Thrive Without Janelle: The Accountability Group

[Gramto6]

11 hours ago, Absolom said:

I skipped the meloxicam yesterday due to a stomach upset and really feel it this morning.  Good luck until you can go back on your regular schedule.

I feel your pain sooo much. I couldn't believe it...this pain is what my body is really like?? Sheesh. I called my surgeon's office and asked could I please take some of my meloxicam...well guess what?  The person going over what I can and can't have made a mistake and I only need to stop the pain meds the night before surgery. Man as soon as I got home after getting that callback I took my med and wow, really beginning to feel human again again. 4 days w/out really wiped me out! That little pill is a miracle worker for me!

[Gramto6]

6,435 steps yesterday.

I did a bit of shopping after dentist appt. This revision is feeling pretty good. Still healing other sores. She wants to look at things tomorrow before surgery to see if I need any other tweaks. These people are really great and very attuned to the patient's needs. I picked a good dentist!

MRI this morning.

[Gramto6]

5,983 steps yesterday.

MRI went smoothly as usual. Amazing how just lying there can be tiring. I still had a few odds and ends to pick up, so went into the local store near the hospital. I don't know my way around there, so it did take more steps than this quick shop would have normally taken.

One mire thing checked off the list for this week. Today another trip to dentist and tomorrow the surgery.

Just after I got home, I got the call from the surgery nurse with my time to be there tomorrow, 5:55AM! Yikes! I'm going to have to leave no later than 5AM. I need to do the Hibiclens shower and scrub my hand for 5 min with a provided sponge. I need to feed the cats and all the regular morning routine so will be rushed. But on the other hand I will done and back home fairly early. The dr said it will take 6 minutes per finger, so surgery will only be 18 min, so I won't be out that long and should recover fast.

I will really be glad when this surgery is behind me. At least I will know better what will be coming for my other hand!

[ginger90]

Good luck tomorrow @Gramto6 !

[Absolom]

I hope it all goes very smoothly for you @Gramto6.

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

Good luck tomorrow.   And yes you have an early start to your day!  

[Gramto6]

Thanks everyone! I really appreciate your good wishes! Hopefully I'll be home late morning or around noon. If I'm up to it....who knows?....I'll post!   

Heading to bed in a few minutes!! 4AM is going to be coming way too soon!

[Yeah No]

Yes, best wishes on your surgery in the morning, Gram!  We'll be thinking of you!

[Gramto6]

6,568 steps yesterday.

Dentist did more adjusting and feeling better.  I'm sure many more to come.

Few last errands added some steps.

Surgery went well, was home just after 10am. Just bandaids over incisions! Totally exhausted! I've been nodding off all afternoon.  Fingers are still numb from the shots. I've been icing periodically and definitely taking it easy rest of day.  

Edited May 31 by Gramto6

[Teafortwo]

5 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

6,568 steps yesterday.

Dentist did more adjusting and feeling better.  I'm sure many more to come.

Few last errands added some steps.

Surgery went well, was home just after 10am. Just bandaids over incisions! Totally exhausted! I've been nodding off all afternoon.  Fingers are still numb from the shots. I've been icing periodically and definitely taking it easy rest of day.  

You are a trouper! To go through all that and still post to keep us all updated! Very glad to hear it went well and I hope the healing process is smooth. 

[MaddyMaeboxerbabe]

Glad the surgery went well!   Listen to your body and get lots of rest!  You have had so much going on.  

[Yeah No]

7 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

6,568 steps yesterday.

Dentist did more adjusting and feeling better.  I'm sure many more to come.

Few last errands added some steps.

Surgery went well, was home just after 10am. Just bandaids over incisions! Totally exhausted! I've been nodding off all afternoon.  Fingers are still numb from the shots. I've been icing periodically and definitely taking it easy rest of day.  

So glad it went well!  I'm also glad to hear you're taking it easy.  Maybe that's best for the next few days if you can.  Don't push yourself. 

[Gramto6]

5,132 steps yesterday.

Slept like a rock last night! 2 Advil was all the pain meds I needed and may not even need that today. Had one of the laziest days in a long time yesterday. It is very frustrating doing things one handed. I have more movement in my fingers today, but they are tender and don't bend all the way yet so I'm really trying not to use them any more than absolutely necessary. Have to keep the hand dry until Monday when I can take off the bandages.

Thanks all for the well wishes! I do feel overall much better today, the anxiety over the surgery is gone and that is like a weight lifted. I'm still going to do as little as possible today just to help the healing process.  Rest is the top thing on the agenda today!

Edited June 1 by Gramto6

[ginger90]

Glad it’s going well for you @Gramto6!! 💐 

My unsolicited advice, try to keep your hand elevated above the level of your heart when sitting and while in bed for a few days. When you’re walking you can do this by putting your hand on your opposite shoulder.

 

 

[Gramto6]

1 minute ago, ginger90 said:

Glad it’s going well for you @Gramto6!! 💐 

My unsolicited advice, try to keep your hand elevated above the level of your heart when sitting and while in bed for a few days. When you’re walking you can do this by putting your hand on your opposite shoulder.

 

 

Yep!  That is what I have been doing but keeping it just above my heart, but the shoulder feels even more comfortable, thanks for suggesting it!

[Yeah No]

@Gramto6, I must be having sympathy pains for you because I woke up with a strained muscle on top of my left hand this morning and depending on how I use it, it HURTS!  Even picking up my purse!  I've been putting Biofreeze on it, babying it and tonight I'll sleep with my hand brace on it.  This is the hand I need an operation on for base-of-thumb arthritis so it's even worse.  I think I just slept with it in a "jackknifed" position and that's what did it.  I never hurt my hand that much sleeping before.  We ate lunch out today so thankfully I don't have to make dinner.  Typing is fine, though.  It's only those muscles right under the knuckles on the top of the hand to the wrist. 

[Gramto6]

4,822 steps yesterday.

I'm still taking it really easy. Hand feels better today. I have more movement than yesterday, but still can't make a fist. But I'm closer today. Not much pain, more like stiffness. But no strength yet.

The thing I just can't do yet is open the pull tops on the cat food cans so my friend has been coming over at "kitty dinner time" and helping with that feeding. Most everything else I am finding semi awkward work a rounds.

Depending on my left hand has really aggravated the trigger fingers there. I can't wait for that hand to be done too !

Hope you are feeling better quickly @Yeah No!  Just about nothing worse than when your hands hurt/don't work right!!

[Yeah No]

5 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Hope you are feeling better quickly @Yeah No!  Just about nothing worse than when your hands hurt/don't work right!!

Thank you and you know first hand right now what that's like!  (First hand, LOL, no pun intended)!

I hear you about the pull top cans.  They're harder for me to do than they used to be.  I use a rubber grippy thing which really helps a lot.

Actually my hand is like yours today.  Not so much pain but stiffness.

It sounds like you're making good progress, thanks for keeping us apprised.

[Gramto6]

4,365 steps yesterday.

Still trying to stay in rest mode. Googled some hand exercises for after Trigger Release surgery and did a little. Not quite up to the 10x at a time, but did do a few multiples through out the day. Flexibility is getting better each day. Still no strength. All the articles said no lifting, allowed activities were writing, typing, and eating, avoid anything that causes pain...which is just about anything except the 3 above.

Each day is better though, now if I could only get the teeth to the same point!! I'm going to cal the dentist today to see if she can see me tomorrow. The surgical nurse just called to check on my recovery and gave me the OK to drive!!

Today is my 75th Birthday!! I never thought I'd make it this long!!  Only thing I have to do today is get the garbage up the road and eat the Cadbury Chocolate Sticky Pud (basically a chocolate filled "cupcake" from World Market) for desert at dinner!!

[ginger90]

Happy Birthday @Gramto6!!!

[Yeah No]

Hey @Gramto6 - 

[General Days]

Happy Birthday, @Gramto6!!!

 

 

 

[Gramto6]

1 hour ago, General Days said:

Happy Birthday, @Gramto6!!!

 

 

 

LOL!! I like Janelle's dancing!! Thanks for bringing back that memory!.........  I think...LOL!

Edited June 4 by Gramto6

[Yeah No]

10 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

LOL!! I like Janelle's dancing!! Thanks for bringing back that memory!.........  I think...LOL!

LOL, it's fun as long as I don't focus in on Kody, otherwise I get queasy.

[Gramto6]

5,447 steps yesterday.

Finally having a bit more energy and my hand is working better. Did a laundry, carefully, but managed to get things hung back up. Driving is going to have to wait after yesterday's attempt at driving up the road to deposit the garbage. Even though I  did get the OK to drive from the nurse that called to check on me. I still have little strength in my hand and if I over reach/stretch it, it hurts. I need to pace myself better!

Still plan on taking it easy today, may get an appointment with dentist, I think I need to get the new sore spot adjusted.... My friend offered to drive me if I go.

[Gramto6]

3,738 steps yesterday.

I think I had been doing a bit too much too soon. Yesterday I was so tired I pretty much just sat in my recliner and dozed a lot. The weather was cloudy and dark which helped convince me to just relax and take it easy.

Gums feel about the same as yesterday, and I don't have the energy or a ride (my friend works at TNR shelter today) to get to the dentist, so will just take it easy today. I'll deal with teeth tomorrow.

[Gramto6]

4,376 steps yesterday.

Quiet day yesterday. Made a dentist appointment for today. Didn't do much else. Spent some time just sitting at the computer with my hand uncovered to air it out. It is healing nicely, it is just going to take a bit to get all my strength back in it.

My friend is driving me to dentist. While we're up in town, we are going to run a couple errands.

[Gramto6]

8,707 steps yesterday.

Trip to dentist went well, again, mouth feels pretty good. Until of course the next tender spot occurs....

The quick shopping trip turned into long walks through Lowes and WalMart as my friend was looking for something and I was looking for an appliance bulb for my range hood. Can't seem to find one that fits... 99% of the bulbs are LED with a much smaller socket than my hood takes. The hood is old, I may at some point have to get a new one....sheesh over a bulb?!!

Got home and neighbor (odd one across the road) had taken  it upon himself to weed whack around my house. In the process he cut the cable from my Dish satellite dish to the house so no TV.  It is 15 years old and pretty brittle. Dish is coming between 8-12 this morning to repair. If is isn't one thing it's another!

My hand is feeling pretty good. Almost full movement, but still weak and some stretches hurt, but all in all very happy with result.

[Gramto6]

6,231 steps yesterday.

Mostly quiet day. Dish tech was here promptly at 8AM, spliced cut cable, checked settings on TV and was on his way in 20 minutes! Amazing how quiet it was around here last night with no TV for "background noise"!

Well, I had a surprise I was not ever wanting again, last night! There on the front deck were 2 tiny kittens!! And not long after they showed up, # 3 was there too!. The cat that seemed to be tending to them had her ear clipped, so I just don't know what happened there! The only possibility is she had the kittens, was caught and fixed then returned. She then went back to her kittens and there I am!! But these kittens just seem too small to be born more than 2-3 weeks ago so the timing is off. It is really frustrating.... Now the problem will be trying to catch them! 

I'm having a sinking feeling this type of surprise is never going to end!! There unfortunately is no end to the number of feral cats around here! 😿

[Gramto6]

5,830 steps yesterday.

Fairly quiet day. I tried to keep track of where the new kittens & mom were during the day in hopes of catching them at some point soon. Around 8PM I noticed mama and the babies were out by garage! Mom must be moving them closer to the food source. Two of the kittens even went briefly into the garage. This is good as I may be able to just shut them in there and have my friend take them until they are ready to be fixed. By then they should be well socialized and able to be adopted!! That would be the best scenario....

My hand is feeling pretty good, strength still not quite at 100% but I can feel that the locking is gone and fingers move smoothly.

[Absolom]

That would be great if the kittens are able to be adopted.  I hope no more show up.

[zoomama]

just finding this place. Gramto6, you sound like a bundle of fun! you have more energy than i could ever hope to have!!  i am not a cat person at all -- deathly allergic-- but i can totally appreciate your dedication to the cause of getting them neutered (?) and off to permanent homes. i need your get-up-and-go in my life. 

[Gramto6]

5,388 steps yesterday.

Mostly a quiet day. Did a little sorting of Summer clothes, filled a bag to donate. Keeping an eye out for the new kittens. Mama has moved them to the back side of the house, closer to the garage. They are still nursing, so they may not be quite as old as we thought. I'm still going to try to catch them as soon as possible. Just have to be careful not to do anything to my hand.

I see the surgeon on Tuesday to get the stitches out and see how long I have to wait to do left hand. Trying to take it easy today because of the drive up to town tomorrow. Garbage up to the road is the most exercise for today. I'll see how that little drive goes ....

[Gramto6]

6,662 steps Monday (forgot to post yesterday, I guess)

6,657 steps yesterday.

Stitches are out and hand is healing quite well! Left hand surgery scheduled for Aug 9. Dr will be on vacation for a couple weeks after my last check up on right hand, so that is the soonest he can get me in. After that there is a small lump on my left wrist that he is going to look at. Probably a ganglion cyst but he does want to take care of it after hand surgery. One thing at a time...

Today a quick PO run and stop at grocery store, then I really need to start switching AutoPay accounts to new bank!! Really, no more putting it off!

 

[Yeah No]

11 minutes ago, Gramto6 said:

6,662 steps Monday (forgot to post yesterday, I guess)

6,657 steps yesterday.

Stitches are out and hand is healing quite well! Left hand surgery scheduled for Aug 9. Dr will be on vacation for a couple weeks after my last check up on right hand, so that is the soonest he can get me in. After that there is a small lump on my left wrist that he is going to look at. Probably a ganglion cyst but he does want to take care of it after hand surgery. One thing at a time...

Today a quick PO run and stop at grocery store, then I really need to start switching AutoPay accounts to new bank!! Really, no more putting it off!

Great news, Gram!  Can you refresh my memory on what the surgery is being done to repair on each hand?  If you might recall in my case I have bad arthritis at the base of my left thumb that hurts and weakens me in certain ways and I'm wondering if any of your issues is similar.

[Gramto6]

11 minutes ago, Yeah No said:

Great news, Gram!  Can you refresh my memory on what the surgery is being done to repair on each hand?  If you might recall in my case I have bad arthritis at the base of my left thumb that hurts and weakens me in certain ways and I'm wondering if any of your issues is similar.

My surgery/surgeries are called Trigger Release for the fingers that lock down in when I make a fist. I too have arthritis at the base joint of my thumbs, but these surgeries don't address Arthritis at all. I don't know much about it, but unfortunately, I don't think there is a surgical procedure to treat the Arthritis.

[Yeah No]

1 hour ago, Gramto6 said:

My surgery/surgeries are called Trigger Release for the fingers that lock down in when I make a fist. I too have arthritis at the base joint of my thumbs, but these surgeries don't address Arthritis at all. I don't know much about it, but unfortunately, I don't think there is a surgical procedure to treat the Arthritis.

Actually there is a procedure for it according to my hand specialist (I love being able to say that I have a hand specialist, LOL).  And Google AI, which gave me this:

Quote

The most common surgery for thumb arthritis is a trapeziectomy, which involves removing the trapezium bone at the base of the thumb. The surgery usually takes 1–90 minutes and is performed as an outpatient procedure under regional anesthesia. 

During the surgery, the surgeon makes a small cut on the back of the hand and removes the trapezium bone. To fill the gap left by the removed bone, the surgeon may:

Use a tendon from the wrist

Use an artificial metal and plastic joint

Use a silicone rubber spacer

Construct a ligament to connect the thumb to the wrist 

After surgery, patients typically wear a cast for at least four weeks, except when bathing. The thumb and hand may feel sore and numb at times, but should gradually improve as healing progresses. Patients usually have good strength and motion at six months, and may continue to improve for up to a year after surgery. 

The reason I keep putting it off is I don't relish the thought of having to wear a cast for a month and have limited use of the hand.  One day I will have to break down and do it, though.

[Gramto6]

Thanks for the info @Yeah No! I might discuss it with my hand specialist and see what he thinks. I can totally understand not wanting to go through that long of a recovery period plus cast! My Arthritis isn't to that point yet. The trigger release has made a world of difference already in that hand in a surprisingly short time. At this time I'm good with that but knowing there is more available out there is a good thing! Thanks!

[Yeah No]

5 hours ago, Gramto6 said:

Thanks for the info @Yeah No! I might discuss it with my hand specialist and see what he thinks. I can totally understand not wanting to go through that long of a recovery period plus cast! My Arthritis isn't to that point yet. The trigger release has made a world of difference already in that hand in a surprisingly short time. At this time I'm good with that but knowing there is more available out there is a good thing! Thanks!

I have it in my right thumb too but it doesn't hurt and my grip strength is still OK.  The left hand is the problem.  If it doesn't bother you yet you can probably put it off.  BTW, I have had that trigger release thing happen but only a couple of times.  It was weird.  Hopefully that won't also become a more common thing with me!  I'm paying for all those years working on a keyboard and doing online chat boards too.

[Gramto6]

I hear you about paying for things we did years ago now! I did a lot of hand sewing like doll clothes, and cross stitching, and Chinese Brush painting, all after years as a competitive gymnast with a specialty in the uneven bars so my hands have been way over used for fine detail work. Now they say "No more" and hardly work at all.

The surgery on my right hand has helped a lot and once the left is done too, it is going to be a world of difference!  Then the arthritis will probably become an issue. But hopefully not for a long time!

[Gramto6]

8,160 steps yesterday.

Several errands and then what was supposed to be a quick grocery store run turned into a search the store for one item... Then checking on the traps for the kittens meant a lot of going in and out to behind the house. I was really surprised at the step count I ended up with!! Caught 1 kitten just after setting the traps, but then nothing the rest of evening.

Today is Ophthalmologist app. for eye check, so another drive up to town. Then back home and hopefully catch the other two kittens. My friend is going to come over and mind the traps while I am gone. It would be soooo nice to come home to 2 more kittens caught!

Edited June 13 by Gramto6

[Gramto6]

4,749 steps yesterday.

I did try to take it easy, I've been feeling exhausted all the time lately. I guess it is the culmination of all that has been happening in the last few months from the build, the teeth removal, the trapping all the cats again, to the hand surgery. The last 3 months have been hard on me.

Short sighting of the mama and 2 kittens yesterday. We decided to give them a couple of days of quiet before next attempt at catching them. New plan is to use the one we caught as bait. We'll put it in its carrier in the kitty house and hope mama will come with the other two to "rescue" it and we can shut them in there. That will make them much easier to catch. That is one plan. It may change depending on what behavior I see today. I really want to get these caught, the one we caught was really skinny, mama is not making much milk and the remaining 2 could be in serious danger of starving...

[Gramto6]

5,677 steps yesterday.

Monitoring the kitten movement paid off! I set a trap by kitchen slider, arranged so I could reach out the cracked open door with a broomstick handle and trip it and after a couple of hours I had another of the kittens safely caught!! One more to go. Hope this trick works again today!!

Other than that gather garbage and put away laundry I did yesterday.

My hand gets stronger and a little less painful each day. Until I do things like unload Chewy boxes...oh well, it is getting better. My knees and back are acting up some so still will try to take it easy.

[Gramto6]

6,802 steps yesterday.

Mostly spent checking on trap. I almost had the kitten 3 different times. It was right at the opening of the trap within inches of going in when it wandered off. Frustrating. Hopefully today, but it is raining now turning to showers this afternoon and that may not help....

[Gramto6]

6,368 steps yesterday.

Again lots of steps checking the trap for the kitten.  I was really hoping to catch it, but it rained on and off all day and all the cats were mostly hunkered down keeping dry. So no luck...today is going to be drizzly too so I may not even try. That's about all on the agenda.

Winter paid a late visit here yesterday and there is a bunch of new snow on all the mountains around me. Fortunately none at my elevation, just rain.  I'm hoping for a day or two of Spring before Summer gets here Thursday!

[Gramto6]

4,039 steps yesterday.

Day of rest. I did set the trap for a bit late afternoon as the sun was out, but no kitten to be seen. My back has been aching so the rest was welcome.

Today looks like good weather so hope kitten comes out and I can finally catch it early.  I have another sore spot in my mouth and produced a rather large bone shard (about .5" x .25" "v" shaped, very pointed edges) the other day, that would not have been good to have swallowed! So would like to see the dentist today if possible. Kitten is first though...

[Gramto6]

Late to post!

5,317 steps yesterday.

Hand has healed nicely, still some tenderness at incision sites but they are healed and movement is almost back to normal. Still not doing anything really heavy with it yet just to let it completely heal. Watching for kitten and some light chores around the house is about all I did yesterday. Even with taking it easy, I feel so tired all the time. I can't wait until all the little stresses are in the past!

[Gramto6]

5,809 steps yesterday.

No kitten sighting until early evening. My friend had a medical emergency and was in hospital for the day (home now and OK) so I didn't know what I'd do with kitten anyway so let it be for the day.

Lazy day as far as steps went, but frustrating day on the phone still contacting accounts on auto pay to switch banks. I have to juggle them from old to new as the payment is made so they'll be in new acct for next month's payments. So many things over the years have been moved to auto pay some monthly, some quarterly some yearly and each one has it's own hoops to jump through to switch. Of all, the worst/stupidest is my electric co.! You can't change anything on the phone or online, you have to go to the office or do it through the mail (of all the most unreliable systems!) to change bank accounts. Unbelievable!  I can only stand to do about 3-4 of these things a day and that consumes a couple hours right there!

20 years ago when I moved here it was simply a matter of withdrawing the money from the old accounts and redepositing it in the new accounts here in MT. Auto pay was not a thing at that point or maybe just starting and I paid all my bills by check then. How the times have changed!! And this is just a local change of banks!

[Gramto6]

6,293 steps yesterday.

Still no luck with the kitten, but so close so many times. I spent a lot of time back and forth checking the trap which probably accounted for the majority of the steps yesterday. the little bit of shopping in town after the dentist helped too.

I really need to get the kitten captured today it is so tiny and I am pretty sure it isn't getting enough nourishment from mama cat. So this is where my focus is going to be today.

No sooner than I had gotten home yesterday, the eye center called and my new glasses are in! Yay, but I'm not driving up there again same day, so will go on Monday...

[Anela]

I’ve just seen this in the recent posts stream. I was looking for a goal-setting thread recently.  Although I rarely manage to complete a goal.  I miss the old site I used to use, where I met a lot of my online friends.