Recap of the recent days:
Day 1-4:
I woke up from the general anesthesia feeling relieved that my limbs still worked as I wiggled my toes. Dr. Becker reassured me that the limb lengthening surgery was successful. I received pain relief through a drip, maintaining the pain at a manageable level of 4/10. The initial hours were blurry, and I needed confirmation about the surgery outcome due to my post-anesthesia confusion. Despite feeling comfortable, I was dazed, extremely hungry, and experiencing caffeine withdrawal. To satisfy my appetite, I had a falafel shawarma wrap delivered by Lieferando. Dr. Becker visited me after the meal, reiterated the surgery’s success without complications using a 13mm nail, and had me walk with crutches to demonstrate my walking ability.
Day 1 mostly consisted of foggy moments, light stretches in bed, walking with crutches, and eating while still having an appetite. I slept poorly, waking up frequently, requesting more pain medication to help me sleep. I realized I didn’t pack essential items such as a power board, comfortable clothing, and slippers. I also felt the need to address the high-carb and sugar-heavy hospital food lacking protein. Improving my internet connection, I bought a 4g modem, which was a wise choice.
On day 2, my mood was better, mobility improved significantly, allowing me to walk over 500m with crutches. Pain and swelling reduced, and I started experiencing accidental clicks mainly during movements like putting on shoes. By day 2, I felt more productive, incorporating work activities with my routine stretches every hour.
This routine continued until day 4, with varying pain levels as the effect of painkillers changed. I experienced accidental clicks on my left leg until day 4 when I learned to click intentionally and received positive feedback on my post-op x-rays from Dr. Becker. Acknowledging the tension after 20 clicks on the left leg, I focused on stretching throughout the day for mobility. Managing fluctuating mood, energy, and pain levels, I recognized this pattern might persist for months or until the end of the limb lengthening process. Despite being on leave, I found solace in staying occupied with mentally challenging tasks, boosting my productivity and keeping me engaged.
To be continued
