Warning: Not for the Delicate!

If it's not one thing, then it's another...

I've been having a miserable time with impacted bowels. This was the problem last weekend when I lost almost two days. It's a first for me, and I had no idea it was so painful and so debilitating. All I could do was doze and moan. Thought things were resolved Sunday afternoon (thus Sarah's optimistic message), but the ib returned Tuesday. Yesterday I could do nothing and this morning I felt so awful that I cancelled cleaning people and the friend who was going to come to help me prepare for the cleaners. Got a prescription for Lactulose which a friend picked up and delivered late yesterday afternoon. It seems to have stirred some rumbling, but the impacted stool is still there. Home Health Care Nurse is due soon to unimpact. After that I hope I'll be able to get back to thinking about my knee and doing my exercises.

The knee is definitely getting better, but at a MUCH slower rate than I had imagined. Doing anything with my leg down is painful, and I can manage for only a minute or two at a time. This includes walking, standing, and sitting in a regular chair. Thus I've done almost nothing on the computer. It will take me 2 or 3 sessions just to get this message out. The new medicine protocol (Oxycodon every 12 hours, Norco every 4 hours as needed) I started over a week ago has kept the pain at a bearable level although the side effects (see above) make me wonder if it's worth it. I'm trying not to use more than is really necessary.

My behind and the backs of my thighs were covered with raw, oozing, itchy patches when I came home from the hospital. Had lots of blisters and raw spots on the front of my legs, especially the right one, as well. These are healing, but still itch. The incision (8-9" long) is healing nicely although it too itches. John, the lovely Home Health Care Physical Therapist, took out the staples over a week ago.

I miss Achates and Creusa terribly. They were originally supposed to come home over a week ago. Now I don't know when it will be. A lovely friend had volunteered her time and her Honda CRV to take us to a greyhound play date this Saturday and to the big (over 300 humans and 100 hounds) Golden State Greyhound Adoption picnic Sunday. I don't see how I can manage either one. I'm really disappointed.

P.S. Nurse just left. Still impacted. Not very happy. Sorry about all the gory details.

Janet