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It is the little things that sometimes make such a difference

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Finally, the first time in 21 days that I have been able to take a shower without assistance.  I have had to have my arm with the PICC line wrapped in saran wrap then followed with press n seal to keep that area dry while showering.  My movement was restricted on that arm anyway from the insertion and attempts to place a PICC line in another area in that arm that is still swollen.   But after being wrapped, I could not bend my arm to shampoo etc.  Even cling wrap free and I could not fully bend or extend my arm.  That line came out yesterday!   I would have fallen apart if I had been told I had to keep it in even 1 more day.  I have very small veins and was put through the wringer by ER and the hospital to draw labs and place IVs during my hospital stay from infection.  I have gone through 2 ordeals, the revision knee replacement following 1 year of pain and mobility issues from a botched replacement April 2018.  The knee was doing great, but at about 7 days I started feeling
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Day 3 Revision Knee Replacement

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Amazing things happening with my knee revision!  This specialist has done everything differently from my original knee replacement done last year 4/9/18.  Even diet, pumping in lots of added protein and carbs.  Different anesthesia, pain meds, sutures, knee...   I have not been sick with this surgery.   I was alert in the operating room getting ready to move to recovery.  I was his last procedure for the day.  As a revision, they take longer.   You have to get the old hardware out, drill down more and replace with much longer stems on the devices.  Mine went faster than anticipated.  The component going into the tibia essentially fell out once opened up!  The femur component was more firmly adhered.  I was moved into recovery @ 4pm and I had my first round of PT and walked assisted with a walker by 6pm! Bone pain around the knee hurts more, but I don't have any of the other symptoms so far like last year.  I could not lift my leg up last year.   I can lift my leg straight up to
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One Year Anniversary of my Knee Replacement

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I had my follow up to see the revision specialist to order the bone scan on 4/01/19.   I have had a dreadful fear for the past 2 months, that this test was going to show nothing wrong and we would be back at square one.  Even at the doctor's on 4/01, he seemed to not remember 6 months ago what we talked about.  I am thinking great, here we go again.  But he ordered the scan and recommended that I have the bone scan done at a specific place, not for the scan itself but because of the person that READS the scans.   I wanted to schedule closer to my home, but he stressed, do I want someone preparing the report that sees maybe 5 of these a year?  Or do I want someone to interpret the scan that reads 5 of these a day?  We lucked out and got in that day for the scan.  It took hours, the radioactive isotopes had to be delivered to their location, injected into me and then I had to wait 2 hours before the scan which took about another hour.  Crazy though, I did not take off my clothes, no
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My Appreciation

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These past 3 months have been a whirlwind.  I want to extend my appreciation to all of you that sent cards, messaged, called and expressed your support during these difficult months following my mother in law falling and eventually passing.  Your support means so much to me. We are also trying to keep someone with Dad as this has been so hard for him.  They would be celebrating 67 years in a few weeks.   Bob and I are 2 ships passing in the night as the old phrase goes! As if this was not enough, Kricket swallowed thread that became embedded and had to be surgically removed.  She was not doing well, possible due to me being gone so long so I flew home to nurse her back to health.   She still is not fully recovered and throwing up every day. Mentally, I am still stuck in December even though I have been home for 2 weeks now.  I don't even have 2019 file folders set up yet!  The good part to all this, the months are flying by and it will be April soon to start in on the nuclear
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Knee Replacement Update...

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Lots of activity the past month or so.  The long awaited neurologist testing which would get me into a pain management group was a bust.   Pain management wanted to do a surgical implanted device!  No non-invasive treatments were offered.  But on a brighter note (this is bright?!) Ortho surgeon #3 has run tests and determined I do not have a bone infection...but my implant is loose.  This is a huge group, at a huge orthopedic hospital and has awards posted all over their building, including joint replacements from 2006 to present.   It was really nice being in a large hospital too, you go from their office to MRI, Lab, whatever.   Sometimes you needed appointments in the future, often they could see you within a few hours.   It took all day on each of my appointments but they get done. I am in limbo at this time.  Bone scans will tell a truer picture of what is going on inside there.  But statistics prove that bone scans are unreliable soon after this type of surgical procedure.  Tha
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Total Knee Replacement Week 27

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Today marks off the end of 27 weeks since surgery, the 6 month anniversary has officially passed by now.   Last week found me with my 4th round of issues since week 15 wanting to go to ER or anywhere they would help me.   My GP did tell me Thursday to go to the ER! After Monday's PT I had increased pain which escalated into an odd tight, painful sensation of being numb and wrapped around my entire leg from mid-thigh down my leg.   I got a work-in appt at my GP's office but they only prescribed more meds for the increased pain hoping that would get me through to my Neuro visit that was to occur the following week.   They also did a follow up on a pain management referral because they would not see me until they had neurological report.  I wanted to get the ball rolling on that since neuro was finally happening.   Crazy to have to wait so long for some sort of pain relief.  Also a referral was made to a Physical Management and Therapy.   Sounds like someone to take charge o
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Conroe Show Ribbons and TKR update

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One of my local guilds, Golden Needles in Conroe, TX  had their show a few weeks ago.   You may remember that their show was scheduled for last year but Hurricane Harvey had other plans.  Our quilts were judged but never hung as the convention center was being used as a shelter.   Sad that those awesome quilts were never on display!   We were able to re-book for this year but only had a year to make new quilts!   Members still pulled off a beautiful display of amazing quilts, the entire show and live auction was awesome. Personally, My Fade To Purple got a 1st place ribbon and Gravity placed 2nd in the same Modern category - all sizes.   Yeah!   Gravity has finally shown in all 3 of my guilds that I am a member of that hosts their own show (modern is too small and no show) /  She finally gets to be hung back in front of my custom longarm machine.   I took it down last fall, it hung at Houston in the Texas Guilds Award winning quilts exhibit (they choose about 20 each year to hang). 
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