Post Recovery Moments, Day 0 The real story.

Monday December 17th

They wheeled me out of surgery in my bed. The bed could be admired as a four poster bed with very elaborate cross bars and with circus accessories. I was on my back and between my legs was a large pink "adductor" splint. Translation, a huge hunk of pink foam that keeps my legs apart lest I awake and feel the need to pop out of bed and begin to resume my life as a Rockett. I was also attached to a machine that pumped air around my calves. It tightened every few minutes. While sleeping had no need to worry that blood was pooling and forming evil blood clots. I was also bundled up in lovely white stockings. (Latex free)

You are poked and prodded a bit and then allowed to sleep. They want to make sure you are still alive and well and breathing and the usual.

Then the indoctrination about the "RULE OF 90" begins. No putting your hip in a 90 degree angle for 90 days. 90 days. 90 days of no sitting in normal chairs, on couches, cars buses, beaches. No bending down to pick up anything from the floor. No........ NO BENDING 90 DEGREES.........................

M-E choose to stay on Monday. I came in and out trying to connect with the out side world. I was just amazed at how little pain I was in. No pain. No source of pain.

Around 7:00 p.m. an ittie bitty perky person came in. She bounced and smiled and exuded enthusiasm.

"How are you Doing?"
Lets see, they took me to a cold and green tiled room full of power tools, disjointed my hip ripped apart the joint and all the good things that held it together, cut the top of the femur off and jammed a flag pole down into the bone marrow. Then they reamed out the old socket and stuck a new one back. Put it all together, sewed me up and sent me on my merry way and have imposed the RULE OF 90. I seem to be doing fine.

How is your pain? I have no pain. I just punch this button when it hurts and then I drift off like a junkie in an opium den. No problem, let me try and focus on what your are asking. It doesn't seem too be a problem......

Can you look at the smilie face chart and let me know which face most explains your level of pain? Oh goody a chart, it is rainbow, blue to green to sunny yellow to orange to angry very unhappy red. Oh, I am not to wonder what color to paint my room, I am to look at the happy to unhappy faces and figure out which one best represents me at this moment in time, oh, I think I will visit my little button friend.... Okay, concentrate. Okay, which one is me...... I think that is me......

Okay, now do you know you can help relieve that with just a little push of a button? Oh trust me, I have it down pat. See if I press the button and hear the beep, I go to sleepy land and cannot answer your questions. I am well acquainted, oh, I didn't realize that big brother was gathering the data and deciding what my "acceptable Pain Management method" should be.



Now, let's go for a walk. Now remember your your PTHP's (Posterior Total Hip Precautions) Let me read them to you..... Hit the button, oh, yes, there is the sleepy medicine........



So first off with the covers. Reveal of the firsts layer. Second layer two puffy wraps that keep inflating that are attached to what looks like an astronauts back pack. They are unpeeled, held together with Velcro. Then the Adductor splint is removed from between my legs. I see my calves encased in white tubes they are the nightmare stockings from hell. TEDS.



So... let's get up. Okay, let's..... Grabbing button. Okay.



Little Ms. Perky very carefully and gently put her strong cheerful hands under "involved" leg and I moved my other leg. One worked and the other did not. Little by little, I was able to sit on the side of the bed. NO PAIN IN THE HIP........ NONE, IT IS GONE....

The walker and I were introduced and before I had a chance to process the activity, I was standing. NO PAIN......... I then was able to take a step and then another and before I knew it, I had walked 25 feet. Less then 12 hours after my leg was pulled apart and put back together I was walking.

Back to bed, another bit of hit from my friend and then we were off and running(figuratively) on the old exercises.

Not bad for a day of major surgery. Day 0

The Deed is Done......

Monday December 17th

So. I have been offline a bit but now the time has come to report a few of the many adventures of someone been on the care giving side of the world and now on the receiving end....



Lets start from the beginning. I may just ramble for a while to get some things down and then go back and do some filling in and then some editing. I first must say that it is an art and a science and well oiled production line. It has been well thought out and honed to perfection. It very much remains an experience and an adventure.



So this is how it starts.



4:15 a.m. Alarm goes off. Yes, it is possible to sleep the night before someone is taking power tools to your body. I remembered not to drink more than a couple of sips of water to take some "USUAL" pills. I did relish what I thought might be my last long and hot vertical shower. I just stood there and thought "no going back". It was a go....



5:00 a.m. Dad and I drove to the hospital. I drove the Victoria Clipper and did not for a moment think about going to Denny's for breakfast. We walked into the hospital and I went to the CHECK-IN. I was given a green card and went to the next station. Now you would think that would have noticed all the other people with similar cards that were patiently waiting for the person sitting at the to be OPEN, how could 30 people be waiting. It was surgery time.



I walked up, ignored the "STATION CLOSED CALL....." and registered. I then sat and waited for the next part of the process. I looked up and there was a line. 40 people long that formed. OPPS I guess they were all their earlier than I and were the sort that honored the STATION CLOSED CALL...... sign.



So we were escorted to the next weigh-station. I think that major surgery is sort of like the military. They want to strip you of your dignity bit by bit. Yes, I do hope to weight the same in pounds next year. Off the the "chair" lovely Naugahyde, a sort of recliner thing. If you were wondering why the blue Naugahyde was gone from all your local fabric stores, now you know, it has been sucked into the world of "hospital" furnishings. More invasive questions, and then the changing into the gown. Now, why doesn't Heidi Klum and her gang have a show that designed new hospital fashion? Just a thought.....

Into the wheel chair and into the staging stretcher. My last act of self propulsion that does not include being completely conscious of how I am moving and the angles of my leg and where it is and how it is moving and who is moving what and where.....

The 12 year old anesthesiologist came in and listened to my heart and asked how long I had a heart murmur? I had no real answer to the question which made my dad developed a heart murmur. In went the IV, and then I headed to the surgery suite.

Observations.... big bulky beds, limited staffs, no automatic doors... Go figure. We finally entered the room. Remember that awful green tile that you see in "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest"? Well the tile is now at Swedish Hospital. I transfered to the table and was asked to turn toward the wall while a needle was inserted into my spine, I saw the table of "tools" There were large boses of joint reamers, spikes that looked like they could take down a dozen of vampires and boxes of other spikie things. Because everyone is being tasteful, no saws were in site.

A bit of medicine went into my spine, I layed down and that was it.

The next thing I knew was that I was leaving green tile world and headed back to recovery. I asked why 3.5 hours had passed instead of two. Evidently I had waited so long that it was hard to tell how the joint should have been. It was not the same as the other hip so it took a bit.

I was introduced to my "Personal Pain Management" system and left to wake up and explore the world of post surgical pain management. Back into my room by noon and then for some sleep. It is not a groggy sort of day but just pure sleep. No pain. Not because of "my friend" but because the pain was gone. Some slight incision burning but then that was not even very bothersome. The pain is gone. Gone, really really really gone.

Count Down

In less than 48 hours, I will be done with this process. On the other side of the surgery. I am so aware of the fact that I have waited way way too long. I probably have created more problems for myself that will need to dealt with in 48 hours. My muscles around the defective joint are very tight and will need to be retrained. I have lost lots of strength in the leg and put lots of pressure on remaining joints. They will soon be getting a rest and I will be back on all twos and happy to be there. I will be spending lots of time in a pool and doing lots of PT (Physical Torture) and lots and lots of walking.

Bloomsday is the goal for this year. I will at least start and hope that I don't get hauled in with the cart of shame. I am making hotel reservations after I hit publish.

Mom and Dad arrive in a couple of hours and the house is a mess, the tree is not up. The Georg Jensen's are still in the basement. It is awful but then it is what it is.

More later.

Closer, and yet .....

Blood red. That is the color of today. I went on the 19th to donate for the first time. It was not too bad. Not a good idea in the early A.M. I did not have a TV they said they were reserved for Platelets Guys. I knew right away what "they" were donating. I could see the bag hanging. I thanked each and everyone of them for their donations. Platelets are so important to kids that are sick and they have the shortest shelf life - I want to say less than 7 days in the body.

Any way we are still tearing down from Thanksgiving. It was beautiful. Nice china is worth the work. Bit by bit the table is coming together. It is sort of fun.

All I could think about was the fact I would be able to lift the turkey next year. I grabbed it by the handles and it feel like a 26.6 lb turkey. Boom. It offered me the opportunity to teach M-E about stuffing theory and practice.

It turned out great. I was able to reach the turkey roaster. I had refused to buy another or to even consider it. Grandma's large, square blue enamel roaster is the best. The very best. I have posted the two pictures. What can I say. We had 13 folks and the kids had a good time and the adults had good wine and food and M-E had a good time. There was little or no end confusion. The potatoes were not done at the same time but arrived while the gravy was hot. The salad had lettuce and the cream did not go to butter. What more can you ask.

Three weeks left. Some thing to do each week. Nothing to do until the surgery. Time keep ticking.... That is good. I am so ready.

Who Moved Thanksgiving to next Thursday

Oh, it was FDR. I guess I should have realized that the Christmas tree lots were being set up. That should have been the clue.

So the list is made for the food. Not to be purchased until Sunday. I must resist the urge to cook brussel sprouts. Most people just hate them. What can I say. I think they are a staple but then I am not the most normal person in the world.

I am having the moment of panic. Furniture needs to be re-arranged. There is lots of dish finding that needs to happen. The basement was torn up last week and I need to get some carpets down on the floor so the kids will have a place to play...... Panic, Panic, Panic.

The other really really bad thing is I can not remember where I saw purple mershino cherries for the ever famous Jello salad. Oh, well... maybe next year.

15th Anniversery of my 39th Birthday

Oops, I am a year older and still not any wiser. Maybe next year.

All the days seems to sneaking up on me. I guess we are having Thanksgiving for 16 next week. Oh, I hope I can find a couple of tables between now and then. I do know where the lace table cloths are so Grandma Foster would be proud.

Note to self. The Juncos want to be fed....
Mercury and or Mars is now retrograde.
We are still a year away from the elections

Okay so what has been accomplished since the 14th anniversary of my 39th birthday.

End of Treatment party.
New windows.
A couple a few quilts finished.
A quick visit to Boise to see some family.
Reconnected with some old friends.
Scheduled Hip Replacement surgery.
Cleaned some of the stuff out of the basement.
Helped a few clients.
Worked on returning to life as we knew it.
Learned that was not possible.
Rebuilding a new life.

Pain makes me loose my sense of

Distance, time, perspective. I just get grumpy. I did a bunch of walking yesterday out of necessity and could not walk in the afternoon. I was not sure if I could get to my car. It is so frustrating. The cane seems to have a mind of its own and refuses to stay put. I wander away from it and it does not come when called. You have no idea how many times a day it rattles to the floor. Thwap....

Someone wished me luck and told me to enjoy my mobility. What mobility? I ask. As I have mentioned before.my world is closing in.....

As I look back, I wonder why I didn't do this earlier and then things happen at work and I feel like I cannot do it now. I have clients and projects and things to get done. I have to do..... but then when will the time be right. This will be the best time. I will just cut myself off from the rest of the world and chant healing thoughts.

This is sort of like child birth. When you first realize that you are pregnant you can not imagine every giving birth. By the time you are within a month you are so ready to have the child enter the world and leave your body..... I getting very ready to have this done.
I have a great surgeon, even though Holy Names Soccer eliminated Lakeside in the State Tournament. He is funny and practical. He was very down to earth and much like my father in his approach. I do wonder though about a surgeon that uses power tools and augers and other such things during surgery.

Bad Dreams

They all started out with being sort of normal until I discovered that both of the downstairs toilets were plugged and no one wanted to take the Kangaroo that was in the bathroom with the toilet with the marbleized green toilet seat for a walk.

Belle refused to come and be here for the surgery. Even though I had not asked her and there was still water in the bathroom with the tub, and the cool glass blocks.

So...... no more butterscotch sundays from Dicks past 7:00 p.m.

Icky rain and wind today. I have, of course, asked for two workman to come and clean out the beds and spread some leaves and....... We will switch plans. Old carpet from downstairs is coming up, my bed is going to rotated and the frame removed until after I recover, so I can get in better. The basement room is going to be emptied so it can be fixed.

I have to figure out what to do about a a Durable Power of Attorney and re-do my medical power of attorney. I have a will but I guess I better do the other two things. One never knows.

Mary-Elizabeth is going to walk the Kangaroo whether she likes it or not.

Veteran of Pain.

I have waited to0 long. I guess I should have known better but then it is hard to determine how much worse something is going to feel. I may have to resort to taking some of the drugs that are around the house. It just hurts. It hurts all the time and sometimes I just loose my sense of humor. I feel like I should be doing more to get ready for all the down time abut then I JUST don't feel like it. So in good Lanham form, I feel a need to push myself and feel guilty if "I do nothing". Everyone else has it worse......

I guess for today, I am going to consider myself a veteran of pain and just rest. I will finish my book. That would be accomplishing of something. Maybe I will call Jackie and we can work on some other projects. I have two guys coming tomorrow to work on yard and furniture moving stuff. I will write Alexis a letter and ....... I will find somethings to do.

I have the urge to always be productive. Rest is productive......

I have been talking to some people about what to expect and what they wish they had done before the surgery. No miricle answers.

Less Than 2 months before the trip to the Body Shop

Sally, you have an appointment on the 11th of December at 10:30 a.m. Then you will be going to the Hospital for the Hip Replacement Class. You should plan to also make sure you call Puget Sound Blood Center and make arrangements to donate 3 pints of your own blood.

Then..........
Oh,,, this is real. It was not good to sit too close to a skeleton while M-E was doing her physical therapy. I sat there and looked a the big hunk of ligament that keeps our hip in place. It doesn't take a brain surgeon or any kind of surgeon to know that the ligament is going to be suffering a fair amount of disruption. Oh, well. We are past the point of no return.

Checking in at 5:30 a.m. on the 17th of December, come rain, shine or snow or.........

Home front, doing well. The Aunts are not. More family members are facing some challenges. Aunt Mary (Logan's Wife) has something called oat cell carcinoma. She begins chemo on Wednesday. I am not getting rave reviews about that one. Aunt Margaret, (Bill's wife) is finding that 10 years of battling ovarian cancer may be coming to an end.

Never a shortage of need for more candle lighting. It is just not a fun process.

All in all, mine will be a piece of cake.

Say an extra prayer for Mary and Margaret. As I recall, God was pretty fond of both those names.

Trips to the Body Shop

M-E acquired a 1988 Crown Victoria LTD with 100,00 miles and a few dents. It has some parts missing and a few items not exactly in working order. I have named her the Victoria Clipper. She is truly a land yacht. An SUV or mini-Van wants to take her on, they are going to be reduced to bits of plastic and scattered fiber glass.

We are working on obtaining one part. A front seat frame. Thus far, no real luck. Lots of calls. searches on the Internet, calls from "Auto-Recycling Centers". I will not give up. I will find that new seat, one that no longer resides in parts department. Once it is found the car must go in for a Seat Replacement. Hopefully it will come off without a hitch but there could be some complications. Some problems with the other related mechanisms. It is necessary to prepare for the worst, but hope for the best.

I too am going to the body shop for a new part. About two and half months. I do get a new part. I hope the upcoming seat replacement is a good omen for the old hip. I can not wait.

Update

Been on a cruise.
Lost weight., go figure.
Tucker has learned to go downstairs in the basement.
The tomatos need to be picked.
Winter is coming.
I have been forced to turn on the heat.
Mary-Elizabeth does not have Mono but lots of her friends do.
I am thinking it is time to order a turkey.


Translation: Things are Good. Life is Normal.