Eight weeks ago today, I had my 2nd knee replacement. This is clearly a time in my life that the Lord is able to use for growing me. I am still and listening to Him, and I am crying out through the pain and frustration and sometimes desperation for His help. Yes indeed, these are teachable moments for the go-getter girl that I am, seldom stopping to reflect on things before I am off and running to the next project. I have improved my listening over the years, and after retirement especially; I just regret now that I didn't do more listening in my earlier years.
About the surgery
In many respects this surgery went better than the first knee, although I found that I didn't actually remember much about the first knee experience. Had I not blogged some of it, it would have been a total blur. I guess that is how our mind deals with pain to dull the memory so we are not continually reminded of it.
This time my side affects of the pain medicine were quite different -- no hallucinations at least -- but the doctor and I had agreed to use very low doses of the weakest narcotic in order to prevent me hitting the threshold in my body where I could take nothing. So while I had some pain relief for the worst times, it was not complete pain relief by any means. I had to switch medications at two weeks because I was getting pounding heart beat and total body shakes from the first one. I took the second medication for about a week before side affects started with it, and decided at that point I could tough it out with ice and Tylenol.
The medications they gave me to offset the side affects of the narcotic as well as the blood thinners, medications for muscle spasms, nausea, constipation, and anxiety/itching all have side affects of their own. I felt like my body was a pool of chemicals and couldn't wait to get off all that junk to return to a normal function. At one month I was able to stop all the additional meds, and after a couple weeks my body returned to all systems normal. During this process I lost 15 lbs., but now I have my appetite back and can level out my eating.
Lesson 1 God is in Control
I am not in control of anything in my life except my thoughts and my actions. This recovery time was a clear reminder that I am quite helpless in this world. Laying in bed, not able to get up on my own, not able to make Johnnie hear me when I need help, not able to get past the pain no matter what I do except by prayer I can calm down and the Holy Spirit ministers to me. Whew! This was such a poignant lesson.
I think it was brought home by a comment from an older lady helping us at the medical supply company where I was getting fitted for my compression stockings (oh joy!). That was at 2 weeks out from surgery and I was very uncomfortable riding in the car to get there. The day was hot, the car windows were down and the exhaust fumes from the traffic were making me queasy. When we got inside the store and I found out we would have to wait 1/2 hour for my insurance approval before we could get the socks and go, well, I had a melt down. I simply couldn't sit there for 30 min. being miserable -- I needed to leave!
This nice lady said to me "You are just like I am, you are used to being in control, and you don't like it when you are not in control". Now that was an odd thing to say to me, but she nailed it in a non-offensive way. She took me over to a recliner chair they had, set me down and and brought me cold water. I calmed down and was fine once I got comfortable and had a chance to reflect on her words.
Humans love the illusion of being in control of our destiny, our life plans, our careers, etc. But in reality, we have very little control over anything. Acknowledging that God is sovereign in the universe and nothing happens that He doesn't allow to happen, well, that gives me a lot to reconsider. How much time do I waste worrying about things I can't change or even reliably predict? Giving up this illusion of being in control is a very freeing thing. In all things, I take my concerns to the Lord in prayer. Trusting that He wants the very best for me, and that He is in control of all things, I can accept what comes and go through the ups and downs of life with joy that comes from inner peace. Romans 8:28 and Phil. 4:7.
Lesson 2 God wants me to be in constant prayer
Now for some people who envision prayer as being on your knees or at least with hands clasped and eyes closed, you will have a difficult time seeing how I can be in constant prayer. There are those times that I need to be totally prostrate before the Living God in an attitude of totally focused worship, but this is not exactly what I mean.
When I say being in constant prayer, I mean being in an attitude of constant praise, prayer and thanks all day long. These are the prayers that I pray when I am laying down icing my knee, or after I get up from my exercises and get ready to go about my day. These are the prayers I say in the car sitting at a stop light (eyes wide open!), waiting at the doctor's office, or while weeding in the garden or washing up the dishes. These are the prayers that are a result of someone coming to my mind during the day. I may not have seen or talked to them recently, but I will stop and pray for them. Often I find out later that they were going through some difficulty and then I realize it is the Holy Spirit who prompted me to pray. By being in an attitude of constant prayer, I heard the Holy Spirit prompt me to pray.
Because of this attitude of constant prayer, I am seeing the power of prayer work in the lives of others as well as in my own life and attitude. Maybe for the first time in my life I can call myself a Prayer Warrior. 1 Thess. 5:17
Lesson 3 Trusting God for the details in my life
This is a lesson He has taught me over and over again in my life. I am a hard case because I so like to organize and plan. So letting go of the details that I can't control (see Lesson 1), or the unknowns in life that can't be scheduled so frustrate the planner in me, well this is a hard thing. When the plans in front of you look impossible or overwhelming, this is when I realize I am striving in my own power and NOT trusting in the Lord. Yet He wants me to trust Him and give Him my concerns in every little thing in my life.
This lesson hits me in a big way concerning our move to Kansas, the purchase of a home there, the timing of the move, the sale of the house in Everett, and the decisions on all the details. Whew! That whole task is daunting, even if we had a clear idea of where we wanted to live in KS, and we had no surgeries to interrupt the process. But with no clear focus except a general region of KS (the NE part of the state includes about 200 sq. miles), and a surgery in May with recovery through August, I had no idea how we could make this work or when.
I still don't see the end of it, as of July 12, we do own a house in KS now (subject of that search in another blog Like a Rolling Stone), and I am far enough along in the surgery that I can begin to resume thinking about the move and packing. But the sale of the house here, the logistics of the move, a 2 week cruise for our 20th anniversary in August, and how all that comes together is quite unclear to me at this point. But I do know that the Lord is in all the details. He cares about the details of our lives, if we will trust Him, then we can let go of the worry.
Prov. 3:5-6, Matt. 6:8, 34
Saturday, July 16, 2016
Monday, May 30, 2016
Sleep - the Joys of NO Alarm clock!
Oh Boy, I can sleep in every day if I want!
There is freedom in that and I certainly enjoyed doing that for a while after I first retired. It was after the PT with the surgeries that I finally got into a normal sleep rhythm again, and that felt so good, I just kept on sleeping! I was actually getting between 9 - 10 hrs. of sleep a night!
Do you know most of my working life, especially the child rearing years, I didn't get the recommended amount of sleep? And sometimes it wasn't very restful sleep with all the worries and stresses of life. Here is what they say about sleep:
Sleep and weight loss
So by getting 9 - 10 hrs. of sleep a night, I will be a size 2 by Christmas! Not really of course, but it might explain why I had such a hard time losing weight during the "busy" years.
In truth older adults need slightly less sleep than when younger, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The difficulty with older people is that our aches and pains can keep us from getting comfortable, continuous deep sleep. Sigh!
Sleep needs by age
But there can be too much of a good thing ....
So I enjoyed sleeping for a few months and even tried napping. Napping is not for me, never has been. Johnnie has mastered the "power nap" and can dose off instantly for 45 min. or so and be refreshed for the rest of the day. Not me.
After a while, I started feeling like a slug -- slow and un-energetic. The days sort of drifted by without anything to show for my time. So I started setting some goals for each day, and making sure I was up and dressed and going by a decent hour. (That time will vary based on your own circadian rhythm but I guarantee it is NOT the 3:00 am I was doing when working!)
Then I just reset to 8 - 9 hrs. a night, but I still like to sit in my robe and slippers and sip my coffee for the first couple hours each morning. I may wake up at 6:30am, being a natural morning person, but I don't need to hop out of bed and start running! Enough of that in the last 45 years!
Advice to my about-to-be-retired friends
There is freedom in that and I certainly enjoyed doing that for a while after I first retired. It was after the PT with the surgeries that I finally got into a normal sleep rhythm again, and that felt so good, I just kept on sleeping! I was actually getting between 9 - 10 hrs. of sleep a night!
Do you know most of my working life, especially the child rearing years, I didn't get the recommended amount of sleep? And sometimes it wasn't very restful sleep with all the worries and stresses of life. Here is what they say about sleep:
Sleep and weight loss
So by getting 9 - 10 hrs. of sleep a night, I will be a size 2 by Christmas! Not really of course, but it might explain why I had such a hard time losing weight during the "busy" years.
In truth older adults need slightly less sleep than when younger, according to the National Sleep Foundation. The difficulty with older people is that our aches and pains can keep us from getting comfortable, continuous deep sleep. Sigh!
Sleep needs by age
But there can be too much of a good thing ....
So I enjoyed sleeping for a few months and even tried napping. Napping is not for me, never has been. Johnnie has mastered the "power nap" and can dose off instantly for 45 min. or so and be refreshed for the rest of the day. Not me.
After a while, I started feeling like a slug -- slow and un-energetic. The days sort of drifted by without anything to show for my time. So I started setting some goals for each day, and making sure I was up and dressed and going by a decent hour. (That time will vary based on your own circadian rhythm but I guarantee it is NOT the 3:00 am I was doing when working!)
Then I just reset to 8 - 9 hrs. a night, but I still like to sit in my robe and slippers and sip my coffee for the first couple hours each morning. I may wake up at 6:30am, being a natural morning person, but I don't need to hop out of bed and start running! Enough of that in the last 45 years!
Advice to my about-to-be-retired friends
- Let is go! There are no rules so you don't have to feel guilty about sleeping in.
- Eventually we all do better when on some kind of schedule and we feel like we are accomplishing more
- Indulge in nice pajamas, robes and slippers -- you deserve it!
Thursday, October 30, 2014
I feel so good! Four+ months after the knee replacement
It does get better! Each day little improvements start to provide milestones you can record and remind yourself of how far you have come. I recommend keeping a journal of those, as encouragement on those days when you hurt and wonder if if will ever end.
As of Oct. 30, a little more than four months after the replacement surgery, I feel better than I have felt in 15 years. No more pain, no more wobbling as I walk, no more limping; it is really wonderful and has given me so much energy.
As you know from my earlier posts, there were some really rough stretches during the post surgery and physical therapy. It was definitely worth it but think hard before you do it and be prepared for a lot of hard work!!
Here are some milestones along the way;
Day 26 - off the blood thinners (now I am not so cold all the time), no more TED stockings - yea!, and start gradually weaning away from the walker to a cane. Dr. says xray looks good, incision looks good, range of motion is good. Thankfully I am a fast healer!
Day 28 - 4 weeks exactly from the surgery, starting to sleep better. Went to the store today, first time in a month, used the little electric cart.
Day 33- Started outpatient PT twice a week. Ooooo, this is going to be tough!
Day 35 - Almost a normal day doing things around the house: laundry, watering flowers, etc.
Day 42 - 6 weeks! This has been the longest 6 weeks of my life. We celebrated our 18th anniversary today.
Day 51 - Slept last night without any pain meds!
Day 55 - Started water aerobics.
Day 56 - 8 weeks! Sleeping most of the time without sleep aids and pain meds.
Day 59 - Pulled a muscle at Physical Therapy yesterday. I can hardly walk.
August 18 - I quit counting the "Days since surgery". Life is starting to feel more normal now. Still doing PT. Heading out on a camping trip at the lake.
September 14 - Headed out on our road trip. Still can't sit for more than 1 1/2 hrs. at a time without walking and stretching.
September 23 - Back is out and can't move. Don't know if it is related to the replacement surgeries but definitely too much sitting yesterday! Need to stretch and move slowly. Went swimming a couple times to work it out.
September 28 - Arrived at Yosemite. Lots of walking here. So thankful I can walk now.
October 14 - Back to Physical Therapy to work on a couple things: going down stairs and getting the hitch out of my walking gait.
October 16 - Last Physical Therapy session. Now it is up to me to exercise on my own.
Father God I am so thankful that you brought me through these surgeries and gave me a new lease on life! Thank you for family and friends that care for me and prayed for me and stuck by me through this time. Those visits and phone calls and cards were so important to keeping me encouraged. Let me be an encouragement to someone else!
As of Oct. 30, a little more than four months after the replacement surgery, I feel better than I have felt in 15 years. No more pain, no more wobbling as I walk, no more limping; it is really wonderful and has given me so much energy.
As you know from my earlier posts, there were some really rough stretches during the post surgery and physical therapy. It was definitely worth it but think hard before you do it and be prepared for a lot of hard work!!
Here are some milestones along the way;
Day 26 - off the blood thinners (now I am not so cold all the time), no more TED stockings - yea!, and start gradually weaning away from the walker to a cane. Dr. says xray looks good, incision looks good, range of motion is good. Thankfully I am a fast healer!
Day 28 - 4 weeks exactly from the surgery, starting to sleep better. Went to the store today, first time in a month, used the little electric cart.
Day 33- Started outpatient PT twice a week. Ooooo, this is going to be tough!
Day 35 - Almost a normal day doing things around the house: laundry, watering flowers, etc.
Day 42 - 6 weeks! This has been the longest 6 weeks of my life. We celebrated our 18th anniversary today.
Day 51 - Slept last night without any pain meds!
Day 55 - Started water aerobics.
Day 56 - 8 weeks! Sleeping most of the time without sleep aids and pain meds.
Day 59 - Pulled a muscle at Physical Therapy yesterday. I can hardly walk.
August 18 - I quit counting the "Days since surgery". Life is starting to feel more normal now. Still doing PT. Heading out on a camping trip at the lake.
September 14 - Headed out on our road trip. Still can't sit for more than 1 1/2 hrs. at a time without walking and stretching.
September 23 - Back is out and can't move. Don't know if it is related to the replacement surgeries but definitely too much sitting yesterday! Need to stretch and move slowly. Went swimming a couple times to work it out.
September 28 - Arrived at Yosemite. Lots of walking here. So thankful I can walk now.
October 14 - Back to Physical Therapy to work on a couple things: going down stairs and getting the hitch out of my walking gait.
October 16 - Last Physical Therapy session. Now it is up to me to exercise on my own.
Father God I am so thankful that you brought me through these surgeries and gave me a new lease on life! Thank you for family and friends that care for me and prayed for me and stuck by me through this time. Those visits and phone calls and cards were so important to keeping me encouraged. Let me be an encouragement to someone else!
Friday, July 4, 2014
Phase 2 - The Knee Replacement Days 16 - 20
Count the Milestones Daily
I am happy to report that in this period I can see small steps of improvement everyday. At first they seemed too insignificant that I wasn't bothering to record them. But it is important, and you don't want to stay in a mental funk, so declaring and celebrating the small victories is critical.
During this time I started to exercise the knee more and it actually needs to move now. I graduated from needing the shower stool and went back to regular standing showers. Daytime pain decreased and is very manageable with Tylenol, ice, and gentle massage. I can dress now without help, including the awful TED stockings! I was able to sit on the deck in the sun and enjoy some beautiful weather. That is very healing as well. The bruising and swelling decreased and the collateral damage to my foot has healed. All in all, this period I experienced much healing.
I was blessed by several visits from friends and family that have made this much more bearable. Others have offered to run errands for me. Knowing that people are praying for me is huge, and I believe those prayers have been answered by my fast healing process.
I still struggle with the night time pain which wakes me up about midnight or so. I have tried various over the counter sleep aids to get me to sleep. Melatonin seems to work the best for me. I have no problem going to sleep, but when the knee starts throbbing in the middle of the night, the pain wakes me and I can't get comfortable to go back to sleep. I have contacted the doctor again, and have a new med to try. I tested a half pill to see if I reacted, and I didn't. Hopefully this will help.
Thoughts on Preparation
I thought I was prepared mentally for this, since I just had the hip replacement 6 months ago. I made the mistake of assuming this would be similar to the hip. Expect the worst, then you will be surprised if it is not that bad. I was surprised by how bad it was and I think this actually caused me to have post surgical depression. I cried almost daily for about 10 days, due to pain and due to the feeling of hopelessness, like I will never see the end of this.
Make sure you really are physically strong, otherwise healthy, and in a good place mentally (not stressed, not tired, worried, anxious, etc.) When I have to do the other knee in future, I will be very careful about not getting too tired ahead of time, and making sure I am feeling strong and determined.
So here are some further thoughts about preparing at home. Some I did, some I wish I would have done. A lot will depend on your circumstance and who is your caregiver.
Things to gather in advance:
Obviously if your surgery is the result of an accident, then you will need to call on a friend who "knows the drill" and can help you get as comfortable as possible. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need or want. People can't read minds and sometimes they are absorbed in their own lives (I am guilty of this as well), and the fact that you are going through a miserable time doesn't penetrate their radar. Speak up, reach out, phone a friend!
I am happy to report that in this period I can see small steps of improvement everyday. At first they seemed too insignificant that I wasn't bothering to record them. But it is important, and you don't want to stay in a mental funk, so declaring and celebrating the small victories is critical.
During this time I started to exercise the knee more and it actually needs to move now. I graduated from needing the shower stool and went back to regular standing showers. Daytime pain decreased and is very manageable with Tylenol, ice, and gentle massage. I can dress now without help, including the awful TED stockings! I was able to sit on the deck in the sun and enjoy some beautiful weather. That is very healing as well. The bruising and swelling decreased and the collateral damage to my foot has healed. All in all, this period I experienced much healing.
I was blessed by several visits from friends and family that have made this much more bearable. Others have offered to run errands for me. Knowing that people are praying for me is huge, and I believe those prayers have been answered by my fast healing process.
I still struggle with the night time pain which wakes me up about midnight or so. I have tried various over the counter sleep aids to get me to sleep. Melatonin seems to work the best for me. I have no problem going to sleep, but when the knee starts throbbing in the middle of the night, the pain wakes me and I can't get comfortable to go back to sleep. I have contacted the doctor again, and have a new med to try. I tested a half pill to see if I reacted, and I didn't. Hopefully this will help.
Thoughts on Preparation
I thought I was prepared mentally for this, since I just had the hip replacement 6 months ago. I made the mistake of assuming this would be similar to the hip. Expect the worst, then you will be surprised if it is not that bad. I was surprised by how bad it was and I think this actually caused me to have post surgical depression. I cried almost daily for about 10 days, due to pain and due to the feeling of hopelessness, like I will never see the end of this.
Make sure you really are physically strong, otherwise healthy, and in a good place mentally (not stressed, not tired, worried, anxious, etc.) When I have to do the other knee in future, I will be very careful about not getting too tired ahead of time, and making sure I am feeling strong and determined.
So here are some further thoughts about preparing at home. Some I did, some I wish I would have done. A lot will depend on your circumstance and who is your caregiver.
Things to gather in advance:
- Toilet seat riser/commode
- Shower chair/bath bench
- Walker
- Flushable wipes by the toilet (you won't be bending and moving with ease for a while)
- Portable right-height stool (for the caregiver who will be putting on your TED socks, etc.)
- Comfortable and soft but close-fitting underwear (you will not want tight, binding, bunching, hot or frilly undergarments while you are convalescing)
- Disinfectant wipes for the bathroom (easy and quick clean up; infection control is critical)
- Prune juice (I prefer this over the pills they give you)
- Organize in advance someone to come to your house and do massage, hair style (if this is important to you), Acupuncture, clean the house (if you are on your own), deliver meals, bring groceries
- Pay your bills ahead so that for a few weeks you don't have to handle that
Obviously if your surgery is the result of an accident, then you will need to call on a friend who "knows the drill" and can help you get as comfortable as possible. Don't be afraid to ask for what you need or want. People can't read minds and sometimes they are absorbed in their own lives (I am guilty of this as well), and the fact that you are going through a miserable time doesn't penetrate their radar. Speak up, reach out, phone a friend!
Friday, June 27, 2014
Overhauling Health and Mobility - Phase 2 The Knee Replacement
Background
As I mentioned earlier a key factor in my decision to retire early is my health and the need to focus on some long-neglected changes. My knee problems started in the mid 1990's with a snow ski accident. My insistence on going back to work too quickly, my failure to follow up when the pain didn't go away, and general neglect of my injury is the cause of all that I face today.
Over the years some torn ligaments snowballed into three intermediate surgical procedures (two on the right knee and one on the left), many bouts of physical therapy, fluid injections and cortisone injections, and substantial pain and limitation in daily life. Had I taken care of the injury when it happened and not continued to push on with life, there is a good chance I would not need a knee replacement. Young people: pay attention!!
Today is Day 15 after surgery for the full left knee arthroplasty.
This is a difficult surgery and a painful recovery. For me, it is 5 times more painful than the hip replacement was. I am thinking now that I rushed into this too soon after the hip; perhaps I should have waited for several more months to get totally recovered and strong before taking this on. I underestimated the severity and complexity of this surgery and my own difficulty being able to take pain medications to get me through the initial weeks of recovery.
Well, I am here now and going forward. I see small improvements daily and finally now can count on 6 hrs. of sleep a night before I have to get up and go to my recliner.
The next few posts will be about preparation and recovery from knee replacement surgery.
For now, here are a few key points to consider if you are anticipating a similar surgery:
1. Make sure you have a good surgeon that you trust. Do your research and talk to others. Find out about rates of infection, blood clots and other complications, rates of revisions, etc. for the different ones. Medical workers will always tell you if someone is really good (they can't tell you if they are bad though), so if you know nurses or PA's or CNAs at the hospital who work with your prospective surgeon, listen to what they are saying, or NOT saying.
2. In my experience surgeons are like good engineers/mechanics but they are not very people-oriented. Make sure you get a good relationship with your surgeon's nurse or PA so you have someone to contact for patient comfort care issues. I have home health care nursing and physical therapy for the first 4 weeks after surgery and they are my first line of resource.
3. Make sure your in-home caregiver is prepared. The first 10 days or so after surgery they will be up and down with you all day and night, going to the toilet, getting you fresh ice, meds, drinks, helping you turn in bed, adjusting pillows and covers, bringing you meals, and whatever your need, helping with showers and dressing, etc. Line up some respite for your caregiver so they get a break too.
4. If your hospital or medical center offers a preparatory class, take your caregiver and go. They will give you lots of information, you will know more what to expect and how to prepare your home.
5. Have plenty of palliative comfort measures on hand. Normally you only hear about palliative care in connection with severe and terminal illnesses. I believe there is a huge gap in the medical community not realizing that patients who undergo major surgery such as a knee replacement, need this kind of care as well. I designed my own program. This is a huge one for me since I was unable to tolerate the prescription pain meds after just a few days, so it is essential to endure the pain.
Some of my measures are:
Don't go into the Dr. telling him how to treat you based on something you read on the internet. There is so much unsubstantiated garbage out there on the net and people tend to think they read about one study or story where something worked, and then think that should be standard medical practice. Trust your doctor to use tried and true, proven techniques. If you don't trust them, find someone else!
As I mentioned earlier a key factor in my decision to retire early is my health and the need to focus on some long-neglected changes. My knee problems started in the mid 1990's with a snow ski accident. My insistence on going back to work too quickly, my failure to follow up when the pain didn't go away, and general neglect of my injury is the cause of all that I face today.
Over the years some torn ligaments snowballed into three intermediate surgical procedures (two on the right knee and one on the left), many bouts of physical therapy, fluid injections and cortisone injections, and substantial pain and limitation in daily life. Had I taken care of the injury when it happened and not continued to push on with life, there is a good chance I would not need a knee replacement. Young people: pay attention!!
Today is Day 15 after surgery for the full left knee arthroplasty.
This is a difficult surgery and a painful recovery. For me, it is 5 times more painful than the hip replacement was. I am thinking now that I rushed into this too soon after the hip; perhaps I should have waited for several more months to get totally recovered and strong before taking this on. I underestimated the severity and complexity of this surgery and my own difficulty being able to take pain medications to get me through the initial weeks of recovery.
Well, I am here now and going forward. I see small improvements daily and finally now can count on 6 hrs. of sleep a night before I have to get up and go to my recliner.
The next few posts will be about preparation and recovery from knee replacement surgery.
For now, here are a few key points to consider if you are anticipating a similar surgery:
1. Make sure you have a good surgeon that you trust. Do your research and talk to others. Find out about rates of infection, blood clots and other complications, rates of revisions, etc. for the different ones. Medical workers will always tell you if someone is really good (they can't tell you if they are bad though), so if you know nurses or PA's or CNAs at the hospital who work with your prospective surgeon, listen to what they are saying, or NOT saying.
2. In my experience surgeons are like good engineers/mechanics but they are not very people-oriented. Make sure you get a good relationship with your surgeon's nurse or PA so you have someone to contact for patient comfort care issues. I have home health care nursing and physical therapy for the first 4 weeks after surgery and they are my first line of resource.
3. Make sure your in-home caregiver is prepared. The first 10 days or so after surgery they will be up and down with you all day and night, going to the toilet, getting you fresh ice, meds, drinks, helping you turn in bed, adjusting pillows and covers, bringing you meals, and whatever your need, helping with showers and dressing, etc. Line up some respite for your caregiver so they get a break too.
4. If your hospital or medical center offers a preparatory class, take your caregiver and go. They will give you lots of information, you will know more what to expect and how to prepare your home.
5. Have plenty of palliative comfort measures on hand. Normally you only hear about palliative care in connection with severe and terminal illnesses. I believe there is a huge gap in the medical community not realizing that patients who undergo major surgery such as a knee replacement, need this kind of care as well. I designed my own program. This is a huge one for me since I was unable to tolerate the prescription pain meds after just a few days, so it is essential to endure the pain.
Some of my measures are:
- The Ice machine - I have a machine that circulates ice water through a pad over your knee; this is wonderful and if your hospital doesn't provide one to take home, go get one! It is well worth the money.
- foods or favorite drinks - I have very little appetite after surgery and want only mild, comfort foods
- music, games, tv, computer, magazines, books and other things to distract your mind for periods of time
- massage - rubbing the foot and ankle of the surgical knee gives me good temporary relief; a full body massage on Day 14 really helped me let go all the tension and sleep better
- heat packs (for other places on your body that will ache), soothing lotions or gels
- spiritual support of family and friends - I just needed to know people care about me, they are praying for me, and are there if I need them
- epsom salts and a foot soaking tub (the foot and ankle on your surgical leg will be really sore, bruised and swollen)
- over the counter sleep aids such as melatonin (check with the doctor to make sure it is safe to use them with your other meds)
Don't go into the Dr. telling him how to treat you based on something you read on the internet. There is so much unsubstantiated garbage out there on the net and people tend to think they read about one study or story where something worked, and then think that should be standard medical practice. Trust your doctor to use tried and true, proven techniques. If you don't trust them, find someone else!
Friday, May 2, 2014
How do you know when it's time to retire?
USA Today, Wall Street Journal, AARP and a host of other publications have quizzes and checklists that help you figure out if you are ready for retirement. You should be financially, emotionally, physically, and spiritually prepared for a life changing event. Retirement ranks up there along with a death, marriage, divorce, move and bankruptcy for high stressors in people's lives, all which can lead to big health problems. Having a good plan for retirement can mitigate the impact of this on your family life. In future blogs I'll share some of those different checklists I thought were helpful.
Check out the stress assessment tool
There is a switch inside my head that flipped when I was least expecting it. My husband has been retired for several years but up until recently, I just wasn't ready yet. I enjoyed my job and couldn't visualize what my life would be like without it. But over a period of a few weeks my attitude changed. These are the key way points.
Health considerations
Earlier this year I had a hip replacement and while the surgery was much easier than I expected, the rehabilitation and physical therapy have really been a struggle. After listening to stories from people I knew that went through the same surgery, I expected to be back to work in a few weeks. It has now been over 3 months since the surgery and I just now feel like I could go back to a full time schedule.
Why did it take me so long to recover? For me it was because I postponed this surgery for several years and in the meantime adopted some very bad habits of compensating for the bad hip. Physical therapy has been about un-learning the bad behaviors, and strengthening the right muscles so that I can walk without a limp, climb stairs without pulling myself up, get in/out of the car correctly, etc.
**Don't ever listen to people's stories about their neighbor, or Aunt Susie, or whoever and their experiences because inevitably they were either climbing Mt. Everest three days after surgery, or, they had the worst time ever in the history of modern medicine and will never walk again! Well, I am none of those people and should not measure myself against them. We are all different and heal at different rates. When people tell these stories, they may not intend to be critical or discouraging but it can be to the person going through the procedure. **
As I struggled through the therapy, I realized I neglected my health for several years. Not only the bad hip but a bad knee also plagues me, and will get replaced soon. The decision to retire now instead of a year from now has a lot to do with the need to focus on me and regaining my mobility and energy.
An article by Joyce Maynard in More magazine really made me sit up and think:
"All my life, my priorities were family and work. Now I asked myself: Suppose I gave my body the kind of attention I’ve showered on the people I love? Suppose I took my health as seriously as I take my career?"
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.more.com/health/wellness/how-shape-your-body-when-youre-no-longer-kid
Financial Considerations
We met with our financial adviser last December and looked at the different alternatives for retirement income, the timing and the tax implications. Waiting a few months or even a year really made very little difference in my pension benefit on a monthly basis, so the issue really came down to being ready to make the change from other aspects of my life.
The one unanticipated financial impact is the requirement for my spouse to go on Medicare; he has been covered under my employee medical plan. We had not included in the retirement budget calculations the cost of Medicare Part B and the cost of a supplement plan (anywhere from $200 - $400 per month) until several years in the future when I reached Medicare eligibility. So it was a bit of a surprise to find that he can no longer be covered under my employee retirement medical since he is Medicare eligible.
This is a small challenge. We still will cover the cost of this without undermining the retirement plan. We just need to adjust the budget a bit. As I plan to do some work in future that will bring in some extra money (more about that in another posting) it may not be a big deal at all.
Spiritual Considerations
To me this is the most important consideration for the retirement decision. I realize that not everyone who reads this is a Christian, or even in same place that I am spiritually but for me, I had to be sure my decision to retire was completely in the Lord's will for my life. I believe that the Lord has a specific plan for my life, one that is in sync with the calling I have, and a plan that blesses me hugely, uses all my natural talents, and helps me to grow. I also know with certainty the Lord cares about the details of my life -- not just the big picture -- so a decision like this, and the steps leading up to it, the timing of all the events, and the outcome of all the small, daily steps are in His hands.
I am not absolutely sure the day I realized that this is what the Lord wants for me; it was more a gradual realization. As I prayed about all the small decisions, they all were answered in a positive way toward this outcome.
Not very much is written about spiritual preparation for our retirement. Certainly the publications listed above don't mention it, or only in the briefest possible way. It seems that the spiritual part of our beings is sorely neglected in our modern culture. I felt pulled toward a different kind of work in future, so that, along with the confirmation of the plan that came together in perfect timing and detail was my preparation.
**The Holy Bible does not have a retirement plan for believers because once a born again follower of Jesus Christ, we are always a follower. No matter what age or state of health or finances, we still have a calling to carry out until we are in heaven. **
Check out the stress assessment tool
There is a switch inside my head that flipped when I was least expecting it. My husband has been retired for several years but up until recently, I just wasn't ready yet. I enjoyed my job and couldn't visualize what my life would be like without it. But over a period of a few weeks my attitude changed. These are the key way points.
Health considerations
Earlier this year I had a hip replacement and while the surgery was much easier than I expected, the rehabilitation and physical therapy have really been a struggle. After listening to stories from people I knew that went through the same surgery, I expected to be back to work in a few weeks. It has now been over 3 months since the surgery and I just now feel like I could go back to a full time schedule.
Why did it take me so long to recover? For me it was because I postponed this surgery for several years and in the meantime adopted some very bad habits of compensating for the bad hip. Physical therapy has been about un-learning the bad behaviors, and strengthening the right muscles so that I can walk without a limp, climb stairs without pulling myself up, get in/out of the car correctly, etc.
**Don't ever listen to people's stories about their neighbor, or Aunt Susie, or whoever and their experiences because inevitably they were either climbing Mt. Everest three days after surgery, or, they had the worst time ever in the history of modern medicine and will never walk again! Well, I am none of those people and should not measure myself against them. We are all different and heal at different rates. When people tell these stories, they may not intend to be critical or discouraging but it can be to the person going through the procedure. **
As I struggled through the therapy, I realized I neglected my health for several years. Not only the bad hip but a bad knee also plagues me, and will get replaced soon. The decision to retire now instead of a year from now has a lot to do with the need to focus on me and regaining my mobility and energy.
An article by Joyce Maynard in More magazine really made me sit up and think:
"All my life, my priorities were family and work. Now I asked myself: Suppose I gave my body the kind of attention I’ve showered on the people I love? Suppose I took my health as seriously as I take my career?"
Read the rest of the article at: http://www.more.com/health/wellness/how-shape-your-body-when-youre-no-longer-kid
Financial Considerations
We met with our financial adviser last December and looked at the different alternatives for retirement income, the timing and the tax implications. Waiting a few months or even a year really made very little difference in my pension benefit on a monthly basis, so the issue really came down to being ready to make the change from other aspects of my life.
The one unanticipated financial impact is the requirement for my spouse to go on Medicare; he has been covered under my employee medical plan. We had not included in the retirement budget calculations the cost of Medicare Part B and the cost of a supplement plan (anywhere from $200 - $400 per month) until several years in the future when I reached Medicare eligibility. So it was a bit of a surprise to find that he can no longer be covered under my employee retirement medical since he is Medicare eligible.
This is a small challenge. We still will cover the cost of this without undermining the retirement plan. We just need to adjust the budget a bit. As I plan to do some work in future that will bring in some extra money (more about that in another posting) it may not be a big deal at all.
Spiritual Considerations
To me this is the most important consideration for the retirement decision. I realize that not everyone who reads this is a Christian, or even in same place that I am spiritually but for me, I had to be sure my decision to retire was completely in the Lord's will for my life. I believe that the Lord has a specific plan for my life, one that is in sync with the calling I have, and a plan that blesses me hugely, uses all my natural talents, and helps me to grow. I also know with certainty the Lord cares about the details of my life -- not just the big picture -- so a decision like this, and the steps leading up to it, the timing of all the events, and the outcome of all the small, daily steps are in His hands.
I am not absolutely sure the day I realized that this is what the Lord wants for me; it was more a gradual realization. As I prayed about all the small decisions, they all were answered in a positive way toward this outcome.
Not very much is written about spiritual preparation for our retirement. Certainly the publications listed above don't mention it, or only in the briefest possible way. It seems that the spiritual part of our beings is sorely neglected in our modern culture. I felt pulled toward a different kind of work in future, so that, along with the confirmation of the plan that came together in perfect timing and detail was my preparation.
**The Holy Bible does not have a retirement plan for believers because once a born again follower of Jesus Christ, we are always a follower. No matter what age or state of health or finances, we still have a calling to carry out until we are in heaven. **
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
This is it!
April 18, 2014 is a major milestone in my life; the end of my working "career" phase of life, and the beginning of the next season of life. The Lord has a plan for my life but at present I don't know what it involves, so I will just watch and wait and pray, to see what comes next.
Did you win the lottery?
You can't imagine how many times I have heard that. Seriously? I know some are being funny but plenty of people follow up that question with "I sure wish I had enough money to retire". I am really baffled by how much money people think they need to have to retire, and wonder if they have worked all their lives and saved nothing. If you are 40+ years old, do you have a plan?
You will be busier than ever!
I hope not! But lots of people say that, and I sure know plenty of retirees that have filled their calendars full of volunteer work, caring for grandchildren, and other stuff. It is harder to get together with them for a fun time than it was before they retired! Well, not me. I will be very picky about what I do with my time, and still have lots of "white space" for friends and family and whatever the Lord brings into my life.
What is the focus of my blog?
I will share my ups and downs along the way. I will share the processes of adjustment and the adventures of trying on something new. I will share my experiences with my spouse and both of us adjusting to being home together. And I will give you pointers and tips and lessons I learn, so help you be the next one to retire with grace! Join my journey and follow my blog.
Did you win the lottery?
You can't imagine how many times I have heard that. Seriously? I know some are being funny but plenty of people follow up that question with "I sure wish I had enough money to retire". I am really baffled by how much money people think they need to have to retire, and wonder if they have worked all their lives and saved nothing. If you are 40+ years old, do you have a plan?
You will be busier than ever!
I hope not! But lots of people say that, and I sure know plenty of retirees that have filled their calendars full of volunteer work, caring for grandchildren, and other stuff. It is harder to get together with them for a fun time than it was before they retired! Well, not me. I will be very picky about what I do with my time, and still have lots of "white space" for friends and family and whatever the Lord brings into my life.
What is the focus of my blog?
I will share my ups and downs along the way. I will share the processes of adjustment and the adventures of trying on something new. I will share my experiences with my spouse and both of us adjusting to being home together. And I will give you pointers and tips and lessons I learn, so help you be the next one to retire with grace! Join my journey and follow my blog.
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