I'm ready...

So, I had the surgery on my right hand. The surgery itself wasn't bad. The surgery center was great, really wonderful staff, everything moved right on along. I arrived at 11:3o, and I think I was home by 3, if not sooner.

I woke up with my hand in a pretty stiff bandage. I could feel, but it was mostly numbness. At home, I went straight to bed, and elevated my hand as instructed. And took the pain pills right on schedule. Doc told Chris to make sure that I kept them in my system. I haven't had a pain pill since Thursday morning at 6:30 am. So, that has been a good thing.

Very quickly I learned that there are so many limitations with only having one hand, esp when it is your dominant hand. Chris has been great, right there helping me with everything. As the days have gone by (I'm 4 days post op now), I'm able to do so much more. I'm learning to be creative. I am able to type now.

I went to work on Friday, but was only able to type left handed, writing wasn't happening at all, so I spent some time returning some phone calls. I'm really glad that I can type now, that should make next week at work easier.

Just to think, I have to do this again on the other hand in the not so distant future. At least I'll be a little more prepared.

But for now... I'm ready... to have the bandage off, the stitches out, and start the next phase of recovery.

Happy Birthday Pops & Anna

Happy Birthday to Pops and Anna!

Couch potato

I say I'm not going to do it, I'm not going to just waste my weekend, but I did it again - I did the couch potato routine. Granted, yesterday, I didn't feel all that great. Nothing specific, just blah - couldn't get going. I did manage to get a few things done. I even baked a batch of cookies, but don't tell Aunt Sally because I'm taunting her about saving me some of the cookies she's making.

We were invited to a couple of events yesterday, but I just couldn't get myself together enough to get ready to go.

I have cleaned the kitchen, made some gift tags, did a crossword puzzle, did some online surveys... you know - productive stuff. At least I can tell myself they are productive. Well, I did need to make the tags because I need them tomorrow, and the kitchen has to be done.

Making the tags was getting to be a little bit of a challenge because my hand kept going numb. I'd have to stop and take a break and rest my hand after only making a few. A sign of things to come if I don't get them fixed.

I'm going to have lunch with Kindredly on Tuesday, and I'm looking forward to it.

Three day work week this week and next. Lots of end of year work to cram in on those few days.

And this blog post, I'll count it as productive.

Oh, and Chris, yeah, he was right there with me the entire time. Well, except for when he went to the grocery store to buy steaks for supper last night. And today, he might have the edge on the potato-ness.

Scheduled

Looks like I'm starting off the new year with surgery. Right hand surgery is scheduled for January 6th. We'll schedule the left hand when the right hand is healed enough. The neurosurgeon who I was seeing anyway, took one look at my EMG and said he is very concerned about my hands and set me up to see the orthopedic surgeon the very next day, who was also concerned about how far advanced the carpal tunnel syndrome is. He told me that I already have permanent damage - bummer. Said I might get some improvement, but he wouldn't guarantee it, but that he could stop the progression.

I am still so surprised, feels like this came out of nowhere, when obviously it didn't because of how bad it is. It's been a sneaky little problem, I just adjusted as time went by I guess. Too much other stuff to worry about.

Meeting that $1,000 deductible EARLY!

Pointed out

It was pointed out to me that I neglected to post about my own birthday on my own blog. So, happy belated birthday to me.

Conspiracy

It has to be a conspiracy - my hands both got together and conspired to take me completely by surprise and throw me for a loop. So, yeah, they started acting up - being numb when I'd wake up, hurt, etc. The pain would go to my elbow or shoulder, but not often. My hand swelled - ONE time. Sure, I have lost tactile sensation in my hands, but that was really gradual - irritating because it made me have the dropsies all the time.

So, one day it was really bad and I had a doctor's appointment anyway - it was the day the hand swelled. He prescribed a splint and an EMG. Got the splint right away, it helped some, but was really 2 days before I could take the splint off for any length of time. Well, fast forward to yesterday, I had the EMG done. Carpal tunnel? Yes - no surprise there. Bad carpal tunnel - well, figured I had it, but not that it was all that bad. Wrong - it's advanced to the point that I have motor nerve damage, and it's "critical" for me to get it fixed surgically - soon. Well, that's the right hand. The left one is bad as well she said, but it can wait a little before I get it fixed, but I've got to move on the right hand.

Suggestions, tricks for using your non-dominant hand for everything?

Next time hands - send good surprises.

Never fun

I know that I have a reputation at work for being somewhat "hard" at times - but after 20 years of doing this, you have to be able to turn the emotion off. I had to fire someone today. I like the person, but the job performance wasn't there. She'd only been with us for a short time, but when you show zero initiative, you leave me with no choice but to turn the emotion off and be hard.

But, I can come here and blog about it, about the fact that it does bother me. I wish I didn't have to do that part of my job - but it was what was right for the corp. and for the other employees.