Become an Insider

I haven't slept for 8 years.

Status
Not open for further replies.
@dede62 no we didn't get a seat for the shower yet but I will look for it when I go to buy a leg lift.
I keep thinking about how much my wife will have to do while I recover from both surgeries. She's going to have her hands full. I spoke to a few neighbors and asked if they see my wife struggling with snow removal this winter if they can help out.

I usually bring my daughter to and from school, and I usually make her breakfast and lunch.
I'm going to feel so helpless. We don't really have much family to rely on.
Boy oh boy, my wife is going to go bonkers. I hope she don't get Burnt out taking care of me Chloe her job and the cat.
These are the times that we see what we're really made out of.
I'm going to have to do something special for her once I'm all better and back to work


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
@2 for Jeff ,

I think you are going to be a lot less helpless then you think will be. I know i was surprised how mobile I was and I had mine both done at the same time. The key is to not overdo it, taking short walks around the house because you will want to do more than you should. Key being you need to focus on resting the first couple of weeks as you will want to do more than you should and it's hard not to so you won't be helpless by any means.. Regarding the raised toilet seat etc.. I ended up buying a raised toilet seat but also ended up getting a 3-in-1 and preferred to use that instead. You may have a different preference.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I agree. I think you'll soon be able to do small things like make breakfast or lunch for your daughter. The trick is to make sure you just do one thing and then rest a bit until you see how you do. You can always add another little activity, but if you do too much too soon you have to rest a much longer time to relieve any pain and swelling that come from the over-activity. Slow and steady need to be your watchwords!
 
What a lovely family photo you have as your avatar @2 for Jeff - I agree normally you are not discharged from hospital until you are able to care for the personal basic care activities.

You may find you need a little extra care for the first two weeks, but healing happens quite quickly. I used my walker for quite a few weeks. It was reassurance and ensured that my gait was good, it also helped to carry things from the kitchen to my recliner. Also I was able to sit on the seat of my recliner and do little tasks at the kitchen bench or kitchen sink :)

I a very independent, but found I slept and napped a lot for the first six weeks so setting up a command centre with all the things you need was essentially for me. I had my phone, iPad, water, pain meds, fruit to nibble on - what're ever suits your style - it helped heaps. Wishing you the best :)
 
@2 for Jeff

Really it won't be as bad as you think. MyDH stayed home with me two weeks and then I was able to get to the bathroom and my own meals but not in that order!

Cheryl
 
@ 2 for Jeff - CanukTriMom is right, my other half was at home for only about 5 days after I got home from hospital and I was fine on my own by the time he went back to work. He did make me a flask of coffee before he went for the first couple of days though :-)


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
Greetings again. In case you can't get out, Amazon's good for whatever you still need i.e. leglifter. Glad you're now cognizant re those suction hand rails.

This is what I used: the frame from a commode placed over the toilet. It's height-adjustable & more sturdy, I think, than some other types. Prob can be found easily in med supply store. Oh, & that was great news about that flex plan!

[Bonesmart.org] I haven't slept for 8 years.
[Bonesmart.org] I haven't slept for 8 years.
 
@CanukTriMom Hi Cheryl, thanks to you and the others who always make my worries go away.
It's coming down to the wire for me with just one week to go.
Today was Chloe's 8th Birthday and now it's past midnight and I'm finally able to sit down. She was so happy today. I would re- live this day over and over again.
She wanted some new children's furniture for her room, so I picked it up from IKEA while she was in school. After school I picked up Chloe and my wife and went to Toys R Us. She got a Barbie doll house and Barbie shopping mall and a few dolls.
After that we went to her favorite restaurant for dinner.
Finally, home at last, so I thought.
After the ice cream cake I went for my small tool box. I started with the children's furniture, not so bad, took about an hour.
Now the doll house and mall was a mess. Too many pieces...drove me nuts. Everything was all finished at 11pm and I'm pooped.
Beautiful day, except for the delivery of my cold therapy machine today. They forgot the universal pad that would go on my hip.
Just 3 more days of work for me.
Fri, Sat, and Sunday.
I hope I can keep busy like today, all the way up to my surgery. It helps keep me calm and anxiety free.



Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
@shrinkette Thanks for the pictures. That frame from the commode looks like the safest and sturdiest way to go.
I'm sure my nerves will try to get the best of me, the closer I get. I glad I can lean on you and the others.
 
@2 for Jeff

Jeff

Hey I won't lie to you.....the couple nights before surgery you won't sleep very well. So what I did when that happened to me is I practised walking with crutches and/or cane, made sure I had everything put together ie, cold therapy unit (don't forget the power bar near your outlet.....you will plug your machine, your iPad charger etc.....at home) practised my grabberetc. Hey if you don't get the leg lifter, just use a towel or lift up you leg by grabbing your pajama pants. I wore pj pants as I put the cooling pad right on my surgery area and didn't need a towel....you should have something between your skin and the pad.

All of the above took pressure off my hubby as looking after me would be enough, I felt. It will all work out and think of this as a training run for hip #2:yes!:

Did you read my recent post....almost 2 months....that is what you have to look forward to doing in the upcoming months.

Take care and try not to worry, try to :ice: and take one day at a time ?:yahoo:

Cheryl
 
Last edited by a moderator:
@2 for Jeff this is the worst part - the mind goes into silly mode. Keep busy, keep coming here and don't worry if you are nervous or anxious. Staff at the hospital are so understanding. They see this hundreds of times a week and are very happy to help you get to a calmer place. You are going to be so jazzed once this is all done and dusted!
 
Hi everyone, I made it. I'm at work, and this is my last night of work for 6 months. My coworkers all brought some food in and we are having a little see you in 6 month party. I've worked with most of them for 29 years here.
Just 10 more hours to go.
Perfect timing for me because I can barely walk now. Both hips are clicking and popping and my right knee feel like it's going to explode.
I also have the bone on bone grinding in both hips, so painful tonight. My shins are probably the worst ever, they feel like my lower leg is about to snap in two.
But, last night of this 12 hour shift stuff for a while.
Friday is my day and I can do this



Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart Forum
 
@2 for Jeff
Reading your latest post, sounds like you feel you're just about ready to break apart. You've been suffering so much & for so long, I know. But now you're at the end of one path & almost at the beginning of another. You're a young man with a whole pain-free life ahead of you to enjoy with your family. Six months out of a whole life is nothing, especially when it's devoted to nothing but getting better!! You're gonna do just great & have everything to look forward to. Just kind of adopt the mindset of "I'm gonna leave the driving to them" at the hospital because it's their day job, lie back & say 'ah', & let it go. This is a re-birth, kiddo! Not everyone gets that chance. And yes, you CAN do this!
 
You can do this . . . you will not believe how much easier your life will be after this surgery is over! 4 more sleeps!
 
It's way to quiet here tonight for me. I've worked the graveyard shift since 1985, and I'm wide awake. Little past midnight sitting in my recliner in the dark. Knowing I will be out of work for 6 months is hard to swollow. My internal clock is about to flip upside down. How does one sleep at night? I'm wide awake.
My censes seam to be on overdrive. I can hear every plane fly over the house.
The clock is ticking way to loud also. And I've never been aware of hearing myself breath, but,,,, never mind, what's that?
I didn't know the refrigerator hums like that, or the bathroom sink drips about 12 times a minute.
HA! That's funny, had no idea that my cat snors.
Well Jeffrey, your thinking to much. I know I know, just can't believe how close my day is.
I put the hand rails on the toilet today, and spoke to a social worker about when I'm discharged from hospital.
I'm so looking forward to life with less pain. Never mind no pain. I can't even imagine less pain. It would be so nice. I wonder what it feels like to be able to sit in the bathtub again. Wow! Little things mean so much when you haven't done them for so long.
Okay, okay, so I'm having trouble trying to figure out leg elevation. Should your feet actually be higher than your heart? Strange because when im in my recliner I don't feel like I'm elevating my legs high enough.
My wife and daughter love this chair. It's only one week old and I watch them relax in it. They keep asking me if I want to sit in it and I always pretend I'm not interested. Truth is I like to see them first and happy.
This is the longest I've sat in it and BAHM! This is so comfortable.
So many of you have made me smile while I'm in so much pain.
I will talk to you all soon
 
Right now it sounds like you're in some kind of emotional overdrive and state of hyper vigilance as you gear up for Friday. So many of the patterns of life as you've known them will be changing, but so will you as adaptation sets in & you learn to make the necessary practical & comfortable adjustments. But for right now, I'm sure it feels more than a little overwhelming. As for elevation, the idea is "toes above your nose," which means that a typical recliner may not get your legs high enough. Use a bunch of stacked pillows or the wedge pillow from Loungedoctor.com.

Hope you're stocking up on easy-to-fix lunches & snacks. Remember to stock your nest. Should also have one chair with arms that's not low; you'll need somewhere to sit when not nesting or in bed. Well, 3 more sleeps after tonight... Just go with flow, you're on your way.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel
Corganics CBD

Members online

Total: 2,684 (members: 3, guests: 2,681)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom