Today I swam, and it was one of the most glorious swim workouts I can remember having in a very long time! I definitely wasn't in the ball park of any amazing Olympic Trials qualifying standards or anything, but I was moving pain free through the water and without anything attached to me. YEH!!!!
So my journey from hospital surgery room, less then 2 weeks ago to the day, to now has been really hard on me mentally but faster with regards to my progress then anyone would expect. Most people who have been through the procedure I have would still be on their back in bed but here I am able to get in the pool and crank out 2.5K without issues. I'm definitely on the road to recovery.
I thought I would share how my 13 days from surgery have played out, just so I can kinda brag about my progress a bit (hee hee):
Tuesday, January 6 - 5:45 a.m. arrival at Seton Southwest Hospital. 7:10 a.m. get my last shot of "go to sleep juice via IV" that I remember as I am wheeled out of day surgery and say good bye to my husband. I pretty much went blank after that. 11:30 a.m. - wake up in recovery room INSTEAD of day surgery, look at the clock, look around me and proceed to utter the words "Oh SHIT! This isn't day surgery recovery!" I am then told what they did to me and that I will at least be spending the night here.
Wednesday, Jan. 7 - Still in hospital. Still doped up, still not able to eat much of anything or drink much of anything. Worse thing is that they want me to do the bed pan situation for pee-pees. NO WAY. I can pee in the woods, on the side of the road, in my wetsuit, you name it, BUT I AIN'T peeing in the bed pain if I don't absolutely have to. The poor nurses hate me because everytime they come in to check vitals I ask for the 20 minute production help to get me to the potty. Everything connected to me has to come with me, and I can't put a foot down, and I can barely get my ass on to the toilet, and my lovely stylish hospital gown is wide open in the back for everyone to see. It's a great little trip I make every few hours but dare I say it again, "I AIN'T PEEING IN THE BED PAN!"
My friends, Matt and Laurie, stop by that afternoon with the most glorious gift anyone could imagine at that point. A Starbucks Latte! I am in heaven for the 10 minutes I sip that puppy down. Sad thing is that I'm full after it. My poor tummy is now tiny from all the stress and lack of food (no food prior to surgery per orders, and then day of and after not much either). However I love them to death for bringing that bit of orgasmic caffiene paradise my way.
Late afternoon Jamie is able to take me home, finally! I don't really remember much of that and getting into bed. I was looking forward to some soup and my own bed sheets. I quickly dozed out into my druggy state again and was off to sleep for a few hours. My knee is strapped into a machine that keeps it moving constantly all night long. It actually feels better to be in this contraption then to be still, so thus I sleep with it during the next few nights.
Thursday, Jan. 8 - Tuesday, January 13 (one day in between noted below) - I am stuck at home, no weight on my left leg, and only able to get around via crutches for a couple minutes at a time. I can't get food for myself very well, much less a drink, and I'm using my what I now call my "elliptical" contraption everyday for hours so I can get to the 120 degree mark quick. (the machine starts off at 0 degree bend in the leg - straight and flat, and then assists your leg into a bend per the angle you set it at) I know that if I can do 120 degrees without any issues I will be released to start doing some movement outside of just this thing. My daily showers are regulated to fanagalling myself into the shower and then sitting on my lawn chair while I wash myself down. Not a pretty scene at all. Poor Jamie is at wits end trying to take care of me and all his other responsibilities, but I know that if I can get myself up and going sooner things will be better for everyone.
I work on my core work via sit ups, back raises, medicine ball twists, and upper body strength work this entire time. I'm determined to not let my core get out of shape and be another issue to deal with once I get back into things.
Friday, January 9 - First visit to the doctors. My friend Matt is kind enough to drive me to it because Jamie is out of town for the weekend. This is the first time I will see my incisions and stitches. I watch, as the dressings are pulled away and then get to view my 4 cuts. Not as bad as I thought. One is a little bigger then I had hoped for but overall I'm not upset by the site one bit. My swelling isn't as bad as expected either. THANK GOODNESS FOR COMPRESSION TIGHTS AND SOCKS! That's all I have to say. I am a true believer in what they do and will NEVER be without!
Wednesday, January 14 - Visit to doctors to get my stitches removed. He's once again very happy with my progress and per our discussion allows me to get on my trainer to spin without any resistance. It was like heaven to my ears! He also did the first injection of three that will help to heal the joint, and encourage the cartiledge to grow back faster, as well as lubricate things. It's a very expensive injection routine but one that has had tremendously great results.
When I get home that afternoon I get on my trainer for a 20 min spin. Let me tell you that I probably managed about 20 total rotations for that 20 min spin. My knee and legs were like "WTF are you doing?" Not pretty and DID NOT feel good at all.
Thursday, January 15 - I get back on the trainer for the 2nd time and it was like a night and day difference. WOW. I was spinning with a normal stroke within the first couple minutes. AMEN. I can move again. I spin for 30 min without any resistance.
Friday, January 16 - 45 min spin, stroke improving
Saturday, January 17 - 70 min spin, still getting smoother and better
Sunday, January 18 - 30 min spin, using as recovery day
Monday, January 19 - The day I was looking forward to per my doctor's orders. This was the first day I could get into a pool. I met Jamie at the YMCA and we went into the pool together. I hobbled on my crutches and got into the lane with him, just hoping I could make 1k or even better 2k. I pushed off and it was the weirdest feeling to be moving through the water, finally moving my whole body, without anything attached. I did a couple turtle turns at the wall for the first 100 and then said "F" it and went for a flip turn. That was much better then the turtle turns for me because it didn't put any pressure on my knee joint. I would only push off the wall with my good leg too.
Long story short, I cranked out a lovely 2.5k workout and was like a giddy kid again. What amazed me more was that my knee actually feels better then before I started the swim workout. I don't know what happened to it but it's almost like a bunch of crud just loosened up and let me move things again. It felt great!
From surgery to swim workout in 13 days. I am back, and it's only gonna get better. YEH! I'll keep ya'll posted.
Cheers,
Fish
