5 weeks home and fish fiasco.

So, I have now been home for 5 weeks. My procedure at the hospital last week went well. Luckily, there was no damage to my Hickman catheter port in my chest just a lot of inflammation in the vein from running the IV to fast and the IV push I accidentially gave myself of the Vitamin C. This could take weeks to resolve, or I could be in pain forever from it. Just something I will need to learn to live with. But, very happy nonetheless that it did not need to be replaced and there was no surgery involved with that procedure!

On Monday night, I had a fish fisco like I have never experienced before! I have a 46 gallon fishtank that started leaking all of it's water onto the floor. Before I noticed it, it must have been a good 10-15 gallons already draining from the tank. Panic set in because I had NO idea what to do and this all happened at 1AM in the morning so I could not contact my fishtank cleaners, the Aquaholics (who are amazing!) Thank goodness for battery pack airpumps and a 5 gallon bucket. I took all my fish out and put them into the bucket to live until I could find a new fishtank. The only problem was, that my fishtank has been discontinued ....so it was just by luck and chance I found 1 last "floor model" at PETSMART. Thank you to my mom who took me to the store to buy it. I was so worried about my 12 year old Silver Dollar fish that I did not sleep for 2 nights checking on him, the battery pump and I was so anxious to get the new tank set up. Above are pictures. The top picture is one of my new tank that the Aquaholics set up. The second picture is me trying to "go fishing" in my old, draining fishtank for my fish to put in the bucket. And the last picture is the rediculous mess the leakage caused and you can see how low the water line was getting....very fast. I am happy to report that the fish transition went well. My silver dollar fish lived (so far ) and he ate today for the first time and I saw him swim across the tank instead of sit on the rocks like he had been doing since he was put into my new tank. For those of you who do not know me well. I have had a fish tank my whole life. I love my fish!

Regarding my health... Motivation is such a hard thing to work on for me. Whether it be physical therapy (i've been in PT for so many years), or eating/drinking ...which I still am having a hard time with...I know these things need to be done but they are hard for me to do. I continue to push myself daily to get up and not just lay around ...especially when I have no therapy or doctors appointments on certain days. Regarding my hand, I am status quo at this point until I see my hand surgeon on April 18th to decide when the surgery will be. I am leaning more towards after Michele's baby is born but before June because I need to be ready to go back to teaching in September and the recovery after surgery will be extensive. I continue working very hard in physical therapy to get off of this walker and onto 1 crutch. I realize now that the cast is off my arm that the pain is not bearable and something I can not just "live with". It needs to be fixed.

Again, thank you to my Dad who takes me to and from therapy 3xs a week and Uncle Mickey who was my doctor taxi the last week when I had all my appointments.

Happy Birthday to Aunt Eileen and Sarah lost another tooth!

To be continued....

Love, Stacy

3 weeks home!

I'm happy to report that I have now been home for 3 weeks and I've managed to stay home with little complication! Transitionally, I'm feeling a little bit stronger each day but continued work is necessary to get my motivation up to par regarding eating/drinking and finding things to keep me busy each day when I don't have a doctors appointment or physical therapy. I have been reading some, when concentration allows!

I saw a lot of surgeons this week (Thank you again, Uncle Mickey for being my doctor shuttle) The hand surgeon removed my cast...for the first time since December 2009. (well actually I did have it off for 4 weeks in between then and now) but I don't recall that period much! It is looking like I will need hand surgery similar to what I had on the left hand. CMC or basal joint reconstruction at the base of my thumb. Uncle Mickey and I both felt reassured that my hand surgeon (although not at "my hospital") was willing to work with us and listen to the usual plan to get me through surgery. More of a decision will be made when see him again in 4 weeks.

Yesterday, I saw both knee surgeons. Dr. Salas, the plastic surgeon who did both complicated Z-plasty scar revision surgeries on me this summer, was so pleased he said I don't have to go back to him for 3 months!! I cannot remember ever being on the "3 month plan" with a surgeon before! This is very good news. It means he continues to be happy with my skin, the way it is healing, and even having had started the process of physical therapy....things seem to be "Staying together..." which for me, is a great accomplishment!

Last but not least for my surgeons of the week, I saw Dr. Rosa my knee surgeon. I have been a patient of Dr. Rosa's since 1996 and he has done very many surgical procedures on me. He was happy with my progress (this is only the 2nd time I've seen him since he operated on me in July) however would like my knees to bend more. I reassured him that I am working hard and the progress that I have made in the last 3 weeks has been huge-- so he seemed happy by it. There is scar tissue rolling around in there causing "grinding" and "flapping" but we will pray this all breaks itself up since I won't EVER have it fixed!

Next week, Tuesday, I go under anesthesia to have my port assessed with a venogram and possible surgery to fix whatever damage there may be with the vein that the hickman catheter/port goes into. The port vein leads directly to my heart so any mishap, mistake, or complication could be detrimental to my health. I must be very careful when infusing at home....and hospitals must be very careful when administering the IV that the numbers on the IV pump are correct so ensure no problems. Unfortunately, there just are not many places for this port to go if the vein is damaged. So,we will see what my vascular surgeon (Dr. Addis) discovers during Tuesdays procedure....and pray that it is fixable.

All in all it has been a good 3 weeks at home. I met my new baby cousin from Maryland, Michele had a surprise 40th Birthday party for David, I had lunch at the Ritz Diner with Uncle Mickey and Eileen, and I made it to temple service with my mom and Michele....I just wish I did not have to rely so much on people to take me places and that I could be less of an imposition!

Thank you for your continued support...(you know who you are...)

To be continued....
Stacy

The first 2 weeks....

So it has been just about been 2 weeks that I have been home from my very long stay at the hospital and Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (inpatient). Although I'm so happy to be home, the transition has not been the easiest. Learning to do things completely for myself by myself has been hard as well as finding motivation to get up and move and my continual lack of desire to eat ...which as we all know can cause more problems that I do NOT need!

I have started outpatient physical therapy and I am doing well. We are taking it slowly to ensure no complications...yet I am working hard so that I can get moving as soon as possible. I currently still walk with the platform walker..which works great on smooth surfaces but not so much on the pavement outside!

In the next 2 weeks I see all of my surgeons. (Vascular, hand, knee, plastic surgeon who did my Z-plasty knee surgeries this summer) I hope that I get all good reports and that maybe the hand surgeon will remove this cast for a few weeks to give my arm and skin a break... It has been casted for more than a year!

I had the extreme pleasure of accompanying Michele and David to their baby-ultrasound doctor appointment which was a huge highlight for me. It is amazing that there is a live being inside the belly of my identical twin....and my Nephew is quite active and the doctors are happy with her progress and his development. About 10 more weeks to go for her before he is here!

My dogs have probably been the happiest that I am home and that I actually stayed home, this time! They have been attatched to me with paws, tails, or noses at all times...I love it!

Thank you to everyone in my family... Dad, David, Mom, and Uncle Mickey for taking me to doctors appointments, physical therapy, and the hospital for tests. I know it's an interruption in your day to have to take me but it is greatly appreciated as always!

Lastly..throughout this whole process... you really find out who your true friends and family are. Who really cares about you in your time of need and it was a rude awakening for me to see how many family members just don't care. With that said, I have a huge support system with immediate family and friends (you all know who you are) but it's sad...when you think about it. Just be happy this is not you... but if it were you, I would have been there for you all!

I am happy to be home and will continue to update about my progress...

To be continued...

Stacy