My delusion is how I am kicking this recovery, but my reality tells me a different story. While I am doing well with movement, my exercises, and pain level, I discarded something that I was suppose to do – breathe. Not in the context of just everyday inhaling and exhaling, but after surgery you are suppose to engage your lungs with a tiny plastic tool to make sure you don’t get pneumonia. (I used tiny plastic tool for those of us who need the basic terminology. My fancy medical friends probably call it something different.) I used it occasionally at the hospital, but felt that I move around so much, since I hate being confined, that nothing will ever happen. I believed I was fine. Yesterday when the home health nurse came, she was alarmed at the crackling sound she heard in my lower left lung. Berated like a child, I was immediately directed to use this device frequently, so this will clear up. It didn’t help that Brian was in the background doing the “I told you so” dance. Ugh……
So, here I am being compliant. Not taking any shortcuts. With anything in life, shortcuts usually add on additional steps or send me back to the beginning. I have to remember that complications don’t know age. Just because I am younger than the average joint replacement patient, doesn’t mean I skip the steps. My cockiness can get me into trouble. The older I get, the less I really know.
For public record, I have established that Brian has now been right twice in our time together. He certainly is enjoying himself. I have to give him a lot of credit as I am not the easiest patient to deal with and being told I am housebound for two weeks isn’t exactly the kind of vacation I was going for. The end result will be worth it and as I end this, I will go back to my breathing exercises on my fancy plastic breathing tool.
Recent Comments