THR Made it Through October 6!

[kcmocook]

Hi. I am doing fairly well. I am moving about my apartment with the walker with few problems. My appetite is still poor and I'm having problems with low BP upon standing, but overall, I am feeling better. I get my staples out on the 21st and the home health nurse said that they look like they are about ready to pop out! I am going to attempt a shower tomorrow. Wish me luck...

 

[bottomshollow]

Aaaaah! @kcmocook, that first shower is so wonderful. It's hard to believe that something so normal feels like you've died and gone to heaven. But expect to be quite tired afterwards---so plan to rest and take a catnap to re-energize.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[xtina16405]

@kcmocook enjoy the shower. My surgery was 10/7 and I took my fist shower last night. It felt awesome. Except after I was exhausted. Plan to sleep after the shower. It is amazing how much it drains your energy. Great news for you.

 

[kcmocook]

Thank you. PT is coming at 11:00, so I might have to put the shower off until Saturday. PT wears me out. I am exhausted again tonight at 8:00 p.m. and that is after a two-hour rest this afternoon. The home health nurse was here this morning and my BP is still dropping when I stand up, but the readings were better than the other day. Also feel like I'm coming down with a cold. My doctor said to stop taking my water pills for BP to see if that helps.

Cheers to all who are recovering!!!

 

[Jaycey]

@kcmocook you may want to have a friend or your neighbour just be within calling distance while you shower. Since you are still have the BP issues it might be best just in case. Energy drain for THRs is totally normal. This too shall pass!

 

[kcmocook]

Thanks @Jacey. How are you getting along with your own recovery? I've been studying the energy drain article and yes, it is so true.

I made it through the shower and shampoo just fine, but yeah, it was draining (pun intended?!) I am having problems getting the new pair of TED hose on, though, so I will ask the PT to help me or catch my RN neighbor later on. Kinda nice to take a break from those.

Just sipping my decaf and waiting for PT to get here. I am thinking about making an easy and low-fat coffee cake this afternoon or tomorrow. The stand mixer does all the work! The low BP/iron issue was a great excuse to order a spinach alfredo pizza the other night. I added beef and Canadian bacon. 50% off since our Royals won!

It is another gorgeous Autumn day here. My favorite time of the year. I am eager to get out next Tuesday for my doctor's appointment and to get some real fresh air!

 

[toohip]

Hi @kcmocook - Sounds like you are doing much better...taking a shower makes you feel so much better, it's really great!!! That pizza sounds great, i'll have to try that sometime, so does the coffee cake...mmmm, coffee cake!!! It's a beautiful, autumn day here in NY also...i went for walk this morning!! Just don't overdo it today, take it easy and rest, elevate, and ice after PT!

 

[Jaycey]

How are you getting along with your own recovery?

Hanging in there! Thanks for asking. Well done on the shower. Please do not try and get those TEDs on yourself. There is no way to get them on without breaking every restriction in the book! Ask PT to help. I ditched them at 10 days out. Too much struggle and I am injecting blood thinner meds anyway.

I made ginger bread the other day. If the ingredients are within reach and you don't have to bend too far to put things in the oven - go for it. Somehow getting back to normal activities helps boost the mood.

I have started taking short walks outside. Yes, the fresh air is great. Give it a go when you feel your BP issues are resolved. Go only 1/2 as far as you think you can go and work up gradually.

 

[kcmocook]

Tomorrow will mark my second week. I had PT on Friday and will have it again tomorrow. Tuesday, I have my first post-op doctor's appointment and will have staple removal and x-rays. Saturday and today have been the first days that I haven't needed to take a nap in the afternoon. I am getting around better, but feel stiffness and a bit of soreness in the left hip, which I will take as being normal. I also have been standing on both feet quite a bit and feel it.

My doctor had me stop taking my water pill and that is helping with the low BP and light-headedness. I have such severe pain in my feet, though, that they sort of drag along and I am afraid that will affect my gait and recovery. I will see what they way at the doctor's office. I am feeling a bit depressed because we are having beautiful fall weather and I really can't get out to enjoy it. I am so used to going on leaf-observation walks/hikes with my sister. She dropped by yesterday on her way back from meeting a friend to walk in the park. I was envious.

Since I have to pay a four-hour minimum for transportation/assistance on Tuesday, I hope to be able to go to the grocery store and maybe CVS, just to get a new nail polish. I have a suspicion, though, that I will be too tired out, as I also have to go to the lab (same building as OS) for blood work for my yearly thyroid check-up.

 

[Jaycey]

I am feeling a bit depressed because we are having beautiful fall weather and I really can't get out to enjoy it. I am so used to going on leaf-observation walks/hikes with my sister. She dropped by yesterday on her way back from meeting a friend to walk in the park. I was envious.

Sorry you are feeling left out @kcmocook . I think all of us who are in recovery now are feeling the same. Just a few weeks of getting this recovery right for a lifetime of walks and hikes.

Pace yourself during your outing on Tuesday. It can be exhausting. I did way too much my first time out on my own and it took a day to catch up!

 

[kcmocook]

Yes. You are absolutely right! When I was 20 years younger, I used to take a week of vacation about mid-October and every single week day, I would go out and just walk for 4-5 hours. Then I'd come home full of energy and work on crafts items for Christmas. That's probably how I wore out my hips. LOL!

In the meantime, I will enjoy the second-in-my-lifetime opportunity to watch our Royals in the World Series. I think that is occasion for some KC barbecue. I also ordered a new t-shirt for game-viewing and hope it arrives today.

I hope that everybody is doing well and off to a good start this week!

P.S.: Common sense finally kicked in and I am wearing some "street" shoes inside my house instead of comfy house slippers. That should help. DUH!!!

 

[Poppet]

Yes, shoes are so important post THR, quite a few of us, myself included have purchased new shoes post surgery as I have a different gait.. Sounds like you are doing well @kcmocook x

 

[beachgal]

@kcmocook, shoes help! New shoes help more. Cute new shoes are priceless!!

I'll be pulling for your Royals. Love the World Series!


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[kcmocook]

Thanks, guys! Well, the Royals are off to a rough start, but it's still early in the game.

I made a LOT of progress today. I hired a home health aide to take me to my first post-op appointment and since I had a four-hour minimum, I decided to make use of the time.

Soooooo....

1. Went to the doctor's appointment. I was advised that I'd probably be there a good 90 minutes or so, as I'd be having staple removal (which was supposed to be painful) and x-rays. That group always runs slow, so I expected a wait. To my delight, I was in and out in 40 minutes! The PA said I was doing very well and some of the aches and twinges I've been feeling are normal. I can now ditch the walker and use a cane and I can drive. She extended my in-home PT for another week, then I only have to have ONE month of OP PT. The surgeon initially told me it would be 3-4 months, which would be through the dead of the winter. I guess he'll decide when he actually sees me in a month. Also, it didn't hurt at all to have the staples pulled and nobody questioned me why I wasn't wearing those dreadful TED hose!

2. Went to a reference lab in the same building to get a long awaited draw for my FP to test my thyroid. Again, in and out in 10 minutes.

3. I've been wanting to try some new brown nail polish, so I was able to go to CVS on my own, with my cane and using the shopping cart for support. (While I was in there, the home health aide went down to the end of the strip mall to Office Max to pick up a new land-line phone I had on hold at Customer Service. My old phone bit the dust.) I was kind of starting to feel the pinch in CVS, so I quickly chose a color and we left.

4. Grocery shopping. Since I was planning to buy a lot of stuff, I ended up in the motorized cart. At least this time, when I needed stuff from higher shelves, I was able to easily stand up and get it myself. I am sure the employees at the store were happy, as they are used to me knocking stuff off the shelves using my cane. I'm well stocked now for a good 2-3 weeks, but now I have to tell myself that I no longer have to shop that way!

5. Still had time on the clock, so we went to Great Clips because I was in desperate need of a quick trim. Got that done.

6. 20 minutes to spare, so I decided to go to the local BBQ place and get a sandwich for dinner to eat while watching the World Series.

We made it back home and up the stairs with all of the purchases with 5 minutes to spare! When I got home, I put on my new Royals shirt that arrived via FedEx just as I was getting to leave earlier and I painted my nails and started to watch the game. Taking a break right now.

That was a LOT to pack into one day, but that is the pace I am used to going at on a regular day off. I am sure I will conk out here fairly soon and will feel the affects tomorrow. I can not describe the feeling of getting out and having the freedom to go wherever I wanted (within reason.) That has eluded me since August 2013!

 

[kcmocook]

Today I went out and drove for the first time. I went back to CVS and walked around the store for a long time just with the shopping cart. When I returned home I realized that I was gone for an hour! It sure wore me out and I took a two-hour nap. I'm headed to bed in just a minute.

My in-home PT was extended one more week so we could get in some more stairs practice. The therapist said my right leg (non-operated) is now slightly longer than my operated leg. I just read Josephine's post about LLD, so we'll see.

The out-patient PT called me ASAP and I have to start there on November 3. I'm a bit perturbed at how rushed everything is. I don't know if it's dictated by insurance, the doctor, or who???

My right ankle also hurts and is puffy. This has been ongoing for two years, so have that tied up in my ankle brace. I'm sure it has taken a lot of abuse, so I hope it feels better soon.

I want to go back to CVS again tomorrow to make an exchange, but maybe I'll wait. It's no rush.

 

[Jaycey]

@kcmocook Well done on your first driving trip! I am a few days ahead of you and only moved the car from the drive yesterday. Attempting a shopping trip today.

One of the hardest things in this recovery is pacing yourself. The energy drain is a big thing and allowing for it means you won't get frustrated. I agree with your maybe taking today off and going out again the next day. An activity day followed by a rest day worked for me after my LTHR.

Still early days regarding the leg length. Please do give this some time. The feeling may indeed disappear.

 

[xtina16405]

Congrats on the driving. I am restricted for 6-8 weeks on the driving. It is amazing how walking around the store can exhaust us now. But you did it and that is great. Hopefully the ankle isn't anything serious. Ice rest and elevate. It may help. I am jealous on the driving. I hope you had a good nights rest.

 

[kcmocook]

You guys are so sweet! Thank you. I hope that you are doing well.

@Jacey, good luck on your shopping trip!

@xtina, I almost had forgotten how to drive. LOL!

 

[kcmocook]

Happy Halloween everybody! I ended my in-home PT yesterday and will start outpatient on Monday. The physical therapist thought I was making good progress. I am able to do quite a bit of short distance walking indoors without a cane. I can also do regular stair climbing with a cane.

On the downside, I am feeling at loose ends. I feel very restless and aimless; almost depressed/anxious. I don't know if this is normal. I've started on a few long-neglected household projects, but that doesn't seem to help. I don't have a job to go back to, so I can't do that.

While I am very happy and grateful to be feeling better and no longer feeling like a prisoner in my own home, I can't figure out these feelings...

 

[xtina16405]

Oh your feelings are very mutual. My op was 10/7 and I have been on an emotional roller coaster. Of course a pain roller coaster too. Check out laxmom and craftdee even Jaycee thread and you will see we all experience the post op blues.

I too am keeping busy with home projects. Small ones of course. I am currently working on pantry organization. I have wanted to do it for so long but with work never had time. I am off of work until 1st of year.

I try to focus on my progress when I am blue. It is tough but it does help. It is all a process and baby steps and patience is the key I am finding out.

I am sure @jaycee will help out. Her thread and advice has been so helpful through all of this.

You are progressing awesomely. Isn't the cane easier to use. I was using a walker and just like you advanced to the cane this week. One leap ahead. Woohoo.

I hope you had a happy Halloween.