Just got back from my visit to the surgeon, and I am cold but happy. In fact, I’m very happy overall. Things are indeed moving along, and we do seem to be further ahead on things with the left shoulder compared to the right.
The incision has healed very well, no issues and in fact it did better than the right incision. Cleared to use moisturizer (a no-no during healing), which is great as much of the rest of the body is dry and itchy. Don’t think the back scrubber I bought will work well for that, but who knows.
For all I’ve complained about “only” doing range-of-motion work, the ROM is extremely good for this soon after surgery. We are now cleared to do “real” PT, for me to start back to the gym on that and my lower/core and cardio, and to use the inversion table. Once I talk to the therapist later this week and we map out a plan, the plan is to move out in a smart fashion.
I have two major goals for the next six to twelve weeks: get the shoulders into the best possible shape I can, and to get things where I can start to actually try to move out West. The recent fronts, along with this morning’s cold and snow are simply reinforcing that desire. It will take at least a year to get the shoulders where they need to be, but given the loss of mobility was gradual and over the course of years, that’s somehow appropriate. Recovery from the surgery is just the first part, the second is stretching things back out and rebuilding both strength and ROM lost over the course of years.
One reason for some of the recent silence is that I’ve been having to deal with some issues related to my care. The surgeon is part of Community Health Network, and they (like most of the larger networks) tries to take over ALL your healthcare. On top of the lack of care on the night shift after my most recent surgery, someone dropped some new diagnoses into my profile this month, including that I was suffering from Chronic Systolic Heart Failure (HCC).
This was news to me, and news to my cardiologist. To make it even more fun, it wasn’t done by the surgeon or his office, and so far no one can tell me who made the diagnosis and on what basis. Given that I had to spend about seven years getting a false diagnosis of cancer removed from the Community system, I’m not even going to try to fight it this time Unless I develop symptoms, the plan is for my cardiologist and I to push forward with their current treatment plan. It did, however, make for several interesting days as this all came to light pretty much last week. Yeah, trying to get answers and things dealt with during Thanksgiving week was so much fun…
Oh, since I turned in my survey and comments on the care in the hospital, haven’t heard a word from Community about being on the patient advisory board and wanting my feedback. Strange. *grin*
I can highly recommend the surgeon and his group, I just have some issues with Community and with Community East hospital. The surgeon and two others I’ve dealt with in the practice on some other issues have been great. If you need a good ortho practice, or have shoulder issues, let me know and glad to recommend them.
Meantime, I’m going to be moving out on PT and trying to get set-up to work on moving. Doing all the meals ahead was a great idea, but now the larder is bare and I need to restock it, stock up on some other essentials, and do some general preparation work including stocking up on Vitamin A to keep the bad pew-pews away. Any help on these areas would be very much appreciated!
Someone has made me a very kind and generous offer in regards some training, and I hope to be able to take them up on it in a few weeks. I tried racking someone’s pistol a week or two ago, and it did not go well. At the rate I’m progressing, however, it may only be another week or two before I can rack and do. Really looking forward to that.
The car is running for now, though I do need to get it to the mechanic to figure out where the coolant is leaking and why, and get it fixed. For right now it’s not leaking much, at least as long as I have the heater engaged. Will be taking the bus as much as possible as I want to reserve the car for PT and other essentials.
So, for the most part we are go! Now in some areas I may be limping, but we are moving forward. Hopefully I can build some momentum and get moving literally and figuratively. Here’s to hoping the new diagnoses are indeed just BS, that things keep going well, and that I move from limping to walking to running in the days ahead so I can implement the GOTH move plan early in the new year.
Keep your friends close and your things where you can find them in the dark. Be Prepared.
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.