Friday 30 January 2015

Hip op update ...



First thanks so much for all your thoughts,wishes etc - am slowly progressing: though computer sitting not really an option ....

Chatty Crone put this one up in November -
couldn't resist saving it for my time under the knife!

Can't keep my brain from working though ... also forgot my last post took me into my 7th year of blogging and some of the birthday wishes came from friends made all those years ago - seems incredible ...








One not so little lad kept tabs on my progress - guess who: Lenny Lee ... whom quite a few of us have known for nearly four years ... on my note on Sunday morning saying I'd woken up from the op ...





"hi my grandblogmom

hooray its done! now just rest and do what the doctor and nurses say. don't worry about emails or anything else. just get better. :)

i got you in my prayers.

...loads of love and soft and gentle hugs from lenny"


Also loved hearing via email from some of you ... and on the last post - asking for updates ... 


Thank goodness this 'serach' was not required!
All went smoothly ... I was last on the list ... came round 2.30 pm (it was Saturday!) and then had a minor reaction ... but once 24 hours had past - I was exhausted, but 'up and running' again.



Tuesday before lunch I was collected and managed the walk to the flat, and the 9 x 2 stairs up to the flat ... and from then on it's been adjusting to routine of pills, rest, exercise, fending for myself and answering the door bell .... 


For safety's sake I had and still have a
large indelible ink black arrow on
my left thigh!
Just walked outside and down the road a little - on crutches, but 'easily and carefully' done ... in the flat I'm on one stick and on occasions none ... small spaces and things to hang on to - but I'm being sensible.


Dressing on the wound came off on Monday and half is healing well, other half is catching up!  Lovely bruising that stretches down the leg ... but all healthy apparently ... 


Essentially I'm left to my own devices ... the nurse checked in 48 hours after I got home, and again for the bandage removal ... the occupational therapist came the next day, when I walked out briefly ... she is in fact coming again next week ...

Had some of these to welcome
me home ... 

But it's go slow, exercise and walk ... once the weather warms up I'll take myself downstairs and walk around in the Close (quiet dead end road) ... 


Back ache at night has been a nuisance ... and resorted to 'midnight feasts' at the hospital and here - but last night managed to stay put.


Thankfully very little pain - the leg is weight bearing ... I am taller on the left now - the right leg is much put out!! and those muscles will need to work: but all is well.


Used a zimmer in the hospital - came out
with crutches, and now have sticks
Went to hospital on a very frosty morning ... and on the Monday night/Tuesday morning we had snow ... so padded my way to the flat through that ... 


The wound is refurbished from the inside out, dissolving stitches, then final layer of skin is glued up - so no visit to the doctor to get staples out .... 


I've managed to do most things and have had some wonderful friends who've been in often and regularly to care and check up and ask what I needed ...  though, in fact, the fewer visitors the better, because I can concentrate on doing the essentials ... 

It's good to know Spring  is on its way

One third of way to end of first period - six weeks: is end of February ... 


Oh yes ... if you ask for two of something (fruits or veg) ... expect a packet of them ... and one of those is an accountant?!



I'd organised some frozen meals ... but was grateful for some plain chicken, leeks, carrots and potatoes ... and made "Chicken Soup for the Soul" ....... it had not occurred to me I might need 'invalid' food ... 


Homely food - Penne, sauce with fresh
vegetables
So - garbled update complete ... I'm off for a rest and no doubt some more pills - never ending! and exercises ... which a friend instilled were essential: as what I will achieve in these first six weeks are what will be with me for the next 1/3 of my life ... yes I intend to be around a while!


Thank you so much ... and remember I won't reply individually to comments - but appreciate them all ... 


I will check in on FB as life gets easier ... 


Cheers - Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories

58 comments:

Stephen Tremp said...

Hilary, sending healing thoughts and prayers you way. Glad to see you are up and running as well as you are. I'll check in of FB to see your progress.

Rosalind Adam said...

So lovely to hear from you. It all sounds positive (except for the reaction after surgery). Don't be tempted to rush things. Take it easy and you'll soon be leaping about once more x

Betsy Brock said...

How wonderful to hear that you are well and all was successful! And that Lenny..what a little gentleman he is. How sweet to send you flowers and such a nice note!

Glad you had that arrow marked on you and that they fixed the correct one! haha.

Unknown said...

I'm so happy to hear the op went well. And I agree with Betsy, that Lenny is such a wonderful young man. Loved your funny comics.

Suzanne Furness said...

Great to hear from you, Hilary and glad to hear you are recovering at home now. Take it easy and look after yourself. What a lovely young man Lenny is, that must have cheered you greatly to hear from him.

I loved your little cartoons to illustrate this post too.

Bob Scotney said...

You will soon be running around. as good as new. Look after yourself till then.

helen tilston said...

Hello Hilary, So happy to hear your surgery was successful and that you are on the hight speed train to recovery. Get lots of rest

Helenx

Susan Gourley/Kelley said...

I am so glad to hear you're doing well. Take care of yourself and I hope the weather cooperates so you can walk outside. Great that you didn't have staples.

Out on the prairie said...

Sound like your mending is doing very well. Glad to hear about what was going on and hope you take it easy.

Jo said...

I am glad to hear you are doing your exercises. That is the very most important thing after replacement surgery. Our therapists came in more often than yours I'm glad to say. So you were "glued" together. Lucky you, they don't seem to have adopted that here yet. The staple removal was, for me, the worst part of the whole thing. Not just me a friend who was a patient at the same time, had the same experience. Matt, of course, said it was nothing and he's had it done 3 times. Grrr. As people have already said, don't rush it, and get better soon.

MunirGhiasuddin said...

You went through a lot. I am happy that you are getting better. Please take care of yourself. Writing can wait.
Congratulations on your seventh year of blogging. We will be seeing yet more inspiring blog posts from you. Cheers !

Diana Wilder said...

So very glad you're doing well. Isn't it odd, though, that however well you are doing, you always feel as though you have taken twelve steps backward and fallen into a cistern? Continue to improve, and see if you can find someone to make you some good Bone Soup!

Janie Junebug said...

It sounds as if you're doing quite well. You have a positive attitude, and that helps.

Love and prayers,
Janie

Denise Covey said...

Thanks for your update Hilary. It is lovely to know all is progressing well. I gave you an honourable mention in my current post! Everyone will be waiting for you to get back in the saddle and blogging in depth as soon as you are able!

Much love Hilary!

Denise :-)

Optimistic Existentialist said...

Hilary I have been thinking of you and I am so glad that the op went well!!! You are in all of our thoughts :)

Marja said...

I am happy you are recovering well and good that you don't have to get the staples out. You are a strong woman still having such a good sense of humor---loved the cartoons as well.
I hope that your total recovery will go smoothly and wish you all the best. I loved the sweet words from Lenny he is adorable. Big hug and take care, marja

Empty Nest Insider said...

I'm so impressed you had the strength to put this all together in between all of your exercises, and visitors! It's so like you Hilary, to worry about cheering us up! Glad your recovery is going well! Leave it to Lenny to find the perfect words of encouragement! He truly is a wonderful boy! Sorry you're going through all this, but your hard work will pay off. Take care of yourself, my friend!

Julie

Paula said...

Wonderful to get an update. You have been in my thoughts and prayers. Continue with your recovery. You are amazing!!

Alex J. Cavanaugh said...

Glad it went well. Just take it easy and do what the therapist tells you to do.

Patsy said...

So glad it all went well, Hilary and that you're recovering well.

DMS said...

So happy to hear that everything went well and that you are recovering well. How wonderful that Lenny Lee wrote you such a sweet note. :) Keep taking it easy. Sending you lots of good wishes!
~Jess

beste barki said...

So glad to hear you are recovering. We missed you and it is wonderful to chuckle with you once again. Beste

Fil said...

Great to hear from you Hilary and to hear you're on the road to recovery ...
Best wishes
Fil

Susan Scott said...

Good to get an an update Hillary. Take it slow eat and rest well. Soon all will be well. X x

Juliet said...

Hilary, so glad you are safely out the other side and now just have recovery to look forward to. It can only get better from now on! Your sense of humour has survived the operation completely intact, I'm glad to see. Good wishes and blessings for a smooth healing.

Inger said...

I am so happy to hear that all is going well.

cleemckenzie said...

Yay to being so resilient and for having that surgery behind you. Great to see you back. Missed your posts.

Dianne K. Salerni said...

HILARY!!! I totally missed that you were having surgery! I know I've been buried in revisions these past couple weeks and not on the blogs very much, but I am very sorry to have missed this. Happy that you are recovering now and feeling up to posting. Belated get well wishes and I LOVE these cartoons!

I really hope your surgeon didn't have to use Google during the procedure. ;)

Anonymous said...

Hilary, so nice to see an update post from you. Take care. Don't overdo.

janice h said...

Get nimble soon! No limbo dancing this week.;)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Thanks so much for commenting and checking in ...

Went out on my own today for a short walk up the road ... met a friend, had a chat ... and then turned round and came home - mighty cold!!

No Janice - no limbo dancing this week!!

Cheers to one and all .. Hilary

Julie Flanders said...

I've been thinking of you since seeing your post on FB, Hilary. Take care and feel much better soon. Hugs and best wishes to you!

Karen Lange said...

So glad to hear how you are doing! You've been in my thoughts and prayers. Would bring you a meal, but there's this little thing called the Atlantic Ocean holding me up. Maybe someday we can dine together for real. And it'll be my treat. :) Take care!

Joylene Nowell Butler said...

You're an inspiration, Hilary. So glad you're mending. I know you'll be your ole self in no time. Sorry about the pain. My dad, a vet, used to say, "Pain is good. It reminds you that you're still alive." Hope this isn't a double comment. My last one didn't stick. Be well, Hilary.

Sherry Ellis said...

Glad to hear you're feeling better. Hope you're back to normal, soon!

JJ said...

Very happy to hear the good results. Get well soon!

Unknown said...

Hilary, I'm so sorry this happened to you and that it's taken me this long to revisit your blog! I sincerely hope you continue to recover quickly and I will keep you in my thoughts xo all the best to you xo

Ann Carbine Best said...

I love this personal account. Your personality shines through even more in this than other posts...though they are all amazing and worth appearing in some kind of collection. But for now....yes, recovery, not an easy or painless thing, but it does sound like you're making good progress. So happy about that. I decided to do a new blog ... the old one seems to be dead to all but those who go into my publisher's website and then it comes up, but I can't personally do anything on it. So this comment is also a test run to see if it will go to that new blog, which I wanted to do mainly to reconnect with the closest of my "old" Blogger friends who are still blogging. I don't expect a reply from you....yet....but will when you're really UP. Many many hugs in that direction from me and Jen ((( ))) your dear friends from across the pond....

Deniz Bevan said...

So happy to hear you're doing well! Aww, Lenny's always full of sunshine.
Here's hoping spring comes early!

Friko said...

You’re doing well, it seems.
I’m glad to hear it. Sensible lady, not messing around too much and doing as you are told. It will all come out in the wash. Eventually.

In the meantime you have time to read, watch the box, and think. What’s wrong with that?

Best of luck and get well soon.

Crystal Collier said...

Glad you're on the road to recovery. I've had two c-sections, and those first couple weeks after surgery are brutal. Thank goodness the body is meant to heal, eh?

Take it easy and eat your favorite cheese.

Deborah Barker said...

I enjoyed your post Hilary and the cartoons made me smile. A few more days have come and gone since you posted so I am hoping your recovery has continued apace and you are not snowed in. We've had some flurries today but the snowfall we had on Monday had gone by Tuesday. Stay warm and cosy and keep in touch :-) X

LD Masterson said...

It's great that you're doing so well. Just take it slow and you'll be back to yourself in no time.

Sara said...

I am so pleased you are up and around. I hear my favorite cheerful Hilary again with this post. I loved the cartoons, especially the horse one.LOL A sense of humor goes a long way to help with recovery, doesn't it. Plus, of the people I've known, you are one of the most resilient.

Take care of yourself...I know you will:~)

Julia Hones said...

It's good to know that things are going in the right direction, Hilary.
Thank your for the update.
Enjoy the veggies and the chicken!
Cheers,
Julia

CA Clark said...

Dear Hilary, so glad to read you are making progress and yes those exercises are essential. A very belated happy birthday to another January baby. We are awesome! I am in the middle of packing to move to the city and have my grandson(six months old) come to stay for a while so I am not online much at the moment. Hope your healing progress is all good and you are table top dancing in no time. Hugs from the antipodes. Cecilia

Sharon Himsl said...

Hi Hilary, so glad to hear you doing well and the hip surgery was a success!! You are being sensible and that is wise, but soon you'll be dancing and taking long walks :) Love the cartoons. Darling post!

loverofwords said...

Love the cartoons, Hilary, especially the first one! Lenny is precious, although he probably would not like to be called that. Your recovery sounds good, it will just take time. Sent you a card but it will take two weeks to get to you, but I did want you to know that I am thinking of you. Healing thoughts to you via cyber space.

Sai Charan said...

Hi Hilary, I am glad you are recovering well, congrats on completing 7 years of blogging!! :)

You are a dear friend and I have an award for you on my blog, please visit and collect it. You have the freedom to either do the tag or just accept the award - choice is yours :)

Happy Sunday Hilary!! Take Care :)

Murees Dupè said...

I'm glad the surgery went well. I hope you're not in too much pain. All the best with your recovery.

Annalisa Crawford said...

Hilary, I'd completely missed the post where you said you were having surgery - I've just been back to read it and catch up! So glad it went well, and your recovery is going equally as well. Being sensible now means years of marathons ahead of you. Take care, and sending cyber chicken soup :-)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Everyone .. thanks so much for your thoughts and wishes ... I'm improving day by day - mustn't blog for too long ... ?!?!!?

Really appreciate all your comments and thoughts - big hugs - Hilary

Robyn Campbell said...

<3 you, Hil. SO GLAD the surgery went well. I AM SO SORRY for missing this. What with my Christopher and my brother-in-law so sick I have not checked in like I should. I am thankful you are on the mend. BE CAREFUL. xoxoxoxoxo

mail4rosey said...

So happy to hear there's very little pain. I wish you a speedy recovery back to 100% and then some!

Arlee Bird said...

I've been trying to do some catching up as much as I have been able lately. Hope recovery has been going well for you! From this post I see they didn't replace your good sense of humor with a more sour disposition. Stay well!

Arlee Bird
A to Z Challenge Co-host
Tossing It Out



Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Thank you so much ... I'm nearly at the end of the first six week period - already out and walking about ... so improvement all round ... and I think ahead of the curve ...

Appreciate your thoughts - cheers Hilary

Michelle Wallace said...

Checking in to play catch-up... I love the cartoons, Hilary!
(It's been SO HOT this side, that I've been drained and it makes a person lethargic too.... hence the long silence...)

Hilary Melton-Butcher said...

Hi Michelle and all others - thanks and I enjoyed adding the hip cartoons in .. now 5 weeks down, one to go of the first tranche of recovery periods ...

All well and ahead of healing curve I'm pleased to say ... cheers Hilary