The Indiana Orthopeadic Center & Dr. Sieber have done wonders for me - Post-op visit and general kudos

I had my post-operative visit with my orthopedic surgeon yesterday. It was a long but very pleasant visit, as indeed they all have been. The folks at the Indiana Orthopeedic Center have all been wonderful. I've been trying to take down names of people so I can write specific letters of commendation and thank-yous, but if you're somebody who works there, and you've worked with the tall black haired guy who's always working on a rug, I'm talking about you!

( We stopped at the dollar store after the visit and I bought two packs of thank-you cards, but I think I'm going to need more.)

The surgeon who worked such wonders for me is Dr. Jon Sieber He placed a 14 inch by 1/4th inch titanium rod in my femur. Its quite impressive. The ends of this device which anchor in my bone have heads like a dry wall anchor. I wish I'd asked him the precise name of the device, or for permission to take a picture of my x-ray, etc.

I went there on crutches and the receptionist smiled and said "This is a surprise"

When I asked her why she explained that it was surprising and nice to see me not in a wheel chair.

Of course they took x-rays... many, since I'm as lengthy of stature as I am of speech. The nurse was very pleasant too, and she surprised me when she said "I wish all my patients were as cooperative & understanding as you." Now, I don't think of myself as a particularly patient person, nor especially nice. I do at least my share of griping, but not at people who are helping heal me! I heard similar comments in the hospital. I'm glad my health care team appreciated my attitude, but I don't get why people would grouse at them for doing their jobs when their job is fixing you! Its not like they wake up in the morning and say "Oh goody, I get to torture that freak who's always working on the rugs." Sure, some of the x-ray positions hurt, the IV and CO2 meter in the hospital were hassles but... anyway, as above, that's why I make it a point to write thank-yous... they don't get NEARLY enough appreciation!

As for my situation, the etiology remains a mystery, but the doctor is pleased with the progress of my healing and my activity.

I'll be on crutches and off driving for a month. He wants me to say at partial load bearing the next two weeks, and work towards full load bearing and being off crutches by the time I see him in a month.

Tomorrow I see the oncologist- though I have no idea why...

• the biopsy of my femur marrow came back totally clean,
• had blood tests for all possible cancer markers, and they were all clean
• Every square centimeter of my body has been scanned at least once, some as many as half a dozen times by at least two different methods (x-ray, MRI, CT, ultrasound, & dye contast bone density.)

I believe there is still some concern about osteopenia or osteoporosis. Cancer was explored as a possible etiology and has been ruled out by the extensive battery of tests. So perhaps the oncologist will want to explore other disorders which though not cancer could still be responsible for my bone having disintegrated and broken?

Tess seems to be done breaking out with new pox, and my mother bounced back from her fever/stomach problems.

Thanks for all the love, prayers, concern, support.