Guest guest Posted January 29, 2011 Report Share Posted January 29, 2011 , Boy I remember those early showers, and sleeping, good solid sleep after them, the basics really tire you out early on hunh! Kumar let me have showers even in the hospital, we just had to tape saran wrap over the incision, hubby did that at home till the staples came out. Nothing feels better than clean hair, and truly is a step in the healing process that in my mind is major, just getting the basic bodily care down, it's truly amazing. The pain versus moving forward is kinda a balancing act. Rest and sleep play a major role in healing, but so does walking and movement, just not too long or too much in the beginning, and it's hard to know, just how much is just right or too much. You will find your pace, and when you overdo, you'll know it. I'm glad you had a restful day! I had trouble having my hours turned around after the hospital, they get you up so much for crap during the night, that my days and nights were all turned around. Took me a couple of weeks at home to get it turned back around. So glad for you that your in the healing stage, and thanks for posting this, it will help others as they recover, or plan for their own surgery! Hugs! Colorado Springs On Sat, Jan 29, 2011 at 6:38 PM, <linda.racine@...> wrote: Hi...My recovery took a big leap forward today. Up until now, the medications I've taken have been largely ineffective, regardless of activity level. I've had the typical back pain, incision pain, as well as a lot of leg pain. I've rarely had more than an hour of sleep at a time. This morning, despite the fact that I wasn't supposed to get my incisions wet, I made the executive decision that the incisions looked good enough that it wouldn't hurt them to be wet for a short amount of time. The shower felt great, and it was wonderful to have clean hair. I was so tired afterward that I couldn't keep my eyes open. Before I knew it, I had slept 2 hours. I took my next dose of pain medication and went immediately back to sleep. That went on all morning. I forced myself to stay awake most of this afternoon, but have largely been without pain as long as I'm inactive. I even went an extra hour without medication. In writing about it, it sounds sort of normal, but feels totally miraculous. I'm not sure it will last, but I'm enjoying the time while I have it. Regards, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 , Excellent news....a shower and some sleep!!! Its amazing how restorative those things can be...and I think for me the shower was just one of those mental milestones that made me feel like I was getting better. It really lifted my spirits. Obviously, it was not anywhere I could see, but my incision was covered with a plastic material not unlike " press and seal " kitchen wrap so I was allowed showers before I left the hospital...but I do remember how good it felt. Do you suppose the " no activity - no pain " status you are in is your body's way of telling you to go easy? If you think you might have been doing too much, please listen to it! Last thing you want is to create one of those " pain pathways " that wont shut down after the physical reason for the pain is gone. Your body has an amazing and miraculous ability to heal. Believe in it and baby it. Please be sure to ask someone for help rather than push on. I know that you will be thinking this is a pain in the butt for others, but you must do it! Your only focus must be resting, sleeping, good nourishment and whatever physical goals your surgeon has set. Not one other thing cant be put off for awhile or done by someone else. I know how many people in your community you have helped...no doubt you would be doing them a favor by letting them " pay it forward " . Looking forward to hearing that the miracle has continued! Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Hi... I definitely hear you. I had a bad night, and have sort of decided that laying in bed is just not a good position for me. If I'm lucky, I sleep for an hour or two, and then wake up in a lot of pain that can't be easily fixed. If I sleep in my recliner, especially sitting up, I either wake up without pain, or wake up with pain that's easily remedied. I sit with my hips fairly forward in the chair, or the chair reclined. The only problem is that my legs and feet are really swelling up. So, I need to take lasix on a regular basis, but I think I'm going to stay away from bed for awhile. -- > > , > > Excellent news....a shower and some sleep!!! Its amazing how restorative those things can be...and I think for me the shower was just one of those mental milestones that made me feel like I was getting better. It really lifted my spirits. Obviously, it was not anywhere I could see, but my incision was covered with a plastic material not unlike " press and seal " kitchen wrap so I was allowed showers before I left the hospital...but I do remember how good it felt. > > Do you suppose the " no activity - no pain " status you are in is your body's way of telling you to go easy? If you think you might have been doing too much, please listen to it! Last thing you want is to create one of those " pain pathways " that wont shut down after the physical reason for the pain is gone. Your body has an amazing and miraculous ability to heal. Believe in it and baby it. > > Please be sure to ask someone for help rather than push on. I know that you will be thinking this is a pain in the butt for others, but you must do it! Your only focus must be resting, sleeping, good nourishment and whatever physical goals your surgeon has set. Not one other thing cant be put off for awhile or done by someone else. I know how many people in your community you have helped...no doubt you would be doing them a favor by letting them " pay it forward " . > > Looking forward to hearing that the miracle has continued! > > Take Care, Cam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Hi , You kind of remind me how Peggy was when she got home at first....had to sleep sitting up for about a week, if I recall. Can you ask your pain people to rethink your meds...maybe a tweeking is in order? Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 I couldn't sleep in my bed at first either. I spent the first two weeks sitting up on a wooden bench to sleep. I pulled out an old soft neck collar to keep my head from falling over while I slept. I didn't sleep well but it was better than no sleep. I had such excruciating pain lying down I just couldn't do it. I still have pain on that same hip when lying down. Peggy [ ] Re: My Turn - Update Hi...I definitely hear you.I had a bad night, and have sort of decided that laying in bed is just not a good position for me. If I'm lucky, I sleep for an hour or two, and then wake up in a lot of pain that can't be easily fixed. If I sleep in my recliner, especially sitting up, I either wake up without pain, or wake up with pain that's easily remedied. I sit with my hips fairly forward in the chair, or the chair reclined. The only problem is that my legs and feet are really swelling up. So, I need to take lasix on a regular basis, but I think I'm going to stay away from bed for awhile.-->> ,> > Excellent news....a shower and some sleep!!! Its amazing how restorative those things can be...and I think for me the shower was just one of those mental milestones that made me feel like I was getting better. It really lifted my spirits. Obviously, it was not anywhere I could see, but my incision was covered with a plastic material not unlike "press and seal" kitchen wrap so I was allowed showers before I left the hospital...but I do remember how good it felt.> > Do you suppose the "no activity - no pain" status you are in is your body's way of telling you to go easy? If you think you might have been doing too much, please listen to it! Last thing you want is to create one of those "pain pathways" that wont shut down after the physical reason for the pain is gone. Your body has an amazing and miraculous ability to heal. Believe in it and baby it. > > Please be sure to ask someone for help rather than push on. I know that you will be thinking this is a pain in the butt for others, but you must do it! Your only focus must be resting, sleeping, good nourishment and whatever physical goals your surgeon has set. Not one other thing cant be put off for awhile or done by someone else. I know how many people in your community you have helped...no doubt you would be doing them a favor by letting them "pay it forward".> > Looking forward to hearing that the miracle has continued!> > Take Care, Cam> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 30, 2011 Report Share Posted January 30, 2011 Yup, the meds were tweeked on Friday, but I think I need more. I'll talk to him tomorrow. Thanks. -- > > Hi , > > You kind of remind me how Peggy was when she got home at first....had to sleep sitting up for about a week, if I recall. > > Can you ask your pain people to rethink your meds...maybe a tweeking is in order? > > Take Care, > Cam > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted January 31, 2011 Report Share Posted January 31, 2011 Congrats ....it sounds like a break through. C > > Hi... > > My recovery took a big leap forward today. Up until now, the medications I've taken have been largely ineffective, regardless of activity level. I've had the typical back pain, incision pain, as well as a lot of leg pain. I've rarely had more than an hour of sleep at a time. This morning, despite the fact that I wasn't supposed to get my incisions wet, I made the executive decision that the incisions looked good enough that it wouldn't hurt them to be wet for a short amount of time. The shower felt great, and it was wonderful to have clean hair. I was so tired afterward that I couldn't keep my eyes open. Before I knew it, I had slept 2 hours. I took my next dose of pain medication and went immediately back to sleep. That went on all morning. I forced myself to stay awake most of this afternoon, but have largely been without pain as long as I'm inactive. I even went an extra hour without medication. In writing about it, it sounds sort of normal, but feels totally miraculous. I'm not sure it will last, but I'm enjoying the time while I have it. > > Regards, > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 24, 2011 Report Share Posted February 24, 2011 Hi , That is great news! I'm glad for you that things are progressing. I hope that you are getting more hours of sleep as well. Enjoy the pool! > > Hi... > > Just a short update. I've had a couple of fairly good days, and have started cutting back on medications. That feels like a huge step, and I'm hopeful that I'll continue doing well. > > Also, I got certified to use the county paratransit service today. I'll now be able to do aqua therapy almost every day. Yea!! This is a great service, and I would encourage anyone who is planning to have surgery, to check with their county government. > > -- > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted February 27, 2011 Report Share Posted February 27, 2011 , I am so glad to hear that you are doing better...and that you are out and about. That is a sure way to lift your spirits! Perhaps the best news is that you are getting more comfortable on less medications so hopefully you are really on the mend now. Please keep us in the loop. We are all pulling for you. Take Care, Cam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You are posting as a guest. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.