Posted 12/25/2012 12:47 PM (GMT 0)
Hi all
Just wanted to wish all my friends here a Merry Christmas. Hope you all have a great day and are rewarded with a pain free day (or as pain free as it can be for most of us)!
Also I wanted to give you an overdue update following my recent surgery. I am doing well considering this is surgery number three of the year. This op has been a bit more painful than the last, probably due to the fact that they had to 'undo' the last op before beginning this one. I have two scars, one midline and one off to the side. They look healed, luckily I have no outside stitches. He uses a plastic surgery approach, stitches inside and glued outside. Makes for a really neat scar.
Pain wise, I am doing well also. I am back to the same meds as I was on pre surgery. I struggled a bit when I came out of hospital as I was suffering from opioid toxicity, not nice. Still don't know how that happened as I didn't take one pill that wasn't prescribed for me. So I had to cut back and take as few pain meds as I could to rid myself of the symptoms. Wouldn't want to go through that again! Things are looking good, I am pretty sure this op has been a success. I don't have the same pain as I had before. I guess my main problem is patience.
I am non weight bearing on my right side totally until 22nd January, then I will have to build it up slowly. That is what I am struggling with most as my left knee is arthritic and won't take all my weight so for the most time I am relying on a wheelchair. I keep trying my walker but my knee just gives. My husband keeps telling me just to accept my situation, it's only for another month, but I am impatient. It means I can't get upstairs and shower properly. I hate that!
I am only allowed to sit for short periods, slowly building it up to one hour max. Thursday evening I decided I wanted to watch a Christmas movie so I persuaded the family to take me to the TV room. I was surrounded by pillows and thoroughly enjoyed 'Arthur Christmas' but boy, did I suffer. Following day I couldn't move, was lying flat all day! I guess I have to learn the hard way, that's just the way I am!
With hindsight I am not sure I am glad that I had the op at this time of year. Sounded good, I would be able to recuperate with my family around me. My husband is off work through until January 7th. On the plus there is plenty going on to keep me occupied, on the negative I feel so left out of everything, it just hasn't felt like Christmas. However what's done is done, I am just looking forward to a year not dominated by surgery. And a holiday......during my down moments that's what I dream of. Maybe a cruise or maybe just blue sea, sky and a sandy beach somewhere in the Carribbean. A girls got to dream!!!
Sorry my short update has turned in to War and Peace!! All that remains is to wish my HW family a Merry Christmas followed by a Happy New Year.
Wherever you are, enjoy the festive season.
Best wishes from Scotland
Jane