Post-Op Day 26

I had my three week check up today, and was cleared to drive. I probably could have done it earlier; as I suspected since it wasn't written on my instructions, my doctor was leaving it up to my discretion. But it's only in the last few days that moving my arm as you have to to drive hasn't been painful.

My mother and husband are happy that they don't have to drive me everywhere anymore.

So now it's off to job hunt in earnest, second shift and/or part time so I don't have to drop any of my classes for this fall.

Post-Op Day 12

I had my first post-op PT session yesterday. It wasn't as not-fun as I'd thought it might be, but it was not-fun.  I've lost some range of motion, though not as much as my PT guy had expected (probably because I'd already started doing some very gentle stretching on my own), and stretching it out hurts.  My PT guy has requested the op notes from the surgeon's office, which required me signing a release because his name wasn't specifically in their files.  Damn HIPAA, because he didn't need a release what with being one of my medical providers for this particular issue, but many providers have gone overboard on requiring patient releases because of that damned law.  He agreed that unless the op notes showed something very different from my understanding of what was done, avoiding using the sling as much as possible is the better plan.  I just find that the sling is actually more uncomfortable than no sling most of the time.

On a much lighter note, this means that there is a good chance I'll be able to drive by sometime in early July, so I can start job hunting again.

As it is, I'm sitting on the sofa listening to the sirens go by on the main road and watching my cat in the bay window as he loses it every time a bird goes by.  He has this hysterical little a-a-a-a noise he makes when they tease him. My husband has today off, so we're going to get caught up on dishes and laundry, most of which require the pushing, pulling and/or lifting I still can't do so, surprise, we've gotten a little behind. Once that's done, I'm going to make liver and onions and bacon with mash for dinner.  Which reminds me we need to order more Beef Roast seasoning from Penzey's.

Post-Op Day 9

I took the steri-strips off today and the incisions seem to be healing nicely. There are some very diffinite lumps under them which would be where the stiches are tied. Hopefully they will absorb properly, unlike the stiches when I had my deviated septum repaired last year.  I'd rather not have my surgeon have to make incisions in the incisions to remove them.

I'm definitely doing better, though I'm still using the sling, though not around the house (I'd like to keep my balance, thank you), and I'm being very careful about trying to remember to NOT "push, pull, or lift" with my left arm.  The doctor didn't say I should stop using the sling, but she didn't say I had to continue, and there is nothing in the post-op instructions about it, just the no "push, pull, lift" bit.  Since I think the sling can actually make things worse, I'll keep it handy, but not use it if I don't obviously need it.

I have my first day of PT on Monday, with a re-evaluation, so that will be interesting.  I can tell that the shoulder is a lot more frozen/stiff than it was before surgery.  I don't think PT will be fun. 

At least I feel that I can now start job hunting, since I should be driving well before the beginning of the fall semester. It just needs to be a second shift/weekend position.

Post-Op Day 6

I saw my doctor yesterday about the fall. She checked out the arm, and the verdict is that I didn't seem to have done any damage to it, so I don't need to go in on Friday for my post-op check, and I'll go back in three weeks, which will be after 2+ weeks of physical therapy. So I think the take-away from this is that, if it doesn't hurt, I might as well do it.

So I've stopped wearing the sling around the house, which allows me to move the elbow and hands much more easily, as well as keep my balance better.  I saw my GP today about the increase in my idiopathic peripheral edema, and the best advice she can give is that all my labs and other tests look fine, so I really just need to lose weight. Even if I don't lose weight, if I get more active the swelling should improve, which I did notice after walking to the local mini-mart. So I guess I need to find my Reeboks and start taking a daily walk as well as using the Wii.

I can already move almost as much without pain as before the surgery, so PT should now actually increase my movement and strength rather than have to just focus on keeping the joint from freezing. All told, so far at least, this is going much, much better than I feared it might.

Post-Op Day 5

I tripped over my own damn foot yesterday evening and made a five point landing inluding my face (didnt break my glasses and don't seem to have a black eye, but a bruised and swollen cheekbone) and of course extended the operated shoulder and landed on the elbow since it was in the sling. I go see the doctor after lunch to make sure I didn't do anything too horrid.

Ouch.

Post-Op Day 4

This is my shoulder. You can't see the little cross in the back over the third hole. You can see the incision. I'll find out on Friday exactly why the doctor had to make one, though I was warned it was a possibility. I suspect it's related to the bone shaving.

Quite sore this morning, but the sling loosened overnight and I think I shifted my arm in ways it wasn't really happy with. Today will be a take it very easy day.

Post-Op Day 3

Still stiff and sore which is hardly a surprise. I got to take off the bandages to find that in addition to the three ho;es I also have a 2+ inch incision. I was able to get most of the orange sterilizing stuff off, though I probably wont get all of it until I can do a proper bath or at least sponge bath which I'm still too tired to deal with. I'll try for that later today or tomorrow. Right now Im going to relax and watch Amazing Stories on Netflix.

Post-Op Day 2

Damn, but I want to stretch my left arm.  I've found that ibuprofen does indeed work quite well on the pain, which is more ache and sore and stiff than pain, though I did add half a percocet last night so I could sleep. I get to take all the padded bandages off tomorrow, so ice will have a little more effect, and I'm supposed to be moving everything from the elbow down, just no pushing, pulling, or lifting with the left arm.
   sore

Quick up-date : post-op day 1

All things considered I'm feeling pretty good. I woke in a sling rather than an immobilizer so that in itself was good news. The percocets aren't doing anything ( or at least anything noticable) so i'm switching to ibuprofen. 800mg half an hour ago seems to be having more effect than the percs do after the same time lapse.

i am realizing just how much you use your shoulders to get out of chairs.  I'm also giving up on capitals when typing one handed.

Today's the big day.

Bathed, dressed, and ready to head off to the hospital in a few minutes.  Yay!

Of course I haven't had enough sleep, but then it's not like I have to do anything myself, except lie there asleep.

I wonder how long the nerve block is going to last. It can be up to 24 hours. I would just like to avoid pain as much as possible.

Two more days

I hope.

I woke up this morning with a scratchy throat.  So I'm bundled up (it's June, damnit, it's not supposed to be in the 40s at 7am!), have had my coffee, and plan to spend the rest of the day drinking copious amounts of Camomile tea to try to head this thing off.

I do NOT want to have this surgery put off.  I've already had to start taking the percocet in the evening if I'm going to have a hope of getting some sleep. I'd like to not have to start taking multiple doses a day before hand.

Which reminds me, I've got a nearly full script of tramadol to get rid of, since I see no point in keeping a med that doesn't do what it's supposed to while giving me a nasty headache and an upset stomach.