Day 2 After Surgery

A fellow bicyclist and a PT by profession, asked me what she could do after the word got I was having some slight issues with my hip, with the hospital liking me so much they decided to keep me. She also let the hounds out and checked on them between the times my dog sitter was stopping by to feed them. Two very busy people. I told her if she could, stop by the house and bring me the loosest gym shorts I had, a pair of showed with rubber gripping soles and a t-shirt to wear for my departure. I  can't remember if this t-shirt was on top of the stack or she has a sense of humor. I told her where everything was.

I never eat breakfast before I ride, wanting to but off fat ... so two cups of coffee is my riding fuel. With all the commotion, the changing of rooms I had forgot eat and really wasn't hungry. The nurse said it would be best to eat something before surgery the next morning at 7am. I took a look at the menu and decided to splurge ... kinda like the "last supper" just in case things took a turn for the worse.

I know ... weird comb of mac/cheese with grilled salmon with mango salsa. The fish was cooked perfect and all of the food tasted great. I decide a little piece of angel food cake wasn't too fattening for desert.

Here I am about 2-3 hours from departure. They removed those vibrators on my calves which prevents blood clots in your legs.

The tv screen could have been bigger but it didn't matter since I would be gone in two and a half hours based on the time on the wall clock. It looks like they didn't expect me to stay either since they did not fill out the board like it was in the other room.

Ice water on the right, breathing apparatus on the left. I had three choices to use it ... Inhaling 1 per 6 minutes, 5 times per half hour or 10 times per hour ... inhaling as long and deep as possible. The nurse set the marker at 2500 and told me to try as hard as possible to get to 2500 ... my first attempt registered at 4000 with 5000 being the top limit. She seemed surprise just like when they asked me a million times to fill out their forms ... "you don't take meds at home, you don't have a walker??? nor an oxygen tank?"  No family doctor to list, last physical in 2002 only because it was a job requirement even had the doctors rolling their eyes.  LOL

My neighbor made sure I would not be walking up any slanted driveway. He pulled his Jeep Liberty into my garage two steps from the door that goes into the house. All flooring was level. I am his third "patient" in three years with either knee or hip replacements. He is many years older than me and basically told me he would do anything I needed during this recovery. He is experienced in this kind of work ...

As you see the hounds were not that excited ... just another day in the world of hounds "oh you're home? Can you feed us?" ... LOL

As I unpacked my bags of bike clothes, hospital equipment to use as the hounds kicked back and enjoyed the cold AC.

Stella got curious this morning. She moved her head under the front of the walker after smelling every inch of it. I led her out of that and to the side so I could pet her. She and Heidi have been no trouble, never causing me to stumble or fall, have never walked into me and strangely have not be begging for food at their normal times. They have connected to the dog sitter and likes her. She will still continue to come in the morning and afternoon to feed them since I am not allowed to bend over more than 90° for a few weeks or there is a chance the new hip will pop out of joint.

As you can tell from the photo above, Stella wasn't too interested in moving out of her sleeping spot. Even when I asked her to move so I would ask around her ... she looked at me and didn't move ... until i nudged her paw with my walker.

I am remembering the rules they gave me when they sent me home. Not a lot of them but very important ones. I slept from 7:30pm to 3am solid sleep since I was not woken up every hour for either more blood tests, lab work or to get my vital signs. But I knew as I "rolled" to the bathroom that it would wake up Heidi and then wake up Stella. I let her out after I was finished but told both of them there was no way were were starting our day at 3am.

I got out and back in bed three different times without experiencing a lot of pain. Although I have to pay attention to what I am doing, go slow, even in the middle of the night. By 6am I was up with the walker in front of me, walking around the house and opening all the windows for that cool morning breeze.

I caught up on return phone calls, texts and some emails. I have gradually been moving things I use to a higher level so I don't have to bend over to get them. That tool is a big help. I also used that to get my socks off, change into some clean socks and even put my shoes on by myself, without any laces. Did a quick camping shower from the waist above, shaved and changed t-shirts.

Today's walk has consisted most of walking slow and lifting each leg with pronounced steps. Due to the way they had to move my knee during surgery, I hate think what that looked like, my right knee is probably more sore than my right hip.

I'm doing okay. So far keeping UNfrustrated and realizing this is going to take a while. I have a lot of books to read, ballgames to watch during that time. Right now I have time for a mid-afternoon siesta.

All three of us are sound to sleep in the afternoon of the Wild West.

Unexpected Hip Replacement

I will not go into anymore details than this. Some readers already know that happened and how. I will not be blogging for a while, very few photos .... I will be spending my time learning how to walk again.

• Saturday morning around 8:30 am I had wreck on my bicycle making a slow (4-5 mph) right hand turn.
• tires slip in loose small pebbles, sand and I fall directly on my right hip
• happened so fast I could not break the fall with my hands
• did not hit my head
• bike in perfect condition
• 5 people were there to help me before I knew what happened.
• They talked me into (demanded) THEY call 911 and I would at least get x-rays.
• X-rays showed I broke my hip at the top of femur
• Sunday morning 7am - surgery for hip replacement
• Monday morning started walking with walker, learning how to sit, get up, lay in bed
• Monday afternoon at 4pm was released and my neighbor brought me home.
• He and two other took care of the dogs filling in the gaps of time.
• Hounds were great, knew I was hurt and did nor run, jump on me or brush me
• No damage in the house anywhere
• Ate their meals on time and water consumption was normal.
• Follow up appointment with surgeon in 2 weeks.
• PT for knee replacements but not for hip replacements ... except to keep walking.
• No walking the hounds of course.
• I cannot bend over 90° so the friends will continue to feed the hounds and walk them.
• No crossing legs or feet at the ankles.
• 3-6 weeks before I can drive
• 1-2 months before I can do any kind of cycling.

I feel good with the only real pain (not bad) being the abrasion, hip feels great.

It's nice to be home in the Wild West.

Stella Home With No Stitches & No Bandage

I'll jump a little out of order for the day because most are wondering what was decided for Stella's vet appointment. We hit the lobby of the vet a few minutes before our appointment. We never spoke to a vet but a tech. They thought the healing looked great when they removed the stitches and bandage. All this was included in the cost I paid for surgery. We walked out with instructions she was not to take walks until Tuesday.

For once Heidi slept through the night for the first time in weeks but Stella had other plans, waking me up at 2:55am to go outside. I just wondered if their increased peeing is from their increased water intake during the day. Based on the number of times I fill the large bowl, they are drinking twice as much water out here in the wild west.

I headed back to bed and woke to a "mini howl" from Stella ... somewhere between a whine and a full blown howl. She wanted everybody up and she wanted to eat. How do I know that? At 3:55am she is wagging her tail smiling and trotting to the container the dog food is kept in.

I had this guy watching me make coffee today.

Stella comes out to check the weather, do some stretching and then finds out we are not taking a walk this morning.

As I got ready to get on the rode for my bike ride by 6:15am, she was going to see if there was at least a chance for her walk.

When I bought the bike yesterday I knew the stem was too long. After measuring it this morning after my return from riding, I needed one 7/8" shorter ... I was pretty sure I could find one at Ken's bike shop in Bisbee. Which is more like a museum. That is exactly the size I needed.

I dropped the LeMond and this stem off at the bike shop I bought the bike yesterday so they could exchange the stems. The will have to take off the handlebar tape, one of the brake/shifting levers to slide the handlebars through the stem. Many years ago I enjoyed doing that type of bike maintenance but not anymore. I pick up the bike on Saturday.

Here are some photos of that bike shop called Bisbee Bicycle Brothel ... "Best Little Wheelhouse In Arizona" ... the owner has a sense of humor and gets this old bicycles from all over the world. Some ridden by the most famous riders in the sport of professional cycling.

He told me the sweater was definitely not for sale.

This is the only opening in my fence that is designed for all the excess water to drain from the stone yard. It is also an entry way for snakes and spiders.

I had a nice ride early in the morning, windier than normal, less traffic and perfect temperatures.

Another good day in the Wild West.

Yes I Calmed Down Today

I'll be brief tonight and no ranting or raving. It was a nice day. I did get out in public, driving on public streets, walking into stores without any hassles or arguments with idiots. After waking up at 1am and then every hour on the hour until 5:10am ... to let Heidi outside to pee ... the sunrise was a bonus as I sat outside waiting for my coffee to finish. I needed coffee in the worst way this morning. Those are the Mule Mountains over there towards the Bisbee area.

A few hours later I looked around the computer room, the living room and the bedroom ... Stella had disappeared. It was good to see actually, that she had decide it was safe and did not have to follow me everywhere I go ... she was taking some early sunshine in this morning.

Clear skies for the Aerostat.

That pink thing might come off for good sometime Friday afternoon at 3:40pm. She and I are hoping it will and hear the words that we can resume our daily morning walks again by sunrise Saturday morning.

I had to spend all morning at home. I had a FedEx delivery that required a signature receipt so I wanted to stay until they showed up. They showed up a little before noon. The hounds had been fed and were sleeping when he arrived, they didn't hear a thing.

I needed to make a trip to town to buy more fresh caught Pacific Salmon and a little more of that Halibut, as I try not to look at the price per pound for that stuff. It tastes great. Riding 4-5 days per week now I need another pair of riding shorts so I stopped by the M&M Cycling Shop. They had a new shipment of Pearl iZumi shorts in stock and in my size. I also picked up a shop t-shirt since I never have enough t-shirts and a pair of cycling gloves since the ones I have been wearing are about wore out.

That was all I was looking for so I headed to the cashier counter. Leaned up against the counter was a red LeMond bike that I thought was just a display. I always wanted a LeMond bicycle but didn't want to spend the money they wanted to have one. As I was looking the bike over and admiring the craftsmanship built into the frame ... I see a tag "For Sale". Really ???

I asked Mike what size the bike was. My custom made Romic is a 56cm and yes the builder actually took measurements of the length of my leg, the distance between my thumb and finger to the middle of my shoulder and the distance from the outside of my knee to the the outside of my ankle. He asked if I rode hills or mountains sitting down or standing up and pedaling. That was in 1984 when those measurements took place.

The LeMond is 57cm ... you may be thinking how much difference can 1cm make? Well in bicycling it can mean a lot depending on the angles of those frame tubes. For example in 1982 I was having severe lower back and sciatica nerve problems thinking I was on the way to back surgery ... when I found out the top tube of the bike I was riding at the time was too long. Years later when one of my cleats on my shoes that lock into the pedals, was only a couple of degrees off ... it caused me to have so much pain in my knee that I could not ride.

So ... 1cm more ... I needed to test ride it ... they let me take it around the parking lot and that was enough area to figure out if this bike and me could find some enjoyment riding. The test ride was great, the bike was very responsive based on how the frame was made. It had new wheels, new freewheel, tuned up, and it was a consignment sale.

Now years ago when I was looking at LeMond bikes they were $2,500 and up ... now days this kids are racing on bikes that are $4,000 and up. I was in luck today though .. $500. They had just sat the bike out a few hours before I got there. I knew just by the condition of the 'used' bike it would be sold fast.

Just like t-shirts ... as long as I am riding on a regular basis ... you can never have enough bikes. Although for most of my life I have gotten by with having only ONE.  :)

I came home, changed into bike gear and took off to see what it would do. After 17 miles we decided both of us had had enough fun and finished the ride. Our top speed was 27 mph and that was NOT because I was going downhill. This bike could fly as long as I could pedal. LOL

Better mood today from the start even with the lack of sleep. I believe Heidi has decided I need to train her like a puppy since we didn't get that experience when she was a puppy. When I got her from GABR, they thought she was a year and half years old, maybe two years at the most. So yes, while she is outside in the middle of the night squatting in the rock yard ... I am standing on the patio looking at all the stars ... there must be a million of them at that time of night with clear skies.

I need to go ... I hear the first NFL game is on tv for the past 2 hours 25 minutes while I have been guzzling ice water, writing blogs plus answering a few texts. Only a few of us still email anymore.

Don't worry about Heidi ... she is back to her old self of running sprints in the house, rolling on the living room rug while she growls at herself and knows every day at 4pm or soon after that it is time for her and Stella's afternoon dog treat. She never misses and always comes to get me if I forget.

She is due for annual shots this month so while we are at the vet, I'll have them check out that bladder problem she seems to have ... unless she is getting some sort of sick enjoyment waking me up every hour on the hour, every night this past week ... she might.

It was a 'calm' day here in the Wild West.