THR Boofit's recovery in Hong Kong

@Boofit It's always best to ease off any medication. Stopping everything all at once can really be tough. Five - six hours of sleep is OK. But it all adds up.
 
Staying up late? HaHa! I am embarrassed to say that I am in bed by 7:15 each evening, watch YouTube videos on my iPad and am asleep by 8! Just like a baby! I never could nap and those first 12 nights of back sleeping were horrible for me. Each time I would start to fall asleep, it felt like my throat was collapsing into my windpipe and I would panic.

That’s why I tried the side sleeping at 12 days. Such a relief to sleep well, isn’t it. I am officially at 6 weeks now and not so worried about my foot externally rotating in my sleep like I was.

Stay safe from that storm!
 
Well, the storm is still raging over Hong Kong, and I am sitting looking out of my balcony windows watching the waves crashing onto the beach below.

@Jaycey yes, I will do as you say and ease off the medication gradually. Although I am trying to cut down on the Zoplicone and/or Valium, I am still taking Lyrica 75mg before bedtime, and it is supposed to have some sedating effect, so will continue with it for the time being. Thanks for the reminder!!

The good news is that I slept reasonably well last night without taking Zoplicone or Valium, but in 4 segments. I had to rearrange pillows or positioning for each segment of sleep, but managed to settle in and quickly drift off.


Chocolate is a food group and I believe there is a minimum daily requirement!
@subie2021 I think I exceeded the maximum daily requirement yesterday, but that probably increased my levels of serotonin, resulting in the dissipation of my brain fog:) :-) (: Must continue with this treatment for the time being... I prefer dark chocolate, and I tell myself that the calorie intake is less:heehee: Less than what? Don't wanna know....
 
So this morning I woke up feeling okay, so decided to do some exercises whilst lying in bed.
Am a bit frustrated at not being able to do more, not being able to go to the gym, at having to be careful with my new hip. But am constantly reminding myself that this is all part of the healing process and I have to be patient. I am so grateful for this surgery, and do not want to do anything to jeopardise my recovery.

Although my OS has prescribed Physiotherapy, I have not registered with any PT clinic yet, and probably will just do PT on my own (still remember the basics and I think I know my body better so can tailor my own PT).

So today I will start with leg raises, abduction in side lying position and continue with the gluteal and quadriceps tightening and toe raises and ankle pumps. Will gradually add on the reps and constantly assess progress.
I can see the muscle wasting in my glutes - not pretty!!

The hard lumps around the incision area are still there, and I am using Hirudoid on the lumpy areas around the incision. Since applying Hirudoid about a week ago (I think), I no longer have any visible bruising, and the lumpy areas appear to be decreasing in size.

Tried walking unaided at home but don't think I am ready yet. Slow and steady....
 
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You’re doing great, Boofit! I love your expression of gratitude and believe you’ll reflect back and see that the slow gentle approach you took was beneficial to your recovery overall.

It’s a special day, Happy One Month Anniversary! I hope today is a good one.
Thanks for sharing your healing journey with us and for all of your thoughtful contributions of support here. :)
@Boofit
 
Thank you @Layla ! I feel lucky to have found this forum and the kind support of strangers!:thankyou:


It's Sunday in Hong Kong. The storm has passed and the skies have cleared up somewhat.
And - deep breath everyone - I had a hankering for McDonald's upon waking up. Yup, you read right - McDonald's.
So instead of my morning walk on the pavements outside my building, hubby and I got into the small MX5 and drove to the next suburb for our fix. (There's no McDonald's in our suburb).
Unlike the US, there is no parking lot in front of the McDonald's that we went to, so we parked some distance away in a parking lot and walked over. The walk on foot (me on a single crutch) to and from McDonald's was just slightly over 2km according to my Samsung phone. Anyway, I got my fix:egypdance:

On side-sleeping
Last night was the fifth night I tried sleeping on my non-operated side. It is the second segment of my night's sleep, and usually starts around 12 midnight. After I got up to make a bathroom visit, I came back and started re-arranging pillows and then settled into my side lying position. All good.

Pain in the butt area and dull pain down the leg
At 3am, I woke up again and then re-arranged pillows to settle into the supine position (the third sleep segment).
But, I had pain spot areas in the lower back (mid butt) and inside the joint. Couldn't get comfortable, no matter what I did, so got up to apply ice-gel packs and that eased the pain somewhat.

As I sit here typing this report, the butt pain is back, accompanied by some vague shooting nerve-like pain down the thigh and lower leg.
I didn't feel it earlier this morning, but that was probably because the Arcoxia and Paracetamol masked it.
It is a level 3 pain, annoying, but not something to be alarmed about (I think), so will go apply some more ice and take it easy for the rest of the day.

Wishing all a good Sunday!!!
 
Sometimes Mcdonalds is the only thing that we crave and we give in to it maybe once a year. Usually on some kind of road trip where there is no other option so we just go for it and enjoy it thoroughly. Sorry you are in a bit of pain. Now that you've had your fix maybe just take it easy and hang out and relax. Hopefully the icing and resting will do the trick. It is past midnight here in DC and pouring rain. We just got back from an outdoor wedding and are hoping we won't be positive for covid in the next few days.
 
Had a busy morning. Decided to have a different walking exercise program for today.

Got into the car and hubby drove us to the Wanchai Wet Market, about 25 minutes drive.

For those who have not been to one of the 'Wet markets" in Hong Kong, it is a place with shops and stalls that sells fresh fruit and vegetables, live seafood, meat, freshly wrapped dumplings and wontons, dried foods (e.g. red dates, goji berries, dried abalone and shrimps etc), incense, kitchen ware, etc. It is usually a bustling busy colourful place where locals go for their food shopping (and socialise!).

There are wet markets in many different districts of Hong Kong, but many consider Wan Chai Market as one of the city's best "wet markets". There is one building that houses many stalls, as well as side streets lined with shops and stalls that make up the market. We usually just shop at the stalls and stores on the side streets.

It is sort of like a busy Farmer's Market (the one in LA comes to mind, except I don't recall it sells live poultry and freshly butchered meat). I do recall visiting a Farmer's Market in France decades ago, and remember seeing freshly butchered rabbits!!

Hubby was initially concerned about me walking about with my crutch (there are always people jostling around, and sometimes the pavements are wet). But I managed pretty well, and many people were kind and considerate and made space for me when they saw me with my crutch.

In any event, it felt like a step towards normalcy.

Shopping done, I was still in high spirits, so we went to a supermarket in a nearby suburb, and I did the equivalent of "walking in Costco for exercise" (except the size of this supermarket was a far cry from the Costcos in Northern America). The place was not busy, so I had fun walking in the air conditioned aisles. Picked up some groceries, and chatted to the manager and cashier ladies. The manager said I should go do my daily walk in his shop!!

Still having pain in the butt and some nerve pain radiating down the leg, so guess I will have to continue with the pain medication for the time being.
Sleeping reasonably well, in 3 to 4 segments of 2 to 3 hours.

Am starting to try walk unaided (or lightly touching walls and furniture) for a few steps at a time at home. Leg is getting stronger!!!
 
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It’s great to read how well you are getting on. The outing to the wet market sounds interesting. Glad to read that your leg is getting stronger.
 
The wet market sounds totally cool! We have a global market here in MInneapolis and I love to wander around trying different food! At 78 I find I cannot indulge hot, spicy as much as when younger but I still love sweet sour and spicy not so hot! I am so bored, I HAVE to walk outside today and my dog feels the same way!
 
@Shenick , I am a week behind you but only had one hip replaced. Going around the wet market helped me regain a sense of normality I think. It felt good for the soul:angel: So was walking the supermarket aisles, looking at different products.

What I really want to do is to go hiking again with my husband, especially in the Canadian Rockies, or the Blue Mountains or in Scotland or in the National Parks or in .... the list goes on and on. I am hoping my un-operated leg holds on for a few more years before I need to go through this process (THR) again.

Also praying for this COVID thing to fade away completely. Right now, Hong Kong still has a "7 days quarantine in a quarantine hotel" requirement for anyone coming into Hong Kong (residents included), so that's a bummer for travel.

Best wishes for your recovery!!!
 
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I am so bored, I HAVE to walk outside today and my dog feels the same way
Oh @skigirl , I see you have taken your dog little girl out on a 20 min walk today before I sat down to get onto this forum! Hope you are feeling better.
I must say I am amazed that you had your surgery on 27 June (less than 2 weeks) and are now using one crutch walking the dog outdoors! Bravo:yay:!!!

I too love sweet and sour and spicy!! Yum!!
(Truth be told - I love most kinds of food, hence the difficulty in keeping my weight down:heehee:)
Many people consider Hong Kong a food paradise with eateries from different countries. There are upscale luxurious restaurants, mid-range eateries offering a wide variety of food and international cuisines, or affordable "cha chaan tengs" to eat out. There are also what are known as "dai pai dongs" which are open air no-frills eateries (much like those also found in Thailand and Vietnam) and these are also good places for experiencing the local dining culture. If you visit Hong Kong, let me know and I will be more than pleased to take you to some of these places!

I spent two years trying to lose weight - the weight loss initiative was my daughter's wedding in Sydney at the end of 2019 (just before COVID) - I did not lose much, only 20 pounds, but enough to get my BMI under 22. And then the difficult part was trying to maintain that BMI for the operation!
Am hoping not to put on too much weight post-op now that I am giving in to my cravings for carbs, chocolate and ice-cream:fingersx:
 
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Boofit
Yes, ice cream, first month I was home I went through 3 containers of Friendly's chocolate almond chip ice cream by myself.
Since then I've only allowed it in the house once!!
I've gained about 7 pounds after having surgery, but I am getting back to where I was now with walking and not eating full container of ice cream.
Prior to my accident I was walking 3 miles a day, walking dogs and working in a high paced restaurant so I know why I put weight on with lack of exercise, but it's all starting to come back.
 
Oozing weight! The occupation of most of the women I know! Including me, of course! I had my left hip replaced on Oct 4,2021. Mt partner died very suddenly Oct 20. When my much loved 16.5 year old Corgi died in Feb, I completely lost it and sank into a deep depression.

I ended up talking with a psychiatrist who was very helpful. We met through Zoom. I drove over a 1000 miles ( sorry we NAmericans are metrically challenged) to see my brother in Florida. I camped in my car on the way down and remembered my travels and how independent I was/am!

Little Girl ( my nine year old corgi) and I travelled quite comfortably and had a great time. I then went with my daughter to Nairobi where she was born to see the school we support. I saw Jackson whose school fees I have paid for years graduate from secondary school. He is so changed from the shy boy I first met. When I came back I was able to see my life through a different viewpoint!

However this surgery almost kicked me back into “poor me”! I live alone and have had to be creative in getting stuff done! I now have a staff of two high school girls who are helping me for modest payment! Today, scarlet walked the dog her full two mile walk. She came back much happier!

I was so light headed yesterday I was shocked but I just looked at the paperwork and I am anemic, my hematacrit was 9.2, so took iron this am!

I am now resting confidant that I can do this recovery just ine! I skied at 3 months with the first one maybe I will hike in Montana at 3 months with this hip.
 
@skigirl Your recovery story is inspirational.
I am moved at the moments when you relate how life threw you a curveball and you bent, BUT struggled and SURVIVED and came out STRONGER:yes!:.

We never know what comes next in our journey of life, and it is really how we react to those unexpected instances that matter. I am so impressed by how you steered the direction of your life after the sad events in October and February and came back in control of your life.
When I came back I was able to see my life through a different viewpoint!

I like the way you ended your post:
I am now resting confidant that I can do this recovery just ine! I skied at 3 months with the first one maybe I will hike in Montana at 3 months with this hip.
I am 3.5 weeks ahead of you in my surgery and my goal is also to resume hiking at maybe around the 4 to 6 month mark. I am hoping to go to Australia around the end of this year to visit my daughter and maybe fit in some hiking in the Blue Mountains.

My very best wishes for a great recovery for this second THR, but do remember to take it easy! Stay in touch!!
 
I drove over a 1000 miles
Now there's a catchy tune stuck in my head - the song I'm Gonna be 500 Miles by the Scottish band the Proclaimers.
They would walk 500 miles and they would walk 500 more just to be the men who walked 1,000 miles to fall down at your door....

And I feel filled with energy:happydance::happydance:
 
Anyway, today I decided to take a break from outdoor walking, and concentrated on about 30 to 40 minutes of:
  • leg raises,
  • isometric abduction exercises,
  • butt squeezes (glute max), and
  • gentle wall slides.
Also added in some abdominals in supine position and later when watching TV will do some upper arm exercises with the resistance bands.

Am also trying to walk unaided in my home, but have the Trendelenberg gait, so need to strengthen my abductors.
Am icing after exercises.
 

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