DrToonz
senior
Brag away! At least if you brag here on BS, you'll have people who UNDERSTAND that peeing is a triumph!
Congratulations.
THR Riding the Recovery Roller Coaster
- Thread starter mystikfairy61
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Congratulations.
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
MajorHeidi
big-cheese
@mystikfairy61 Your pain med lesson is one for us pre-oppers, for sure.
Glad you finally got relief on that. Then, you are doing great getting yourself up and down and all around.
Yay!
Glad you finally got relief on that. Then, you are doing great getting yourself up and down and all around.
Yay!
DrToonz
senior
It's entirely possible that you won't find my posts as funny once you've lowered your oxycodone dosage.
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
Made it home after a stop at the pharmacy. They made sure I was medicated before I left the hospital so the trip home was not the least bit uncomfortable. I have a comfortable couch that we put some blocks under the legs to elevate it, so I am kicked back icing and watching some TV since they didn't have a very good selection at the hospital. Will be starting my by the clock pain meds at 6. It is good to be home!!
Jp9294
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Welcome home @mystikfairy61!! Remember rest, elevate and ice is what the doctor ordered for the next several days. There's no place like home!
DrToonz
senior
@mystikfairy61 :
The other bit of advice that I learned about right away for those first handful of home days is (in addition to ice/ elevate/ meds by the clock) to sleep whenever you want and be awake whenever you want. There is NO reason to attempt to sleep when you can't or to be awake when you can't. It just becomes frustrating when it's 4am and you feel like an insomniac. LET GO! It's OK to be awake and turn on the TV or (like I did a lot) surf the web or read on BoneSmart. You can nap later (in like 20 minutes! hehe) when you're tired!
Glad you're home and you have some relaxation ahead of you. Get through the next 3-4 days and you'll start to feel like you're getting somewhere.
The other bit of advice that I learned about right away for those first handful of home days is (in addition to ice/ elevate/ meds by the clock) to sleep whenever you want and be awake whenever you want. There is NO reason to attempt to sleep when you can't or to be awake when you can't. It just becomes frustrating when it's 4am and you feel like an insomniac. LET GO! It's OK to be awake and turn on the TV or (like I did a lot) surf the web or read on BoneSmart. You can nap later (in like 20 minutes! hehe) when you're tired!
Glad you're home and you have some relaxation ahead of you. Get through the next 3-4 days and you'll start to feel like you're getting somewhere.
MajorHeidi
big-cheese
Oh that's great you are home now, @mystikfairy61 Donna!
Glad you put blocks to raise the furniture.
I haven't done that yet, but would sure like to. Will wait til closer in April towards the actual surgery date.
Rest, rest rest!
Glad you put blocks to raise the furniture.
I haven't done that yet, but would sure like to. Will wait til closer in April towards the actual surgery date.
Rest, rest rest!
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
First night at home wasn't too bad, took my meds every 4 hours, started with 2 at both 6 and 10pm but went to 1 pill at 2 and 6am. Pain was well controlled all night. My biggest issue was the pillows I am using to elevate, having trouble keeping them where I feel like there is good support. Got up and walked to bathroom each time I took meds without any problems. The only issue is my bathroom door is too narrow for the walker so I have to go in sideways, LOL, but it isn't painful. The reason I said one pill was working good is because I was trying to search the channels and each time conked out and woke up a little later with the guide still open.
I got offered a pneumonia shot yesterday and went ahead and took it and now my left arm is sore to move, but I guess with using my arms with the walker that it will work out pretty quick.
Thanks for all the well wishes, this experience was made so much easier with all the support and info on here. Love u all!! 
I got offered a pneumonia shot yesterday and went ahead and took it and now my left arm is sore to move, but I guess with using my arms with the walker that it will work out pretty quick. Thanks for all the well wishes, this experience was made so much easier with all the support and info on here. Love u all!!
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
PT came to see me today around noon, how nice of them,LOL!! It was definitely interesting.
Had to do heel slides, straight leg lifts til I had my thigh completely off the sofa, moving leg in and out sideways while flat (abduction and adduction), gluteal and thigh muscle clenches, then while sitting lifted leg like kicking, then stood and did leg out to the side and knee lifts. These are to be done 2 times a day, 10 of each. I was able to do all of them but needless to say I took a 2 hour nap after I was done. These didn't really cause any pain just typical muscle soreness. I do have a little swelling on the outside and front of my thigh, just tight when I touch it but can't really see it. They said I have a little bit of bruising.
I am wondering, I have been on the couch with leg up on pillow stack but I am still sitting up a little and not laying flat. Should I spent some time laying a little more flat to get the leg closer to the hip a little more elevated to see if I can get that swelling down? Just curious, laying flat is ok but I enjoy the partial sitting up but want to do what will be the most beneficial at least part of the time. Thanks.
Had to do heel slides, straight leg lifts til I had my thigh completely off the sofa, moving leg in and out sideways while flat (abduction and adduction), gluteal and thigh muscle clenches, then while sitting lifted leg like kicking, then stood and did leg out to the side and knee lifts. These are to be done 2 times a day, 10 of each. I was able to do all of them but needless to say I took a 2 hour nap after I was done. These didn't really cause any pain just typical muscle soreness. I do have a little swelling on the outside and front of my thigh, just tight when I touch it but can't really see it. They said I have a little bit of bruising.
I am wondering, I have been on the couch with leg up on pillow stack but I am still sitting up a little and not laying flat. Should I spent some time laying a little more flat to get the leg closer to the hip a little more elevated to see if I can get that swelling down? Just curious, laying flat is ok but I enjoy the partial sitting up but want to do what will be the most beneficial at least part of the time. Thanks.
DrToonz
senior
As I understand it, the position you're sitting in (slightly upright, lower legs elevated) could contribute to "pooling" of blood in the area of the upper thigh/ hips which are, in this position, the lowest point in your body.
I believe that I was told that it could be beneficial, at least at first or at least for some chunks of time, to lay your entire body out flat on the bed in order to thwart this effect.
I'd like to suggest that you ask someone with more authority than me on the subject, but that's how I recall them explaining it to me.
DrToonz.
MajorHeidi
big-cheese
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
Thanks, I have had the entire leg elevated not just lower legs but I can see how that would cause pooling in thigh area. couple that with stopped up issue and just not fun at present, sent hubby to get milk of magnesia plus taking 2 softners a day. did it take everyone a few days or longer to get things moving again?
OP
OP
mystikfairy61
post-grad
DrToonz
senior
I was without any movement for 4 days. Stool softeners as directed on the bottle two a day. Once movement was happening went to (as on bottle) 1 per day. Then none when I tapered off on the narcotics. All is well.
OP
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mystikfairy61
post-grad
I was told I could take off the big bandaid today, and it seems that the skin at the top of the scar got irritated or something from the tape where I have a little skin overlay there from weight loss . Will show it to PT when they come back but just wanted to be sure it wasn't anything to worry about. . The area is near my groin.
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