DAYS 256-269 RECOVERY

After just two weeks of physical therapy with about 4 more weeks to go, my ankle is showing much improvement in the range of motion.  I still have to wear the ankle brace, but I can walk like a normal person without gimping or limping.  I'm very limited to what shoes I can wear so I was happy yesterday to be able to point my left foot enough to get both it and the brace inside my wide topped cowgirl boots.  Hey, I'm kickin'!

Meds:   Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Glucosoamine, Calcium, Garlic, Aspirin, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C

DAYS 246-255 Recovery

The good news is that instead of wearing the big black boot, I'm now wearing a brace to support my broken ankle.  Although the brace is much much smaller I still can't wear most of my shoes and getting my foot into boots is out of the question.  I'm starting physical therapy this week working toward increasing my range of motion and stimulating bone growth.  The not-so-good news is that after two months there is only very minimal bone growth, but hey, it's heading in the right direction.  

Meds:   Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Glucosoamine, Calcium, Garlic, Aspirin, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C, Bromelain

DAYS 240 - 245 RECOVERY

Yesterday, while planning my day, I forgot to allow time for the stupidity factor.  Normally I don't get excited about medical appointments, but I was very eager to see the orthopedic surgeon to determine if the broken bone in my ankle is on its way to healing --- or not.  I'm so ready to kick this big black boot that lost its super hero powers weeks ago.  It's plodded through red soil garden beds, stepped in duck doo-doo, had diesel fuel spilled on it, let's just say it's not as pristine as it was 2 months ago.

I arrived right on time for my appointment yesterday (here's where the stupidity comes in) only to be told that I came to the wrong location.  I drove all the way to Asheville when the doctor was at a satellite office in the town next to where I live.  My previous appointments were scheduled for this more distant location because that's where the emergency room people sent me.  When I learned there was an office closer to mine, I requested my appointment be changed to the closer location.  Yesterday, by the time I could have driven back to the other town, the doctor would no longer be there.  Now because of my stupidity (forgetfulness?) I have to wait another week to determine the outcome.  

Meds:   Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Glucosoamine, Calcium, Garlic, Aspirin, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C

DAYS 220-239 RECOVERY

My last visit to the orthopedic surgeon showed no bone growth in my broken ankle so we've done some research and concluded that the blood thinner warfarin/Coumadin I have to take increases the risk of bone fracture. I avoided taking this medicine for two years, but after developing clots in my lungs after the open heart surgery, the surgeon and hematologist said I had no choice.  This puts me in a dilemma and I feel I'm playing Russian roulette.

A study done six years ago at Washington University School of Medicine, a very respected research institution ranked #3 in the nation, found that elderly (that word makes me cringe) patients taking warfarin have an increased risk for bone fractures.  Another study showed that taking warfarin for longer than one year led to a 25% increase in bone fracture. It's not clear if this affects women as well as men. 

Warfarin was initially introduced in 1948 as a poison for rats and mice and is still used for this purpose today.  In the early 1950s it was found to be effective and relatively safe for preventing abnormal formation and migration of blood clots.  It was approved for use as a medication in 1954 and is the most widely prescribed oral anticoagulant drug in North America.

This drug interferes with vitamin K's role in blood clotting.  Vitamin K interacts with a protein vital for bone formation and affects bone strength as well.  Fractures occur when the bones become so weakened that minor trauma causes breakage.

I had bone density tests done last year and five years prior.  The first showed I had great bones which I attribute to all the milk I drank as a teen.  I hated milk, but when others were drinking Cokes I stuck to my milk because I thought it would help me get boobs.  Well, it didn't do much in the boob department, but certainly my bones benefited.  The results of the test done a year ago showed I was still in the normal range, but closer to the low end of normal.

I'm required to take warfarin, not only as an anticoagulant to prevent blood clots and strokes, but mainly because I have two genetic blood disorders that cause my blood to hyper coagulate. This can cause clots which can lead to strokes.  So far I've met with the psychiatrist, the hematologist and next week will see the orthopedic surgeon and the cardiologist in an effort to come up with some alternatives. Some newer drugs are available, but since they aren't approved specifically for my condition no one wants to prescribe them as "off label" because of the fear of lawsuits. No doctor is going to give me "permission" to stop taking warfarin, once again because of the lawsuit thing.  So I took myself off this drug two weeks ago, thus I feel I'm playing Russian roulette.  Right now I'm going the natural route with vitamins, supplements and diet. 

There is no definitive answer because with the blood thinner my heart will be protected, but at the risk of broken bones and without the blood thinner I'll have strong bones, but at risk of blood clots that can cause strokes. 

Meds:   Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Glucosoamine, Calcium, Garlic, Aspirin, Omega-3 Fish Oil, Vitamin C

       

Days 204 - 219 Recovery

I almost feel human after getting two full nights sleep in a row.  The throbbing pain from my broken ankle went up into my leg.  Because it's been more pronounced at night, getting beyond three hours sleep has been hard to come by the past four weeks.  Two rounds of antibiotics finally wiped out the skin infection and most of the swelling is gone, so I feel I've gotten over the hump. The only pain I feel now is centered in the ankle area caused by the break and the surrounding torn ligaments. 

I received discouraging news yesterday, though, when the orthopedic doc said x-rays showed that so far the bone shows no evidence of fusing.  Age is a factor in bone growth.  Fifteen year olds can have bone fusion in just a couple of weeks. Since I'm a very long way from fifteen, I'll need lots more time and patience.   He wants me to return after another four weeks for more x-rays.  In the meantime I need to keep my ankle iced several times during the day until the swelling is completely gone.  I also need to do some ankle flexing exercises a couple times a day to help restore full range of motion.  Looks like there won't be any tutus and tights in my future.  This will probably kill my dream of becoming a ballerina. 

I won't be kicking my big black superhero boot anytime soon.  The doc wants me to continue wearing it all the time except in bed.  I'm becoming more proficient in walking in it and only use crutches when going up and down stairs.  Right now slopes are out of the question as they scare me too much. Since most of our property is slopped, I can't get up to the barn or down to the duck's pen.  I'm confined to the flat area where the cabin, the flower beds, and the greenhouse are located.  This will have to do for now.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem,  Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Calcium, Glucosamine

DAYS 196-203 RECOVERY

Thinking I was turning into a pain weenie and because the pain and swelling was increasing day by day, I went back to the orthopedic doc last Friday.  The real source of my pain is not so much from the broken bone, but from a skin infection that goes from my toes to my knee, the area covered by the orthopedic boot.  It is very much like the continuous searing pain one endures with shingles.  On a 1-10 pain chart I'd have to give it an 8.  It could easily claim the 9  or 10 spot, however I reserve 10 for the birth of a child or the death of one's child.  I save number 9 out of respect for the intensity of pain that a man feels when getting kicked in the balls.  Of course not having this equipment, I have no first hand experience, but what I witnessed when being the kicker appeared intense, although short-lived.   Now that I think about it, maybe ball kickees shouldn't get the 9 spot after all since the pain is so ephemeral.  Sorry guys, this means I have to trump your 9 and give you the 8.     

I'm supposed to keep my damaged leg elevated at night and from time to time during the day.  The doctor tripled the dose of the pain med but it sill doesn’t do much to numb anything during those times when I lower my foot from an elevated position.  I'm taking an anti nausea med along with the pain med. So far it's doing a good job of curtailing this side effect, however the two meds are causing me to spend more hours sleeping than awake each day.  I'm looking forward to the antibiotic kicking this infection, so my body can focus solely on healing my  broken ankle bone. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Promethazine, Percocet, Kelex, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Calcium, Glucosamine

DAYS 192-195 RECOVERY

It hasn't been a full 4 days since my ankle injury and already cabin fever has set in.  Being such an outdoors person, it's killing me that I can't get outside to take advantage of this prime time in autumn to work in the gardens, tend my animals, maintain our property, paint some buildings, and party in and around Asheville. I don't have to sit here all day staring at the same four walls because I do have plenty of indoor projects to do, but I was saving those for the winter season when working outdoors isn't an option.  Things don't always go as planned, and sometimes I feel they NEVER go as planned, so I'll put a smile on my face and carry on.  If I can bring on the inspiration, I can use this valuable time to focus on writing and who knows, maybe finish the two books I was working on at the time of our son's death.

 

Fortunately the bone in my ankle was only broken and not displaced, so surgery wasn't required.  I'm wearing a big black Transformer super hero looking boot, but I'm not feeling very super nor very heroish since  I'm still in quite a bit of pain. The pain meds are either ineffective or they cause nausea leading to vomiting.  I can't afford to lose any of the eight pounds I've gained since heart surgery.  I've been hobbling around on crutches the past three days.  Crutches get me around and maybe once I master them I'll be able to do more, but for right now stairs and maneuvering around our mountain side is a big no-no.  The biggest drawback to crutches is not having a free hand so I can't carry much of anything from place to place.  Using them aids me in maintaining my upper body strength and is a practice in balance.  After bashing my arm and head into the countertop yesterday, I'd say I have to do a lot more work on perfecting the balance thing. 

Once my ankle heals, the docs tell me it will be a full two months, I'm going to be more wary of those slippery slopes. 

DAYS 185-191 RECOVERY

That one mile road up the mountain just got longer and farther away.  I fractured a bone in my ankle today while walking along a slope on our property.   We just returned from the emergency room.  Those slippery slopes can be hazardous to one's mobility.  l have to see an orthopedic surgeon at Southeastern Sports Medicine first thing tomorrow morning.  How pathetic since I wasn't doing anything but walking.  I wasn't even wearing my stilettos! Fortunately I still have one good leg since the broken ankle is on the same leg as my bummed knee.  I took the ER nurse's crash course, Crutches 101.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, Hawthorne, Garlic, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA

DAYS 170-184 RECOVERY

I haven't abandoned my goal of a one-mile run up the mountain road to claim my "Rocky Moment," but working toward it has been delayed somewhat due to pain and soreness in my left knee.  I've been fortunate that I've never had joint or knee problems before.  I'm right handed, but I must be left kneed as it's my left knee that does most of the work when I'm climbing and supporting myself on our rock wall.  I've been working hard to remove the out-of-control weeds from under and between the rocks and then planting English Ivy. The project is about 3/4 complete, but it too is being delayed while I give my knee a rest.  

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, Lutein, Hawthorne, Garlic, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA,

DAYS 167-169 Recovery

It's been six months since my open heart surgery and I'm feeling wonderful this week, better than I have in almost 1 1/2 years.  My blood pressure is still high, but everything else is going great.  Even my energy is coming back and so far no side effects from the new meds.  

Yesterday I met with the trainer and yoga instructor at Pardee Hospital's Wellness Center, which is adjacent to their Cardio/Pulmonary Rehab Center.  She worked with me on the exercise machines, in addition to teaching me some floor and bench exercises with the free weights.  She was amazed that I could do 140 lbs on the leg press machine.  I'm sure scaling the rock wall along our driveway while pulling the weeds that grow between and behind the rocks, then planting English ivy there is helping to strengthen and build muscle in these skinny legs of mine.  I must have strong legs in order to ride horses again. 

Here's a photo of the some of the wonderful staff at Pardee's Cardio Rehab Center.  They did a fantastic job of taking care of me from mid April until the begging of this month.  I saw them three days a week and they were an important part of my recovery.  I miss them. 

Meds:   Coumadin, Amiodarone, Cardizem, Vayacog, L-Carnitine, Vitamin D, I-Caps, Flax seed oil, Multivitamin, Lutein, Hawthorne, Garlic, B-12, L-Arginine, DHEA, Resveratrol