THR Mayhip8's recovery thread

[Calgal]

We'll all, I'm salivating thinking of our Italian style dinner ala familia! Chrissy beat me to the punch with my signature tiramisu, but I can do a pretty mean caprese salad. Hopefully some of my big luscious tomatoes will ripen in time. Melanzane parmigiana is probably my all time favourite. And I can't wait to dig into mayhip8's lasagne! Affogato after dinner anyone? Mangia mangia!!

 

[ahipgma]

@Calgal after watching the film of a hip replacement I understand why healing takes so long, also your new hip can move in all new directions that sometimes muscles haven't done in years so the muscles get pulled and sore. I know that during the day i am very careful how i move my bad hip and at night when i am sleeping and make a false move voila! The pain wakes me. All that has to heal and loosen up and stretch and strengthen.
I'm hoping at a year to be pain free but as long as it gets a little better every day I'm ok with that. Dont worry just bring your covered dish and come to our dinner
We'll drink wine till we're feeling NO pain.

 

[Calgal]

Thank you @ahipgma for your very logical wisdom. And I second the wine till no pain proposal!

 

[ChrissyW]

Good morning, sun shining at the moment and all I want to say ladies is here's to a wonderful day for us all.

 

[Mayhip8]

Good morning everybody

The Sun is shining here too and the skies are blue

What the banquet sounds divine and I look forward to trying all of these different foods - I've picked out a special elasticated waist skirt to wear too!

When I was at junior school we had a Youth worker from Italy on an exchange and I became interested in Italy and the food and the culture and she helped me to speak a few words etc -I was around 10 at the time, she returned back to Italy near Rome and became my Penpal
We wrote for a few years to each other and then it generally fizzled out as it often does.A couple of years back I found all her letters to me. I contacted her on social media and she remembered me ! We are in sporadic contact through there every now and again. I always wanted to visit Italy and have never managed to get round to it. These conversations are making me feel like that might be my real next plan .

@Calgal I too wondered whether the weather was worsening the arthritis pain? I'm sure you've read of the reasons for your post-operative pain and would like to reassure you that it will get better in time and actually in the big scheme of things it still is quite early days of recovery and you're doing absolutely brilliantly.
It is hard to describe pain and discomfort to someone who hasn't experienced it ,I know my husband struggles with the concept - he is very much an "ignore it and carry on chap " ( oh if only that worked I wouldn't have needed surgery! ) he's not totally unsympathetic just worried he might hurt me.
I had an absolutely terrible night last night and I've been awake many times, I gave up at four A.m. and went downstairs for some warm milk and more pain relief, I did manage another three hours from 5 pm.
Because it looks so nice out there today I think I'm going to go for a walk. I have another hospital appointment about something else later this afternoon so will try to drive.
@ahipgma Annual leave- it's what we call holiday entitlement in the NHS, we have annualised hours and work out how much leave/ holiday we are entitled to according to our contracted hours to work, grade and length of service. It is standardised across the board . I have accumulated a fair amount and will use it as part of my phased return. NHS sick pay is also dependent on length of service. As I work contracted out into a social enterprise branch of NHS commissioning body I don't have the entitlements according to my length of service or grade which is slightly unfair though at least I knew in advance and I could save up to cover my losses as I knew this needed doing .
Well I think it's cup of tea o'clock now and I will venture to see what the day brings

Have a funky Friday everybody

 

[Calgal]

Thank you @Mayhip8 , kind words in the midst of your own discomfort. .

I too had a fitful night - just couldn't get comfy. This weather is nuts. Hot and stuffy if windows closed but too cool if they are left open. I tossed and turned! I'm sleeping better on side(s) but not for very long which means lots of rearranging pillows etc every so often. About 4am I gave up and went back on my back. Never thought I'd find back sleeping the most comfortable choice.
Hope you have a good day and a more restful night.

 

[ahipgma]

@Mayhip8 @ChrissyW Goodness, it took me till 1am to fall asleep and that was with tramadol. What's up with all of us? (Went to bed at 1030)
I watch a lot of mature women "aging well" videos and a couple of them swear by sleeping on your back in our age group because it helps to not squish and scrunch your face up by side sleeping. So at least back sleeping may have you going to bed at 50 and waking up looking 30? No ? Well anyway I actually think that when I'm wrestling with a sleeping position at 2am.
Before you know it I will be sleeping in the spare room again after my oxy dose, my hub helping me get positioned with my white stockings on, legs elevated and ice on, and walker by my side for the loo trips. Clunk clunk clunk.
The heck with that stuff--- back to our dinner.
I would love for Andrea Bocelli to sing at our dinner party , and what about the meat course? I make chicken saltimbocca
( first had it as veal but my kids would not eat veal) I can make some penne with roasted red peppers and garlic. I am not a wine connoisseur but we should have plenty of it!!! Maybe a fish course?
And who will serve us and clean up after? Certainly not us. Maybe we can get the pool boy from The Riviera and Maldives to serve. Get your grabbers ready to dip some ciabatta bread in oil.
And perhaps we should let @Layla know about this feast she was with us on some of our travels. Yes @Calgal! Mangia!

 

[ChrissyW]

So are we all hungry and raring to go? Tiramisu done and I thought I'd make us a quick and easy gelato too. I thought we could have some granita al limone as a pallet cleanser between pasta and main dishes, even though we are going buffet style. Loving ghd idea of e saltimbocca but as it's Friday I'll be having my fill of our various pasta dishes but thought I'd do a simple fritto misto of seafood with some calamari, white bait and chunks of white fish, but with all the other dishes and the bread ( oh and some balsamic with that wonderful olive oil @ahipgma we are in for a feast. We shall pop some Spumante at the end of the evening but I think wine with food may be more than just from Italy as I personally think Italian red is better than white but I'm a white wine drinker usually.
So ladies,elasticated waists ready, bocelli has confirmed he's joining us ( though he did ask if we would share some of our food with him and I agreed as the more the merrier) va bene, a piu tardi e spero che festeggiamo bene. Bacioni xxx

 

[ahipgma]

Mmm right back at you amica di sostituzione dell'anca!
A toast to friendship!
Salute!!!! And

 

[ChrissyW]

@ahipgma , hippy sisters all the way!

 

[Mayhip8]

Bellisimo!!!!!!
Buffet
Boccelli
Buddies
Bring it on!

 

[ahipgma]

Love it! Always a great way to spend the weekend-- with good food and good friends and after our feast---
Sweet dreams and long sleeps for all

 

[Mayhip8]

How lovely it was to meet all of your families last night at the most amazing banquet with the most delicious food -I am still stuffed,however no doubt I shall keep popping into the fridge to munch on the leftovers for days to come.
Andreas sang with a passion and gusto didn't he? And for us all to have that impromptu dance at the end was an added treat. The Tarantella is one of my favourites ! Fancy finding that stack of tambourines under the table ! it was obviously meant to be.
I can't believe it was nearly 4 am before my head hit the pillow! The time flew by so quickly as we chatted and laughed the night away . It was good to swap stories and tales from each other's lives and that game of " guess my secret talent " was hilarious !! Who knew ?!!!

In the real world I slept for Seven hours!!! Didn't wake once!
Must have been the prosecco !!!
I decide to have a celebration of my 12 week mark yesterday.The hubster and I went out for a fish and chip 'picnic in the park' at teatime. The children were busy doing other things, Finally the Sun had come out it remained warm and dry so we went for a quite a big walk round afterwards - it was nice to get out in the fresh air.
I came home and popped open the Prosecco
I've been learning to play a part of Beethoven's moonlight sonata on the piano and finally gave a little impromptu concert for the family gathered, it lasts all – 1 1/2 minutes so we had to resort to chatting and singing and drinking more prossecco!
I went to bed just after midnight and slept the sleep of a sleep deprived sleepy person from sleeplessness land ....I could not believe the time when I woke this morning !joy of joys.
but how I ache!, obviously from the big walk and perhaps being very relaxed during sleep I probably adopted some strange positions! Oh well, that's it for the celebrations now until I've recovered from the next op
So after an eventful Friday in more ways than one I'm having a 'chilling out 'day I've just watched 'The Red shoes 'on telly - I've never seen it before oh ! it was wonderful ! A classic I'm sure.

So ladies I hope you all have a comfortable rest of the day and an enjoyable rest of the evening
Have fun and stay safe

 

[ChrissyW]

@Mayhip8 spot on, what a great evening and I've been eating leftovers all day. Your lasagne is soooo good and I must say I popped some in the oven at lunch time and ( well you know me and extra crispy) warmed it up enough to slightly burn the edges and create a lovely crispy exterior. I must admit late I indulged in a parmigiana sandwich too!
Hubby and I are out for a meal tonight so 2 nights of indulgence! I'm glad you enjoyed the prosecco and it seems to have suPorted your sleep so it must have been a good vintage, just like us ladies! I've not had proper gush and chips for ages. There's a fish and chip shop called fosters in a village we go to regularly that always makes me want fish and chips, it's always so busy and smells wonderful. Hmm I might have that tonight or I could go healthy who knows...where we go occasionally have a wonderful vegetarian burger on the specials menu but I keep missing it sadly, however fish and chips is always on!
@Calgal and @ahipgma have you recovered and joe are your voices, we truly sang our hearts out and I agree with @Mayhip8 that it was so nice to meet everyone's family.
Well ladies, enjoy the rest of the day. Love and hugs to you all and here's to a peaceful night ( possibly supported by a small glass of prosecco?) xx

 

[ahipgma]

I agree @Mayhip8 it was a wonderful evening and the fact that we did the tarantella would have shocked our OSs but our hips rose to the occasion and a good time was had by all!
I fell asleep at 3 and woke up at 930. Tossed and turned quite a bit. I'm so glad you got all that sleep ---what we took so for granted as young people is so exciting to us now! I also think I'm on social media way too close to bedtime and I think other habits I have could be tweaked to help too.
Trying to consciously enjoy the next 18 days before hip#2 but will look forward to a good progression and by fall I should be a bilateral bionic.
I promised myself since retiring I would get on a better eating regime, and exercise too, so that however long I have will be as healthy as possible.
Your evening with your family sounds like so much fun-- how clever of you to be working on your musical skills that you can enjoy even when recouping.you know I believe I flail all over in sleep and cause muscle pulls too but when I get out of bed and walk around I feel better on my new hip side. So I agree with you assessment Nurse Mayhip! I pretty much do what I want, like your pleasant walk, and if I'm a little achy, ok. Till next time when being in the ODIC really causes pain.
Older daughter brought her daughter back to us for a few more days stay while she and her hub work opposite shifts again. They are both napping at present and I am getting a head start on dinner --- spaghetti and meatballs, green beans, bread, and blueberry crumble with ice cream for dessert.
Also baked and will treat Ari to her first chocolate chip cookie. I remember when her mom had her first taste of chocolate. Her expression was priceless and her eyes actually rolled around in her little head! We are all chocolate addicts in the family.
Hope all are pleasantly tired after our big dinner--- @ChrissyW and @Calgal ? And of course Andrea but I cant tag him on BS. Shall you go for another 7 hrs tonight? Hope so.
Love and hugs!

 

[ahipgma]

We crossed in posting @ChrissyW! I thought of your big weight loss you told us about so I'm eliminating junk food and trying to watch carbs
But I just couldn't live on lettuce leaves and air all the time so I'm easing into it! Nothing feels as good as being able to fit well into clothes though for tonight's spaghetti I'll just watch my portion, my hub makes his mom's home made meatballs too so I'll just try to eat one?
So when you have your fish and chips, have some chips for me!
We'll see! Thank goodness our feast was virtual-- no weight gain there. But I DO have a real life bottle of prosecco on hand,though.....
Hmm. Have a beautiful evening

 

[Calgal]

Ugh! After all that indulgence I've had to down a couple of Frenet Branca digestifs to settle my grumbling tummy! A lovely evening yet again. I'll be on my best salad behaviour for the foreseeable future. .

Ive achieved my 4000 step goal for the past week so am tempted to raise it to 5000 next week. Slowly but surely. Here's to happy hippies.

 

[ChrissyW]

Morning ladies. Just wondering @ahipgma how did the 1 meatball challenge go? It's impossible to have one unless you do what we used to do when my mum made them, eat as many as you can sneak while being cooked so when they reach the table you only want one! I love meatballs. @Calgal fernet branca! Well it's medicinal in taste but I've never liked it.
Well ladies here's to a relaxing Sunday and I'm hoping this sunshine stays for the day. I love getting up with the sun shining don't you? I bet @Calgal and @ahipgma will be out in their gardens today, what are you up to @Mayhip8 ? I know your family often does lots on a Sunday so are you venturing anywhere with them? We are going to pop in to a local little village, have a potter around, popping in shops and getting a coffee as it would be rude not to. I avoided the fish and chips last night and had the veggie burger which was on the menu but in a different form. It was yummy as it was with haloumi (do you all know the joke about the cheese looking in the mirror?) and avocado with sweet potato fries as the naughty indulgence! It was lovely and now I'm hungry!

 

[ahipgma]

Wow a veggie burger when you could have fish and chips! Good for you though I understand some places make delicious veggie burgers!
Took Ari to Mass and she was well behaved for a toddler but of course provided a lot of entertainment for the churchgoers around us should they choose to watch. I'm not a believer in cry rooms in churches, Jesus loved little children. Of course if your children are screaming remove them but what is a little hide and seek in the pew among Christians?
Yes! I did stick to the one meat ball rule by only making so many for everyone and calling on my better self to not steal anyone else's! But we had good bread and blueberry crisp for dessert
I dont eat after dinner or between meals any more. I am 40 lbs up from my wedding day weight so I have lots of work to do! My hip replacement scar sits on a pretty blubbery posterior so trying to drop a few before the 21st.
Its sounds like you had a lovely Sunday doing what anyone with two good hips would do--hope to follow you soon with that. @Calgal has a little more healing before the twelve week mark and of course @Mayhip8 and i have all the excitement of another go round.our weather here is lovely and sunny so I think we'll eat out on the back deck again
Ciao till tomorrow lovely friends!

 

[Mayhip8]

Good morning beautiful people
The Sun is out

The sky is blue

I'm feeling great

How about you ?
I had a lovely Sunday thank you, woke really early and had a cup of tea in bed, then my husband and daughter and I went out for breakfast and a walk In a local park. There is still a threat of flooding and a dam bursting nearby so we are restricted in where we can travel too, however little journeys often are okay. I managed a big walk round In the park and it was lovely to see the new little ducklings and moor hens all basking in the sunshine with their mummies. I came home and rested awhile before catching up with the Sunday papers.
My daughter went to a "friends fest" with her buddies, apparently ' Freinds' brought sets from the series over to the UK on a tour so you can sit on Chandlers chair or in Monica's kitchen ! - sounds great I'd love to have done it!
@ahipgma I'm in agreement with you in that keeping going through some aches is probably beneficial though I wouldn't push it through severe pain and sadly it is severe pain in my right hip which stops me doing what I want to do it got stuck the other day and oh ! was it painful! @Calgal @ChrissyW do you do anything in particular in terms of exercising now ? Do you find counting steps useful ? how does your hip respond to increased movements? Did you do much walking around on your cruise Chrissy?
I was up with the lark this morning and as it's so lovely I dare say I shall encourage my teenagers out of bed in an hour or so and see if we can have a Monday adventure somewhere.
@ahipgma What is a crying room in the church? I mean it's probably obvious however I just question why?
There is nothing more lovely than seeing a church service or taking part in one with children chattering and joining in and if that means a toddle around amongst safe people then that's fine. We have a lovely little local church which we go to especially for Christingle although I'm not religious any more I do believe in Oranges with sweets and candles in apparently!
So ladies I am in total admiration of your willpower. One meatball ?! a veggi burger? Totes well done!
I've actually changed my eating habits massively, I tend to have a good breakfast of healthy-ish stuff, and then eat fruit if I want to snack during the day - we have a meal later in the evening, I had gone a bit mad with cakes and biscuits in the past few months but I can't say I'm bothered by them now .( still like a cheeky ice cream though! ) I am aware I am carrying extra weight still so I'm going to ramp up the green vegetables and such in preparation for my next hip adventure.
Well my lovelies I hope you have a magical Monday and amazing things happen.

Catch you later.