Day 2: drugs drugs drugs

and more drugs.

     That'll be the view for the next week or so, interrupted only for trips to the bathroom. Of which there are mannny. Turns out drugs come out in your urine, and they don't like to hang around. They come out often. The little blue hose running off to the right is hooked up to a machine with ice and cold water which constantly circulates around the knee to keep swelling down. It must be disconnected and shut off for each bathroom trip.

     I see why some people like painkillers so much- my sleep last night was interrupted every 4 hours or so because I needed to take more pills, yet I feel great today. The drugs seemed to affect sleep quality for the better. Also, normally in the morning I have sore shoulders and my neck doesn't feel great, but today the only issue is slight pain in the knee. Nothing else seems to feel like anything, which is real nice. That said, the tradeoffs (dizziness while walking, frequent trips to the bathroom, general grogginess) are such that I'll be glad when I don't have to take them anymore. Every 4 hours I take 2 vicodin, then 2 hours later it's a pill for "adjunct pain", an aspirin every morning, and a laxative (good times) 3 times a day. Also they threw in oxycontin just for the fun of it. I'm pretty much a walking pharmacy.

     Injuries which make one immobile are not great for people with low self-esteem, because you're completely reliant on other people to do almost everything for you. I'm not a fan of having to ask people for things, which makes it tough when now I have to ask someone for EVERYTHING. It feels like I'm 5 or 6 again. I'm not entirely sure what I'd do without my family, I'd be reliant on FRIENDS! I think I would feel so terrible that I would just fold up into a little ball and not ask for anything. Everyone has been super great though, it's a real blessing to have a family and so many brothers and sisters who check to see how you're doing.

     But enough sappy garbage. Today is all sitting around, then tomorrow is the first therapy check-in. According to my little cheat sheet, the milestone for phase 1 (0-3 weeks) is walking normally without crutches. I look forward to meeting that. The final milestone is return to full activity after 6 months or so. It's a long road but I'm pretty determined to make it all the way back and then some.