Friday, March 20, 2009

Day #4 Off a Continuous Infusion

Well, I thought that today would be an interesting day. I asked the Lord to give me a day that would be like the days that I have left to live before me. So, these are the things I learned today:

1. I sought physical therapy for my shoulder, now week 15 out of rotator cuff arthroscopy (threw that football with my Dad perhaps a wee bit too much, growing up). My shoulder is not completely 'Frozen', but I am behind in the process of recuperation to gain full function of my shoulder, with time. And pain. I was stretched and pulled and tried pulling a pulley while bearing the utmost amount of pain that I possibly could. Never in my life have I 'walked in' to a rehabilitation program and a postoperative recovery as bitter as this one has been. But I knew what I was getting into. 
2. I need to exercise my shoulder every day, purposefully pulling my shoulder adhesions apart from the shoulder capsule. I get to decide when my exercises will be done, so that I can prepare myself for self-torture. I went through this surgery so that my arm would be better, not worse. One day, my favorite dream is to jump in the swimming pool. No iv, no battery, no pump.
3. It is imperative that I constantly drink water, as I wake up completely parched in the morning. Perhaps I have to keep drinking water all day long, as if my continuous infusion by iv was still 'going'.
4. I'll probably have to take a nap for the rest of my life, because in the afternoon, I hit a 'wall' and I have to go down for the count. I need to wake up on my own time, and not be interrupted. If someone or something wakes me up, I am groggy and listless for the rest of the day.
5. I can not do more than my body tells me to do.
6. Most of all, I give thanks to God for this miracle he has given me. I do not have to turn around every time I move and carry a ball and chain (i.e., my iv bag and my iv tubing). God will use this miracle for His glory, and as a witness to His power in my life. You, too can have God's power in your life.


Gotta go. Going downstairs to my husband so I can appear to be just like any other wife...mobile, thinking, and happy to see him. Except that now, everything is different. I can walk.