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THR Constanze's recovery diary

Constantze, I am not sure it is normal for low hemoglobin. I know mine went very low after surgery and made rehab very difficult. I be me very weak. Just keep an eye on it.

You are doing so well!! Mmmmmmmm I bet the cake and coffee was a good treat. Your walking gait will improve everyday.
 
Day 5
My hip is feeling better every day.Still minimum pain with pain meds. My pills are called Voltaren indeed and the active ingredient is called Diclofenac.

Well not much is going on at the hospital at weekends.No physio today. I'm supposed to stay until Monday and the transfer to rehab for 3 weeks. This seems rather long. Actually, other patients are released early as well, e.g. my roommate had her shoulder cleaned out which haa arthritis and went home after 3 days, but hippies must stay longer.

So I felt confident to go on a trip home wth hubby in the morning, relaxed and talked to him, then we had pasta in a restaurant by the Main river, took a little walk (hubby says I got rid of my limp, yahoooooo), went back to the house, elevated my leg while I watched Fringe on TV which my husband had recorrded for me. He drove me back to hospital in the late afternoon. All I had to do was sign a form to say I was going out at my own responsibility.

While longer stays at hospital with subsequent inhouse rehab has advantages like guidance, no stress, no housework, excellent physio, there are some snags. One is separated from one's family and can't always choose the food. One is also more likely to get cabin fever especially in the evening when visiters have gone home.

Talking about food. Poppet is the expert with nutrition and emphasises that you need a healthy diet to heal. I miss my muesli with fresh Kiwis and wallnuts. At the hospital they offer bread, breadrolls and yoghurt,but no muesli. I ate a kiwi at home today, and it was delicious.

Coming back to my haemoglobulin rollercoster. @Josephine , do you know if this is normal, or should I worry. There won't be adoctor around who I can ask until Monday. Last summer, my HB value was high - 15. I think it was all the endurance sport I did, I took part in Frankfurt Ironman and managed to do half. I carried on exercising 3 times a day including swimming 1.5 km a week and stillhad agood value of 14.5 at the preop checkup earlier this month. Then it was 11 post op and decreased further to 10.5 on Thursday. My hope is it will correct itself again when I can exercise properly. Thanks for any ideas and tips. WillStop now. Back to resting & elevating. Best wishes, Constanze
 
Just read my last post here. Soory for the typing errors . It's hard for me to type on an iPad. In rehab,I'll have my laptop I hope. Another thing I miss. Night night, it's getting dark here.
 
I am not a medical person but I can tell you my experience and that might put your mind at rest. After my first surgery my hemoglobin drop to 7. At the tiem I was told if it did not climb bs k up to at least 9 I would need a transfusion. For my hospital and doctor the magic number was 9. Thankfully it did go back up. My dear husband would bring me dinner of steak and broccoli rabe both good for increasing the hemoglobin. Not sure if that is what brought my levels up but I did enjoy the "cure"

Relax over the weekend and don't worry about a 10.5 level. They will check it again.
 
Hi @Constanze - pasta restaurant? Niiiiice! How did you go with all the sitting? That is when I seem to get swelling back (if I sit), so I am trying to avoid too much of it. But going out for dinner with husband? Lovely!

I haven't had my bloods re-checked postop at all so have no idea about haemaglobin or anything, but I know I was weak and poor energy for first two weeks, so maybe? With all the bruising alone, there must have been a heap of blood that was not in my circulation any more.

Three weeks is a long time to be away from home for rehab - is it mandatory? I'm sure you must be missing home such a lot, and yes, it is lovely to have your normal home diet! Last night I made pasta with tomatoes, olive oil and garlic-a-go-go and some parmesan + 1/2 glass red wine to have with - all for myself as Florence had to go out - it was complete bliss! Can you cook in rehab - do they have a kitchen? Can you get your man to bring you a container of muesli? How do you stay so slim with all that kuchen and pasta?????
 
Yes, webbie has it spot on! It's very likely a patient has a drop in haemoglobin after major surgery if they have even a moderate loss of blood. It should settle eventually.
 
Hi @Josephine and @webbie73 .Thanks for your kind answers concerning HB. Now I'm reassured.

@Great Aunt Janet ,I used to run in the lunch hour to keep fit and slim and took part in 10 marathons. I don't believe in dieting and /or cutting out certain foods for weight contro. Eating is something to be enjoyed.

I also added long- distance swimming and. cycling to my sports activities. If you read one of my preop posts, I reported about a sort of bike and business programme which is encouraged by employers, a German health insurance company and a cycle club. For me that' 27 km to work one way. Then, when I suspected some leg issue, I thought I'd fulfil one of my dreams which is the Ironman of Frankfurt but didn't quite make. Actually lost some weight during Ironman and training but I've got my healthy weight back.

Yes, indeed, my husband can get me food or we can go to arestaurant again, or I can spend a few hours at home at weekends. I'e also got some apples in my luggage.
 
As regards rehab, it involves a combination of physiotherapy and sporty exercise to establish long-term fitness. I read the reviews from some patients who were in that rehab centre. Some say the physiotherapy is excellent and the rest (food, leisure activities) you can forget.

They have a swimming pool. Maybe I can do Aqua jogging/aqua therapy or whatever, and maybe even light swimming. So the pool is an asset.
 
How wonderful that you have a pool available to you! I look forward to getting back to the pool post surgery. I love water aerobics and it keeps me somewhat flexible.
 
@Constanze - I too had low blood pressure after surgery, and I am already on the low
side but the pressure came back up after a few days. It sounds like you are doing well !
I'm sure it helped that you kept your body in excellent peak form!:yes:

I thought I had my conditioning down too, but oh boy- oh boy this surgery has kicked
my butt. I will have my 2 wk follow up on mon and hope to be released within another
week or so to swim. I am actually having more pain around my knee than actual
hip....probably due to my prior compensating limp.
 
Day 6
Nothing much happened today. Went home with husband today because there were no activities at hospital except that I received my thrombosis injection and breakfast. Actually cooked some lunch at home with the help of my husband and together, we walked a bit more - about 1 km in our little village. I also practiced walking a few steps without the crutches. I can also get around the house holding on to the furniture like a baby learning how to walk.

Thank you all you nice bonesmart people. You have given me the confidence so I can believe I can do allthis so early. I knew what to expect. I hope I'll get Wifi going on my laptop in rehab tomorrow so I can repot more. Hugs, Constanze
 
Easy does it @Constanze . There is no rush to get rid of any walking aids. When you start leaving them behind it's a sign that you are progressing. Slow and steady is the tried and tested route.
 
I'm not in a hurry to get rid of the walking aids. Just did it for fun - to seewhat it was like so to speak.
 
You are doing great @Constanze - wonderful to hear about you being out and about so much - it is almost as though you are home anyway! 1km is a big walk at day 6 - you are inspiring me to push a little more. :)
 
Dear @Great Aunt Janet
@Constanze 's development is brilliant but not use it as a reason to "push a little more". I am of the opinion that being gentle with lots of TLC is the answer. You have lots of real practicalities to deal with (shower for example) that Constanze does not have to deal with so .... be kind to you in your recovery!!

karenx
 
Concerning Walking aids. Oops I've done it again. Forgot to take my Walking aids again indoors, and remembered only later. I have no pain. Goodness, I must be dreaming. But I'll behave sensibly, because a doctor told me today, it's not very good slouching around. Better use the crutches. He also said they were too Long and adjusted them for me.

But back to the update:

Day 7 Post OP
Transferred to rehab and had to do more paperwork, orient myself and get fixed up with Internet here. Make sure I go to all my appointments and remember to pack everything and look after the new documents I have been given on release from hospital. Hip replacement is not for dunses.

So I saw the doctor at the rehab this afternoon and he said he could tell I had been doing running sport. He told me I was very fit but warned me to discipline myself with my gait. However, he said my gait was fine. He in fact said I could cycle already but not swim. I can go into the water when the stitches have been removed - after day 12 post op.

He said I had a slightly crooked back (I think this is called sclerosis). I told him I thought this was do to leg length differential preop and he thinks this is probably right. He found out that my LLD has been corrected.

Tomorrow, I'll have to get up early for another blood test at 6:30, then have breakfast at 7:00, then pick up my therapy plan at 7:30. I don't think this rehab is a holiday actually. It requires discipline.

I'll report more tomorrow when I've done some physiotherapy.

All the best
Constanze
 
@Constanze - I have the LLD and a slightly crooked back also -scoliosis I believe it is called - but I wonder if the LLD and the scoliosis are from walking off kilter to take the weight off the bad hip -for years. I am trying hard to walk with very good posture and gait but it sure takes a few steps to get going. I find my right side is spasming now just below my waist. Gee whiz! I don't know if I will ever get back to feeling good and walking well. But you are younger and will probably be there long before me. Getting old is not for sissies!
Happy that you can bike and swim! You go girl!
Diane
 
Hi Constanze

Mind loads of rest now and take it easy, if you are unsure of anything get back on here and aske if you need help. Happy healing :thumb:
 
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