Sewing with Slit Wrists

Yep that's me, I have been sewing and minor housekeepping since I had surgery on both wrists,  i have had to take it easy this week, since my surgery Wednesday, so I thought I would do some simple sewing.  Since I already had the Jacob's Ladder block pieces cut out, and still had aboud 12 left to get done of the total of 44 blocks, I decided to just sit down and get them done.

Easy peasy right!  Well, it would have been, except I had a general anesthetic to get the surgery done, and I have been foggy and molasses slow in anything that requires thinking, even putting together a fairly simple quilt block.  My first attempt, I did the chain piecing, ironed each piece, and then tried to lay it out to make the final block.  I must have stared at the pieces laying on my ironing area for a good five minutes, before coming back to reality, by shaking my head and could continue sewing.  Such a weird feeling, I guess tha's why the post op instructions tell you not to make or sign any important or critical decisions for at least 24  to 48 hours.  

Here is one of ten blocks I managed to accomplish the last two days.  Remember this is the final round for the Chocolat Legacy UFO BOM that I have been plugging along trying to get done.  Actually came out better with brain fog than with my full facilities!  Either by luck, or by not being so intense in getting it done perfectly when I am all with it?

I have to wait to sew this last round on the quilt because I can't hold the big weight of the quilt while I would be sewing these last strips of blocks on the quilt already done.

Below are flowers I rreceived from my son and neighbor to cheer me up during recovery.  My neighbor tells me she likes yellow because it is a happy color.  I think she is right!

Warmest...

Post Surgery Report

Just popping in to say the surgery went perfect!  The pain is gone, and the numbness is easing, and it's only been a little over 24 hours.  According to the post-op instructions, I can do some light duty starting tomorrow, so I certainly do some sewing tomorrow.

Sewing Room Ban

I am plagued with carpal tunnel syndrome in both wrists.  I have done all the non-surgical procedures for the last 10 years.  You know, the wrist splints, ice when they flared up, and cortisone shots.  Unfortunately one can only get the shots twice a year and when they quit working for 6 months at a time, the doctor says no more, time for surgery.  At this point, I am having flare ups every night, and I am losing muscle mass in my thumb pads and wrists.

I don't know about you, but when they say surgery, I get all nervous.  Especially since there are such horror stories about this surgery on the wrists for carpal tunnel syndrome.

I am really fortunate that we have a doctor in town that is performing this procedure by endoscopic method.  He happens to be a plastic surgeon that has perfected this way of doing the surgery.  Doing it this way, the incision is less than 1/2" and healing time is just under a week.  The added benefit of doing it this way is I can have both wrists done at the same time.  Most complications from surgery comes from the incision, and by reducing the exposure of cut skin from 8 inches to a half inch is an almost guarantee to be free from complications.

So for now, all this means is that I am banned from most activities.  Yard work, computer work, house work, and sewing room time.  I have so much to get done this time of year out in the yard and garden, and I always have housework, and, and, and I am unable to be in my sewing room, or do any activities with my hands.  I am fit to be tied, seeing all that needs to be done and all that I want to work on is almost as painful as the actual pain from the carpal tunnel inflammation in my wrists.

This ban is twofold.  One, most of each hand is numb, and I have little or no grip strength.  I wouldn't want to have an accident or mess up a project.  Then two, the less inflamed I keep the wrists at, the better the recovery will be after surgery.

So, I am all set for the surgery next Wednesday.  I will keep you posted, but you probably won't be hearing from me until after next week.

I would be grateful for any prayers for a success in this surgery!

Warmest...