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OT: surgery, suggestions please and sorry so long

You all know how badly I have wanted to start my quilting experience and it seems things keep getting in the way. I have had a zillions designs and material in mind and finally settled on the design which was the one I asked about a week or so ago, called brick road, only I am going to do it in squares and so I guess mine will be called something else. I am going to do it in the chocolat by 3 sisters I think it is made by Moda, anyway I have the squares I bought charm packs and jolly packs and that kind of things to do it and ordered the material for the borders, binding and backing, yesterday morning. I was just so excited. I was going to make a post about it all last night and go too upset to do so. I got the squares all laid out and lined up and sewed my first two and of course they were not even so I ripped them out and realized that the fabric was hard for me to see. I knew I needed new glasses but the doctor refuses to make me any until the pressure in my eyes stabilizes again. I had surgery in Jan and March of this year for the glaucoma but it hasn't worked and pressures are back to the 30's and in one month my vision changed drastically in my right eye. That's just a long side note, surgery is this:

Almost a year ago, Dec. 10, 2005, I fell down our basement steps, backwards; was lucky to survive it but I did with only injury to my right leg/knee/foot. The pain in my knee has been terrible, so finally my doctor sends me to an orthopedic and I know they decided by MRI and mainly by the way my leg moves that I have torn cartilage in my knee, actually the MRI only showed a very tiny tear, but since it did not improve with PT and meds, etc., he now wants to do surgery and I am having it on Nov. 10th. I am so disappointed, I knew this could happen but was hoping and praying it wouldn't. So my question is this, I know that it will probably be after Christmas before I can sew again at my machine, maybe, if I heal well, it won't be that long but I am over weight and I know it will be slower because of that, plus I am an insulin dependant diabetic, which will also slow down healing. I have so much to do to prepare for this surgery that I am thinking of putting this quilt that I have drawn out, figured all the necessary things for, laid out and every thing, away until the first of the year. The reason being I doubt that I will be able to see to do hand quilting, and I was planning on doing everything by machine, and I also think my eye sight is one reason I am not able to line up the fabrics correctly, so maybe also need to wait until he will write me a new script for glasses. :( I am so hurt and disappointed over this. Also, remember I am just now learning, did a small quilt and it was so off that I finally gave up on it.

Now what can I do while I am recovering from this? Am I making the right decision to put this up and wait. I have waited for this for 12 years now and am still waiting. I have to get my house cleaned really well before I have this surgery and I mean really, really, clean and I have to cook up a bunch of meals for Dad and me and then I have to make sure everything is washed in the house, I mean all the clothes and sheets and towels and that kind of thing, I normally only do this once a month or so and never do I have everything washed at one time. I also figure I may as well go on and do my Christmas tree, decorations and wrap presents before hand, just in case recovery takes longer than I plan. BTW, my sewing machine sets where the tree does so it would have to come down or be moved to the middle of the floor anyway.

I guess I need suggestions, encouragement and a little push because I am just plain down and out. I knew this was why I had been depressed and stuff lately but I will be glad to get it over with so that this pain will finally go away. Maybe on my one year anniversary of my fall it will be OK. I mean it will be 11 months since the fall when they do the surgery. I know it is minor surgery and day surgery at that but I am the caregiver for my dad and I need to be able to do things for him too.

Sorry so long!

Jacqueline in Kentucky if replied to privately please do so at quilter @ mountain-breeze dot com

Reply to
Jacqueline quilter at mounta
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As one who has BTDT (or most of it anyway) my quick advice is -

Do what you HAVE to in the way of cleaning (going into even minor surgery exhausted and stressed is not a good idea)

Get a simple handsewing project for your recovery time. Placemats are my favourite for this, or even knitting. Keep the "dream" project for when you feel recovered and want to reward yourself with the joy of setting out on your big new quilting adventure.

Don't assume that you will be laid up for months recovering, just take one day at a time. You could be back and better than ever much quicker than you thought - there is no way to be sure.

Good luck on the medical front, for both surgery and eye prescriptions!

Reply to
Cats

Reply to
WV Quilter

I don't have anyone that will come sew with me or anything unless my sister would teach me to weave and I just don't have the desire to learn that right now. Plus, I hoping that my sister's will help with my dad during this time. I will just have to ask you all to post a lot because I have already decided to download the group on my laptop and it is wireless so will go anywhere I go, or at least in my house that is. I do not like to use it but I will when I have to. I also decided, just after I sent the first message, that I could get one of my websites ready for Christmas during this time. Christmas is one of the biggest times of the year for my sites, so I can do that on laptop in bed, but said I had to keep leg elevated. That may make it a little harder to use the laptop. I am sure I will make it though, I have been through worse, I think. I am just scared and also worried about my dad and how he will take to it.

Jacquel>I'm sorry your having such a hard time, surgery can bring you up or

Reply to
Jacqueline quilter at mounta

Sorry to hear about the extra problem; but, hopefully, it won't be a long-lasting incapacity. I had knee surgery in the early days of 'keyhole' and it worked well. As to what you can do: read, read, read! Before you go for your operation get as many books as you can from the library and spend your 'laid-up' time finding out as much as you can about P&Q. If you can afford some magazines, try those, too. This will give you a big boost in knowledge, and will answer questions you didn't know you had >g< It will also take your mind off things a bit! . In message , Jacquelinequilteratmountain-breezedotcom@?.?.invalid writes snipped

Reply to
Patti

Patti, I already have about 10 books on P&Q but my problem is my eyes do not hold up long enough to read them. I also have some magazines. LOL I thought what was really strange is I posted and asked about the brick wall or whatever it is called last week, I didn't know it had a name, was just thinking off the top of my head and low and behold if it wasn't in a magazine that I got. I think that is what finally made me decide this was what I wanted to do.

Thanks for the tips, and I do plan on doing as much of that as I can.

Jacqueline in KY

Reply to
Jacqueline from KY

Jacqueline, do you listen to podcasts? There are lots of quilting and other craft related ones as well as anything else you might enjoy. You can listen to them on your laptop. Have a look at

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iTunes
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is the most popular software for podcasts and is easy to use. NAYY, just a listener :-)

chris

:-)

Reply to
chris

Sorry to hear about your surgery but if it will help the pain it will be worth it. You can learn to sew with your left foot. I even had a handicapped student who put the foot pedal on the table and ran it with her hand. That only left one hand to direct the fabric but she had learned to do a nice job sewing clothes so did well with quilting. When I injured my right foot a few years ago I mentioned in front of the doctor that I would have to learn to sew with my left foot. He thought I could just stop sewing for a few weeks. He just didn't understand.

Another poster was correct in warning you not to exhaust yourself with cleaning before the surgery. You want to go into surgery with your body, mind and spirit in as good of shape as possible. Get the laundry "done-up" and a few meals in the freezer but also accept help from your church friends. If they are anything like my church friends they will shower you with so much food when you first come home from the hospital that you will gain weight. Follow the doctor's orders about keeping the leg up and then the exercises.

As for putting that special project away---you could fold it and place it on top of a bookcase or something so you could enjoy the colors of the fabric and dream about getting back to work on it. If dust and/or cats are a problem put the project in a large plastic bag.

Keep >You all know how badly I have wanted to start my quilting experience

Reply to
Susan Laity Price

Jacqueline!!!!

I cannot believe I forgot to suggest. goto

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don't have to really read alot you can listen and pick up all kindsof quilter news, patterns and ideas. Free 24 hour quilting shows!! whatcould be better. You might pick up headphones or earbuds to plug intoyour laptop if your afraid to bother your Dad with the sound but it's agreat website.

WV Quilter

Jacquel> Patti, I already have about 10 books on P&Q but my problem is my eyes

Reply to
WV Quilter

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