Highs and Lows. . .

This week has been a high and low week, the highs were I got over my bladder infection, and I saw the Orthopedic Surgeon, and hopefully I will have a new knee sometime in the New Year! The other highs are I got back on the bicycle, yesterday I pedaled for half an hour and did 4km and the left leg was actually doing some of the work. The other high is I have been selected to be in a photograph as the Parkwood patient rep  with all the medal barriers that took place in the Rick Hansen Relay in London. That should be a lot of people.

The lows,  seems I have another bladder infection, and Thursday evening I was peeing some blood… yuk! Which gave me a little fright! It started at 7pm but by 10:30pm it was gone. So I have now had some blood taken and urine specimans, but of course since now it is the weekend, I wont hear till Monday. If anybody out there has ever had a urinary tract infection you’ll know it makes you feel like poop!

PT is going well. OT is going well. They had me sitting up on Friday, and I was able to sit up by myself for more than a minute. I actually slid onto my wheelchair with a slider board, of course that was with two Physios’ assisting, and me adding a little wee tiny bit. It’s a tough job because I have an air seat cushion on my chair and once you sit on it you sink down about two inches. So once you get there it is hard to move. Then of course I did the half hour biking PT. Physio is working me very hard and OT – I am doing lots of weights on my right arm and it is paying off as it is also strengthening my back.  This helps out a lot, as I no longer have a winging scapula and all my back muscles even on my left side seem to be getting stronger. Before, my left scapula was so loose when I was lying in bed it felt like I was laying on a plate and sliding around on it. But now that is gone away.

Another Physio worked my left arm for about an hour, and there seems to be quite a few other things/nerves coming to life. One problem with the left arm is my fore arm is tight all the time, which tends to curl my fingers. And my bicep is tight and wants to pull my arm in. With a little massage and stretching my left arm still straightens out fully and my fingers can be straightend out as well.

So things that I have to do to get my fingers straight on my left hand are: I lay them flat on the pillow on my lap, and put a six pound weight on the back of my hand (in fact Kelly just did it now).

The motion machine for my leg is on for a minimum of an hour a day, and it does keep my leg moving and it moves it from 20 degrees extension, to 80 degrees flexion. After talking to the ortho I have to get it up to 90 or 100 flexion. So I will start moving it up little by little. I think I do flex it more the 80 degrees on the bicycle but I am not quite sure.

Another low is that my youngest daughter Kelly is leaving for Australia tonight. She says she may be back in a month, but I don’t know for sure. I will miss her. A LOT, it was good to have her here for the relay. And see her for the time she was here.

I have probably done this already but I think it needs to be said again, I would like to Thank everybody who participated in the Fundraiser and those who have donated I have heard from people that I haven’t seen for years, and It is very humbling that they remembered me  and have made donations.

Darcy is working very hard getting the house set up for me, we have the platform built in the garage, wheelchair life is installed. The bathroom in the middle of being renovated and I still need a wheel chair, a commode, an over-head lift and a hospital bed. She will be working on that in the next few weeks. As my tentative release date is still Dec 22^nd – that could change. 

The girls decorated my room and it now looks a little Christmasy. With a Christmas tree, snowflakes and Santa Clause come and see!

Thanks for listening!