I'm back!

I haven't blogged in almost two weeks, but I'm back and a little stronger - mentally and physically!  If I'm not careful I'll defeat myself in thoughts before I even get going.  I've been really hard on myself the past two weeks on my recovery status. 

What's my status?!  I'm doing well.  I had my six week post operative visit last week and everything is good.  My incision is healing and I've been taken off restrictions.  I still need to listen to my body, but I'm good to start moving these muscles and get this leg moving like its supposed to.  The one thing I need to work on is my tilted pelvis (pelvic obliquity).  An issue I had prior to surgery and it will take time to get my muscles relaxed and back to normal.  That's one thing I have to realize and take in - that I didn't develop hip issues over night and my full recovery isn't going to happen over night.

I'm entering week 7 post surgery and I've been completely off the cane for full week.  The first day letting go of the cane was an adjustment, but each day I can feel myself getting stronger and firmer in my steps.  Doctors orders are to walk, walk, walk.  When standing from a seated position I am instantly stiff, but the more I do walk, the better I feel.  So I got myself a treadmill and placed it right in the living room so I can use it every day. 

I had my final physical therapy appointment today and I've met all my initial goals except the 90 degrees.  I can lift my leg from a standing position about 80 degrees, so more stretching and I'll get to the 90 degrees.  I already had a full list of exercises I have been doing and adding the walking on the treadmill.  Well she gave me about 7 more exercises that she feels will help me with my pelvic obliquity so it looks like I'm going to be a busy lady!  Maybe I can lose some more weight through all of this - I hope so!!!  Well I'm on my own through the remainder of the year, my next appointment to see the doctor is in January. 

Thanks to everyone who has been reading my experience and those who have been encouraging me with comments here and through my email - I've really appreciated it!  This isn't my swan song . . . you'll be hearing from me again soon!  Til next time :-)

First week down . . .

It's been a week since I've had my surgery and there are some things I'm surprised I can do, while there are other things I haven't been able to do - but I'm getting there.  The best way to explain is to go through my day:

I wake up around 5:30-6am and managed to get myself out the bed and up on the walker to the restroom.  I don't need any assistance in the restroom.  In the restroom I have a raised toilet seat, grabber and everything I would need to use within hands reach.  I'm so glad I have so many 31 bags, because I've been using them all around the house.  After my morning cleaning, I grab some clothes out the closet and make my way to the bed where I get dressed, take my morning medicine and give myself Lovonox - the blood thinner shot.  Yes, I have to give myself a shot in the stomach every morning.  I do have to look at my piece of paper to see if it's the proper time for my pain medication.  I realized I was forgetting when I took it last, so I guess I'm getting old and I'm subjected to writing it down :-)  At this point its anywhere from 8:15-8:30am and my niece walks in and asks if I need help with anything.  I usually have her get me a snack - apple sauce or fruit cocktail before breakfast to ease my stomach from the meds.  All of these activities are on a good morning.  On a bad morning I go through the same motions, but with assistance.  After all this I'm ready for PT and its probably 9:30am.  I get back into the bed and start PT exercises.  My niece doesn't let me count a leg extension as two moves - one out and two in . . . ugh!   PT is done and I scope the room for anything I need to take downstairs.  Yep, I'm a stair master LOL!  I am able to go downstairs one step at a time and sideways - good leg first up and bad leg first down.  Once I'm down I either go to the recliner, to the restroom again or the kitchen table.  My daily routine is basically recliner, restroom, kitchen table, walker around the room and additional PT during the day.  And we can't forget the instant naps when you're eyes just won't stay open and you wake up right in the end of a tv show or movie and you've missed everything.  That happens a lot - LOL!  I'm typically more alert after 3pm  - correction.  I'm typically more alert from 3pm to 5pm LOL.  And on most days I stay downstairs until around 10pm. 

So all in all, I'm getting around and feeling better each day.  My in-house PT assistant arrives tomorrow and I'm sure I'll be learning/doing more next week.  Maybe I'll be off the walker and using a cane by the end of the week.  Sounds unbelievable to me, but I'm finding nothing is impossible - just wait and see.

I haven't talked about the pain.  Well everyone's pain tolerance is different and I have my good days and bad days also.  I've been prescribed hydrocodone and I'm still taking pain meds.  I feel better during the day and have my biggest discomfort when I first try to get to sleep in the bed in the evenings.  I am hopeful each night I'm going to sleep soundly, but that hasn't happened yet.  Last night I was sooo happy we finally got rain in the the City, but the storm wasn't my friend.  The temperature got cooler and when I get cold I get the chills really bad and my body usually starts trembling, teeth chattering and all that body movement makes me hurt.  Not to mention, do you know how hard it is to control your bladder when you having body chivers?!  No fun!  There's no waiting to visit the restroom, because it takes me a lot longer to get there now a days :-(

All in all I'm adapting to all these changes and embracing them as well as I can.  My niece can be a hard task master, but I know she loves me to death.  I called on her to help me through recovery and like me, she's sticking to the plan.  When I really need to rest she lets me.  But you know how it is, sometimes you don't want to rest - sometimes you just want your way!!!  I'm not winning a lot of those battles LOL!

Thanks everyone for your thoughts, prayers, comments, calls, messages and visits!  I'm so thankful for my family and friends.  Let's see what I can accomplish over the next couple of days . . . I'll update then.

I've been released!

I was released today, but not after I got a complete workout.  Busy, busy day today.  I woke up going to the ladies room and back to the bed to await breakfast.  Surprise - PT is knocking at the door before breakfast to take me out for a walk.  Everyone didn't lie, each step gets better - just tiring.  After the walk they set me back up in the chair and I had breakfast.  The food still doesn't take great, but even if it was great I don't have a much of an appetite.  Surprise - PT came back after breakfast to get me walking on a stair.  I'm feeling like I'm getting the cram session.  Going up and down the one step wasn't that difficult - up with the good, down with the bad.  It's not even 10 a.m. and I'm feeling pretty tired.  Well now its time to take advantage of this beautiful handicap friendly bathroom before I go home and have to maneuver around my bathroom.  Ahhh, I feel good and refreshed.  I finally get to sit back in the bed, eat lunch and hopefully get a good nap before PT comes back again.  Surprise - lunch wasn't as good as dinner.  A mistake was definitely made somewhere because this lunch was back to being bland and awful.  I ate was much as I could and here comes PT for another walk.  A successful walk and I've been given the all clear to discharge.  I didn't get to nap as I went back to the room, changed into my clothes, my IV cap was taken out and a cart rolled in for my belongings.  I was out the door and tucked in my car before I could say ice cream LOL!  The overall visit at the hospital was great and I surprise myself each day with my improvements.  Now it's all of me - go home and have a healthy, speedy recovery.

It's good to be home.  My niece made me a flavorful, delicious meal:  baked chicken, rice & gravy and broccoli.  I still didn't eat much, but what I consumed was delicious :-)