Hip Surgery Needed

January 15, 2020 I meet with THE hip surgeon. He’s the best in town and does pediatric cases (this simply means cases in people who are young-ish). He tells me that I will require a total hip replacement in my right and we could try a partial in my left but to call in 2 to 10 years (approx.); as soon as my quality of life declines.

Well, almost two years to the day, I called to get in the surgical cue. I know that things are being cancelled or postponed right now due to the pandemic and the strain on our provincial health care system. I simply wanted to get things in order and be on his radar. I am in a great deal of pain and haven’t slept in a long time because laying down causes the pain to spike.

I am doing my best to stay active, which kinda makes the pain worse but I know that if I don’t keep moving, I will lose the ability to move. Period. So I have to kinda continue the cycle of pain - activity - pain - activity - pain because I work, have kids, would like to carry on as normally as possible. Just bought one of those chariot style strollers so that I can stay active. It holds more cargo (and children) than a walker and I’m not needing my wheelchair yet.

This morning I phone the Ortho unit at the hospital and was told to call my surgeon’s office. So I called them and was informed that I need Ortho to ‘assign papers for surgery’ to me. Called Ortho unit back and was put on hold, then told that they don’t really know how to help me at this time and that I should try calling again next week for more information.

The hope in being heard by my care team is all I have keeping me from breaking.

I am trying my best to stay active. I am trying my best to keep smiling. This is not a life saving surgery. I am privileged to have doctors, to not be in a terminal-care-related situation and to be able to work from home.

No one knows when the government is going to actually help out our underappreciated healthcare workers who have been struggling for a long time (before the pandemic, even). These people need to be heard, supported and paid.

This is where we are at in Ontario:

Ontario Temporarily Moving to Modified Step Two of the Roadmap to Reopen - January 03, 2022 - from the Office of the Premier: In addition, on January 5, 2022 the Chief Medical Officer of Health will reinstate Directive 2 for hospitals and regulated health professionals, instructing hospitals to pause all non-emergent and non-urgent surgeries and procedures in order to preserve critical care and human resource capacity.

Ontario tells hospitals to stop non-urgent surgeries, procedures to preserve critical-care capacity - January 05, 2022 - from CBC News, Muriel Draaisma:

In the directive — issued to "regulated health professionals or persons who operate a group practice of regulated health professionals" — Moore says the following steps are required immediately:

• "All non-emergent or non-urgent surgeries and procedures should be ceased. Emergent and urgent surgeries should continue, in an effort to reduce and prevent patient morbidity and mortality.

• All non-emergent or non-urgent diagnostic imaging and ambulatory clinical activity should be ceased, unless directly related to the provision of emergent or urgent surgeries and procedures or to pain management services."

And Just Like That... Woke with Jokes?

I was diagnosed with ‘Old Lady Disease’, as Sex and the City’s Carrie Bradshaw (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) calls it, when I was a baby. Eighteen months old. I’ve been dealing with this ignorance for too long and it’s time for the world to wake up.

I’m cringe watching the HBO revival series, And Just Like That… as a former SATC fan. I know that all language can be problematic and, working in media, I get that there are bigger things happening in the world to get upset over.

When you have a captive audience - don’t do further harm towards a disadvantaged group while preaching ‘wokeness’.

Would Carrie have said that in episode one to her coworker who uses a chair? Would the writers or SJP herself say, ‘too bad about that old lady disease’ to a toddler on chemo puking their guts out to salvage tissue? I doubt it.

Below is a Twitter thread that I posted while catching up on the ‘Tragically Hip’ episode. I had to pause it to react, in the moment, on social media (as one does)… Let it be known that I am, at age thirty five, currently waiting on double hip replacement surgeries and a joint fusion/corrective surgery on my right foot. I had my left done at age seventeen.

“It’s arthritis, right? I have OLD LADY DISEASE in my back?” - Carrie Bradshaw on S1 E5 of And Just Like That…

@HBO @AndJustLikeThat do you have disabled people on staff? This language is hugely upsetting. I was diagnosed with RA as an infant, Hi!

This was one of my many, many intravenous drugs. Chemotherapy is a popular method of treatment to fight Rheumatoid Arthritis.

When you spend a significant chunk of your childhood in hospitals, you become well acquainted with the playroom!

Splints on my wrists were intended to keep my joints from deforming as I grew. I know they didn’t stop my range of motion from deteriorating. I have some deformities now as an adult, so I’m not convinced splinting works.

Juvenile (Idiopathic) Rheumatoid Arthritis patient (me) pushing my IV while out for a stroll in hospital. Ever try to get dressed when you’re attached to a pole? It’s not easy.

Carrie’s comments aren’t problematic to those who haven’t lived my life. Between chemotherapy, surgery, wheelchairs & chronic pain/fatigue, I also got heavily bullied for having OLD LADY disease.

Children get arthritis too.

You can’t take back those comments. They’re out there and echoed and echoed and echoed, reaching the ears of children who are very sick and tired and fading… More disabled people in media, please. PLEASE. I volunteer. I will consult with anyone (serious), for free, RE: ableism.

My whole life (like, til death) involves arthritis. It would be nice for people to accept that it’s not an OLD PERSON DISEASE. It’s rare in kids but it happens. I work in media & I want more representation NOW.

Note the swelling in my knees.

Using a wheelchair helps save energy and tissue damage. It also is helpful when I can’t walk.

My splints didn’t stop me from making the most of things!

At 35, I still use my wheelchair when I have tough days.

Arthritis has many forms. How anyone chooses to imitate, accept, react to any of its forms as they present personally or in someone close is fully up to that person. I’m not telling you how you should address the disease or it’s symptoms - I’m simply asking that you consider this diseases devastation to kids who already feel misunderstood, misrepresented and or ignored.

Here are some other things I’ve posted to educate people about autoimmune diseases and the misconceptions that create barriers in our lives:

• That time I wasn’t believed when I asked for help at a popular Ottawa festival.

• That time my disease started attacking my blood.

• How arthritis affects my livelihood and career.

• The COVID-19 risk for autoimmune persons.

DryFeb: Pressing pause on alcohol for 28 days, again.

Inspired by my folks, one of whom is a cancer survivor, I’ll be participating in DryFeb. The Canadian Cancer Society asks people to consider giving up alcohol (getting sober, drying out, abstaining, whatever you wanna call it) for any length of time during the month of February to raise awareness and funds for the Cancer Society.

To learn more: Click Here.

Goes without saying how much I hate cancer. Most of us have had a close encounter and/or lost someone because of it. Could there be a future without cancer? I think so. I do.
Trying something healthy to help people living with cancer for a few weeks: sign me up! Join my team & let’s document our experiences.

Join the “Dry Babies” and get a little dry, have a little cry! Let’s go! I’m ready!

This is my second year participating in DeyFeb. Last year, the team was called “Oh God, What Have I Done?” and we raised a wack of dough and got healthier together.

The first few days of DryFeb 2021, I actually got quite sick. Hoping for a different outcome this year. Follow my progress and consider trying it yourself as part of Team Dry Babies!

This year, I will also be trying to lose weight and improve my overall health with DryFeb. My physical health has been in decline the past few months because of my rheumatoid arthritis. I am awaiting ortho surgery & have near-future plans for a double hip replacement. These procedures and my recovery will be aided by me dropping a few excess pounds. Since weight loss is a typical side effect of cutting alcohol from one’s diet, I’m excited to see where DryFeb 2022 takes me.

Check out our past achievements:

35F: Christmas Wishlist

Give a gift to the men in need at the Ottawa Mission.

Here is a wish list of their Most Needed items - should you with to purchase anything from this list, it will be sent to my radio station (CHEZ 106, Rogers Sports and Media, located at 2001 Thurston Drive). CLICK HERE to buy something today & I will deliver it for you. You are also able to direct shipping to your house.

Air Purifiers. So hot right now.

These could be considered modern day ‘snake oil’ but when something very smelly sprayed my cottage and I couldn’t get the stink out… I gave this Hamilton Beach model a whirl and have since used it to rid the sour milk stink from our car (which was extreme) and refresh common areas in our house with great success! I am convinced that these things are the real deal but buyer beware: there are many brands and models out there to choose from. Lucky for me, I seem to have chosen wisely out the gate.

The Best Underwear: Period.

I had always been interested in ditching tampons and pads but they just seem to be a necessary evil. Until someone recommended Knix and flipped the script on free bleeding. You heard me. Comfiest underwear (and bras) ever. I would like one of each of this Canadian owned businesses’ offerings. They often have good sales, too. Not sure which size or style to purchase? Gift cards work.

Smart Devices make Life Easier.

Some people love ‘em, others hate ‘em and almost every tech company you can think of has something voice-activated on the market. Here are some of my favourite brands and suggested items that really elevate my quality of life. I’m physically disabled so every step matters in terms of pain management, energy conservation and accessibility.

• Google: hub, mini, chromecast and display.

• Globe: light bulbs and LED strip

• Wyze: camera and plugs

• Geeni: outdoor plug, smart strip (power bar) and wall tap

I tried getting into IKEA’s smart home line (Tradfri) but my experience with their hub, dimmers and bulbs was excruciating. Would not recommend.

Everyday Things.

Lip chap, toothpaste, gas & grocery cards, hair elastics, a good travel mug, socks, winter weather accessories or heated items for maximum comfort. Little things that get used every day always make a great gift because… they get used frequently and are likely to need replacing or replenishing.

There’s nothing terribly flashy about My Wishlist this year. If you are hoping to purchase a gift for someone like me (35F, mom, FT career, commuter), I would suggest grabbing something that helps to make their life easier. I think this advice could apply to anyone on your shopping list at any time of year. Pandemic life has been tiring. If you can’t think of anything your giftee needs, consider donating to a favorite charity in their name.

Here are some of my favourite charities: the Ottawa Mission, CHEO, Minwaashin Lodge, the Food Bank, the Ottawa Hospital and the Canadian Cancer Society. Leave yours in the comments below!

Quick December Post

Hoping to keep this post super short because I am so low on energy it is next level draining just purely existing. I am actually using voice to text commands to post a blog for the very first time! So far so good.

Automated things are an absolute dream if you are living with a physical disability. Especially on days like today where going outside and doing your absolute best not to wipe out on the ice is exceptionally draining. Yes I realize that I have use the word draining frequently in this post and it ain’t over yet!

Luckily I do have some holidays on the horizon and I am having a positive time both spiritually and physically, to the best of my ability. Just waiting on some surgery for my foot at this time, my hips will hopefully be able to wait another few years. All anyone ever tells me is that the joints that you are born with are incomparable to the steel ones they are replaced by so I am doing my best to make the most of these deformed bones and worn out joints. Everything has an expiry date so all my decisions are based on quality of life.

Been feeling super tired lately. Been really feeling a lot of pain in my lower extremities which are kind of things you need if you want to be able to walk, climb stairs, get by without the aid of a chair, etc. The time is up for my right foot! Sorry pal. A joint fusion awaits.

I’m trying to be proactive in planning my recovery. Since I won’t be able to drive the first few weeks & there are stairs at my workplace, I will likely be working from home. These last few nights I’ve been working on putting together a proper home studio. It might not look like much but the sound quality rivals that of my studio & I can do all the same stuff I do at work from the comfort of my home.

I’m anxious to test it out, too, so if you want any voice work done - let me know!!

Hope you & yours are doing well this month. Looking forward to some pain free days myself. I know they are just around the corner.