Even with mystical spotify music I didn't get much sleep, maybe an hour at around 05:30, before Laurā came to take my blood pressure reading at 06:30. She then removed the dressing and cleaned the area again before rebandaging it, unfortunately when I got up to go to the toilet the new bandage leaked and I deposited blood down my leg and all over the floor where I was walking. I called the staff with the button and they were wonderfully calm about it and stripped and redressed the area for a second time.
Breakfast, the next excitement at 08:00 was a little disappointing as they had not taken note of my gluten intolerance.
As I had anticipated from the dinner last night I thought my blood sugars would be high again, not too bad at 15 and I was concerned that I may have injected too much. 18 Lantus 20 Novo rapid but as both the breakfast yoghurt and the jam were over sweetened may be this was a good move.
The new nurse, Monika, replaced the normal bread with gluten free bread but it was very crunchy and I can’t say I enjoyed it.
Monika who looked very similar to Laurā, same haircut and colour hiding behind her face mask had me very confused! Straight after breakfast she took me in a wheelchair to have my next set of post op X-Rays and then brought me back in time for Physiotherapist, Justė Balevičiūté, to arrive and talk me through the exercise routines. Next she took me on a walk to the stairs on a new set of crutches, then down one flight and back up to check that I had remembered how to do this. I passed with flying colours and so it was back to my room for more exercises as shown on the sheet she left; then ice treatment giving me 30 minutes of relaxation in an ice jacket from an electrical ice maker pump.
Next she took me down to the physiotherapy room for an intriguing bit of kit that gently mobilised my new knee without me having to put any effort into the process.
At 11:14 my time on this machine had just finished and I was put back in the wheelchair and taken back to my room for more rest and a recap of what I am supposed to do; I asked her for my surgeon's first name, Šarūnas (pronounced Sharoonas). Justė was another of the team here who really was just so helpful.
That was a very busy morning and on return to my bed I had a short sleep before pills, blood sugar test and insulin jab before lunch. My blood sugars had shot up to 19 before lunch; as a result of the breakfast. The big jab this morning was thoroughly justified! Lunch arrived at around 13:15 and I had barely finished it before Šarūnas called in to check in with me and inform me that he is very happy with his review of the X-Rays in that the left knee was still in the correct position since 2018 and the new right knee was perfectly aligned, he explained that this was a newer type of knee that the left one and should be even better! We had a nice chat and he tried to tell me his surname. I wasn't even going to try to pronounce it or he'd have been there all day trying to get me to remember it! I have just copied it from their Website: Šarūnas Tarasevičius. I thanked him for the revision and look forward to a virtual consultation check up in three months. He confirmed that the clips would be taken out at UPA as I am staying longer this time and that the rehab period should be 6 weeks even though this was a much bigger operation. The partial prosthetic had not been cemented in so this surgery was easier than it could have been so there was no need for the more expensive prosthetic.
Rugilá, one of the receptionists, just brought my receipt as the payment has now finally been received along with a letter for me to sign to claim back the excess as the more expensive implant was not required; I am due a rebate of €890.
That was a very busy morning and on return to my bed I had a short sleep before pills, blood sugar test and insulin jab before lunch. My blood sugars had shot up to 19 before lunch; as a result of the breakfast. The big jab this morning was thoroughly justified! Lunch arrived at around 13:15 and I had barely finished it before Šarūnas called in to check in with me and inform me that he is very happy with his review of the X-Rays in that the left knee was still in the correct position since 2018 and the new right knee was perfectly aligned, he explained that this was a newer type of knee that the left one and should be even better! We had a nice chat and he tried to tell me his surname. I wasn't even going to try to pronounce it or he'd have been there all day trying to get me to remember it! I have just copied it from their Website: Šarūnas Tarasevičius. I thanked him for the revision and look forward to a virtual consultation check up in three months. He confirmed that the clips would be taken out at UPA as I am staying longer this time and that the rehab period should be 6 weeks even though this was a much bigger operation. The partial prosthetic had not been cemented in so this surgery was easier than it could have been so there was no need for the more expensive prosthetic.
Rugilá, one of the receptionists, just brought my receipt as the payment has now finally been received along with a letter for me to sign to claim back the excess as the more expensive implant was not required; I am due a rebate of €890.
After my exercise at 18:00 it was dinner time and I had elected for the same one as last night, the haddock salad, at least I knew what I was getting. When I tested my blood sugars they were off the chart again at 19.7 so I injected 20 units in the hope that this would calm things down. With unknown food and no real burn off energy it is so difficult to work out what is required.
Catharine, having arrived home from Star, called just as I received my dinner so she went to take Jazz out for a walk and I will speak to her in a bit when she gets back. After the call and my next exercise session I will get everything ready to take in the morning so there are no hold ups with the transport to UPA.
This evening I saw Mark, from Canada, who had a hip replacement yesterday and was exercising, he too is going to UPA with me tomorrow. Looking forward to it!
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