I’m still here, folks! This recovery period from hip replacement surgery has been a little challenging, but I hope to be in good shape at the end of this adventure. Don’t let anybody tell you how easy a hip replacement recovery is, though, because it isn’t for even the healthiest and everybody is different with a different recovery period.
Every morning I find Perry’s squid placed carefully where my back lies on the couch. If he’s worried, he drops it in my lap.
I have bought a lot of medical items on Amazon, only to end up with a tub of returns. Velcro shorts and underwear, compression stockings that were the wrong something or other, rubber gloves for the compression stockings that the Gardener won’t use, and so on.
The journal Waffle Fried published a flash story of mine that is close to my childhood memories. By that I mean that while the story is fiction, the emotions, sensory details, places, and characters are true to my childhood.
https://wafflefried.com/sumac/
I am wondering if these elements are only true to my experience or if they ring any bells for you.
Leaving you with a little poem:
pain pulses through me
the pills can’t work fast enough
Perry lies next me
all is well
Throughout all this the past few weeks, I’ve missed you all!
You are the fourth person I know who has had hip replacement in the past 2 months or so. Ages range from 85 to 52. Although it’s come a long way from the ordeal of the 70s, it’s still not a walk in the park. Hopefully in the end it will be worth it!
Thank you, Kate. It’s shocking to me how many people made it sound like it would “nothing.” Not at all. I wish people would be honest about these things.
My son-in-law had it done (at age 60) and he was back to work in 3 weeks but I think that is the unusual. My last friend ended up in the hospital for 5 days and now she is in a rehab center. She lives alone and really needs help. Nothing went smooth for her but she is doing much better now. It’s like when you are a kid and ask if it’s gonna hurt. Adults always say no but it does!
Yes, to the “is it gonna hurt.” I’d rather hear the unvarnished truth. I’m so sorry about your friend. I can’t imagine doing this alone. It’s just not safe and too much that cannot be handled. Your SIL was very lucky. I am three weeks out today, and I need a lot of sleep
I’m so sorry you’re going through this pain and long recovery. I hope you feel much better soon. Thank goodness for our feline friends!
Oh, thank you so much, Merril. Yes, I don’t know what I would do without them. xo
You’re welcome, Luanne. xx
My girl Hannah didn’t leave my side for six weeks when I was recovering from spinal fusion surgery. I felt her pouring her kitty magic into me, and I do believe her loyalty is what got me through… I hope you move beyond the worst of this ordeal in no time! I’ll be thinking of you… 💖😽✨
The recovery from spinal fusion must have been horrible. I love that Hannah was there for you. It makes all the difference. Thank you, Stephanie.
Take your time, rest, rehab, recover at your own pace.
No one, including your blogging friends, is timing you!
We miss you, but we will wait for you.
Thank you so much, Sheila. You are great. 🤗
I’m so sorry your recovery has been so difficult, Luanne. We miss you too! Keep healing, my friend. ❤️
Thank you so much, Colleen. I’ve felt so isolated here (bed, couch, bed, couch hahaha. xo
May extra kitty time seem like a silver lining.
Yes, a silver lining is exactly it. And Perry definitely thinks so!
I thought you must have gone on a holiday. I had forgotten you were getting your hip done, but anyway, I’m glad it’s all done and you are on the mend. May take some time but hopefully you’ll be trying out for the high jump soon. Sending you healing hugs.
Maybe I’ll pretend to myself I went on holiday! Kind of wash away the last three weeks and think beach . . . . Thank you so much, Anneli. XO
It takes time but you’ll get there.
I love the well-chosen, descriptive words you used in your flash fiction. Great stuff.
Thank you so much for reading it. I feel very close to that story.
Mend well.
Thank you, Ken! Also, I got your message and many thanks! So exciting to hear that!
😀
I hope you have a speedy recovery from here on in, Luanne. I know several people who’ve had hip replacements and they are not fun. Hugs to you.
Love your flash fiction!
Thank you so much, Jennifer. I appreciate your info. Makes me feel less alone. And so glad you love the story!!
I’m glad to hear from you, Luanne. None of those procedures is easy, so I wish you patience and continued improvement.
Thank you, John! My patience is good except regarding sleeping on my back. SICK OF IT.
Welcome back, Luanne! Oh, those winsome details in Sumac. . .
So glad you liked the story, Joy! And thanks for the welcome!
Congratulations on the publication of “Sumac.” It’s a powerful story. It doesn’t ring any bells for me except maybe sibling rivalry.
I was so glad to see a blog post from you! Facebook just doesn’t do it for me.
Thank you, Liz. I’m so glad you appreciated the story although it didn’t feel familiar to you. Must be my weird reactions to things as a kid ;).
Kids can have weird reactions and perceptions of the adult world. 🙂
So true. And that is one of the elements I was going for.
Angels attend!
Thank you, Annette! xo
Praying for you as you recover! I had both hips replaced two years apart. I thank God every day for my new hips! It is slow at first, but day by day, there are improvements. One day, all the pain will be gone and you will feel strong again.
Oh my, two hips!!! Thank you so much for your prayers! May I pick your brain, Linda? How long was it before you could sleep comfortably on your side (if you do) and did you need a pillow between your legs?
It was several weeks for me each time before I could lay on my side. (I sleep on my side and on my back.) I actually go back and forth between each side and my back!!! 🙂 I did use a soft pillow as I transitioned from my back to my side at first. Little by little, it all gets better. If I could not sleep because I was uncomfortable, I often had a cup of herb tea in the middle of the night…Then, I could go back to sleep!!! I am praying for you. I think the healing came in little bursts. I did thank God for each and every burst of recovery…
The herb tea is a great idea. I am still sleeping on the couch so the kitchen is two steps away. I woke up in the middle of the night on my “bad” side!!!! First time that has happened! I am someone who likes to start out on my side and then usually in my sleep I transition to my back, but this hip has changed everything.
You are in my prayers! Before you know it, all will be well!
“Sumac” not ring any bells for me, but I enjoyed your story, Luanne, and your poem.
You are in my thoughts and prayers for a speedy, and uneventful, recovery. Perry is looking out for you.
I wish you a full and speedy recovery. I’m so glad Perry and the Gardener are there to take care of you!
Thank you! Well, you know how cats step up, if and when they want to!
I am so sorry this recovery has been harder than you expected. I think people often forget the pain and are so happy with the results that they see the whole thing through rose-colored glasses. And thank God for Perry! Cats are so amazing the way they sense when we are down and come to provide comfort and company. Feel better soon!
Cats are just the best! So so happy to have Perry. My cat who passed a few years ago, Pear Blossom was actually the best nurse. She should have been given a diploma! But Perry just loves me so much, and that is a big thing. Thanks, Amy!
Hang in there, Luanne. Everyone says it is worth it in the end…
🙂
I’m sorry you are have a bad time of it, and that you had to experience such harsh treatment once
Thank you, Derrick. I know you have your own medical c**p to go through. Not fun!!!!
I’m glad to hear you’re recovering, even if it is slow, and it’s lovely that Perry is showing he cares!
Perry is my little love. He’s not really a nurse, but he loves me so much it’s wonderful. My cat Pear Blossom who died a few years ago was a nurse. She took care of anyone who was sick–cat, dog, human. Thanks, Andrea!
Hoping you’ll find this is SO worth it, and life is much easier once healing’s complete!
I sure hope so. Mine went undiagnosed for a year and a half while I was in excruciating pain. Anything must be better! Thanks, Pam.
I’m glad you are beginning to fell better after surgery. It’s not easy. I loved your story and poem. You are an expert at spinning straw into gold. Be well……💐
How I love that!!! Spinning straw into gold!! You made my month.
We miss you, too, Luanne. Hope this painful time will pass quickly and you’ll be back, feeling good again. Congrats on Sumac–a powerful and harrowing story of childhood trauma.
Thanks so much for reading Sumac. I’m so glad felt the power–and realized the trauma of it all. And thanks for your good wishes. Every few days I feel better!
Wishing you the best, Luanne.
Jennie, thank you so much!
You are welcome!
All I’ve heard about hip replacement surgery is that it works, in that eventually the pain that led to the surgery goes away, but too many people skip over the long recovery period. Goodness, about 10 years ago my husband had surgery on his big toe, and it took about a year before he felt completely normal again (emphasis on the word completely; his recovery wasn’t long but he still had a lot of adjustment … partly because he didn’t took his PT like he should have 😉)
I just hope you keep getting better and better. I’ve missed you here too although I’ve been absent a lot. And leave to cats to offer comfort 😻
Thank you so much for your thoughtfulness in your response. That does makes me feel better. XO
It’s so hard to be patient when recovering from surgery. But patient you must be. And do your PT. It’s worth it ❤️
You know what is surprising? My surgeon only believes in PT for 5-10 % of patients! He believes in walking. So I am trudging around the house, trying not to topple over, and am at about 5,000 steps at this point.
Well, walking is PT 🙂 I mean, you can look at it that way. When Greg had his back surgery, walking was the best thing for him too.
Oh, I imagine walking was difficult at first, but so good for Greg. I am finding similar . . . .
I have been thinking about you. My first hip replacement was awful–on painkillers for 30 days +. My second, I was on pain pills for 3 days. I asked the surgeon why on earth they were so different. He said–as you say–every surgery is different. (I’m so glad it happened in that order, or I would have been like, what the hell!) Now, ten years later, I never even think about my hips–they work perfectly. I hope you soon get to the point where the pain recedes and new mobility begins to take over.