Been more than a week now, and things seem to be going as well as they can. Which is not to say a bed of roses unless you are counting all the stems and thorns.
On the plus side, pain management continues to go well. I’m very lucky in that regard as I’m hearing horror stories of “tylenol only” pain management both locally and nationwide. This despite a lack of any real-world studies showing any real link between surgery/pain management and addiction. Lots of thoughts on that, but they need to wait until I can type again. I’m continuing to wean as I can and am grateful to have on hand if needed.
With PT and general life, it can be needed especially when you discover what all is tied into a shoulder. At this point I would not be surprised to find my left little toe has a direct connection to my right shoulder. There is also the fact that you know intellectually not everything can connect back where it did before; and, there is discovering the reality of that the fun way.
I’m also at a point various nerves and other delights are waking up and going WTF? It’s not phantom pain, but something I’m tempted to call ghost pain as the body figures out some circuits aren’t there anymore, and others have been changed.
For someone who asked elsewhere, I pretty much had all feeling back in my fingers the day after surgery. The thumb was still a little numb late that Saturday, but by the time I got home… Also, starting to get back on a normal sleep cycle and a normal digestive cycle. Both have been interesting processes.
Have my first post-op exam tomorrow afternoon, and will hopefully know more then. Right now, just happy to be able to basically bathe and dress myself without help. In fact, am even able to do laundry and some housekeeping on my own. The cats appear fascinated by some of my work-arounds…
Meantime, on the science front keep an eye on Betelgeuse and also on Leslie Eastman’s work at Legal Insurrection. The good folk at Hot Air are covering a lot of good stories, as is the team at Instapundit. As for internal Russian politics, I’m not sure there is enough paleo-popcorn and adult beverages for the comi-drama (all puns intended) ongoing. If Thunderdome suddenly appears in Red Square, I wouldn’t be surprised. I am a bit surprised official patience hasn’t run out with Prighozhin, especially after the sworn statement circus.
There is a lot going on here at home as well. I really should do a post on the fight that broke out Saturday while I was shopping, as it covers so much… For now, let me just repeat: preparedness always pays; keep your friends close; and, keep your things where you can find them in the dark.
Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving once we have medical issues cleared up, feel free to hit the fundraiser at A New Life on GiveSendGo, use the options in the Tip Jar in the upper right, or drop me a line to discuss other methods. It is thanks to your gifts and prayers that I am still going. Thank you.
I’m intrigued by this whole shopping incident, but also at how well you’re able to care for yourself. Shoulder surgery of any kind really sucks (you’re probably right about that toe connection) and your type of shoulder surgery is WAY bigger and badder than the piddly business I had done (after which I swore never ever to have another surgery of any type as long as I live). You’re doing brilliantly. Even the cats know this.
And do expound sometime on the incident.
Thank you! Will try to get something up today or tomorrow. I was Blessed and fortunate to get a lot of good advice from readers, and from the medical team. For example can’t say enough good about the occupational therapist who was delighted with my prep work and offered a number of suggestions based off them. The more the medical teams saw me engaged, the more engaged they got. Will also say that asking if I needed that much pain med at one point earned me brownie points. 🙂 Apparently they aren’t used to that.
Glad you are doing better and survived the shopping incident . Hope your doctor visit goes ok.
The whole Russia thing does need popcorn!
What Amy said^^^. I’m glad things are going well! The medical team is likely delighted to see someone really tuned in to the process. It’s very likely most people don’t do that, they expect the medical team to do all the things which leads to much poorer outcomes.
Thank you.
Looks like solid progress on the recovery! I hope that contines for you! The horror stories about tylenol only pain management are exactly that – horrific. I had a post surgical infection in my spine that landed me in the hospital for a week. They were pumping me full of dilaudid at first, but a change in the doc overseeing my care in the hospital had them wanting to put me on just vicodin. My pain was so intense I was vomiting from it – on the dilaudid. The vicodin was in effect no better than a tylenol at that point. Then the hospital doc and my surgeon got into essentially a pissing match about my care, to the extent that I ended up with a window of no pain management. It was unpleasant. Finally got them to give me morphine and literally passed out once it took effect. On discharge from the hospital the doc there refused to prescribe me any pain meds and the surgeons office had to scramble to get one in. Then the pharmacy called me to let me know my insurance was not going to cover it. I was about to lose my cool at that point. I asked what the out of pocket cost would be for the prescription ( 2wks worth of morphine ) and the pharmacist very apologetically asked me if I was sure and to please hold when I insisted, so they could check the price. It was $17. Yep, I’ll pay that! $17 for 2wks of pain meds, no problem! Turns out morphine has been around as a manufactured medicine since 1827, so its cheap.
Heh on the morphine cost, and Grrrrrr on the other! Pain management is essential to full healing and recovery, and is not a bureaucratic game for gelded administrators.