Thank you all for your best wishes. I've been trying to post from the hospital since Saturday but, despite having wifi I couldn't get onto the forum, and didn't have any joy on my Ipad either, so have had to wait until getting home, which was a few hours ago, but I've been rather surrounded since then.
The op went well on Friday, although I was later having it done than expected and was really nervous by the time my time came around. I was sitting on my own in pre op for three hours or so, so had time to imagine all the worst case scenarios, but when it happened it was as everybody had said - the anaesthetist, nurses, etc., were all extremely nice and once I'd had the spinal, which wasn't dreadful, I was surprised to wake up post op.
As it was lateish I was wheeled back into my room and not allowed to get out of bed, so the first night consisted of bedpan alley - complete with one that leaked, which was rather unnecessary! - until morning, when the physios and OT came round to get me started on mobility. I must admit that I felt as though I'd been kicked in the backside by a mule, but to be expected, but the acid reflux caused by the painkillers, laxatives, antibiotics, etc., etc., has been worse than the actual pain.
As everybody else has already said, sleeping on the back is a challenge which I have yet to win, coupled with the fact that the UK is in the middle of a heatwave, so sleep has been very elusive. I haven't actually been napping much in the day either, but I'm sure it will catch up with me.
Yesterday I progressed from a frame to two sticks, and I'm now hobbling very carefully with the help of one stick. I came home after lunch, (I had to stay an extra night because I hadn't opened my bowels, which is apparently an NHS pre-requisite, although I'd emptied them so much on Friday morning through fear that I don't honestly think there was anything to empty to that point!), and my offspring have been round to check on me and tell me the rules, which I'll try to keep. I'm not going to have PT outside of what the hospital gave me, which are really more stretching exercises and gentle walking, so quite reasonable, as the PT said they only really refer people who are struggling and she thought I'd probably already be too good (a rare word of praise for me - too good for something!!!).
I've got an assortment of paracetamol and codeine, although as I said they all make me feel nauseous, so I'll only take what I need - I'm keeping ahead of any great discomfort so far, but I know things can change, having read all you good people's experiences. Fingers crossed, though, that with gentle treatment and a prevailing wind I may be able to plod along as I'm doing. My two main worries now are dislocation and infection - particularly infection due to my past experience - but I must trust the doctors to have given me enough precautionary antibiotic to prevent any immediate infection, and that I'll be careful enough not to dislocate it now I've got it.
I think my approach was lateral, and the joint itself was titanium and ceramic, for anybody who might be interested!
Anyway, I hope any recent Smarties are thriving, and any upcoming Smarties aren't too nervous, because so far I've survived and I'm no heroine when it comes to pain or horrible experiences. Very selfishly I just hope all continues to progress as well as it's started.
End of the ramblings for today and I look forward to catching up on everybody else tomorrow.
United States
You said you've gone from 2 crutches to one.....that sounds awfully early to be on minimum support....please make sure that you've got a proper (heel-toe) gait so that you don't get into a pattern of limping, and also you might find that your balance is a bit off for a while so make sure you're not at risk of a fall. 
