It’s been just over two weeks after the surgery and I am being told that in order for me to leave the hospital I will need to be able to walk the loop around the ward I am staying in and I also need to successfully navigate at least 9 stairs. This may sound like an easy task but believe me, after the surgery on my right leg where they took the material needed for the flap in my mouth and also the skin graph well this was not an easy task by far.
The pain I was feeling in my leg was tolerable with the medications they were giving me but I still needed help to get my leg swung over so I could sit on the edge of the bed. The next part was the hardest, we had a few members from the physiotherapy department come to help me stand for the first time, let me tell you it didn’t go well on my first attempt. The issue was that I wasn’t able to put any weight on my leg and my balance from being in bed for two weeks was not very good either. The physio people had brought in a special device to help me stand and to take the weight off my leg, it was a hydraulic unit that raised up when you tried to stand. The top portion where your arms rested were padded and the whole unit guided you up into a standing position.
This went on daily for the next three to four days just using the aid to stand and put weight on my leg to see how long I could tolerate it. At first it was just a few minutes a day but by the fourth day I was able to stand and shift my weight on and off my leg successfully.
The next step was to get me walking, this involved me using the hydraulic aid to not only stand but it allowed me to walk also. The first day we were able to get to the nursing station which was about 40 to 50 feet from my room, this was enough as it was my first time walking in almost three weeks.
Once I was strong enough they graduated me up to a walker and by this time I was doing complete laps around the ward, approximately 120 steps according to my watch.
Because we have stairs in our house I had to show them I was able to walk up about nine stairs on my own with the aid of a cane. Once this was completed the only thing left was to get my release from the surgeon and respiratory department and I was home free!!
Now I would like to say that I walked out of the hospital on my own two feet but the rules say that you must be wheeled out in a wheelchair, (I guess so I don’t fall and end up back in my old room again, LOL). But I can say that leaving the hospital after almost a month of stay and not being able to go outside was exhilarating, the smell of vehicle fumes, the sun in my eyes and the noise of the hustle and bustle were exactly what I needed.
Thank you for reading along and please let me know if you have any questions by going to the contact page and sending me a quick note!
With all the horrible news and physical strain I was still able to read what you wrote with a touch of humor…gas fumes indeed! You are inspiring!!! Keep writing.
Thanks Gary, really appreciate the feedback!!
Alan