2 weeks after op

I am now just 2 weeks after my shoulder operation and am amazed at how much better the exercises have become. I can now swing my arm slowly forwards and backwards, make little circles with my arm hanging down, bend and lift my elbow up to my shoulder and easily do all the other exercises. I am ready to go back to the physio but have to wait until week 3. Guess there is a reason for this so I'll will patiently wait and go next week.

So during the past 9 days I have (each day) been able to do new things with my left arm. The only part of my body I had trouble washing was under my right arm, but after day 7 I could manage to wash and apply deodorant (very important)! I struggled also with dressing and needed help with my bra, shirt, socks and shoes - the rest I could do. However, after again day 7, I could do all these things.

The biggest difference was taking my arm out of the sling and removing the strap around the waist. I re-applied just the strap around my arm and body and suddenly I had my lower arm in a better position and not stuck across my stomach. It was giving me arm and wrist ache as well - this has now gone too. I am concerned though, that when my arm is freer to move I must make sure I don't carry anything too heavy such as a full kettle etc. I do use my arm to carry a tea tray or ipad etc and for typing such as now and just hope  this is ok.

Pain has been non existent! I had only 3 nights in all when I was kept awake by an irritating stabbing ache but just took extra paracetamol and ibuprofen. I have not needed any more Morphine. I struggle with going to sleep and staying comfortable all night - I think I have had just 2 nights like this - guess it's just going to take time.

I'm getting fed up just sitting around and watching TV so have had friends around for lunch and walking mums dog around the village to pass the time. Feel restricted because I can't drive! If I get taken to town I feel 'out of sorts' cause I should be at work! This is the first time in my whole life that I have not been at work when I should be! In my mind I am itching to get back to work and feel I could manage - but guess it would be very difficult and I would probably do too much with my arm or someone would bump into it. The last thing I would want to do is slow the recovery up. This needs to be done right once and for all! I would be a nuisance to others around me as the would have to be helping all the time too. I don't like having to rely on others!

Although I'm bored I am also struggling with WANTING to doing things like reading or surfing the internet etc. I am a busy active person and would normally be cooking, sewing playing the ukulele or walking across the common with mums dog if I were on holiday and had nothing to do, but I can't do these things with a poorly shoulder. Never mind - onwards and upwards.

Day 3

Friday now, and I'm GETTING FED UP!
I actually had a good night sleep with no pain at all.
been out for lunch with friends - felt weird being in normal company after 4 days in!
now I'm tired so will chill out a bit.
Received 3 letters today - one booking up physio, one for 6 week consultation check and one from surgeon explaining everything he did. I can't speak more highly of Exmouth Hospital - they have been brilliant and very efficient!

2nd day after operation

During the night I couldn't get comfy and my shoulder began to throb 'big time'. I couldn't sleep so took just 5ml of Morphine, which must have worked because the next thing I remember it was 8 am!
I still felt uncomfortable but not as bad so took tablets as prescribed and after carefully getting up washed and dressed with a piece of toast for breakfast I sat in the middle of the settee upright (where I could feel comfortable) and promptly fell asleep for another hour.
Amazingly after this I felt completely peaceful and with no pain or even discomfort in my shoulder. My lower arm was aching AND my wrist so I took the sling off and tried the first set of exercises I was told to do once the nerve block had completely worn off. Put the sling back on and every now and then took it off to stop my arm going dead.
For the ret of the day I have felt really good with no discomfort so long as I don't move my arm.
Another early night - lets see if it hurts then...

The day after the operation

Well I am still alive and the nerve block worked until the afternoon. Tingling in my fingers and soreness in my shoulder - like a dull throbbing ache - not real pain but I can feel it - can't really relax. I'm taking all the paracetamol and ibuprofen correctly but don't need the Morphine they gave me yet!
Pete (hubby) made me a tasty scrambled egg with cheese, bacon and tomatoes for supper and then off to bed nice and early.

Day of operation

Well I arrived at 8am mentally ready and was told I was first on the list - great. I was shown to 'my' room 36 and was told this was just my room for the day. Nurse Louise attended to me as if I was the only patient in the hospital - wonderful! I changed into a gown with my dressing gown on and Louise, checked all my personal details. 

The surgeon and anaesthetist came to see me with loads of information and all was looking good. The left shoulder was marked up and I was given 2 ibruprophen and paracetamol. But after their team briefing they decided that as I was having a nerve block it would be better to wait til later on in the day so the block would still be active all night. 

And so the long wait began ... Cards, reading, snoozing, watching TV, listening to the radio with little visits from my nurse - Louise to check I was alright. 

1.45pm right I'm on the way up to theatre! Dying for a cuppa now!!!

Home now! Left hospital at 6.15pm so only just settling in at home. Op went well and surgeon thanked me for bringing in an interesting case! Pain will kick in tomorrow! Had a tasty scrambled egg with tomatoes, bacon and cheese - lovely!

Off to bed 9.30pm - had more paracetamol and got ibuprofen  at the ready for midnight with a biscuit  + morphine ready for the morning when pain begins, as arm block starts to wear off! 

Speak tomorrow!

The Day before my shoulder operation

I am 59 years old and never been in to hospital for any kind of operations so tomorrow (operation shoulder day) will be a brand new experience. I am a 'full on' primary school teacher doing Forest School work all week with all ages 4-11year olds. I have taught in  this school for nearly 27 years and only had 2 days off in that entire time, so to be told I have to be signed off for 6 weeks and can't do a lot during that time (no driving for 8 weeks) I am thinking I will struggle just a bit!

But I am focused and will write lists and a schedule to give my day routine, starting tonight with Blog writing.

So why am I having this operation? Well last January 2016 I had the chance to join the school team for a 'Clip and Climb' challenge, but with a determined mind I HAD to climb and hit the buzzer at the top on all the climbs - result ... a ripped tendon. Funnily enough it only hurts when it gets lent on or aches a lot at night, hurts if I lift heavy things down from a shelf or lift a heavy branch or turn my arm back to reach for something. If I were 80 I wouldn't have the op cause I wouldn't need to do these kinds of things but in my job and at 59 it is a daily occurrence.

With just 2 hours before an early night to go, I have to prepare myself carefully and get up at 6.30am tomorrow. I can drink water tonight but nothing from when I wake up tomorrow! Yikes!
I'll have a shower and take my dressing gown and slippers, a book to read but will leave my vary focal glasses at home (they need 2 hands to put on as delicate frames) so will take cheap reading glasses.
I must remember not to put make up on or wear any jewellery (including my wedding ring) hope it comes off! Thankfully I can take my phone to fiddle with!

Tomorrow I  have to be there by 8am and then probably the long wait until it is my turn. I'm having a block in the left neck to numb the shoulder and arm then a full anaesthetic, and will wake up with a sore throat from the tubes and an oxygen mask.  But then I get a cup of tea so that's all I'm going to focus on - can't wait. I've packed myself a sandwich and oaty biscuit to eat if it's a long wait in the afternoon as no one goes home until the surgeon pays me a visit after all his patients are done.

Right then all ready - done the clothes washing, tidied up the house parked up my car for 8 weeks and have just managed to pull off my wedding ring! I'm ready - let's do it!

Speak tomorrow maybe? If not Wednesday.