There’s no place like home

“Oh God, James, what have you done to yourself?”‘ my doctor said to me today with a smile, as I entered the surgery. I explained the fall, the hip replacement and we discussed what I need to consider going forward.

The plan is to go back and see her in a couple of weeks after some further tests.

I was also sent home from the hospital with a stack of medications, which we reviewed.

The main reason for the visit today was to get a medical certificate needed for work. We agreed on a return-to-work date of March 24th, which allows me to rest next week and do physio and other exercises, and even then I’ll probably continue to work from home.

I got a lovely phone call also today from our workplace safety person who totally understood my situation, having previously worked as an occupational therapist, and as someone who had a hip replacement herself.

After Ross picked me up from the hospital this morning, I was eager to get home, even though the staff at Sacred Heart are wonderful.

I feel much better now than I did after my amputation a couple of years ago. I mentioned this to the staff today, and they agreed. I remember the staff who said goodbye to me then jokingly saying, ‘We never want to see you ever again!’

Arriving home, I rested for a while and napped.

As well as the visit to the doctor today, I also stopped in for a haircut. After a few weeks in hospital I was looking shabby. I bought some milk, and I even paid a visit to my local bar, The Nocturne. Not because I’m some kind of raging alcoholic, but because it was Jenny, who works there, who picked me up off the street and carried me home after the fall. If it wasn’t for Jenny I might have spent hours collapsed on the street.

Tonight, I’m in bed early. I had an online meeting with an Advisory Group for Wounds Australia, an organization focused on raising awareness about wound-related issues. We discussed diabetes, amputation, and related topics, and I feel I made a significant contribution.

After that, I didn’t want to heat up frozen food, so I walked to my local Japanese restaurant, which is very close. I walked back to my apartment and went to bed. I chatted on the phone and am now writing this blog post and listening to podcasts.

The next few days will likely be fairly inactive, though I know it’s important to get active again after a hip operation and amputation. My next major plan is lunch with friends at the nearby pub on Sunday. Other things may happen before then, but that’s what I’m looking forward to. If I only I could click my heels together and in the word of Dorothy say, “There’s no place like home”.