I have more strength today, and a better appetite. More importantly, I was finally able to take a shower. I was scared at first, not really sure how I'd stand or move around in the shower without my crutches. But I did fine. The operative leg can bear weight, so I shuffled around, got my hair washed, and cleaned myself up.
Just to keep things interesting, I broke out in hives on the operative leg. I have a sensitivity to some metals--anything with nickel content, I guess--so I began to panic, thinking that the hives were a sign that my body was rejecting the prosthesis. The prosthesis, as far as I know, is titanium and ceramic, so it really should be OK. I was tested for metal sensitivity prior to the surgery, and my doctor knew what he was dealing with. So why am I getting hives all over the knee and thigh of the operative leg? We're hoping the hives were a reaction to that antiseptic junk they slather on you before surgery. On me they used something green, so I had one nasty Incredible Hulk-ish leg all week. I was told not to wash the green off (because it was supposedly still fighting bacteria on my skin?), but I don't think my skin liked this idea. I scrubbed the crud off my leg in the shower today, and took Benedryl. The hives are gone for now.
I took the bandage off today, and a home health nurse came to check the incision (it "looks good" and is less than 4" long) and test the clottiness of my blood. I'm on Coumadin, which is a blood thinner they use to reduce the risk of a blood clot. My blood was a little on the thick side, even with the Coumadin, so the dosage may have to be changed.
There is only very slight pain at the incision site, typical of any area where you have stitches or staples in your body. The most annoying pain now is on the inside of the thigh on the operative leg. Feels like a pulled muscle, probably from overcompensating for the weak muscles around my hip that were cut during the surgery.
I was able to go outside today, and that was fantastic. It was an unusually nice day today--not suffocatingly hot, as it usually is here in July--so I strolled up and down the driveway two or three times on my crutches. My tomato plants look good, and we were able harvest our first two yellow squash of the season.
Lee had an easier time with the kids today. I think everybody is finally getting into a routine. Thing One asked me to read Katy and the Big Snow to him tonight, and I obliged. He wanted to sit on my lap, but I managed to convince him to sit on the arm of my chair instead. It's tricky. I don't want to scare the kids, or make them feel like they can't touch me. But I have to be constantly aware of where they are in relation to my leg and my crutches. I'm doing what I can to help the kids feel like I'm still the same and they're still the same and we're all doing great. Because we are.
