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Lynn Beyler L&R
BHR De De Smet, Belgium 2005
Recovery - Life At Home
Other Posts by Lynn
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Dear Ones,
I have been home for 10 days now. It has managed to snow 2
times
and there is a blizzard #3 going on as I write this. The
snow and
the ice have kept my husband closer to my side as slipping
and
falling would be really bad right now. I thought I would
tell you
about the things I never thought about before surgery~
CARS: I cannot get in my sports car. It is to low and I
would break
the 90 degree rule that DeSmet wants you to keep. My husband
has a
GMC Yukon so UP I have to go into it. But you can go up so
it works.
It isn't like you can get a plastic bag and swivel in. My
arm
strength has gotten spectacular so I find two good places
and haul
myself in, stepping on the running board with the un-op leg,
move op
leg in, duck my head and finally plop down. To get out, I
make sure
the un-op leg hits the ground first, hanging on again with
both
hands then follow with the op-leg. There is no "loading"
feeling
from the BHR, it is simply there and ready to go for you.
When I
started to drive, I think it was day 14 post-op. By the time
3 more
weeks pass and I can get into my car, it should be a lot
less work!
TOILETS: My first day at home I almost ripped the toilet
paper
holder off the wall. The roll and the springy thing actually
did
take off across the room. My husband came running to see
what was
going on. He gave me new instructions on how to use my
crutch to get
up. He was not interested in redoing the wall. Plain and
simple you
can't have a raised toilet seat on every potty. It sure is
helpful
for there to be one somewhere though. When you are out in
public;
look for the handicap stalls, they are ever so much easier.
If all
else fails use your crutch. But do not rise without some
sort of
support.
CHAIRS: To keep the 90 degree rule you will not be able to
go to any
Middle East restaurants and sit on floor pillows for awhile.
Chairs
with cushions that tilt down when they meet the back of the
chair
are not for you either. If you are lucky enough to have a
lazy boy,
ask who ever usually sits in it to give it up to you once in
awhile.
Seated there in the preferred Royal Chair remember you can
bend the
knee of the unoperated leg, but the op-leg has to be
straight.
Cushions on hard kitchen chairs make sitting more comfy.
High bar
stools are okay if you have someone to help you in and out
and there
is a foot rest. Before you are operated on you never think
about all
this stuff.
LAUNDRY: Not good for post-op hippy's ~ JUST KIDDING! You
can do all
the laundry you want!
WALKING: Suddenly I will realize that I am rocking side to
side
again. I think this is because I still need my right side
resurfed. I catch myself and stop and change to the locked
knee, BE STRAIGHT stuff and off I go again.
STAIRS: Really need the crutch for up. I need that arm
strength for
the "PUSH" when using the operated leg. Down is different
and I
really carry the crutch downstairs.
GROCERY SHOPPING: I found the cart hard to push and keep
straight. I
found myself bending over into my pre-op position of
leaning. Let
someone else push the cart, you are better off with your
crutch
walking straight. Romping through the grocery store without
pain is
way fun.
SHOWER: If you have to lift your leg to high to get in, go
to Bed
Bath and Beyond and get a bench for the tub or a stool to
stand on
to get in. That little plastic stool can then be brought
into the
tub and used to put your op-foot on for leg shaving without
breaking
the 90 degree rule.
TEDS: I hung up those at 20 days post-op with the most
pleasure I
have had in a long time. I would have taken a scissors and
shred
them if I didn't need them again. I never did wear them at
night
after I got out of the hospital. Thank God they have to be
washed
out at night! They earned their name ~ Totally Effective
Damn Socks.
You never knew what that stood for did you? I never got an
embolism
so they worked! They are also worth a fortune: $35 here in
Madison!
Mine were part of the package deal in Belgium.
SEX: No one ever talks about this. Why not? Before surgery I
kept
hoping someone would have the guts to post about it. Come on
you
guys! Now I know someone out there is wondering how long it
will
be. Now remember I am a girl writing and I have no idea what
it is
like for boys. For girls it is like you have been broken
down there
for a long time. Suddenly it is like, shazzzzammmm you are
not
broken any more! It was those leg spreading exercises that
proved it
to me. The PT guy moves the op-leg out to the side while you
are
laying flat on your back. Everyday post op the range gets
better and
better and better. It was as I watched that improve that I
had hope.
Then, 12 days post-op ~ hope turned into reality.
COOKING: Not much time for that now that the last issue is
resolved!
Hope this helps conquer fear and makes you laugh, that is
the best
medicine!
Lovies,
Lynn Beyler
2-25-0 BHR DeSmet
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