Didn't realize it's been almost a year since I last posted.
I need to come here more often. I had to work just to FIND the blog it's been that long.
Not on Social Media as much any more, politics has overwhelmed me. Melissa was so good
about expressing her opinion with facts. I admired that about her. Not going to go into politics on this post, but I WILL go there eventually. Too much going on NOT to.
But I'll start with the most recent excitement at the Fortener's...I had a total hip replacement 3 weeks ago (Feb 3 to be exact)! Received lots of great advice from friends who have had hip replacements - all left me with a positive outlook. No anxiety just ready to get rid of the pain. Had been having hip pain for over a year. Other than limping (which I noticed but no one else did), I never really talked about it. I finally went to the doctor, and PT was recommended first I believe insurance company requires it). PT didn't help. When I finally went back to the doctor end of summer, she said it was time for an x-ray.
X-ray showed osteoarthritis and right hip bone-on-bone. Definitely time for a hip replacement.
When I finally went to Orthopedic Surgeon (same doc who did Donny's rotator cuff surgery in the spring - that's ANOTHER story) I told him I was having pain in my left knee as well. Did an x-ray. Bone on bone. I will eventually need that replaced too, but going to put that off as long as I can.
Before the surgery, I had one person tell me he "walked around the block the day he got home from surgery", and another tell me he "played pickle ball two weeks after surgery!" WOW! This was going to be easier than I thought!
I thought I would be coming home the day of the surgery. So I got a general anesthesia instead of a spinal. One of the side effects of the general was nausea. Surgery only lasted 50 minutes (according to Donny, I don't remember). Not sure how long I was in recovery, but ten minutes out of recovery, PT shows up, stands me up with a walker, and walked me down the hall to a PT room. Stepped up on a platform, and back down (we have one step into our house), then up 5 steps, and back down (we live in a quad level with lots of steps). Passed with flying colors. Thought I would be heading home!
Got back to the room with Donny and Nick, took a drink of water (hadn't had anything to eat for 13 hours) and it came right back up. "Can't send you home if you can't keep anything down". So I stayed. Donny went home to get some real rest, and I spent the night. I should have agreed to that in the first place. Highly recommend staying one night if you ever have this done.
Got a little TLC overnight, and more PT (how to get in and out of the car, and sit on the toilet, specifically!). Ready to go by 10, but I had already ordered lunch so they let me stay a little longer.
I had some great nurses, a great surgeon, but ready to go home. Up and down steps from the day I got home, also got to sleep in our own bed at home! No problems. Pain meds helped me sleep. Felt great.
Surgery was on Monday. Two days later, our last class at UD. (We were moderators for the Adult Continuing Education Classes at University of Dayton with Donny's cousin Ed - that's ANOTHER story). Anyway, I didn't want to miss our last class because we had a special guest speaker that I had been talking to for a few weeks. I told Donny I would decide that morning - if I felt ok, I would go. And I DID! He dropped me off at the front door with my walker. We didn't have to walk far to the elevators to the second floor, then not far from the elevators to our classroom. I felt great and it was good to see everyone.
I really didn't think it would be this easy! Then the block wore off. Thank goodness for the pain meds. I'm not playing pickleball, and I haven't walked around the block yet, but have been to a couple of basketball games. And I finally drove for the first time in three weeks today.
We missed the Notre Dame, Illinois and Akron Pink Games, but hoping to make to a couple games before the end of the season. Then hopefully tournament games.
Also made it to the Fairmont Girls Basketball Banquet, Donny presented the Melissa Fortener McLaughlin B Positive Spirit Award this year. Fairmont is still in the tournament - District Champions. Playing this week in the Regionals. Best chance at a state run in almost ten years!
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