THR Doing Okay On The Other Side!!! :-)

[Foxybrown]

Okay, I had the surgery on the 15th and things have been going pretty well, but had a setback yesterday and was wondering if others had experienced the same thing? I was washing a few dishes in the kitchen sink when suddenly I felt extremely lightheaded and things started to go black. Thankfully, a friend from work was over visiting so I wasn't alone. I didn't pass out, but came close. I fought the blackness and managed to stay conscious. Broke out in a sweat. My friend got me a cold cloth, fed me some food and gave me some juice and in about 45 minutes or so I was feeling pretty much okay, just REALLY wiped out. I'm not a fainter. Have never fainted in my life, but that was darn close!! Now, I'm guessing that I must have had a sudden fluctuation in blood sugar or blood pressure and that's what caused this (?). Since coming home from the hospital, I have a couple of times briefly felt lightheaded, but the feeling passed in about 30-60 seconds. This one just didn't pass. Anybody else experience something like this? And if so, do you know why? I didn't call the doctor, but will do so on Monday just to let him know this happened. I seem fine again today. Anyway, if someone has an answer about this, it would be appreciated if you'd share it!! Thanks so much!

Peace out,

Foxy (Michelle)

 

[bottomshollow]

Oh, Michelle, that's a bit scary. So glad there was someone with you at the time. I wish I had an answer for you, but sadly I don't. Could have been low blood sugar or low blood pressure. I would certainly check with the doc on Monday.

Please take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Foxybrown]

Thanks, and I will be sure to speak with the doc on Monday!

Peace out,

Michelle

 

[tashia]

Michelie, are you eating three meals a day and some snacks inbetwwn? When you don't eat right this can happen. also can you take your blood pressure because this to can be a problem. I don't mean to scare you but when you can do something about it you have the power in your hands. Sometimes we get so focus on doing our exercises and medicane we forget to eat right and our blood pressure can change because the surgrey is ruff. I found I have a blood pressure kit by my side and keep a chart on what I am eating and what time I eat. This helps me stay focus. Please take care and make sure you eat. Keep us informed on how you are doing. Tashia

 

[nerdgrrl]

Hi Michelle - If you aren't already having your blood checked, you might want to make sure you aren't a bit anemic. That can happen with anemia as well. SO glad you had someone around! Good luck with the doc on Monday!

 

[Foxybrown]

Tashia and nerdgrrl,

Yes, am really trying to make sure that I'm eating more regularly in order to keep the blood sugar levels right--I just find that I still don't have my appetite back 100% yet. Anyway, will definitely call the doctor tomorrow and see what advice his office gives. I tell ya, I'm looking forward to having this whole thing behind me and feeling like my old self again. I have a feeling that when I'm off this pain medication, I'll see an improvement in how I feel. I'm not sure I'm tolerating the dilaudid that well. It does its job in fighting the pain, but I think it makes me feel a little "off" as well. Oh, well, this too shall pass. I just hope it's mostly passed by the time I get on the plane for my Cancun vacation on March 5th!! I just want to go down there feeling good!

Anyway, thanks for the words of encouragement and support!! Yes, I'm so glad I found this site!! It's a GREAT place for information and for commiserating!!!

Peace out,

Michelle

 

[bottomshollow]

Michelle, would you put your surgery date in your signature, as well as what surgery you had (i.e., LTKR, RTHR) like the rest of us do, please? You can find the instructions here: How to create a signature.​

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But please also remember that our membership is international and for clarity use the International Date system being 7th August 2000 rather than 2/8/00 or 8/2/00.​

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This also applies to anyone else who is reading here. Thank you. ​

 

[nessiepie]

Hi Foxy, it sounds like you are doing fabulous. The energy drain is very real. I'm 9 days out and not nearly as far along as you are I thought the pain thing was not bad (they sent me home on Norco) I had some discomfort but thought I could manage on otc extra strength tylenol. Had a bad night and had to break out the Norco. I feel the differences each day just impatient I guess. Keep up the good work

 

[Katlover13]

Hi Michelle,
I have fought that lightheaded feeling with both of my surgeries. If I don't eat regularly and drink a LOT of fluids the first few weeks it happens. Last year it was very bad but this year my OS suggested I eat a lot of protein and foods with iron starting a couple weeks before the surgery and it seems to have made a difference. Hopefully it won't hit you again and you will feel better once you don't need all the pain meds. Maybe Cancoun is EXACTLY what you need!

 

[Foxybrown]

Hi Everyone!

Well, I did call to doctor's office and it turns out that I left the hospital very anemic!! Why they didn't tell me this before I left the hospital, I don't know because that would have been good information to have!! But that explains the extreme tiredness and the lightheadedness and near fainting spell, I would think. So I have to get on it and get myself an iron supplement and start eating some iron rich foods. Started today when I went out to lunch with a couple girlfriends and had myself a nice, big burger! It was my first outing since the surgery (three weeks to the day today) and it was good to get out of these four walls! Think I'm heading out again tomorrow for another lunch with another girlfriend.

Nessiepie, good luck with your progress! You're only 9 days out. In another week you'll be all the further along!! I was going to cut out my pain meds altogether because I thought maybe the medication was the culprit making me feel not so great, but when I found out I was anemic I decided to go to twice a day--when I wake up and 12 hours after that (so shortly before bed). I'm on Day 2 of this regimen and it seems to be working fine, but, you know, I DO still need those meds. I am definitely feeling some pain when that 12 hour mark is nearing. I honestly thought I'd be off pain medication by this point, but, no, still need a little. The pain does get better every day, though, and, really, mine's been controlled pretty well throughout this whole experience. I am looking forward, though, to when there is no pain and no discomfort at all!! It'll be great to sleep comfortably again in whatever position I want!!!

Bottomshollow, I will check out that signature thing as soon as I get a chance and get it done right!! Promise!!!

Be well, all!!

Peace out,

Michelle

 

[Texas Girl]

Your doctor did not put you on an iron supplement knowing you were anemic? I left the hoHspital anemic too and put on a supplement but I had 5 blood transfusions. I have not been light headed though. I will be tested again in a few weeks. Enjoy those green leafy veggies!!! I had a steak the other night because it was good for my health, LOL

 

[Foxybrown]

Yes, crazy that the hospital didn't let me know that I was anemic!! And had I not called them on Monday, I still wouldn't know! No blood transfusions for me, but apparently, my hemoglobin was 132 prior to surgery and 83 when I went home. Those numbers don't mean much to me, but the nurse says that means I'm quite anemic. Just would have been nice for them to let me know! You keep eating that steak!! Five blood transfusions--wow! Hope your recovery is going well!!

Peace out,

Michelle

 

[Foxybrown]

I had a LTHR on January 15th of this year, so I'm now almost 5 months post op. The surgery was very successful and that OA pain that I was having before going under the knife is gone. BUT I am still having some post operative pain. Can anyone tell me how long it will be before I can expect to be 100% pain free??? I have my second follow up appointment next month and will discuss it with my surgeon and physical therapists then, but I was wondering what people's experiences were with this. Maybe I was being too overly optimistic, but I really did think that by now I wouldn't even feel like I'd had a hip replaced, but, no, I still do. It's not terrible pain or anything, but it is definitely discomfort and sometimes it can be bad enough to make me not walk 100% properly (ie., with a bit of a limp if I let myself). I have been back at the gym for about three months now and I'm wondering if that's got anything to do with it, but I was given the green light at my 6 week post op appointment to resume my weight training workouts at the gym. Also, I'm still doing some of the physio exercises they prescribed along with my regular workout routine. I have not yet resumed any cardio (I used to run and would love to again, but I won't even think about attempting that until I'm completely pain free!), but would like to next week, probably in the form of the elliptical.

Anyway, if people could chime in on how long it was before they were completely pain free, that would be great! Thanks so much!!

Peace out,

Foxy

 

[Poppet]

Hi Foxybrown

I have merged your recovery threads into this one, this is your primary thread. We prefer to keep your recovery journey in the one thread for context.

So sorry you are experiencing pain and limping, I am suspecting you maybe doing a little too much for six months for you..

Personally, I didn't start my Nordic Walking (which is very strenuous) until 10 months and ended up with bursitis.

If I recall correctly, you like to run? Have you commenced that activity? ..

Maybe give it a few weeks rest and then resume exercising more slowly? It takes anywhere between 18 months to 24 months to fully recover and heal internally.

I find that even at almost 19 months, I get the odd pain.

But for you, I am more concerned that you are limping and feel that you are not walking correctly.

Did you change shoes, we often find we have to get new shoes after surgery as our Pre surgery shoes can cause an incorrect gait.

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One thread for your recovery please?​

 

[sharonslp]

Oh Foxy, I'm still having pain 2 years out. It isn't debilitating, but it is....disturbing. In my case, I'm pretty sure I'm dealing with bursitis and iliotibial band issues, and maybe glute muscle stuff too. But five months is very early in the entire healing process still, so it's far too soon to be discouraged. We can tag Jo to comment, and she will want to know very specific details about the pain....who, what, where, when, and so on. It could simply be that your gym workout routine has aggravated some tendons/muscles/assorted soft tissues that are still very tender. Depending on where you are having pain, it could be psoas, or piriformis, or iliotibial band or some other important tissue. (See what an education you get hanging out on Bonesmart!) So I'll tag Josephine but do give more details in the meantime.

Sharon

 

[nanal]

Hi Foxy- I am a week after you Jan 22 and I totally understand how you feel. I have issues and some discomfort as well. Nothing that really stops me from living my normal day to day life but I do know I had a hip implant. It is hard to explain to others but you always know it is there. I too find myself limping and that frustrates me as well. I had my last OS visit at 12 weeks and was told I could everything except ride a horse, skydive and run which was fine cause I didn't do those thing anyway. I have gone back to Y at that point and find I can do treadmill, elplitcal, recumbent bike within limitations. I do not have the range of motion that I thought I would be having but it is indeed pain free and a little more than before. My thoughts are I am 65 and this is the best it is going to get so get over it and the pity party I sometimes have. You are much younger than I so I would believe that your recovery would be on a different scale than mine. I was an active Y member for years prior to hip issues so I thought I was in good physical condition but I suppose age will have played a part. Best wishes for you recovery

 

[C Mac]

Hi Michelle,

I'm sure your PT and OS will have a better insight in to what your pain is related to since you'll be able to speak to and show them directly where you are having issues. I couldn't figure out from your threads if you'd had congenital issues that lead up to the THR, sometimes abnormal anatomy takes a while longer to adjust after the surgery and soft tissue issues surface as the body is continuing to heal and adjust.

Good luck and I hope you get back to your cardio routine comfortably!!
Take care,
Cardie

 

[Josephine]

Can anyone tell me how long it will be before I can expect to be 100% pain free???

I suggest you check out these again
Healing: how long does it take?
Chart representation of THR recovery

Maybe I was being too overly optimistic, but I really did think that by now I wouldn't even feel like I'd had a hip replaced, but, no, I still do.

Not at 5 months, honey! That's something of a high expectation!

but I was given the green light at my 6 week post op appointment to resume my weight training workouts at the gym

You know, I would have thought that to actually mean upper body stuff and not too much else - not to start with anyway.

So now I have some questions to ask you:
1. where is the pain you are experiencing? I've posted this chart which you can see has vertical and horizontal references. Also a back and front view
2. do you take any medication for this pain?
3.what is your daily schedule of activity including home, work, gym and PT?

 

[Cookie42]

Foxy, my surgery was 8 months ago and there is definitely still some pain. Nothing that makes me gasp or groan, but there are certain movements I've learned to avoid. I'm like you, thinking after this time, all would be perfect, but I've decided the rest of me is far from perfect so why would my hip be? It's sure better than it used to be and I'm heading toward getting the other one done. I started to say this time I know what to expect, but from what I read here, not only is every person different, so is each hip. I am still counting on improvement though -- for both hips.

 

[Foxybrown]

First of all, let me say thank you to all of you who replied to my question that I posted about pain back on June 7!!! I did not get email alerts (weird) that my question had been responded to, so I'm just seeing them now today!! I just didn't check the site because I didn't get alerts so I thought no one answered me! Should have checked before now. Anyway, thanks for the responses.

I had my second follow up appointment a couple weeks back and told the advanced physiotherapist I saw about all the pain I'm experiencing. She did a strength test on me (basically that just involved me lying on my non-operated side and lifting my operated leg out straight and seeing how well I could resist against her pushing my straightened leg down) and as it turns out, my strength is TERRIBLE. She said was surprised at how weak I am on my left side. She could push my leg down with just one finger!! She also said it was very surprising to her because when she observed me walking in to the room, my gait looked great so she didn't think I'd be so weak. Anyway, she says that because that left side is so weak, that's why I'm having the hip pain, the knee pain and the back pain. And that I HAVE to strengthen that side in order to resolve the pain issues.<sigh> I guess I just didn't expect to be having these issues. But she says that younger patients usually have higher expectations than older hip replacement patients. So I have to go back at the end of August for them to see how I'm doing--the next follow up was supposed to be in a year, but she says because I'm so weak she wants me back earlier to check on my progress. It's a little deflating to think that I've been reduced to being this weak, but it is what it is. Just have to really work on strengthening this left side of mine.

I have yet to resume any cardio yet, but I have to. I keep thinking in my head that I'm going to run again, but I think I have to face the reality that my running days may be over. I'm having a VERY hard time with that. I think that's why I haven't started on the elliptical or the stair climber. I just don't want to do anything but run. But I can't run. Not yet, anyway, and maybe not ever. So I can't just do nothing!! But I go into that gym, do my weights and then look at the elliptical or the stair climber and say to myself, 'Tomorrow'. It's bad. I have to get over this psychological block I have about doing something other than running. Maybe today. <sigh>

Anyway, thanks again for all the responses people have given me!! It's so great to have people's support--it means a lot!!! I'll come back and update my progress in a few weeks. In the meantime, hope everyone on the recovery side is doing great!!!

Peace out,

Michelle