Recovery

Today, it has been three weeks since my surgery. My incision is healing nicely, with no signs of inflammation or infection. My sternum is healing well. I still need to occasionally press on my chest for sneezes and coughs, but that need is fading. Today, I walked around the neighborhood, maybe a half-mile or so.

That brings me to the most serious part of recovery. Energy levels. I was in surgery for about six hours. That’s a lot of anesthesia, and it takes time to get that stuff out of my system. The surgery I had was major surgery, and the trauma also wears on my system. The last part of my walk was rough, as my toes kept dropping and threatening to trip me up, but I made it back home without incident and plopped into my recliner.

I spend a lot of time in the recliner. Too much, according to my tokhes (arse). I will find myself falling asleep, waking up, and trying to get up to get to the restroom. My tokhes, having fallen asleep, says, “Nay!” It makes for some interesting times.

I’ve got another twelve days before I can drive again. I can’t lift more than five pounds in each arm or ten pounds combined, and I can’t push or pull with my arms. These restrictions put a crimp on my daily activities. Yesterday, we had a new dog rake delivered. Yuki, our Husky, is definitely shedding his winter coat. I had him lay on his side and brushed him out. When I was finished, I had a Walmart sack packed full of fur, and I was gassed.

Sleeping can be an issue. The only position I can sleep in is on my back. I’m usually a side sleeper, but that position hurts, so sleeping on my back is what I do. Getting into and out of bed is getting easier, as is showering and the other aspects of personal hygiene we often take for granted. A piece of advice. If you ever have to have major surgery, install a bidet on your toilet. You’ll thank me.

Last week, we had a storm move through the state, losing power for two days. No lights, no TV, and I couldn’t use my phone too much, as I had no way to recharge it other than with a couple of power banks. I slept a lot, so maybe that was a good thing. I had to sleep in the recliner, as I use a C-PAP machine to sleep. Usually, if the power goes out, I would sleep on my side. That was not an option, so in the chair I slept.

Overall, I’m doing very well. I seem to be healing quickly and have had few complications. I haven’t driven Robin crazy yet, although Lord knows I’ve tried. My next milestone is April 22, when I have a follow-up appointment with the surgical team. I should be given the green light to drive and maybe some other restrictions lifted there.

But do you know what? Every morning, I wake up, and I thank the Lord I woke up. Modern American medicine has once again made my life better. The good Lord will come for me in His own good time. In the meantime, I get to see more wonderful things, see and hear more awesome stories, and generally do what I can to squeeze as much out of life as I can.

At least after the surgeons remove my restrictions. In the meantime, it’s time to dance!

Puttin’ On The Ritz!