THR Ginny's Recovery Thread (LTHR)

[Barbaraj]

Aww...thanks for you kind comment,@Ginny12. I am glad that my post helped you realize that it's perfectly fine, and you should be encouraged, to post about your recovery even though you feel it's pretty uneventful. Boring is good news! But you are right, I think all of us are taking it one day at a time, celebrating when things are going well but mindful that things could go wrong so not taking a good recovery for granted. Keep up the good work, and keep on posting!

 

[Alitm]

Hi @Ginny12, Our weather here on Vancouver Island is very moderate and we don't get the snow that the rest of Canada gets. It rains most of the winter (so we just suit up and get on with it...lots to do outside during the winter here), and we have lovely Fall and Spring weather. During the summer the humidity drops right out and it is very dry. We would say it is typical of the Pacific North West weather patterns. The damper weather is horrible for arthritic hips. SO glad mine are both done....have NO arthritic pain in my hips this winter

I wanted both hips replaced as quickly as possible, as I was in so much pain and my active lifestyle had become almost non-existent. I was highly motivated to get them done!

Hope you have had a comfortable day!

 

[An54]

Anyway apart from the usual suspects that may contribute to osteoarthritis interestingly the role of poor gut health is becoming more of a player in pinpointing why arthritis is so common. The rationale being poor gut health leads to systemic inflammation and the degradation of cartilage.

I have wondered how my long-undiagnosed Celiac disease contributed to my disintegrating hip joints. The chronic inflammation and lack of proper absorption of nutrients in my gut may have really compromised my bone health. Celiac can be identified through a simple blood test-- a 'transglutanimase' test. When I was finally diagnosed about five years ago, my family doctor recommended my siblings get tested. All four of them got the blood test, and two tested positive, both those two later confirmed with endoscopies. My sister was symptom-free, but her transglutanimase numbers were off-the-chart. It's an insidious disease, killing off the villi in your gut. Then my siblings' kids got tested, and several of them are also confirmed as having Celiac.

Feeling slightly guilty that (up to now at least and fingers crossed) i was not having any unexpected problems

@Ginny12 , I have been feeling guilty too--because I have had a pain-free recovery, never took more that regular Tylenol after getting home from the hospital, dropped that at about two weeks, and I was able to swing dance again at 14 weeks or something. I did set myself back with a non-hip related injury, but am now back on the dance floor again. It's weird because you feel bad continually posting "Hey--I feel great! Brilliant!" when many others are suffering so much; but then again if the smooth-recoveries aren't represented here, then readers get such a skewed and scary idea of what is in store for them. Everyone is different. Each hip is different. Recoveries vary; they are not all problematical.

 

[An54]

Our weather here on Vancouver Island is very moderate and we don't get the snow that the rest of Canada gets. It rains most of the winter

I am @Alitm 's neighbour, in Vancouver proper. Yes, the weather here is very much like England's in winter. In fact I found the winter chillier in England than in Vancouver due to colder winds there (from the North Sea?). But mostly it's rain; the weather is very moderate, and snow isn't that common on our city streets. In fact it often creates chaos because we don't have the big snow clearing equipment like Toronto's "Metro-Melt" trucks, something I found very interesting when I was living there some decades ago-- giant trucks swallowing up masses of snow in the streets, and reducing it to drainage water.

 

[Barbaraj]

Good morning, @Ginny12! Hope the start to your day is good and you continue to progress smoothly and comfortably along this hip recovery journey. I am stiff and sore this morning, unaccountably slept badly last night, waking up with aching hips--both of 'em--and foot cramps. I am NOT a happy camper this morning! But I'll be off to the gym before noon and hoping a bit of exercise will help. Maybe it's this wet and miserable weather we've been having. As @Alitm said, definitely not a great time of year for arthritic hips! But, one day at a time, and a bit of blue skies out there this morning among the clouds and it's not rainy--bonus--so hoping the stiffness and achiness will subside as the day goes along. Cheers!

 

[Layla]

Happy Tuesday!
Keep in mind, Ginny, that a great majority with seamless recoveries move on, enthusiastically jumping back into life. Many who stay are suffering a set-back, have chronic pain or issues, are in need of support and encouragement or simply enjoy the commaraderie with other's who have experienced the same.

If you were a lurker for any time before becoming a member (like me) you may have avoided BoneSmart if all you read about on the forum were problems. I know I would have. I couldn't look at a Revision or Infection thread for several months. I steered clear. It frightened me and ignorance was bliss. Unfortunately it is a reality for some and they do need our support and encouragement. In reality, I think many more initially visit the site to read the encouraging recovery stories because that's what we all hoped for going in. So please don't hesitate to share. You have a very generous way in accentuating the positive without coming off as unaware and self absorbed. I'm sure many enjoy your posts and benefit from them. Your contributions are appreciated.

I hope you have a lovely week!
@Ginny12

 

[Mojo333]

Hope you are doing well as you are just over a month out from this lifechanging surgery!

You have a very generous way in accentuating the positive without coming off as unaware and self absorbed. I'm sure many enjoy your posts and benefit from them. Your contributions are appreciated.

Well said, Layla...and I agree!

 

[Barbaraj]

Good morning, @Ginny12--Happy Hump Day to you! Soggy here in my neighborhood, steady rain since I woke up (groan...) at 4:30 AM this morning. But no outdoor activities planned this morning, just a trip to the gym, and then I'm hoping things will clear this afternoon as we're off to the theatre to see "Annie", with dinner beforehand. Some walking will be involved, from car to restaurant to theatre and back to the car, and I would really prefer it to not be pouring. But we'll see.

And again adding my voice to the "should I post if I'm doing so well" question, I agree with everyone else--posting about a lovely, smooth and uneventful recovery is critical for this forum. I know that so many who post are struggling and one would get a very skewed view of the success of this surgery if you simply rely on all of the posts, so many of which detail pain and continuing problems. @Layla is correct--reading those posts pre-surgery can be very scary so reporting the good recoveries is critical--I felt so relieved reading some of those before I had the surgery and afterwards as well. Slow and boring is GOOD! And you are never boastful or cocky in your comments, rest assured. You seem happy and grateful at this gift of a good recovery, and that is what comes through to the reader.

Have a great day.

 

[Ginny12]

@Barbaraj @Layla @Mojo333 @An54

Well what can i say? The kindness and good will in all your lovely posts to me are such a tonic, thank you. I feel now that i can express how i feel truthfully. I am extremely grateful for every single kind word and sentiment ladies. x


So in the spirit of being truthful and to anybody who is reading this and has not had the surgery yet this is how i am finding things 5 weeks post op:

I can walk well, i do not use a stick but take it outside as frightened of falling in the wet weather, i do not use it, just carry it.

I don't have any pain to speak of, obviously not the OA pain anymore but surgical pain either. I have cut down my painkillers to a couple of paracetamol at bed time.

Yes i do get a bit bored and frustrated at times but i am already so much better off than i was pre op. This minor problem (in my opinion) is a very small price to pay for the benefits of getting my life back. It helps that i love reading and it is winter. Has everything been perfect, no, but overall considering that this is major surgery and so many people are much worse off than me keeps me very grounded in feeling gratitude for what i have.

I had no idea how much pain that i was in pre op, i had just got used to being in pain most of the time being stiff and my mobility decreasing. Now i have to pinch myself to remember what it was like to have that constant background pain. I had underestimated how much pain affects one emotionally, how much my world had shrunk due to not being able to walk too far and to feel decades older than my years.

Yet, as much as all the above is true, i am very aware that things can change in a flash and a nasty tooth infection for example can set one back a bit. So i am not taking anything for granted. I will also document truthfully when things don't go so well which lets face it will probably happen at some stage.

So to any pre op person reading this post it took me over 5 years to accept that i needed surgery. I don't regret not having the surgery sooner because i wanted to try non surgical options first. I was not ready emotionally, but, i came to a point where i had no real option. Either surgery or a chair. I am very grateful that the surgery option was there.

I wish everybody well.

 

[SurreyGirl]

Very happy for you Ginny! I remember your pre-op uncertainly well so delighted it is all going well.

 

[Layla]

Love your update, Ginny. Thanks for sharing.
There are many happy endings and people are anxious to read these stories before entering in. Just think how many would shy away, or delay surgery if all they read about here was gloom and doom.

The more positive updates I read here pre-op, as a lurker, the more it convinced me I needed to schedule surgery in an effort to regain my life. BoneSmart WAS the vehicle that gave me the confidence to schedule my surgery after many months of pain, misery and a feeling of sheer terror at the thought of experiencing a major surgery. I know I'm not alone in my thinking. All I have to do is go over to the pre-op side and read a few threads and it brings back memories of all the anxiety and uncertainty I felt prior to surgery. So thanks again.
Enjoy the day!
@Ginny12

 

[Alitm]

@Ginny12 As a lurker, and then a joiner, I searched for the positive posts, although I did also read the very difficult threads as well, as I knew I had to have both hips done and felt compelled to know everything I could possible know, before surgery. This surgery has such a high success rate, and it is helpful for folks to see both the good and the very difficult. Having two reminders yesterday in my daily life (not just reading about it on line), of how things can go sideways fast, makes one humble and thankful for a relatively easy recovery. One reads here that maintaining a positive attitude helps the healing process, and it is important for folks to see that. Please keep posting your progress, as it helps others .

 

[SwampHiker]

@Ginny12 I too did lots of reading here before the surgery as well. There never is a guarantee on how the surgery or recovery will go. We tend to fear the unknown and for most of us, this surgery and recovery is the unknown. We want hope that things will get better as our "Agneses" will tell you every reason not to have the procedure. I find your posts to be genuine, informative and inspirational. You have been brave and determined on your journey. I'm sure you will help more people than you could ever realize. I know you really helped Allena on the pre-op side. I think you are truly a beautiful soul. Please, continue to document your journey.

 

[LdnFizz]

Just wanted to add my voice to the choir. Not only is it really good to hear about people not having complications- I previously wanted to gather information and hear about different experiences. Normal recovery is still different for everyone- and the detail and the information is so useful.

 

[Mojo333]

for getting our lives back!
Today is going to be a good day!

 

[Ginny12]

@SurreyGirl

What a lovely message to me, thank you so much. I have noticed that about you, even tho you are going thru so much you so generously take the time to help others. It is much easier to help others when one is OK but a real art when not feeling well. I cannot even comprehend dealing with all that you have on your plate yet despite all your worries you help us all with compassion and wit.

I am writing a firm letter to the Gods today to get their act together and send you the healing winds that you so richly deserve.

x

 

[Ginny12]

@Layla

I think that you must have gathered by now that i am a Super Fan of yours! The kindness that you show is exceptional.

The state of the world can be so depressing if one listens to the news and sees the suffering evident all around on the streets. Then i get posts like yours and from my fellow Bone Smarties and i feel hope for the future. This community has helped me much more than just my hip ( but that help is also truly massive) but it has shown me what the kindness of strangers can do. That you and the other moderators to give up so much time to help others just shows the best in the human spirit.

x

 

[Ginny12]

@Alitm

Thank you for your post, again you are having so much to deal with yourself but find the time to encourage others is very generous of you.

I hope that whatever 'reminders' that you had yesterday are under control. It is weird how life bites one on the bum. Today i woke up and thought that's strange my husband was nowhere to be seen, he was in the spare room and had been violently sick all night. He remains unwell at the moment and the dog is not happy as she has not had a walk. But at least i can look after him after his numerous kindnesses to me. I am no sure what this ramble is about except perhaps to say that yes having a relatively easy recovery is indeed humbling and that if we all stick together we can help others too.

Bottom line thank you and healing vibes being sent your way. x

 

[Ginny12]

@SwampHiker

So how come you are so wise and wonderful at your age?

Your post to me was so kind and sometimes it is very hard for me to accept compliments. Or indeed believe people see me as you have written. I am not writing that looking for compliments but just so you know i know that you mean what you have written. When i am having dark thoughts or the infamous Agnes shows up, all i have to do is reread what Miss Sunshine (AKA Miss SwampHiker) has posted to me.

Thank you xx

 

[Mojo333]

There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting others up.
It does feel good to be able to give back!

Hope DH feels better soon!