THR Spring and summer here I come

[Vida]

Hey Nanal.. I read somewhere else that you are having stuffed-up issues. I've got this one. First, get some stool softeners and take 2 a day while you are on heavy painkillers. I checked with my pharmacist and she said it was safe. If your DH will listen (!), send him out for a bag of dried prunes and a six-pack of Danactive yoghurt drinks. The Mayo Clinic suggests patients facing surgery have one a day and continue afterwards to help with 'motility.' If that isn't enough, ask DH to go to the pharmacy and get some Lactulose. Its a liquid, not unpleasant and was suggested to me by a physician I saw pre-surgery. It does cause a bit of the old 'flatulence' but hey, if you gotta go, you'll try anything. Before bed I have been drinking a hot, half-cup serving of prune juice. This has worked for me over the last 11 weeks, fortunately I don't need them any more. And of course there's the dreaded suppositories, a last resort but again, when you gotta go you'll do what it takes.. Its miserable, we've all been there, literally. Best of British luck.

 

[nanal]

Tks Vida- It took me a couple of days of tummy issues to figure out what was going on. I just quit taking pain meds until I saw some activity. I just think it got way out of commission before I got things in order. Going to try to find a balance of pain meds and tummy issues in order. Today has been a good day. PT says I am doing great. Showed me how to sleep on my side so hope tonight is a better night. Need to rest some. gonna take pain meds and hope all things will work out for the best. Tks

 

[Weezi]

Hey Nanal,
I finally got 940, 941 and 1099's done. I would have already had this behind me but with the new pc came a new printer and a host of remote access issues. Nothing like living on the edge, lol. So glad to hear you are doing pretty well. Do you feel like you have everything you need? Is there anything you think I may need to know before Tuesday? The nurse told me they are going to "bank some blood" the morning of my surgery. I didn't think blood loss was that common but better safe than sorry. I guess I'm about as ready as I can be but it's seems like it's taking forever to get there. I pray that you have a good night of restorative sleep. Will check back in on you soon.

Take care,
Weezi

 

[nanal]

Weezi- I slept better last night not great but better. PT showed me how to sleep on my side so that helped a lot. I felt so good this morning that I took a shower and got my makeup/hair done but then collapsed. I really do feel like I was well prepared. Thanks to my husband. a god send, I have been so blessed. I don't know of anything that I needed. Took too much to hospital as always but did enjoy getting dressed and sort of cleaned up. I wore lounge pants and tees. No real pain just deep muscle pain which is bearable. I had PCA pump for one day but made me nauseous so I took toradol and worked great. Pain has been controllable just stay on top of constipation. that made me miserable for a couple of days but I think I have it under control. You will be fine. I was a nervous wreck and really surprised myself. I am so overcautiosus on the precautions that I keep myself in a state of nerves all the time. I am my biggest enemy. Home health will be here in about an hr. I take coumadin so they have to ck it. Keep me posted and let me know if I can help you in any way. I would have liked to have a special someone to hold my hand. This is a great site for comfort and support. I am here for you

 

[Weezi]

Oh Nanal, thank you so much! You have already been such a blessing to me. In fact, I have told my husband so much about you that he has starting asking me how you are doing. I have been keeping a close eye on you and Stargirl as I am using your experiences as a blueprint for what I have in store. I realize it's not going to be a "walk in the park" but you have dealt with it very well. Your recovery has been a great inspiration to me and I am feeling like I will be able to get through it. Unfortunately, I am having severe groin pain today. I can't take any nsaids now and this is the first day I have really missed them. The thought crossed my mind that I only have to get through 4 more days and I doubt I could wait a day longer. It's days like this that leave me little to doubt about the surgery. I can't imagine what my state of mind would be had I not found you guys. So glad you have such a wonderful husband to see you through this. My husband is a god send to me as well. I told him he may want to go home at night to sleep and he said "no way, you might need something in the middle of the night". I know he is worried about the surgery although he would never admit it. So I have been rather stoic about it all when it comes to him. He keeps telling me that I have the best attitude regarding my surgery. That's another reason I am so thankful to you all. I can share my feelings here and come away with lots of encourement to see me through. Thanks so much Nanal, I am truly grateful!

 

[nanal]

Weezi you are so welcome. My husband stayed every night with me because I do have to do to the bathroom during the night. It was tough with all the interruptions but he survived. He gets up with me during the night at home just to be sure I am okay and don't need any help. Seriously, the pre op period was the worst. The first day is foggy due to drugs, etc. but they take all that away and things improve steadily. Pain is nothing like I imagined. Had my homehealth nurse here today and she took off my bandage. Everythng looks good so one more step in recovery. Getting around gets easier and you must remind yourself what precautions you must adhere to. Thoughts and prayers to you and your husband.

 

[bottomshollow]

Sounds as if things are progressing nicely at this point. Just keep it slow and easy and follow that mantra. In a few more weeks you'll be amazed at how much you can do. The restrictions are a bit of a pain, but better to be safe than sorry. Then one day you'll realize that you haven't even thought about your hip.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[nanal]

Hi friends- just a short update on my recovery. All is going great. I have to learn when to take pain meds.
trying to be superwoman and it is showing me who is in charge. I have no real pain just muscle stretching which cause some deep muscle discomfort which is mostly at night. Sleep still has some issues but that should do better if i take meds appropriately. Need to work on my hip rotation when walking. Realized that I had compenstated more than I realized so I must retrain myself walking somewhat. This is hard but nothing is going to be easy so let work really hard on this. Pt has been great giving me more exercises to do every visit. Going to transition to cane next week-Yay. Have not iced a great deal after the first 2-3 days at home. Movement is getting better every day. Energy is good. Not taking naps like the first week- hubs likes his naps so takes one for me. Can't complain about anything except learning patience. Thanks for all the support

 

[stargirl]

I Nanal great news!!!, it's amazing once we learn to wean ourselves of the harder meds how quickly our amazing bodies resume normal function. I am only on panadolx8 a day and at night will commit to maybe a panadeine forte for a few hrs sleep. I am feeling really great also and have noticed already I limp do much less albeit with the cane but we must acknowledge that this is temporary.

The op memory of the nausea period is already leaving me and gradually I am back to my old self of 10 yrs ago!!!!

My best wishes to you can't wait to continue to observe your happiness shining through in your posts

 

[ilovefall]

Hi Nanal!

Sounds like your doing GREAT!! Good for you! Seems like yesterday we were scared to death to begin our journey. Look at us now!

Keep up the good work. You've been a blessing to me during this journey.

 

[nanal]

Tks Diane- you are so right on how scared to death we were. I still have some progress to make but one day at a time and thank God everyday for his blessings.

 

[nanal]

Question- I take tylenol during the day for that deep muscle ache but take hydrocodone at bedtime for sleep not pain. This concerns me in that I don't want to commit to drugs for sleep. Do I need to try to sleep with meds on my own or continue as I am. Walking with cane and doing very well. Muscles need to get strenghtned but will come in time.May try to get nails done soon. They need some tender care and attention. Have not ventured out except for ride in car so will begin to take short adventures as legs will tolerate. Any ideas on my thought process here would be so very helpful.

 

[Vilebyrd]

So glad your doing good nanal. Just wait it will get better and better. I hardly ever think about my hip at this point. I think thats why i lot of people stop posting as much after their surgery. I could run now if my muscles were stronger. Keep up the good work.

 

[nanal]

Tks so much vilebyrd. I am really just amazed at the recovery time. I do get tired very easy but I know that will get better as well. How long did you have restrictions? I go back for post op next Wed so I am sure I will have lots of questions.

 

[Vilebyrd]

I still have 90 degree rule till march. I can never cross my knees but that sounds painful even for normal people lol. Thats about it.

 

[nanal]

vilebyrd I figured that was going to be your answer. That is probably the hardest part of it all. Crossing my legs/ankles is one that is driving me crazy as well. Every time I sit in recliner or prop up in bed, I automatically start that ankle cross feeling. Guess I can just suck it up and put my big girl panties on and move forward. Glad to hear that you are doing so well. I am doing awesome for 2 wk post op. I have no patience so I have become a very humble person in 14 days.

 

[dede62]

Nanal, it sounds like you're doing great! You're fighting urges to be naughty which means you're healing and heeding your restrictions! That's great! Everyone is different, but my restrictions were lifted at 6 weeks. There are so many factors - complications, pre-surgery conditon, etc. You'll be surprised how quickly it all goes by. The sleeping gets better and make sure you keep on your pain med schedule. It's way too early to be worried about it. You need to remain mobile and you can't do that if you are in pain or are chasing the pain. It's part of the equation...

 

[Vilebyrd]

This is gonna upset you then, i can cross my ankles since day one. I just cant cross knees or my operated leg pass the middle of body. Every doctors restrictions are a little different. Im so happy your doing so well. I just hit my two month mark time is flying by.

 

[Katlover13]

Nanal, I can relate to the feeling of wanting to cross your legs! I also have a bad habit of taking my shoes off by crossing one foot in back of the other an using it to pry off the other shoe. Not good with precautions at all!
Sounds like you are doing really well. Hope you get out to get your nails done soon, sounds like a spirit lifter!

 

[nanal]

Katlover13, I try to think of a couple of little things to do everyday to get out of the house. Tomorrow I have to get my allergy shots so I think I will plan on pedi/mani for Sat, possible. It looks like you were 1 day prior for surgery. I am doing well. No hydrocodone most days just some tylenol usually will do. Taking one day at a time and patience, patience. Good to talk to you.