THR Marvellous Marvin's New Home

[gizmo]

Hi Carol,
I am really happy that you have been getting some sleep. I am sure it will improve still further over the next few weeks. Do remember you are still in the early days of recovery so don' overdo things- having said that I think we all have days when we push too hard and our bodies make the point themselves. I still get some sleepless nights but mostly I think I am sleeping better now than I have done for ages pre op. I used to get a lot of cramps all through my leg which was horrible but have stopped now. Just keep going and good luck with your plans for your second hip.
Gizmo

 

[Mad Rocker]

11:37 pm
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End of Day 13 POP
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It has been an interesting day. I slept from 12:30 this am to 4:30 (got up to use the bathroom) and went back to sleep until 7:40. I didn't even hear my hubby go to his hockey game this morning. It was a good night.
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After my hubby got home we went for a drive, picked up groceries very slowly, and went for lunch. I walked a bunch so I am hoping that I will not pay for it tonite. The weather was glorious (11 degrees C) daffodils and crocuses blooming just a real nice day in the Pacific Westcoast.
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Tomorrow is my first day at PT. I am a bit anxious although I am going back to where I was getting PT before surgery. Maybe it’s the pain mgmt issue or my own anxiety at not being as far along as I should be. As I have said before I am hyper sensitive to people's comments about where I should be and what drugs I should not be taking and its just a mite depressing. I am trying to not get dragged under by the negative feelings and comments and if need be I will ask for another PT if I don't get a warm fuzzy and supportive feeling from the PT I am booked with tomorrow. I want everything to be smooth (I have a bit of a control issue. I know it is fear based but I feel embarrassed about how the little things are dragging me down.)
Take for instance my right elbow. Ever since I came to after surgery I have had a sore elbow. I keep looking for a bruise (nothing) and yet today it bothered me more than the hip. I figured that when I was on my right side during surgery maybe I got a knock on the elbow somewhere. Oh well the mysteries of what happened while I was sleeping.
Pain has been OK today but I keep reminding myself not to cut down my meds as PT will rile the pain back up. I will still keep a 1-10 pain scale in my meds log. That way at least I can keep track of how I am doing and with what exercises and physical activity.
I'm getting sleepy so I will log off
Take care Everyone
12:00 am

 

[Z15]

Carol,

I think if you let the PT person know that you are really sensitive about how you are progressing they can factor that into their approach. Some folks WANT a drill sergeant and hopefully they are good readers of body langauge. BUT, I bet they would rather have you upfront about your trepidation and ease into things...

Fair?

Z

 

[Pumpkin]

Carol,
Sounds like you are doing just fine. Hope the PT goes well.

 

[haldox]

Hope all goes well with PT. I have personally never heard a PT say to someone they arent "far" enough along or they are taking too many meds! But if that were to happen definitely find a different one for they are not worth YOUR time!

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Carol, it's not unusual to discover areas of discomfort like your elbow post op. You might have been "flopped" over on the table or just have bruising from lying on that side for the whole procedure.

Please let us know how your PT goes!

 

[DallasSarah]

Hi Carol,

Shhhh don't tell anyone I'm the exact same way about being sensitive and wanting everything to be nice and easy. z's right I think it's fair to let the new PT person know that upfront, ales the guessing out of everything and then you can partner with them to get to where you want to be.

Sorry about your elbow, hopefully it will get well and feel better soon.

Night,

xxooxx

 

[Mad Rocker]

10:54 pm
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End of Day 14 POP
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I have lost my mind----film at 11:00.
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I have not been writing everything down in the last few days except for my drugs and low and behold my PT is tomorrow. What a dunce! Well one good thing is I get to over react for another day and then read the posts on BS and realize that I am really getting very good at making a mountain out of a mole hill.
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I have told you how I am a fatalist, a if something can go wrong it will and the cup is half empty personality type. This gets to be very tiresome to be like this. Oh to be carefree and throw your troubles to the wind. With my luck there would be a backdraft and I would wear all my troubles on my face. In my family a number of us cannot wear white because if something is going to spill it will be on us. It's just the way it is.
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Today was a good day except I decided that I would cut my morning morphine SR out and just see how it would go. I didn't think I was missing it until I was due for my 4 hour percocet. I have been trying to stretch the time from every 4 hours to 5 hours and it has worked for the past few days but not today when I tried to stretch it the pain came on real quick and nasty. So I'm guessing the morphine is the baseline medication and the percocet is the med I can manipulate a bit more as it was originally prescribed for breakthrough pain. I am feeling that since I am not in heavy pain I really do not need narcotic drugs but I don't know what my alternatives are as I cannot take the Tylenol and the ibuprofen is not so good either. I will have to check with drug dealer son for his thoughts. I know I checked with my own pharmacist and he indicated the options were not many. Who knows? Right now I won’t worry as I have weeks of discomfort yet to get through and a pain system that is working pretty well so if it ain't broke don't fix it. Now if I could just keep my fingers out of the mix……
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11:21 pm
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Take care Everyone

 

[Jaycey]

Early days yet Carol. Don't worry about the meds mix. You will start to decrease the amount naturally. Forgetting doses and lengthing time between doses. It just happens.

Please let us know how PT goes.

 

[dianemarie]

Hi Carol,

As Jaycey says...your body just let's you know when to do things, it all takes time but will come. I am 16 weeks out today and still take a pain pill at night, just started a lesser amount of it this week. Loving your posts and sense of humor, we all need a good laugh and the more the better during these recoveries.

Take care and keep taking those pain meds!

 

[Z15]

Carol,

My approach was that maybe once a week on a day that didn't matter much (no big activities) I would tryyyyyy to drop a med. DELAYING a med by an hour here or there was not a big deal.

So I might try to drop a med...see that it was less than fun and i was trying too early...and then not try that again for a week.

Keeping things static and WORKING so that you are comfortable is worth a lot...

My $.02

Z

 

[Pumpkin]

No worries, I showed up on Monday for a Tuesday appointment last week.
It happens.

 

[Mad Rocker]

3:56 pm
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Mid day---Day 15 POP
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Just got back from physio. It went very well. She did wrap my knuckles for pushing too hard this early in the game.
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I have been double/triple timing my exercises and I have been using my 4 wheeled walker to push my walking harder and faster (to look normal.)
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Too early and she figured that was some of my knee pain and limping. I promised that I would use the 2-wheeled walker as much as possible, walk slower and with more purpose. Try to have an even gait and even pace; I have been lengthening my gait longer and longer. I am to do only the at home exercises that she has given me with no increase until we talk. I am also going to PT once a week and water PT once a week. That is now enough.
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It was reassuring to hear that I was pushing too hard (I was positive that I was dragging behind the herd.) And an explanation for the knee and groin pain, too much---too soon silly girl. I am going to follow her advice as close as I can as I want as good a result from this surgery as I can get. I am purposely using the word "I" as I am leading the charge to my recovery with a supporting entourage. Wow I always wanted an entourage!
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We also talked about the emotional issues I have been having regarding this post surgery. She is now aware that I am just having some dark blue moments and she also wants me to see the in house counsellor. So that is the plan.

Nap time
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4:16 pm
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Take care Everyone

 

[dianemarie]

Sounds like a plan, Carol. I also saw a counselor after my 1st THR and will see her again soon as I can now get there. It helped so much. Going through these major surgeries brought up a lot of issues for me. Talking to someone objective sure helped. Good luck.

 

[Jamie]

That sounds like an excellent plan!!! Do have a chat with your surgeon about options for step-down meds from the Morphine. It might be you could just go with the percs at some point since they work on you now. But for now...it's waaaay to soon to think about cutting back. Practice chillin' and you'll get this patience thing!!!

 

[Jaycey]

Sounds like you have a great PT Carol. Glad she set you straight on pushing too hard. We just can't rush this recovery thing!

Hope you are getting some !

 

[Mad Rocker]

Do have a chat with your surgeon about options for step-down meds from the Morphine. It might be you could just go with the percs at some point since they work on you now.

1:35 am
Day 16 POP
I have an appointment with my GP for Tuesday to discuss pain mgmt. I trust that it will be be informative but I am still a bit anxious as the big push is to get me off narcotics. Hummm! Maybe I will talk to pharmacist for names of options. Maybe part of a plan. :wink1:

My PT asked me if I had the results so far that I was expecting ( neat question...what do I think.) I mentioned that the surgery itself was excellent except my OS could use a bit of a personality---she said my OS was an excellent one and I had hired him to be excellent OS. I have to agree with that. The hip feels good (if I behave) the incision is better that I expected. Everything else I will have to figure out.

He reminds me of a mechanic I used to have for a very old car I had and loved. My little car looked like a box with casters on but she was the Eveready Bunny and never stranded us. He fixed her and made her run like a top, knew I didn't have much money and he helped me keep her on the road in the most economical way I could. Problem he was a tough old bat, personality of a door knob but what a mechanic!

1:53 am
Time for a nap---

Take care Everyone

 

[Bilateral]

Carol,

Slow and steady. I am one of those people that think if 15 reps is good 30 is better. Not in this case. I am going slow and focusing on each rep from beginning to end. 10 reps totally focused is better than 20 reps done quickly and without purpose.

Do some deep breathing when sitting and resting. Sounds weird but it helped me the first night after my surgery and every day going forward. When inhaling think "in with the healing", when exhaling think "out with the pain".

 

[gizmo]

Hi Carol,
I didn't start PT until week 10. So you have a head start on me. I wouldn't have been up to it so soon in my recovery as you are. Once I did start I have found it really helpful and supportive. I do feel it has made a tremendous difference. I think they see so many different people that they know (or should do) that there isn't a set recovery rate. I was reassured when I was struggling. I have also gone to hydrotherapy and although my sessions have now finished I will still go myself. I think the water is also really theraputic as you have that extra freedom and ease of movement. I find it helps to remind me that I will get more mobile as time goes. I want to swim again properly as it will help my fitness levels- but as yet I do a very gentle doggy paddle.

I think mood swings and feeling low must be really common at early days as the op makes you so helpless and reliant. And that is frustrating. I had days when it felt like role reversal with my children. One night my husband and eldest son were out. My youngest had to lift my feet into bed and then go and tuck himself in. He was so kind to me it made me cry. I think the tears were a funny mix of frustration and pride, frustration that it was all the wrong way around and pride that he was rising to the occasion. Although many of us are really struggling pre op The actual op instantly takes away even the remnants of normality that we have been so desperately hanging on to. My first day alone in the house my cat was sick on the carpet (he hardly ever is ) and it felt like such a major cat-astrophy at the time.:cat-kittyandsmiley: :hysterical:A Councellor is a good idea as hopefully he/she will help put things in perspective- coming here does that a bit too I think. Your wonderful sense of humour will also pull you through. And once you start to get a bit more sleep you will feel so much better , don't forget that you have had so many sleepless nights- that is all accumalative too. Sorry if I'm rambling it is late and I am getting tired.
Goodnight
Gizmo

 

[Z15]

Gizmo,

I like that story about your youngest helping you..that IS touching.

I too felt that the water therapy is a really useful environment for anyone who is struggling with movement on dry land. It is supportive and resistant at the same time.

Z