A catch up post

I know I've been quiet at the moment, but I've not had a lot to say and when I have, I've said it. I know that's unusual for me!

Today was day number 2 in the phased return to work. Walk to bus stop: bus to town: walk to bus station: bus to Ball Hill: walk to Centre. A couple of hours there with Janet, catching up, meeting the new physiotherapist, sorting things out. Then walk down to Binley Road, catch the bus to Binley Woods, walk home.

Collapse in an exhausted, quivering heap.

I still haven't recovered 4 hours later.

I'm now starting to wonder whether there is something more sinister going on here. Why am I so prostrated by a minimal amount of exercise - less than 1.5 miles in 4 chunks, each chunk punctuated with a good sit down? Why do my legs tremble after a few steps? What is going on? How have I got worse rather than better in the last couple of weeks?

I am at the hospital again tomorrow. Walk to bus stop: bus to town: bus to hospital. Physio, then lunch, then consultant. Bus to Warwickshire shopping park: walk across Morrisons car park: bus to Binley Woods: walk home. I shouldn't be quite as knackered as I am today. Should I?

I shall mention it to the consultant tomorrow, but I'm guessing I need to see my GP. Wish me luck.

I have been taking a goodly amount of decent supplements: Vit D3, an excellent multivitamin, glucosamine, an Omega 3-6-9 oil. It's just the exercise bit that I'm struggling with now.

I'm still here.

May 13th came and went, and I'm still here.

Still in pain, now with the additional complications that my muscles feel weak when I walk, my right hip hurts, and my neck and both shoulders both hurt too. Shopping this week was a night mare.

The Tens machine does work but not for long enouch. The Fenbid gel also works after a fashion, as I can't quite reach where it needs to go!

As I need to have a reasonably clear head, I can't take the full dose of 2 x 30/500 Zapain. I take 1 every so often, roughly every 3 hours at night as I think that's going to amount to much the same, and if I stop and take 2 x 500 paracetamol at about 3am then the hangover process has started so I have a roughly clear head by 9am.

I've started taking the Naproxen every morning again to see if it works. No improvement so far but I think it needs to build up, as does the Organic Beauty Oil from NYRO which I stopped taking in March on the advice of the pre-op nurse. Now I know that it actually works, I'm going back on it!

I found a very good pain scale this morning, which is 0 - 12. On that scale I'm operating at 7 - 9 most days, with the pain being enough to distract me from concentrating and stopping me doing things (like putting the gear lever into reverse).

I'm completely running out of ideas now. The only thing keeping me going is the thought that one day this will be over. Sorry to be so negative.

My crowdfunder is here. I'm considering using it to pay for taxis to get us everywhere as I'm finding driving so very painful.
https://gogetfunding.com/please-fund-my-convalescence/

Unexpected consequences

When I had the pre-op interview at the hospital, I was advised to stop taking all the supplements I take because they will interfere with some of the medications I will have to take during the op and recovery process.

I'd never heard of this, I must admit. I had heard that some drugs would interact with the omega supplements but not all the supplements.

Anyway, the first one I stopped taking was the Organic Beauty Oil from NYR Organic. I take this because it is an excellent source of the 3-6-9 Omega oils, with hemp oil in it too. Very nourishing.

Today was the first day I really noticed its loss, about a month after I stopped taking it. Not only is my shoulder really getting worse now, but now my knees are playing up, with pain and weakness starting to affect me.

Oh decisions - should I start taking it again and risk the wrath of the surgical team? I may just do that!

https://gogetfunding.com/please-fund-my-convalescence/