THR wcgirl painting rainbows

[Cindy99]

Good job! My appointment is next week. Hope I can drive !!!!

Congratulations.

 

[webbie73]

That is wonderful news! It gives you such a feeling of freedom when you can drive again.

 

[wcgirl]

Well, I got the 'okay' but I still need to walk better w and without the cane - which I consider to be just a tripping, toe smashing device! I'm looking forward to out patient PT and the pool.

 

[webbie73]

I tire on using the cane but don't have a problem with it. I can "hobble" short distance without the cane I think in another week I will be using the cane full time with a very good gait.

 

[Cindy99]

I use ski poles outdoors. Their slimmer profile and ability to grab ground make them good for uneven surfaces. not so good on concrete or asphalt though.

 

[wcgirl]

On Tuesday my PT introduced me to the cane. I was not happy as it seemed too unstable. Wed morning I left for a 2 hr drive for my OS appointment, an overnite at my brother's with stairs, and a followup appointment with my PCP. I really got a workout with the cane. It was a 2 day excursion -- On my drive up we stopped for a 15 minute walk, while in waiting areas I walked for 15 minutes, in the room waiting for the Doc I did my chair exercises, did my routine at brother's house, and boy was I sore after a 2hr drive back last nite. A hot shower, a beer cheers:oh my! No pain meds since May 16th), and ice, really helped and had a good sleep. This morning I am feeling sooo much more comfortable on the cane and I'm having much less discomfort in my new hip area. The PCP said that I still had a little swelling in the incision area and to continue to ice. And the PT said before I left for my trip that my hip would 'settle in' as I put more weight on it, and the cane certainly made me do that.
It's amazing how quickly things change! I might add that in between I was sure to do my 30 minutes lying flat & eat well whenever possible! Today is my final in home PT. Then I'll be heading to rehab center and another phase of recovery into my 6th week post-op next week.

 

[webbie73]

Will the rehab center be as an outpatient? I also just finished with in home PT. I found the in home PTA a total waste of my time. Since this was my second hip it was not critical for me....I knew the exercises already. If I had been a first time hip it would have been a problem!
I am hoping the OS will not prescribe anymore PT. I feel I just need more time to heal inside the hip. I have been walking with the cane in the house for2 weeks now. Last weekend I started walking outside with the cane. It is tiring though! LOL
You are progressing very well!!!the progress is amazing at this point. What you can't do one day you can do soon after.

 

[wcgirl]

@sunbunny and @Cindy99 are you doing art? I started painting watercolor thank you notes but have a hard time w sitting or standing too long before I start to ache. I'll have to use a timer. Looking forward to being able to lose myself in art.

 

[sunbunny]

@wcgirl was looking forward to doing pastels but PT said I would have to use an easel so I won't bend and break 90 degrees. I can oil paint with an easel but pastels would be hard since so much is done with your fingers. I don't have much of an attention span probably due to a lack of sleep. Probably will wait awhile. Hugs

 

[Cindy99]

no, I'm still living in the middle of my studio and it's pretty chaotic. I'm also trying to sort out in my head what my new normal is going to be, and what I want to do with art and with my life. I need to make some money, so when I figure out what my physical condition is I'll have to start looking for some part-time work. Anything interesting will be hard to come by where I live.

I will need to hire help to undo this temporary living situation, but because of my dog I'm not ready to do that quite yet. He has trouble on stairs, and I'm not comfortable being responsible for trying to save him if he gets in trouble going up and down.

I have recovered a lot faster than I thought I would. I have to keep reminding myself that it is still May! I still haven't driven and I still haven't walked on my property yet, but I'm hoping those things will happen next week.

See OS on Tuesday. Nice volunteer from the Lions Club is going to take me there.

 

[wcgirl]

@Cindy99 and @sunbunny I have my sketch book out and procrastinating. I have so many projects but I need to get the thank you cards done. So I'm working small and in the planning stage. I'll put the timer on and give myself 30 minutes to come up with something. At least it'll be a start and I'll feel good. I've done plein air with a pastel artist and she would use a low easel or paper taped to a board on her lap. I'm still trying to figure out when I'll be comfortable working in front of an easel… even a desktop one.
I'm the same on the whole recovery thing, I'm approved for driving but the pollen is so bad that I am not venturing outside until it rains tomorrow. I was pretty sore last nite -- the last 3 days have caught up with me, so I iced last nite and doing the basic exercises today with plenty of rest. I have a nice quiet road on one side of the house but the walking is very rough with moss to get to it. Again, the pollen is an issue. I can't wait for that to be done! Achoo!

 

[Joydancer]

I can drive, swim, and putt. Oh Happy Day!

Great to hear you have full routine returned...yes Happy Day !!
I was so glad to have this time the THR being my left - - driving on day 7 (to PDr. & nearby Walgreen's for Rx just 5 mi from my home) the bout with respiratory bronchitis caught while in hospital. And driving full errands day 12.

You are no in the "full swing" of your routine now - - I know that feels great !!

 

[Joydancer]

Thinking about your dizzy spells, I noticed my issue was the blood thinner injections, blood pressure changes.
I would suspect that more than your allergies & claritin. Hope the dizzy spells have subsided so you can enjoy your driving again and swimming !

Can relate with the pollen...allergy stuff unfortunately - - got the respiratory stuff cough, some sneezing visiting again...seems to be the norm down here in FL (truly sub-tropical climate). Yep claritin, fluconase, darn....I love spring, but we are already in the throes of summer here 90's. Running a/c everywhere and shifting into going out in the eve, the hot sun and errands with a/c on max not my way of enjoying summer. (not a native here...from the midwest US - - full season of winter (don't miss) but having more of a spring and then summer very enjoyable and not getting hit with the 90's and humidity until July into Aug. Well our trade off is short spring, long hot summer, I was told when I first moved to FL 12 yrs ago, no complaining about heat & humidity...consider that our winter, don't have snow nor frigid temps, but forced to survive staying in with a/c to tolerate the heat outside! so....which would you rather have !!

Hoping you do well now getting into the full swing of things now...or even if it's little by little..this phase of your recovery, wc girl!! (lol! mine being sudden stop sign & scare post-op er/hospital iv antibiotics & out of state specialist trip)

Joydancer
~ ...embracing my mantra as well as I can...no matter what may come on my path ~

 

[wcgirl]

@Joydancer actually, re the vertigo, I wondered if it was the BP injections too but I'd had them for 21 days and this was day 25. It only lasted 3 days and then the Claritin clicked in. Just another thing to worry about…
I'm so glad that finally got some good care and that you are in good hands now.
I have spent some time in FL and I have to watch for Red Tide. I guess there's always something.
I did finally drive today -- went to Dunkin's for coffee and a donut to watch the tide change at the beach.
Will I ever be able to walk the beach again? Oh, and I love those thunderboomers in FL that just bounce you right out of bed! I'm easy to please. HA!

 

[wcgirl]

Well I was trying not to be discouraged yesterday. A very busy day -- so busy I just lost track of time and place and should have taken my tylenol around the clock with all my 'busyness'. Got back on track late last nite as I needed to be ready for my drive to outpatient therapy today. After lots of knee and hip bending and measurements with some kind of protractor it was off to the cycle to warm up for 5 minutes. Interesting that I can walk backwards & sideways without the cane, but not so walking forward. I just feel loosey-goosey! PT told me I was toeing in. So now I have something to work with and happy with the fact that I may not be able to walk forward without a cane but in a pinch I'll be fine backing up or sideways HA but I'm on my way!

 

[Legin]

Hey look at what you did I know we don't want any rain on the parade sometimes but well done you, watch that toe, errrr and where you are.going of course.

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[Great Aunt Janet]

Red Tide

eh? this used to be my menopausal rage description but (and I hesitate to state the obvious...) most of us are past that. Even wee sunbunnies! Need an explanation!

Your outpatient therapy sounds VERY busy - you are doing a lot there and then driving home, phew, that is a big day. How often do you have to go? Beach walking sounds lovely - as long as you take your long shoehorn to put your shoes back on again when you have kicked them off with joy. Or is it a lumpy kind of beach where you must remain shod? Both are good (I like the crunchy noise of the latter, and the sparkle of the first) for the sole/soul anyway Quite appropriate to be on the beach when you can walk sideways so easily. Smirk.

 

[sunbunny]

@Great Aunt Janet you are just so funny. Wish I could pop over and have a real laugh with you! Red Tide indeed.....there are some advantages to being a little heavy in years. @wcgirl sounds like your therapy is going well. I have to watch the toeing in too. I am a little bummed about my water walking in the pool having to wait. I go next week to OS and maybe he can give me a date. Seems like I have a cautious OS, but then again I would not want to repeat the last seven weeks. Bright spot in all of this are all my new buddies! Hugs and happy days!

 

[wcgirl]

@Great Aunt Janet https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_tide
It's worse than pollen!
Actually I went out grocery shopping today and had a visitor this afternoon.
Now that I'm walking backwards and sideways and can drive I think I can have my old ways back… Not So Fast!
I am cleared to swim but will check if I have to be 'cane-free' to go in the pool area.
Time for a nap…

 

[Great Aunt Janet]

worse than pollen!

- ah, algae. Thanks for the link @wcgirl, sounds nasty - I knew living near the seaside had to have its downside. You guys watch yourselves with all that planned water activity - getting into the cossies will be fun enough, ha. Our town pool is closed for the winter (unheated) so I don't have to worry about that one!