Cam, first of all, I am sending some prayers out to you for a speedy recovery! I am new to your journal and its funny, I have been looking for a new Wish friend since a few people who I used to share with aren't around anymore. So when you posted on my journal, it was like "there's my new Wish friend"!
Amy -- I feel like I "know" you, especially since I lurk on these journals so much to draw inspiration from others. I am so glad you are here. Thank you!! I am really looking forward to sharing this journey.
Cam - You are doing awesome!!! I would be gobbling any chocolate in sight, because I "deserved" it for being in pain adn stuck. You are amazing!
Thank you, Carrie! I had really been working on not using food to "self-medicate" for pain or stress, especially after reading "Overcoming Overeating". Now, I feel like I should look on this "down time" as a jump start on breaking old habits. Not being mobile limits my choices. Whenever I ask Howard, Jenn or Andrew to bring me something, I give a lot of thought to how I will feel sitting in bed or the wheelchair afterwards. Will that food be "fuel"? Or just some fluff I put in my stomach that I regret. So, even if it is cheating, I am going to take advantage of this opportunity to build new, GOOD habits.
You are doing a wonderful job, Cam!!!
How are you feeling, my friend?
Sending more prayers your way!
Thank you for the prayers, Tracy. Painful today do to the outing to the doctor (I'll update on that below), but I am optimistic that this will all be worthwhile and I am well on my way to being upright and mobile and pain-free.
Glad you are on the mend, Cam, & praying it will be well worth all the pain!
Enjoy your down time! You work hard & I know it's hard to just sit, but maybe it will turn out to be a bit of a break for you. And, you're doing AWESOME on not eating out of stress!
Hang in there!
Thank you, Julie. You are the queen of being entitled to eat out of stress and not caving to it. Thank you for being such an inspiration.
Update on my recovery (feel free to skip!
)
Went to the doctor and got my stitches out this morning. The entire length of the incision is banded with what I think is called suture tape. The doctor said to not pull that off, let it continue to reinforce the closed incision, and the tape will fall off over time. He said he doesn't want to take any chances on small gaping openings in the incision and this will also help ward off infection.
He hadnt expected me to do the leg raises that he suggested and was very pleased to find that I had done them and consequently, have pretty good quad strength in that leg. Since I did, I can now move on to trying to bend my knee. He suggested sitting on the edge of the bed and allowing gravity to pull it down bit by bit and if I cant stand the pain to stop the range at that point and not push it. I will see him again in a week. In the interim, I will work on building up the bending range. Im allowed to put my foot down for balance but no real weight bearing and no pushing off with it. I have to use the immobilizer and crutches whenever I am out of bed. But I am allowed to take a shower now that the stitches are out. YAY!!!
I am due back at the office Monday. I have been working from home since the day after I came home from the hospital, but it's not the same as being in the office. We picked up a huge package of mail and pleadings from my secretary on the way home, so that will keep me busy this afternoon before and after 2 teleconferences, assuming I am up to it.
Getting back up the stairs when we got home was rough and Howard had to lift me off the floor at the top of the steps because of the pain. All I could say after "thanks, honey." was "How embarassing." So, now my knee is swollen huge just from doing that much.
My poor dog, Cali, heard me whimpering after Howard left and I was doing my exercises. She came running up, all concerned. Now she is lying by the bed, keeping me company and checking on me every little while. What a sweet companion she is.
BBL! I have to also check the dunkin donuts website. We stopped there for Howard to get me breakfast/lunch and he ordered a turkey & cheese flatbread instead of eggwhite with turkey sausage and no cheese. I have to figure out how many calories it was. It was a very nice treat but I'll have to be careful the rest of the day. Since it's the only thing I've eaten today, I am sure it is not in excess of my breakfast and lunch allowances.
It is not cheating to try to make the nbest of a very hard situation. That's awesome! I worry that you have only eaten 1 thing all day. I know you're not burnign a lot, but be careful not to starve yourself or bring your metabolism down too much with too few calories. You are such an inspiration! Must look into Overcoming Overeating.
