Disappointment in the doctor's office

I was really excited to get a last-minute appointment with the surgeon yesterday, but came out rather disappointed with the results. I've dislocated my knee five times in nine years. There have also been a few fractures, and ongoing instability. Throw a toddler into the mix, and - needless to say - I'm pretty overwhelmed at the thought of this continuing to happen. I was 17 when it first happened, at which point I was warned that it was highly likely to happen again. We talked surgery, but decided against it because I was so young, in hopes that I would recover well and not have to worry about it again any time soon. At that point I had "qualified" for two different surgeries. Unfortunately the injury happened again, and again, and again, and again! Surgeries were often discussed, but scratched from the list for one reason or another: It's a long recovery, I was moving three hours away to go to University, it might not help, and it could actually further my injury, rather than help it. So here I am five dislocations later wondering what the hell I'm supposed to do. It's become a day-to-day fear, not knowing if I can safely walk down the street without my knee giving out, or worse. Unfortunately my surgeon informed me that they have cut back on the number of knee surgeries and he doesn't do as many as he used to. The only one he does now helps tracking, which is basically how your knee cap moves within your knee/leg, and where it settles when you stop moving. My tracking at this point is (relatively) okay. My patella goes where it's supposed to, and stays where it should, but for some reason it still goes out. There's no point in putting me through a long painful surgery that is meant to cure tracking, when that's not my main concern. However, would it be better than nothing? I'm not sure. Basically, he could operate and maybe have it dislocate again in the future. Or I could do nothing, and never have it dislocate again. It's a (huge) gamble. Physiotherapy hasn't worked, nor have braces, so we need to do SOMETHING, we just don't know what. In the end, he said he'd consult with his colleages and get back to me within a week as to what we do now. He doesn't feel comfortable leaving it without doing anything, but he also doesn't feel comfortable doing a tracking surgery. I guess it's a waiting game now, and I'll just have to see what he says when I hear back.
 

My craptastic day (Coles Notes version)

• Had a follow-up for my knee with the family doctor. I was under the impression that I had not broken anything this time round. The paperwork the hospital sent her states otherwise! The hospital also "forgot" to send a copy of my xrays to her, so she's sending me back for more.
• Addison has at least two teeth coming through, and screamed through Morgan's birthday party today.
• I still need help with Addison, as I'm in an immobilizer and on crutches. The people who offered to help me tomorrow and the next day bailed today, with no explanation. I'm on my own with her, and I have no idea how I'm going to do it.
• Isaac is working all weekend.

 

Five. FIVE!

After 2.5 hours of running around doing drills with Mr. Soccer Coach Extraordinaire, we were on our last drill, when I went down. This poor 14 year old (who I don't know, and has never coached before) and I went after the same ball, and collided. I immediately knew what happened: Lateral patellar dislocation #1 2 3 4 5 for yours truly.

After a lot of screaming and a little swearing, I finally calmed down enough to explain to everyone gathered around me that this was a recurring injury. Upon inspection, the others decided it was best to call an ambulance. It started raining and it was already only 5 (41F) outside, and I was stuck on the grass until they arrived from a neighbouring town 20 minutes later.

 Most of the (young) coaches were rounded up and sent inside while a handful of others offered First Aid, gave me water, and covered me in as many blankets and coats as they could find. Surprisingly, this time, I never lost consciousness. I was talking to everyone, and able to describe exactly what happened. The boy that I hit felt awful. He wasn't really talking to anyone, and he kept saying it was his fault. I tried telling him this is #5. Definitely not his fault.

Isaac wasn't answering his phone, and I needed him to come with me to the hospital. I sent Katie M. to Ryan's house, and Ryan went to get Isaac. He took Addison while Isaac followed me to the hospital. The driver was fantastic; the trip was pretty smooth. The EMT in the back with me was really laid-back and easy to talk to. He kept apologizing profusely for having to cut my pants, and asked eight billion times if I was warm enough.

Thankfully my knee popped back into place, so we were only there for three hours. I had three x-rays taken and received good news that there are no fractures. I was sent out with a small brace in a wheelchair, as I already have an immobilizer and crutches at home. I'll be out for a good six weeks, and heading to physiotherapy. The ER doctor recommended I go once or twice a week for the next 10-20 years! I didn't have to see Ortho this time, but I do still have to follow-up with my regular doctor and see what the next step is. The ER doctor didn't want to jump the gun because it did go back, and there are no fractures, but on the other hand, this is not the first time this has happened. Or the second. Or the...You get the idea.

So I guess on Monday I'll be calling the doctor and hobbling my way in there as soon as possible to discuss my options. I have hypermobility and patella alla, but I don't know if there is anything out there that can "fix" that. Surgery options have been discussed in the past, but I'm not sure if they're still applicable now, nine years after the first incident. I want to ask my doctor if any of this is genetic. If so, is there anything I can do for Addison, or will she be stuck in this same unfortunate position? Is there anything permanent I can do for myself? Will I wear a brace every day from here on out, do my exercises, and still throw it out another three times?

I'm terrified to hear what she'll tell me. I know my knee is not ever going to be "normal" but the thought of dealing with this again, even just once more, is killing me. It's the most painful thing I have ever experienced, including labour. It's a long recovery process and it's frustrating as hell to be so helpless. I don't know how on earth I'm supposed to take it easy while I'm on my own with an 18 month old. She obviously doesn't understand, and all night, all she wanted to do was climb up on the couch and play. It's already breaking my heart to not be able to get down on her level and do what she wants. I can't take her outside because I won't be able to grab her if she runs off in the wrong direction. I can't put her down for a nap because my stairs are impossible. I can't even pick her up because I am unable to bear my own weight, never mind another 20 lbs. Instead, I get to cry in pain, take some drugs, sleep downstairs on the couch alone, and have someone else put my pyjama pants on for me because I can't do it alone. I hate this. I hate everything about this injury. It's barely been 12 hours and I'm so, so angry.

EDIT: I've always played sports, but few of my past injuries were sports-related.
August 2003, 16 years old: Babysitting (Dislocation, fracture)
March 2006, 18 years old: Dodgeball (Dislocation)
June 2006, 19 years old: Slipped on a bathroom floor (Dislocation)
May 2008, 21 years old: Cartwheel (Subluxation)
April 2012, 24 years old: Soccer practice

 

The weekend wasn't a total bust

Looks like Morgan has Roseola :( Poor girl

Addison went to the doctor this morning. She thinks it's Viral Conjuctivitis and a cold, but it could also be Adenovirus. I have to give her drops four times a day for the next five days, and keep spraying her nose with saline solution. Turns out babies hate both of these things with a fiery passion.

When she was still feeling relatively well, we got some shopping done, and Isaac took her for a hike in his new carrier. Yay!

My girl is now the proud owner of this potty, and a new bathing suit from Joe Fresh (pictured below). The potty was only $20 and the bathing suit $14! Score!

Holding the lid to her Saline spray can. She wouldn't let it go.

We saw Isaac's cousin Cherise this weekend, too. She brought Addison's belated birthday gift, which was awesome. Adorable slippers (pictured above), a stuffed mermaid doll, and two great books: Little Critter, and The Berenstain Bears.

Hopefully things start to turn around for the girls soon!

Sick and tired

2012 thus far has consisted of dealing with a sick baby, and our awful internet company.

Addison had a really runny nose at the end of last week but we blamed molars (hell on earth) because she seemed fine otherwise. On Friday she developed a small cough, and by Saturday her cough had worsened, and her right eye had turned bright pink.

I had to call the after-hours line because the doctor's office is only open Mon-Fri from 8:30-4:30. Awesome, right? Thankfully we didn't have to go to the nearest clinic (half an hour away). The doctor thinks it could just be a bad cold that has manifested in her eye, but sent in a prescription for eye drops in case it turns out to be pink eye. The doctor returned my call at 11:30 and the pharmacy is only open until noon, and closed on Sundays. Thankfully we got there in time to pick up the drops.

We haven't used them yet because it's not crusty or mucous y and we don't want to attempt eye drops on a baby if it turns out to be something else. I'm taking her into the doctor tomorrow morning to get some more information. I hope this passes soon!

Besides my sick baby, I feel like I spend all of my time dealing with the internet (or lack thereof). I hate that we had to resort to the Better Business Bureau in order to get any sort of help. Thankfully they ruled in our favour on February 28, and our case is just about closed. I can't wait to be rid of this company. It won't be soon enough!

2012 sucks

Please let me never be sick like I was this weekend ever, ever, ever again.

In January, Isaac had a cold for no less than THREE weeks. Poor Addison had the flu and was sick for two weeks. She was barely over that when she woke up in the middle of the night so cold and shaking that I had to call the doctor. She had mild Hypothermia! Somehow I made it past all of that with no signs of sickness, and then this weekend hit me like a bus.

I felt fine on Friday until Isaac got home around 4. I hopped in the shower and suddenly thought I was going to pass out. Next thing you know, I'm puking like it's going out of style. It lasted all Friday night, Saturday, Saturday night, and Sunday.

Unfortunately Addison caught wind of it that night as well. She was sick all Saturday and up four times Saturday night. Neither one of us wanted to do anything, we were both just wiped.

I thought it was all over yesterday morning, but I brought Addison into bed with me at 5 am and she puked on my face! Thankfully we're slowly starting to feel better now. Mom came over yesterday afternoon and we went for a walk. It felt good to get some fresh air, but it was exhausting. The worst is definitely behind us now, and I hope we're never sick like that again. Let the deep clean of my house begin, so I can rid it of the plague of 2012.

2012 sucks.

It's been a long week

Everyone says it's bad when men get sick - and it is - but you know what's worse? When babies get sick. Last Saturday I took Addison to Ryan and Nicole's, and all was fine and dandy. Come Sunday, she's hacking up a lung. Her nose was running a mile a minute, she couldn't stop coughing, and her temperature was up and down between 101 and 103. Awesome, right?

I hate that she can't tell me how she feels. What hurts? What happens when do you this or try that? I hate that she can't blow her own nose, and hates the booger sucker. I hate that I can't explain to her what's going on and that she'll feel better soon. I hate that I can't tell her we're doing everything we can.

I took her to the doctor on Tuesday because it was only getting worse. Turns out she has an upper respiratory infection and there isn't much we can do to treat the virus. So now I'm stuck with a grumpy, gooey, screaming, coughing, feverish baby that can't get to sleep.

Isaac came home from Tuesday-Wednesday, and he's still sick as a dog. Somehow I haven't managed to catch anything. *Knock on wood.

I called Lori (my favourite nurse practitioner) on Thursday and asked for suggestions to help with the coughing and mucous build up. After listing her symptoms, Lori was convinced my poor girl has the flu. Her fever had kept going up and down until Thursday!

So here we are, a week later, and she's just starting to slowly make a turn-around. She hadn't been eating until today, when she went to town on three full meals and more snacks than you could ever imagine. She slept okay lastnight (thank god, after waking five times Fri night) and had a good nap this afternoon. We went for a little walk and she seemed to enjoy the fresh air. And finally, she wanted to play and splash in the bath tonight.

Slowly but surely, she's feeling better. Now it's my turn to catch up on sleep!