Friday, December 12, 2008

CHAPTER SEVEN
Let me just end it because I have another meme to write!

I had surgery on Tuesday. Wednesday I was washing, brushing and going potty in the bathroom in the hospital room, with the support of a walker. Occasionally I would sit in a chair across the room from the bed, maybe six steps. Thursday the therapists came, en mass, to teach me how to put on my clothes and walk up and down stairs. It was a long walk down the long hall to the area where the wooden stairs and other PT equipment was set up. I tried to crack some jokes, but, was unsuccessful. My devoted husband, who faithfully attended me once I was out of my delirium, was the only one to laugh.

That afternoon a handsome young doctor came by to say that Dr. P was out of town and that I could go home the next day because I was doing so well. Wooowhoo!!!

Friday my husband arrived around 8am. The nurse gave him gauze pads, tape and instructions for changing my dressing (The incision is high on the side of my thigh so it would take some of those contortions I talked about in the last chapter for me to even see it) prescriptions, as well as instructions for giving me shots everyday to prevent blood clots. It had to be done every morning for 24 days and was what I liked least about the whole process (I could do it myself, but, my loving husband usually spared me the task). A wheel chair was brought to the room for me, I wished my room mate good luck, then I was wheeled to the parking garage. My husband brought the car to the door. Getting into the car was not easy. I slept most of the 40 minute drive home. Getting out of the car was easier. The two steps up to our front door was a breeze.

To make a long story, that is starting to bore me, short, I will summerize quickly.My husband took excellent care of me. With hard work and determination it became less uncomfortable and arduous to get around. In record time, I graduated to a cane and the riser came off the toilet. Dr. P sent me back to physical therapy where H put me through the paces on the machines and doing exercises. I was walking on my own without a waddle before the allotted visits were up. I cried at my last visit. H said I could come back anytime to use the stationery bike, but, I haven't.

I now know that it is necessary for me to keep up the exercises. When I don't exercise. I feel discomfort in my affected hip and occasssionally I also have pain in the small of my back and the other hip, which scares me (I would prefer not to repeat this experience with the other hip). It is propably my muscles compensating for the new metal occupant that has moved in to replace my poor baby hip. Dr. P has said the ache in my hip would go away in about six months. I wonder what they did with the bone that they cut off my hip?

8 comments:

  1. Did I tell you about the old lady I knew, who asked for her hip bone back? She was very persistent, so she was given it. She cooked it for her dog and was not pleased when he wouldn't touch it.

    Thank you very much for the story, which was fascinating. I'm glad you've made such a good recovery.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a great story. You have such a positive attitude. It all happend and now it is done. No complaining. I am glad you are recovering nicely and I hope that you will never ever have to have surgery of any kind ever again.

    Keep up with the writing, what a treat this has been.

    ReplyDelete
  3. z-It's comforting to hear about the loyalty of that woman's dog. Thanks for listening to my story. I'm glad you liked it. Just wait til you read about the S words I like. It was difficult at first and then they just came spewing out. "Spewing" is a good one too:]

    marsha-I will have to have at least one more surgery to fix a couple of incision hernias from twenty years ago when I had my gallbladder removed. That surgery is supposed to be "no big deal" though. It fills me with warm fuzzies to know you enjoyed my writing.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I'm glad it went well, and i hope i never have to do this, but i suspect i will.

    ReplyDelete
  5. meno-I think you may dodge this bullet because you haven't been overweight for most of your life, as I have, and because you do a lot of hiking.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I hope the ache becomes nothing but a memory. Thanks for the story.

    ReplyDelete
  7. You poor lady. I am happy for you that it is over. and in time for Christmas dancing! lol

    :)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm new to your blog (from Marshamlow's) so I was reading back a few posts. I cringed when I read this one because I had back surgery just a a week after you had your hip surgery. I hope you have continued to do as well as you did after the surgery. :)

    ReplyDelete

A pony for your thoughts.