3/6/2014 Random thoughts

Not a lot today... work was work... I got around pretty well, getting past the fall pains. Had a chair massage today - that's a good thing.

The big scrape on my shin from Saturday's fall is deep for a scrape, and very red around the edges. I hope that is just the less deep part of the scrape, and not any infection. It's only been a few days and I have cared for it well. Infection is BAD. NO infections. It's not inordinately warm.  I'm not being a hypochondriac - I am being smart and cautious. 

Once my surgeon and PT and Chiropractor all assured me that it looks like I did NOT damage the hips in the fall, I knew I was OK. I just want to be sure I'm OK, and take very good care of this machine that is my body, even more machine than before ;) 

So when you hear me musing/wondering/being concerned about physical issues, that's what it is. 

Had a brushup rehearsal  - the guitarist was just a pain in the butt all night, and I wanted to smack him... but in the big picture, it's fine. 

Another show tomorrow night. 

The chilli I made is tasty. 

I am tired of being tired... but there's life. I want to do what I love, and it involves getting less sleep. This life I'm getting back - it's good because it's full! 

When I got home, I had to park the farthest I've had to in many months - and it was fine. physically, it was no big deal. 

I do have a little bit of concern with safety - it's mostly fine in downtown Sacramento - veery nice, in fact... but now and then some scumhose decides to go on a serial mugging spree... so it's important to stay aware - but my street is well-lit and there re people around. 

My neighbors were out on their balcony and mentioned how amazingly well I was trucking down the street - he noticed how far I had to park, and was feeling guilty that he parked his new car in front - it was very sweet of him to even think of that! I assured him that I mam fine with a little walk - because everything is physical therapy! I really like my neighbors - very nice people. 

Debbie's doing very very well - she's home now, and it took a little adjusting to get the house set up just right, but her daughter let me know she's settling in. I have asked her, when she's feeling up to it  if she will write a little guest post here! I hope she will! 

OK - I think that's it for tonight. :) 

About to go put my feet up for a little bit and hit the hay ASAP. 

G'night!

3/5/2014 PT today, and a Quiet Evening

Still not sleeping enough - mornings are HARD - which then turn into much too sleepy afternoons. I've added a small coffee back to my afternoons, and that's not a great thing - heart palpitations always tell me when I've have caffeine after about 2 pm. They're generally harmless (My heart is is great shape) but annoying. 

I had physical therapy this evening - Ann was very kind and helpful about the fall from Saturday - and as we went  through the balance and stretching exercises, she was pretty well able to tell I hadn't damaged the joints in the fall. 

She has had patients have that happen, and so is familiar with it. She is putting in for my sessions, and my next should be in about two weeks. 

ultrasound on my right knee and ice on the scraped shin right knee and lower back. 

Then it was home and relaxing. I put on a pot of chili to cook (cubed pork, because it was the least expensive cut of stew mean at the Co-op  -it cooked up beautifully tender and tasty). 

I had the gumption to finally watch 12 Years a Slave. I was happily surprised to find it was no-charge RENTAL (I think I got a Two Free Movies something or other from Roku) - always nice on the budget!. (Yes - I paid my portion of two hip replacements, and it weren't cheap. Every Little bit helps!) 

Nature treated us to a lovely thunderstorm  - it was blazing and rumbling away out my big picture window! I love a good thunderstorm! 

Fun to see my Facebook pals post about it arriving at their houses, as it swept its way across the Central Valley and made it here! A good gully-washer, with lots of exciting flash and boom - on in particular was VERY close and a real window-shaker! 

Deborah is doing great with her new hip! She took a good down-the -hall - and-back walk today, and if all goes according to plan, she'll be home tomorrow morning! 

I'm so proud of her - she's a champ! 

Right, then - good night, people! 

3/4/2014 Hips improving, Normal, and Higher Bars

My friend Deborah's hip replacement went even better than mine! 
she walked around 40 steps this morning, and is feeling good - "no hip pain!" it's what we all say after the surgery - even though you have  had surgery and there is a healing incision, the fact that you are no longer in that deep, intense pain is profound. Even though at the beginning it takes a little time and physical therapy to get the joint mobile again - well, duh - it's just had surgery! - the difference is enormous You can put weight on it and walk with the walker, and it's pretty fantastic. 

I'm keeping in touch with her via Facebook - she was "liking" and posting within a few minutes of getting situated in her room - I was, too as I recall! 
She's getting rest - it is a pretty tired first couple of days, and you sleep a lot between visits from nurses, phlebotomists coming to take blood and make sure you're using your little breathing machine, and wiggling your feet (to prevent blood clotting), and using the toilet, etc., you still get a little rest. I had my own room the second time - it was GREAT! My roomie was a great roomie the first time, I got lucky -  but a single, quiet room? When I first got there, I kept waiting for them to bring my roomie - and they pointed out that there was only one bed (To be fair, there was a curtain!) 
I was afraid for about 4 seconds that I'd be lonely. HA! Facebook and visitors gave me the outside world and company when I wanted it - plus all those nice (and they WERE so nice!) medical professionals on parade! I felt so lucky - an dlater the nurse who assigns rooms told me "I just thought you'd appreciate you onw room." :) I'm still friends with my roomie on FB - so I am pretty sure I didn't get any write up in my records or anything! :D She was just really nice to me, and I thanked her sincerely.
That's why going home with a companion if you possibly can is go great - rest! You set your own schedule - you sleep when you ned to, eat when you need to, and good food... the food was the only issue I had, and mostly because I am Gluten-free and they don't really know how to do that (IN A HOSPITAL. WITH A "NUTRITIONIST"?!?) so what I got, though gluten-free was shameful. undressed gluten free pasta, vegetables and rice. Because apparently ALL of their meats are prepared with wheat products. So - post-surgery, and NO Protein - oh, except for the can of Ensure (shudder - FULL of sugar and chemicals) they insisted I try, and the milk they gave me - my stomach was a little woozy from the Norco, and milk was NOT an interest. 


Oh, but I do digress.

Oh, yes. Debbie is doing great! HUrrah! 

Work was fine - I went on a couple of errands after work, and it occurred to me after I had gone to the Chiropractor, stopped at the Walgreen's for various items including cat litter (heavy box), and the pet department store for Electra's special (and thank goodness not expensive!) cat food, as I was stopped at the gas station preparing to swing by the post office to mail the rent... 

Normal. Just ONE of those stops would have been absolutely exhausting and excruciating before, and I would have had to call a friend to bring up the groceries - any of them, since I needed to a;ways use the rails and support/haul myself up the steps. Tonight when I got home, I left the cat litter in the car to bring up tomorrow after work (as I won't have other parcels), put all of my purchases in one big sturdy shopping bag I have, put my string backpack on and my purse strap over my head, and carried it up the stairs with my cane in the other hand for support. The cane which I use only about 30% of the time, now.  Hi, Normal - hello, ability to do the tasks I need to do in life! 

I still need to vacuum. I hate vacuuming. But, as I CAN vacuum now, I'll find my nice Gratitude smile and pull up my big girl panties and DO it, tomorrow evening or on the weekend. It NEEDS it. 

My Chiropractor, Dr. March was really touched, and delighted at how amazingly I am doing! I was in turn touched, too, and very grateful for all that he's done for me. He was there every week for several years as I tried everything I knew to be successful to keep my body upright - and he was really glad to see me again! Likewise - first, because he does good work and he's a really nice guy,  always a pleasure to see him - but also, because he was able to really help fix the mess I'd made of everything BUT my hips when I took that tumble Saturday night after the show. I feel much better now. I think I'll wake up even less sore - hurrah! 

I just realized that I have only took two Tylenol today - this morning. I forgot both the afternoon dose and the  before-bed one. Last night I didn't sleep great, so I hope that won't be the case tonight, too - but I'm going to leave it - give my kidneys and liver a little break. 

Had a nice wee blether with Jt hearing daily Goings-on in Paradise - so enjoyable! 
He reminded me to always be setting my bar higher. I appreciate the reminder and encouragement deeply, and asked him to continue to nudge me. 
I am all about setting the bar higher now! I don't just want my old life back. I want it back and BETTER. That's not greed - that is fulfilling my potential, because Life is REALLY GREAT! And I have a really wonderful life - but who says that it can't be even better? NO ONE! 

Of to sleep - good night Hipsters!! :D 

-Martha

3/3/2014 All is Well, Post-Stumble, and My Friend Deborah's Hip Replacement Was Today - Flying Colors!

As has been the case, too little sleep last night, but I was up and at work at a reasonable time.
Even as stiff as I was - and expected to be - on the second day after taking my little spill, I got out of the house - with onkly a few groggy mishaps.
I was taking my big handful of vitamins and supplements all at once, as I always do. 
After one sip, I DROPPED THE NEARLY FULL GLASS OF WATER on my lap - and splashed the kitties as they ate their breakfast (With Electra still getting better from pancreatitis and lipidosis, I have to feed them in my living room so I can monitor that Maia doesn't eat all of Lexi's food...). None of us were much happy about it, but at least it was before my shower, so I wasn't dressed yet. But holding a giant mouthful of variously tasting pills in your mouth while you, soaking wet and cold, struggle to pour a fresh glass of water is pretty gaggy. ) But I shook it off  and got going.

Not a bad day at work. Enough to do, not too much, and only a few confusions.

My friend Deborah is my "guest" today - though she's not writing here, in the normal sense of a blog guest - she is a little occupied today - getting a total hip replacement! As we speak, if her surgeon is on schedule!
Debbie has been a friend since college - we were drama students and roommates together. We lost touch for many years and went in our directions, but several years ago (I think it was with the advent of Facebook), we re-connected - older and wiser, both of us, and very glad to re-connect!
We go to the theatre, or fun special events (The Lord of the Rings shown in an Arena with a live orchestra playing the sound track - great fun!), or with a group of friends to brunch. She has pretty bad fibromyalgia and some other physical issues, so she is
Well, the first time I was recovering from hip surgery, I had a whole wonderful army of friends taking shifts caring for me at home, so I didn't have to deal with a rehab hospital. (Have I mentioned how much I DID NOT WANT TO GO to a reheab hospital? Oh, only about 50 times? Right then..). Most of them have day jobs, but, because Debbi doesn't, she was kind enough to volunteer to be my Day Shift most days. It was great - she didn't have a ton to do, and none of it was physically challenging. A little breakfast and lunch, and helping me get anything I might need (Water, medications,  etc)., and the rest I could do just fine... They just needed me to having someone to make sure I didn't fall.
We spent a week or so of days catching up, laughing, watching some tv together - she brought me a very generous recovery gift of a Roku device for streaming tv, and she and her husband very kindly brought me their "older" giant flatscreen tv!
We really had a great time. She intended to stay with me the second week, but then at the end of the first, she tweaked something  and was suddenly in pretty bad pain, and was horrified to have to bow out for week 2. It turned out to be the perfect weaning off time - byt then I could deal with simple breakfasts and lunches, and I didn't even really ned to fill in all of the day slots.

Shortly thereafter, her doctor diagnosed her with hip arthritis, and - she needed a new hip!! She told me, "Now that I've seen you go through it and heard all about it (And believe me, I talked ALL about it!!), I know exactly what to expect, and how great the results are, and I'm not a BIT afraid!!" She pushed hard for the Anterior approach. She had to wait a few months, but she got it. (AGAIN - Posterior surgery is a very good surgery. If you need to have it, do not worry - just follow orders, and you'll be great in jig time!) 
I cannot express how happy it made me to know that I had any part in making her journey easier!!
So - at the very moment I am typing this, she should be about 2/3 or the way through her surgery, and on her way to being able to walk in much less pain! Fibromyalgia is rough, and hard to deal with, but a bum hip can make it mechanically impossible to walk. I am so glad she is "joining the Bionic club" as we in my circle of friends have come to call it!

Tonight I have a night off all to myself, and though I need to go to Safeway for a few non-co-op grocery items, I will wait until tomorrow, after my chiropractic appointment and give myself a *real* night off. Also, I hope to be a little less stiff and sore.
I just received word back from my surgeon - I only need be concerned if I have significant pain in the new hip joints... 

Continued 10:39 PM 

 I don't have significant pain, so HURRAH!!  It's a little sore - I am sore all over from catching my fall!  - and already 
improving - so - WHEW!!! this evening I have been walking around the house in a more natural, comfortable way that I have so far - there's a little irony! Fall down then get up walking even better in just a few days! 

So - back to Deborah! Her daughter was kind enough to text Debbie's progress to a group of her friends. I am most grateful, plus, I think I was able to be of a little comfort to her, maybe.  I tried, anyway!   Her surgery was actually delayed in the day and she finally went in at about 7:00 pm - but she was out in NO time! at 8:15, her surgeon came out to say she was done and in about 30 minutes they could go in and see her! WOW!!! By 8:40, Sarah texted to say she had just talked to Debbie, and she was very lucid - going in for her post-op x-rays. 

I was out for hours, and don't remember anything at all about the post op x-rays!! She's amazing! It could have some to do with different procedures at Sutter and Kaiser, but no matter - she's out and doing great. Also, she has dealt with other kinds of chronic pain for a while, and I had never had anything stronger than ibuprofen - could be a reason our wakeup time was so different. Proof that everyone is a bit different! 

I am so happy for her! And Sarah was very relieved once she got to talk to her mom. They are a great team. 

I can't tell you how happy I am that she was able to undergo this procedure. 

I also talked to her husband's cousin (facebook) and he said that Debbie was able to help him push for getting his father an anterior replacement, because at 85, they were afraid to do surgery - so they are going to do it almost entirely with the epidural, with just a little something to keep him from hearing the procedures - I hear that it sounds like a wood shop in there- and of COURSE it would. It sure looks like one!  VERY clean one! 

So - the ripples get paid forward - i learn from others and my great Sutter team, and Deb learns from me and her great Kaiser team, and she lets her cousin-in-law know about the anterior approach, and his dad is now able to get a new hip. 

My heart feels very full and warm tonight. 

Good things: 

My concern about my own hips after the little spill I took is alleviated, my muscles are loosening up and feeling better, my friend is repaired and will be up and around in a week or three. Jt is in Bali recharging he batteries, and I am so glad for him!  

Tomorrow, I will see my chiropractor for the first time since - last... May?!? June? He's so great and was so wonderful in helping me keep my poor painful frame upright for so long before we knew I needed new hips... I can't wait to semi-saunter in there on my own power, with little or no limp! He's not gonna believe it! I'll bring him a copy of my x-rays, too. He's a great guy - I know he'll get a kick outta that. Besides, it will probably be a good thing for him to have medically. 

Then I have Physical Therapy Wednesday - I will have to confess to Anne that I fell. I am NOT SUPPOSED TO FALL!!! 

I am so , SO glad I have watched my health and practiced good dietary and supplement practices for so long, and that I was working on reconnecting with my body and my physical health fr the last 4-5 years at least! I think that's why taking a fall for me was not disastrous. My bones are strong, my muscles are also strong for my situation, and my immunity is high. I was able to catch myself at least to a degree that I didn't just go "THUNK!" onto one of my hips! I landed on the left one  - but in moments I was able to test both of them and know that the mobility was still OK, without any extra, elevated, or new pain. *whew*. My muscles EVERYWHERE else in my body, particularly upper body, got so sore because they did their job compensating and catching me. They are reminding me the I AM ALIVE!!! YEEEEHAW!!! :) 

I have a lovely show I'm performing in, and start rehearsing for another next week... 

Life is INDEED - GOOD!! 

OK - It's not even 11:30, and I'm DONE with the nightly blog post! Debbie is out of surgery and in her room now, and should be home in 3-4 days - sweet. I'm going to go ice up nad get to bed by midnight! 

EXCEPT - here she is - on Facebook Instant message! :) A quick little exchange but she'sdoing well! 

"Hip, Hip" - hurray! ;) 

(Puns - I am occasionally guilty) 

A very good night to you. 

-M

3/2/2014

Matinee today - when I got up I was a bit creaky, but the stretching and icing had helped so I was doing pretty well. The scrape on my shin didn't bruise after all - ice is a fine thing. 

Show went well - I wore flat shoes, took extra EXRA care - first time down the stairs of the set, I was fine - not worried. And bless him, young Tylen, who helped me up last night when I fell, was right there on the stairs to watch out for me, and has made it his duty (Without even being asked) to ensure that I make it down the stairs safely for the rest of the run. I'll take it - I appreciate it VERY much, I don't expect I'll need his help, but you know what? I am glad for the safety catch. 

I stopped for groceries - a little sore but OK, no cane... came home to watch the Oscars - ate poorly (I don't usually. But I did. Back to the good stuff tomorrow). Sat watching the Oscars, exhausted... and did the worst thing - sitting for a long time. stretching and ice need to happen before bed. I am VERY sore and stiff all over. Duh. You fall, you're sore. All over. It happens. 

Looking forward to hearing back from Dr. Smith tomorrow to see what he thinks. Also looking forward to seeing my chiropractor, Dr. March, Tuesday. 

I'm so grateful for the next three evenings off. Then it's a Thursday brushup rehearsal for Cannery Row, three shows Friday/Saturday and Sunday - and I start rehearsals for the next one, A New Brain, Monday. 

I was not feeling like I was overdoing getting back on stage until the fall. I need to be back on stage, and I need my lfe back, and that means creating art again. I think this is OK. I'll let you know as we go. 

I won't step out of A New Brain - I *need* to do this role. It means many deep personal things to me, and I need this show now. 

 However, I don't think it'll be a problem. we open in about two months, giving me even more time to heal and get stronger. 

I have iced up, done some of my PT - about to turn in and do some more stretches and my night PT routine. 

SO happy to have tomorow night off.  Tuesday is my Chiro, Wed is my physical therapist. Unless my surgeon tells me otherwise... I'm still betting on a positive reply from him tomorrow. 

Good night. 

-Martha

2/19/2014 Tired and sore, but all is well.

Note - this somehow wasn't posted - I just found it in the Drafts - so it's out of order, I'll fix it later, but just in case you were wondering... :} 

I am so tired. Medicating a sick kitty late at night after work , then rehearsals every night can be exhausting. 

But she's getting better every day - wonderful! She's got a great appetite - exactly what we want and need! 

Rehearsal was LONG. almost four hours sitting on a stool- on metal sitzbones. Oh, dear heaven. I have a little round pillow I need to hunt up and then rig to the top of the stool so it doesn't fall off. It's easy, I just need to do it. My bum feels a little like early stage of hamburger.

But the rehearsal went well, we worked a good bit of music with scenes - exactly what I was hoping would happen! Hooray! 

Unfortunately, my ankles are sweeling a LOT sitting on that damn stool. More than they have in months. My PT said it's not too bad a thing and understandable - but I;ve had my pretty and healthy little slim ankles back for months now, and it's frustrating when they ballon up like this. Drinking more water would probably help. 

I walked almost completely without the cane today - including out to the car from the theatre! I was thinking I wished I had it, but it sure is nice to just carry things in my hands instead of having to strap them around me in various ways. So I just walked. Better every day. 

The young woman who was attached after reharsal last ws doing well. Not too traumatized, fortunately. Thank goodness her mother drove around the corner just as the guy punched her in the stomach and knocked her to the ground - round on the sidewalk in from of the school. Well-lit - nice neighborhood... we do get so used to our little safe Theatre bubble.  The policy has been re-instated - no one, male or female, walks out alone. 

I am going to go have a small snack and ice, and get my sore butt to bed. 

Sweet dreams! 

-M

2/28/2014 and 3/1/2014 Opening weekend of the show - a small mishap

It's late, I'm exhausted and sore... gonna try to combine two days posts in a nutshell, here. 

Friday the 28th was opening night of Cannery Row - a bit of rushing happened, but it was fine. Fortunately, the running of scenes, etc. before the show doesn't need to include me, for the most part. 

Opening was lovely. There were a few jitter errors - myself making one, I started the wrong song ( The intro to it being very like the one I started which actually comes later) and both of them being about the moon - "Shine On, Harvest Moon" and "By the LIght of the Silvery Moon.")

I sang "Shine on, sh..." and Nathan, the guitar player, save my butt.  He just made a noise, like "UNH!* and began to sing the right song - I joined in, he duetted with me for the first half of the verse ans it flowed fine after that - I think it was more tiredness than nerves, but maybe a little of that, too. It would have been a MESS to sing the wrong song - they are integrated into the action, so - yikes! 

There were a few line freezes (the term for an actor losing their lines on stage is "going up" and it has happened to ALL of us at one time or another.) Each time it happened, though, this wonderful group had each other's backs, as Nathan did for me. The show didn't suffer for it, and it came off well. 

On the way to the theatre in the rain, I heard over the radio an official Tornado Warning - it wasn't far from here - that's exciting, as we were never tornado country, but now we have several a year. Fortunately, so far, they are very low energy ones. 

Shauna, my wonderful home Physical Therapist came to the show and went out for celebratory nosh and drinks with some of the cast and crew - it was a delight to see her, and I'm so happy she enjoyed the show. It was fun to get a chance to socialize with her! She was so happy to see my progress and how weel I did getting around. She's a delightful person, and glad she's my friend. 

Saturday the 29th

After staying up so late Friday, I slept in, and awoke with a rather froggy voice. from experience, I ws not alarmed and kew that with a little warming up and a hot shower, etc it would be back for the evening, and it was. 

I made a nice breakfast, relaxed, chatted with Jt in Bali and got it together for the show. 

The show went great! 

I did have a scary bit of a fall - at the end of the show, two steps from the bottom of the escape stairs off the set, my heel caught on the stair - and I went down. It had nothing to do with my surgery, just a misstep. 

It took a minute to gather myself, but I was FINE. I had great help from a few cast and crew members  -it took a minute, but they got an ice pack for me - I had scraped my left shin pretty well on the wooden step and it was bruising up pretty well. 

It actually scared the CRAP out of me. I shook for about half an hour - but several good hug and kind words of concern helped calm me, and I was off to home. Fortunately, I have an appointment with my chiropractor - the first since probably last June - and the timing couldn't be better! I hate going in there to show off my new hips and abilities having to tell him I just fell and need a little TLC!! D'oh! 

 

I had to stop at the grocery sore on the way home from the theatre for cat food and a few other things, which was good, so I could test and see how I was really getting along. NO pain at ALL in the hips above the usually that I already have, That shin smarted, and i was beginning to feel the muscles that caught my fall. 

I cam home and iced like mad and the shin looks fine but for a scrape. I'll be sore tomorrow

My PRIMARY DIRECTIVE IS  - DON'T FALL!! I've done so well - that's the last fall I take.  I'll be in flats for the rest of the run. My heels are low and they belong to me, so they are well-fit, but I'll save them for the dance party at the end of May.

I'm going to get some good stretches and turn in. Tomorrow morning will come too soon. 

I will send Dr, Smith an email to let him know that I fell - it would be irresponsible not to mention it - and see f he wants me to get x-rays. I hate that I JUST had a set this last week, but I may have to get ANOTHER set - my dear hope is that he'll ask me a few questions about pain and function - the range of motion is not changed a bit as far as I can tell - and then tell me it should be OK. 

I'm glad Shauna didn't see THAT happen! 

NO MORE FALLING. 

-M