Day One

 I have had breakfast, I have showered with Jim’s help, and I have taken four, no five drugs.  I woke up several times last night which is not unusual for me  and I even lay awake for a while a couple of times.  But as I did, I felt such peace of mind.  Which is also unusual for me!  I kept thinking that I didn’t have to face surgery.  I made it up our 17 steps.  I didn’t need a catheter or urology appointment.  I was home with my husband.  

I did struggle to get in and out of bed and will ask the physical therapist to go over that with me to see if we can make it easier and less painful.  I do not look forward to the PT session with meeting still another person and going through the exercises.  There should be two weeks of home therapy and then I will try to schedule Jennifer again at 727 State Road for a few weeks.  

Jim will go to get groceries at some point today.  Jeff and Susan are bringing supper and I hope they can join us.  Maybe I can get a brownie mix and put that together because that is always a hit with Jeff at least.  We have laundry to do.  We have done our morning NYT Spelling Bee and Jim will go outside and try to find our weekend NYT paper.  I don’t know what is in store for sports today but there should be something.  

Now just to have more mobility and less pain in my legs—sadly, both of them after whatever went wrong during this surgery to affect the previous one. The PA acted as if that happened often and an x-=ray showed that the first replacement was still in the right place.  She referred to when they saw the bone they have to brace the other leg. I don’t want to think about that too much! So I will have to be patient.  

During the wakeful times last night, I thought about the medical personnel who stood out as kind and competent caregivers.  I thought  of Cassidy in the recovery area who must have needed to act quickly when my blood pressure was perilously low.  I woke up to oxygen tubes in my nose so that must have been an issue too—and I guess that was why I had to spend the night.  I think of Nicole in the transitional room who was so kind—and referred to herself as. a “toe person” because she monitored oxygen on the toe, not the finger.  And then Michael Katsman who somehow became the point person to decide on a plan  for discharge.  He was my hero! And Hina, the social worker, who was so concerned about my getting up the steps and wanted to schedule Medical Transport.  She was overjoyed when I told her that I had contacted my son and he would supervise my getting up those steps—a younger man than my husband of many years.

So…gratitude today.  There is more recovery to be done but I don’t have to dread a surgery again I hope.  Unless the first hip needs a ‘revision” but I will put that out of my mind for now.  

A few hours later:  Page came and did an introduction to my home physical therapy.  She checked my blood pressure, pulse rate, and incision.  She gave me a quick mental check and yes, I remembered three words and knew what day it was and what month it was.  She noted that my ankles were swollen.  That is why we had a hard time getting my shoes on this morning.  She went over my medications.  Next week Justin will come a few times to do the actual therapy although Page put me through a few early exercises.  She also gave me some suggestions to get into bed easier.  I feel very grateful that we can have home physical therapy paid for by United Health Care.  I don’t have to go anywhere for a couple of weeks until we see Dr. Culp again on February 9.  

Jeff and Susan have ordered pizza and will be here around 6.  We have brownies in the oven. We have a load of laundry in the dryer.  Life is good!