THR Celebrating one at a time, encore!

[Layla]

Hi @Alitm I hope you had a restful overnight.
I bought a recliner specifically for recovery also. Back sleeping is not my first choice but I got used to it.
Ended up sleeping on my back for three weeks in the recliner before I even attempted the bed. Slept soundly also, which surprised me because I initially thought I'd never be able to fall asleep in a chair. You've at least attempted your bed.

I know what you mean about visitors, well intentioned, friendly, beloved, but when you're over it, you're over it! Didn't have an abundance of patience in those early days Looking back it's funny

Wishing you a great day as you continue healing
Hugs

 

[Alitm]

@Layla Thanks for checking in. I think it was you and @Mojo333 and a couple of others who said they slept in the recliner for a few weeks. I thought I had nailed the back sleeping in bed with the leg lifter. They gave me one when I had my back MRI, as I hadn't been able to lay out my left leg straight for many months. The MRI tech also put a feather type pillow between the ripples on my leg lift, and I was super comfortable in the MRI. I took that gem of an idea home with me! It helped the sleeping leading up to surgery, as much as it could. Didn't work at all after surgery! My recliner paid its way by the end of week one IMO, along with the ice machine!

One of my dearest friends, who doesn't live in the same country as me, was messaging me early last week and I was telling her about the Dilauded side effects. She made a foolish comment about what "Those meds" do to one's brain. I had no patience for that comment. It wasn't said in malice, but annoyed me so much as it was so foolish! Why say it if one really doesn't have a clue! My patience is improving, sort of!!

I feel as if I've turned a corner of sorts again. I bet in a few days I won't need as much Tramadol. The pain is turning into stiffness (yes a form of pain, but easier to deal with!), so downgrading! Healing is going on

Wishing you a pleasant weekend You must be getting Fall weather now?

 

[Barbaraj]

Well, @Alitm, not thinking a big recliner is in my future right now, so I'll have to figure out sleeping using my bed, I suspect. And I'm also hoping that if I can quickly figure out medications, I'll be able to take something to drug myself to sleep at night. I still sleep relatively well these days, except for early morning wake-up too often with that generalized hip/back ache. Not being able to sleep well will stress me out--I don't handle things well if I'm sleep deprived, I've found. But lack of sleep is a problem because after a bad night I normally have "places to go, people to see", so being foggy-headed and cranky from lack of sleep is a real drawback. I'm guessing after surgery I'll be loafing around the better part of the day with only brief walks to the bathroom or getting up every hour to try to move for a few minutes. Thus, being my usual active and clear-headed self isn't going to be required for awhile. However, I am afraid my poor husband is going to hate me after a couple weeks of that, not so much the foggy-headedness but the crankiness! Yes, I know--practice patience and a Zen-like attitude, but much, much easier said than done. But it is what it is and my post-surgical time must be endured and gotten through. I hope through it all my sense of humor will win out over the crankiness and lethargy.

 

[Mojo333]

She made a foolish comment about what "Those meds" do to one's brain

What it does to the brain is block pain signals. Duh!
Not going to kill off your brain cells and make you a dope fiend.
Just ignorance...what the meds are made for.
Using them for other reasons is what gets folks into trouble.

 

[Going4fun]

@Alitm, I hate to be such a pollyanna here, but big picture, it seems to me, is that you are doing very well for eight days out. Yeah, I've been having trouble with sleep ... I used to use a small dose of Ambien before surgery, but I can't use that now because it apparently interacts with Oxycodone ... So my sleep right now is fitful.

But I'm chilling and napping guiltlessly during the day.

I have to say, my surgeon gave me very specific directions such that I didn't have to calibrate or think about pain meds so far ... the only discretion I had was with the Oxycodone ... Tramadol would have been part of my regimen, but it interacts with my antidepressant medication, so they stayed away from that.

But am I right here: you are experiencing some annoyance and disruptions ... but not any severe pain ... and not the feeling that something is wrong with the new hip? ... Your friend who made the comment on Dilaudid was not helpful. I have to say I once got Dilaudid for some excruciating pain and I LOVED IT! ... Which I think means I was given a dose a bit too high? ... Oxycodone makes me a little sleepy ... but otherwise, doesn't really affect my concentration ...

Anyway, sounds like you are weathering the ups and downs of things ... 8 days out right?

 

[Alitm]

My recliner fits me and my height @Barbaraj It isn't bulky at all. I think it is also called a "wall saver" or something like that, in that it doesn't take up a huge amount of space when it reclines. There is an article on how to buy a recliner and the size etc. in the library here. i found it helpful. It is too small for hubs and seventeen year old son, neither of whom are over weight, just extremely tall! Some folks do well in bed with lots of pillows. Others find their couch the place of comfort. It takes a bit of fiddling around with it, but we do find our comfort at some point.

Normally I am a very active person, with horses to take care of and student to tutor, and the decline in the last two years has been emotional demoralizing. I finished tutoring in June. Normally I tutor through the summer, but just couldn't do it. I'd run out of energy. It was all I could do to do the horses. I do understand all your concerns, and as the fog seems to be lifting a little bit from my brain, I am already starting to get itchy feet, in my mind!! I do tire easily, which is and isn't surprising when you think about it, and that is holding me back from joining the ODIC. I really understand your concerns. It is a trial in patience, no matter how much meditation one does! As it is said here, attitude really enhances healing. I know when my sense of humour went down a few notches mid week last week, that wasn't a good sign, but once I got the meds sorted and a balance struck it really helped. I think we all worry about our spouses having to deal with all the extras, plus how we are feeling, both mentally and physically. If we keep that in mind, it helps.

@Mojo333 Yup, and I don't have patience for those "fried brain cells" comments.

 

[Barbaraj]

Ah, yes, patience--that elusive but so necessary virtue that we all have to focus on post-recovery. I agree that you're doing very well, @Alitm--you were such a planner ahead of time and despite any fog brain, you seem focused on fixing any problems you've experienced in a very commendable and forthright manner. I hope I can be half as focused and patient as you seem to have been, despite occasional grumps. Husband has only had to deal with fairly minor health stuff with me, and hasn't had to be a caretaker before. He loves me, I know, and says he'll be there for me but I worry that I will be cranky, helpless, demanding and not on my best behavior. I will try to keep in mind that although this is all going to be new and patience trying situation for me, it will be just as bad for him as well. I've always wanted to give the best of myself to him, and worry about showing him a really bad side of myself which he won't like at all. But, I suspect this is just my nerves acting up (heck, I'm obsessing about everything else, why not add relationship issues to the mix!!) and when I'm actually there in the moment I may surprise myself in a good way, or so I say hopefully...

 

[Alitm]

@Justforfun Glad you are napping guiltlessly - get the sleep where you can.

I am weathering the ups and downs thus far, thanks to this forum. Knowing all the little things one is feeling are normal and just the muscles, tendons and ligaments getting used to the new joint. To me is feels as if the muscles have stopped being in protection mode. They aren't anywhere as knotty, even on the remaining bad hip side.

The meds thing I blame on my fog brain on the day of discharge, the dispensing label on the Tramacet , and the discharge nurse's verbal instructions during which "I don't recall" that Dilaudid was never mentioned...but it probably was more my fog brain than anything else . I was also SO excited that I was going home the day after surgery. The Dilaudid gave me the itching and weird dreams at the higher dose, but it does help with the higher level pain for sure!! When I have the left hip sorted out in 8 weeks or so (find out more when I see OS on Tues), I will ask if there is an alternative that comes with the same pain control but no itching or dreams! Tramacet doesn't make me feel so foggy. Perhaps some of that early fog was anaesthesia related.

I also had really great nurses, from the OR nurse, recovery nurses and ward nurses. The nurses's kindness really really made the THR experience a much better one. Flowers and a card go a long way. So many people find the time to complain, but not the time to say thank you!

Hoping that sleep comes your way tonight.....

 

[Alitm]

@An54 I never thanked you for the amazing balloons! Fun and colourful!! Thank you so much! I can't believe surgery was just over a week ago...it seems like ages ago already!

Hope you are having a great weekend, dodging the rain drops!

 

[Alitm]

@Barbaraj I don't know that I was that organized. I sorted through the book and magazine piles beside my side of the bed....but you should see my side of our office ! Our friend @JoeKnows coined "mutual spousal expression of frustration with recovery" and I think that is a great euphemism!! You and hubs will do just fine. When in doubt as to making a comment or not, err on the side of what I call "zipping it"! Don't let that comment out of your mouth!! Sit on it for awhile! Our spouses/partners will never do things exactly how we want things done, and we have to let that go me thinks. Being helpless makes one feel very vulnerable, but if one recognizes that, that is half the battle won. Also remember this won't be forever..... and your life will be so much better once you get through the recovery
Good luck with the "nesting" and yes, you will surprise yourself I'm sure Hope you get some sleep tonight!

 

[JoeKnows]

I've always wanted to give the best of myself to him, and worry about showing him a really bad side of myself which he won't like at all.

@Barbaraj I didn't post the details in my thread, but my biggest post-op spat with my wife stemmed from the fact that I nearly fell tripping on a sandal, yelled a string of expletives in front of my kids, and smacked a wall (at least I had the sense to do it open handed). That is definitely NOT me, but it hurt like a *expletive* and I've been carrying a lot of frustration. I highly regret it, but emotion sometimes overpowers logic. Also my hand hurts a little, haha.

So yeah, your husband will probably see a bad side of you. You might argue or fight. But such is life - recovery has rough spots. Just communicate, remove yourself from the situation if you're reaching a limit, and express appreciation frequently.

Yet another "do as I say, not as I do / did" moment from me, haha.

 

[Barbaraj]

Thanks for sage advice, @Alitm and @JoeKnows. I'm trying to stay positive and call up those reserves (which aren't feeling very big at the moment) of patience and humor, and some smart to know when it's better to simply bite my lip and back down. For the most part I am not keen on confrontations--got so weary of those with ex-husband and have really enjoyed an easygoing and comfortable relationship with current (FINAL) husband. Sure, we've had disagreements but I don't think it's ever been because I have been behaving like a "B***CH" to him. So, really want to focus on being appreciative, buttoning my lip before angry words get out, and trying to just chill out and be patient with the slow pace of recovery and the sundry irritations which will arise from feeling helpless and vulnerable. My fingers and toes are crossed.

 

[Mojo333]

@Alitm I hope you are finding a recovery groove...and skiing well today.
Your beautiful roses on your avatar make me smile..
Hope today is a Good Day.

 

[Alitm]

@Barbaraj I think you will do really well as you are so aware of things. Communication is key, and even if you say something that you might regret, you can communicate that and it will all blow over. At the end of the day, Hubs will see your physical struggles, as they are pretty obvious (at least mine are ), and knows that those struggles are emotionally for his usually can-do-anything wife! Being appreciative and expressing that goes a long way.

My DH enjoys spending time out on the farm and having a project, so he takes his phone and off he goes, with my blessing! He is still making meals for me, but I'll start to help a little bit, but not until next week! I've found the schedule of activities on the forum a great guide.

I've found in the last day or two, I've found creative ways to do things myself, which really helps my psychological state. I make and put my tea in a travel mug (lightweight) and can carry that on my walker to my recliner, with no spillage! I count that in on my walking time. I can also put water in a bottle (I use the ones that don't leach out nasty chemicals). I even found a way, with my smallest indoor watering can, to water my few indoor plants. I love to garden, so that little act of watering a couple of plants (I repeat, before getting told off, with a TINY watering can) made my day yesterday! That also was counted in on my walking time.

I know the days leading up to surgery are stressful, so try and do things that help you relax...even if it is the nesting! .
Thinking of you, with two sleeps to go before your big day

 

[Alitm]

Today's post..."Yesterday's adventures outside"......

In looking at my BS activities chart for week two, I see I can add five to ten mins of walking a few times a day, to week one's "long" list of things to do . So with hubs, I venture down my two steps (thinking of @anny 's and others many interior stairs and continuing to be in awe of how many they do!), through the carport and onto the driveway...timing myself I might add, to make sure I adhere to the schedule. I did 3 mins out and more mins back on the driveway, of course in the direction of the barn. My OS said to walk outside, and when I told him the only completely flat area was an old gravel packed road out to our horse barn, he said to try it. I knew from the horse rehab experiences that varied terrain makes a difference in degree of difficulty, having to use smaller stablizer muscles etc. Anyhow that is all I asked my hip to do, 3 mins out and back. I think it took double the time to get back. Given that I'm moving well with the walker indoors, I felt confident in trying that. I got back inside and my muscles gave me a talking to about walking on packed gravel (not loose!). I couldn't believe it, I've been walking 10,000 steps over varied terrain, getting the horses out to pasture, walking through the pasture to check water tubs, lunging the young horse, mucking stalls and dumping wheel barrows, going out to the hay barn to get hay etc. etc. for YEARS! It was a shock that a very careful walk on slightly uneven ground caused such a fuss with my soft tissues. I thought about it for a few minutes, I thought, well, as I don't have a formed hip capsule, and my soft tissues were really messed with during surgery and are still traumatized, that I will not being doing that again anytime soon, not until I'm further along in healing and much stronger! I iced like a mad woman and fended off the gremlins from the ODIC....phew! The good thing is that the barn aisle is smooth concrete, and an excellent place to do a five min walk....I just need to "hop a ride" out there! . More than one road leads to Rome

Wishing everyone a comfortable Sunday

 

[Barbaraj]

A true vote of gratitude, @Alitm--you are truly are inspiring and certainly a calm voice of reason. I hope, post-surgery, to be in as good a place as you appear to be now. Sure there have been and will be struggles, but you seem so calm and focused, and so careful and cautious (appropriately so) about your activity level and not doing anything silly. It is very reassuring to read about your recovery and can only hope mine will go as smoothly. Feeling pretty stressed, and more so every day as I approach the Big Day. But, trying to distract myself (you should see how tidy my dresser drawers are at the moment!) and babysitting the grands this afternoon who will take 110% of all my energy and attention, a wonderful distraction for me even if powerfully exhausting. Have a great day!

 

[Alitm]

@Barbaraj I have to tell you that I have rehabbed two horses with soft tissue (ligament) injuries in the last three years and another with a fracture. Never dealt with anything quite like that before. Both soft tissue injuries were pasture injuries and the third a kick between two horses out on pasture...simply really unfortunate. Ligaments take about nine months to heal as they don't have good blood supply and the vets give owners very strict schedules to follow. I've always known about the value of icing and cold water hosing through riding competition horses. Anyway, the ligaments are checked every eight weeks via ultrasound, to see if they are healing on schedule and if the new scar tissues are being laid down in a uniform way (which makes them stronger). I begged my OS for a human schedule for hip recovery, but he said just walk until I see you in ten days. I am a bigger picture person, so that wasn't a helpful response for me! I was thrilled that he was a "walking" guy though. The rehab with horses included gradual walking, being built up by ten minutes every two weeks. It is so hard on horses and owners and is an extreme test of patience for all concerned. The horses can become quite dangerous, as they are flight animals and are really out of their minds being cooped up except for the walking. One works with the vet regarding applicable use of tranquilizers to keep horse and owner safe during the hand walking and when one starts equally slowly under saddle. I am trying to look at my rehab through a similar lens in terms of patience. Easier said than done of course

The walking rehab and sticking to the activity progression (rehab schedule) prescribed by this forum makes so much sense to me, and thus my "sort-of" ability to adhere to it! I really urge folks to use the activity progression that the moderators send to you right before surgery. I believe there are fewer set-backs by doing so. I also am really impressed by the power of icing and elevating.

There is a time and a place for strengthening muscles, but vigorous PT in the early phases of healing makes no sense to me, based on my horse experiences.

I'm nine days out and almost ended up in the ODIC yesterday! Couldn't believe it! My "horse" friends laughed at me . I think they wanted to say "IDIOT" but restrained themselves.

Enjoy your grandchildren this afternoon....and can you please come and deal with my office?

 

[Barbaraj]

Hi, @Alitm, hope you had a good day yesterday. I was exhausted by the time I got home from babysitting duty, around 9:00, and immediately got into bed and watched some mindless TV before falling asleep. Just today and tomorrow, and Wednesday morning will be the Big Day. Still anxious and freaked, but realistically understanding that this is the right thing to do and that I, like gazillions of others who've undergone this surgery, will recover and enjoy a much better quality of life post-recovery.

I think your work with horses has given you an insight that others can't perhaps share, but certainly rehabbing horses and monitoring their progress during recovery must have been very insightful and given you a good picture of what to expect from yourself as you are recovering. Sorry to hear you had a sneaky foray into overdoing it, but I'm betting that you took it easy yesterday and probably today as well. Sticking with an activity schedule must be helpful as it provides some "rules" and sensible guidance so that your healing can progress, allowing for appropriate movement and increase as tolerated. I do much better when I know the "rules", especially when I'm dealing with the unknown as I clearly will be post-surgery. Having directions to follow makes sense to me because then I don't have to figure anything out. I feel that way both in terms of medication dosages as well as activity so that will be my plan. Oh, yeah, and icing too.

It's Monday, a new week and with each day you're further along in your successful recovery--hurray for you!

 

[Alitm]

@Barbaraj Yup, the structure is really helpful I find. Less likely to join the ODIC

The wait before surgery is stressful. Hope your time will pass quickly and you'll be using the pre-surgery scrub tomorrow night and Wednesday AM soon enough. You'll get the call tomorrow as to what time to check in on Wednesday yes?

Have you ever been a yoga fan? The yoga breathing is really helpful for relaxation...to help with the anxiety.....thinking of you!

 

[Barbaraj]

Hi, @Alitm--I already got "the call" on Friday, so know I've got to be at the hospital at 7:45, with surgery for two hours after that. I am grateful it's an early morning check-in, less time to stress and out of surgery before noon, I'm hoping. I've done yoga before but admittedly the sometimes "woo-woo" aspects associated with yoga as engaged in by some practitioners don't work for me, and recently with hip issues I haven't even been able to do gentle yoga.

Like you, I'll be trying to follow the suggested structure of post-surgical activity provided here and possibly by my OS. I was told already I should "do nothing but very light walking" for the first two weeks, so I'm prepared for that. I think it will be harder to know what's reasonable after that, since I presumably will feel better and the foolish urge to overdo things will be upon me.

I hope you are still doing well, no undue exertion this weekend, and are starting Monday off feeling stronger and relatively pain free. I hope to be in your shoes in about two weeks if I'm lucky, and more importantly, sensible. Cheers!