Comparing recoveries

I didn’t have much of a plan for Saturday beyond trying to walk for maybe two or three
hours after the rain was forecast to stop in the afternoon. So as I’ve been doing since I
got back from hospital I stayed in bed late to get as much sleep as I could. Although it
still hurts somewhat I can now roll over onto my stomach, though there’s no real need to
do so.

I got up even later than previous days since I went to bed after midnight. I followed my
usual morning routine of standing wash, changing dressing and checking my surgery
wounds which appear to be healing well, having breakfast, and on this occasion sitting
and reading while I waited for the rain to stop. As usual first thing, and when I’m sat for
any length of time, the surgery got quite painful. It also felt slightly hard and protuberant,
as it can do. However, that isn’t reflected in how it looks, or feels to the touch without the
dressing, so I’m not at all concerned. Bending remains particularly painful, as does
leaning too far forward while sitting. Coughing also hurts, and running is still inadvisable.
Over the last couple of days I worried there might be a slight bulge where the hernia had
been. But whenever I check there’s nothing out of the ordinary, so I’m happy that’s all
fine. The most noticeable change is an increase in itching near the smaller wounds, which
I’m taking as a good sign that they’re healing.

The rain hadn’t quite stopped by 2.30, but it was thinning and looked as though it
wouldn’t return once it quit. I packed one co-codamol tablet and some water and set off.
I’d decided by now I wanted to challenge myself some more with a walk of five to six
hours and made a loose plan to walk to Bury and back. As on previous days the pain
quickly went away once I was walking. By the time I reached Exchange Square I’d
decided instead to walk out of town by another road and turn back along a different route
no later than three hours into the walk.

I chose to head out along Rochdale Road. That eventually took me beyond the M60,
which is Manchester’s orbital motorway, and into Middleton. There I turned east partly
along roads I’d previously followed in the opposite direction while planning my M60 circuit
walk in 2015. That took me to the Rochdale Canal where I turned south back towards
Manchester. I left it where the towpath leaves the canal a little way before recrossing the
M60. I walked out to Oldham Road to continue heading for home.

Prior to this the day slowly got sunnier and warmer and the ground dryer, though with
some street flooding in a handful of places. But from 6 the light began to fade and the
temperature started to drop. I reached a sign indicating I was entering the City of
Manchester about 7 o’clock. Home was in reach now. This was Newton Heath, with just
Miles Platting to follow before Ancoats and the city centre. I guessed I was on target to be
home around half past eight, meaning I’d have walked the six hours I hoped for.

I wasn’t tired and my feet felt fine. They’d been the issue for months during recovery
from my previous hernia because it took me longer to get out, and once I did I didn’t go
very far initially. This time, whenever I could, I tried to ensure I’d walk two to three hours at
a time as often as possible in the months before surgery, despite often extreme pain.
That’s helped my feet remain used to walking, making it easier to pick up again.

This recovery, so far at least, has been far easier than last time. Though comparatively
the wait for surgery was far worse. Last time I had no pain from the hernia and was able
to carry on almost as usual. This year I had severe pain from May onwards which
dramatically curtailed my level of activity. At first standing or walking for 30-45 minutes
was painful, but by late June/early July that had dropped to between five and 15 minutes.
That meant that eventually I was working from home permanently, and not travelling in to
the office. From the end of June I was taking co-codamol daily (which you should not do),
and from mid-late July the pain was constant. The hernia bulge was permanently present
even while sitting. I had to lie down and gently press it back to make it go away. By late
August the pain had moderated a little, but the tear and the hernia lump were obviously
worse. My last really substantial walk had been in mid March, so when I finally got my
surgery it was a huge relief.

But getting back to discussing recovery. In 2004 things were far harder. I had personal
issues, I was depressed, my apartment was really unfit to live in, I’d just finished work as
a temp and had to attend an interview for a permanent role after surgery. Although I’ve
always walked and my surgery took place around the same time of year, meaning the
weather was fine, I wasn’t doing the same number of walks over seven hours with
anything like my recent regularity. That lack of mental, physical and emotional
preparedness and resilience, combined with much more painful open (as opposed to
laparoscopic or keyhole) surgery, a lot more bruising, and a bad emotional reaction to the
co-codamol inhibited my recovery. As mentioned in a previous episode I remember not
being able to leave my bed for a couple of days.

This time I’m happier, in a better state all round, healthier and more accustomed to very
long walks. I have more things to occupy me on an ongoing basis. Essentially I have more
resources available to me. Add in less traumatic keyhole surgery, better preparation, and
plans for recovery and I was back on my feet immediately and feeling much better.
Comparatively the pain from my surgery is less than the pain from my hernia was.

In the city centre I half considered getting a tram, but by now I’d walked more than five
and a half hours so thought I might as well carry on home. That way I’d walk more than
six hours in one go rather than not quite six hours in one go and 15 minutes a bit later.
There’s not much difference between the two, but it makes me feel better.

I got home after 9 in the end, after just less than six hours and 40 minutes walking,
having covered more than 29 km. I felt great, though I did wonder whether I should have
walked so far. Though at the same time felt that if I’d set out earlier in the the day I could
have walked a lot further. It does seem that even if I need to be more cautious I can still
be more ambitious than I originally planned. Before surgery I expected to spend the first
two weeks of recovery walking two to three hours at most, then building to four and five,
or even six hours over the next fortnight or more, then gradually expanding from there,
hoping to reach 10 hours by the end of the year. But this walk, and others earlier in the
week, suggest I can be more ambitious, and proves to my satisfaction that next summer I
can visit those longer walks I had to put off this year. I’m even considering revisiting my
M60 circuit using a longer route remaining outside the motorway for the entire distance. A
walk of likely 18 hours.

So that’s the latest update. Watch out for further episodes, and thank you for listening.
Bye.

Matt Dalby 28-29 Sep 19