On this day at this time (December 5 at 1 PM) I was home or about to be home after a breast lumpectomy and node removal. I don't recall ever wondering during that time whether I'd still be around in a decade. Even though that wasn't a thought back then, here I am now, 10 … Continue reading Celebrating 10 years cancer-free
surgery
Double Knee Replacement: Breakthrough!!
Pain has been my nemesis throughout my bilateral knee replacement recovery. Especially weather-induced pain. If you've read any of my previous knee-replacement blog posts, you'll know that every change in the weather (especially big rain fronts) has caused extra pain for me. Several clear, sunny days in a row have been heaven. On those days … Continue reading Double Knee Replacement: Breakthrough!!
Double Knee Replacement: Starting to turn the corner (finally!)
Because I'm a little superstitious, I've waited a bit to share this news: I've started turning the corner after bilateral knee replacement! A clear sign that my healing was taking a turn for the better was two or three weeks ago when my taste buds returned to normal - and my appetite also returned. The … Continue reading Double Knee Replacement: Starting to turn the corner (finally!)
Four months after double knee replacement
Before I had this surgery, this double TKR (total knee replacement), I thought that I'd be walking pretty well and almost pain free at this point. Nope! Though I am improving and don't usually need a cane around the house, I still do better with the cane when I'm out and about. The cane takes … Continue reading Four months after double knee replacement
Three months out from double knee replacement. And another scar to add to this year’s scars.
I didn't quite know what I was in for when I said okay to a double knee replacement. I thought that by December (my surgery was mid-September), I'd be much more mobile than I am now. And I for sure didn't expect the pain to be persisting to this degree. But here I am, hobbling … Continue reading Three months out from double knee replacement. And another scar to add to this year’s scars.
Double Knee Replacement: 5 weeks out
I'm going to be honest. I didn't know that this double knee replacement would be quite this tough. When I was planning it, I thought about my other surgeries. I had a lumpectomy to remove a breast cancer tumor, and just this spring I had a hysterectomy. In both cases, pain meds controlled the pain … Continue reading Double Knee Replacement: 5 weeks out
Double knee replacement: 2 & 1/2 weeks out
I'm on the proverbial road to recovery after double knee replacement on Thursday, September 14th. I graduated from walker to cane today at physical therapy (PT). Well, I'm to use the cane only for indoors right now, but it's nice to have a hand free for carrying things from one room to the other. Getting … Continue reading Double knee replacement: 2 & 1/2 weeks out
September is the cruelest month
I'm in a perfect storm of overwhelm. My double knee replacement is nine days away. This day, the Tuesday after Labor Day, is the sixth anniversary of my breast cancer diagnosis. And I cracked my phone screen this afternoon. It's September, isn't it? The challenging month in my life! I feel so behind in getting … Continue reading September is the cruelest month
My time in this limbo
I've been feeling that I'm caught in some kind of limbo, the one of "limbo" definition c. from Dictionary.com: an intermediate, transitional, or midway state or place. This current here of my now feels like a transitional place, affected partly by my trip to an orthopedist a couple of weeks ago. I thought I was a candidate … Continue reading My time in this limbo
Surgery & Gratitude
If you want the short version of this post, here it is: My hysterectomy on March 7th went well. My doctor found fibroids which looked benign. The pathology verified that they were benign, as was the endometriosis. Here is the longer version . . . My sister came down a couple of days before my … Continue reading Surgery & Gratitude
eddies and currents 