Well, it has been almost 2 weeks since we said our last good-bye to Max. It is hard and I still miss him so much, but the days get better. I have to almost shake my head sometimes when I think I see a phantom Max in the hallway, laying in the living room or on his doggie bed (have not heard the heart to get rid of that yet). But even with that I know he is pain free, not screaming and running around like a puppy again. My heart may be hurting but his is murmur free and happy!!
Not wanting to be just sad, I have my next few weeks planned out an busy. Still hobbling around with the aircast and only getting around the house with the little wheel chair. We do have the foot scooter, but I have just not gotten up the courage to try it out yet. My knee and quad are still weak, especially after the break when I ignored any of my PT exercises, but I am working hard to build up that strength again.
We have gone out to our Big Lake place…Carefree… a few times just to make sure it is ready when I can climb a number of stairs again somewhat on my own or with the cane. Nice to be out there where it is quiet but I definitely miss sitting on the deck and catching a glimpse of the mama deer and (usually) her twins.
The first week of June will be the start, and hopefully end of things. First I have to go in for my Medicare checkup. Just such a dumb thing because I was in there recently for a pre-op exam…but apparently Medicare still requires this. When you walk in and sit down the nurse will tell you 5 words for you to remember and then like 15 minutes later she will ask you what the words were. You also have to draw a clock with hands and put hands in the correct position for a certain time that the nurse dictates. Not sure when the 20’s or 30’s grow up and will say what is a clock with hands for their Medicare check! LOL Even growing up with those type of clocks it does take a minute to remember that there is a long hand and a short hand and where they go. So that appointment is on Monday.
Wednesday, I go to see the foot surgeon and he is hoping that he can tell me that I can start putting weight on that foot. I am pretty sure I will still be in the “stinky” (more on that later) aircast, but I will be able to put full pressure on it which I think will help. More about that “stinky” comment. These air casts do not really generate a lot of air in them. So if you have been wearing them for a number of hours, taking it off at night, does generate a certain “air” around them when taken off. So I did get foot wipes to use at night once it comes off which helps a lot. And now I take it off a lot during the day so I even have a 2nd pack of peppermint foot wipes that I keep in the living room. 🙂 The last time I saw the foot surgeon I apologized that my foot might be stinky when she took the boot off. She said to me we know that from the beginning when we decided to get into the foot specialty!! Good to know I was not the first with this stinky air!
Then Thursday, is my first infusion for the lymphoma treatment. This will be Rituxan which is often used with my subtype (lymphocyte predominate) and apparently has good results. The first treatment will be 6-8 hours and the following 3 treatments duration will depend on the insurance willingness to pay for either the quick under the skin injection (which costs more) or the more lengthy infusion (4-6 hours), which costs less. It is what it is…and if I have to do the longer version I will just get more reading and crocheting done.
Fridays I usually have PT, but we are going to wait and see how I feel after the treatments and see if it might be better to move that to Wednesdays. Even though I will be able to put full weight on that foot, I still need to do more strengthening of the knee and quad muscle to not have to use a walker or a cane…so PT will continue for awhile.
Well I am definitely chatty Cathy today, but wanted to get a little caught up and update on missing my Max.
Sounds like potential storms tonight so hopefully everyone will be safe. I know Jenny’s dog, Paris, will be hiding under the bed, but at least in a safe place.
Take care!
Dandy Ventures 