OT BB's surgery

[rosiefrosie]

BB, I hope that you have a speedy recovery. Seems that you have everything covered. Just take it easy and fill us in on how you are doing.

Rosie

[BleepingBeauty]

Thanks, everyone, for the good wishes. I'm hanging in there, but recovery sure is a challenge. Had my post-op visit and was told that the rotator cuff is in good shape. Whew. So the bicep tendon and bone spur were taken care of, along with some bursitis, and I should be able to move my arm without pain once it's healed.

Generally speaking, things are going okay, but reasonably good sleep is proving to be more elusive than I'd hoped. I'm getting between 5-6 hours a night of fractured sleep, with interruptions due to pain/discomfort or a bathroom break. AHI is increasing each night. The first two nights after the surgery, it was around 5; Friday night it was 10+, and last night it was 39.8.

I'm taking Hydrocodone (Vicodin) for pain, which does the trick, but it upsets my stomach. So I don't feel good and am just waiting impatiently for time to pass and the healing to progress.

Hi BB, hope you make a speedy recovery and don't overuse that other arm too much. (That's Mommy speaking). Best Regards, Dori

Thanks, "Mom." But since my (now) "good" arm suffers from similar problems, I really can't overdo anything.

BB,
So glad to hear that you came through okay. I feel for you, as I had similar surgery on my right shoulder last year. The same thing happened to me and my CPAP. They told me to bring it and then didn't use it. My AHI went way up while I was on meds.
I'm still stretching my shoulder regularly to keep it from freezing up. We have had clients who didn't do their stretches and can hardly move their arms. So keep it moving!

Thanks, Bev. The only arm movement the doc wants right now is from the elbow down (squeezing a rubber ball, stretching my fingers, taking the sling off a couple of times a day and stretching the forearm, etc. I'm icing my shoulder as often as I can, which feels good. My arm is itchy, and that's a good sign (but also annoying, like when you're wearing a FFM and your nose itches.

I slept on my reclining loveseat last night, hoping for an improvement over sleeping in bed for the past few nights; got five hours in one stretch, but I woke up achy and sore. The AHI of almost 40 really sucks, and I feel like a pre-CPAP zombie today.

glad to hear you are doin well.

i guess our basketball match is off now?

Just for now. I'll be happy to whip yer butt later, tho.

Hey BB.

Does this mean you don't want house guests? Only kidding. Your surgery sounds like a mean one & very painful. Did the Doc give you an idea of the cause? Your meal plan sounds like a great idea for anyone who cannot use both arms for a while.

I hope you will have a complete & speedy recovery. The entire forum misses you.

Best of everything . . . Jan

Thanks, Jan. No, the doc doesn't know, but I think I do. I've been making a slow-cooked caramel for several years now (a big batch takes several hours of constant stirring on the stove) and was trying to start a home-based small business with it. And I think I've inadvertently frayed both bicep tendons over the years with that frequent repetitive stirring motion. That's my best guess, anyway.

Hey BB, I'm so glad to hear you're doing well! Sounds like you're very organized and planned ahead. Those of us who live alone learn that pretty quick! Feel better and heal quickly!

Isn't that the truth? One of my best friends recently broke her ankle; her orders are to stay off the foot at all times. She was crabbing about being bored to tears at home, wanting to get out and do something. ("He's too busy to drive me to the library. Wahhh.") He's too busy because he's doing everything - working full-time, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, taking her to appointments, etc., and I reminded her that she's lucky she has him. It's amazing how much (and who) we take for granted.



So there's my update. Could be better, could be worse... I'll keep on keepin' on, with hopes for improved sleep as the healing continues.

[rested gal]

Take it easy, Robin!

Laura

[Kiralynx]

Heal quickly!

Surgery is no fun, but in most cases, it's better than the alternative.

[SaltLakeJan]

Hi Robin,

I think about you every morning and wonder how the night went for you . . hope they soon improve, you need restorative sleep.

I helped a friend make her famous home-made carmel for a PTA fund-raiser. I was quite a klutz, how do you avoid burns while stirring the carmel? The carmel was delicious and sold out. It was a long, hard job and I haven't volunteered again. But, the flavor was heavenly , I buy it again, and again.

Your home-made carmel sounds wonderful. But from my brief experience, I can see it would tire both your shoulders and arms if you did it repetitively. I hope you can avoid surgery on your other shoulder.

Best wishes & good healing from

Jan

[Muse-Inc]

Could you make in one of those stovetop popcorn makers that stirs the kernals? Just a thought.

[BleepingBeauty]

Could you make in one of those stovetop popcorn makers that stirs the kernals? Just a thought.

Thanks, Muse, but believe me when I tell you I've tried and/or explored every alternative that I can think of (including a very expensive commercial cooker) in an effort to minimize the intensive labor involved. But the consistency is everything, and I just can't get the results I want unless several hours of manual labor are involved.

Hopefully, the process will be pain-free once I've healed from this (and probably the other) shoulder surgery.

[kteague]

Ok, BB, now you've got me trying to figure out where in this town I can find some quality caramel tomorrow. You'll notice I make no mention of making it myself. I think you might want to consider a high school or college athlete with strong arms that would like a part time job. They'd probably work real cheap if a few pieces of caramel was the tip.

Glad you're on the mend, and hope the pain passes and you can get off the nauseating meds real soon. And welcome back.

Kathy

[rise&shiner]

I was glad to hear that you came through the surgery with flying colors. Most importantly it is good to know that you have a close friend in your life that was there for you when you really needed the help. Try not over do it and if I was in Arizona I would be making you some chicken soup.

[BleepingBeauty]

Hi Robin,

I think about you every morning and wonder how the night went for you . . hope they soon improve, you need restorative sleep.

I helped a friend make her famous home-made carmel for a PTA fund-raiser. I was quite a klutz, how do you avoid burns while stirring the carmel? The carmel was delicious and sold out. It was a long, hard job and I haven't volunteered again. But, the flavor was heavenly , I buy it again, and again.

Your home-made carmel sounds wonderful. But from my brief experience, I can see it would tire both your shoulders and arms if you did it repetitively. I hope you can avoid surgery on your other shoulder.

Best wishes & good healing from

Jan

Thanks, Jan. I'm looking forward to getting good sleep again. Hopefully, it won't be much longer, as I've tapered off the pain meds and am using OTC pain reliever now.

Not sure how I've avoided it, but I've never burned myself while making my caramel; good thing, too, because I imagine it would be pretty painful. It was nice of you to help your friend.

Ok, BB, now you've got me trying to figure out where in this town I can find some quality caramel tomorrow. You'll notice I make no mention of making it myself. I think you might want to consider a high school or college athlete with strong arms that would like a part time job. They'd probably work real cheap if a few pieces of caramel was the tip.

Glad you're on the mend, and hope the pain passes and you can get off the nauseating meds real soon. And welcome back.

Kathy

Thanks, Kathy.

Hiring someone to do the stirring (or just the majority of it) would be fine IF the young people around here had any work ethic; unfortunately, they don't. I've worked a few local jobs over the years here, and these kids just don't show up, don't call, don't care. It's the main thing local employers complain about, and rightly so. (It didn't sit well with me, either, since the cavalier attitude of co-workers made it difficult to do my own job well.)

Thanks for the suggestion, tho. I wish things were different. I'd be happy to pay for the help if I could count on it.

I was glad to hear that you came through the surgery with flying colors. Most importantly it is good to know that you have a close friend in your life that was there for you when you really needed the help. Try not over do it and if I was in Arizona I would be making you some chicken soup.

Aw, thanks. A nice big bowl of homemade chicken soup (a/k/a Jewish pennicilin) can cure anything. And yes, I'm very grateful to have the friends that I do. I'll have to make some candy for them as soon as I can, to say thanks. (I also promised some to my surgeon and his staff, as they alleviated my anxiety over having the surgery. I trust they'll deem their efforts on my behalf were worthwhile, once they taste my caramel.)

[tattooyu]

So glad you're surgery went well. I guess I shouldn't be complaining about my AHI of 6.8 in my other thread.

Definitely keep your joint mobile. My buddy survived (miraculously) an horrific motorcycle crash which landed him in an induced coma for a week. He had a surgery similar to yours. He's totally fine now, but the more he moves his joint, the better it is.

[aka fuzzy96]

Not sure how I've avoided it, but I've never burned myself while making my caramel;lol you just jinxed yourself {u}


Hiring someone to do the stirring (or just the majority of it) would be fine IF the young people around here had any work ethic;{u}(it's been quiet without you stirrin things up!can't find someone to hire?

Thanks for the suggestion, tho. I wish things were different. I'd be happy to pay for the help if I could count on it.

I was glad to hear that you came through the surgery with flying colors. Most importantly it is good to know that you have a close friend in your life that was there for you when you really needed the help. Try not over do it and if I was in Arizona I would be making you some chicken soup.

now where is rooster or is someone choking that chicken?

Aw, thanks. A nice big bowl of homemade chicken soup (a/k/a Jewish pennicilin) can cure anything. And yes, I'm very grateful to have the friends that I do. I'll have to make some candy for them as soon as I can, to say thanks. (I also promised some to my surgeon and his staff, as they alleviated my anxiety over having the surgery. I trust they'll deem their efforts on my behalf were worthwhile, once they taste my caramel.) [/quote]
jewish penecillan? candy for the doc? not sure i want to see that hospital! good thing you don't make bubble gum !(new prostetics glue)


glad to have ya back
front


whatever

[BleepingBeauty]

glad to have ya back
front


whatever

Thanks, Fuzz. I miss you guys and the chat, but I can't keep up with the pace in there right now, typing one-handed.

How come you're "aka" lately?

So glad you're surgery went well. I guess I shouldn't be complaining about my AHI of 6.8 in my other thread.

Definitely keep your joint mobile. My buddy survived (miraculously) an horrific motorcycle crash which landed him in an induced coma for a week. He had a surgery similar to yours. He's totally fine now, but the more he moves his joint, the better it is.

Thanks, Kenny. Complain about your too-high AHI all you want. We're all here to better our therapy.

And thanks for the reinforcement re: getting back up to speed. I'll be very happy to start moving my shoulder as soon as I get the greenlight from the doc. I'll be in this sling for another ten days or so (which can't go by quickly enough for me). Then the real fun begins with PT, when I'll be moving my arm every which way they tell me to. I want the best chance at getting back to 100% function without pain, so I'll be a good li'l patient.

[BleepingBeauty]

Update: After five bad nights, I'm getting back to more normal sleep. Got almost seven hours last night with one interruption for pain relief, and my AHI was 3.3. Yay! I'm guessing the Vicodin (Hydrocodone) was responsible for my terrible numbers, so I'm glad to be able to now manage the pain with OTC stuff. I sure feel a lot more awake today.

Thanks again to all of you for support and encouragement. I love this place.

[Muse-Inc]

Great news Robin! Even reads like you feel a lot better. Now that you're feeling better, don't overdo!