Pain #4 – I’m still standing

Missed this update last week as there wasn’t much to report. Can’t believe it is over 5 weeks post operation. Still some challenges -though it might be better to call this update “soreness” but that doesn’t sound quite as dramatic! 🎭

The wound area is still giving me issues. Much less intense but never really goes away. Gets worse at the end of the effectivity period of the tablets (after 6-7 hours). I am now down to 2 cocodemol before and after bed with a couple of paracetamol during the day.

The intensity of the pain is much reduced. Mostly a dull ache – walking on rougher ground and bending down still generate a few sharp reminders to take it easy! In the evening I can struggle to get comfortable on my cushions.

I still can’t sit up comfortably. I can manage a few minutes on the coccyx cushion but no more than that. Still eating standing up and need to keep getting up during the evening to keep the rest of the body aligned.

I reckon it will be another 2-3 weeks before that resolves itself and I can manage longer periods sitting up normally. As I still eat standing up there are no meals out in the diary yet! We might try a visit to the pub this afternoon with Judith for a swift one at the bar! 🍻

Waking and movement is good. I prefer being on my feet rather than sitting on cushions as the muscles find it easier though I do tire if I stand still still for too long. Averaging over 10k steps so far in September though still at a slow pace! 🐌 Jigsaws proving a great distraction! 🧩. Not really comfortable reading yet! 📚. Leaving the TV 📺 (other than sport ⚽️) to the evenings.

Sleeping is easier. I can’t lie on my back (I was never a back sleeper anyway – too much snoring 💤!). Rolling from either side is a bit like an oil tanker 🛢️🚢 but getting easier. Lovely Fitbit tells me I am getting an average of 7.5 hours sleep each night which is more than is used to get. Add in the afternoon doze and I am giving the body the rest it needs.

The rest of the body is much better. Hips occasionally have an ache in the morning but that clears pretty quick. The left knee is bothersome and my neck feels achy when I have sat on the cushions sideways for too long!

I am seeing the physio next week to get some stretching tips ahead of more intense work once the pain from the wound and the risk of hernia on the stoma subside.

I continue to do my daily body scan after my cup of tea – walking down the garden. When I first started it was 10-12 bullet points on different issues and a far higher pain level. Now it is 2-3 comments and the tablets largely managed the pain.

The key is continuing to take it slowly. Don’t set my expectations high and listen to the body. The nursing team always said 2-3 months post op to be able to sit with a 6 month time frame for “full” healing. Back to the importance of acceptance. Good progress. 😀❤️