As promised...

Hi everyone!

So much has gone on in the past nine months.

Good news is I've lost weight and am totally off of insulin now. Using Saxenda, which seems to be working well for me.

More good news: my total knee replacement (August 30, 2018) was very successful and I am having no problems with it at all.

Now for the bad news: 2 weeks after my knee replacement, my femur broke. Snapped like a twig. Was taken by ambulance to the ER. Xrays were brutal. They had to place me in traction to get the two pieces of my femur closer together. All I can say is drugs are a good thing. I won't share pictures of the xrays because they are quite gruesome. Had surgery where they placed a rod in my leg, oh, same leg as the knee replacement, secured by 2 titanium screws up by my hip, and three by my knee. Was in acute rehab for a week, followed by rehab at home for 2 weeks, followed by outpatient rehab to the present. Then in November, the screw closest to my knee didn't like being there and started unscrewing itself from my leg, so I had another surgery to remove THAT. It currently sits on my dresser. Hey, it's titanium; more expensive than platinum!

I take 2000 units of calcium, 2000 units of Vitamin C, 5000 units of Vitamin D and a 325 mg aspirin DAILY, and mostly likely will do so for the rest of my life. Had a bone density test. I've got the bones of a healthy 30 year old. Sooo….why did my femur break? I had my knee replacement done using Maco technology, and I'm convinced that the guide that they used for the upper part of my leg, in my femur, led to the fracture. They actually advise parents of children and teenagers that there is a femur break possibility. I'm one of the first adults to have it happen to. Lucky me!!


So today, I saw my orthopedist, and my break, even after 9 months, still is not completely healed. We are first going to get a CAT scan done, try using a bone growth stimulator, and he's told me to try to eat as close to 60 grams of protein a day, which just boggles my mind. Then in 3-4 months time, I will have another CAT scan, and if there isn't significant improvement, I will have to have another surgery where they will replace the current rod with a larger one, and replace all the screws as well. Oh joy. Life is NEVER dull. Oh, and did I mention that I and my general practice doctor think I may have developed a lactose sensitivity/intolerance? Just this week I started drinking coffee again using Lactaid milk. Nirvana!! Tea is okay, but I was REALLY missing my coffee.


Remember when I had neck surgery in September of 2017? I need to do neck exercises to build up my neck muscles. Other than that, no problems.

So, that's what's been keeping me busy for the past 9 months. I hope all of you are doing well - better than I am!!

For fairness to everyone on all the teams I belonged to, I've dropped out of all but 3. I've also suspended email from Sparks, because it is just overwhelming. You can still post on my page, if you so desire. I miss many of you and wish you all well. I'm trying to come here every day and spin the wheel. I'll check out neck exercises too.

Thanks for reading! Karen