Flashback post from my week 2 (copied from my journal notes):
Day 8 Friday
Shower shampoo and makeup morning. Feeling good. Put on bra today 1st time in a week I bothered (just to keep the girls in control, no 'modesty pads') but stayed in cotton lounge dress.Downstairs most of day in recliner chair. No naps!
Hubby went out for a drink tonight. 1st night on own (after dinner). Managed ok.Went to bed 10ish, but very tired!
Really reducing the codeine today, just 1 in am and 1 before bed. Keeping topped up with paracetamol though.
Swelling is way down, but spent most of day sitting with leg elevated.
Day9 Saturday
Very tired this morning! ODIC?
Stayed up too long yesterday. didn't have a good sleep, woke 3x. Took paracet at 5am. Went back to sleep till 8.30, then a codeine before breakfast. Slept a bit more after breakfast before getting up at 10.30.
No shower but put on makeup, bra and shorts/ t shirt. 1st real clothes! Went downstairs and did a few PT exercises and some walking around house and garden. Leg started to ache. Back to bed 2ish to elevate.
Day10 Sunday
Shower, shampoo and makeup = human. Bra on but just a house dress lounger because weather wasn't so nice. Rainy. Planned to stay in.
1 codeine in am, then paracet rest of day 4x.
Big accomplishment today was 1st walk outside front house in late afternoon across street to visit neighbors! My leg swelling is almost gone, just a bit at the upper backside after standing awhile. Gets a bit sore after sitting in a recliner too long. Wish I had a lambswool pad or something, but had the bright idea - took the squishy pad I bought for dog to keep him cool in summer and put it on seat of recliner, sort of wrapping it up around the op side leg. Heaven! Dog doesn't use it but I will. Sort of like icing without ice - just a cooling sensation. Trying no codeine tonight.
Day 11 - Monday
Difficulty getting comfortable last night. Up to wee 4 X!! Senna did the trick again this morning. Didn't take it 2 nights ago and felt the need.
Down to just 1 paracetamol this morning. No codeine anymore. Did 2 X paracet X3 today total.
Got new phone today. Thanks hubby, very unexpected. But..
H very pushy to get it all set up. I didn't have the energy really. Worst day I've had I think. By end of day feeling really tired and low and cranky and we quibbled. The blues struck!! Teary. Went upstairs to bed 9pm and slept well.
Day 12 Tuesday
Feeling a bit better after good sleep. 2 X paracet 2 X today only. Really no pain. More energy, stayed up most of the day. Bed at 10 pm and slept till 7am.
Day 13 Wednesday
Lots more energy. No pain. No paracet in am, didn't start till 1:30, then 2x paracet 2x today.
Stayed up till 11pm!
Ordered grocery shopping online, very easy and why didn't I do this before?? Delivery hurrah tomorrow. Hubby is getting tired of shopping and not making good healthy choices. Need to get some normalcy to dinners! Basically cooked dinner all on own!!
Day 14 Thursday - dressing check!
Uh oh - definitely in pain this morning! Too much yesterday - ODIC! Pain when walking and putting weight on leg.
Dressing check with GP practice nurse 10am. 1st outing in car (since discharge day) felt great to get out despite bit of pain bumping in car. Had to put cushion on car seat and a folded tea towel to buffer seatbelt where it rubbed my hip incision area. GP's nurse was really great! Told me it's a long haul and although I'm doing really well, be sure to take it very easy. It's not 6 weeks but more like 3 to 6 months to recover from the trauma of the major op. Said I will feel a plateau several times and feel 'why am I not progressing' but that is normal. (Reiterated all of this in front of husband) Told him no housework for me for awhile. They took off steristrips which made me sort of queasy but they were itching my skin so good riddance. She was pleased with my incision healing. First look at my scar and it's long but not as bad as I expected.
Came home and went to bed to elevate and rest. Will take co-codamol next dose for pain. Out of pure codeine but have some combi so will dip into that if needed. Wimping out today. Big morning.