Tuesday, May 17, 2011

WE’RE OUTTA’ HERE! HEADING TO NAPA, CALIFORNIA ON WEDNESDAY

It was all good news at the knee surgeon’s office.  Odel needs to tweak his recuperation a bit – less walking, more targeted exercising of the knee, more icing – but they signed off with “call us for an appointment when you get back in fall”.  To those of you anticipating something similar in you future, be aware that you can be walking (Odel was cautioned to continue taking his cane along, since falling would be the WORST thing for his knee), but you will not be healed at six weeks.  The focus remains on healing for several more weeks; once you regain full extension and flexion, you can focus on strength (walking longer distances).

Of course, Odel asked about golfing.  Brian (the surgeon’s assistant) okayed putting and chipping, but said that driving should be put off for several more weeks, until the three month mark… and then Odel should start on the range to determine whether his knee was ready for that twisting, torqueing motion yet (with pain and swelling as the clue that he isn’t).  Six weeks or so of chipping and putting practice would help anyone’s game, so I don’t think Odel found the prospect too dismal.

The only problem?  The weather!  It is another rainy day here in Sacramento.  When we got home, I checked the weather for all of the areas of Oregon we have discussed as targets, and found that the ten-day forecasts don’t anticipate a lot of balmy golfing weather.  Napa, California, on the other hand, has many days of dry weather – and even sunshine – with showers forecast for just one day and temperatures mostly in the upper 60’s or lower 70’s.  So, Napa – here we come. 

One more health issue of possible interest to some readers:  Odel is a “lifetime” warfarin (Coumadin) user.  As we travel, he has blood drawn and tested (PT or INR) monthly.  Well, that is about to change.  On Saturday, he will receive a home diagnostic PT/INR meter that works like a blood glucose meter – stab your finger, draw the blood onto a strip which is then read by a metering device.  Simple – or so they say.  :)  A nurse used the same device when she came to test Odel’s PT post-surgery, and it was she who put us on the track of getting our own.  With a prescription from his primary care physician, Odel was approved for home testing.  The device is covered by Medicare; apparently it is less expensive than the lifetime of monthly lab tests Medicare currently covers.  Seems like a very good solution for us.

Now, let’s hope travel adventures (and photos!) squeeze health news off our front page!

11 comments:

  1. Good for you both! Enjoy your newly refound freedom. :)

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  2. If you pass near Burns, OR try the Crystal Crane Hot Springs. We really enjoyed it and it might do Odel's knee good.

    http://croftsmexico.blogspot.com/2011/04/crystal-crane-hot-springs.html

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  3. Looking forward to a nice report of good times in Napa.

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  4. You didn't even bring up the allergy bit, so I am hoping that that is good news!

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  5. Croft, thanks for the link to Crystal Crane - looks and sounds great!

    Rod, no change in the allergy arena. I'm holding my own pretty well. We still don't know the cause, but I can live with it for now. MUCH better than it was a couple of weeks ago, and the prospect of travel helps me ignore it somewhat. :)

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  6. How cool is that, testing your blood at home--what great new technology for this old nurse to learn about!

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  7. Yea, I'm told the walking will come a little later in my recovery from foot surgery...and I am NOT a "patient" patient..Sounds like Odel is right on track and doing well..We actually did Napa Valley once..I loved it. So beautiful!! Enjoy it for me!!!

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  8. Pretty amazing the technology they have now. Glad he is well on the way to getting back to his normal! We are not far from you guys, we're in Santa Rosa. Also waiting out the weather in Oregon and Washington to get better. But my brother says best weather up there is July, and August. We can't wait that long! :-) We're going to visit Napa, too!

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  9. i hope that is good news.. i share your blog on my facebook wall thanks

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  10. Napa is neat -- lots of the good old-time major wineries to visit -- and lots more newer boutique wineries. As I recall, a nice glass of merlot does wonders for both knees and allergies! Thanks for the tip on home testing; Suzy is also a lifetime warfarin user. We'll talk to her doctor about that. Tip: Odel should ask his surgeon's office for a copy of the post-surgery report, x-rays, etc. If there is ever a problem while you are traveling, another orthopedist would find them very helpful. They can be saved for you on a CD.

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  11. Just getting caught up with you guys after spending time in Palo Duro cnayon with no internet.

    Thanks for the tip about the glucose meter. I have a medicare friend who will greatly appreciate knowing about it.

    Sherry
    www.directionofourdreams.blogspot.com

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