David Coffaro Vineyard and Winery Winemaker's Diary

arrow May 6 - May 12, 2012


Sunday May 6, 2012  

10:00 Pm: I am trying to get up for the operation on Wednesday. I have been doing too much, like putting new birthday gifts together. They are nice but a workout for an old guy like me.

Tomorrow I go for a check up with my new doctor, an internist. She is younger than I so she will keep me healthy, we will see if she qualifies. I had a customer here yesterday and pleaded with me to do both legs the same time. He said I should come to his hospital and we could get it done next week. There were two customers here who worked at that hospital and I know they have power so I assume they could get it done in the next week or so....BUT do I want both knees done at the same time...............

I am having as much trouble with my right knee as my left one scheduled for Wednesday. I have been so surprised with my right knee. When I was 16 I tore or pulled my tendons in my right knee. I had a lot of trouble navigating  stairs. It hurt for weeks. That right knee has not given me trouble until the last few months, 53 years later.

Back in December I went to an orthopedic doctor who had done 100's of knees. I wanted an opinion because I was having trouble with my left knee. I got the impression he was not into the latest thing....long story.

When I was manipulated by this doctor while an assistant was taking exrays...I hurt. My legs are bowlegged. He tried to stretch out and pull my legs so they were less bowlegged and I believe my right leg suffered.

Of course my concern is can my right leg hold up when my left leg will be useless for a week.

Do I ask my new doctor over in St. Helena...(Not the one in Santa Rosa, he is no more).....please do both knees? I have heard Dr. Coon does not like to do both knees at the same time. I guess I will ask tomorrow, because I will not have time again until the end of October....Bottling, July and then............Harvest................

Monday May 7, 2012

I mentioned we had a great meal at La Folie on my birthday last Thursday. Cindi will soon put up pictures.

I called Dr. Coon's office and they assured me it was important to only do one knee right now so Pat and I head over to St. Helena tomorrow to spend the night before the knee surgery Wednesday.

The 2011 Late Harvest Petite Sirah is wonderful. Also the 2011 Dry Sauv Blanc is nice and is bottled and ready to taste or pick up.

I hope to get back to post a diary entry either Thursday or Friday to let anyone know how my surgery on my left knee went. I plan on having a glass of wine Thursday evening.

Friday May 11, 2012

I am alive. There is pain so I did take a little pain killer. I got little sleep the first night so 4 ounces of tequila last evening and one glass of wine was plenty for me. I will try a glass of wine again tonight. The ice machine they gave me does not seem to work well so I may just use an ice bag. My knee is very large from the swelling so I need to find out how to decrease it. I called Dr. Coon's office and the answering machine told me to leave a message. It has been 3 hours with no call back so I am not happy.

Catarino is just about through planting our new vines and I hope to go out in the vineyard next Monday to see if everything is under control. I will have more about the operation at another time. Right now I have to walk awhile and put some ice on my knee.

8:30 Pm: I called back and Dr. Coons office said they did not get the message. The ice machine is working OK.

Yes the pain is strong, but is nothing like my hernia operations many years ago or my emergency appendectomy four years ago. I have stopped taking pain killers. I can deal with the pain because it is down my leg, NOT in the middle of my body. This evening I am feeling pretty good. I cooked dinner as usual which caused Pat to be upset because she thought I should be resting. I can imagine most people who have knee replacements don't do what the specialists suggest the first few days.....if they did it is painful. I could be wrong by doing so much but I am trying to do what these specialists who probably have not had a knee replacement ask us to do. Maybe they know something.

The main thing I want to do is move around. The specialists want us to walk over one hour a day. I dislike walking unless I accomplish something. (Like today I got some wine for a customer.....I even used the walker a little. It has a basket to carry back the four bottles) I hate exercising.....what do I accomplish. Unless I accomplish something when I exert myself I have no interest. (I have done some of the basic exercises that are suggested). SO I cooked dinner both the last two nights. That way I can walk around the kitchen. My FITBIT (a great tracker, look it up) says so far today I have taken 3400 steps and traveled 1.63 miles And used up 2050 calories (I usually use over 2700 calories all day but it is early in the night). That is not bad for someone who has gone through this surgery. I think cooking my dinner, tasting some wine and having an espresso in the winery keeps me active. Tomorrow is another day..........



Dave
david@coffaro.com


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