THR Here We Go Again!

[Barbaraj]

Another relatively cool, although sunny, start to my day. I do love these morning hours, before the sun rises high in the sky and the heat kicks in. I realize that relative to other parts of the world, we have it pretty good here in the PNW but I confess to getting a bit whiny when temperatures rise above 75. We hit 80 yesterday and by evening time I was kind of cranky. Should warm again by this afternoon, but for now I am treasuring the sunshine and cool breeze coming in through my study window.

Yesterday's park walk went well. I pushed it a bit, and did three instead of two circuits. Woo, hoo--go, me! I felt fine afterwards, no worse for wear, and I may try to convince my husband to go again when I'll try to do 4 circuits! Got husband to help me change out of hot and itchy thigh highs, and now have on hot and itchy knee highs. I did get a 5 minute break between stocking changes and it felt so luxurious to just lie in bed with--ooh--bare legs, savoring the moment. Yes, I know the stockings are for my own protection (keeping DVTs at bay) but, boy, wearing this kind of thing in the summer is miserable. It's going to be a long two weeks before I can ditch them and I am uber-tempted to have a ceremonial burning in our backyard firepit, with a fierce and maniacal grin on my face.

But I digress... Happy to also report that nasty rash has also decided to turn the corner and dry up a bit, not so many oozing bits anymore, although lots of dry, flaking bits. Still covering the area with a dry pad daily but really feel as if I'm on the mend and the area will shortly return to looking like my regular old hip instead of some flaking, diseased desert wasteland.

No big plans for today, but continuing to feel pretty good all things considered. As I said, I've crested the hill and while I'm still a ways out from full recovery, I can see the final goalpost out there. So, trudging along on the recovery road. Cheers all!

 

[Fit4Family]

Wonderful update @Barbaraj

Amazing how far you are walking. Really impressive! Hope the heat stays reasonable for your next adventure. Happy to read about the blisters improving! Another step towards healing and normalcy! Yes, yes, burn those darn support hose. The worst! We want pictures.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

 

[gertie]

@Barbaraj I chuckle at your posts re: temperature--they remind me of conversations with my sis, who lived in England. She'd complain about how hot it was and I'd ask for specifics and it would be approaching 80, which is a delightful, if not coolish day here in western MA in July!

Sounds like you're doing well. Too bad about those support hose but the end is in sight (and I am so thankful my OS does not require them!).

 

[julesglass]

Yes a fire, light'um up then Smores after the smoke clears up. Way to go girl, three laps! High fives all around! Oh don't forget the wine... in a glass. Wine not whine.

 

[Fiona444]

Nice one @Barbaraj ! Walking feels so good doesnt it? And that sense of achievement is priceless. I am with you re the weather, don't like it too hot but do it enjoy it just right Keep on truckin round that park

 

[Barbaraj]

Oooh, so excited because I want to report another "first" for me! It may be a small and insignificant thing, but for me it was a cause for celebration! I was just in the shower and for kicks I kept my legs straight and slowly and cautiously bent down from my waist--and actually was able to touch the floor of the shower with my fingertips! I had really worked hard on my hamstrings before surgery as I knew that they'd be an important factor for me in regaining my flexibility. Before surgery--sigh--I could bend over, straight legs and place both palms on the ground. That's not happening anytime soon! But today being able to even graze the ground seemed wonderful to me. It allowed me to have more confidence in the shower and I was able to bend over successfully and get both legs shaved, even the back of my left calf! Now off to hoof around the park's perimeter--aiming for four laps this afternoon!

 

[Barbaraj]

Oh don't forget the wine... in a glass.

Absolutely, @julesglass, never forget that wine! Not a big fan of s'mores, but maybe just some really good dark chocolate to nibble with my wine.

 

[julesglass]

There's a local winery that has a chocolate wine. I hear it's to die for, haven't had it yet however its on my list. Tassel Ridge is the winery, I've had their Red White and Blue it is good.

 

[mainegirl1]

Wow... Laps at two weeks... Wonderful!! And tying shoes too maybe?

 

[Elf1]

@Barbaraj you are just making recovery look like a piece of cake! You are seriously moving forward with leaps and bounds, keep up the good work!

 

[Barbaraj]

Ha, ha @Elf1 I am not sure I'd call my recovery a "piece of cake" but admittedly I do feel as if I've crested the hill of early recovery (the truly--shudder--miserable days) and although I've got a ways to go, I think each day will be a little better and I can see the end zone, far out, but THERE!

And, no, @mainegirl1, still need my husband's help to put a stocking on my left foot. I found a nifty long shoehorn in our closet which I'm using now, allowing me to put on the slip-on shoes I'm wearing. No way could I tie a shoe on my left foot!

 

[Fit4Family]

Mastering the shower and shaving huge milestone! @Barbaraj

Really seems like you have rounded the corner to the rough stuff. Once that inflammation comes down you are going to do really well. That long shoe horn is smart! I still get tight putting on shoes. Slip ons all the way! Retying shoe strings when up and about, no thank you!

Hope you have some good weather this weekend and can enjoy a couple nice walks. Thank you for all your encouragement. You are a pretty remarkable person.

 

[Barbaraj]

A lovely Saturday morning here in the PNW, and I am excited about today's "outing". My husband's law firm throws an annual summer picnic for employees and their families, and we're attending along with our grandkids and their parents. We're not sure why the parents want to attend because if, back in the day, someone had offered us a few hours off parenting to do as we liked sans kidlets, we'd have jumped on that. But regardless, they want to come and we'll all be heading down to the local zoo today. There will be goodie bags for the littles, and food and beverages for the everyone. Plus they will have a face painting and tattoo station, and if there are glitter tattoos, I will definitely be enlisting the grands to hold a place in line for me--I love glitter tattoos! The seating at this event is picnic tables and while I'm feeling pretty good, no way could I twist my body onto (not to mention getting up out of) a picnic table bench. So, darling husband will be carting a foldable camp chair for the Hip Queen. It's just a couple of hours, and I am certain I can manage alright, and if I get tired we can just leave. As with all outings in these early days, be they picnics or just a schlep to the grocery store, I'm enthusiastically all in!

Yet another couple of tiny improvements yesterday. First, I found myself coming down the stairs normally this morning, not the toddler style walk! Of course, I had a tight grip on the railing but I started walking downstairs without thinking which was gratifying. I tried going up the stairs normally after that, but that was a bit harder, nothing I can do "without thinking" which is the way I assume the skill will return at some point. But the tiny miracles are what this recovery is all about, right? And today again I am opting to skip the morning dose of Tylenol as if I am good and get up and move around, the morning stiffness and soreness dissipates enough that I don't feel the need for medication. Of course, by the end of the day, when the aching/stiffness/soreness has ratcheted up, I still need to take an evening dose. This helps ease me into sleep since back sleeping continues to be a challenge. But second tiny improvement is that before dawn this morning when I woke up, stiff and aching (argh...lower back!) I decided to try rolling onto my unoperated side for a bit. With a bit of maneuvering to get the pillow between my knees and shifting my weight around on my good hip, I found a reasonably comfortable position and then--hurray--I was actually able to drift back to sleep for an hour or so! I am definitely a left side sleeper, so right side sleeping isn't perfect, but it certainly feels more "normal" to me than this blasted sleeping on my back which can be hard and feels just plain WRONG.

Anyway, it's a new day, another day along on the recovery road. Keep on truckin', everyone, we're all getting there!

 

[SurreyGirl]

That is all great news. Walking downstairs normally took me months. You are doing so well. “Hip Queen”! Lol!

 

[Elf1]

@Barbaraj another milestone, walking down stairs normally. Haven't really had to deal with that as we have a ranch house so other than one tiny step to get through the doorway I don't have to deal with steps. Will cross that bridge when it comes.

Hubby's company picnic sounds like a great outing and with the family, even better. Hope you have a great day and get you some glitter tattoos! Haven't really tried sleeping on my side since the PT said it would be ok with pillows. Have laid and my side to watch some TV but wasn't very comfortable. Think it has to do with the wedge and multiple pillows I have liked up for back sleeping. I'll get there eventually.

 

[mainegirl1]

Sure sounds like you are enjoying your walk in the park! Not easy but very doable!

 

[Calgal]

@Barbaraj if you weren't an author in your previous career you should be. Seriously. Your command of the English language is amazing and you evoke such fabulous images with your words! I truly enjoy your posts and comments, not just from a hippie info perspective but from an English teacher's admiration. Well done you on so many fronts! Looking forward to reading more sagas.

 

[Fit4Family]

Good morning @Barbaraj

Remarkable accomplishments so early in your recovery! A bit green on the stairs. Still can’t do either up or down normal. PT said down is actually harder for most THR. You really are a Hip Queen! Glad you got to join your family at your husbands work picnic. Sounds like a fun time for everyone!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

 

[Fiona444]

You are doing brilliantly @Barbaraj ! Walking downstairs normally and touching the floor is wonderful at 2.5 weeks! I tried laying on my op side last night. Absolute no no so went on the other (not sure if I am allowed yet) and it was wonderful. Put the pillow between my legs and nodded off....for an hour I hope you had a wonderful time at the outing. I am sure you will. I would enjoy the opening of an envelope at this stage

 

[Barbaraj]

@Barbaraj if you weren't an author in your previous career you should be

Well, @Calgal, I was an "author" in my professional life to the extent that I had to write a lot--investigation reports, discipline letters, grievance responses, etc. I was an HR professional back in the day. But, this writing wasn't the "fun sort", really dry, narrow technical stuff. My mother was an English teacher for awhile and in college I thought I'd be an English major, but when I learned I'd have to write a thesis to graduate, I quickly switched to the history department. But thanks for the compliments! Glad you enjoy my posts.

Yesterday's event at the zoo was quite pleasant, a beautiful day and we stayed long enough to eat (and sip two small glasses of rose...mmmm), and I got my glitter tattoo! The littles got tattoos and faces painted (no way was I going for face painting--I am sure the paint would have sunk into my facial lines and it would look, ahem, pretty sad) and they had cornhole, a carousel ride, big block Jenga, and animal "meet and greets" as well. It was fun and we left after a couple of hours, leaving the grands and their parents to go through the zoo while we, appropriately, headed to an ice cream shop for cones. Posting pictures of my tattoo and my adorable littles.

Late in the afternoon a couple neighbor friends dropped by for a cocktail and I bustled around (slowly...) in the kitchen and put out a few little plates of munchies like almonds, cherries, and some cheese and crackers. We sat outside on our back deck and I had another glass of rose (probably a bad idea as I didn't sleep great last night) and it was fun to sit and talk about life in general with only a few minutes of hip chat.

Moving a bit slowly this morning but will loosen up by trundling downstairs shortly (and still finding it much easier to walk down normally, @Fit4Family, than up despite your PT's comments) and will unload the dishwasher and do some laundry. Husband off for a morning workout and will return around noon. I am not sure what I'll be doing today as it's going to be a scorcher and I'm cranky with heat. We might return to bar trivia tonight which would make my son happy. He's the trivia host and likes having his parents there to lend support. I'll haul my foam cushion with me and as trivia only lasts about an hour and a half, I should do okay. Plus it's "Taco Sunday" at the bar so you know what I'll be having for dinner tonight!