Guest viewing is limited

3 weeks and counting!!

Status
Not open for further replies.
@karisa7174, @charmed-life....

Karisa, I call this a "nightgown day". I indulge from time to time. Please do take advantage of your church friends' help. You've never had a THR before, so while we've learned a lot, there's still some unknowns in terms of how we'll navigate, feel, etc. It'll be good for you to have some support if needed. You can always pay it forward when you're all recovered! Hope the snowfall isn't too bad, and hope your Ohio State kicks as& at the Orange Bowl. I know what you mean by pain when bending on that side. Ouch!

And charmed life, the pain in my UNoperated leg has me extremely concerned, also. Glad to hear yours resolved. I'm so afraid it won't, but time will tell once I'm more aligned and feel less like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Ciao... LOL

@Poppet And thank you once again for all you do. Your other hip...really?
 
Having another anxious day today. Keep almost breaking down in tears. Not sure if it's related to my depression breaking through some or related just to the nerves of my fast approaching surgery. Stressed about things I want to get done but yet also not motivated to do any of it. Hoping tomorrow is a brighter day!
 
Hiya. @karisa Let's put a name on what you're feeling and call it depression + anxiety+ stress -- self-imposed and otherwise... The need to be "ready," the fear of being not ready and caught short, all the many what-ifs and unknowns. Crazy-making, my dear karisa. But do start to cultivate an acceptance of not being in control once you turn your hip over to "them," and then come to terms with the "what will be, will be" philosophy.

I'm doing my best to practice what I've just preached. Think of it this way: since we made the conscious and educated decision to proceed with this surgery, it's self-defeating to second-guess too much. We are at the point where we know that we're doing what we planned because we want to feel better. I find it somewhat helpful to do a little visualization... I picture myself walking upright, painlessly and effortlessly, doing the normal activities of everyday life. Picture it!!

A little disclosure: When I was on a gurney outside the OR waiting to be wheeled inside for a heart valve replacement involving my chest being cracked open, I said to myself: "This is it, kid. You'll get through it AND you''ll dance in that sparkly dress that's hanging in your closet. And if not, you hopefully I won't know about it!" I flew home from Cleveland Clinic (your neck of the woods) on the sixth day and never looked back! And i danced at a friend's wedding in s smaller-size sparkly dress!! It is now 17 years later and I still remember the fear until I adopted this attitude. Ok, heart surgery is hardly the same animal, but the attitudes going forward can be similar. I'm not totally there, karisa. Still having bad moments, especially when I read about someone's setbacks or unmet expectations. But think of our bleak alternative! Be grateful for modern medicine that precludes dooming us to a hopeless pain-filled life.
You can do this! Prepare, but please don't go nuts. Utilize the help that's been offered, even now. Hope this helped... It helped ME to write it. Take care.
 
Very well written @shrinkette, it is scary handing over control of our lives to a medical team - but hey you know what? - they have trained many years and know their speciality procedures very well and the OR team are well practiced in working together...
 
@karisa7174 my LTHR is scheduled for the same day as yours - January 22nd - so I will be thinking of you and sending healing wishes!! I had my right hip replaced 4 months ago, so I have some idea what to expect. Your feelings are entirely valid and normal!! Try not to worry too much because you will be much better off after the surgery. It isn't easy, but you will get through it. personally, I can't wait for the 22nd!!!
 
Thanks @Poppet for that reminder. The surgical team do these operations daily and know that they're doing.

@shrinkette your words did help more than you know. Thank you!! I am so grateful to have found this site and all the wonderful support and encouragement here.

@nettie welcome to another January 22nd hippie!! Thanks for the encouragement, glad to hear your first surgery went well, looking forward to getting to know you and going through this recovery together.

Preop testing and joint clinic in just a few hours! Nervous but looking forward to getting another step closer to surgery and eventually a pain free life!
 
@karisa7174 - my THR is due hopefully in July when I can afford to take the time off work. And I still have days when I cry about the very thought of it. Heaven knows what I'll be like nearer the time ! But I think it's natural to be scared of the unknown and maybe to feel a bit angry and a bit sorry for ourselves that we need the op unlike some other people. But on the whole I'm looking forward to getting my life back and being able to do stuff again. Hang in there, it'll be done before you know it and you'll be up and about and pain free. I've had many operations in my life for various different problems, on the whole all have gone very well and I am just thankful to have things wrong with me that can be helped :-)
 
@betty coltrane so good to hear from you. I hope things go well for you until you're able to have your surgery. I'm comfortable with knowing I made the right decision. I'm ready for my life back, being able to walk for relay for life (a cause near and dear to my heart), help with my work's inventory, and even the simple stuff of tying my shoe and putting socks on. I had my preop testing and joint clinic today. Go back on Thursday for my surgery clearance appointment. The nerves part comes in because I have never had surgery other than my tonsils when I was 8. I just keep reminding myself it's a successful surgery, the doctor is good, and they all do this every day. And getting my life back is worth the hard work and the surgery pain.

The encouragement I've received on her has really helped me get through some rough times. So grateful for everyone on here.

Now I'm off to curl under a blanket, we are having Bone chilling cold and wind chills here. Today is slightly better but wind chills are still 20 below. Brrrrr!!!
 
@karisa7174 ... How're you doing, kiddo, in this freezing weather? Haha... Know what you mean -- we're so cold here at 57 degrees that hubby just turned a little heat on. Tomorrow promises 75-80 (don't kill me!). I'm curled up as I write, with ice on my hip which is unusually achy today.

Of course you're nervous, never having had major serious surgery! I am, too, & that's with 4 big surgeries PLUS a TKR behind me. Like @betty coltrane , I've also landed on my feet & everything was fixable. Nice to know that our THRs are among THE most successful ops around. This one fact is an emotional balm of which I keep reminding myself

In my fearful moments I worry that I'll be that rare unsuccessful result, that my particular orthopedic issues are not resolvable, or that some big monster fly will appear in my operative ointment to cause unexpected anguish. Irrational, unreasonable self-torture -- yes. Human? Yes. I'm sweating it out just like you at this very minute, basically scared of what it's gonna feel like post-op with a a problematic "good" leg an added real concern. <sigh> Soooo tired of the exhaustion that accompanies pain; of the moodiness, impatience, testiness, & isolation that go along with it which have masked my real personality. And oh so ready for this to play out with a happy ending. <fingers crossed>

Had my pre-op clearance today. All good... Just awaiting echo, blood, & UA results. Everybody says I'll be "fine", including GP/internist.

I'm so disabled that I can't get up on exam table without using extra little step because I can't raise either leg high enough for regular step-thing. Apparently little muscle strength in my "good" leg where knee was replaced
because there is hip OA there, too. Just made me feel even MORE deficient in a way. (Now, THAT's an irrational statement, I know!).

I will now stop whining & sniveling & pull myself together. Some days I even try to view this as an adventure of sorts... definitely a new beginning, & maybe even a birthday present to myself (it's in early February). If nothing else, I'll have a few new stories to tell my contemporaries in what constitutes dinner-table conversation in my crowd these days... LOL. It used o be new movies, restaurants, kids, & politics -- now, it's new joints! Let's DO this!

Ellen
 
@shrinkette we are having a heat wave. 20 degrees warmer in the past 24 hours! We are up to a whopping 5 degrees! (Was -15 last night when I came home). And supposed to be up to 40 by the weekend. I'll be ready to break out the shorts!

I'm glad I am not the only one that has the fear that I'll be the rare exception to a successful surgery! But in my head, I know it's just that, a fear. (I don't say too much on here as I don't want to push my beliefs on others, but my faith is a very important part of my life and is what I rely on when this fear and other anxiousness comes up)

Glad to hear all went well for your preop clearance. It will be here before you know it. You're down to just over a week to go I think. Mine is two weeks tomorrow.

Well, back to hibernating! I'm getting cold!! Take care Ellen and continue to keep in touch. We are going to do this!!! And we will get through it together and with the support of everyone on here!
 
I keep telling myself I am going to enjoy a 3 hr nap during surgery LOL...


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
@Freaky freak I like that!! I have already been having some trouble sleeping, I'm guessing the night before surgery will be pretty restless. I'll definitely need the nap!!
 
Surgery is inching closer every single day! I can't believe in less than 2 weeks the surgery will be over! And I got my surgery clearance today so things continue to move forward. Working hard to get everything ready for my recovery. Also working overtime to keep my anxiety at bay!!
 
@karisa7174 I am sure you will do great. There are so many good suggestions and guidance I have found in
reading thru peoples threads; like yours. :tada:
Thanks
 
@karisa I know. The days are zooming by and I haven't done anything on my list yet. And we are going away for a couple of days the weekend before with friends to gamble and have fun before the healing begins! Am I crazy or what?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD
 
I'm just under 6 weeks away. I bought a grabber and shoe horn last night. (First prep items!!)
I can honestly say on New Year's Eve/day when the clock struck 12 I did shed a little tear. The realisation of 'this is happening this year!' And 'this happening next month!!!' Suddenly dawned on me. No one in my immediate family have gone through this, so don't really have anyone super close to get advise from (reason why I signed up on these types of forums) I'm trying not to think about it and can totally relate to the nervousness and feeling anxious. My operation is on a Thursday and I finish work the Friday before, so I have a few days for last minute preparations and I really don't think I will be in the right mindset for work!!!

22 Jan is my dad's birthday, so I will send positive vibes your way for a speedy recovery.
 
Stick with us @Cappagirl, we are here to share your journey.

Hugs from another Aussie :)
 
@Cappagirl good to hear from you! I know what you mean about the New Years thought. I've had my surgery scheduled since late October. Was good (and scary at the same time, weird huh?) to finally get to the month of my surgery! And now I'm almost down to single digits to go. Currently 11 days, by Monday will be 9, wow!

I am actually working up to the day before my surgery. It's a busy time of year so there's list to do. Also, working helps keep my mind occupied so I don't freak out even more!!

Right now I'm so worried about not being able to eat or drink for 12 hours before surgery. Not so much eating. More the not drinking part. Some meds I take for depression make my mouth really dry. Not being able to have candy to suck on or water to drink has me nervous. Thankfully my surgery is early so at least I'll be asleep most of the 12 hours.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Corganics CBD
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Members online

Total: 5,397 (members: 3, guests: 5,394)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom