Doing well ....

Sorry for the lack of posts .... I missed an entire month! Life has been extra busy these days, to say the least! All feels good with the hip, although I am still limping some (or a lot). Someone comments on it at least once a day t work, but I am not totally sure why .... supposedly the leg length is the same now. I don't have any other follow-up appointments scheduled, but I could make one if needed. I am guessing there is still a difference in length or else I have just walked that way for so long that it is routine & may always be that way.

Foot seems to be doing okay. The little toe is up off the ground more than ever, but I'm living with it. It is only a problem with some shoes (can rub on the top of the shoe), so I am not sure it is worth trying to correct.

We had one day with students last week at JA and three visit days this week. Overall I feel well and aside from the limp deal, all is great.

Thanks for checking in! Wishing you an enjoyable fall week ....

Thumbs Up - all is good!

All continues to be well with the foot and hip. I really don't have any pain or even notice the new hip at all. I'm going to wait several more months before I sell the scooter, but I am thinking there might not be a need for it anymore. No student visits at JA until October, so it will be nice to have five weeks without a lot of standing/walking.

Hope you are having a great weekend & thanks for checking in!
Jenny

Four Week Post-Op Appt. Follow-Up ....

I apologize for no update after my hip doctor appointment last Friday .... I actually forgot, because everything went well! All is healing as planned and the PA said that the leg length is perfect. I go back for a re-check in three months, but all is on track and thankfully there we no complications.

It was back to work on Monday .... the first day was the longest ever, but today was easier. I really notice the stamina thing, but that is simply going to take more time. My foot has really been swollen this week with the heat, but that is normal. Other than a puffy foot that looks like I am age eighty, all is great!

Thanks for checking in!

Almost 4 weeks post-op ....

All continues to progress well with the hip. My 4-week post-op appt. is this Friday at 11am. I am sure we will take x-rays, but I anticipate everything being fine. I am driving again ... it is fine, but I have to remember to "back in" to the car seat. Doing stairs is coming along, but going down is easier than coming up. I walked at the mall several times this week, but really felt it when I returned home. I have to be careful to not do multiple, consecutive days in a row with a lot of walking/standing. I think it is going to take another 4-6 weeks, before I am back to full stamina.

This is my last week at home and my plan is to return to work on August 1st. I have a student group at JA on August 1st, of all things! I have great staff that will work with me & if needed I will use the scooter.

I'll update again after the Friday appointment .... not a lot new happening on the hip front at the moment.

Thanks for your continued prayers & for checking in!
Jenny

Two-week Post-op mark ....

Post #470 ....

All continues to heal well and move along nicely with the hip recovery process. The in-home physical therapist came yesterday for the final time. I have exercises that I can continue doing on my own. Lack of stamina and incision soreness continue, but those are both things that will simply require additional healing time.

I started another antibiotic for sore throat and congestion .... not sure if it is the sinus infection that has returned or what, but the sore throat needs to to disappear.

Tomorrow will be the two week post-op mark ..... incision is dry and is healing well. We probably should have tried the "glue method" on my foot long ago! I finally managed to get the Beta dine washed off my legs ... that yellow stuff is the stickiest substance and stays for days.

Thanks for checking in ... no complaints!
Jenny

Hip Update - #2

All is going smoothly with the hip surgery recovery. The home health-care nurse came twice this week and is now finished coming. The incision is healing well and all still remains closed. I had pt twice this week as well. Physical therapy at home is pretty weak, but we are doing the exercises. I looked at returning to the same pt office that worked with my foot, but this cannot be done while I am doing "short-term disability." I did make the decision to take off the remainder of July, to make sure that I am good to go. My first post-op appt. with the surgeon is on the last Friday in July.

Each day gets a little easier with the pain and discomfort. I am doing extra strength Tylenol for pain. I did go to lunch with a friend from work on Friday. It was fun to get out of the house for a bit. The new hip still feels very heavy, but that will go away eventually.

My aunt came this week and was a huge help .... it is amazing how many things I drop on the floor and cannot pick up. I continue to be thankful for a smooth recovery process.

Thanks for checking in & enjoy the weekend!
Jenny

Post-Op Hip Surgery Report ...

All is done ... yeah! The surgery started very late on Thursday - around 11:30am. Needless to say, it was a long morning of waiting alone. Everyone I encountered wanted to know why I was having the hip revision done at such a young age, so I repeated the same info. about twenty times. The anesthetic guy turned out to be the same person that I had fifteen years ago, so that was good. We had trouble with the IV and drawing blood, because my veins are so small. Every needle they used went through one side of the vein and out the other side instantly .... eventually, we got it to work.

Hospital stay was manageable. The smaller setting is always a benefit. It was a double room, but no one else was in the other bed the entire time. I had a great brownie with chocolate frosting, while I was there! I also got to change into my own PJ's on Friday, so that was a mental boost.

I came home from the hospital about 11:15am on Saturday and spent all of Sunday in bed with nausea and sickness (from medication). We had the same problem in the hospital and thought we had it solved, but obviously not. Today I am doing Tylenol and Advil for pain, not nearly as effective but at least I am not sick with tummy issues. The home health care nurse and in-home pt person did come and see me yesterday & I got sick during both visits. Pt returns tomorrow and the nurse at the end of the week. Not sure if the pain meds are the culprit or if it is just the combination of all the drugs together.

My surgeon used glue on the 13" incision, so there are no staples or stitches. Let's hope I'm not allergic to the glue. The hip is really sore, tight and doesn't want anything touching it at the moment. We did correct the leg length, but now it feels overly long - it will really be okay, but it is just a sensation at the beginning. I can put full weight on the hip and did get a shower last night. I am using a walker some and am trying it on my own some, too.

Tomorrow my aunt from central IL comes to help until Friday, so that will be good. There are all kinds of "hip precautions" of things I cannot do or I run the risk of the hip dislocating. Obviously, we are trying to be extra careful. All has gone well so far and no major glitches. Thanks for praying and for your encouraging cards and phone calls. I'll continue to update with new developments this week.

Happy 4th of July!
Jenny

Hip Revision Surgery on Thursday - June 30th

All is set and ready to go for the hip revision surgery on Thursday morning .... have to be at Barnes West Hospital at 7:30am and surgery is scheduled for 9am. I've not prepared much mentally for this, but I'll manage. Since I have been out of the "surgery mode" for awhile, you somewhat forget what it entails.
Please pray for the following:
- no post-op sickness
- only 1-2 hospital nights
- skill for Dr. Martin
- quick healing and minimal post-op pain

I managed to get a sinus infection last weekend, so I've been battling that all week. I am on an antibiotic, but won't be finished for another 5 days. I spoke with the surgeon's PA yesterday and it is okay, as long as it is being treated.

The pain medication that I've always used in the past is no longer made, so I am hoping that whatever I switch to will be effective. I have a weak stomach, so there are a lot of things I cannot take. Hope for the best on this one!

I am not sure if I am taking the laptop to the hospital. I am going to try, but I can't leave it unattended if I am alone.

Thanks for praying!
Jenny

2 1/2 weeks and counting .......

All is still great with the foot .... yippee! My hip pre-op appt. at Barnes on Olive is this Thursday morning at 8am. I talked to the PA at the hip surgeon's office today and he thought about 2-3 weeks with no driving (probably 2). There is wifi in the hospital rooms, so that is good news. Hopefully I can beg for a private room ..... you would think that all rooms would be private these days, but they are not.

Still eating my banana, taking the iron pills, and drinking a glass of OJ a day.

Thanks for checking in .... will keep you posted!

Jenny

New Hip: Month Away .....

Post #465 . . .

Good Evening! I am doing well and continue to be incredibly busy with student visits and summer camp preparations at JA. The days have started to run together lately, which means I need to slow down. I am about a month (June 30th) a way from the hip surgery … the time is going fast. I’ve not thought about it a lot, because I keep thinking that I know what to expect. Hopefully a few things have improved, since the first go round. Next week I have to begin taking iron tablets, drinking a glass of OJ/day and eating a banana each day – all as pre-op preparations. I have discussed previous skin issues and no tape being used w/my hip surgeon and everyone is “on board.” The last thing I want are for skin issues to return …. that took forever to solve.

Foot is okay …. slight issue with the little toe, but I’m not dealing with it for now. Long ago (almost a year) the little toe on the operative foot started to come up. It has remained that way & I’ve always thought it would stay that way forever. Now it must be higher, because it is rubbing on the top of any closed shoes & a blister forms. I’m hoping to get by until August and then check into options. I think whatever is pulling it up needs to be clipped. Thought about having it done on the same day as the hip, but then decided that was a bit risky if anything unforeseen would arise.

I am looking forward to the long holiday weekend and some R&R.

Thanks for checking in!

Jenny

Doing well ....

Mom had foot surgery on Thursday of this week. She is home and doing well with three pins in her toes. I've been out their house the last several days helping. She has the same STL doctor that did my foot surgery. Her other foot needs surgery, too but we are waiting until the end of summer to tackle that. It was funny to see Dr. K in the waiting room on Thursday, instead of the operating room! I also saw my hip surgeon on Thursday at the hospital.

2 1/2 more weeks of daily sessions with kids and then summer camp begins at JA. I am taking off the four days before my hip surgery. I scheduled the pre-op testing for the first week in June and have to begin taking iron next week. I spoke with the hip surgeon's PA this week and he said plan on more like 3-4 days in the hospital, instead of 1-2 days .... I don't get the idea that this is going to be as simple as I thought. We'll see what happens with time ....

Hope you are staying dry on this chilly Spring weekend. Thanks for checking in!

Jenny

Happy Easter!

Easter Greetings!

Although it was rainy outside, I hope your day was joyful on the inside! Our family had Easter breakfast at my house this morning and then we went to late church …. back to mom & dad’s house for Easter lunch and then we chatted together all afternoon. We had a great, relaxing day!

Overall, I am still doing well with my foot. I exercised on Saturday, which was the first time in several weeks. I biked 4 miles and then did cardio, so that was a good start. I think my operative foot is a little smaller now than the left foot …. who would have dreamed, after all that swelling. I need to stop in and say “hi” to my pt guy this week.

This week I was once again reminded how grateful I am to be able to wear a shoe. It is easy to still get frustrated with what I cannot wear, but then I remind myself that at least I can wear most shoes …. believe me, I find cute shoes that work and make for happy feet.

As we were waiting for church to begin this morning, my mom found this small notepad in her purse. On the first page of the notepad was a list of people (and times) that called her when she was waiting alone during my transplant surgery in San Antonio. There was a long list of people that called and most calls were every 5-6 minutes a part. Lots of old & current friends, but all people that we thinking & praying for us on that May day. That day was an early Monday morning, so I was always surprised that anyone remembered …. Nonetheless, we will be forever thankful.

I have several more weeks before I need to begin taking iron, drinking a glass of OJ & eating a banana each day in preparation for the hip surgery.

Hoping for sunshine this week!
Jenny

Doing okay .....

Greetings! I am doing well . . . just plugging away at work and everyday life activities. In three weeks it will be the one year mark, since my last foot surgery - yippee! This will be the longest we've gone with no surgery, so that would be a milestone. The achy toe somewhat comes and goes. It feels like I am putting a lot of pressure on the big toe and it has no function now (fused), so that may be part of the issue. I've had a lot of swelling on the front top of the foot lately, where we did the artery transfer. It looks like an uncooked breakfast biscuit on the skin section just behind my toes. Not the most attractive with a sandal, but such is life. I did break down and have a pedicure last week, since all the toenail surgery remnants look healed.

This Thursday will be 8 weeks before the hip surgery. Tonight I read a lot of information on Barnes West Co. hospital, as it has changed quite a bit since I was there for the original surgery. My June will be filled with three camps, so once June comes the time will go really fast. I have decided to take off the five days before the surgery and go on a trip - not sure where yet, but someplace warm, sunny and fun. I am sure it will likely be 4-6 weeks after the surgery before I feel really well, so figured I'd better try to squeeze in a summer trip before.

Need to scoot to bed, to be ready for JA kiddos tomorrow.
Thanks for checking in!
Jenny

Waiting Game ......

I am doing okay …. not a lot new. Since I left the hip surgeon’s office, I’ve thought of a list of questions that I need to ask yet. I’m going to wait until the end of May to ask them – nothing urgent. The big thing is that I need to warn them that we cannot use any tape/adhesives. I don’t want this to be a surprise on the surgery day. I had second thoughts about waiting until the end of June to do the surgery, but after a lot of thought I still think that is best. June will be here before I know it! I am taking 3 days of vacation time before the surgery.

I’m really upset that Darvacet was taken off the drug market, as this worked for me so well with previous surgeries. There are so many that I cannot take, due to stomach issues. Maybe they will invent a replacement by the end of June – wishful thinking. Earlier this week my big toe was hurting again …. I switched to taking one Aleve in the morning for the past two days & that seems to have helped.

Tonight I had a pedicure …. it was worth paying for this, since I’m not supposed to be bending that far to paint my toes. In about 3 weeks, it will be the one-year-mark since the last toe surgery in Dallas ….. that would be the longest period of time I’ve gone with no major issues. I talked with another friend today that is at a standstill w/medical care in STL & I highly suggested that she go out-of-town for advice ….. it all changes when you get to the right doctor. I am still finding more and more shoes that are much too big now that the foot swelling has dissipated. I had a sandal w/a Velcro section on the top & tonight I couldn’t believe where the Velcro was set – it feel off my off instantly …. much too big.

Better call it a day and get some sleep ….. large group of students tomorrow. Enjoy the St. Louis sunshine this week! Jenny

Hip news .....

Good Evening! This morning was my doctor appt. w/my current hip surgeon. For my past two appointments I got stuck only seeing his PA, so I was really praying that things were different this time. We took x-rays, and Dr. M quickly came to the conclusion of recommending that we do the hip revision surgery. We talked a long time, reviewed the x-rays together, and discussed reasons to do it this summer – instead of waiting another year. I think I am his youngest patient … it was me & the seniors in the waiting room. He believes that my limping is due to the difference in leg length, which is something that can be fixed (pretty close to perfect) during the revision surgery. The ball and socket would be replaced, but not the shaft that is in the femur. The hospital stay is only 1-3 days, and 4-6 weeks of recovery . . . this is a lot shorter than the original recovery of 3 months. More physical therapy, of course! Glad I did not sell the scooter at work. He was not concerned w/my past healing issues, so really this should be fairly minor compared to the long, drawn out foot saga. As much as I was hoping for a quieter summer, I am somewhat relieved to have a plan in place and know that we are “getting on with it.” We scheduled the big day for Thursday, June 30th. Thankfully, my boss was gracious about missing the last week of summer camp. I told her that I will organize everything, before I leave! The technology has improved considerably, so there is a strong chance that I this may be it for life . . . implants have come a long way in recent years. I really prayed that God was make it evident, if I was supposed to do this now and it was obvious ….. I love it when you really know! I was going to go and get a second opinion, but there really is not a need for that now. I’ve talked to three other doctors over the years that have referred their parents to Dr. M for hip surgery, so I know he is one of the best in STL. Lots to still process & think through, but wanted to keep you updated. Deep down I am relieved, but it still caught me “off guard” a bit today. Amazing enough, I drove back to work & walked in and worked with 120 kids the reminder of the day. Pray that my foot continues to do well & there are no other issues with that this Spring ….. May will be one year, since the last foot surgery. Will keep blogging ….. thanks for your continued prayers, as we combine foot/hip news. In Him, Jenny

Monday Update ....

Post #455 ...

Happy Monday! I am doing well with my toe and do believe that the achy feeling is going away little by little. I had off work today, which was wonderful! I can’t even think of the last time that I had a weekday off and did not have any medical appointments.

My hip has not been the greatest …. Not sure if we are getting closer to the time that it needs to be replaced or what is happening. I made two appointments for the next several weeks to get it checked out …. one appt. with my current hip surgeon and one appt. w/someone new. My limp is noticeably worse …. about eight parents commented to me about it on Friday & then two other people from church mentioned it last Wednesday. Two months ago my assistant at work told me that my jean pockets were not lining up. Mom measured my leg length last night and the “bad side” is about an inch shorter, which is a lot “off” when walking. Today I noticed that crossing my legs when sitting was uncomfortable, so maybe dealing with the hip will be my summer – we’ll see.

Last week I heard the CEO of Chick-Fil-A speak at a luncheon on Wednesday and then he came for a tour of JA on Thursday afternoon. Kids had just left and the place was a pit, so we scrambled to get it together. Chick-Fil-A is possibly going to help build a JA BizTown in Atlanta, Georgia sometime in the future.

Heading out for dinner ….. enjoy the sunny, St. Louis weather this week!
Jenny

Doing okay ....

All is going okay with the toe surgery “recovery.” I wore the surgical shoe for the first few days last week and then have resorted to whatever works day-by-day this week. It continues to be really sore and swollen, but I keep telling myself that yesterday was only one week. The toe has been very achy this week, so I’ve done a lot of Advil. Surely it will get better with time. I’ve not been able to exercise, as by the evening it is really swollen. Tonight I’m going to try soaking it in Epsom salt for a bit. Hopefully the achy feeling will subside as we get further out.

Yesterday I made the mistake of trying a silicone toe sock and that was rough – way too tight. Then I also tried wearing a pair of regular hose with a skirt and I was itching by noon. By evening I said to myself, “everything is coming off … hosiery, toe sock, bandage, etc.”

Everyday this week I’ve had people comment that I am limping ….. hard to tell if it is a difference in leg length w/my hip or the hurting toe. The latter sounds the most logical at the moment.

I’ve had big groups of kids everyday this week, so tomorrow I am trying a tennis shoe.

Thanks for checking in!

Toenail surgery done .....

I survived . . . many thanks to those of you that prayed today! It was a rough go, but I made it. We did six shots of Novocain & each was 25 minutes a part. I read on my Kindle, while waiting. After the last round, I said let’s just do it & get on with it …. then he worked on it for another 20 minutes, so I was there awhile. He must have asked me twenty-five times if I was okay. We chatted about all his “friend doctors” that he referred me to along the way. He wanted to know if everything else was good with my foot and I said, “you bet it is good!”

So if all goes as planned, the ingrown toenail should never return. The acid medicine does seep out for the next 4-6 weeks, so I do have to keep it covered. At least we did it now and not in May with summer around the corner. He warned me that the toe will look at lot worse in the weeks ahead, before it looks better – glad for the “heads up.”

At the moment, I can feel the toe throbbing w/pain, but it should be somewhat better by tomorrow morning – first night is always the worst. I’ll likely wear the surgical shoe for the next few days, just to make sure a kid doesn’t step on it or anything! Thanks again for praying & thinking of me … glad it is over. Will keep you updated ....

je

Wednesday appointment still happening ....

My Wednesday ortho doctor appt. is still happening (late afternoon). I checked with his nurse and she said that he should be able to do the surgical procedure in his office. It involves injecting this chemical into the root of the nail and then the nail cannot grow any longer in that spot. I've never thought that the Novocaine works well on me, so I am dreading it. Maybe it won't be as bad as I'm anticipating. I probably could have it done in the operating room, but then that is more waiting and expense .... we'll chat on Wednesday, but it sounds like he will do it in the office, if I am willing. Pray & think happy thoughts at 3:30 on Wednesday!

Skin and positioning are still great .... that is really, good news. I'll update more after Wednesday ....

je

Hanging in there ....

My appointment with my STL ortho doctor is next Wednesday (3/2) .... it cannot happen soon enough! There was one day last week that I thought it was getting better, but today was just the opposite. I never heard back from the office, as to whether or not this was an office procedure or a scheduled surgery. There are advantages to both, but if it is a true surgery then I need to get it scheduled. I'm calling tomorrow to ask. I am not looking forward to bandaging and drainage for 4-6 weeks, but I have to get this toenail stuff stopped. How can there be that much drainage from a toe for 4-6 weeks!?

I exercised at the gym over the weekend and actually tried jogging on the treadmill for 5 minutes. It was not long, but I just wanted to see if I could do it. I could!

It is going to rain tomorrow, because my hip has been hurting all day .... it happens normally 24 hours before we get a big storm.

Thanks for checking in & I'll keep you posted ....
je

Toe issues ....

Post #450 . . . .

I am doing okay, but am still struggling with the toenail situation. I have an appt. w/the ortho surgeon on 3/2 . . . he is out-of-town this week and then his schedule was totally booked for the following week. I am on the cancellation list, but I always wonder if anyone ever checks those lists. I did research the more aggressive treatment option on the net, but still have some questions to ask. I e-mailed his nurse over the weekend and asked her if the procedure is done in his office or if it was a scheduled surgery …. could go either way. At any rate it looks painful! The most frustrating part is that I can’t really see the problem (only feel it) on the side of my big toe. To look at it, you’d think it looks normal.

I have big groups of students all five days this week, so it will be a busy on the walking front. The weather this weekend was fabulous. It was such a joy to have warmer temps and see the snow melting … yeah!

Thanks for checking in …… wishing you a warmer winter week!
Jenny

Winter Update ....

Greetings! Sorry for the lack of updates, but there has not been a lot new happening. We had several “snow days” last week, so it was nice to be home a bit more. I have been overly cautious on the ice …. believe me, I’m not risking anything!

Toward the end of last week, I suspected that my ingrown toenail (from December) issue was returning. Today I am pretty sure that is true. I really don’t want to go back to the ortho surgeon & ask what the more “involved” fix is for this (it does exist), but there may be no other choice. I’ve also had a bunion on the other foot that I’ve ignored & lived with for 5-6 years, as it has been tolerable. Well now, I’m fast approaching the non-tolerable stage. The thought of doing anything on my “good foot” does not excite me. We’ll see …. I may make an appt. and go consult with him on both issues. My hip has been aching on and off, but that might just be the cold weather – hoping for that rationale.

Everything else is going well and I’m busy, busy with kiddos at work. Last week I was searching for photos on Google images, with the title of my work program, & up popped a picture of my foot! Sure enough .... my two feet standing on my bathroom rug at home. Needless to say, I was shocked. The only upside was that it was a decent foot picture …. thank goodness! I need to figure out how to get a picture removed from Google images.

Stay warm & safe this week,
Jenny

Winter Update .... all is great!

Just wanted to tell you that all is well and there is not a lot new to report. We had several “snow days” this week, so I only had one day with students. Next week there are five student visit days, so I need to rest up this weekend!

Everything is great with my foot and skin issues. I continue to be amazed at how the skin issues have cleared up. I never, ever thought that the skin would be as good as it is now. I wish you could see the “before pics.” It is like a complete 360 degree turn around …. organic socks & tights did the trick! They have been worth every penny. I wore dress boots all day twice this week.

One thing has changed for sure . . . I used to measure how many minutes or hours I could go without having any pain. For the longest time, I measured this in 20-30 minute increments, which was exhausting. I still think about it, but now I measure it by how many days without pain . . . . at the moment I’ve lost track because it has easily been 30-40 days w/no pain. I am off all Rx medications, which is also a big improvement.

Still working out at the gym and trying to do a little more each time. I walked/biked 5.5 miles earlier this week. I am up to speed 3.5 on the treadmill and earlier in the fall, I could not keep up with speed 2. I think I can go a little higher, but as I get closer 4 it feels like I’ll be jogging. I’m doing some weight exercises as well to continue strengthening the calf muscles. I need to stop in and show my pt guy my foot – he will be happy. Next week will be six weeks with no medical appointments, yippee! I am still so grateful for the progress I’ve made . . . . thanks to many prayers & God’s faithfulness.

Hope you are staying warm & safe,
Jenny

Still good ....

Brrrrr ..... can't tell you how thankful I am for no open toes today! The top picture is my shoe ornament collection. I put them on my Christmas tree for December, but then I keep them out all year ... since I'll never wear a high heel, it is just a fun little collection. Someone left one on my desk at work this year & I still haven't found out where it came from. The bottom picture is a recent picture my foot and you can tell that the scarring is fading .... little by little.

All continues to be well and I am just plugging away with normal, everyday life activities. I am back to working out at the gym and am able to do 40-45 min. of cardio, which is good. My hip was "acting up" a little last week and all I could think was, "no, no not yet!" I'd love a few, calm months with no big medical issues or co-pays. I really don't even want to think about the hip situation quite yet .... life is good at the moment.

I still have my scooter at work, so at the end of last week I used it just to keep the battery life going (otherwise it is $250 to replace). As it was sitting by my office, numerous people came by to ask if I was okay. I almost made a page throughout the building telling everyone not to panic .... all is good with the foot! Everyone knows what the scooter "normally" means, but it was nice to know that everyone was looking out for me.

Need to get ready for the winter weather day tomorrow .... stay warm & safe!

Jenny