Update Time
At my last update I was very much in need of some rest and a plan going forward. Being home again after such a build up and these previous weeks being filled with "everything medical" there were parts of me that were just neglected. When I came home I was still a bit "shell shocked" that it was all over. I was still suffering from the residual effects of the anesthetic and this has taken some time to fade. I really was a bit lost as to "what to do next"
The obvious answer was "to look after my recovery" but what in the heck did that mean??
Physical Recovery
All in all the physical recovery has been steady. I have had a complication which the literature from Mr Ives considers as a "mild Complication" and involves "a slight separation of the skin along an incision site" and which "requires lots of patience" for it to heal. I think this is fairly accurate but I would also add that if this happens then the likelihood is that your recovery will be slowed and not because of the actual separation so much but where it happens. I contacted the specialist nurse Iffy who gave me some advice as to how to improve things and I have followed her advice religiously for the last week. It appears to be improving up until the last couple of days I have not been able to sit in front of my computer to do this update. Things are healing slowly....each day I feel a little better.
Routine, Routine and more dam Routine
I am now 32 days post op and feeling pretty good as I said at the start that when I got back from Melbourne I was all out of sorts. I was full of all sorts of aches and pains caused by the surgery/recovery. I really was at a bit of a loss as to what to do next. I spoke to a very dear friend of mine and she suggested what I needed to do was to establish a daily routine to help with my recovery both physical and Mental. One of the things I needed to balance was my need for activity against my need for rest and treatment for the "mild complication"
So I established a daily routine....I dilate 3 times a day for 20 minutes, I needed to let the the area of "separation" dry out so it could heal. I also cannot spend my entire day "resting" as this is counter productive and will lead to further complications. I also need to incorporate 2 salt baths per day to promote the healing of the surgical site and the separation area.
With all this going on a routine was really important to establish so that everything was covered. It also helped mentally knowing that I was able to cover off each of my new needs as part of this routine.
I have my next consult due at the end of this month in which I have to send Photo's and will receive a call with my next set of instructions for dilation and wound healing.
"So...what's it like?"
Dilation is what it is... very little to no discomfort. In the first few weeks there was some but now only if I push too hard with the dilator. I have very little in the way of phantom pains or sensations but every now and then it really feels weird like the dam thing has grown back LOL On a much happier note I did experience my first really nice dream which confirmed something was working down there and I do have some sensation I think but I have to say I haven't exactly been doing much in the way of exploration everything still needs time to heal. I suspect it will be awhile before the swelling, stiches and separation issues have all been fixed. I hope my dream experience means that because everything is working fine whilst I was asleep, I am hoping it means good physical outcome...essentially the equipment is in good working order?? that would be nice
With still a long way to go I feel good about myself which is a new and unique experience. I have experienced some "Anaesthetic blues" but distraction, goal setting and chatting with others has helped with that. I see my HRT Dr on Tuesday for a check-up and she had offered any post surgical care that I need.
So that's about it for now...recovery is ongoing and each day I feel a little better and I have a little less discomfort its now mostly about nerves connecting, swelling continuing to reduce and getting back my level of fitness ready for my hip replacement.
Take Care
Liz
