God Said You'll Dance, Just Differently

In life, things have never been simple and straightforward for me.  There's always been a challenge for which I had to dig deep to conquer.  Especially in the physical sense, all my life, I've had to find the strength to get through so many anomalies.  It seemed as though I was having surgery every summer.

...and now this:  the pesky knee which has been a major deterrent to my physical, mental, and emotional health.  The fact that my deformity is hereditary is one thing, but the numerous falls that resulted in untreated injuries didn't help the severe osteoarthritis.  As a child, I wouldn't have ever thought I'd been struggling to walk pain-free at 56, but here I am.  I never showed the outside world my torment.  I was in a serious depression being prescribed Morphine and Trazadone to ease the pain and sleepiness of an ever-contorting limb.  Who wants to live in agony for the rest of their natural lives?

On October 30, I'll have a total right knee replacement.  I'm anxious, yet hopeful that FINALLY, I'll be in control:  NOT the osteoarthritis!  That I'll be able to dance again!  For that matter, be able to walk straight, not afraid of falling.  It's quite a feat, but with family and friends who love me, I can do anything!  I'm glad I live in a time wherein surgery exists that can alleviate my pain and help me  regain all that I've lost.

I'm hopeful for the first time in years...

rainwriter jones

Barbarism and the Medical Practice

I have a tendency for afterthoughts.  I'm not one to think in the moment, but reflect on it hours, days, or even weeks later.

When I was 15, I remember visiting the doctor because I had terrible menstrual periods.  My primary care physician referred me to a "doctor."  I put that in quotations because I'm not sure of his title.  The need for parental permission was not necessary until the 90s or so, which made it possible for an underage person like myself to have procedures performed without it.

So, I'm in an exam room when the doctor presents himself, shakes my hand, tells me that he'd perform a D&C on me.  Being uninformed, I said it would be okay.  Well, it turned out the medical definition of a D&C is dilation and curettage.  It was EXTREMELY painful and performed without anesthesia.  There wasn't a nurse present, either.  On top of that, his fly was open!  I just thought he had forgotten to close his pants after urinating, but now I'm not all that sure.

Today, I understand why the need to have stricter medical consent and practices.  The patient or legal representative need to be aware of the risks versus benefits of any procedure.  Information needs to be given to patient or legal representative so that informed consent can be given, too.  Also, during invasive exams/procedures, a second person needs to be present for the patient's safety.  Who knows what was happening through that open fly...

It's been quite some time since I posted here, and it feels good to return.  These blogs will be posted at 2 a.m. (the reason for the blog's name).  I hope you enjoy what you read here as your insomniac eyelids pray for sleep.

See you at 2 a.m.!

Your Northwest Word Girl...

Korliss