Dec 27-30

Dec 26-30

For some reason I spent several days really dragging.  Did my exercises and walk my mile twice a day and by evening there was nothing left.  As a result, no logs for the blogs.  As quick as this total exhaustion came it has seemed to left.   I don''t understand how it works but Occidental Insurance pays my part of Med a Care.  I also get $15 worth of over the counter goods a month.  Being in the VA I don't use any of their medical help.  I got a letter saying that they would pay and at no cost to me I could join Silver Slippers at one of several gyms.  I have visited a couple of these gyms and on wet or cold days I will have a place to do my exercising.  ---  The next thing, letter from social security, I have my cost in living raise, of course the cost of Med a what ever it is went up and Occidental didn't pick up the additional, so, my cost in living raise gave me three less dollars than last year.  Oh Will.  -- Saturday I went to a cancer fund raiser at the showmen's club, which was fun, but way to long for me to of had my leg under a table without moving.  Although I was sure glad when it was over, it was very successful raising over $5,000 for cancer research.  By the way, there are pictures on my web site.  "chuckmayo.info" .  Also there is a link page which has a link to the blog if that would be easier for any of you.  --  My days all seem to be duplicates, so let it suffice that my exercises are continuing and it still has every mussel on the left side from my waist to my foot sore.  Feel like I have done a million sit ups,  however that has let up and for the first time in several years I seem to have a leg calf starting to appear on my legs.  Enough for tonight, tomorrow I am hoping to find a fireworks display with camera on tripod.   If it works out I will post them on the web site, not the post.  Till another tomorrow.  

Dec 26, 2013

Dec 26, 2013

I woke up sore, real sore.  I feel like I did 500 sit ups.  Every mussel on the left side of my body is telling me I over did it.  Will showed those mussels, I have 41 86 steps today which is just 5 tenths short of being 2 miles.  And I also did my exercises.  This knee is not going to beat me, even if it is raring its head saying "take this sucker".   --  My first walk was around the park and then off to Walmart and I walked every aisle on the right 1/2 of the store.  Close to 3/4 of a mile.  From the, I had my computer with and I went to the clock and sat working on pictures and uploading to the web site.  I did eat, but I am not sure I would have covered the expense of the table for as long as I sat.   Drank plenty of Ice Tea and by the time I ate it will be my only meal today,  Still need to loose more than 10 more pounds.  --  Back to the house and it was time for the mail walk, a little more than another 1/2 mile, but I was done at that point.  It was a good day and I am sure that I will be ready for the walk in the morning.  I did load  both the family Christmas party photos and the Christmas day photo trip to the web site.  "chuckmayo.info"  For now, I am done, A good day, Till Tomorrow.

Christmas 2013

Dec 25, 2013

I believe you find my day a little different for a Christmas.  I was awake by 4 am and could not go back to sleep, I tried for an hour.  Finally up and put the little crock pot in the frig back into the warmer.  I plan on giving them to Red and Becky.  After breakfast I decided to take that photo trip for the day.  So once I had spent a while conversing with friends on Face book, I got my camera to the truck.  Also the crock pot of Ham and Beans.  Once past Red's and dropping off the beans, up the road I went.  Not knowing where I was going for sure, drove North on 301 through Dade City.  Once on the north side I spotted a sign pointing to a County Park, and that is where I went.  Once I paid my $2.00 I parked my truck and proceeded to take a hiking trail that turned out to be a lot farther than I planned.  Ended up walking for over 2 miles, almost 3.  I took a little longer than it would of about 15 years ago and I was totally done by the time I got back to the truck.  I did take a few photos along the way.  Concentrated more on the walking upright and straight than the camera.  I will get a few photos on the chuckmayo.info with in the next couple of days.  I got back to the house in the middle of the afternoon and that is where I have stayed.  Watching Christmas shows on ION TV.  Now going on 9 and my day is about done.  A good Christmas it is.  And I hope all of you have had a good day. Till later.   

Dec 24, 2013

Dec 24, 2013

Up earlier than I intended.  Started the day by doing exercises, then a shower and breakfast.  Started a load of laundry and then off on a walk.  Did the stretches on the deck stairs once back from the walk and then a twenty minute stint with the ice on my knee.  --  Then off to the AmVets with my computer, which was disappointing because I just did not feel like I accomplished what I wanted.  --  Quick lunch, short nap, and back to some exercises.  Long afternoon, just not up to going anywhere, watched more tv than I care to, actually I about wore the changer out not watching anything.  Did dry my load of laundry and put it away.  Now it is about 7 and I actually am looking forward to bed time, not for Santa, but because I am tired.  Supposed to be in the forties in the morning and not warm up to Florida standards, with stores closed I will have to bundle up to do my walking.  Thinking about taking a ride with the camera, Christmas day photo trip.  I will let you all know tomorrow.  For all of you who are reading this, I do wish you a Very Merry Christmas, and that is Christmas with Christ in the word.  You'all have a great day.  

Dec 23, 2013

Dec 23, 2013

Up at 5, could not go back to sleep.  Oh will, had wash off the beans, been soaking all night.  Got the ham bone out of the frig, lined the slow cooker with cooking bag and set the ham bone down the middle, quite a bit of meat left on the bone so it really ought to be good in with the beans.  Rinsed them off and put in the cooker and then added 6 cups of water and set on high for an hour.  I turned it back down to low for 10 hrs before leaving for pt.  Ate breakfast and by the time I loaded my computer having it ready to go it was time to leave for pt.  Got to Tampa early and went by Staples to get another styles for my I-pad.  --  Pt was rough, quite a work out, several new moves and the Doc told me I would be sore tomorrow, didn't wait till tomorrow as I am sore now.  It was a good session and very informative.  He did look at the x-rays as they are in the computer system, he said that the knee looked bad enough that he figured it would take a couple three months for the mussel pain to actually go away.  Once out of pt I headed for Gibsonton to the Showmen's club to work on my computer.  Ate a Cuban on the way down, interesting happening with the sandwich, I broke a tooth, just what I needed.  --  Andy called and he was heading to his Mom's from the job interview he had and then was going to come back by the club on his way home, I needed help with my web site.  We put a link, under the link tab, to the knee blog.  Spent a while sorting the photos from the party at Bettina's and then burned 3 cds.  It was good seeing several people that I had not seen since last year.  When  Andy arrived we worked on the computer for a little while and I gave him one of the picture discs.   Then played a couple games of pool which I really enjoyed.  Once Andy was on his way home I headed back down to Bettina's as I had left my battery charger for the camera batteries there and really can not do without.  While there we looked at the photos I had put on the discs.  Before leaving I was given a couple of pieces of Pecan pie which I really did not need, But I will eat it, little bites at a time.  --  It was after 7:30 by the time I got home and the house smelled great with the ham and beans having cooked all day.   Needless to say that is what I had for supper and then put the rest in 5 different containers, 2 in the freezer and the rest in the frig.  Now it is almost 10, I am tired, knee is sore but that is not as bad as the tooth, the back is broken off and held on by where it is connected to the gum, driving me nuts.  Oh will, another good day, Till Tomorrow.

Dec 22, 2013

Dec 22, 2013

I started the day early, but slow, in fact the whole day has turned out a little slow.  Once up and about I did my first set of exercises laying on the bed.  The pulling my leg as far as I could bend it, counting to ten and doing this 10 times.  That is the only really hard one on me of the 6 exercises in this set.  Then a shower.  Breakfast follows, English Muffin, my pills, and out for the first walk of the day.   Once back I did the bend the knee on the deck steps, 10 repetitions.--  Set up my lap top on the dinning table and uploaded my pictures from the camera from yesterday.  once they were loaded I decided to head for the grocery store and pick up some bread and a few other things.  By the time I accomplished what I wanted from the store I barley made it back to the house in time to see the start of the Bucs football game.  Worked on editing the photos for a while as I watched the football game.  Lunch time, a turkey sandwich from yesterdays turkey I brought home from Bettina's.  Ate while watching the football game.  When the game was over I took another long walk and another set of stretches on the steps.  --  Spent a few minutes cleaning the living room, and quite a bit of time working on the photos.  By 6 pm I was hungry again so another turkey sandwich, by the way turkey is my favorite meat.  It now is after 7 pm and I am still watching football, although not happy with the results.  --  Yes, this qualifies as a very lazy day, tomorrow I have a PT session at 10 am so will get up with a little more energy than I have shown today.  Till Tomorrow.    

Dec 21, 2013

Dec 21, 2013

Up at 5:30 and getting the Beans on, fried the bacon, added it to the crock pot and turned on high.  Fried an egg, toasted an English muffin and put a couple of strips of the bacon with the fried egg.  Got dressed, figured out what pills to take. ---  Moved all of the wrapped gifts out onto the porch, and Red showed up within just a few minutes.  Pulled my truck around to the front and Red helped me load all of the stuff to take to the party.  He left to go to breakfast and I went back into the house to finish getting ready to leave.  --  On the road by 7:30.  and stopped by Alieta's pink house's yard sale to visit a few with both Little Alieta and Alieta with the new knees.  We spent about a 1/2 hour talking about the PT and how we were coming along.  I enjoyed seeing both Grandmother and Granddaughter.  --  On to Bettina's.  She was working in the kitchen and I got to pitch in and help.  I did take time to walk out onto the golf course and talk with both foursomes as they played the hole behind Bettina's house.  Back to the house and became dishwasher first class.  As the guests started coming I saw people that I had not seen in more than 25 years. Must have been 30 people at least.  Dinner was good and a good time had by all.  I took a lot of pictures and will get them up on my web site with in a couple of days.  Once the guests had left it was time for gift opening by the family and that to was a good time.  I stood on my legs long enough that I had really had it by the time all the gifts were opened.  By 7:30 I headed home with several gifts of my own, a ham bone which I shall make a pot of beans with and a zip lock of turkey.  Home, I only unloaded food, camera, computer and my hand gun, everything else can wait till tomorrow.  Fixed a turkey sandwich with an English Muffin and then to typing the log.  It is 10 pm and my day is coming to a close.  Really a good day.  Till Tomorrow. 

Dec 20, 2013

Dec 20, 2013

I thought yesterday was busy, today has been just as bad.  (or good, however you look at it. )  Up early, breakfast, shower and ready to go to PT.  I have so many pill bottles that it took a 1/2 hour just to figure out which I am now supposed to take and which are left overs from before the surgery.  Finally got it sorted out and had to rush out the door.  Left at 8:30 and got there early enough to relax for a few minutes.  Pt went good and I do feel like the knee is coming along.  By the time I was iced down it was almost 11:30 by the time I left.  Back to Zephyrhills, stopped at Hardies for a quick bite of lunch and then on to the gas station, stopped at Hess both for gas and to pick up a surprise truck for my grandson.  Stopped at the grocery to get some Karo syrup for one of the recipes I am fixing for tomorrow.  --  Home and sat in the chair for a minute, mistake, woke an hour later.  Time for the afternoon walk, The fitbit finally came and once back to the house I decided to load the soft wear in my I Pad.  wrong, my I pad although has the most current version available is outdated for the software.  I think they are telling me that my original I Pad is close to outliving its usefulness.    Oh will, I have got the little counter on my leg and it is now counting my steps.  Of course the next thing I have to get done is wrapping the gifts for tomorrow.  ---  Just finished and it is already 6 am and I have not started tomorrows fixings.  And, I am exhausted.  My living room is only 10 by 14 and I have taken 218 steps and burned 178 calories.  Called Red and ask him if he would help me load my truck in the morning.  He said he would be here at 7 am.  I sure appreciate all he has done for me since moving to Zephyrhills.   Got to get back at it or I will never get done.  -- Tomorrows fixings, I worked until 9, everything done except the green beans and I will put them on at 5 or shortly after tomorrow morning.  --  Ive had it.  I am hitting the sack and watching a little tv while I drift off to never never land.  It has been another good day.  Till Tomorrow.  

Dec 19, 2013

Dec 19, 2013

Actually a pretty good night, slept good enough that I ended up waking for the day at 5 am.  Watched a little of the news and then rolled into a slow action mode.  Fixed coffee and breakfast, my English muffin this morning had peanut butter and Palmetto Honey, ever heard of it?  Actually it is only sold, or should I say harvested here in central Florida and it is different but very good.  I got it from the Bee Keep at Webster Flea Market a couple of months ago.  --  The man who rents the lot next to mine came in during the night and ended up putting his trailer way over on my lot, lots are small to begin with and I knocked on his door to show him the problem.  Actually he was nice about it and said that he would get it moved over.  He was working on hooking up as I left for my first trip to Walmart.  Walked the whole store again, picking up things for Christmas.  Only have a couple of days to get ready, our celebration with the family is going to be this Saturday, the 21st.  That way the kids can have their own traditions for Christmas mornings at their respective homes.  By the time I got home and unloaded the truck it was time for me to head to Tampa VA for my Primary Dr appointment.  Drove through Micky D's on the way.  The main purpose in this appointment was to get the prescriptions sorted out.  After loosing the weight I do not need to take the water pill.  Also can substitute the ibuprofen for the pain pills at night.  Once leaving the Hospital it is a few blocks to Fowler which takes me back to 301.  However, those few blocks took 30 minutes, never did see why???  Once back in Zephyrhills It was time for my walk, to the mail boxes and long way around the park.  Home, rested a few and then headed back to Walmart to pick up my shopping list for the goodies I am going to fix tomorrow afternoon for the Saturday get together.  7 pm by the time I got back to the truck and my leg is starting to say ENOUGH.  Drove through Taco Bell and got some kind of a new Burrito, like the rest of their food, filled with rice.  Once home I put the groceries that need to be in the frig away, fixed a bowl of my jello and sat down with my "rice Burrito" Diet coke and Jello.  Now I still have wrapping to do so I am going to draw this to a close.  Was a good day!! Till Tomorrow. 

Dec 18, 2013

Dec 18, 2013

Much better night, I actually got a little sleep and It did not hurt near as bad.  After shower, breakfast and morning pills I got ready to head down to PT.  Once there I talked to Dr Debby about the rough night and let her know that I really cut back on the exercises yesterday.  She inspected the leg, feeling the muscles and what ever is under the skin around the knee.  We also talked about the work that we had done here at PT on Monday.  She was concerned that the pain had kept me awake and we decided to back off a little.  --  We did still work for an hour, just cut back to ten reps instead of fifteen.  She told me when I felt like going back to the fifteen, do it.  I did get my knee to the 95 degrees bend today, (that is good).  --  After PT I stopped at Boston Market for a turkey dinner.  It was good.  Back home I took a break, actually about a twenty minute nap in the chair.  At 2pm I took my afternoon walk to the post office boxes and back down around the park.  After, I did a new exercise on the steps to my deck.  It works on bending the knee.  Then I tied a band on to the deck post and with my foot in the loop worked at pulling my leg back straightening the knee.  First exercise was to bend the knee and second to make it straight.  Still have 5 degrees to go to get it where it belongs on the straight side.  --  Have not done much since the exercises, don't really plan on doing much else.  Did fix a delicious Banquet Pot Pie for supper, little tongue in cheek there.  ---  All the interesting points of today have already occurred, so, Till Tomorrow.

Dec 17, 2013

Dec 17, 2013

Up and moving after the worst night that I have had.  Wish I knew why.  I layed down early with the intentions of enjoying the Monday night football game.  I watched it, but I didn't enjoy the game.  A solid ache in the knee and then every few minutes a shooting pain up the side, if I moved at all the shooting pains where really bad.   Took two pain pills but it didn't seem to make any difference.  Midnight came and I hadn't slept hardly any, got up and took another dose of the pain pills.  Repeated again at 4 am.  At 4 I raised the head of my bed up so that I could not roll over and that was the best I slept all night.  Woke up at 8 am exactly where I dosed off, not moving the leg caused the shooting pains to back off.  --  Now that I am up, do I give the leg a day off, or do I push it a little farther, I really do not know which to do??.   --- After breakfast I decided to head to Walmart.  I lucked out with a handicap parking spot up front.  Then I walked all through the store.  And up and down most of the rows.  I bought a couple more pair of shorts and a package of pocket t shirts.  Then over to the pharmacy area and bought two ice packs, the re-freezable kind.   Now clear back across the store to get some coke zero and a quart of chocolate milk.  By the time I got checked out it was lunch time, loot into the truck and through the drive through at Arby's.  Two of the $1.00 baby sandwiches and a small chocolate shake.  I headed home and unloaded the truck, putting the groceries away and the cold packs in the freezer before eating.    Fell asleep in my chair for a short nap after eating lunch.  Up again and out for the afternoon walk.  Up past the post office and a trip through the rec hall to shoot one rack of pool balls off of the table.  Then on to the house and by this time my ice pack was frozen so, back to the chair and a full twenty minutes with the ice pack.  --  Red came over for a while and helped me get a gift out of the shed, now to figure out how I am going to wrap the big box.  I did pick up gift wrapping while at Walmart.  Shortly after Red left it was supper time and I fixed a bowl of chicken noodle home style, had some crackers and a little bowl of jello, (which I fixed last evening).  -- Once again I am going to retire early, watch a basketball game and when I get ready to go to sleep I am going to take to pain pills and set my bek in the "close to sitting position".  So, I shall end this day by saying, although a horrible start, it has turned out to be a pretty good day.  Till Tomorrow.

Dec 16, 2013

Dec 16, 2013

Woke about 5 am, fairly rested.  laid in bed watching the news till about 6 and then up and at um.  Dressed and finished breakfast by a little after 8 and out the door by 8:30 headed to PT.  In the parking lot by 9:30 and took my pain pills at that time.  PT was a little rough, I know that this is really the old rule, "No Pain, No Gain".  I really felt like there should of been some gain today.  Not unbearable, but really uncomfortable.  I am a little surprised at just how tired I can be after only a little over an hour of workout.  ---  Once done I drove up to my audio appointment, of course I went to the wrong building so it was a good thing I was an hour early.  By the time I got to the right building it was down to sign in time.  This was an appointment about the noises in my ears, fantom noises that I have lived with for years.  The Dr who performed the test agreed that there was a problem and that it had caused me to loose the ability to hear high pitched sounds.  I did not know that I had any hearing loss until today.  As far as the phantom sounds, nothing will stop them and all I can do is live with the sounds.  No big deal, I have been living with them for years.  Once back in Zephyrhills I drove through the drive through of KFC and brought home a bit of lunch.  --  I did take a walk this afternoon and picked up my mail, disappointment, my little walking meter did not show.  Oh will, maybe tomorrow.  

Not much planned for tonight, I did fix some jello and have it in the frig chilling.  -- It is just after 7 and I feel like it should be midnight.  This is going to be an early turn in tonight.  --  I know that all of the Northern folks are gong to laugh at the the fact we think this is a cold night, going to be in the forties, cold for here.  And with that I am going to send this up on line and get out an extra blanket.  Till tomorrow. 

Dec 15, 2013

Dec 15, 2013

My first wife has passed away several years ago, but, I must wish her Happy Birthday.  The 15th, it was a fun day for the 8 birthdays we were together.  --- Last night I took the pain pills before laying down and it worked.  Shortly after "Sound of Music" was over I fell asleep and it was one of the bet nights sleep I've had since coming home.  --  Up at 6am and decided to do a set of exercises before showering.  Did the once with the mat laid out on the bed.  This includes pulling the knee as far back as I can stand and holding it for ten seconds, doing this ten times, resting and starting over.  It is a killer.  There are 6 different exercises and I felt like I had had a work out by the time I was done.  --  Took my pills, all but the pain.  Showered, and then fixed breakfast.  Cereal and an English Muffin.  Load of clothes to the the Glass Studio.  Trying to figure out how to do the walk, looks like it will rain some more and I really do not want to be out walking and it start pouring.  If it wasn't so hard to get in and out of the truck I would head to Walmart.  Maybe later.  --  Sun broke through the clouds so off on my walk I went.  Managed the perimeter of the upper park where my lots are.  Farthest in one hitch so far, it does hurt a little, however, I have not taken a pain pill this morning.  Now back in my chair wondering what this afternoon will bring.  --- Temperature is dropping and I wonder if the front coming through has to do with my knees hurting worse than they have been.  Still not taking a pain pill.  Heated up the last of the Friday pizza for lunch and watched the first half of the Bucs football game sitting in my lift chair.  By half time I was going stir crazy, went out to get my laundry load and discovered that it was considerable cooler.  Back inside I decided to bake some cookies.  I had received a cookie gun with different designs for Christmas last year and thought that it was time to give it a try.  I should of used the recipe that came with the gun, but I didn't, I used my regular sugar cookie recipe.  It gummed up the end, however, I got them made.  I think that it should count as exercises as I was on my knee for most of 2 hours.  Sent most of them home with Red, I know Becky likes cookies.  --  When 5 o'clock rolled around I ate the other $2.00 Subway for supper.  I am planning on taking the pain pills to assure that I can get a good nights sleep.  So for another day, Till Tomorrow. 

Dec 14, 2013

Dec 14, 2013

2:30 am and here I am taking a pain pill.  There is no where that I can put this leg that it doesn't hurt to the point that I can not fall back asleep.  Right now I am setting in my lift chair waiting for the pain pills to kick in so I can go back to sleep.  Enough whining.  I am actually looking forward to taking my walk again in the morning.  Going to do morning exercises.  My son, Eiel, is down at his Mothers this week-end because of his work and I am planning on driving down and meeting him for lunch.  Lunch or Supper or somewhere in between.     Pills are kicking in so, back to bed for a while. ---    Ended up sleeping till about 6:30 and the leg started hurting again, so I got up.  By the time I messed around brushing teeth and getting dressed it no longer hurt enough to take a pain pill.  Fixed my self a bowl of cereal and an English Muffin with peanut butter and apple-butter which I ate along with a cup of coffee.  Upon completion I took my morning pills and then gathered a load of laundry and headed out to the glass studio where my stack washer and dryer are.  As soon as I had that project in the works I came back in and did my exercises holding on to the sink.  Rested a few minutes and then headed out for my walk.  Once back, I iced my leg for about 20 minutes.  --  Decided to get out for a few, climbed into the truck and drove down to Marline's garage sale.  Chatted a while.  Once back in the truck I decied to pick up 2 of the $2.00-6 inch subs from Subway.  One loaded for my lunch and the other almost bare, in the frig for tomorrow or when ever.   Back home I actually was exhausted, I ate my sandwich and then fell asleep in the chair for better than an hour.  Watched a basketball game and then headed out for my afternoon walk, to the mail boxes.  Walking does not seem to hurt, however the right leg decided that it was being ignored for to long and it rared its painful head as I walked.  Yes right leg, I have not forgotten you, but I am not going to let you make me limp, so just stand up and walk straight!  --- Spent the rest of the afternoon finishing a load of laundry, dryer and folding.  Then to the chair and watching basketball games.  About 5:30 I heated up 1 large and 1 small piece of yesterdays pizza, it was good.  Desert, a little can of mixed fruit.  Spent the next couple hours flipping channels and here comes "The Sound Of Music"  This was the first musical I ever watched and it was a result of someone from long ago who was very special to me, more than she knew, it was her favorite.  I saw some of this a few weeks ago, but now I am going to watch the whole thing, Carry Underwood, could not of been a better choice for the lead.  I am going to take my pills during the next commercial and lay down to watch the rest of this so very special show.  So --- Till Tomorrow.

Dec 13, 2013

Dec 13, 2013

I am a little at a loss right now.  I did not take any pain pills yesterday once up and moving and I really had no trouble with the afternoon exercises.  Yet once I laid down for the night my leg tour me up.  I finally gave up and took a pain pill about midnight and again at 5 o'clock it woke me and I took another.  Why is the pain at night.  Once up at 6 I took the shower that I had been putting off for fear of getting in and out of the tub.  Really wasn't bad, so I don't need to stink anymore.  After breakfast I decided to go for a walk.  Took a while to get the trash gathered and out.  Several boxes of Santa Clause type stuff and the trash bags all had to go out front for the trash truck, which met, up and down the stairs.  It went all right.  Now for the walk, I went up the street and down the back side of the post office, hum, there was the rec room with the pool table.  I went in, put all the balls on the table in no particular order, picked out a pool stick and started taking my time shooting the balls into the little holes along the edge of the table.  Been a long time but I enjoyed every shot.  I know that some one was moving the holes after I shot, I could not of missed that many shots on my own.  While shooting I did attempt to stretch the leg straight and bend the knee its max as the shots needed.  After I walked on down around the end of the street and back to my place.  I was on the leg for over an hour, and yes it is not real happy about that, it will just have to live with it because I intend to make it stand around the pool table some more in the next couple of weeks.  It is now 11 am and I am going to take a couple of pain pills before heading down to pt.   Pt is at 2 this afternoon.  Think I shall leave a little early and go through a drive through for lunch.  --- Being a lover of the famous White Castle, which there are none within 500 miles, the closest thing to them is Krystal.  So that is where I went to for lunch.  3 little hamburgers, 1/2 order of fries and a small diet coke.  Had a private picnic in the parking lot.  Once done with lunch it was time to head on over to PT.  This session was a little harder.  As soon as getting there I inquired about the overnight pain and Dr Debby told me that it was normal, take a pain pill if you need to.   After this I headed to the stepper, same machine I spent a lot of time on over at the VA.  Spent about 10 minutes warming up.  Spent a little time on the torture machine.  The one you pull the lever back bending your knee much father than it is ready to go.  All part of getting well.  Once off of that machine it was a good session. By the time I got done with the pulling and stretching and the ice pack it was almost 3:30.  Dr Debby whispered, "take the rest of the day off" and I thanked her as we set two appointments for Christmas week.  Headed home and it was almost 4:30.  Before going in I got my cane and walked to the post office box, I was a little more than sore from the pt.  Finally got back to the house and just sat down in the lift chair, ran it back and said, Ahhh.  I have only been up a couple of times since.  One was to pay for a pizza I ordered and the other was to put 3/4 of it in the frig.  It is now after 8 and I feel like I have had 40 hour day.  Once I head to bed I am taking one of the pain pills so I might sleep through most of the night.  That way I will be ready to start the exercises program again in the morning.  think I shall head for the bed before long and watch my tv in there until I drift off into the never never land for the night.  Till Tomorrow. 

DDec 12,2013

Dec 12, 2013

Day 2 at home.  The night was rough, I finally took a pain pill around 2 to be able to sleep, just could not get the knee in a position that would let me sleep.  After the pill I slept good and woke about 6 am.  Arose a little slow and it was 8:30 by the time I finished my little breakfast.  -- A little after 9 I started some of the exercises, starting with the ones I had been doing on the parallel bars, changing from the bars to holding on to the sink in the kitchen.  The squats seem to be improving, however, bringing the leg back toward my rear is not getting very far off of the floor.  I guess at first it did not get off the floor at all so there is some improvement.  Once done with this set of exercises I put on my shoes and headed out on a walk.  I doubt if in reality I walked very far, but it took me 1/2 hour and felt like just under 2 million miles.  --  Now lunch time and I am not hungry .  Waited a while before going, but I needed to fill the truck gas tank for tomorrow and while out I got a 6" subway sub.  Red stopped by the grocery for some things and offered to pick up some things for me, he brought me 2 banquet pot pies, one chicken and one turkey.  Something easy to fix and small.  ---  After the sandwich and a while sitting doing nothing it was back to the exercises.  I started this time with a long walk, up to get the mail and down the far side making a big squared off circle.  Then into my room with the mat and the 6 torture exercises.  They actually went pretty good, better than 30 minutes after walking for 45 minutes.  It might not sound like much, but it takes it out of me I and will be hitting that bed early just to get my leg in a comfortable position.  During the day I have had time to play words with friends with several rivals to include Alieta who had the two knees done at the same time.  Hope her rehab is going good.  -- Going to upload this calling it a day, Till Tomorrow. 

Dec 11, 2013

Dec 11, 2013

First night home, rough.  Slept 9 to about 1 am then finally dosed off not taking a pain pill.  Back awake at 2:30 and too late to take a pain pill and still get them for pt at 8 am.  Long, Long night.  After getting home at 5:30 or so, I do not know how I made such a mess of my house, every room, and every chair, and I did not have it in me to clean.  I did sort a pile of mail and shred that with info on, that was it, just did not have the umph to do any more. ---- weighed in at 203.4 and managed to get dressed, the only thing I have to wear are actually pj's, tried to find something else, look like a clown either way so went with the pj's.  Ate an English muffin and took my pills, including the pain pills.  1/2 way to pt before they kicked in, waiting for 8am now and it is starting to ease up.  -- Do not ever let anybody tell you this is a snap, they lie!  In the end I think it will be worth the pain, but it is a lot worse than I thought it would be.  -- Pt session went very good, I will have 3 sessions a week and to do 2 sets of exercises a day, plus lots of walking.  I set this winter aside to do this, good thing, there sure isn't time to do anything else.   --  After pt I drove down to Walmart in Brandon, once inside with a cart, the walking went pretty good.  I had to get something that fit, 2 pair of shorts.  Size 38, that is down from a 50 about a year ago.  Still have a little ways to go.  While in Walmart I also got a yoga mat to put on the floor so I can do the exercises.  (now I have to find my floor).  --- Sat down in the chair with my feet up and fell asleep for a while.  After waking I tackled a walk, in our park we get the mail up on the first street in a mail room where the boxes are.  I doubt that the walk is anywhere near a mile around and up to the boxes and back to my house, but right now it feels like it might have been 10 miles.  Muscles in my legs below the knees are sore, I think the fact that it has been years since I have used these muscles is really starting to show, or should I say feel.  --  I have not figured out how I am going to get off the floor after doing the exercises, there is just nothing to pull up from and I can not get on my knees to get up.  With it being 4:30 in the afternoon and being this sore I think that I will try the exercises on the bed that I can.   This is one of those things one changes their mind about a bunch before any action either way.  Ah, another idea, maybe I can put the mat on the bed, ya, that is what I am going to try.  ---  It worked, it took a full hour to go through the exercises and I am really beat.  It is 7 o'clock now and I have eaten supper, as much as I am going to anyway.  If I sat here for another hour typing I think that it would end up nothing but complaining so I am going to close with the fact that it really did turn out to be a good day in as much as I lived through it and feel like I accomplished a little with the work outs.  Till tomorrow. 

Dec 10, 2013

Dec 10, 2013

Its here, Last day.   Going to bed early worked, Up at 4 am and wide awake.  Headed to the shower, no line in fact the only person that I saw was a nurse.  Nice and quite and now I am clean, feels good.  Back to the room and shaved my lip, oh ya, clean, shaved and raring to go.  It is now 6:30 and I am waiting on breakfast.   ---  Breakfast over and the nurse came in and gave me a printed list of the meds, which was all Greek.  As a result I ask her to tell me what each was so I could put an explanation beside them, such as "stool softener".  And now I know what I am taking.  A little after 9 and Dr Standley came in and was more than will to stand and answer 20 questions.   I think I have them all covered and am ready to do it on my own.   I did ask about the new pain on the under side of the knee, he said that is the ham string and it is a good hurt as it means you are starting to stretch it out to where it belongs.  It has been a long time since you straitened the leg and those hamstrings out where they belong.   As for walking, the more the better.  Your other knee is shot so your not going to do any damage to it, the main thing is just how much pain you can stand, the more walking the better.   As Dr Standley left the room he said, " See you in a few weeks for the next one".  -- Thought about getting everything packed and ready for heading home but decided to put it off until after first pt.  having something to do during that three hours will make the time go faster.  First pt went fine.  Got the bend to 90% and the flat stretch down to 5.  -- After lunch which came fairly quick and it was the best lunch I think that I have.  Good timing, my last lunch.  After lunch the nurse came in with the sign out papers.   It took an hour to pack my stuff to head home.  Had everything waiting when I headed to my last pt.  The last one was a work out but went fine.  Red was waiting when I finished and we gathered my stuff and headed out.   Getting into Reds vehicle was easier than I thought it would be.  Went through the Pharmacy drive thru picking up my meds and headed home.  We did take time to go by where my pt will be in the morning.  - Stopped at the grocery and Red  went in and got me some chocolate and white milk along with some English muffins.  Now home, really tired.  Have my pill bottles lined up on the table.  --- Fixed chicken noodle soup for supper and for sure going to be in bed early.  Signing off for another day.

Dec 9, 2013

Dec 9, 2013

Pretty good night, woke up about 2 am and took 1 pain pill and was able to go back to sleep.  Up shortly after 6 am and took the good ole Ky style bath, (standing at the sink).   Breakfast at a little after 7 and I ate the french toast and most of my cereal, good for me.  Back at the room, playing words with friends and checking out Face Book.  Took my 2 pain pills a little after 9 getting ready for 10 oclock pt.  Dr Standley came in about 9:15 and said that I was for sure going home tomorrow.  He is ordering all my meds to be picked up at the drive through on the way home.  Also setting up the out patient rehab.  He said to expect it to be a couple of months before the pain actually subsides.  It will go away as long as I stay with the rehab.  Also the nerve problem with my feet is improving with the B12, which I did not know till now is connected with the nerves in the feet.  And actually he thinks that the sleeping feet has always been there but the toes hurt so bad that it covered the other.  Now that the toes have eased way off I am feeling the numbness a lot more.  Care will be ongoing with my primary care once discharged.  That was all good news.  Also be about a month before meeting with the Dr.s about the second knee.  --  Getting close to 10 am, time to get ready for PT. Later.   --- PT, went very will.  I was given the go home test and passed it all with flying colors.  Approved to drive, no sticks, and was given a cane to take home along with the walker.   They also are calling to set up the times at the out patient rehab clinic.   Oh, I got the knee bent past the 90 degrees.   Was given the at home program of exercise to use for the next couple of months.   In the end they said I was doing really will.  I don't know if that was to make me feel good or if I really am.   I am convinced that I could not gotten better care anywhere else.  --  While typing this I have been listening to the Salvation Army Band, they are out in front of the office area playing Christmas music. --  Second PT was another good session.  A lot of exercises, working at bending the knew and being able to make it straight.  Also did some walking with the cane.  I was wearing my street shoes to see if the toes would start hurting, they did not.   Also I got the time that I will start the out patient  clinic.  This came as a bit of a surprise,  Wed morning at 8 am I need to be back to the 42nd st clinic.  That is about 45 minutes from home and the traffic is solid that time of morning, but it does fly.  --  For some reason I am really tired tonight, just as good.  If I get to sleep early it will get me up early tomorrow and with that schedule it will be easier to make it to my first outpatient pt on Wednesday.  So, closing out early, till tomorrow.

Dec 8, 2013

Dec 8, 2013

Started the night off sound asleep and stayed that way till about 2 am.  at which point I woke and finally took a pain pill in able to go back to sleep.  Actually that was the first pain pill since before pt at 9am yesterday morning. 

Still having trouble with the Bowles moving.  So last night on of the nurses ask if I would like to try her all natural solution, sure I said.  It was a mix of 50/50 prune juice and apple juice warmed in a coffee cup.  Went down all right, wan't something I would want nightly.  Drank about 7 last night and it started working about 4 am.  What a relief it is, what a relief it is. (wait that is alka selzer), anyway it is a relief and I hope to cut way back on the pain killers as that is what they tell me causing the constipation.   --  Finally up at 6 for the day.  This has been a really lazy day, dosed off a couple of times this morning while watching the channel 13 football reports on the Buc's game.   Game finally started and I watched most of the game, Red came by with Marline and it was good to visit for a while.  Red took my Mac home as I have not used it since being here.  Lived with the I Pad though.  Early supper, ate the fish and the jello, nothing else.  Back at the room now thinking that this has really been one long day.  Watching some Christmas show about a girl who keeps living the same day over.   Hope there is another Christmas show on tonight.  --  Oh will, not much to tell about today so I think I will cut this short and hope there is more interesting things in life to come.  Till Tomorrow.

Dec 7, 2013

Dec 7, 2013

Another good night.  I slept most the night.  Quite a bit of pain after the 4 am pills for some reason.  It is now after breakfast and just the normal hurt now.  Speaking of breakfast, I ate 1/4 waffle, two extremely thin slices of bacon and a bowl of cherrios.   Plenty and now I am ready to face the morning PT.  -- Morning pt went very well.  After I headed to the shower, that felt extremly good.  When done I put on the support hose that still had the toes in them and my street shoes.  I want to know if the meds are stopping the horrible pain in my feet and I really do think it is helping, Yaaa!  -- Lunch was called and I went down to the dinning room, there sat the tray hauler with the trays and no one to serve them.  I opened it and mine was not there, niether was Ed's.  About that time one of the other patients came by saying there was a VFW serving a BBQ lunch down on the first floor.  I'm in.  We headed down and it was the Ft Meade VFW ladies auxiliary  and it was great.  There was seasoning on the BBQ, wish I could of ate more, first thing with seasoning since arriving here.  --  Now for the shoes, it worked great, I am now back in the room with my foot propt up and ice bags on the knee, but the shoes were no problem at all.  Felt strange having shoes on for the first time in three weeks.   Now to watch a little football.  -- I got out a craft kit I was given by the lady who runs the recreation room and started putting it together, a pair of moccasins.    Never dreamed that it would take 5 hours to lace a set of moccasins.  While working on them I did a little day dreaming and it reminded me of when I was a kid at church camp, we always had similar projects, belts, billfolds and the likes.  Actually those memories from growing up with the youth group at the Ellettsville First Baptist Church are some of the best memories I have from my youth.   While stitching the moccasins I had my foot propped up on the bed with an ice bag on my knee for quite a while.  I started this project before noon and sat in the chair until they called for supper and after I came back and finished the project.  They fit and they are comfortable.   Now for the leg, I have not had a pain pill since before  pt this morning and I really do not have a lot of pain.  I don not one to take any until I just have to.  This has been a really good day, however I cannot believe how tired I am from sitting here doing the craft kit, I feel like I worked all day.   Oh will, I don't have any dances to go to tonight so I will just take a break for the rest of the day.  --- My day is done, I am laying down watching football where I shall basically stay till morning.  Till Tomorrow

Dec 6, 2013

Dec 6, 2013

Another good night.  I did sit up for about an hour when I took the middle of the night pills.   The chairs in the dinning room catch me right behind the knee and are extremely uncomfortable for me.  The others don't seem to have any trouble with them.  However there are two chairs in our room that the front slopes or curves down toward the floor and are much more comfortable for me.  I hadnot been sitting in any chairs because of the dinning room, am glad to find that it was the chair and not just the sitting position.  I actually ended up sitting for the last of the "Sound of Music" last night.  A personal opinion, "no one could of done a better job than what Carrie Underwood did last night." --  Ed (my room mate) and I both watched out the window for them to start a construction crane that is being used on the other side of Fletcher Ave.  We have tried to watch it come up for about a week and this is the first time we actually seen it happen, still have not seen it dropped down at night.  This proves that it doesn't take much to entertain one confined in a Hospital for a couple of weeks.  Now in the wait, almost eight and my first PT is not until 10.  --- PT once again a good session.  Started by going up the three stairs and down, up one side and down the other, back and forth.  Then to the parallel bars and the 10 different exercises,  ten of each and three times through.  A short walk keeping my head up with a cane instead of the walker.  Now on the dreaded knee bending toucher  machine.  Once done with that we went to the table  and started measuring the bend.  Did not get to 90, 87 was the most I could get.  Next was Ice and then these neat looking little bandaids that looked like octopus across both sides of the knee.  They are designed to help take the swelling out.  The more ice and finally done for the session.  Changed the time for this afternoon, supposed to be back by 1:30. --  Fish for lunch, it was good.  Back to the room and actually fell asleep for a little short nap, about 1/2 hour.  -- Nurse just came in with the pain pills and now a twenty minute wait for the next pt session.   --  Second PT went really will.  Bar exercises, up and down the stairs,  long walk,  the peddle machine and ice.  Once back at the room I cleaned up and straightened my night stand.   Repacked the little case I brought with stuff I will not use.  --Super call came about 4:30, Shepard pie, it was alright, ate about 1/2, the pears and drank the milk.  After the nurse brought me a tasty cocktail, I think it said Laxative on the side.  I hope it works.  Tomorrow is the short work day, only one PT, going to try to do enough to equal the second on my own and then repeat by doing my own on Sunday.  Going on 7 and I think that I shall sign out for today.  Till Tomorrow.

Dec 5, 2013

Dec 5, 2013

Very good night,  Took one pain pill at 11:30, 3:30 and 5:30, slept most of the night.  Messing around waiting for breakfast call, once our vitals were taken Mr. Snodgrass, (room mate) and myself walked on down to the dinning room.  Breakfast was late and then there were no nurses to serve it out of the rolling server.  We waited a while and since I could walk with out the walker I was one of two that decided to serve the breakfast.  As pretty as I am I didn't get a single tip??  I ate 1/2 the english muffin off of the breakfast sandwich and most of a bowl of cherrieos.   -- Now back at the room and waiting for 10 o'clock  PT.  --- PT actually went fine today.  I got past 90% with the bend of my knee while on the little torture machine.  And actually the Ice pack was really uncomfortable at the end, my foot was prop up forcing the knee straight and that hurt about as bad as the bend.  Its all about getting back to normal,      ( talking about the knee, I know that some don't think I will ever be normal in other regards).  Talked with the room mate for a while, him being a hoosier as I am, he now lives in Okeechobee--  Lunch call came and I ate about 1/2, all I wanted.    Now I am waiting once again on the second PT.  ---  Second PT was another good one.  Started on the Peddle deal for 20 minutes, Matt exercises and then a long walk with a cane instead of the walker.  Last twenty minutes with ice on the knee.  ---  Supper was Sweet and Sour Pork, fried rice green beans.  Not bad, could of used some Soy sauce.   After I walked down to the REC room and was give a pair of moccasins and a card case to put together.  I figure that will give me something to do this week-end.  Back at the room I got a couple of ice bags and iced my knee down.  -- Now settled in for a night with Christmas shows and napping in and out.     Ed has sat here working on his new wallet for the last hour and is not done yet, I am thinking that I will have something to do for a while on one of the long week-end days.    For now I think that I shall send this day on out to the blog.  Thanks for reading and be back again tomorrow.

Dec 4, 2013

 Wed, Dec 04, 2013

Only 1 pain pill to go over night and worked, however, it is now wore off and for some reason I spaced calling the nurse for the one that covers the 4 hours leading up to the one for pt, so, I am laying here hoping that the Pain takes a break until I can take the next one sometime after 8 so it will cover the first pt.   --- I think my leg feels better with the staples out, I'll know more about that after the first pt.  --- Just a quick word for a friend, Alieta Klinger has gone into Brandon Hospital this morning to have both of hers done at the same time.  I am sure she will do fine as she is a very strong willed person.  As soon as I hear I will give you all an update on her progress. ----  Think I will turn on the morning news, later.----Breakfast, Orange juice, 2/4 of the box of rice crispies, 1 little pancake, 2 small thin strips of bacon, (once I dried the grease off with napkins) and I was stuffed.  -- Really did nothing but lay on the bed and rest for the next hour.  Finally time to take the next pain pills and I was glad to see them come to the room.  Fell asleep for a while and woke up just in time to take off to PT.  1/2 hour on the step machine,  10 repetitions of the exercises on the parallel bars, then the torture machine, the one where you pull you knee back as far as you can, then a little father and hold it for a minute, (timed).  We did this four times and I am always relieved when I am done on this machine.  On the table with the game time ice machine wrapped around my leg.  15 minutes here and I was done.   Back to the room now and waiting lunch, not really hungry but it gives me some where to walk and a change of scenery.  --- Did I say that I wasn't hungry, good thing.  Black eyed peas, with absolutely no seasoning and kale done the same way, tasteless, so, i did not eat either.  Chicken that I pulled the meat off and ate the cantaloupe.  I am full, so It doesn't matter, and actually one of the other guys wanted the kale.    Now back laying down waiting on afternoon PT.  ---  Dr Standley stopped by, second time today, everything is going fine.   Two more Ortho Drs just stopped in checking on myself and the room mate.  You could not ask for any more attention than you get he at the VA.  --Short nap and then getting ready for my second pt.  Second went as good as the first.  First 25 minutes on the nu-step.  Once done there I headed to the parallel bars.  All moves and 10 repetitions of each.        Then it was the long walk and 1/2 through the walk to the far end of the floor, TT and Loren are waiting for me.  Finished the walk and then 5 minutes of ice.  Back to visit with TT and Loren, really a good visit and I appreciate them coming.    --- Not long after they left it was supper call.  A really pretty good hamburger.   And I ate the fruit cup.   --  After I gathered up some clean clothes and headed to the shower.  Now its back on the bed and I am not sure I will move from here the rest of the night.   Anxious to here how Alieta is doing.  Last I heard she was in recovery.  Once again, anything interesting happens tonight I will put it on tomorrows.                                                                                

Dec 03, 2013

 Dec 03, 2013

Back from breakfast. ---  My soundest sleep so far came from midnight to 6 this morning.  Woke up once for the pain meds and right bak out.  --  Took one of those sspecial Kentucky style showers, (in the sink), and it felt good to get read of the night sweats.  Brushed my teeth, combed my hair and ready to go to town, oh, wait a minute, I don't go to town, just down the hall to the dinning room.  Oh will, that is where I went.  2 to 3 bites of an omelet and center out of a piece of toast with some grape jelly, my grape juice and a carton of milk.  Full.  --  Now back in the room with fresh sheets and a clean pair of the funny little rubber stripes that are the non skid treads.  Yesterday I felt like there was improvement in the knee movement, I hope I have some more today.  This morning is the first that I felt like I am ready to go home rather than stay here.  I will find a way to force myself to do the exercises.  ---  One of the ladies came in and helped me on with the compression sock and I just decided to use the tube thingyy and put on the socks, the first one worked so good I decided to try the one over the compression sock.  I would of bet against it working, I would of lost the bet.  It worked perfect.  Now I am down to waiting on Ashley, the pretty Occupational Therapy Master.  I enjoy her visits.  --   Busy morning.  Ashley came and gave me some real bad news.  She does not need to see me anymore, I am set.  Boo Hoo, should of complained about something.  I did say thank you and you are welcome  to come see me anytime.   Next visit the nurse with the meds, took my vitals and gave me some pills.  She wasn't gone two minutes until Dr Standley came in.  Talked to him quite a while, not to worry about taking to much of the pain meds, they will wean me off when needed, for now, keep the pain away so you can do rehab.  My discharge date has been set for Dec. 10, next tuesday.   After Dr Standley, Bettina stopped by on her way out of town.  Brought me some more clothes and my son Andy sent a Pecan pie, which I shall savor, just a little one but I will get 3 or 4 pieces out of it.  Bettina was just here a few minutes as she was on her way to Indianapolis, with her brother Aubry.  Nurse came by with the pain pills so they will be in my system for PT.  Now 9:30, been busy since a little after 6, going to lay here and take a break until I head for pt about 5 minutes before and that gets me there right on time. ---  Very good session.  Started on one of the machines That has your feet on peddles, push down with the right and it pulls the left up, push down on the left and up comes the right, now continue for at least 20 minutes.  While sitting on this machine pumping away I had a a visitor.  Greg First stopped by to say hello.  This is a man that never seems to stop.  and yet somehow he finds time to stop and see me 30 miles from where he lives.  Thanks, your visit was really appreciated.  Quite a bit of swelling so they worked on massaging my leg and I think it was a good choice.  I know that my leg sure feels better after this treatment.  Then it was the ice pack, an  electric one, 38 degrees for 20 minutes.   Left feeling pretty good. ---  Lunch next and it was also good.  Ham and Cheese on a croissian, veg soup, milk, I actually ate most of it.  --- Since lunch I am not doing anything, just taking a break on my bed, a little nap, a little TV, and a few words here.  --- Ended up taking a short nap and once again received my pain pills in time to have them take effect before PT.    ---  Pt was another good session. Spent 30 minutes working my leg out on the Step machine, the one I just described.  The exercises on the mat, a long walk and then 20 minutes of ice packs.   Back to the room and Dr Standley came in with his little staple remover and out came the 30 staples.  Having never had them before the anticipation of it hurting was much worse than the real pain.  Actually it did not hurt bad enough to call it pain.  Now it will please me to see this swelling go down.  -- Down to time to close out today, anything else interesting  happen will start tomorrows.  

Dec 2, 2013

Dec 02, 2013

Pills at 1:30 and slept till 5:30 am time for another set and then dosed in and out till about 6 am.  --  Nurse Diane just spent a few minutes with me.  She started by putting the salve on my feet for the the athletes foot.  Which she new tickled the heck out of my feet and I accused her of over enjoying this ploy.  Laughingly then I inform her that the compression stocking is inside out as if she would of never figured it out without my helpful eye.  She reached all the way inside to the toe pulling it back to get it reversed and it slipped from the toe end flipping it like a sling shot and the very end hit my nose, absolutely no pain and it was funny.  Actually I then had to accuse her of brutalizing a patient.  It would be great if this was a start for a fun and laughing week.  Anyway at the end of this short fun fest my compression stocking and little rubber bottomed, (non skid) booties are on and I am ready to go to breakfast.  --- Biggest breakfast since arriving here.  Two slices of french toast and most of a bowl of chex mix.  Glass of milk and a glass of apple juice.  By the way the syrup was sugarless and the butter was Smart Balance, didn't want you to think I had thrown the diet out.  ---  Now for some good stuff, my Occupational Therapist came, Ashley, spent about 1/2 hour talking and showing me how to use the "sock putter on" for lack of a better name.  While talking she filled out a form and when she finished with those questions I realized I made a mistake.  She was finished with the form she stated that was all, my house was in good shape and I knew how to use the tools of her trade.  Now for the mistake, I should of played dumb, answered the questions wrong and said "how was that" a lot, then she would have to spend another 1/2 hour with me me, I guess you caught the fact that she is pretty, kind and very enjoyable to talk with.  THIS DAY STARTING OUT GREAT.  --  A new nurse, Graice, brought the meds, she seems nice.  And now I have about an hour to contemplate PT for the day.    -- One of the house committee crew came in to mop the floor in our room and then clean the bath room.  He actually did a though  job and was about done in the bathroom when I moved my night stand back to where it belonged and of course I had to knock a full cup of water onto the floor.   The gentleman with the mop ask if I was trying to assure that his job involved enough that it would not be eliminated.  "I did say I was sorry and he was gracious"---  By the time the floor dried it was time to head for PT.  Started out on the Peddle machine with the ski slope handles working my knee as far up as I could and then back down and trying to maintain a steady pace.  15 minutes on this.  then I went over to one of the flat decks and while sitting on the end he worked the skin and muscles with his thumbs and palms.  Every little bit I would push my foot back and felt like it was the deepest bend that I have had.  From there to the chair that is the torture machine.    I did get to an 83 % bend and held it for 2 minutes.  After three hard repetitions on this machine it was to the table with the "game time" ice machine.  Wrapped with really cold ice pack for 15 minutes and the session was already over.  Felt good about this one.    When I left pt I stepped on the scales, with clothes on, no shoes, and I weight 204.8, best yet.  --  Now back at the room waiting on lunch call, not hungry, just something to do.  --- Surprise, lunch was good.  Will relative, and as a result I ate probably the most as at any on sitting since I got here.  Swedish  meat balls on a real fine spaghetti, green beans, and a couple fruit cups.  -- Back to the room and relax till PT was the plan.  Almost dosed off for a minute or two a couple of times.  About 1 oclock a man came in to work with my TV.  The televisions are all brand new and a complete system, to include medical records and Internet.  However to this point only the TV is connected.   He was a talker, even more so than I am.  By the time he left I looked at the clock  and time to rush just to get to PT on time.  Once there and sitting on the first machine it dawned on me that I while spending time listening to the TV guy I forgot to ask for my pain pills.  Great, now I am going to really feel the brunt of the pain.  I did explain to the PT teams and they altered the  program for the afternoon, very thankful. Actually, between the tough one this morning and the easier one this afternoon, I feel good about today.  By altering the afternoon it did not mean we didn't work, we concentrated on strengthening this afternoon--  --- Supper call came at 4:30,  did I mention that I ate a big lunch, good thing, balance out the day.  Strange looking little thick crust, nearly raw, cheese pizza.   I passed, ate the beets and two little applesauce containers, also drank the milk.  I'll get a yogurt from the snack room latter if I get hungry.  -- Now back in my room and really have decided that this is where I shall stay for the evening, that is as if there is somewhere else to be.  I had  the knee packed with ice bags on either side for about an 1/2 hour.  And now I have had it for the day.  Once again anything great happens tonight I will tell about it tomorrow.  

Dec 1, 2013

Dec 1, 2013

Almost 7 am and it has been a long night.  Actually I slept good the first stretch, 10 to 2 am.  Max pain pills then and finally slept for a while.  Been awake messing around for a couple hours now no more pain meds till almost eight.   My leg dosn't have that horrible hurt that you get at pt, however, It Hurts.  Allmost like some kind of pressure is building up.  --  There was a call for breakfast so I went down to the dinning room and had my tasty breakfast.  1/2 of the corn flakes, two bites of a sausage biscuit , cup of orange juice, and most the milk. Back to the room and put my clothes in the washer.  Planning on a shower once they are done, which by the way is also a major event.  ---  This is the long day as there is no pt today, so the shower will be the strenuous thing I do.  -- Clock has worked its way around to 7:30, 1/2 hour till I get the next pain pills, so I shall shut this down until later as I know it gets tiring hearing all of the moaning through these keys.--- Clothes out of the dryer and either in my night stand or in the closet.  Now for the shower, went really good, the Pain pills had kicked in and it sure felt good to scrub the hair on my head.  Back to the room I tried doing a few exercises sitting in a chair and drawing my knee as straight down as possible.  Trying for the 90 degrees, I know I got no where close but I guess a little work out is better than none.  --  Rehab Dr came in and visited, he was very encouraging.  Thinks that I will be at 90 degrees by the end of the week.  Something is going to have to change or I think I am in for a very painful week to have any chance of making 90 degrees.  ---  Oh will now for the important things in life, I am watching the NFL pre-game show on the NFL channel.  Football .----An afternoon of watching the Bucs loose to Carolina.  -- Red called and offered to bring me a fresh smoked sandwich, delicious.  That was my supper along with a fruit cup from the regular food tray.  While Red and Marline were here I walked with them down to the rec room and then again when they left I walked them to the elevator.  Felt good to get out and walk a little.  -- It is about 6 and I am hoping that there will be something good on TV tonight, Christmas show is fine, or, will it just doesn't matter, something to hold my interest for an hour or two.  I think that I shall close off for the day and if anything else good or bad happens I will put it on tomorrows.  

Nov 30, 2013

Nov 30, 2013

5 am now and it has been a good night,   On the right schedule for the pain pills.  Had them at 1:30, due here in while and that will leave me getting them at 9 just before the 10 PT.   Nurse just came in an drew blood for the vitamin B 12 test to see if that is causing the problem with my feet.  Would be good it that was is, then I would not have to take the nerve medicine.    Oh well, wait and see.  ---  Ordered my pain killers and am still yawning, maybe I'll take another little nap once the pills get here.  Certainly cannot see any deer out the window as the sun comes up even if I had my camera here.  --- Pills came and then I took another short nap.  Up about 6 and just about took a shower in the sink, feels good to get the night sweats washed off.   Discovered I am out of tooth paste, used my electric brush with crest pro mouth wash, feels clean, looks clean, I am assuming teeth are clean. -- Back on the bed and I am going to try to put the compression stocking over the new knew "by myself".  Twenty minutes and the heel is off kilt, but it is on, "I did it by myself".  --  Now it is the wait for 10:00 PT.  2 &1/2 hours to lay here smiling and looking forward to, to, to forget it, I am not looking forward to it, but I'll go.  -- Took a minute to clip my fingernails, they grow fast but in here I get a lot of cranberry juice and they seem to grow ever faster.  -- Later -- Back from PT and it was a tough one, especially seeing the pain pills didn't start to kick in till 1/2 way done.  There is a sheet of  ten exercises to be done on a parallel bar, such as deep knee bends that I started with.  Not very deep for me.  You do 10 repetitions of each and then three times through the list.  Next on the machines with the peddles that you keep pulling towards you bending the knee, twenty minutes of constant peddling and pulling the, I call it peddling, it is actually more  like walking machine.  And then, the torture machine, the one you sit in a chair pulling the peddle your foot is resting on back, trying to get 90 degrees, once back as far as you can stand it you get the pleasure of holding it for two minutes.   If you really pull it back as far as you can, the holding it hurts so bad it makes you faint.  I only did this twice this morning and then ice pack for the rest of the time. ---  While icing the leg I talked to the theriipest for a while and turned out that she grew up and all of her family is still in Oconto Falls Wisconsin, which is one of the towns that we play during the summer.  --  Took a walk down the hall away from the room after PT was over, heard the guys talking about a rec room.  It was nice with a big screen, lots of movies, puzzles and other stuff.                -- headed back to the room and my new room mate was settling in.  Talked with him a few minutes and rested until they called for lunch.  -- Another, "I'll Pass", meal.  Ate a couple green beans two noodles out of the Ziti, and two little cups of fruit.  Oh ya, don't forget the milk, I did drink that.  --  Back to the room and the new room mates sisters were there visiting.  Turns out they all grew up in Indiana, down near the Ohio River.  --  Now have spent most  of the afternoon watching football games,  and taking short naps.      --  Supper call came and so off I shuffled to the dinning room.  Something smills a little better than normal, no pasta.  Awww, upon uncovering my plate I have discovered an Italiian Sausage link and some cooked pepper strips, also a nice hoagie bun that was warm rolled in tin  foil.  I ate it, the most at one sitting since getting here.  I am back in my room now, stuffed.  Oh will, I will wiggle my toes tonight to work it all off.  -- I have been ask to get todays on line so I think I shall go ahead and post and if anything wonderful happens tonight it will kick off tomorrows entry.  Thanks for reading and have a good Saturday evening. 

Nov 29, 2013

Nov 29, 2013

Woke up in the middle of the night and built my new blog,I hope this one works out.  The other program seemed to turn off when ever it so deemed it was time irregardless of what me, the typer, wanted.  As a result I lost a couple of pages yesterday, Time for a change.  I now am using the note pad in my I Pad.    --  Due to not watching the time while working this morning I did not get the pain pills down when I should of had them and as a result had wait an additional two hours or their effect would have expired while in PT.  I was certainly glad when it came time to take them.  ==  Shortly there after I went to a different class, Occupational Therapy.  Very interesting and they gave me several little aids to help me when I go home.  Goal is to have it so I can live alone.   One is the Grabber, another is the long handle shoe horn with a sock hook to take off the socks.  and another is a funny looking thing to put socks on with.  I think it will work.  Ashley, the lady who runs that department is very nice and it is a lot less strenuous than the pt.-- Speaking of PT, it is  almost time.  ---  Another Dr just came in and is ordering a B-12 test and also some nerve medicine trying to eliminate the pain in my feet.  Sure would be nice to fix that without any surgery on the toes.    Don't know if you can till, but I am upbeat this morning, and ready to tackle the torture chamber, (PT).  --- Did I say I was ready, Did they tell me this gets easier and the pain lessens.  Let it suffice that that was not the case for today.  Forcing the new knee to bend, got 83 percent to day working toward 90 % and it is not comfortable, anything but.  Now let me once again say that it is a trade, I can do this for another couple weeks to have the rest of my life with a working knee.  After the pt workout I came back to the room and Red and Marline were waiting to say hello.  The brought me a pair of slippers and a nail clipper.  We only talked for about 15 minutes when the call for lunch was made.  For no more than I ate I should have just stayed with the visit.  ---  A little rest and then off to the second pt session.  Spent twenty minutes with my knee being force into a bend which no longer felt natural.  Then some walking, with a cane instead of the walker.  And last, forcing the leg straight, it has five degrees to go to make to a straight line,  And forcing your leg straight hurt about as bad as trying to bend the knee.  -- Supper, hmmm, lasagna with a bread stick and nice looking veggies.  I picked up the bread stick and it was laying in garlic butter, and it had soaked the veggies and lasagna.  For those of you who do not know, I am allergic to garlic. The oranges were good, drank the milk and picked up a yogurt on the way back to the room.  This is going to be a long night, resting my legs as we have the pt again tomorrow, Sunday will be off.  Going on 7 and I hope there is nothing else worth writing about tonight, if there is, it will kick off tomorrows segment. 

Surgery through Thankskiving 2013

Surgery 

Oct 19, 2013

This is my last day before reporting to the VA at 5 am tomorrow morning.  The day started with me taking one of the two a day showers I am having with a anti bacterial soap to lessen the chance on any staff infection coming with me to the hospital.

After the shower I had my morning coffee on the porch while I checked face book and my emails.  Back inside and called the Service officer to check on what it would take to file a claim for disability during rehab, got the recorder, left a message.  Next I reset the sim card on my fastrax phone.  While on the phone with them the VA called back and left word that they would talk to me while in the hospital.  Now it is time for me to start fixing my one meal for the day.  I have recipe for a Jimmy Buffet Cheese burger in Paradise cassarole.  This I am going to fix and then freeze the extra three portions for after I return home from the surgery.  -- 2 hours later -- I fixed it, and it was reaaly pretty good, ate more than I should of, still put two healthy servings in the freezer, 2 pans to wash and I am done.  By the way, that was my last food till after the surgery some time tomorrow afternoon.    By the time I finish it will be time to head down to pick up my handicap scooter. ---- 231.00 dollars later I am home with the scooter and it is covered on my porch as such time as I either can give it back to the AMVETS or once again use it as my blue charriot.   Now for a long evening with my I pad and the TV. -- going on 8 pm and I just finished the third Castle rerun in a row.  Going to hit the shower, one more tonight and one at 3 am before leaving for the hospital. Never been cleaner, two a day showers with a surgical soap should have me good and clean  ===  Layed down about 10 with the TV on, drifted off before midnight. 

Nov 20, 2013

Had my phone alarm set for 3:15, I was awake when it went off.  Took my last of the 2 a day showers and was ready and waiting when Red drove up outside  We ended up getting to the hospital a full 30 minutes early.  However I was taken right in and guided to a room with a gurnny, a high priced gurnny Very comfortable and I went back to sleep after all the vitals were taken and recorded.  Red and Marline came back down to watch me head into the butcher shop, (I meant operating room).  I was out very shortley and acturally every thing is kind of foggy from this point on untill the next morning.  I de remember Red and Marline saying good night. I shall close out this day without much of a log.

Nov 21, 

Still slept most the day although they did help get me up, very short walk with a walker, did not put much weight on the leg.  Hardest part is getting back into bed and getting up.  I did notice that the old constant pain had changed to a overall ache which I am sure is from the insission.  Not a lot to tell as I slept most the day, My first roomate went home and I was sorry to see him go as he was a jokester while I was awake it was enjoyable.  When he left he told me I would have to pick up the slack on being the good humor man.  I will have a hard time doing that as most of you who know me know that I never ever smart off or make a wise crack.

Nov 22, 2013

I am breaking a record on the amount of sleep I am getting,"lots".  Physical therapy came about mid day, Ive lost track of time.  It hurt like heck getting up, once up and getting my breath back I did take a good walk acording to the tech.  When getting back in bed I found how bad it can hurt, I hope that was the upper limit.  I forgot to help lift the leg with the other, 1/2 way through sitting down was to late to change my mind.You can not stop a sit down 1/2 way through.  WOW!!! I think I can remember how to keep the leg straight when sitting down.  It took a few minutes to get my breath back.  To my surprise a couple of hours later I needed to go to the bath room and decided to do it my myself.  Got up with bearable pain and the walk to the bathroom wasn't bad either. However remembering the last sit down experience I decided once I got on the edge of the bed with a straight leg, I ask for help getting it onto the bed. --- Some conversation with the room mates, watched a little tv, not to impressive because I can not remember what I watched.  They woke me at 5 for a pill of some kind I had to ask, am or pm?  Bettina called and offered to bring me an extinsion cord I need for my chargers, phone and I- pad.  I slept most of the evening and most of the night for that matter.

Nov 23, 2013

Awake and alert at 6am when they brouught some kind of pill and something for the IV.  Went to playing on my I-Pad.  Caught up words with friends checked email and now am catching up my journal.  Still debating about sending this out, if I do and you don't want it, which I can understand, let me know and I will certainly stop sending.   --- Breakfast came and It was the first real food I had seen.  Ate about a 1/2 box of cherrios, the little boxes, a few bites of a waffle and 1/2 strip of bacon.  most a cup of coffee and I am stuffed, I am going to loose ten more pounds before I start eating enything normal.  I will return after the physical therapist comes and goes.  -- No physical therapist yet but the doctor stopped in.  He rewrapped my leg and said it looked really good.  He also showed me a way to strengthen the musels used to lift the leg without lifting push down making the same mussel flex.  This was a relif to know that I was not falling behind on the rehaab.  Now I am going to spend some time pushing my leg into the bed. ----Bettina brought mouth wash and an extinsion cord for my chargers.  Really appreciate the delivery.  Being able to brush the teeth felt great and now I can get the I Pad and phone plugged in where I can reach for them without help. --- It is now 3 pm and no rehab, I ask and Sat is there day off so will be tomorrow, now I am sitting here mustering up nerve to try getting UP by myself the bath room is the encouragement.  I will let you know HOW IT GOES.  -- Will it went better than I thought it would.  and ended worse.  I ask for help to start and my nurse this afternoon is great.  She helped me swing my legs off of the bed and until the end that was all the help I needed.  I walked more than twice as far as yesterday,  down to the nurses station and then past the room to the end of a hall.  My leg held up good but I decided maybe I better not push it.  one time on the way back it felt like it might buckle, I just held the walker tighter and kept going.  Once back to the bed I did get the nurse to help me get back on the bed, she lifted the leg and swung me around.  Once back on the bed I was offered a pain pill and said "no Thanks".  Mistake, the little bit of nausia I was feeling got worse and I it was from the pain I was trying to ignor, finally gave in an got both nausia and pain.  It was an IV for the nausia so it worked fairly quickly.  --  Layed here watching Indiana getting beat up by Ohio State. -- feeling lousey is kind of holding on longer than it needs to.  I am really starting to look forwad to shower and washing my hair, don't know yet when I get to the wash wash thing.  Its past 4:40 and I do not know when super comes, don't really care as I'm not hungry, but, laying here, gives me something to think about.  Taking a break for now ---- 6:30 and I have struggling since eating supper trying to put up a blog site for my Surgery Journal.  Still do not have it up and working, going to start all over.  --  Super would have been good if I was hungry and like garlic.  Lasagna and garlic bread stick.  I ate the cantaloupe, a little of the salad, drank the milk and I am full anyway. --  knee is hurting again but do not want any extra pain medicine, I will wait till they bring what is on the list.  --- Leg is diffentley tight--7:20 now and I am going to try to post, anything else interesting tonight I will put it up tomorrow.  

Nov 23, 2013 part two

The day is about over.  I AM TIRED AND READY TO CALL IT A DAY.   I am going to bed feeling good about my knee even if still hurts, I think that the recovery is going all right. It is now 9:40 and I really have not slept much today, basiclly up since 5 am.  so, good night for another night.

Nov 24, 2013

4 5 AM and time for my Vitals.  I was about 1/2 awake anyway.  ask the vital taker to unhook the air bags from my legs so I could takle walking to the bath room.  Went pretty good only problem is the geting up and actually I did the hook the foot on the old knee under the one with the new knee and help pick it up. swinging my slef around on the bed.  The pain was worse last night,  I went ahead and took the pain pills this morning even though it was very boarderline on needing them.  Back in bed now and think I will try to fall back asleep for a short nap.  --- 9:50 now and the last couple hours have been very active.  Breakfast took a while and then in came the rehab man.  Got up and went for a pretty good walk with him.  Then sat on the edge of the bed forcing my leg to bend.  During the walk he had me stop and stand up on my toes which was really no problem.  Sitting and bending the leg was a different story, it hurt muchly, but necessary and he said I handled it will.  By the time we quit I was exhauted with a little nausea, laying here on the bed I have relaxed a little.  The Doctor came in a little while later.  He had me explain what I had been doing and made the commet that the leg needs the pillow under the lower part to keep it uncomfortable.  That if there is no pain that the knee is getting used to being in a bent location and that is not good.  Uncomfortable means there is stretching to the way it should.

It actually hurts bad enough I can understand why there are people who never extend the knee to where it should be and continue doing this for as much as six months.  The rehab man told me that to be doing what I am doing now my pain tolerance is probably high enough that I would be able take having the second one done with in a few weeks -- They are moving me to rehab tomorrow and over there there is wifi.  Red just called and is coming down so he is going to pick up my laptop and bring it down.  The nurse came by and she had my pills, which I have lost track of what they are all for, but I took them, so I am drugged up for the day. -- My plans for the afternoon is watch football games, do my in bed leg exercises and visit with Red.  So, I'll be back in a while. 

Part 2

A little after 5 and watched football all afternoon.  Other than a couple of trips to the bathroom have not been up much.  Worked on me exersises on the bed.  have had my knee up where it hurts enough that it has to be stretching the muscels.  Didn't eat much lunch so I am beginning to wonder what I will get to pick over for supper.  I am for sure tired tonight, and supper just showed up, eating time back later. --   Well supper was all right, meat loaf and carrots, I ate both.  slaw and mashed potatoes I passed on, gave the ice tea to the other guy in the room.  Ate the pears and drank the 1% milk.  ---  Took my pills to include the pain killers and I am turing in early as tomorrow will be a big day, moving to the rehab center.  -

Nov 25th

-- Woke at 5 am and ask the nurse working with Geno, "the man next to me", if I could get some pain pills.  I know that it takes 20 to 30 minutes to take effect.  And I am starting to feel the first bowl movement building.  This is the fifth day and although I have really not eaten anything substantial it is time for the first bowl movement.  Couldn't wait any longer, nurse is busy, so, I unhooked my own air tubes to the leg pumps and swung the new knee leg around by putting the old knee leg, "right one", under the new and swinging it arount depositing it on the floor.  Took my mouth wash, tooth paste and brush with and set on the sink.  Into the bathroom, no movement just enough gas to fill my truck, to bad there is no way to refine.  While I brushed my teeth, felt like a return to the human race, the nurse changed out my bed.  Once back on the bed she brought me the pain pills and the twenty minute count down to them  working started, to late, nausea took over with a vengence and next couple hours were really misserable I started to feel better a little after 8 am and the night nurse who I really like came by  to say good-by knowing that I would not be in this room when whe returns this evening for her next shift.It was about 10 am when I started feeling better.  Just about the time the ortho Drs came in..  they looked at the knee and said to leave the bandage off as is was sealed and there was no need to wrape.  They also said that I would be moving to rehab this afternoon.  ,,-- They had no more than left when the Physical Therapist came in.  Now I went through a bit of a workout.  I should have been doing more exercises that I have been doing.  After a long work out, lots of walking and bending he said I was doing really good, by the time he left the nausia had set in really bad.  And of course lunch came as I felt like I would be luky just to live through the nausia.  I ate the apple sauce, there was raviola and fire cooked corn, tried a bite of each.  Drank 1/2 the milk and no more.  Got to feeling better about 2PM and I was being transferred to the rehab unit.   In bed about 3, I was driven over in a wheel chair.  Very nice room and met my room mate.  He is from Columbia and was all busted up on his 4th tour in Afghanistan.  He will be here till Wed and then he is going back to Ft Hood in Texas.   It is now 3:45 and a Nurses aide just came in and said "wo, that looks painful" the swelling is pretty bad right now, he said "you want to wait till tomorrow for the shower" I was relieved that we put it off.  Supper will be at 4:30 and I am going to hit the scale on the way, first time since arriving here last Wed, it was 210.4 then.  ---- With all the extra clothes on I weighed in at 208.4.  Just 10 more lbs will make me happy.  Super was good, a pork chop, I ate it, the top off of 4 Broccoli and my peaches.  ---  Now back in the room, nurse brought a bag of ice for my knee and came with Magnesium Citrate Oral Solution.  Supposed to take care of the BM.  I sure hope so. I am going to post this and shut down for the night. 

Nov 26, 2013

Wow, what a night.  I left you having drank the Citrate Solution about 6pm.  I was alseep with no bm about 10 and woke up starting day 8 with no bm. about 2 am.  Something was rolling, ya, ya, I better get to the bathroom.  Raised the bed, swung my foot over and headed around a short cornor at a whopping .0002 mile an hour, that was hurrying, Made it, EXPLOSION, Did not know that a BM could be so exciting or feel so good.  I hadn't anymore than got back to bed when off I go again.  And there was one more this morning, I have got to be cleaned out.  Nurse helped me get out a pair of my shorts, tooth brush, and brought me my deoderant, a towel and wash cloth.  Let me tell you after feeling scuddy for several days it sure is great to be cleaned up.  Now I am waiting on breakfast.  "No nausia pill needed, yet".  Now let me talk about the nurse.  I thought when Diane came on she was a real grouch.  I made some kind of smart commet and I just got a cold stare, quite different from down below, Now let me start over with my impression of Diane.  At two o'clock this morning she was great, through the mess this morning and helping me with the pain pills, clothes, and wash up, I just could not of ask for any more, Thank you Diane, if you ever read this I really do appreciate you 100%.  -- Almost time for breakfast so I am shutting down. more later. --- It is after breakfast now, I didn't do so wil, one bite of the omlette, sip of coffe, nibble of the grits and like a kid, a few bites out of the middle of a piece of toast.  The nurse ask if I would eat some cerial so I ate a 1/2 bowl of cherrios and could till it was time to head to the room, Excused myself and straight to the bath room, I hope this is the last mention of this private little room other than bragging when I get my first shower. ---- Be a long pause now, thanks for reading.  ---  It is now 7 pm and this has really been a rough day.  I am going to skip past some of the little things that happened today and get to the work.  Two Drs came in checking my leg.  They approved the way it looked and said that I am ready to start rehab.  10 oclock I was at the rehab room and we started right away.  Some questions, some paper work and then the walking,  Walked the obstacle course.  then after a short break a timed walk, 2 minutes and then measured.  Lots of bending the leg and measuring the angle.  This lasted for a full hour and there is no doubt that I was ready for a break at the end.  By the time I got to the room lunch was already being served.  I ate about a 1/2 of tuna fish sandwich, drank the juice and ate the fruit.  Done and back to the room.  ---  Bettina came back bringing me some clothes to wear.  Shirts and shorts and a couple of pairs of pants.  By the time we talked a few it was time for me to head for the 2 pm session of rehab.  A lot rougher.  Started on this exersize looking thing that had 2 handles that pulling back would pull that corresponding  foot back with a goal of 90 % bend.  Pull it as far back as I could stand and hold it for 2 minutes then back and 2 minute rest.  Four repatitions of this exersise.  Then on to the next machine, another one designed to pull the one leg back as far as possible, and dont forget I am pulling a knee that had new pieces the muscles on both side have been cut and restructured  as will as about thirty Staples running down the center over the knee cap.  One more exersise to go laying on the mat, pull my leg as far back as possible, this went on for twenty minuts which ended the session and let me tell you I was exhausted.  This is when the day went down hill.  I needed a support hose big enough to go over my knee.  Was told I would have to go down so they could measure my leg.  One of the vounteers was called to push the wheel chair.  The foot piece was way to short so I had to sit with my leg bent, oh will it won't last long, just down and back. last long.  Wrong, when we got down there the volunteer left me in that chair with my leg bent.  That is where I was for almost an hour, and now it gets even worse.  I was called back for the measurment, one look, no tape, he pulled out two pair and put them in a bag saying, "they will put them on up at the ward" no measure and the guy at the desk had not bothered to call a volunteer so I sat another ten minutes. -- Super time by the time I got back to the room.  I ate a few bites of chicken, couple bites of bread, a drink of milk, took my pills and headed to the room.  I am here for the night, exhausted and sore.  --  Start over again tomorrow.

Nov 27, 3013

Best night so far.  Took I pain pill instead of two at ten and slept till 2, trip to the bathroom and then another pain pill and slept to 6 am.  Brushed my teeth and rinsed my face off.  Today is going to be the first shower since this started. right after first pt session.  And I accomplished something else last night, for the first time I picked my left foot up off of the bed and set it on the support pillow with no help from the right foot.  After not being able to lift the right foot for a week, I feel good about that accomplishment.  Time for Breakfast I will be back later.---the good day continues. Very first hunger for over a week, I had a bowl of cerial (more than1/2), 2 bites of a pan cake, a glass of juice, a little piece of bacon.  Back to the room and my nurse, Bill Russell, (did not play basketball and he is a white guy) brought in my pain pills.   I still have not seen the staff Dr about the athletes foot. --  Went to therapy an hour early, by mistake.  But someone went home, so, they ask if I would stay.  Work out was tough. Worked on bending the knee and straightening the leg.  Once it was at the end of my hour they wraped the leg with a cloth that has ice water run through, very cold.  Now back at the room with very little pain.  Good day so far.  --Ate about 1/2 the sandwich for lunch and the fruit, drank the milk.  Two more of the pain pills, that will get me through the second pt.  Back to the room and layed down with an ice bag on my leg.  -- The foot doctor came in and said she was getting me some athelits foot cream.  She also said that the extreme pain that I have lived with in my feet for the last two years is not from the Hammer Toe, but rather some kind of nerve damage and that they would try a couple of different thinks.  This was all extremeley good news to me.  --  Back to the second work out which included deep knee bends, (not very deep) the machine that bens the knee and also going up and down stairs for the first time.  Spent most of the evening in bed, trying to do the flex exersises, watching tv and relaxing.Took the last of my pain pills for the day about ten and fill asleep shortly after.

Nov 28, 2013

Woke at 5 am and took my pain pills, and then for a really good treat I gathered my stuff and headed to the shower.  There are good showers and then there are really good showers, This was really good.  Breakfast was next, ate a little cereal and 1/2 a muffin.  Actually no more than I have been doing it felt good to just relax.  That is really all I did till lunch.  Did not eat much at lunch, a little piece of meat a bite or two of dressing and a cup of pineapple

-- Tom, my brother called and he was going to come by on his way back home after having dinner with Kyle, his son.   And, he is going to bring me a  fresh turkey sandwich.  This he did, the sandwich and a piece of pumpkin pie, terrific.  He also brought a needle nose pliers which enabled me to fix the bluetooth keyboard for my laptop..  no more hunt and peck on the little keys, I hope.  We had a good visit and when he was ready to head home I was going to walk to the elevator with him,  We were ask to step back into the room and stay till notified it was all right to come out.  It lasted about 20 minutes before Tom could leave.  Code black had been called and later I heard that that meant a weapon on our floor.  They never found who what or where the call came from, so all is normal.  Now, I am about to shut down, tomorrow will be another pt day and I am sure will have the pleasure of experiencing some real pain, anyone want to fill in??