THR Lynne54's Recovery Thread

[Layla]

How are you doing today, Lynne?
I hope not hearing from you yet today means you’ve been busy getting discharged and maybe you’re getting settled in at home?

Wishing you comfort and a peaceful rest of the day.
@Lynne54

 

[Lynne54]

I came home late last night and am glad to be back home. I need to get myself into some kind of routine and items in suitable places for ease of access etc. The pain was bad during the night, so sleep was intermittent. I have created a chart listing medications/times etc. and will start checking my BP regularly. Apparently I am allergic to NSAIDS plus something in general/local anaesthesia which made my blood pressure plummet so drastically. I was given oxycontin on top for pain relief, which lowers blood pressure anyway.

I am managing to do toast etc for breakfast, snack/sandwich for lunch, and it will be a microwave dinner. Currently resting with legs elevated, and a bag of frozen peas as an ice pack.

It can only get better.

 

[Layla]

Glad you’re home, Lynne!

You will find it handy to have a nightstand or end table stocked with things for easy access such as your phone and charger, tv remote, portable computer, water bottle, book or magazines, tissues, lip balm to name a few. If you have a grabber, keep that close too. I felt I was never more clumsy than in early recovery, constantly dropping things. Not sure if you’re interested, but you may have more success with the gel ice packs. I’m sure if you have an Amazon account you could get a couple relatively soon. I think they will last longer than a bag of frozen veggies and one can be freezing while the other is in use.

I hope today is a good one and you’re able to take a couple naps.
@Lynne54

 

[Klassy]

Great to hear that you are finally home. I agree with Layla about the gel packs. I started off with frozen peas, and within a couple of days I was smelling of over ripe peas. The pack leaked a bit and the stains have not come out of my sheets. But the peas were better than nothing while I got the gel packs organised.

I hope you have a better night tonight. Hugs to you.

 

[Mojo333]

Welcome home, @Lynne54

I used peas (I had 4 packs) for some time.... til my sister brought some Real Ice Packs...
Whatever works!
Healing hugs coming your way...

 

[Elf1]

@Lynne54 welcome home, so happy they sprung you!

 

[CricketHip]

Glad to read that you are home, sweet home! Good idea to keep the meals simple and rest/elevate.
My blood pressure was super low.. stayed low for quite a while. I usually have high blood pressure and they had me stop my normal BP meds for about 4 weeks I believe, until things stabilized.
I found that getting up slowly with something to hold onto was safest. Drank a lot of liquids, too.

So glad you are home,,, here's a little hint for you

 

[Lynne54]

I have gel packs that I am using regularly, but they do not seem to keep cold enough throughout the night. I have most other things to hand by my bed. I am on morphine for the next four days, plus blood thinners for five weeks and iron tablets. It's getting easier and I am so grateful for all the support in this site.
Thank you so much to everyone.

 

[Eman85]

Do you have a small cooler for keeping a lunch cold? Possibly place an extra gel pack or 2 in it with ice to swap out without having to get up. I used a machine to ice and it lasted for hours and then just swap out some frozen water bottles and it keep on icing me.

 

[Reanda]

That's exactly what I did, had a cool bag in my bedroom then took up 2 iced gel packs and kept them ready for use in the bag for night time. You could also put some frozen ice blocks in it, or just ice. It's sometimes hard carrying things up the stairs by yourself, a back pack or deep pockets can help...don't get too tired Lynne, rest a lot.
Glad things are getting easier.

 

[Rhonda K]

@Lynne54 Hi Lynne….I’ve been looking for an update from you but can’t find anything. I sure hope things are getting better by now for you. We were so close with our dates I’m so anxious to hear how how you are. Hope to hear from you soon!!

 

[Mojo333]

@Rhonda K
Scroll up on this thread and it will take you to through Lynne’s updates.
She had a rough go initially, but is home and doing much better.

 

[Lynne54]

I am getting there very slowly. My leg is very swollen so I am elevating and using ice. I am finding it hard to get comfortable in a chair and also in bed. Sleep is reasonably okay and am getting 4-5 hours...with a bathroom trip during that.
I started this reply last night but fell asleep.....the pain is back this morning but it is meds time.
I am having a key press put up outside today which makes sense living in my own.
It's been tough going but things are improving daily. Leg is swollen and thigh hurts but is manageable. The nasty pain I had been experiencing for years has all but gone, but I do have a new hip.

 

[Klassy]

This is good to read Lynne. You are on your way now!

 

[Mojo333]

Glad to hear you are managing, tough lady.

Early days still, my friend...but as Klassy nutes.... You are on your way.
Hope you have a happy, easy- does-it Friday.

 

[Layla]

Glad to read you’re doing better, Lynne, even though it feels slow going. Continue icing as often as you’re comfortable and elevating also.
Keep this little bit of info in mind -
The lymphatic system rids the body of fluid (swelling). In elevating, fluid from the hip area or lower extremities is gravitationally pulled toward the lymph nodes in the torso area to be processed more quickly. The lymphatic system works rather slowly on its own so elevating assists in speeding up the process. The fluid isn't draining into the hips, it's contained within the lymph system and moving to the torso and lymph nodes located there.

I hope you have a comfortable relaxing day and weekend!
@Lynne54

 

[Lynne54]

A restless night and have been awake for hours. Pain is bad but I am out of synch with my pain meds, so I need to get that sorted today. Otherwise it's a relaxing, TV/reading/sleeping day again.

 

[Klassy]

Hi Lynne. I hope your pain has settled now. Maybe you can tweak your med schedule so it works better for you? Eg, take a little less than the maximum dose at any scheduled time so you have some spare allowance that you can take whenever you feel pain beginning to break through? Or shifting the doses a bit so you have more at night time to help you sleep?

A relaxing reading/TV/ sleeping day sounds good to me!

 

[Lynne54]

My meds should be four times a day but I have shifted them to three times, with a bit extra when I go to sleep which is working so far. At least I am getting around five hours a night now, with naps during the day.

The staples were removed last night but the scar had been dressed again for a further 7 days and then I will need to remove it. I haven't had a look at it yet though...

Things are slowly getting better and easier. It's not two weeks yet so I must be more patient.

 

[Reanda]

So pleased things are improving, it is a slow process for sure. Presume a nurse came to you for staple removing, or you got yourself to the docs? Soon be time for a shower!