Putting Things Off

I've been putting off the blog.  Every time I think "I should update my condition or post a photo or something"  I fall asleep or forget what I wanted to say.  Yup, medication of the morphine kind will do that.  I've been in a fog since 3/13, the day of my surgery.

My knee is coming along nicely.  It has an 8+ inch incision right over the top.  Until yesterday, the incision was held together with 20+ staples.  They were removed and the remaining scar is practically a thing of beauty.  No Frankenstein stitches on me! 

The entire procedure has surprised me. As a veteran of two hip replacements, I dreaded this operation.  Why?  Because post op sucks.  After each hip surgery, there were so many restrictions:  no bending at the waist, no weight on the operated leg, walking protocol, dressing with a grabber, a sock slider, a leg lifter  (don't ask), sliding into bed, onto a chair, how to sit on a toilet properly,  how to get off said toilet.  I knew the meds were awful.  I have a very low tolerance and usually hallucinate, throw up or talk to nobody.   This time, however, there were virtually no walking, sitting, bending, weight bearing, dressing  protocols.  I could do what I could as I could.  Unbelievable!  Had I known it would be this easy, I wouldn't have put it off as many years as I did.

If any of you out there are contemplating a total knee replacement, go for it.  I waited too long for all the wrong reasons (fear).  One piece of advice:  Condition your body before you go in.  It will hasten the healing and recovery.  

Elder Care Part 3

The saga continues with my father in law's condition and care.

Yesterday, he was moved into a nursing home. It has been two weeks since the massive stroke that has left the right side of his body paralyzed and 25% of his brain affected.

My husband had to go to County Court to obtain a guardianship over his dad. Without a Power of Attorney, Medical POA, directive or living will, someone has to take legal control. My husband feels very strange to suddenly be responsible for all decisions affecting his father. I empathize completely. How sad the day you become responsible for your parent.

We are lucky though. When this first happened, there were no beds in the closest nursing home. We were told the nearest one open was an hour away. But one opened up and it's a pretty nice place. They keep the grounds and interior clean, attractive. The rooms are spacious. You do have to watch out for the old ladies in wheel chairs who drive with their feet. They can knock you over before you know it. It may be a form of bump cars or visitor bingo for all I know. Actually, I had a good feeling about it. I saw another gent I knew. He is a professional musician, a pianist, quite good. He was playing for the crowd. He's there too for rehab. His wife is hopeful.

Where's the Beef?

This is my new mantra now that I've heard the Sarah Palin speech. Shakespeare's line, "it is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury signifying nothing" made its way through my mind as I watched her.

I do not underestimate her nor the American people. She has just the right look and delivery to gather many followers. But ask yourselves, what is she really saying? What are her policies? What are her plans for the country? How is she going to help the middle class? Just because she came from a small town and terms herself a "Washington outsider" doesn't give her credentials to accomplish anything. She has to have an agenda and lay it out. None of us should vote with our emotions. Everyone needs to take a long hard look at the issues and decide which candidate is best suited to: revitalize the economy; deliver a health care plan affordable to all Americans; bring home our soldiers; provide environmentally friendly solutions to our energy crises,;fix our educational system...it's a disgrace; stop taxing the middle class and start taxing the top 1%; stop giving tax credits to major corporations; provide tax incentives to companies that DO NOT OUTSOURCE.

Let's get real. She and John McCain represent the same old story. There is NOTHING new in anything they say. She tried to use patriotism and love of country as a weapon against the Democratic ticket. That is, if you're a war hero and you believe in the war in Iraq, you're a patriot. If you're against the war, you're not. That is utter nonsense.

Stick to the issues and lay out your plans Sarah Palin. Then maybe we'll all have something concrete to discuss.

Women of a Certain Age

What the hell does that mean anyway? What "certain age" are we talking about? We know it isn't a young one. But, how old is it exactly? Am I there yet? Feels like it but I'm not sure how to react to the concept.

It's really hard getting old. I'm only 56 but there are days when I feel much older. It's the aches and pains that get you. I have two hip replacements; one for each side. Why? Degenerative osteo-arthritis. Translation: wearing down of the major weight bearing joints thanks to excessive athletic activity over the years, repititive activities, possible genetic pre-disposition and who knows what else? Mostly it is just annoying. I honestly don't mind getting older or being older, I mind "feeling older".