I Over Did It

Today I learned 4 km on the treadmill and all the new fancy exercises the athletic therapist have me to do is most definitely too much for me to do in one day. I seem to have some swelling tonight. My toes even fell asleep (I had checked with the surgeon before and he said that was a sign of swelling inside my leg and pressing on a nerve). I also have some swelling around the scar from the incision. It's  all good though. Now I know to save the long walks for non strengthening days. 

What's that you ask? That is me using the leg press. How much weight is on there? 100lbs!  (AT started me at 90 on Tuesday!) Legs are stronger than you think!

Some other strange strengthening exercise the AT made up.. 

There's more but I can't take pictures of me stepping and hopping... It looks bad enough when I'm concentrating.

So there we have it. I now know and knowing is half the battle. (Listening to your body is he other half)

Until next time, keep moving and stay warm! 

All Of Them?

Today I have a dentist appointment for my check up and cleaning. Exciting stuff.... Because there's a risk of infection with a simple cleaning (if the gums bleed or weird things happen) I have to take antibiotics. This is because if an infection occurs, it will go to my new hip and cause all sorts of issues.... This is my exchange with the pharmacist this morning:

Pharmacist: 'so, take all 4 pills an hour before your appointment'

Me: 'all of them? Is that going to cause bowel problems?' (Will it make me shit my pants?)

Pharmacist: 'ummmmm, it's a lot at once so take it with food. Everyone is different ....' 

Soooo yeah.... I just ate and took all 4 of these...

My belly is already making gross rumbly noises..... 

Stay warm and keep moving!

Big Changes

I am sad to announce this is my last week of freedom.... Oh wait, that may not have come out right. Next week. I return to work!  What??? That's right, apparently I'm expected to return to work.... I'm sure I will survive. 

Recovery is moving along nicely. I'm able to walk 4 km, stairs are getting easier, and I am generally feeling awesome. (Except the being tired thing...I'm still sleeping lots. I'm not napping as much but last night Fitbit tells me I slept 9 hours and 41 minutes....

Yesterday' walk happened at the gym because the wind was still high after the blizzard ended. Oh, there was also extra snow sooooo.....treadmill it was!

M

Yup! That says I walked for just over 50 minutes.... 2.5 miles (x 1.6km/m) and you get 4 km. Woot woot!! 

I'm back at the gym this afternoon to see my Athletic Therapist. I was told last week things would be changed up this week. New things to do and work on! Yay!  Not going to lie to you here, increasing cardio is both exciting and scary.!  

My muscles on the new hip side still gets angry and tight. I've been reminded that the reorganizing of those muscle groups wouldn't be easy but come on now!  Still not at bad as pres surgery pain but it is frustrating. The front inside of my quad and the groin are the areas protesting the most. There's a couple of specific spots that ache and get all tight and knotty on a regular basis. I get some pretty purple bruises from the deep tissue massage....sooooo purty.... Well, not so purple today but still there. 

You may wonder why I keep going back....the reality is this. I move better after.  I do bruise easily to begin with (I'm a ginger) and the difference in how I feel after is quite incredible. I absolutely swear that my athletic therapist. All the time. Potty mouth central. The end game is so I can move better than ever and for that, I'm willing to go through the deep tissue massage.

All in all I'm feeling awesome. I think I said that already...oops. I'm going to have to work my walks and exercise in around work starting next week so I'm trying to get more organized around the house.  Lucky for me it looks like I will be starting back half time then working up to full time. I still have a month or so of saved sick time to use should I need it so I'm not too worried about returning.  

This is going to be good.  Get me moving even more! 

Until next time, stay warm and keep moving!

Change of Scenery

This week I am staying at my sister's place two provinces away. I wanted to get in a visit before I return to work and this seemed like the perfect time.  The change of scenery is nice. Literally because there are mountains here! Not like in the prairies! My sister's neighbourhood is fairly new and not only do the houses all look similar, the streets all have the same first name but different endings... Place, street, common, gate, heights, circle.... You get the idea. 

I only got lost once on a walk yesterday. As a result, my walk was longer than usual. That's quite alright because I can actually do that now! Today I walked even further, just because I could. It was an awesome feeling! My hip and the surrounding muscles felt a little tired and achy, but a god achy. Definitely not the old 'holy shit that creaking hurts I have to go lie down' achy.  

It's kind of funny but I feel like I climbed a mountain today. Ok, it was a hill, but still. While I was walking, I saw a hill in the distance with benches at the top, a sure sign there's a path to the top! The neighbourhoods here all have ponds and recreation areas with groomed paths around them. It is quite nice. The warm weather brings around more ice than back home but I brought my spikes with me and they are working well. 

Look at that hill! I got this!

Ta da!  Go me!

The view of the mountains was well worth the effort!

Of course the walk need ended with a stop at Tim Horton's for a tea....it is on the way home....

All in all, I think this was a great walk!

I definitely could not do that before the hip replacement! Of course all the stairs at my sister's place ,it's be helping my leg strength.... This house is 3 levels and there are stairs a plenty!

The rest of my time I spend helping my sister wrangle this cutie...

He loves to stand on a chair in the kitchen and help. Here he is helping eat the sushi....

He also likes to listen to music on my phone...

And get his free cookie from the bakery....

I'm still a little apprehensive about taking care of him on my own.  I still fatigue quickly and i am worried about keeping up physically with him. He is a busy guy. I think I might keep him home on Thursday from day care and have a hang out day! 

Until next time, stay warm and keep moving! 

What's Next?

Lately I've been working on doing more during the day. I get out of bed early (well, earlier than 10am... Ok, I aim for before 9....don't judge me). I get my walk in, stretch, eat, shower, clean up, invent errands to get me out of the house and try to keep going.  I aim to walk at the gym on the tread mill 3 times a week to vary up my routine and work different muscles.  Why they heck would I try to keep myself busy like that? 

Apparently they want me to go back to work! What? Yes. It is true. I am aiming to get back to work mid February. I know that will be tiring so I'm working up my stamina. Still working on balance, strength, endurance and that but hey, I had a freaking hip replacement. 

 I am very fortunate to have a mediator or case worker through work who is working on a return to work plan with me and work. He is awesome. Final decisions won't be made for a couple of weeks about specific details but the guy is helping to take all the worry out of my return to work. He can arrange half time, ensure my duties are acceptable and appropriate for me in regards to my current abilities and limitations.  

I am most definitely nervous about returning to work. I've been away since The beginning of September. I hope it isn't too exhausting. I hope I can keep up. In the mean time, I'm off to Calgary to visit my sister and little nephew for a week! Let's hope the 2 year old doesn't tire me out!!

I will bring my cane just so he has something to play with!

Until next time, stay warm and keep moving!