Look Out! Susie Sunshine Has Hit the Skids

I've always espoused looking for and finding the joy in all things; that all happenings are blessings, but right now when I tell myself this I want to tell myself to get real.


Suffice to say I'm tired of it all:  the constant pain, the extreme effort to do the smallest of tasks like getting up, traveling to the bathroom, washing my face...to say nothing of the monumental effort it takes to get myself into the car or up and down steps.  And the list goes on.  The only position I can enjoy without much pain is lying on my back and after awhile  that gets real old.  It probably doesn't help that the only thing on TV during the day is Law And Order and one can only watch so much of these episodes without running for the Prosac.


I'm not denying the progress I've made, the fact that this is temporary and will improve the quality of my life.  Right now I'm just emotionally stuck in self-pity.  At least with the old, arthritic knee there were breaks in the pain and I enjoyed mobility.

All I Want For Christmas...

And as if Cheryl's news wasn't enough...our year from hell continues.


On Friday, I attended the viewing of a good friend who died last week from a heart attack.  I spoke with his widow and son (a young man to whom I taught 9th grade English) and expressed my sadness at their loss.  I left the funeral home and promptly backed into one of the hearses.  I got out of the car, surveyed the damage, and went back inside to introduce myself to the owner and tell him I had just hit one of his cars.


On Saturday, I got up out of bed and discovered my knee would not hold weight (this has NOTHING to do with the accident -- was going way too slowly to have hurt myself or anyone else).  It got better as the day went on, but was extremely painful.  When I was able to walk, I did so with a marked limp.


I've been receiving palliative treatment for my left knee in which I have advanced arthritis and arthritis in the knee cap itself.  I had arthroscopy to repair the medial meniscus some time ago, but actually, there was nothing left to attach it to.  My surgeon is a wonderful doctor: kind, a great listener, competent, and compassionate.  And frankly in the past ten years this man has seen more of me than my husband.


In the past he's ordered physical therapy (which I attended religiously) Hyalgan shots (which worked for a few years), and cortisone shots, all of which have reduced both pain and swelling and have allowed me to continue my activity.  I've tried EVERYTHING.  Anti-inflamatories, magnets, glucosamine and today my knee, the doctor and I had a come to Jesus meeting.  My knee replacement surgery is scheduled for December.


I had hoped to go a few more months than  four without surgery and general anesthesia, but I realize that slowing down is only going to make my arthritis worse AND putting this off any longer will do more damage to the surrounding area.  And so here I go again.


PS  I forgot to say -- and this is of paramount importance --  that in spite of all this, I feel wonderful and I feel blessed.  These things are all just annoyances.  But thanks for listening to me.  :)

The Day After and The Plants Are A Comin'

Book club went well last night.  All three pizzas were well received, but the winner seems to be the sausage, pepper and mushroom.  I meant to take pictures but got really involved on getting the food out.  Next time.  I've been allowing the dough to rise longer and for a second time.  I've also been putting in a tablespoon of honey, and while the dough is not sweet, the yeast absolutely loves the fructose and the result is a really nice dough.  Admittedly, making six pizzas was a lot of work;  at one point yesterday, I was completely covered with flour and then had to re-clean the kitchen floor.  However, it was worth it.

I saw the orthopedist on Monday and we've decided to again try the Hyalgan  injections into my knees. (I had the injections on one knee about three years ago and it relieved the pain substantially).  I have advanced arthritis and while I enjoy full range of movement (courtesy of working out), I am often in substantial pain.  I also have trouble walking down slopes or hills.  The Hyalgan helps stave off the knee replacement as long as I can as the replacement lasts for 15 to 20 years and often has to be re-done.  Thank goodness I have insurance.

We've been shopping for a new washer and dryer and are looking at the Whirlpool Duet.  These had been rated pretty high by Consumer Reports and my sister in law has them and likes them.  There are all kinds of sales going on and rebates available, so we feel pretty good about buying now.  I had also looked at buying from Sears online, but I'm a little nervous about that.  Any of you have any recent experience with appliance shopping?

Well, TODAY IS PLANT SHOPPING DAY!!! Yes, I'm heading out in about two hours to purchase this year's goodies.  Photos to come...