Pre-Op Preparations

Surgery #2 -- aka, the really painful one -- hasn't been scheduled yet. I've been assigned a rep from the cloning factory (sounds like a role in an Arnold Schwarzeneggar movie), and I have another follow-up appointment with my OS on Friday. By then, I’ll hopefully know when the cartilage cells will be ready and we’ll pick a surgery date. Once that happens, I’ll probably start some kind of D-Day Countdown on the blog. Maybe I’ll figure out how to post one of those T-Minus clocks NASA uses for the shuttle launch.

Meanwhile, I’m quickly grasping how drastically this surgery will change my life, especially in the short-term. It’s been just over 2 weeks since the “minor” arthroscopic surgery to harvest the cartilage cells, and my knee is close to 70%. I’m still limping, but I can walk without pain.

Many things, however, remain difficult, including several really simple, daily functions you take for granted. Let's just say it's not easy going potty with a leg you can't bend. I learned this the hard way when I got some sort of stomach bug after Thanksgiving. I spent most of Friday night in the bathroom. Not good times. I was just “thankful” I didn’t puke it up. My knee couldn’t handle praying to the porcelain god. Anyway, I might need one of those medical alert bracelets in case I get stuck on the toilet.

To minimize bathroom difficulties, it's recommended that ACI patients buy a toilet seat riser and shower seat. Neither is covered by insurance. I never thought I’d have to spend the cash left-over in my flex-spending account on these items. I’ll probably be the only shopper under 90 in Wal-mart asking about toiler seat risers. Of course, my recently deceased grandfather had both of these items, and I don’t think any of his heirs claimed them. I wonder what UPS would've said if I tried to ship home a toilet seat riser. Hmm...