Day 7 (Thursday 25th June 2009)

Today started off miserably. I kept waking up during the night because my left calf kept contracting. It was painful but only for a second. I rang Dr Park this morning because the pain was so unbearable. He said to come into the clinic but I was like NO I can’t walk…. He said “Your friend can help you!” I had a shower and it took us a long time to get downstairs, step by step was burning. It feels like my legs are going to explode.

I can straighten my knee when laying down but when I stand it’s a different story. We arrived at the clinic; Dr Park told me that the muscles are just contracting. I think that means I have the dreaded spasm. Well if that’s the case, I should be getting an excellent result. He got me into the recovery room and I had another IV. It’s got painkillers, muscle relaxants and anti-inflammatory agents in it. I had to stay there from 1pm til 6:30pm. I tried several times to get up to go to the toilet but when the weight of gravity pushed the blood down, it burned. SO I had to just hold it in. At the end, the nurses forced me to get up and tried to make me straighten my knee but I couldn’t so they left it as is. I finally got to the toilet…YAY! I have to come in again tomorrow. Dr Park said don’t stretch if it hurts too much. I can’t believe its day 7 today!

We had Thai for dinner again. But they made it hot even though we requested for mild. My legs are feeling so much better right now, its 9:43pm. Feeling 100% better compared to this morning. Hulk is on again, watching for the 3rd time.

Day 6 (Wednesday 24th June 2009)

Oh dear. I woke up this morning and I couldn’t move, it hurt a lot. I thought things were improving from yesterday but guess I was wrong. I haven’t done any standing stretches today but I have been able to lie down and straighten the knee. That’s as far as I got.. It was hard to go to the toilet. My left leg is very sore, different from yesterday because my right was really bad. I don’t know what is wrong???!!!! Maybe I’m not pushing hard enough? Haven’t done anything today, not because I don’t want to but because I can’t. It’s so boring being stuck in here, I wish I could get out to see the city. About 2 more weeks til we can go home. I hope its better by then.

Day 5 (Tuesday 23rd June 2009)

I just got home from the clinic again. Try the stretch for yourself: face the wall with your feet about 10cm from it...and lean forward with your back straight and touch your belly to the wall. It’s easy doing it but a totally different story after surgery. I thought I was really getting ok with it, but Dr Park made me move my feet further back about 20cm. Now that’s a whole new level! But I did it. I was at the clinic for about 2 hours altogether, every 30 minutes I got up to stretch. Then the nurse made me squat down and then my legs were burning coz not only are they swollen but they are stiff when u straighten and bend them! I think its getting better but the mornings are a bitch! It was so hard and painful, but once again as you slowly build up to the stretch it improves. I have not taken any painkillers because I was only given three tablets, and I thought maybe this isn't even the worst yet?? Who knows? So yeah, I'm keeping it in reserve.

I'm taking Arnica Montana tablets from GNC brand, Dr Park calls it Bromine tablets. They don't taste bad luckily coz I need to take five tablets, 3 times a day. They are a bit sweet. I feel safe here in Seoul, people are nice. Yes on the first day make sure you buy lots of water. I drink about 2 litres a day so the 6 pack my friend bought me won't last long, buy some snacks as well with sugar to keep you going. If you have to, take a few trips back and forth to the store if it’s too heavy. Trust me, you’ll b glad you stocked up. And also get a room service menu coz it’s so much easier to get the food delivered to your room rather than venturing out to buy some after the surgery.

It took so long to convince my friend. I think he realised that it affected my confidence so much when I started being really almost depressed about it. He has been a Godsend although he keeps saying relax, LOL not so easy!! But I need all the help and motivation I can get. I didn't tell those close to me because I feel so ashamed that I hate something about myself so much...what's worse is that we can't control it- it’s our genetics. We have been given what we have, luckily this can be changed.