This past weekend was so amazing and emotional that I don't know where to even start. I got there around 3 and Karie got there around 3:30. We got to meet for the first time and that was really cool. We have been a support system for each other for 2 years now. We checked in to the amazing hotel and got lost heading to our room. It is huge and confusing. After we got settled in we got a call from the Caregiver Coordinator and there we met the lady whose husband and herself started the Wounded Warrior Project. It was great to meet these two ladies. We got a WWP goody bag that included my personal favorite of a WWP logo robe for the spa!
We settled back in to our room and hung out until cocktail hour and dinner. There we met some amazing women and heard some amazing stories. We had a very nice dinner and enjoyed talking with the ladies who coordinated this event. I felt a huge burden lifted off my shoulders when I heard how wrong this rating from the VA is and how easy it is going to be to fight it. The ladies put my mind at ease. I was told to bring a copy of Bryan's rating and they will look over it. Some ladies from the last retreat brought their husband's and 1 out of 10 was correct. I can't wait till I hear what they have to say. After dinner we went out to the nightclub in the hotel and danced until 2 am. I had a blast!
The next morning we got up for breakfast even though we were exhausted. We had group afterwords and this is where the emotions were flying high. I felt that we all had such pent up emotion and raw feelings that they all just came pouring out. It was hard for me to not take on their feelings because it is still so fresh in our lives. The anger, the lack of interest our husband's have in everything, the exhaustion, everything I could relate to. There wasn't one thing that those ladies shared that I couldn't relate to. I felt, for the first time, normal. I felt understood and grateful that these ladies shared these things with us. Even a regular military wife can't truly understand what we have been through. The injuries run so deep, deeper than the wounds. I cried and it was ok. It was a safe place, one of sympathy and compassion. It was good to hear how the others cope cause we all do in different ways.
After the group we headed to the pool where I proceeded to get burnt unknowingly and enjoyed a cocktail. We spoke with one of the counselors poolside and another wife. It was a perfect way to talk and just be open. After we got cleaned up we headed out to Cracker Barrel for some country eating and to the Grand Ole Opry. It was a great show and very touching when a lady came out to sing "Wind Beneath My Wings." After she walked off stage a man explained that he wanted everyone to remember what Memorial day was about. He stated that both her sons went to Vietnam and one came home and the other didn't. It still chokes me up just thinking about it.
After the show we were going to go out but we were just too tired. We headed out to get some aloe for our burns when we ran in to three of the other wives. They were going to get tattoos and we offered to take them. They were happy with the tats and it made for good stories.
The next morning we decided to sleep in and head straight to group. We were supposed to have a special guest afterwords. Group was good. We talked about coping skills and how to do things for ourselves. After it was over we were told that our special guest was Amy Grant and that she couldn't come because she and her daughter were vomiting. I was sad. She was going to see this song called After the Fire. Here are the lyrics:
After the fire is over
After the ashes cool
After the smoke is blown away
I will be is for you
After the stillness finds you
After the winds of change
All that is good and
true between us
This will remain the same
Slowly, slowly
We turn the pages of life
Growing, knowing
It comes at quite a price
After the fire is over
After the ashes cool
After the smoke is blown away
I will be here for you
After your time of wondering
Along this lonely road
There will be many voices calling
Mine will say welcome home
Slowly, slowly
We turn the pages of life
Growing, knowing
It comes at quite a price
After the fire is over
After the ash is cool
After the smoke is blown away
I will be here for you
I will be here for you
Once group was over we ate some sushi real quick and I headed to the spa. There I enjoyed a facial, massage, strawberries, sauna, and rain shower. I was so relaxed afterwords. We had a show and dinner on the General Jackson showboat and ended our night dancing till 3 am at The Stage. We also had one of the counselors from NYC come out with us and we had a blast with her. I think Karie and I are going to NYC for a visit soon to see her. The next morning we made it to breakfast and checked out. We headed downtown to take some pics and hang out a little more before it was over. I feel a little bit more healed and some weight has been lifted off my shoulders.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
4 Year Wedding Anniversary
4 years ago today we were in Kauai, Hawaii about to get married. It was a perfect day filled with pool side breakfast, massage, hair, nails, and relaxing. I wasn't nervous, I was just ready to marry my soldier who would go overseas 4 months later. I believe that I took my vows seriously. I used the traditional vows and I meant every word of for better or for worse. It has been challenging however I never thought marriage would be easy. I didn't know that we would spend our first anniversary apart, the second year rehabilitating from an IED blast, the 3rd trying to get out of the Army and starting a new life. I am looking forward to the 4th year. Bryan's knee will hopefully will be better and I hope that we continue down the path of stability.
I got a new coach purse yesterday (we have an outlet here and I call them Coach Babies). This morning I woke to a coach wallet on my pillow. I knew Bryan was up to something so I played along. In my best baby talk I said that doesn't match the purse that I received yesterday. Bryan then said noooooo it doesn't match and pulled out another Coach box to give me a purse that matches the wallet. He is always up to these tricks and he loves when I play along.
What a great way to start the day. Two Coach babies and a coach wallet how did I get so lucky? We are planning on going out to dinner tonight. It's been a great day!
On another note they sent Bryan home from work yesterday and they said he needs to be off work 2 more weeks. He can only come back with 3 months of limitations not 4. Guess he will be bored out of his mind this weekend while I am at the Caregivers Retreat (which I am stoked for). I got my parathyroid test, blood work for my liver, and the small bowel test for Friday at 7 am. I am going to be exhausted Friday night but I will be so excited to be at the Opryland Hotel that I won't care! Good things are coming as well as answers. I start my new job June 2!
I got a new coach purse yesterday (we have an outlet here and I call them Coach Babies). This morning I woke to a coach wallet on my pillow. I knew Bryan was up to something so I played along. In my best baby talk I said that doesn't match the purse that I received yesterday. Bryan then said noooooo it doesn't match and pulled out another Coach box to give me a purse that matches the wallet. He is always up to these tricks and he loves when I play along.
What a great way to start the day. Two Coach babies and a coach wallet how did I get so lucky? We are planning on going out to dinner tonight. It's been a great day!
On another note they sent Bryan home from work yesterday and they said he needs to be off work 2 more weeks. He can only come back with 3 months of limitations not 4. Guess he will be bored out of his mind this weekend while I am at the Caregivers Retreat (which I am stoked for). I got my parathyroid test, blood work for my liver, and the small bowel test for Friday at 7 am. I am going to be exhausted Friday night but I will be so excited to be at the Opryland Hotel that I won't care! Good things are coming as well as answers. I start my new job June 2!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Short Term Disability and New Job
Bryan went back to work today and he is exhausted. His back hurts him more than his knee. I think that Humvee rolling over him before he was blown up did more damage than we thought.
I just took a new job. I am really happy about it and the pay is Masters level for my field without a Masters degree, however I will be part time in the beginning. This is will be about 200 less than I make through my current job which wouldn't be a problem if Bryan was making his full salary. I will eventually be full time and then doing well but I have to get the program to that level. Ugh not fun! So I am stressed and worried like I always am. Hopefully we will know more tomorrow.
At least our 4 years anniversary is on the 20th and the caregivers retreat is this weekend. Time to de-stress with a great group of women.
I just took a new job. I am really happy about it and the pay is Masters level for my field without a Masters degree, however I will be part time in the beginning. This is will be about 200 less than I make through my current job which wouldn't be a problem if Bryan was making his full salary. I will eventually be full time and then doing well but I have to get the program to that level. Ugh not fun! So I am stressed and worried like I always am. Hopefully we will know more tomorrow.
At least our 4 years anniversary is on the 20th and the caregivers retreat is this weekend. Time to de-stress with a great group of women.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Retirment Certificate
It's officially official Bryan is retired! It came in the mail today in the lovely green case with the orders. What a sigh of relief! I will be framing it and putting it on the wall, he deserves it and it was a long time coming.
Also for my readers, I would love it if you all make a comment about my blog. I never know if you guys are reading or not and I would love to hear some comments. Thanks!
Also for my readers, I would love it if you all make a comment about my blog. I never know if you guys are reading or not and I would love to hear some comments. Thanks!
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
PT and Post Op at the VA= Disaster
We started out on our 2 hour trek to the VA on Friday morning at 9 am in a horrible rain storm. We made it there with a few minutes to spare and of course Bryan couldn't remember where Physical Therapy was. He was walking very fast on his injured leg and not using the crutches to get there. Well of course that started him off in a bad mood. We get to PT and the front desk lady magically can't find the appointment that she called to schedule on the day of surgery and we called to confirm. It wasn't in the system. Another PT came out and told her that she was supposed to schedule Bryan at 11 with Deanna and I guess she didn't put it in. They found a lady named Mary that took us back. She showed Bryan the very small movements that he is supposed to be doing for 6 to 8 weeks.
I asked Mary if he was supposed to be walking without his brace on and she said no and she wants only minor weight bearing. Of course my stubborn husband has been doing both. Then came the issue with the locking brace again. It wasn't in stock from where they ordered it from and of course the company didn't call the VA to say it was back ordered. Therefore no brace again and they had to re order a new one that is going to have more padding and be hotter for summer but that is the only one they could order. We will be waiting 5-10 days to get the new one and it will be shipped directly to our house. They told us in 6 to 8 weeks they will schedule PT here in Knoxville. Mary stated that she doesn't trust any physical therapy centers in Knoxville because they are all going broke and when they get a referral from the VA they think they have hit the jack pot so they do extra stuff when they shouldn't be. I hope it works out here because we can't drive 2 hours one way twice a week for PT.
We then went to eat lunch and drove around the VA campus. It was very beautiful and nice to see the old buildings and the cemetary is always beautiful to me. We went to check in at Ortho to meet with the PA for post op. We get in the room and PA can't magically find his appointment. I told him the appointment was on the discharge summary and got mailed to us we had this appointment for sure at 1:40. I was asking him if he thinks its safe for Bryan to drive and he said no. I told him his doc said he could go back to work in two weeks and he said ok. He painted this senerio if Bryan was in a wreck they would sue him cause he is an impaired driver with his knee. Bryan got all pissy and they got in a fight. Dealing with him is a nightmare. At the end of the appointment Bryan said he is no longer taking the lortab because it makes him neasous and takes the percoset every 4 hours. The PA said that is too often and Bryan said he was on morphine for 2 years and this was nothing. The PA prescribed them and said we needed to drop them off at the pharmacy. Bryan went from wanting his meds to be mailed to picking them up since we were there to back to being mailed. He got in an arguement with the pharmicist because she said it was too soon to be refilled and had to be mailed. I thought that is what he wanted in the first place and now he wants them this second. We ended up leaving and I told him on the way home that he acts disrespectful to people and it's embarassing.
We get home and I needed to walk our dog. When I get back to the house Bryan is on the lawn mower cutting the grass. I almost killed him! I told him we would cut the grass over the weekend with my mom and sister in town. It was a jungle but I needed to get dinner started and it had rained for 9 days straight. It ended up raining on Saturday again so we were going to cut it on Sunday after spending the day with Mom at the park for Mother's Day. We get back and he had cut it. He is no shape to cut grass and it made me furious. We were all very upset about it but there was nothing I could do.
As my family left Bryan's family came in town. Monday I went to work and my doctors office called and said she wanted to see me that night after work. I kind of panicked because I didn't know what she found. My good friend Tracie's house who caught on fire a week ago went with me. I was given the labs to look over before she came in but the things that were circled I didn't know what it meant. She is a very through doctor and went through all my labs with me. My granulocyte level was low and my lymph level was high. Both have to do with the liver. She said that these levels could be off because I could have had a virus when I gave the blood. However with the other things being off as well it didn't look like the case. My calcium was also high and my ALT was high too. The ALT has to do with the liver too. My serotonin level was 315 and normal is 100-225, therefore it is high as well. If my level had been between 500-3500 than I have carinoid syndrome. With my levels right now I might have carcinoids, or tumors somewhere in my body. We will do a barium swallow test to see if its hiding in my smal bowel.
Apparently the severe stomach upset and horrible flushing and blotchy red spots that appear and disappear throughout the day is from the high serontonin. I could also have parathyroidism. As of right now we just don't know. On a good note my ovaries are coming back up to the normal level so I might be able to get pregnant on my own one day. My B12 is also up so that is good news as well. We drove back home and I was relieved to know it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. It's still very scarey when you research these things on the internet so I am trying to just wait and see what it is before I panic.
To top things off yesterday ended up being a crazy day as well. Bryan's mom worked on Tracie's clothes from the fire. It took about 7 washes and the smell is still not out. It is very depressing to see that your friends clothes are ruined. I also had Bryan's parents to drop his car off at Walmart to get a new tire that I noticed that had a crack in it. On the way there Bryan's mother informs me that 3 tires needed to be replaced and they decided to go ahead and do it. She insisted that they buy two and we buy one. I was not happy about this but she insisted. Bryan also isn't getting paid this week because we didn't get the message from his short term disability company until Friday. They neede to do a phone intake to process to claim and since he got back to them a week later his payment will be delayed till next week. When we got back from getting the car Bryan explained that a belt on the lawn mower blew and there is a screw is Bryan's truck tire that we just got back from the body shop on Friday. I yelled an potty word very loudly. When it rains it pours. Maybe I should become an alcoholic since my liver is already jacked up. Just kidding.
I asked Mary if he was supposed to be walking without his brace on and she said no and she wants only minor weight bearing. Of course my stubborn husband has been doing both. Then came the issue with the locking brace again. It wasn't in stock from where they ordered it from and of course the company didn't call the VA to say it was back ordered. Therefore no brace again and they had to re order a new one that is going to have more padding and be hotter for summer but that is the only one they could order. We will be waiting 5-10 days to get the new one and it will be shipped directly to our house. They told us in 6 to 8 weeks they will schedule PT here in Knoxville. Mary stated that she doesn't trust any physical therapy centers in Knoxville because they are all going broke and when they get a referral from the VA they think they have hit the jack pot so they do extra stuff when they shouldn't be. I hope it works out here because we can't drive 2 hours one way twice a week for PT.
We then went to eat lunch and drove around the VA campus. It was very beautiful and nice to see the old buildings and the cemetary is always beautiful to me. We went to check in at Ortho to meet with the PA for post op. We get in the room and PA can't magically find his appointment. I told him the appointment was on the discharge summary and got mailed to us we had this appointment for sure at 1:40. I was asking him if he thinks its safe for Bryan to drive and he said no. I told him his doc said he could go back to work in two weeks and he said ok. He painted this senerio if Bryan was in a wreck they would sue him cause he is an impaired driver with his knee. Bryan got all pissy and they got in a fight. Dealing with him is a nightmare. At the end of the appointment Bryan said he is no longer taking the lortab because it makes him neasous and takes the percoset every 4 hours. The PA said that is too often and Bryan said he was on morphine for 2 years and this was nothing. The PA prescribed them and said we needed to drop them off at the pharmacy. Bryan went from wanting his meds to be mailed to picking them up since we were there to back to being mailed. He got in an arguement with the pharmicist because she said it was too soon to be refilled and had to be mailed. I thought that is what he wanted in the first place and now he wants them this second. We ended up leaving and I told him on the way home that he acts disrespectful to people and it's embarassing.
We get home and I needed to walk our dog. When I get back to the house Bryan is on the lawn mower cutting the grass. I almost killed him! I told him we would cut the grass over the weekend with my mom and sister in town. It was a jungle but I needed to get dinner started and it had rained for 9 days straight. It ended up raining on Saturday again so we were going to cut it on Sunday after spending the day with Mom at the park for Mother's Day. We get back and he had cut it. He is no shape to cut grass and it made me furious. We were all very upset about it but there was nothing I could do.
As my family left Bryan's family came in town. Monday I went to work and my doctors office called and said she wanted to see me that night after work. I kind of panicked because I didn't know what she found. My good friend Tracie's house who caught on fire a week ago went with me. I was given the labs to look over before she came in but the things that were circled I didn't know what it meant. She is a very through doctor and went through all my labs with me. My granulocyte level was low and my lymph level was high. Both have to do with the liver. She said that these levels could be off because I could have had a virus when I gave the blood. However with the other things being off as well it didn't look like the case. My calcium was also high and my ALT was high too. The ALT has to do with the liver too. My serotonin level was 315 and normal is 100-225, therefore it is high as well. If my level had been between 500-3500 than I have carinoid syndrome. With my levels right now I might have carcinoids, or tumors somewhere in my body. We will do a barium swallow test to see if its hiding in my smal bowel.
Apparently the severe stomach upset and horrible flushing and blotchy red spots that appear and disappear throughout the day is from the high serontonin. I could also have parathyroidism. As of right now we just don't know. On a good note my ovaries are coming back up to the normal level so I might be able to get pregnant on my own one day. My B12 is also up so that is good news as well. We drove back home and I was relieved to know it wasn't as bad as I thought it might be. It's still very scarey when you research these things on the internet so I am trying to just wait and see what it is before I panic.
To top things off yesterday ended up being a crazy day as well. Bryan's mom worked on Tracie's clothes from the fire. It took about 7 washes and the smell is still not out. It is very depressing to see that your friends clothes are ruined. I also had Bryan's parents to drop his car off at Walmart to get a new tire that I noticed that had a crack in it. On the way there Bryan's mother informs me that 3 tires needed to be replaced and they decided to go ahead and do it. She insisted that they buy two and we buy one. I was not happy about this but she insisted. Bryan also isn't getting paid this week because we didn't get the message from his short term disability company until Friday. They neede to do a phone intake to process to claim and since he got back to them a week later his payment will be delayed till next week. When we got back from getting the car Bryan explained that a belt on the lawn mower blew and there is a screw is Bryan's truck tire that we just got back from the body shop on Friday. I yelled an potty word very loudly. When it rains it pours. Maybe I should become an alcoholic since my liver is already jacked up. Just kidding.
Monday, May 4, 2009
Under the Dressings
Today we got to unwrap Bryan's dressing and view the incision. It panicked me a bit because if I have never mentioned I have a weak stomach and I am out of practice. It looks pretty good considering but it is very swollen. His exsisting scars are protruding from the swelling and you can't even see the muscle loss in his thigh because of all the fluid in there. The scar on his knee that they re-cut is a larger caterpillar (yes I name his scars). He has busted blood vessels as well from the expanding skin and he doesn't look like he has a kneecap. He is bleeding from blisters that have formed and I am hoping it's not MRSA again. The skin is very thin from all the trauma it has experienced so I hope that it is cause it's streched. The good news is that he got to take and shower and that made us both happy. Here are the pics:
I got my EOB from all the tests I had done for the Endo and it was 3500 dollars. I am scared how much I will have to pay of that cause we have Tricare for life. I hope I can make payments.
Since I have been bored out of my mind I am going to do something I have seen on other blogs.
8 Things I Look Forward To...
#1.) Caregivers Retreat this Month
#2.) Bryan's knee getting better
#3.) Using my TJ Maxx Gift Card
#4.) Getting the VA hearing behind us
#5.) Our 4 Year Anniversary on May 20th
#6.) Lunch with my Friends
#7.) Meeting Karie
#8.) Going on a trip hopefully in the Fall
8 Things I Did Yesterday
#1.) Laundry
#2.) Waited on my hubby
#3.) Ate leftovers
#4.) Was completely lazy
#5.) Talked with friends online
#6.) Got some bad news from my friend that her house caught on fire
#7.) Watched the endless rain
#8.) Looked for some stuff on ebay
8 Things I Love
#1.) Shopping online
#2.) Traveling
#3.) Reading
#4.) Talking to my friends
#5.) Wine
#6.) My family
#7.) Reality Shows
#8.) Sunshine
8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
#1.) See my family
#2.) Workout
#3.) Make more money
#4.) Hire a housekeeper
#5.) Take my husbands pain away
#6.) Learn to take time for myself to de-stress
#7.) Volunteer
#8.) Act my age
8 Shows I watch:
#1.) American Idol
#2.) The Hills
#3.) Anything and everything on HGTV
#4.) Oprah
#5.) The real Housewives of Orange County
#6.) The Real housewives of New York
#7.) Millionaire Matchmaker
#8.) Jon and Kate Plus 8
I got my EOB from all the tests I had done for the Endo and it was 3500 dollars. I am scared how much I will have to pay of that cause we have Tricare for life. I hope I can make payments.
Since I have been bored out of my mind I am going to do something I have seen on other blogs.
8 Things I Look Forward To...
#1.) Caregivers Retreat this Month
#2.) Bryan's knee getting better
#3.) Using my TJ Maxx Gift Card
#4.) Getting the VA hearing behind us
#5.) Our 4 Year Anniversary on May 20th
#6.) Lunch with my Friends
#7.) Meeting Karie
#8.) Going on a trip hopefully in the Fall
8 Things I Did Yesterday
#1.) Laundry
#2.) Waited on my hubby
#3.) Ate leftovers
#4.) Was completely lazy
#5.) Talked with friends online
#6.) Got some bad news from my friend that her house caught on fire
#7.) Watched the endless rain
#8.) Looked for some stuff on ebay
8 Things I Love
#1.) Shopping online
#2.) Traveling
#3.) Reading
#4.) Talking to my friends
#5.) Wine
#6.) My family
#7.) Reality Shows
#8.) Sunshine
8 Things I Wish I Could Do:
#1.) See my family
#2.) Workout
#3.) Make more money
#4.) Hire a housekeeper
#5.) Take my husbands pain away
#6.) Learn to take time for myself to de-stress
#7.) Volunteer
#8.) Act my age
8 Shows I watch:
#1.) American Idol
#2.) The Hills
#3.) Anything and everything on HGTV
#4.) Oprah
#5.) The real Housewives of Orange County
#6.) The Real housewives of New York
#7.) Millionaire Matchmaker
#8.) Jon and Kate Plus 8
Saturday, May 2, 2009
15th Surgery
Bryan had his 15th surgery at the VA on Friday. I have to admit that I was really nervous. I guess because I didn't get to meet the doctor before hand and it was being done at the VA. We got up at 10 till 4 AM. It was hard getting up that early and then we began the two hour car ride to get to the VA. We checked in and got put in to a room to get Bryan changed into a lovely gown. They took him back around 7 and I sat in the waiting room. At 8:30 they called to say that he fell asleep fine and they were getting started. They called again around 10 and said that they were beginning the reconstruction on his knee. I didn't know exactly what they meant about that. They ended up calling around 11:30 to say he was heading to recovery.
The doc said that the Heterotrpoic ossification had grown through his MCL and he did have another one that grew through his cartilage. They removed them and it left the MCL very weak and loose. They used his hamstring to make a new MCL and fixed the cartilage damage. Apparently they could not fix these things through the scope so they cut him open and did some plastic surgery on his existing scar (that I call the caterpillar) to make it look better. His meniscus was also torn so they repaired that. It was much more of an overhaul that I thought. He came out with a huge bulky jones cast on and a brace that keeps his leg and knee from moving. They said he needs a locking and unlocking brace but they didn't have one so they had to order it and would be in by his post op appointment.
He was his normal self when coming off the anesthesia, cranky and anxious. He was chewing the nurses out cause the brace was put on wrong when he came out of x-ray and the rod was hurting him. They tried to help him but when he is like that you can't. I asked one of the nurses for water and as I was walking down the hall with her she asked what happened to him. I explained that he was blown up and has a MTBI and he acts really rude when he comes out of surgery. She said she was wondering and I apologized again for his behavior.
Of course they said he has to urinate before he leaves and of course he couldn't. It's hard enough for him to urinate on a normal basis and after he has had surgery and cathed for the 10th time he can't. He tried for an hour and couldn't so we started our drive home. This whole thing brought back flash backs, the huge dressings, the irritability, the not knowing how to help.
Looks like this is going to be 4 months of rehab. Two months in the locking knee brace, 4 months till he can do what he wants without restrictions. It will be Physical Therapy for 4 months twice a week. He will miss some work and I hope that they are ok with it.
Today is my birthday I am 27. I have been through a lot in the past few years and I think I am wiser and both scarred. My mom arrived last night and Bryan spent hours trying to go to the bathroom. He stated that the oxys and hydros aren't really strong enough but he doesn't want to take the morphine if he doesn't have to. I hope this is the last surgery but I am sure it won't be. Eventually he will need to clean out all that arthritis. I can't really process it all right now but I hope that this gives him more strength in his right leg.
The doc said that the Heterotrpoic ossification had grown through his MCL and he did have another one that grew through his cartilage. They removed them and it left the MCL very weak and loose. They used his hamstring to make a new MCL and fixed the cartilage damage. Apparently they could not fix these things through the scope so they cut him open and did some plastic surgery on his existing scar (that I call the caterpillar) to make it look better. His meniscus was also torn so they repaired that. It was much more of an overhaul that I thought. He came out with a huge bulky jones cast on and a brace that keeps his leg and knee from moving. They said he needs a locking and unlocking brace but they didn't have one so they had to order it and would be in by his post op appointment.
He was his normal self when coming off the anesthesia, cranky and anxious. He was chewing the nurses out cause the brace was put on wrong when he came out of x-ray and the rod was hurting him. They tried to help him but when he is like that you can't. I asked one of the nurses for water and as I was walking down the hall with her she asked what happened to him. I explained that he was blown up and has a MTBI and he acts really rude when he comes out of surgery. She said she was wondering and I apologized again for his behavior.
Of course they said he has to urinate before he leaves and of course he couldn't. It's hard enough for him to urinate on a normal basis and after he has had surgery and cathed for the 10th time he can't. He tried for an hour and couldn't so we started our drive home. This whole thing brought back flash backs, the huge dressings, the irritability, the not knowing how to help.
Looks like this is going to be 4 months of rehab. Two months in the locking knee brace, 4 months till he can do what he wants without restrictions. It will be Physical Therapy for 4 months twice a week. He will miss some work and I hope that they are ok with it.
Today is my birthday I am 27. I have been through a lot in the past few years and I think I am wiser and both scarred. My mom arrived last night and Bryan spent hours trying to go to the bathroom. He stated that the oxys and hydros aren't really strong enough but he doesn't want to take the morphine if he doesn't have to. I hope this is the last surgery but I am sure it won't be. Eventually he will need to clean out all that arthritis. I can't really process it all right now but I hope that this gives him more strength in his right leg.
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