Friday Feb. 19, 2010: And so it goes

Time for a short update. We decided earlier this week to go tomorrow to Mohegan Sun (Indian casino here in CT) for the day. We're going to leave early, play the nickel and quarter slots, and have a big lunch. Looking forward to getting away for the day.

NExt week I'm scheduled to work on Tuesday 11-3. Of course, it's supposed to snow again that day so I'll probably end up calling out. Then I'm on vacation for 2 weeks going to and from the Azores and getting back into the time zone. Then I work until my medical leave starts which is April 18, but the scheduler will probably make my last day early in the week than the 17th.

LEft knee (the one soon to be operated on) hasn't been horrible, but hasn't been comfortable either. For the most part, the cramping is mostly gone unless I get up wrong from a chair or go down the stairs wrong. But I have definitely concluded that I now have arthritis under my kneecap in my PKR knee that occasionally will really let itself be known. I'm going to the ortho on Monday for my pre-trip cortisone shot and he's going to be checking my PKR knee too (he doesn't seem to be as much a stickler about checking out other body parts than what the appointment is for as my 1st ortho is!). If I'm lucky, he may suggest a cortisone shot in that knee too. Then Friday I have the MRI for the scan of my knee for the TKR implant.

Once back from the Azores, I have a ton of appointments, from several pre-ops to an appointment for the autologous blood donation to a cholesterol retest appointment to hemo to rheumy office. And also my Joint Replacement class will be coming up too, a week after I get back.

Busy weeks ahead! So it'll be fun to get away to Mohegan Sun tomorrow. Extra nice if we manage to win something!

Friday Jan. 29, 2010: A surgery date is set

The surgery scheduler called me this morning. We have a date of April 21 (a Wednesday), first thing in the morning. I'll be seeing other doctors in the practice for 2 days afterwards (while in the hospital) as he'll be away, but I can live with that. I am also registered for the mandatory (apparently not mandatory for the PKR) joint replacement class at the hospital on March 16 where you also get to meet the anesthesia team (individually). A pre-surgical blood donation for myself from me will also be done, as long as my hemo says it's fine (which I can't see why not). I'll be seeing him mid-March and will discuss the whole thing then, including required platelet count for the surgery. I now also have a pre-op appointment set up with my regular doctor and one with the ortho. Then this afternoon, as I was walking into Sear's, I got another call from her on my cell phone. I have to have a special MRI ASAP at the hospital as the ortho uses a customized implant.

http://www.biomet.com/mySignatureSolution/

So now I'm waiting for a call from the hospital for that. It's a good thing I'm not working next week!

Tuesday Jan. 26, 2010: Big News!

I saw my ortho today for a one year check up on the PKR right knee and had a chance to discuss my ever-worsening left knee. He poked, looked at the xray of the left knee, discussed the pain, where it is, how much it hurts, and he said whenever I'm ready, I should call the surgery scheduler to schedule a total knee replacement. The pain isn't all in one place as it was with the other knee, it's much more diffused across the whole knee, which is why he said it is better to have the one surgery and replace it all rather than having the partial knee replacement and needing another surgery in a couple of years. So I cancelled the appointment I made to see him next week about that knee and have instead an appointment to see him about a week before I go to the Azores when he'll give me a cortisone shot in that knee to get through the trip. He said they're already almost booked for MArch for surgeries,and I don't want to do it in March anyway, but I'm thinking toward the end of April or the beginning of May.

Jan. 21, 2010: Happy Birthday Demian and I bit the bullet

First, happy birthday to my nephew. It's hard to believe he's 39!

Second, this morning, I went to the mall (Macy's) to shop for my upcoming trip to the Azores. Not a particular successful one, but it was much easier to try clothes wearing my new clog-style (slip on, no-laces) Merrell shoes. Henry also wanted me to look for a new key ring for him while I was there, so I headed out to the rest of the mall (Macy's is at the very end of one side). I could barely walk, my left knee (the non-replaced one) was hurting so much, I didn't even bother to go more than 1/2 down the length of the mall (it's New England's biggest mall so it's pretty big). It was then I decided I had to bite the bullet and act proactively. I have an appointment on Tuesday to see the ortho for a year check up on the replaced knee. I am pretty sure he doesn't/won't discuss my other knee at the same appointment, so I made myself an appointment to see him about the other knee the following week, as he's all booked up for next week. If he's willing to discuss that knee on Tuesday, then I'll cancel the other appointment. But at least for now, I have one. And if he agrees it's time for the TKR, I'd like to do it in late April or May. What a pain it is!!!

Thursday Nov. 5, 2009: I learn something new about my knee

I forgot to write yesterday. I had my 2nd Supartz shot. I also brought along with me the xrays the ortho. wanted me to show whomever at the rheumatology office. The PA looked at the one which has both knees in it and said that my left (non-replaced) knee is wearing down evenly and when I need a replacement, I won't be able to have a unicomparmental as I did with the right knee. She said I'll need a TKR. She also said my left knee cap was very loose, noticing this while getting ready to do the shot. No bruise from the shot today so I guess my platelet count must be decent! I'll be finding that out in a couple of weeks. She also said the doctor will be doing the next shot next week because she'll be off that day.