Tuesday Oct. 13, 2009: Supartz shots scheduled

I now have all my Supartz shots scheduled.

#1: Oct. 28 (two weeks from tomorrow)

#2: Nov. 04

#3: Nov. 10

#4: Nov. 17

#5: Nov. 24

Meanwhile my hip is aching. Lovely.

And our poor cat Jack (who is pictured to the side, 10 years ago, about twice the weight he is now) is doing poorly. I had to take him to the vet today. The last week, his appetite, which has always been big, dwindled to practically nothing. So he's now, temporarily, on prednisone to increase his appetite, in addition to his thyroid medication (which I know now to get at the Costco pharmacy) The vet thought she felt some irregularity along his abdominal wall and thought his kidneys felt smaller than they should be. Since, even if it is some kind of cancer, we are not treating him and are instead concentrating on his quality of life. So we shall see how it goes...

Monday October 5, 2009: Supartz shots okayed!

Technically insurance wasn't required but the company did tell the nurse from the rheumy office that it would be covered 80% until I get to my out of pocket max (I am about $135 from there) and then they'll be covered 100%. So for now, I am set. I have appointments made already for the 1st, 2nd and 4th shots (the 4th one was an appointment I had made in August for a check in there) and will make the other appointments the next time I'm there, which will be on Oct. 28 for the first shot.
I also saw my primary care doctor today, having a BP recheck again to see if the new pills were working okay. I told her about the hip MRI results and she wanted to know if I was going to do anything about the problem yet (other than the hip cortisone shot I already had) and I told her at this point, I wasn't, but I was pretty sure something will be done in the future, mentioning the hip resurfacing possibility.

Thursday Oct. 1, 2009: Rheumy appointment

Rheumy appointment today. I got a cortisone shot in my left knee and made plans to get Supartz shots in it as well, to be started in a month. I also found out the results of my hip MRI (never got the details from the ortho). I have mild arthritis in my right hip and mild to moderate (probably closer to moderate) in the left one (the one that was bothering me) has 50% of the cartilage gone, with a defect in the cartilage. Not so great news but manageable at this point still.

Sept. 27, 2009: Way off topic: My Birthday Quilt

My sister Susan made me a handmade quilt for my birthday from fabric my friend Lenita and I chose here and that then son Andy and girlfriend Kira brought to her in the Azores in June. The quilt arrived on Friday and we got it installed in its new home in my office today. This has nothing to do with orthopedic problems but I wanted to post it anyway in the unlikely event someone actually is reading this blog and can admire it too:)
On an orthopedic note, I made an appointment to see the rheumy PA on this Thursday, hopefully to discuss something for my left (non-replaced) knee. I'm leaving work 30 minutes early (with permission) to get there on time.

Thursday Sept. 24, 2009: The other knee

My non-replaced knee has been acting up. I am getting the same pouffy spot on that knee that I used to get on my replaced knee. The medial bottom corner is aching off and on and the whole knee doesn't feel so great lately. So today, after Henry told me that if I want to get anything done to the knee, to get it done before the end of the year while we have reached our out-of-pocket max. It obviously is not at the point of needing any kind of replacement but is in need of some kind of medical intervention. I am thinking either a cortisone or maybe even a round of Supartz. I would hope that the latter might work this time because the knee isn't as bad as it could be. So I made an appointment for a week from today with the rheumy PA to discuss what to do. I'll be leaving work early (with permission) and might be able to run home first to change clothes before heading over there. We shall see.

Thursday Sept. 17, 2009:The 1st Anniversary of my Partial Knee Replacement

Today marks the 1st birthday of my Oxford partial knee implant. I spent the day working---8 hours on my feet, something I certainly couldn't do a year ago===and for many months prior to my PKR. Although 95% of the time it feels fine, occasionally I do get twinges but for the most part, I can't even describe how much better my knee feels. Unfortunately, my other knee and my left hip now have their pains, but at least my other knee feels really so much better, I can't even describe it!

I never did have doubts about having a PKR before the actual surgery, but if I had, they would be dispelled by now. If I ever need replacement of the aforementioned other knee and hip, I would do it again---even though there was a lot of work involved in getting it to the point where I am now, but all totally worth it.

I'll be spending tomorrow at the Big E, a very large fair which requires a lot of walking. It was something I said last year at this time that I would want to do the next year and I am. So Mission: Accomplished (unlike other things that have been declared accomplished, lol).

I meant to take a picture of my knee today but didn't get a chance to. Maybe tomorrow! In the meantime, if you're someone reading this who is thinking about having a PKR, if your situation is one that you are at the point of thinking about having one, if I were you, I'd go for it. I spent quite a few months in terrible pain pre-surgery and I can't imagine spending the rest of my life living that way.

Tuesday Sept. 15, 2009

I haven't updated for a while. I took the Lisinopril but it made me cough without having a cold. I finally went to the doctor's yesterday and have changed medicines to Hydrochlorothiazide (I hope I spelled that right), 25 mg.. While there, I got my flu shot too.
In a couple of days, it will be the first birthday of my partial knee replacement. I'll discuss then how things have gone in that year. I probably won't get to it until the evening because I'm working all day.