I am home, still VERY swollen & in lots of pain. Day of surgery was a disaster, including being made to wait over 5 hours in a waiting room before even being brought up to the unit; to the dr. prescribing the wrong meds to go home with which necessitated a trip to the dr's. office after leaving the hospital while I was still groggy from anesthesia, to DH locking the car keys in the car. That was the point at which I totally lost it. There was NO way I was waiting for Pop-a-lock - called Jen and she left class to come get me.

I have a marcaine drip IV in my hand and have been keeping it elevated & iced since Wed. But I have to say, this feels worse than after my last back surgery.

Just wanted to say that I'm fine though. Had planned on trying to go to work today but that didn't happen. LOL

By Trina~moderator on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:00 pm:

(((((Karen)))))

What a nightmare! I'm glad you didn't go to work. Rest and take it easy!

By Eve on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:06 pm:

OH, Karen! I didn't even know you were having surgery!! I hope you are feeling well. I'm sorry you had such a stressful day!((HUG))

By Heaventree on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:07 pm:

I didn't know either!

Here's to a speedy recovery, hope you are feeling better soon.

By Luvn29 on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:08 pm:

Karen, what an awful day! I definitely don't blame you one bit for calling your daughter to come get you! You were in no shape to wait for "Jiffy Lock"! LOL!

By Tripletmom on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:09 pm:

WOW Karen,I didn't realize you had surgery either.I hope you feel better soon ((HUGS))

By Colette on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:21 pm:

Karen, I missed your surgery post too. I hope you are feeling better soon.

By Hol on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 07:52 pm:

Karen - I hope that each day gets easier for you, and the pain and swelling lessen each day. Gosh, just facing surgery is enough without all the other complications, but isn't that always the way? Murphy's Law!

Anyway, get better. Don't be in a hurry to go back to work until you are feeling up to it. (((HUGS))). I hope you don't work weekends.

By Crystal915 on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 08:12 pm:

((((Karen)))) Feel better soon! I didn't realize you were going in for surgery, I must have been out of the loop on that post. I hope you have a quick recovery!! Get some rest!

By Yjja123 on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 09:23 pm:

I hope you are feeling better soon!
((((Hugs))))

By Andi on Friday, September 15, 2006 - 09:37 pm:

I didn't know the surgery was scheduled. I hope you feel better soon. Take care of yourself!! ((HUGS))

By Marcia on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 09:07 am:

Karen, I'm so sorry you've had to deal with so much crap around this surgery! I hope you're feeling much better quickly!!

By Karen~admin on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 09:16 am:

We are leaving for the drs. office-there is redness, heat & swelling from the bandage going down my arm, drew a line last night, it's about 2.5" further this AM. Called dr. last night, they just said come in this AM. Running a fever too. Honestly, I am scared right now!!

By Colette on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 09:20 am:

Good luck Karen.

By Debbie on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 09:24 am:

{{{Karen}}} Oh gosh, I hope everything is okay. I am glad you are going in...you know, a red line can mean infection and blood poisoning!

I didn't realize you were having surgery so soon. I hope you are feeling better soon.

{{{{{hugs}}}}}

By Andi on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 09:50 am:

Oh Karen...I will be thinking about you today. Good Luck and let us know as soon as you can how you are doing.

By Yjja123 on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 10:04 am:

You are in my thoughts and prayers Karen!

By Crystal915 on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 12:46 pm:

((((Karen)))) Let us know how you're doing.

By Nicki on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 02:32 pm:

Karen, you are in my prayers. Please let us know when you can how you are doing.

By Tink on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 05:28 pm:

{{{Karen}}} I hope that everything is alright. I'll be keeping you in my thoughts and prayers. Please let us know how you are doing.

By Karen~admin on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 05:43 pm:

~~~SIGH~~~

They took the entire bandage/splint off. Changed antibiotics. Rewrapped in a *boxing glove* type splint & bandage. The one that was put on following surgery was way too tight. This is much more comfortable, but much more bulky. Still go back Monday, they are planning to put a cast on it then.

I have *really* bony wrists, and when I had the other cast on, it was rubbing my wrist bone. I KNEW it had been rubbed raw, but I was so not prepared for what I saw. It looks as if the skin is split over an inch long over the bone.

Anyway, I am really glad I called him last night and saw him this morning, there were no obvious signs of infection (like pus.....EEWWWWWWWWWW) but the new meds should take care of any that might be there. And with the new dressing, the swelling in my fingers is FINALLY going down!! So things are much better now. :-)

By Annie2 on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 05:56 pm:

Karen, glad things are better. Good call to see the doctor!
What kind of surgery did you have done?

By Ginny~moderator on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 06:05 pm:

Oh Karen - you do have the worst "luck"

By Karen~admin on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 06:07 pm:

Annie, I slipped & broke my hand & tore a tendon 2 weeks ago.

By Pamt on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 06:14 pm:

I had no idea Karen! Glad you got things taken care of and hopefully you'll be rapidly on the road to recovery.

By Annie2 on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 06:17 pm:

Oh my goodness! I, too, hope you have a speedy recovery!

By Hol on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 08:22 pm:

Glad you're more comfortable. Gosh, you and Jen have had your share in the past couple months! (((HUGS))).

By Brandy on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 10:54 pm:

I'm glad to see it's getting better...

By Truestori on Saturday, September 16, 2006 - 11:31 pm:

Karen,
I hope you have a very speedy recovery. Many e-hugs!!!

By Shellyg on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 01:34 am:

Karen,
What a nightmare, you poor thing. I hope you get really good drugs and feel better soon! LOL!

By Dawnk777 on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 03:12 am:

Karen, it sounds like the visit to the doctor, was well worth it! Hope you are feeling better soon!

By Debbie on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 09:04 am:

Karen, I am so glad you went to the doctor. Hopefully, you will have a much faster recovery now. I hope you are feeling better soon.

By Dana on Sunday, September 17, 2006 - 12:24 pm:

Karen, just came back online. Hope you heal quickly. Guess you won't be typing too much.

By Dandjmom on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 10:21 am:

Oh sorry hon, Must have missed about the surgery. Glad you saw the doc. Hope you feel better and no need to worry aobut work, I'm sure they are willing to wait until your able to return without discomfort. Take care.

By Dandjmom on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 10:23 am:

Oh sorry hon, Must have missed about the surgery. Glad you saw the doc. Hope you feel better and no need to worry aobut work, I'm sure they are willing to wait until your able to return without discomfort. Take care.

By Kernkate on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 11:11 am:

{{{Karen}}}Hope all is going well for you.
Please let us know how you make out today.

By Andi on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 05:22 pm:

With everything that has happened over the past couple years you are bound to get some good luck...maybe you should try the lottery!

Wishing you have a speedy recovery!

By Karen~admin on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 07:42 pm:

Sorry, I am just *not here* much right now. The swelling has returned, but it was put into a hard cast today. I think I made an enemy of the cast girl, because I insisted on extra padding over the split skin and also insisted she not put it so tight. I think she thought I was trying to tell her how to do her job. At this point I honestly couldn't care less. It is hurting *way* more than I could have imagined.

Also went back to work today. Not bad enough that there is a good week of work backed up, I can still only type w/one hand.

Hopefully by this time next week I will start feeling lots better. I *thought* I had a high pain tolerance, but I guess not.

I can tell you this - if I ever start to consider the surgery for carpal tunnel, I'll have to think long & hard before doing that.

Thanks for the well wishes & good thoughts. I probably won't post much for a week or 2 or 3 but I will be reading every day!

By Crystal915 on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 07:51 pm:

(((((Karen)))))) We'll be thinking of you!!

By Tripletmom on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 09:10 pm:

I wish I could go to work for you.I hope you're feeling better soon.((HUGS))

By Hol on Monday, September 18, 2006 - 11:09 pm:

Take care of yourself. We will be here thinking about you. (((HUGS)))

By Fraggle on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 08:58 am:

I hope your hand starts feeling better soon. (((Karen)))

By Kernkate on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 09:28 am:

{{{Karen}}} Hope you are feeling better really soon!
I know the feeling after breaking my wrist last year and having surgery. Take care of yourself.

By Beth on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 10:07 am:

Hope you feel better soon! Hang in there! ((HUGS))

By Breann on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 10:22 am:

((((hugs))))

Hang in there!

By Reds9298 on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 10:47 am:

Lots of hugs to you!! I hope you are feeling better soon.

By Debbie on Tuesday, September 19, 2006 - 01:37 pm:

Oh Karen, how terrible. Nothing is ever easy with you these days!! . I hope you are feeling better soon.