Settling in, getting ready to begin telling the stories

[elisem]

So. I am home, and getting better and more coherent day by day. (Yep, more coherent. It's been a little surprising how much coherence it takes to do physical therapy and occupational therapy and to recuperate in general; most days I didn't have enough coherence left over to carry on long conversations or get online and read anything. I only got back online during the last few days in the transitional rehab facility -- but more on that later.)

For now, the index to items in the tales I will most likely tell:

1. My surgeon is an art preservationist
2. Fun with surgery and recovery, or, "Hey! BREATHE!"
3. "Not pregnant. That's Crohn's."
4. Standing up, and why I couldn't at first
5. The backstory on both of my legs
6. "For you, this isn't rehab; it's hab."
7. Getting everybody on the same page, or, what PT and OT needs to know
8. Walking, for what feels like the first time
9. Me and the usual progression of healing
10. Remedial sitting up
11. I conquer the stairs with secret knowledge
12. Of showers and frustration
13. Adaptive goodness: the disco doorbell, CART, voice relaying, and other good things
14. A most excellent transitional rehab facility
15. The lure of the piano is strong
16. "You want me to what?" says my right leg. "That's the other guy's job!"
17. How to trick a muscle
18. I guess I'm a beginning athlete now
19. "Is that your wheelchair?"
20. Broadening the glossaries
21. The car on fifth floor


If there are any other subjects you want to hear about, I'll try to oblige. But those are the ones I made notes to myself about in my head, and about which I want to tell you.

There. That's about as much work as I can do just now. Soon, supper and the watching of a DVD of Leverage. Yay! More tomorrow, if all goes well. (Tomorrow's a big day: visiting nurse comes to check my Coumadin level and to start getting home PT and OT scheduled.)

Oh, almost forgot:

Today's status of the me:

Ow ow ow but not as bad as before.
Walked a little bit, like thirty steps or so, just to keep the stiffness down.
Sat up in chair over an hour - yay!
Definite overall healing progress.
Icepacks are my friend.

Comments

[janetmiles]

I continue to be delighted that you are home, and look forward eagerly to any stories you end up telling.

Yay for sitting up, for walking, and for less ow-ness.

[redbird]

Yay for progress and coherence!

[(Anonymous)]

What she said!

Also, my brain wanted to read "I conquer the stairs with secret knowledge" as "I conquer the stars with secret knowledge." But stairs are probably of more immediate value. :-)

Karensu

[aedifica]

I'm looking forward to the stories! And I understand about things that you wouldn't think would sap coherence doing it anyway.

(Hooray for overall healing progress!)

[prettymuchpeggy]

I cheer at your fortitude {or is that for your fortitude?}.
I look forward to hearing your stories, but I have always loved your story telling.

Another story I would like to hear,
"How the Folk Festival Fairy Blessed Herself"

Anaesthesia

[(Anonymous)]

So did they knock you out completely or did you have numbing shots? If completely, that is something to factor into recovery time. It can take up to six months for the brain to recover from full anaesthesia. (See--my op was five years ago, and I still can't spell anaesthesia.)

xxxJaneY

Re: Anaesthesia

[elisem]

I had general anaesthesia. Due to the hiatal hernia and reflux situation, they didn't think doing the numbing thing was advisable, because of how I'd be lying on the table. As it turned out, I'm glad I had general. (Surgery was a little more complicated than expected.)

[athenais]

Splendid!

[(Anonymous)]

A Lioness in her own Den! Yay!!!!!!!!

[aitchellsee]

Oops! that was me; forgot I was on DW instead of LJ and needed to sign in :-)

[ckd]

This is very good to hear, and I'm sure even better to experience.

Be well and be healed.

[kalmn]

you've done the hard part. it only gets easier from here. hurray!

[(Anonymous)]

Can't wait to hear the stories!

*pulling up a chair and settling in*

Cindy Lindau

[(Anonymous)]

Hip-hip hooray! Calloo-callay! Wonderful news of the Return of the Native.

And yes, coherence can be quite difficult. Thinking good, healing, healthy, helping thoughts for you & your helpers, when I have some — coherence here has been lacking too.

[Apparently one needs to be invited to get a basic account. Had me puzzled awhile. Must remember to sign.]

MCP

[tiger_spot]

Yay, home! Yay, stories!

I am glad you are improving.