Hello Your Fit Day Friends!
Last night went much better. After having adjusted my bed to feel more like a Lazy Boy lounge chair, with pillow strategically place under my elbows and calves, I pretty much slept through the night. I fell asleep at about 10:45PM
At 6AM they woke me for some shots, to draw blood, take BP and not sure what else. Then it was more sleep until I woke at 930 to start the day.
First up was a sponge bath which really was a pseudo sponge bath since they don’t use a sponge. Instead they use large wipes that smell very lemony and are cool on the skin. It felt good to get the grime off my body. I brushed my teeth in bed, camping style, and then was draped with a new robe.
Shortly after cleaning up Dr. Bose’s assistant came in to see me and change the dressing. He said the sutures looked clean, no infection and were healing nicely.
Next was breakfast. On the first day, when I checked in, the dietician came in to ask me what I wanted to eat. I told her my diet consisted of protein, fats, and veggies and small amount of yams. Since I’m not working out my body doesn’t require the carbs I was eating before, and it was difficult to make them understand that rice was NOT my main staple of a diet. I’d give them a list of what I wanted to eat and when I was through they would say : “yes, rice?”. And I would say ” No , no rice please, just steamed veggies” But they kept pushing the rice on me.
And it’s hard to get the staff to bring steamed veggies with every meal. It seems that Indians don’t eat many vegetable or it’s their custom to only have steamed veggies for dinner. On Day 1 I got my veggies with breakfast. On day two I had a different staff person and I guess he decided that veggies were not appropriate for breakfast so it was a struggle to get them with my morning meal, even though I asked another 5 times. Just trying to have some roughage for later, if you know what I mean!
So, At 10:15 AM my six egg white omelet came prepared as ordered, cooked in coconut oil, with onions laced through it. Very very yummy. But there was no veggies in sight. I asked several more times for my steamed veggies. I got a lot of ‘Yes Mams’ but no veggies.
Hmmm! it’s 12:15am and I’m still waiting for my veggies.
Finally at At 1pm they brought me veggies, as well as my lunch, another egg omelet. But since I had just eaten less than 3 hours ago I wasn’t that hungry again, so I ate the veggies, along with some leftover veggies that I had in my fridge from the Rain Tree hotel. Gotta have my veggies!
Even though I have very little appetite it’s important to eat enough so I get ample protein to maintain my muscles, and fiber to keep me regular. Bringing almonds with me was a good idea, since it will help with keeping my fat intake up. However they want me to wait on the almonds for obvious reasons, if you get my drift! I also brought a good whey protein powder and squeezed a scoop in before physio.
Next up was physiotherapy to give me more exercises and take my second stroll. We did some extension and flexing of the knee with both feet dorsi flexed. It felt good to bend my knee. The exercises are very similar to Muscle Activation Technique. I tense for 5 seconds pressing my leg into the pillow with my leg straight, hold for five second, release, and repeat. All the while keeping my feet dorsi flexed. Toe circles and calf pumps are mandatory also. It keeps the blood flowing.
After the isometrics were finished we worked on range of motion with my leg. Lying flat the physiotherapist abducted my leg a few inches then returned it to just before mid line and did this about 10 times. This was uncomfortable since all my muscles were being stretched. He said this was normal. But boy it really felt like the sutures were ripping.
Now for the big event. My second attempt at walking. Just as we had strategically placed those pillows around my body they now all had to be undone,taken away, so I could sit up and pull myself to the side of the bed. This is where my upper body strength came in handy. I was able to push down with both hands and raise my body up and to the edge of the bed. I sat a few moments taking deep breaths, centering myself and focusing on my core. It was very painful to navigate the leg. I wanted to go one way and my muscles were not cooperating and felt like they were ripping. For anyone who has had there muscles cut and repaired I’m sure you know what I’m feeling now.
With the walker in front of me I slowly lowered myself to the floor and stood straight. Wow! I couldn’t stand straight on Day 1 so I’m progressing as all my hippy friends before me had said I would.
The plan was to put 100% weight on my hip leg. Physio said that was acceptable even on day 1. So I moved the walker out in front of me and took a step with my hippy leg, lifting it off the ground and putting it back down, then left leg same. I could feel I was using the walker to take off pressure from my hip. There was a burning sensation, like my muscles were coming apart. But they assured me nothing was wrong, it was natural , and just do what I could. So I tried to put more pressure on my leg while walking to see how much it could bear. Surprisingly it felt better when I loaded more weight onto the hip, like I was stretching out my limb.
After ambling to the door I turned around and made it back to the bed. I think that is all I could take.
My bed linens were changed as I hobbled about and when I returned to all my pillows the sister took my IV drip out. No more tramadol, and I was free to move around the cabin!
At 2:45 I ate my veggie omelet, had some tea, blogged, and waited for physio.
Physio came again at 3PM for another series of leg exercise and an afternoon stroll down the hippy hall. I was feeling much less pain now. In fact I stopped all pain meds about an hour before and the sister just gave me an ibuprofen cocktail. I felt much more confident having less pain, and my limb was much more flexible.
I was able to walk a few steps down the hall, to the next room, putting about 75% weight on my leg. A few times after placing my foot down I let all the weight onto my hip to see how it would feel. Sore, with some cramping in my glutes. He said that was normal and to keep trying.
After speaking with a few nuns about the small amounts of food that I was getting they assured me that I could have veggies with every meal. I also asked for two pieces of fish with dinner, since the one they brought me last night was only about 2 oz. It was a yummy and I’m assuming it was in the swordfish family so hopefully I’m getting some Omega 3’s in my diet.
I Googled this yummy fish and here is what I found:
KingFish (vanjaram/batang) fish is a expensive fish and is a delicacy of south indian cuisine. Its fat content ranges from 3-30% and a good source of vitamin D and B12.
I can see how my life will have to change over the next few months. This is not easy, especially when I am used to doing hours of activity on a daily basis and being independent. But I am here for the journey and intend to enjoy the ride, as bumpy as it may get.
Thanks to everyone who has helped me get this far. And thank you Vicky for being a friend. Now it’s my turn to pay it forward and help others through this experience.
So, stay tuned for more of my medical ‘vacation’ to India…
Have you had similar experiences? I’d love it if you could share them so please leave your comments.
Make it Your Fit Day with DebbyK!
