Category: Medical Issues/Recovery

For all who have commented or contacted with input on the shoulder replacement, THANK YOU! Lots of good info, and some extra questions to ask the replacement surgeon Tuesday.

We are supposed to go over what does need to be done, how, when, etc., and I’m working up a list of questions. Especially since they want me to consider doing both shoulders at once. That is going to take some serious persuasion, though if they can make a good case…

The other area will be my insurance, as in what they will cover and what they might not. That’s the potential wrench in the gears, but we will see.

Did get in about six miles walking yesterday, doesn’t look good for today between weather and what the front coming in is doing to my joints.

Sorely tempted to use stronger and more colorful language, but really don’t have the energy for it. I was diagnosed a while back with advanced severe osteoarthritis. Not much you can do for it, and when the damage gets bad surgery and augmentation/replacement is the order of the day.

Three or so years ago, I was told I needed to have my right shoulder replaced. As in immediately. Second opinion disagreed, and suggested things would be better long-term if I waited until I was 67 to have the surgery. Doc one had pushed hard enough to get my back up in terms of rapid surgery. Doc two was frankly an asshole who I decided would never touch me. That said, the put it off aspect appealed to me.

The pain, however, has gotten a lot worse recently. After rolling over in bed last week and waking up yelling in pain, I broke down and got an appointment with a shoulder specialist. Just got finished with him, and I both like him and have respect for him.

The decision on when to replace is mine. He pointed out I was the only one who could or should make that decision. That said, both shoulders are fracked. There are few areas with any space left, and most movement is bone on bone. The ball of the joints both look like they’ve been pit blasted. My arm mobility on both sides is reduced. I’ve got some thinking to do and decisions to make.

Meantime, we are going to try a strong anti-inflammatory to see if it helps with pain and comfort issues. If it works, it could buy me some time. We will see.

If any of you have been through this, or had a loved one have the shoulder replacement surgery, please leave a comment. I’m looking for the information I can’t get from a doctor, only from someone who has done it. It would be appreciated.

UPDATE: After talking with my GP today, and friends and others yesterday, I asked the ortho for the surgical referral. Next up is an appointment to review, discuss, then decide.

For those who read regularly, thinking this may not be a day for deep thoughts or major decisions. The number of “squirrels” and flat out lapses while making breakfast have me thinking that not doing much might be a good idea. Besides, more than the normal joints are lit up today, which isn’t helping.

Nor did it help that one of the cats was on a tear last night. Being allergic, I do not own cats but the landlord and housemate have two. One, who I call Cappy, is sweet but sorta stupid — and neurotic well beyond normal cat standards of same. He takes it to a whole different level.

The other, Flash, well, he may not be smart but he is cunning on some levels. He’s also that cat that knows the rules and makes a list every day of the ones he plans to break, and takes great delight in crossing them off. He’s also that cat that will look at you and say that just because there is orange fur on the kitchen counter and cat paw prints in the sheet cake you baked, you can’t prove it was him even though he’s the only orange cat here… Thankfully it wasn’t my baking that he walked in/on.

However, he was on a tear last night, making more noise than the housemate and that is going some. He’s also been pushing other limits (jumping on or under my feet as walking or on the stairs for one) to the point that I bought a squirt pistol to deal with his forays into areas where he is not supposed to be and things he’s not supposed to be doing. Need to find a waterproof Burns-Martin triple draw to carry it so it’s constantly at hand. Anyway, did not make for a restful night when I’m having to play multiple rounds of “Intruder? Or Cat?” Joints didn’t help either, but there are more options for dealing with them than the cat.

Have the feeling it’s a good day not to do much that requires thought and any real concentration. I may make some hamburgers later, will see. Otherwise, I’m thinking reading and continuing to educate the cat in the difference between concealment and cover may just be the order of the day.

Getting hit by lightning is not fun! If you would like to help me in my recovery efforts, which include moving, 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.

Yesterday was another medical day, as I had a visit with my cardiologist. I had hoped for routine, and got something better.

Based on the data and trends, she has decided that she doesn’t need to see me for a year. Not months, or six months, but a year. On some levels, I feel like someone has thrown open the jailhouse door.

Now, this did come with some admonitions in varying degrees of sternness. There are a list of things that if I experience them I am to call her ASAP. There is a shorter list that if I experience them, or even think I might be starting to experience them, I am to go to the nearest ER immediately and then contact her afterwards. I am required to continue being a good boy on various levels.

We both agree getting rid of an inch or three is a good idea, but I have to be careful about that. In the past, I’ve done some fairly high-intensity workouts that combined cardio with strength training. I’ve been able to support workouts that put me above 160 BPM for extended times, as in an hour or more.

I’m pretty much not allowed to do that any more. I am to ease into things, keep my pulse what others consider reasonable, and also have to accept that not only do I need to modify cardio routines, the joint and other issues are going to curtail strength routines. The local Y has some e-machines I’ve used before that with a couple of exceptions should continue to be good for the joint/mobility issues. Short of regenerative medicine becoming available and working very well, or the joys of replacing both shoulder joints, my range of motion is going to continue to blow. The e-machines not only force me to do things right, they make it almost impossible to screw up.

So, going to be looking at that even as I hopefully can get back into more regular walks here soon. It being Indiana and springtime, that’s likely to be after April, as I’ve seen it snow even in fairly late April. The balance and coordination issues are also going to have to be factored in. There are days I have few obvious problems, then there are days where there is no way to hide them. When I went in for the SSA physical, the doc asked me if I could do X, Y, and Z. I said lets find out. Let’s just say that if I have to have a field sobriety test, call me Boston as I am scrod. The heel-toe thing had me falling over. The other items also showcased balance and coordination issues. Glad I have my walking stick!

I also got an unexpected kudo yesterday. Back when I had to have the open heart surgery, the ICU night shift (accidentally or “accidentally”) put the bed control/call button out of reach. Given my thoughts about the night shift nurse (I was underwhelmed by him to the point I actually said something about it), who knows. I rarely used it, but that night I did need some help. However, since I couldn’t move at that point to get it, I did something many talk about but apparently few do: I unplugged the cable for the 12-lead. Once I was sure help was on the way, I plugged it back in having made my point.

The nurse (tech?) I had yesterday was new to me, but she was delighted with what I had done (and I suspect why I did it). Got told I was her type of patient. Have to admit, it made me laugh.

So, the challenges continue but there is good news to share. Here’s hoping I don’t have to see her again for the full year.

I’m so glad my sense of smell did not take a hit from the lightning strike. Saved my bacon earlier today, well, the chicken at least.

The short-term memory issues are fun. I use routine, notes, and reminders to get things done, and my breakfast routine is focused more on being sure things are cut off, which leads to sometimes forgetting to cut burners on at the start.

Today, I wanted to cook some chicken so I can make chicken enchiladas tomorrow. So, the breast I got on sale went into a pan with green enchilada sauce and tomatillo salsa to cook at 250 for a few hours. Got to working on the previous post, forgot about the chicken, hadn’t made notes, so… Few hours later, was wondering what the landlord was cooking (he rarely does) as it smelled good. It was then that I remembered the chicken, which got about an hour or so extra time. Didn’t hurt it, didn’t dry it out, so still on to make enchiladas tomorrow.

Just a little bit of a typical day to share.

When the antibiotics began to kick in. Wow. What a rush.

Funny, despite getting really into Hunter S. Thompson in high school, never did get into recreational pharmaceuticals. My experience with such is blessedly limited, and I’m good with that. As it is, starting the antibiotics yesterday already has me feeling a small bit better, and a huge bit tired. I normally wake up by about 0500, and today slept in until almost 0800. Breakfast wasn’t until well after 0900.

Are there things I need to do today? Yep. Are they going to get done? Magic 8 Ball says not likely. Mostly see a day of rest ahead as I taper off the Ranger candy as the antibiotics take over. Thanks to the antibiotic ointment started last week, my eyes no longer look like FX from a vampire movie.

There’s a lot of weird stuff going on in the world right now, hope to get back to analyzing some of it here soon. All I can say is stay alert, be prepared, and hope for the best.

More soon.

Sadly, I am still under the weather but things should get better soon. The last few days made it seem like things were looking to get better, but not really. Last night, it got where my throat was so raw again I had trouble swallowing. So, went to the “clinic” my GP started, which really isn’t a clinic but a way to work cases like mine into an already busy day.

To cut to the chase, no matter what the situation was last week, this week my throat is clearly raw, inflamed, and infected. So, antibiotics are now in hand, first dose taken, and I am starting to wind down my taking acetaminophen like ranger candy. My doc laughed at the latter, and wisely didn’t ask how much I was taking, just that I should now back off on it. Really glad he didn’t ask…

More soon I hope, and thank you for your patience with the lack of posting.

Yeah, I’m still down. Thought I might have to go back to the ER over the weekend, as literally almost could not swallow at all at one point. Taking acetaminophen like I’m on a Ranger Candy blitz and don’t want to admit to the doc how much I’m taking.

Contacting my GP and letting him know that if not better today, headed down to his clinic tomorrow. Think my landlord may have the same thing, as we are hacking and racking in stereo. I was assured last week I was not communicable, hope they are right. Really need to restock teas now as that’s a lot of what I’ve drunk since even room-temp water hurt.

More soon.