THR +58

Sunday, August 31, 2014

The last day of August... and it feels like the first day of fall or West Coast winter! Cool. Dark. Rainy.

I think I'll stay inside and let her be the hero.

I think I'll stay inside. At least for now.

§§§

I'm not sure how I'm going to handle footwear given that my post-op restrictions mean I can't bend forward enough to tie my shoes.

I've worn nothing but shorts, sandals and t-shirts since the operation (July 4) -- and if the weather changes, I'm going to have to do something. Hmm.

§§§

I had a great sleep last night. Woke up a couple of times, but didn't get up until 8:15am. That's amazing!

I wonder if not eating wheat has anything to do with it?

What do I eat instead? Here's yesterday's menu:

BREAKFAST: Coffee, Corn Flakes, blueberries and banana slices

LUNCH: Crab flavoured pollock mixed with chipotle mayo and lettuce on corn tortillas

DINNER: Sushi (avacado roll, veggie roll) from Fujiya, some Argentinian wine

And today? So far:

BREAKFAST: Coffee, feta cheese and black olive omlette (2 eggs)

Also: I plan on making some Blerk™ today.

UPDATE:

LUNCH: Sushi

DINNER: Fruit

- went for a short walk

- chilled out at home most of the day

- made Blerk™ with apples, beets, ginger, lemon, orange

exercise: 2km walked, 10 flights, physio 
NO WHEAT 

-30-

 

THR +57

Saturday, August 30, 2014

Well, the rainy weekend isn't very rainy. Yet.

Here's the view at 7:40am from the mighty KatKam:

English Bay on a early Saturday morning. Via KatKam.ca

It feels like fall: just 14C and quite crisp. LOVE IT.

I had a good sleep last night. The operated leg still has the odd pain and some stiffness. The shoulder is OK -- but still not normal. And it feels like the rib(s) I bruised earlier this year aren't quite healed.

Ah, age.

Anyway... on today's agenda: who knows!

UPDATE:

- I took the walker out of the tub and now I'm showering normally

- I did a bunch of errands that required 6.1km of walking including a couple of stretches without the cane

 - The rains held off

- Enjoyed a day of not having to work

- Quiet evening. Bottle of wine and some British television 

- Day 6 of no wheat

exercise: 6.1km walked,  28 flights, physio

THR +56

Friday, August 29, 2014

And... EIGHT weeks since my surgery.

It's hard to believe that much time has passed -- and how far I've come. Was I really hobbling around like an old man? Was I really using a walker? Was getting in and out of bed almost impossible?

Yup. And just weeks ago!

As per yesterday's post, recovery is coming along nicely. I still need to increase the strength of my operated leg. I'll discuss that with the physio therapist next week.

In other news: all my work is done, so I can have a few days off. Unfortunately the clouds rolled in and rain is in the forecast, but it is a long weekend after all, and that's what the weather usually does.

Today's plans included a ferry ride to Bowen Island, but given the weather, the idea is dead in the water. Better to do it on a nicer day.

That means I have a day of nothing to do. Hmm. Guess I'll read and listen to some tunes... like:



UPDATE:

- I ended up going downtown. Walked to Skytrain. Walked around downtown. Skytrain home.

- I think it's time to add some more freelance writing/editing/screening work. Anyone got?

- Chilled out in the evening. Watched a terrific new show called You're The Worst. And finished Spooks Season 4.

- 5th day of no wheat. 

exercise: 4.16km walked, 10 fights, physio 

-30-

THR +55

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Not a bad sleep last night, but I had to get up early as I have to be at the hospital at 7:45. I'm meeting with my surgeon to have the first follow-up. Seems like 55 days is a long time to wait, but everything is going well.

I'm a bit stiff in the operated leg. The right hand is better but the right shoulder is sore.

After the hospital, I'm planning to do a little work (mostly housekeeping) and then relax.

UPDATE 1:

I used Car2Go to drive to the hospital. Easy peasy and very little traffic. Found parking right outside VGH.

The meeting with the surgeon went well. I spent more time with his assistant, but that was fine. Apparently I'm the poster child for hip replacement surgery.

The incision is all healed. My strength is good and he said I could stop using seat risers and sleep without pillows between my legs when I felt comfortable. I'm also cleared to ride a stationary bike and drive a car (heh heh).

I still have 4 more weeks of precautions to follow, but I get the impression I'm all but healed -- with the exception of soft tissue around the incision. I'll also have to keep doing physio to increase my strength.

Here's a before and after shot:

All ready to set off the metal detectors!

The only bad note? The surgeon said my right hip is showing the early signs of osteoarthritis. He said it would be years before it became a problem... and said "come back and see us then!"

Ah well. Now the next challenge: dropping 50 lbs.

UPDATE 2:

Went for a stroll around the neighbourhood and ended up having a pint of cider at The Storm Crow Tavern -- and watched the world go by.

Did someone say pint? Like 20oz pint?

After the Crow it was time to head home and do physio. And then watch some more of BBC's Spooks. And then a new and pretty funny show called You're the Worst.

Another no wheat day!

exercise: 16 blocks, 20 flights, physio

-30-

THR +54

Wednesday, August 27, 2014

I actually had another good sleep last night, although I've still got some leg pain this morning. Maybe a short walk will help. Or make it worse. Hmm.

Not much on the agenda today other than lots of writing work. Trying to clear everything off my desk so I can have a few days off.

On another note, if you have an iPod Touch or iPhone and the "home" button suddenly stopped working... were you ever able to fix it? My iPod's home button suddenly doesn't do anything. It worked fine yesterday and nothing happened to the device.

Thankfully a virtual home button can be activated in the accessibility settings. Phew!

UPDATE:

- worked most of the day

- got out for groceries

- relaxed in the evening

- some stiffness in the leg

- another "no wheat" day

Also: a nice sunset...

Sunset. Vancouver. August 27, 2014.

exercise: ~10 blocks, 10 flights, physio

-30-

THR +53

Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Not a bad sleep last night, but the leg and shoulder hurt today. I'm going to take it easy -- stick around the house and work/relax.

Also, Monday was the first day off all wheat products. I'll see if I can continue that for the rest of the week.

UPDATE

- worked most of the day while doing laundry -- which means a lot of stair climbing

- had dinner on the drive with an old CTV chum at Fet's

exercise: 4 blocks walked (taking a break due to pain), 74 flights of stairs, physio

-30- 

THR +52

Monday, August 25, 2014

Today marks seven weeks since I left the hospital. Recovery continues, but has slowed a bit.

I managed to get a good sleep last night. I took a couple of Tylenol and crashed around 11pm. I woke up at 4:30am and then around 7am. Nice!

On the agenda: I have to go to the hospital today for x-rays. Then downtown to shop. Then home to work.

I'll likely take a car share to the hospital then transit downtown/home.

UPDATE:

- I took a car share car to the hospital. Cost: $4.60. Convenience: Priceless

- I had to go downtown, so I walked to the closest SkyTrain station and zipped downtown for $2.75.

- As the transit ticket is valid for 90 minutes, I ran my errands quickly.

- I zipped past CBC and grabbed a coffee before heading to another SkyTrain station to return to my neighbourhood.

- I walked about 15 blocks to my place from the station.

And then I worked until the early evening... and went out for yet another walk to get the important things in life: blueberries and wine!

Exercise: Walked 4.5km + 6 blocks (so, 5km?), 20 flights of stairs, physio

-30-

THR +51

Sunday, August 24, 2014

I had a pretty decent sleep last night, but I still wake up a lot. Although I'm feeling pretty good after yesterdays 6km walk.

I'm disappointed with my weight loss. I was down 10 lbs earlier in the month, but much of that has returned. I'm not sure why. My diet is heavy with vegetables and healthy foods -- and I'm exercising more. So... I dunno.

I still plan to go off all wheat as soon as I can. That should be in a day or two -- I've still got some flour tortillas and whatnot in the fridge. I also have a million corn tortillas just waiting to be consumed...

And... I'm trying to figure out what to do today. I don't want to spend any money. I don't want to do the same walk again. But I don't want to remain inside, either.

Hmm.

UPDATE:

I ended up doing some work, followed by a 4km walk, followed by a pint on the patio, followed by a couple of episodes of the BBC series Spooks.

Exhausted, I crashed around 11pm.

exercise: 4km walk, 10 flights, physio

-30-

THR +50

August 23, 2014

Crap sleep again. Not sure why, but I just couldn't get comfortable and the operated leg was/is a bit tender. Gave up at 6:30am.

The apartment reeks from cooking onions last night. It'll be made worse when I cook halibut today!

No much on the agenda today. I'll poke away at next week's work. Maybe take the bus to the beach, but feeling lazy this morning.

The hip is a bit tender today and my shoulder has flared up. I've taken some ibuprofen to see if that helps.

UPDATE:

Big day: point form...

- the ibuprofen seemed to work on the shoulder pain

- I went for a walk from my place to and around Trout Lake -- even through the farmers market. Far too expensive for my blood. But, I logged a 6km walk!

- Had dinner at Fet's (again!) with Don and Linda who were visiting from the Okanagan.

- The SDHC card in my point and shoot camera has gone on the blink, so no photos from the long walk.

- Crashed after midnight... fell asleep fast!

exercise: 6km walk, ~4 blocks, 30 flights, physio+

-30-

THR +49

Friday, August 22, 2014

Today marks seven weeks since I had my total hip replacement. So far so good.

But first: last night.

I went to bed around 11pm and woke up around 2am with leg cramps (thigh) in my non-operated leg. They didn't last long, but they sure hurt. I stayed up until 2:30.

After that I had a decent sleep, rolling out of the sack around 7:30am.

On the agenda: a relaxing day. There's a noon concert at CBC Vancouver. Then it's off to a patio on Commercial Drive for the afternoon.

And not much else. This is my day off.

Back to week seven:

My healing is progressing well. I do have a bit of extra pain when I overdo things, but generally the operated leg feels good.

The right shoulder feels good too, especially when I don't put too much weight on my cane whilst walking.

I'm adding new physio exercises and have noticed that my operated leg remains weaker than the good leg. Not surprising, of course. But it may be time for some stationary cycling.

I've got to go for x-rays today or Monday (methinks Monday) ahead of meeting with my physio therapist and surgeon next week. Before I make any huge changes, I'll wait until after I've talked to them.

UPDATE:

- it was a fairly relaxing day... went with biz partner to The Charlatan for a beer. Then to The Reef for some Jamaican jerk and pints, then to Fet's for some tasty G&Ts

- I sat on a backpack full of pillows. Not the most comfortable option, but better than hauling my large high-density foam pad around with me

- home by 8pm, relaxed, cooked some veggies, apartment stinks of onions

- off to bed at 10:30pm

exercise: ~10 blocks, 10 flights, physio+

-30-