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THR Here We Go Again!

Well, today is officially the start of week two and I have great hopes for it! Time to start feeling better, please? After soaking the glue strip with Vaseline for 10 minutes, my sweet husband helped gently peel it off, while I watched, with tense face and occasional gasps. All in all it was very easy, just a few stinging moments towards the end where I clearly hadn't put on as much Vaseline towards the bottom of the strip. After that, it was into the shower to wash the area gently and then after drying off I put on another dry dressing. I had my husband using some tape to hold these dressing pads on the last few days, but I've discovered that underpants actually do a reasonably good job so skipped the tape. Very glad to have this over although the area around the incision is still so blistered and nasty looking. But, now the glue strip is gone I'm hoping these blisters will fade quickly. I have my two week check up next Tuesday so we'll see how it's looking then and what they have to say about it. I continue to be baffled by this experience only because I've never had an allergic reaction to anything before, no allergies at all! But it is what it is--onwards!

Feeling okay this morning, although still stiff and uncomfortable upon arising from bed (despite the need for sleep, the first hour after I get up I'm moving so slowly and awkwardly). But I did take a step last night that I'd sworn I wasn't going to do this recovery (why am I so stupidly stubborn sometimes?!) and I broke down and took an oxycodone finally. I was feeling my carefully crafted "Polly Perky" façade starting to slip back into whiny blubbering (I was so tired from a bad night's sleep the night before and the strain of faking it can be wearying) so my long suffering husband said, "you're being foolish--just take the darn oxy--it's not the beginning of the end!" So, as with Jane Eyre ("Reader, I married him") I took the plunge, and popped one around 10:00 last night. I got to sleep right away, a fairly heavy (drugged) sleep until around 2:30. I woke up, slightly uncomfortable, but was able--shock and awe--to drift back to sleep without more medication and, even more impressive, no pee break! I woke up around 6:30, had coffee and popped my morning baby aspirin plus a dose of extra strength Tylenol and while I am still, of course, stiff and sore, it feels a bit more manageable this morning.

So, the journey continues. Another day, and it's sunny so feeling chipper about that. Just hope it doesn't get too hot as I've discovered, cue last Sunday, that recovering hipsters do not do well in excess heat and no air conditioning.
 
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So glad you got a good nights sleep, know you're not a fan of meds, let alone the heavier ones but sometimes you just have to bite the bullet! Hopefully the incision area will clear up now that you have the glue strip removed. Love how you managed to avoid using more tape. Amazing the weird little hacks we pick up along the way.

As far as allergies/reactions go the only thing I have to offer is my Mom always used to day our systems change every 7 years so that might explain it. I know at one time I developed Sun poisoning out of the blu, lasted for a few years and now seems to be gone.

Cooking dinner tonight for our one son and DIL, they've been super sweet and brought pizza (my fav) over the last two Thursdays since surgery so figured I would reciprocate and make one of his favs. Hubby will be close by for any help and heavy lifting so it will be a team effort!
:SUNsmile:
 
@Barbaraj
Sleeping is good. I've had insomnia for years and refuse Ambien and the others, so it was even worse after surgery. Too bad they can't find a drug that has no withdrawal, no bad side effects, safe to use every night.
Sigh.... I quit my Norco after one week, out of fear of withdrawal. I took Tylenol every 4 hours and did fare okay, not perfectly pain free, and I missed that sleepy feeling Norco gave me. I think you are doing quite well.
Keep looking ahead, no looking back as mikeycat says.
 
Your husband is a gem. I am thrilled you got the sleep. It’s easy to lose sight of how crucial sleep is to actually recovering instead of just coping. And the more sleep deprived we are, the more mentally inflexible we can be. I can’t even imagine how much you would perk up with 2 nights in a row...:)
 
HI @Barbaraj Kudos to your husband! He helped with the glue strips AND convinced you not to bite the bullet for another tough night without restful sleep! AND! You are starting on week 2. :flwrysmile:

I remember that stiff clunky feeling each morning upon waking. I kind of dreaded that and am so glad to have most of that behind me.
What a gorgeous day here too. Brilliant blue skies with a random fluffy white cloud scuttling over here and there.
We are (ok, hubby is) grilling marinated chicken thighs on the grill with garden veggies later and I'm trying to think of something fun to do tomorrow where we can get out for a little bit.
Is it too soon for you to think of getting out for a little drive with your husband? My first one was to DQ... :roseshwr: I felt like I had been freed from "the recovery room"

Take care.
 
@Barbaraj You are starting to sound like your pre-op self. :yes!: It may be hard for you to sense that from where you are in early recovery, but you really are coming back. I hear the Barbaraj we have come to know and love. So glad you took the narcotic to sleep. Maybe if you do that a few more nights, you will gain the strength you need to move forward even more quickly.
 
The oxy really helped me sleep which meant alot, maybe use it only every third or 4rth night if needed?
The first couple times you awake and realize you slept a chunk without waking is such a good feeling.
Hope you have more of those nights soon.
I found with my first op it's just the passage of time and healing and you've gotten through some of the worst!
I think this time stronger pain meds more often at the beginning, less pain just brightens your whole day and gives you hope. Only thing about that is that I'll have increase my prune consumption..
 
Oh that wonderful elusive friend called sleep. How i miss yo my love :loll:It must feel so good to get a few consecutive hours. I am very jealous. We are having a heatwave here just now and between back sleeping, ODIC pain and trying not to take codeine the nights have been tough. I am delighted that you got a bit of reprieve and hope today is a good one too !
 
Great report on the glue removal!! I bet it will heal up nicely in a few days. I was amazed how quickly all the irritation disappeared. Once I was cleared to put something on it, I used Egyptian Magic. It’s all natural and is mostly olive oil and honey. My crazy long scar is much thinner now and has no texture issues.

Glad you got some sleep! Huge help when we can get some. Week two! Hoping it proves to be an improvement over the first week. Somewhere around the third week I remember thinking, I may survive this. Lol. Your husband sounds so supportive. He was wise to point you to pain relief. Hope you got another good night of sleep! :sleeep: @Barbaraj
 
Morning @Barbaraj. Glad you got some close to descent sleep. I am taking the oxycodone on a 5hr schedule. At bedtime I take two oxycodone and put on my sleep app. There is no way I am going without aides walking, too early even though I'd like to. I have been known to put on a strong front just to push through, however this is not the time. Our bodies are depending on us not to put on that strong mask. We know that this is different pain from pre op because this pain will pass, however it is still pain that wears us down if we aren't addressing it with the tools we have. We have walkers and canes to lessen the load on our healing bodies. We also have pain meds that we "know" that are as temporary as the pain. We need to use all these tools to assist our bodies to achieve wholeness. I say all this because I am concern you that you are trying too much, too early. Possibly take some time with your loving husband and talk about how things are progressing from both of your perspectives. Working as a team is how God created marriage. I wish you a relaxing day. A day of reflection and love. Warm reassuring hug and a rub on your back. :SUNsmile:
 
Good Morning Barbara,
As you're gleaning from personal experience, each recovery is unique, even with the same person.
I think you're doing phenomenally well.

I'm with you on not taking the meds if I'm not feeling I need them. The sooner I could be off it all the better, in my mind. I didn't martyr through any pain and felt lucky that I didn't feel the need to take the heavy narcotics for more than a couple days.

While I didn't ditch the walker as quickly as you, my mom did...at age 80. She maintained it got in her way. :heehee: Personally, I'm guessing we may hang onto it longer than we need simply out of fear, or not trusting our recently butchered leg can handle the weight or stress. I have every confidence that you will make use of what you need and lay the rest aside.

Are you thinking of getting out for a car ride maybe this weekend? Just wondering if you're feeling stir crazy yet? I recall getting a little down about a week and a half out and received a friendly nudge from a fellow BS bud inquiring whether I'd been out to smell the roses lately, which I hadn't. When I had my THR we were in the throes of heat and humidity, not my favorite weather and the thought of even sitting on my deck was very unappealing, instead seeking cool comfort inside. You may not be stir crazy yet as it's tolerable hanging out at home when we're not feeling very energetic and dealing with discomfort. I trust you'll know when the time is right.

Have a lovely Friday and weekend!
@Barbaraj
 
ahipgma said:
The oxy really helped me sleep which meant alot, maybe use it only every third or 4rth night if needed?
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Good idea, @ahipgma. I just hate using that nasty stuff regularly but maybe I just give myself permission to alternate nights with it and it won't seem so daunting.

Cecropia said:
Too bad they can't find a drug that has no withdrawal, no bad side effects, safe to use every night.
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Wouldn't that be great, @Cecropia? It's bad enough when we have trouble sleeping during surgical recovery but so hard to be dealing with insomnia on a regular basis. I feel lucky that for the most part, I am a good, solid sleeper with only occasional bouts of insomnia.

Yesterday had its ups and downs. My husband left for a few hours in the morning, and as it was a bright, sunny day, I opened the door to our backyard, and was irresistibly drawn outside. I probably should have waited for my husband to be there, to make sure I didn't do something stupid (but when has that ever stopped me?!) but it was so nice outside. I walked all around our backyard, including a secluded woodsy gravel pathway along the back perimeter of our yard. The lovely blue hydrangea is blooming, along with star jasmine, daisies, day lilies and fuchsias. Oh, and I found one lone perfectly ripe strawberry on the side yard and, using the golfer's reach, I was able to bend down, pick it and plop a sun warmed berry in my mouth...mmm. I came back inside before my husband returned, not wanting a lecture (!) and then the afternoon chugged along fairly uneventfully. I took a nap yesterday afternoon which given my walk, plus the exhaustion of the shower (sheesh, always such a production!) I probably needed. Unfortunately, it meant I had a hard time getting to sleep last night so I am going to try not to take one today.

Layla said:
Just wondering if you're feeling stir crazy yet?
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Ha, ha, the answer to this is YES, @Layla, but tonight we're going out to a restaurant for an early dinner which should help. I do get frustrated cooped up inside, although yesterday morning's rebellious little walk helped a bit. And this afternoon my husband promised to take me to a local park with a flat, paved walkway for a little walk. So, little treats to look forward to today.
 
Fit4Family said:
I was amazed how quickly all the irritation disappeared.
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Did you have a reaction to the surgical glue also, @Fit4Family! The whole area around my incision, for a few inches in each direction is very red and irritated looking. And while I didn't notice it itching when I still had the surgical glue in place, I am noticing a bit of itching now. I still think it's so strange to have had an allergic reaction as I've never had any allergies at all. But maybe @Elf1 is correct and our systems simply change over time so that's how this reaction could be explained. How annoying, however--it's bad enough to have wrinkles and age spots, developing allergic reactions on top of that is adding insult to injury!

I continue to be amazed at how steady I feel while walking these days, without any assistive aid. Last time around I hated the walker and was eager to ditch that. But I felt as if I needed the walking pole that I transitioned to fairly quickly. This time I am not using anything, although outside I should probably bring the pole for, if nothing else, warding off those passersby who are on their cellphones and careless of others in their immediate proximity. Funny that although I've had more hip/thigh discomfort this time around, my feeling of steadiness on both legs is really good this time around. I think it's true that, as @Layla noted, each hip is different even on the same body.

It's a new day, second week progressing and I'll keep pressing forward. Happy Friday!
 
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Hi @Barbaraj I did react to something under the bandage area. Most likely culprit adhesive, given placement. It did itch once I removed everything. Whole area was red and angry. I just washed it lightly with Cereve and water once I could. Think it was on for 2 weeks, fuzzy for me at this point. Once it was cleaned off and exposed to air, healed very quickly. I do have sensitive skin, (redhead) Not really an unexpected result for me. But, it’s almost healed now. Thin purple line. Should be white in another 6 months.

Absolutely amazing how well you are getting around. Very happy for you that you’re progressing nicely.
 
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