THR Anterior THR Aug 19, 2014 Home same day.

[whatthe2]

Another great video, thanks for sharing. You're making me jealous. I'm still a month out for my RTHR and not sure I'm gonna make it that long. The waiting is driving me crazy. Not to mention the pain has gotten significantly worse.

* Does anyone know for sure if Day 2 Post-Op or Post-Op Day 2 is "2 days after surgery" or "the day after surgery" (i.e. the 2nd day)???

Officially what does the medical community use or how do they say it avoid confusion?

I believe Day 0 is surgery day, and the day after is Day 1.

 

[HerbM]

Another great video, thanks for sharing. You're making me jealous. I'm still a month out for my RTHR and not sure I'm gonna make it that long. The waiting is driving me crazy. Not to mention the pain has gotten significantly worse.

I only waited 2 weeks after scheduling, but there were a couple of miserable months before deciding on a course of action. I had never seen my x-rays and didn't realize had critical the hip was until I asked for all my x-rays to seek a second opinion for my knee surgery which at the time was planned to be first.

The last week before the hip was entirely miserable, as they had taken all of my effective NSAID away to prepare for surgery. Until I asked, they didn't prescribe any narco, but even then I didn't want to take a lot of those drugs as I needed to work and drive etc.

Glad you like the video!

If you are truly jealous and have any possibility of choice, then I would definitely recommend determining if your surgeon uses the anterior approach and if not then seeking an opinion from a surgeon who does.

The approach is a big part, if not the overwhelming majority, of the reason for my extreme success.

Also the question about the Exparel should be asked. Don't leave these choices to chance if you are able.

Either of these may not be suitable for some (small portion of) people but asking is free.

A month would have driven me bananas -- even the trip to the hospital was an agony, had it been five miles further it would have required me to crawl into the back seat to lie down while my wife drove me.

Approaching a week after surgery, my risk of infection is likely decreasing to minimal.

The energy drain never arrived -- in fact, almost the whole time I have been closer to ecstatic (and completely unrelated to the small amount of opioids taken -- they tended to make me tired and sleepy so mostly I took a 1 or 2 at bedtime.)

Sure, I brought attitude, conditioning, a robust constitution, preparation, and other skills to the mix but the anterior approach was clearly essential as without it even perfect luck would not have gotten me out of the hospital nor immediate freedom from all 'precautions'.

 

[HerbM]

5th Day After Surgery Day
​

I slept a little worse last night and this was likely due PARTIALLY to the body work -- we expected very minor soreness in my body due to the depth of the work Jay did, but there were other contributing factors as I tried not to sleep on my procedure side and tried to skip the narco.

Woke up and took a very little hydro.

However, even though I slept a bit poorly and only about 4-5 hours, I woke full of energy and ebullient again --

and again enjoying the entire process.

My procedure leg is measurably improved (it also feels better) after the Meridian mashing massage.

For the first time in weeks my right foot can lift high enough and long enough to get my pants on while standing.

This is seriously better.

The left (non-procedure) is a little worse due to the knee but that happened before we worked together -- it's still enough to also get my pants on easily while standing; they are about equal at lifting today.

Anyway, bottom line: I am noticeably and measurably improved following the massage session.

Carol and I made a small shopping trip to Walmart, then PetCo, brunch at IHOP, then went to pick up our Rx's (I stayed in the car at CVS Pharmacy).

On return, I worked on my car about 10 minutes but the Texas sun drove me inside quickly -- is was after noon and hit 102 today, about as hot as we've had this year.

After a rest, I went to the gym while Carol took a nap (she claimed I am wearing her out):

Finally found a machine for 'straight leg pulls' with less resistance than just my body weight leg lifts. Cybex 'Bravo' multistation. Some type of exercise Swiss Army Knife. On 10 lbs I could work continuous reps like cycling, while on 20 lbs doing a "slow 10 reps" and several sets was pretty good. My leg must weigh right close to 25 lbs.

While I would prefer the continuous mode, this meant standing on one (the other) leg became the limiting factor. With 20, both legs were tiring at about the same time, close enough with standing leg still being the real limitation.

Back to the leg extension for more of the same as yesterday.

Then I found the perfect aerobic machine: A Cybex Arc strider/glider that most closely mimics cross-country skiing, very little leg LIFTING, with arm pump handles so that my upper body can do a large share of the work. (Next to it was a version where you only hold with your hands for stability and the legs must do all the work.)

I can use this until my knees are fixed or I otherwise get my knees working temporarily.

As the first pulse measure my pulse was already at 90% of my max continous, so I backed off a bit, and only did about 5 minutes because lately I have done almost nothing truly aerobic and continuous.

My plan is to work this guy up to about 15-20 minutes at maybe 75% heart rate but that may take anywhere from a week to 3 or 4 weeks, I really have no idea and don't to be surprised on subsequent days by having over-extended.

After a quick additional few sets of the straight leg pulls on the Cybex Bravo thing, mostly because I needed to go over and return the leg strap and make sure that I could get myself in and out of the darn things (bending over to tie my shoes or work at my ankle level is still a stretch, literally.)

Came home and took a good nap in my recliner.

"A man's got to know his limitations" -- "Dirty Harry" Callahan (Clint Eastwood in Magnum Force)

 

[bottomshollow]

I'm completely exhausted after reading your post, @HerbM. I'm sure glad that all that isn't a requirement to rehab from THR---or I'd still be bedridden. However, I can tell from your post that you thoroughly enjoyed it all---so good for you!!!!

Take care, we care.

 

[whatthe2]

If you are truly jealous and have any possibility of choice, then I would definitely recommend determining if your surgeon uses the anterior approach and if not then seeking an opinion from a surgeon who does.

The approach is a big part, if not the overwhelming majority, of the reason for my extreme success.

Also the question about the Exparel should be asked. Don't leave these choices to chance if you are able.

I'm having the Medacta Anterior Minimally Invasive Surgery (AMIS), which I'm definitely looking forward to. I plan on being back up on my fee ASAP as well and am scheduled to fly to DC for work two weeks after surgery. You are setting the bar very high - hope I can keep up with you.

I will ask about the Exparel, thanks for the advice.

I continue to enjoy reading your updates. Keep them coming. Glad you are doing well.

 

[HerbM]

I'm completely exhausted after reading your post, @HerbM. I'm sure glad that all that isn't a requirement to rehab from THR---or I'd still be bedridden. However, I can tell from your post that you thoroughly enjoyed it all---so good for you!!!!

Take care, we care.

I loved your exhausted bird, and you whole post was so funny it literally made me laugh out loud and show it to my wife who laughed as well.

You hit on the key, that this entire process is thoroughly enjoyable to me. Literally this whole thing has been fun, and I can't even think of a very much of it that was more uncomfortable than it was fun.

But then I have a 9 year advantage on you -- at our ages that is not insignificant and it's not clear if after reaching 70 any of this will be available to me.

Part of my strategy for this was to find a way to enjoy it -- to enjoy being able to meet the whole challenge and to overcome any element so this gives me joy even if they were sticking me with a needle for blood/IV or asking me to do some weird position for the x-rays.

Endorphins are adrenaline are extremely powerful (and generally very safe) pain killers. A mind having fun can ignore incredible discomfort beyond these natural drugs.

This plus explicit hypnosis is part of the great advantages employed by me -- this whole attitude is full of ego and pride, but in the service of a very important goal: Getting the surgery that my joints need so much while suffering as little as possible.

In that context ego, pride, and arrogance are positive attributes rather than having the usual negative connotations.

This comes from an NLP presuppositions: There are NO bad behaviors NOR bad personality traits, but rather only bad behaviors and bad outcomes IN CONTEXT.

This is the type of thing that special ops training installs into elite soldiers -- to foolish or ignorant pride nor over-confidence but pride and confidence that can be wielded like another weapon or worn like a bullet-resistance vest.

Soldiers (elite athletes, etc.) learn to accomplish many things others think impossible using this principle.

The old saying, "It don't matter if you don't mind." is not about macho acceptance of pain but rather a trick to avoid the pain and almost actively enjoy any residual discomfort almost as a badge of honor.

When done to excess it can lead to great damage to the body (e.g., runners who developer stress fractures or weight lifters who pull and tear loose tendons), but when done with proper understanding of one's TRUE limits, it allows us to go farther and faster than seems possible.

For nearly 2 centuries the modern chronometer measured 4 minute was said to be thought to be impossible (they had been close for 9 years) until in 1954 Roger Bannister broke the record with only moderate time to train -- he was actually practicing as a JUNIOR DOCTOR and became a famous neurologist.

What is seldom remember is that Bannister's long thought impossible record LASTED 46 days when Landry broke the record Bannister's and they both did it again in a head to head photo finish at the 2 month mark.

For things that are physically possible, believing is doing, but again it only works up to a point and:

"A man's got to know his limitations" -- "Dirty Harry" Callahan​

 

[HerbM]

I
...Medacta Anterior Minimally Invasive Surgery (AMIS)
...I'm definitely looking forward to....
...You are setting the bar very high - hope I can keep up with you...
...I will ask about the Exparel...

My surgeon conducted my post-surgery check, dressing & stitch (3 poke holes) removal today.

We reviewed progress and created a plan for doing the Patient Specific Instrumentation Bilateral Knees about October 21 (minus a few days or by Nov 4). He's changing his hospital schedule by October and my wife is out of town until Oct 16 -- she has to be back to care for the dogs Trooper and Sugar. His scheduler will call me to finalize the data choice. We set another check and probably the pre-op for the knees as Sep 17th.

Definitely ask about the Exparel. One of my jokes with the surgeon today was in the questions about the knee surgery and the use of Exparel,

Me: "Will we use Exparel again?"
Surgeon: "Yes, sure will!"
Me: "Good, 'cause if you aren't using that stuff then I have to find another surgeon quick."
Surgeon: <Laughing>​

Then I gave him my serious report on how the Exparel had (almost certainly) followed the study "effect curve" and how patients likely could report it wearing of sooner or later depending not only on the drug itself but their own level of pain. He was real excited and interested to get this detailed feedback from a good 'reporter'
Although you certainly know this, please do not "try to keep up with me" but rather be the very best you that is possible, or as close to that as is practical.

Yes, if we take this a bar or goal for surgery outcomes it is almost as high as possible since there was very little to even complain about. There just isn't much head room to work with.

I could have flown or gone back to work the next day (except for the concern of blood clots from sitting immobile on a plane for hours without elevation and ice for comfort/reduce swelling) so likely flying after two weeks will be at worst mildly annoying EXCEPT perhaps "walking the airport".

So PLAN to obtain handicap service such as a wheelchair/skycap or motorized cart by ASKING for it ahead of time -- its much hard to procure these once you are in the airport. Still doable, but less effective if you have to stand their and wait while they organize the entire thing. You will also get special boarding (no waiting in line) and perhaps the FIRST SHOT at free upgrades to First Class.

I asked the surgeon if he had many with my results, and he told me there was one. That guy returned to work the next day or so perhaps that counts as besting me (if we do such a comparison) but it was entirely clear that I could easily have returned to work the next day with no real effort which is the reason I CHOSE to take a weeks vacation (through today, Mon Aug 25th).

It really wasn't justified to take "sick days" and for me it truly was a vacation -- best vacation I've had in years in fact.

This is literally true and though partly due to my enjoyment of the process, it was most a real vacation because NO ONE REQUIRED A SINGLE THING from me (other than showing up for surgery). I wasn't required to do ANYTHING. Everything I did was quite literally because at that moment it was precisely what was the most important thing TO ME.

Even I didn't make any demands on myself -- no guilt about sleeping late or sitting in my chair vegging or failure to wash the dog or not wanting to fix small issues with my car (even though I did a couple of these when it seemed like a GOOD TIME) or exercising (though I did that too) or even going to sleep or 'having' to take my wife out to dinner or brunch (I like to stay home but thorough enjoyed the times that *I* chose for us to eat out).

I did precisely what pleased me for an entire week. It was an entirely selfish week of no real responsibility nor duty and no guilt or shame.

Probably the best vacation I have had since 1998 trip to Vegas or some of the Microsoft "learning conferences" we did when I was with Microsoft Consulting Services between 94-97.

Went to Belize once in 1980 and this rivals that wonderful vacation as well as a trip our family took driving to New Mexico (from New Orleans) and camping in the early 80s.

All in all, a Great Vacation.

(I officially go back to work tomorrow on the 7th day post-op.)

 

[HerbM]

From my report to my Meridian Massage guy when he asked how I was doing (some repetition with above):

Very Good.

Surgeon's post-op check was good, bandage off, (3) stitches out (3 poke holes for leg length markers), can't submerge it for 2 more weeks but can swim with a special bandage he recommended and we bought on the way home. Going to Y for therapy pool when Carol (wife) wakes up from nap.

Knees hurt a little. Left knee tendons (mostly posterior, lateral) are still whining

Rear hip (butt) has a TOUCH of sciatica (not pain, just as if a little 'pressure' is there).

Both legs pick up far enough to get my pants on without having to sit. Right thigh still pretty stick. Wound contracture very mild (no pain) but definitely present upon rising from seated position for first few seconds.

Surgeon wants me stretching

• knee up/body forward (e.g., Knee to chest)
• hip forward, forward hip thrusts (e.g., forward lunge with chest bowed back)
• individual crossing legs (i.e., like normal sitting in a chair with legs crossed or putting on socks
  -- not even allowed with other hip replacement approaches)

Only real caution is "The bone takes 6 week to grow fully into the cup etc. so consider that when choosing what to do." 5 more weeks.) -- and don't submerge it unless using waterproof bandage for 2 more weeks but, showers and washing it are encouraged.

I will get started and you can help when you return.
​

So Carol bought the bandages, and we are going SWIMMING in the pool and WALKING in the therapy pool when she wakes up.

Going to find some Yoga now too -- per the surgeon, stretching and mobility is more important than power for the next couple of weeks.

There is (at least) one more thing that I didn't tell you folks about the visit to the surgeon.

When he entered the room, my computer was queued up to play this video at the 29 second mark:

​

I danced through these lines (ending about the 58 second mark):

​

You'll likely laugh more if you go watch and text doesn't do James Brown justice,
but here are the relevant lines:

I feel good,
like I knew that I would -- hey
So good
so good,
I got you

I feel nice
like sugar and spice
I feel nice
like sugar and spice, woooo
So good
so nice
I got you​

Surgical scar photos to follow.

 

[MajorHeidi]

@HerbM Your posts are very uplifting, and you have so much energy!

 

[HerbM]

@MajorHeidi thank you for the kind words.

As an old Army guy, I must admit to wondering if the reference to "Major" is military or perhaps you are just the most important Heidi? ;)

My energy has finally ebbed (in a good way) today.

1. Visit to doctor
2. Washed the dogs
3. Visit to the pool -- Waterproof bandage, walking in the therapy pool (which wasn't really warm), sitting in the whirlpool, therapy pool, sauna, whirlpool, therapy pool.
   I am now a well boiled oriental noodle.

<Humor On>

In reference to #2, this is to be added to the HerbM Hip Replacement Rehab Protocol (HHRRP) for advanced practitioners.

On the 6th day post-op, find two large dirty dogs, 80+ lbs. Wash them and cut toe nails. Dogs may be the type who love water (e.g., an over-sized Golden Retriever is ideal), but for the truly advanced practitioner one of the puppies may be of a type that disdains water, finding it beneath her dignity -- for this purpose you may find a Great Pyrenees useful.

</Humor On>

​

Fox News Breaking News:

Just experienced my 2nd sneeze -- unlike the first one, there was NO PAIN.
Based on the memorable results of Friday night's memorable sneeze this is a BIG DEAL.​

Ok, that's it:

Tomorrow I am returning to work full time so that I can get a vacation from my vacation.

It's been a great 7 days, but it is time for me to rest.

 

[MajorHeidi]

@HerbM Ha!
Major and Heidi are my two 100 pound weimariners in my avatar.
Have a good work day tomorrow. Don't push it! (really)

 

[HerbM]

Seriously, I am a computer guy and work from home, so while tomorrow will be 'work', it's going to be physical rest, much easier than the seven previous days.

I really am going to take it easy, probably all day long.

 

[HerbM]

Ok, back at work today, all day, sitting in the same chair as yesterday (I work from home) with my feet propped just as high.

Main difference is much less movement and exercise and I think it would have KILLED me had I spent the last week this immobile.

My movement and activity has been part of what powered my rapid progress, not something to do in opposition to it. (That's not going to be true for everybody).

I need to get up and DO SOMETHING. I have 9 hours in right now 7-4 and will likely work another hour then I am going to the gym and get OUT OF HERE.

Contracture is worse if sitting too long -- not painful for me but I bet those with poor pain management gets zapped bad every time they try to rise if they are just sitting around.

Haven't really discussed this (no particular reason but it wasn't an issue): I have been regular since Post-Op Day 2, once a day, occasionally twice, took 2 stool softeners 3 or 4 days in there just in case. Over firm (for me) but in the range of normal.

Most of you probably noticed that I started my BTKR thread for tentative October 21st surgery -- the title starts with "Here we go again!" if you are looking for it (or trying to avoid getting sucked into it. )

I am going to keep posting here, especially about any problems (if there ever are any) or if something remarkably good happens.

Before the surgeon removed my giant band-aid yesterday, I had been largely avoiding the actual incision area. Wound checks and massages AROUND the wound but nothing really at the wound (except ice packs.)

So I didn't know my thigh was swollen (much) and it was so smoothly and completely it looked quite natural -- saw it and realized that I am NOT that muscular. It swelled along the top of a major muscle and just made it seem BETTER if you don't compare it to the other one

So, I need to ICE that puppy even if it doesn't hurt. Check. (My icing got spotty on days 4-6 post op. Just didn't need it so only iced when "just in case" and it was easy to forget.

 

[HerbM]

After @MajorHeidi explained her forum name to me as the names of her two dogs, it occurred to me that my name might should be "SugarTrooper"

• Sugar is our 8-month old 80+ lbs Great Pyrenees 'puppy'
• Trooper is our 3.5 year old, oversized 85+ Golden Retriever

;) I was a paratrooper and I am sweet like "sugar" so that would work ;)

7th Day Post-Op Anterior Approach THR
Surgery was ONE WEEK Ago Today
​

Today didn't include any very exciting physical work today (went out for an ice cream cone this evening taking both dogs on a leash TOGETHER for the first time a a LITTLE bit exciting for me.)

It was a full day of "work" in my recliner taking care of the "Windows Servers" for one of the largest U.S. states.

Same place, same chair, same elevation but somehow sitting here all day without many PHYSICALLY ACTIVE BREAKS seems to have been HARDER TO DO (and I love my job; they only use me for the really interesting problems that no one else can solve.)

Full disclosure: My leg is tonight a LITTLE tender higher up from the knee and laterally over by the incision.

This isn't bad, nor really anything to get in my way much but if I am going to post how wonderful my recover is it's only fair to be complete and report EVERYTHING. Two reason: Honesty, and to keep people from assuming I just don't MIND some pain or just don't talk about it.

The tenderness isn't really pain, just tenderness and my main goal is to work it out or get another massage including that area around the wound. It mostly just feels like it needs some rubbing.

I am going to do MORE WORK tomorrow, and try to either go to the Y pools or go over to MY gym and play combatives (lightly) for about 30-60 minutes.

My search for suitable yoga has been fruitless so far. One residential massage+yoga place didn't even call me back. Another right here in MY neighborhood had a disconnected number. The two big closet pro schools didn't have any suitable classes and the Y has them at times that are difficult for me. (The Y still seems to be the best fit.)

My biggest complaint is my right arm tendons, below and above the elbow is hurting just a little.

That's it. New hip 7 days ago. New Knees coming in 60 days, and the thing that is most annoying is a couple of tiny and very infrequent pains (maybe 2 or even brief 3) is my greatest complaint.

That is a GOOD HIP replacement!

Took a little hydro and hunting for my bed now. Sweet Dreams everyone!!!!

 

[HerbM]

And here is my badge of honor taken last night (6th day post-op) external glue no staples nor external stitches.

My entire incision is 5" long (12.5cm) so it really makes me feel bad for those with 12" plus (30+ cm) incisions. No wonder they have so much pain and take so long to heal.

And are staples or (external) stitches really any better than glue?

FYI: No oozing, bleeding, discharge etc.
Top area looks a little rough but it is just dead tissue that needs to slough off

 

[Chessie]

I also had glue...and I would not want it any other way. I had nothing but a large bandaid when I came home, and I could take showers immediately. The band-aid was removed in a week with absolutely no pulling of skin or pain. It was just perfect. My scar is 3.5" long - I feel very lucky!

 

[HerbM]

I also had glue...and I would not want it any other way. I had nothing but a large bandaid when I came home, and I could take showers immediately. The band-aid was removed in a week with absolutely no pulling of skin or pain. It was just perfect. My scar is 3.5" long - I feel very lucky!

@Chessi, sounds like a similar closing technique to mine. Large band-aid (9" x 2.75" with about 7.5" x 1.25" pad because it had a 3/4" 'sticky' margin all around -- 22.5cm x 7cm).

Showering was allowed. Only thing not allowed was submersion (no bath which doesn't bother me, but also no Therapy Pool at the Y which was something to look forward to doing.)

Mine came off on Day #6 Post-Op (about a week later.)

I kidded the nurse "Please don't hurt me pulling it off because so far this surgery is virtually pain free."

With the band-aid off, I now put on a little gauze 'cushion' in one spot near my joint to keep from abrading it there. Most of it is uncovered.

I really do need to research why any surgeon would still be doing anything else. There MUST be a reason for all those Staples (or even stitches.)

FYI: I did have 3-6 stitches, one or two for each of my tracker poke holes, but the nurse also took them out.

Now (since Monday when it was removed) I can put on that waterproof 'band-aid' like thing and go to the pool without waiting until after Labor Day (Sep 4).

I am sore today, a little all over, not bad, and only thing that tracks is the pool walking on Monday evening, unless it was the Double Dirty Dog Washing on Monday?!?

Again my sleep was superb EXCEPT for waking incredibly early and having to insist on staying in bed to sleep longer. 1pm to bed and at 4am it was "time to get up", held in there though and manage to make it with some additional good sleep until 7am.

It's not pain getting me up, not even the bathroom. My body just keeps saying, enough, get up and DO SOMETHING.

Took the dogs out and fed them, now plopped in my recliner (again) about to start my work day (from home).

Life is good. The new hip is good.

 

[Chessie]

My body doesn't say "do something" until I've had 8 hours ....I do plenty before I get there. Unfortunately I usually have to get up before the 8 hours!

 

[HerbM]

My body doesn't say "do something" until I've had 8 hours ....I do plenty before I get there. Unfortunately I usually have to get up before the 8 hours!

I agree, normally I am a "Sleeper", even beyond 8 hours sometimes, unless something special is occuring (e.g., think Christmas, falling in love, or some other big deal).

This is NEW BEHAVIOR that has been happening pretty consistently since my surgery.

Last night I stayed up "too late" (given that I had to be working by 8am), going to bed at 1am.

But my body continued this NEW practice of waking me up -- only reason I didn't get up at 4am was because knowing that work goes 8-5 as a rough standard it would perhaps have made me real tired to have to go all day.

During my recovery 'vacation' last week, I was pretty much just getting up when this happened, knowing that taking a nap, and when, was entirely my choice.

Turns out that despite also being an inveterate and expert napper, I was not taking a lot of naps and the ones I took were reasonably short.

It's an odd "side effect" but somehow related to the surgery.

Additional data points: Since my wife and I have been in love and together for just shy of 40 years, falling in love is not a recent memory but I do recall it being an automatically energizing and sleep shortening conditioning.

And for me, the chance to LEARN or TEACH SOMETHING, especially at a rapid, advanced, or other special way counts as an "exciting event" for me, (e.g., going to a combat arts class with a Master teacher I have long admired, teaching my own Principle Based Knife Disarm Chain methods to an eager class of students, teaching Accelerated Microsoft Security and Networking, going to an advanced class in programming computers.)

The chance to do something REALLY FUN gets me up early and keeps me up late.

The chance to participate in an ACCELERATED learning situation (as student or teacher) really revs me up, gets me out of bed early, and keeps me going long into the night, day after day.

This always happened when we attended the (internal) Microsoft "learning events" while I worked for them. Similar happened when I spoke at the Texas Concealed Handgun Association 17th Annual Conference early this year (Topic: Avoiding Criminal Assaults)

So it is possible that I am full of energy because this is simply so much fun and I am learning so much.

 

[Chessie]

Who knows what causes these change....certainly we all experience different sleep patterns after such an event. My first 2 weeks were at home, and my normal sleeping (well, normal meaning way back before the hip pain kept me awake at night) pattern was non-existent those 2 weeks. I was napping during the day, which is something I never do, and that completely hosed any semblance of "normal" for sleep. But frankly I enjoyed it all...the naps, the rest, and the quiet. I am an "overbusy" person, always trying to fit 10 pounds of **** into a 5 pound bucket...and it was gloriously relaxing and restful to have absolutely nothing that I HAD to do, for 2 whole weeks. I absolutely loved it. I thought I would go stir-crazy - but it never happened.

Of course that is not to say I was on the sofa for 2 weeks. I was going on walks in 4 days, but nothing like the activity I normally do in a day of course. Still, the naps really affected my sleep at night, which makes sense. I was back at the gym before I ever went back to work, but my first week back at work really was a bit tiring - I really think it was 4 weeks before I felt fully back-to-normal, energy-wise, and I am sleeping much more "normally" now. But it has been a great experience....totally positive. I have not a single thing to complain about.

Oh, I love my job...and totally enjoy my day. My problem is that there is just not enough of it!!