Recovery

I am well into the recovery phase of my surgery now.  I had the stitches removed yesterday, returned to work today and started therapy today as well.  I can go for short distances before my knee hurts, it hurts to rise from a seated position, it hurts to stand, it hurts to sit after while.  I can't find a comfortable position to sleep in, yada, yada, yada.  And it is going to take time to heal and to recover and I need to get over it.   But I'm impatient and want to be well NOW!  I just received a newsletter from the training group and I want to be out there so bad, crazy, huh?  Coming from me.

On a good note, I weighed in today and was down 9 pounds over the last couple of weeks.  So I'm back in new territory on the weight loss front after being derailed the weeks before.  But it's a lot harder not having the extra points to eat.

Well, off to do some leg lifts before bed.

The Surgery

Surgery was Monday.  After waiting an extra 2 hours, I don't remember anything from when the sedative was administered in pre-op.  The pain pump was a relief for the first 2 days.  That was pulled yesterday.  Today I'm feeling a lot more pain.  I have a pain in the back of my knee as well.  Hamstring???  I think it was aggravated trying to be careful with the knee.  It's been difficult trying to find a comfortable position.  At least I had a shower today.

I need to start moving a little more.  And I'm trying to stay OP as much as possible.  I really want to get back on track with the weight loss after being off plan for the last several weeks.

I got my shirt and bib for the Austin Race for the Cure today.  I knew that I wouldn't be able to walk, but it still hurt a little.  I also got the invitation to the Brunch afterwards.  That will be fun.  I enjoy being with the Taylors and Slays.

A bad thing about being at home is watching the daytime tv.  I have been watching the home and garden shows, but I have also been watching shows about adoption and having babies.  It makes me realize I do miss not having kids.  Hearing about Grant and Angela's success with getting matched with a new mother makes it seem so easy.  I know better and I know that I'm really too old to be thinking babies, but I still wonder what if...

Airshow

Today was a rough day. First being at the airshow and knowing that Daddy wasn't there was tough, then the Missing Man formation and finally watching a plane go into the ground this evening. That was totally surreal and just a horrible end to what had really been a pretty good day.

Sick of It

I'm sick of not being able to do anything.  My knee hurts so bad when I stand for any length of time and when I walk.  I'm missing out on a lot, especially out at the airshow where we are setting up.

I have gotten so many thoughts of sympathy about Daddy from airshow folks.  Right now, it's not really hit me that Daddy isn't there since he hasn't been there the last 3 years.  I think that if Missing Man is dedicated to Daddy, then it will be very hard to get through.  Mom is coming out to help.  I hope it helps her.

Surgery Scheduled

Surgery is scheduled for next Monday.  Let's get the show on the road.  I'm ready for all of this to be over.  I just hope that it goes well and that I can get back to exercising regularly.

Mom wants to take care of everything around the surgery and afterwards.  I hope that Mark is free to help out.

Another Day OP

OK, today was another day OP with just a couple of flex points.  We went to Zios for lunch and I had the vegetable lasagna and pushed off part of the cheese and noodles.  WooHoo!  Still eating too much bread.  But we had Subway for dinner which was well within points.

I did have trouble with the knee today.  We went shopping and I couldn't just stand very long.  I spent a lot of time doing my flamingo imitation, standing on my left leg only.  I'm ready for the pain to go away.  Tomorrow will be tough since we are ringing bells both services.  That will mean quite a bit of time on my feet.

Stayed OP Today

I've managed to stay OP today.  Yay!!!  I even had Mexican food at lunch, but had boiled shrimp instead of fried for dinner.  I need to work to get more vegetables in since most of my veggies for the day were salad.  At least I had salad.

I really need to keep in mind that this is a lifestyle change.  I can't keep wanting sweets and snacks and be able to lose and keep off the weight.

Joyce told me I was doing good tonight.  That was nice to hear - that people are noticing.  Linda told me today that everyone has told her I good I'm looking.  And I'm wearing the capris that ML gave me today.  They are size 18 - ladies, not women's size.  So today is my one step forward day.  I just hope that I've rounded the corner and back on track.  I don't expect a loss this next week with everything, but I hope the gain isn't too bad.

One Step Forward, One Step Back

I was able to spend 20 minutes on the stationary bike today. I didn't try for any more since I don't want to push my knee too hard. Of course, spending the next 1.5 hours at the Education Center sweeping and cleaning, then going to bells didn't make things feel very good. I'm ready to get this over with.

The News About My Knee

The news on my knee is not great, but it could be worse.  I have a torn medial meniscus, the cartilage between the femur and the tibia.  It will require surgery to clean up the tear.  Also, there is cartilage wear on the cartilage covering the femur, but I have had that problem before.  The doctor said that if there is acute damage, then he will harvest some of the tissue so that they can grow out a graft.  If it's chronic wear, there isn't much he can do.

The recovery period should be 4-6 weeks, and there may have to be some modifications to my fitness routine.  I hope not since I have really gotten into the walking.  I have been cleared for some light exercise such as the stationary bike.  That will help some.

I think this just about rules out doing the half marathon in January.  For that, I'm really bummed.  I was looking forward to achieving a new goal.  If I can't complete the Houston half, I hope that I will be ready for the RNR in Virginia Beach next Labor Day.

My Weight Loss

I started Weight Watchers on January 6, 2003 and have officially lost 70 pounds to date... my problem?  The last month I have lost my focus and I can't seem to find it again.  Why?  The death of my father and the inability to exercise due to my knee injury.  Plus, I'm getting to the point where I am cheating myself.  Help!!!

My father passed away from cancer on August 31, 2003... practically in my arms.  I was working to clean him up at the time.  He was aspirating fluid and dried blood at the time.  It was horrible.  Fortunately, he didn't suffer long.  In less than 12 hours from the time he started going downhill, he was gone.  We barely had time to call my sisters to come home.

My knee injury - I have been walking since I started WW.  When I started, I could barely walk a mile at about 2 mph.  I set as a personal goal to be able to walk a 5K - the Race for the Cure in Atlanta on May 14.  My sister is a cancer survivor and I wanted to do it in her honor, but mainly it was a goal for me to strive for.  We ended up turning it into a Team event, with both my sisters walking and family and friends joining us.  Once the Race was over, I needed another challenge.  A friend of Kathy's had done the half marathon in Houston in January.  I decided that if she could do it, so could I.  I started training in July.  I had worked the mileage up to 7 miles the day Daddy died.  Then I started having some pain in my knee.  It was thought to be a hamstring strain.  I did some PT, and I thought things were improving.  Then I did a 9 mile walk and towards the end of it, something in my knee snapped.  I had an MRI last Saturday and have an appointment with Dr. Kolstad, an orthopedic surgeon, tomorrow.  I haven't walked any sort of distance in 10 days.