Well here I am, new hip and all and before I embark on this ramble, I would like to say thank you to everyone for your good wishes and messages and emails. I know some of you follow me on Facebook and Twitter and every little thing helps, it really does.
It is now two weeks since the operation and can I make it quite clear now that though it was cheering to hear the following from various friends and neighbours:
- Oh my mum had her hip replaced at 90 and is skipping around like a spring lamb
- Oh my friend had this done and said it changed her life, you will not regret it
- Fantastic news - we will soon have you runing marathons
I have no desire to skip around like a spring lamb; I don’t really want to change my life, I am happy with it, I merely want it to be pain free and finally, I never ran a bloody marathon before, never wanted to, never did and I have no intention of starting now.
Yes I know I sound curmudgeonly. Tough.
So today is Saturday, though the days have lost any meaning to me over the last couple of weeks. Life is beginning to seem tolerable and thing are getting better. The Oaks Hospital in Colchester was excellent and the staff wonderful and systems and care admirable, though the amount I was paying I would expect nothing less, and though my bank account has been emptied out I am extremely grateful for the care I received and am still receiving.
I opted in the end for a total anaesthetic – friends of mine had opted for an epidural and sedation but they were the kind of folk who liked to hear what was going on. I have no desire to hear the sawing and hammering that this kind of bone operation entails which guided me to this decision. One moment I closed my eyes, the next I was aware I was lying in a bed in a recovery ward with a few other patients, nurses and in the background I could hear Abba playing for some strange reason. I concentrated on this like mad and identified the number as “Gimme gimme a man after midnight”, which I thought was singularly inappropriate under the circumstances. After a bit of a chat with the nurses I was wheeled back to my room where my daughter was waiting for me. I was as bright as a button and chatty and feeling great which I think took her slightly aback but I took advantage of this as I knew full well that I was on an adrenaline high and it would not last.
Well it didn’t and the night was horrid and painful and I draw a veil over it all.
Next day, the bright and shiny and smiley physio team appeared beaming at my bed side “time to get up and get you on your feet”. I am pleased to say that my immediate reaction I kept to myself. (Note: reminded me forcibly of the time a young nurse told me, when eight months pregnant, to “hop up on the bed”….)
It did get better as the next two days wore on and I found I could stagger to the loo with the crutches and begin to manage. There was one night when I could not sleep for this grinding noise and the sound of running water and I buzzed one of the lovely night staff to investigate. Seems the top up seat which rested on the loo, which was movable, had caught the side of the bottom seat and, as it was an automatic flush, thought somebody was sitting on it and flushed and flushed over and over. Took me three hours to work this out.
I have now been home for some ten days and I am constantly muttering to myself be patient Elaine, don’t push it, you will get there but it is difficult to do so.
The first night was horrendous, I am not ashamed to say that I sat up in bed weeping with the pain and talking myself through it. I thought if I can get through to the morning it will be better and it was. My mantra now is see what it is like in the morning and then carry on. I am sorry if this sounds like a whinge, I am well aware there are others in hospital in pain and suffering, who are far worse off than me, but one’s world tends to narrow in at times like this and one can become self centered and selfish.
And, in the end, it is teaching me patience, not one of my strongest virtues. Before I sat down to write this I went through to the kitchen to make tea. I have a walker which I am using when transporting food etc as I am on my own and this is a great help, and while I was waiting for the kettle to boil I stood there and realised for the first time in years, my back was not aching, I was not in pain, I could stand upright and I felt a flood of thankfulness. The pain that I now have is the pain from the wound where the surgeon had to slice through the muscles and that will heal in time and if I continue with my exercises, which I am doing, will finally go. (I have checked the scar and it is a work of art. Mind you my backside is black and blue).
I am reading randomly and an odd mixture at the moment as my mind seems fuzzy and I cannot seem to concentrate for very long. I think this is the effect of the anaesthetic and will disappear, in fact it is getting less each day. So lots of thrillers, cozy crime, romance and just enjoyable stuff. It is all very relaxing.
A few random notes to end with:
Crutches – no matter how well you prop them up, no matter how sternly you tell them STAY, they will always, always crash to the ground as soon as your back is turned.
Rich Tea biscuits – a lifesaver. Nibble on in the night when hungry and nauseous and they settle the tummy in no time. Digestives also do the trick.
Leads and chargers – a friend of mine gave me invaluable advice “Elaine take in the longest leads and charger that you have”. I have a plug with two USB ports in it and that came with me as well as the leads and boy, was I glad I took this advice. My bed was some way away from the electric and it would have been difficult to keep recharging. As it was these two leads were tucked under my pillow and my ipad and iphone were permanently attached. One night, which was not a good one, I was messaging my daughter in Australia and this cheered me up no end.
I will be back again soon. My daughter arrived from Australia today so she will be with me next week which is something to really look forward to.
Again, everyone, my thanks and though I will not be running a marathon any time in the future, the walking is coming along a treat.
