Just so you know I’m still around…
I had medically related appointments yesterday (Tuesday). Aside from location glitches which had me walking high-speed shuffling with a walker, some went well enough. Recovery from surgery itself is going well.
On the other hand, the followup series of post-op x-rays… went very poorly. Unless prompted by serious self-interest inquiries (“I need x-rays; who should I avoid?”), I won’t give the company name. What was supposed to be a 10-15 minute procedure turned into trips between assorted locations, ending with an hour and a half session with an x-ray machine possibly older than myself.
That Three Stooges (yes, three alleged radiologists) routine should count as 3-4 physical therapy sessions by itself. It was an exercise in painfully sadistic contortionism. I never before saw an x-ray session that required the patient be stretched sideways across the exam table, with the bad-hip leg resting on a roller stool, the head on a waiting room easy chair (with a pile of exam table sheets and a pillow), while the patient grips the head and side of the table for dear life so he still didn’t fall off.
Now add in draping my right leg over the x-ray emitter. Except that didn’t “work,” so they dug up a four foot block of what seemed to be duck-taped foam to hold my leg even higher.
Oops. That didn’t “work” either. Let’s try the same position, but with my head at the foot end of the table.
Wait. Did I mention the various blocks of foam they needed to shove under assorted bit of my anatomy? Bear in mind that block installation always required me to lift my torso for them… while in the above-mentioned sadistic contortion poses.
Naturally that made me late for the next appointment, which turned out to be an odd exercise in hospital bureaucrats deciding my case wasn’t their job (and it turns out they were right; theirs is very specifically limited to Duvall County residents), but finding a way to do it anyway.
Despite the screwed-up aspects of the day, and with a doc’s concurrence, I decided it’s time to begin transitioning from the walker to a three-toed cane. I do need to re-learn balance.
But at the end of the day, when starting to relax, I kinda sorta regretted that transition decision. Between the limited fluid intake during the overly-busy day and over-working my good right leg, said right leg decided I needed cramps. Lot’s of cramps.
So: more fluids, some potassium, wrap the leg in a blanket, walk out cramps periodically (with walker). I got past that. I’ll be doing more cane transitioning today, but I ain’t gonna be stupid about it.
Lest I appear to be a a completely ingracious SOB, I give my niece my most sincere thanks for sacrificing pretty much her entire work day to get me to — and through — those appointments.
Also thanks to my brother and sister who, while I was out, set up an adjustable bed for me that made yesterday evening’s relaxation possible at all.
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