Once the decision was made that I would fly back to Wisconsin for the surgery, Thedacare was excellent at scheduling me in as soon as I arrived. Many appointments were already set up before I even got to Wisconsin. I flew out Tuesday, March 15th, landed around 5:00 p.m. and got to Nathan’s that evening. The next day I was in Oshkosh at my Thedacare clinic getting a pre-surgery check up . All went well. 👍

The next day I was at the Hand and Shoulder clinic. They removed the splint that I had on, took x-rays, and then I met with hand surgeon Dr Nathan Van Zeeland. (I am developing Dupuytren’s Contractures and I had made an appointment with him for an assessment this past summer. So technically, I was his patient when this request came around. That chance appointment might have made a big difference. )

You can see from the picture of my hand and wrist, that the bones were not aligned. They actually were pretty much in the same position they had been before the doctor in Cottonwood had tried to align them. We looked at the x-rays, the ones I had photos of, and the ones that were just taken. He did assess it pretty well the same way as the orthopedic surgeon did in Arizona. In order for my bones to heal and my right hand and wrist to be usable, a plate and screws would be necessary. I understood and I agreed. Afterward they put back on a very similar type of splint and wrap.

In the Meantime -Time for a Play

The timing really worked out well for me to be at Nathan’s as my granddaughter, Molly, was going to be in a Winnie the Pooh Play at their school! This was quite a production and they had professional costumes for everyone. They gave the play three times and it was a fundraiser for their liberal arts department at the elementary/middle school. It was really, very well done! And Molly had a ball doing it!!! You couldn’t take any pictures during the play because of the copyright laws, but when they were finished they stayed in their positions so that you could. Molly is in that black and white costume. 🙂

After her opening night, she received flowers from Grandpa and Grandma, flowers from Mom and Dad and also a big round stuffed rabbit. 🤗

I went back to Oshkosh afterward with Bob, (Grandpa,) as I had to be at the hospital for surgery before 5:30 a.m. 😬 I was placed at the beginning of his schedule, with surgery to take place around 7:00 a.m. It was way too far to drive from Chilton that early, and much easier to drive up to Appleton from Oshkosh. I also did want Bob to be the one to take me in. Then I was going to his place afterwards. (At times like this, family runs deep and takes all forms.😊)

Surgery

The living room couch became my bed and I slept pretty well. We walked through the hospital door at 5:15 a.m. It’s always interesting to see how people are up and going and working at that time of the morning in the hospital. After I was prepped, it became more nerve-racking just laying there and waiting. Just before I was to go in, the anesthesiologist and his student, ( a woman who was excellent), came in. They were going to use a long needle to find my brachial plexus to my arm and numb it. There would be no feeling or use of my arm for 24 to 48 hours. Just as they were doing that they put me into “Twilight”. Thank god!! 👍

It’s nice to wake up again and know that everything is done! My arm actually felt like a log. It is so weird to have no feeling of any kind at all! It also was really heavy. 😯 That was surprising. I needed to keep the sling on until I had feeling back. I didn’t get feeling back into my arm until the evening of the next day. So that was a good thing.

I thought I would be really tired after the surgery, but I felt just the opposite. Pretty awake. I was supposed to move on to my other son’s home to recover, but with Bob’s encouragement, I decided to stay where I was. At Mathew’s I would have to climb steps to the second floor bedroom and I was in no condition to do that. Here it was close to the kitchen and close to the bathroom. So I ended up staying here over the weekend and went on Wednesday. I was prescribed oxycodone with the use of Tylenol for breakthrough pain. I thought I was doing pretty well and was pretty aware of everything. However Bob was recently telling me some of the things that I ate and that I ordered pizza, etc . I didn’t remember any of it until he told me! And then I remembered ! 😂 So it does mess with your brain after all.

Between providing ice for my arm every hour and then liquids and food, Bob was kept pretty busy! We had many interesting conversations in the interim. After I was feeling better, I packed up and moved to Mathew’s.

Mathew set up this bed for me when I stayed over Christmas, so up it came again. I even had a TV on the side table which was very thoughtful. 🤗 The reward for Zoe giving up her playroom was being able to use the bed and watch one program on TV before she went to sleep for a few days after I left. 👍 😃

When I come over to Matthew’s for a couple days, I bring a small can of cat food for a treat for the cats as they are on dry food only. There are two of them, Ruby and Fuzzy. They are pretty independent cats, so I wouldn’t be able to get near them otherwise. It’s so cute! Now, when I come in and start talking, they hear my voice and they immediately come running, looking for their treat! Fuzzy gets quite insistent. If I don’t give them the treat within 5 to 10 minutes… he’s batting at my legs and hissing! 😅 It’s almost the only time I can pet them! But they are getting better with me now. 😊

State Spelling Bee

I was fortunate in the timing of the surgery and recovery, as my oldest grandson in Mathew’s family, Noah, had qualified to compete in the state spelling bee in Madison!! He tried out for it at his school in Waupaca for the first time this year in 8th grade and ended up coming in first!

I was back at Bob’s for the weekend so we made a trip over to Madison to see the competition. There were approximately 52 kids from fourth grade through 8th that were competing. It was really very well done! Every child had a chance to come up to the microphone, give their name and the school they’re from and then sit back down. This gave them practice with the microphone and how the order was going to work. They also wore a plaque around their neck that had their number on it.

Once a child was given the word to spell, they could have it repeated, they could ask for a different pronunciation if there was one, they could ask it’s origin and it’s definition. It was always used in a sentence. Once they started spelling, they could stop at any time to ask a question and then start over again. But if they were spelling and had an incorrect letter, they could not correct it. Once it was stated it was done. The first person out was a girl probably in sixth grade I think. Her word was “scooter”. She repeated the word and started spelling “s c o t ” and she stopped and her hands flew to her face because she knew she made a mistake. ☹️ It was such a shame as it was the first round. You know she knew how to spell it, she just made a mistake. But no mistakes are allowed. It was way more interesting than I thought it would be! Noah was about the 23rd one to misspell his word. So he made it to about the halfway point. We stayed until the end because the words became quite challenging. It came down to this sixth grade boy and 8th grade girl.

The judges went to much harder words. Both contestants really relied on the origin, and the definition as a way to determine the spelling. In the end the girl won. As it turns out this was her FIFTH win at the state spelling bee!!! 😯 That means, she won as a fourth grader! Amazing considering she was going against kids that were in the eighth grade! You couldn’t help rooting for the kids. It was pretty neat and Noah was happy with his showing. So it was all good 😊.

After a couple days, I packed up and went back to Nathan’s. I chose the big couch I used over Christmas. Very comfy. I bought a pillow here and that was the only bedding I carried from place to place. Got to have your own pillow 🤔😅

During the daytime, while everyone was at work or school, I had plenty of company with the dogs and bunnies. Avalanche was often left out to wander for the day since I was home. The other bunnies are let out to wander the house in the evening. The dogs have learned to leave them alone. Then, after school it was nice to hear how the kids’ day went at both homes. 😊 I always helped around both homes in whatever way I could. Starting or folding laundry was always available, helping clean up dishes etc.

Post Surgery Check-Up

In less than a week and a half, I had my appointment to get my stitches out and meet with Occupational Therapy. I thought it would go pretty good but there was a major hiccup…

While she was gently pulling out each black stitch, she pulled at a stitch that practically sent me to the floor. I had a shooting pain that went all the way down to my thumb, up my arm, to my stomach and made me nauseous! It just took my breath away and felt like I had broken my wrist all over again! I started to feel clammy and get sweaty. She finished with the other stitches but left that area alone. I eventually laid down on the cot there and the physician’s assistant came in. She put a cold cloth over my forehead. I didn’t know what was going on.

But what I learned in retrospect, was there were internal stitches that were poking through the incision. So whoever closed the incision, didn’t close neatly. THAT was what she had hit. They almost look like fish line.I had a similar but not as bad reaction a few days later after I took a shower. When I rubbed the towel down my arm, I hit another exposed internal stitch. Again I got that bolt of pain and a clammy and sweaty reaction. It takes it out of me for about a good 10 minutes. We were able to find and clip that stitch off. Then I didn’t have anymore reactions, thank God!

When Dr. Van Zeeland came in, he was real happy with the surgery. There was some healing that already had taken place that he had to undo during the surgery. 😬 But it all went well. We looked at the x-rays together and he had it printed out for me.

I asked the doctor if I would need to have some kind of card that would state that I had an implanted metal device in order to go through security when flying. He said they did not do that anymore. So many people now have implants that it is no longer an issue and that I most likely would not set off security. And he was right. I did not. Even when they wanded it on my return, nothing showed up. 👍

Then on to Occupational Therapy. Now with all the bandages off, the therapist was going to mold a splint that would fit me personally. Nothing but the cloth woven sleeve would be over the wound from here on in. I was molded what is called a clam splint. It remains open on the sides to allow for swelling, but it supports the top and bottom of my arm snugly. My OT is Holly and we hit it off. I told her about my background in OT, but that I was primarily in mental health. I did remember making these kinds of splints in class. It was interesting in that the material is easier to mold, but basically it is still done the same way, using hot water for the major structure and occasionally a hair dryer for particular small spot adjustments. No exercises at this point. I was good with that!

After this was all finished, I had time to visit with my friends before heading back to Arizona. So Barb from my book club, a dear friend, and I met at Krispy Kreme and talked for at least a couple hours! 😊 Another day I met with friends Mary and Judy, former coworkers, at our favorite place the Roxy’s. We had a great lunch and visited there. I spent a couple days with my friend Neil. His Bird club had a very interesting presentation by a professor from University of Oshkosh. Then we all went out for lunch afterwards.

I also had time to enjoy playing card games and board games with my grandchildren. It was really fun. 🤗 💕

I had one more appointment with Holly before I flew out on Friday. Since the swelling had gone down, she now heated and redesigned my splint. Measurements were taken as to my range of motion and exercises began. I was cautioned that the reason I have a clam shell type splint is to minimize my movement and allow the bone growth over the plate and screws. So no, I was not allowed to take it off and let my arm and wrist regain its mobility and strength that way. I was to stay away from any strengthening , like by using a squish ball, etc and not to lift anything more than 2 lb. But I can remove my splint and work on my wrist flexibility. Good to know.

I stayed overnight at Neil’s Thursday night as he was going to take me to the airport Friday morning. ( He lives just a mile from the airport.) I would be flying out at 8:00 a.m.

My weeks of sleeping around 🙄 and living out of a suitcase were coming to an end!!

I always have mixed feelings ☹️🙂 leaving the comfort, love and security of family 🤗 and heading back to life on the road. 😎 The only thing that encouraged me to leave, was the awful, cloudy, cold, snow / drizzle/sleet weather!! 😂 Looking forward to the Sun and heat!! 🌞🏜️

More soon…