Sleep Challenged

Who would have ever thought the bed would be my biggest challenge? Even my Sleep Number Bed can’t live up to a hospital bed. And sleeping on my back has never been my preference.

Getting into and out of bed requires moving my bum leg with this long blue device with a loop at the end which hooks over my foot. It is a very slow process. I loved it in the hospital when the nurses would give you praise for being able to scoot your butt even 1/4" to get out of bed. But no one is usually cheering for me as I struggle with the bed stuff.

Actually I never said enough good things about my hospital stay. It was quite a contrast to my last experience in that same facility when I had my thyroid removed and subsequently had the radiation from hell treatment. But apparently the orthopedic department shows the hospital at its best and it did that for me as well. The staff were attentive and forever encouraging. They always came to help me when I called. As a nurse washed my back yesterday, I realized it had been a long time since anyone had washed my back.

The PT group were all young and extremely positive. Their job is to make sure you are ready to resume your life in your home. So when they asked me how many stairs I had in my house and I said 14, they took me to a fire escape with crutches and said, “Let’s go up”, and then we went back down. Not so bad. I thought stairs would be my nemesis, but instead it’s sleeping in a bed.

I went to bed at 10:30 last night which I already knew was a mistake since I live with a night owl. By 3:30 my body was extremely tired of lying in the same position. Even though it’s somewhat controversial, we tried putting a pillow between my legs so I could sleep on my good side, but it was somewhat painful. So I just elevated my upper body with that pillow and managed to sleep until just about 6:00. At which point I had to get up.

I made my way with the walker, my reacher, my sock putter-onner device, my discarded clothes from when I had gotten too hot in the night, and a glass of water to sit down in front of my computer, one very confused dog in tow.

A little while later I called my husband on my cell phone to say that if he brought me something to eat and drink he could certainly stay in bed a lot longer. So that’s where we stand at 6:40, as I sit here eating raisin bran and continuing the one activity that has gotten me through many a tough time.

I’m probably good for at least 3 hours, or until I have to go to the bathroom, which happens to be currently parked next to our bed. (Not all porta-potties were sent back!)

I’m already wondering how I will spend the day. A good friend may come over to help me wash my very gross head of hair. Another friend who knows all about PT may show up about 5:00. But there are a lot of other hours to fill. Time on my hands is a very new concept for me.

I would give a whole lot for a good night of sleep right now.