Songlady: Meg, that report must have been uplifting for you today. Congratulations! Also: No more toilet riser! I hope you are not feeling much more pain/stiffness from your recent activities. So sorry about your mother. You have a lot on your plate and must remind yourself you are doing your very best and all that any daughter can do. It's a difficult situation when our parents now need us in this way. And your poor husband and his back problems, too. And to be driven, as you say, by finances and health insurance, makes it very daunting. I hope this can get sorted out, but I realize how hard it is to treat a back. And job and health ins. concerns. Our company too has laid off people at Christmas, and it is in general a very "nice" company. But when they do that, I really despise it. And worry every Christmas as well, especially in 2008 and 2009. I hope his new job works out.
The blood pressure thing mystifies me. Mine was thought to be rather low post op--83, 85--and it seemed they were monitoring it every five minutes. But they didn't act like it was a problem, and I don't recall feeling odd or seeing spots like poor
LeeApril26 did.
Thanks for the info about GA and dry, flakey skin,
zauberflöte, but I had a spinal and epidural combo, not GA. The flakes on my operated side's calf started flaking off last week; I noticed them on my blanket! ... I also find that stiffness is helped by getting up for a lil' ol' walk. In fact I do it when I first wake up, when I feel confident my sleepyhead neighbors won't be popping out their door and seeing me pre-showered state. One morning shortly after I got home from the hospital, I actually did my practice walk with the walker in my pj's and robe. I laughed and told my cousin who was staying with me during those first few days that I looked like those little old ladies who go down to the lobby of the building in their nightgowns and robes and bedroom slippers. I always said I would NEVER do that. Well, never say never.
ByGosh ... just today I tried out that pillow you are describing. I ended up not getting it because it seemed like it might perhaps squish down too much. I didn't realize it would be heavy, too. It has been hard to find a cushion that is just right. I fear I have spent $$$ that I really do not have like a drunken sailor during this whole hip saga. Even pre-op ... always thinking if I had just the right insole, shoe, cream, rabbit's foot, I might get serious relief.
United Kingdom
You must be thrilled, perfect timing. 
You will soon be back to your normal life although it takes time to get all those muscles back to working so give it time. It's too bad you and your husband had all the stress of company lay offs. But it sounds like he was able to move onto a new job and soon life will be back to normal. I hope he gets his back issues resolved, it's horrible to have back pain.
But... as I was showering, I thought, "yay, I can wash my feet!" Wellllll.... no. The op leg doesn't feel reliable enough for me to stand one-legged on it while I wash the other foot, and I am not confident I'd have the balance or flexibility to raise the op leg enough to reach the foot! Same for putting on my shoes and socks. And - actually?? Riding a bike....? Not yet!! 
(That's OK.... it was supposed to go to the shop for a complimentary tune up in late winter, and one tire is flat.....so I'll ask Son to help me; he can load it into the car and we can bring it in sometime next week.) So, the concept of what I am "permitted" to do and what I in fact "can" do are a little different! The one big thing that's improved is that I am not nervous about obeying arbitrary restrictions - I can let my own strength and comfort be my guide. (which is sort of what I've been doing anyway. 
great update no restrictions for you.
