Steps to recovery #1 – Walking

After the amazing news on Friday that I am cancer free (still can’t fully process that 🤪) I am starting to mull over the different aspects on what recovery from major surgery looks like. Will share over the coming weeks as I already have at least 14 things covering physical, mental and social. Be good to write down and share that journey. 😀

Today starts with walking. Easy to take for granted. Last year my Fitbit told me I did 17.5k steps a day. Up to August this year was over 15k with less running so walking is part of me – with the dog, in the garden, into town …. On the day after surgery I did less than 100 steps!

Now I am pottering around the garden and average nearer 2k – though I think I am walking so steadily not sure they all get recorded. Still, regardless of tech, I am walking less

The impact of this?

In the post-surgery stage when I did really low steps then blood clots were a thing. Pressure pads on my legs managed that in hospital. I am on a daily injection for blood thinners for 28 days post-op as well. Clearly the more I move, the better the circulation, the lower the risk. So movement becomes key

Then there’s heart health. Getting my heart rate up and getting my fitness back to pre-op levels.

Movement also helps get my muscles back up to speed and reduces the impact of not being able to sit up at all.

Then there is the mental health side – I love being in the fresh air.

Balancing this is the pressure on the wound as I am standing up. Means I have to go slow 🐌. Then there is the tiredness. Energy today is lower so I need to listen to what my body can achieve.

And what of progress?

I have managed multiple laps of the garden. I now have the “picture this” app on the phone to give me more reasons to get outside

Only a few trips out the front door. Yesterday I made it out with the family for a few hundred metres down the road. Today, escorted by Gideon, I made it to the top of the road – 800m?

Steady progress – each time felt ok Zero speed but good to be out and about.

Like most of my recovery, will be slow but good progress. 😀💪 🚶‍♂️