Sun N' Scars

Day 101-

Today was another nice day out as we continued to celebrate my 100 mark.  Had a great dinner of BBQ with a nice Sam Addams Summer Ale and a nice, relaxed shopping trip.  I’m still pondering the summer and what to do with the knee in terms of sun exposure.  I have a feeling that it is going to be a hot and sunny one here unlike last year that was rather tepid.  I personally love to go swimming and since the community pool is less than a block away from my house it would be a shame to not be able to go especially since I know swimming is going to be great rehap for the knee.  But I don’t want to just go on cloudy days… I want to go on days that are hot hot HOT!!  I mean, the pools not heated so why go when it’s cold then?!  I also love to swim at my moms and some of the local beaches as well… not to mention I love to just sit outside and read or dig in my garden.  I did think of maybe a sarong for when I’m sitting but how about for swimming?!  I just have no idea and am really stumped.  It’s funny the things you think of when you are laid up.

100 Days Since Surgery!

Day 100-

So today is the Hundred day mark which puts me about a third recovered.  Of course though we had another crappy turn in the weather since it’s now snowing out.  On the upside the pain I’ve been having right now is much less than last week when it was freezing cold after being almost 80 degrees for a week.  I’m not saying that I’m having no effects from the snow but it’s more stiff and it feels swollen and I’ve been slow moving but I can handle that as opposed to straight up pain.  So when we think about what I’ve gone through in the past 100 days it’s easy to see just how far I’ve come especially when I think that I’ve been using my cane less and less and the fact that I no longer use the wheelchair.  Does that mean I don’t need either, no since I do but only in certain situations.  As a treat to myself for all that I’ve done and for all that still lies ahead of me I had a little shopping spree at Old Navy.  I bought myself 4 summer dresses, a pair of sandals, a pair of Capri sweats for PT and for home and a fun shirt.  I know it’s not a new iPod or a Kindle Fire like I’ve been wanting or even a new cell phone but here’s the thing as well.  This summer, I can’t get ANY sun on my scar as it won’t fade right.  If it gets any sun the chance that it will fade out to white is unlikely so it has to be covered pretty much all the time.  For this reason, I needed a couple more long, maxi summer dresses and I got a couple shorter ones but they still cover at least 90% of the knee for either at night or for cloudy days.  The only thing I have yet to figure out is what I’m going to do when I go swimming or go to the beach… will I have to ace wrap it (Most likely I think as I don’t want people seeing it) but how will that effect my ability to swim or will I be able to just use something like Bullfrog sunscreen… or will I have to do both?!  I think that’s a question for my doctor but it’s a valid one as well since I just love to be outside!!

Inbetween

Day 99-

Today at PT we increase my weight on my leg and it was some where between too much and lets have more.  As in, for the short arc quads it was ok to go up in the weight but for the straight leg raises where I can barley lift a bedsheet with my leg it was pure agony.  As for the hamstring curls it was almost too easy.  So I’m still where I’ve been for a while which is that those damned straight leg raises kill me.  I don’t know why they are so hard for me but I just want to scream when I do them.  To me, it’s a sign of just how far I still I have to come before I can consider myself to be fully recovered. 

For People NOT Going Through This

Day 98-

So I’ve been thinking again about my wanting to work out.  I know that lifting my weights a couple times a week is good for me and I’m sure that it might be part of the reason that everyone thinks I look slimmer but I know I need cardio.  Here’s the thing though about that.  We all know that cardio is essential for losing weight and for a healthy heart but how do I get my heart rate up when I can’t do cardio?  I’m not allowed to use machines like treadmills or ellipticals and my balance isn’t good enough to do cardio at home.  So even though I desperately want to not only lose weight but I want to regain that nice (though still stocky) athletic build I used to have.  But how do you go about working out when you can’t work out?  It’s an annoying situation…but even more annoying when everyone thinks they know what you can and can’t do and then offer up their “professional” opinions.  So here is what I want everyone out there to know.  First, if you are a friend of someone going through this… unless you have gone through this don’t pretend to know what we can and can’t do.  And second, sometimes we just need to vent that despite how far we’ve come that we are still so far behind and that it just plain sucks.  Thanks!