Provence Market #24

I had a good report from my shoulder surgeon today - he is very happy and says I am ahead of where he would expect! I have Type 1 diabetes, and he says that can delay the recovery process, but he says just looking at my shoulder movement, he would never know I had Diabetes as I am where he would expect someone without it to be in the recovery process - that is great news. I am having continual slow improvements and hopefully that will continue with my exercises over time. I can do most movements now, the last range of movement to return will be stretching up behind my back (eg: to do up a bra). At the moment I can only get just above my backside but with persistence I will get there...

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Sledding Snowman Stocking #18

I had a second post-op hydrodilatation today (cortisone injected into the shoulder). My surgeon is happy with my progress, but it is slow and that's frustrating for me. He says I have another month before I can complain about slow progress as it is usually about 3 months recovery time and I'm only at 2 months...

Stitching is still going well on this stocking though. It is such a happy design - makes me smile every time I pick it up.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Sledding Snowman Stocking #14

Just a little back-stitching and a row of red on the sled last night as I was late home from the physio. My shoulder is improving slowly but I seem to have gone back a bit in the last week with increased pain and tightness. I'm seeing the surgeon next week for a review so hopefully he will suggest a course of action. Overall though, I am happy with how it is progressing as it is much more flexible than it was before my operation!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #38

The cross-stitching is almost completed - mostly just back-stitching to do now!

I have my first shoulder physio post-op today so hopefully that will help to increase my range of movement. At least I can put a ponytail in my hair in the middle of my head, and not skewed off to the right side! Small things are so great when you couldn't do them before!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie  

Christmas Sled Stocking #37

I've got the all clear from the surgeon to be able to cross-stitch so I am very pleased with my efforts last night (Note: I didn't do all this last night, but most of it).

I can feel the end is in sight! A trip to the fabric store will be next for the backing fabric.

My surgeon follow-up gave me the  all clear to be able to drive and stitch! I have to do physio for a little while, but I am already super pleased with the movement I have compared to what it was like before the operation. I even slept flat in my bed for the first time last night in months.
Thanks to  everyone for your thoughts and prayers during my shoulder issues!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Shoulder Surgery Update

Hi Everyone,

I have been out of action for a few days due to shoulder surgery. I'm very happy to report that it seems to have gone very well - I have very little pain and movement is slowly returning. I've got the week off work to recover although I'm going crazy sitting home all day by myself - I've catalogued 30 books so far (one handed mostly)! I see my surgeon again on Monday for a follow-up appointment and will hopefully then be able to resume stitching and driving. I think I could probably do it now, but I really don't want to jeopardise my shoulder recovery for the sake of a few days... Thank you for all your kind thoughts and best wishes!
I can't wait to get back into stitching properly again.
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #35

The first little birdy is making an appearance now.
Great news on the shoulder front - I didn't get in for surgery this morning (not that I really expected to), but I do have a booking for surgery on Monday - only 5 days away instead of the normal 3 week wait so I am super pleased about that. An end to the pain and discomfort is in sight! A week off work then light duties for about 6 weeks. I forgot to ask how quickly I can start stitching again but that will be my first question when I see the surgeon again!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #34

I've started on the heel which is exciting. There are just 2 birds and a small building in this foot part, with some snow, so hopefully, it won't take too long to finish off.
I have an appointment with the shoulder surgeon this afternoon and I'm hoping (but not realistically expecting) for him to say "we have a vacancy for surgery tomorrow morning" - wouldn't that be nice! I hope to at least get a date in the near future so the end is in sight. 
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #24

The name banner is getting there, slowly, slowly... I've found if I tuck my right elbow in and barley move my shoulder, it doesn't hurt as much, but it does make for slower stitching. I'm calling the surgeon today so hopefully I can get in to see them asap.
UPDATE - I can't get in until 18th July which is a bit of a bummer! That is the earliest availability. I hope that means he is good at what he does so he is in high demand! Hopefully there will be a cancellation well before then so I can go in earlier.

Thanks for your kind thoughts and prayers re:  my shoulder issues - they are much appreciated!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie  

Shoulder Update

Thanks to everyone for their support and well-wishes over the past months with my shoulder pain issues. I now have an answer to what is causing the pain - a bone spur and a 50-70% tear of a tendon (plus some other stuff but I don't understand what)! Now I'm off to the shoulder surgeon to get it fixed up. Hopefully it won't take too long to get in to see them.
Still no reason why - I don't recall a specific incident that sparked the pain, and apparently, often these things are through wear and tear. It seems for me, the minute I turned 40, everything has fallen apart! I'm hoping for a quick and full recovery process so I can get back into stitching more (and my other jobs as well I suppose)...

Have a wonderful weekend!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #19

I did this blue stitching on Tuesday night but I forgot to update yesterday...This top section has fairly large areas of the one colour so it 'should' come together fairly quickly if I can sit long enough to do it...

I also had a second MRI yesterday as the place called me back - I'm hoping it was because they found something and wanted to take a closer look at it (and not because the first one got stuffed up!). I find out the results next Thursday.
I told my Osteopath that I was in a great deal of constant pain and he suggested I try a cream that is designed for horses and dogs (but has been used by many people, just not officially tested for use on people). I bought some and last night was the first night I've been able to sleep flat in my bed for over a week - I've been sleeping on the recliner couch as it doesn't go flat. For some reason, lying flat is incredibly painful. The stuff is called Rapigel and it has worked a treat for me!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie 

Christmas Sled Stocking #18

I finished off this middle third of the design and did some of the back-stitching... As I always say, the back-stitching really makes a design come to life! Andrea - I finally did the bells on the sled! (although I think they are more like pine cones than bells)

I won't find out the results from my shoulder MRI until next week as the doctor had no vacancies. I'm hoping there is a cancellation so I can be seen earlier, and I really hope there is an obvious cause for all this pain I am in. Once they know why I am in pain, they can work out how to fix it! I don't know what I'll do if there is nothing obvious causing the pain...
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #17

 

Gradually filling in the gaps on the bottom right side of this first third. Not much to go now before I can move on to doing the back-stitching and finishing up this section...

I'm catching up with my friend Judith this afternoon so I am looking forward to that. And I've got the shoulder MRI on Saturday - I hope there is something found so it can be treated...

Have a great weekend,
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #16

 

Down to the bottom corner of this centre third now... I still feel like my progress is slow (due to ongoing shoulder issues) but I am pleased with my overall progress.

I am having an MRI of my shoulder on the weekend - I just hope and pray that it shows something so the doctors know what is causing all this pain. The cortisone injection gave me a small amount of relief, but certainly hasn't resolved the situation, unfortunately.

The wonders of getting older... everything starts falling apart!

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #12

I had the cortisone injection into my shoulder on Friday and have had some minor improvement since then. It could take a week to work fully, so hopefully the improvements keep on coming!

It did allow me to make some significant progress on my stocking over the weekend.

Happy Stitching,
Kerrie

Christmas Sled Stocking #11

Filled in a few gaps last night. 
I'm seeing my GP tomorrow to get a referral for a cortisone injection into my shoulder. Hopefully, I won't have to wait too long for it and, hopefully, the pain responds quickly and disappears!
Happy Stitching,
Kerrie