Cleared for surgery

I had my pre-op physical today, or should I say I had my pre-op "chat" with the doctor today. I was ready to give them everything I've got-blood, urine, you name it and She did NOTHING!!! All she did was draw 1 vile of blood to check my hemoglobin level, listen to my lungs and heart and checked my pulses (neck, wrist, groin, ankles). Really??? Half the time while she was checking for my pluse she was either over my jeans or on the strap of my sandles. I guess I feel like a healthy person, but seriously they are going to put my body to sleep and rip me apart...I kind of wanted some more real tests done to confirm that I am indeed healthy and strong enough to do this! BUT, I guess because of my age and my overall health what she did today is enough to get me into an operating room!!!

I started my countdown till surgery-22 days left! Considering all the pain and up's and down's I've been through the past 9 months, the big day is coming up fast. Wednesday of this week was supposed to be my first appointment with the surgeon, but now it's almost my surgery day. I am more than ready to tackle the procedure and all the rehab that is coming my way. I've ordered a system called "game ready" for after my surgery. It is like a blood pressure cuff that goes around my hip/groin and circulates ice cold water while providing compression to the surgical site. From what I've read it is supposed to speed up my recovery. A lot of professional althletes use this machine after surgeries so I feel it's worth a try. Insurance doesn't cover it because they consider it an "ice pack," so I'll pay for it out of pocket (dontation greatly appreciated :)).

I've had less intense pain this week. My hip continues to be "pissy" and is on the verge of giving me zingers several times a say, but i've managed to keep them at bay. Good news is, I haven't taken advil for over a week so I must be feeling better!!! Here's hoping to a few more good weeks before I give my hip a little pay back for what it has put me through!!!

I Give Up!!!

WOW!! This week has been terrible. I know the last couple posts have not been very positive, but I don't have much positivity (if that is even a word)left in me this week. I think my previous weekends activities were just a little much for my hip. I felt SO good all last week and did a few physical activities this past weekend, and now it is Thursday night and I'm on the couch trying to drink the pain away (I'm really not drinking that much, don't worry). Honestly though, this is really hard for me to just lay on the couch and watch Eric clean out the camper and pack for our weekend away, but I have to just give in if I want any chance of getting rid of some of this pain. Eric and I are going to Western MN (Appleton, MN) for the fishing opener this weekend. We haven't been away for a while, so I'm really excited to get away. I'm hoping that a realxing weekend away will help me feel better!

On a happier note, I said I would talk about the great mother of one of my students this year!! With all my hip issues, I have pretty much kept my mouth shut around my co-workers and the families I am working with because I don't want them to think I'm unable to do my job. One day I happened to mention that I might not be at work the next day because of the MRI I was having. When I told my family this, I found out that the mom of my student has also had a torn labrum and has been through all I've been through, plus the surgery!! I won't name names, but this woman is great!! Over the past couple of months, she has been so great to me! She has talked me through the two procedures I've had, re-scheduled my appointment with the surgeon from the end of May to the beginning of March (she works for an Orthopedics clinic and checked my surgeon's schedule daily to find me an eariler opening), helped me search for a new PT who is comfortable treating me after my surgery and talked me through the pre-surgery routine!!! She has helped calm my fears so much, she is just such a wonderful person, so are her girls!!! I will be forever greatful!!

Hopefully the next few post can be positive ones, I'll keep trying!!

Snap, Crackle, Pop!

I've been seeing a Chiropractor now for the past week to see if he can help me relieve some of the pressure I've been having in my back and butt. He has done some manual manipulation and electrical stimulation on my back each visit, and I think it has been helping. I say "I think" because I have two types of pain going on: primary pain from the tear and then secondary pain like the back/butt pressure because of the way I am compensating. I still have a lot of discomfort, but I think my lower back feels better. I notice that when I wake up in the morning, my lower back feels lighter and not as tight, but that goes away as the day continues. I'll keep working with him though to see if with more treatments the pressure takes longer and longer to come back. Honestly at this point, I would go and see a Gynogologist everyday if they could help me!! I know I'm not going to get rid if the groin pain, but any relief I can get, I will take.

This weekend I've been kind of rough on my hip with going to a bunch of garage sales yesterday and taking some walks outside today in the woods. I am definitally paying for the abuse I put my hip through as I am now on the couch and about ready to ice my groins. One wouldn't think that garage saleing and a walk through the woods would land you on the couch, but the hip is not fond of getting in and out of a car and walking on un-even surfaces. Well, I'm too stubborn to give in quite yet, so I'll just continue to eat advil like candy and keep ice packs handy!

I'll leave you with a little advice...however bad your groins hurt, just use ice! Don't use apsercream, ben-gay or any other cream like that. They don't make your groin feel any better!!! I know it may sound like stupid advice, but when you're desperate you'll try anything! DON'T DO IT!!

Who's in training???

Eric and I were sitting on the couch the other night and I asked him to get me some ice cream. He looked at me like "go get your own ice cream," but then said "ok." I then started laughing at him and then told him that he was in "training" for after my surgery. Then I started laughing again and thought, "crap, I'm the one in training."

Maybe this is only funny if you know my personality...I'm a totally do it myself kind of girl. I rairly will ask for help and feel I can do everything on my own. Turns out this is not going to be the case in a few weeks, so I better get used to it. I'm trying everyday to have someone do something for me, or ask for help...baby steps!

This whole torn labrum thing has started to teach me a lot of things. So far it has taught me that I need to be less stubborn and ask for help when I need it. It has also taught me that if I feel good for a day, I better not over-do it because, well you know what they say about payback, and I've definitally experienced payback! I'm sure I will continue to have more "lessons" as I continue on my journey.

Tomorrow is my appointment with the Chiropractor. I'm hoping he can touch me in just the right way to make some of this pressure in my back and butt go away. At least I can hope!