My fabulous new hip

This is actually day three but I didn't post on day one or two. The operation took around 4 fours and I came around at 11pm feeling quite good. Peter told me that the operation went well, a massive heartfelt thanks to him and to
Anesthetist Dr Solly. In fact all the Vimy House nursing staff have been kind and amazing.

Day one is a lot of lying around, working out what pain control is most effective and trying to read a page of a book without falling asleep. Day two is the scary day when you tentatively first put your legs over the side of the bed.

It's weird, the muscles have been sliced and diced like something off Master Chef and the nurse has to guide your leg. I shuffled on my frame towards the bathroom and back, happy with my adventure. Sending a message to your leg to lift and finding it doesn't is disconcerting. But I know this doesn't last for long.

On the Thursday night (operation Wednesday night) my children were in for a visit and like most four year olds, my daughter wanted to climb on the bed. I had spent some time with the nurses camouflaging the wound drainage bag and catheter bag. One of the first things I had to explain was why I had a bag of wee tied to the end of the bed. I held hands with my children and felt love and relief.

Day three has taken a few twists. The unveiling of the wound and removal of draining pipe feels the removal of a pipe cleaner splinter. The wound looks healthy and happy so on went the new dressing.

A couple of suppositories turned me into a porcelain machine gun and sitting in the shower for the first time was an enormous relief.

It's Saturday, day 3 and I've spent the whole morning feeling nauseous and vomiting.

My surgeon Peter Wilson told me to take it easy so I'm sipping lemonade and watching a Leonard Cohen concert on SBS.

My next goal is getting into bed by myself, I can swivel to the side but can't quite get back in. This is not what you need when you need a number two in three minutes but it takes five minutes to get there.