Tues. Sept. 16, 2008: Tomorrow's the day!

Hard to believe it's almost here. I get nervous when I'm not busy computering, cleaning or doing something else constructive!
The nurse from Danbury Hospital called around 1PM. Big discussion with the nurse who said part of their usual instructions is for the patient to take Celebrex prior to the procedure (at home). However, after much discission, we decided I wouldn't do that but would bring my Celebrex with me. About a minute after the call, the phone rang again and it was the nurse again who said she spoke to the anesthesiologist who said I should NOT take the Celebrex and they'd give me something else.
So that's all for now. No deep last thoughts on the subject because I can't think of any. Plus the large cannoli in the refrigerator is calling my name!

Wed. Sept. 10, 2008:One week to go

So here we sit with 1 week to go. Hard to believe! So here's a quick run down of what's happened since my birthday:
Friday the 5th, I had my pre-op with the ortho. who also gave me a tube of Volaren Gel to see if it helps for pain relief for a short bit before the surgery. As an NSAID gel, I had to stop using it by Tuesday(yesterday) but as it didn't do much of anything, I'm saving it for another day! I also got my PT prescription so I stopped at the PT part and got my appointments. He also gave me a prescription for Phisohex with which I have to wash my knee the night before and the morning of my surgery. I almost fainted when the price was $60 for a large bottle of something I may use 2-3 teaspoons of! I also got, for filling the prescription, a $25 gift card from CVS and got some odds and ends.
SAturday the 6th, I worked 12-6PM. I saw my friend Karen whom I was going to call a few days later to discuss rides to PT. My knees survived. The ride home from work was bad as Tropical Storm Hanna (a former hurricane) was passing through and the puddles were terrible. The storm got worse after I got home so I was glad to get home when I did.
Sunday the 7th, I worked 10:45-2:45. It was almost the longest 4 hours of my life. I could barely move. Not fun!
Monday the 8th, in the morning, a call from the ortho office, they need a new xray of my knee so I have to go in on Tuesday (no appointment necessary). It's also my last day of work. I first stopped at the HR department to say I'd be on leave for at least 1 month and find out I got $10 worth of Macy money:) I worked 1-6 and it wasn't as bad as Sunday but I was still pooped when I got home.
Tuesday the 9th, I went for my xray and the office stank as one of their xray machines had leaked and the whole place smelled like sulphur. Yuck! Our recliner love seat was delivered in the afternoon. Hooray! We also went to Cold Stone Creamery so I could use my birthday free ice cream coupon. Delicious!
WHich brings us to today. No big plans. I need to work on the Neighbor to Neighbor campaign papers so they're done before surgery. If my glasses come in, I'll go get them, but nothing else will be happening! At this time next week, hopefully the surgery will be over and everything will be fine.

Th. Sept. 4, 2008: Happy Birthday to Me!

You say it's your birthday!
It's my birthday too, yea!

And my platelet count was 113,000 at the hematologist! Hooray! I had been told I needed a count of 50,000 without treatment for the surgery but today, he reread a paper that said a count of 70,000 without treatment, which would have been prednisone or WinRho! So the platelet dance did its magic! Yea!

Tomorrow is the ortho. pre-op and I've typed up a list of questions for that~!

Sept. 3, 2008: Big Big Ouchies

My right knee has decided to have a life of its own and has gotten really really bad since I stopped the Celebrex-only 2 days ago! I went to the eye doctor this afternoon after working 5 hours (with an hour at home in between), it was hard to concentrate on the eye test. YEsterday was the pre-op at the primary where the EKG caused difficulties with interference showing up in the tracings. Waiting now to hear from them. TOmorrow brings the hematologist appointment in mid-afternoon as well as my birthday.
Hopefully tomorrow will be better and if I don't hear from Dr. MAki's office, at least I'll be getting the results of a platelet count at the hematology office.

Monday August 25, 2008: Slight change of plan

I got a call in little while ago changing my pre-op with Dr. Schweitzer to the same time, the next day. So instead of having 2 appointments on Sept. 4, which also happens to be my birthday, I have only 1. But meanwhile, I made an eye doctor appointment because I f0und out I could get new glasses as of Sept. 1. So as a result, I now have a doctor's appointment every day but
Monday, which is Labor Day. So here's next week's agenda:



Sunday 8/31: BBQ at friend's
Monday 9/01: Labor Day and I'm off
Tuesday 9/02: Pre op with my primary doctor in Ridgefield in the morning.
Wednesday 9/03: Work 9:30-2:30 in lingerie and have a 4PM appointment with the eye doctor at an eye place in the mall since that's what our insurance covers and I can chose new frames as well, all for $15.
Thursday 9/04: My birthday and an afternoon appointment with the hematologist
Friday 9/05: Pre op with the orthopedist in the morning.
Saturday 9/06: Work 12-6PM in the larger ladies' sizes again (I scheduled this myself--6 hours I'm hoping I won't regret).

Then I have only the week after until my last day on the 13th-or at least the last day I said I'd be available to be scheduled.

And today I stayed home from work. I worked Saturday and Sunday, Sunday in China where I mostly stood around. One of the people worked with had a terrible cough and cold. I was scheduled to be there this morning with her and my knee hurt and I didn't want to be there with her germs so I called out. I don't have to work now until Friday when I'm in children's. Then I said I wasn't available for the whole Labor Day weekend since I wanted to be able to go to Ron's annual Labor Day festivities, although this year, it will be a retirement party for his wife!

Meanwhile I started a new project last week. I've been going through my iTunes in alphabetical order, listening to everything (or pushing the arrow to the end of the song so it counts, lol). I try to listen to 1 letter a day, although I've listened to 2 in one day. Currently I'm in the "I"s. It's currently on "I Go to Extremes" by Billy Joel.

Probably won't be updating until next week with each appointment. Until then, see ya later alligata.

Aug. 11, 2008: Yesterday

Yesterday I forgot to mention that it was the anniversary of the event that precipitated this past year's surgeries---A year ago yesterday, while vacuuming in the bedroom, I tripped on the vacuum cleaner wire and landed on my knees. I felt the right knee cap move, which is not a good feeling. I most likely would've ended up eventually at the point where I am now, needing a PKR, as I was always having swelling in the one spot where I now need the replacement with the accompanying pain, but this injury sped things along.
And tomorrow is my 30th wedding anniversary. Never expected to have bad knees on this date 30 years ago!

Aug. 10, 2008: Nothing New!

Haven't updated in a week as nothing much has happened. Feeling achy because I ran out of Celebrex but have now ordered some and hopefully they will arrive the first half of this coming week. WHen I rodered it, I discovered the copay had gone from $137 (not cheap to begin with) to $150. Thinking after this refill (and there are none left anyway), I may change medications although it works very well. $150 is really expensive!
Last Saturday we went to Massachusetts to see Allen and Kathy and to have a BBQ with Kathy's parents. Unfortunately the weather wasn't so great but it was nice to see every one. And we got Polar Soda that we ordered through Allen and schlepped it home.

We had mice issues this week in the kitchen. I cleaned out everything and put new shelf paper in, but there might still be something there. HATE HATE HATE mice. On a brighter note, I tried a recipe for fish tacos and the limey coleslaw that goes with them was yummy.

I'll be telling work this week (probably will go in on Wednesday as I don't work until Saturday) about the surgery and will tell them my last day of work can be Sept. 13. Then I'll go on leave. Not sure how long I have to be out from work but as much as I'm not thrilled with the job, at least I'll know I have something to go back to (hopefully) when I can.

And I got a call from my friend Maria who has found out she has mild lupus. I'll be meeting her Tuesday morning (my anniversary morning) at Windmill Diner for coffee/tea.