Complications

First off let me show you the surgical photos. The first one is of my bone spur. Each of those little bumps is a spur, which had to be ground off. The second picture is the fluid that was in my shoulder. That nasty stuff they suctioned out so clean fluid could move in. That's what the third picture is.

As for the complications:
Of course I can't do anything the easy way. That's what got me into this predicament in the first place. I had to have complications with the surgery. Nothing too major. But not exactly fun. The first one wasn't really what you would call a complication more of an annoyance. When I went in for surgery they put a nerve block in my shoulder so I wouldn't feel my arm after the surgery. This cuts down on the pain, but sadly since I'm thin and healthy it only last about 12 hours instead of the anticipate 18-24 hours. I felt very jipped. On top of that the prescription that they gave me wasn't strong enough without using my Cryocuff 24hours a day. At least the pain kept me from moving around too much. Saturday Fred and I went over to my parents to see Janelle and Julie while they were visiting. We also had the opportunity watch General Conference as a family. Okay I slept through most of it but I did try to stay awake. Here is where the first complication showed up. In the form of a rash. I was starting to itch around my bandages and then the rash complete with lesions and bumps showed up all up and down my arm. So we took off the surgical bandage, only to see that indeed I was reacting to the adhesive. And the betadine they used to clean my skin for surgery had soaked into my skin and my body did not like that. Janelle and Mom scrubbed down my arm best that we could with alcohol. Fred had to work that night so I stayed over with my parents just so everyone else felt I was secure. Around 1am the itching was unbearable so Mom spent the next hour scrubbing my arm with alcohol and dove soap. We also lined my sling with some cotton fabric so my natural movements weren't rubbing against the rough fabric of the sling.
Sunday during the day was rather uneventful. Fred came back over after second session, originally the plan was to take me home. But I still had a very bad rash and needed lots of help doing things. Since Fred had to return to work Monday morning it was decided that it would be best for me to stay with mom and dad a few days more. Which turned out to be a great idea considering we ended up in the Emergency Room that night. My chest had started hurting in the late afternoon, I didn't think much of it because I have a history with this type of pain. As the evening progressed I got worse and worse. Eventually it interfered with my breathing. At about 10pm I couldn't take it anymore and the ER was my only choice that that time. After a full battery of tests it was concluded that I had a Chest Wall inflammation and the rash was a mild reaction to the betadine. I was sent home with a much stronger pain medication, an anti-histamine, and a cream for the rash. Boy oh boy did I sleep well that night.
Monday Mom took me to my PT appointment and to the house so I would have clean clothes while I was at their house. My physical therapist said that I can come out of the sling while I'm at home for a few hours a day when a I'm not really doing anything. To help build my muscles back up. But in public I have to be in the sling to just make sure I don't try to use it just yet and so everyone else knows that they can't touch it. Over the next 6 weeks I'll work my way out of it. But I was given the okay to shower. Showering is difficult and painful but nice to scrub clean.
Today was sleep day. Monday I did way too much and I spent today sleeping it off. I've been up for about for almost 5 hours and I'm ready to go back to bed. It's kind of sad. My rash is looking much better. It's stopped getting worse and it's no longer red. There is still some itching but not nearly as bad.
All in all I'm still rather wosy and wobbly. I will probably remain under the watchful care of my parents for a couple more days. I told mom that she didn't have to do all this and her response was "Just take care of me when I no longer can." I love my parents :) And of course my husband. It's hard on him to have me away, but he is keeping it together like a trooper. Well that is the end of any coherent thoughts for now. Until next time...