sunsetbiking
senior
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- Detroit Area - Michigan
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...And so, I Begin
- Thread starter gullimac
- Start date
- Status
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
Good luck on Thursday @sunsetbiking !
Seems odd to tell non-hippies how much I am looking forward to my surgery on the 26th. Yes, people I am looking forward to having someone cut me open and remove this old malfunctioning hip and replace it (short, intentionally vague on the details version).
Seems odd to tell non-hippies how much I am looking forward to my surgery on the 26th. Yes, people I am looking forward to having someone cut me open and remove this old malfunctioning hip and replace it (short, intentionally vague on the details version).
sunsetbiking
senior
- Joined
- Sep 10, 2013
- Messages
- 318
- Age
- 59
- Location
- Detroit Area - Michigan
- Gender
- Female
- Country
- United States
Constanze
graduate
Hi @gullimac . Just checking in to say "hello". I've read your thread and admire how brave you are. My schedule & waiting period was similar to yours: I received my appointment for LHR in late January and the op was on April 20.
And - wow! Hip and teeth issues both at the same time and working! Under no circumstances could I have gone to work so soon after I had three of my wisdom teeth extracted - it hurt so much, and I couldn't talk. I took 10 days off. Amazing how fast you got your speech back.
But about hips: I had a "meltdown" (is that what they call it in English?) similar to your experience in January when I was in a great deal of pain and would have just liked to walked into the hospital and told the doctors to operate immediately, as may of us say. It was last February when a colleague and friend of mine met me in the morning on our way to the office. She is disabled with an artificial lower leg. She said "My goodness how you are limping. Your gait looks worse than mine". But she meant it in a friendly way - no harm. I burst into tears. I don't normally cry at work. I understand from colleagues and family that this is a no-go. I also couldn't do all of my work due to pain and said to my boss I want to give up the English-teaching (which isn't one of my strongest skills at work anyway, you see I'm a translator). Even though this isn't an issue, my boss was not exactly amused since she had it hard making alternative arrangements, finding a back-up for me.
Now all is well and I am even confident teaching some of my old students again. The hip recovery for me was so much easier than my recovery from the wisdom tooth extraction. I went back to work after 6 weeks, full-time.
I know the waiting period is distressing if you are in permanent pain, even while resting. I also coudn't find a comfortable sleeping position. But during my waiting period, I had the strangest dream several times: I'm a marathon runner of several years with 10 marathons and 4 half-marathons (including Frankfurt, Munich, London, Malta). I thought I would never run again. Surgeons advise against it anyway if you have an artificial hip. Anyway, the dream was that I ran a marathon alongside one of our major freeways leading to nothern Germany, which I drive down when I want to see my daughter in Hamburg or my mother and sister north of Hamburg. And I was running that marathon entirely pain-free. Yes, it's possible to "feel" things in dreams, and in my waking times I had serious pain then, and I never took a pain-killer pre-op. Well the dream has come true: I tried my first slow jogs last August, first with the run-walk-run method, and then slowly increasing the distance. This past February, I finished my first half-marathon after my hip replacement.
I'm confident that you'll have a very successful recovery, disciplined as you are. Carry on reporting here. Good luck and take care - Best wishes from Gemany - Constanze
And - wow! Hip and teeth issues both at the same time and working! Under no circumstances could I have gone to work so soon after I had three of my wisdom teeth extracted - it hurt so much, and I couldn't talk. I took 10 days off. Amazing how fast you got your speech back.
But about hips: I had a "meltdown" (is that what they call it in English?) similar to your experience in January when I was in a great deal of pain and would have just liked to walked into the hospital and told the doctors to operate immediately, as may of us say. It was last February when a colleague and friend of mine met me in the morning on our way to the office. She is disabled with an artificial lower leg. She said "My goodness how you are limping. Your gait looks worse than mine". But she meant it in a friendly way - no harm. I burst into tears. I don't normally cry at work. I understand from colleagues and family that this is a no-go. I also couldn't do all of my work due to pain and said to my boss I want to give up the English-teaching (which isn't one of my strongest skills at work anyway, you see I'm a translator). Even though this isn't an issue, my boss was not exactly amused since she had it hard making alternative arrangements, finding a back-up for me.
Now all is well and I am even confident teaching some of my old students again. The hip recovery for me was so much easier than my recovery from the wisdom tooth extraction. I went back to work after 6 weeks, full-time.
I know the waiting period is distressing if you are in permanent pain, even while resting. I also coudn't find a comfortable sleeping position. But during my waiting period, I had the strangest dream several times: I'm a marathon runner of several years with 10 marathons and 4 half-marathons (including Frankfurt, Munich, London, Malta). I thought I would never run again. Surgeons advise against it anyway if you have an artificial hip. Anyway, the dream was that I ran a marathon alongside one of our major freeways leading to nothern Germany, which I drive down when I want to see my daughter in Hamburg or my mother and sister north of Hamburg. And I was running that marathon entirely pain-free. Yes, it's possible to "feel" things in dreams, and in my waking times I had serious pain then, and I never took a pain-killer pre-op. Well the dream has come true: I tried my first slow jogs last August, first with the run-walk-run method, and then slowly increasing the distance. This past February, I finished my first half-marathon after my hip replacement.
I'm confident that you'll have a very successful recovery, disciplined as you are. Carry on reporting here. Good luck and take care - Best wishes from Gemany - Constanze
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
@Constanze Thank you so much for sharing! Congrats on getting back to running. Unlike you I have never been a runner except when I had to, but even I have had dreams about being able to run without pain. Amazing how that has become a "good" dream to me.
I am finally getting close to my surgery date. There were points where it seemed so far away. I know I still have work to do on the other side of recovery, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot to just get to surgery. This whole ordeal has certainly been a challenge.
I am finally getting close to my surgery date. There were points where it seemed so far away. I know I still have work to do on the other side of recovery, but I feel like I have accomplished a lot to just get to surgery. This whole ordeal has certainly been a challenge.
Constanze
graduate
@gullimac . Good dream - why not. Maybe you'll be able to run a while after op. You may be able to do things you thought you would not be able to do well. In my case it's yoga, gymnastics and a couple of types of practical work (cooking, putting up shelves etc.). I thought I was clumsy and refrained from doing them. Then I found out it was due to hip stiffness which I must have had ever since my youth. Now that my leg feels normal, I noticed, I can do those things. All the best and take care - Constanze
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
It is my Spring Break week from the school. Our Kids are off this week as well and they are headed off to Disney with my wife and her mom. Too much walking and standing for me. I will spend the break on some "me" time.
Usually with great weather like today and free time I would grill out some steak and mushrooms and have an adult beverage (or 3). Unfortunately mouth still won't tolerate steak yet. Will settle for the beverages and maybe some pasta.
Figure I can work on my "dude den", watch opening week of the MLB season and hang out with the dogs.
Usually with great weather like today and free time I would grill out some steak and mushrooms and have an adult beverage (or 3). Unfortunately mouth still won't tolerate steak yet. Will settle for the beverages and maybe some pasta.
Figure I can work on my "dude den", watch opening week of the MLB season and hang out with the dogs.
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
I am so 
ing tired of not being able to walk! My gums are also in major revolt over these fake things in my mouth
. I want to eat some ing meat and walk around at the store without using a shopping cart as a 
walker.
Had a bad experience with my dentures today. Knocked the lowers loose with an overactive tongue eating pasta and scraped the out of the small amount of gums I have left. Just the simple act of walking around the grocery store was draining and feel like I am wasting my life sitting on my 
on my recliner/bed for the rest of the day.
Just had to get that out of my system. Hoping for a better day tomorrow. I think I may have been better off with work frustrations to distract me.
ing tired of not being able to walk! My gums are also in major revolt over these fake things in my mouth. I want to eat some ing meat and walk around at the store without using a shopping cart as a walker.Had a bad experience with my dentures today. Knocked the lowers loose with an overactive tongue eating pasta and scraped the
out of the small amount of gums I have left. Just the simple act of walking around the grocery store was draining and feel like I am wasting my life sitting on my on my recliner/bed for the rest of the day.Just had to get that out of my system. Hoping for a better day tomorrow. I think I may have been better off with work frustrations to distract me.
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
Rant over (for now). Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Simplieme
member
Hi @gullimac so sorry to hear you are having problems. What ever the reason for pain, it wears people down, and we don't deal with things like we did when we were pain free. That's another great thing about this forum, you can rant all you like, and after you don't have to live with people who are upset because of you ranting
Hope you have a better day tomorrow!
Btw did you not think about eating soup??
Hope you have a better day tomorrow!
Btw did you not think about eating soup??
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
After 2weeks I got,tired of soup. Hitting a small lull. The 15 lbs weight loss has been nice but the ocassional craving has been a
Trying to keep a good attitude, but failing tonight!
Trying to keep a good attitude, but failing tonight!
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
Thanks @Simplieme brought a smile to my face. 
Miss Muffet
post-grad
@gullimac - you've not done anything different from the rest of us. It is literally a pain in the butt
. Exhausting physically and mentally. Your poor sore gums will gradually recover and you'll be so glad you pushed on with the dentures. I actually want to remember this pain (partly why I keep a pain diary) so I can look back at how it has dragged me downhill and is getting worse. We've not got a huge wait now - then we'll be able to reflect on the horrid times and how much better things are. Hold tight - but then again come back and rant here. Everyone understands, believe me 
. Exhausting physically and mentally. Your poor sore gums will gradually recover and you'll be so glad you pushed on with the dentures. I actually want to remember this pain (partly why I keep a pain diary) so I can look back at how it has dragged me downhill and is getting worse. We've not got a huge wait now - then we'll be able to reflect on the horrid times and how much better things are. Hold tight - but then again come back and rant here. Everyone understands, believe me
Pre-op pain consumes you! Planning your life around how far you may need to walk. I remember it well! Not being able to park in the disabled spots when I was clearly disabled. It all brought me to a greater understanding of what people with mobility issues deal with daily.
And not being able to eat what you want to eat when you are under this stress must be quite challenging! Don't suppose a nice, thick chocolate milkshake would do?
Hang in there @gullimac ! Your big day is coming soon!
And not being able to eat what you want to eat when you are under this stress must be quite challenging! Don't suppose a nice, thick chocolate milkshake would do?
Hang in there @gullimac ! Your big day is coming soon!
GIMPY GAL
member
It won't be long now, @gullimac. Your relief is within reach! Your finish line is in sight, so try and stay positive.
Soon you are going to be without your debilitating pain and you will be able to take your life back. I know how the chronic day-after-day pain can be so depressing.
Every day I am amazed and so grateful that I no longer have the horrible pain that had gotten so much worse thru the years. Hip replacement was a miracle surgery for me! I no longer limp, can go up and down the stairs, get in and out of the car, & put on my socks ALL without pain! No more tossing and turning at nite trying to find a less painful position to sleep. Those painful memories are still quite fresh in my mind, so I am thankful every day for having my mobility back. Remember, this is what you can look forward to.
So try and keep your eye on the prize!
The aggravation you have to put up with will soon be put behind you and you can move on to a much better outlook on life.
( I also had to get my dental issues taken care of before surgery. They pulled 2 infection-prone molars)
Congrats on losing 15 lbs!
Soon you are going to be without your debilitating pain and you will be able to take your life back. I know how the chronic day-after-day pain can be so depressing.
Every day I am amazed and so grateful that I no longer have the horrible pain that had gotten so much worse thru the years. Hip replacement was a miracle surgery for me! I no longer limp, can go up and down the stairs, get in and out of the car, & put on my socks ALL without pain! No more tossing and turning at nite trying to find a less painful position to sleep. Those painful memories are still quite fresh in my mind, so I am thankful every day for having my mobility back. Remember, this is what you can look forward to.
So try and keep your eye on the prize!
The aggravation you have to put up with will soon be put behind you and you can move on to a much better outlook on life. ( I also had to get my dental issues taken care of before surgery. They pulled 2 infection-prone molars)
Congrats on losing 15 lbs!
YoungHippy
member
@gullimac I don't know if this will help you, but when I first got my partial and was craving the meats that I couldn't chew well scrambled eggs with cheese was my go to food. Eggs are a good source of protein so it may help with the meats cravings. No, it's not as good as a steak would be, but it helps. Plus you will appreciate the steak more when you can finally have it.
Milkshakes are good too. Just make sure and skip the straw until you are completely healed. A dry socket hurts worse than a toothache ever could.
Milkshakes are good too. Just make sure and skip the straw until you are completely healed. A dry socket hurts worse than a toothache ever could.
OP
OP
gullimac
graduate
@YoungHippy have enjoyed a few milkshakes over the last few weeks. I am more of a strawberry or vanilla guy @Jaycey. I think I am just getting tired of the monotony. Food has ALWAYS been a comfort mechanism for me. Not having it available to me has been tough. But I have also started to remember how tough I can be too. I think I have needed a bit of that. Might try to hit the Waffle House again tomorrow for some scrambled eggs and grits.
@GIMPY GAL sometimes I think it gets harder to be patient the closer I get. I hear from others about recovery and my hopes go up about the future. I believe I will get there it is just hard to be patient.
With work to consume more time, I usually don't have the time to bogged down. Being off this week, I think I have too much time to think. I need to get involved in a book or find a video game to play to occupy my brain a bit more. Left in idle mode my brain starts to obsess about my mouth and hip. I think subconsciously I am trying to save some activities like reading and finding a show to binge watch for my recovery time.
@GIMPY GAL sometimes I think it gets harder to be patient the closer I get. I hear from others about recovery and my hopes go up about the future. I believe I will get there it is just hard to be patient.
With work to consume more time, I usually don't have the time to bogged down. Being off this week, I think I have too much time to think. I need to get involved in a book or find a video game to play to occupy my brain a bit more. Left in idle mode my brain starts to obsess about my mouth and hip. I think subconsciously I am trying to save some activities like reading and finding a show to binge watch for my recovery time.
dandy_candi
senior
I too am holding back on doing activities that I think I could do when recovering- I have a big stack of TV serials to watch and want to make a quilt and I've been meaning to get my quilt started so it's ready to go when I am recovering but haven't yet had the time! My hours are dropping at work from now until surgery so I will need something to keep me busy on my day off or I too, like you @guillimac may not be able to distract myself from my pain and the wait until the surgery. My husband is lately annoyed at me being on my phone all the time but I feel like I can't sit idle or I start worrying. Pinterest and reading on here keeps my brain occupied.
Candice, 28 yo. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Australia. Sequential unilateral THR June 1st 2016 and July 13th 2016
Candice, 28 yo. Rheumatoid Arthritis. Australia. Sequential unilateral THR June 1st 2016 and July 13th 2016
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