NO SURGERY!!!!!

18 June 2003

It was the sweetest sound I heard all day: "no surgery." In fact the physician's assistant told me "I wish all our patients were in as good shape as you at this stage."

Finally I could breathe again. This after sitting in the x-ray area for an hour waiting first to be taken and then for films. It was pandemonium, with people running here and there...gurneys being wheeled in with people looking about the way I looked a week ago, a guy who looked like Cheech back for second and third x-rays, a guy covered with tatoos with a shoe in his lap, and a tall matron pacing the hall looking like Sister Mary Perpetua, overseeing the place. I thought "Hey--this would make a good TV series," but (a) it's been done, and (b) that's Steve's line anyway.

Taking x-rays involved getting out of the immobilizer for the first time, extending my elbow (ouch!) on the x-ray table so he could photograph from the top of the shoulder.

But the end results were beautiful. I shoulda ordered 8x10 glossies.

So I've been cleared to do minor exercises 2-3 times a day out of the immobilizer, but to keep it on until my next appointment on July 22. According to my disability paperwork, I can do "light duty" as of July 29 and full duty with no restrictions by August 22, but since I'm not going back to work since even "light duty" isn't enough at the office, the only thing that news is good for is confirming that, barring other accidents, I will be OK to go to Australia.

I am even able to type, in short spurts, 2-handed. It's not comfortable, but oh so much more satisfying than hunting and pecking with only one hand.

The day started with my walking the 1/4-1/2 miles up to the WeightWatchers meeting. We're taking a "pass" on the weigh-in this week. I was wearing shoes, needed to pee, and am retaining water in all the "healing places," so my leader pointed out that the weight wouldn't be accurate.

But it was a great support group...and the discussion today was about the problems of sticking to the program when you're home alone--my situation! Just what the doctor ordered.

After the meeting, I came home and vacuumed....just to say I did it. It's not a thorough job, but it's an improvement. I also managed to take a sponge bath before I made the x-ray tech faint while he lifted my arm. Amazing how much time such "automatic" activities take.

One thing: I will not be able to iron for some time.

You can be sure this breaks my heart.

So it's another day, another positive bit of news. I'm not quite ready to climb on that exercise bike yet, but I'll bet ya that by this time next week I'll be doing that too. I'll also be back to showering regularly. I know this will please the neighborhood.

Tomorrow I'm even working half a day. My favorite patient is coming in for ultrasound on her twins and I really want to be there. I'm also going to sit in on interviews with the top contenders for my replacement (interviews go on from 2 p.m. until 5:30, so it will be a long day). Dr. G is also hoping I can spend the day updating his web site...now that I can kinda-sorta type 2-handed it should be possible--not easy, but possible. At least I can feel productive for a change.

The motto this week is "one day at a time." And one day at a time, it seems to be improving. Not getting too impatient is going to be the key. I've never been one who liked the slow pace...(One reason I took up biking vs. walking in the first place!). But it's time to become more introspective, patient, and compliant.