7 Days post op “Steak and Guinness”

 Since arriving home on Thursday, which was op day plus 4, I have managed to establish a “healing”routine. 

My day starts with me taking the first 2 co-codamol, then Roy brings me a coffee and toast in bed. I elevate my legs (Toes higher than nose) and catch up with my reading for half an hour or so. Eventually I do my “Home Gym exercises” in the bed. 

Roy puts the slidy mat, hand weights, rolled up towel and my soft Pilates ball next to me, and I do the prescribed exercises, each day brings a little more movement and a little less pain. It’s advisable in the early days to take your pain killers about 30 minutes prior to the exercises, just so you can get that little bit more movement that isn’t hindered by the pain.

I decided early on that my exercises should incorporate BOTH hips. Otherwise I’d be putting tremendous pressure on my left hip. I had some exercises that Cameron Angus had given me prior to the op, so I carried on with those. 

I also use my hand weights, legs in “Semi supine” position to do some lateral raises, bicep curls and shoulder raises. Your upper body strength is important while you are supporting yourself on crutches. 

I usually have some music on while I’m doing these. So even though it’s not quite the gym, I can try and recreate the atmosphere.

Roy still has to supervise me in the shower. I’m not steady or confident enough to stand, so I sit on the stool bought specially for the purpose. 

I have to tick him off for opening the bathroom window to let the steam out while I’m sitting shivering waiting for him to hand me my clothes and put my socks on.

 “For Goodness Sake Man! My goosebumps have goosebumps”

‘But it’s steaming up - “

“Yeah, and I’m sat here, starkers and soaking wet”

He learned eventually. 🙄

I can’t reach my lower legs or feet, so he has to dry those and put my knickers, trousers and socks on. Bad foot first. He does have a tendency to lose concentration and wander off to another part of the house while I’m freezing my tits off though! 

By now my digestive “situation” has settled down to normal. Well, relatively. My usual breakfast consists of porridge with all kinds of added extras, made with oat milk. (I neither like nor can digest cow’s milk)

Here’s my special porridge recipe:

1 cup organic porridge

1 tsp Chia seeds

1 tsp Goji Berries

1 Tabsp Flaxseed

1 Tsp cocoa nibs

Oat milk

Topping:

Berries (blue berries, raspberries)

Kiwi fruit, mango, whatever you fancy

Kefir (for your gut health)

Organic runny honey

Walnuts

You can either make it up and leave it overnight, or cook it with the oat milk and put your toppings on.

It’s packed full of yummy good stuff and I have it most mornings with a big glass of fresh Orange juice. 

We have Visitors

After lunch on day 7 we had visitors. Our surgery often have final year medical students with them on placement, so this year’s placement accompanied Malcolm, the GP as he called in to check how I was doing.

I answered the door, as Roy had to corral the dogs. It was quite a surprise, as I hadn’t experienced this level of personal care in England.  GPs in England hadn’t made house calls for a long time, in my experience. 

“You’re walking well” Observed Malcolm “We just wanted to see how you were getting on after your op.”

Roy joined us in the lounge and we had a chat about levels of pain, amount of exercise etc. I had taken a picture of my scar (I know, Sad!) so showed that to Malcolm too. He commented on how neat it looked. If you’re squeamish, look away now! 

My knee was REALLY sore and badly bruised post op. I asked Malcolm why that might be?

“Well, Orthopaedic surgeons are a bit like mechanics, with all their hammers and chisels, saws and drills. The surgery you had would have been brutal, and the way you are manipulated during the operation will cause bruising in other places. It will heal with time.”

I winced. I remember reading about how they have to dislocate your hip to carry out the operation. They probably used my knee as a ‘jack’.

“You’re looking awfully pale, do you know how much blood you lost?”

 “No’

He checked my lower eyelids and sat down. “I think we should get a blood test just to see if you’re anaemic.’

“Well now you mention it, I’m very tired and very cold.”

“Yes, let’s get you checked out, in the meantime, up your intake of iron rich foods, red meat, green leafy veg, that sort of thing”

“Is dark chocolate ok? That’s got iron in it?”

“I think you’d be better off with steak.”

Thing is, I hadn’t eaten steak for years, but I kind of wanted to now. They say your body tells you what it needs. So Roy had to add ‘Best steak’ to his shopping list. And Guinness! 

One of the things that I couldn’t understand was how bloody cold I was! When I got into bed, I was like ICE. My feet, body, head, everything felt chilled to the bone. In addition, I would get to a point in the afternoon where I would just crash and burn, and HAD to go to bed with as many blankets and throws as I could bear to stop me feeling like I’d just stepped out of a freezer. 

Evidently this tiredness is normal. Most of your energy in these early days goes into the healing process. You have had MAJOR surgery. It takes time to heal. A long time.