I received good news today (Oct. 14) during a scheduled visit to the hospital – I can go back to work.
My cousin and helper, Tom Allen, drove me to Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center to have removed the 30 staples used to close the wound opened when I had hip surgery on Sept. 29.
Sandy the nurse said everything looked good as she used a special tool to take out the metal pieces. She covered the wound with a thin strip and told me what I wanted to hear: “Now you can take a shower.”
No more sponge baths for me. Tonight I may use up all the hot water while basking in the steamy cascade.
Sandy also said I can wean myself from walker and crutches, using walls and furniture for balance until I feel ready to “solo.” I’ve already tried going it alone and think I’m ready to downsize to one crutch.
According to Sandy, using the muscles around the hip will only strengthen them and she urged me to continue a series of exercises that my therapists had prescribed for me. She said at my six-week doctor visit, on Nov. 11, I’ll be doing tons better.
She said I’m free to do what I will with my pain pills. It’s been nearly 11 hours since my last one and I don’t feel any ill effects.
Oh, and when I asked when I can go to work, she said it’s up to me. I had her write me a note just to make Patricia, my publisher, happy. I’ll start next Monday, Oct. 19.
One negative note: I’ll have to wear the support hose until the six-week visit. Oh well, you can’t have everything.
When Tom and I were leaving, someone spoke to me near the check-out desk. It was Clark and Diane Bell, he on crutches.
Clark, an Asheboro attorney who is running for City Council this year, said he had hip replacement surgery last Saturday. When I told him I’d had hip resurfacing, he said that’s what he had wanted but to no avail.
Both seemed in good spirits as he prepared to check out.
But no more than I was.
Shower, here I come!
