up in my parents bathroom last night and that didn't go over well either, so I am having to find a place for her to stay until I get well and can take her to obedience classes.... ;(

not much pain persay today just the constant muscle fatique feeling in my hip it sort of feels like a ton of bricks sitting on my hip which I have pretty much gotten used to. It is getting harder to fall asleep at night since I am used to sleeping on my side this whole sleeping on the back thing has gotten really old really fast.

I am excited about going to dinner with all of my co-workers to Wing-and-Ale Tuesday night although my friend Jennifer is up and moving to Oklahoma.. I sure will miss her bunches... ;(

All of my ster-strips have fallen off my
incision and it looks to be healing pretty nicely ;)

Using the crutches is going really well much easier to manuever than the walker, tomorrow I am going to attempt to tackle the stairs in the house so we shall see how that goes. I am so ready to get back in my own bed since I have been staying upstairs in the guest bedroom.

Well I am off to bed and try and get some rest

I will update again soon

GREAT WEEKEND

So my Dr. gave me the go to ride in a car and I took it and ran with it.....last night I went on an AWESOME date with Wesley!!!!! It was rather weird putting on makeup I can definitely tell that I have lost weight in my face!!!!! All in all I am close to hitting the 20lb weight loss mark thus far!!!! My date with Wesley was AMAZING as they always are he is such a genuine guy and I NEVER want him to leave!!
Today my brothers girlfriend who has been so GREAT through this whole process came and picked me up and we went to Target to pick up some essentials for me!!! I never realized how many people would stare at me in the electric wheelchair its like HELLO people I just had major surgery here I swear im not just playing around on this thing. My niece Kirsten and my nephew Blaze came along for the ride. After we were done at Target we went to lunch at Wendy's. Then after I got home I FINALLY GOT A SHOWER!!!!!!!! I was also able to use Veet on my legs and they are super smooth!!!!! (o the simple things in life) I kind of exhausted from my whirlwind the past two days but it has been more than worth it thats for sure because staring at the same walls day after day was getting really old!!!! My friend Susie also stopped by this morning and brought me the first season of Brothers and Sisters to watch so I am excited about that!!!

I also received my bill from the hospital today and all I have to say is YIKES


GAMECOCKS WON TODAY AGAINST KENTUCKY SO WE ARE NOW 5-1 AND RANKED IN THE TOP 25!!!!!

WILL UPDATE AGAIN SOON ;)

1st post-op appt

Sorry so long since the last update things have been crazy came home from the hospital on September 29th and my Grandmother passed away on October 2nd so things have been pretty hectic around here.

Transition from hospital to home was rather rough the first few days but once I got the hang of things they began to iron out!!!!

The whole giving myself blood thinner shots was rather tough at first but I kept telling myself you don't want a blood clot and then I would give myself the shot!!!

I had my first post-op appointment this morning!!!!!

I was so relieve to hear Dr. Piehl tell me that I CAN SHOWER!!!!!

he took the bandage off of my incision and just let it air out so no bandage, its really weird looking at it .

Dr. Piehl was amazed at how well I am doing I can get out of the bed and go to the bathroom and get in the wheelchair all by myself and get back in the bed.

I stopped taking pain pills about the third or fourth day home because the nausea was so intense.

He cleared me to take a shower, use crutches and ride in a car as tolerated still no weight bearing for about another 6 weeks, my next follow up appt is October 30th

PT will start probably after I can bear weight on my foot!!!!!!

I have enclosed a picture of my incision from my appt today
I got to see my x-ray, Dr. Piehl ended up cutting in four places and I have five screws I dont have a copy of my x-ray to post but expect to at my next visit!!!!!

How I remember it!!!!!!!!!

Sorry it has taken me so long to update my own blog.

My co-workers have been nice enough to do it for me since I have been out of it for the past week

This is what I remember from the hospital
Some of it may be accurate some of it not since I was on narcotics

I will start with after surgery in the recovery room ;)

I woke up in the recovery room SCREAMING for my mother
all I wanted was her to be beside me they were nice enough to allow her to come back in the recovery room to be with me.

I was told I needed one pint of blood in surgery and that everything went GREAT

After that they wheeled me up to my room 827, I only remember bits and pieces from that night I know I called a few people but cannot really tell you what was said

that night was a very very long night they came in ever hour to take my vital signs and fill my hip cooler up to keep the swelling down.

The next day was pretty intense I was itching and itching and itching from the morphine, after a few hours my eyes and my face starting swelling up and turning really red I also had red dots on my pupils come to find out I was having an allergic to my antibiotic ANCEF so they stopped the antibiotic immediately the itching subsided a little bit but I was still itching a little bit from the morphine.

On Friday I had quite a few visitors my manager Brenda and Libby came and brought me a cute little stuffed bear that has a cast on it with a crutch.

My co-workers Jennifer, Valerie and LaTara also came to see me as well

Also Wesley came and saw me and brought me a balloon and a nice flower ;)

Shirra and her mother also came and saw me and brought me beautiful flowers an awesome plant and a GREAT little bucket of goodies

Brittany also came and saw me and brought me a nice inspirational book, balloon and a cute frog.

after Wesley left that evening my fever spiked to almost 104 my mother came back down to stay the night with me because she was worried about me they started giving me Tylenol to try and get my fever down for the next few days it seemed to go up and down and up and down staying pretty steady around 102

On Saturday it was a pretty good day they got me out of my bed for the first time which was AWESOME it was extremely painful I screamed pretty loud and probably frightened just about everyone on the hall but man it felt good to get out of the bed.

Sallie came and saw me on Saturday as well as Susie who brought me Gatorade and Hilary, Valerie and Jennifer who brought me Gatorade and some beautiful flowers.

My sister in law Stephanie stopped by to see me as well

My mother stayed with me all day Saturday which was nice, she allowed me to take a nice little nap while she pressed my morphine drip every eight minutes that was an AWESOME nap that's for sure.

Saturday night Hilary and Jennifer came and saw me late night to keep me company that helped lift my spirits as I was feeling quite down ...... ;)

On Sunday all my tubes were removed YAY!!!!!!!!!!
and I got to see my incision for the first time WOW it is much bigger than expected but if that is what they had to do to get the job done im ok with that.

Shirra came and gave me an awesome bath and shampooed my hair for me

Nicole and her mother came and saw me and brought me an awesome bucket of stuff to keep me busy!!! They also went and got me WENDYS for lunch which was the best meal in a few days ;)

I had some BEAUTIFUL flowers delivered to my room from Claudia and her mother

Sunday evening my dad and my mom and my niece Summer came to spend time with me I got up and walked from the chair to the bathroom with the walker which was an AWESOME feeling

On Monday morning Dr. Piehl came to see me to make sure everything was going ok.

I let him know things were going as well as can be expected he said surgery went GREAT and I should have a very uneventful recovery he also said he would see me at my first post-op appt October 9th.

Physical therapy came in and worked with me I was able to walk to the door and back with the walker with no pain so that was HUGE ;)

On Monday Valerie snagged a wheelchair for me and I was able to go around the hospital and visit some of my co-workers which was nice to be able to get out of my room and see different scenery.

On Monday Wesley came and stayed quite awhile with me ;)
he always knows just what to say to lift my spirits and makes me laugh
he always puts a big smile on my face ;)

My sister in law Stephanie also stopped by with my niece Ashlynn and we watched cartoons for a little while which was nice ;)

My brothers girlfriend Heather brought my nieces and nephew Blaze, Kirsten and Summer to see me.

On Tuesday I found out I GET TO GO HOME!!!!!!!

Susie came and spent her lunch with me which was nice ;)

I was told I was going to be taking a wheelchair home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that was a HUGE relief as it would allow me to get out of my room and roam around the house by myself

My manager Brenda came and helped pack up my room for me which was a god send.

I was extremely nauseated Tuesday so that helped a lot.

So on Tuesday around 2pm I was out of the hospital THANK GOD!!!!!

If I left out any details or anyone who visited me I am so sorry

I appreciate all my friends and family who have visited, called, text and sent me cards.

I will post another entry about after I returned home

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE!!!!!!!

Home At Last!

Sorry for the late notice, work sometimes gets in the way of life. Tiffany went home on Tuesday! She seems to be making good progress. We took her a wheelchair Monday at lunch. She escaped from her room and came to see us. You know Tiffany, she can't be still for long, so being in the same room for 4 days was driving her crazy!!

Tiffany's stopped taking the pain medicine because it was making her nauseous. (..... Glad I'm not at home with her.) She still needs help getting to the bathroom. She has a follow up appointment on October 9th.

Hopefully Tiffany will be feeling up to taking back over her blog to keep us all up to date on her rehab.

That's all for now!
Valerie & Jennifer