It has been 23 days since surgery and 2o since I have been recovering at my sister’s house.
I am able to walk fairly well. I don’t use the walker unless I know I have a lot of walking, but I am resting a lot more because of my pseudomeningocele, the bubble of spinal fluid collecting at the base of my skull. (Gonna probably write stuff you may have read, but just in case…)
Because I pulled my lumbar drain out, I have a higher risk of the fluid not being absorbed quickly enough, so it makes a bubble on my head where it pools. Part of what helps fix this is laying on it.
Laying on my wound. My hurty, scabby, now sensitive incision site. It is already hard to lay on my back. It is highly uncomfortable. To assist, I use lots of pillows. One is a bolster to help with shoulders or lumbar.
Once I set up my bed throne, I get this ice pack. And I put a towel over it and use it to cradle my neck and the back of my head.
Now, this is a hot/cold wrap that is not gel. It has this clay mixture that conforms better and releases the cold very steadily. It takes about an hour to freeze it and I can’t really tell you how long it works because I go to sleep usually. I’d say it can stay at a good temp for at least 30+ minutes. When I am up, I can’t deal with the pressure for that long, so I use it for maybe 15 minutes at a time.
I have been eating at a normal rate since getting off the Augmentin a few days ago. And in case you are wondering, it’s all working out beautifully.
I still get very tired using my arms. I was writing Christmas cards to people and I could only do six on the first go. I have been doing some paper crafts to help gain some stamina. But a little at a time, and when I am tired, I put everything away and rest. That’s the better, less fun thing to do!
Even using my phone often involves propping up my arms and trying not to look down too much. The phone is a constant source of information and entertainment right now, and holding makes things spasm and ache. Looking down stretches the incision and since there is a large scab in that does not stretch, it is very uncomfortable and possibly dangerous since I am at risk for leakage.
Still have to take it easy and hope that I can stay still long enough to get out of the danger zone.
So, back to bed…
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The Life of a Music Monkey 