Bonfire of the Goddesses
Comments
-
SAS SHEILA--- THANKS FOR ALL THE GOOD INFORMATION....I HAVE MY 4 WEEK FOLLOW UP ON TUESDAY. TUESDAY'S X RAY SHOULD TELL US HOW I'M HEALING. I THINK THE PRIMARY PROBLEM IS THAT I AM OVER DOING IT ON MY BROKEN FOOT AND THEN I DEPEND ON THE OTHER FOOT WHICH IS MY BAD FOOT TO BEGIN WITH. THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WITH MY SHOULDER. FOLLOWING MY LUMPECTOMY I DEVELOPED A SHOULDER PROBLEM ON MY GOOD SHOULDER. MY OTHER SHOULDER, ELBOW, WRIST AND FINGER, ALL HAD HAD PREVIOUS SURGERY. BY THE TIME I NEEDED SHOULDER SURGERY ON THE LUMPECTOMY SIDE, I WAS GETTING CORTISONE SHOTS IN THE OTHER SHOULDER BECAUSE I WAS OVER DOING IT! THE HEATING PAD IS HELPING A LOT. I ALSO WENT BACK TO INCREASING THE IBUPROFEN. THE DOCTOR TOLD ME AT FIRST TO TAKE LOTS OF IT BECAUSE IT WOULD KEEP THE SWELLING AT BAY AND PROMOTE HEALING WHILE DECREASING THE PAIN.
THE PILLOW UNDER THE KNEES IS A GREAT IDEA FOR ANYONE WITH FOOT OR BACK PAIN. I HAVE ONE OF THOSE BODY PILLOWS AND USE IT EVERY TIME I LIE IN BED.
I REALLY HAVE TO GET THIS BOOT OFF OF MY FOOT PRONTO BECAUSE I JUST FEEL LIKE THE REST OF MY BODY IS TAKING A BEATING WITH IT ON.
SHEILA ---YOU SEEM TO BE DOING BETTER! I CAN TELL.... BECAUSE EVEN IN JUST THE PAST FEW DAYS, YOUR SPELLING IS SOOOOO MUCH BETTER. ISN'T THE BODY AND MIND AMAZING HOW THEY WORK TOGETHER!!!!?????
I HAVE AN INTERESTING STORY....REMEMBER WHEN I TOLD YOU ABOUT MY FRIEND WHO ALSO HAD BRAIN SURGERY FOR A TUMOR? WELL, ENGLISH IS A SECOND LANGUAGE FOR HER. FOLLOWING HER SURGERY, FOR THE FIRST FEW WEEKS, WHENEVER SHE WAS FATIGUED, SHE OFTEN SPOKE IN HER NATIVE TONGUE WITHOUT REALIZING IT AND I HAD NO IDEA WHAT SHE WAS SAYING AT FIRST.....AS SHE SLOWLY IMPROVED, MY UNDERSTANDING OF GERMAN IMPROVED AS WELL! SHE'S FINE TODAY. ONLY IF YOU LOOK VERY CLOSELY AT HER HAIR LINE ON HER FOREHEAD CAN YOU TELL THAT SHE HAD SURGERY. AMAZING! IT HAS BEEN SIX YEARS SINCE HER SURGERY.....SHE IS DOING TERRIFIC!!! BOTH OF YOU ROCK! IN MY BOOK, YOU ARE BOTH PROFILES IN COURAGE!!!!
0 -
thanks VR that is so sweet,yes the spelling is getting a bit better. The big print helps with reading though. Outcome may be that I'm better able to find keys LOL's . Okay xray Tuesday.
Thought of a couple ot more things. Dovetails into what you have written. What you are talking about is Over Use Syndrome----which is when a body part is made to work more than it should, Too much stress can be placed on said body part. That body part may evidence anything from pain, to inflammation, to stress fractures. And ultimately need treatment of it's own. Your shoulder is an example of OUS.
Cast boots are heavy. When you pick it up to elevate, try to have someone else pick it up for you. To avoid them getting back strain,have then sit in a chair and lift the leg, If no ones available., Or use the belt as I describe in the next few sentences take a belt and loop /throw over end of foot get it solidly under Cast boot. Then lift with both hands/arms/back .Ideally doing on your own , it should look like a horses harness>>>under the heel and the foot>>the key is to how you do it ,you don't want to drop your foot. You are probably off to work and won't see this till later.-----Good Luck sheila
0 -
SHEILA....IT'S NOT A CAST BOOT. IT IS A BLACK BOOT WITH VELCRO. STILL VERY HEAVY AND CUMBERSOME. THE ORTHO WOULDN'T PUT A PLASTER CAST ON BECAUSE HE SAID THE FOOT WOBBLES IN IT. THE VELCRO BOOT IS THE WAY TO GO BECAUSE IT FITS MORE SNUGGLY AROUND THE FOOT.
I'M GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOU ARE NOTICING THE DIFFERENCE IN YOUR IMPROVEMENT! I JUST HUNG UP THE PHONE WITH MY FRIEND WHO HAD THE BRAIN SURGERY..... SHE IS DOING GREAT! WE ARE MEETING IN THE CITY PENDING THE REMOVAL OF THIS BOOT TO CELEBRATE!
0 -
VR--rhe name of the black boot is Cast boot or they may call it by a trade name. So as to get away from the word cast---that would be reasonable, avoids any mix up in thought for the patient---i'm all for that. You say cast and people think plaster.. The boot you have has strap at forefoot end serious criscross of straps to protect ankle and about three support straps going up to the knee,Lovely device, very fashionable.
So glad your friend is doing well, that's very interesting about her lanauage. I did a typical nurse thing and self treated . We make the worst patients. It worked so far. Ii will be eons before I put glasses back on. Feell asleep attack coming on,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
0 -
SAS SHEILA...I WILL KEEP YOU IN MY THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS AS ALWAYS! AND YES, MOM AND SISTER ARE NURSES AND THEY DO MAKE THE WORST PATIENTS!
0 -
VR you so get it. Must have been odd growing up. Thanks for yje prayers, I'll do that in return.
Joooooooooo How are you?
Looking for support on the 30TH. i'VE BEEN AN R.N. SINCE MAY 1974, i'M LETTING MY LICENSE LAPSE APRIL 30TH --THIS NEXT WEEK. started AS A NURSING AIDE IN 1969 STILL 18, BUT SHY OF 19 BY 2 MONTHS sO NURSING HAS BEEN MY WHOLE LIFE. PRETTY EMOTIONAL DECISION. DECISION, HAS TAKEN ALONG TIME TO COME TO. IT'S NOT BEEN MADE FRIVOLOUSLY. i'M 62(JULY) OUT OF COMMISSION FOR 3 YEARS. sO IF ANYONE AROUND ON THE 30TH , i'D LIKE TO BE AROUND A SWEET FIRE, NOT SURE WHAT TIME . dON'T KNOW IF FRIENDS HAVE ANYTHING PLANNED.
I COULD PULL A RABBIT OUT OF THE HAT AND RENEW, BUT THE CON LIST FAR OUTWEIGHS THE PRO LIST.. SO, IT'S THE SWAN SONG.I DON'T WANT TO LOOK BACK AND SAY I WISH I WOULD HAVE, ERGO THE LIST., BUT I STILL AM GETTING MISTY ALREADY, AND i KNOW IT'S THE RIGHT DECISION. oNCE IT'S DONE i CAN'T RETRIEVE.
sO DEAR FRIENDS i KNOW i CAN DEPEND ON YOU. l&h&p'S SHEILA
0 -
Sheila - Count me in. We can walk down to the fire together.
0 -
SAS! NURSES NEVER RETIRE! THE DARLING 87 YEAR OLD MOM STILL TAKES EVERYONE'S BLOOD PRESSURE AND TRIES, LIKE YOU, TO MAKE EVERYONE COMFORTABLE!
0 -
Sheila, I know how very tough this decision is for you. I let one of my professional certifications lapse this year - just could not do the prep to renew it, and am considering letting my professional license lapse as well. Have thought seriously of retiring or at least not returning to my current academic position in the fall. It is so terrifying to have your identity wrapped up in the work that you have done for over 30 years (in my case). I talked with a retired pastor friend a few weeks ago about this - she retired twice, once from teaching at the doctoral level, when she studied for the ministry, then again 2 years ago when she retired from the church. I will be there for the sweet fire with you, my friend. You have so much courage - let's find strength and peace in our new roles and identities, whatever they might be.
0 -
and thoughtless people!
not going there tonight, though, just popping in to say I'll be at the sweet fire Monday.
I have yoga class on Mon, great group with great energy. Will send some your way SAS.
VR sorry about the boot, the only upside is you have an excuse for sitting around & reading.
Jo, hope you're doing well and healing apace.
((hugs)) to all
0 -
I want to throw in the 2 JP drains I did not get out today. They are miserable and a real pain in the ass. I have to keep them for another 7 days - GRRRRRRR!!!!!!
0 -
Jo- dear watch the site around the drains fro any unusual redness, report asap. Or unusuaual pain ptherwise drain as usual---hope all else is well---------pain okay? dressing changes at home or in office? I have a thing written on how to do a dressing station?
Bless you sheila
0 -
VR -hugges and kisses
Linda-------so get the --------let it go felling, it sucks. I let my ACLS, Paramedics, Bcls, Real Estate(1992) ---all go in one year whew that was allot, but this is the biggest.. Understanding that you are in the same boat. or soon to be in the water and out of the boat. As you said our lives, our identities, our tied up in our work. Well each of us had an interloper in our lives, that is cancer --a thief of uncharacteristic selfishness.. What we can to do to counter such a thief , is do what we are doing support each other I'll not be a nurse , but i will be a retired nurse and I can still advice. What will be different is saying the word "I'm a Nurse" Just as you say you are wrapped in your 30 year career. It's hard to let it go
0 -
SAS - Am with you on the decision....BC takes so much....I hope you can think of it as not a lapse but a decision for optimal health all around. Nursing can be stressful now if you don't keep up with everything. You should be very proud of your long career as a nurse! And I agree - nursing never ends....it is in the blood.
Jo -- so glad your PS is over.....can't wait until you toss those drains into the fire. Heal quickly!
Joan0 -
Joan thanks-sheila-Sas
0 -
Veggy - my prayers are with you. Xanax gets me through the day. Take your ativan. I am throwing into the fire all the BC diagnosis that any of us have even received or will ever receive. I hope your choices are the right ones for you. (((hugs)))
0 -
sas - All is well with the drains. Have to keep them for at least a week more. I am a bit sore when the drains come out but PS said that is to be expected. DH helps me do dressing changes once a day. We keep the areas clean, dry and covered.
Nancynow - Inspite of the setback I had while in the hospital and having to keep the drains longer, it is so well worth it. Love the results already.
0 -
Jo...Glad you love your results!!! Heal quickly!
I think this bonfire is doing a lot of us a lot of good! We get through what life throws at us...doesn't necessarily make us stronger...but at least we CAN look back...maybe that's where we draw our wisdom from.......
0 -
VR - Even though we all CAN look back, that is something that I have chosen not to do. The scenery really sucks. I am moving forward and taking with me all the wonderful, lovely, supportive ladies I have met on this journey.
0 -
Nancy - Definitely mission accomplished. My PS exceeded my expectations. Never dreamed I would do something like this. If it had not been for the damn cancer, I wouldn't have.
0 -
I'm waiting to hear the news on the pet scan. Having some "why me?" issues.
0 -
MONDAY APRIL 30TH 2012 a FEW HOURS LEFT AND THEN THE PIECE OF PAPER IS GONE-----JOAN , VR NANCY JO------SO AROUND THE SWEET FIRE. MANY HAPPY MEMORIES SINCE 1969 AS AN AIDE, A NURSE SINCE MAY 1ST OR 4TH- 1974.------i FORGET GRADUATION DATE lol ABOUT MEMORY. ---- SOME GREAT MEMORIES, SOME SCARY, SOME REMEMBERED. SOME SERIOUS , SOME SO LAUGHABLE. SOME LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT YOU KNOW HOW THINGS WENT-----WHEN YOU SAY THAT WAS A GREAT EXPERIENCE, OTHERS YOU SAY---BOY i WISH i HADN'T HAD THAT ONE,. OTHERS PERSONAL, EGAT ALLOWED ME TO BRING TO ANOTHER NOT JUST THE LEARNING, BUT THE ABSOLUTE KNOWLEDGE OF BEEN THEIR DONE THAT.
nANCY WANTED ME TO SHARE SOME OF THE FUNNY SOTORIES THAT SHE AND i AND THATSLIFE SHARED ONE NIGHT THAT JUST WERE SO TYPICAL OF MULTI-TASKING. aLL HAD TO DEAL WITH CELL PHONES.
oNE TIME A FANILLY MEMBER WANTED GER NURSE, FORGOT IWAS HOLDING HER CELL OHONE, cALLED HER AND THE OHONE EANG IN MY POCKET. i ANSWERED THAI IS SHEILA CAN i HELP YOU---ENDED UP i WAS TALKING TO MYSELF aOTHER TIME FINISHED ONE OF MANY OH PH ONE INTERRUPTIONS, CONTINUES WITH DOING WHAT i WAS DOING , WANTED TO CALL SOMEONE ELSE, bUT WAITHING FOR A CALL ON MY PHONE ---DIALED THE NUMBER---EXCEPT IT WAS THE GLUCOSE METER, ( WHICH WAS SHAPED LIKE A CELL PHONE. DUH. T HE FUNNIEST TO ME WAS --COUNTLESS NUMBERS OF PHONE CALLS WHILE STILL TAKING CARE OF PATIENTS. PUT THE CELL PHONE IN MY POCKET, PUT THE CELL PHONE IN THE POCKET,, PUT THE STETHOCSCOPE TO MY PATIENTS CHEST AT THE HEART AND SAID-----HELLO THIS IS SHEILA----AM IMMEDIATE MOMENT OF OMG. --PATIENT DIDN'T GET IT B/C SHE WAS CONFUSED.
BUT THE BEST WAS EMERGENIES WHERE A NUSE WOULD COME UP AND SAY " I KNEW WE WERE OKAY B/C YOU WERE HERE." THAT'S ABOUT AS COOD AS IT GET'S FOR A NURSE THE BELIEF THAT YOU CAN HELP A PATIENT IN TROUBLE AND YOUR WORKMATES BELIEVING IN YOU. sO, ALONG TIME. ds SAID TO GO AS LONG AS i DID AND NEVER COME CLOSE TO A LAWSUIT NOR EVER HAVING TO MAKE A DEPOSITION., OF COURSE THATS THE LAWYER IN HIM.. i HAD ASKED HIM TO SAY SOMETHING ABOUT THE END. hE THEN SAID TO JUST ENJOY THE NEW LIFE THAT WAS BEGINNING. sWEET BABE.
BUT NURSING WAS MY LIFE HEART AND SOUL.-- I'M BLESSED TO HAVE BEEN IT FOR SO LONG. . I HOPE OTHERS WHEN THSY RETIRE FEEL AS BLESSED. THANK YOU FOR THE KIND THOUGHTS AND WILL CLOSE WITH A THANK YOU TO THOSE HERE, AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO TOUCHED MY LIFE AND MADE ME A BETTER PERSON FOR IT. NAMASTE SHEILA
0 -
vEGGY TOY CAN PICK UP YOUR RECORDS AT MEDICAL TRCORDS , IF YOU CHOOSE TO DO SO. sOME DON'T. I DESCRIBED PROCEDURE AT LENGTH ON fIZZY'S ROMP ROOM. YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT FOR DOC'S TO CALL YOU. I ALWAYS GOT MY RECORDS BEFORE THE DOC'S HAD THEM----------LOVE YOU BABE,
0 -
JO CONGRATUATIONS ON SUCH GREAT RESULTS. ---KUDOS TO YOUR dH FOR BEING YOUR NURSE, REMEBER TO INSPECT AROUND DRAIN SITE ANY NEW REDNESS OR PAIN. dON'T HESITATE TO CALL IMMEDIATELY IF YOU SEE ANY,
i WAS HOPING TO SEE VR HERE , BUT HAVE SUDDENLY TAKEN A SLEEP ATTACK. WILL LAY DOWN AND CHECK IN LATER.
((((((HUGS))))) SHEILA
0 -
SAS...the day you were born was a blessed day for countless lives. May your life be enriched infinitely by those who you have touched!
Veggy...I continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers. You and so many of our sisters need to remembered each and every day!
Today I am throwing into the fire the word cancer. Maybe if it burns, it will disappear from our lives once and for all.0 -
tHANKS VR AND 2ND THE THOUGHTS ABOUT CANCER,
0 -
SAS - YOU HAVE GIVEN SO MUCH TO PEOPLE OVER YOUR MANY YEARS OF NURSING. NO DOUBT THERE ARE MANY GRATEFUL PEOPLE WHO NEVER GOT TO THANK YOU.
JO - Glad you're healing and happy with your results!
VR - throwing my cancer - and everyone else's - on the fire. WHOOSH!
0 -
Sheila, you have provided so much care to so many who needed you, and I can imagine just how compassionate and competent you were. My youngest sister is a nurse, and it was amazing just watching her one evening - me, the big sister who just was blown away by how mature and professional my baby sis was. I have known and worked with so many wonderful nurses, and know just how critical good nursing care is to help patients through their individual crises. You have "been there, done that" and now you can pass the torch to the next generation (some of them are great, some of them scare me! lol). I am telling you this because I am trying to tell myself the same thing - I have contributed for over 30 years, having a really tough time letting go, passing the torch. Sitting by the fire with you, my friend, with my arm around your shoulder.
Throwing in persistent post-op pain/nerve injury - driving me crazy today, had to resort to a pain pill tonight - but trying the mindfulness-based approach - "being in the moment" and "breathing" - trying to focus more on the warm fire with friends and less on the aggravation. Working a little bit, so thanks, y'all!
Planning on a little more celebratory activities later this week - maybe bring fireworks along - graduation is Saturday and we graduate our first cohort of pharmacy students, most of whom already have jobs! Woo-hoo!!!
And tomorrow I celebrate 30 years of marriage to my DH - not everyone would have tolerated me this long!! So champagne by the fire gentle fire tomorrow!0 -
Linda.... I am bringing fireworks tomorrow in celebration!!! Great to hear that long marriages are not passé! I'm coming up on 33 in a few weeks! My oh my how time flies!
0 -
Watch out!!! I'm throwing my stress into the fire! My surgery is coming up on the 15th, I have a sinus infection I am trying to get rid of, an my 20 year old (asperger syndrome) is on my last nerve. I also want to throw in the people who tell me that I am so strong. I am not strong...I'm scared. I want to throw in my left breast that has gotten cancer twice. I'm also tossing in my right breast in hopes that I will never hear the words, "You have breast cancer" for a third time. In goes my fears, my second guessing, what if's , so self image and sleepless nights. My arms are getting tired from all this throwing.
0
