7 Comments
Aloha everyone.
It is an incredible journey. I have assisted with the same surgery I just had ( total hip ) and never really thought much about the patient after the procedure. In the OR safe and Out of the OR safe. Once they are turned over to recovery then job done and off to the next patient and surgery. This being my first real operation on myself, has taught me a lot about the whole process. I still have a long way till the end so just a few notes and what has been happening so far. My surgery was on the 26th and Monday. I was given the ok for home on Wednesday the 28th. A hour long drive from the hospital to home was not to painful. I think the anesthesia was still working. I even got out of the truck a few times to pick up my prescriptions on the way home, using crutches of course. I had to get the toilette raised with handles and a walker for me to learn how to walk again. Wednesday and Thursday were not very complicated but the anesthesia had definatly worn off. Lots of pain and it would seem to come from no where. Mostly like a big tooth ach, if you can imagine the whole right hip as one big bad pissed off tooth. I would change the dressing each morning, very little drainage. Hobble around on the walker back and forth. Everyone was saying rest but my hip was saying get up, get off me, move, etc. And then my knee would scream louder than the hip. I think it just needed attention. Body parts sometimes want you to pay attention to them if you know what I mean. Mind out of the gutter.. No worry, with these pain meds, and this pain, there is no gutter wide enough to get in. So on I go. Friday was a lot of fun. Everything wanted to hurt, my hands from holding the walker, my shoulders, and my knee wanted to hurt the worst. i would take the pain meds and the only relief was to take them on time which put me in a state of in and out of awareness. I would wake up in the middle of an e-mail and be scared that I had written something and hit send. That is crazy a feeling. Like waking up after a bad drunk, in someones home, not knowing their name kind of feeling. I had not even thought about a poop. Yes you have to poop. The medications make your body not hurt as bad but also make your stomach not want to poop. I am a nurse so I know the stomach does not do the pooping but just for general understanding. So stool softners, and fiber. By friday night, I finally had nervana and made the poop. Now my life is complete.I slept a lot better for the first time. Poop does make everything else much happier. Saturday. My days are all filled with firsts so today is the first shower. Doctors orders that no shower till Saturday so here it is. That is scary getting in the tub with crutches, holding on to everything so no slips, one slip could mean back to square one so very cautious. It felt so good. It all was in slow motion, having a partner to be there, help with the up and down stares, drying off the legs, putting on the pants, etc.And then I got to get in the truck and visit my office for the first time in a week. There have been days when I hated my pain so bad-- and sure that it did not like me as well. We are now getting along at least and I am out of the house for a few hours. I will let you know how it goes in the next writing. Thanks for the prayers, good energy and love. David |
Kawika
About to get my new hip. Should I stay or should I go? Archives
November 2011
Categories
All
|