Wired and ready for action

That's not an old cell phone on my hip. It's a TENS unit, supplying electrical impulses to my shoulder/arm - confusing the insistent painful areas. They've been screaming "pay attention to me!" Now they have competition. Hooha! I hope I don't drop the thing in the toilet. I received it Friday at the Physical Therapist's office. I've been electrocuting myself all weekend.

I survived week 1 post shoulder manipulation. I don't want this blog to be a pity party. But it kinda is. If you don't want to read this Debbie Downer post, click the X at the top right NOW. The blog IS about my life - which has been somewhat sucky lately - I've had a few rough months. Finally, however, I've been diagnosed! And I have an appointment with a specialist at the University of Iowa Hospital in a couple weeks. The crap I've gone through - colon problems, swollen legs, pounding heart, anxiety and now the worst - frozen shoulder - all the result of a wacky thyroid.

I'm so glad there is finally a diagnosis. My husband (Saint Pablo) is too. And I'm glad I have a machine to help with pain. Things are looking up! I am talking about my problems for all my relatives and others who might have these symptoms. Hyperthyroid can cause many things. Be on the lookout!

Fire station - from a former Mercury car dealership. Looks old but all state of the art

The roof of the CR Library is green - growing plants absorb rainwater

I spent the first part of the week at a conference in See the Rabbits - AKA Cedar Rapids. My mother grew up there and we'd go see my grandparents and cousins there when I was little. I always wondered where the rabbits were! CR went through a terrible flood in 2008 and is just now re-emerging from that event. I went on a walking tour of the new LEED certified (that means very environmentally friendly) central fire station and library (where my sis-in-law Mary Goldsmith works). Very cool places - they are doing it right there.

The conference was excellent - I was able to talk with a number of industry people and stakeholders. Our consultant few in Wednesday a.m. to do a session on goal setting and metrics with me. We had over 25 people attending and we used new technology that involved voting with cell phones. It went well. I was beat when I got back to DSM - a lot of face time!

Saturday was game day baby! I attended wearing my new apparatus. It helps me go longer between pain pills. The day was one of the most perfect tailgating days that we've had for a long time. Abby Conover was there with doggy Grover. She was our first babysitter, arriving with a "safe sitter" certification and folder. Tailgating was a good time - McKims, Kevin and Kari, Laura and her mom Ann. It was a nice crowd.

Dwight, Abby, Marilyn, Phil

Nearby our tailgate, the band played Happy Birthday for this group

check out our little cutie patootie photo bomber

Cyclones win! It sure is fun to get a W. Of course it wasn't easy - it never is with our team. But I love hanging with these people on a beautiful day.

On to next week. Things are looking up.

Post Op

I'm singing "YMCA" with actions and forming all the letters! No...not really. But I'm close...thanks to an injection and a couple cranks that according to the doc went pop, pop, pop. I've still got my pain meds - but feel I'm now on the way back up from Adhesive Capsulitis, aka frozen shoulder.

We arrived in the rain at DMOS (Des Moines Orthopaedic Surgeons) bright and early this morning. My driver, Pablo, dropped me at the door. After check in I got to put on that pretty gown. It's tough to tie that thing with a bad wing...the docs checked on me and the surgeon even signed my shoulder - to make sure he popped the right one. I find it amazing in the pre-op area how many people bring the whole damn fam. #crazyprecutparty

My first trip to the Physical Therapist was a mere 5 hours after I was unconscious in surgery. I'm working with Christine - the same PT who has helped me the past couple weeks. The session was painful, I won't lie. But I try to go with the pain. I think of all those war veterans and other injured people who put in the work to make strides back toward life as they knew it. I also have homework assignments. Odie thinks it's playtime anytime I get down on the floor. Stretch Odie! Woof!

Glad that day is over with. Wish me luck at all my future PT sessions - starting tomorrow.



 

One year ago...

What a difference twelve months can make. In church yesterday I was pondering again. (Yes, my mind wanders as the Homily drags on.) A year ago we were just getting home from our great family reunion trip to Cannon Beach, Oregon. This year...

S'mores...Cannon Beach 2012

• Bolder wasn't yet aware he was still ill with evil cancer
• In mid July I had my manipulation surgery to release scar tissue in my right shoulder after months of pain and immobility. That was followed by weeks of physical therapy and more pain. I was able to put my arm over my head for the first time in months, and broke through the pain after several week of PT.
• Paul had submitted his application for a permanent job in GULP Des Moines at the NRCS state office, and received notice that he got the job a few weeks later. It was one of those - "we hope it happens, "Oh shit" kinda things.
• We celebrated our 30th anniversary

He's got the jacket on here

Big stuff. All of these events have had huge implications. Except our anniversary, which was more like life as usual. With each passing year, and especially after this last one I realize how lucky and blessed I am.

Of course losing Boldie - in such a short time after the docs told him the cancer was back was the biggest baddest thing. It's all really still so surreal.

The shoulder thing made me realize I'm not getting any younger. Though I still can't seem to get in any kind of work out routine or rhythm. I know I need to do it, but I can't find my way there. I walk and ride my bike but it's all sporadic. I need a trainer and a plan. I can't seem to get motivated to workout after 10 hour work days. I'll figure it out eventually. I may have to bribe a certain workout fanatic from Creston to move to DMS.

If you read this blog then you know how much the move has affected our lives! Mostly for the good. We sure miss our homies - our Creston friends. And we still consider ourselves Crestonites - pretending to be city folk. I suppose over time that will change. I have lots of people who have lived here a long time say - "you do lots of things I never do". We just take advantage of it, because it's all new to us! We're like kids in the candy shop.

We like city life - and the opportunities the Des Moines area offers. It's convenient to live near an airport. Amy flies in tomorrow after her 6 week trip to South and Central America. We can go to any movie showing on any night. Restaurant options are limitless. We live on a bike trail and many more are minutes away. There are lots of concerts and live music opportunities and we're seeing Jersey Boys Wednesday night. The short drive home is sweet - especially late at night. Another bonus is being able to volunteer! I love hanging out with my Little Sis match, Chiya. She's been a blessing in my life.

I got to introduce Chiya to Amy

We have found that in Des Moines, we get to see friends from afar and family more often. We were able to host Easter this year with the Goldsmiths. Paul's sis Carol calls when she's in town visiting daughter Barb. Cindo and Bonnie came for a fun visit in June. Robbie Dob called when she came through town and Jane Ertl messages when she's in the area. Bobbie and Jeff stayed a night and we biked in our neighborhood, which was lots of fun. Mary Faber stayed last night! Kay and Alyssa Wilt called as they were heading through town. I need to do better about seeing local friends like Joan, Mary and Jane. It's nice living close to I-80. We got new beds ya'll - the welcome mat is out!

My shoulder gives me little reminders that not all of the scar tissue is gone. Early this year I even had to visit a chiropractor for some treatment. It's motivational, really. I'm not going to frozen land again!

I think of Bolder often. I picture him in his yellow jacket tucked into his plaid shorts like a homeless guy. He is with us going forward - especially in his son Colby (and his near-son Byron Pottorff). Our children too have absorbed their uncle Bolder. Legendary.

Change, though scary, can be good for us if we take advantage of opportunities. That's what we're trying to do by "living la vida loca". (well it's been crazy for us)

PF Flyers



Me, Cindo, Susi, Bets - I think I evan stood differently due to the shoulder

When I was a kid, I thought new shoes had special powers. Perhaps that's why I love shoes so much today! Mom would take me to Brown's Shoe Fit for new tennies, and I'd get Keds or PF Flyers. When I'd get home, I just knew I could run faster and jump higher with them on. Like a super-hero!

PF Flyers

These last few weeks/months I've not felt like a super hero. Quite the opposite in fact...I have felt very much like each of my 54 years. Old. Elderly. And I don't like it! It's this damn shoulder...which started out feeling like a muscle pull, but progressed. By the time I went to the Doc, Sheryl Young, Nurse Practicioner, who sent me to Physical Therapy (PT). In my own mind I was convinced something was torn in my shoulder.

So when PT didn't help, I was depressed - using the arm less and less. I couldn't sleep due to pain at night - luckily I found Advil PM helped. But mornings were bad. The pain began to move down my arm. I went back to Sheryl who after X-Rays, referred me to a surgeon, Kary Schulte who diagnosed "Frozen Shoulder" or adhesive capsulitis. It doesn't sound bad - but believe me, pain 24/7 can get you down.

Unfortunately I couldn't get in to have Dr. Schulte manipulate my shoulder (crank on it to break the scar tissue that formed for some unknown reason) until July 18. So I waited it out through July 4 and then through my vacation in Oregon. I survived, but it was with a great deal of pain...and feeling old. Good thing I had my fam around to help distract me - more about that when I get a chance to write!

Yesterday Paul took me to DMOS - the surgical center at 6:15 a.m. for the procedure. The night before, thanks to Facebook, I learned that a couple people I knew - Mendy and Kara's Mom Renee had been through this procedure. So that helped ease my mind going in! They knocked me out for just long enough for Doc S to move my arm in ways it hadn't for quite some time. He said it popped 3 times! (Ick). He also shot it up with a steroid solution for pain, but it won't kick in for a day or so.

I woke up sitting in a recovery room chair. Severe pain under my shoulder blade - before I could help it, I started to cry. This got the nurse's attention very quickly and she brought me some Vicodin. Plus she put something into my IV. Crying is quite effective! I don't like doing it though. I feel I have a pretty high pain threshold, so it must have been bad. It took a few minutes but that took the edge off.

They wheeled me into the little room I started in and I put my pants on. I got instructions on going home. Then Paul came in and I finished dressing and talked to the doc briefly. Then off we went, stopping at HyVee for drugs. I was very sleepy and dozed on Joan's couch until nearly 1 while Paul ran errands.

Physical Therapy was at 3 PM down by my work. Paul loaded me into the car - though I was pretty alert by then. Angela was my therapist, a young compact woman. She was nice but instructions were to be aggressive so she had to force the arm at times. I told her to go for it, because I want this to work. I bought a pulley contraption to use at home to help with therapy, and got instructions for exercises to do. I'll be back at Penn Med for more sessions every day for 2 weeks.

So no running around with PF Flyers but I hope I'm soon back to regular workouts. My plan is to join a gym and get a personal trainer after I'm a bit more mended from this. The procedure hasn't gotten rid of my initial problem - my tendon in my shoulder is impinged. So I need to work that out. My arm is definitely sore today but I'm glad I can get it over my head!

My sis Cindo underwent partial knee replacement yesterday - her 2nd. She did the left leg in April. She texted that it was more painful than the first one. Yikes! Let's hope the Bullock girls are on the mend!