@Woodstockhip @Hip4life @BellaMac @Layla
Night before drive to surgery center area. Work completed at office. Healthy dinner. A glass of wine with plenty of water. Nothing subsides my hip pain and my last-minute activities are measured. Car gassed up. Two errands to run after I arrive to pick up supplies, and hotel room is ready. And SO AM I!
If you need convincing that it’s time to do your surgery, stay off all pain meds for a few days. No, thanks. I don’t want pain nor do I want to live on meds forever. Time to fix!
A few last minute reminders:
Shave your legs and other parts a couple of nights before surgery. Lotion up and realize that it’ll be awhile before you can do that again-on your own.
Gather your most comfy clothes to wear. Realize you will fall asleep at 1:17 in the afternoon yet be awake at 3 am so just be relaxed in your attire.
Find a nice, long, non-violent series to watch for a few hours each day and consider it a treat. Get your water bottle filled and snacks and ice pack on hip while you are entertained. I’ve just finished watching “Heartland” on Netflix, 14 seasons, sweet storyline, easy watching. Or find something that interests you without any trauma.
Don’t watch the news. I don’t watch it much anyway but you don’t need added stress over things you can’t control. Concentrate your time on yourself and your healing and recovery.
Have all your monthly bills paid in advance, get a stash of cash for any purchases someone may need to pick up for you, and be determined to order grocery items that are healthy for you. Stay away from sugar and salt (except for chocolate) and be sure to drink your water. The trips to the bathroom count as exercise.
Look for the small improvements in each day. You may have some setbacks but other areas will move forward so pay attention to them. Little miracles, I call them. They’re there everyday but especially during our healing time.
Throw away your clock and calendar. Period. Got an appt? Unless it’s with your Pt person or OS, it’s not written in stone. Listen to your body and give it rest when you’re tired and sore. It will tell you what it needs.
That’s it. No magic formula. Just common sense but we are bumping into walls with pain right now and need a loving reminder that we are not doomed to live this painful way. Give yourself permission to do what it takes to take the best care of yourself. In the end, you’re all you’ve got.
Tonight I’m praying for all of us, for the folks in the path of Ian, and our planet. Let me just be the best I can be, is my prayer. And that’s enough.