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

Big gap in the Space Time Continuim...

From check in at Kernan to arrival at home is a big gap in my timeline... I'm gonna fix that now.

I arrived at Kernan promptly at noon as requested...on pre-op day I checked in with Wanda on Surgery Day, my check in Lady was nice but didn't tell me her name :( Almost as soon as I checked in Ms. Gabrielle called my name and lead me back to the same pre-op area that I went to the week before BUT we turned left into the 'staging' area. They selected a very nice bed for me, #4. (I'm sure it was special and picked out just for me) It was the only one with a glass window with drapes. Miss Gabrielle brought Lois over to see me and guess what? They wanted to see me naked, just like everyone else, always trying to get me in those groovy hospital gowns. AND those squeezy stockings....the ones that compress your legs so you don't get blood clots...urgh!! Of course it beats a blood clot to the lungs, so fashionistas be damned, they went on anyway. This is Miss Gabrielle....lotto junkie

Being pretty dehydrated and having crappy veins to begin with, Lois had a hard time finding a vein for my IV. I told her the last 2 surgeries, the Anestheologist had to fetch a good spot for one and not to feel too bad... Then Lynn, another pre-op nurse came over to give it a try...and she got one....main vein on the left arm elbow joint, painful but productive....it spewed blood all over the place (and the floor) before they got it under control....Note to Edward Cullen from 'Twilight' go for the left arm.....1st picture is Lois and the second picture is Lynn the Blood Sucker...
After the white stockings went on, we added the 'bling' anklets, transfusion tag, allergy tags, and a fall risk tag (picture to follow, in case u are wondering about the picture of my toes) Glad I buffed and waxed and made sure I was ready for 'prime-time' just to end up wearing white stockings (as if my legs aren't pasty enough on their own). This has taken hours and I am going to get some rest...I will progress to Paula, the Perky PA, Dr. Marky of Happy Hour Fame (Twenty, Twenty, TwentyFour Hours a Day.....I wanna be Sedated) and Dr. Hottie, the Man with the Golden Hands and the SuperModel looks...stay posted....XOXOXOX AL

sleep is over-rated, right?

its 2 and the on;y sounds around my house is soft snoring from the kids' rooms and the ceiling fans purring....why does pain always feel worse at night? Nothing else to distract me, I guess. I'll be watching Last Holiday with Queen Latifah again...
feeling sorry for me yet? XOXOXO AL

Shower Day!!!! Yeah, on many levels.....

I'm going in the world's longest shower this afternoon...my itches have itches....and staples? Man do i have staples..55 Do I get bonus points for extra hardware? I believe that I am feeling almost human today, down to single percocets at a time and only now and then. feeling hungry too....must be good signs. I actually logged in and did the status report for work yesterday.... AL

the itching begins

u know how ur husband (significant other) all of a sudden thinks they are the boss of u in a weakened condition?....Pat is now Al Haig....he thinks he's in charge in the white (yellowish actually) house...get a grip dude.

I have been trying to scratch thru the bandages because everything is itching like crazy...i think that means i am healing, right? Can't officially shower until tomorrow, its a sponge bath one more day. The occupational therapist gave me a groovy sponge on a bendy stick that is like heaven....Pat says if the neighbors hear me scratching they will think there's some afternoon delight going on over here.....I have made less noise doing the wild thing but at the moment, I'm not sure it could've felt much better.....I might need a cigarette.

I'm waiting to be fed some breakfast and trying to figure out what people do all day from home if they aren't working.....t.v. on daytime is crap....and I can't concentrate enough to read yet....Check u later XOXOXO - Anne

got flowers?

i did....the BFFs from Mindte's did a drive by with fresh flowers, fried chicken and groovy side Dishes, very nice. if there wasn't pain involved, i could get used to this treatment.

Dr Hottie was pretty positive about how the op turned out, as good as can be expected. Did i Mention that Dr. Mark, the Anestheiologist, was a fine looking specimen as well? There seems to Be a disproportionate number of good looking fellas over at Kernan Hospital. I took some pics but i am a little too woozy to figure out how to post them. I've been typing for 40 minutes to get this much down. So, the news of my demise has been overstated...i'm here, just incognito....
XOXOXO-AL

Ouch, did i mention ouch?

Continuing to lay in bed and medicate.Drinking fluids and eating crackers.
We have had two very nice meals sent by Sean's classmate's families. What
a huge help that is!! I might be a little slower on the thank you notes this
time out....ouch, really. Wish i could take a real shower....couple more days
XOXOXOXO AL

The Percocet Cocktail

whoa, i wonder how i could forget between surgeries, how crappy i feel after surgery.
i'm in the middle of a really good buzz, so its hard to type and hard to look at the screen....i'm
ok but a mess...ok, nite all

home again, home again, jigitty jig

...here i am trying to get comfy in my pillow tower. Recliner didn't help last time, so we did not borrow it this time. Lots of pain, percocet is on board but still some breakthru discomfort. long ride home and i think the big guy hit every pothole inbetween b'more and here....he's out getting more percocet....he is a very smart man....twenty, twenty, twenty four hours a day, I wanna be sedated...g'nite nite XOXOXO AL

It's D-Day

...ok, the only thing I have is nerves. Hospital just called to move me up an hour, usually, I like preferential treatment and getting moved up in line but maybe not today....so, I'm scheduled for the OR at 2 now instead of 3...just in case u r planning to send up a prayer (I want to make sure u have the right time) Thirsty and jittery.....XOXOXOX-AL

Tomorrow's the Big Day

It's 4:51 a.m. and I have been tossing and turning for a few hours. Ran thru the Craig Ferguson shows on TiVo and still can't sleep...anxiety anyone? My shoulder hurts, I'm itchy and crabby and not looking forward to doing this again. I'd like to get my arm fixed....it's just the whole deal of doing it. I find I am a bit put off by hospitals now (no matter how nice) and I really dread the need to stay over...did I ever mention that I love my Temperpedic bed? Best money I ever spent....going to go lay back down and pretend I am sleeping. Tomorrow will be hideous if I don't get a couple hours...XOXOXO-AL

Last Work Day...argh!

Have you ever noticed that getting prepared for time away from the office is almost as bad as packing to move? I have been sorting things and reviewing my instructions for days. Contingency plans for being out and having a new back up hurt almost as much as my arm....my peeps are promising to be good but I'll still be worried about it.

The good news, The Greek Goddess found out for me that I can (as in may, as in allowed to) go get a pedicure this weekend so my feet will look pretty for Dr. Hottie and the All Star Team. I stand by the Summer Sandal Pedicure Pledge. I'm not looking forward to not being able to lift that arm for weeks again....last time, there was so much hair in my armpit, people thought I was French...I believe I heard groaning on that....yeah, well try it from this side!! I'll be seeing to those issues as well before Monday...sighs of relief? If you see me after a week or two, make no mention of this or it will just depress me.

I am taking my camera to the surgical prep area so I can get some snaps of the fabulous Dr. Hottie and the crew....look for them to be posted as soon as I am not BWB - 'blogging while blotto' (my version of TUI - texting under the Influence or as the Goddess puts it, EAS - Emailing after Shiraz) you get the picture, right? Okay, off to hang out with the hubby on a Friday night sans children! One working and one at a school thing....not sure what to do with that big guy all alone.....help?!?

And the Prep Work goes on.....

Dealing with a 'Major Medical Institution' is a little like being in an 'all star' event. You get to meet the captain, Dr. Hottie, the first time out and after that it is all the supporting players that are buzzing about. The groovy office chick is a Greek Goddess and I am thinking she is helping me hold it together as much as anyone. She gave all my stupid questions to Dr. Hottie and he emailed them back. She did edit my witty repartee out since it referenced her Greek heritage and may have had a bad word or two. The paperwork is flying around, possible this and possible that (as if I didn't already feel queasy enough?) I know, I know....everyone has to tell you all the really bad possiblities but maybe some of that crap is better left to the professionals? I want to stick my fingers in my ears and hum the tune to 'Little Mermaid'..... or maybe Jamie Foxx singing, 'Blame it on the Alcohol'

Today's main members of the All Star team....Susan, efficient and friendly pre-op nurse, she now knows more than she ever wanted to about me and my health (eeewww)....and Dr. Lee the resident anesthesiologist (he called himself the Intern first, must be a new promotion), who may or may not be on my team next Monday. I am willing to bet I have shoes older than he is...I would've said platform shoes but I'm sure he has never heard of them, unless they are back again from the 70's. Someone remind me to slap the "Blonde-In-Law" for making me throw them out. Anyway, he is alarmingly young but very nice and completely thorough (did I mention all those 'possibilities' and 'plan b' things they want to share with you? TMI)

The James L Kernan Hospital looks like a sanitarium or maybe a small college campus. It is cozy and tucked away in a very residential 'hood. Perhaps that is so the bone cracker's patients won't be heard screaming in the night????? Deep Breath, in thru the nose, out thru the mouth.....~sigh~...it's funny how easily I am rattled this time out...four surgeries in a year may do that to a person. Maybe it's the anesthesia? Does anyone remember reading Robin Cook's book 'Coma'.....I could be losing body parts and not even know it yet....some time in the future, I might get an x-ray and find out I have only one kidney.....ARGH!!!

That's it for now. Surgery Op time is set for 3 p.m. at this time (might be flexible) I suppose the next post will be all drug addled, unless I freak out on Sunday and need vent time. Keep checking in.....XOXOXOX AL

Please Note: the incidents and suppositions in this blog are the creation of my own fevered brain and imagination. They do not infer nor indicate anything but complete professionalism from my medical team. (Shit, that's another disclaimer, isn't it?)

Butterflies?.....or Flying Pink Elephants...

Nerves are hitting me hard this week. I have received input that I am behaving
like a bee-otch...how could that be true?!?! This is the third time I am doing
this, right? Should be old hat by now...maybe it was the pre-op orders that
said 'type/cross/match' on the blood work that made my stomach flip flop?
Or perhaps Dr. Stein is really Jasper from the Twilight movie? Either way,
feeling jittery and it will likely get worse before it gets better??? Just sent a
laundry list of questions to the Doc's office to try to soothe myself....knowledge
is power!!

Someone pass the Pepto please? It's going to be a long week...T minus 7 and
counting

Green Light, so far

Had a clean bill of health from Dr. B...blood is taken, x-rays (again) peed in a cup, EKG, yada, yada, yada. All systems are go for now. Next milestone, meet with the anesthia team next Wednesday....I'll let you know how it goes. AL

Disclaimer (already?)

Ok......I have already been asked about percocet enhanced musings that might (or might not) appear on the blog.... I will try to refrain from addled postings, but no promises. Please be advised that there could be (might be....well, probably will be) bad words...depends on that magical Pain Scale The Fifth Sense!! Be warned, I am married to an ex-sailor. AL

The Never Ending Shoulder Story Begins, 3rd Time, May 2009

This is where I will be updating my condition before and after my third surgery to fix my shoulder. I am looking forward to another pre-op physical tomorrow with Dr. B in Gaithersburg and getting the clean bill of health to proceed with my surgery on May 18th at Kernan Hospital in Baltimore