Debbi Bifulco Update

[kimberly]

Hi Debbi -

Glad to hear you are doing better!  Good luck today at your meeting.  It does feel great to get out into the world and back to somewhat of a resemblance of a normal routine.

 You are a very special lady with a lot of courage and such a positive attitude. 

Kimberly

[leapyrtwins]

Debbi -

good luck at the meeting today; knock 'em dead. 

I can ride one-handed on the bike, but I'm not ready for no hands yet 

I also need to start running again, so hopefully knowing I can ride a bike will give me the encouragement I need.

Jan

[Kaybo]

Debbi~
Good Luck today - so glad you getting out there and getting on with your life --  Go Get 'Em Girl!!  Good thing you are already planning a nap!!

K

[Debbi]

Good grief - did anyone besides me notice that Jan is riding ONE handed on her bike!!!!??

Makes my 15 minute solo car ride seem wimpy!  Well, I was a bit of a hit at the meeting - everyone told me how great I looked, to which I replied with my one-sided pirate smile.  Seriously, it was good to get out, and got me past a big hurdle (in my own mind) of
"what will people think when they see my face?" 

I was feeling so good that I stopped at Rite Aid on the way home and stocked up on eye supplies.  At the recommendation of several people here, I bought some Celluvisc single use drops - tried one of them when I got home, and LOVE it!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  BTW, it was cool to be shopping all by myself.  Can a trip to Macy's be far behind?   

Okay, so the appliance repair guy will be here this afternoon, so I think I'll sneak in a nap now.  I have resiigned myself to napping even though it feels quite decadent.

Jan, keep setting the bar - you rock!

Debbi - cruisin' in NJ (but afraid of the bike still)

[wendysig]

Hi Debbi -

Good for you!! You go girl!!!!  Yes, I did notice Jan is riding her bike with one hand. 

Jan - That's an amazing feat.  I haven't  had surgery and I can't do that!!!

Wendy

[oHIo]

I hope Jan is wearing a helmet   

I believe a forsee a boost to our economic woes.  Debbi driving, feeling like shopping, eyeing Macy's (with her non-dry eye anyway  )  Sounds like she could do some serious damage with an all day shopping extravaganza! (and a power nap to follow)

Debbi...I was also concerned how the people at work would respond to my facial palsy and my tarsorrhaphy.  My first day back couldn't have gone better. 

[leapyrtwins]

Hate to confess it, but no helmet for me - I don't make my kids wear one either    I know - bad mom!

The bike thing is a great milestone, if I might say so myself, but let's keep in mind here that I am 12 months post op minus 2 days 

I probably could have reached this milestone earlier, but I just didn't have the time or motivation - since I can ride my stationary bike at midnight in my pj's if I'm so inclined 

Jan

[Jim Scott]

Jan:

Don't minimize your accomplishment of riding a bicycle one-handed.  I think thats quite impressive. 

I don't have a bike to ride.  Not since I sold my Schwinn to some kid named 'Chip' when I turned 14 and realized that riding a bike (then) was looked upon as 'not cool' and something a teenager just didn't do.  So, I traded my trusty bike for that elusive 'cool'.  Unfortunately, I don't think I ever really captured it, although I liked to kid myself that I did. 

My wife and I, in a fit of misguided health consciousness, bought a cheap pair of 'His & Her' no-speed bikes with 'coaster' brakes back in the early '70's.  Unfortunately, unlike the flat streets of suburban Long Island (where I grew up and logged probably hundreds of miles pedaling my bike), Connecticut - where I've lived for almost 40 years - is very hilly.  Riding a bike was just too much work, as we're not the rugged outdoorsy types (surprise, surprise!)  Those now-antique bikes haven't been used for at least 30 years and are 'in retirement' in our attic, under a mound of other cast-off remnants of abandoned good ideas of years past.

So, with that sorry history of post-adolescent bike riding, I really appreciate anyone over the age of 20 who rides a bike regularly...for fun...and without a helmet.  I never wore (or even considered wearing) a helmet when I was tearing up the suburban streets of Long Island on my Schwinn, back when I was a kid, so I can't criticize you for eschewing one, now, Jan.  I'm not so sure I would make my own kid wear a helmet today, so I certainly don't consider you a bad mom, either. 

I'm pleased to see another AN patient experiencing a good outcome and living their life as before.  It's encouraging to newbies and all of us who are either doing the same or trying to.  Fortunately, I'm in the former group.  Keep moving forward, Jan, with or without a helmet. 

Jim 

[Debbi]

Hey, Jim - bike or not, I think you are WAY cool!  (As the youngsters would say).   

And, Jan, I won't tell about the helmet thing - I'm just in awe that you're riding a bike - you're way cool, too!

Deb ... trying to be cool

[leapyrtwins]

Thanks for the encouragement Jim & Debbi.  I mentioned the biking milestone to my doc this afternoon who thought it was great and suggested that I was now ready for the Tour de France LOL

I think somewhere in everyone's past they have had a "fit of misguided health consciousness" - great description, Jim    Mine was purchasing a Soloflex for $300 secondhand from my brother.  I actually had it shipped from his place in NJ to mine in IL.  It sat untouched in my basement for about 14 years until I recently sold it for $50 on craigslist to a man who was gracious enough to come to my house and dismantle it.

Good intentions - I'm full of them 

Jan

[Debbi]

Ah, yes - and how many of us have laid claim to a clothes rack (er, I mean exercise bike) in our pasts???  I still find that walking is the best ting for me ...

So, Mom and Dad pulled out this morning, headed back towards Oregon.  It is quite strange to look out in our driveway and not see their 35 foot motor home parked there - their departure has left an empty space both in the driveway and my heart.  It was so good having them here during the last 6 weeks - they have been such a huge support and help before, during and after the surgery.  I've said it before, but it's worth saying again - I am very lucky.  I will be hoping that they have good weather and safe travels as they wind back across the country!

I've got a few hours of work today, which will keep me occupied.  I've even factored in time this afternoon for a nap, if I need it.  I guess I have accepted the fact that I can't always do as much as I think, at least not without resting a bit.  However, I am definitely feelling better again!  I have at least one more week on the vancomycin - I see Dr. Louie next Weds and hoping he'll be happy enough with progress that he'll pull the plug (pun intended) on the IV.

Can any of the PICC people comment on the procedure for removing the PICC line?  Is it done in a doctor's office/hospital/home?  Does it hurt (yes, I'm a wimp!) 

Debbi

[Cheryl R]

I am assuming that the nurse who comes to change the dressing will just remove the PICC but also is your dr wanting to see you?     There is a chance that he would want to see how your incision looks and then he would do it.             They are just pulled out and can't remember anyone acting like it hurt a great deal.     
   You are lucky your parents were able to there so long with you and you will miss them.
                                                   Cheryl R

[Kaybo]

Debbi~
Getting the PICC out was so easy and did not hurt at ALL!!  However, it kind of wigged me out b/c they just kept pulling & pulling -- they weren't kidding when they said it goes to your heart!!!   

K

[Debbi]

Thanks, Cheryl and Kay - you are my experts in all PICC related questions!  I actually don't have a great deal of confidence in my HHC nurse, so am thinking that I will ask my regular GP if his nurse can remove it.  I would feel much safer that way.  The HHC nurse seems very uncertain at times, and I have had to remind her several times to sterilize things!  (Of course, I am a bit paranoid now!)  Since she is only changing the dressing and taking a weekly blood draw, I feel it's manageable for the moment, but I really don't think I am comfortable having her remove the PICC line.  

Of course, I am jumping way ahead on all of this - I will have a better idea next week how much longer I need the IV...

Debbi

[Kaybo]

I am FINALLY antibiotic-free after 6 weeks!!!!

K