All Filled Up

First - an update on physical therapy.

I am doing PT because there were a few things I was having trouble doing. One thing I noticed was difficulty with pumps and lids - like lotions with a pump top, hand soap with a pump top, some jar lids and child-proof lids. I could do them if I lowered them to about waist-height, but couldn't use them at counter-height. Yes I know counter-height is probably your waist height but it's not my waist height :-) These are things we all take for granted.

I haven't had trouble at the computer or knitting, but there aren't really many muscle groups involved in those. So they weren't helping either.

Being able to be specific about the problem helped the physical therapist zero-in on exercises to help. Of course PT is a stretch! I thought I was doing fine with many things (like getting my arms above my head). Then she said "do snow angels against the wall."

Ha!

It took 4 days of twice-a-day attempts before I could get my arms all the way up the wall, over my head.

If you've done PT for anything you know that in the beginning it's hard to do, but over time the movements get less painful. Then you go back for another visit, and the therapist gives you more to do, so you can work more muscle groups. The exercises take about 10 or 15 minutes, twice a day. What goes through my mind as I do the exercises is that it would probably be a good idea to do them. . . forever. Other than pumps and jar lids, I think the next test will be how easy/difficult it is to roll out the dough for hamentashen.

After the 2nd PT visit, I had yet another check up at the plastic surgeon and everything still looks good, so they added another 50 cc to the right side (now 300 left, 310 right) . . the 2nd surgery stretched things out a bit on the right so it could take a little more (or something like that). That's it for filling up the expanders and now we just wait for time to pass. Next check in is in 2 weeks.

I hiked Shanahan Ridge 2 more times last week - going up a little further each time. This is the view from top last Friday (before the weekend storms). We heard on the trail that the short route over to Fern Canyon has been icy, so we're holding off on that. Yes I now have those trekker poles that were on the corner of the aisle at Costco, and yes I'm using poles now.

And in other news, I have no idea why these popped into my head one day last week, but they did and then I had to make them. I keep thinking I'll bake cookies but then I think I don't really want to bake cookies. These take mere minutes and have no cleanup. Easy-peasy how-to below the photo. Enjoy!

Chocolate Dipped Apricots
Dried Apricots
Semi-sweet chocolate chips
Optional: sea salt.

Melt the chocolate chips in a bowl in the microwave (check and stir 30 seconds at a time until smooth).
Dip each apricot in the melted chocolate about half-way.
Let cool on a cookie sheet (I have parchment paper on mine to make cleanup easier). Sprinkle with sea salt if desired. Cool in fridge for about 10 minutes then store in an air-tight container (unless you eat them all right then, which happens sometimes. I take no responsibility for that).

I might try a sprinkling of chopped marcona almonds next time. That sounds scary good. 

So Far All Clear!

Today I had another checkup with the plastic surgeon who said everything looks good!

So they added another 60cc (for those keeping track, now at 300 L/260 R).

I had a first visit with the physical therapist today also, so I was nice and loose when I went to the plastic surgeon. I have exercises to do at home and a few more visits scheduled. We already had the 6" foam roller at home from one of David's past surgeries, and I found it (miracle - it hadn't been in the basement).

I have a little hunting to do to find the handweights that were in the basement. I know just where they were, but have no idea where they are now. Hmm.

I also had a little reaction on Friday that was a surprise. I looked fine going into the shower, took a nice long hot shower, and came out . . .spotted, particularly in the areas that got the most of the water (back, backside, back of arms, etc). It didn't itch and seemed to improve on its own, so I wasn't too concerned (hot water clearly being the trigger). Quick trip to the dermatologist this week, who thinks is was a delayed reaction to the original antibiotic. Apparently, Ceflex sensitivity can stay in the body for weeks or months and reappear randomly. Her advice: no more hot showers. She added that with or without this reaction, her advice is no more hot showers (dries out your skin, ladies).

We're all going to assume that's what it was, but in the meantime, I'm going to keep saying So Far So Good when you ask.

Made it Through the Weekend

So far, so good, YAY!

Next doctor visit is on Wednesday. I made it through the weekend with no antibiotics and everything looks good to me. I have lots of pix that you don't get to see :-) but they show the improvement day to day, which is way better than the alternative.

The weather was lovely on Saturday so we got in a hike. We only went up about 1/3 of the way and took it very slowly, but it was great to be back on the trail!

And now a plug for insurance: thank heaven. Just looked at some of the claims and the first surgery (2.5 hours, 1 night in hospital, not including doctors) was billed at $78k. Yes, you read that right. The negotiated price is $14k (interesting, isn't it?). Our portion will be a fraction of that.

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, full reconstruction is covered on both sides (matched set).

If you don't have insurance, now's the time. Because you never know.

Still So Far, So Good

One day at a time.
Every day since the infection and 2nd surgery has been one day at a time.
Each visit with the doctor has been another checkpoint.
Each time, the only thing we could say was "So far, so good." So there hasn't been much news to post, because each day was only "So far, so good."

The first week after the 2nd surgery I slept. And watched some of the Olympics. And slept more.

The second week (this past week) I had more energy. But still a lot of sleeping. And more Olympics.

If I weren't sleeping so much, I would have watched the live broadcasts. Instead, I watched the evening-prime-time-fully-produced version, which is driven by the "overcoming adversity" theme. The profiles of athletes who've been injured, had surgeries and came back to compete. The ones who are in their second and third Olympics. The ones who fall on the ice and get back up to finish their programs. The ones who crash on the half-pipe and still do their second run.

It sinks in, people.

The next hurdle is whether I can stay infection-free without the antibiotics - basically through the weekend and into next week. If so, we're back on track and I'll get more filled up (fun times!). If not, the expander will have to come out (yes, that would be another surgery), and then time for healing.

Last November, I started thinking about hiking Bear Peak. The trail to the summit takes about another hour past the point where I usually stop, the overlook on Fern Trail. By the time I started thinking about it, there had been snow and the trail was icy, so I decided I would hike it in the spring, maybe April.

However the next several days turn out - whether I'm fine, or whether I'm starting over on the right side, I'm looking forward to doing that hike in April.

So Far So Good, or: Rinse and Repeat

So that last post was last Wednesday, when I was doing great. The following day (Thursday) I saw the general surgeon for a check up, who also said I was doing great.

Apparently not. That night was not a good night. It was the first bad night I had. I wasn't much better in the morning, plus red on one side. Back to the plastic surgeon.

The doctor put me on two antibiotics to fight infection. Because I'd had an allergic reaction, they had taken me off antibiotics just a few days after surgery. In hindsight that probably could have been done differently. 

The weekend was up and down. Our good friends from LA came to visit and took very good care of me! I felt a bit better on Saturday night and looked a little better on Sunday morning, but by Sunday night not so good again. On Monday I was back at the doctor, who said the up-and-down cycle meant there was bacteria on the drain and the expander - which would not resolve without surgery. Plastic doesn't respond to antibiotics.

On the other hand - literally - the left side is fine, the drain is out, and it looks good! The side that got infected had been doing well, until it wasn't.

I had only a few hours between the doctor's office and heading back to the hospital Monday night for outpatient surgery. He cleaned things out and replaced the expander and drain on the right side only. I felt better after the surgery than before. For those keeping score, the new expander has 200cc. So that will need more, but not for a while.

I had a checkup this morning and it looks healthy. This is one-day-at-a-time. We won't really know if it's all clear for about a week, assuming nothing else happens and I finish the antibiotics and that drain comes out.

I'm once again recovering from surgery, taking it slow, lots of sleeping, more ice packs, a little knitting. I'm taking lots of probiotics to balance the antibiotics. Since it's only 1 side, it's a little easier than the first time. The expander is less full than it was over the weekend, so that's not as challenging or uncomfortable as the first time either. Next check-in is Friday, to get the staples out, again.

So far so good - keep your fingers crossed!

Fill 'er Up

Today is day 12. I woke up feeling great. I've been walking 6 miles/day (all inside - brrrr too cold out there! - and yes it takes a l o o n n n g  time at only 2 mph). Taking a little less motrin.

I had a massage yesterday in my parent's massage parlour basement, thank you very much mom and dad!

This morning my upper chest felt more flexible. It's hard to describe, but the skin has been very tight and then this morning it felt - better. Looser.

That lasted about an hour and a half, until I saw the plastic surgeon who said I'm doing great, fill 'er up. Another 80 cc each side (for those of you keeping score at home, I am now up to 300 cc). That's nearly double what they filled last week.

O.M.G.

The only thing I can do is let little moans escape.
David said we haven't had moaning like that in this house in a while ;-)

Dr. Hartley said with this fill, I'm basically done with the expansion part. Drains are still in (boo) but Friday is a possibility for getting them out. I can go back to my regular speed on the treadmill (thank you for giving me back an hour per day!). He said everything looks good. There are some areas he'll tidy up when they do the swap-out-the-expander-for-permanent-ones procedure. The things that feel odd to me are good signs for him, so we're taking his word for it. And what a charmer - they sent me home with flowers!

<insert moaning sounds here>

My continued thank you to everyone for messages, visits, dinners and good wishes!

Steppin' Out

Yesterday was Day 8. I had been in the house pretty much all week, between the icky weather and my car still in the shop. I have been getting lots of rest and sleeping well. I managed to do a little work on Friday. And, I've been increasing 1000 steps/day on the treadmill (about 10-15 minutes increase, still at only 2 mph).

Last night was the Boulder JCC's annual gala event. I tried on 2 dresses on Thursday. One was a sure bet.  The other was going to take a miracle. Not in the places you might think (ha!), it zipped fine up the back until about 4 inches from the top. Too swollen.

I iced like crazy over the next few days but alas, still too swollen up top. Oh well. Went with the sure bet.

And went! 

It was wonderful to see so many of our friends at once. I am so appreciative of all of you. The people who already knew and have been so supportive . . . and the people who just learned for the first time last night. Being with the community was energizing.  I shared stories with other survivors further down the path. I spoke with someone having a biopsy this week. We have an amazing community. 

We had a great time! 

Now more ice :-) and GO BRONCOS!