I learned so much from reading all of your stories and tips. I hope that the story of my experience will add to the great wealth of information and inspiration here.
Here's part 1 - In and out of the hospital
It’s been almost a week since I had my posterier THR on May 3rd.
My surgery was scheduled for 10:15 last Tuesday. While waiting for zero hour, the anesthesiologist came in. He asked if I wanted a nerve block or pain meds. Hmm… I didn’t know which would be better or that I'd be getting a choice. He stated some pros and cons of each and seemed to favor the nerve block so that’s what I o.k.’d.
About 10, as I lay hooked up to the IV and ready to roll, we learned there’d be about a 45 minute delay. Time seemed to pass relatively quickly and soon I was rolled into the operating room. Of course, that’s all I remember until waking up in the recovery room.
As it turned out, I spent several hours there even after I was cleared to go my room. First there was a wait for my room to be cleaned. Then another wait for someone to transport me.
My husband (Mike) was with me for part of that time in the recovery area. He says my first concern was my glasses. Someone got them for me right away. He tells me that I also said I had a lot of pain, but I don’t remember that. In fact, I am continually surprised by how little pain I’ve had.
Apparently, we talked but I kept drifting off and I don’t remember much of that time at all except his telling me that the surgeon had said all went well.
Once in my room, I felt decidedly nauseous. They brought me what I think the nurse said was cranberry ginger ale. It didn’t help. I don't know why they put cranberry into it. Eventually, she gave me a pill for the nausea. They brought a tray of food probably around 6 or so, but I couldn’t eat then. Now that is soooo unlike me.
Mike went home about 8 p.m. because I was still pretty drowsy and I wasn’t in pain, maybe because of the nerve block. About ½ hour later I woke up and the nausea was totally gone. I was hungry so I ate some of the turkey out of the sandwich and the canned peaches. Yum, yum.
After awhile, maybe around 10 pm, I told the tech that I needed to pee. He got the nurse and they instructed me how to scooch over and then sit on the edge of the bed. I put my left foot down without problem. Then I put the right foot down and the leg just collapsed. I was holding on to the walker and they were holding on to me so I didn’t fall, but no way I could stand on it. They got me a bed pan, but even though I felt like I would go, at the last second, nope, nothing.
This not being able to stand up turned out to be the effect of the nerve block. Of course, it didn’t help to have the nurse and tech say they never heard of giving a hip patient a nerve block and that they should not have given me that. Later I learned that this pair do not usually work on this floor and that may have accounted for their not knowing that some hip patients do get nerve blocks.
On the other hand, I wish I had not had it because I couldn’t get out of bed until the next morning. And I had to have a catheter.
When I got that, boy oh boy, did my tanks empty out.
I slept fairly well between vitals checks, blood draws, etc. Again, no or very little pain.
They got me up early, took the catheter out, and stood me up so I could sit in the chair. No nausea so was able to enjoy the delightful omelet and bagel breakfast. Ha!
My husband was there by 7:30. An hour later they came to get me for therapy. I was able to walk down the hall using the walker all the way to the “gym”. First up was occupational therapy. At this point that involved getting in and out of a bed using the leg lifter and going up and down two steps.
Next was a big group OT session where we took our shoes and socks off and then put them back on and put on a pair pants. Maybe something else. Next we did our 6 PT exercises sitting in our chairs. I’d been practicing them ahead of time. They didn’t seem bad. Of course, much of my thigh was still benefiting from the nerve block.
Back to the room where my husband and I hung out and then had lunch.
A little later it was back to the gym for another round of the PT exercises. And then the therapist had me climb up about 4 or 5 stairs a couple of times, once using the railings and once using a cane. Then I got to get in and out of the “car”. She asked if I was ready to go home and I said “YES”. (No, I didn't yell, but I was excited because the nurse had looked at me like I was crazy when I told her that I hoped to go home today.) So I was cleared by the OT and PT people but still needed medical clearance.
Since my surgeon wouldn’t be around until the evening, his P.A. came to check on me. Again, everything apparently looked good and she gave the go-ahead to begin the discharge paperwork.
It was probably about 4:30 when they brought the wheels to the room. Once ready to roll, I was handed a red carnation, and away we went to the outside world, less than 36 hours after arriving at the hospital. Getting into our minivan was a challenge. I’m tall so have to really duck my head and then there’s lifting that leg in. But what a thrill to be on the way home. We even stopped at McDonalds for a rare treat of milkshakes to celebrate.
We had big salads for supper. I was pretty tired but didn’t want to go to bed too early because I was really worried about lying on my back all night. I just do not sleep well for long if not on my side.
The night turned out to be LONG. I had to get up to pee every 1-1.5 hours. Getting in and out of our bed was a real chore. I was happy to hear the little bird who sings his heart out every morning at 5 a.m. outside our bedroom. Soon I could get up and not have to get back in bed.
...to be continued later