Pocket duties request please.

Gracefully
Gracefully Member Posts: 20
edited 5. Jan 2016, 14:29 in Living with Arthritis archive
After so much messing about, appointments changed, delayed, cancelled at the last minute by Atos, rearranged for when I woudl be in hospital, I think (fingers crossed very firmly) the assessor is coming to my home tomorrow morning.

I have no idea what it's going to be like because all I know right now is that I'm in a bad way and struggling to get things sorted out for going into hospital this Thursday for my hip op (which is very scary given that my opposite knee is failing badly, my other knee is not good, my legs and ankles are so swollen I can hardly move and I'm hurting almost everywhere).

So much so arrange still, so much going pear-shaped and I really feel I could actually learn to get on with having a maid - dreaming on!

:D

So please be with me in spirit and wish me luck that the assessor actually turns up and is a good one.

Comments

  • Slosh
    Slosh Member Posts: 3,194
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Will be thinking of you tomorrow
    He did not say you will not be storm tossed, you will not be sore distressed, you will not be work weary. He said you will not be overcome.
    Julian of Norwich
  • prefabkid47
    prefabkid47 Member Posts: 1,316
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm more than happy to do pocket duties for tomorrow,hope you get everything sorted.
    Willing to bring sandwiches and a flask and stay in your pocket for Thursday.
    Ron
    ''Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy''. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
  • theresak
    theresak Member Posts: 1,998
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Hope it goes well tomorrow - will be thinking of you.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I hope it goes well, Gracefully. I always think it's better to be really crocked for appointments. Much simpler than merely trying to describe things.

    I hope the hip op goes well too. Keep exercising :D
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Gracefully
    Gracefully Member Posts: 20
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Thank you all for your kind thoughts and being with me.

    Well, she came and went in under an hour and talk about rushed!!!!

    So much I didn't get a chance to talk about and after only around half an hour, she was getting messages asking her where she was and other instructions.

    She didn't ask to see how I struggle to 'walk' let alone how difficult it is to get up and down the stairs, or to show how difficult it is to get in and out of the bath for a shower.

    And I wasn't given time to talk about why I cannot socialise, get out to events etc.

    So I've no idea how well it went, but I was certainly in a bit of a mess and feeling really yucky having to get up so 'early' for me.

    Oh well, will have to wait and see what happens next.

    Exercises - I wish - I've been unable to do very much for so long now, it's going to be very interesting when the hospital sees how knackered I have become.

    But there is Spring to look forward to and things warming up.

    I don't know when I'll be back - won't be able to sit at pc for quite a while after I have the op, but I will be back.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm sorry it was so disappointing, Gracefully, but hopefully she has seen enough.

    As for the exercises - I was serious. It really does make a big difference to the recovery if we do them right up to the op. When my second hip went I was trundling round the house in my wheelchair for a week or two before the op as I could only take the odd step but I still managed the quads 4 times a day and it really paid off afterwards.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright
  • Gracefully
    Gracefully Member Posts: 20
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I forgot too that I didn't get to give her a copy of my diary!

    What a waste of time was that - very depressing keeping it in the first place.

    Should I send it in?

    I did show her a body chart of where I get pain and what kind of pain, which she said was very interesting but she didn't need to keep!

    HAH! That could become a collector's work of art in the future!
  • Gracefully
    Gracefully Member Posts: 20
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    I'm sorry it was so disappointing, Gracefully, but hopefully she has seen enough.

    As for the exercises - I was serious. It really does make a big difference to the recovery if we do them right up to the op. When my second hip went I was trundling round the house in my wheelchair for a week or two before the op as I could only take the odd step but I still managed the quads 4 times a day and it really paid off afterwards.

    What are the quads?

    I can only manage to do the ankle exercises in bed now and then, when my ankles are not swollen almost solid and I do try to do the raising onto tiptoes, but then my knee locks so painfully and I am getting bad cramps too these days.

    The other exercise I used to do quite well but cannot manage to do properly at all is to raise my legs when sitting, straight out in front and rotate my ankles.

    All the others that I have been given are just so painful and end up causing more swelling.

    But in a way I'm glad to be going into hospital because if nothing else, it will mean I finally have someone who will be able to see just how deteriorated I have become.

    I have in my mind a kind of goal - that I will be able to get back to going for a walk when I want to, where I want to, in the warm autumn, to enjoy the changing colours and gather a few berries and that sort of thing.

    It's going to be autumn because as soon as I have made a good recovery with my hip op, I then have to have the urgent knee replacement op and I've been told that will be at least 6 months to get over.

    I shall be bionic - once I can get out as and when I want to, I shall be going back to enjoying life and doing all the things I miss.
  • bubbadog
    bubbadog Member Posts: 5,544
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Now that apt came and went (quickly!) by the sounds of it! You can try and get yourself arranged ready for Thursday. As silly as it sounds I have a house cleaner (maid) who comes in once a week so it can be done! Hope everything goes well Thursday.
  • stickywicket
    stickywicket Member Posts: 27,697
    edited 30. Nov -1, 00:00
    Here are some NHS exercises for hip replacement, Gracefully.

    http://tinyurl.com/zx67w24

    Everyone's recovery times post-op are different. I guess it all depends on what one means by 'recovery'. My first two TKRs were done one in April and the other in June. I was about 6 months in all before I could drive again. I don't recall my THRs taking as long – the worst bit is the 6 weeks sleeping on one's back but that's a small price to pay for the lack of pain and increase in mobility. Good luck with it all.
    If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't for you.
    Steven Wright