Blood Pressure

My blood,pressure has been all over the place recently from too low to too high.  I have been on some medication for that and today the practice nurse said that all was looking very good at 130/84 - not ideal but definately going in the right direction.

So what with a good report from the consultant on Tuesday and a good report on blood pressure today I feel as if I may be getting out of the (necessary I know) clutches of the medical profession who, on the whole, have done me proud.

Consultant Appointment

A record of my walking for 'physio' purposes

My consultant appointment originally scheduled for Monday was changed at the last minute to 14:00 today.  I saw José Blanco who undertook my original operation back in November 2015.  I walked in, spun around, and looked at him and he said that I could now go home as cured!

I had a lovely chat with José explaining in detail what had gone wrong with the original repair and how they had carried out their 'revision'; he showed me all the x-Rays and how the Dynamic Hip Screw had migrated vertically upwards - quite amazing to see.  We went into all sorts of detail about torsional, compression and shear loads; we seemed to have drawings everywhere of how things had been repaired (that's a revision); I am now very happy that I understand what has been done and the life expectancy of the replacement hip - José is rather hopeful that it may possibly see me into the long box - I don't suppose it will burn very well - but not to hesitate to shout if something doesn't seem to be right.

A Dynamic Hip Screw (bottom) in the
Fracture Clinic 'Museum'

José also explained why, in his opinion, it was right that I was prevented from weight-bearing for so long originally - 7-Nov to 21-Dec and it was all to do with the location of the original break.  He said that if I had been allowed to weight-bear earlier that repair would have failed earlier; preventing me from weight-bearing for the period they did gave, in his opinion, the repair the best possible chance. The fact that it failed was, with hindsight, almost inevitable.

I talked to José about the lack of physio.  He said that I should have been offered physio and a carer.  He kindly offered to arrange physio but as I had arranged my own and as I had made such good progress we decided fairly quickly that the moment had passed as it had for the need for a career.  I am so pleased I have Liz and can call on her to help when needed as it most certainly was when I was discharged from hospital on 21-June.

He finished up by giving me a big kiss and saying that seeing me so mobile after all these months made his job so very satisfying - that's good news. I must say in hindsight it has been a fairly tough eight and a half months.

My next appointment is not until sometime in April-2017 - I must say I am delighted at that because I am slightly heartily sick of being prodded, poked and interviewed by the medical profession.

Lots of walking

I have always had the view that once the surgeons have done their bit responsibility passes to me to ensure their work and expertise was worthwhile. To that end I have undertaken a lot of walking, much the same route here in Stoke Bruerne - up the towpath to the tunnel portal, a quick chat with Bob the Blacksmith, up the Boathorse Road to the intersection with the Woodland Walk, down the Woodland Walk, pausing for a sit down on one of the seats and then back down the towpath to home.  Occasionally I go south and walk down the line of the canal, with all its locks and then back again.

I have been averaging about 3k a day which I hope will meet with the consultant's approval when I see him on Tuesday.  I think I may have overdone it yesterday (4.5k) as I feel a little stiff this morning. I'll sort that out today with a shorter walk or perhaps ask my physio Liz to give my leg muscles a good massage when I see her on Monday.

A date for the fracture clinic

A phone call today whilst sheltering from the wonderful heat - 31c at 15:00 - to say I have a fracture clinic appointment for 14:00 on Tuesday. Another trip to the delights of Northampton and its hospital. I'll be interested to see the X-Rays and know what's been put in my hip!

Not too much walking yesterday as it was so hot but I still managed about 2.5km.

Wednesday is my friend Trevor's funeral - I have decided not to go as my doctor says driving that distance is currently 'crazy' and Trevor's mum agrees so it will be off to a local pub to raise a glass in his memory.

The heat is dissipating a bit now - it was stifling especially as there was virtually no wind to move any air.

Getting better still

Although I still get tired very quickly (my physio Liz says that's quite usual) I really do feel so much better every day.  The internal swelling seems to be going down which allows more movement in my hip.

My doc won't allow me to drive to Bristol (well halfway between Bristol and Bath) tomorrow for my friend Trevor's funeral and I can't find anyone who can 'reasonably' take me.  Hopefully my friend Steph and I will pop down to the pub at lunchtime and raise a glass in his memory.

A lovely warm Saturday

When did we last have a lovely warm summer's day I wonder. Well we had one today and the next few days looks very promising.

I have walked quite some distance today - 5,565 steps according to my iPhone and I know that's at least two return trips to the tunnel portal. Total steps by the time I went to bed was 6,219 or about 4.35km - feeling it a bit stiff this morning so I expect it was too much so I'll take things a little less enthusiastically for the next few days!

My friends Mick & Suzanne and Chris & Terry are here so we all went to the Boat Inn last night. Today I saw a lovely front door 'bell' in the blacksmiths so after measuring up (it needed that) Bob the Blacksmith is going to come and install it next week.  Adam and Adrian popped in this afternoon and persuaded me to have an ice cream (against my better judgement of course!) so I have enjoyed a very busy day.

Tomorrow Rodney & Valerie, Mick & Suzanne and Chris & Terry and I are going to Woodward's restaurant and tonight my friend Tim Carter has William in the long pound so we are going to the Spice of Bruerne.  Too much enjoyment really!

Continuing Good Progress

My progress continues well - I can almost sleep on my right hand side but not quite.  It is four weeks today that my hip was replaced and just three weeks yesterday that I came home. I spoke to a lady on a boat going through Top Lock today and she thought I was weeks ahead of where she had been some three and a half years ago; long may that continue.

I saw my GP last night but he didn't seem too interested in the lack of post operative support I have (not) received so my decision to make a formal complaint direct to NGH seems to have been the right choice.

I went for a walk today with Pete Gray from Canal & River Trust to look at places a memorial bench could be sited - that really is getting back to normality. Today is also 'adoption day' in Stoke Bruerne when we try and maintain the land around the canal - I am not quite up to that yet but hopefully will be soon; I have been out to see 'the boys' and check on the work being done!

My iPhone says I have covered 2,243 steps today - not the most since my hip was replaced but it is only lunchtime! I haven't put many steps on this afternoon mainly because I fell asleep in front of the television - probably my mind was numbed by the media fawning over the change of Prime Minister.