[THR] I've Got a New Attitude (OK, Hip)

I'd posted this in my pre-op thread and it was suggested that I move it here so that I could share the news.
I'm back.... and I have a new hip!!! Apologies on taking so long to update - I tried to use the app right after the surgery, but couldn't log in for whatever reason. Since I'd already been exhausted before I went in for surgery (add that to the surgery and post-surgery stuff), you can hopefully understand why I've been pretty silent on the internet lately - it took a while to get the energy up to be on the computer for more than a few minutes.

So here's the tale of WHOA: that last week pre-surgery was insanely chaotic - follow-ups with the rheumatologist (who withheld final approval 'til I got the CT scan - which was clear), coordinating with friends as to who would be where when, and finishing up my work at the office (including training a temp at the last minute).

I was actually looking forward to being in the hospital just to get some rest!

My friend came down from CT, picked me up, and drove me to the hospital, where I was quickly checked in and taken to the pre-op waiting area. My nurse Tamieka, who did the intake, was lovely; and gave clear instructions/details, answering any questions we might have had. I'd already known I would be getting a spinal, rather than general, anesthesia; she detailed the cocktail that would be given to me, then left me to get ready (wiping down with the special antiseptic cloths, then putting on the gown, socks, and cap, etc.), after which I was bundled into a warming blanket (that I wanted to take home with me; so much better than an electric one!) and left to wait for the OS and anesthesiologist to check in with me. They both came and chatted and further explained what would happen; and then I, my friend and one of my "sisters", waited... and waited... and waited.

My friend wound up having to leave (I'd known that she was going and that sister-friend was staying) because there was such a delay (my surgery time was 1.45; I was eventually wheeled in to surgery at around 3, I believe - luckily, they'd given me the initial "relaxation" meds, and my sister-friend has always had a calming influence on me, so I wasn't stressing).

Once I was in the room, they had me sit on the table and put my head in a head rest and arms over rests (kind of like one of those upright massage table things); told me I'd feel a prick.... And I woke up as they wheeled me into recovery.

I was told that the damage was more extensive than showed on the x-rays, so the surgery went longer, but that I came out of it well/with no problems, and should still be able to go home the next day. I was eventually taken to my hospital room (around 8pm, I think), where my sis got me settled before leaving for the night. It was an okay night... until I lost my lunch. I'd told the nurse's aide that I was hungry, so she'd gotten me a turkey sandwich, apple juice, and peppermint tea (pretty much the same thing they'd given to my hospital roommate); but it would appear that my system, despite having not had anything since midnight the night before, was not up for food, because it all came right back up within 15-30 minutes of my having eaten it. I'd been trying to get the nurse, Narwin, before it happened, but couldn't hold it and wound up needing new bedding and gown, because she took a very long time to get to me (she seemed to do that pretty consistently; the same thing happened when I rang for pain meds at 5am - another nurse finally came to administer something at 5.30 when they realized I was lying there in tears - they seemed to have no idea where Narwin had gone).

Anyways, those were my two rough spots in the hospital. The next day, I worked with the PT a couple of times and was released, so my sister came to take me home. My OS' app told me that he used a zipline enclosure (instead of staples) and covered it with an Aquacel bandage, which my inner nerd loved researching (I just found out from the visiting nurse that I actually DO have staples, with the Aquacel dressing; calling my doc's office to find out why the mix-up).

I'm doing PT now (overdid it yesterday; he's trying to get the adductor muscles - which were tight/locked well before the surgery - to release, so gave me a couple of new gentle stretches to do. My body protested; but I'm icing the heck out of myself and keeping my feet elevated when I'm not walking up and down my apartment hallway). The visiting nurse is on the way now, to change the bandage and check the wound; so, I guess that's it for now.

Hope all my fellow March hippies have had good/positive experiences; can't wait to catch up on their stories!

 

Hello, all! I had the devil of a time getting back on to my account for some reason; I'd been wanting to check in on other people and give a quick update; glad I'm able to now! @GrannyC, @hikejunkie and @Eman85, I agree re, PT; I've definitely not been overdoing things (some - who've never had a HR, of course - might feel that I've not done enough). I did decide to do facility PT 2x/week (started last week), mostly because they have pool therapy, and I'm a water baby; but also because I still have to get the second hip done in June, and want it to have some measure of "prep" before I go in (if I didn't have to work, I wouldn't worry about it so much; as it is, I feel that I need to do what I can to keep body and soul together 'til I can get that second surgery done). The great thing is, the therapist with whom I'm working is quite careful not to push me beyond my limits, and seems more concerned with making sure I'm ready for the second surgery than rushing the first leg too fast, which is exactly what I want. I appreciate that.

On the physical front, the wound is healing quite nicely (it seemed to take forEVER to get to the stage where it was healed enough for the scabbing to fall off); and I can feel my left leg getting stronger/more stable (it's DEFINITELY more stable than the right, unoperated one right now!) - I still use a cane when I go out, but I'm more and more able to walk around my apartment without one (in fact, I'll often forget it when I go from one room to the next and have to figure out where I left it. LOL). I'm walking more, although not nearly as much as I might like (again, the unoperated hip is now giving more trouble - jealous thing ), and have been able to drive a bit. But I still find myself tired more easily/often than I expected - I'm going back to working in the office next Monday (which means a 1.5-2hr commute each way), and I'm not sure how I'll respond to that added stress (I've been working full-time from home, so it's really the added commute time that's worrying me). My sister is encouraging me to work part-time; I've told her that, depending on how well I respond to returning to my old schedule, I won't have a choice - my body will force me to be a part-time worker.

Anyway, just wanted to drop in now that I'm able to post again. Off to catch up on other folks' progress!

 

@Jaycey , thanks for this reminder!!! I'd read about the Energy Drain a while back, but it totally slipped my mind (and here I was blaming myself for not being "in shape" or "strong enough" - silly rabbit!).

I'll go in next Monday and see how things go; as you say, it might be better for me to continue to work from home part-time and go into the office on alternating days.