Well its the beginning of a new week!
I am looking forward to seeing the physio as we are going to try and take a few steps.
I make sure to eat breakfast - slice of bread and jam and a strong cup of tea and shuffle into the chair for a wash! Whilst I am washing myself in marches the team of doctors! Thankfully my surgeons registrar offers to come back at a more appropriate time. I think the surgeon would have just carried on - well I suppose he has seen it all before. But he wasn't my surgeon so I was uncomfortable. A minute later they come back. They can't hide the fact they are concerned that I have not been able to walk yet. The nurse explains its not just the pain but the low blood pressure but they say not to worry. The plan is to aim to be home maybe Wednesday and under community physio and nurse instead.
After I am dressed my physios arrive to help me walk. I am able to stand with the frame but cant lift either leg. They are just sort of dragged along. The left leg is considerably weaker. After 3 steps my legs begin to shake, I am worried as it looks so shockingly like a much older person trying to walk. Especially given the fact I am using a frame. I collapse into the chair and can't hide the stinging tears in my eyes. The physio tells me I have done well, she explains my muscles would have started to deteriorate and I need to build up my strength. I don't get a gold star but she does draw a smiley face on the board above my bed which describes what care I require.
After this I need to wash and change again - it appears that having surgery on your pelvis requires the surgeon to move the bladder out of the way which can affect it temporarily during recovery. Another thing that I don't remember seeing mentioned anywhere! Embarrassing it may be but they are certainly used to it. A lovely HCA gathers up all my worn pj's and offers to wash and dry them for me.
I spend the rest of the day relaxing on the bed and chatting to the other patients. One of the ladies who has been here the whole time I have is going home with her new knee today. She was a fiesty bugger that the doctors did not argue with! She instructs the nurses and other patients to look after me and promises to phone to see how we all are.
Its strangely sad to see someone go. Even though its obviously good that she is well and on her way home, we have all started to really bond. We are all in similar situations but with vastly different lives.
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