DAYS 312 - 324 RECOVERY

Some days are full of surprises, but not always the kind one wants. Went to the doc last Friday suspecting I had bronchitis again.  Instead of being acute or chronic, with me bronchitis should be called serial, but then again, I guess that's what chronic means.

Before I knew what was happening  I was taken on a "joy" ride in an ambulance to the hospital ER. As they were wheeling me out, I yelled back to the nurse, "What about my bronchitis?" Just prior to that I asked her why I couldn't just drive myself to the ER. For the second time she looked at me as if I'd lost my mind and answered, "If your heart's not working, you won't have to worry about the bronchitis."

Having had open-heart surgery just eleven months ago, I felt cheated that my rebuilt heart was giving out on me so soon. For what they cost, medical procedures should surely come with some kind of guarantee or warranty, say of, at least a year. I also had a fleeting thought that maybe this one did come with a lifetime one and I had reached that limit. Although my symptoms shouted heart attack to the medical staff, it was only a severe case of bronchitis like I thought initially. Five hours later I was happily on my way home with a prescription for an antibiotic in my hand.  

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

DAYS 296 - 311 RECOVERY

A few days ago I strapped on my ankle air cast and knee brace and with my goat, Olive, took a walk down the long incline to the mailbox.  I was able to make it back up to the cabin without needing the goat to pull me, without stopping to rest and without huffing and puffing.  What a difference a year makes.  My rebuilt heart is serving me well.  Now if I could just get the scary high blood pressure under control. 

I wrapped up physical therapy yesterday.  The reevaluation shows I have regained full range of motion in my ankle although one side shows a bit of weakness.  Nothing that can't be corrected by doing the exercise routine they outlined for me to do at home.  

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

DAYS 283-295 RECOVERY

I was expecting a good outcome after the x-rays of my ankle last week, but that didn't happen. After three months my ankle is still showing only minimal bone growth.  The doc feels my age has much to do with it.  Seventy year old bones don't heal as fast as fifteen year old bones.  At this point I'm just hoping that it heals eventually and I'd like for "eventually" to come soon.  The doc wants to see me again at the end of February for more x-rays.  In the meantime I have to continue wearing the ankle brace.  I was fitted with a knee brace that's supposed to give me some support when walking downhill which I do a lot of here. Once the weather clears up a bit, I want to try walking the road to see how far I can get.   

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, Augmentin, Tessalon

DAYS 270 - 282 RECOVERY

Just another little bump in the mountain road.  The winter crud (killer sore throat, nasal and chest congestion, and almost constant coughing) kept me from physical therapy this week.  After more x-rays this coming Monday, I'll know if there's been any significant bone growth in the ankle.  The doc will probably want to x-ray my left knee also since it's painful when walking down hill.  By now I expected to be well on my way to navigating that one mile run up the mountain road, but right now I'd be a happy camper if I could walk it. 

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 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