Thumpy on the Move (Norcross, GA)

 

Every day is better than the previous day.  Ann is getting better doing her exercises.  Each day it gets easier and she can do more.   Ann doesn’t use her walker any more, just the cane.  All I can hear is her thumping around the RV with her cane.

The therapist took her out for a short walk.  Now twice a day, weather permitting, we go for a walk.  Each day the walk gets longer.  The therapist said it looks like he will cut her loose from home visits after next week.  She can then go to out patient therapy.  We will probably go back to Chris,  the therapist Ann was using before the hip surgery. 

Can you imagine, a little over a week ago she had a full hip replacement.  On January 3, this Thursday, the nurse is coming to remove the staples.  One more step to freedom.

Life is good on the Roan Road…

Making Good Progress (Norcross, GA)

 

You should see Ann running around the RV with her walker.  Hell on wheels!  She has been making great progress.  She is getting in home physical therapy 3 time a week.  If she needs it, she can get it for 4 weeks.  The therapist thinks she will not need the full 4 weeks.  After that she can get out patient therapy. 

Now the big decision is where to go next.  Right now the plan is to go to Florida for a couple of weeks then start to head west along the Gulf Coast heading to Arizona and Nevada.  We have to be in Texas the end of April for a New Horizons Rally.  New Horizons is the brand of camper we have and every year they have a  rally for all Now Horizons owners.

By the way the repaired dishwasher is being used on a limited basis because Ann does not like the job the backup dishwasher is doing. 

To be back on the road again, scratching that hitch itch.

Life is great on the Roan Road…

Home from the Hospital (Norcross, GA)

 

Ann is back home.  The surgery went well.  No complications, everything went as expected.  Next day they had her walking and going up and down stairs.  After coming down from the stairs she felt dizzy and her blood pressure was way down.  After getting breakfast and lying in bed the pressure started to come up.  Also her blood count was low.  The doctor decided to keep her an extra day and give Ann 2 pints of blood.

This morning all was back to normal.  She did the walk and stairs again without any problems. So the doctor said you can go home. By 10:30AM she was dressed and we were leaving the hospital.

Ann made it in and out of the truck with no problem.  Hopped up the steps into the camper.  Ok, maybe not hopped, but made it up with no problem.  Tomorrow the physical therapist will call and Ann can start the exercises. 

Note: For those of you who did not understand the last blog.  We do not have a dishwasher appliance.  My Dishwasher is now home from the hospital and fixed.

Life is good on the Roan Road…

The Dishwasher is Broken (Norcross, GA)

 

The Dishwasher is broken, we are planning on having it fixed Thursday morning at 8:30AM.  There is a part that has been getting worse and now it has to be replaced.  This repair is going to be very very expensive.  It is a good thing we have insurance to cover the repair.  The insurance is even backed by the US Government.  After spending all this money to get the Dishwasher fixed, it doesn't even come with a warranty!

The Dishwasher has to be taken out and brought into the repair shop to have the part replaced.  We have been using a backup Dishwasher for a while now, but it is starting to complain.   The backup Dishwasher was only meant to be used on a temporary basis.  So as soon as the part has been replaced and broken in the original Dishwasher will have to take over the job.

Stay tuned and I will let you know how the repair goes.

Life is good on the Roan Road…

Happy Holidays to All (Norcross, GA)

 

 

To all our family and friends.

Happy holidays and have a great new year

Hip Hip Hurray (Norcross, GA)

 

We are still here in Norcross, the weather is great, sunny and in the 70s during the day and 40s at night.

Ann went to the doctor to get a Cortisone injection.  The doctor has to guide the needle into the joint using a Fluoroscope.  He must get it right into the joint.  The doctor said it was one of the worst cases of Arthritis he has seen. He finally found a small opening and all went well. 

The pain is much less, but not a cure.  Anyway, this was only to prove that the hip was the problem and not the knee as the other two doctors said.

Next step was to get a pre-op medical clearance.  Which was done and Ann passed with flying colors.

Now for the hip replacement. We just received a all from the surgeon that it is scheduled for Dec. 20 at 3:30 P.M.  She will have a private room and be in the hospital one to two days.   As soon as she can walk 150 feet and climb a few steps, she can go home.  Home, or RV, physical therapy has been arranged.  We should be able to hit the road in six to eight weeks.

To say the least, Ann is ecstatic.  Ann has some exercise to do to make her recovery faster, which she will do twice a day.  Right Ann?

So I guess we will just relax, go the movies and just hang out until the 20th.

Life is good on the Roan Road…

Yes, we are still here (Norcross, GA)

 

Since I am not sure, and to lazy. to go back and look where I left off with Ann’s doctors, will recap.

We came to Atlanta to see a doctor at Emory University Hospital.  We finally got an appointment.  After waiting a few minuets a medical student came in and introduced himself and did the preliminary exam.  It consisted of all the usual questions.  Ann then went for X-rays.   Afterwards the Doctor came in and told us that, looking at the X-rays,  he was not sure that Ann was ready for sugary.  We thought “ OK then”.  The Doctor recommended one physical therapy visit to get started with some exercise and to re-evaluate in 3 months. When and If we decided to do the knee replacement, it would then take 6 weeks to get an appointment for the surgery.   By this time Ann was in pain and walking with a limp,  The Doctor did not examine her.

So off we went.  A little puzzled, but he is the Doctor. We went to the therapist that is connected with Adam (our nephew), which later turned out to be the best thing we did.  Chris. the therapist, said one session was not enough and to start a series sessions.  We also joined the YMCA to get more exercise. 

After about 5 weeks,  Ann was getting more strength in her legs, but the pain was getting worse.  At this point she walks with a cane.  Ann called to make an appointment, the earliest was the middle of January because the Doctor wanted to wait 3 months before he re-evaluated her.  After a week Ann called back to try to get an earlier appointment.  No dice.  We were told to call each day to see if there was a cancelation.

All righty then.  According to Chris, the therapist, Ann was getting better,  but she would still need a knee replacement.  So we asked him for a recommendation.  He gave us 3 doctors.  We looked them up on the internet and selected one, called and got an appointment within 3 days.  Great, the best is coming.

We showed up for the appointment, filled out the usual forms and went into the examining room.  His nurse came in and took down the usual, history and such.  Next the X-rays.  Then the Doctor came in, and started. “ I can see by the way you are walking you need a hip replacement”.  A WHAT??? Are you nuts?  We really did not say that, but we thought it.  The Doctor asked,” didn’t anyone ever tell you that?”  NO !!

He showed us the X-rays of the hip, which no one else had taken, and all the Arthritis in the joint of the left hip.  Now things make sense.  All of the injections into the knee that had no affect.  All of the pain when lying in bed.  

The Doctor recommended to have a Cortisone injection into the hip, if it helps, even for a day, then that is proof the hip is the problem.  if not the the pain is coming from the knee.    We are now waiting to see a different doctor to give the Cortisone shot.    Stay tuned..

 

On another note. I am taking a survey.  Here goes.  If two people to out to eat at a restaurant .  Lets call them “A” and “R”.   They order the same dish.  Both do not finish their meal.  “A” leaves 3/4 of the dish and “R” leaves half.  They plan to take the food home to be eaten the next day. 

The next day’s meal.  Should the food be combined and divvied equally so both can be satisfied? Or should “A” stuff her face and have “R” starve? Which do you think is the right thing to do.  Please leave a comment or send an email.

BTW if the comment or email you send does not agree with me. It will be flagged as spam and deleted.  If Fox news can do this, so can I.

More to come.

Life is good on the Roan Road….