trixiegram

hi again ladies,

i can't believe i am feel up to posting today.  i had my surgery yesterday and although i am in pain, it isn't anywhere as bad as last time.  this tear wasn't as extensive as my other arm, so probably part of reason why.  also, so far the swelling hasn't been that bad either.  although i was told it can keep swelling up to 3 or four days after surgery - and that isn't including effects on le part.  all in all, i feel lucky about the surgery so far.   i will still have to do regular pt and le pt and will be typing without caps but that isn't as bad as what i've done so far.  hope this gives others some reasurance if they face surgery on their affected le places.  i was so worried the le would just make the swelloing a zillion times bigger than regular swelling on my non le arm.   but so far it hasn't been bad at all.   it aches but to be expected.  i even had a nurse who has le and she understood perfectly about myb condition and gave me great advice.  now that i won't have the bone spur and rotator spur inflaming my le arm, am hoping once the pt is done, that the flexitouch will keep my swelling down.    my orth thinks that later, he can redo my torn rotator cuff on mt rt arm, enough to get rid of the pain - he can't repair it enough to restore the strength part but at this point, no pain sounds good to me.  am hoping that with no pian, maybe can manage to do my own wrapping again and really keep the le swelling down.  any extra prayers in that direction, will be appreciated.

 well.  arm starting to ache again, so better stop.  macgyver, my cat, is getting tired of helping me type anyway.

best to you all,

niki

sorry, when i submitted this, it kept saying it wouldn' take it because of some error, so i kept submitting it.  i deleted the first ones, after i realise it did print them after all.  so ignore the ones below.

Hi Ladies,

I haven't posted in a long time.  But after all the info, help and encouragement I have received from others here on the boards, thought it time I give back in kind.  I go in next week for surgery on my LE arm - torn rotaor cuff and bone spur.  I have put off this surgery because of the LE complications we all fear that could arise from such procedures.   But the pain has now trumped that fear and dictates the surgery.  

 I'm not posting to garner sympathy - I know there is going to be Boo Coo's of pain involved - been there , done that on my right arm.  But I'm confident I will do ok.  The results have to be better than what I've been enduring up to now!    I actually thought this experience might help others -be it what to expect, what maybe to do or not to do, options, etc...   Anyway, I thought I'd post what happens after I have the surgery and hopefully, some may garner some useful info from all of this. I offer no promises just possible hope.  

I also wanted to tell you that I have been using the Flexitouch and between it and wearing my Jovi sleeve 24/7, I have been able to keep my swelling down to a manageble amount. I am only allowed so many PT treatments a year, so the Jovi and Flexitouch have helped my plight tremendously.  Especially since my day sleeve no longer fits right and until I have my surgery and get my arm down to whatever it is going to eventually be, there is no use in trying to get another daytime sleeve.

  After reading on here, that Flexitouch was changing the system, I called and asked about the changes.  The one I spoke with, said there are changes in the planning stage but he wasn't sure exactly how they would mesh with the units already out there.  The garment part can be added to as far as extentions or you can replace them all together.   But as for the mechcanical/motor part - he didn't know how or if that would change - as far as being able to use the same garments/and their connecting hoses, on the new version of the Flexitouch.  He said I'd have to call and check back periodically to find out how this is going to end up.

Well.  I have the surgery next week and it will take at leastanother week to get thru the worst of the pain, so you probably won't see me post until after then. 

 Best to You All,

Niki

BUMPING!

Thanks Ladies,

Good to see your names too.  Been too long.

Lilia - we really need to catch up, don't we. 

KariLynn, Doreen, Donna,  how are all of you doing?  

Sorry I haven't kept up.  Not because I don't care - but even after 16 months, I am just too overwhelmed just trying to deal with and recover from the accident.  I go to see a neuro surgeon next Tuesday.  Other ndrs. think I may need brain surgery.  So, kind of scary - not sure what to expect.  But when your back is against the wall and there is only one way to go - what can you do but go that way. Sigh!  I am really tired of all of this.  The tests, doctors who can't figure it out but don't tell you that.  Or drs. who try but are in over their heads and don't tell you that until you've been gouged, poked and emotionally shoved around.  And my fav kind of dr. - the superior kind who really doesn't give a dammmmm!   Oops!  Sorry - someone keeps opening that vent and letting a lot of hot air blow out.

Anyway, nice seeing your posts.   I don't post much anymore and seldom lurk much either.   I miss the friends I found here.  You are always in my heart.  And I always wish you the best.

Niki

Congrats Pat,

  On having a new granddaughter and on your five year mark.  What great names for both your grandbabies!   Grandkids are so much fun at that age. 

 Enjoy darling!  Enjoy!

Niki

A big hug to all.  What a joy to find this thread.  I like many of the "oldbies"  don't check in very often.  I lurk once in a while, looking for some of the many friends I made here.  And what a surprise to see so many familiar names.  It is hard to believe it has five years since I was diagnosed and found this board.  I remember so many of you - Dottie, Stacy, Pat, Laura, Lilee, Anne, Barb, Lilia, Jill and Pauline.  So many of us went thru this at the same time - what memories!  Remember the synchronized Monkey sock, wine and chocolate ceremony at midnight.   And a of us wouldn't have made it thru some scary tests without our beachbag buddy parties!

I am still trying to recover from the my fall last year but Tommie and I are still chugging along.  My granddaughter, Daisy, just turned ten and gets more beautiful each day. 

I dance a little slower but am still dancing with Ned.  I have noticed that Ned never ages while I just get older and now have a white streak of distinction.  But worth the price of admission to the Ball.

Like Stacy, will have to check in more often and see who else turns up and what's going on with everyone.

"Your life can be a parade!  Just watch out for the elephants bringing up the rear!" 

Niki

First - Thank you Geeta, for posting the pictures below.  Shelli's spirit and grace always illuminated her beauty from within - and magnified her outward beauty too.  Both show in the pictures you posted.  So does yours.

I have been off the boards for a long time now, fighting my own physical demons.  I came back to checkup on friends like Shelli.  The last time I was here, Shelli was joyously getting ready for the family Disney cruise.  I logged on here last night and read she was now gone from us.  It has taken me until now to respond because of the tears and sadness that overtook me.  As I write this, the tears still flow and the sadness hurts my heart - but I had to come back and add my tribute to her and condolences to her family.  Mine will be but a pebble added to the mountain of others already expressed.  Shelli was and always will be, a beacon of light and inspiration to all who knew her - on the boards and in her personal life. 

No matter what was going on in her life, no matter what battles she was currently engaged, Shelli always had a kind word for others.  Like Stacey (Sunshine), Shelli cared about others and offerred an ear to your problems, a shoulder or a hug. 

I never had the privilege of meeting Shelli in person - a regret and loss on my part. 

Goodbye Sweet Shelli.   You will be forever missed and remembered by all who knew and loved you.  The sorrow tempered only by the knowledge you are no longer in pain.  You fought for so long, you deserve a restful peace now.  You are Heavens gain and most certainly everyone else's loss.

With Love & Friendship,

Niki