Update

Sorry I haven't posted for a while but there hasn't really been much news.

I've been continuing with the Hydro and I was supposed to have a review with the consultant on Monday but that has been postponed until the 18th May.

In preparation for the consultants appointment, I went for a review by one of the physios at Heatherwood so that they could write a report basically advising that my knee is not making any improvement and that something needs to be done. The physio review went really well and she was pleased with the strength I have built up in the muscles at the top of my leg which is great news.

One of my friends has advised me to make a list of all the things that I now can't do because of the problems with my knee which I will take with me when I go to see the consultant in May. This should add weight to our request that they look at more options than just physio, especially now that my left knee has started to give me a few minor problems!

Over the past few weeks, I have discovered that although I feel fine apart from the problems with my knee, I get tired quicker than I used to and therefore I can't do as much as before. I learnt this from experience when I got to a point where I was no use to anyone as I had used all the energy I had.

I am now trying to plan my weeks so that I still get to meet up with friends etc but that I don't end up with no energy left by the weekend. This has been difficult as my head still goes "it's OK, I can do it" when in reality this is not the case and I push myself too hard.

There is no news on the car front yet. Hopefully, I should have it by the end of May. Then comes the challenge of learning to drive it with my left foot!

That's about it for now...will hopefully fit in another post next week.

Hope you're having a good week.

Hydro #2 & Update

I had my second hydro session last Wednesday and again found that it was very painful when putting any direct pressure through my knee.

Since then, I have been for a car adaptation assessment to determine what adaptations I will need to be able to drive safely. The assessment went really well and all being well, I will soon be getting a car with a left-foot accelerator. Dad and I are going for a test drive on Saturday morning of one of the cars I really like.

I have also been taking some more photos recently and I'm especially proud of the one below as it is the first one I have taken using manual settings on the camera. I have also entered it in a competition with the topic of harmony on a Digital SLR Users forum I am part of.

I think that's about news for now. Hope you're having a good week.

Hydrotherapy #1

I had my first Hydrotherapy session on Tuesday and found it to be very painful.

I was given various different exercises to do which often involved putting direct pressure on my knee and even though it was in water was still extremely painful.

I have another session booked for Tuesday afternoon and I am still feeling sore from the first session which was now 3 days ago!

That's about all that's news for now.

Have a great weekend and I will post again next week.

Cornwall

Mum and I had a fantastic time in Cornwall. We arrived on the Thursday lunchtime and went off in the afternoon to Godrevy, near Hayle to enjoy the views.

The majority of our time there was spent doing odd jobs that Grandad needed doing.

On the Saturday afternoon, Mum and I went off to Goonhilly Earth Station where the first satellite transmissions happened from in 1960something! As a bonus, we had free entry as the local newspaper my Grandad receives had a voucher in it valid any weekend in March.

On the Sunday afternoon, we took Grandad across to Falmouth to see a friend he hasn't been able to see for a while.

Tuesday was a day for Mum and I to be tourists as Grandad was out for the day. We went to Lizard Point, Marazion, Penzance and St Ives. It was lovely.

Godrevy


Lizard Point


View of St Michael's Mount from Marazion.


Penzance


St Ives Harbour

Quick Update

Just thought I'd write a quick post to give you an update on how my new routine is going and how my knee is getting on.

My new routine is going well and I have managed to keep up to date with my bible reading. How nice it is to be able to focus without distraction on reading my bible and the latest book club book!

My knee is still pretty much the same. The new painkillers are much better than the previous ones as the new ones just make me drowsy rather than dizzy, nauseous and drowsy! I have my first hydrotherapy appointment tomorrow so will update again after that.

Sorry for not blogging for a while but I was on holiday in Cornwall for a week. It was lovely!

Hope you're having a good week.

My New Routine

Today is the first day of my new routine. This is not to be legalistic, but to give me some structure and so that I have space to spend time reading my bible and books that will help me in my walk with God.

So that I can be accountable with this, I will not answer my phone or text message or email before 11am during the week. If I phone you etc. before 11am during the week, please feel free to pull me up on this.

I have struggled the last week. I have had a cold and increased the number of painkillers I was taking last Wednesday. This meant that by the time the 2nd dose of the day had taken effect, I was feeling very dizzy and sick. I couldn't continue like that so I have reduced the amount to only taking 1 tablet every 12 hours which is more manageable but the pain is still not under control. I have spoken to the doctor today and we are going to try another painkiller and he will work with me to get the pain under control so that hopefully I can advance with the physio. I have another appointment tomorrow afternoon so hopefully the new painkillers will be working by then!

In all this, I know that God is there but I am not sure what his purposes for me going through this are.

I am trusting in Romans 8:28 where Paul says "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him. They are the people he called because that was his plan." (NCV). I was also reading back through some notes I made when reading Dangerous Surrender by Kay Warren where she quotes a guy called Gary Thomas. He says "...faith isn't tested by how often God answers my prayers with a yes but by my willingness to continue serving him and thanking him, even when I don't have a clue as to what he is doing."

There are many things that have come out of this that I can be thankful for but all too often it is the negatives that are more apparent. I have built new friendships and built on old friendships and have been provided with a consultant who knows what he is talking about when it comes to knee problems. As well as being part of a fantastic church family.

I hope you will join with me on this journey of discovering what God has in store for me. I will post again soon.

Rebecca

Time Away, Physio, Painkillers and More Physio

I had a great time away in Cromer, staying with friends and got to see the sea! Yay! I spent most of my time there playing games with the kids. On the Friday evening, we went to a Quiz Night which was to raise money for one of the boys' football team. We came 8th out of 11 teams!

I had physio again on Monday and have been advised to increase my painkillers as the pain I get when trying to bend my knee is inhibiting what the physios can do. This means that I will now be taking some strong painkillers which make me very drowsy and also affect my being able to sleep at night. Please pray that I will be able to sleep despite this.

I am continuing with the exercises the physio had given me previously as well as adding in new ones that I was given on Monday.

I have physio again on Friday and I'm looking forward to going for a meal with friends from University on Saturday.

Hope you're well.

Rebecca