Monday & Tuesday
Pretty much the same routine both days: wake up, sit around all day, go to bed.
I had visitors Monday afternoon and Tuesday evening, which genuinely helped break up the time. It was so nice to see people and feel somewhat normal for a bit.
Wednesday: First Post-Op Appointment and First Time Leaving my Room
It was a big day — my first time leaving my bedroom in two weeks and my first time leaving the house.
The car ride was a bit uncomfortable since I’ve gotten used to being in my comfy recliner or lying in bed all day. Not to mention, the walk from the entrance to the doctor’s office is quite far. I made it as far as I could before Brad had me sit in a wheelchair for the remainder of the journey.
The report at my appointment was positive. After X-rays, they confirmed everything is healing as expected. The physician assistant removed the stitches from my scope incisions and let me know the stitches from the much larger PAO incision would dissolve on their own.
Once we got home, I was extremely sore. After going a few days without stronger pain meds during the day, I finally gave in and took a muscle relaxer and an oxy to ease the pain. While I’d love to fully wean off narcotics, I’m thankful they’re there when pain levels spike.
I spent the rest of the day downstairs, which was a nice change of scenery — though not quite as peaceful as my bedroom oasis. Being surrounded by the everyday chaos of four kids (and all the noise and mess that comes with them) was a little overwhelming. I was happy to recluse back to my little haven that evening.
Thursday
Day 17 post-op, and I’m not going to lie — I woke up cranky.
I was still sore from Wednesday’s adventures and just felt run down. My stomach also decided to suddenly become irritated by all the meds, despite being fine up until this point.
I spent the entire day in bed. I didn’t even transition to my recliner. This is only the second day like this that I’ve had, so I can’t complain too much. Recovery from major orthopedic surgery is full of ups and downs, and this was just one of the down days.
I focused on hydrating, resting, and icing my hip. And I may have spent a little time planning a hypothetical family vacation for August.
Speaking of that… it got me thinking about the 80 Day Challenge I didn’t get to finish when my surgery date got moved up. Focusing on a future vacation might be just the motivation I need to rebuild healthy habits, feel my best, and recover strong. I’ll be sharing more about that soon — but in the meantime, you can check out the 80 Day Challenge here.
Friday
I was on the struggle bus Friday. Just overall tired.
I had a visitor in the morning, which always helps my mood. But by evening, I started feeling antsy and nervous — like I might be on the verge of a panic attack similar to what I experienced after my November surgery.
I’m thankful for the tools I learned from that season. When I started to feel unsettled, I let myself feel frustrated. I cried. I reached out to friends. I practiced calming exercises. And eventually, I was able to regulate and settle down for the evening. I ended up getting a decent night’s sleep.
Saturday
I’ve been slacking on my quiet time and Bible study in the mornings. After Friday evening’s frustrations, I deleted Facebook and Instagram off my phone for a little social media hiatus.
During my quiet time, the Lord met me so personally through my Bible study. Two verses were highlighted about God helping those in need.
The First one is Isaiah 61: 1-3
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
3and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
The other verse is found in 2 Corinthians 4:17-18
For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
Both passages brought me so much comfort. The reminder that God is near to the brokenhearted and that our current struggles are temporary felt especially personal this week.
Sunday
Earlier in the week, I noticed what looked like a candidiasis skin infection starting. Thankfully, I already had some products at home to begin treating it. I scheduled an appointment for the following week, but by Saturday evening it was still spreading and getting close to my incisions.
Because of that, Brad and I decided I should go to urgent care.
Getting out of the house actually went smoother than I expected. I’m definitely moving better, and my stamina is very slowly improving. Still, once we got home, I was exhausted and headed back upstairs to rest.
That evening, sweet friends brought us dinner and stayed to eat and visit. It lifted my spirits more than I can explain. After even the slightest brush with anxiety on Friday, I’ve been extra intentional about keeping my nervous system regulated — and time with people I love truly makes a difference.
Wrapping it Up
This was probably my most challenging week physically and mentally so far.
As my energy slowly returns, it’s becoming harder to just sit. My brain is ready for activity, and I definitely struggled with boredom toward the end of the week.
One big win: I fully weaned off narcotics and muscle relaxers by Saturday!
What I’m Watching/Reading/Doing
I thought it would be fun to wrap up each week sharing what I’m reading, watching, and doing to pass the time.
What I’ve Been Reading
The first two weeks, I read and finished The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah. I’d give it a solid 8/10 — really good.
This week, I started Uncluttered Faith by Joshua Becker. It’s an easy nonfiction read and has challenged me in a really good way.
What I’ve Been Watching
Brad and I started and finished Nurse Jackie during the first two weeks. It’s kind of a twisted sitcom — funny, but definitely mature. There wasn’t much nudity until the later seasons, which was disappointing. Great storylines don’t need sex scenes!
Next up has been Homeland. The storyline is really engaging, but again, there’s more nudity than I’d prefer for an action series. We’ve fast-forwarded through quite a few parts.
What I’ve Been Doing
I’ve really enjoyed coloring while listening to podcasts. Anything to get me off a screen helps my mental state during recovery. (Links for Coloring Book and Markers)
My favorite podcast right now is The Self Care Initiative Podcast by Jason Sieb. It focuses on the mental side of transformation, not just a checklist of what you “should” be doing — which I love.
Another favorite is The Choose Strong Podcast. It’s lighthearted but motivating and an easy listen.
Goals for Next Week
I’m a very goal-driven person. When you’re stuck sitting for weeks, it can feel hard to set goals — but there are still plenty I can work toward.
Going into Week 4:
• Quiet time, prayer, and Bible study before getting on the computer
• Include fiber at every meal to improve bathroom regularity (a couple weeks of narcotics + anti-nausea meds = bathroom struggles… IYKYK)
• No obvious added sugars to promote healing and help eliminate the candidiasis infection
I’m already taking probiotics, using an antifungal cream and wash, and taking a prescribed oral antifungal medication — yet the rash was still lingering. Reducing sugar was recommended to help limit its spread.
Hope you guys have a great week, I’ll be back next week for a Week 4 recap!
If you want to read more about my PAO journey you can check that out HERE.
Preparing for your PAO surgery and recover? Be sure to check out my resources page HERE.
Happy Healing!