Monday 16 March 2015

On the road to recovery

Bruce is letting me post the blog today so that I can say a big thank you to all who sent me kind messages about my op last Friday. It was very encouraging to receive so many messages.

It has been a very stressful few days. Jo James very kindly drove me to the hospital for 11.00am. The op went far better than I had feared. I was given a spinal block rather than a general anaesthetic although I'm not too sure what the difference is. I was so sedated that I slept through most of the operation but at least when I was awake I couldn't feel anything. The staff at the hospital were very kind and friendly but at times a bit confusing. When I was admitted at 11am I had no clear idea how long I would be in hospital. Since the ward staff, the anaesthetist and the surgeon each told a different story I remained uncertain. After the op it was looking hopeful that I would go home the same day but not until 9pm. Bruce had bought me a mobile of my own specially so I could keep in touch while I was in hospital. We hadn't allowed for there being absolutely no signal in the hospital. I had to ask the ward staff to phone Bruce and make sure that I could get a lift home which was now going to be 9.30, probably. By the time they got hold of Bruce I was to be discharged at 10.30. Elanor, bless her, came to pick me up arriving on the ward at 10.20. she finally managed to wheel me off the ward at 11.10.

Research on the internet had led us to expect that I would be on elbow crutches at first. I was surprised to be given no walking aids but my left foot, which was heavily bandaged, was in a "stylish" boot. The boot has a very thick sole under the back two thirds of my foot and a thin sole under my toes. Since my right foot was in a slipper with a very thin sole my walk could only be described as ungainly. I shall be like this for a fortnight and must spend most of the time sitting or lying down with my left heel higher than my hips. I get up and hirple around for five minutes in the hour during the day.

On Saturday our friends John and Nev Campbell interrupted their maiden voyage on their new boat Destiny to come and give us their support. On Sunday Bruce and John were able to move Sanity Again to Shobnall where she has gone into the dry dock today, while Nev kept me company. They have returned to Poynton on the Macc today to continue their voyage. Many thanks John and Nev.

I haven't left the lodge yet but I'm rapidly gaining confidence to move around and have eased back on the painkillers already. Altogether not as bad an experience as I feared. Time will tell whether my bionic toe has solved the problem.

3 comments:

KevinTOO said...

Hope your recovery and healing continue without delay, best wishes, Kevin

Dogsontour by Greygal said...

Been in the foreign so missed the drama. Glad all is well and wishing you a continued speedy recovery

GG
x

Anonymous said...

I've been out of the loop too - so sorry to hear that you've been in the wars - here's hoping for a speedy recovery in time for the summer boating season.

Sue, nb Indigo Dream