THR EmEm starting the road to recovery
- Thread starter EmEm
- Start date
bottomshollow
Former BoneSmart staff member
Ladies, I have moved weezie's posts and responses since her surgery into a thread of her own. I have titled it simply "weezie's recovery thread". I have tagged her and left her a message explaining the move.
Thank you @bottomshollow, we look forward to reading about @weezie and her progress.
Had a great night's sleep which is a combination of several things. I think the oxycodone is out of my system now and the paracodol is working. I took an ice pack to bed in a cool bag for the mid-night back spasm and it worked perfectly. Also, I was taking low dose amitriptylene pre-op (along with paracodol) just before bedtime so had one last night. Apart from 2 brief bathroom visits I slept until 6am which was about 7 hours. The other positive thing was I woke up hungry and not nauseous.
We have just had an early trip out for a brief visit to a supermarket for some flat walking practice and to pick up some food treats now that I can think about eating. Looking forward to lunch!
We have just had an early trip out for a brief visit to a supermarket for some flat walking practice and to pick up some food treats now that I can think about eating. Looking forward to lunch!
Gretel
graduate
- Joined
- Sep 9, 2017
- Messages
- 659
- Age
- 65
- Gender
- Female
- Country
Australia
GrannyC
post-grad
mystikfairy61
post-grad
@EmEm sounds like you are doing better with the med change. The appetite was an issue for me as well. I got some ensure and drank those to be sure I was getting nutrients. They have a lot of protein and vitamins which helps with healing until your appetite gets better. Hoping everything gets straightened out soon and before you know it, these rough days will be a distant memory. Wishing you as much rest as you can get tonight and hoping tomorrow and each day forward finds you feeling better.
Thanks @Gretel @mystikfairy61 @GrannyC. I'm 'home alone' this morning whilst OH is out on his mountain bike, he has been home with me since the op and goes back to work tomorrow. This morning I showered and dressed on my own to reassure him I could be left during the week. I'm not sure I want to be up at 7am for him to supervise before he goes to work! I need more practice with the sock aid and bought some stretchier socks which make it a bit easier.
I'm going to make some coffee and catch up with some TV that I have recorded. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.
I'm going to make some coffee and catch up with some TV that I have recorded. Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone.
GrannyC
post-grad
You will be fine on your own now. As long as you can get up and move around, you will do well. Just remember to still get plenty of rest, ice to keep swelling down and elevate when you can - like when you are watching those tv shows. And don't forget to check in on BS and let us know how you are doing.
mystikfairy61
post-grad
Mojo333
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
I remember my first day alone wherein I dropped the lid to a water bottle and it rolled under the TV stand and I went through various ridiculous procedures involving broom that managed to knock picture off wall as I tried to slide behind, grabbers that I couldn't bend low enough to manipulate, and my first post op melt down.
Hubby got it worth both barrels when he got home, as I bemoaned how horrid the experience was and how I couldn't rehang picture, and the cap was still under there and how hard it all was....what do you need it out so badly for? He asks.
I was stumped. I didn't...it's really ridiculous now it was just about I COULDNT do it.
I was actually fine mostly alone during day after that, all could wait.
Funny what drugs and post-op nerves do to your sensibilities.
I've never been an alarmist before
Hubby got it worth both barrels when he got home, as I bemoaned how horrid the experience was and how I couldn't rehang picture, and the cap was still under there and how hard it all was....what do you need it out so badly for? He asks.
I was stumped. I didn't...it's really ridiculous now it was just about I COULDNT do it.
I was actually fine mostly alone during day after that, all could wait.
Funny what drugs and post-op nerves do to your sensibilities.
I've never been an alarmist before
Oh @mojo I laughed out loud at that! I have decided to walk away from anything dropped. I dropped a box with pens at the weekend in a spare bedroom so I shut the door and either OH will see and deal with it or they will still be there when I can do it myself. Before he went to work I got him to pick up my overnight discarded ice packs off the bedroom floor because I was cautious about carrying them downstairs and I knew I needed them today.
It’s strange to be at home and not doing anything. I have worked from home for 30+ years so normally here and busy. If I had a free day I would probably be out in the garden so I’m having to look at it from a distance. I spent the last weekend before surgery tidying it up as much as possible thinking I didn’t need to baby my hip for much longer.
The exciting part of my day has been the delivery of new felt pens (better than the ones on the bedroom floor) for my new colouring book. I felt about 10 when I undid them! The next exciting bit later will be the unveiling of the hip scar - private viewings only!
It’s strange to be at home and not doing anything. I have worked from home for 30+ years so normally here and busy. If I had a free day I would probably be out in the garden so I’m having to look at it from a distance. I spent the last weekend before surgery tidying it up as much as possible thinking I didn’t need to baby my hip for much longer.
The exciting part of my day has been the delivery of new felt pens (better than the ones on the bedroom floor) for my new colouring book. I felt about 10 when I undid them! The next exciting bit later will be the unveiling of the hip scar - private viewings only!
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2017
- Messages
- 47,912
- Gender
- Female
- Country
- United States
Hi @EmEm,
You sound like you're adjusting really well. I was a little nervous the first time my husband left
me alone. Having his own business affords him great flexibility which worked to my advantage. He trained me like a puppy, haha leaving me home for longer periods of time each day until he was confident I could handle myself. We discussed in the forum once how it feels like you've never dropped more things in your life
than during recovery when you can't pick anything up! The thing that made me the crabbiest
was when I'd drop my grabber! That grabber was invaluable to me! I'll never forget the time
after dropping the grabber I was trying to pull it in my direction with my cane, figuring I could then use one end or the other of the cane to lift the grabber off the floor. Wrong! After a few unsuccessful attempts all I could do was laugh at how helpless I felt. Thankfully humor can be found in all of this! Incidents like that always caused me to pause and reflect on the fact that I was blessed, as this was only temporary.
Each day becomes brighter, as each day you grow stronger. Best wishes for a great week of recovery!
You sound like you're adjusting really well. I was a little nervous the first time my husband left
me alone. Having his own business affords him great flexibility which worked to my advantage. He trained me like a puppy, haha leaving me home for longer periods of time each day until he was confident I could handle myself. We discussed in the forum once how it feels like you've never dropped more things in your life
than during recovery when you can't pick anything up! The thing that made me the crabbiest
was when I'd drop my grabber! That grabber was invaluable to me! I'll never forget the time
after dropping the grabber I was trying to pull it in my direction with my cane, figuring I could then use one end or the other of the cane to lift the grabber off the floor. Wrong! After a few unsuccessful attempts all I could do was laugh at how helpless I felt. Thankfully humor can be found in all of this! Incidents like that always caused me to pause and reflect on the fact that I was blessed, as this was only temporary.
Each day becomes brighter, as each day you grow stronger. Best wishes for a great week of recovery!
The dressing came off yesterday and the nurse was very pleased with the appearance. The scar is a bit longer than I anticipated but doesn’t look scary. I have a dressing back on for a week and then I can take it off myself.
I had a short walk from the GP surgery back to where OH had parked the car. We hadn’t anticipated there being a flu jab clinic going on with cars waiting to park. It felt good to walk outside, previous walks have been in supermarkets or similar.
A question for those ahead of me. What advice were you given about progression with walking aids? I came home from hospital with 2 walking sticks and in the last few days feel ready to go to just one in the house. I didn’t limp before or after surgery and feel surprisingly rock solid on my feet. I wouldn’t walk outside with only one. I need 2 to also make it obvious to others that they should steer clear.
@Layla @Mojo333 the dropping stuff is annoying but can be funny. I dropped underwear on the bathroom floor and had to use my grabber to retrieve. I laughed when I realised it looked like I was picking up hazardous waste at arms length.
Have a great day everyone.
I had a short walk from the GP surgery back to where OH had parked the car. We hadn’t anticipated there being a flu jab clinic going on with cars waiting to park. It felt good to walk outside, previous walks have been in supermarkets or similar.
A question for those ahead of me. What advice were you given about progression with walking aids? I came home from hospital with 2 walking sticks and in the last few days feel ready to go to just one in the house. I didn’t limp before or after surgery and feel surprisingly rock solid on my feet. I wouldn’t walk outside with only one. I need 2 to also make it obvious to others that they should steer clear.
@Layla @Mojo333 the dropping stuff is annoying but can be funny. I dropped underwear on the bathroom floor and had to use my grabber to retrieve. I laughed when I realised it looked like I was picking up hazardous waste at arms length.
Have a great day everyone.
Mojo333
Former BoneSmart Staff Member
I also have famous underwear to floor story. I used a telescopic back scratcher with tiny hand on it for retrieving.Also had that working for haz-mat feel.
As long as I had stabilizers close by, back of couch, countertop...I moved around house with no aids for short trips.
- Joined
- Jun 26, 2017
- Messages
- 47,912
- Gender
- Female
- Country
- United States
Hi @EmEm
You sound great!
Good news on the incision healing.
As far as walking aids I didn't really receive any specific guidelines that I recall.....I'd need to look back at my thread but I know I used a walker for almost two weeks.
I started graduating to a cane about 10 days post op, switching between the walker and cane until I was comfortable enough to ditch the walker. That is the one piece of equipment I was so happy to be done with!
I used a cane until I was three weeks post op, then just carried it with me for a few more days as security without using it. I do know they prefer you use a walking aid if you have a limp until the limp is gone.
Wishing you a great day!
You sound great!
Good news on the incision healing.
As far as walking aids I didn't really receive any specific guidelines that I recall.....I'd need to look back at my thread but I know I used a walker for almost two weeks.
I started graduating to a cane about 10 days post op, switching between the walker and cane until I was comfortable enough to ditch the walker. That is the one piece of equipment I was so happy to be done with!
I used a cane until I was three weeks post op, then just carried it with me for a few more days as security without using it. I do know they prefer you use a walking aid if you have a limp until the limp is gone.
Wishing you a great day!
GrannyC
post-grad
I was told to use a walking aid until I could walk with no limp. I used walker for about a week and then went to a cane for another week to ten days - I forget now without going back and reading my own thread - but how long each person uses an aid varies tremendously as we all are different. I believe I was told I could go to can when I felt comfortable and stable enough to do so.
It is a HUGE help to have projects lined up to keep you busy like your coloring books. So many people suffer from boredom. I, too, had planned ahead and had several books and some sewing I could do plus I was starting to learn to knit so I thought I might make progress on that but I never did get to it.
It sounds like you are off to a great start on your recovery!!
It is a HUGE help to have projects lined up to keep you busy like your coloring books. So many people suffer from boredom. I, too, had planned ahead and had several books and some sewing I could do plus I was starting to learn to knit so I thought I might make progress on that but I never did get to it.
It sounds like you are off to a great start on your recovery!!
I have a fused left wrist (last year’s surgery and recovery) so find using a stick in that hand difficult. That means using a single stick with my right hand which is my operated hip side and it feels lopsided. In the house it’s possible to walk with no sticks because there are hand holds along the way.
So thanks @Layla @Mojo333 for the reality check that I’m not rushing ahead of myself. The important thing is to feel and stay safe.
I’ve decided on a future career in hazardous waste having emptied all the waste paper baskets today with my grabber. Just need some high viz clothing and I will be all set!
So thanks @Layla @Mojo333 for the reality check that I’m not rushing ahead of myself. The important thing is to feel and stay safe.
I’ve decided on a future career in hazardous waste having emptied all the waste paper baskets today with my grabber. Just need some high viz clothing and I will be all set!
