My Schedule After Surgery Mystery Cache
My Schedule After Surgery
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Please note that the cache is not at the listed coordinates. This is where I had my surgery. If you go there, the staff will ask you for your name/appointment time, then look at you funny when you tell them you don't have one.
Most geocachers that know me, remember that I had surgery on my left hand on December 4th, 2013. It is a problem that I had before. My right hand needed surgery 3-5 years ago. It seems to be something that runs in my family. My mother had this same issue 8-9 years ago, and I had other family members with this same diagnosis in the recent past. What was my diagnosis you ask? It is called Stenosing Tenosynovitis, or, for the non-medical persons like myself, Trigger Finger or Trigger Digit.
Stenosing Tenosynovitis or Trigger Finger is a common disorder characterized by catching, snapping or locking of the involved finger flexor tendon, associated with dysfunction and pain. A disparity in size between the flexor tendon and the surrounding retinacular pulley system, most commonly at the level of the first annular pulley, results in difficulty flexing or extending the finger and the “triggering” phenomenon. The label of trigger finger is used because when the finger unlocks, it pops back suddenly, as if releasing a trigger on a gun.
After years of discomfort, refills for Lortab 5mg( as needed), and a few painful injections, Dr Aguilo decided it was best for me to consider surgery. After much thought and consideration, I agreed to the procedure. I was given some instructions and things to have prepared. A few days before surgery, Dr Aguilo put me on Augmentin 250mg(1 every 8 hrs) until the morning of surgery. Then on Wednesday, December 4th, at 8am, I reported to the surgery center and the surgery was performed.
Dr Aguilo was in the recovery room when I woke, and explained that the next few weeks would be important in my recovery. He examined my hand/wrapping and spoke briefly to the nurse nearby. I was given 5 rolls of gauze, 2 rolls of tape, an arm sling, a prescription for 10 pills of Tramadol 50mg (take 1 every 8 hours), and a stack of paperwork. Within the paperwork was a note: " Follow up appointment with Dr. Aguilo will be Friday, December 6th, at 9:35." I was released and sent home with family for lots of rest.
I made it home after a quick stop off at the pharmacy to fill my prescription. My Dad kept an eye on me for a few hours as I was falling in and out of sleep. I was able to rest most of the day and night, but by morning, I ran across some problems and had to call my Doctor's 24 hour phone number. I was told that I might be having a bad reaction to my prescription. They called the pharmacy quickly and change it to 4 pills of Celebrex 200mg (1 every 10 hours). They said that that should help until Dr. Aguilo could see me at the scheduled appointment the following day. Ham-R-Hed came over and helped me take care of my errands and checked up on my well being. We still laughs about things I can't remember doing right after my surgery. Thankfully, I had fewer problems the rest of the day and was able to sleep comfortably the rest of the evening.
It was Friday morning, December 6th and I had to have family drop me off at my 9:35am appointment. I arrived a bit early and was luckily taken back to an exam room immediately. Dr. Aguilo walked in after a 12 minute wait and we discussed the prescription issues I was having yesterday. Since things were going better, he filled out two prescriptions for me. 14 doses of Pyrovalerone(as needed) and another 27 pills of Celebrex 200mg (1 every 8 hours). He then examined the surgery area/stitches and applied a new wrapping to my left hand. Dr. Aguilo informed me that he wanted me to start my physical therapy at 3:20pm, on Monday, December 16th. He wrote everything down on another stack on paperwork, gave it to me with more tape and bandages, and told me as he left the room " Keep the hand clean and dry, and don't for get your appointment next week with Dr. Vesper. She will get you back in shape". With my new instructions, I made my way out of the doctor's office and went downstairs to wait for my ride home. As I waited, I read the paperwork and wondered how next Monday's visit would turn out.
I spent the next week healing and resting. I had a lot of great friends and family checking in on me. They ran me on my errands and helped me around the house. I always followed my doctor's instructions and kept my injured hand clean and dry. I was even able to find a few geocaches with some local friendly cachers that let me tag along for the ride. I never really noticed how much your body needs to heal after surgery until I had finished this restful week and prepared myself for physical therapy.
On Monday, the 16th of December, I made sure I was early for my scheduled appointment at 3:20pm, with Dr Vesper. Unfortunately, there was an office mix-up and I didn't get to the therapy room until 3:49pm. Dr. Vesper walked in at 4pm, and introduced herself. She explained that we would be meeting 2-3 times a week, for 3 weeks. Each meeting would last anywhere from 1-2 hours. Dr. Vesper asked "Are you ready to begin?", and with a nod of my head she began to undo my bandage and examine the wound. Being the first physical therapy session, Dr. Vesper had me do some stretching and warm up exercises. I couldn't believe the pain that was caused from just these simple exercises. My hand felt as if it were on fire. By the time we had finished, I was in much pain and discomfort, with a bit of swelling. The doctor refilled my 14 doses of Pyrovalerone(as needed) and included 12 pills of Cathinone 4.5mg(every 4-6 hours), and orders to put lots of heat on the hand to help during my home exercises. As she finished up, she gave me a packet of paperwork, 4 rolls of bandages, and another note "Wednesday, December 18th, at 2:45pm, next appointment". I was glad to have a ride home because I was in much pain and not in the condition to drive. I was not looking forward to the next session with Dr Vesper.
The appointment at 2:45pm, on December 18th came too quickly. I tried to do most of my home exercises per doctor's orders, but I was still in a lot of pain and stiffness. I arrived "on time" to my appointment and was taken straight to Dr. Vesper. She asked how my exercises were working out at home. I told her the problems and she was not surprised. She said that is normal with this type of surgery and started begun our hour session. More stretching and discomfort was what happened over the next hour. When she finished and was preparing my next session, I stopped her. I had to change my scheduled visits. I was going on a Geotrip to Texas with Abiectio on December 20th and wouldn't be back until Tuesday, December 24th. She reluctantly nodded and made the appointment session for 3pm, on Friday, December 27th. She refilled my prescription for 15 pills of Cathinone 7mg(every 4-6 hours) and told me to protect the injured hand. It still was not fully healed and could still be damaged. As she walked out, she wished me safe travels and I left with more paperwork and medical supplies for my trip.
Abiectio and I left on Friday, December 20th for an awesome Geotrip to Texas. We had two days in Austin and two days in the Dallas area. You can see the result of our Texas trip on either of our profiles. We had some great adventures in Texas, but I was always cautious and protective of my injured hand. The medications and the low impact exercises seem to help during the trip, and I knew that next appointment was soon.
On Friday, December 27th, I was at the doctor's office promptly at 3pm. She asked if there were any issues or problems she needed to know about. When my response was "No", she started into our hour session. Things seem to be improving after that hour of physical therapy, and that cheered my spirits. As she finished, she decided to remove my stitches, inspect the wound, and gave me new instructions. A new prescription for 15 pills of Percocet 7.5/325(as needed) and a note to be back at 1:45pm, on December 30th, January 1st, and January 3rd. I told her I will be back next week, and walked out with a positive outlook on the surgery.
The rest of my recovery and physical therapy was a lot of repetition with Dr. Vesper. I did have an issue on December 28th with dizziness and I had to call the doctor's 24hr number. They called in a prescription of 16 pills of Percocet 5/325(as needed), believing that I was having a side effect from the medication. After that, every two days, it was appointments and hand exercises with Dr. Vesper for three week. I was getting stronger by the day and I was finding myself in less and less pain as we continued the sessions. On January 22nd, Dr Aguilo and Dr Vesper, both met with me. They looked everything over and examined my hand. They were both happy with the result and concluded that my surgery was a 100% success! I could return to my regular life and not have to worry about Stenosing Tenosynovitis in that hand again.
N35° X.XXX
W89° XX.XXX
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Xrrc Pnyz naq Pnpur Ba!
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