2021: Think Positively for a Better Year!
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Helene, I’m very sorry for your loss, but it is a blessing that her suffering is over. My deepest sympathies to you and your BIL.0
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Thank you for your kind words and support. I’m more at peace today knowing her pain is over. We’re heading over to the funeral home. I’ll probably get weepy over there just because of where we are and what we’ll be discussing. My BIL seems to be doing okay. He said he and my sister had discussed what would happen and what they wanted for final arrangements. I actually helped her write her obituary several weeks ago and picked out a photo that she liked.0
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Helene--I am so sorry about your sister. Prayers for comfort for you and the family. Despite knowing she is no longer in pain, the death is a loss. It is good that you were able to visit and also be with your BIL.0
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I had another OT appointment today. At this point they are working more on my scars than any actual exercises, not that I’m complaining. My therapist today was again blown away by my progress and spent at least 40 minutes working on my scar and showing me how to use silicone strips on them. The last 20 minutes I did some exercises. My next appointment is next Tuesday. In the meantime I have exercises to do at home for range of motion. I still have a fair amount of discomfort in my hand and the elbow is extremely tender, which makes it hard to find a comfortable position for resting my arm.0
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I had another OT appointment today. At this point they are working more on my scars than any actual exercises, not that I’m complaining. My therapist today was again blown away by my progress and spent at least 40 minutes working on my scar and showing me how to use silicone strips on them. The last 20 minutes I did some exercises. My next appointment is next Tuesday. In the meantime I have exercises to do at home for range of motion. I still have a fair amount of discomfort in my hand and the elbow is extremely tender, which makes it hard to find a comfortable position for resting my arm.
I have so much respect for physical therapists and I can't imagine occupational therapists are any less impressive. Being in pain can't be any fun at all but that's great that your therapist is impressed by your progress!!!0 -
My experiences with PT have also been positive. I have a pain free shoulder and knee thanks to my therapists. Seeing more range of motion is pretty exciting. Is the elbow the only place you still have pain? Considering it’s only been a few weeks since the accident, you’re making remarkable progress. When DH had bypass surgery, he worked with OT. She asked what tasks he wanted to do. He likes golf style shirts but he couldn’t raise his arms above shoulder height while recuperating. She taught him a technique to put on his shirt and how to get out of a chair without using his arms to push up. Those techniques made a big difference in his attitude and recovery.0
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Helene, at times my hand is painful as well. My little finger is still numb and doing it’s own thing most of the time, although I can make it bend now. I get pain and a tingling sensation all over my hand some of the time. For the most part I only have pain in my elbow with the rest of my arm only tender around the scar. My scar runs along the outside of my arm from about 3 inches below my shoulder all the way to just above my wrist. The lower part of the scar seems to be a little firmer than the top part, but that’s where the OT spent most of his time massaging it, trying to soften the skin up and avoid adhesions that might impair the nerve. The massage is somewhat uncomfortable when he really got into it, but I'm willing to endure it to keep from having adhesions. The massage is also supposed to help minimize the scar, which I'm all for. I am dreading the phase where they get to add resistance and/or weight to the regimen, but I know it’s necessary. My hand strength, in particular, is extremely weak since the surgery. I can barely open a small chip clip with that hand now.0
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DH had his appendix out years ago. His surgeon told him to put hot compresses on the incision so it would heal flat and smooth. It worked great and you really can’t even see a scar today. If you can get the incision wet, you might want to try it.0
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Apparently the silicone strips work magic on the scars, according to both of the OT people who have worked with me. I also wear a sleeve over them and the therapist said that helps hold them in place as well as generate heat and moisture which helps them work better.
This morning while I was blow drying my hair I realized that it isn’t just my pinky that is numb. That whole side of my hand is also numb. I guess I’ve been so focused on the non-responsive pinky that I never noticed that I couldn’t feel anything on the side of my hand as well. I’m sure it’s all related to the same nerve issue, but it’s definitely weird.0 -
Pam - that definitely sounds weird! I'm so sorry about the numbness and the pain and all of it - all because of one person's stupidity!0
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No celebrating here tonight. I worked this morning, spent the afternoon doing chores, and after dinner put away the Christmas decorations. Looking a little bare around here right now.
There are SO many year end chores to do and I have a ton more than usual since the post office just delivered a whole bunch of CROM mail from - wait for it - October. Normally I'd probably just cash the checks but a lot of the envelopes had raffle tickets so I feel like they paid for something they didn't get I emailed everyone who gave me an email address and sent post cards to everyone else. I'm already hearing back. So apparently the post cards they can get out.
I also got a HUGE pile of returned newsletters with people's new addresses and another pile "unable to forward". So that's more paper work. I know what I'll be doing this weekend.0 -
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Happy New Year, everyone! I haven't done this for years but I stayed up Isee the New Year in. Hopefully, it will be a better year for all of us.
How will I be starting the New Year? I have to go into the hospital for a heart study and tests, as well as changing a med for the AFib. This med requires a hospital stay to observe the impact and any possible danger so they can intervene quickly.
The stay is anticipated to start January 4 which is dependent upon a bed becoming available. We are having a problem with Covid with most hospitalized patients not having been vaccinated. Time will tell. I have my bag packed and ready to go when the hospital calls.
I can start a new yearly thread but months ago I fixed it so any of us could start the thread.0 -
Jean - oh, I'm SO hoping you can get a bed! Sending nothing but the strongest positive thoughts your way.0
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Jean, I’m also sending positive thoughts and prayers for a bed and a successful outcome to your issue.
I would offer to start the new thread, but I have no idea how to do it. I’m also ok with continuing on with this one.0 -
DH's brother and his wife are doing badly enough that they borrowed a pulse oximeter from their sister who's a nurse They waited in line for 3 hours for a COVID test. Why? Who the heck knows? You're either sick enough to go to the hospital or you're not. They are not vaccinated. Now their daughter has gotten sick but we know she's had at least one shot.0
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DH is in disaster prep mode. He LOVES disaster prep. He's reading too much on the internet about how bad the next month might be. Oh, well, it keeps him occupied.0
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Good luck Jean. I hope your procedure doesn’t get delayed by having to wait for a bed.0
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Pam - finally! A recipe I could manage! LOL!!!!0
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Cats rule!0
