Settled...

Just like these two ladies - my former barn cats - we've made some decisions and are completely settled in with them. Let me get you up to date.

Thursday was an eye-opening day for me. It began with EKG results that I now know were interpreted by the machine and not a cardiologist. Even so, it opened my eyes to my own vulnerability. 

Then, I had an appointment immediately following the EKG with the physician's assistant for the surgeon who would be performing my meniscus repair. There, I was introduced to the piece of hardware that would lock my leg into position for approximately six to eight weeks. Not only would my leg be immobilized, but I would be required to keep my weight off it for that period of time.

The last appointment was with the physical therapist, who took baseline measurements of my current physical status relating to my legs...one in need of more immediate repair, and the other, bone-on-bone. After she measured my current range of motion, etc., she handed me a pair of crutches (the preferred method of post-op motivation) and had me walk as far as I could, keeping that one leg elevated to mimic the post-op requirement. I managed to crutch twenty five feet, at which point my non-surgical leg said, "Nope. This is not a good idea for six or eight weeks." I didn't say that to the therapist, but at that point, I remembered the first office visit with the orthopedist when he told me that "I could be putting my non-injured leg at risk as I recuperated from surgery on the other one". We also discussed wheelchairs (not really an option for the house, as the floorplan and doorways are not "wheelchair friendly"), and walkers. All options, save for the wheelchair, would require me to keep my weight off the surgical leg and put all my faith in the other.

Handsome and I had a long discussion before bed that night, and he told me to seriously reconsider this surgery and contemplate a knee replacement instead, one benefit being that I'd be able to immediately put it down and walk on it. I went to bed and slept fitfully all night as I thought about it.

I woke up yesterday morning and decided the first thing I should do is have an appointment with a cardiologist to get a factual interpretation of the EKG, getting another test done, if necessary. Then, I talked again with Handsome and said there's every possibility that I could go through months of post-op rehab for the repair, and still need a replacement after that, AND do more harm than good to my other leg, which I know will require a replacement. 

The upshot of all this is to say I called all the entities involved in the upcoming surgery and rehabilitation and canceled everything. I'm going to get an appointment with my primary care provider and get the required referral to the cardiologist my husband goes to. Once I have clearances, explanations, or diagnosis, my next appointments will be with an orthopedist who does replacements. (My current ortho is the only one in the clinic who only does repairs. All the others also do replacements.) 

So, for now, I'm back to square one, but like those two comfy, lazy, content girls in the pictures above, I'm going to sleep like a baby, knowing I've made the best choice for my health, and truthfully, Handsome's, too. I'm going to relax this weekend, as opposed to us moving our house around to accommodate that surgery and my recovery. Then, on Monday, I'll make calls to move forward.

I'm off the work schedule for the next two weeks, which leaves me plenty of options for dates for appointments. I'll know more by the time the next schedule comes out, so I may or may not be on that calendar, either. This should leave me plenty of time to work on bluebirds and puffins, too! Yay to that!