Not happy today

Friday's visit to the surgeon went well although a small question mark regarding the color of the skin around the scar. If it had become redder he was to call the nurse on her cell phone number. It hasn't so far...in fact all the swelling has gone down and the scar is healing beautifully. HOWEVER....(there is always a however)....there is quite a lot of pain behind the thigh which the doctor was unable to explain...other than to manipulate both legs to rule out sciatic nerve involvement. The visit to the physiotherapist on Tuesday will hopefully be fruitful and not too painful. Tomorrow is his usual scheduled appointment with a kidney specialist. Last visit showed his red cell blood count to be down again....I feel it is still down, perhaps even lower as he really is more sleepy than usual, taking into account his recovery from such invasive surgery......Enough !

Pam has been in close contact...and day before yesterday she said she had checked out the Classmates site and found one of her best friends listed. She paid the membership fee and hooked up with Jo Medina ...a girl she used to have loads of fun with especially in her senior year at high school. Jo has been married 20 years, has four children and is also a grandmother! She is going to call Pam sometime this week, so they should have a great time...probably on line also. Perry found a lot of his classmates from way back when he went to Temple City High School. I found several of my old (OLD OLD...ha ah) classmates from grade school and also from a place I worked at in 1957. That site is called Friends Reunited. Love our computer.

Oooppps !

This is definitely an example of when it is O.K. to say .....OH SHIT !!!

What a difference a few days make

The new knee is coming along very nicely....just take a look at the difference! The staples are to be removed tomorrow when he sees the orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow....16 days post op. I have taken quite a few pictures that we want to show to the doctor as we feel the degree of swelling and bruising were not explained, causing both of us a LOT of concern. The amount of pain control is quite minimal now...however he has what he feels is some sciatic nerve involvement that is possibly due to the unnatural gait. Hopefully tomorrow's questions will be answered satisfactorily. The chair in the picture above is rented for a month and probably won't be needed that long and the crutches were handed to him on the day he was discharged...free! I think he will be using a single walking stick very soon as he has been venturing short distances around the house without the crutches. The whole ordeal has left him without as much energy as he thinks he should have....forgets he is 73 years old and recovery will take awhile. The extra sleep he is getting is really long overdue, and I have to keep saying....the more the better !

The impatient patient

is doing well despite being radically curtailed so far as mobility goes. He has had a couple of rough days where he hasn't known quite what to do next to keep on top of the discomfort....(pain) and awkward mobility.

Friday we went grocery shopping. I left Perry sitting on a bench seat in the small mall on the island. ( He was wearing shorts and his dressed wound was visible and unmistakeably due to a knee replacement operation.) I bought groceries and picked up meds etc....got back and he had had one visitor and another was sitting there with him showing off his 2 scars. This guy had both knees done on the same day! While they talked I darted into Target and bought out a pair of el cheapo velcro fastening sandals to try on...tried them on...they worked for the swollen foot....went back in and paid for them...back out and they were still chatting. Who says women are the ones to gab to strangers??? Anyway...'Bill' introduced himself to me and told me that what he was looking at .....huge bruises up the back of the leg....were all looking pretty normal. Perry has been pretty concerned about this aspect of the whole procedure as he wasn't warned about this....also the amount of swelling from the ankle to thigh. He is still a little worried about this and has to wait till Friday to see the doctor for the first time since the op. Staples to come out and hopefully a repeat of a pretty potent drug. Endone gives quick relief and is very good taken at bed time, as it also makes you pretty drowsy. One of my neighbours said she took one once and NEVER AGAIN....she felt as tho she was walking two feet off the ground. Whoa !!!!

This is only day eleven post op and each day is a little better than the day before.

We have had some amazing weather here lately. Three huge storms...one of which was likened to a category 2 hurricane which caused a huge amount of havoc to a beautiful area know as The Gap. Roofs blown off, massive trees torn out as tho they were little twigs, flood damage to hundreds of homes and businesses. The damage bill hasn't been estimated yet, but it will be huge.

If you could read my thoughts....

Not feeling wonderful today. Perry that is.... If I think his leg looks worse...(more redness) during today and early tomorrow I must take him back to Redcliffe Hospital in order for them to do tests and treat any infection. A nurse at our local doctors office changed the dressing early today and called our doctor in to have a look as it does look a little redder than is desirable. Even so....both nurse and doctor said his overall condition at this stage looks very good. Years ago...knee replacement surgery required 3 weeks in hospital....so it is very early days yet. He is getting more used to using the crutches and is not as hesitant when moving the leg...all positive.

I don't think nursing is a really great job for a 69 year old woman. When my mother was nursing my father after a stroke...the doctor told her to take it slowly....as there are not many nurses out there aged over 65!

I really....reeaallllly hope it improves, as the storm season is well and truly here. We have had over 7 inches of rain in one week. Mostly at night....flooded roads and wild wind storms that are more like mini cyclones. I'm not a happy camper driving in the heavy rain. Up till now, today is rather humid and sunny....very little breeze....more rain forecast for tomorrow.

Glen and Catherine

This was taken a couple of months ago...a weekend in Santa Barbara.
Does this chopper look bad or what!

The patient is doing well.

and has no complaints. I drove the freeway that is a mess with construction for about 5 miles and am glad it is Saturday. The traffic was quite light, but a lot of Queensland drivers need to get a lesson in good manners. 80klms per hour means 100 to a lot of them....fines are very steep, but the usual....not enough traffic police. Victoria has speed cameras all over the place....Brisbane has 3. Yes....that is 3. However they are coming BIG TIME...can't wait.

Took me 45 mins to get there so I had to wait awhile before visiting time. When I got to his ward he was having the drip replaced...when he looked up he was surprised to see me as I just went on up about 20 mins early. He looks terrific....pain is well managed so he has been able to get to the shower twice and has commenced physio. He was out of bed the whole time I was there. Ate everything at lunch.... I went downstairs and bought him a cappuccino which he enjoyed very much. We are expecting a storm tomorrow (storm season here) and if it arrives I wont drive in it. If heavy hail comes with it your car can get very damaged....as it is the AC has almost gone out. Only 2 years since it was replaced. At the time we felt it wasn't as cold as it should have been. I want icy cold !!!

Two friends from bowling have emailed and one of them is going to go visit next week. Don't know when he will be coming home, but more than likely Thursday. I will have to rearrange the furniture to allow him lots of room (we don't have much!!) to maneuver.
I'm off to make a cup of coffee.

He looks O.K.

What a nice lot of people I met today. First the mini van arrived at my door around 9.15...driven by a very bright and cheerful Scottish woman named Evelyn. The passengers were very diverse...a slight Indian lady dressed in a sari...a lady named Jill who told me a large part of her life story...(women can do this while waiting for a bus !) Another lady with a pronounced English accent and one man....don't know where he was from....he only said hello and then I'm sure felt overwhelmed by so many women, uttered not one more word! Arrived at the hospital early so Jill and I had a diet coke in the outdoor cafe. She showed me where Perry will have to go for physio and the entrance to use. This hospital is being rebuilt with business as usual! It's a bit like a rabbit warren. Sixth floor where Perry is...very nice and as usual a very busy place. Perry looked reasonably O.K.....on oxygen as he has a pain relief drip that he can control. I looked at his chart and could see his BP is high and his sugar levels not that good either. I'm pretty sure things will settle down tho as others have described similar reactions. He will be on his feet for a short while tomorrow....Ouch. I wont be visiting him tomorrow as I have to go to an AGM meeting at the club, then have an appointment at a hearing aid place that will check my hearing and make a mold of my ears in order to make me ear plugs the same as musicians and swimmers use. My hearing is still normal....which for me means I can hear a sparrow fart! When we go on the cruise I want as much quiet in our cabin as possible...some friends have told us we could have noisy neighbors and that ear plugs takes care of it. Ordinary ear plugs don't do much good for me, so $120 for custom made. Oh well...with care they should last me for a very long time. Anyway...getting back to the patient....he is plumped up with lots of pillows...has rented a TV for 5 days....tells me the food he has eaten is delicious...now it's just....get better!

A little light humor

Bribie Island Voluntary Community Help Association picked the patient up from the front door at 9.00am in a 7 seat van to take him to Redcliffe Hospital for check in at 11am and surgery this afternoon. This service which delivers and picks up patients and one person to accompany him or her, to all the hospitals between Brisbane and Bribie Island, has been operating for the past sixty years and most drivers are retired people who have the time and energy to give back to the community. They are graciously picking me up tomorrow morning at 9 so I can visit Perry between 11 and 12.30. Then I will be picked up outside the hospital and driven home for the grand sum of $10. What a service! We did have to qualify....must be over sixty years old and in receipt of some sort of government pension. We are what is known as 'part pension recipients' . The entitlements that we have are nothing short of sensational.
I will post to my blog later today to let you know how things have gone.

Today, time is dragging, and I am stressing.

Blustery day today...little bit of rain, nothing much tho. Keep taking the cushions off the chairs on the deck and bringing them in, the back out. It isn't in the least bit cold ....just a bit too windy to want to sit outside. I have thought about going to the movies to see 'The Duchess', it is showing at 3.45 possibly for the last time. The theatre will be closed from tonight for a week.....owners mini vacation. Perry has just popped over to the bank to change a $100 into $5 bills. Not sure what he will be able to buy while he is in hospital....magazines and the daily papers. His food will be 'diabetic food only'....not sure what that is even. Last checkup showed no sign of it. He does take a drug for it tho. Tonight and again tomorrow morning he has to wash with special soap....nothing to eat or drink after 7am. The local volunteers called awhile ago to say he will be picked up at 9am......so by this time tomorrow his surgery will be under way. Looked at a couple of online videos last night, even tho I have seen the operation performed on a medical TV show before it was interesting to have another look and listen to some positive feedback from former patients. This time next week can't come soon enough! I am more antsy than the patient. ARGHHHH !!!!!

Exterior view of Bribie Island Movie Theatre and a picture of a fun 'Girls Night Out'

Here are the other pictures I was looking for !!!! Isn't it fantastic ? Obviously the building used to be a workshop/warehouse and now the inside is just the latest in movie viewing comfort. Two small theatres which show all the latest releases and host special nights like the 'girls night out' above. When I first found it....from the outside I thought...oh no....no air...uncomfortable seating, and only one theatre. Was I ever put back in my little box. I have never enjoyed the new multiplexes. The theatre at our local mall has a video arcade and about ten theatres. No atmosphere at all. I only hope the population here supports this little gem and it has many many years of enjoyable showings. It is owned and run by a lovely couple who close the building every Wednesday to give both theatres a thorough cleaning. They are also closed twice during the year for two weeks at a time while they go on a well deserved vacation.

.

Countdown number two

Here it is Sunday afternoon and Perry just said ....three more sleeps till surgery. To keep himself occupied he is out on the deck putting up loads of both coloured and white bud lights that are both for Christmas and now. He will set it up so they are separated....I like white ones all over the inside roof for mood lighting all year...then add the coloured for a more festive look at Christmas time, which is coming in at laser speed. The shopping centers have been decorated for over a week now and I feel pretty soon it will get to the stage where they will leave them up all year ! I love how everything looks tho. (Perry just said...'this is going to look like hell during the day!')

Played bowls yesterday. Both of our teams won, but it was a tough day at the office....very very windy and storm threatening weather. We got about an inch of rain during the night which was great....the local dams are all less than half full and we are on very severe water restrictions. Level 6 which means only 170 litres of water per person per day. Can only use a hand held hose for watering the garden (not the lawn) or washing cars. We have a 350 litre rain water tank that we use for the little area of garden we have and also to water our two potted tomato plants which are looking as tho they are going to be very productive. Perry picked the first one this morning....yum...tomato and mayo sandwich for my lunch. Light mayo....I have stacked on a few kilos which will have to come off if I want to fully enjoy the two week cruise. Checked out several sites regarding shipboard activities. Eating and drinking is usually a BIG part of cruising and we intend to do all we can to keep up that image. One blog I found consisted of photo after photo of ALL the food that is on offer.

I made Slow Cooker Beef yesterday...put it on, then off to play for the afternoon....did mashed potatoes and a pile of string beans (from our garden) and carrots.....lots of yummy gravy to go with it. No wonder I am putting on weight. For someone who never had to count calories, its a bugger!!!!!!

Very slack blogger from down unda

Things have been pretty hectic around here for the past couple of weeks.

Perry's November 5 date with the knee doctor has been postponed for a week and we hope that November 12 will hold. His surgery is considered 'elective' and naturally takes a back seat over any urgent case. You have to take it as it comes, but it feels a bit stressful around here at present. We have had a carpenter in twice to do a couple of little jobs that needed doing, also an electrician and also had our front screen door remade so it opens the way it is supposed to.

We have been bowling at every opportunity and altho Perry suffers for it after the game....he just can't sit around....neither can I. Hopefully his recovery will be quick....I know he will obey his physiotherapist to the letter which could mean he will be able to resume normal activities about six weeks post op. The success rate for knee replacement is very high .... his brother Jack didn't look back after his surgery much earlier this year....even after falling over the day he got home from rehabilitation !

We have a fun time to look forward to, booked on a cruise ship to New Zealand, January 31. It is a 14 day trip which spends 7 days at sea and 7 days visiting 6 ports. I have wanted to visit NZ and Tasmania for many years so hopefully this trip will be fantastic! Maybe Tassie the following summer. I have picked out some shore trips that I am really thrilled about. A train journey that is rated in the top 10 top train trips in the world among them. We watch a show called 'Getaway' on TV....so have had previewed most of the places we will visit. My mother's mother was born in New Zealand and my mother spent some of her teenage years living there, so I have heard a lot of NZ stories over the years.