Hiccups, scheduling, driving and more! Today’s posting will contain a “hodge podge” of information. As I posted last time, my journey to receiving my prosthesis is going very well. Those following me from the beginning know that very early in the process, I made my mind up to face this challenge head on! In the last post, I shared the time table for me walking in about four more weeks. That, of course depends on all the the stars lining up. The biggest potential hiccup in the process is a report from my attending physician stating clearly the exact reason for me requiring a proshtesis. (As if a general statement like “patient is an above the knee amputee” is not enough!) When that report is on file, the process will continue in earnest. At my last appointment, Steven (my prosthetist) told me that his office will call me to set my measurement/casting appointment when all the paperwork is in place. As of this writing, I still have not heard from them, but I am still optimistic that I will receive a call in time for a Wednesday (Sept 17th) appointment! I am DEFINITELY keeping my schedule open that day!! Speaking of schedules, back in late August, I started seeing a few patients on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons (2-3 hour days). On the first couple of days, I went home satisfied to be back in the office on a limited basis, but very tired!! I am pleased to report that this past Tuesday (Sept 9th), I worked a FULL 8-hour day! I went home at the end of the day feeling exhilarated. I felt like I had taken a huge step forward in my recovery process. As I think about work, I have come to the conclusion that the thing I miss most (now that I have been out of the office for an extended period) is my interaction with my team and our patients. I love my profession. I enjoy the technical aspect of it. I enjoy learning new things, and staying current on the existing procedures. All that is very satisfying, but it is the relationships that make my profession the best in the world!! A huge “Thank You” to my team– Karen, Shari, Tammy, Rachel, Kristal, Marilyn and Tonya. You guys play a big part in making my workdays great. Another “shout out” to our family of great patients. Because of you, there is rarely a dull moment at the office! It is my intention to gradually increase my hours at the office. Next up on the progress report, driving. Several weeks ago, at a follow-up appointment with my surgeon, Dr. Mullins, I was cleared to drive. He advised me that because I will be driving left-footed, I should start off slow and easy. He reminded me that years of right-footed driving would mean that in a stressful situation that required a quick response, I would naturally try to hit the brake with my (missing) right foot. I need to relearn to drive. The first few times behind the wheel were interesting. I feel that I focused more–like a new driver. Also, despite my best intentions for a smooth stop, my left foot stomped the brakes a bit hard, resulting in a few spastic stops! I am doing much better now! You see, you can teach an old dog new tricks!! My relearning experience has led me to question, will I ever be able to drive a manual (stick-shift) vehicle again? When I find out, I will let you know. Many years ago, my first driving experience was in a manual transmission car. I’ve owned a few over the years. I really enjoy driving them. If I can’t drive a manual transmission, I will miss it, but I will be grateful that automatic transmissions were invented!! On Friday, I had an appointment in Joplin. Using my crutches, I got into our Highlander, drove the 30+ miles, attended to my appointment, got back into my car and drove the 30+ miles home. I was so excited, because Shari trusted me to make the trip ALL BY MYSELF!! I feel like a big boy now–so independent. I wanted to do the Joplin trip as a “dry run” for an upcoming Kansas City trip. I will be attending a continuing dental education meeting up there soon. I am quite sure I can make the KC trip alone. I am a bit nervous about it, but I also feel I will be just fine. (My 25th dental school reunion will be in Lincoln, NE in a couple of weeks. That may be pushing my limits. I may require a chauffeur for that one!) Well, I guess that is about all for now. On the grand scheme of things, there is nothing really earth-shattering in this post, but for me it is all very exciting. I still miss my leg, but I am learning each day that I can get along without it. The sense of accomplishment with each bit of progress really excites me. I know my life is very different than it was two months ago. I also know I am adapting and overcoming. Thanks for all your support of time, thoughts and prayers. Together, we are all making a difference in the world around us! Until next time.
Posted on: Sat, 13 Sep 2014 17:58:09 +0000
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