Now I Know Nickel Allergy to my BHRs - On The Path To Healing

[Two4One]

8pm Pain 3-4
****I NAPPED****for the first time since December 20th!!!
10pm Pain 4
11:15 Pain 2

This is incredible.  Blessings are flowing, indeed!  I had to put on my goals today to under do, because my nature is to work hard, and then work some more, but it paid off to slack off just one day. 

Before resurfacing, my night pain was like fires of the damned all contained in a pancake sized circle of hell located in the center of my sheared off, bone on bone, hips.  I was beyond medication so much of my 2 year undiagnosed time; all these doctors I saw in person said it was basically in my head, while at the same time the super star hip doctors on the coasts were telling me the real deal just from my dozens of 'normal' X Rays, Cat Scans, & MRI contrast films! - I was end stage OA in a blind spot on all of them.

I had to fight so hard to get where I am now.  Lucky for me I'm quite the warrior by nature, nurture, and plain ol' temperament.  NOW, I get to lay my burden down, and somehow put aside the deep, burning anger at the way I was dismissed, over and over by a bunch of patriarchal jacked up fools with a M Freakin D.  New challenges, New Year, New life.

I've always been a Lucky Girl and the Universe (Lord) is smiling on me once more.

[Two4One]

12 Midnight New Year's Eve: All the fireworks are going off, and I sat at the edge of my bed smiling!  I'm still smiling as I'm lying here in my Recovery Pod, grateful for my wonderful life and another chance to move through the world and another chance to swim, swim like an otter - playing & splashing because I can.  Thank you, God.

[hernanu]

All good, 2for1, happy new year indeed. Great to hear.

[Two4One]

Thank you, hernanu.  Is your name from 'Mork & Mindy?'

I walked up and down the stairs unassisted for the very first time post op, 14 step up and 14 steps down!  Hubs spotted.  I did rely heavily on the rails. I didn't break post op protocol too badly; I just didn't feel like using the walker to hold on to, and I most especially did not want to walk up the stairs backward.  Schmitt did the anterior approach, so again I'm thinking no harm no foul.

I also showered on my own! Hubs was nearby.  I hope I don't pay for my surge with latent pain this evening!  What a great way to start the New Year!

[Luanna]

My first shower on my own felt soooooooo good. Great way to celebrate the first day of this new year. Congratulations on the stairs.

Luanna

[Two4One]

1.2.12 Monday

6am 8mg Pain 6
6:15 to 7:25am  Chair Time, starting Pain 7, 6:45 Pain 7, ending Pain 5

7:25 am - I literally marched with my walker, the front wheels only skimming the floor, not stopping and not resting, defiantly humming a martial tune -  Four laps around our ground floor before depositing myself with a flourish in the Recovery Pod to finish my last bites of grapefruit.  I'm a regular 'Pied Piper for Bichons', Hubs said, as my little Boo jumped up into bed after me for a little Mommy & Me time.

7:40 Pain 5 - 6
8:30 Pain 3

I got out of bed @ 6am and on the deeply wrong side of the bed this morning.  Here's what happened:  Last night after following asleep naturally at 10:45pm, the phone rings and wakes up the house - dog, Hubs, and me!  After that I couldn't fall asleep again, because my beautiful, shiny, new hips wouldn't let me.  I'm a tad grumpy at the idiot who'd call a recovering bilateral hip patient in the middle of the night.  (My Dad) 

I couldn't find the phone because Hubs left it lying in his chair across the tundra of our living room, and I was upset & disoriented.  I had to shout up the stairs and wake the b'ar out of hibernation to come and find my phone.  (It has a walkie talkie ring tone that we're supposed to use for those middle of the night emergencies like food, bathroom breaks, refills of water in your adult sized freakin' sippy cup, etc.) 

Grumpus Adultus found the damn phone and his parting grouse when he clumped back up to his painless, take it for freakin' granted, night of slumber was "Don't wake me up again.  I need to get some sleep!"  Like I don't know that.  What seemed like seconds later, the sound of his snoring that makes dogs bark up and down our street rumbled through the house.

Around 1 am, still not able to fall back asleep, I'm hungry, thirsty, achy, and need to urinate.  I don't have but a swallow of water left, but I'm trying to be so quiet because I don't want to ruin HIS sleep, so I choose not to run the water and rummage through our cabinets. 

My hunger for something, anything, did, however, have to be satisfied.  I made a snack: blueberries, a drizzle of real maple syrup, crushed pecans, and a dollop of Cool Whip.  (One drop, and I mean ONE drop of syrup got on the kitchen linoleum.)  No biggie.  I got cocky, and carried the bowl in one hand and wheeled my walker back to bed with the other hand. 

Disaster struck as my quilt knocked the blueberries, nuts, and so on, to the carpeted living room floor, with the berries seeming to scatter in different directions with individual berry minds of their own, like they were making a run for their berry freedom. 

No way could I pick up this shite with the grabber!  I couldn't bend at the waist, so I chose to lower myself to my knees, in the dark, holding on to the bed and a nearby ledge, going ever so slowly so I don't hurt anything and screw up.  I was still in control.

From my knees, I picked up every berry, every crumble of pecan, every golf ball sized and shaped clumps of Cool Whip, off that carpet, and put it back in the bowl.  Slowly, I reversed and used my core and glutes to keep my spine aligned per 2 week post op protocol, and using one hand to hold the refilled bowl and the other on my bed, I stood!

I got settled back in bed and ate every last drop of food in my bowl.
that I'd scraped off the dirty carpet.  With any luck, my trusty little Bichon Frise, would come downstairs first in the morning and hoover up the no more than 3 speck of 'evidence' on the floor. I slept and woke at 6am on the dot.

No such luck.  Immediately, Hubs growled at me, "What's THIS?", and then said "I'm spotting my first clue",  and further groused, "?" as he went into the living room and spied a single pecan the dog and I had missed.

"What are you, funking Sherlock Holmes?  Congratu - funking- lations!" I replied.

"How many time have I begged you to stay in bed and just fall asleep?  Why do you insist on making yourself something to eat in the middle of the night?  Why? Why?" says Hubs, all like he's the injured party of an  unspeakable marital crime perpetrated by yours truly.

A few pithy expletives later from me, Hubs "Now, just calm down and quit getting up in the night.  For God's sake, just stay put!" 

An artic zone of silence has descended upon our home.  It's still in effect as I sit here, doing Chair Time, eating my bite sized fresh ruby red grapefruit that he prepared and brought me, drinking my Starbucks French Roasted Coffee with real Land o' Lakes Cream he poured me, and darkly ruminating on what an OGRE Hubs is. ;)

[Two4One]

1.2.12 cont'

One word, TOAST, with real butter and grape jelly & washed down w/skim milk over ice, with that pure taste satisfaction who can stay cranky???  NO ONE, that's who! 8)

8:45 Pain 2 ;D

I'm cozy & warm, basking in the TOAST afterglow.  Hubs is out slogging through two feet of snow with little fluffy white Boo, only his puppy eyes showing like a baby seals' against the drifts. 

Now, Dog's back and on a buzz, running around like a baby Cujo wannabe, jumping up and shaking his wet coat on me!  I'm kicking back listening to the rhythmic sound of Hubs shoveling out the driveway and sidewalk, thinking I'm so lucky he doesn't like to use the neighbor's ear splitting snow blower.  It's a Christmas Card Recovery, and I'm so enjoying getting better.

How's your day going, hippies?  Isn't it cool we are going into the new year with walks, and cleaning, and cooking, and gardening, and swimming, and yoga, and best of all being able to play with the ones we love?

Please bless/vibe/and lift up with best wishes all of us 2nd chancers today, and hold us up in strength, perfect healing, and joy.  Thank you.

Amen

[Two4One]

Dr. Schmitt released me to full weight bearing (with a cane for resting) walking!!!!

[Luanna]

Congratulations! Good news....now as for your hubby!!! :)

I sure hope you are keeping all your posts in a Word document so that you can turn it into a book. It will be educational as well and entertaining.

Keep up the good work and eat all the berries that you want in the middle of the night.

Luanna

[hernanu]

You are the man! (well, the girl, but you know what I mean  :D )... Congrats and welcome to full gravity!

(no, not mork and mindy... although I did like Mindy).

[Woodstock Hippy]

Great news!  Enjoy your new freedom.

[Aerial]

Wonderful news!  Let us know how it goes. 

[Two4One]

Now that I'm on my feet and moving way more than lying in the Recovery Pod, I'll have to carve out time in my daily recovery schedule for lying down for rest!  The tide has turned, and I'm busy on my feet way more than I am sedentary. 

Hubs is back at the workplace half days and then coming home to finish his workday out of our house.  He seems pretty darn happy that I'm preparing my own meals, taking showers, fetching my own ice and heating pads, cleaning up after myself, etc., and generally lifting the onus of being a full time caretaker.

Tomorrow, I'm going outside for a stroll!  I love walking and am working hard on good posture - tucking in the backside and tightening my core.  It's amazing that my walking and posture are vastly improved over my pre op Quasimodo lurching.  My strength and energy are returning every day!

[Two4One]

1.3.11 Tuesday

Turns out my appointment was at 10am Wednesday with my surgeon Dr. Schmitt, so Hubs called me in the morning from work and drove me up Tuesday night where we stayed at the Renaissance Novi Hotel (very nice place with walkin showers, cool reading lights, etc.).  Then, after a nice restorative lunch, we'll made the 2nd leg of the 8 hour round trip home in a rested fashion.

Whew!  I told him at the 6 month check up we could ride our bicycles up to my surgeons. 8)

[Two4One]

Thank you:

Ariel
Woody
hernanu
Luanna!!

Yes, Luanna, I'm considering writing a book.  I appreciate your endorsement, and it means a lot coming from  a gal who consistently brings the funny.  I was super upset last week when I accidentally erased the gritty details of my first week in the hospital from my Recovery Journal , but I can flesh that out from all my posts here on Surface Hippy.  Thank God.

I really like your posts too, Ariel.  When I'm doing Mountain Pose, I think of you!  Once the restrictions are lifted, I'm sure we'll both be approaching our yoga practice with awe and humility.

Woody, you embody freedom, and I'm really enjoying your rediscovering your athleticism.

hernanu, who doesn't love Pam Dawber?  You have a light touch, even when dealing with more serious matters.

Boomer, I like your practical down to earth recovery and your Costa Rican state of mind.

FlbrkMike, MGM, Dan l, mslendzion, and many others, a HUGE Thank You for all your spirited discourse and wonderful advice & support.  Most of all, I am tremendously grateful for our host Pat Walters for her tireless efforts on behalf of all us hippies and for her maintenance of Surface Hippy.

[Luanna]

I enjoy reading good writing. You write well.

You have an almost poetic flow at times and you also create very nice visuals with your words. Keep writing.

Luanna

[Two4One]

1.6.12  Friday

What a fabulous day in Michiana!  Normally, this time of year the environs resemble 'Mordor', with the neighbor's motion activated security light blinding, like the eye of Sauron, out any attempts to sleep. Today though, with an unseasonably sunny high of 52 degrees, was a perfect day to take my first serious trek outside.

PT Harry escorted me on a promenade around a half mile loop through our suburban neighborhood. It felt so unbelievably good.  I couldn't fathom the complete absence of shooting pains and stabbing knives deep in both of my hip sockets as I took step after wondrous step. 

Yes, my quads and hip flexors were singing, but that can be iced, heat padded, and massaged away.  Knowing my body was telling me this distance was a tad much at this stage of my recovery, Harry and I agreed that a tenth of a mile walk daily was more therapeutic in these early days, especially if I didn't want to be laid up for a day at a time from post walk inflammatory pain.

Nonetheless, it was a victory!  I was on my feet today for a total 4 hours plus and can now do everything for myself, and tomorrow I'm even scheduled for a bit of light picking up around the house.  I don't want anyone to pinch me and wake me up from the incredible dream my life has become.

Truly, 'U can't Touch This'!


6:45 to    Chair Time, Made Breakfast, Full Complement,
7:10am   Cleaned up after myself & Vitamin E Oiled my Scar

9:45 to    Chair Time, Snack
10:45      Pain3

11am -    shower, makeup, hair
12:25

12:20     Pain 5
1:00 - 2  PT Harry and WALKED OUTSIDE for 1/2 mile!!!  I need to walk a 10th of a mile per day.

2:49       Ice, Pain 6 Hip Flexors and Quads

7:30       Pain 4,  My legs are like two stiff Popsicle sticks wrapped in yard of bunting, and I had a hard time peg legging both limbs up the stairs.  Tonight will be the 3rd night in a row that I can sleep in my regular bed!

[mslendzion]

Dr. Schmitt released me to full weight bearing (with a cane for resting) walking!!!!

Awesome, I'm so happy for you!  :)  Glad the shooting pains are gone and you're feeling good and out in the open.  Keep it up.

[Two4One]

1.6.12  Friday cont'

Thank you, mslendzion! 

You've been the best, and I'm so excited for you - now that your resurfacing is just around the corner.  Are you scrambling around trying to squeeze in last minute details before your surgery on Monday?   Or, are you kicking  back because you're so prepped there's nothing left to do?

Please tell Dr. Schmitt I said "Hi" on Monday!

It's funny how my 2 week follow up appointment on Wednesday went.  After Dr. Schmitt showed me how my surgery and hip components looked beautifully functional and perfect and was winding down our appointment, Doc asked me how I was liking my new hips.  I sprung up, enveloped him in a big bear hug, and exclaimed "I love you!"  No one was expecting that! I surprised myself with my deep emotional response welling up and exploding outward.  I was just too thrilled at getting my life handed back to me to contain myself.

I know it will be the same for you.

[Two4One]

1.7.12  Saturday

A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can't.  -Jack Dempsey

Why do you knock yourself out? Take it easy.  - David O Selznick


4:40am   Pain 7.6  Both Hip Flexors are spasmed and locked up tight.  Pain yanked me out of deep sleep.  It grabbed me and shook me like a chew toy.  I woke everyone up in the house, hollerin', moaning, and generally carrying on.  Oh yes, I'm paying for prematurely walking a distance my body wasn't yet ready for.

Yesterday's half mile felt so great.  I didn't care that PT Harry kept asking me to turn back.  I didn't care that I was pushing myself beyond my body's level of healing.  I didn't care my new target is walking a tenth of a mile every day.  I knew I'd pay with pain last night and today, and I still didn't care!

Don't do like I do and muscle through the hard fact that 'your ego is writing checks your body can't cash.'

Note to Self:  Universe, (Lord), Please remind me and ask my fellow hippies to help me remember to go with the flow, to not set myself back, and to gently follow the curving road to perfect healing.  I better slow my mustang down.


5:40am     Pain 5 - 6
6:40am     Pain 5