Dupuytren's contracture

sadly, the plans i had to start up this blog again for the fall and offer giveaways again has to be put on hold :( but!...i am adding many ReAdy to ShiP items that are ready to go in the mail with Blank Labels. i will be adding many more so stay tuned.i am able to type - just very slowly and in short periods of time.  just check on the left hand side of my store front under Ready To Ship.)

a year ago i had surgery on my right hand for Dupuytren's contracture .
it was not really a total success (although it did not affect my ability to do things - especially sew!)
and i am having trouble with that same hand again
 AND also a few fingers on my left hand too.
 i am going on hand rest for several weeks till the end of october to see if i can avoid surgery.
 i have an appt on monday oct. 1. looks like i will start with cortisone shots and go from there.
you can see my progress last year here in this blog.

i know i will be good as new before i know it!

thanks, cathy :)

etsy shop update

i have updated my previous SHOP ANNOUNCEMENT.
after several days of thought and
based on my troubles with my hand - i am "closing" until the first of the year.
but (!) GIFT CERTIFICATES and READY TO SHIP items will be available
to purchase - so be sure to check it out!
______________________________________________________
due to my recent hand surgery - (and all the complications i have encountered)
i have decided to take some time off to focus on my healing.        
  
i am keeping my shop open so you can window shop
 and if you want to make a purchase - feel free to do so!
but!....
**purchases made today will not be processed until the first of the year.
:(     i know, it is sad - but how about
purchasing a gift certificate!?!
just look around in my shop and tell me what you love
and
then i will set up a listing especially for you!
AND!!! stay close and keep checking my shop
for READY TO SHIP listings.
i will be doing some "spring cleaning" in my wonderful stash of goodies and
listing them from now until the end of the year!!!
i welcome your emails while i continue to heal and
 focus on getting my life back in order!
_____________________________________________________________

Dupuytren's contracture :(

my therapist told me today that it does look like my hand may not show much more improvement.
 the trigger finger surgery seems to have been a success but
i still cannot close the hand into a fist or straighten it flat.
(makes doing yoga practically impossible - and quite painful)

i have an appt with my hand surgeron on monday so i will see what he has to say.
in the meantime - i am "closing" my etsy shop for the rest of the month.
i  need some time to regroup and get my life organized!
life without use of my right hand has created lots of little pockets disorganization throughout my home.

i will keep my shop open so customers can window shop
and even make  a purchase
 but
purchases will not be processed until the beginning of december.

i am now offering GIFT CERTIFICATES on all of my products.
several are already available but i will be glad to offer custom gift certificates.
and as an incentive to do your Christmas shopping early
i am offering FREE SHIPPING.

so check it out and tell your friends and family!

bummer day :(

i went back to physical therapy again today. my doctor still says 3 times a week.
i am told that my scar tissue is impeding my progress.
 she says most people are able to close their fingers down to their fist by now.
there is still a lot of scar tissue and bruising in my palm. and it hurts a lot and is so sensitve.

it is a bit discouraging, i must admit. but i am plugging along. sewing is slooow but i am enjoying being at the sewing machine again.
but...
i am thinking of making a big change in my shop.
i am considering only posting items that are completed and ready to ship - rather than the way it is now. now, you can "shop" for all kinds of items and then customers  wait until i can get to their order and then mail it out. i usually run 2 weeks out due to all my orders. (and that is sewing for 6-7 hours a day!)

so i am just thinking of ways to cut back on my sewing hours.
becasue i am not sure if you know this but
the sewing is what got me to the surgery in the first place!
i love it so much but i think i need to work at a slower pace from now on.
quality of life is more important than making a few dollars!

stay tuned. my shop may be changing!

making progress!

went to physical therapy again yesterday.
learned a few more exercises to help with the flexibility of my fingers and palm.
they say i am making good progress.
 i do get impatient sometimes.
 i was told that the palm of the hand is one of the hardest areas to heal.
 NOW they tell me!

the palm tends to want to heal in a relaxed position, rather than open wide
 b/c our hands are rarely wide open during the day.
 i have to wear a splint at night to protect the
wound but  tomorrow they will adjust that splint to keep my hand straight at night.
this will promote the healing in the correct position.
 needless to say - i am not sleeping too soundly these days with a splint strapped to my hand!

i continue with my heat and ice
and daily exercises about 5- 6 times a day.
 so far, so good.
i am motivated.
it has been over 1 1/2 years that i have been dealing with the pain in my right hand,
 so whatever it takes.

and whoo hooo!
i can finally sort of hold my toothbrush in my hand. it is a bit messy but much better than using my left hand! my "fist" is pitiful at this point. i am not able to fully grasp or grip anything. so you can imagine what you would not be able to do!
(i will post a photo so you can see my best "fist" at this point)

the therapist says i will not be back to "normal" for another 3-4 weeks.

i still cannot hold my iron in my right hand for pressing fabric :(
it is a professional (heavy) iron and it actually hurts to pick it up.
and it can be quite awkward and dangerous!
my left hand is trying, but i will look forward
to reaching the goal of  ironing. (never thought i would EVER say that!)

i started using my sewing machine on monday.
my sweet husband is helping me with cutting fabric.
(still a challenge for me)
so
sewing is sloooooooooooow going.
but
i am so happy to be able to be working again!

thank you for ALL of your well wishes, words of encouragement, instruction and prayers!!
ya'll have really supported me
you continue to help me get through this :)

good news and bad news

the doctor says the incision looks good - it is healing well
but i have a hematoma
hematoma /he·ma·to·ma/ (he″mah-to´mah) a localized collection of extravasated blood, usually clotted, in an organ, space, or tissue.
and the swelling in the hand needs to be better controlled.

the swelling is reducing my ability to increase my
 range of motion and causing pain in the knuckle.
so he wants me to ice and heat the area a few times a day
 plus he gave me a compression glove to reduce swelling.
 (the glove reminds me of ronnie in moonstruck)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7yK8cuP1Bw
if you haven't seen the movie - you should.

the good news is...
 if i can get the swelling down - i can start sewing possibly by monday!
i have 15 orders to get out as of today - so it will be slow going.
 i will probably only be able to tackle one maybe two orders
a day so i will be playing catch up for awhile.
but
and all of my customers have been so understanding.
that helps me focus on my healing and not on my work load!

off to ice the area :)

warning! the photo below can cause fainting :)

the doctor took the bandage off yesterday. i can hardly look at it. it literally made me light headed.

 i am certainly not meant to work as a nurse or doctor.

 gross.

 thats me looking away as my husband takes the photo.

 i am still trying not to look at it even though i have to clean it daily.

 physical therapy showed me several exercises to do 10 reps every other hour.

 i do no have much flexibility in my fingers. you can see that the middle one

 (the one i had the most  trouble with) is resisting the most.

today i am able to use both hands for typing but my hand will not open all the way so when i type certain letters - ouch! but there is progress!

 the giveaway is still planned for later today. will talk to you then.

the surgery was a success

i cannot use my right hand at all right now. it has been 8 hours and my hand is still numb.

i am doing the hunt and peck thing with my left hand so this will be brief!

going tomorrow morning to physical therapy.

 more later.

 so glad it is all over.

 now i concentrate on healing :)

surgery day!

i am on my way out the door to have dr. seiler fix the tendons in my hand!

ok...here it is - "make a fist"

my left hand is fine. my poor little right hand will not close all the way.

the doctor says it is from over use. (sewing!!!)

here is the surgery. ick - i cannot actually watch this.

 but if you are interested:

http://www.assh.org/Public/HandConditions/Pages/TriggerFinger.aspx

plus i am having this done at the same time:

http://www.eorthopod.com/content/dupuytrens-contracture-surgery

pre op appt today with dr seiler

first i must say i just love my hand surgeon, dr seiler.
 i feel very confident putting my hand in his hands!
he was actually on the cover of atlanta magazine last year.
http://www.gahand.org/about-us/news-and-press/TopDocs.php
so he is a cutie pie on top of being the best at what he does!

and i love my husband much, much more!
he actually left work to meet me at the appt this morning.
he knows that i am
a bit apprehensive about the whole thing and
that i would need his emotional support.

the surgery is scheduled for next wednesday at 10:30.
the doctor says the post op bandage will be the size of a boxing glove.
then i return the next day to get the bandage changed and start PT.
wow!
they do not waste any time. they want me to start using the hand quickly.
i am thinking that i may be able to start sewing sooner than i thought!

the doctor told me he would be playing country music while he did the surgery.
 i am not a fan
but whatever it takes to make him comfortable is cool with me.
 i will have 2 iv's:  one for the surgery hand
 and one for me.
he said it would be like having two martinis.
again, cool with me!

i will try to remember to get my husband to take a photo of my hand tonight.
just keep me in your prayers. i am a bit of a baby :(

hand surgery :( free shipping :)

my HAND SURGERY has been scheduled for October 5th!
 i have put it off as long as i can :)
some of you may remember last year i had to close my shop
for several weeks while i was on hand rest due to swollen tendons  in my right hand.
and yes, i am right handed!

well, after that i got a cortisone shot, PT and used specially formed hand splints
 but to no avail.
i have to face it. i need the surgery :(

here is a link that shows exactly what is involved with trigger finger.
http://www.eatonhand.com/hw/hw022.htm

sadly, i will be unable to sew for 3-4 weeks while my hand heals :(
and i still have a gazillion orders to get out before the surgery (!)
26 to be exact.
but... i plan to leave my etsy shop open so you can window shop -
and i will be available to answer emails...
 if you want to purchase something 
- feel free but
 please know that i will not be able to get to your order
 until after the doctor gives me the ok to work again.

- it will be at least a month before i get to your order!
 just in time to start your november budget and
get those
christmas gifts purchased!

and for all my blog friends...
if you make a purchase - you get free shipping!

just tell me in the message to the seller or email me
after your purchase that you read my blog
and want free shipping
and it will be yours!

oh and i plan to blog about the whole surgery ordeal.
what else do i have to do during that time?
i will not be able
to sew but i figure i can hunt and peck with my left hand!

and just to make it interesting -
i will be throwing in a giveaway
every now and then!

 i will have my husband take a photo of my hand now
so we can compare it
to the finished product in about 4 weeks.
stay tuned for the photos!
and thanks for your prayers.