Preparing for Surgery.

[Gina_K]

Hello,

As most of you might know, I was diagnosed 3 years ago with RA and most of my joints were affected at that time, in particular my right ankle & wrist. Well anyway long time passed and I have the beast under control (or rather the meds have) a combination of plaquinil, mtx and Humira. I still have my tired times, but hey don't we all!

To cut a long story short, the RA 'ate' my main tendon in my R ankle (& Isuspect my wrist too) I went to surgeon to see could he do anything about my bunions and the funny way I was walking even with 3rd set of orthotics, so he ordered an MRI and lo & behold main tendon in ankle is no more!!! This led me to wondering what else was going on that I did'nt know about, we tend to think its just joints but 'systemic' is 'systemic'. Anyway, wondering was as far as I let myself go for now.

Same surgeon said its urgent he operates, as apparently I will end up walking on ankle bones (urg) I tried to wiggle out of it because I am not that bad really, in fact I feel good and pain free mostly (this is remission as such?) & why would I want to set my self back by having 3 bones broken & reset in my ankle and refused? three month recovery time minimum!!! He says ankle in wrong place for ankle replacement which I will need in future. He can see into the future courtesy of MRIs

Well wiggling did'nt work and the operation is to take place on Wednesday 19th October. I got my bedroom redecorated (as I am going to be seeing so much of it) that is if I can get up the stairs? Plan B is I bought a memory foam topper for my sons bed downstairs in case I can't get upstairs, however his walls are covered with animations Rude & not so rude, but all his teenage friends had a go signing and doodling on the walls ( free expression) I'm THAT type of mother! So don't know can I relax in there?. At the same time I can't paint over it, because of course it will be worth a fortune when he is a famous film maker (deluded mother syndrome)

As my hubby says 'we will see what happens after the operation, no point in worrying until your home' - it was me decorated/ shopped/ nested in advance. In fact thats all he has said 'lets wait & see', its not him that is going to be stuck in house is it?. I got the box set of Mad Men for convalescence and am on the last episode - love it!.

I have done six inches of the knitting project, that is abandoned due to impact on wrists. I still have the pound shop art stuff and about ten books. Anyone reccommend any films or box sets to watch?. Good books???

Anyway, am taking ipad to hospital so will keep you posted. I have decided to stop Humira & MTX for couple of weeks even though the surgeon & my Rheumy advised staying on everything with no break. On balance its my decision is'nt it?

I'll be looking for jokes I will probably be out of work until 2012, so thats good is'nt it??

Regards, Gina.

[Hidden]

Will be thinking of you Gina and hope all goes well:-}

I watched my way through Series 1 of 'House' and Series 1 of 'Ugly Betty' when I was stuck in the house last winter. Have considered watching ER from the very beginning!

Hugs,

Cece x

[Gina_K]

Might just do ER George was lovely in that.

xx Gina.

[sciqueen]

Good luck with OP. I hope the RA does not give to much jip after operation.

X

[Hidden]

All the best Gina, hopefully you won't be too long in the hospital. Thanks for all the info regarding the tendon, i had no idea that the RA made it basically disappear altogether (head in the sand syndrome).

Just think you could spending a few days with a Clooney lookalike oohing and aahing over your bones!

In my last time off i rediscovered E4 and spent a few hours watching old episodes of How I Met Your Mother - silly U.S. com but funny.

Best wishes and hope you can get up to your beautifully decorated room when you get home.

(Like the sound of your son's bedroom, the youthful inspirations could get you moving that little bit quicker!)

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

how I met your mother is hilarious

[Chatsi]

Hope all goes well on 19th & through your recovery. Will be thinking of you. I too have been hooked on ER & House & Grays Anatomy through various recoveries - does the disease give us some sort of affinty with hospital viewing I wonder.

Take care & look after yourself or rather relax & let others do so for you for a while.

Andie

[Gina_K]

Rhanks all, do like good film/ box set. would say after 3 mths of tv will be dilly bonkers! only due to be kept in a night or two, will keep you posted, Got a depo block in wrist so hopefully will manage crurtches ok.

[Hidden]

Good luck Gina xx

[julieporter]

Best of luck with the surgery.My husband bought me a kindle for my birthday last year and i love it.It's easy to hold and like having a bookshop at your fingertips-wouldn't be without one now-just an idea?

Julie xx

[sylvi]

Gina good luck,looks like we'll all be doing a lot of blogging to keep you cheerful. WHat time are you going in if i'm up i'll blog you then. Take a camera and take pics of all the dishy docs!!! well we will want a butchers of all the dishy docs who are touching your body!!! are we jealous you bet.

Take care darling and looking forward to hearing how it goes.

Sylvia. xxx

[Gina_K in reply to sylvi]

be more like taking pics of cast & gruesome bits knowing me Haha! My surgeon is seriously geeky with bald patches !!!

[sylvi in reply to Gina_K]

At least we can all have a laugh, There must be some male nurses as well. xxxx

[Judi]

Hope the surgery and recovery goes well for you and sorting your sleeping arrangements out when you get home is not too difficult.

Your post makes me wonder how people with broken legs get up and down the stairs - I have never thought about it before. I wonder if it is on their bottoms ?

All the best for Wednesday.

Judi xxxx

[sylvi in reply to Judi]

its Bl"""y hard work. xxxx

[Ella32 in reply to sylvi]

here here xx

[eve5]

hello gina

I really hope the surgery goes well so very best wishes for that and hope that the recovery time is minimal.

If you are unable to get upstairs to your own room perhaps you could get some screens to put in front of the walls in your eyeline and cover with your favourite posters (monet and millais are always easy on the eye) or perhaps blow up some favourite photos from your holidays. This way you can leave (as you should) his and his friends free expressions for future generations to enjoy!!

I do think surroundings are important and when you are feeling fed up and in bed and it needs to be as bright and cheery as possible for you.

Don't rush out and buy boxed sets so long as you can view your computer get logged into sidereel.com. You can watch all sorts here and the good thing is if you don't pay and join you are stopped after watching 72 minutes (don't ask me why this time frame) and have to wait an hour to resume that way you wont get completely square eyes. Depends what tickles your fancy, but I enjoy grey's, survivor, real housewives of beverly hills (this latter partly because lisa used to live in our street and my brother and all the boys fancied her like crazy) and so much else besides to choose from.

As for books I really enjoyed the twilight series - I thought everbody should have a vampire lover - also detective stories by henning mankell. Though of late I seem to find it difficult to settle with something probably me and now have five books started on my bedside table: gerald seymour's timebomb, Jo Nesbos the redbreast, carlos ruiz zafon's the shadow of the wind, freakonomics and philip balls bright earth, the latter two not novels but recommended by daughter and husband.

Will keep everything crossed for you for wednesday and will look forward to hearing how things are once you are able to get back online.

.....eve xx

[Gina_K in reply to eve5]

Great tips Eve, thanks so much, have kindle will download. My daughter says projectfreetv is good too!

I plan on doing a good bit of twittering/tumbling & blogging!! all advise greatfully received.

xx

[Fede]

Best of luck Gina !!!

... will certainly think of good films/books for you to stay entertained and keep sanity under control ...

Take care

Fede xxx

[Hidden]

Does your tv have an usb adaptor? if so, I come back and bore you with why,

I read tons of books but don't like anything scary, mostly romances (not your mills and boon!) I could give you a list!

Watching ER, all these doctors watch your blood pressure

xx

[Gina_K in reply to Hidden]

me too love a good romance, hate scaries and vampires & scifi.

Give me list pls, the juicier the better lol!

Yep I do have a usb adaptor, please bore away??? I plan on staying in my bed for a while after, as I know if I am mobile I will be expected to do stuff.

xx

[Custard]

Hey Gina,

I pray the op goes well, you have a speedy recovery and enjoy your convalescence.

If your a fan of comedy shows, I recently discovered an American show called Modern Family its hilarious..!!! or you could watch the entire series of Lost which isnt purposely hilarious but goes on for about 3 months!

[rheumatoidymummy]

Good luck Gina - it sounds as if you have a fabulous attitude to all this so I hope you have a suitably speedy recovery. Try to enjoy the rest and let everyone wait on you hand and foot - I would!!

xx

[Ella32]

Hi Gina

Good luck for the 19th, i have had many operations, i won't bore you now but cheack out my profile if you wish and i have it on VERY good authority that 'Friends' and 'sex and the city' are the PERFECT box sets to watch for your recovery!! Do you have maditory pj's? and you need many, including some nighties as you won't be able to put on bottoms for the 1st few days in hospital, also flash wipes or detol spray are a must for hospital, and some wet wipes as you won't feel like washing for the 1st few days, also some impulse spray is always loved by me to try to get rid of that 'old lady' smell in hospital I ALWAYS take in one of my own pillows as well as the hospital ones are covered in plastic, they make you sweat!

Also I also always stop my Enbrel for a few weeks around surgery as i don't like the increase to infection/reduced healing capabilities of the drug, so well done for your choice

Ella xx

[Gina_K]

heading over to Spar now for some wet wipes & a spray. good tip!

xxxx

[sylvi]

Am thinking of you gina, hope it all goes well, looking forward to hear your post op stories.

Best of luck,

Love sylvia. xxxxx

[sylvi]

Hope your op is over and now and god willing on the mend. am thinking of you.

Love sylvia. xxx