My recovery is  going well….I am still a little more tired than normal, but not as much as I was last time I posted.  Still having very little pain.  I had my blood work done on Monday to see what my INR is (that is the number they check to see what dosage of warfarin I need).  The goal is for that number to be between 2.0 and 3.0.  I was at 1.4 which is very low.  Tuesday I was again at 1.4.  These are the lowest numbers I’ve seen for my INR in the 7 months I’ve been having it checked – the lower numbers mean I am at more risk for clotting.  Higher than 3.0 would mean greater risk for bleeding. I know that for the surgery I had before this one (to remove my vena cava filter) they wanted my INR to be below 2.5.  I suspect they wanted it lower than that for this type of microsurgery, but I don’t really know that for certain. They have me continuing the daily injections plus have been increasing my warfarin dose.  Today my number was 1.8.  That is still low, but at least it is heading in the right direction.  I will have to have another blood draw tomorrow.  Hopefully we will get into the proper range soon!

Today was a very busy day – it was Kinsey’s 19th birthday!  We did quite a few things and quite a lot of visiting with family.  I am tired now, but did well overall.  I can tell I am continuing to improve.  I can’t wait until my incision is completely healed!  There is some mild swelling around that and the spot they placed the magnet in my skull and some tenderness to the touch – obviously I would expect that.  I am really just happy that it doesn’t hurt unless I mess with it! (Yes, I KNOW i need to try not to mess with it!!!)  I find that I sometimes think I have a hearing aid on that side and start to reach over to “take it off” for a break!  It isn’t because I am hearing anything over there.  It’s the weight of the steristrips behind my ear.  I am aware of feeling something there and forget that it’s not a hearing aid (which I am used to having!).  There are also occasional “twinges” of pain in the inside of the ear, but only momentary ones.  There is a “full” or “heavy” feeling in there.  It actually is common to have that feeling when you have sensorineaural hearing loss.  I am noticing it more now.   I have progressed to the point where I am allowed to wash my hair in the shower now.  I still try to minimize how long that area is wet.  I use a shower cap while I’m washing the rest of me, then put a cotton ball at the entrance to the ear canal to keep it dry and then just a quick wash and rinse over the incision/steristrips.   I make a point of blow drying the area along with my hair as much as I can.  Tomorrow I plan to start doing some housework again.  My hubby and daughter have been taking care of things since mom left, but I am feeling ready to take on some of it at this point.  I will rest as much as I need to.  I guess that is one of the luxuries of being a full-time homemaker.  There isn’t much that I HAVE to get done or can’t work around depending on how I feel.  

I was thinking that this post is probably kind of boring – not much to report.   Then I decided that boring is good at this point!  I have had a lot to do the last day or two regarding Kinsey’s birthday and also trying to complete her requirements for a spring admission to college.  Because of those things, I haven’t spent much time thinking about all that is happening from any other standpoint than the physical recovery. So far so good!  Thank you for the prayers and please keep them going!  I appreciate it!