1 EAGLETON NOTES: Thankful Thursday: Home

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Friday, 22 April 2016

Thankful Thursday: Home

I'm writing this coming up to midnight on Friday 22 April just over 100 hours since I had the new knee. It has been an amazing week and absolutely nothing has turned out as I expected. The operation was, apparently, textbook. I had an epidural and whilst I didn't actually see what was going on I was certainly aware of it. I didn't, of course, feel any pain at all at the time.  I was the first on last Monday so by the time the day had ended I had had a good chance to catch up with things and realise what was what. It wasn't the best of days. However I slept well and by Tuesday lunchtime the angels of mercy had the pain under control and I never looked back. 

I was up and about and on Wednesday the surgeon was so pleased he said I'd be out on Friday. However on Tursday morning he was so pleased with progress he said, if the physiotherapist was happy, I could go that afternoon. He was so I went!

Obviously it's not the end of the journey but the physical recovery so far has been remarkable. My only problem is nausea and a complete lack of desire to eat. I'm sure that will all be sorted soon.

The staff were so kind, caring and thoughtful and my thanks to, and praise of, everyone involved is fulsome and heartfelt. The four of us who were recovering together in the room were together for just a few days but the craic was brilliant as we all discovered the links we shared in the community and, in some cases, reminisced.

I had been convinced when I went in that I would have lots of time in Blogland and writing letters etc. I did virtually none of that. I slept and I exercised. I ate (the food was good) when I could and the rest of the time was taken up by visiting and the like. I was in hospital for 96 hours. Four of the fastest days and nights I've lived. Four days for which I am very thankful indeed.

Posted by Graham Edwards at 23:50
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49 comments:

  1. Terra 23 April 2016 at 00:18

    I am glad to hear your recovery is going on apace. It is always preferred to be recovering at home ASAP.

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 16:55

      Yes Terra it's true that there is no place like home.

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  2. carol in cairns23 April 2016 at 00:25

    I have been wondering how the surgery had gone GB.

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:17

      The surgery went very well thanks Carol. In fact I'm not quite sure that the effects of the anaesthetic have quite worn off yet.

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    2. carol in cairns23 April 2016 at 21:14

      I was going to share this the other day ~ and since you mentioned anaesthesia ...
      https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2U-DiZaTQ4

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  3. Pauline23 April 2016 at 00:52

    Terrific news!

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:17

      It is indeed Pauline. Hopefully I'll not be trailing so much on our next safari.

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  4. Peace Thyme23 April 2016 at 00:55

    You absolutely ROCK, Mr. Edwards, as does your doctors and you care team. Good on you. May your therapy and recovery continue to be "off the charts", as we say. Good on you!!!

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  5. A Brit in Tennessee23 April 2016 at 00:56

    Wishing you continued speedy recovery, I should take the plunge and have mine replaced this year.....

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:26

      Well, Brit in Tennessee, I would heartily recommend it (without wishing to create any legal implication that my experience is going to be replicated absolutely in any other case).

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  6. Red23 April 2016 at 02:31

    They fill us so full of medication that we feel pretty dozy and most of the time we are drowsy. I hope everything goes well with your recovery.

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:27

      Thanks Red. I'm certainly still sleeping and resting a lot.

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  7. Kate23 April 2016 at 03:51

    Well done! I expect your level of fitness has helped. You are a good example to me.

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  8. Fi from Four Paws and Whiskers23 April 2016 at 04:28

    So pleased to hear this. Well done :)

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  9. Cro Magnon23 April 2016 at 05:00

    Well done, and well done to the surgical team. (May I add that if I needed a similar op', I would have to return to the UK. If I had it done here I would have to sell my house to pay for it, whereas any Frenchman would receive the same service in the UK as yourself for FREE. That's the EU for you).

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:37

      Well Cro I hadn't realised that. Do not the French have a compulsory insurance scheme which EU immigrants can join?

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  10. Serenata23 April 2016 at 07:41

    So glad you are home and that things are going so well. Hopefully the nausea will soon pass. Such good news.

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  11. Jenny Woolf23 April 2016 at 10:19

    I am so glad you are home and that things went well, Graham. And the bonus will be that you soon have a nice new knee! although right now I am sure you are concentrating on the exercises, and keeping fed when you don't feel like it. Those forti-sip things are quite useful to tide you over, but I expect your doc has recommended that.

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:41

      Thanks Jenny. I may have to investigate those forti-sip things although fruit seems to be acceptable at the moment.

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  12. Anonymous23 April 2016 at 10:53

    This is good news!!!! So pleased. Now rest!!!!

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  13. Librarian23 April 2016 at 12:24

    Great news, and I am sure you'll soon regain your appetite. What caused/causes the nausea? The epidural or some other pain medication?
    When I had to go into hospital for minor surgery in 2010, I felt immensely grateful to everyone who was looking after me so well, too. I think I have mentioned it on my blog, too.

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:43

      Meike I think that it may well have been the epidural although I didn't know that was a likely side-effect. On the whole I've not been adversely affected by general anaesthetics.

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  14. Lee23 April 2016 at 13:33

    This is incredible news, Graham...I'm so pleased all went well for you...and the pain has been minimal and kept under control. The future looks bright and all that is behind you now...a new week is on its way...and soon, no doubt, a new bounce in your step. Thanks for your update...all the best...take care. :)

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    1. Graham Edwards23 April 2016 at 17:44

      Thank you Lee. As you say a new bounce in my step is on its way.

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  15. Frances Garrood23 April 2016 at 19:55

    I'm writing this at Heathrow on way to our holiday but had to say how delighted I am that all went well. I hope your recovery continues uneventfully and you're soon back to normal.

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    1. Graham Edwards24 April 2016 at 12:34

      Frances I have always tried to avoid being 'normal'. It has connotations of boring predictability and being branded thus has always scared me a bit.

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  16. Canadian Chickadee23 April 2016 at 20:02

    So very glad everything went to so well. And, welcome home! xoxox DeeDee

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  17. diane b23 April 2016 at 22:07

    Great news. Its always good to hear success stories. These days we hear to much of the other when it comes to hospitals here anyway.

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    1. Graham Edwards24 April 2016 at 12:38

      Thank you Diane. I have a feeling that people are much quicker to complain than they are to praise and they are often the voice that pushes forward and is heard.

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  18. VirginiaC24 April 2016 at 00:20

    So happy that you're back home and recovering nicely.
    Thank goodness the black arrow on your foot pointed to the right knee.
    Don't overdo things, you know how it is with us Geminians, we can't keep still, but take things in stride and please eat something even if you don't feel to do so.

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    1. VirginiaC24 April 2016 at 00:21

      Maybe you can have take out hospital food since it was so good....lol.

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    2. Graham Edwards24 April 2016 at 12:46

      Virginia the public can eat in the Hospital canteen if they want to. The food is certainly better than many places. Actually even things I love have tasted horrible.

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  19. Helen24 April 2016 at 09:36

    Glad it was a textbook op and that you're on the road to recovery. Hope your appetite returns soon, xx

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    1. Graham Edwards24 April 2016 at 13:04

      Thank you Helen. Slowly but surely food is becoming more palatable. It has made me realise, though, what a First World thing it is when one is complaining about the fact that one has an unlimited choice but food still tastes awful.

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  20. Jayview24 April 2016 at 13:43

    It is always great to get out of hospital without adverse incidents isn't it - especially when it's elective surgery. Hope your recovery/rehab continues to go brilliantly. Jean

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    1. Graham Edwards26 April 2016 at 16:58

      Thank you Jean. All is going very well so far.

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  21. Yorkshire Pudding24 April 2016 at 13:43

    I am pleased to learn that all went well and you are now on the road to recovery.

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  22. DawnTreader24 April 2016 at 18:42

    I'm so glad the op went well. I hope you'll soon be able to enjoy your food again as well as be out and about. (For my own part I suspect that having to be awake and aware during major surgery would probably be enough to keep me nauseous for a week after...) /sorry, lost my sense of spelling in my first try/

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    1. Graham Edwards26 April 2016 at 17:00

      Thanks Monica I'm over the nausea and horrible food taste now and back eating properly. I'm not sure that wasn't more unpleasant than the mechanicals of the operation itself.

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  23. Kay G.25 April 2016 at 03:16

    Maybe

    May you improve every day! Your health I mean you are just right! Take care!

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    1. Graham Edwards26 April 2016 at 17:01

      You are so funny Kay. I love your sense of humour.

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  24. Liz27 April 2016 at 03:41

    Wonderful to read that it was "textbook"... that is a great sign!

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