Shoulder surgery week 2 end

Yesterday marked two weeks since my surgery. I had a Dr appt at 9:30, so we had a test run of getting up, eating, showering, putting on clothes and figuring out how to button and zip pants with one hand. I was seriously considering investing in some elastic waistband maternity pants, but it wasn't altogether impossible, so I didn't.
My Dr has been really great. As I've been seeing him since 2008, I think we're both happy to be a certain distance down the road of making my shoulder better. And now what we've all been waiting so patiently for, the prognosis! According to Dr. Collville, who has been operating on shoulders arthroscopically since the 70s I might add, I was born with incredibly loose shoulders, particularly in the posterior direction. What this means is that when I move it in certain ways it pops out of the socket and gets inflamed and hurts. In addition, he found a tear in my labrum which I believe may have started as a small year when Max ran after a squirrel one day while we were running, and has been getting bigger with each row I hoe in the garden. So the doc showed me all of the images from my "capsulariphy" or "tightening of the shoulder capsule". What looked like industrial strength nautical ropes were tiny threads that he used to gather up extra capsule tissue and cinch it up. For the torn area, he lassoed what looked like a war tattered flag, cinching it up just like the other areas. He did four of these sutures in total.
My main complaint for the doc was not pain, but the inability to sleep. He recommended I take something at night, so I opted for Vicadin 7.5mg, the stronger variety of ocycodone's well known cousin. I guess I thought the ocycodone was a bit heavy to continue taking, but it gets the job done. In hindsight, I should have gone with the stronger drugs, but I'm really uncomfortable with the idea of a strong narcotic as a sleep aid.
Dr. Collville seemed concerned about my lack of range of motion, but not overly surprised. He's sending me back to Helen, with whom I did 6 months of pre-surgery PT. She is amazing. If there is anyone I know can get me back in action, it's her.
Last night Kevin and I enjoyed our very last day off together (he took 2 weeks to take care of me) by watching 2 long movies. One thing Collville mentioned was that it would be very hard to "mess up" the surgery at this point, something that had previously kept me sleeping on the couch in my sling propped up with pillows. He said I could lay down in bed with some pillows to support my left side. Two nights ago I came into the bedroom crying at 7am because I hadn't slept a wink on the couch. The next night I tried sleeping in bed but came back out to the couch because I was so paranoid of turning onto my shoulder that I didn't sleep at all. Seems nothing was working. Last night I put a pillow on my chest and "hugged" it, and I was fairly comfortable. The doc said the pain will stop me from making any false moves. He was right. Just a tiny tweak in my arm sends shooting pains. But I'm learning what I can and can't do, and more importantly how to sleep without my sling and ice machine.
Today I was a complete sloth, reading photography blogs and gathering ideas for an upcoming wedding that my friend Matt from work asked me to shoot with him.
I can't say thank you enough times to everyone who has sent cards, baskets, carepackages, emails, texts and phone calls filled to the brim with love, well wishes and prayers. Getting through this has been much easier with all of your support. And I can't leave out my incredible husband who has anticipate my every need, and ones he didn't, adapted and responded to. His commitment to my recovery and wonderful sense of humor has gotten me through all of the rough bits in one piece.

Shoulder surgery day ?

I've lost track. Being cooped up is starting to wear on me. I walked on the treadmill for 20 minutes this afternoon, I just couldn't stand sitting on my butt anymore.
Pain last night was difficult to sleep through but today hasn't been bad. The ice machine has been a really great luxury. Kevin is making guacamole to go with our chimichangas. I can't wait for dinner!

Shoulder surgery day 9

The sun is shining into the living room window between refreshing rain showers, I'm sitting on the couch with my gameready ice machine on and a seed catalog in my lap. It's going to be a good day.

Shoulder surgery week 1 end

Despite my intense digestive issues and having gotten very little sleep comparatively, I feel quite a bit more alive today. Ive been adding in some leg exercises to my PT sessions lying on my back and trying to walk around more. I Received a most wonderful package today that was so thoughtful it put me in tears, and my valentines day gift for Kevin arrived on time! Gourmet culinary salts from around the world. Shhh, dont tell him I'm just settling in now for some much anticipated messaging from Bill Bush.

1am update: just had a long anticipated celebration (with those little tubes you blow into with the rolls of paper that project forward courtesy of Mrs. Davis) of much intestinal relief! Max was not amused and began biting at what he probably thought were projectile snakes.

Shoulder surgery day 6

More of the same today. Not sure when the pain is supposed to lessen. Pills still making me very sleepy. Must have slept most of the day today in between PT. kevin is making chicken caesar salad I can't wait for a big bowl of lettuce. It's been a while. Dr. Ok'd a laxative so hopefully that kicks in soon. Other than that my vision is a bit blurry on these pills which makes looking at my phone or reading less desirable than closing my eyes.

Shoulder surgery day 5

I may have finally managed to follow the worst day yet with the best day yet. No illness, headache fading, I feel alert and somewhat normal. Just munching on some delicious bran prune muffins made by my wonderful chef/husband and chewing on a few dried apricots. I'll let you do the math. :)
Then I got a phone call from the most compassionate 4 year old who was genuinely concerned about the "holes" in my shoulder. What a sweetheart. She says in her bright, loving voice "how are you feeling Nat-a-eee?"

Shoulder surgery day 4

Could this possibly only be day 4? I think last night definitely counts as the worst yet. After some delicious tacos and two episodes of Reilly, Ace of Spies I was rudely awaken by serious nausea. Managed to throw up on my My Little Pony tray table but I was still hooked up to my ice machine so I couldn't run to the bathroom. This continued until I had thrown up a total of 6 times. It is at that point I decided no more meds until I felt stable. By noon I could keep some yogurt down so I took 5mg of oxycodone after taking nothing for 12 hours. Caffeine was also making me nauseous so I've been fighting a mean caffeine withdrawal headache.
Once I was able to keep some food in my stomach, I took a ciesta for the afternoon. Woke up, did more pt, more ice. Then I looked outside to see my best friend Claire dropping something off at the door. What a sweetie, a care package. She must have read my mind because in my shape im not much for conversation. But now I've got this little guy to keep me company. Thanks Beagles! Thank you everyone for your texts, love and prayers!