THR July Hip Replacement - When will I ski again?<

[Lski]

@Layla, Thanks for sending a reply and for your concern. I'd love to find a new job that better fits my threshold for stress. I realized this in 2015 and searched and interviewed for 28 months with no job offers. Another candidate was always a better fit for one reason or another. I've been doing this type of work since 1997, I have a specialization for what I do which hasn't given me the opportunity to learn other skills.
I decided I needed to focus on advancing where I was and received my promotion in April of this year ( Although it was promised for January, I had to wait due to delays in the approval process and annual raises tying up the payroll system (a bunch of red tape). I waited 12_years for this promotion and my boss actually fought for this advancement on my behalf. She isn't an evil witch all the time. She has her moments like yesterday.
My daughter only has 2 years of high school left then maybe 4 years of college. We plan to move out of PA when she is done school and I'll look for a new job then, hopefully something part time and downsize so our expenses are lower. It's a 6 year plan that I need to stick with unless my husband's job prospects improve. A full time job with a salary for a man with 2_masters degrees deserves would be a game changer.
Today I cancelled my 1 on 1 meeting with my boss, as I wasn't emotionally ready to meet with her alone and listen to any feedback or criticism. It's been rescheduled for next Tuesday. Hopefully I'll be in a better place emotionally by then.
I had a Tele-med visit with the psychiatrist this afternoon. He ordered an increased dose of the Zoloft to help with my anxiety & depression.
It was another busy day at the office but I did give myself some breaks between tasks. I have a list of things to do by end of day on Monday, so will likely need to work over the weekend to meet the deadlines.
My FMLA time hasn't been calculated accurately. The system counted 4 hours taken everyday since 8/23/18. This is why my boss thought I had run out of time as of today. I called this evening to get it fixed.

I have the appointment with the GYN tomorrow morning to discuss my fibroids. Hoping to find a good solution. Also need her help to stay on Short term disability until 10/31. The details needed from my general doctor were not approved by my disability insurance co. I got a call from the claims mgr. about this today. I gave her my GYN # to get in touch with her about my recent issues.
Problems seem to be never ending.

 

[Layla]

Good luck with your meeting with your boss on Tuesday.
Prayers for your visit with the gynecologist tomorrow.
I hope you able to get some much deserved rest this weekend.
Wishing you peace.
@Lski

 

[Lski]

Update: My appointment with the GYN was so-so. She has me scheduled for a vaginal hysterectomy on 12/18. She was not comfortable helping me extend my current disability leave thru 10/31 due to lack of sleep ( which I believe to be caused by the fibroid sitting on my bladder, waking me up to urinate at 3:30 AM) because she is not a sleep specialist. I asked her to share the test results and just report the facts, but of course she had to say to my disability claims manager that she wasn't in agreement with my request to be on my reduced work schedule ( 3 full days from home & 2 half days in the office & water therapy). Therefore disability benefits haven't been continued as I and my GP requested.
I can appeal the decision, but think it might be better to just use vacation time for my half days for the rest of the month. I sent a message to my boss to see if this is possible and for her approval. Doubt she will want to agree but if I need to I will get HR to assist. I have a ton of deliverables due Monday so will be working at least 4 hrs on Saturday & Sunday this weekend to meet these deadlines. I also need to take some time off for the follow up test to the mammogram results on Monday.
My pain level is still at 4 or 5, when prior to my nap on Sunday was 2 or 3. Not sure why rest , ice & elevating hasn't decreased it. I increased the Tylenol back up to 2 pills rather than one every 6-8 hrs. Hope to feel better tomorrow. If not by Monday will need to call my OS or GP.
I felt good at water therapy today in the heated pool. I wonder if heat rather than ice would be better. I used heat before surgery so may try it tomorrow if still at this pain level.

 

[Lski]

Update: Tomorrow is my 3 month recovery anniversary and my pain levels are at 3-4. I had an appointment with the PT instead of water therapy to check my range of motion and progress. I explained the pain I was experiencing since waking from a nap a week ago Sunday. She said at this stage of recovery pain like this is atypical & to call my OS. She also stretched my leg so the muscle in my groin area was stretched out. I feel much less pain now in the groin. I still have pain and stiffness at the incision site. Also numbness from nerve damage on the inside of my thigh above the knee.
I didn't have the local office # for my OS so I found the 800# for Rothman institute on the web and dialed. I was able to select "schedule an appointment" the lady who answered had no problem scheduling an appointment with my OS for next Wednesday. I'm sure if I phoned the local office they would have made the appointment with the assistant surgeon or not at all, since I was told that the OS would only see me if I dislocated the hip or suspected an infection. If I have no success at this visit, the PT gave me a list of OS's in the area I could call for a 2nd opinion. So greatful for my PT. She even showed some ways to stretch the groin muscle myself.

The ultrasound on the right breast revealed that the lump which was biopsied in 2016 as not cancerous had increased in size to 2 centimetres. This is over 20% increase so protocol is to have it removed. Now I am trying to coordinate with my GYN to recommend a breast surgeon who will do that surgery during the same hospital stay we scheduled for the hysterectomy on 12/18.

My meeting with my boss was cancelled. I was very disappointed, was told she needed the time to finish a case we reviewed the day before, which I had worked on over the weekend. She wanted it done a particular way so to give me capacity to get the other deliverables on my desk out the door she would handle that one, which was also due by end of day. Surprised she hasn't released it yet I asked if I could assist but was turned down. She mentioned just needing to write the cover memo. I'd already delivered one so sent it to her to use and amend as needed, she responded she wanted to write her own. In the midst of these emails I was trying to propose a new time for our 1 on 1 meeting in the morning when we are both in the office. She kept sending me invites for 3:00 in the afternoon. It took 3 times declining the new meeting to get her to understand I work from home every afternoon and am only in the office T, TH & F mornings. She works from home on Fridays so that left only T&Th AM for our in person meeting.
We met via Skype call on Monday to go over what she put together for this client. She totally ignored all the work I did over the weekend. I just agreed with her to get the work done. As usual she tried to coach me with her "expert" advice, making me feel like my 12 years with the company are not as good as her 20 years with our domestic side. Then she mentioned that she would like to change my job duties to be an underwriting effectiveness leader. Her way of saying, you don't shine when under pressure, so let's put you in a position where there aren't such tight deadlines or need to interact with sales etc. At first I thought it was a good move for me, but after my interaction with her today I don't see it that way anymore. I think my job would be eliminated if ever there were cut backs if I wasn't in a role producing quotes. I really need to speak with my boss about all that I'm dealing with and don't want to wait until next Tuesday morning which is when she rescheduled our meeting until. My anxiety level is so high about this situation.
I need God's strength to get through this challenge. Praying for guidance, the right words to express myself and ability to sleep through the night. I'm so tired from sleep deprivation.

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary!
You have a lot on your plate in the midst of your early THR recovery.
I wish you luck as you move through the next couple months.
May all work out for the best.
@Lski

 

[An54]

@Lski , you are going through really tough times right now, no mistake. It's not just one Big thing (THR) , but for you it also includes multiple, life-altering things... not only recovering from THR surgery, but also waiting for more surgeries, having trouble at work, difficulty sleeping, are on anti-depressants, and your mid-range life plans in potential disarray. The huge pressure is on, just when you are feeling most vulnerable. It seems something will have to give way somewhere--how can you keep it up? Even something like getting enough sleep at night might turn the tide for you, and give you the strength to just keep going until you get over this big hump in life. I wish you could develop more choices out there. Not that we have so many choices about something like needed surgery, but often where we live and where we work is up for modification (I nearly killed myself with a daily four hour commute decades ago, and look back on it now, and wonder how I had allowed that to happen in my life). If your whole company went down the tubes tomorrow, what would you do? If you could spend a year at a community college retraining or upgrading, what would you choose? If you could relocate to a more affordable home, where would you go? Could you move from, for example, a house to an apartment, would that take some financial pressure off? I'm just tossing around ideas because to me it looks like your physical, mental and emotional health is reaching a breaking point. Maybe you've thought about all this, but I just wanted to put it out there.

 

[SurreyGirl]

There is nothing I can offer but sympathy on reading this thread. It all sounds rotten. I truly hope you get a break at work. You deserve it. No-one should be treated like that.

 

[Lski]

@An54 & @SurreyGirl
Thanks for reading my thread. It's nice to know I have support. I've thought about all things that would help my situation however if I sold my home now I would loose quite a bit of $$ since the market is not as strong as it was when we purchased our home. Finding a new job is a full time job in itself and is too much effort for me at the momoent. I will find the strength to get through the rest of 2018 then see how things are in the New Year.
I was able to schedule the breast surgery the same day as the hysterectomy, so only one hospital visit. Now I need to figure out how to prepare and what to expect for recovery. I know it's at least 4 weeks for the hysterectomy not sure yet how the breast surgery will impact that expectation.
I'm taking one day at a time and praying my way through each moment.

 

[Lski]

Today I have my first dental appointment since my hip surgery. I remembered at dinner yesterday that my surgeon advised taking an antibiotic before dental visits for 2 years to prevent infections. I thought I had the antibiotic at home or a script for it in the hospital folder. I didn’t find either so called Rothman and the on call Dr. was willing to call in the script to my pharmacy. I need to take it at 7:00 this morning, an hour before my appointment. This I am thankful for.
My payroll direct deposit was missing 2/3 the expected amount. Turns out the payroll department only updated the system with my return to work full time date 10/12/18 yesterday and I was only paid for 32 of the 80 hours I was to be paid for (only 16 hrs were STD) since I was on a reduced work schedule those 2 weeks. This totally stressed me out. I was worried about having the $$ in the bank to pay the bills I have on auto-pay.
Luckily I had a full body massage scheduled at 5:30 pm, which did wonders for my stress level.
After the massage I had a v-mail from payroll saying they could cut a check Friday and overnight it to me for delivery Saturday, or have it direct deposited on Monday. I chose the direct deposit on Monday. It is expected to be in the account before my bills are due.
Having solved these problems I was able to relax and watch an episode of Call of the Midwife on Netflix then went to bed. I slept until 5:00 AM, so a good 7 hours. My pain level this morning is better, down to a 3. We will see what happens when I get up and get moving.

 

[Lski]

It's been a very long day. I was up at 5:30 to use the bathroom. Stayed in bed but awake until 7:00 then took a quick shower & got ready for the dentist. Was there until 9:30 then worked from home until 12:30. My boss is on my case again and asked if she should stop assigning complex cases to me until I'm feeling better. ( I mentioned that my brains been in a fog since surgery with lack of sleep). I responded that I really just need to slow down and have adequate time to do & review my work before sending it to her for approval or feedback. The past few weeks were rushed with deadlines to meet & more on my plate than I had capacity to accomplish. If the team can handle the complex ones without my help then fine, and how did the last complex case I sent to her a few days ago looked. She said we could jump on a Skype call to review it together today. I responded asking for her feedback in a reply to my email, since I'm a visual learner and would comprehend it more easily. It's not due until next Friday so she has time to go this route. She agreed, but I do feel like my responsibilities are being taken away one at a time, which is not good. I'm very sad, I wish I could sleep better & be more alert to do my job as quickly and accurately as before. I'm waiting until after my appointment with my surgeon next Wednesday and the breast surgeon on 11/8 to mention anything about my December surgery. I want to be sure everyone is in agreement that this is the best action for my conditions.
Maybe I'll be able to convince one of these doctors to support my need to go back on Short term disability leave. My boss obviously doesn't feel that I'm well enough to handle all responsibilities of my job.
Good news is the payroll dept. overnighter my check so I received it this afternoon and deposited it today.

At 12:30 I accompanied my daughter to her performing arts school an hr. drive, are lunch from Wendy's in the car. I was just the passenger on this ride. I worked from the lunchroom while she was rehearsing until 3:45. I received a call from my hip surgeon 's office asking why I scheduled a visit next week. I told the nurse about my pain & that the PT advised that I see my OS. I also said I wanted to ask his opinion on my upcoming surgery. The nurse asked that I get some bloodwork done before my visit. We stopped by the hospital to get that done on my way home. I only rested for about 45 minutes while my daughter was driving.
I was only home for 25 min. (My husband was home but fast asleep) when I needed to go out again to bring my daughter to dance & deposit my paycheck. I'm very tired, but will stay up a bit longer then just go to sleep for the night.
I hope everyone else isn't having as many challenges as I'm facing.

 

[Layla]

Overall feeling I get from each of your posts is you need more rest.
You sound exhausted. I'm sorry for your health struggles and will pray all works out for you.
It seems you're dealing with many stressful situations, lack of mental clarity at work, health issues, sleep deprivation, chauffeuring your daughter, struggles with your boss, upcoming surgeries, making massage and water therapy appointments etc. I feel breathless when I read your posts. How can you stop the madness? You can't continue to burn the candle at both ends. I feel for you, truly I do. I wish you were in a position to consider some of the great ideas An54 mentioned in her post above. Something's gotta give here. I hope you get some restorative rest this weekend and can take some much needed quiet time for yourself, alone, just you, no one else.
Big hugs
@Lski

 

[Lski]

I agree I need more rest, but haven't been able to sleep well with my health conditions. My pain reduced this weekend, I may have had an infection. I took antibiotics on Friday morning before my dentist appointment, then rested Saturday and felt better Sunday. Seeing my OS today to learn more.

 

[Layla]

I'm happy to read you got some rest and feel a bit better.
Even if you can't sleep soundly, rest as opposed to a full schedule of activity should help some.
I hope you have a good visit with your OS today and a nice rest of the week!
@Lski

 

[Lski]

I visited my OS today. I had to wait quite awhile before he came in the room. He was with me for 10 min., then said wait here and left the room. I thought he was going to research answers to my questions. He didn’t return, a nurse came in with a script for a steroid anti-inflammatory medication to help with what he diagnosed my pain to be from bursitis he/tendinitis. He also recommended 4 weeks of land therapy and I had the nurse add water therapy to this as well. I was very disappointed the DR didn’t return and the nurse wouldn’t get him back for me. I asked her the remaining questions but she referred me to the anesthesiologists to find an answer to one question, and told me to see a psychiatrist for help re-opening my disability claim. I tried to get an appointment with my psychiatrist but he’s traveling until 11/6 so was given an appointment with one of the psychologists in his office.
I’m tired so going to get in a nap.

 

[Layla]

I had to wait a lengthy amount of time at my one year post op. It happens.
We don't know why the docs may get behind. I normally assume they're assisting someone in need.
They don't alot a big chunk of time for office visits, you have to get it all out quickly and efficiently or you're
out of luck.

Did he did specifically tell you he was coming back, or just ask you to wait a minute with the intention of sending a nurse back with a prescription? It sounds as though he gave you a diagnosis, a recommendation and a prescription. Through your words, I'd say he gave you proper attention and care.

I'm sorry you have the bursitis and tendinitis. Hopefully the meds and therapy help. I'm sure the psychologist will be able to help with the paperwork you need to re-open your disability claim, so I'd try not to worry about that. Wishing you comfort and some restorative rest. I hope you have a peaceful end to the week!
@Lski

 

[Lski]

Update: it’s been a difficult week for me emotionally. I’m not feeling 100% or anywhere near it. I’m tired of being in recovery. The bursitis & tendinitis doesn’t seem to be getting better. I cancelled a PT appointment yesterday because I just didn’t have the energy at 4:00 pm so will not schedule afternoon PT again. I only have energy in the morning. Today I have a breast biopsy scheduled. Test results will take a few days so need some patience which I just don’t have anymore of.
I saw a psychologist last Thursday; he diagnosed me with Major Depressive Disorder ( although I only have half the symptoms). He wrote a letter for me to give the disability insurer that explains this diagnosis & my need for a reduced work schedule. I was advised to open a new claim and I did that on Friday. Now waiting for it to be processed.
I’m doing my best to put my faith in God and have hope that all will turn out favorably. I need his strength to endure these challenging times. Please keep me in your prayers.

 

[Layla]

Wondering if between your PT and water therapy if you're aggravating the bursitis and tendinitis you've developed. Did you ever think of laying off both for a couple weeks to see if you notice an improvement? What you're doing isn't working, so why don't you consider it? What do you have to lose except pain?

Sorry you're struggling emotionally. I'm sure it's a compilation of your health issues, struggles at work, home life and trying to keep up with all of the therapy you engage in. You still need a heavy dose of rest IMO. You can't keep burning the candle at both ends.

Prayers for your comfort as you undergo the biopsy and for a good report in a few days.
Wishing you comfort.
@Lski

 

[Lski]

Halloween was not the best day for my family. My husband's long term sub assignment ended early. He was very upset and took it out on me. He was out of control and verbally abusive. We've decided to divorce. So many times before he has said he'd leave but never followed through. This time I posted it on Facebook so I will be the one to take action to dissolve this unhealthy relationship.
Making this decision was a long time coming and now I feel a big weight lifted away.
Good news came from the breast biopsy, not cancer. Now I want to see if I can put off the lumpectomy until I recover from hip surgery & the hysterectomy.
My PT stretched my muscles today so my hip is feeling looser not so stiff. Maybe I'll start seeing progress with this hip.
I hope you all had a better Halloween than me.

 

[Lmflora]

So sorry your having such a crappy day. Congratulations on the biopsy. I had a lumpectomy, piece of cake compared to hip and a hysterectomy!

Wow when it rains it pours on you, hang in there, someday soon, you will be back on skis . I have concentrated more on stretching this time around and it does help. I did yoga first time around, but i was very low keyed, I couldn’t do most of the poses, but what I could do helped a lot. That was 6 months post op last time.
Cheers

 

[An54]

@Lski , hang in there is right ! It’s all going to work out.