It has been a couple of months since I have written, and to be honest I completely forgot I had this blog and was suppose to be writing about my title year. See, real life became real!
On May 26th, I reported to Scottsdale Shea Medical Center for knee replacement surgery. This was a surgery that I have been waiting to have since I was first told it needed to be done in 1995. At that time, I was too young for the surgery so we proceeded to do whatever we could to nurse it along. I made it as far as we could possibly go. If I had not had it done when I did, the doctor said he could not guarantee how long the knee would last, and that my pain would only get worse. So I had it done.
I had been told that knee replacement surgery was the most painful surgery to recover from. So I had mentally prepared for this pain. I figured I had given birth to three children, the last one being almost 10 lbs, how bad could this be. And to be honest, the pain after the surgery was not too bad. Of course, I was on some good narcotics to control the pain. However, me being me, I was determined to get off the IV meds and onto the oral so that I could get to rehab. Surgery on Tuesday, I went to rehab on Friday. Up to this point, the most PT I had done was to get up and walk around the floor in the hospital. I didn't see a therapist until Saturday, and oh my gawd!!!! Now I understood what people were talking about with the pain. However, I had a goal to be home by June 4, so I knew that I had to endure the pain. I made an agreement with my therapist. She could torture me all she wanted, but I was allowed to cry, scream and even curse. I called on the tricks I have learned in my SM play for processing pain, took my pain meds right before PT and worked. I worked hard. By Tuesday, I was able to pedal the bike the proper way...pedals going all the way around!!!! I walked the steps like a pro, and was able to get my knee to a 95 degree bend. I was allowed to go home on Wednesday.
We had prepared the apartment for my return...making sure there was a clear pathway to anywhere I might need to go, things close to the bed that I would need. Home health came out to check my INR (was on coumadin) and PT came out a few times. However, all hell broke loose a week after I came home.
Cheryl (my partner aka Daddy Tyr) had to go back in for surgery. Seems her spinal stimulator had a major malfunction and was not working. Why it had to happen at this time, who knows. She had surgery June 15, came home two days later. Her caregiver hours were increased so she had someone here on the weekends as I was absolutely no use to her at this point. The first weekend she was home I had the migraine from hell for three days, so spent most of the time in the bed sleeping. On Monday, June 22, I had an appt with my pain management team, and while there got a call from Cheryl that her primary care provider wanted her to go to the ER IMMEDIATELY due to some symptoms that suggested some neurological issues. So I rush home, as much as I can rush when depending on cabs, and arrived just as her mother arrived. Called 911, and she was transported to John C Lincoln Deer Valley. Due to the stimulator, they were not able to do the test they felt they needed; so wanted to do a test using contrast. A BIG NO! Cheryl is allergic to IVP dye, and contrast dye. They said the dye is different than three years ago, so we reluctantly agreed. They said they would do a 13 hr desensitization protocol to help prevent any issues. I go home, and get a ride back to the hospital early. Find out the doctors have second thoughts about the contrast and decide not to do the test. Instead, going to observe and see what happens. We spent 24 hrs of pure torture. I wont got into details here, but will say that it was so very hard to sit there and watch the woman I love go through the things she was experiencing and not be able to do anything. I felt helpless. Finally, a doctor comes in to say they have decided that the stimulator needs to come out, but it can't be done where we were due to the surgeon not having privileges. So transferred to Scottsdale Thompson Peak for a 4pm surgery.
The surgeon finally arrives shortly after 6pm, no explanation and extremely rude. Surgery only lasted about 30 min, and when the surgeon came out to speak to us he was rude once again. I was done, I wanted him off the case. He had not been to see Cheryl the entire time she was in the hospital, never called to see how she was doing. He even insisted that the stimulator was not the cause of the issues. HMMMMM, within 10 mins of reaching her room after surgery, Cheryl stated she needed to go the bathroom. That had been one of the issues, she never could tell. Other symptoms slowing began to disappear. The one thing that wasn't leaving was the pain. A new doctor came to take over from the surgeon, and we began to get somewhere. Consults with other specialists, new pain meds, and improvement. However, during all this she lost the use of her legs and could not walk. Which meant she could not come home.
Finally she is transferred to an acute rehab, way out in Sun City. This means it is difficult for me to get to visit, as I refuse to ask our friends to go so far out of their way. We survive on phone calls and texts, and her parents finally take me out there yesterday. It was so good to see her up, dressed in street clothes and her sick, dry sense of humor back. She even got up and showed us that she could walk. My heart soared. She called a bit ago and will be home on Wednesday. What a relief.
Now, during all this I still have titleholder duties. A fundraiser for Sir Joe at Anvil, where I was to do a bootblack demo. I showed up, and really had a good time, even though I was absolutely exhausted and in a lot of pain. I had been doing an extreme amount of walking the past week, very little sleep and definitely not eating right. But it felt good to be out and supporting my title family.
During all this craziness, I still have a contest to prepare for so do the best I can. Began to think about clothes, and all outfits are coming together nicely. If things work out the way I hope they do, I should have all the major outfits together in about two weeks. Finally got the new boots I had been wanting, a pair of tactical boots that are comfortable, will take a good shine and will be my day time, every day boots. This leaves my Corcorans for formal wear. Just need to learn my speech, prepare for interview and continue my work on fundraisers. OH, I finally got a chance to get my hands dirty and do boots. 5 pairs of them!!!!! It was so much fun as they were all different. I could feel the energy of the leatherman that they belonged to. It is such an honor to be allowed to care for another's leathers that take them on their journey. IT IS GOOD TO BE THE BOOTBLACK.
In the last couple of days, I have been able to get back to the things that make me feel good...bootblacking, zentangles, and my clay. OH, and the Phoenix Mercury are playing again so have the games to keep me busy! Go Merc!!!
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