Best Of

Victory!! He got too hot during his second walk yesterday, and slept off the tramadol for the rest of the day, with an occasional trip out of the living room. I discovered that the pee pad in the tub was absolutely soaked. It is out on the stoop to dry out while waiting for the laundry.

The soreness in my hands is going away, although my pink braces and diclofenac both seem to be helping. I even got some sewing done yesterday.

Sandy, looks like the restoration and move are proceeding with slightly fewer frustrations. You have passed the worst parts.

Illinoislady, you are right in that I did have some difficult days with my first knee (the right) but nothing compared to my left knee where my overnight stay ended up being five days. It also involved virtual limited ambulation due to fall precautions and no one to walk with me. Lots of studies including CT of my chest to rule out PE, chest x-rays which showed fluid in my lungs, and an echo to evaluate for possible heart failure. Lots of diuretics which most of the time got administered late in the day or evening meaning frequent bathroom trips at night.

At my 3 week post-op visit last June 2024, I signed up for having the left knee done in April of 2025. So while I had my moments with it, I was discharged the day after and that experience was nothing compared to this one. I have since had a repeat echo which was now normal.

Total knee replacement is regarded as major surgery, and no one knows ahead of time what their post-op course will be like. I was fully expecting to be sent home the day after like last year. So I think my post-op course was hampered by the prolonged hospitalization, the delay in PT at home, and also in an outpatient setting.

Normally they won't let you start outpatient PT until after your 3 week post-op visit (after surgery) when they again x-ray your knee to check on placement. Then you can be cleared for more rigorous PT. I used a walker for about 10 days at home and then switched to a cane for a few weeks. It took longer this time to be able to ride the stationary bike because I just couldn't do the arc to get a full circle of the pedals for several weeks. I did move the pedals back and forth in a half-rotation during that time.

I apologize to those who suffered through my postings about my post-op course this time. It was really cathartic to be able to grouse because the dog and cats just didn't get it.

harley07, I do hope your friend does well post-op, but feel her recovery expectations at her age, and based on how she is doing now, are a little unreal. I am hoping she can get more help from her family with her DH because her focus has to be on herself and not his care. It is her routine that will lead to her recovery.

More fun & games. The fridge repair guy (from the restoration company) reports that the only replacement reservoir listed on LG's site has a hose that is too short and of the wrong gauge. He's going to consult with LG. I'd call in a dedicated LG repairman—either independent or from Abt—but since the fridge is out of warranty it'd cost me big bucks. I read an article in the NYTimes about why appliances seem to have shorter lifespans these days—besides the fact that newer ones have more features that can break down and hardwired/solid state parts that aren't modular, there is such a shortage of repairmen (especially fully-trained ones) that most people give up and simply buy a new unit. Difference here is that this wasn't a complex part that failed (in the "sh*+ happens" department), but rather negligence on the part of the restoration company during pack-out. Now, had the part broken as a result of the fire and the fridge irreparable, State Farm would only reimburse me for the depreciated value per the policy—and a 7-yr-old fridge these days is considered "geriatric" in the appliance world. However, because this failed due to negligence by the very people who were remediating my home, they have an obligation to leave me and my possessions in the same condition in which they found them…to-wit, working. And depreciation should not factor into it—they broke it, they bought it. I am owed a fridge of the same brand with the same features, period. So meanwhile, I can't start ferrying my frozen foods over to the house (the cooling & freezing work) lest they must be removed and thaw out when getting the new fridge. At least I have 8 little foam coolers saved from my monthly shipments of Zepbound vials from LillyDirect, so I needn't buy a big cooler.

And it also turns out that the bed does need the footboard. These new mattresses are thicker & heavier than the one we had that couldn't be salvaged, so when the tech & I sat down on it after the footboard was removed, it tilted because it lacked support at that end. Alas, the reattachment brackets are too short, so they're searching for substitutes—and at this point it'll have to wait till the pack-in starts on 8/8. I say "starts" because that day is for the "hard surface" stuff: furniture & appliances. Boxes will be 8/9-11.

But on the bright side, the electrician easily rewired the outlet and switch so that the only thing that switch controls is the track lighting in the front & living rooms. I can live with that. Today I went to Lowe's and found a pair of legs that can be mounted more toward the center of the 49" TV, as well as a large enough whiteboard that can be placed atop the smallish corner stand to give the TV something stable on which to sit.

So this coming week will be my dentistry (as I said earlier, it's just the old filling that fractured so I might not need a crown), trying to figure out how to trick BangBang into her carrier to get her to a vet for her dentistry (might as well use Dr. Hoffman across town if the calming drops & sprays & gabapentin work), and measuring the kitchen cabinets for lining and the lower ones for retrofitting with pull-out shelves. (That's another peeve of mine: the new cabinets look nicer & more modern than the old, but lack the functionality the latter had—spice rack, pull-out shelves, etc. They also removed the pretty wallpaper we had in the bathrooms). We'll also get a modest wine fridge for the dining room. If al our stuff arrives and is fully set up by 8/15, we can move ourselves & the cats back home and start clearing out of Lincolnwood in time to leave it ready for the next tenant by 8/31.

Good morning. Harley, I so identify with your description of your last few months of scans, and so many Dr. visits as well. Also, feeling old and in addition I started to wonder if "getting back to a decent degree of wellness was going to be possible", and likely slowed some of my progress at least mentally. I also know the relief of getting through most of it.

A couple of challenges, but I think much more fixable and hopefully no undue amt. of appts. or Dr.'s.

I know I've mentioned it here before but for Christine or anyone not here for long I consider sitting by a shore, big lake, river, or ocean as somewhat of a spiritual exercise. To me 'water' is just spiritual (what our bodies mostly are) and when I was fortunate enough to live in a couple of southern California costal cities I often would go to the beach (no more than a mile or two away from us) and watch the waves —- picking out one that has reached the shore and was beginning the journey back out to the horizon. I would load all my troubles on that wave and slowly watch them disappear. Gong to the beach troubled and than going home free of it all was always such a blessing. When time came to really 'handle' those items, instead of the worry I originally felt, I was able to wade in and fix what I could and be positive about the outcomes.

I also think your friend may not have things work as well as she hoped for herself Harley. While some don't get to choose just when a needful part of themselves may fail and may have to have some late in life surgical procedures, waiting clear to 80 in an older and slowing down system, it is likely going to take some real pushing. That said, it does sound like your volunteer has a fair amt. of stamina and stick-to-itiveness, but with all she has at home and all she wants to accomplish I just hope she doesn't get down in the dumps discouraged. Can't compare people, but I do think of the set-backs (like Betrayal's) that seem to crop up — if memory serves there were a couple on your first knee too, just not seemingly that bad in the end. Your friend will be in my prayers for the procedure and for things to be as smooth as possible for her home life and issues there.

Chris, I hope you have great success (nothing ever seems quite the same when bodily repairs need to happen) with you thumbs. No pun intended — but a real pain. We don't know how much we may depend on things until they don't work so well. All have had this issue, but I think having both thumbs go at the same time is a tough one.

Carole, I hope you are enjoying decent weather meaning not the extreme heat (daily advisories) we are having here. As to bugs there are so many. I think while Kate really dislikes the outdoor bugs, the ones that show up in the house are the ones she dislikes the most. Outside, huge spiders, Asian ladybugs ( I haven't seen the pretty red ones we all loved ) in what seems forever, stink bugs, a few varieties, and tons of different kinds of beetles. There are a big assortments of flying pests including mosquitoes and horse flies as well as common house fly. What seems to get to Kate sooo much is the ones that seem to like the indoors. These are mainly wood beetles. They have a similar appearance to cockroaches and so some people call them wood roaches — but they are beetles. They can be a fair size and while they can move quickly — they also will laze in a spot long enough to do away with them. They usually only appear for a shot while in Spring, after apparently spending the winter indoors. We also have carpenter ants in the house. They are a slightly bigger than regular ants and black. They too only come out at certain times. One day between the beetles and ants my house might just fall down. Far as I know — I've never seen either pest go near food.

Betrayal, glad you are staying in. On days like today ( and likely in your area too ) there is barely a leaf on the tree moving. I think it is a mite muggier here for all the recent rain. So not pleasant outside. Very early mornings not too bad, but who is going to go out at the crack of dawn — not me. We let the dog out to play a bit in his pen and make sure no errant creature has wandered in it overnight while he was inside. Tolerable but you can even tell then, it's not going to be too nice later. Hoping no one has to go out much or do much in the heat and if you do — take some water with you. Get back inside as soon as you can.

I have turned out thermostat to 79. Not a big change, but at 77 I often while sitting here at the computer would feel almost chilly. So, I think not much — but we turn off any floor fans we don't use (like mine in my bedroom) and two in the screen room. TV off when no one is watching and all lights off as well. Less laundry and going to have to really fill the dishwasher. We do have a water tank that supplies as much hot water as you need — all the time. The downside to those is that you have to run the water till it actually heats. It doesn't take a long time but is not as fast as a standard lg. water heater. It often seems like you are having to wait overlong. Then again I'm impatient with certain things.

Betrayal, how fantastic of you to be willing to help at a cat rescue. I worked for a long time at our rescue but all the old timers are too old, or have other issues that make it impossible. Our House of Hope was re-staffed and they run the place as a business — paying people. Frankly, for some, you might get a slightly better level of care, but animals ( dogs or cats ) do what they do when they do it — so cleaning a litter box may be just the invitation a cute little critter needs to jump in and use it. In the cats 'rescue' world nothing stays done for very long and constant repetition — since most places are all but over-flowing. That said while the work is important and needs to be timely — some of the furry friends just need to feel loved and appreciated. Hats off to you.

I hope you all have a most beautiful day —- and stay cool, un-ruffled and hopefully enjoy anything you need to do.

Illinoislady, thank you for remembering me so that I can catch up a little. I love to just sit back and read these chats. I lived in San Diego, Pacific Beach, for 8 1/2 years before moving here to Colorado three years ago. We lived just off the bay and it was a short walk to the beach and I loved it. My DD and I would often walk her baby along the boardwalk. But my best times were my alone-time walks along the shore where I could pray, sing, even shout at this angry disease as my voice was covered in the sound of the crashing waves. I was just another crazy lady in the midst of California independence—nobody cared or noticed. It was cathartic for me and helped me get through the initial diagnosis. The beach is the only part I miss of living in that crazy tourist town. Now I would be unable to walk that much anyway, but I can sit on my deck and enjoy the view of Pikes Peak and the serenity of living here. I have learned to make the most of wherever I live. I feel like I am sicker than most of the rest of you here having lived with Stage IV for over nine years. I still have frequent doctor visits, scans, and the rest of the medical chaos, but that's okay. You all bring a little more normalcy to my 72 years. Journey on!