All is OK

Hi everyone. Apologies for not updating the blog for 2 weeks. I’ve thought of several excuses that I could use, but the truth is I needed a bit of a break for a while – which I know you will all forgive me for. I was busy for most of the time too – I had company which meant getting out everyday, then I needed a change of scenery to a locale with poor internet access, etc. etc. I don’t like to write blog entries when I’m feeling “blah” because it’s harder for me to find the words to express myself, so I waited until I had some energy and time for myself. This is the first day of my first week completely on my own since the surgery. It’s a daunting week before me. And this non-stop rain is not helping either!!! Am I asking too much for some sun so that maybe I can take a walk outside instead of pacing the kitchen – dining room – living room combination?

The latest on the health front is pretty much the same as when I last posted. I was supposed to have the catheter removed last week, but alas the hole in my bladder still has not healed and so I am stuck with this thing for another 2 weeks. I told the urologist that I’m going to pull it out myself if he doesn’t remove it next time (he knows my history of removing tubes from my body when I’m done with them, so I think I he may believe me). The problem is that the hole has not even gotten any smaller and so removing the catheter puts me at risk for infection. However if it hasn’t healed in 10 weeks (which will be the amount of time by our next attempt) chances are it isn’t going to heal on its own. I’m not certain what the next step will be, and I’m sure he’s not certain either but he’s got 2 weeks to come up with a plan. The hole can’t be fixed from inside the bladder and my adhesions make laparoscopy an impossibility, so the only option is another full blown surgery which neither of us really wants. I’m actually not spending much time or energy thinking about this right now – I trust Dr. Karian’s instincts and will go with whatever he decides as long as it includes me getting rid of this bag.

My leg is still the same – I have about 65% use of it and the rest is going to take a lot of work to get back. I’ve seen my physical therapist once a week, do my exercises two times a day and walk around as much as I can. I still need the brace if I am going to be walking or standing for longer than 10-15 minutes though I down to one crutch most of the time. I bring 2 with me sometimes just to have something to lean on when I get tired, which happens often. I am hoping to begin out patient rehabilitation in the next week or so. There is a facility close by which seems to be approved by my insurance company and will also be a cheaper cab ride for me since that will be my primary method of getting there. The physical therapist I current work with is also based there and I really like him, so I’m hoping the other PTs are just as nice, but also willing to push me hard. I needed to gain physical strength before doing outpatient physical therapy and I think we are all agreed the time is right. I’m looking forward to it and to getting out of the house on a regular basis.

I do have more to report, but I’ll save that for another entry. Thanks to everyone for checking in on me and giving me the nudge I needed to post this latest entry. Until later…