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Thursday, June 20, 2019

A Surgical and My 6 Month One Little Word Update





Welcome to Debbie-Dabble Blog!!
I am so happy you decided to stop by!!

For the past few years, I have chosen One Word which would guide me through the New Year and I would develop a few goals for the year around my One Little Word!!!

 I chose FOCUS as my One Little Word for 2019 ....
 I thought long and hard what word to chose as my One Little Word at the end of last year....

FOCUS seemed to be the right word for what I thought I would be dealing with in 2019.......

This is what I wrote in that original post about why I chose FOCUS for 2019.....




"Joe thought that My One Little Word should be "Countdown" as I count down to my retirement at the end of the year!

My focus for this year is basically going to be getting ready for my Knee Replacement surgery which I hope to have done in October.

I need to keep doing my stationary bike to strengthen the muscles in my right leg and I need to try to take some weight off so it will be easier for me to move around after the surgery.....

My stress level this year has been through the roof.......

I need to try to remain calm and focus on what is important to me like my family, my home and my health..........

I need to reduce the amount of Stress that I recently have been feeling because of my job situation.....

I need to focus on doing the best job I can do in the situation that I have been forced into .......

I also need to realize that I only have a short time left in which I need to function in this situation...."



 Well, by the middle of February of this year, my right knee had suddenly gotten much worse with the cortisone shot that I got at the end of December only lasting 3 -4 weeks......

Now I was experiencing severe pain when I walked, as I later found out after the knee was Xrayed, was because there was no cartilage left!!!

My knee swelled to over twice it's normal size and every step I took was agonizing because the bones in the knee joint were grinding against each other.....
 I quickly realized that I was no longer going to be able to put off my surgery until October like I had planned....
 Things happened quickly and after seeing my Ortho surgeon on Feb. 21, which became my last day of work, I was put on a medical leave and scheduled for surgery at the end of April.
 I had to wait that long because of the cortisone shot that I had had the end of December.....

That pretty much ended some of the goals I had set for 2019.......

I now had to rethink what I had planned to FOCUS on and change up the time frame of what I wanted to FOCUS on....
  I was not able to do my stationary bike because of the excoriating pain it caused and because I was not that mobile during the time I was waiting to have my surgery done, I gained weight, totally blowing my goal to lose weight before the surgery.......

Before my surgery, I had FOCUS on getting my home ready ......

Being a Rehab Nurse, I was quite familiar with getting things set up in the house for when I came home to recuperate.......

I had a rolling walker, quad cane and a straight cane already and I set up the Living Room, where I would be sleeping, with everything that I would need when I got home....
 I also focused on cleaning the house and  putting away Winter decorations when I still could barely climb the attic pull down stairs.....

I also had to get used to not working!!!
 I was so used to having to accomplish things in a certain time frame and now, I had all the time in the world!!!!

I had to learn on FOCUSING on what I wanted to get done each day......

I will talk about this a little later in this post......

That was how things changed before my surgery.......

I am now 7 weeks Post Op........

During the past 7 weeks, I have been FOCUSED on my recovery.......

Again, I want to THANK everyone for their prayers and Well Wishes......

I can not tell you how much it has meant to me!!!

This is what my knee looked like when I came home from the hospital with an aquacel, waterproof, dressing on it......
 For about the first 4 weeks, I used my Polar Ice machine regularly to help decrease some of the normal post op swelling......
I went to Physical Therapy twice a week, starting on my 3rd day post op.......

I have been FOCUSED on being able to move my new knee..........

I have followed the exercises prescribed by Physical Therapy and also those shown in videos on an online program called Force Therapeutics that has been specifically designed by the Ortho team and my surgeon to assist in my recovery.......

I admit it has not been easy and I have had to work hard.........

This is what my knee now looks like.......
 I am finally seeing a bit of a knee cap, which I have not seen on this leg for a very long time because of the amount of swelling, and my incision is almost healed but now I need to massage it and "work It" so I do not develop scar tissue which will make it tight when I move it......

I will have swelling in the operative knee for about 6 months....

I am now going to Physical Therapy only once a week and I am proud to say that I am back on my own stationary bike and doing 3.5 miles in 20 minutes, progressing up to Level 3!!!

I am mostly walking without a cane around the house but I do take it when I go out because I seem to have a "Balance Issue"......

If I walk or do a particular exercise too long, my back issues ( scoliosis and compression deformities) kicks in , causing me back pain and I lose my balance.....

I even had to have some of the exercises adjusted in therapy to accomadate for this issue......

This is my neighbor Lynn and I visiting while I was out walking....
You can see that I was still using the straight cane in this photo and even though I NEVER wear shorts, I have had to do so because of the swelling in the knee......

All my capri's were too tight around the knee.....

Now I am a firm Believer that Everything Happens for a Reason!!
 
 Even though I had to move up my surgery 6 months from when I had originally planned, I believe it was definitely meant to be.......

At the end of last year, the department that I had worked on for over 36 years had closed as a Rehab Unit and was supposed reopen as a Medical Surgical Unit.
 It opened for a brief period of time as a Medical Surgical Unit but kept closing down every weekend and has not reopened since March 29th!!!

My position that I held for over 36 years was only held for 3 months and since I have now been off for 4 months with my medical leave continuing until the end of July ( 5 Months), I not only do not have a department to go back to but I also do not have a position to go back to.....

I will be offered "A Position" which could be anywhere in the hospital for up to one year.....

In the beginning of the year, we had told the garage we deal with which also sells used cars , to start looking for the exact car that I wanted since we decided to go down to one car since Joe was retired......

In  February, the exact car that I wanted became available and we traded in our 2 cars and went down to one car......
 Again, I felt that Everything WAS Happening for a Reason!!
 So here it is 6 months into this year already and I need to reset some goals for the remainder of the year and FOCUS on those Goals.........

This is what I will be FOCUSING on for the rest of this year.......

1. My Recovery from my Knee Replacement Surgery......

I will continue doing all my exercises, continue riding my stationary bike and increasing the time to a half hour daily along with the tension and my speed.......

2. Weight Loss........

This is the story of my entire existence....... I gained weight before the surgery so now I am really FOCUSED on losing that weight along with more weight because I learned the hard way how being overweight affects you when your mobility is compromised......

I hope to continue walking and start walking daily like I used to about 15- 20 years ago.......I used to walk 5 miles a day after working all night.....

3. Time Management
 With not working and having all this time on one's hands, it is imperative that I learn how to manage my time.......


I was dealing pretty well with it prior to my surgery by using a daily list of things to do but all that sort of went out the window after I had the surgery........

Now that I am feeling more like myself again, I need to FOCUS on time management!!

4. Money Management
 The reality of the situation is that I am currently on Medical Leave with Short Term Disability and my benefits, including both mine and Joe's health care, are currently being paid by my employer since I am in a No Pay Status having used up all my available sick time.......

So currently, I am still pretty close to my working salary when it comes to income......

I have an appt. with my surgeon at the end of July where it will be determined if I will be released from his care at that time as far as my knee replacement goes.

It is also at that time that I will have my other knee Xrayed to see if a joint replacement is needed for the left knee as it is really starting to bother me......

If need be, I will have the second knee replaced as soon as possible and stay on medical leave even though it is something that I really will not be looking forward to.....

If it is not warranted, I then have to FOCUS on making a HUGE decision........

Will I retire 6 months short of turning 62 years old without Social Security payments or possibly return to work for 6 months when I no longer have a department to return to and possibly, no longer have a job to return to.......
 We will see what happens at the end of July but I think you know what my choice will be........
 So for the rest of this year, I will be FOCUSING on my health by exercising and weight management...

On Money Management, depending on what my choice will be.......

And on Time Management should I not return to work........

One thing that this year has already taught me is that Life Can Change in an Instant.......
So whatever happens, I just need to FOCUS.......

 This has nothing to do with Politics but I recently saw a quote by Joe Biden ...

 "My mother would say: 'Joey, FOCUS. Don't descend. Stay up.'"

That is what I need to do.....

FOCUS...

Don't Descend......

Stay Up!!

If you chose One Little Word for this year, how are you doing with your Word??????

Thanks to those who took the time out of their busy day to spend a little bit of time with me!!

And I hope you will stop by again soon!!

If you do not have a blog, PLEASE  give me some way to reply to your comment, maybe by including your email in your comment.  If I can not find a way to reach you, I will reply on the post where you commented so please check back......

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19 comments:

  1. At Rivercrest CottageJune 20, 2019 at 5:39 PM

    Debs, this was a fabulous post! Do you mind if I make a copy of that picture that says sometimes an opportunity closes so you can move on to something better? It puts into words what my hubby and I have been feeling lately as our house sale is closing sooner than we expected and the area we were hoping to move to has very little available newly built homes. It feels like a sign that we need to reconsider and go with our second choice of areas we are looking at.

    As far as your pending decision, I too was faced with such a decision when I was 57 in 2007. I made the decision to go with early disability retirement pension from work and waited 5 years to reach minimum age for social security, at which time my disability pension converted to regular retirement pension when SS kicked in. My experience was that it is so much cheaper to be home that the difference between my regular salary (when factoring in all the taxes, retirement contributions, SS taxes, gas and work expenses, etc.) and disability retirement pension was not that much of a difference.

    I also was a convert to Dave Ramsey's Total Money Makeover and Financial Peace programs, and learned to be happy at home and cook. It really showed me that you can live on less and be just as comfortable.

    Last of all (sorry this is so long) I would remind you that having so much more time at home would allow you to really focus on making your sweet blog into an income stream for you, which would help replace some of your income. Good luck to you and your hubby. Please continue to share with us the direction you decide to go.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sandi@ Rose Chintz CottageJune 20, 2019 at 9:11 PM

    Well, my friend, it has been quite a year for you but you're getting there, one day at a time. Keep your spirits up and stay positive about what is going on around you, everything will fall into place. Everything does happen for a reason and we grow along the way with God's help. Thank you for sharing and I am routing for you; still praying for you too. Take care, Debbie. Hugs...Sandi

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  3. Jennifer@MyFlagstaffHomeJune 21, 2019 at 2:22 AM

    I hope you are on the mend, Debbie. Your plan for focus was such a great idea. Thanks for sharing your story at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home! --Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  4. mamasmercantileJune 21, 2019 at 3:55 AM

    Glad to read that you are recovering well and making plans for the future. Such a great word focus, hope everything works out. Both my husband and I took early retirement due to his ill health and I must admit it did take some getting used to. It is amazing how quickly we adapted to less money and lived our lives accordingly. Managing time is always a struggle, we often say we wonder how we ever had time to go to work. Hope all goes well.

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  5. JeanieJune 21, 2019 at 11:31 AM

    Focus is a powerful word and I'm glad to see you have implemented it to the max in your pre-surgical plans and recovery. Bravo for you. You'll be doing marathons next!

    ReplyDelete
  6. CynthiaJune 21, 2019 at 1:48 PM

    Debbie, it sounds as though you really have it all together...FOCUS was a great word to choose. Glad to hear that your knee is mending. Stay positive! Enjoy the Summer months and the (hopefully) beautiful days ahead. And keep blogging. I read all of your posts.

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  7. Judy at GoldCountryCottageJune 21, 2019 at 4:33 PM

    Hi Deb, Focus is a good word. Sometimes it is hard to keep it straight in our minds, however. Sounds like you are doing a pretty good job of it and I'm glad you are progressing towards healing. Keep up the good work and it will all be back on track soon..Happy Summer Day, Isn't it lovely? and thanks, so much, for your visit..xxoJudy

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  8. Louca por porcelanaJune 21, 2019 at 5:08 PM

    I am glad you are better each day.I think grateful is a good word too...God bless you.Hugs!

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  9. KarenJune 21, 2019 at 8:36 PM

    I also am a nurse, 64 years old, needing bilateral knee replacements and need to lose weight! I went out on short term disability a year ago when I hit the wall with pain and difficulty ambulating and standing for any length of time. I hope to have surgery in about a year after I can lose more weight ( I have lost 81 pounds in 11 months, mostly with diet as cannot really exercise using a cane, etc.)These were not my plans, but I also had my job eliminated when out on STD when the hospital did a “ restructuring”. Even though I have ambulation issues and pain, this year has been the best of my life! I did not realize how burnt out and stressed I was after 41 years of nursing! I am so content and happy just being responsible for me and not 80 employees plus a M/S unit of patients and long hours! Good luck in your recovery and I hope it can it use to go well. I always said I would never have surgery as I am alone with no family and concerned about recovery / Rehab being all alone.....and my right knee is much worse, so it would also interfere with driving for a few weeks. I do wonder how you felt the pain and pain control was? I am not one to take many meds so not looking forward to narcotics but not looking forward to the pain that everyone is warning me about! I also have been preparing,,,,,handicapped ramp, walk in shower installed, raised toilet, grab bars, etc..Others the no I am nuts since not anticipating surgery for a year, but I also like to be prepared and get things set up.......you never know what can happen, and these things are good to have available now! Sorry this is so long. It was just nice to see a realistic post regarding surgery, etc. and good to see that you are having a good outcome!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJune 22, 2019 at 9:25 AM

      Karen,
      I know you probably emailed me privately before but I can not recall your email addy. Please email me again @ debbiedabbleblog222@gmail.com
      We can "talk" better that way..LOL!
      Hugs,
      Deb

      Delete
  10. KarieJune 22, 2019 at 4:48 PM

    Debbie, you have done so well. I know things always work out, but it does cause stress when it is life changing decisions we have to make. You are an intelligent bright woman and you will make the right choice concerning whether to return to work or not. Life is short, it would be nice to retire wile you are still young and reasonably healthy. God will guide you.

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  11. AnnJune 23, 2019 at 1:48 PM

    Focus is a great word. Critical thinking is also a skill needed when we are faced with making decisions big and small. But don't dismiss that inner voice that tells us what is best for us especially when we pray and meditate on it. I get a lot of peace and answers just reading scripture and asking the Lord for help. But most of all trust the God of love and mercy who is with us and wants the best for us. TRUST!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Debbie-Dabble Blog and A Debbie-Dabble ChristmasJuly 2, 2019 at 1:28 PM

      Ann,
      I could not get in touch with you any other way so I am doing so here..Thanks so much for stopping by and for taking the time to comment on this post!!
      Hugs,
      Debbie

      Delete
  12. A Crafty MixJune 24, 2019 at 7:50 AM

    Sending love and prayers as always Debbie. You're a strong, courageous lady and I have the utmost faith in you. You will achieve everything you set your mind too and things will all work out in the end. <3

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  13. Eclectic Red BarnJune 25, 2019 at 2:13 PM

    Debbie,
    It has been quite a year for you so far and you seem to be adjusting to your "Focus". Sometimes, we just has to refocus and keep moving forward. Glad that your knee is doing so well.
    Hugs,
    Bev

    ReplyDelete
  14. Jennifer@MyFlagstaffHomeJune 26, 2019 at 12:09 AM

    Hi Debbie! This inspiring post will be featured this week at the Weekend Blog Hop at My Flagstaff Home. Thanks for sharing it. --Jennifer

    ReplyDelete
  15. Katie MansfieldJuly 1, 2019 at 8:29 PM

    Everything does happen for a reason. I'm so glad that your knee is doing so well. I'm sorry about the job situation. That is terrible.

    ReplyDelete
  16. FABBY'S LIVINGJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:12 PM

    Great plan for FOCUS dear friend.
    I hope you are in the mend very soon and yes, you look great in your Capri now that you can wear them !
    About your job situation, it's a shame, but who knows, sometimes is for the better, you'll see, keep faith !
    I love your new car, so many news together, good and not so goods, looks like life is like that. Here we are receivingnot good and kind of good news everyday too.
    Sending prayers for you so things can work out and find it's perfect place sweet lady.
    Hugs,
    Fabby

    ReplyDelete
  17. FABBY'S LIVINGJanuary 10, 2020 at 7:13 PM

    I meant and bad news too.
    Fabby

    ReplyDelete

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