Steps to recovery #5 – Blood clots

A simpler one today and one that will be familiar to anyone who has had an operation recently. Managing the risk of blood clots post-operation. Something we had to follow with Isaac after he broke his leg 5 years ago.

In hospital when I wasn’t mobile then I had two dynamic padded boots on both legs that inflated and deflated alternatively every 30-40 seconds. Amazing how I managed to sleep through that to be honest. In the first 5 days they were running other than when I got up for meals. Far nicer than the old compression tights 🧦🧦

Alongside that was a daily jab for blood thinners. Applied into the tummy, alternative sides.

That has to be continued for 28 days post operation so I have 4 more days to go. At home both Judith and Ben take great delight in stabbing me. No pain as long as you don’t look. No bruising as long as I point to fleshy part of my tummy for placement not too near the hip bone!

We have two pots for sharps as it says the lid can only be shut once when all jabs have been used up – so we thought we’d check that out and it turns out to be true. So in 4 days time it is a return for both of them to the hospital for disposal.

And above all it is about movement. The early days were tough. The first time I tried to sit up I had a wobble. Then it was a slow, soft shoe shuffle. Now I am slowly regaining my stride. But this ties back to the first recovery update and the importance of walking.

Not an exciting update but underlines the thought and development of care that has and continues to develop to keep people in my situation safe and hopefully clot free!