Post op...

So I woke up from a fog around 7pm feeling like I got hit by a truck. I reach down to my right leg because something is stuck to it. Ugh, Foley catheter holder. Well at least I don’t have to worry about how to pee for a while. I gently move my left leg. It’s there. A tad painful, but not nearly what it was earlier in the day. Mom was beside the bed. We talked for a short while before she left to make the 20 or so minute drive back to the campground. I drifted back to sleep.

Rubber chicken!!!!

Between the Dilaudid PCA, the scheduled Norco, Toradol, etc my pain was well controlled. Upon waking to the blood fairy Sunday morning it was time to start planning how everything was going to work to get home, but first there were goals to getting out of the hospital.

The foley was taken out early in the day. That was weird. A first that I really could have went a lifetime without. I managed to eat some pretty decent food. And I laughed as I looked at the dry erase board on the wall at the foot of my bed. “No falls, call for help. Void before lunch. Keep pain controlled.” Yea I thought yesterday my goal was the ride 54miles today I just have to pee.

Of course I took a selfie...I was feeling shitty.

 

I think Builder Bob came to see me Sunday (my inpatient stay there is blurry-probably drug induced). I remember telling him that my left knee was hurting - he assured me that he had checked it and he felt it was fine and the pain probably was from my hip surgery. I also remember asking him if my lack of calcium intake (can’t drink milk) had anything to do with this fracture. He was like, “no your bones are strong. In fact I had to work hard to get the hardware in.” Hmm so how the hell did I break my hip? We chatted and he suspected that during my crash I was airborne and all of my weight came down directly on my greater trochanter because “the bone is shattered, it’s a bad fracture.” In retrospect going +20mph on the unfamiliar, wet road did me no favors either. Physics was not my friend that day. He encouraged me not worry that things were in good shape now and recovery while lengthy (4-6 months) should go well. Cool man thanks! He even said at one point “in four months you’ll be able to get on your trainer and spin.” I loved it that the doc was a cyclist and totally got it.

Next order of the day would be get out of bed. Not so easy when you can only use one leg and you’ve had major surgery. My restriction for my left leg was toe-touch which meant I could put my toe on the floor for balance otherwise it was all up to my right leg and arms to move my big butt.

Well helping me get out of the bed became the task of a very nice PT and her student. I have a weird response to pain which causes me to black out and have seizure-like activity. So this day, first attempt to get up. Nope way too light headed. Second attempt I think I made it three steps from the bed and the lights went out. According to my Mom, there were 14 people in my room. I had become a Rapid Response. My orthostatic blood pressures were shit and the “seizure-like” activity got them all in a bundle. That’s ok though, they performed exactly how they should have! Great work BMH staff! As a result I got to stay in bed the rest of the day and I got put on telemetry (constant heart monitoring).

I’m telling you the nursing staff and therapy staff was wonderful the entire stay! I think I have the story a bit out of order, but time and the events have led to confusion.

I do know at some point in one day, I think it was Sunday maybe Monday this lady in scrubs came strolling in my room. She wasn’t in the same color as my nurses and NAs. I thought maybe she was a social worker or something. I just stared at her as she walked in, “Hey Jen!” 🤔. I think she sensed my confusion and I probably gave her a who the heck are you look. “It’s Julie your hospice nurse.” Oh snap! For real, she had come to check on me! I truly was blown away that someone would care enough to follow up. Most people would have probably just went about their lives. Julie stayed with me a bit, and we chatted about various things. At some point I mentioned liking Dr. Pepper. Shortly after bidding me farewell as she continued on her work day Julie returned with two! YUM! Thanks my friend. This would be the last I’d see my new friend face-to-face. Thanks to texting and Facebook I was able to bid her farewell when we left Townsend l, and I’ve chatted with her some since. We still have a reunion to have in 2019. I look forward to hugging my friend.

Flowers from Eleanore!

Eleanore also would reappear in my hospital room. I swear y’all these two people are truly special individuals. Eleanore came by to check on me and brought some beautiful flowers. She assured me that my bike was safe and sound. If we didn’t manage to get it before leaving town she would hold on to it for me. At that point in time I could care less to ever see it again much less was I thinking of riding again. We talked for a while about an upcoming ride I was registered for which obviously I wouldn’t make it to and we talked about my goal of two-days at Shenandoah Fall Foliage with my long day being on Sunday this year. I encouraged her if she was interested in traveling to do rides to check them out as they are both beautiful, reasonably priced and well supported. As 2018 rolled on she would do the events I recommended and she would wind up bringing my bike home to me. I was able to visit with Eleanore in November and plan to ride with her in the future. For all I went through I’m so grateful that I got two friends out of it.

My Blount Memorial stay was entertaining. I was a good patient I promise, but I got bored. Hahaha. Stay tuned for mischief and fun with the nursing staff.