Dorcas Iris-TWR one week on. I'M back!

ironic

Hi Iris,

Really sorry you are having to go through all this. I wish we could wave a wand and get this awful period over for you.

In the mean time sending you lot of good vibes and to let you know I am thinking of you.

Rest and double rest, ok!

Lv, Ix

marion1952

Hi Iris

I'm not sure whether I wish they had kept you in hospital to keep an eye on you over the next few days, or whether I'm pleased they let you home!!

I feel so frustrated for you, but am really hoping that the next few days will bring an improvement. You're a very strong person, Iris, and you will bounce back from this..

Love from Marion x

ritwren

Morning Iris, we have a saying over here, it never rains but it pours. Thankfully everyone is working hard to get you better and hopefully those anti biotics will soon kick in and you'll start to mend. I'm sure you're frustrated but you know nothing is ever simple. Do try to rest as much as you can.
Many thanks to Cris for keeping us all updated, really appreciate that and hope you are feeling better too.
big gentle hugs, rita

frogmorton

Good Morning Iris Cris et al

Hoping today brings some better health all round.

Thinking of you

Love

and hugs

Toni xx

skezier

Hi Rita,

Bit better than I was thanks. Its the tiredness flower as you know Hey I hope your resting up a bit as well still? ((( ))) xx

Hi All,

Iris text earlier but I am very late.... The wound is no worse so that's good and I so hope that there will be some real improvement for her soon.

She is getting bored though bless her but is resting.

hope your all ok? Hugs to all Cris xx

Hey Iris if you look in a ((( ))) a healing draft and a ton of greens as well. xx

trisher

Hi Iris

I'm so sorry that you are having a lot of problems at the moment. You have been strong throughout your op and after it. Sending this chap he has hundreds of hugs inside him.




love Trish xxx also ((((((()))))))

frogmorton

Hi Iris

Hope you are dooing ok (THANKS cRIS)

Hope you are not too bored???

Incase you are DD is back now from her hols - she will be along to see you soon I expect

Love

and Hugs

Toni xx

barbara12

Hello Iris
Sorry Im am late again, I really hope your wrist is improving, hopefully the infection will clear soon,and there will be no stopping you,
Lots of hugs and love
(((((((())))))
Barbara xx

dreamdaisy

I don't know, I go off for a fortnight, leaving you all the chews you could desire and you go and do this! dorcas, dorcas, dorcas, my darling girl, I am so sorry. I haven't read through everything, just from page 20, but it has gone a little tits-up hasn't it? Infection is always a risk after surgery, and with our depleted immune systems healing always takes longer anyway, but this is beyond the pale. What a low blow, and depressing too. I don't do this often, so brace yourself: (()). Hmmmmm, that's probably not enough, let's try this: ((((())))). Yep, that's better. Rest, rest, rest, and rest some more. Think of the dashing doctor (but there are better ways to get to see him, sweetie!) and if required, we'll re-open MASH for you. Thinking of you. Your Diabolic Damsel.

dorcas

Hi...... Rita, Toni, Cris, Barbara, Christine, Sharon, Trish, Marion, Speedy, Carol, Debs, Sue, Ironic and DD (welcome back)...breathe....

a huge THANKS for all your support, hugs (which I needed big time) and messages....thanks too for being with me again on Friday when I had to go back in to see the hosp ortho.

I had phoned ortho out patients on Friday only for advice about whether to jab the Mtx today (thanks Marion and Rita for suggesting that) and remembered to mention about having an IM Steroid 120mgs at rheummy last week. I was then asked by the nurse to describe how the wally wound was..which at the now open area, had changed shape from a simple open slit to a little circle and was very weepy. ( :oops: sorry about the graphics)

The nurse phoned me back to tell me to come back in as the ortho wanted to see me . So off I trotted with Cris holding my hand and many of you (and a sheep called hope) in my ...now very stretched...pockets!

I have to admit to being very worried. :roll: I know how disastrous a wound infection can be in ortho surgery... and was just so grateful to know I wasn't alone....thanks to Cris's texts and your support en route.

I saw the same ortho surgeon (still very handsome!) who was kindness itself. I was embarrassed at being back in to see him (bad penny)...but he assured me that it was he who wanted to see me..that it was necessary, and that he would only have worried about me all weekend if I'd not come in...what a lovely man. :!:

He examined the wound again, took more blood, temp, pulse and I had a cardiograph done?..then wound cleaned and redressed. he was much more cautious in what he said compared with Wednesday. he said he's not sure what 'we' are dealing with yet with the wally wound and extent of any infection, but that 'we' would stick with the antibiotics and daily wound cleaning, inodine and sterile dressings and rest!. He said to stop the Mtx inj meantime and that both the Mtx & steroid Inj could be masking the infection. he would again see me personally on Tuesday morn when the microbiology etc will be available but to phone immediately if any other changes or if I am worried over the weekend. :?

So....I have been resting (honest I have!) but also needing distraction from the boredom and niggling worry.
so....I spent yesterday writing up (playing around with ) a practical advice leaflet on 'managing with one hand' for peeps having hand surgery...it has helped me to focus on this even if it ends up in the bin!

thanks again to everyone...you are helping me to remain sane.

sorry for the ramblings!

iris x

dreamdaisy

Well, handsome and caring! Some women get all the luck. It is a major setback, I realise that, but you are a resourceful and redoubtable woman dorcas, you will manage this and cope with it, and you know we are behind you all the way. At least your immune system can start to fire up which will help the healing process and that is a good thing. I've had a blissful two weeks without meth, pain less, walking better, I really wonder if I have to take it at all. We all say it's about finding the drug combo that works for you, and in my case I think it's humira and preds. Take it easy today, and good luck on Tuesday. DD

dorcas

thanks diabolical

I'm glad to hear you had a good hol and that you've found a combo of drugs that suits you.

really nice to have you back!

love n hugs

Iris x

ironic

Hi Iris, Well I'm glad they are looking after you, so good luck on Tuesday. I would have been worried too. What a awful set back for you.

Great idea making a record of how to cope with one hand. It would really help a lot of people on here and eles where. When you are in pain etc it is difficult to think straight so it would be wonderful to have around.

Maybe, you will be published.

Lv, Ix

speedalong

Hi Iris,

sounds like you are being resourceful to keep busy yet rested!! I can see your leaflet listed under publications and resources on the forum ... Marion and I had better get writing our own guide to practical solutions for hip op peeps!

It is good that the consultant is taking such a personal interest and monitoring the infection carefully (and a definite bonus that he is so good looking!!) Hope your immune system and the antibiotics hurry up and fight the infection and clear it up and the consultant can see an improvement on Tuesday.

Speedy

marion1952

Hello Iris

Sooo glad that you are being well looked after by the Ortho ... that makes a big difference. Keeping my fingers crossed for you that there is an improvement on Tuesday.

That information leaflet sounds a great idea - please don't bin it!


Love from Marion x

skezier

Hi Iris,

Still think your lucky to have a good looking doc but even luckier they are so good! Try not to worry flower and hopefully tuesday will see a change and big heal of the wound.

Leaving more greens and healing drafts and a ((( ))) Cris xxx

Oh and Hope said you can borrow her again if needed She was very well behaved till the cafe eh?

frogmorton

Hi Iris

Hoping you have had a good day and are not too bored??

Those antibiotics might just kick-in soon esp if you are off the mtx for now.

Gladd DD is back to keep you on your toes??

You take care

Love

Toni xx

annie_mial

Iris, have just caught up with this.........so sorry you've have such an unwanted blip! Hopefully the AB's will kick in during the weekend and tomorrow will see an improvement.

Glad you had Cris to keep you company, I don't mind coming along any time she can't make it, I love trains........I sleep so peacefully on them!

Annie

lavenderlady

I'm waiting for TWR anyday and have been reading up on your account of it all, although I know the wrist is so badly damaged it is going to take a good lot of work to sort it out, but now after reading your account of it including blips I'm not so nervous, how long did you have to have a plaster cast before it could come off ( I'm dreading that bit ) I'm diabetic so know the healing process will not be as fast as it should be have you any tips to help me out when I come home from hospital, got plenty of help so not too worried but the physio and your appointments made me stop and think of how much we take for granted when our joints work perfect I mean just turning your wrist over it never occured to me it would be a hard task to relearn, when you have a plaster cast how far up does it go ?? see the plaster cast again that bit worrys me because I have OA in my shoulder and elbow and in practically every joint in my body, thnaks for your up to date info it helps a lot michelle

dreamdaisy

Morning dorcas, I hope all is as well as it can be with you this morning. My fingers are firmly crossed that improvement is setting in. DD

dorcas

Morning
ironic, marion, speedy, cris, chris,annie, toni, michelle, DD

thanks for all your encouraging messages, hugs, greens and helpful comments and offers. xxxxx
annie..I'm sure you would fit in my pocket tomorrow...as long as you don't mind keeping control of 'hope' whose table manners in the museum cafe were questionable

wally wound is definitely looks a bit better this morn... red area gone..so that has to be good eh? so I am feeling less anxious and more hopeful about it all. :!:

you are right...It's good to have the continuity of having the same ortho looking at it tomorrow........ and it is a bonus that he is handsome as well as having such a lovely bedside manner.

love and ((((hugs))))

Iris x

ritwren

Sounds like you're responding well to those antibiotics Iris thank goodness. Your Consultand sounds like McDreamy It's good to know you have somone like that looking out for you. Hopefully things will continue on the up now, fingers crossed. Glad to hear you're resting and have a new project to help wile away the hours. Hang in there my friend and good luck for tomorrow.
big hugs always, rita

dorcas

Hi Michelle,

I'm glad my thread has helped you feel less nervous about having a TWR.
In answer to your questions:

I had a PoP plaster of paris 'half slab' for the first week.
The PoP goes from just below the knuckles and up 2/3 of the forearm...so it leaves your fingers and thumb and elbow free to move. the whole thing has to be elevated at all times ...that bit's really important as it helps drain the swelling etc.

I had the PoP removed at two weeks post op, stitches were removed and steri strips on and a dry dressing on top.
I saw physio at that 2 week appointment together with the surgeon who moved the joint and also asked me to move it...bending the wrist and turning the hand over...which I was nervous doing and wasn't much good at! the surgeon gave specific instructions about what physio I had to do in the next 6 weeks .
I was then sent to orthotics to have a specially made moulded 'plastic' splint. The orthotic splint is remarkably light & neat in size... basically it's best described as a rigid half shell that supports from the palm of the hand, has a gap for the thumb to go through and supports the wrist and half of the forearm and is fixed across the wrist and arm with 4 straps...

The idea is that you take the splint off for physio and showering but wear it at all other times. It took me quite a bit of time to get used to it especially removing it for the first time as it fits so neatly to your own contours.....you do feel vulnerable, but like everything else you soon get the hang of it!

If you want I will e mail you the 'leaflet' I've just written with practical tips on how to manage with one hand...you can tell me if it's of any use!! I'll pm you my email address and you can take it from there.

keep in touch and if there's anything else I can help with let me know...have you been given a date yet for the op?

Iris x

page35

Hi Iris
Glad it is looking a bit better and a nice handsome doc is always a good thing
what a very good idea to write a leaflet, i might need it if my wrist gets any worse so definitely don't bin it.
Take care and make sure you rest
Sharonx

speedalong

Hi Iris,

glad the wound is improving, hopefully those anti biotics are kicking in and you can get Wally back on track again.

Speedy