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FiFi's Hip Replacement Journey... begins
- Thread starter FiFi
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Australia
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Hi @FiFi - how is the room coming along? Looks like the rain has eased, so I hope young Marty has prepared your boudoir, fit for a Princess (Fi)? 
Time is rushing by and I fly out two weeks today (makes me breathless thinking of it), so the next couple of weeks are going to involve XRay (for template? don't really understand but do what I'm told) in Longreach, picking up loo and shower seats, moving the furniture round (again), packing and repacking bag (hope they don't tell me off for bringing suitcase to hospital). Pantry and freezer quite full now, husband being kind-as, hip being unkind (I'll fix her!), and mind going round and round.
I keep thinking about you and your serene crafty bush home! Raised toilet seat on outside dunny? Is possible?
Time is rushing by and I fly out two weeks today (makes me breathless thinking of it), so the next couple of weeks are going to involve XRay (for template? don't really understand but do what I'm told) in Longreach, picking up loo and shower seats, moving the furniture round (again), packing and repacking bag (hope they don't tell me off for bringing suitcase to hospital). Pantry and freezer quite full now, husband being kind-as, hip being unkind (I'll fix her!), and mind going round and round.
I keep thinking about you and your serene crafty bush home! Raised toilet seat on outside dunny? Is possible?
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FiFi
junior member
Hi @Great Aunt Janet nice to hear from you princess fifi is doing well except my left hip has been giving me gip and thats not the one getting fixed oh well its next on the list i suppose i like the young bit i wish !its surprising how fast the time is going did anyone say anything about a chair as well it's good you have been able to sort the other things as I was a bit worried how and where you was going to get everything you needed
I am going to Perth tomorrow to take nick home stay for the week then home hopefully I will have a roof marty has A friend John coming on we'd to help do the roof then they can order the colour bond for the roof and outside walls time is going so fast you sound like your all ready to go I'm thinking of you Fiona xx
I am going to Perth tomorrow to take nick home stay for the week then home hopefully I will have a roof marty has A friend John coming on we'd to help do the roof then they can order the colour bond for the roof and outside walls time is going so fast you sound like your all ready to go I'm thinking of you Fiona xx
Great Aunt Janet
senior
My right one is a bit stiff too today! Never usually is, I think it is my over active imagination. Haven't got the chair yet, but am hopeful to sort that out this week. Have a lovely time in Perth, decorating your new room in your mind! Gotta go, off to work this fine morning - clouds scudding, a rainbow (a March one!) a lovely breeze but still NO rain. Take care, stay away from the wineries... xxx Jan
Great Aunt Janet
senior
copsham
post-grad
Hi @FiFi
How are you doing? I can't believe that you are building your house at this late stage! This is your last week of waiting .... it can only get better. Let us know how you are doing. You sounded as if you were going to be very organised by the time of your op. Hope you have a peaceful week X
How are you doing? I can't believe that you are building your house at this late stage! This is your last week of waiting .... it can only get better. Let us know how you are doing. You sounded as if you were going to be very organised by the time of your op. Hope you have a peaceful week X
Great Aunt Janet
senior
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FiFi
junior member
Hi @Great Aunt Janet I have been in Perth my room got as far as a roof in frame work but door and windows not ready yet (suppliers waiting for a part) roof tin ready next week it's a bit stressful at this stage I thought we would be doing carpet next week oh we'll I can't do anything about delays
The time is speeding along I can't believe how fast we picked up my chair and toilet chair and table from m.b. hospital yesterday I think as you get these things it brings it home what your having done
I went to the anethisist yesterday he says he does opp with spinal and sedation I don't know if this is a good way or not I'm going to go to the library to look
How are you going anyway you go in very soon do you go in the day before ? Are you all organised now I have been thinking of you and how fast the times going Princess fi xx
The time is speeding along I can't believe how fast we picked up my chair and toilet chair and table from m.b. hospital yesterday I think as you get these things it brings it home what your having done
I went to the anethisist yesterday he says he does opp with spinal and sedation I don't know if this is a good way or not I'm going to go to the library to look
How are you going anyway you go in very soon do you go in the day before ? Are you all organised now I have been thinking of you and how fast the times going Princess fi xx
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FiFi
junior member
Hi @copsham i have been to Perth to take a grandchild home visit kids and parents we are only building a room onto the shed at the moment we were going to start the house but I thought the waiting list was a yr wait but I only had 3 months to wait and there is no room in the shed so we thought at least I would have a bit more space after adding the room but we have 3 walls and roof timber frame added to the shed doors and windows are delayed also new laws came into effect today Marty went to pick up roof tin and they wouldn't let him put it on the trailer as it hung over a little but you can't do that now what a pain I'm down to 12days to go but the days are going so fast also I went to sewing today I had to come home I couldn't concentrate head everywhere but in my head Fi xx
It's the best! No waking up groggy or nauseous. If you are at all worried, just tell staff you don't want to see or hear anything. They will put you into a nice comfy sleep and when you wake up - you'll be a hippy!
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Yes, I've been told the same for anaesthetic, sounds quite common so they will be good at it ;) Roof roof roof. I have everything crossed that it will get up there in time. You sandgropers sure like to live life on the edge!
I fly out on Sunday, in on Monday arvo and then op Tuesday (sometime...). I'm completely crazy inside my head and trying desperately not to think about it. I am drinking a glass of wine right now (just had dinner, home from work) which I swore I was not going to do... Houseful of great-aunty type equipment, which I'm sure will be very useful dear. Sigh.
I stopped the Nurofen as instructed but by yesterday was in misery with the pain, so I am taking the Panadol Osteo - it has helped a little and I'm not as ready to cry as yesterday. From the looks of everyone else, this is completely normal.
Great to hear from you today, have a really good Easter. Don't do any building!
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FiFi
junior member
Hi @Jaycjay thank you for your input I hadn't heard of spinal I just assumed they did general did you have spinal did you hear anything at all ? I don't think it would be good to hear haha Fiona
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FiFi
junior member
Hi @Great Aunt Janet im having one to I think it helps well I'm telling myself anyway .when we brought the chair etc home yesterday you think you've gone to an old people's home haha I have to stop the Mobil a week before did you take Mobil before . I hope you have a relaxing or as well as you can I'm thinking of you you will be on the other side soon I think it's harder the waiting it's a brain drain haha Fi xx
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FiFi
junior member
Hi @Great Aunt Janet how did you put the thing at the bottom of when your getting your hip done ???
Great Aunt Janet
senior
Hail fellow boozer, you just go to the very top the page, and you will see your name next to inbox and alerts - hover your mouse over your name and you will see a drop down list - choose signature and then put your stuff in there. I found someone elses instructions for it, cheating. Probably should have read instructions. cheers!
Constanze
graduate
Hi @FiFi, I'll have surgery in April like you. Mine is on 20th in Wiesbaden, the capital of the state of Hesse in Germany. I was in your country with my husband twice - in 2011 and in 2014, but haven't been to Western Australia, Perth, anyway, that part of the country, yet. But I'd like to go. Maybe we'lll manage in next December or January - hip permitting 
- German winters get me down - too cold, too dark. As I get older, I like warm - even hot - climates better and better. Went for a 4 km walk in the Daintree Forest in Queensland last year - it was raining hard but I enjoyed it.
I posted on Vetgirl's recovery thread on 22 March, and so did a few others. She also wrote an answer on 22 March. Her recovery thread is now on page 3 of the recovery threads. But ever since - I haven't heard from her.
Warm regards - Constanze
- German winters get me down - too cold, too dark. As I get older, I like warm - even hot - climates better and better. Went for a 4 km walk in the Daintree Forest in Queensland last year - it was raining hard but I enjoyed it.I posted on Vetgirl's recovery thread on 22 March, and so did a few others. She also wrote an answer on 22 March. Her recovery thread is now on page 3 of the recovery threads. But ever since - I haven't heard from her.
Warm regards - Constanze
NuMe2014
member
Hi @FiFi. I had a spinal with sedation for both of my surgeries. The first time it was like having the best sleep that I had in a long time! I did not rememberer anything and woke up in recovery feeling great. Second time around I did wake up a little bit, it was like I was in a dream and I could hear carpentry noises of hammers and pounding, I realized that that was me they were pounding on and I grinned to myself and drifted back to dreamland! I awoke in recovery feeling great.
craftdee
graduate
I'm glad you could grin @NuMe2014 at hearing the 'carpentry sounds'... it would have distressed me immensely, 
and the fact that "they" couldn't guarantee me that it would not happen (I "probably wouldn't remember it" 
) was the reason I felt I HAD to have GA. I was out before I went into surgery (saw them putting up big plastic-y sheets... that was enough for me, I kept thinking of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre 
) and I woke up brilliantly from it, was up on crutches within an hour of returning to my room - no "dead legs" 
- so GA was absolutely fine... for ME. I have had plenty of surgeries, I was in the Operating Theatre before being "under" for at least three of them, I'm always nervous but I don't know why being awake/aware bothered me so much this time 
I just wanted to add a "pro" voice for GA , there's plenty of hype for the spinal but modern GA can be spectacularly successful too :cool: I woke up clear headed, had two five minute bouts of slight nausea (from hunger - ate, problem fixed) I had a PCA, which I hardly used and basically no pain, IV oral drugs were more than adequate, so I didn't miss the "we'll add painkillers to the anesthetic" part of the spinal either. I also didn't have to worry about my predisposition to allergic reaction... I was worried that if the medication they put in to my spine caused a reaction I would have to deal with it for the 24 hours they said it would be in my system, taking something orally I felt I would only have the problem "between doses"... this is all "feel/felt" not particularly based on evidence, but not addressed by the medical staff when questioned pre op either.
If there was a guarantee that I would not hear anything (or smell anything ... a previous surgery I had without sedation involved cauterizing... the sound and smell was AWFUL!) I would consider spinal for my next hip as everyone on here seems to think it's "the ducks nuts" as my boys say! though to be honest if I'd had a "bad" experience with this General I might feel more driven towards it
There are many reasons to NOT have GA, I understand that, it's good that you're all telling Fi Spinal's the way to go... as you can see I can't tell her that, I know I "should", but I just wanted to reinforce the fact that ultimately anesthetic choice is YOURS not the surgeon's or anesthetist's, YOURS you will NOT be 'made" to have the type of anesthetic you're not happy to have.
As I've told you Fi... I hope you have Spinal and can assure me it was fabulous
then I'll consider it more carefully for hip 2!
They've told Fi that they don't give a pre med because there's no GA involved... surely she can ask for SOMETHING to help her relax a bit beforehand; what's the consensus among you "spinals"?
Can't believe you're having so much trouble with "The Room" Fiona. I suppose at this stage you'll just be happy to have it water tight before the weather turns... anything more than that will be a bonus. I'ts funny but you'll find that your "nesting" instinct will kick in in these last few weeks and you won't give a rat's about the room being finished or not
BTW, thanks for the twins' birthday pressies... all opened and spread out at our house yesterday; Nathan adopted Peppa Pig and Emily was last seen wearing Fireman Sam's helmet... ah well
Talk soon
Donna
and the fact that "they" couldn't guarantee me that it would not happen (I "probably wouldn't remember it" ) was the reason I felt I HAD to have GA. I was out before I went into surgery (saw them putting up big plastic-y sheets... that was enough for me, I kept thinking of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre ) and I woke up brilliantly from it, was up on crutches within an hour of returning to my room - no "dead legs" - so GA was absolutely fine... for ME. I have had plenty of surgeries, I was in the Operating Theatre before being "under" for at least three of them, I'm always nervous but I don't know why being awake/aware bothered me so much this time I just wanted to add a "pro" voice for GA , there's plenty of hype for the spinal but modern GA can be spectacularly successful too :cool: I woke up clear headed, had two five minute bouts of slight nausea (from hunger - ate, problem fixed) I had a PCA, which I hardly used and basically no pain, IV oral drugs were more than adequate, so I didn't miss the "we'll add painkillers to the anesthetic" part of the spinal either. I also didn't have to worry about my predisposition to allergic reaction... I was worried that if the medication they put in to my spine caused a reaction I would have to deal with it for the 24 hours they said it would be in my system, taking something orally I felt I would only have the problem "between doses"... this is all "feel/felt" not particularly based on evidence, but not addressed by the medical staff when questioned pre op either.
If there was a guarantee that I would not hear anything (or smell anything ... a previous surgery I had without sedation involved cauterizing... the sound and smell was AWFUL!) I would consider spinal for my next hip as everyone on here seems to think it's "the ducks nuts" as my boys say! though to be honest if I'd had a "bad" experience with this General I might feel more driven towards it
There are many reasons to NOT have GA, I understand that, it's good that you're all telling Fi Spinal's the way to go... as you can see I can't tell her that, I know I "should", but I just wanted to reinforce the fact that ultimately anesthetic choice is YOURS not the surgeon's or anesthetist's, YOURS you will NOT be 'made" to have the type of anesthetic you're not happy to have.
As I've told you Fi... I hope you have Spinal and can assure me it was fabulous
then I'll consider it more carefully for hip 2!They've told Fi that they don't give a pre med because there's no GA involved... surely she can ask for SOMETHING to help her relax a bit beforehand; what's the consensus among you "spinals"?
Can't believe you're having so much trouble with "The Room" Fiona. I suppose at this stage you'll just be happy to have it water tight before the weather turns... anything more than that will be a bonus. I'ts funny but you'll find that your "nesting" instinct will kick in in these last few weeks and you won't give a rat's about the room being finished or not
BTW, thanks for the twins' birthday pressies... all opened and spread out at our house yesterday; Nathan adopted Peppa Pig and Emily was last seen wearing Fireman Sam's helmet... ah well
Talk soon
Donna
NuMe2014
member
Both types of anesthetics are good, and yes @craftee it is ultimately the patients choice. With my first surgery I don't remember a thing, and believe me I did not want to be able to see or hear anything ..... I was scared! The anesthetist was great, he gave me something so that I did not even remember getting prepped or feeling the the spinal. With my second one I had a different anesthetist, and I told him I wanted what the last "guy" gave me! He just smiled and said everything would be fine! Needless to say I did wake up and hear those " carpentry noises" but it was like I was in " happy land" and did not bother me.
A couple years ago I had to have eye surgery on the muscles in my eye, and I was given the option of a general or a local type of freezing( I won't even go into the details of where they would have to have put the needle to do that local freezing!) needless to say I opted for the general and had great results. So yes both types of anesthetics are good and it comes down to what makes you @FiFi feel the most comfortable.
FiFi you are so lucky to have your sister to go to, to ask for advise and to sympathize with you.
A couple years ago I had to have eye surgery on the muscles in my eye, and I was given the option of a general or a local type of freezing( I won't even go into the details of where they would have to have put the needle to do that local freezing!) needless to say I opted for the general and had great results. So yes both types of anesthetics are good and it comes down to what makes you @FiFi feel the most comfortable.
FiFi you are so lucky to have your sister to go to, to ask for advise and to sympathize with you.
copsham
post-grad
Hi @FiFi
Is it a week to go? Thinking of you. When I was a week before op I just went strange, just cut off from any feelings, no panic just took an "I am fine" approach. It was weird but was a really effective cover up!
It will be great to see you on the other side!
Hello to @craftdee - be in touch.
karen x
Is it a week to go? Thinking of you. When I was a week before op I just went strange, just cut off from any feelings, no panic just took an "I am fine" approach. It was weird but was a really effective cover up!
It will be great to see you on the other side!
Hello to @craftdee - be in touch.
karen x
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