some things lost, some things gained

Tomorrow will be 4 weeks from surgery. I have been forced to take coumadin since the operation and am supposed to take it for 6 weeks ,but as I stopped the last time at 4 weeks, I'm doing that again. I am very active so it seems to me the risk of clots is slim.
the nurse comes once a week to measure the level and in spite of increasing the dose I haven't gotten to a 2 yet ( optimum level) so it seems rather pointless to continue.

I noticed today that when I bend forward from the hips I don't have groin pain, nor do I have it when I stand up from sitting and best of all when lying down and doing straight leg lifts there is no pain. This is something i have not been able to do for about 3 years!

Trying to do some yoga poses is another thing. When I think back to the days of dropping back to a back bend from standing, it seems like another lifetime. On the other hand my progress from day to day amazes me. I can and do walk mostly cane free in the house. I feel fairly upright also something I wasn't able to do for years. I can even stand one legged on the new hip side.

Again I have been enjoying cooking though as usual I overdid it and have a back spasm today.
But I have also truly enjoyed the great food we've been brought, including fresh picked green beans and dahlias

One thing I've lost and don't know why my facebook account has been "disabled". I didn't realize how addicted I was to it till I don't have it. So I don't know what anybody is doing.

3 weeks out

Yesterday was 3 weeks from surgery. I reread my blog to see where I was on the other hip at this time. My PT came today but I was somewhat hindered by a sore foot. She discovered that the arch on that side was slightly fallen leading to pain in that bone that sticks out just above the arch. this also contributes to knee pain. You think that just replacing the hip will cause an end to all problems but the reality is that the body has to adjust from the ground up to the new hip. My legs are at last the same length so that I'm sure will cause it's own adjustments in the body.
This is all a good lesson on interconnectedness not only within the body but in the larger world around me. The surgeon needs the support of the staff in the OR but also of the PT's to carry out the rehabbing. Add to that the support from friends bringing food, Jack doing extra duty in dishes and laundry, my son who came for the weekend. I've had a friend send books to read and have enjoyed having time to read.
I learned again how to get up and down from the floor so tried out supported shoulder stand this afternoon.. I'm happy to say it went well and felt great. The last 2 days I've driven myself to my neighbor's heated pool, temp 85. That was a treat. I've made up all sorts of pool exercises for my hip. I hope the weather stays warm for a while so I can do more pool time.
It feels like I'm on this wonderful staycation- if only sleep would come more easily!

home again

I came home on Friday. checking out of the SnF was fast, smooth and painless. When I left the other SNF I had to wait and wait for the paperwork. I heard that the day before I left a woman who had broken her hip and been in there for a month fell as she was saying goodbye to the PT people and broke her other hip!

It was so quiet at home that in the beginning it was a bit unnerving. I managed to get to the farmer's market on Saturday and even cooked a simple meal of chicken breasts and roasted beets. I think jack was glad to have someone cooking and I was glad to eat my own food. I also managed to get in and out of the shower. there is something so healing about water.

Sunday I took as a day of rest as sleeping is still a big issue. A friend came and we picked blueberries and the next morning she brought warm blueberry muffins. What a treat.

The home health nurse came on Saturday and said I was very healthy and my wound looked fine. Today the PT came and we did a few exercises. Fortunately it is a woman with whom I have been working the last few months at her facility to build strength in my first done leg. She will come 3 times a week for a few weeks and the nurse comes 2 times a week. I cannot complain about Medicare- I feel well supported.

Tonight friends brought shrimp and grits, roasted veggies, salad and apple crisp. I over ate. No sooner had they left than another student called to find out when she could bring food. I feel very loved and well cared for. I'll probably get fat!

One of my friends does flower arranging and my lovely children ordered flowers from her. I will post the picture tomorrow.

Life is good.

computers drive me crazy

I have spent what little free time I have here the last 2 days trying to retrieve my bookmarks. So far I have not been successful in Mozilla but luckily I also have bookmarks in Safari.

Today was again shower day and what a treat! I was a little more used to someone washing me this time and better able to stand during the whole thing.

as soon as I was through I had to go to OT where I prepared a salad. they had bought some lettuce and the OT brought a tomato and cucumber from her garden plus a few baby carrots from her house. So I washed the lettuce, tore it up, cut up cucumber,tomato and carrots added olive oil,braggs vinegar and a little salt and tossed. this is a test to see can I cope at home. all this was done in the PT room which has 8 PT's and the same number of OT's and all the people they are working with at that time. So while I was making my salad someone was making a toasted cheese sandwich, shrimp stirfry and everyone else was being put through their paces by the various PT's. Talk about a circus!

I ate my salad and daily fruit and veggie smoothie sitting in the sun and barely finished before being whisked back to the same room for my PT. I did my various exercises until 3:30 when my friend Susan came to visit. I was escorting her out when Jack arrived.

He stayed a bit then I worked on the computer then my daughter came with a wonderful dinner-parmesan chicken,asparagus,quinoa and Caribbean black beans.

I plan on going home on Friday and since I've passed my tests and the PT's think I'm doing well,I can walk with a cane again.

Just had a nurses aide who turned down my bed, she was from Liberia and has 9 living children.

What a place.

Whew this is a busy place!

As I was eating breakfast this morning someone from the PT dept. came and told me to be ready at 10am for my PT. Shortly after that Laurie who was the wife of the adorable young PT, Dave,who was my PT at the hospital, would come for me at 10:30.
I was told my hair apt. was at 10am too, of course. I decided having my hair washed trumped PT, She did a wonderful job of blow drying my hair and gave a good shampoo so my day was made.
I then went on to PT to meet Laurie. I did 1/2 hours or upper body work- I'll probably not be able to lift my arms tomorrow since I've done none for a week. I was allowed 1/2 for lunch,my smoothie, some almonds, fresh figs and plums eaten sitting in the sun!
Went back to PT and Ralph started my leg PT. Finally at 3:30 I had visitors coming so I quit! I walked up and down steps, 20 minutes on nustep, many bridges, several other leg exercises and then walking down the hall with a cane! I have been using a walker but was surprised to find I did okay with the cane.
Then friends came for a visit of about an hour, sitting out in the sun. Then Jack and my granddaughter Alexi and Marina all showed up. Marina brought a delicious dinner and a little wine and so we sat outside. I ate while we all talked. Now I'm in bed with my leg elevated and an ice pack on as it's very swollen. This happened before so it didn't freak me out. But it sure looks gross.
So never a dull moment- we'll see what tomorrow brings!
I'm planning on going home on Friday- at this rate I'll have to go home to rest! But I'm here for the PT and can't believe how each day I'm stronger and stronger. There are a number of women here who were operated on last week as well- one with hip replacement one with knee replacement, it's the place to be for rehab.

life in a SNF

I came yesterday to a SNF a polite word for "nursing home". They have special wings now for rehabing people who've had surgery and need PT. It's in Charlottesville. The last hip I went to one in Lovingston. That was a lovely rural setting with lots of green around and view of a small mountain. And it was quiet! The advantage here is my daughter is close enough that she can bring me morning coffee, fruit and veggie smoothies, and either lunch or dinner.
They are much more official here. I was greeted by a staffer who itemized everything I brought with me- everything in my suitcase. When we got to all the supplements I brought I persuaded her not to mention them and I would be quiet about them as well. You are not allowed to self medicate, but it irked me before that I listed all my supplements and then the doc prescribes them and the nurse gives them to you. You can bet they are not the same quality as I buy plus a large margin for error so this time I didn't list anything and am doing it all subrosa- I much better way!
I was pleasantly surprised on waking this am to be asked if I would like a shower. Last time I was not allowed a shower until the staples had been removed which happens about 10 days from surgery. Here, if you have staples you get to shower Saturdays and Wednesdays! A lovely woman helped clean me, doing things like feet that I couldn't reach, and my back even my crotch! Anyway the running water and care felt wonderful. Then I put my body lotion on and was evaluated in dressing myself by an OT. I passed thank goodness! So now that she sees I can dress myself I'm told I will learn kitchen prepping, can't wait to see what that will be.
Then I had PT. At this point some bed exercises, some quite painful, walking with the walker, 15 minutes on the nustep. It looks like a recumbent bicycle but the legs bend and straighten. I've been doing that in my post surgery rehab so it was interesting to compare how it feels now. It didn't hurt so much in my left groin as presurgery so that was a plus! Then I practiced walking up and down steps.
they have 2 courtyards here and I spend a lot of time there as my roommate has the tv on most of the day, soaps, contests and cooking shows. It feels so good to be outside and it's quiet!

Thursday 2 dayspost op

this is the life- I'm free of all lines, no i.v. no catheter. It means I can be independent! The staff here is great but seems more limited and too busy since 3 months ago, so being able to do things for yourself is a big plus.
I had a blood transfusion yesterday and that helped me to feel better. My blood pressure stays low after these operations so the ransfusion brings it up. Also this time the epidural didn't work so I ended up with a general and that makes you feel yucky.

I finally took an Ambien last night as I was going crazy with no sleep. I roll around alot and sleep on my sides, here I'm limited to on my back- so my butt gets really tired. Even broken sleep is better than none. During the night there's a lot going on- i. v. bags run out and beep, vital signs get taken several times, chest xray since i'm going to a SNF and I had tb as a child, draw blood. In the day the OT and PT come. The doc checks in once of twice a day, so it is a busy place.
My roommate is about to go home so hopefully I'll be alone in here tonight. She has the window side so I hope I can take the curtain away and see the tree.

I have these pads on my lower legs that pump successively up towards the knee to keep from getting blood clots as well as the Coumadin. Of course when I get up I take them off.

Lunch is here. A make your own hummus sandwich.