THR second time easier (so far)

[Elosarabrab]

Songlady, Its tough on you when you are the one who always gets things done, But as Josephine says you have to put yourself and your recovery as the priority. I hope your Mam makes a speedy recovery.Sending hugs
Barbara

 

[Songlady]

Elosarabrab,
sharonslp,
Maeve
and all -
Thanks for the kind thoughts. Mom has pneumonia, but it's responding to meds. Unfortunately my brother is flying out of the country on work today for a week, so my husband will likely continue to be the main connection for mom. He surely deserves a halo for Super-Son-in-Law, taking care of her as well as me!
When I sit in my recliner, at times I am so comfortable that I forget about the surgery! I am walking some outdoors now, regularly, once or twice a day, (beautiful Spring weather here!) and it's going well but I know I'm working hard- after a walk in the coolness of yesterday evening I found I was sweating with the effort!
I do find that the newly operated leg feels longer than the other, but I know from BS to be patient and wait a few months before I get worried about that. Right after surgery my operated leg felt like a tree trunk! It's feeling more and more normal, but still a bit unwieldy. Now is the time I need to put in an order for patience (one bag full, please!)

 

[Jaycey]

Here ya go! Three sizes available!

 

[Songlady]

Thanks, Jaycey! I am trying to be patient! I do feel it, though, when I've walked too far!

I need to brag, Elosarabrab, littlemac, Peaches, LeeApril26, Liveringer, Littlejem, sandybeach, and anyone I've missed: I REPAIRED a grabber today! Last surgery, 3 years ago, I'd had two, so I could leave one upstairs and the other downstairs. The grabber that had worked better broke, though: the string that pulls the "jaw" became untied and there was too little there for me to retie it. My husband found me a shoelace that didn't have much stretch in it, and I attached it to the old string and pulled it through and tied it! - VOILA! I feel so proud!

Now my husband won't have to follow me up and down the stairs with the grabber!

I just had to share.

My mom has responded well to medication for her pneumonia and is being transferred in the next day or so to a local rehab place for continued IV antibiotics. I'm glad she's doing that rather than going home; I'd be worried for her to be alone. I'd thought she was pretty stable, health-wise, this spring or I likely would have put off my surgery! Ho well, one can't plan everything.

 

[Peaches]

Songlady Meg, that's good news about your mother. I'm sure this has been a hard time for you and your family. And that is great you could fix your grabber. I am very impressed. I think this surgery really brings out the enterprising in all of us, but I don't think I'd be able to fix a grabber like you did!

 

[littlemac]

Songlady great job on the repair. So happy about your mom's recovery too.

 

[Jaycey]

Well done Meg! I know the value of having 2 grabbers. Somewhere in my recovery thread you will find reference to me needing a grabber to pick up the grabber I dropped!

 

[Elosarabrab]

Songlady, Im pleased for you being able to fix your grabber. You don't realise how much you need them in the early days until its broken or you drop it. I've seen me use my crutches trying to get my grabber when it fell on the floor.
I'm glad your mother is improving. I think it is just as well you didn't postpone surgery. There would always be another thing that crops up to delay things. At least you have had it done and are recovering well.

 

[Littlejem]

Yey, well done repairing the grabber, a very inventive repair too!!! So good to hear your mum is improving, that must be a big worry off your shoulders, I bet you wanted to be up and helping when you know you really shouldn't!

 

[Songlady]

It's amazing how much happier I am with two grabbers in the house - lol! But that's one less thing I'm reliant on my family for.
Mom is still in the hospital but anticipates being moved to a rehab place. My husband fetched clothes from her apartment yesterday, and today I took a marker and put her name in them for her - so at least I felt as if I could do something for her! Last fall when she was at rehab for 2 months I took her laundry home every 3 days and washed it... but obviously this time she will need to sign up for their laundry service! Ho well.

The PT had me walk around the house without the cane once today. I can do it, but my gait is uneven - so obviously I won't make a habit of going caneless! But still, I'm doing well, according to her expectations.

 

[sandybeach]

Songlady, Just catching up with your past few days....you have had a lot going on. What a worry about your mom. I'm so glad that is getting resolved now and you can relax and concentrate on your healing. Your husband, what a wonderful man, he has had his hands full.
The grabber being fixed, just goes to show, sometimes it takes a woman The walking without the cane assistance will come in time. It sounds like you're doing really well.

 

[Songlady]

Hi sandybeach, Elosarabrab, Littlejem, zauberflöte and everyone! I had my stitches out today. As I walked down the hallway to the examination room, I heard the OS call from his office, "No showing off!!"
He told me that, in terms of progress, I was about where someone normally is about a month from now! But he spoke sternly to me about not overdoing it, about taking my time before resuming normal activities, and to remember that I'd been through major surgery and needed to heal.... I have to admit, my thought was, "My surgeon has been reading BoneSmart! He sounds just like Josephine!" lol!
The best things were that he said I didn't have to keep the incision dry when showering anymore, though I am not to scrub it, and that, as long as swelling doesn't increase, I can say goodbye to the TED stocking! Wahoo!

 

[LeeApril26]

Songlady. congratulations. Getting rid of these awful stockings is great!

 

[zauberflöte]

Songlady yipee stitches out and no TedHosen!! Wonderful that you have a stern surgeon-- mine and all the nurses associated with him and the hospital seem to think that I will be "flying like an eagle" (I had to laugh when she said that, thinking of Joeski ) in just a couple of weeks. I really wonder!

The best things were that he said I didn't have to keep the incision dry when showering anymore

My joint class nurse mentioned this weird bandaid that is made of silicone and she thinks you're supposed to be able to lift it up and peek under at the dressing, and then lay it down and it makes a watertight seal again. Never heard of that! I wonder if it means I can shower sooner than ordinary? *strikes hopeful pose*

 

[Songlady]

zauberflöte, there are waterproof plastic sheet-type coverings that can go over a bandage, but I proved to be allergic to the adhesive, so I stopped using them. (Also, they are expensive if you buy them yourself! Like $10 each!) So every morning before my shower, I would cut a square of Saran wrap, put wide paper adhesive all around the edges, and plaster it to my hip! And I tried to not stand directly under the shower for a prolonged time. But... yes, Ma'am, I did take "regular" showers!

 

[sandybeach]

Songlady, Isn't isn't a good feeling with the passing of each milestone? It sounds like you are doing so well and even your doctor is seeing it. Take it slow and easy though, you don't want to go backwards....great update.

 

[Littlejem]

That's wonderful news Songlady it really does sound like you will be running soon!! Like your surgeon says though don't do too much, you don't want to put yourself back. It's good when they professionals tell you you're doing well, boasts your confidence doesn't it?

 

[Poppet]

Great update SL.. Good to get the stitches out...haha! maybe your OS has been reading BoneSmart, we do have lots of guests!

 

[Elosarabrab]

Songlady, Great report plus no more TED's. I am stuck with them for the full 6 weeks but its not too bad.
zauberflöte they put a waterproof dressing on my hip before I came out of hospital. When the nurses came to check on me they put waterproof dressing on too. I don't know what it was called. I don't know if its another of those "surgeon preferences" or if you can ask for it. Josephine do you know what it is called?

 

[Songlady]

Elosarabrab, I had the water proof dressings when I came home from the hospital. That was a Thursday. The dressing was changed Friday, and Saturday, and then on Monday when the nurse came back we found that apparently I was having a bad reaction to the adhesive: under the adhesive stuff my skin was all red, blistered and oozing! So that nurse changed the dressing to just gauze and paper tape, and that's when I had to resort to the Saran Wrap covering for the shower. I'd had no issues like this every before - it's amazing how our bodies and our reactions can change! I am not one who has ever had issues with foods or meds, so I was shocked! But at this point, the scabs from where the blisters were look almost worse than the incision! The good news is that they have, indeed, dried and scabbed over and are healing.