Jo Champagne
junior member
Congratulations! Delighted to welcome you to the other side! Hugs xxx
THR Constanze's recovery diary
- Thread starter Constanze
- Start date
sunbunny
graduate
Good luck and now you are on the other side. Sounds like you are doing marvelously. Keep us updated on your journey.
OP
OP
Constanze
graduate
Day 1 post op
Hi all you nice people. It' even better than I had anticipated - apart from these long waits yesterday. Today they removed the wound drain thing. A friendly Polish physiotherapist came and we did some light hylosop in bed. they really don't do anything aggressive here.The philosophy is to keep the healthy parts moving so you don't seize up in bed and with thr operated leg, they phase exercise in slowly. I did some exercises with my arms and my toes, and then walked a few steps to the bathroom. I've done so 3 times altogeher today. The nurde provided ice but informed me I should only leave it on for 8 minutes maximum, then wait about 15 minutes, then put it on again.
I have no pain. I'm taking pain pills twice daily. Forgotten what they are called sth that starts with V I think. Not Voltaren(?).
My husband came to see me & my daughters came. Am looking forward to the next steps. Best wishes Constanze
Hi all you nice people. It' even better than I had anticipated - apart from these long waits yesterday. Today they removed the wound drain thing. A friendly Polish physiotherapist came and we did some light hylosop in bed. they really don't do anything aggressive here.The philosophy is to keep the healthy parts moving so you don't seize up in bed and with thr operated leg, they phase exercise in slowly. I did some exercises with my arms and my toes, and then walked a few steps to the bathroom. I've done so 3 times altogeher today. The nurde provided ice but informed me I should only leave it on for 8 minutes maximum, then wait about 15 minutes, then put it on again.
I have no pain. I'm taking pain pills twice daily. Forgotten what they are called sth that starts with V I think. Not Voltaren(?).
My husband came to see me & my daughters came. Am looking forward to the next steps. Best wishes Constanze
sunbunny
graduate
Keep up the great work. Hope you are having a super day. Hugs
LibraryLynn
senior
Sounds like you're getting a great start!! Stay on top of the pain meds, and around here at Bonesmart, we say ice, ice, ice all you want! I know I kept it on almost constantly, and I had very little swelling.
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Congratulations @Constanze - sound wonderful to me! It will be so interesting to hear how everything works from a German hospital point of view, to see what is similar and what is different - it is still a big old world. Yes, keep up the ice - it seems to make the wound hurt less as well as keeping the swelling down - a soothing bonus. Don't forget the prunes...
Very happy to hear you are going so well.
Very happy to hear you are going so well.
It is interesting to see how the medical care is all over the world -at least when it comes to hips. I think you will do very well Constanze since you are in such good condition (except for the darn hip). I was hiking in Patagonia SA in November when my hip deteriorated and it was very frustrating as my legs were strong, my cardio was good but the pain just became unbearable. All the best! You'll be walking well soon.
OP
OP
Constanze
graduate
A little update - day 2 post op
Walked up and down the corridor on my crutches with the physiotherapist after some exercises in bed. Blood pressure is a little low (100/60) but the walking felt good. Still need only 2 pain pills a day. I can go to the toilet ok but stools are a bit hard. They don't recommend prunes here but to drink water regularly and earm fennel tea. I'll try that this evening.
@Great Aunt Janet yes indeed the procedures with hips are similar. There are only few differences, for intance that they have walkers in the US and a cane/stick and in Germany and the UK they start off with crutches.
I'm very satisfied with this hospital but not so sure with the others in my area.
Walked up and down the corridor on my crutches with the physiotherapist after some exercises in bed. Blood pressure is a little low (100/60) but the walking felt good. Still need only 2 pain pills a day. I can go to the toilet ok but stools are a bit hard. They don't recommend prunes here but to drink water regularly and earm fennel tea. I'll try that this evening.
@Great Aunt Janet yes indeed the procedures with hips are similar. There are only few differences, for intance that they have walkers in the US and a cane/stick and in Germany and the UK they start off with crutches.
I'm very satisfied with this hospital but not so sure with the others in my area.
OP
OP
Constanze
graduate
Another thing I was going to say: the Germans don't seem to be in a hurry to "send" people home. it's 1 week in hospital and afterwards usually rehab for 3 weeks. I'm on day 2 post-op now, and it's amazing hoe some people go home on day 3 or even 2.
sunbunny
graduate
Congratulations @Constanze you are doing great. I had to walk 30 feet before they would let me come home or else to rehab. Rehabs are nursing homes with therapy units for the most part. I did not want to go there so I am home. I have sets of exercises to do but for the most part making it back and forth from the bathroom with a walker is on today's agenda. Hope you have a great day. Thoughts, hugs and well wishes across the Atlantic.
OP
OP
Constanze
graduate
Hi @isolde and @Great Aunt Janet ,I think you're probably right, it's week week muscle. My muscle on my operates side has atrophied, but it' ll get strong again one day.
chalcedonian1
member
Congrats @Constanze !!! The first week is the hardest so just remember that if you have a down moment! Sounds like you are doing very well and have a great attitude. Ask for lots of ice, not just one little pack (I got 4 packs at a time) and stay on top of your pain with your pain meds. Looking forward to hearing from you.
copsham
post-grad
Hello @Constanze so glad you are beyond that waiting for the op and the op itself. It is quite a process to get through and now you are on the homeward stretch. I look forward to hearing the story of your recovery x
craftdee
graduate
to the Hip side @Constanze Glad things have got off to a good start... hope your recovery continues without complication 
Donna
OP
OP
Constanze
graduate
Day 3 post op
Today I walked a slightly longer distance down the corridor with my physiotherapist. ...then - with my husband - an even longer one to the cafeteria in the adjoining rehab center.That's where I' ll do my rehab later on. We sat outside in the sun and there were some butterflies and birds. Beautiful. So nice to have my first day in the fresh air.
Also, I thought I needed a change from nightdress plus bathrobe and decided to put trousers and a pretty top on. Operated leg is slightly more swollen than previously but doctors and nurses say that's normal. I ice and elevate several times a day to keep it under control. Still need only 2 pain pills a day. Even the stonging feeling on the inside of my left thigh I had after the operation is gone. Both legs seem to be the same length now. I had a LLD of almost 1 cm pre-op. Thanx for the many good wishes. Constanze
Today I walked a slightly longer distance down the corridor with my physiotherapist. ...then - with my husband - an even longer one to the cafeteria in the adjoining rehab center.That's where I' ll do my rehab later on. We sat outside in the sun and there were some butterflies and birds. Beautiful. So nice to have my first day in the fresh air.
Also, I thought I needed a change from nightdress plus bathrobe and decided to put trousers and a pretty top on. Operated leg is slightly more swollen than previously but doctors and nurses say that's normal. I ice and elevate several times a day to keep it under control. Still need only 2 pain pills a day. Even the stonging feeling on the inside of my left thigh I had after the operation is gone. Both legs seem to be the same length now. I had a LLD of almost 1 cm pre-op. Thanx for the many good wishes. Constanze
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Sounding good @Constanze! Yes, my hip looked like I was suddenly turning into M Monroe on one side, made me look like I had a waist and everything! Has now subsided back to my normal slab shape! The icing is great isn't it?
copsham
post-grad
Your developments sound good @Constanze (even if your leg is not turning in to a marilyn monroe shape like Great Aunt Janets LOL) Putting on day clothes again, what a relief, a step back to "normal".
I think the time of the year that you have had your op is just right. You will be able to appreciate the 'birds and the bees' while you are recovering. I made the mistake of having op in january thinking I would recover first and then be able appreciate the nature around me. instead i was recovering looking out on to a bleak landscape! Now though it is beautiful able to go for walks with wild primroses and cowslip every where and little field orchids if you know where to look.
It makes the op worthwhile.
x
I think the time of the year that you have had your op is just right. You will be able to appreciate the 'birds and the bees' while you are recovering. I made the mistake of having op in january thinking I would recover first and then be able appreciate the nature around me. instead i was recovering looking out on to a bleak landscape! Now though it is beautiful able to go for walks with wild primroses and cowslip every where and little field orchids if you know where to look.
It makes the op worthwhile.
x
Midchild54
member
- Joined
- Oct 9, 2014
- Messages
- 138
- Age
- 66
- Location
- Fort Collins, CO
- Gender
- Female
- Country
United States
Hi @Constanze, hope this finds you in a good place. I wanted to thank you for all your well wishes and to send them back at you. You'll be home in no time. Talk to you soon!
OP
OP
Constanze
graduate
Day 4 Post Op
Today I had my first shower.
Did more walking and it's going faster now and more "fluid". My husband came to visit and was impressed. We had coffee and cake in the cafeteria. My blood pressure and haemoglobulin are low now. This is probably typical of recoveries. My answer to this is a good cup of coffee. That makes me feel better. Apart from this everything else is uneventful. My pre op apprehension was entirely unjustified.
And @Great Aunt Janet , yes you are right about this Marylynn Monroe comparison, but she was beautiful. Best whishes from Constanze
Today I had my first shower.
Did more walking and it's going faster now and more "fluid". My husband came to visit and was impressed. We had coffee and cake in the cafeteria. My blood pressure and haemoglobulin are low now. This is probably typical of recoveries. My answer to this is a good cup of coffee. That makes me feel better. Apart from this everything else is uneventful. My pre op apprehension was entirely unjustified.
And @Great Aunt Janet , yes you are right about this Marylynn Monroe comparison, but she was beautiful. Best whishes from Constanze
