Stella's Anxiety & Hip Update

For the third day in a row I have had little to no soreness in the hip area. I felt so good yesterday I was doing so many things and went to a few places in town that I did not have time to blog. My hip and leg felt normal all day and at times I forgot what had happened 39 days ago. Today I felt the same way and I took a short drive to Best Buy. It was my first chance to tape a video on my phone of Stella in the backyard while I was gone. It was sad to watch and listen to her for the 26 minutes I was gone.

By 10:30am yesterday I had taken two different walks. One of five minutes doing laps around the backyard and then one ten minutes long where I walked to the mailbox and back, which is about .26 of a mile roundtrip. Every time I waited for my hip or leg  to show some sort of discomfort. They never did. I had not planned on it but I decide I'd check to see if I could get into the seat of my Toyota FJ using the same technique I use to get in bed. I also used the same technique to get in my friend's Jeep Cherokee on Wednesday night. It was the technique I was taught by the PT the day I left the hospital.

My only point of concern was, the right leg would have to be bent a little to swing into the floorboard area even with the seat back all the way and the back of the seat tilted back a little to keep my hip and waist of breaking the 90° rule. Where getting on or off the bed, both legs are kept straight during the side movement.

Again I sat there for a few minutes to see what kind of reaction I would get if any. Things felt normal and good enough I was pretty sure I could drive. If I could drive then I had something I needed done in town. Right before my accident I had ordered some Toyota black steel OEM wheels and rock rails. They arrived by FedEx the day I was in the hospital. Last week my friend that set up my bike also was nice enough to put the 5 boxes of wheels and 2 boxes of rock rails in the back of the FJ.

He recommended a good tire shop in town for swapping out my stock wheels for the steel wheels. I already knew the Toyota dealership would install the rock rails for me. Normally I would have done that simple task but I have no idea how long it will be before I am given the approval to get on the floor or the driveway, plus that would have been too much twisting and turning. I may not be able to do that type of stuff for at least a year.  It was easier just to have them do the hour job.

I was gone around three hours and when I walked in the bedroom Stella was asleep in her. large crate I bought for her due to severe separation anxiety. I cannot afford to keep buying vertical blinds that she had tore down before when I left her. Soon after I moved in I thought she would be okay if I left her in the house with the patio door open leading out to the yard ... but that is a whole different story.

Here she is hydrating herself before I decided to make a quick trip to the local Best Buy. I had finally decided on my strategy for cameras, lenses and the iPhone 11 Pro. Only today I was going to give her a break I thought, let her stay in the backyard while I was gone. She spends a lot of time out there on her own when I am here ... but that is the key words "when I am here".

While Stella was outside for her morning sunbathing session, Heidi thought it was the perfect time to ask for a dog treat. Could she sneak one in without Stella finding out?

As the rustling of the plastic bag of dog bones opened, Stella never moved a muscle and Heidi had her free treat in the morning. Now ... looking at that photo you would wonder how is it Stella would get so upset if I left her in the yard while I was gone for only 26 minutes ???? Believe me, I have asked that same question a million times.

If I was sure that a 26 minute video would not use all kinds of extra data you have by opening my blog or that video. I would learn how to post it but I don't want to take that chance. I remember how it was when I had to stretch 15Gb of data across the month. I didn't watch many videos with that much data to use.

I will say it was a sad 26 minutes listening to just how upset she was. She tried digging under the security screen door (steel) that I left locked to keep the nice breeze coming into the house. She did NOT try to dig under the fence gate like before since I had added short concrete blocks, surrounded them with the backyard rock to keep them in place. She did NOT try to dig through the window screen that sets so low in the wall. But she pacing and whining looking for any way possible to get out of the yard or into the house.

As I listened to the video while checking out my new Nikon D3500 camera, Heidi could not figure out why she was hearing all of Stella's whining and howling for the second time while Stella stood close to her.

As usual once I am home, Stella calms down and everything is back to normal for her. She didn't hesitate to follow me into the computer room, back to the kitchen and outside.

She finally curled up in the corner of the computer room and took a nap while I started this post.

I am losing my train of thought for this post. I just had a local realtor call me wanting to know if I wanted to sell the house I just moved into. LOL Investing in houses to rent out seems to be pretty popular in the town. A lot of the houses in my neighborhood are rentals.

She looks so innocent doesn't she?

They are preparing to watch the MLB Playoffs tonight. Their lunch has been served so they are pretty satisfied.

I have spent months researching cameras, or just lenses to add to my older D3200 or buying another point and shoot camera. The spot on the sensor inside the Canon G9 X kinda took any urge away for another point and shoot. Plus I have a iPhone that takes great photos within short range, but not so much when I zoom even 2x. When the new iPhone 11 Pro came out taking fantastic photos it was tempting to upgrade from my 8+ but that really wasn't what I was looking for.

I am happy with the 8+ photos.

So finally after more research I found what I wanted in stock at the local Best Buy. With my Cash Rewards from buying the watch recently and past purchases I was able to knock off about $75 more dollars off of the total price. I went back to that website I use that has a detailed comparison between any two cameras you are interested in.

Once I found out that in "image quality" both the D5600 and D3500 were rated equal with identical sensors, I was leaning toward the D3500. It was not only a few hundred dollars cheaper but it included the lens I have been wanting for almost a year after seeing the photos on Al's blog. The Nikon 70-300mm ... the special price today got me the camera, the 70-300mm lens and a 18-55mm lens for $200 less than it would have cost me to buy just the 70-300mm lens. I found out later it would not work with my D3200 even with the firmware update.

Why buy a new camera ???

I like taking landscape photos using a 200mm and now a 300mm lens.  My D3200 had been dropped a few times, once in the snow, once on the concrete and again when the wind blew it out of a chair onto the concrete floor of the carport then bouncing it across the gravel driveway. The Tamron lens I had been using was also used in a rough manner, just by taking photos every day as the hounds and I would hike through the field once or twice per day.

I thought when I bought the Canon G9 X last January that would be my everyday camera but it was not really good when the zoom was extended out to the maximum allowed. Then when the black spot showed up on the sensor and can only be cleaned by a professional, unless I attempt to take the camera apart ... I tired of that camera quickly.

So my phone camera will take the close up shots. The 70-300mm lens will be mounted full-time on the new camera and I will still use the D3200 with the old Tamron 18-200mm lens that has so much use, the rubber piece in the center of the lens for grip is worn and stretched out.

And the main reason ... for years I have always thought the picture quality of the D3200 was not nearly as good as it was when I first bought it. I am sure the times it hit the concrete or fell into the snow when I slipped and fell one day was not the best thing for good picture quality.

So now a short summary for the FJ story. Yes, the new 4Runner is gone. It was just too nice to off road in. All leather, great ride but reminded me too much of a "Family SUV" ... sure the hounds trashed it out with hound drool, dog hair and I helped by dropping a burrito one time  but I have ALWAYS loved the Toyota FJ. I've had Autotrader and Cars dot com bookmarked where I could look for FJ and Mini Cooper S 2-doors every day and night, even after getting rid of them.

By the end of August I bought this 2013 FJ at the Toyota Dealership downtown. It was a one owner and serviced as scheduled at Toyota since it was new. I still wanted to make it look like my 2007 Voodoo Blue with the rock rails and black wheels.

So that is what I did yesterday. D&M Tire swapped out the wheels and Toyota installed the OEM Rock Rails. I have the center caps arriving tomorrow so it will be completed by tomorrow. The only question is ... how does Stella get in the back???

I am not in shape nor have approval to lift the butt of a 90# bloodhound, helping her get up into the back. Her hips are also where she no longer jumps up in back like she and Sadie use to. I guess I'll need to get some collapsible ramps for her to use. Would she be able to get up the ramps or even want to?? That is pretty expensive to find out that she wants no part of walking up ramps to get inside.

Toyota quit making the FJ in 2014. It's my all-time favorite Toyota vehicle. What did I do with the 4Runner ... I found a Mini Cooper S, Arizona rust color at a Jeep Dealership in Tucson. They gave me more as a trade-in than what I paid for it because the TRD Off Road was a trim they could not keep in stock. They sold it within 2 days after putting it up for sale.

With the difference in trade in and sale price, plus license plates ... I made a little extra money after all the dust settled. That check from Jeep went right into my savings account.

I am still cautious when I get up out of a chair or car, or when I sit in one of those. I watch how I make turns when walking and I try not to move my right leg out to the right. That will happen later after the doctor gives me approval to start some exercises to get the hip stronger. I expect to get that approval this coming Tuesday. Again today, even in the store, I was walking on my own with my cane in hand in case there was an emergency where I needed support.

Busy times in the Wild West the past few days.

A Possible Breakthrough In The Healing Game

I went to bed Tuesday night very sore but not what I would call being in pain. I had spent too much time Tuesday sitting down in chairs. At the computer and then watching a couple of baseball games. During those games I will get up and walk around the house, or just stand between innings. Yet, I am finding out this past week that sitting is not a good thing ... but then what do I do all day if I am trying to rest and not do any 5-10 minute walks??? Lay in bed all day? Not going to happen.

I knew something was different when I woke up to Heidi's alarm (full body shake by the bed) and we headed to the back door so she could go outside at 2:30am. I stood up out of bed and didn't feel the normal soreness in my hip and upper thigh. I still used the walker though as we glided down the hallway, around the corner into the kitchen. By the time I got back to bed I still wasn't feeling any kind of soreness. I thought it might all be a dream.

We slept until 5:50am after telling Stella twice to "go back to sleep" and once again as I stood up out of bed, no pain, zero soreness in my upper thigh and waistline. Even the "rock" feeling in my hip joint was missing. I didn't jump up and down with excitement but I have to admit, I was really excited but also really cautious.

Sleeping with the windows open there are times we hear animals outside in that vacant land. Usually hearing coyotes but about 5:00 am I heard something fighting and the closest I could come to identifying the sound ... it had to be javelinas. The sound had a very slight pig grunting sound to it. Anyone know for sure if I am right on my guess that was when I was half asleep? Whomever it was, they were not happy animals.

Stella didn't hesitate to wake up when she heard the sound but I was just happy she didn't start howling. Instead she took off trotting for the kitchen no doubt to check the front and back doors just in case. I saw some fresh bloodhound nose prints on each plate by the door knobs this more, for each door.

So I don't trip or stumble over things, I have my patio chair backed up all the way to the wall now. These next three photos are the view I have when sitting in that chair. Not a bad way to start the day. It's even better with a hot cup of coffee.

That's Bisbee over by the sunshine.

Turning my whole body to the right so I can look over my shoulder, I found the full moon to be staring at me. I did the brand new macOS update this morning. It looks like they still need to work the bugs out because I tried 4 different times to duplicate this photo so I could crop it to a size of just the moon. It wouldn't duplicate the photo.

Heidi has turned into a profession food bigger. More than I can ever remember. Here she is asking for a dog treat and it's not even 8:00am and a little over an hour past the time she had breakfast.

It's was hard to resist a look like that but I did ... she wandered off to the living room to join Stella for an early morning nap.

By 9:00am I am still feeling good. I have walked around the inside of the house and still do not feel any soreness where it has been weeks of feeling some kind of soreness all the time. I have no idea why the complete change but I like it. I plan on taking another "day off" and not walking those 5-10 minute walks although it is very tempting just to take off walking down the sidewalk. I feel that good so far today.

A neighbor has offered to take me out for a drive around town after she is finished working. Maybe dinner or to the store if I need anything. Besides the one time I went to my two week followup appointment with the surgeon and the three times I have driven to CVS and the bike shops, I have not been able to leave the house or neighborhood since my surgery on September 8th. So I am looking forward to getting out later in the afternoon.

As I lay in bed flat on my back last night and noticing immediately that my hip felt so much better than just a few minutes prior, I reminded myself that for that hip socket to completely heal I am looking at 60-90 days. This morning I am at Day 38 post op. LOL ... no wonder that 'rock' feeling is still in my hip joint area. I am not even close to having that joint completely healed.

After my appointment on October 22nd, I've read where I should have followup appointments at 3 months, 6 months and then a year after surgery. I'll be interested to hear what he says after he sees me.

The longer the day went the better I felt. I tried to keep busy by not sitting in a chair and I combined that with laying flat on my back in bed, thinking. I remembered I had bought a spare tire cover and it was delivered FedEx the day I was in the hospital. It would be light enough for me to unpack and install it. The instructions stated it would be best to warm it up first since it will fit very tight over the tire.

The sun was definitely hot enough ... but I needed help.

Stella volunteered to supervise the heating project  while I moved the cardboard boxes collected in the past 38 days for my trip to recycling. She always does a great job supervising. I wonder if she will miss the raking of leaves this fall?

I would be interested in know what Heidi smells as she explores the yard. Are we having aliens fly into the backyard while we sleep and then escape right before sunrise? It's good to see her out on her own enjoying the stone yard.

I did one 5 minute walk today. I felt good the whole time and did not feel any kind of twinge or soreness. I would call the location "on top of my leg" but I know that's impossible, it's just where it felt like the past week. Right on top of the femur where the new hip now resides.

While Heidi roamed the backyard, Stella was trying to figure out which small dog was barking the most ... the one on the right or the left side of the fence. As long as there isn't any free food involved she isn't too interested in socializing with the neighborhood dogs.

For the past month or so, the weather has been so nice I have not had to turn on the AC during the day. Room temperature stays around 74° during the peak hours but today Stella was giving me her signal that she wanted the AC turned on. (tongue hanging out) I had a cool breeze coming through the house south to north and 74° just isn't that bad for inside temps since there isn't any humidity to speak of.

Before I could decide what to do, she was asleep within a minute ... out cold ... dreamland for the rest of the afternoon.

I cannot believe that I have gone almost 8 hours and have not felt any twinges of short pain or soreness. I haven't been all over the neighborhood or anything, nor doing laps in the backyard but just normal movement in the house. Before today movements as simple as that I felt soreness on the upper thigh and inside the hip. Occasionally in my groin area.

One reason I always mention that groin area ... I did not know it at the time of the  bike wreck but pain in that area was the #1 sign that I had a broken hip, not the hip area itself. Like I mentioned in a previous post when the people helping me on the side of the road handed me a bag of ice for the hip I placed it on top of my groin area because that was where the most pain was.

A couple of people kept asking me to move the bag of ice to the side of my hip where I made contact with the road ... but it literally didn't hurt there. So I have been concerned since that area was sore if it were possible I had broken something that was suppose to heal.

The doctors office told me if I could do certain things with my right foot and leg, then I was okay, it was just soreness that needed time to heal. My friend that is a PT said the same thing. "Quit walking around and just rest" ... were her last words. LOL

So with that update I am going to go ahead an post this early. It gives me a chance for a little afternoon siesta before getting out of the house later this afternoon or early evening. I never thought I'd get Cabin Fever in Arizona but then again ... I never thought I'd be holed up inside with a hip replacement.

It's been a beautiful day here in the Wild West.

An Ice Pack Is Like Magic

I spent most of Monday with the familiar feeling of a 'rock' being inside my hip about the area I would guess the real femur is trying to grow on or around the new hip. I am not sure how much is metal or how low it goes on the femur. Advil wasn't working and I did not want any more muscle relaxers since my lower back had improved. In late afternoon it hit me ... try an ice pack on the side of my hip like I have before .... it was like magic in about thirty minutes time.

I also applied that ice pack while I lay in bed a few hours later and woke up with a hip with zero pain or soreness. I was almost shocked as the hounds and I walked down the hallway around 3:30am. Heidi has a new habit now that I really like, she stops right by the bed and does a full body shake to wake me up. So far that has worked 3 out of 3 times. We came back and slept till 6am and my hip was feeling really good. A little stiff at the start but really good.

This is Stella hearing me say, "no breakfast until 7am" ... I gave in and fed them at 6:30am.

As you can see it was a sky show early this morning. I couldn't stop taking photos of the sky. Can you tell which camera I am taking these photos with? iPhone, Nikon D3200 or the Canon G7 X ??

After breakfast Stella was still on the lookout for food. Just two nights ago she remembers the smell of two thick steaks being grilled next door. She is thinking there might be some scraps tossed over the fence for her.

With the daytime temperature being much cooler, Heidi is spending more time outside exploring the yard. That does not mean the sun is cool, just the air temp. The sun felt hot enough to me that I thought it was in the 90's.

Stella jumped up out of her nap on the patio ... an unfamiliar sound. It sounded like a tractor was passing by pretty close to the fence. I missed it as it passed but I could tell looking over the fence they were mowing as much brush as they could. Too bad they didn't get right up next to my fence.

Once I am in better shape I will take my pruning shears with me and walk to the end of the block then curl around onto the path behind me where I can cut all of these down to ground level. All the dogs that bothered us walking this way the first week we moved here are no longer living in the neighborhood.

I had a feeling the brightest color of the vacant land in back was not going to last much longer.

Once Stella figured out the noise was just a tractor just like back in Indiana she resumed her afternoon siesta. That coffee spill will be cleaned up once the doctor gives me his approval to bend more then 90° ... otherwise it will remain. I guess Stella doesn't like coffee that much.

I was right, the second lap took out the yellow daisies.

Once it gets too hot, which doesn't take that long ... Stella is ready to go back inside.

With Fry's Market delivering my grocery shopping online I had to bribe the hounds with dog treats to get them outside on the patio while they moved the groceries to their car to my kitchen counter. I ordered 53 items and they didn't make any mistakes.  Well worth the fee of $9.95 plus a tip ... especially when you can't walk.  LOL The hounds were left outside for less than five minutes.

Well the answer to the camera question ... including the photo right above of Heidi ... all but one of these photos were taken with the Canon G9 X. Some of them had the dark spec from inside the camera and others were perfect with nothing to edit. I guess based on the cost of the camera and owning it for only 10 months I might as well use it and edit the black spot off of the photo as needed.

I did a 10 minute walk today around the backyard. It was slower than I normally go but I did not feel any kind of pain in my hip or groin. I do know that sitting in a chair for longer than 30 minutes put that 'rock' feeling right back inside my hip. Even if I just stand up to watch the game or take a break from the computer, that also works.

I feel much better than yesterday in the hip ... thus my attitude has changed for the better. I'm back to feeling positive about this healing process. Seven days until my next follow-up appointment with the surgeon.

Cabin fever is overbearing right now here in the Wild West.