A Little Update

Seems like its been ages since I've written on this blog.  Well, I guess it has been ages!  Time seems to fly by lately.
My hips doing good.   No major complaints.  Things are still healing but I'm 96% back to all normal activities.  The screws can get a little annoying at times but nothing I can't handle. 
No major injuries for the past several months.  Still in PT for cervical instability.   POTS has probably been giving more trouble than anything else.  But that's life!
For the past two weeks I've been working on opening up a studio and gift shop in town.  It been a lot of fun.  It feels good to work hard at something and get lots accomplished.  POTS has pocked its head in the door more than once during these weeks but its all about adapting and making the most of what you CAN do.  Setting up a shop has been a good experience.  Its been good to just step out and take a risk.  Learning new business terminology (ugh!), and what its like to have a lot on your plate!  I'm loving every moment of it and wouldn't want to do anything else right now!

Will post more about my business adventures and pics later!!

Almost Six Weeks Later................

PT is going very well and I'm pretty much 95-100% off my crutches!!! What a relief.....not sure if my shoulders could have handled it for much longer!  The past week, while walking without crutches, my leg is so weak that I tend to walk like Festus (which happens to be my new nickname :P)!  My therapist said most of my left leg movement is horizontal causing a lot of truck rotation which in turn is bothering my back, neck, shoulders, ect.  I've started to walk more normal now since my leg is getting stronger and I think I can tell a difference in discomfort.  The other week I went for my four week post-op check-up and had x-rays done.  Apparently I don't have two screws....I've got four.  So far everything is healing nicely and I'm happy with it!

Four Weeks Later

I can't believe is only been four weeks since I had surgery and I ditched a crutch last week. Besides separating a joint in my left foot and pumping a tube of air into my blood stream, recovery has gone well!!!!  My foot healed up quickly (Thank-goodness)  and the air thing......well lets just say I'm not likely to forget to prime the tube again.  Recovery has gone drastically different than expected.  With changes to the surgical techniques I had no hip restriction from the beginning.  Meaning weight as tolerated ect,  Every day brings new surprises with what I can do.  I'm just having trouble slowing down!  I had no intention on having my other hip done anytime soon but now that I know how things go, I'm putting that on the plate as a possibility next year.  We'll see what happens.

My New Hip!!!

Having a PAO was a big decision but so far I'm happy I made it! Now on to recovery:)

Ramblings

One bum shoulder (right) and with the fact that I'm right handed I figured I'd sit down and begin the art of mastering such tedious matters left handed!  Hip surgery is approaching and as I prepare for that I'm also busy with pre-op appointments, commissions ect. ect. ect.....

I had to donate over 500ml of blood for this surgery coming up.  With all honesty, I'm just starting to feel a little better from it and its been a week.   Losing all that blood really didn't help POTS;)

one of many paintings I've been working on!

LOVE it !!!!!

Hip Chick and Artsy Randomness

For the past few hours I've been busy cooking, cleaning, laundry ect.  For the past two hours my bad hip has been trying to get a message through that its just plum tuckered out.  Unfortunately I seem to be ignoring it ;-)  I still have a few things to do but I'll make myself take it easy for a little bit.  I love being busy and active but having a bum legs kinda gets in the way sometimes :-D  

making homemade granola!

The past few weeks I've been getting really busy with art.  I'm also getting ready for some art shows and competition this summer!


Here's a few things I've been working on lately:

watercolor

watercolor

watercolor

Spring has Sprung

Spring has come quickly.  Its seems like it was just the other day when we got a couple of inches of snow.  A little over a week ago I finally finished high school.  It took a week or so to get use to the idea of waking up in the morning and not having to do school!  So right now, I'm off to new things-looking for jobs, taking classes and working on getting a business going in the next year or two.  It takes a lot of thinking and planning beforehand- this I've realized quickly!

watercolor and pen/ink

watercolor and ink
Soon to become stationary!

watercolor and ink
First painting of mine to go up for sale in a gallery!!

 

graphite and pencil sketch
Finally finished and framed.
It took about 40 plus hours of work to complete it!

Photography class this past month

In February, I took a photography class and loved it so much!! May is going to be full of photography workshops, watercolor classes, a painting class and drawing classes.

Best time of the year!!

The past week or two has brought 80 degree weather and surprisingly I have been able to weather it fairly well with POTS!  I am really hoping I'll have a better summer than the last one.  I staying busy working out at the gym.  I'm still planning on going surfing this year!!!

Biking-good or bad for hip chicks.

Hm. Well, to answer that question........it's NO.  I tried several times but it just doesn't go over very well with my shallow hip sockets.  As my physical therapist said, walking is good for my hips but bad for my back and knees.  Biking on the other hand is bad for my hips and good for my knees and back.  So for now, until my hips are fixed I guess its time to put the bike away.  There's always another time.

While I'm at it, I might as well throw in the latest on my dear old friend....POTS!  This past week I have done two days of hydration therapy.  1.5L of fluid by IV, here at home.  If it continues to improve and really help me, there will be a discussion with my doc about putting in a port. One more week of treatment and then we will see him about what to do next.

Just Another Hip Chick: Part One

My left hip has been bothering me for several years.  Physical therapy has helped strengthen it but there has been something going on there that nothing has helped.  Honestly, I was wondering if I would get diagnosed with some type of hip dysplasia but part of me didn't really think it was going to be significant.  But when I saw a hip surgeon a week ago, x-rays did in fact show I have hip dysplasia in both hips.  Hip dysplasia is when your hip sockets are really shallow.  The joint doesn't sit in the socket correctly so subluxations, dislocations  and labrum tears are common (I also have a tear).  A Ganz osteotomy (loosely translated, as major hip surgery;) has been recommended.   My doctor encouraged me to make a decision of when to do it within the next three years. We are thinking sooner rather than later but haven't made a decision yet.  The recovery is challenging.  A week in the hospital, two months with no weight bearing on the operated leg and six months of rehab.

The day I was diagnosed with hip dysplasia I didn't really know what to think.  It was a mix of emotions.  I couldn't figure out if I was scared or what I was thinking.  What was I afraid of? What was expected of me?  I suddenly remembered you can look at it in two different ways and which way was I suppose to see it? Simple as that. You can view obstacles or what seems like a terrible thing as the end of the world, or you can realize that sometimes those are the times for the best opportunities to show up. It really isn't anywhere near the end of the world and with all honestly theres a whole lot more to life than a bum joint or a major operation.  A WHOLE lot more!
 

Resources:
 - How Stuff Works
 -Hip Dysplasia