..are having issues with old links, the website being one, you need that s. Just plug it into your browser URLS and save it, and you should not have any trouble.
Jane and I are finishing the edit, Betsy is eagerly awaiting same, and we are doing ok—some family illness issues have slowed us (Jane’s side) and we are trying to take care of that while finishing the edit, so be patient with us.
I’m trying to contact Chrondite, who just tried to register at the Shejidan site but whom I accidentally rejected because I hit the wrong button.
My sincerest apologies. Please try again.
I’ll let her know.
Thank you – I appreciate it.
CJ Update from her Facebook page Sunday, January 8th:
“Going in for hip replacement Tuesday. Wish me, well, the best job they can do.”
May she have skilled surgeons, smooth going and rapid mobility!
A friend of mine was on the table at 7AM, and walked out at 11:30!
Update on CJ from her Facebook page re her hip replacement of yesterday (Tuesday):
Cj Cherryh
·
“This morning I am moving about fairly briskly with the (no-wheels) walker, have administered my anti-clotting shot (I did 7 years of my own allergy shots, so this was no biggie) and have not yet needed (but will take) the anti-spasm and pain-killer/swelling reducer pills. The incision was warm last night, but not so this morning; and it is covered only by a 3×4″ bandage strip. I have PT exercises to do 3x a day, no biggie. I’m not up to the Oculus/Supernatural yet, even seated (it’s still kind of jerking-motions and I don’t want to do that yet) but Jane will do a short routine on my account—a bit of cheating, but we return the favor, and it’s only for ego-boo points, anyway. I’ve had this ‘streak’ of weekly/3-day participation going for 40 weeks and I don’t want to break it. (It’s one of the pyschs the game runs on you to keep you going multiple days a week.) Otherwise, the only glitch was that I was suffering a muscle spasm yesterday afternoon and didn’t realize it wasn’t just ordinary pain, so I took the pain pill but not the muscle relaxant, not wanting to crowd the doses of stuff they give you along with the surgery. Wrong. THAT was a muscle spasm. (They don’t cut any muscle, just ‘retract’ it aside to work.) I have a little osteoporosis (chemo and nature,) but the doc said the bone was in good shape for the job and he’d seen a lot worse. So reinforced with titanium and glue, it ought to be pretty good. Can’t recommend my doc enough: he’ll have done several of those yesterday—two days a week, he does those, which is his specialty. Very nice fellow, nice support and staff, too.
The leg now has a greater range of motion, and as soon as I can PT my way to greater strength and stretch in all directions, I’ll be good. Don’t know if it will help the general weakness problem I acquired in the chemo course, but I’ll give it a try. It’s going to improve my posture, and that’s major in terms of mobility.”
Thank you very kindly for the updates, on behalf of those of us who do not do Facebook, or similar social media!
My mother had a knee replaced, did the rehab exercises, and was walking easily in four months. Aunt had hip replacement and no problems. Other aunt has had both shoulders replaced – one last year at 91! – and it’s another do the rehab stuff and you’ll be fine. (Chemo does slow you down, but you recover from it. Takes a while though: after three years, I’m getting my toe fur back. It’s that full-body Brazilian…)
CJ’s continuing to mend… from her Facebook post of a few minutes ago:
“First PT appt today. Nice guy, PT. All about taking range-of-motion measurements, recommendations. Next week the real stuff starts. But I am about to stand and do minor things without the walker. After PT we went out to eat today at our favorite pub. The lift chair is working well—makes getting up and down less problematic. Not suffering here. Except when one of the kitties wants to use me as the bridge to get from the window-shelf to the floor. Ow!
Generally, though, I’m doing well, good range of motion, dictated by prior muscle-stretch. Joint now capable of more—muscles have to be re-educated.
I was starting to walk bent over because of the hip issue. Now I’m determined to fix that. I do my exercises the requisite times a day, plus one.
Many thanks to the good friends who’ve wished me well, thanks to one heckuva surgeon—thanks to all and sundry.”
Raesean, thank you for keeping us updated
Best wishes for a speedy recovery for CJ.
From CJ “22 hours ago” on Facebook:
“Beginning to experience natural movement in stepping on right foot (hip replacement)—not quite ready to give up walker, but in reaching things, etc, step feels normal and secure.
Two points: Amazon provided a lift chair that is about the cheapest you can come by; that is good looking enough to become a permanent living room chair; and it keeps me sleeping without turning on my side, which I think is a positive.
And: my leg has gone technicolor: I’m pretty sure they have to do some hands-on shoving to get that new hip in place, and the pain I have now (none from the incision) is all outraged muscle on the inner side. Plus about 15″x? daffodil yellow bruise with an Easter purple center of about 8″ in the middle. Technicolor. Sore on that side. The bandage will get changed about 14 days from surgery. That should go smoothly.
The best news is—I’m off the pain pills and thus able to write—which for a writer is, like, everything.”
And today’s (Tuesday 1/17) Facebook update from CJ;
“ The operated-on leg was misery yesterday—not the incision at the top of the hip, but the epic bruise the worst spot of which is just above the inside of the knee. It has reached a shade of red-purple that I’ve never personally possessed. But—today is better, the swelling there is better, and the hip is mysteriously smoother in operation than the natural hip was. I feel like the Tin Man, who’d just found the oil can. I look forward to the free use of it.“
And from CJ a few minutes ago or so (Wednesday evening 1/18);
“ Got the bandage off today at PT. Incision is sealed, looks clean and even, just one iffy spot. It’s all staples, not stitches, and I get those out I think next week. Right now that area looks like makeup for Frankenstein….except the green. I am not green. 😉
I am able to walk a bit without the walker. Cautiously.”
Eeek. I wondered why things were so quiet. I hope all goes well with the recovery.
All good news!
Yesterday from CJ (I’ve been busy and off Facebook for several days):
“Torment of the damned….
Proving, as dimly recalled, that I am allergic to Telfa, that glassy sheet that covers some bandages. Swelling and, above all, itching, atop the hip surgery incision had me about ready to lose it. It took a while to build up to full effect. But when it hit, OMG. I replaced the original post-surgery #2 bandage with some loose strips of gauze and some Bandaids holding the gauze in place, plus took oral Benedryl. The itching has stopped. Aaaagh, that was not pleasant! I’ve had mild itching for two days, but today it hit the overhead and rebounded, wildly.”
And another CJ Facebook post, a few hours earlier than the one above:
“Sitting here with ice: we got out of PT (in which we started the real work stretching out those muscles: and the good news is—I was bending when walking, like a tree that’s seen too many hard winters, and now I’m walking straight as a young aspen. 😉 The bad news is (we’d gone to brunch after PT) I caught my toe on a rug at the Swinging Doors and jolted the quad, which is letting me know about it. Tiny jolt. Big ow.”
Continuing cross-posting CJ’s updates from Facebook to here on her hip surgery. This update from an hour ago, apparently:
“Got the staples out Monday. Incision looks good. There are 2 massive swollen areas and the quad just will not respond to signals, but it will work. By that I mean I can’t order that leg to lift and have it happen, but I can walk without a cane in a fairly orderly way. It will improve. This is the end of the second week, and pain is rare, mostly involving orders to the quad to lift. I can already do things I couldn’t do before the surgery, like simply crossing right knee over left. So improvement is happening apace, and as the swelling goes down, it will continue to improve.”
Sounds like CJ is making good progress on hip and current book alike; this Facebook post of hers from a couple hours ago:
“On the hip replacement front, the sore spot is now the outside of my knee. They’ve got me on drugs that don’t like NSAIDS so I’m having to take stuff that messes with my sense of wakeup, so I can’t take simple Advil—gotta take the zombie juice. But to get off it, Jane had the brilliant idea of a pain patch on achy spots (the knee) far from any incision, and it is doing the job. Yay. Making good progress on the book, consequently. 3 cups of high test coffee and a pain patch and I’m good.
Got a few hours’ sleep last night in my own bed, flat (ahhhh) instead of in the lift chair, but after a certain time I can say I am in more general comfort in the lift chair, so finished the night in it. Generally I’m walking without the cane for a lot of stuff. Have trouble just getting up and getting moving, but once I’ve taken those 4-5 initial steps, I’m mobile and steady and can park the cane somewhere and come back and get it before sitting down again. This lets me do minor chores and carry things, which is a moral victory.”
Glad to hear CJ’s making progress after surgery even though it sounds like it’s still going to be a bit of journey. I had a thought to look up if any pre-orders were available for my favorite authors (sure enough, yes) and round about ended up here. Thanks for bringing in updates from FB as I’m not on there.
And more from CJ on Facebook, posted 1 hour short of yesterday (I.e 23 hours ago):
“Major thing—one of the hard bits is telling the right leg to initiate first step if I’m not using the cane. I have devised a little trick of lifting the right foot about an inch off the ground, once or twice. After that the leg is ‘woke’ and will take a normal stride. There’s still a lot of swelling, and some numbness. So I’m sure this will improve. But I now get about the house without a cane.”
Raesean, thank you for keeping us non-Facebook users up to date!
I’m glad to hear CJ’s recovery is going so well.
I very much miss CJ’s posts to her blog here, and I don’t do Facebook. I was surprised to hear the news she’d had a hip replacement (above), and hope she’s feeling better soon, able to move as she wants. I’ve known two folks who had hip replacements in their 90/s and did fine the remainder of their lives, several yers. Yes, unusual people, good genes.
A couple of fannish questions:(1) Was there a character named Harry in the Chair books? For some reason, this name came to me out of the blue a few days ago, and that seemed too easy, so I wondered if I had forgotten a char, perhaps from Char/s Legacy, one of the crew or rescued crew. Maybe I am confusing the name with ROharun or Ruharun, the character in the old tale that Pyanfar cites to clue in other hani in one of the battles.(2) This is probably for Walt or Joe, peole who know ships and sails and navy / seafaring traditions.
Ship nomenclature question — Suppose I want/need a small group of characters, 5 to 10, to rent out a small, fast ship, warp-capable, but a full ship rather than a shuttle or runabout. Would this be a “skiff,” or what would hte likely word be? And is a skiff more like a rowboat or motorboat, short-range, within a harbor or not a long trip out to sea and back? I/m trying to work out a plausible thng for a fiction piece. — And ould it be regular for such a group to rent out a small ship at one port (bas) and return it to another port or base, so that it is sailed (er, warped) back to the rental company marina at the home port? I wish I knew more about what is customary for real life sailing.
That should be generic enough, I hope. Thanks in advance for any input.
I am still looking forward to any audiobooks, including the audiobook for Alliance Rising, and for the upcoming one or two ebooks, Alliance, Foreigner, whatever CJ and Jane have in he works.
No Harry. Were you thinking of Harun? One of the bigger sisters if I recall correctly.
A skiff is a small boat. As a child I had use of a small 8′ boat, that could use a sail or oars. It could be called a skiff. Most skiffs are somewhat larger.
It sound like you’re describing a tramp freighter. Or perhaps something like Firefly.
U-Haul trucks can be rented one way. If the story needs it, do it.
Good to hear from you!
Something like chartering a yacht for a trip from A to B, with a crew that does the work and will take it home.
I misremembered Haral Araun as Harun. though Harun might be another Hani or Hani clan. I’m pretty sure Tully was the only human named. I think I would have remembered a Harry.
You’re right. Coincidentally, I just finished a reread of “Chanur’s Homecoming”, In Chapter 6 when Sikkukkut dropped in to Meetpoint, he trapped several hani ships, one ‘Harun’s Industry’, captained by a hani only called “Harun”, whether given name, clan name (ship names usually contain the clan name), or an appelation derived from her ship name, isn’t clear. Industry followed The Pride on the race to the melee at Anuurn and survived it.
Another CJ update swiped from her FaceBook post of 3 hours ago:
“Yay me! I had my PT today (hip replacement) that pretty well wore me out. Weights on the sideways leg push are up to 50 lbs, 30 reps. Dunno what on the other exercises. Had the ‘how to get to the floor and up again’ instruction and can do it both their way and mine.
And I’m tired. Hip surgery kinda dings your system for a bit, and I’ve done my Oculus VR Supernatural routine in the 6 minute range, and seated, and today!!! Ta-da!!! I did it standing, and with (gingerly) squats as well as reaches, though not with 360 degree rotation—just a couple of numbers I know well (“Miserilou” and “Seeing What Condition my Condition Is In….) and that aren’t too challenging on the reaches. I scored in the 90’s of 100, and am kinda slightly winded. It’s only a 6 minute routine, and I was breathing hard and wanting to sit down. I’m used to doing up to 25 minutes of somewhat harder routines. So I’ve got some build-back to do, but I’m doing it.”
The latest from CJ on her hip(s… & knees):
“Curious thing about this hip replacement. To my infinite annoyance (before the replacement) I had begun to walk pitched over, couldn’t quite stand straight without pain. One hip is now fixed. I didn’t think the other had any pain to speak of. And funny thing…I can now stand straight—but the other hip hurts.
Ditto the right knee, that I feared would be the next replacement (and knees are hard to recover from) — is now fine.
The orthotics to stop ankle pronation (pitching inward) are now not necessary. I’m walking as I should without the arch supports. On both feet.
X-ray showed that both hips were moderately a mess, but the left hasn’t hurt. Until I stand straight.
I think I’m going to talk to the doc (post op appointment in another 10 days) about ‘next’. Match-y, match-y.”
The other hip might be messed up from having to balance the bad one. I’d wait and see if it improves.
More from CJ as the healing continues:
“Coming down to the post-op assessment on the hip surgery…couple of days. I’m hoping to get rid of these post-op pressure socks. I have zero pain from the hip. But lotta pain from the socks—good to wear ’em, but it’s been something like six weeks, and I am so ready to be rid of these. (They prevent blood clots in the lower extremities.)
I can get down on the floor, climb ladders and stairs—the whole deal is thinking things through and not getting cavalier or reckless. Safety grips, bannisters, etc. Watching out for cords on the floor, not rushing about things. Takes a while for bone to heal.
Common sense, mostly. All this sitting has taken a toll on my stamina—even basic Oculus workouts are a trial. But I’ll be working on that.”
And CJ’s hip “update” for today was a nice & positive list:
“Checked out range of motion and strength today at PT…saw the doc and arranged for hip #2 in April. I’ll be equally bionic.
Things changed by surgery on #1:
I can get into the car without using one hand to get the leg aboard…
The sacroiliac joint has come unstuck.
I can stand and walk upright-er
I can get up off the floor and down without hauling on something.
I don’t have unexpected pain from the hip. Acute.
I can cross my right leg over left without pain.
I can cross my right leg over my left without hauling it there.
I can bend over and touch the ground.
I can bend over and touch the ground without pain.
I don’t know how far I can walk (it’s winter) but definitely further without pain than previously: stamina still eludes me, but at least it’s not painful.
My balance is better. I can stand on the balance tester and make the little dot go in a fairly straight line.
I can extend my right leg sideways. And press weight doing it.
I can sit in most any chair without hip pain.
I even semi-ran a few steps a few days ago. At least I hurried briskly.
Oh! and the knee pain that made me sure I was ultimately going to have to have the right knee replaced? Gone.
My need for shoe inserts because of ankle pronation that was hurting my knee? Gone. The new hip has the correct angle.
The left hip is as bad or worse on x-rays. It just doesn’t hurt.
Swelling in the quad is still there, but that’s the surgery.”