Doing Well ... Then the Bad News

[Jim Koepke]

Went to the doctor today and all is going well.

Then she hit me with not doing woodworking for about three months after my sternum is heals. This is due to all the other stuff in the area also putting itself back together.

Bummer!

No beating a froe into a log to split it.

I think I may be able to do some carving as that won't require as much exertion. Maybe I can rig up a carving bench.

jtk

[steven c newman]

BTDT....just sit back and relax for a while.....it took me 10 weeks just to get allowed back into my factory job.. Got three SS wires holding things together in there. They even got mad when I was walking a couple MILES a day. It even tooka few weeks for the leg to regain it's normal white colour. Before that, it would have made a Tulip Poplar board jealous of all the colours.

Just relax for awhile. Takes a little bit longer for us Olde Phartes to heal back up, than those youngsters out there.

BTW...I think I went back to work way too soon.....lots of stuff I found I just couldn't do...took almost a year to fully recover.

[Frank Martin]

When I read your title, I was afraid you were going to share some real bad news. In the grand scheme of things, I would not worry too much about the lack of woodworking and find some other way to enjoy your 3 months. Hope you get back to 100% soon!

[Bruce Page]

I am glad you're on the mend. That froe will want you to be healthy.
BTW, I like your new avatar.

[ken hatch]

Jim,

In the short rows of those doctor orders myself. It's tough to find things to do at first but after a month or so you'll find small shop projects you can do with no pain. It's not building furniture but some the things can be useful. BTW, it passes reasonably quickly.

ken

[Frederick Skelly]

Please take it slow Jim. Do other WW tasks like taking an inventory of your tools, drawing up a few projects to build later, ordering/reading back issues of WW magazines from CD, reading a book or two from Lost Arts Press (while sitting in your shop), cleaning/maintaining your hand tools, planning mods to your shop like where and how to place more shelving, shopping for MORE used tools, write a few WW blog entries, etc.

Fred

[Brent Cutshall]

NOOOO! I hate that you can't do much woodworking. Well, yeah, you can do quite a bit of carving. That's how I got good at carving, healing from spine surgery. Nice to hear you're ok!

[Marty Schlosser]

I'm with Frd on this one, as there's plenty of ww related tasks other than rippin' and joinin'!. How about also considering taking a course on SketchUp or some other CAD related program?


Please take it slow Jim. Do other WW tasks like taking an inventory of your tools, drawing up a few projects to build later, ordering/reading back issues of WW magazines from CD, reading a book or two from Lost Arts Press (while sitting in your shop), cleaning/maintaining your hand tools, planning mods to your shop like where and how to place more shelving, shopping for MORE used tools, write a few WW blog entries, etc.

Fred

[george wilson]

They cracked my sternum too,Jim. But,after it heals it will be stronger than ever.

Where did they get your new blood vessels from? Since I'm large,they got mine from inside my chest. So much more fortunate than getting them from the leg.

IIRC< I made my set of textura quadratta letter stamps while healing from open heart. Just small filing involved to make them. And,a bit of fairly light whacking with a small hammer. No one told me NOT TO!!!

[James Pallas]

Hi Jim, It is nice to know you are doing better. Having some experiences along these lines, my advice is simply this. Do what they ask during your rehab. Their programs are set up for averages so everyone is different. I tried to follow the rules and did as instructed. I found that it went quicker than was predicted. If you just sit and wait to heal it takes longer. I don't expect you to do that but people that do so are included in the averages. There are lots of things you can do just look for them. It is hard to keep a hard worker down. Good luck on your rehab.
Jim

[Terry Beadle]

Jim, take it easy.
You have a wealth of wood working knowledge that you could share by writing and posting on SMC. It shouldn't tax the area of your wound and
I'm selfish enough to wish to learn.
Give it a shot!!

Take care and best wishes.
Terry

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks all for the kind words and good advice.


They cracked my sternum too,Jim. But,after it heals it will be stronger than ever.

Where did they get your new blood vessels from? Since I'm large,they got mine from inside my chest. So much more fortunate than getting them from the leg.

IIRC< I made my set of textura quadratta letter stamps while healing from open heart. Just small filing involved to make them. And,a bit of fairly light whacking with a small hammer. No one told me NOT TO!!!

George, they took them from my right leg. The ugly bruise is starting to fade.

I have been thinking of disassembling some of my planes to give them a fresh coat of paint.

jtk

[lowell holmes]

If faced with your dilemma I might place a stool by the workbench and piddle, not do woodwork. A cushion on the stool would help.

Have a speedy recovery.

[Pat Barry]

Not such bad news, better than the alternative.

[Derek Cohen]

Take it easy, Jim. Don't do anything silly. The time will pass.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[george wilson]

So,how is the use of your leg,Jim? Many times they foul up the leg that the blood vessels are taken from. Hope yours is o.k..

[Jim Koepke]

So,how is the use of your leg,Jim? Many times they foul up the leg that the blood vessels are taken from. Hope yours is o.k..

Other than a bit of itching at the scar it seems to be doing fine.

jtk

[Steve Beadle]

I'm glad to hear you're healing, but sorry that it's going to take so long before you can get back to woodworking. Absence will make the heart go fonder, so you'll probably love woodworking even more when you can resume the activity. There sure are a lot of reading/viewing materials that you can enjoy, or, as my brother Terry suggested, maybe you can create some good stuff for others to read/view.
Take it easy, Jim!

[george wilson]

Glad to hear your leg is o.k.. Some guys are gimping around forever after having blood vessels removed. Maybe the surgery has gotten better by now. Mine was before I was 57.

[Gordon Harner]

Hi Jim,
I join with everyone else to wish you well and a quick recovery. But, something that has not been mentioned should be considered. I have gone through two significant health issues since April, I was able to keep working during Chemo and surgery until September. This past Monday I returned to work and at best I can work a half day. I do not have a physical job but am outside on my feet. The problems I have are arm strength and stamina. If I knew then what I know now I would have insisted on better Physical therapy to keep my upper body/arm strength. Do your best to do what you can to maintain your strength. But, don't overdue it. Good luck.

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks Gordon, for good advice I intend to follow.

Yesterday the doctor told me after November 2nd I can start sleeping on my side again and forgo the chest binder. Currently my limit of arm exertion is about 10 pounds. After the 2nd it will be permissible to slowly work my way up to 35 pounds over three months. After that there will be no restrictions.

jtk

[Christopher Charles]

Hello Jim,

Bummer! I too was stuck with the no fun rule for 3 months. Tried to make the best of it with some reading and a bit of design work. Read Silas Kopf's book on marquetry.

Hope the recovery continues to go well.

C

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks Christopher

jtk

[Glen Canaday]

I had the choice of wrist for laparoscopic surgery, groin, or to crack it open (they said "get a zipper "). I chose the wrist. Though in the middle of things when you first find out *just* how clogged the artery is, that IV drip of nitro is mighty nice. Before you're 40, like I was (actually was 36!) you get plenty of future time to do it right if you make it to the ER in time. Nowadays I'm at least more aware of what's going on and hopefully don't need to go the route you guys have.

Get well, take it easy, and if you feel bored enough, forget reading a book...write one!

[Stew Denton]

Hi Jim,

Happy to hear the good news, and can relate to the bad....car wreck a couple of years ago laid me low for a while. Will have to continue to pray for you.

Stew

[Jim Koepke]

Thanks Glen and Stew, I appreciate the feelings and the prayers.

jtk

[Eric Brown]

Jim it sounds like a good time to catch up on your reading. You could even write some more forum posts for us.
Take it easy. Best wishes.

Eric

[Mike Holbrook]

I have been out of town, getting set up at our new location, missed this post. Great to have you back! You can make longer posts and read, as others suggested. There are also some good videos out there. You can plan projects. I acquired a backlog of projects when I had some issues that caused me to back off from heavy work.