Re: G. 3 month Dr. Visit

[Guest guest]

Made it there today. Everything is healing up just fine says the Doctor. His response to my discussion about the pain in the sacrum area was that it takes time for healing. I sort'ove expected him to say that. The x-rays looked good and showed no signs of any hardware failure so I just guess I've got to give it more time. He recommended some pool aerobics and walking in the pool which I'm seriously considering joining our local aquatics center - they've got a huge indoor pool as well as outdoor pool and during the days the indoor pool is not crowded and does not have a gazillion kids splashing all over the place.

So, in NY, hope the pain you're having is not symptomatic of something wrong - when do you see your dr. next?

Of another note...I don't know who recalls but I was in ICU for about 5 days and wound up there on the 3rd day after my revision surgery due to lung problems - my oxygen level had dropped to 26, I developed pneumonia, ARDS. Today, while there close to the hospital I stopped in to see two of the nurses that I remembered so well during my ICU and step-down unit stay. At first I was just wanting to see the ICU area to see if it was like I remembered it (I don't remember much, mainly pain and FEAR) - I couldn't believe how emotional I got as I was walking down the corridor. Anyway, I went in, and Robin, the ICU nurse who ultimately pissed me off so bad that I was ready to do anything to get out of there - which was precisely her intent and I must say she had done an excellent job was on duty today! She remembered me like it was yesterday and we were both hugging and almost crying with tears of joy. She was blown away at how I looked - she only saw me when I was ash gray, my hair in knots from being in the bed, and the gown, no makeup - the standard hospital look, plus had never seen me standing up! I think it did both of us a lot of good to see each other. I also fee like I met one of my demons (the fear I still remember so well from not being to breathe, afraid I wasn't going to pull through, anxiety issues) face to face so maybe I can move forward from that too.

So, it was all good!

G - NC

[ ] Re: caution on weeding - G. response

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[Guest guest]

Thanks

I'm 5' 4.25" and I stand very straight and aligned!! Dr. Hey seemed pleased. This is actually the first time I'd seen him and him me since I was in ICU. He had already planned an extended out of the country trip and since my hospital stay was so extended... - so I guess he was glad to see me on back my feet, standing straight and corrected, and some color in my cheeks!!

They were busy today, very busy.

G

[ ] Re: caution on weeding - G. response

..

[Guest guest]

I'm glad you got a good report! I got to see my favorite nurse and Dr. Hey the day I came to visit you! I went to the orthopedic floor first and they told me you were in ICU. I've never seen you standing either!

Peggy

[ ] Re: caution on weeding - G. response

..

[Guest guest]

G,

I am soooo glad to hear how well your dr visit went. I understand

completely how hard it is to give it more time. Not only from our

prospective but also the ones around us. My family won't admit it but

I am sure they would like this whole ordeal over as much as I do.

Your post put me to ease, I know deep down everything is OK, I just

need to slow down and not try to jump back into my busy " do for

others " routine. Sometimes I read on this board how well others are

doing, walking a couple miles per day etc, and I feel like I should be

able to do that too. But there is no way, I have a hard enough time

walking to the mailbox and back. I am not back to work yet, I tried

to work yesterday & today and am paying for it tonight. I am self

employed, work out of my home so the temptation is there

My Dr's appt is Sept 19th. Looking forward to him giving me the same

news as yours did.

I am having a very difficult evening. I just got off the phone with

my son and he is on a bus on his way to the airport. He is leaving

for Iraq for the second time. He was crying and appologizing for

having to leave us again. Makes the pain in my back feel insignificant.

in NY

>

> Made it there today. Everything is healing up just fine says the

Doctor. His response to my discussion about the pain in the sacrum

area was that it takes time for healing. I sort'ove expected him to

say that. The x-rays looked good and showed no signs of any hardware

failure so I just guess I've got to give it more time. He recommended

some pool aerobics and walking in the pool which I'm seriously

considering joining our local aquatics center - they've got a huge

indoor pool as well as outdoor pool and during the days the indoor

pool is not crowded and does not have a gazillion kids splashing all

over the place.

>

> So, in NY, hope the pain you're having is not symptomatic of

something wrong - when do you see your dr. next?

>

>

> Of another note...I don't know who recalls but I was in ICU for

about 5 days and wound up there on the 3rd day after my revision

surgery due to lung problems - my oxygen level had dropped to 26, I

developed pneumonia, ARDS. Today, while there close to the hospital I

stopped in to see two of the nurses that I remembered so well during

my ICU and step-down unit stay. At first I was just wanting to see

the ICU area to see if it was like I remembered it (I don't remember

much, mainly pain and FEAR) - I couldn't believe how emotional I got

as I was walking down the corridor. Anyway, I went in, and Robin, the

ICU nurse who ultimately pissed me off so bad that I was ready to do

anything to get out of there - which was precisely her intent and I

must say she had done an excellent job was on duty today! She

remembered me like it was yesterday and we were both hugging and

almost crying with tears of joy. She was blown away at how I looked -

she only saw me when I was ash gray, my hair in knots from being in

the bed, and the gown, no makeup - the standard hospital look, plus

had never seen me standing up! I think it did both of us a lot of

good to see each other. I also fee like I met one of my demons (the

fear I still remember so well from not being to breathe, afraid I

wasn't going to pull through, anxiety issues) face to face so maybe I

can move forward from that too.

>

> So, it was all good!

>

> G - NC

>

>

> [ ] Re: caution on weeding - G. response

>

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[Guest guest]

,

Congrats on your 3 month check up. You sound like you are doing very

well. I hope you are still off the bad old butts, never to return! I

bet having that setback at the beginning or your healing turns your

healing clock back a little bit too...so pleasse be kind to yourself

and expect healing to go on for awhile! Really, you will keep hitting

plateaus and think nothing will ever change...but it does, for years.

Bonnie can even attest to that!

If you are cleared for the pool I highly recommend it...and if it is

a nice warm pool...all the better.! If you don't like walking in the

shallow end (I didn't, I think because of the grade on the floor)

bring one of the $2.00 noodles with you and " ride " it down in the

deep end. Just sit astride it and go around in the deep water

pretending you are walking. Then you can use the noodle under your

shoulders and armpits to just float if it is comfortable. If you feel

as time goes on that you want to do more you can always purchase a

good flotation belt (if the pool does not have them for loan). Every

pool is different, but rather than spend a lot mof money on an annual

membership you might be able to pay at each visit, which you may find

more economical until you can go more frequently. The facility sounds

great and I agree that it is much more restful to use the pool while

the kids are not allowed in because it is designated " adult " time, or

just that most of them are in school.

I remember walking back into the doors of NEBH at by 8 week post op

check up and the smell of the place just brought everything up again

and I got weepy! I know that somehow the olfactory senses are located

close to where memory forms so that is why smell can be such a easy

way to bring back a moment in time. In this case I am not sure if it

was a good thing!

This isn't really relevant to your ICU experience but talking about

how sad you must have looked reminded me that my tip for the hospital

stay is to remind folks that it might be a good idea to take some

clothes (PJ's) and other items to the hospital to have on hand to

help " humanize them " in the nurses minds. Yes, I am an advocate of

silky PJ bottoms for their " slide " factor.....but once I was up and

able to move and had my catheter out I put on my PJs, did what I

could with my hair (a challenge!), and used housecoat style robe when

out walking for PT. Even in ICU, still flat on my back and unable to

roll on my own, I pulled over my little " kit " that had those oral

B/over a finger toothbrush thingy's, oil of olay waterless

faceclothes, and lip balm (later on I think I might have even used

mascara!). Anyway, I wasn't being vain, I just knew I was going to be

there awhile and I think that when every " inmate " wears the same drab

grey gown it is easy for the nurses to lose sight of the fact that

there is an individual person in there. Of course you have to wait

until all the tubes and nozzles are out of your body to get out of

wearing the lovely hospital gown....but it never hurts to be

prepared. Almost every nurse mentioned what I was wearing, so it must

have made some sort of impression. Of course I also think it's

possible to use pictures and stuffed animals as props the same way.

Anyway, thanks for the trip down memory lane. Keep up the good

healing. Time is your friend in this case.

Take Care, Cam