Friday Nov. 20, 2009: #4 Supartz shot

Almost done with the shots! I had #4 this past Tuesday (Nov. 17). One to go. Can't tell if they did anything. My knee doesn't feel worse and the shots aren't nearly as painful in this knee as they were in my other knee, so maybe there is hope that they'll help.
I also had a hematologist appointment on Wednesday (Nov. 18). My count was 72,000. Nothing new. The big news was that I got in and out of there by 9:30, which was the time my appointment was scheduled to start! That was a big change although it probably won't happen again!

Thursday Nov. 12, 2009: 3rd shot on Tuesday

I had my 3rd Supartz shot on Tuesday. Nothing very exciting. It was the PA who did it. She thought I'd be still on a Wednesday schedule this week which is why she told me she wouldn't be there to do the shot. My next shot will be Tuesday and I see the hematologist on Wednesday. When I requested those 2 days off, I had no idea they would be the days for a very big sale at work and I missing it. Oh well!
Yesterday at work, there was a customer who had to stop several times because of knee pain and she said she had knee replacement. She and I chatted briefly. Then another customer asked me about mine and was I happy with it (among the questions she asked).

Right replaced knee has been a little stiff the last couple of days. I really must get myself back in the saddle again, I mean the exercise bike. Hip has also been achy. I think it's the cloudy weather, with some expected rain in the forecast for later this week. I also have figured out that my shoulders do not like being cold, which they are in this room where I am. So I am sitting here with a blanket over my shoulders.

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.

Thursday Oct. 29, 2009: The appointment

I'm home. The answer is he doesn't think I'm ready for the surgery, which he thought was funny since it's his job to operate on people. He said in the stages of arthritis, between 0-10, at this point, I am only at a 1, despite pain. He said to keep moving, walking, gentle exercises. He also is worried that given my relatively young age for such a procedure, the odds are it will wear out sooner rather than later. BUt he also said I don't want to be too old either because you will often end up with other medical problems (which is what happened with my mother). He also is not completely sold on the hip resurfacing process itself---he compared it (or after what he said, I compared it to) not buying a new model car in the first year it is out. So for now, I will do what he says.
Oh--more cool thing. We were talking about the rheumatology office and he wanted me to take with me a couple of xrays of my new knee to show the rheumatologist. So I will next week. Meanwhile, I'm going to see if I can scan the xrays because they're really cool to look at!
Edited to say I got the xray scanned. Not perfect but you can see the implant!

Wednesday Oct. 28, 2009: First Supartz shot

Back from my knee shot that really wasn't too bad except for the first seconds of it. I think it wasn't so bad because the knee isn't quite in as bad condition as the other knee was when I last had them. I did discuss with her about the hip and she said that although the cartilage is half gone, it could be gone in the area which gets affected by doing things, and she thought it was a good idea to be seeing someone about it. And she said that the ortho I'm seeing (my knee replacement one) tomorrow morning is the hip guy (although she said the other doctor is good too, lol, covering herself) and this would be for hip resurfacing. I told her I'd tell her next week what was discussed. So now I'm on my bed with a bag of peas on my knee, but it really doesn't feel too bad. But I am supposed to take it easy so I will.

Monday Oct. 26, 2009: Made the appointment

Hmm, the font seems to have changed! Oh well. Anyway, early this afternoon, I called the ortho office and made an appointment to see Dr. S, my knee replacement ortho., for what is being called a "surgical consultation" for my left hip. I'm hoping he will agree that I am a candidate for hip resurfacing as the ortho I saw in the summer thought I was. I am supposed to bring the disk with my MRI scan pictures as apparently those don't get kept in my record, only the report does. So that does it!

Sunday, Oct. 25, 2009: Supartz

Three more days until my Supartz shots. I've been having more thoughts that they probably won't help but I might as well as try. With a bad rain storm yesterday (and working all day, 4 hours the day before, and 4 hours the day before that), my joints weren't happy, especially my hips. Not sleeping particulatly well.
In the meantime, I am planning a Pampered Chef party at my house (and online). Hoping to get some orders!
And I worked all day yesterday and wasn't scheduled to work again until Thursday (after reminding HR I wasn't available Wednesday). However, yesterday, while I was working, the manager of a department called to asked if I could work on Monday or Tuesday after I said I couldn't come in on Wednesday. So I agreed to 5 hours Tuesday.
Jack the cat is still surviving. The prednisone ordered by the vet almost 2 weeks ago after he wasn't eating and seemed lethargic has seemed to up his appetite. But he is still obviously not well and we're really not sure how long he will last. We're keeping up his quality of life and if that goes south, we'll take him to the vet:(