It has been roughly 10 days since I last wrote. There really wasn't much to write about. More of the same. However, I did have an appointment on Thursday. And tomorrow is the RT simulation appointment. So, I figured I'd better catch up before regaling about the RT simulation appointment.
Thursday's appointment went well. My range of motion was impressive, and now it is time for the quad exercises - the dreaded sliding squats. Dr. Berrey warned me it would be painful, and I wholeheartedly agree! 10 squats 3 times a day. Ouch, ouch, ouch! The only negative to the appointment is that there was a return to infection in one portion of the wound. So I am back on antibiotics. They want the infection healed as much as possible before starting radiation.
Another plus is that I am now allowed to get around the house without crutches. Yea! But I will say it is tough. I wear out quickly. On Friday I tidied up Gabriel's room. It consisted primarily of picking up toys and books and putting them where they belong. But I was surely tired afterwards. When I stand with equal weight on both legs, my right leg is noticeably weaker. It shakes and I risk collapsing. So, I know the sliding squats will strenghten those muscles. I can't wait until I can drive!
I am still working part-time. The infection, leg exercises, inability to drive, and upcoming radiation all contribute to the doctors' decision. They want to be sure I can tolerate the radiation. To be honest, I am a bit nervous about it.
Right now I am nervous about tomorrow's appointment. I have to go early tomorrow to get an IV. You would think that after 4 C-Sections, 2 out-patient surgeries, and this most recent surgery it would be no big deal. But this knee surgery really knocked me for a loop. It took them so long to put the IV in, and it hurt like heck.So I am drinking lots of water today and tomorrow morning to be sure I am adequately hydrated. Hopefully, tomorrow's IV will go smoothly.
I have no expectations about tomorrow's appointment. Not having been through this type of appointment before, I don't know what is supposed to happen. What is kind of blowing my mind right now is that the side effects of radiation are so substantial as opposed to the actual radiation duration being so short - on a daily basis. And I guess that is why. Really bombarding the area for a short duration to kill the bad stuff while trying to keep some of the good stuff intact. I have been told I will be experiencing symptoms like a severe sunburn around my knee, peeling and cracking skin especially on the back of the knee. More scar tissue buildup, limiting what mobility I have now. And so on. Will I experience all this? I do not know. When will I experience any of this? Again, I do not know. A day? A week? Two weeks? Gotta come up with my questions for tomorrow!
On the home front, all is relatively quiet. Gabriel has the 'return to school' cold. He's perky but his nose is running like a faucet and he has that annoying cough. Chris made the difficult decision to quit his job. He's been working for about five months, but he has been having difficulty balancing school and work since school started. I am proud of him for deciding, on his own, that school comes first. So, he put his 2-week notice in yesterday. And then Cassie moved back in over the weekend. Hmmm. While I know it is the right decision for her - financially, educationally, etc., I don't know if she is yet mature enough to understand and live by the rules of our house. Things like being home at a stated time, communicating what she is doing in a reasonable timeframe. We will quickly find out whether she can continue to live at home.
Nuff said for today. More to come after tomorrow's appointment.
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