Da Thumb-- Physical Therapy Days

Speaking of the thumb, I've been going to a hand therapy place in Fox Lake for therapy to try to get full use of the thing back.

They took all sorts of measurements and have me on thumb exercises as well as wrap-downs. Michelle, who runs the place is also a Spring Grove resident living in the southern mansion home by Main Street and Wilmont Road. They have the huge horse pasture next to them, but don't own it.

Everybody's favorite in the pasture is the lone donkey named Julio (as she told me). The donkey who thinks he's a horse. Quite a character.

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of doing the chimpanzee dexterity exercise where I put about 150 steel pins into a board. I refrained from making monkey noises, however.

The "wound" has mostly closed up so hopefully it won't be much longer. It is still sore when I touch something.

Who's Have Thought That a Thumb Could Cause This Much Trouble. --RoadDog

More Good "Thumb" News and Some Really Good Eatin', But 'Spensive

This past Tuesday, I had an appointment in Crystal Lake with the lady doctor who operated on my thumb. She also was extremely pleased with the progress made, and scheduled me for one more check up in a month. Again, she scared me saying that she didn't have much hope for saving the thumb. I knew it was serious, but NOT THAT SERIOUS!!! Liz knew, but the poor old patient did not know. Probably a good thing I didn't know the seriousness of it.

Who's have thought that I could end up with problems of this magnitude from a thistle. I really hate those thistles now.

1776 FOR LUNCH

In celebration, we drove over to US-14, Virginia Street in Crystal Lake and Northwest Highway throughout most of Chicagoland, and stopped at a place I've been wanting to eat at for quite some time, 1776. They describe it as a "Revolutionary Experience." We had thought that it was more like a coffee shop place, but found it to be an upscale restaurant with upscale prices. We normally stay away from places like this, but were already inside when we found out.

Fortunately, we had the lunch menu, which was cheaper (I imagine). Oh well, we're in the mood to celebrate the good news from the doctor, so we went ahead and ordered. I had the best pizza I've ever had. It was a lobster pizza with big chunks of the creature along with caramelized onions and two types of peppers and loaded with cheese. It would be classified an individual pizza and cost $14. Man, was that ever a good pizza and even as small as it was, I couldn't finish it.

Liz had a $9 Angus burger with some of the best fries I've ever had. They were done perfectly. Okay, I snitched a few off her plate.

Recommending 1776 and Watch Those Gosh Darn Thistles. --RoadDog

Great News-- Part 2

Yesterday, I went to the infectious disease doctor and after looking at the thumb, he said I no longer needed to go to hydrotherapy and, BEST OF ALL, the picc would come out. That means no more nurse visits, blood pickups or supply drop offs.

Plus, with the picc out, I regain use of my left arm. I don't know why the picc was put in my left arm anyway. It should have gone into the right arm as that hand was already out of commission. With the picc in the left arm, I essentially lost use of both hands.

Today, I went to the hospital ambulatory unit, and in 15 minutes, the picc was out. Freedom!!!!

Now, I'll have to work the thumb to regain use, but at least this is on my time.

Sure Hope I Don't Have to Do This Again. --RoadDog

Great News-- July is Over!!

My great thing for this month is the end of July. This past July (and a good part of June) was not the best in memory. It was actually quite bad, starting off with time in a hospital, the first time I've been in one since high school and that was just an overnighter.

Then, I had a picc put into my left arm and Liz had to give me ivs of antibiotics, plus, I had to go to the hospital every day for hydrotherapy , packing, and wrpping of the thumb. Then there were lots of visits with the three doctors involved with my case.

What I like about being retired is the ability to get up in the morning and decide what I want to do. This is not DECIDING what I want to do. It's a more like a job. Be here, go there, do that.

But, yesterday and today, things really changed for the better.

Sure Glad the Month is Over!!! --RoadDog

The Thumb and NTN

This past Tuesday it was a trip to NIMC in McHenry for hydrotherapy and then to Crystal Lake for a doctor's appointment with the woman who operated on the thumb.

We had some time to kill, so went by Finn McCool's in the downtown, but they don't open until 4 pm. So, we went to a great Greek place called Around the Clock on US-14.

The doctor is happy about the thumb and says it appears that I won't lose it. I didn't know I was in that much danger of losing it, but am happy that I'll be keeping it.

Drove Il-176 to Side Outs in Island Lake, which now has NTN back, and has 10 cent wings on Thursdays from 4 to 6. We'll have to get there for that some time.

Then drove 176 to Docks in Wauconda. It is on a bluff overlooking Bang's Lake with quite a view. Played NTN and again didn't do well. These were some VERY hard questions today.

While there, we got a call from Kelly, who said she and Kevin were going to go to Pug Mahone's in Fox Lake to play some NTN, so we drove there. We had two top twenties while working together. We used to play a lot of NTN at Pug's, but not much anymore as they changed their hours and food and drink specials.

Thumb's a Real Hassle

One of the things I like about being retired is the ability to get up each morning and say to myself, "Self, what am I going to do today?"

Now, that is a great luxury and something to look forward to. But, NOT No MORE.

Now, it is "What do we have to do with the thumb today."

For example, today, Liz had to take the antibiotics out of the refrigerator at 6:30 am, and right now, at 10:05 am, I have it tube hooked up to my left arm and receiving the meds. The meds are refrigerated and have to be taken out three hours before use.

At 11 am, I have an appointment to go to the hospital for hydrotherapy and then at 1:30, we go to Crystal Lake to see the hand doctor who operated on the thumb.

Any Way You Look at IT, This is a Pretty-Well Planned Out Day. And to Think, I Could Have Been at Topsail Beach Enjoying the Water, Sand, and Sun. --RoadDog

Update on Da THUMB

After two trips to the er/clinic, I finally found out that I had cellulitis, something I've never heard of before. This is when bacteria gets under your skin and it is a fairly serious condition which could have led to a loss of the thumb or even arm if left to run its course.

Went to the emergency room at the Northern Illinois Medical Center in McHenry and the doctor immediately admitted me and set up an operation for the following day. A hand specialist was called in and after a two hour operation, I was out. They believe they got it all out, let's hope.

This has really put a crimp on my summer fun. I can't do much of anything now, with daily trips to the hospital for hydrotherapy and dressing of the right thumb. Plus, Liz is getting quite good at giving me the home iv. All this goes on for another two weeks at a minimum.

My Recommendation to You is to Wear Gloves When Working in the Yard. --RoadDog

Thumb's Still in Bad SHAPE

It's now been nine days of pain and finding out all the things I can no longer do. It's really amazing how we take our thumbs for granted, but without them, life is a lot less pleasant. Goodbye writing, clicking seatbelts, and, even shifting from reverse, forward or park in out Malibu, as you have to press a button in the column. And these are just a few of the things.

Last Friday, we went to the emergency room of St. Francis Hospital in Litchfield, and had it looked at. They couldn't find anything and gave me the meanest shot I've ever had. I mean this one REALLY, REALLY HURT. I was given a prescription.


NO IMPROVEMENT

Sunday, we drove to Springfield, Illinois, and it still wasn't better, so Monday, we went to the Springfield Clinic which is quite a large complex. We were there for almost three hours and they did another exploration and lancing. I believe they might have gotten the culprit , part of a thistle sticker, out.


I was given a stronger antibiotic and pain killers as it is quite hurtful. By Wednesday, the thumb was starting to drain and has continued until today. However, we are planning to go to the local hospital emergency room tomorrow if there is no improvement.

Sure Tired of This Sore Thumb. --RoadDog

Life with a Sore Thumb

Miserable. And especially miserable when on vacation. Talk about bad timing!!!

I believe the culprit to be my yard, specifically, a type of sticker plant I was removing last week. I ended up with a sticker in my right thumb. I pulled it out, well, part of it anyway. There was a little bit left and I decided to get the rest of it out later. I forgot.

Normally, this is no problem. I'm always getting scrapes, stuck, bitten by spiders, (only stung twice), sore fingers, blood from scratches, etc., while tooling around the yard. That's just par for the course.

But, this accident went above and beyond anything yard-related I've ever encountered, other than the cut in the eye from a mum plant that got infected and put me out of commission for a week back in fall of 2004.

I have been in pain (and I don't handle pain at all) ever since we left on the vacation last Thursday. Until yesterday, it was about double its usual size with a big area of swelling. It's still big, but decreasing as we finally have puss coming out of it. Gross and smelly.

Since Friday I have been to one hospital emergency room in Litchfield, Illinois, and the Springfield Clinic.

I'll be writing some more on the pain.

Yard's Trying to Get Me!!! --RoadDog