THR Bluebell53's Recovery

[Bluebell53]

I haven't written in a while and just wanted to let everyone I'm doing fine. Came home from the hospital last Thursday (6/25) after a two day stay. It's been tough getting around but it's getting alittle easier every day. I have good and bad days though especially if I walk around too much. I take 100 mg of Tramadol every 6 hours along with 1000 mg of Tylenol to keep the pain at a minimal. I've been eating really healthy, lots of fruits, vegetables and very little red meat. I ice my leg throughout the day to keep the swelling at bay. Sleeping throughout the night is getting alittle better. Dealing with these darn hot sweats at night, I'm thinking maybe it's from all the pain meds. I'm am VERY sore! There are days that I think it's not gonna get better, but I know it will. Sitting in a chair on this sore butt is the worst part of it. I kinda sit on the right side ( surgery was done on left side). I've been wearing those tight knee highs like a good girl, one more week to go, thank God!! I have a compression machine that I put on my legs when I sit, been using that faithfully. I took my first shower on Sunday, totally loved it. I did not have any problems with constipation as others have talked about. I have an appt with my doctor next week where he'll remove my stitches. My incision cite looks really good. I only let my mom change the dressing as she knows everything needs to be sterilized. There you have it. Bluebell is healing beautifully. I uploaded my scar in the scar thread, so have a look. I'll upload another one in a few weeks to compare. Hope everyone is doing well.

Bluebell53


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[Jaycey]

@Bluebell53 as requested by Poppet earlier in your thread, can you please keep all your post regarding your recovery on this thread? That way we can easily track your progress and advise you if needed.

Are you taking your meds as prescribed (full dose)? What is your activity level right now? You seem to have a bit of post op pain.

Well done on tolerating those compression sox - I hated those things!

 

[Bluebell53]

Hi @Jaycey, I'm taking the dosages that the doctor prescribed, except for the oxycodone, That stuff just makes me sick. My pain is more soreness than anything and from what I've read on here, this will ease with time. I get up and walk periodically throughout the pain trying not to over due it. I think I'm doing what I'm suppose to be doing just really sore.


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[Jaycey]

Yes, post op soreness will ease. Just take it slow and steady. Still very early days for you!

 

[Sullivand]

@Bluebell53
So glad you are mending so nicely. Keep up with those pain meds and resting like you are doing. You will keep healing and have better and better days. Every now and then you might have an off day and that is normal~ just rest a bit more. Sounds like you are also doing a great job eating healthy meals. Good job Bluebell53!

 

[Bluebell53]

Feeling really sore this morning. It's been 9 days since my surgery, I'm doing everything I'm supposed to do, I take my meds, ice, elevate and still have a hard time getting around. I'm trying to be patience but now depression has set in. I'm hoping by 2 week mark I'm feeling better and can start doing more. Just to feel happy would be a plus for me. I'm hanging in there trying to be positive but sometimes it hard. My boyfriend, and my mom in I are going camping this weekend. I'm hoping that by getting out of the house will make me feel better. Hope everyone is doing well in their recoveries, I haven't written much in the past few days but just been alittle depressed. Happy 4th of July to all my Hippy friends, I hope you all have a great weekend.


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[Kay9]

Hi @Bluebell53 sorry to hear you are feeling down. I think thats par for the course with this op though, I was told to expect down days, and I know Ive had them! You are only 9 days out of major surgery, and I think if you feel able to go camping, you are doing extremely well! I know I couldnt do that, and Im 2and a half weeks out!

This is very much a marathon and not a sprint, you and I are both very much still at the start point of this, things can and will get better. Have a good time camping, it will probably do you good, but please, go careful not to over-do it. X

 

[Bluebell53]

@Kay9 thank you and you the same. I've been reading your posts. You poor thing! We've just gotta hang in there. It's hard for me to just sit all day watching my 80 year old mother cook and clean for me. I see her get tired all the time and I feel bad I can't help her. But she says she loves it. I guess I have a lot of making up to do. My staples comes out next week. Do you think I'll be able to take a bath? I wanna sit in a hot bath so bad. I'm sitting here icing my hip it does help. But I'm stubborn and do walk around too much. I do need to rest more. So, that's what I'm gonna be doing. I learned the hard way that you can't rush it and over doing it will only set you back. How are you doing? Do you feel yourself getting better?


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[Constanze]

Hi @Bluebell53 , never worry about your depression, it will subside. It's normal to be depressed on day 7-9. Day 7 for me was the transition from hospital to rehab. In Germany, it's normal to stay at the hospital for 7 days and then a 15-day rehab period follows - helping us to recover and get fit for everyday life and sport. It's financed by the statutory German pension system for some strange reason. I thought at the time - rehab was terrible - so chaotic, so disorganised - while at the hospital, I was on top of the world and talked to everybody. Maybe it had nothing to do with rehab. Looking back on it, doctors were good, physiotherapists were good, sport was fun (I went to the gym and they even have a pool where I did aqua aerobics and swimming), the food wasn't that bad either and I made some friends. I must have just been depressed at the beginning.

I can say the same for you. There is hope that you will get your good mood back and feel phantastic.

Thinking of you - sunny best wishes - Constanze

 

[copsham]

Hello @Bluebell53
It is very early yet. I think the waiting for the op was the very worst for me, followed by the two weeks after the op, a close second. I remember that where ever I looked on Bonesmart I read about having patience. With hindsight that it so right.

It must be hard having your elderly mother doing everything and seeing her getting tired but, to be 80 and to be useful and needed must be a real bonus for her. I visited my mother with dementia soon after my op. I didn't want to worry her so told her I had had a small operation on my hip. She said "Oh that's nice. How's the family?"!! So just appreciate your mum while you can!

Be careful re the bath - obviously only in the wound is strongly healed but the bath - getting in and out is quite treacherous. Plan your way out how can you support yourself safely as you step out. I love my baths too what a luxury that first one is. Take care.

 

[Kay9]

Hi @Bluebell53 I know exactly what you mean, my Mum is 86 and was looking after me, made me feel so guilty! Shes gone home now & Im fine on my own, can do most things.

Im doing great, thankyou for asking. Having a very good few days....if I get some bad days I will try to remember these days now and shrug off the bad. Im walking well, minimal pain, and had my dressing off today so saw my scar for the first time and am pretty happy with it.

Im really not sure about when you can bath yet? I understand that yearning for a long hot soak though, I am bath crazy but since moving here I only have a shower. One day when I can afford it I will have a bath put in.

I can also relate to you re wanting to do too much. Its hard isnt it, when you have been used to being active and now have to limit what we do. Im also no good at asking for help so try to do it all myself. You must try to rest though, over-doing it could cause you to have setbacks. Im sure depression is normal, we have been through a terrible trauma and the after effects will be with us for sometime. I think we are allowed to feel down! Hopefully your camping trip will help lift you a little. I would kill to be going somewhere like that at the moment, I live in a tiny village where there are no shops, no public transport and my family have kidnapped my car & keys so I wont drive. So Im stuck, surrounded by cows and sheep and fields and nothing else, lol, to say Im bored is an understatement. Im walking to the pub tomorrow

Stay strong, keep your chin up, all this will pass and you will soon be reaping the benefits.

 

[donor]

I wanted a bath too. Funny the little things we want so badly. Something so therapeutic about floating in some water....but until week 4 OS said no. Then I was fine. With partly open incision it's just not recommended. Mine was fully closed then I could submerge just fine.

 

[Sullivand]

@Bluebell53
Camping at day 9ish?! On the ground in a tent? Wow! I am amazed! During my early days post op ~I cancelled everything because of pain and general fatigue.
I am so sorry that you have had sadness. I think it is quite normal after major surgery and there is great literature here on Bonesmart that is so helpful and encouraging. I hope it helps you to understand where you are.
Try to be good to yourself and rest and keep up with your pain meds. You are doing great!

 

[copsham]

Good luck @Bluebell53
I love camping but at 9 days post op all I was doing was "camping" on the sofa!!
Take great care!

 

[Cynthia777]

So happy to hear all is well! Was a little worried (my nature) when you hadn't posted. Have fun camping (my favorite pastime...next to fishing) and be very careful! You don't want to get dirt and debris in that pretty incision...oh dear...I'll hush up!

 

[Michegon]

@Bluebell53 Hi, good to hear you are out of the hospital. Nine days out, 3 days in hospital , so 6 days being home. In my part of the world going camping means maybe meeting Big foot here in Oregon. I'm all for getting around! Hopefully it's only in your backyard . You might want to call your OS and see what they recommend! Good Luck!

 

[Michegon]

@Bluebell53 Hi, hope you are doing well!

 

[Bluebell53]

I need some advice, I tripped coming up the stairs this afternoon carrying groceries. I didn't fall but rather caught myself with my hands. Later in the evening my hip started to ache, after going to bed and putting an ice pack on my hip I noticed a lump sticking out at the top of my incision site. When I stood up, it felt like something was sticking out of my hip. Could I have dislocated it? I've heard on here that if it was dislocated I wouldn't be able to walk, but that's not my case. I have a call in to the doctor and just now waiting for him to call me back. Should I go to the emergency room or should I just wait for his call. I am so worried that I am sitting here crying.

I had my two week post op appt on Tuesday. The doctor was very impressed with my recovery. The staples are now out and I was starting to feel better, but now this. I really hope that this is not a setback and that I can continue to go on.


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[Bluebell53]

Hi @Michegon, yes I'm doing well other than the little fall on the steps tonight. Waiting for the dr to call me back to tell me what this lump is sticking out my side. Cross your fingers for me that this is nothing serious. Thanks for thinking of me.


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[copsham]

Hope all goes well when you get the call back. I don't like to think of you sitting there waiting for the call though. Can you elevate and ice in the meantime? Look after yourself @Bluebell53