Back home again

Well after two weeks post op I am back home. I'm walking with one crutch only and have already visited the chooks and vegie garden.

This morning was a lot of waiting around for discharge details to be finalised. The most painful part of the whole two weeks was having my dressing removed. Ooooh! Ouch! The nurse even took a photo of the wound so I could see it.  It is certainly not key-hole surgery, the cut is at least 6" long. Once the dressing was replaced I was right to go. I am not on any meds except one aspirin a day to prevent blood clots.

Geoff collected me and at home I had Jen and the girls waiting to welcome me. Kate was also there and will be staying until Monday.

This afternoon I am a little shaky but I did have a nanna nap and my bed is oh so comfortable. I can actually sit in my own lounge chair which is great.

The rules I have come home with are
1. Do not bend my operated hip to less than 90 degrees
2. If pain occurs with any exercise then stop
3. Do my exercises regularly but priority one is to walk
4. Always walk without limping.
5. Do not twist my body.

Hopefully I can cope with all this and return to rehab soon on the day program.

I'm happy for visitors any time but bring your own food and be prepared for odd jobs. Just let me know you are coming.

Thanks to you all for your thoughts and prayers, your emails and visits.

My last day at the gym today

Yesterday was a very positive day at the gym. Cheryl and I were commenting last night that after a day of activity interspersed with rest we are both able to do just a little bit more. Then after a very unrest full sleep we can still move a little better. It is really quite amazing to see the improvements in tiny increments.

I did more typing yesterday and had a long visit from Kate who has temporarily returned to Sydney. It was great to hear all about her adventures through the centre and at Chris and Michael's.

Today I expect to receive an exercise sheet for home but Fin says the most important thing is to walk, and do it without limping. If that means pain killers and/or walking aids then so be it.

Another thing that might happen today is have my dressing removed and perhaps replaced. All will be revealed I guess.

Waiting waiting

Now it is just a matter of waiting for Saturday and my return home. Of course there are my two gym sessions each day to strengthen my muscles and teach them to work the way they should and not the way they have been doing for the last eight years.

I fill my time reading my ebooks on my phone, doing some typing I brought from home and learning my way around my new laptop. I discovered yesterday that it has a touch screen!

Luckily my room mate (Cheryl) and I get on well. There are very few single rooms in this ward. There are certainly some people here I am glad I don't have to share with. It is difficult even sharing a ward with them.

So on now to my next day of fun.

Decisions made at last

Yesterday arrangements were put into motion to discharge me on Saturday. Geoff will collect me and Kate will be at home when we get there.

Thanks to everyone who offered alternative arrangements.

It looks as though St George Community Transport does come as far as Kareena so day rehab should work after discharge.

Every day I get a bit more movement and I don't have any pain killers overnight. In fact I don't have what I would call pain, just aches and tightness.

Gym is good and I am left to my own devices most of the time with half an eye on me from Fin.

All good in fact.

Transport issues

It looks as though the issues with community transport can be solved for getting back to Kareena for day rehab. Other issues about needs at home may also not be necessary. What a relief. The OT came to visit my neighbour and actually answered many of my questions.

Where to next

A good day yesterday with a long visit from Geoff, Jen and the girls who were quite excited about their visit to Ma in hospital. We sat out in the courtyard for a while and it was nice to see the Sun and feel it's healing powers on my skin. Heather liked to help Ma walk. Holding my hand she would walk slowly along saying "gently, gently" as we walked.

Ivy and I had some fun in the courtyard singin about elephants balancing and looking at all the leaves that were not green.

Two sessions of gym where I have started putting body weight on my operated leg. The nurses are very pleased with the wound and are amazed at how little the bruising is. They are also quite amazed that I have no previous medical records.

Linda came with the twins and Ellen came after dinner.

There is a chance that I'll be able to transfer to St George private for day rehab which suits me a lot better.

In all I am quite positive at the moment.

Awake for the morning meds

Two sessions at the gym yesterday informed me that I was not supposed to be doing the two movements that I found impossible the day before. Hooray.

For the next few days my biggest job will be to work out the details about getting home, managing at home and managing return trips to and from the rehab centre three times each week, all without being able to drive. If anyone knows anyone who does the drive Carlton to Miranda regularly please let me know. Apparently community transport stops either side of the George's River but I will also look into that on Monday.

Meanwhile life goes on doing more and more for myself and trying to improve my independence before I return home.

Ellen visited yesterday and took home washing for me. Anne came just after Ellen had left.

Thanks to everyone who has visited and helped out in various ways.

Getting used to the new room

My room mate is lovely, a few days behind me in rehab.

However it is really hot down here, I should have brought t-shirts. I must ring someone to bring some.

I hit the wall yesterday at the gym and discovered two movements I can't do. One is a straight leg raise while lying on the bed, the other is clams with my op leg. That leaves me a bit to concentrate on over the weekend.

Food is great and I'm eating more an more.

I have moved

I am now down on the ground level quite near the rehab gym.

After breakfast I went down to a gym session. That went well as usual and I was teamed up with Sandy again. We make a good team.

After the long walk back to my room I found my stuff all on a trolley and I had to walk all the way back down to my new room.

I have now sorted and unpacked all my things and even have stuff packed that can go home already.

The new room is a shared room and I have a new neighbour to meet.

Walking walking

Yesterday I walked down to the gym and back both times and each trip is about one and a half times the length of the hospital. At the gym there are one legged exercises. All these are relatively familiar to my muscles but leave me feeling a bit like jelly. Lots of horizontal resting between my gym trips and a few walks around the wards. They say that today I'll be moving down to the rehab ward. Last night was the first time the rehab boss did not try to bully me into going home.

The food has been great since those first few days so I guess it was just my taste buds early on. I'll now be a bit more adventurous in my choices.

Linda called yesterday and after quite a long chat she has taken my washing home.

I've woken to another day of tapdancing and perhaps a move interspersed with rest opportunities.

Thanks for all the texts, emails, calls and prayers.