Tuesday March 10, 2009

I got my operative reports today for my February 2008 meniscus surgery and my partial knee replacement from Sept. 2008. Very interesting. I tried scanning them to make into documents but it didn't work (at least for now). Surprised to see I had a spinal for the PKR considering I told the anesthesiologist before I was knocked out with the sedative that I didn't and shouldn't want one! I'm going to see if I can find a copy of his bill from September and see what it says. If I figure out how to get the papers into Word documents, I'll post them.

Sunday March 8, 2009

With the weather finally nice this weekend, especially yesterday when temps were in the upper 60s, I took a walk around the circle 6 times each day. And what I've discovered is that my new right knee feels perfect while I walk. That alone makes having the partial knee replacement worth it. But what tightens up is my hamstring and my ankle hurts, like it doesn't have much stability. It happened with both walks. My ankle feels like it could crack almost constantly. Not sure what to do, but nothing will work for now.

I listed my Depression glass on Facebook last night and someone tried to scam this morning by offering $3200 in an email asking for my address, cell phone # etcetera, for the $300 price I put on the goods. I've reported it to the FB Marketplace people and hopefully something will happen.

Thursday March 5, 2009

Still waiting for my medical records to arrive. No mail at all yesterday probably because Jonathan parked the black Jeep too near the mail box for the mail truck to pull up close enough. So I am hoping today will be the day.
I am pretty sure I'm not working next week at all. Going to check again later. I am. however, working Friday and Saturday of the following week, having found them on the self-serve stuff of the Macy's site again.
Despite the bash of my knee into the dishwasher door the other day, I didn't get a bruise. Maybe some slight discoloration but definitely not a bruise. I think my platelet count will be lower next week than it's been judging by the number of little bruises I've managed to get. But I could be wrong. A week from today I have an appointment with the hematologist and I guess I'll find out. New knee is still doing well for the most part. Only at night do I get some pain for some reason along the side of the Oxford implant, but nothing terrible. Yea!

Saturday Feb. 28, 2009

Just a quick post to say that I noticed a few days ago that my new knee (Oxford Partial, which is the brand of implant I have) clicks when I bend it and the lateral side of the same knee makes crunchy noises (ut oh!) when I bend it.

Thursday, Feb, 26, 2009

Good morning! Nothing very exciting going on knee-wise which is a good thing. I did, however, call Connecticut Family Orthopedics yesterday to request the surgical notes from my PKR and the surgical notes from my February 2008 surgery. I was curious to read what was said in the PKR and with the February surgery, I want to find out where and how big the defect Dr. Gray found in my left knee. I had to send in a form available on CFO's web site which I put in the mail yesterday. I could've faxed it to them but that would've meant going down to Staples and paying for the fax. So it went in the regular mail. They'll probably get it today and if I'm lucky, I'll get the reports by Wednesday of next week at the latest. I was tempted to get all of my medical records but since I've been going there for 7 years, the cost would have been too much, although it probably would've been interesting to read all that and see how all this orthopedic stuff began back in 2002.
I realized Wednesday evening that in the last year I've lost about 9 pounds. I know most of the weight loss is due to the increased level of exercise and I have basically stopped drinking soda. And not having cookies around a lot has helped, although I sure haven't stopped making cakes and having desserts! 1 Pop Tart (hot fudge sundae) for dessert toasted has been working for me lately!
I did start a family group on Facebook for Burkats and Gumners. It took a lot more work than I anticipated but it's been worth it. I haven't included any of my evil post-surgical knee pictures and people should be happy I didn't!

Sat. Feb. 21, 2009

I've found a couple more Facebook knee groups. I joined them and today I removed myself from a couple of them, staying active with the Knee Replacement one although I am virtually the only person who has had a PKR in the group. Everyone else has had a TKR.
Meanwhile. I found a semi-long-lost relative-having had contact a number of years ago through the JewishGen site but then had email issues. But I found her on Facebook! I found out my childhood cross-eyedness was hereditary! She had it too as did her aunt and her grandfather who was the brother of my grandfather! I've also found a bunch of Dalton and Beloit classmates as well as old friends. Pretty wild!
My left hip has been aching while sleeping on my side and occasionally while I've been sitting so I've been trying not to sleep that way which is pretty hard.
So that's about it for now!

Wednesday Feb. 18, 2009

Well, I see I have my first ads on the blog. Yesterday I figured out what the pain in front of my leg is: anterior tibial tendonitis. Fortunately, it seems to come and go based on how much walking I do during the day, although that's not always the case. My diagnosis was confirmed by someone on the Knee GEeks board who is a doctor and I thank her for it.

I found a bunch of Facebook groups for knees. Sometimes you forget most people don't have knee issues but apparently enough have them to make groups on Facebook. So far I've found:

I Have Bad Knees
Knee Replacement Group
We Are Knee Geeks
Oxford Partial Knee (which is what I have)
Knee Surgery Appreciation Society

I've joined all. There are also a few ITP/blood disorder groups as well which I've also joined:

ITP-Platelet Disorder Support Association
Blood Disorders Awareness
ITP-Spreading Awareness

Now somebody just needs to make a hybrid group of these 2 subjects! I won't but it sounds like an interesting thing to ponder!

Yesterday I got a bill from CFO for my cortisone shot from the end of January. $183.36 after all the charges and credits. Very glad we have an HRA which paid the bill.

So that's it for now.