Fed up of Pain and fatigue

Well I really am!

I am trying to do all my exercises but it just hurts so much, and sleeping, I just wish I could turn over without having to wake up because it hurts to do so. Obviously the pain is much better than it was but I think my tolerance for it is decreasing!

On top of that I think I have a mild flare up of the pericarditis, compared to last week when I was out and about and still feeling OK, tired but OK whereas the last few days I have got no energy for anything and am getting chest pain especially lying down and going up stairs.

It's not all doom and gloom though. I saw Mr Witt last week and he said that I can start putting 50% weight through my leg for the next 2 weeks and then gradually build up after that to full weight bearing. I can also start straight leg raising and straight leg abduction but it is such hard work and I do not remember it hurting so much to do them, maybe it did but my mind has blocked it out.

The x-ray looked like all the bone was healing, though I was surprised to still see a gap on the left side, though he said that it was still filling in with new bone.

My formal physio is due to start next friday which will be good.

Time to finish watching House and then for a swim.

Sophie

3 weeks Progress

I have been slightly slack on keeping this up to date in the last week, several reasons really. My parents internet is being a bit temporamental, I have also been doing slightly more during the days, which while that is good takes so much out of me that it takes me about 24 hours to recover and even the effort of typing seems too much!

So I went swimming for the 3rd time today which was lovely. I love being in the water so much, it is the only place where I am really comfortable and all the pressure is taken off my pelvis. This time I also managed to swim 4 lengths frontcrawl (arms only - just let my legs drag in the water), the 2 previous times have only managed about 1/2 length before the rolling of my body was too much. The local pool is great, there is a ramp and a plastic wheelchair so getting in and out is really easy.

It is quite stressful at home (with my parents) at times because they are having lots of building work being done and there just keeps being one major set back after another, and with all the noise and everything it is sometimes not that restful.

I am still waking up at night in quite a lot of pain, bizarrely the pain has almost been worse in the last few days than previously - maybe I am just too keen to get better, or I am just so fed up of being in pain my tolerance for it is decreasing.

I also had a manicure this morning which was great. I normally have to keep my nails short for work and never can wear nail varnish, but now not working my nails are growing so decided to do something nice about it. Weird seeing my hands with pink nail varnish though.

I have made it through series 1 of 24 and just about to start season2, also my sister bought me season 1 of house so have started watching that too which is really good - Hugh Laurie is so talented.

I am so pleased that I do not have to go through this whole thing again, I think that is what was so hard last time - knowing that I had to go through it all again thank goodness I don't have a third hip!

Well back to the TV for a while until chinese food for dinner - yum

Sophie

2 weeks down

Cant believe it has been 3 days since I posted - this may sound really strange but the days have gone really quickly, considering I haven't left the house that is.
It is 2 weeks today that I had the PAO so that is 1/3 of the non-weight bearing time done. Already after only 2 weeks I can tell that my muscles on my right leg are wasting.
The glue and scabs have all come off the wounds and underneath they look great. There is only one bit at the lower end of the right scar that looks a touch red, but I am just going to keep an eye on it for now and keep it dressed.
I am going down to stay with my parents this weekend and hopefully taking my first trip swimming. I cannot wait to get in the water. We will not be going in their pool as the heat exchanger is only gettng fixed this week and it will take a while to warm up so we are going to the local pool. My Dad and Westy are going to play golf together on saturday, I'm so pleased Westy is getting to play some golf as this last couple fo weeks have been stressful for him too and that is how he relaxes. (and I'm only a tieeny bit jealous of him, only a teeny bit though as now this last PAO is done I don;t have any more hips so it is the start of me getting my life back and soon I will be on the golf course too - maybe even by the end of the summer - wow that would be amazing.
Its sunny today which means I can sit on the balcony in the sunshine, its a change from in front of the TV or in bed!
Sophie

The unscratchable Itch

Ok, so where I have had the incision on my hip to get to the hip joint they have to cut the nerve that suppiles the outer skin of the thigh. Well it is completely numb however it is itching! The problem is when I scratch that area I can't feel it at all.......it is an unscratchable itch and believe me is quite annoying.

Had my first trip out today and it was so good if slightly chilly. Went to the cinema in my wheelchair to see Percy Jackson and the lightning thief which was really good but amused my husbnad about my complete lack of knowledge about greek mythology - how was I supposed to know Zeus was the King of the Gods, I am a doctor, I studied science at school not greek mythology.

Still can't quite get over how much better the hip feels compared to last time. last time I was still in hospital at this stage - admittedly about to go home - as long as I keep the pain killers on board regularly I am remarkably comfortable - must remember not to over do it though.

Bye for now
Sophie

Ho-hum

Sunday afternoon and its raining.
But......last night I slept through the night for the first time without needing painkillers in the middle of the night. Was suffering by the time I woke up though and it was a toss up between staying still and minimizing pain and moving to get pain killers but knowing that it would hurt!

Thinking tentatively about my first adventure out tomorrow to go to the cinema to see Percy Jackson and the lightning thief (the grown ups that we are). This is the first time I have made it this far in the day without needing to sleep - it just goes to show exactly how unrestful being in hospital is.

Heart still a bit irritable, all I have to do is move and my heart rate shoots up but it settles reletively quickly too. The current challenge I have is finding underwear that does not rub. Having got diferent scars on each side, one is higher than the other this is a challenge that is proving tricky. If it doesn't rub on one side it does on the other. I feel I need to invest in some supersize super high granny pants that come up to my tummy button so that they will not rub, now that will look attractive to match the browny yellow colour my right arse cheek is due to some spectacular bruising!

Right husband is getting his daily sport fix - time for me to go lie down and read.

Sophie

I'm home home home home home home

It was soooooo good to sleep in my own bed, though hubby is relegated to sofa for now, both of us too scared of knocking me in the night.I'm amazed by how good my hip feels, compared to my last one I already feel like I am 4 weeks down the line instead of just one.I am now terrified of general anaesthetics (having twice had heart problems after them) and have decided if need screws removed then I will have it just under a spinal/epidural.Also having had my left screws out unless I look to see the incision I can't actually tell I have had anything done to my left hip.Fresh air is so good too, have got balcony window wide open, hospital was so stuffy.So releived to be home. Though originally I had planned to go straight down to my parents I now have to stay in London for a week or so, the hospital have asked me to incase anything goes wrong with my heart - nice to know how much faith they have in me - however based on last weeks performance it's probably justified.Just relaxing watching tv now.
Sophie