on the IC and running vicariously

[limberlou]

well I am officially no exercise for at least 6 weeks and only gentle for the following 6. I have finally had my liver cyst done ( a fenestration - basically a large window cut in it so it doesn’t refill this times) and I am home now recovering.

the op itself was fine but you do not realise how much your core is involved in day to day life. They said no heavy lifting due to risk of hernia so I thought fine I can do that. Worse case scenario I walk in and out from kitchen with a single item of clothes to hang on the line …. But I can’t reach up to hang it and if I let the line down I can’t pull it back up!!! And of course first morning downstairs and one cat had been sick and another had brought in a bird and plucked it all over dining room!!! I can’t bend down properly because my swollen belly gets in the way 😂😂 I’m like a sumo wrestler at the mo !! So that was a fun 10 minutes

So I shall be watching and reading all your runs and my daughter has just been for one and told me what a lovely fresh day it was and how much she enjoyed it. “ lovely” I managed through gritted teeth. And then I thought I’d check on my greenhouse…. I can’t lift my watering can and we are on a hosepipe ban still !!!! And I have 34 tomato plants and a chilli !!!! So I picked two bowlfuls and waddled back indoors

But the funniest thing was while my son was still here this morning ( he’s popped to see his girlfriend before he drives back home) he had to try to roll my hospital socks up my legs while I lay on my back, on my bed like a dead bug, legs in the air after my shower. Both of us giggling ( and even that hurts!!). I haven’t got the strength with sore tummy muscles to pull the damn socks up!!thank god I only have to wear them for another 24 hours.

I even struggled carrying the kettle back from the sink to the plug!! And I’m not going without my cuppa!! So I will be relying on you lot to write lots of fun write ups so I can run with you in spirit even if not in body for the next 12 weeks!! 😭

[PeggySusi Graduate]

That really doesn’t sound like fun limberlou - I do hope your recovery will progress quickly. I read your post because of the title as I’m also following others and only running vicariously after foot surgery.. I’ve been feeling very sorry for myself this week so reading about your struggles makes me feel I should pull myself together. I’m six weeks on from the surgery and at least able to go for walks now!

You will get there.. do you have lots of good books to read or other indoor activities planned? Wishing you rest and rapid healing.😊

[limberlou Graduate in reply to PeggySusi]

I had a fall whilst walking, about 4 years ago. I’d been for a 10k run in the morning, showered, changed and then driven myself and my son about 40 miles to walk through woods below Castle Drogo. We’d had a lovely walk and then we were heading back and I stood on a wobbly stone, thought I’d saved myself and then just went over on my ankle. I thought I’d just sprained it a bit and I’d walk it off but no!! I managed to limp about 2 miles back to the car and drove home and it was only when I got home that I realised how swollen my ankle was and that I couldn’t put weight on it so we went to A&E. I’d torn the ligaments on the outer side of my foot and chipped a bit off my ankle bone for good measure …surgical boot for 6 weeks and no running for 12.

This was also when I had a new gas meter fitted and they managed to wreck my gas fire which was then condemned and was my only source of hot wate as it ran the back boiler too. Fast forward to two weeks of crawling up and downstairs with a kettle and trying to climb in over my bath with one ankle that I cdnt take my weight on, so I cd kneel and wash myself in a bowl and also wash my hair whist kneeling in the bath. It was a busy time for plumbers so until I finally located one who fitted an iBoost to work off my solar panels and away I went it was a real pain.

Id signed up to run 50 miles in the July and had hurt my ankle on June 28th so I thought that was out but I contacted them to ask if I could postpone it and they said I cd walk it instead so I did, doing a bit every day and completing 75 miles in total. So I signed up for 75 miles waking for august and did 100 miles this time in total. I’d started with the boot and wrist crutches but as I’d sprained my wrist too this wasn’t very practical so I ended up buying a foot leveller, from Amazon, which you wear over your ordinary trainer which levels your good foot to same height as the surgical boot which made it so much easier to walk. As it had been beginning to make my good hip hurt being uneven. Best thing I ever bought!! It made my rehab so much easier and quicker

Good luck with your rehab too

[PeggySusi Graduate in reply to limberlou]

Thank you! Yes, I think we are both old enough/experienced enough to recognise the wisdom of “just keep moving”.. “use it or lose it” “do what you can, when you can” “necessity is the mother of invention” and especially, “tomorrow is another day’”.

[Bluebirdrunner Graduate]

Its good news that you have had your operation at last Limberlou, I hope it brings about a successful outcome, and that you recover well.

Your fun and games did make me smile, not being able/allowed to do everyday things we take for granted is a huge issue though. A full kettle is heavy, but you do need your tea!

Wouldn't it be sweet of your cats to pick up after themselves, and maybe fetch things for you. ..after all you do for them☺ that's not going to happen though!

Take it easy and heal well, I know your daughter will be keeping a close eye on you and your son too.

Running waits. Feet up ( if its comfy)

🌹🌹🌻🌻🌼🌼xxx

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Bluebirdrunner]

Yeah I tried telling my cats but they didn’t seem to take it onboard and for some reason they all seem to think I need my stomach massages regularly and I really don’t. I persuade one to move down and settle on my lap and the next one thinks “ oh I’ll climb over her and treadle this upper tummy.” “ NO!!! Because that bit is sore too!!”.

Bless them!!

[SueAppleRun Graduate]

Post op inability to do the things we take for granted comes as a shock doesn't it? Sending healing hugs your way and realising how lucky I am that I don't need another op in the foreseeable future.

[limberlou Graduate in reply to SueAppleRun]

I have been waiting for this one for ages and it should be a lit better once it’s healed so I’ll try to suffer in silence but it’s hard when I am so independent normally and hate asking for help

[skysue16 Graduate]

What a difficult time for you and very frustrating 🙁 ….. wishing you a good recovery, take care.

[limberlou Graduate in reply to skysue16]

Thanks I’m fine really just frustrated as I’m a “ doer” and hate asking for help and like to be busy.

[Oldfloss Administrator Graduate]

Oh gosh.... you are in a state and well done you for staying so positive!

Look after yourself and do keep popping in....

I am off the running too for a while...lots of things kicked off over the last week or so,,, and I have started posting a few things on the S and F forum about exercising with all manner of issues! Maybe pop in and take a look... when you are beginning to get back on track, there may be things that will be useful to you?

I have this image now of you like a beetle on its back waving your legs in the air!

[limberlou Graduate in reply to Oldfloss]

Oh I’ll take a look cos I’m keen to do something once I am allowed. I don’t want to do too much too soon and set myself back ( like I did when I had my hysterectomy years ago!!😳). But also I don’t want to drift back into doing nothing.

Yes I def looked like a dead bug!! And while I appreciate my cats being so loving I do wish they didn’t all feel the need to massage my poor stomach- I have to keep pushing them away and I feel so mean. My daughter said they were all over her when she stayed here while I was in hospital, barely left her side, followed her to the toilet even…

Last night I felt so sorry for my 2 biggest girls, they had sneaked up in my bed late evening and thought they’d stay. I tried, I really did but Mimi got under the covers and stayed really still behind my knees but she purred loudly and washed continuously and Luna kept going to sleep in the top of the covers and then as soon as I was dropping off she had to check I was breathing by butting me really hard in the face ( a Maine coon trait apparently- she doesn’t know her own strength) or by sniffing my face really closely and tickling me with her 4” long whiskers !! Which kept making me jump awake again. After 2 hours I got up for the loo and they went downstairs thankfully. I know they are pleased I’m home but boy are they clingy!!!