LHR good, RHR needs to be done!

[jaz]

ARGHHH! What more can I say. I had my one year follow up appointment and my LHR is looking great but I now have arthritis in my right hip. This will now need to be replaced so instead of enjoying my good new hip I am back to square one. Another surgery and recovery to look forward to.

 

[Josephine]

aww bless! That's the way of things, sadly. It happens.

 

[JudyS]

Jaz i know that is not the news you wanted . I hope it is easier this time. hopefully some of the anxiety will be gone as you know what to expect.
judy

 

[Peta]

Hi Jaz - if it makes you feel any better I am in the same boat! (Mind you I've known that both needed to be replaced all along....). But I have found it easier to cope now I've had my LTHR - at least I have one "good" leg to stand on! :hehe:
When are you planning on having your right hip done?

 

[teejay]

jaz
Now that you said the ARGHHH!, you got the negative feelings out of the way, you can start concentrating on the fun facts like enjoying two superduper good bionic hips. Knowing exactly what to expect, this one should be piece of cake, and you’ve got a very good reason to spend more time here at BS. I’d think it as square 2 cubed. I’d not mind repeating my experience, knowing that both of my hips would be good forever, and I doubt you mind either. It’s a hassle, for sure, but you got what it takes, jaz, and we all are here for you. ( ( ( Hugs ) ) )

 

[jaz]

Thanks for your words of wisdom and support. Yes, I am feeling much more positive about the experience now that I've been there and done that. My home is well set up for recovery and it will be summer so don't have to worry about slippery puddles of water when I go for my walks on crutches. And yes, I am looking forward to having two fully functional hips once again.

I haven't got a date yet, probably within two months. I am on the public waitlist and haven't rung my insurance company yet to see about going private. My LHR is through the public system and it would in a lot of ways be easier to have one follow up a year for both hips moving rather than having to go through both systems.

As I am young, fit and healthy I have been recommended to have my surgery and after care outsourced to a private hospital which basically means less busy nursing staff, nice food, daily paper, and an individual TV with Sky TV at my bedside. Oh, I forgot to add they come around at 4pm and take drinks orders, beer, wine, juice or softdrink. You don't get that in the public hospitals. The surgeon, hosptial, anaesthetist, physiotherapy etc is exactly the same whether I go public or private. Interesting health system we have downunder.

 

[teejay]

Oh, I forgot to add they come around at 4pm and take drinks orders, beer, wine, juice or softdrink.

You gotta be kidding me!

 

[jaz]

I couldn't believe it myself the first time they came around. It is very civilised and almost colonial. I will add that you get tea and scones at about 3 o'clock in the afternoon.

 

[teejay]

One more reason to move to NZ. I'm real happy that you feel better about your future. You're so right, you got everything working for you and one day this coming surgery is history and you have to get your drinks like normal persons.

 

[jaz]

Well there is one big glitch in that theory Teejay, I just met with our CEO who said they are considering making my role redundant which means I could be out of work in the next month or so, with a dodgy hip, needing surgery. Wonder who would employ someone who is going to need to take quite some time off to recover from a major operation.

 

[Judles]

Oh NO!!!!!! But that's total discrimination!!!!!

 

[teejay]

jaz

Oh boy, I’m so sorry. This is very disturbing news. I just reread your history, all posts - and you have gone through so much already, jaz. Hopefully the CEO wakes up tomorrow and realizes what a wonderful employee you are. The unemployment rate in NZ is rather high at the 6.5 %, but I’ve got the idea that the social security is better than in the states and short-term unemployment does not mean the end of the world? It sucks in any case. You do not need this on top of all the other worries.

You’ll need to stay optimistic, though it may be hard at times. The main focus still is getting you to the surgery and recovery. Now it could be the right time to get those drinks? One step at a time, and eventually all problems will be worked out. You’ve traveled this far, and I have no doubt that you will prevail over anything life throws at you. With your family’s and friend’s support and love this too will be history soon.

I’m going to start stabbing a needle in a voodoo doll resembling your CEO. I hope it helps.

Stay positive, jaz. We all are here for you. ((((( hugs )))))

 

[Josephine]

That's a bummer, jaz. I'm really sorry that's happened.

But as for the "The surgeon, hosptial, anaesthetist, physiotherapy etc is exactly the same whether I go public or private. Interesting health system we have downunder." that's exactly how it is in the UK! Guess we all came from the same socio-cultural structure, eh?

 

[jaz]

But as for the "The surgeon, hosptial, anaesthetist, physiotherapy etc is exactly the same whether I go public or private. Interesting health system we have downunder." that's exactly how it is in the UK! Guess we all came from the same socio-cultural structure, eh?

Haha, yes definately mirroed on a British system, I guess this is where the pot of tea and scones at 3 o'clock comes in as well.

I have my clinical workshop on Monday morning.

 

[grenouille]

Interesting system ya have jaz... we have a public system only here,, and definetly dont get a refreshment cart like yours.... but then stills for making liquor are legal in N.Z...friend of mine near Hamilton has one, and lords it over me constantly.Sorry to hear about the job thing.. seems like callousness in the work place is becoming all to familiar everywhere.My attitude has always been, was looking for a job when i found this one.. and will be when i get my next one.. good luck and God bless.

 

[mvo]

Hi Jaz,

If you can, go the private route. I was very lucky – Waikato Hospital (public) outsources to private hospitals and since I was willing to travel from Hamilton to Rotorua I had both my hips done at QE Health in Rotorua. There were several of us Hamiltonians there, and several patients who were back for hip number two after having hip number one done there about a year ago.

At the big public hospitals, elective hip surgery can sometimes be postponed as emergencies come in - I know a few people this has happened to...

And like you, my surgeon did the assessment and recommendation for the right one at the one-year check-up for the left. I was already in the system, as I started getting bad pain in my right hip months before but am sure his notes brought my surgery forward by several months.

All the best – happy to share the “having another hip done” experience if you have any questions

Cheers,
Monica

 

[jaz]

Thanks Monica. I am a little curious on how LHR will cope with being the stronger hip for awhile. Left hip was dysplasia so I always favoured right hip, which is probably why it was worn out at 40 yo. I still stand with most of my weight on right hip, even though it hurts. I can't imagine LHR being strong enough to take most of my weight for awhile.

I hadn't thought about getting bumped through the public system. Apparently this only happens if the operation is conducted at a public hospital. Private hospitals have their list and that is that, no emergency medicine.

 

[mvo]

Yes, that is the beauty of a private hospital - everything tidily scheduled and things running pretty much to plan.

Both my sister and I found the recoveries from the second surgeries a bit easier. For both of us the new bionic left hips were fine - mine feels very strong and stable. With the second surgery, you kind of know what you can get away with in terms of exercise and recovery - I didn't feel as nervous or fragile as after the first one.

You just had the one dysplastic hip? I had two. The right one always looked in bad condition on the x-rays, but never gave me much pain until a few months after the LTHR. I was Very grumpy when pain kicked in on the right hip, so can sympathise with how you feel.

Cheers,
Monica

 

[Jamie]

Jaz....I'm not believing Happy Hour in the hospital...how do they justify that when you're on serious pain medication???

 

[jaz]

This still puzzles me, usually I had a juice but one night I thought I would try a mini bottle of wine and I got horribly sloshed on the first few mouthfills. I was off the morphine by then but it still hit me pretty hard. Needless to say I slept well that night.