Entry 5: The wait is now getting to me.

Well, I still have three weeks until surgery day, October 13, 2009. I have had my blood work done and haven't heard anything so I am assuming that I'm still good to go. I have been making the best of everyday to get things done before the big day. I managed to ride my horse, Cody, three times last week while I was at the farm. I wonder if I will be a better rider when I have no pain, and if my new knees will let me put my foot in the stirrup to get up in the saddle. (I'd hate to have to use a mounting block). I went golfing once for nine holes and again thought about being able to walk the course instead of using a power cart ( I hope it will improve my game). This got me wondering if I'll be able to resume all the activities I have had to stop, will I be able to do yoga, pilates, ride my bicycle, go curling, walking in the woods with my dog? I started to think about whether I can start doing things I'd like to try, like spinning class, dance classes, and even more simply will I be able to get up from the dinner table and walk away without limping and nearly toppling over? We have to go away for a conference and when we return I'll have very little time left for preparing. I keep exercising my quads and I think they are getting stronger. I'm still about 7 pounds over weight, but I've always struggled with that. I know it would be best if I can lose it before surgery. My pre-op appointments have been scheduled for October 3, 2009 and I'll be at the hospital all day for that. Until then I'm trying to get my books up to date and housework completed (hahaha - like that'll ever happen!).

Entry 4, Only five weeks to go until surgery

I have been preparing for my surgery, started taking the iron supplements and I have started pre-surgery physio to strengthen my quadracepts. My therapist felt the quads were my weakest muscle and since I can't do regular strength training, she is doing something called 'Russian stimulation'. Electrodes are placed on my quads which contract my muscles for a period of time and then releases them. This is supposed to build up the muscle 70% faster than with weights alone. This was a big day, I had to fast since last nite so I could have 5 vials of blood drawn for tests, pee in a bottle and have an ECG, as well as go to physio. My therapist has informed me that post surgery I will not be able to climb stairs for 6-8 weeks and suggested that I get a hospital bed to set up on the main floor. I was soooo hoping that I could walk up the 30 stairs to my bedroom after I get home from the hospital but I guess that's just not realistic. So I visited the Shoppers Home Health centre and of course they rent beds, walkers and they knew exactly what I'd need for after surgery gadgets etc.

I found a great website to see a virtual knee surgery. Check out : http://www.edheads.org/activities/knee/knee1/index.htm