Day 5 postop ramblings....
Today makes day 5 post op... Just figured it was time to make note of a few things before they get lost in the past.
1. Walking to the beat.
I just got back from my first walk on my own. Till now, my hubby or son has went with me every time. :) So, I grab my headphones and plug in an upbeat song to listen to... My walks at this point are still under 10 min, but I go 6 times per day.... So anyways, this upbeat song comes on and I start walking to the beat! NOT! LOL! Was a very quick reminder that I still have a lot of recovery to do! :) So.... picked a less rambunctious song and did fine. Lesson learned. Listen to your body! And... one more way I will be able to see my progression in healing is by the beat of my music :)
2. Protein & Fluids
I think the key here (and of course I can ONLY speak for me!) is to just do it.... I *think* it might be hard for some people because of the weird and a bit painful way it feels when we swallow. Its like I can feel it make its way thru my body, and it hurts some. Not like somethings wrong kinda hurt, just things are still healing kinda hurt.... But I don't let that stop me. I just drink and eat... Yesterday I got in over 90 gms of protein and oz of fluids. A total of 734 calories.
3. Pain meds
Today I took a dose of meds at 4 am after going from the evening before.... Then not another dose (1/2 doses really) till about 5 min ago. I consider that a good progression :) I don't want to be on them longer than necessary, but I am not trying to prove anything either :)
4. Stir crazy!
Ok, so I have been home from hosp for 3 nights now.... Today is the first day I am alone (well, teenager is her here, but is busy doing his own thing other than the 2 walks he took with me... but Rich went to work today). AND..... I am already stir crazy!! LOL! I have to have to have to figure out what to do with my time! I don't go back to school till Sept 30th!?!?!
I know I have to practice for my GRE. So that will take up time... And I have one more Saturday of GRE class this coming Sat, which is good.
Next week I have a couple doc apts (one is my 1st post-op) and will have to take the bus to get to them, which will pretty much fill a couple days! :)
But I think I need to get back to SASS (sexual assault survivor services)and my volunteering.... All I do is sit while I'm there so its not like I'll be overdoing anything!
I of course also need to take some of this time to work on grad school applications and the like... Narrowing down my list of schools.
I also think, once I am feeling more like getting around, it is time to start painting again... I can dig out all my watercolor stuff and paint my first postop painting :) :)
I have a rug I've been working on for years too... maybe its time to dig that puppy out and work on it here in the evenings.... during those times I use to stuff my face :)
I do look forward to getting back to the pool! But doc said about 4 weeks post op, so still quite a ways out. I did buy this stretchey thing I need to use to work on my hams, ummmm, arms! Looking at the most recent pictures taken of me (this past Sunday) it is my arms that look the most out of proportion to the rest of me and I worry about those wings! I think its going to be what its going to be..... But that don't mean I cannot fight it every step of the way! LOL!
1. Walking to the beat.
I just got back from my first walk on my own. Till now, my hubby or son has went with me every time. :) So, I grab my headphones and plug in an upbeat song to listen to... My walks at this point are still under 10 min, but I go 6 times per day.... So anyways, this upbeat song comes on and I start walking to the beat! NOT! LOL! Was a very quick reminder that I still have a lot of recovery to do! :) So.... picked a less rambunctious song and did fine. Lesson learned. Listen to your body! And... one more way I will be able to see my progression in healing is by the beat of my music :)
2. Protein & Fluids
I think the key here (and of course I can ONLY speak for me!) is to just do it.... I *think* it might be hard for some people because of the weird and a bit painful way it feels when we swallow. Its like I can feel it make its way thru my body, and it hurts some. Not like somethings wrong kinda hurt, just things are still healing kinda hurt.... But I don't let that stop me. I just drink and eat... Yesterday I got in over 90 gms of protein and oz of fluids. A total of 734 calories.
3. Pain meds
Today I took a dose of meds at 4 am after going from the evening before.... Then not another dose (1/2 doses really) till about 5 min ago. I consider that a good progression :) I don't want to be on them longer than necessary, but I am not trying to prove anything either :)
4. Stir crazy!
Ok, so I have been home from hosp for 3 nights now.... Today is the first day I am alone (well, teenager is her here, but is busy doing his own thing other than the 2 walks he took with me... but Rich went to work today). AND..... I am already stir crazy!! LOL! I have to have to have to figure out what to do with my time! I don't go back to school till Sept 30th!?!?!
I know I have to practice for my GRE. So that will take up time... And I have one more Saturday of GRE class this coming Sat, which is good.
Next week I have a couple doc apts (one is my 1st post-op) and will have to take the bus to get to them, which will pretty much fill a couple days! :)
But I think I need to get back to SASS (sexual assault survivor services)and my volunteering.... All I do is sit while I'm there so its not like I'll be overdoing anything!
I of course also need to take some of this time to work on grad school applications and the like... Narrowing down my list of schools.
I also think, once I am feeling more like getting around, it is time to start painting again... I can dig out all my watercolor stuff and paint my first postop painting :) :)
I have a rug I've been working on for years too... maybe its time to dig that puppy out and work on it here in the evenings.... during those times I use to stuff my face :)
I do look forward to getting back to the pool! But doc said about 4 weeks post op, so still quite a ways out. I did buy this stretchey thing I need to use to work on my hams, ummmm, arms! Looking at the most recent pictures taken of me (this past Sunday) it is my arms that look the most out of proportion to the rest of me and I worry about those wings! I think its going to be what its going to be..... But that don't mean I cannot fight it every step of the way! LOL!
Replies
I\'m so glad that you are doing good I understand the going stir crazy lol it will pass and you will long for the day to go stir crazy lol I wouldn\'t stress about the arms just yet take it one day at a time! :)
Sounds like you\'re doing great, Becca. I completely understand that stir crazy thing. I was ready to go back to work even when my doc offered me another week off. Keep up the good work!