Hi!! My name is Karen. My anniversary is January 20 & my birthday is February 28. I am 42 years old & live in NC. I have been on Blingee for 7 years now and I am more addicted than ever!! Now with Blingee Plus I am having a blast with all of the effects and new stamps out there! By the way, I want to thank all of you out there who create these awesome stamps!
I hope to make friends here that are mature people & that love to make blingees as much as I do!
I love my hubby, friends, and family. I love to make jewelry. I love animals, fantasy creatures, and good movies. Now I am a True Blood fan!! I love the show & I've read the books as well. Sookie's stories are great!!
6-26-12: I fell at work on a wet floor. I fell on my left knee and my kneecap was broken in half. I had surgery on July 5. I will be out of work for a long time, and will be having physical therapy for a long time afterwards. I have to wear a knee brace along with using crutches and a walker. I'm going to physical therapy twice a week and trying very hard to bend my knee.
As of 10-3-12 I have been able to bend it up to 56 degrees. I'm still having problems with the kneecap not growing back correctly. I can walk much better now, but still not without help of my crutches. I'll be using a special chair soon to help my knee to bend, I hope it helps. Thank you to all of my friends here who continue to ask about my knee and to all of you who made the beautiful get well wishes. I loved them all & saved all to my faves!!
I am eternally thankful to my best friend Denise (seastar) for being there for me since day one. She has been so wonderful to take care of me and get me to physical therapy (PT). THANK YOU DENISE!! :)
UPDATE 10-27-12: Hi everyone!! Thanks for all of your get well wishes & gifts!! Just letting you know my knee has been able to bend to 60 degrees now!! I received a mechanical chair from a company called ERMI that helps me pull my knee closer to me. I have to use it 3x per day for about 3 mos. then I go back to see the doctor. The only problem I'm having at this time is that my patella (kneecap) is being held together by fiberwire and a large screw. These wires are knotted in certain areas and they poke up in my knee. (Not through the skin). As I keep bending more & more, those wires may possibly begin to protrude, so I'm being very careful not to hurt myself any more than I already am. The doctor said he may be able to remove the screw & wires after 3 mos. on the chair. He said my patella hasn't completely healed yet, & those wires still need to be there. I'm happy with my early progress on the chair, so I will continue to use it, so please bare with me if this makes me run behind in challenges and making comments. I always rate 5 stars & almost always leave a comment.
UPDATE 12-4-12: Today I went to Physical therapy and was able to bend my knee 75 degrees!! I couldn't believe it!! My chair at home is definitely helping me!! I'm walking much better now with just my brace and gave up the wheelchair (rental) about 2 weeks ago. Feeling better each day, even with the wires still in. It still doesn't look or feel right, but I'm just waiting to hear from the doctor in January to know if he will remove the screw & wires. If he does, then I will have to start this all over again, but hopefully my range of motion will greatly improve so I will be all for it.
UPDATE 12-28-12: I went to physical therapy today and was able to bend my knee to 95 degrees!! I was very happy to hear it, although I felt some pain to achieve it. It's still not looking very good, still swollen in some parts, not sure why. It's been 6 mos. & workman's comp is trying to approve less PT sessions than the doctor is prescribing. I'm going back to the doctor on January 16, but I still have no idea what he will say about my progress, because it hasn't fully healed back together yet. I still have the chair at home for now, so I'm using it like crazy. I don't know when they will come back to get it. Hopefully after the next doctor's visit. For now, I'm happy to be at 95 degrees!! I thought the day would never come!! :)
UPDATE 1-16-13: My doctor's appointment went well today, he's happy with my progress & wants me to keep the chair I use at home for another 3 mos. He also said if I keep it up, I may not have to get a manual manipulation, which could be very painful, but would really help me to fully bend my knee. I go back in April. The wires & screw need to stay in 1 yr longer. (maybe 9 mos.) He liked the x rays, said it's getting better. I was happy to hear that!! :)
Still at 95 degrees, but the most you can bend is 130 degrees. I hope by the end of the next 3 mos I will be there!!
NEW UPDATE 2-5-13: I started driving on Jan 31. The weather was so nice that day & I had been wanting to for a while by then, so I did it!! :)
I went to PT today & my therapist measured my bend to 112 degrees!! I was so happy to hear it!! The chair I'm using at home is really helping me, & I'm hoping to keep it another 2 months. I'm walking more at home without my brace, but when I go out I wear it for support & balance. I hate the brace, but I still don't trust my knee. I have felt like it would buckle a few times, but I have always caught myself so it hasn't happened. Well, that's it for now, but I will keep you all posted with my progress!! Thank you for your support!!
UPDATE 3-24-13: I have now been able to bend my knee to 125 degrees!! Just 5 more to go for full range, YAY!! Still feeling unbalanced sometimes, but working on that and strength in my upper left leg. I have lost a lot of muscle & now I'm trying to build it back up. I still can't go up a step on my left leg. I hope in the next few months I will be able to. Walking is still hard without the brace, every step is different, but I hope the doc will give me good news when I go back next month.
I still have the wires in place, they are ugly bumps under my skin & they still hurt at times. I don't know if the doc will take them out later or not. If so, it will be close to a year from now. I want my knee to be better, but I don't know if I want to start this process all over again. I will have to wait & see.
Thank you all so much for thinking of me and checking on my progress!! I love my Blingee friends!!
UPDATE 4-18-13: I went back to the doctor yesterday, first time since January. He said he's proud of me being able to bend my knee so well. I'm still not at a full 130 degrees, but last time it was measured I was at 125. Still working on the last 5 degrees. He said he's ready to remove the screw & wires. I can't help but think of the pain that will cause me again, but if my patella has healed like he says, then I'm going to let him do it. It's been 10 mos since I fell, & I haven't had any chances to go anywhere on vacation. I told him I want to take a trip before he does this while I can enjoy the weather & while I'm not feeling so much pain. I still can't walk very well, but I try. I've gotten rid of the brace (for now) & I'm ready to get out of the house. He said go for it, take a trip & he'll do the new surgery when I get back. I'll still have PT & it makes me feel like I'm starting all over again, but this time it will be for the better. This should be the last surgery I'll need. (I HOPE!!) So now it's just a matter of when & where to go, then 8-10 weeks of recovery time. Hubby & I haven't decided on a trip yet, but we will very soon. He's used to being out of town for his job, but I'm used to being home with my 2 dogs & 1 cat. When I figure this all out, I'll post a new update. As of now, I'm feeling ok, I just want to be better. Thank you to all of you out there who have been my support system & for the sweet blingees you have made me during my recovery. I love & appreciate you all!! Hugs, Karen
UPDATE 5-4-13: Hi everyone!! I finally made plans for a short trip next week to the NC mountains!! I will bring my laptop with me so I won't miss out completely, but I won't be on as much as I have been next week. My doc called & said the new surgery has been approved, but there are no dates yet, so I'm getting out of here while I can. After next week, I don't know what will happen. I'll take some pictures & will try to bling a few after I get back. If I don't bling them, then I'll just make some stamps so at least you can see my best pics!! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend & a great next week!!
Hugs to all, Karen
UPDATE 5-14-13: I have chosen June 19th for my new surgery to remove the screw & wires from my knee. I'll have to go see the doc on the 12th for pre-op. I hope this is my last surgery!! I will be going back to PT after that, but for now I'm done with it until my new surgery. I have some time now to get my home in order & spend more time here!! Thank you to everyone who has continued to support me!! Your kind words always make me feel more at ease about my whole situation. You are true friends & I love you all!!
NEW UPDATE 6-17-13: First of all thank you to all of my friends for your very special get well wishes!! Maybe when this is all over I will post them to my page!! I am a bit nervous as the days wind down to my surgery date, June 19th. I hope to be in much better shape when this screw & wires are taken out of my left knee. I doubt I'll be around much for a little bit after my surgery. I do want to be back as soon as possible, so I'll do my best!!
I'm supposed to have the stitches removed on the 26th, & I start PT again (at least 6 weeks) on the 27th. I'll be doing PT on Tuesdays & Thursdays as long as I can get those appointments. The doc says I will only need my crutches, so yay, no wheelchair needed!! I also won't have to keep it straight like I did before, since my range is still 125 degrees, it should improve to the full 130 soon. Thanks to everyone who has stuck by me this past year!! I love my blingee friends!! :)
My groups:
http://blingee.com/group/228-The-Pixie-Dust-Blingsters
http://blingee.com/group/30558--Mia-For-Genuine-Marilyn-Monroe-Fans-Group
http://blingee.com/group/78841--BLINGEE CHALLENGE GROUP
http://blingee.com/group/74184--Cat-Luv-
http://blingee.com/group/80623-Media-Madness
http://blingee.com/group/81542-Reflections
http://blingee.com/group/81574--MAGICAL-FANTASY-WORLD-
http://blingee.com/group/27527--Fantasy-Realm-
http://blingee.com/group/68734-True-Blood-HBO-series-
http://blingee.com/group/80398-black-n-gold
http://blingee.com/group/83528-RedHeads-Rule
http://blingee.com/group/84142-COOKIE-DOLLS-LOVE
http://blingee.com/group/84299-- (MAGICAL UNICORNS)
http://blingee.com/group/84399-MAGICAL-MERMAIDS
http://blingee.com/group/74576--The-Tinkerbell-Lover-Group-3-
http://blingee.com/group/84638-Pink-and-Purple
