One day at a time...

Good morning All,

It's strange, I thought I would be on here any typing all about my experience a lot sooner than this! I must say that I'd forgotten how much you can't do after Carpal Tunnel Surgery. Whether it was easier last time, or my mind has just blocked out the memory, I'm not sure, but it's certainly knocked me for six!

For example, we decided to go for dinner to a pub after the hospital, after all I wasn't really feeling like cooking. As I got out of the car, I tried to hold my handbag with my gammy hand, but it was so painful and the fingers just gave way. I think you just forget and it's so surprising how you take your hands for granted. I thought it wouldn't be much of a hindrance as my right hand is my non dominant hand, but how wrong can I be! I can't even wash my hair, so of course had to go to the hairdressers for a new 'do', but now I can't straighten it (not properly anyway!)

I'm not entirely sure whether it's best to rest it, or try and do things in the hope that it will get used to it. I have been crafting, all be it cutting out shapes on my Silhouette machine, but it's nice to keep my hand in (pardon the pun!). 

In any case, it just has to get better for Sunday, for I will be demonstrating for Sizzix on their stand, and I'm giddy with excitement!And on that note, I'd better have a go at doing some prep! Wish me luck!

Carpal Tunnel Anyone?

I'm so sorry I haven't been on here for ages, eons, light years! Now I'm looking after the Fiskars blog, and trying to craft, run a household and being up a small boy at the same time, there really isn't enough hours in the day!

So, today I thought I would change that by letting the house get in an unholy mess and blog to my heart's content. Only Joking. No, I'm having a carpal Tunnel decompression surgery today on my right hand, and seeing as I know a lot of crafters suffer this blight, I thought I'd blog about the experience.

I had my left hand (my dominant hand - yes I'm cack handed as my dad likes to call me) done 7 years ago, and quite honestly I never looked back. I went through a good few years of pain and discomfort, not knowing what it was, then tests, including the very painful nerve conduction tests; basically  they apply an electric shock to your fingers and see what happens. I remember the rude consultant telling my 'oh stop jumping - it doesn't hurt!' and I felt like saying 'well, let's apply them to your nether regions and see how painless it is then!'  Once we found out it was Carpal Tunnel syndrome, I had about a year of physio, hand splints, and cortisone injections before I declared enough was enough and went for the op. It was simply the best thing I did.

So, here I sit, 20 minutes before I have to go to the hospital, and I'm a little nervous but excited at the same time. Knowing all the pain will be over very soon, and that I know expect to be numb for about a week afterwards and that it will be hard doing all those things that you take for granted when you have two hands. Like pulling up your trousers, making a cup of coffee, and CRAFTING! That's what I'll miss the most. I will be back to it before my fingers can feel pain though - as least I won't feel it when I prick myself with my craft knife - something I seem to do on a daily basis!

Anyhoo, wish me luck, I'll update Facebook regularly, and I'll be back on here tonight with photos!