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In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Tuesday, 29 July 2025

Countdown to the Op!

 July 29th

Gulp....4 days to go. I'm starting to feel a tad apprehensive. I had the Pre-op, (blood pressure, blood tests, MRSA swab and of course weight) on the 21st with a thumbs up from the nurse. (Covid test no longer required.) Certainly made it real and brought it home to me that it really was going to happen. Even the junior doctor strike hasn't effected the date, probably because I'm going to a private hospital under the NHS. So to get ready for the op, 5 days before the day I must shower every day with Octenisan wash lotion, put on clean clothes and then spread a small amount of the tube Octenisan gel up each nostril twice daily. Today is day 2!


 

I have also managed to lose 12lb so far, just 2lb to reach my goal of a stone. With only 4 days left, I may have to skip one of my meals, or make it even smaller to achieve that! 



Exercising for thirty minutes a day has also been on the agenda. Mostly sitting down, but the Joe Wicks program certainly gets the heart rate going! And then there are the physio exercises, predominantly targeted at getting the muscles stronger around the knee, gosh the pain when I'm doing them.... but needs must and determination on a speedy recovery is my aim.

Had a welcome visitor on Pentland yesterday. Posed while I took the photo through the window.


 



6 comments:

Caroline and Martin said...

Well done on the weight loss Irene, I my husband had a hip replacement op just over two weeks ago, he to went to a private hospital on the NHS everyone was so lovely and every appointment was on time. He is now pain free and walking well with crutches, and reducing pain killers by the day. I know that knees take a little longer, but do as the physio's say and you should be fine, we have friends that have had knee ops and the improvement in quality of life is ten fold, I'll be thinking of you xx Caroline

Anonymous said...

All the very best for 4 days time Irene. Keep up the excercises.
Pip NB Oleanna

Anonymous said...

You’ve done really well, give yourself a pat on the back. Good luck with the op. I’m very interested around your recovery as l will be having a very complex knee op shortly so any suggestions or tips will be very welcome. Take care and l hope all goes well. Paula x

Adam said...

Amazing kingfisher photos! They do love a perch — I saw a thing by a wildlife photographer who said the best way to get a photo of a kingfisher (assuming you know one is about) is to set up a new perch in front of the camera, and it will definitely come and sit on it.
Good luck with the op, sure everything will be fine.

Graham said...

Good luck Irene! Just had an opp myself & it's not as bad as you fear.

Anonymous said...

All the very best, from someone who had 4 joint replacements in 20months!!

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