Week 7 – February 9th – 15th

Life is getting back to normal!

• I am only taking Paracetamol at bedtime now.
• I have cooked my first meal – only reheating really, Bubble and Squeak with Poached eggs, but back in the kitchen.
• I had a glass of wine with my supper, first since 27th December as the medications forbade alcohol.
• I keep forgetting to pick up my crutch and set off to walk without. In fact, most of the time I am walking around the house without. I still feel stiff and achey first thing (but Mr R said that is normal) and use the crutch for a short time.
• I went to sing with The Suitcase Singers for about 40 mins on Thursday and loved it though it completely exhausted me. Mr S said I was very pale when he picked me up. I slept for three hours that afternoon and my hip was very achey after standing for too long. I did sit as well.
• I baked! I made the Gingerbread recipe from the novel I just finished, Delicious, and it is, really delicious.
• We went to the Ballet at The Hall for Cornwall in Truro.
• We cooked a three course dinner together for Valentine’s Day and
• I moved back into the marital bed.

I still

• am not allowed to cross my legs, even at the ankle
• go up and downstairs one step at a time, like a child
• have the ‘long drop’ seats on the loos so that I am not bending my hip through less than 90*
• cannot lift laundry, shopping, rubbish or hoover until 3 months from the op are passed (The lovely Mr S has been doing all that for so long, since long before the op and it all became too hard for me. It’ll be my turn again soon!)
• have to lie flat on my back for an hour each day until 10-12 weeks post op. I quite like that!
• have to continue with my exercises – for ever!
• have to build up my stamina, walk longer distances and for longer durations

I see Mr Regan on 30th April for my next check up when he is also going to check out my left hip which is giving me some concerns. However, I will not put off that operation as long as I did this one. I know now that it is not to be feared and that after a hard couple of weeks everything gets better and better and it is so wonderful to be free of pain. I will take the next op as soon as it is offered!