Well yesterday marks 1 week since my ACL surgery and tomorrow is 3 weeks from my original injury date. It's been a long 3 weeks, but this last week has been full of ups and downs! But we made it through week 1 and are onto week 2. I'm looking forward to seeing my orthopedic surgeon this week, to see if I can get my brace unlocked. I am also looking forward to getting the okay from my physical therapist to start walking without crutches (although I don't fully feel ready, but we are working on it).
After issues with the scheduler at my ortho's office (she really gave us problems), we FINALLY had a date and time!
I was suppose to have surgery on Wed. but the scheduler claimed something about them not taking my insurance. So we rescheduled for it for Friday. I get a call at 3:30 on Thursday from her telling me that the insurance hasn't given the hospital a prior auth confirmation number and so they are going to have to reschedule my surgery. Which is NOT awesome because I couldn't put any weight on my left leg without it buckling and crutches are not my favorite. And the soonest they can do it would be the 29th....just shy of 2 weeks away! So I call Jeff crying because I was going to have to wait longer and I'm tired of not being able to walk, etc. He calls the insurance and talks to a lady who puts him on hold and checks to see where the prior auth was. Well it was in a pile, waiting because they received it by fax at 11:30 am on THURSDAY, as in that same day, the day before my surgery! So here she is telling me it is the insurances fault, but the insurance lady did not see any other prior auths from her and thinks that she just waited to last minute. So the nice insurance lady tells us she will see what she can do and will call us back. She called me back, said she got it approved and I was okay to have surgery tomorrow and gave me the confirmation number, she also talked to the scheduler and gave her the number as well. The scheduler was trying to tell the insurance lady that she's been trying for days but just couldn't figure it out. I call but can't get through to the scheduler. So Jeff calls, because I am an emotional mess, and finally gets her on the phone. She said that everything is good to go, she's contacted the hospital, sent them the info. So now I am pretty sure it wasn't an insurance issue for my surgery on Wed., I am thinking she either didn't know what she was doing or just wasn't trying. I am not sure why she hadn't sent in the prior auth in days before because we knew the schedule and what we were planning on. Anyway, so annoying but so grateful for an awesome hubby and insurance lady who made it happen!
My Mom tore her meniscus and was having surgery the same day I was (different times and different hospitals). We have shared many texts checking on eachother and keeping the other up to date on our progress.
I have never had to do this for any surgery I have had. But I had to wipe down my entire body, focusing on my left leg, with these wipes the night before and the morning of my surgery.
Because I couldn't walk without crutches and because I was having knee surgery, I was considered a fall risk. I also am allergic to codeine, so I get to have the bright red one as well.
The morning of, Jeff and I got up super early, got ready and headed out the door. We arrived just before 5:30 am at the hospital out patient area. We waited for a while before I was called back. Once they called me, they had Jeff stay in the waiting area until I was settled in. I wish I had been more vocal and asked that he be allowed to come back. because getting yourself changed when you can't stand is hard and giving a urine sample on crutches was a trip. But I got it done. Then they did my vitals, started asking the list of questions I swear you answer in the pre-op the day before. The resident assisting with my surgery came and was talking to me, answering some of my questions, etc. all the while the nurse was pushing papers in my face to sign and fill out. I was getting annoyed but after the one assisting the surgery left, she explained that my ortho is always on time, does not like to be late, and if my surgery is at 7, I am expected to be on the table and ready to go at that time. So she apologized for hurrying. She then realized that Jeff wasn't back there yet, and so they sent to have someone call him back. In that time, the surgery nurse was there checking to make sure everything was ready and my orthopedic surgeon came to talk to me before. After talking to me, Jeff was finally back there, and talking to the ortho while I was finishing up the last minute papers. In no time the surgery nurse was putting my cute cap on (no pictures, there just wasn't time), the ortho headed back to get ready, and I was starting to be wheeled away. Jeff stopped the bed and gave me a kiss, and that was it, I was off to the OR. The nurses were all excited that I was familiar with the OR (with 5 c-sections and gallbladder procedures) because it makes a lot of people nervous. Although I was nervous, it wasn't the OR, but the surgery that was causing it. I always love how sweet the nurses are and how they try to make you comfortable and okay before everything starts. Within a few minutes I was drifting off to sleep.
The surgery went well. They used a cadavers ligaments to repair my ACL. My ACL was non-repairable and in bad shape. The surgery went well and there were no other problems inside. I came out of anesthesia okay but my oxygen was all over the place, even though I was sitting up, alert, awake and just fine, by numbers on the screen were a mess. So they kept me back there longer. Once they felt okay discharging me, I was moved to another section of the recovery area, where the brought Jeff back. There we got me dressed and with in just a few minutes we were wheeling me out to the van, and on our way home.
Coming home I was greeted by 5 excited faces. I had to have them go back inside while I got out of the van and made my way inside. There were plenty of questions, lots of hugs, and just sweet faces that were smiling at me :)
All wrapped up and home resting.
There was no way I was going up those stairs, so the couch recliners is where we slept. Jeff has been awesome at taking care of me and slept downstairs for two nights because he was worried about me!
On Saturday the kids enjoyed me not being able to do much :)
Delaney spent tons of time braiding my hair for me!
Cole went and got Delaney's flowers and was decorating my hair.
All done up and no where to go :)
On Sunday I was able to take the ace bandage off and shower. So that night I scooted up the stairs backwards. After taking off the bandage, we let the kids come see it, they were excited to see what they did and shocked it was just these small incisions. We had explained how they do the surgery but they were still surprised.
First day at physical therapy. Skirts were the only thing that I had that fit over the awesomely big brace (I have since taken a liking to Jeff's basketball type shorts).
I went to physical therapy for 3 days this week. I have stretches that I do at home twice a day. They are painful but we are getting them done. I am so grateful for Jeff who has gotten me to my appts. and helps me and cheers me on each time I do these stretches.
With being laid up I am putting this blanket, Nate and Jenn sent our family a couple of Christmases ago, to good use!
I also ventured out last night to watch the boys pine wood derby race (Cole's first and Grant's last). I did okay for a while but by the end I was in some pain. I looked back and counted my blessings of what I did accomplish yesterday and ended just feeling grateful. Which was better than the tears of frustration I have shed. I try to be positive, but sometimes a girls just got to let the tears fall!
My kids, oh my kids! They have learned all sorts of new things in helping me out. They already knew how to change the laundry through, but now they are sorting it, changing the loads, bringing it downstairs and helping me fold it all. I feel so humbled to have these 5 spirits in my home and to have the chance to try my best and raising them right. They are cooking dinner, they are helping me in every step, they check on me all the time and are doing more than there share of the duties around this house. Honestly they are truly something else! Love them!!
Jeff has been amazing! I mean seriously a man who puts up with my crying and just letting me cry for no reason is something else. He has been my rock through all of this and my biggest cheerleader in getting myself back to normal (if I every really was, haha). I feel blessed to be married to him, and to have him be my eternal companion. He has honestly ROCKED this last 3 weeks in taking over for me and doing more than he needs to be doing on top of working and juggling his schedule to best help us. I love him more than words could every truly express.
I am so grateful for ALL of the help we have received, the calls, texts, messages on FB and Instagram. The meals (so yummy), the help with my kids, the ones who took Haden to appts....the list goes on and on. Thank you!!!
Looking forward to my appt. this week to see where we are at, and my 3 physical therapy appts to push me and get me back on my feet (literally).
