THURSDAY 17 OCTOBER -- DAY 80
Had lunch with the therapy group from Staffcon, getting major work done on CIVIL WARS.
Did my exercises including walkering outside to leave food for the foxes. Therapist and I worked out a schedule for tomorrow.
Got a report on the heart monitor. Two trivial issues that are more interesting footnotes than actual medical conditions, neither of which caused the dizzy spell.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Friday, October 18, 2024 - 09:56 pm: Edit

FRIDAY 18 OCTOBER -- DAY 81
I had physical therapy; the therapist was impressed that I could walk several baby steps without any support. She showed me how to use a cane but said it would take 2-4 weeks to get good enough that I didn't need the walker in the trunk when Leanna drove me to town.
Went by the office to check email.
Met with the F&E staff and compiled notes on how to do Andro War with satellite ship counters, not just fighter factors.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, October 20, 2024 - 12:45 am: Edit

SATURDAY 19 OCTOBER - DAY 82
I had a high blood pressure episode in the morning and another (even worse) in the afternoon, with pressure spiking at 170 and 175. This was caused by my cardiologist changing my medication last Wednesday; he warned me that such episodes could happen and that if they did I was to revert to the previous medication, and spend the day resting. So, no exercise but I do feel much better. There was never any danger, just some serious discomfort, and it is past.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, October 20, 2024 - 08:00 pm: Edit

SUNDAY 20 OCTOBER -- DAY 83
My blood pressure has remained worryingly high all day, meaning no exercise or housework. I had been given emergency permission by my doctor to take two pills instead of one and will try that to get the pressure down.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 11:36 am: Edit

Check in with cardiologist; nurse talked to him and phoned me to say I should go back to previous meds, which I already did when he approved it saturday.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 21, 2024 - 11:03 pm: Edit

MONDAY 21 OCTOBER -- DAY 84
Twelve weeks since the fall.
Check in with cardiologist; nurse talked to him and phoned me to say I should go back to previous meds, which I already did when he approved it saturday.
Did exercises. Walked with a cane several times and while it bit dangerous this soon I made it every time to distances over 100 feet.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 - 04:01 pm: Edit

Last night, I made it from the car into the restaurant for supper on a cane with minimal help.

This morning, I made it from the car into the skin cancer surgery and back on a cane, into lunch at a favorite restaurant and back on a cane, and into the office with a cane. I have gone beyond the original training 1-2-3 step to the 1+3 then 2 step, which is faster. My therapist is due tomorrow and will be so proud.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Tuesday, October 22, 2024 - 09:03 pm: Edit

TUESDAY 22 OCTOBER -- DAY 85
Got up, had breakfast, did exercises.
Went to skin cancer surgery on cane not walker.
Went to lunch on cane not walker.
Went to office on cane not walker.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - 12:04 am: Edit

I am glad to hear you are now making the progress you had wanted to see those first 80 days. Great progress!

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - 08:24 am: Edit

Wednesday morning, surgical site hurts a lot (on my elbow, lots of movement pulling stitches). Got a great night's sleep. Did kitchen chores. Looking forward to Lyndsey (physical therapist) arriving in a few hours. Planning to attend a church halloween party tonight. Haven't decided to wear my templar knight costume.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - 02:48 pm: Edit

I looked at the surgery site while changing the dressing, the stitches have torn and the wound is gapping open. I called the surgeon and will be going in for new stitches shortly.

Lyndsey, my physical therapist, said she was stunned at how fast I had adapted to the cane. I was practically galloping up and down the hallway. She looked at the surgical incision and said for me to get to the surgeon as fast as possible.

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Wednesday, October 23, 2024 - 07:27 pm: Edit

Amazing job, just incredibly fast recovery!

--Mike

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 10:06 am: Edit

WEDNESDAY 23 OCTOBER -- DAY 86
Wednesday morning, surgical site hurts a lot (on my elbow, lots of movement pulling stitches). Got a great night's sleep.
I looked at the surgery site while changing the dressing, the stitches have torn and the wound is gaping open. I called the surgeon who said to come in after his last appointment for more stitches.
Lyndsey, my physical therapist, said she was stunned at how fast I had adapted to the cane. I was practically galloping up and down the hallway. She looked at the surgical incision and said for me to get to the surgeon as fast as possible.
I went in for more stitches and another round of surgical shock and pain. Not fun.
We went to the Trunk or Treat party at the church my niece attends. I wore my Templar costume. Another guy showed up in a similar costume and we attracted a crowd holding a photo op. We talked about the Battle of Antioch and those idiots who captured the Holy Hand Grenade.
I got home in pain and exhaustion and fell asleep.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 10:06 am: Edit

Thursday morning, pain is considerable, enough I take a pain killer and go back to bed.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 10:50 am: Edit

I don't consider 12 weeks to be incredibly fast. On the other hand, five days from my first official cane lesson to galloping down the hallway is fast recovery in any book.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 05:58 pm: Edit

Home health nurse came by, took a lot of notes, concerned about unusual elevated blood pressure.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Thursday, October 24, 2024 - 10:03 pm: Edit

THURSDAY 24 OCTOBER -- DAY 87
Went to lunch in town, stopped by office to check email and sign checks, discussions with Jean/Albert about running the company until I return to work on 6 Nov.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Saturday, October 26, 2024 - 01:42 am: Edit

FRIDAY 25 OCTOBER -- DAY 88
Stayed home all day. Exercised, mostly walking on cane. Went across the street on cane to get mail out of box.
New blood pressure meds are taking a while to settle in. BP was over 180 a couple of times, down to below 140 a few times.
Watched Matlock (best of this season's new shows) along with Bluebloods.
Steve Petrick called to tell me about the Israeli strike.
Surgical pain in my arm remains annoying.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Sunday, October 27, 2024 - 01:35 am: Edit

SATURDAY 26 OCTOBER— DAY 89
Good day. Exercised, walked on cane many times.
Drove my car for the first time in three months.
Drove around neighborhood for 20 minutes.
Later I drove a few miles to a restaurant for supper.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 28, 2024 - 03:04 am: Edit

SUNDAY 27 OCTOBER -- DAY 90
Exercised, practiced on cane, rested.
At 10pm, I accidentally bumped the elbow with the surgical site against some sharp edge of a piece of furniture, breaking stitches, causing serious pain, and resulting in blood all over the place. Not spurting, but a fairly constant drip of dark red blood.

By Steve Cole (Stevecole) on Monday, October 28, 2024 - 04:22 pm: Edit

MONDAY 28 OCTOBER -- DAY 91
Breakfast, exercise, tape of MSG event.
Drove Leanna to town for lunch.
Appointment with hip surgeon who said everything healed just fine and I did not need to see him again.


Went to vote. This was easy for me. Like 90% of Randall County, I entered the courthouse north gate, turned right, and held up my gun permit where the scanner could check it. This automatically recorded my vote for the 21 elections (from county dog catcher to national executive), as well as Leanna's vote (she was in the car after all) and the votes for my grandparents, parents and brother. It also recorded the bonus vote I got for delivering illegal aliens to the county sheriff's private airport. It automatically recorded my vote against all tax increases, bond issues, and constitutional amendments. I was then handed a box of 9mm and a box of 5.56mm, an American flag, a Texas flag, and a roll of Texas Alamo 999 silver dollars. Finally, the sheriff's wife handed me (and Leanna) cookies and a bottle of mesquite brandy. I then departed by the west gate which opens onto a super highway.

People who drove into the south gate had to park. While their cars were checked by drug dogs, the voters were obliged to empty their pockets and take off their shoes before passing through a metal detector. The county sheriff then checked their credentials (driver's license, state identification, residence permit or visa, bail or parole card, vehicle registration and license plates) and confirmed the four affidavits from friends testifying that they were in the county legally. A deputy checked their fingerprints. Those that had not been arrested by this point were given a paper ballot for the five elections in which there was actually more than one candidate running, as well as a pre-printed ballot showing their votes for tax increases, bond issues, and constitutional amendments. The sheriff's mother then handed them a bottle of lukewarm tap water and told them to turn left, double back through the parking lot, and leave by the east gate onto a dirt road that passed between the cattle fed lot and the county dump and firing range.

By Mike West (Mjwest) on Monday, October 28, 2024 - 06:54 pm: Edit

Well crap. Now I know that I entered through the wrong gate. It would have been useful to know beforehand. But then, I guess that was the point ...

By Mike Erickson (Mike_Erickson) on Monday, October 28, 2024 - 07:25 pm: Edit

>> held up my gun permit where the scanner could check it

Funny post! You actually had me going for a while. I was like "well, you know, it is Texas...?"

--Mike

By Mike Grafton (Mike_Grafton) on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 08:48 am: Edit

Another argument for an all in one ID card.

By Jessica Orsini (Jessica_Orsini) on Tuesday, October 29, 2024 - 09:41 am: Edit

...which is another thing that will never happen, as certain states have routinely opposed any such thing. Heck, Missouri dragged its feet so long on even the "Real ID" driver's license requirement that some folks found themselves unable to board an airline flight.