February 28, 2010-Slowly Feeling Better

I am feeling better as far as my leg pains but now the bulge behind my right ribs in my back has been hurting so that I'm taking Ibuprofen again. I think that deformity is from my crooked spine. At least I hope so. I don't want it to be an organ.It's been like that for over a year now and hasn't bothered me much till lately. The other day the pain seemed to move to the middle of my back and then to the front of my chest. Thought I was going to have a heart attack for a while but by the next day it had subsided. Today it started again but the Ibuprofen seems to help.
My wrist is healing slowly. It doesn't really bother me much except for when I try to use those fingers. Then I get a pain for a second. I'm trying to exercise those fingers all the time. I need to write better. This month's checks look like hell. Ha! But readable.
I haven't heard from the drug store yet about the commode. Maybe tomorrow. I did get a call back from the medical supply in Delaware County that the PT wanted me to call first. That lady will drive all the way here to fit me for a wheelchair. That is almost a two hour drive! I am surprised but she says she has clients in Little Falls and around the area. She will be calling me tomorrow again so that I can answer more questions. Then she will bring a wheelchair just for fitting. I am going to tell her I want a narrow one and one that will have a high seat. She said a high seat is no problem.
I ordered a hand held shower head online and will have the maintenance man here put it on for me. I also ordered a new grabber to pick up things. I have one but the rubber tips are worn out. I have used that one outdoors to pick up things off the ground when I used to climb out my window. Can't do that any more. Ha! Ha!
My daughter came over today and I watched Jessi while Nina went and got me some groceries. Jessi has a cold. I sure hope I don't catch another one. I just got over the one I caught after going to the emergency room. This is a picture of Jessi and I today. That's all for now. Take care everyone. Oh. I haven't heard anything about my nephew and when he finally got up here. But he's gone back by now. He was only coming for the weekend.

February 25, 2010-Nurse Visits Etc.

A nurse came yesterday to talk to me and take all my vitals. She sent a PT today. Very nice girl from Ilion. Julie Moreau. She evaluated what I will need and called my doctor so they would mail the subscriptions to Lennox Pharmacy. She suggested a 3 in 1 Commode for my toilet and a transfer chair for my tub. And after checking my legs and fearing that I might have a problem in the future with my knee giving out again, is having my doctor prescribe an electric wheelchair. I don't want one of those scooters. They take too much room to turn. When I get the prescription in the mail then I will call one of the three places that she suggested. They will come and fit me for one. That will be a Godsend for me. I might even be able to go places more this summer with that. It was always so hard to walk with the crutches too far..My hips are too weak. But all I'm concerned with now is getting off the toilet easier. My left shoulder is hurting so bad from the extra duty.
My wrist doesn't hurt unless I twist my arm unintentionally or move my fingers too much. Then I feel some pain. Two weeks down and four more to go and hopefully that will mend up okay. I suppose I'll have to wear a wrist brace for a while. I'll be so afraid to use it but I will do exercises to strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the bone. I keep trying to exercise the fingers now but still can't use the thumb and forefinger together.
My kneecap on my left leg hurts now and then. That scares me. I'm so afraid I won't be able to walk without the two crutches. So that wheelchair will come in handy at times in the future. Especially when my back gives out also. That happens a few times a year.
We are getting a lot of snow today. It looks so pretty! But my poor nephew is stuck in Penn Station. He was taking a train to Albany and my brother and sister in law were driving there to pick him up. I don't know when he will be able to get out. He was only coming up for the weekend. He was in NJ for something with the Air Force. He's stationed in Wyoming. That will be a big disappointment if he can't make it here. I don't understand why he wasn't taking the train all the way to Utica though. Would have been much closer for his parents. Guess he wanted to save money.
That's all for now. My wrist starts to bother me when I sit too long at this computer.

February 19, 2010- Friday

The Home Health Care nurse came this morning to evaluate me. A different nurse will be here Tuesday. She will be my regular one. Then they will send a PT to see what equipment I might need in the bathroom to get off the toilet better. If they can't get what I need I already found a 6 inch riser seat that will be better than the 4 inch one I already have on it. They will send a home health aid to help me with whatever else I might need help with during this next 5 weeks with the cast on. I told her I'd only want someone once a week. No sense in using their time up on me when there are people out there that need it it worse. They are short on help too.
My daughter picked up some groceries for me and brought them today. So I'm set for now. She also took my cart out to my car to bring in the two 20 lb bags of nuts and seeds I had in the trunk for the past ten days. I was glad of that because I had just ran out. I always buy extra so I won't have to keep running to Aubuchon Hardware. Sure am glad I already had them. Still have to give my critters some food but have cut way down, since I can only open the window up a little. It's too hard with one hand. These damn windows never did go up smoothly.

My leg pain is slowly getting better, than heavens. My wrist pain is just about gone but have to be very careful that I don't use my fingers because it causes pain when I do. I am sleeping pretty good with that arm against pillows to keep it up in the air when I'm sleeping.

The icicles are falling off the eves here. I just hope to God they never fall and hurt one of the animals. Saw the Opossum again this evening before dark. My bird, Ricky, likes to watch him too. Ha!
That's all for now. Take care and be well everyone.

Afraid Of Falling Again-Feb. 17, 2010

I was doing better I thought. I had that spurt of energy on Sunday but since then I've been hurting a bit. It's the left leg that is bothering me more. Have pains in it at night. Those bruises are so deep and the muscle running in back is so sore and the ankle is so black and blue yet. Today my kneecap is hurting and I'm so afraid that knee will give out again.
I'm having aches in my rectum again also. I can't do the baking soda enemas since I fell and I'm afraid the tumor will start to grow again. That was feeling good for so long.
I have finally called my primary doctor so I can get some help. They are sending someone here on Friday to evaluate me to see what I might need. I want a wheelchair but afraid II might not be able to get out of it if it's too low. I also need something more to help me get up off the toilet before I end up breaking this cast. I also need lifeline so if I fall I can press a button from my wrist or neck. I really should have gotten one of those long ago.
I'm going to try not to need anyone to help in my apartment but if I need it I will get it. Maybe to help get some groceries and wash my left arm that I can't reach right now. I sure don't want anyone doing more than that. I hate my privacy invaded. I have been such a loner for so long.
My sister, Deb, stopped over on Monday. She picked up a few grocery items for me. She will be facing the same thing soon. She is having shoulder surgery om March 3rd. She won't like that at all. Hope her daughters will come up to help. Mine sure don't. She has no time. Thank heavens I have other sisters near if I need something. But I try not to ask for help if I don't need to. It's so hard being independant all my life, even with my disabilities from polio.I learned at a very young age that I needed to help myself and not depend on anyone.
I just hope this wrist heals good.
Till later.
Take care everyone.
Love,
Ginny
My cast that I'm wearing now.

February 14th-I'm Doing Better

I had a lot more energy today, despite my nose running. I vacuumed with one arm and did four loads of laundry later in the day. I even made a batch of my special cookies tonight. I haven't talked to anyone at all today. Nice and peaceful.
Yesterday the lady upstairs came down and peeled two apples for me and took my garbage down to the trash room for me. But that is all that I've had help with. I think I'm going to be okay and get through this hurdle also.
It was a little hard folding my clothes but I don't care if they aren't perfect. I managed to get all my shirts on hangers too. I had to keep remembering to elevate my arm though. My fingers swelled up a bit. The cast is too tight at my thumb and it hurts a little but I keep on wiggling my fingers to keep them healthy and as strong as I can.
I went to bed at 8 pm last night so I would get more sleep. Guess tonight it will be 10 pm. And that is where I'm going right now. I like listening to the radio until I fall to sleep.
Take care everyone.