Back to DetCon 7

...having a pretty tough time with my back and my shoulder. Musta been over used! I had a disagreement with Paul on treatment and had no heat before therapy....also not comfortable for my pain level. And I got crazy and I'm still not over it.

I guess I have some thinking to do about continuing with him and his course of treatment............. sigh............Drama Queen

Mark the Date!!

Hey! Finally something really good to report.....I raised my arm over my head almost without stopping. I have a slight hitch in the middle somewhere and I can only do it a couple of times before my muscles start quivering but I am so pleased!! (insert happy face here)....I promptly cut my rehab down to twice a week.....

I was also discharged by Dr. Mazor for my back issues. My muscles are still in spasm some but I feel almost back to normal and I have a few more P.Ts to go. He said finish up the PT and call it a day unless I feel worse at some point. I have to say, he is a very nice guy. You know I'm all about the kind of Doc that doesn't act like God and can relate to me like a person and he was very genuine and kind. I would happily refer friends to him at the Greater Washington Orthopedic Group.

So, if you see my driving by....watch out for a right handed wave....I'm working on it! That Dr. Hottie.....he got skills....

Rehab and Resting

Taking the weekend easy....Colleen worked this morning,so did Sean. So Pat took me out to breakfast. Then I took him out for a haircut...I mean really! He was starting to look like Billy Preston, now he looks like he's back in the Navy.

Rehabbed with Paul 3 times this week. My back is starting to feel better and my arm is getting stronger too. I am keeping up the rehab for 6 more weeks and as I mentioned, not seeing Dr. Stein until December. Nothing much else going on....ttfn! XOXOXOXOX-AL

I am giddy about my visit to see Doctor Hottie today! I coulda kissed him....I even brought my bone stimulator to show to him...he's just so nice and so cute!

Today's visit to Dr Hottie and Friends.....

I must admit that I was a bit apprenhesive today when I was getting ready to go see Dr. Hottie....would he still be his handsome charming self? Would he have some good things to say this time? These and many other questions were going through my head....as I screamed at the traffic and swore at drivers on the beltway and it was really congested as I got closer to the University.....and those students! All walking around and crossing the street like they own the place....anyone ever hear of elevated crosswalks? How unsafe is it now????

Anyway, I pulled into the parking lot just minutes ahead of Dr. Hottie and he jumped out of his car and hollared good morning across the lot....what a nice guy, huh? We walked in together grumbling about the traffic together...he had a 90 minute commute so I shut up....mine was only half that....and he held the door open for me (good manners count! His mother needs a big kudos for that). Look at the picture and tell me what is missing? I will tell you at the end.....you may need to review the previous pics of the Doc to figure it out.

I checked in with the desk and went into handy room Number 1 to await my call for x-rays. Luane was new last time I was there and I guess she is working out since she was still there this time BUT she insists, no photos.....so she will be an enigma for the purposes of this blog.

The x-rays are quick since I just go in and assume the position...you can only be told how to pose so many times before they just don't have to tell you anymore.....and so without any adieu, here they are...









You can click on these and see them closer.....there is some real bone growth on the inside of the bone close to the metal rod....so even though the outside 'v' shaped crack is not likely to heal anymore than it is, the other side is making a connection that will support the hardware and prevent me from having to get a bone graft or more surgery!!! Wahoo! Wahoo! I felt a little like doing a happy dance right there in the office but I think maybe the Doc thinks I'm bordering on certifiable already, so I figured why push it...?

Today we had a guest newbie in training....Dr. Jackie Karp. Isn't she cute? I guess there must some kind of requirement that says all the med students must pass a certain 'cuteness' scale before they are allowed to sign up with UM. Doctor Hottie seems to have a new one each time I come to see him... Seriously, Dr. Karp is a Resident so she is one of the next generation of Ortho Gods and Goddess' from UM.

So, I dazzled the Doc by raising my arm (with the spider walk across my head) over my head and demonstrated that I can use 2 hands to wash my hair!! It's the first time in almost a YEAR....a whole freakin' year!!! I know it doesn't seem like much to all of you with two good arms but let me just tell you....it's a small miracle to me! And the doctor was happy for me...he was almost surprised to see how I could lift my arm up and hold it there....he said it was already an even better outcome than he had hoped for before he operated on the rotator cuff. I feel good about that and I'd like to thank the Academy for choosing to recognize this astounding accomplishment....no really, I have to give kudos to Doctor Hottie. He's not just a pretty face, he's an amazing guy (of course he is from Jersey, so it's practically a given) He has, no doubt, had the love and support of his parents, Mrs. Doctor Hottie and the staff that he has trained to a fine tuned team. God Blessed him with amazing skill and I am so lucky to have found him...! God was looking out for me (he was feeling guilty for knocking my big ass off that ladder)

So, now I will continue working with my therapy team and using my bone stimulator for the next three months and see Dr Hottie just in time for Christmas....I don't go back until Dec 8th. but just before I left, I got to see the pictures of Doctor Hottie's new babys....he has 2 little Pomeranians, a boy and a girl....oh, he was whining a little about the housebreaking but he was beaming when he showed me their picture....I said he was just practicing and just wait if he decides to have a human baby....this will all be good practice. I am feeling really encouraged and might even stop whining so much....XOXOXOXOX :) AL


P.S. Doctor Hottie is missing his......tie! First time I have seen him without one, except for surgery day when he wore his scrubs....he's still cute in a casual kind of way....grrrrrrrr

...and here comes O

Here he is....It's 'O' He was playing shy before and didn't want to have his picture taken but today I followed him around the place until he held still for me to take his picture. He's doing his Eddie Van Halen imitation in the first picture and just being his adorable self in the 2nd one.....someone be sure to tell him that he's the only guy that got 2 pictures on the blog!



I had my therapy session today at 4 and i am going to need to keep going for another 6 weeks....they'll all be good and sick of me by the time I check out!!!

ttfn-XOXOXO-AL

Physical Therapy, the rehab team!!

Ok, it's homage to Montgomery Therapy day.....when you enter the office you are greeted with the lovely office crew....Theresa and Sheena. These are the babes that make it all happen....call to remind me when I have to come across the street, take my money and write me my BIG receipts!! They are sooooooo good. Both are single and ready to mingle....any takers should call 301-417-2652.....and take a number. I have been going to see them for the last month or so about 3 times a week....they are likely getting sick of me.


Once I make it past the front desk, I head for the back to begin my visit. One of the fellas will get my heat packs together and the next ten minutes, I cook on the heat pads.....the one for my back gets pretty hot and sometimes, I have to roll off it before it is done....but the heat loosens everything up nicely and then I am ready to see Paul. The two guys to the right are Minh and Jay and on the equipment (fooling around) is Osirus or just 'O' to me.


There are several therapists at the place but I see the main dude, my own personal Mr. Hottie Therapist, Paul Whittaker.....he's also the President.....I always like to go right to the top.




The ones I like best are below....Elane and Barbara. They don't work on me but they are always there and we chat.....I'm not sure that they have ever had anyone that complains and whines as much as me. I sometimes just say no when O tells me to do something.....and then Mr. Smiley....Paul Whittaker! And they are very hard to photograph.....no one wants their picture taken....I think they afraid they will wind up here and
I will say bad things about them....but I love them all and they have no fear. I almost always feel better after I have been to the office....but every once in awhile it feels like someone has beat the shit outta me after I have been there.

I have to give some props, I washed my hair this week with 2 hands! I know, I know, so what? Well, I was able to use my arm and even though I had to crawl my fingers over my head, once I got my arm up, I could hold it there and use 2 hands to wash my hair!! It's been just short of a year since I could do that....baby steps, but it is progress and I am feeling hopeful. Now as long as I could just grow some bone.....I'll be all set.

I will update after my visit to Dr Hottie on Tuesday the 15th. I will be sure to get a picture of the x-ray so you can see if there is some improvement....until then XOXOXOXOOX - Anne

Lots of Catching Up to do....

Wow....sorry kids. I'm not sure what happened but I seem to have lost control of keeping up.

OK, my arm? Still progressing...in physical therapy now for my shoulder and I am also seeing them for my neck and back from the accident. Lots of heat, massage and stretching for the back and neck and some beginning exercises for the shoulder and I got my bone stimulator!!

After much adieu with the insurance people and the doctor's office, the Smith & Nephew rep, Alisha brought me my Exogen Ultrasound Bone Healing System. Isn't she cute? She is holding the box over her baby bump...she's being shy. Alisha came to my office and showed me show to hook up and use the system. She reviewed the data which shows measurable difference in as little as 3 weeks but usually closer to 6. I am excited to give it a try....anything is better than another surgery.....no offense Dr. Hottie but I have kinda had enough of the whole shoulder/arm thing.....

So I have used my machine 9 times....it will be 11 by the time I see the doctor on Tuesday........everyone say a prayer. I'm out for now....will post from PT shortly.

XOXOXOXOX - Anne

well.....I DO have my car back

BUT....the electrical system keeps losing the lights on the dash
but i have been assured it has nothing to do with the repair
work....huh? The final bill for my car...$5800.
Good thing I drive a tank or it might have been much worse...
tomorrow I go see Paul, my physical therapist, ready to get this
party started, finally...I will post tomorrow to let you know how it
goes... XOXOXOXOX-AL

Worried that I am neglecting my readers...

Just haven't been feeling it this week. Mostly resting when I get home...wish i could sleep more but that is not in the cards for me...I'm hanging in and waiting for some changes, any time soon. Wish I had something positive to add but not yet......XOXOXOXOXO - AL

Beautiful Sunday Morning....

i didn't sleep any better than usual but my girlee has a job (trainee status, day 3) my Boy Scout is home from camp, my hot tub has been drained, cleaned and refilled and I have fresh bagels for breakfast.....I have to go with the flow. Last night I stopped at Mayne's farm for some fresh sweet corn....OMG, it was sooooo good!! They're in Adamstown, if you are up that way, it is worth a stop.
Everyone have a good weekend...XOXOXOXOX - AL

So, it's the weekend again

I am ready for some rest and relaxation...it's been a hard week. Not much bone growth
going on in the arm at Tuesday's check up, so I will be resting and taking it easy for the next 6 weeks so we can get something going.

On a lighter note, we saw Pat's nephew Joey, who came into town for a training seminar down by Ft. Meyer. Last time I saw him he was 14, the same age Sean is now.....and now he is a 1st Lieutenent in the Army, working on his Master's, married with a baby and another one on the way....time flies. We had some pizza and maybe a beer or two.....he is old enough now (I asked him for ID)......he just looks like a sweet baby faced boy.....

My boy scout is still up in the Pennsylvania woods with his peeps. Did he call his mother? Ease my fears or worries....NO!!! Not one text or call for the whole damn week, I don't care how old you are....you need to keep in touch with your Mother!!! Just wait until he gets home....

So, resting and trying to take it easy. Everyone have a good one...write soon. XOXOXOXO-AL

August 4th with Dr. Hottie and Friends...

Ok, here I am at the Doctor's office on August 4th. This is my regular post-op check up after surgery.....We had a guest Doctor come to hang out at the office today. That fine young MD-in-Training is Dr. Wilkerson, he is usually with Dr. Murthi, the other half of the Kernan Hospital World Renown Shoulder Team!! He is hanging with Dr. Stein while Dr. Murthi is taking some vacation time......Isn't my Doctor Hottie a nice guy....mentoring the young staff.....and always looking so darn jovial doing it.

Dr. Hottie is checking out the newest x-rays looking for bone growth and concentrating very hard on his assessment.....isn't he cute when he thinks?

You can see my x-ray on the screen but it is no different than the

one a few weeks ago, so I didn't do what I like to call "the traditional screen shot"...you'll have to wait until September when I go back again.

Nothing new to report this time. Filed an appeal with my insurance for the Bone Stimulator that he wants me to use and they are not satisfied that I have been without growth long enough.....so we will see if they come through in time to get some growth going before my next appointment.

My back and neck are tight and killing me....I got a refill on my muscle relaxer so I am hoping that I will feel a bit of relief tonight...I think I'm gonna have to head back to Dr. B to have him assess my neck/back.....I know the x-rays were negative but it hurts to get up and down and it is really killing me to use that little rental car....the seat is killing me. I called to complain to Enterprise Rent-a-Car. They were very responsive.....NOT.....didn't bother to call me back.

Perhaps this is enough whining for now....I love you all, pray for me to have patience and to persevere. XOXOXOXOXOXOX - AL

Seeing Dr. Hottie again tomorrow

It's been another week of sleepless crappy nights and pain in my neck, arm and back.....my shoulder is doing that stinging thing and I guess it does not bode well for my rotator cuff...I've been out of muscle relaxers for 4 days and miserable since...I am not sure that I am ready to talk to the Doc tomorrow...I think my 'bad news room' is all full up for this year already.

I do love the Doc though, he is the best. He ordered me a bone stimulator but the insurance company denied it....there hasn't been a long enough period of no bone growth....I guess 10 months doesn't cut it....I informed them that they were not the primary for the first two surgeries and they can pull those records to see that there has been no bone growth for all those long crappy months. My appeal has been filed with the Medical Review board....la-de-freakin'-da.......I am really tired, tired of the pain, tired of the stress, tired of the insurance, tired of the co-pays, and tired of it all. I believe that I am in need of prayer. I've been operating on the premise that this is God's plan and that there is some lesson I need to learn or some suffering that I need to endure to fulfill that plan but I am just a weak whiney human, not sure how much more I am supposed to endure......Now that was a colossal WAH, WAH, WAH!!!! XOXOXOXOXOX - AL

Our Time off in Virginia Beach

Ah, the beach....seems so long ago now that we were there and things were so relaxed and happy....The picture of Pat, Colleen and I was from Sunday, our last day, in the pool is at the SunSpree, our hotel









The kids are posing outside 'Catch 21' at the Hilton on 30th Street.
We didn't eat there but it is next to the Main bandstand and the big King Neptune statue.


These are all the pics of the cooling off at the SunSpree pool and looking out from our balconey. We were right over the lobby and had a great view of the pool and the 'Coconuts Bar' (their version of a Tiki Bar) .....our favorite bartender, Anna Marie, is in the top shot with Colleen and Sean. The only thing that could make it better was if you could swim up to it instead of having to get out......did I mention it was cold? Really, the water was cold and the nights were downright cool.....had to buy the brats sweatshirts when it dipped to the high 50's overnight. Is anyone sure it is July???


This is me shopping a the 'Good Sports Gear' store on 30th. I got Pat a Green Bay Packers flag for his car....like he needed anything else to hang on there with Green Bay written on it....but they have a great fan shop right there across from the Hilton and we found some Packer garb there last year and couldn't resist looking for some more for this year.....sort of his consolation prize for

"Hey, thanks for sharing your room with us....sorry you were working 10 or 12 hours days but we had a good time, Dad!"
Pat did get to go with us to dinner twice and he took Sunday off and hung at the pool with us, so we had a little quality time......we walked around on Monday, checked out of the hotel, took the trolley to 14th Street, got taffy and walked all the way back to 36th to get the car after stopping at 'North End Pizza' for lunch on the way out..... That covers the vacation.....you know what happened next (BOOM) and my car goes in the shop on Monday (finally). See ya XOXOXOX-AL

I was watching Letterman....

...and Dave is whining about having a cold and a 103.2 fever. He has been whining all week....just so you know I am not the only one out there whining at my age about my ills!! Since I'm watching Letterman you can deduce that I am not sleeping....~sigh~......so it goes. XOXOX - AL

Another Visit with Dr. Stein......July 21

Today I went to see Dr. Hottie and the staff at University of MD Orthopedics today. Dr. Stein wanted to be sure that all was still good with the repair work after the car accident.


That first picture is Hope from the Doc's College Park office. She is calling my loser insurance company to ask about a new treatment that the doctor wants to use.

Here's the 'A' Team working hard and updating my info. Dr. Hottie was looking fine in his light green shirt with green striped tie...musta worn that since I was coming and green is my favorite color...not to mention an homage to my Irish heritage....he's so thoughtful....

I don't want to leave out the x-ray crew, Beth and Russell....and my latest x-ray of hardware.




I assume I should stop the whining and suck it up but I am not feeling that yet. I have gone thru a muscle relaxer, sleeping tabs and now a new relaxer to get the cramp in my neck and shoulder blade to ease up....I'm not having any fun here.....

I'll let you know if anything new comes up but it has taken me over a week to get this posted...I am just not myself. I'll post a vacation picture or two next time....Wah, Wah, Wah......AL

Another date with Dr. Hottie

...Tomorrow I see the Doc to check on his handiwork. He's gonna double check all the hardware and make sure playing bumper cars in the Tunnel didn't undo any of his hard work. Hope to God the rotator cuff didn't let go.

I spoke to the claims adjuster today and explained my arm repair and that it needs to be checked. He didn't seem to like that much since I already went to the primary care doc and got a million x-rays. BUT then I don't understand about this personal injury protection stuff....they send me a check and I have to pay the doctor and the x-rays and stuff....huh? I am in the dark on this crap.....just sitting in my chair all day made my back hurt and I came home and took to my bed....maybe I'm just resting up for the doc, right?

So, what do I do next? Anyone have some input?
XOXOXOXOX - AL
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

No Rest for the Weary or Wicked

6 a.m. Sunday. Been tossing since 4. Back, neck, hips and knee are killing me. Is this the 'pain and suffering' portion of this car accident? It sucks...nobody but Starbucks and IHOP workers should be up at this time. I'm gonna have to break down and take a big P Pill to help with this pain!

Wah, Wah, Wah on Sunday. XOXOXOXO - AL
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Weekend is Here!!!

Gonna lay in the bed and try to rest....smell like Ben Gay and have the heating pad attached to my neck.....I know, I know...15 on, 15 off. Waiting for the guys to rehab the hot tub so I can get a good soak on the back, neck and arm!!

The muscle relaxer is not doing anything. I take it at night, go to sleep for a couple hours, toss turn, whine and then drift off again for awhile but I am stiff as a board trying to get up in the morning....I feel like I'm a hundred....Dr. B said the bruises and swelling will likely go away within a week....he's not gonna send me to PT since I am not in PT for the arm yet and he doesn't want to mess with Dr. Hottie's area. SO, it's rest and heat and rest somemore....sounds like a quiet weekend for me. It started to rain on my way home so when I got here, I had to have Sean run out with the duct tape and cover the trunk. It can rain right into the trunk where the biggest part of the buckle is.

If you see my beautiful Buick Lacrosse, please look from the front....if you look from the back, you might think Jeff Foxworthy is driving it.....it has duct tape on it, that's like a Red Neck calling card.....maybe I could find a trailer to park it next to until it gets fixed....~sigh~

Have a good weekend.....XOXOXOXO - AL

....here comes insult to injury

I took my car to get an estimate today...ouch, $3905.50 and perhaps a little more once they pull the bumper and check the underneath....glad it's not going against my insurance. I got my x-rays back and there is no breakage or fractures....there is swelling and inflammation and oh man, am I sore.

Dr. B gave me the same meds that he gave Birdie after her car wreck and he told me it would help me relax and sleep. I asked Birdie, hey, how did that med work for you? I told her I got a 3 hour stretch of sleep before I was up again and she told me she slept for 12 hours.....WHAT?!?!? How does that work? I must be doing something wrong....

Out for tonight, the best thing to leave you with is....Tomorrow is FRIDAY!!!! Yeah. XOXOXO - AL

Anyone need a light? 20 X-Rays later, I am glowing in the Dark!

Ok, I gave up this afternoon and went to see Dr. B to find out if I was going to die....he thinks not. I got stiffer and more crampy as the day wore on and I figured to be sure I needed a real medical opinion..... just because I seem to spend all my time at the doctor's offices, does not make me the expert...Dr. B wanted to be sure, so he poked and prodded (ouch) and said the inflammation and swelling are in the soft tissue and should pass but sent me for x-rays. Can't do PT because I still haven't started it for my arm. So x-rays......cervical spine, thoracic spine, right shoulder and right arm. I had the pleasure of being only the 2nd person x-rayed with SGRA's new digital equipment and if they took one x-ray, they took twenty. I had to keep telling the tech not to push on my shoulder and yank on my arm. I wanted to see the arm picture but they wouldn't let me look...I wanted to check for my 'white whispies' to make sure they didn't break off during the bumping and slamming...I've become quite attached to the little fellas....heal, baby, heal!

I have sore spots where I didn't know I had spots! I believe that getting old is hell, bad luck is hell and I need a break. Karma is kicking my ass and I am a pretty nice person....really, ask anyone! I have to soothe that freakin Murphy fella and get the little bastard off my back....

I have a new drug to try tonight, it's supposed to relax me and help me get some sleep. Dr B thinks less percocet is better and a full up muscle relaxer is too much....so, I will take one and let you know tomorrow if it worked....or maybe at 4 in the morning, if it doesn't. I guess I will get some feedback from the x-ray peeps too.

On to the car....looks pretty awful in the daylight! OMG, and the insurance company from the dude that hit me, forget it.....I have to go to a shop that they have on payroll, they decide what it will cost and they will send me a check. Then I can take it anywhere I want to......what if the Buick dealer says it is more? Then I can only get the repairs done on a Monday or Tuesday and all the replacement parts must be ordered and in stock before I can drop my car off, if I want a rental car.....I have never heard of such a pile! Oh excuse me, young Mr. Navy Seal Man....you need an upgrade dude.....You hit me so hard the word 'Nissan' transferred onto my bumper....I'm thinking you were texting and smoking your ciggy and not paying attention when you should have...I'm lucky you weren't going any faster....

I'm taking my crabby sore ass to bed now to see if I can sleep tonight....Does anyone know if that "Boy in the Bubble" movie prop bubble is available? Not sure if I shouldn't start considering some alternate safety methods......no ladders....no driving in the tunnel.....etc, etc.

A lot of Wah, Wah, Wah and some love....XOXOXOXOXO - AL

Murphy's Law Bites...

I feel a little like Andy Rooney..."Didya ever wonder why.....Murphy's Law always seems to get you in the end?" Who the hell is Murphy and how is it that I seem to have pissed on his corn flakes? Is it the Irish in me? Is he out get one of his own? I'm a peace-loving, reasonable Irish-Catholic girl that plays by the rules, what the hell did I ever do to Murphy?

There are plenty of other natural enemies of the Irish....what happened Murph? Run out of ancestors of the British oppressors to wreak havoc upon? There would seem to be a quota that I should have met and/or exceeded by now....please check the records and move on.....can't get blood from a stone, canya?

The weather at the beach, perfect.....lunches, beers and maybe a shot or two of Patron at the Tiki bar.....$200......preps for the trip, new swim gear, shorts, #50 Sunscreen, etc......$350.......hotel bill for 7 glorious days at Virginia Beach....$1100......getting rear-ended in the Hampton Roads Tunnel on the way home in rush-hour traffic by a guy young enough to be my son? PRICELESS, just freakin priceless! (Dude did not apologize either, I need to call his mother to ask about his upbringing)

Thanks Murphy....woulda been perfect without you.... (oh and did I mention, my freakin arm hurts??? (Andy Rooney again) Didya ever have to stop short in traffic and as you are braking glance in the rear view mirror, realize the guy behind you is not going to stop in time? I think that is how most injuries happen....that last 2 seconds when you tense up to get hit.....'Oh, hello Dr. Hottie....it seems there's been a little accident with all your hard work....') Boo-freakin-hoo! OXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX - AL

Short Week and Heading for the Beach

Quiet Sunday morning, just me and that guy on CBS "Sunday Morning" with the bowtie.... lots of snoring going on here.

We had a nice BBQ up at Birdie and Rich's house yesterday....good food and good weather. Since it was supposed to rain, we bailed on the Baker Park outing to see the Fireworks and hit the 270 display instead. As we drove home, we came into Gaithersburg right as their display started and watched from 270. People are crazy...there were cars driving 35 miles per hour on the freeway while they tried to watch....and find places to pull over. There had to be 300 cars illegally parked on the sides of the road...people out of their cars and sitting on the ground at NIST...talk about a traffic hazard!?!?!? We kept driving and could see the fireworks from the City of Rockville the rest of the way from 370 to Gude drive...got caught at the redlight and saw the finale....what's not to like?

Short week for me, heading to the beach on Wednesday with the kids. Pat is going down for work and we will take advantage of having the room by sitting at the Tiki Bar and hanging at the pool....it would be such a waste for him to go alone while we just sit at home, right? Carolyn will cover for me at work and I am looking forward to turning off my 'crackberry' for a few days....just wondering how sexy I'm gonna look with my sling on with my swim suit...at least it's black and should match but might get hot....could require me spending a lot of time under the Tiki Bar shade, hummmm, it gets thirsty under there...

That's it for this Sunday morning...be well and be happy....I'm trying XOXOXOXOXOXOXO - AL

Happy 4th of July

It's been a busy week and I have neglected the blog....I have been at work all week and I am getting used to the set-up with the laptop. It makes a huge difference not to have to reach up for the mouse and keyboard.....can't fault the bosses, they have done everything to make me comfortable. Still get pretty sore by the end of the day but Pat and the kids have been good about making dinner and helping clean up.....they probably think that they are earning points in heaven by being good to me.

Just hanging out and trying to get by, looking forward to the long weekend. XOXOXOXOX or Wah, wah, wah.....AL

Late at Night

When it is this late and I am still awake or awake again, I wonder what it is, in the Grand Cosmic Scheme of things, that I ever did or said to deserve this....? I just can't fathom......nor can I be thankful enough that I am getting great medical care, over and over. I have been pretty flip about it but I know that my Surgeon had his hands full and did a lot of work. But its 2:30 a.m. again.....and here I sit with the infomercials and wait for sleep to come back....~sigh~...

I think my new sign off has to be 'Wah, Wah, Wah' instead of XOXOXO - AL
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Lesser of Two Evils?

Which is worse when you can't sleep? Waking up at 2:30 a.m. and then tossing and turning for a couple hours......or sleeping from 1 to 5:45 and then laying here awake in the wee hours watching a new day dawning?

There's only Sham-WoW commercials in the middle of the night but waking up before 6 makes for needing a nap around noon....ruins the whole day. Wah, Wah, Wah....I'm at it again.

XOXOXOXO - Anne
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Need a Rest

SO glad it is the weekend. My arm hurts, I have a headache and even though I have a laptop to work on, my back hurts from slumping over.....are you starting to get the feeling that I am just a whiner? (I am). XOXOXOXO - AL
Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Back to Work.....

Went back to the office today. Carolyn hooked me up with a laptop that runs through my desktop and it seems to have worked out pretty well today.....I was a bit tired by about 1 and my arm started to ache pretty steady about 3....I made it all the way to 4 and I had to bail out. I got home at 4:25 and took a big pill and got an ice pack....ouch, ow, ouch! Needs a little time to kick in....

But wanted to say, I got back to work and hopefully, I will feel a little better every day. XOXOXOX- AL

oh....the Drama goes on

Today I went to see Dr. Stein, aka Dr. Hottie. Traffic was surprisingly light for all the warnings of mass confusion with the Metro wreck last night...BUT I forgot my camera so there are no new pictures for this visit...sniff...sniff

I had another very nice visit to College Park to see Dr. Hottie. We checked in with Hope and went to Exam Room 2, a new treat! We've always had Exam Room 1 before. Had a lovely new x-ray that shows some very thin whisps of white 'fluff' (highly technical terminology) that look to be propagating thru the gap to form new bone...the graft material is still hanging there around the 'fix' helping it along. I have to admit, I was hoping to see a more definitive connection....I guess I think I am still young enough to heal in that 6 to 8 week window that everyone seems to quote.

The term for the problem with the previous repair of the broken humerus work is called nonunion'....and no, that does not mean I haven't paid my teamsters dues, it means a failure of the bone to heal back together at the break. The titanium rod that I had installed on the 1st surgery, Sept 25, never really allowed the break to heal....and now....all these months later, I have a smaller piece of hardware with many more screws and a better shot at a solid repair,
if my old bones will just cooperate!

Dr. Hottie, he knows I love him...he's just so damn cute and even in the face of my taunting and teasing, he is professional and I have the utmost faith in his ability, I'm just worried I am too old and have crappy bones that won't heal. So, six more weeks in the sling, only allowed to work on this old laptop (much to Sean's chagrin-it's his), due to the mousepad instead of a regular mouse and a lower, smaller keyboard....I emailed Carolyn at work to see if there is one I can use at the
office so I can go back to the office even if I need to find a chair with a coffee table-style set up. I miss the kids the kids at work.....who knew? The office interaction is a big part of my day, plus I need to learn the new software for the sourcer/recruiters, so I can start helping more with that.

The long term prognosis is still good...but it may be as long as 6 months before we know if the surgery for the break was a complete success...Remember....I am a BIG SHOULDER SURGERY according to Dr. Hottie and Dr. Happy Hour!! As if there was any other way to be....!?!?!? XOXOXOXO - AL

Worrying about Tomorrow...

my arm hurts and I am worried about going to the doctor tomorrow. I am
scared there is something wrong or going wrong. I know it didn't hurt this
much in the 'break' area the first time out and that is making me nervous....
besides, there are those little stabbing pains and lots of numbness
involved...need a prayer that everything is healing ok and this nightmare
is almost over.

I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow afternoon or so.

XOXOXOXOXOX- AL

It's my Anniversary

Exactly nine months ago today, I left the house early with my helper (Sean) to go scrape and repaint the wrought iron on the sign that has become my downfall....we had our supplies, we had our ladder, took the Rendezvous to make sure it all fit....then, an hour into the mission, karma bit me in the ass. Ok, so, maybe I should have heeded the advice of the ladder (Do NOT Stand above This Step...and THIS IS NOT A STEP) and maybe stayed off my toes while on said non-step but I digress....that is all ancient history now....the only thing left is the telling of the tale and the sling I am still sporting on my arm.

I believe that everything happens for a reason and maybe this is some kind of penance for mis-deeds done in my reckless (or maybe feckless) youth??!?!? ~Sigh~ God could have gone with some retribution earlier for all that, no? When I was younger and could heal better??? No slack for the formerly wicked? Well, the rain makes my shoulder hurt, the hot tub makes it feel better, sleep is elusive and uncomfortable and I am I crabby, tired of being tired and ready to be healed! Who would think I miss going to work, working from here is boring.....

Post op with Dr. Hottie will be the highlight of the week. Will update after I see him on Tuesday!!
XOXOXOX - AL

Tingling....and not in a good way

...well, i might call it more like 'nerve stabbings' but this unusual phenomena has started happening at different times and it is like a brief stabbing-stinging feeling on the inside of my arm near the elbow joint....could the nerves be re-generating themselves? It previously was numb and now at the weirdest times, I will yell 'ouch' because it is almost like a little electrical shock....very strange....anyone know what that's about?

I went for my first foray into the hot tub last night....achy muscles felt so good when I was done. I have missed that little bit of relaxation time to myself....no one else wanted to go outside, too much surfing on the web to be done. I jumped in the shower after and climbed into bed and slept for almost 3 hours straight! Damn near a record at this point....didn't even stay up to watch Conan....maybe tonight. XOXOXOXO - AL

Has it really been that long?

Getting ready to celebrate a wedding anniversary...mine......well, mine and Pat's. We will hit 30 years on Monday. I must have been hit in the head somewhere along the line to have been married this long and have only a vague idea that so many years have passed....selective memory? Or has it just been that much fun that time has flown past and I didn't even know it? Who thought I'd have a kid out of high school and one going in? Pat's a good guy, he has been putting up with some pretty temperamental crap from me since September when this all started....kudos to him for not killing me by now. (and it's not because I am not worth more alive either)

Shoulder has been hell for a few days now. Only feels better when I am in bed with it propped up and pain killers are on board...running about a 3.5 on the pain scale (That's the pouty face) and only had one night of full sleep (full means only getting up to medicate) this week. Wonder if I will ever have a real sleep pattern again. If you sleep crappy for 10 months to a year, does that become a habit??? Or at some point, perhaps I will return to 'normal' (using the term loosely)?????

It's Saturday and it's time for a big pill....night. XOXOXO - AL

Shoulder's afire

Back to work this week but man, oh man....mousing makes my shoulder feel like it's on fire. I'm not sure if it is because I have the super sling on and I have to lift the whole arm to move the mouse around or what but OMG....by the late afternoon, it hurts! I even emailed 'Athena, the Greek Goddess' to whine to someone who has to listen (it's her job)...

Here is a current picture of my glamorous self. I know, ggggrrrrrr, that animal print night shirt really does for you, doesn't it? I haven't cut my hair, that is my Pebbles Flintstone pony tail on top of my head....keeps the hair off my neck and out of my brace.....and that's some brace, huh? Betcha wish u had one too?!?!

I shared the following story with Athena today....when I saw Dr. Hottie for my post-op on May 26th, he wrote me a 'script for pain meds. I took that to the pharmacy this weekend to get it filled. The pharmacist asked me "which one of these guys is your doctor?" and all I could think of was Dr. Hottie.....there are like 8 or 10 names on the Rx pad....about 30 seconds later I came up with Stein, Jason Stein (said it like Bond, James Bond)....I guess I should lose the habit of assigning random nicknames to people....~sigh~time to act normal? No freakin way....!! Pass the Percocet.....XOXOXOXOXO - AL

Ouch...working at a desk hurts

Graduation Weekend from Hell.......Sean Graduated on Saturday from Saint Mary's and Colleen did the same from Rockville High on Tuesday...parties on Saturday and lunch out on Tuesday and very little pain meds on board.....means sore arm, sore shoulder, sore tempered Mom!


I made it back to the office on Wednesday June 3 and it hurts.....hurts to move the mouse around and as much as i have adjusted up and down the chair and the mouse, I can't seem to find a good spot. I complained about the laptop and the little mouse pad that is built in but if you have limited movement of a hand, that little bitty pad makes it really easy to handle the mousing part of the computer work....but I can hang with it for most of the day and then I have been leaving early to go home and take a big pill to stop the spasms in my shoulder blade.....ouch.

But the bright side is tomorrow is Friday and then I have a few days off to rest and whine at home....The tingles are about the same but might have spread a bit....the front half of the arm is still numb but the area where the original break was/is in my upper arm is still pretty sore...like bruised sore....although the biggest bruise is down to a puky yellow color now....nothing else new for now......XOXOXOXOXO - AL

Healing Continues

Well, here's the new look....The first shot is the shoulder incision and it is looking good....a little sore still but the divot that appeared after the infected stitch (or whatever it was) came out after the 2nd surgery is not there any more. It has some peely skin but the underneath bit is nice and smooth. It looks like one long scar but it is really 2 cuts one after the other.




This pic and the one after are the new cut on the back of my arm. That is where the new plate was put in to fix the break that didn't heal with the titanium rod, aka 'Nail'. Dr. Stein had to go fishing to thread my nerve (the main one that runs down your arm) out of the scar tissue and free it to heal again and hopefully the break will too.


This is almost the same shot but you can see the puckers a little better....those are from the staples and when the little scabs that are there dry up and come off, it will start getting dosed with some Bio-Oil or Maderma Scar Ointment or something....I'm not too vain but I will try to give it a little help to look a bit better.



And Since I have been such a good camper and I have been wearing my sling
and behaving like a good patient, Big Daddy Ledger let me get my pedicure updated so at least my toes look groovy....I got a French so it just looks fresh and clean.....I do love the pampering of getting my feet done....it's my favorite thing. These are my toes pictured up against Sam, my Shitz-a-Poo (cocker-poo/Shiz Tsu mix) my personally coined phrase for my mutt...but I love my little Sammy-Sam....he sleeps in the small of my back and keeps me warm. After all three surgeries, he has spent endless hours laying with me on the bed and worrying about me....and licking my cotton blanket....he has some kind of a fetish. Freaky little dog!!

I'm out for now....XOXOXOXOXOXOXO AL

I feel tingles......

And they are not the kind you like. These are the ones that feel like something is touching you. Do you ever get a hair on you or walk through a spider web...it feels a little like that. It's on the back of my arm near my elbow...just like your arm is asleep and the blood is just starting to flow, sort of..and I have more pain since I have the busy Graduation Weekend and I was cutting back on the pain meds.

So, I emailed the Greek Goddess. Athena and asked her to pass along a question to Dr. Hottie (this makes me appear more normal, going through the traditional channels used in these situations and Hopefully, less like the stalker I am becoming). Anyway, Dr. Prince Charming Himself called me back to answer my questions.... I feel so special, really, I do...

Anyway, the tingling may or may not come back more or less as the swelling goes down and the nerve endings come back to life or have the pressure taken off of them....either way, it's all good. Due to the 'Big Shoulder' repair that I am, it's too soon to cut back the meds, so, pass me a couple of percocets and some water please....

Dr Hottie is such a regular guy, he said he understood I had a lot of 'goings on' this weekend and that he remembered when he graduated from high school in New Jersey that it was a big deal...JERSEY!?!?! R U KIDDING ME?!?!?! I think I said,, 'shut up, you are not from Jersey, I'm from Jersey.....and then I said I was from Edison' and Dr. Hottie said 'No Way, He graduated from JP Stevens,' the arch nemesis of my high school, Edison High!!!! His 'rents still live near the mall I used to hang out at when I was a hoodlum in Edison....Can anyone believe this? 7 Degrees of Separation?....maybe we are both related to Kevin Bacon too? I'm floored....I didn't mention that I would have been at high school while he was still in diapers but I digress....

I needed to live all over the world and settle in Maryland to meet a handsome hometown fella to bail out my shoulder.....I keep hearing the theme to 'The Twilight Zone' running thru my brain.....I am overwhelmed...and a little freaked out.

At the same time, Rockville High School is holding the Senior Prom tonight. Colleen left for dinner before the prom almost the same time as we left for St. M's. She looks all grown and girlie. I'll post her pic tomorrow after I get my camera back from her. She graduates at Strathmore Center on Tuesday at 10 in the morning.

Just took a big pill to help the tightness in the arm, we just got back from the 8th Grade Awards and Graduation Dinner....very sweet, very sappy, and a little sad. Most of these kids have been together since 2000 and now they are all headed in their own directions....We love Sister C, she has been the best to us and Sean....He had to read a little bit during their 'thank you' presentation and he said, 'Sister Carol was a big influence in his life and she would probably still be for the rest of his life' and she yelled from her table 'you bet I will, I'm not done with you'.....big laugh around the room. She's the best. Anyway, long day and another for tomorrow...

I'm dimming the lights and headed for an early night....now I just hope I can sleep. XOXOXOX-AL

Post Op Day - May 26

YEAH! It's the post op visit to the College Park office is today at 9:20....I wish we had gassed up the Ark because it is raining cats and dogs and you would think no one driving had ever seen a rain drop b4... Drivers here are likely the worst anywhere (and I've been around the block) if it rains or God forbid, snows, everyone forgets how to drive. Anyway, Pat was driving (argh) and we were in bumper-to-bumper all the way there....good thing no one was going to check my blood pressure...

Anyway, we arrived about 5 minutes late but the office looked like a shoulder refugee center...three other peeps in there sporting their very attractive "SlingShot2" slings with bolsters...I was feeling like we were all in a gang, sporting the colors...black (good choice) with blue and white lettering.....all good with me.

Shortly, I was called into the office by the Nurse and given one of those groovy hospital gowns to change into. Lucky me, I as wearing a t-shirt and shorts so, it was just had to shed the shirt and bra. Then off to the x-ray office....

Enter the smiley X-ray tech that makes you twist and hold your arm in ways that wouldn't have been much of problem 8 months ago, but at the moment seem to make you cross your eyes with pain....oops,
can't see all the staples....need one more shot please....ouch!!! Then voila, here's the cool hardware x-ray.....



If you click on it, you can see it closer and you can almost count the 55 staples in my skin....they are pulling and itchy...




So, we were going to wait....Sean came along with Pat and I and he was digging the x-ray shots...those were loaded on the Doc's computer in the exam room and I just shot the screen....I'm sure digital info would be clearer, but whatever....I was waiting patiently....The Patient with Patience....damn I'm so good!! Look at that patient shot
of me waiting for the doctor. I was singing 'Nobody knows the troubles I've seen....nobody knows my sorrows'...... I guess Colleen the Drama Queen does get some of her theatrics closer to home than I was willing to admit. Sean was busting my chops because I had to use the step stool to get on the table without having to hop....who said kids were allowed to get taller than their parents and then have the audacity to point it out and laugh??? (Obviously, someone did not beat the children in this family enough....Pat???)

Enter, Doctor Hottie! Ah, a feast for the eyes...looking good on Tuesday...well, ok, everyday...gggrrrrrrrrr
Here he is looking very serious at my charts and data... I think he might be a little camera shy.... he examined his handiwork and then (GASP) agreed to remove the staples!! ALL 55 of the little metal bastards! YEAH...we got a staple remover and some steri-strips and got busy. If you have never had staples, they don't really hurt coming out but as soon as they are out, there is a little sting....so multiply that by 55 times and I was done a little whiney but done...I equated the feeling to getting your ears pierced with a piercing gun and Dr. Hottie was having a macho moment and said "well, i don't know about pierced ears because I never did that, but I have removed staples from my own knee and I know what that feels like"....shades of Dr Hunt stapling his own thigh on 'Greys Anatomy'...~sigh~

We had talks about driving (once I am narcotic free..as if) and returning to work and typing and wearing the sling. I can try the typing thing, I have to stay in the sling as is for a month and then we'll revisit it and working is as I tolerate, starting slowly. I have been working this week from home since it is easier to not have to get dressed and drive and sit in a chair, etc....Working here, I can lay down if my arm starts to hurt, so there are those pluses...

...and this is the face of the happy doctor as we are leaving...I'm not sure he has had as 'vocal' (read big mouth) a patient in his care before me and I did remind him again that he was going on my blog.....I asked the Greek Goddess to forward him the link so he can read up on his fame in my exploits...

Next follow up, 1 month!! Wow! See how he trusts me to behave? So, no physical therapy yet, no using the arm except for typing or
holding anything smaller than a cup of coffee... I'll just be happy sipping a Starbucks Grande (small) and letting everyone else do the work!

Post when there are changes... XOXOXOXOX - AL

UN-Memorable Memorial Day Weekend

I remember family coming and going....Sean went on a Boy Scout Bike Trip in the Appalachian Trail and was gone for the whole thing....Colleen fetched Diet Cokes and I watched everything on the TiVo....I napped, took some percocet, had lunch, took some percocet, had dinner with the family on Sunday, after they all worked their butts off helping in the yard and putting in my tomato plants for me. Big thanks to Birdie, Rich and Woopoo for all their hard work....oh....and I might have had a percocet or two...

Pat put on his grilling skills and bbq'd up some burgers, brats and dogs and a good time was had by all. Tuesday is First Post Op day so I will have more pics to post and report on...so, until then-XOXOXOXOX AL

The Greek Goddess, aptly named

Dr. Hottie's Office Goddess, Athena.... Quite a looker, huh? I was needing some eye candy for the boys that are reading along.....so how'd I do? I have been assured that is grape juice she is taste testing....uh, yeah right.

Athena has been immeasurably helpful for the nervous, neurotic patient that I have become. Once upon a time, I was just like the rest of you....not afraid, young, seemingly immortal, lively....now I try to schedule my surgeries around vacation times and long weekends so I will be less of an imposition....it sucks to get old and break important body parts. Even when I was young, I never looked that good....~sigh~

Anyway, I know the Goddess is keeping up with the blogging so I needed to post her in her so she can see herself here too. XOXOXOXOX - AL

Recovery.....was i there?

actually, i know i was there because there are pictures to prove it and Pat told me the girls in recovery were very nice and I would have had a ball with them but I just can't recall having any discussions with them...I also know Dr. Hottie stopped by and told me all about myself but I have no memory of any of that at all.....Dr. Happy Hour took care of that for me! (Love that man). There was one bit of info that Pat shared with me after I published this part of the blog....it seems that when Dr Hottie came by to see me, I called him Dr. Hottie or maybe I 'gggrrrrrrr'd at him as he went by and the Recovery chicks told me I better watch out because MRS. Doctor Hottie worked there at Kernan and she might get wind of me appreciating the eye candy.....

(Editor's Note-there will be no pictures of this section because the guy in charge of taking the camera home, forgot to bring it back on Tuesday morning for further documentation...way to go Moe aka Pat)

I got rolled to my room and I remember someone asking if I was watching 'Dancing with the Stars' because the finale was on t.v. So, I drifted in and out of conciousness for the evening and woke up to Craig Ferguson at about 1 a.m....lots of prodding and poking and vitals being taken...... all night long...

Breakfast call came about 8 and the nurse assistant cut up french toast for me...I took a bite and it nearly made me hurl....sweet food after being in a coma and on good drugs, not good!! Note to staff - YUK. Nurse brought me some Zofran and I hit the pain pump a couple of times and passed back out. Shortly after that the occupational therapist Hi came by for a visit. She brought me a really cool bendy sponge so I can scrub my own back and left armpit without moving my right arm...yeah! Those of you who have never had impinged movement don't/won't understand but anyone that has, Wahoo, Wahoo!! But she wanted me to get up and walk to the bathroom (I was still hooked up to the catheter) and she wanted to show me how to dress and brush my teeth....I didn't tell her it was my third surgery. She was so intent on sharing all these really good bits of info, I didn't want to hurt her feelings....but she tried to make me stand up and the nausea hit me again....so back to the bed and the PCA pump again....to make matters even better, we were weening me off the PCA so I was getting Percocets my mouth too....getting ready to bail.

Lunch arrived and it was pork and cabbage with potatoes...URGH....another meal skipped. Oh wait, I had some salad, so the nurse was happier. I dozed and talked to Pat and Dr. Hottie came by after his office hours in College Park. He reviewed all the stuff he did and the culture for infection had come back from the instant test, clean! Good news. I was instructed to come to the office for my 1st post op next Tuesday, May 26. I finally got sprung at about 6:30, got dressed and headed for home! I was feeling well enough tp get into my pjs and right into bed. Ah, my Tempurpedic bed.....have I mentioned it is the best money I have ever spent?????

A diet coke, some Percocet and off to la-la land.......That pretty much covers the whole first week at home....Lots of rest, lots of drugs.... We have had some very nice meals dropped off to us by the families from the 8th Grade Class at Saint Mary's. The school has really been a big help all three surgeries and I don't know how we would have managed without them. All that will catch me up to the first post-op appointment which will be on the next entry. XOXOXOX - AL

Op Day Continued......

So, where was I? Did u snooze off?

When last we left our heroine, she was being held captive in the prep area, waiting for the Phase 2 group to check in.....Next up was Perky Paula the P.A. She came in, asked a lot of the same questions as Lois did and then made sure I hadn't eaten anything....I'm wondering....do some of the people who show up routinely order take out while they are waiting in prep? Unless someone smuggled in a cough drop, what could I have eaten in the last 90 minutes????
Here is Perky Paula....funniest thing she did was as she was leaving she was trying to pull the curtain closed and pulled the window drapes instead....leaving me to flash the Nurse's station...very funny....well, maybe not for the Nurse's but I thought it was.

Enter stage left....Dr. Mark Dimeano (spelling is phonetic, sorry) Mr. Happy Hour! You gotta love a guy that opens with the line, "Happy Hour is ready to start"....I was saved for the last case of the day (he didn't say head case, but I think he might have inferred). Big Shoulder Repair, i.e. hardware out, new hardware in, rotator cuff repair x3 and the bicep stenectomy....perhaps with the complication of internal infection and my nerve wrapped up in the scar tissue (WOW! NOW that does sound like a 'BIG SHOULDER REPAIR' doesn't it?) I confessed to feeling a bit wobbly, as in anxious and Dr. Mark, who was also not hard on the eyes, promised to start happy hour right away. Here's his picture although he looks cute, it doesn't really do him justice...

The last one to arrive on the scene...The SuperStar, Dr. Jason Stein, aka Dr. Hottie!! ~Sigh~ he's the local McDreamy....and just so damn nice it's practically disgusting....he popped his face in and said Hi....told us we were last on the list (best for last anyone?) so we could get his full, warmed up, ready for prime-time self! (Ok, maybe that was my spin on it) Or maybe since there was some question of possible infection, I was last so they could sterilize the whole OR down after me in case there was....BUT there wasn't. Here's Dr. Hottie's picture....
I'll get a couple more shots at my post op so you can see him in his street clothes....grrrrrrrrr







After this shot, I took a picture of the anxious face of Pat Ledger....worried about me doing this for the 3rd time and the fact that he will have to fend for himself and the spoiled brats at home while I milk this recoup time for all it's worth.

This is the last shot at the rotator cuff and I am going to behave and listen to everthing I am told to do to get the best chance of the best outcome....it will never be 100% anymore, but being able to hold a hairdryer and hell, even being able to put on some mascara would be nice....I'm a woman of simple needs. Cocktail hour started right after this and the rest is a little fuzzy until I woke up later.....that's it for now. XOXOXOX AL