Venturing Out

I had nothing in particular on today so I decided I would venture out. I would walk up the 'steps of death'(96 steps behind this place) and take a train to Marrickville. I would sit at Cafe Vesbar, drinking Campos coffee while writing to Dad, drop the letter at the post office, see if the Vietnamese beautician and Phil the hairdresser were open.

I was in no hurry to leave. Instead getting more ensconsed in the adventures of Hubert Wilkins, the scarcely known Australian explorer, who just about did everything imaginable between 1888 and 1958, but who was not accepted by Australia for his comments about the way we treated Aborigines and the environment. He must have had more than 9 lives. Prepared to push the limits at every opportunity, trying to give life to the imaginings of Jules Verne, but overall trying to prove that what happened at the Poles influenced global weather patterns. At the time there was so much land and sea unchartered and it makes you realise the phantom leaps of discovery that we just take for granted today.

A bit like my hip.

At any rate dear Dimiti popped by and I discovered more about her and her history as a sculptor and artist. She accompanied me not up the steps of death but some smaller sets of step near the old school.

I then did everythin I planned, and had a facial and my hair cut, caught trains. Managed steps. Feeling like I was stretching my limit on the final stairs back home. Must have done 200 or so steps today.

The Day Playgroup visited Vivi

What a suprise it was to have 7 lovely ladies, 2 lively children and 1 peaceful baby coming to visit me, armed with so much food. They all fitted in to my tiny living room and set about feeding everyone with a efficiency I can only dream of. Then just like at Connect, they leave leaving only fairy dust and a pile of yummy food. They are the family of Connect. From many places they come, bringing with them their own uniqueness, their own tastes and cooking styles, and through loving open welcome hearts they make one big family here. Babies get passed around. The jokes are universal - just as Nazma.  And now with the Friday afternoon cooking demos they are welcoming new families into the folds. I love each and every one of them. Its more than a job!

Vivid Dreams

Im in a wilderness area of which more and more has been bitten off and privitised. You think youre walking through the wilderness and then you come across cute animals that do tricks. Over there is an island with seals and wild waves crashing over it, but to get to the beach you must go through a door that charges $20. The tamed animals are a part of the lure. But you are disgusted that animals that are meant to be wild are serving human need and greed. You decide to find your own way through the wilderness to a wild headland. You are somewhere up on Sydneys North Shore walking with good friend Jenny Pollak.  The valley is too thickly overgrown but the next hill might be a goer. You have to climb it finding small grooves to get a foothold and small grooves to get a handhold. Then heave. Wow, come a long way since the Op. Then I woke up. Thankyou Oxicontane.

First Night n Day at Home

Now it s Vivi s turn to take charge.

Meds in the morning and meds at night. Still on mls of oxycontane twice a day. Need to work out when to cut back. Is that what lies between pain and no pain? I dont know.

But they do give vivid dreams. All sorts of things like having to take care of Skiddles, Karens old dog. And trying to clean an impossibly filthy and cluttered appartment in New York. Weird. But in the physical world my heel was giving me grief. Is this from friction from being in bed for too long? I debated with myself about taking an Endone, but thought I should put pawpaw ointment on instead, except I cant reach that easily.

I cant reach thing on the floor. So Eileen plugged in the heater for me last night, and my mobile charger. I couldnt do that with my pick-up-stick. Thankyou Eileen.

Then with only one pickupstick now, if my walking stick falls down I need it to pick it up. I also have Lizzy Mulrennans husbands stick, so this is a good backup stick. But I need to manage the risk of falling sticks much better. I dropped my mobile phone on the floor and then it rang. So I used the pickupstick, slipping at first, but finally getting it and taking Nadyats call.

That was all in the middle of a power blackout. As I invited my neighbour in to take candles and matches from under Mishkas new heightened food box, so I soon learned the blackout effected 60, 000 homes.

Today I had visits from Esther and Maria from school. Esther brought stuffed tomatoes, stuffed capsicums and Greek sweets, and Maria chicken soup and mushroom omlette. Yum!!! And oh so kind and lovely.

At around 4.30pm just before the blackout Coles came with a delivery and took the food right up to the kitchen bench. How simple is that!!! 10mins to order, then the next day - voila!!! Altho id miss the little specialist shops in Campsie, that are oh so cheap - I cant help feel that would save me time, petrol, parking each weekend during my working life. But I would sell my soul to Coles or Woolies and not support the little businesses. Ill play it by ear but its good for the time being.

I did 2 x 10minute walks today along the river, a couple of sloppy rounds of circuit on the back of an ill heighted chair and 2 sets of 10 bridges while lying on the bed.

Im booked into the Rehab Day Program and will start tomorrow morning. Liz will pick me up at 9.30. We'll take coffee before she drops me off. Rika will pick me up. I will be the subject of her OT assignment next week - how a disabled person copes with a new environment.

Home

What a commotion it was at Rehab this morning - a first time fluster as Marcelle put it. People emptying our drawers, making our beds, giving us our scripts, our exercise charts, our discharge letter, settling our accounts.

Then chatting to other patients who were leaving today as well, all remarking on our improvements and the quality of staff in the place, and the whole quality of the experience. While dear Liz came to collect me in her big doored car and her big adooring heart. We stopped at Dully to pick up a few things and have coffee at a cafe, before heading home.

Managed the stairs just fine. Rearranged a few thing and then the Equipment Hire man came:
* 15cm chocks on couch - yay!!!
* 10cm chocks on bed
* fancy smancy toilet elevation, very sculptural

As well Gabis dear Justin dropped off the giant purple chair last night.

All set!!

Jo came and we went for a 10minute walk along the river. I also tried one foot after the other on the stairs and it worked well. Then she made miso soup. Good sis.

After an attempt at a nap Mishka jumped up on the bed and head butted and nose rubbed enough to make up for 3 weeks.

Photo Art at Metro

Outdoor at Metro

Some of the lovely staff at Metro Rehab

Norma and all the staff are just so positive good humoured and lovely!!

Getting Ready to Leave Rehab

Just done a few tests with Cameron to check my ability before I go home. I walked 350 metres in 6 mins then did 14 tests without using the stick. Like sit to stand without using hands. standing with eyes closed, standing with feet together, reaching out with arms, looking over shoulder, balancing on one leg. The only thing I couldnt do was balance on one leg.

Testing out Home with the OT

Today I went home with the Occupational Therapist and the Physio student (final days of a 4 year degree) Cameron.

First thing was getting into the car. Car seat pushed back as far as possible. Lower bum onto seat taking care not to bend operated leg too much. Swing around. Very laid back. Reverse procedure getting out. First time out of here in 2 weeks - out into the big wide world.

Up the 36 steps. Right leg to heaven each time - pulling up my left - like I did before op.  Can do but a bit tired by 36 step.
Coming down its stick/left leg, followed by right leg, and so on.

Inside the unit, the bath poses a problem.  There is not enough space to put the contraption down. But I can climb in if I kick my feet back towards my bum, rather than lifting my knee up. I will ask Tony the Landlord if hes able to put some bars in to help steady myself.

I can see that feeding the cat is challenging. I will need to keep the food up high and not put her food on ground level. Some new challenges. Will also use a pickupstick for the litter tray but will need help changing litter tray.

The raised toilet seat will need to come from a seat on a seat, as a pipe would block the positioning of a frame.

The couch is too low and could pose a stability problem if 15cm chocks were put underneath. Yet this is my comfort spot and the place I would prefer to spend the bulk of my time. Still to work out. Otherwise Gabis big bulky chair but it will be an ugly space invader, altho it gets all the ticks from physio.

The bed will go onto 10cm chocks. That should be ok.

Gosh how would it have been if I just went home straight from hospital? Id hardly know this stuff.

Cost of making and buying hips

http://www.motherjones.com/kevin-drum/2013/08/artificial-hip-cost-markup-healthcare

Rosies Photos

Life in 5CA

The Gear

Sock putter onner, shoe horn with long handle, walking sticks, pick-up-sticks

Walking the Block

Today I walked around the block as part of my physio. Cameron and Stef, the physiotherapists either walked beside me or observed me from behind. I needed to navigate the slopes, cracks, bumps and general uneven slopes out there. Trying to be mindful. I started out with energy but got tired by the end of the block. My left hip tended to veer out a bit with each step. But those are things that can be corrected by physio guidance.

I was thirsty and needed to rest. That was before going up to do some more block work upstairs. After 45 min workout in the pool this morning I really felt exhausted by this arvo and have just had a wee nap.

Ive been down to 5mls of oxicontan since 48 hours ago and seems to be going well in my transition to life without meds.

Outlook in Rehab

Just spoke with Dr Rinku. Looks like I will be discharged next week. There will be a home visit on Monday with the OT in view to my discharge after. Hoping to see podiatrist while Im here.

Chillaxing

Cheeky Marcelle took this photo unbeknown to me. TODAY IS MY 2 WEEK BIRTHDAY SINCE MY OP.. done hydro therapy this morning and woring on steps in the gym this arvo

On to a stick.

Its Day 13 since the op and I was deemed ready to use a walking stick. Still doing my range exercises with the slip sheet on the vynal bed, the circuit at the bar, sit ups from the chair, and step ups on an increasingly higher step. Cameron my physio student from Newcastle University corrects my positioning and where I bear weight. He encourages me to put more weight on my operated side. 

This has all been the necessary prep for walking with a walking stick. Left leg and stick together then right leg, trying to get an even gait. Its coming. My shoulders got lopsided so they took a mirror to me to help me self-correct. I am feeling stronger everyday.

The Rhythm of Life

At Metro Rehab Petersham. I wrote a beautiful spiel then lost it. I wanted to capture the rhythm of this place. How its helping me to get in touch with my body and feel the rhythms around that too.

The physio twice a day a a really solid workout stretching oneself at times to capacity,  concentrating on specific muscles and shifting body weight around so you give more work to the effected side. Catching conversations with the others, sharing their stories or catching their humour or admiring their stoicism against the odds. Cameron is a final year student from Newcastle Uni and hes on my case. The latex band around my knees has pushed me from what started as strenuous moves to more easy. When too easy they up the resistance.

Coming back to a cup of tea, a brief liedown or a read. Then lunch comes and before too ling you are up for your 2nd round of physio. It goes from 40-60 mins.  Come down for a cupper then a nap.

Then at around 3pm I have visitors. Its been most enjoyable and catching up with people I rarely catch up with and some times adding to the alchemy which is Marcelle and I.

After dinner its on with the TV and favorite ABC or SBS programs or we go completely over on conversations that might lead anywhere. Sometimes we split our sides laughing. We hit the pillow late well after the latest drug trolly has made its call. Often with the delightful gentleman Geoff, once a Tenor.

We are awoken early with fresh towels and morning meds.

Shower which I do completely independently now I have my grabber to put on my pants with.

Flowers from Marrickville West

From the beautiful family of Marrickville West

From Louisa

Lovely lavender, candle and chocolate from Louisa to spoil Vivi

Physio

The top floor of Metro Rehab are teaming with physiotherapists. And for each physio are two people working out. Mostly elderly, but not entirely.

Yesterday Stef, a gorgeous young physio, came to collect me with a lightweight walking frame (wheels at front, slides at back) and took me to the top floor.

Stef tested me on the 3 golden rules of post hip op precautions
1. No less than 90 degrees between torso and knees (I had completely misinterpreted this before and thought it was 90 at the knee so focussing entirely on lower body).
2. No crossing the midline below the waist - no leg crossing
3. No twisting at the hip.

It was great to ask questions and get clear about it.

So these were my excercises for the morning of Tuesday 5 August:
CHAIR  Inch bum forward and holding chair arms push up to standing, arms forward to rail 10 x 3
WALKING WITH FRAME for 6mins straight (with U Turns)
At the bar:
SIDE KICKS with left leg  10 x 3
BACK KICKS with left leg 10 x 3
FORWARD KICKS left leg 10 x 3
SQUATS bending knees and sticking bum out
Worked opposite Sheila and we mirrored each other as it was her right hip effected.

Afternoon Session 5 August
Could hardly move when I got up for this but soon broke thru the barrier
At the bar:
More of the above but also using right leg (hardest)
Tip Toes and down.

Morning Session 6 August
Lying flat on back on vynal bed, using a slip sheet sliding foot up and down 10 x 3
Lying flat on back sliding foot out and in
Bridging by pushing feet into surface and raising bum off ground.

Basic Circuit:
Raise on toes x 10
Left side kicks x 10
Left back kicks x 10
Right back kicks x 10
Right side kicks x 10
Back to beginning

Squats

NY Times article on Hips and the complex relationship between business and peoples health

Very interesting article below

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2013/08/04/health/for-medical-tourists-simple-math.html?h=6AQGQh9Td&s=1&_r=0&

Room Fellows

Halleluliah... Peace at last.  The Ambulance came and took my room mate away.

For 4 days I could have put a novel together about the people in this room. Those limb-operated horizontal ones and the people who come rushing to them.

La Nonna Dramatica - Maria. And then someone next to me who made fun of Nonna but then when Nonna left could surely take the prize, the Golden Globe, the Oscar for melodrama itself.

To be fair there were complications following her surgery. And yesterday there was not a dr in the hospital.

The releiving Dr who did come was uncertain about everything but had her turn before the inquisition.

The young Dr today was really onto her case and was very good.

at 3am this morning she was crying as her glands had swollen and she thought she was going to die. I agreed to let particular people know if she died. We then just talked and talked just to keep her mind off things into the morning. She could laugh joke talk and cry like a baby at any point, within split seconds of one another.I perlexed over what was real or imagined but I knew that this woman needed 24/7 attention of any kind on tap.

My feeling was of high drama and i was feeling cheated. Because both these women had nursing and medical staff and their families and loved ones spinning around them.  Everyone!
My own difficulties in being assertive are brought forward.  Not that I would want that kind of attention - it would be my own worst nightmare. I am glad Im healing well and Im not needing any more care than the amazing medical staff have given so often and so well.

But I look at societys resources and see how with all the best intentions for equity its the squeaky wheels and the flashing sirens who rule the roost.

x

Ballet Party

Lovely visit today from Maria Emily Gloria Ariyani Alex and Anthony.

We tried some ballet exercises that I need to do 3 times a day.

And sang "Dem bones dem bones dem dry bones" which Playgroup will perform in the School Musical.

Sister Jo came by bringing with her some coffee. This prooved to be the trigger for The Number Two Movement in B Flat Major.

After this release and working with her on the crossword I began to feel nauseous. Small things are a effort. Thats why we need recovery time.

xx

Disentangling

last night my bloodline was disconnected and today my urineline - the catheta was removed.  Not sure about spelling. My oxygen line was also removed - so now im a free wheelin woman!

Enough to go to the bathroom and have my first 'letting go' wee in days. God it felt good.

Shortly after that I had my first shower as opposed to having a washdown. Sitting on a chair in thw bathroom and washing my hair.

i had one session with the bully physio making me do impossible exercises in bed and taking me for a drag along the hall. in the afternoon i had the great physio and moved on to  lighter frame and accomplished quite a bit.

But inbetween im just out of it drugged up to the eyeballs and just sleeping. Doing this blog is taking all my strength.