For everything there is a season
Closing in on 2 months post surgery there’s still so much to say but there aren’t enough words, or even the right words, to do it justice; or the experiences that have followed.
One of my favorite movies is Love’s Long Journey, as is the whole Love Saga.
One of my favorite songs is “Turn, Turn, Turn” by the Byrds
What do these to things have in common?
So it’s no surprise certain verses come into my head, and often.
As medical supplies continues to leave my house you’d think I’d consider where to send it to (although just throwing it out does have a certain appeal), the pads, wipes, gloves, and (yes) even bedpans. The good thing is a good portion of it is being returned to its owner. The rest of it is going to the dad of one of my mom’s coworkers; you see, he was in the hospital shortly after I was discharged. Good timing right? Well, “good” timing.
At least it has a place to go.
Not needing it anymore means I’m progressing. Not having it hang around for much longer after the fact means I can focus on the now & the future. Having it somewhere to go means someone else is being helped. (You should know my brain is having a Circle Of Life moment as I typed this)
The more stuff that moves out more moves in. And I wonder, just how much more?
I get my night brace tomorrow & an AFO will follow soon enough. Hopefully that’s the bulk of the new stuff that needs to stay around, but only God knows for sure.
Dependent edema and rubor are now a problem, or at least it’s been identified, so I’m sporting my TEDS under my socks and “Sweet Kicks” (as my friend Kate calls them). Not a big deal, but a pain none the less. More time in bed helps, except that’s the last place I want to be.
And to be fair I think I’ve had rubor for a while. Should I worry about that, because I’m not; I just can’t bring myself to do so.
I went back to work yesterday, intending to just visit and ended up saying the whole shift. It felt good to get back to “normal.” My coworkers are supportive so my concerns quickly evaporated. I had to make adjustments but that’s what this part of my life is about so I’ll roll with it.
I had some concern about the dependent edema but wearing TEDS under my pants worked better than I anticipated so I just might have stumbled onto a solution that at least works for now. There was also worry about my getting the flu, or other sickness, especially since I can’t seem to get my hands on a flu shot, of any kind, for the life of me.
Either way I look forward to going back next week!
I’m still making progress in PT. I’ve actually been able to do things I didn’t think I’d be able to do for a few months. So you can just imagine what my mind was going though. Sometimes the smallest things still take a great deal of help, like PT activities, so thank God for PT students and PT aids.
I’m starting to do some of the exercises in the pool I use to do (pre-surgery). It’s a big boost to my moral. It just feels good to feel some of my old self still in there and weaving its way into my new body. It may take more effort in one way or another but at least I can do it.
I’m excited for Halloween because it means Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means back to Boston to check on my progress.
So glad to hear that you are healing up. Hang in there – counting the days with you until Thanksgiving.