Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Hello Everyone, This is Pat Senay & I'm still wearing my Smiley Hat! I am at GF Strong which is a wonderful rehab facility in Vancouver. I feel I've died & gone to heaven - they actually put you in electric wheelchairs here!!! My first effort I managed to drag a dresser & a trolley behind me, but apparently that's normal for " learner drivers " & always gives the staff a good laugh. Although a bit disappointed I'm unable to walk without a walker, I do understand my limitations because I still have another hip to be resurfaced. My surgeon took x-rays after my right hip surgery & told me the left hip is so bad that he must resurface it as soon as possible - 3/4 months - so very good news for me! Now I can recuperate thru the summer. Another good thing about GF Strong is that they have computers, but internet is only between 9-4. So please feel free to contact me thru the surfacehippy website. I have tried to phone everyone in Vancouver, but please forgive me if you've only received a message - only pay phones here. Also can't get over how sleepy I am - is it the drugs?or am I just catching up on all the sleepless years I've had? I am very blessed to be allowed to stay at such a wonderful rehab facility. There are 21 beds for arthritis patients. The other floors are for spinal cord injury, trauma etc. My heart breaks every day when I go to the cafeteria & witness the efforts of others who are recovering from strokes, traffic accidents etc. I am so lucky because I was able to order a new hip - many of these people will never get better. Another bonus is that the woman I shared a room with at the hospital, has now joined me here. She has had both knees reconstructed. We're become sisters & enjoy planning future shopping trips, movie outings, etc. She's even interested in the Vancouver Sun Run in 2005. I spoke to my rheuatologist's assistant at the Arthritis Society, & he thinks the Sun Run a wonderful idea & will see what he can do regarding promotional material. Finally, A very special thank you to Pam Jansen - you are my angel! How lucky for me that Cliff's surgery was postponed to one half hour after mine - I had the bonus of Pam holding my hand as I was wheeled into the operating room. & there she was when I woke up - holding a smiley face flower! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Pat Senay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Hi Pat nice to hear from you and I am glad GF Strong is working out for you. I would like to visit you (now I can drive and walk OK). Let me know when are good times to visit and we could arrange something. Can you read your email on your personal email box too from there? I hope to talk to you soon! Sunita Magic Smiley Hat Hello Everyone, This is Pat Senay & I'm still wearing my Smiley Hat! I am at GF Strong which is a wonderful rehab facility in Vancouver. I feel I've died & gone to heaven - they actually put you in electric wheelchairs here!!! My first effort I managed to drag a dresser & a trolley behind me, but apparently that's normal for " learner drivers " & always gives the staff a good laugh. Although a bit disappointed I'm unable to walk without a walker, I do understand my limitations because I still have another hip to be resurfaced. My surgeon took x-rays after my right hip surgery & told me the left hip is so bad that he must resurface it as soon as possible - 3/4 months - so very good news for me! Now I can recuperate thru the summer. Another good thing about GF Strong is that they have computers, but internet is only between 9-4. So please feel free to contact me thru the surfacehippy website. I have tried to phone everyone in Vancouver, but please forgive me if you've only received a message - only pay phones here. Also can't get over how sleepy I am - is it the drugs?or am I just catching up on all the sleepless years I've had? I am very blessed to be allowed to stay at such a wonderful rehab facility. There are 21 beds for arthritis patients. The other floors are for spinal cord injury, trauma etc. My heart breaks every day when I go to the cafeteria & witness the efforts of others who are recovering from strokes, traffic accidents etc. I am so lucky because I was able to order a new hip - many of these people will never get better. Another bonus is that the woman I shared a room with at the hospital, has now joined me here. She has had both knees reconstructed. We're become sisters & enjoy planning future shopping trips, movie outings, etc. She's even interested in the Vancouver Sun Run in 2005. I spoke to my rheuatologist's assistant at the Arthritis Society, & he thinks the Sun Run a wonderful idea & will see what he can do regarding promotional material. Finally, A very special thank you to Pam Jansen - you are my angel! How lucky for me that Cliff's surgery was postponed to one half hour after mine - I had the bonus of Pam holding my hand as I was wheeled into the operating room. & there she was when I woke up - holding a smiley face flower! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Pat Senay ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 19, 2004 Report Share Posted March 19, 2004 Hi Pat! Great to " hear " your cheerful voice again. I'm so happy for you that GF Strong is working out well. Don't be discouraged about the walker. Confession: at 4 weeks I'm still occasionally so sore and tired I fall back onto my crutches ... and so what? Where's the fire? Also don't be surprised you're so tired. All it means is: you need to sleep. Do it! Everything about major surgery is exhausting - including your long, painful road getting there. Plus I found the morphine revved me up at first then left me in a bit of a slump for a couple of weeks. And you're likely anemic to boot. I certainly was - down to 90 on day two, but still way below normal at 4 wks, if my energy level is any indication. The stack of books beside my bed isn't getting any shorter because I can't read for more than about 10 minutes without falling asleep. I'm eating my liver 'n spinach as fast as I can. Anyway, congrats on making it to the other side with your spirits and smiley hat in tact. Great news about Dr Greidanus putting the push on hip 2. Sun Run, here we come. a Masri / Durom / 17.02.04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 24, 2004 Report Share Posted March 24, 2004 Hi a, I guess you're on your vacation right now - will you be tanning your new scar? I had the 28 staples removed yesterday - looks good. They're throwing me in the pool on Friday. Had the 6 minute walker test on Monday - I walked the equivalent of 1/4 block.....today I had the walker test to a wall & back - apparently, 20 second is considered average - I took 2 1/2 minutes. The physio just keeps a straight face & says I have some room for improvement!!!! Went to hand therapy this am - tey put your hands in bags of wax, then do exercises. Lots of o/t and physio each day. Today I start art therapy. Later attending stress management class. Feels good to be kept so busy & knowing everything is geared towards walking again. I love my electric wheelchair & am getting really good backing up etc. There are 21 beds on the arthritis unit & we are quite a motley group. Everyone supports each other. We have breakfast together, lunch & dinner are in the cafeteria with the spinal cord patients - very humbling experience. I'm not only learning to walk again, but also understanding how " wheelchair " people are treated by " walking " people - they treat us like we're deaf! This is one of the best educations I've ever had. Appointment with Greidanus on May 12th - should confirm next surgery date then. Take good care of yourself. Apparently the mice have left my apartment. I saved your article to read while I was waiting to go into the surgical room - thanks for the laugh! Pat --- In surfacehippy , " talltree992003 " wrote: > Hi Pat! > Great to " hear " your cheerful voice again. I'm so happy for you that GF Strong > is working out well. > > Don't be discouraged about the walker. Confession: at 4 weeks I'm still > occasionally so sore and tired I fall back onto my crutches ... and so what? > Where's the fire? Also don't be surprised you're so tired. All it means is: you > need to sleep. Do it! Everything about major surgery is exhausting - including > your long, painful road getting there. Plus I found the morphine revved me up at > first then left me in a bit of a slump for a couple of weeks. And you're likely > anemic to boot. I certainly was - down to 90 on day two, but still way below > normal at 4 wks, if my energy level is any indication. The stack of books beside > my bed isn't getting any shorter because I can't read for more than about 10 > minutes without falling asleep. I'm eating my liver 'n spinach as fast as I can. > > Anyway, congrats on making it to the other side with your spirits and smiley hat > in tact. Great news about Dr Greidanus putting the push on hip 2. Sun Run, > here we come. > > a > Masri / Durom / 17.02.04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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