THR New hip at 37! How it went, how it's going!

[KittensMom]

I walked 4,5 kilometers along the hilly shoreline of lake Mälaren today. I had one longer break midway as my thigh got tired, but overall I am seeing a lot of progress with both muscle strength and my confidence. Walking is starting to feel very normal. I’ve not been good with the gym this week, work has occupied my brain and I feel mentally exhausted from it.

My anxiety came back with a storm as soon as I went back to the office. Not great for healing I imagine, but what can I do. Life feels very full of serious decisions and problems, whether that’s with health or family, friends. I see my therapist weekly, but just generally am a bit down by having to go back to work and not having downtime to process the rest of life’s stuff… and I’m only on 50% for now.

Planned vacations feel light years away and another thing demanding my attention, decision-wise.

Next week I am seeing my OS for a check up for the first time, AND I will get a decision on an adhd evaluation that I’ve been pursuing for 1,5 years now. I need to find strength to get through it somehow and think of positive outcomes.

That’s my little rant. Off to binge watch Succession and cuddle with my cat who seems to be perpetually needing vet visits. I meant it when I said I’m exhausted;)

 

[Layla]

think of positive outcomes.

I'm sorry you're exhausted. Stress will do that to you as well as recovery from major surgery. You have the right idea on focusing on a positive outcome, and I don't see why you wouldn't have one. Try to take one day as a time rather than focusing on the entire week, month, or year, if that brings on anxious thoughts. One day at a time is enough in itself and hopefully life won't feel as insurmountable. You can do this and please know we're here for support whenever you feel the need. Hugs and best wishes!

 

[Zorro]

What a funny story about having to be reassured that your new hip had been inserted. God bless you.

 

[Arjay]

I recently got my ADHD evaluation, after putting up with it since childhood - many decades! I didnt read through all your past pages of entries, so I don't know if it is something you've touched on previously. Will just say - I am so SO glad I finally did something about it. Life changing…in its way. I am also convinced that for me, it is something that has gotten worse in the past several years….to the point where it felt like I could accomplish N-O-T-H-I-N-G around here. Days that I take the meds….things get done. But boy, do I have a lot of lost ground to make up.

Good luck w your recovery!

 

[Newhip_Pol]

Hi @KittensMom just catching up with your story. You seems to be doing really well with your recovery, albeit with the typical emotional roller and occasional visits to the ODIC.
I was interested to hear about your pre-op routine. I was told to shower the evening or morning before with no lotions (no special soap either) and there was no antibiotic treatment pre or post-op. This RTHR was in a private hospital but the pre-op routine was the same in NHS hospital for LTHR in 2018.
Best wishes for your future progress.

 

[KittensMom]

I recently got my ADHD evaluation, after putting up with it since childhood - many decades! I didnt read through all your past pages of entries, so I don't know if it is something you've touched on previously. Will just say - I am so SO glad I finally did something about it. Life changing…in its way. I am also convinced that for me, it is something that has gotten worse in the past several years….to the point where it felt like I could accomplish N-O-T-H-I-N-G around here. Days that I take the meds….things get done. But boy, do I have a lot of lost ground to make up.

Good luck w your recovery!

I had my meeting yesterday, and before the doctor said the words, I felt like I was on the world's cruelest game show. But yes, I have the diagnosis. ADHD (combination type), and ASD (this one came as a surprise). I feel so validated, I couldn't stop smiling yesterday. @Arjay I am really happy that you went through this process. There is an element of regret I think when you do it as an adult, because of all the years without the diagnosis - I at least felt very sad about all of the missed opportunities, and perhaps unnecessary stress and mental strain, once the lightbulb went off in my head 2 years ago and I realised I had ADHD. But being on the other side of the evaluation process feels very good

 

[KittensMom]

I'm not sure how many weeks it has been since the surgery. At leals 10 ;)

I saw my surgeon on Tuesday. I initially booked the earlier than 3 months appointment because I was having this mid-thigh pain that just wouldn't budge. Well, the pain was long gone by the time I went to see her, but now it is back :D

So during my appointment I was telling her I feel great, pain is gone, feeling improvements every day. She was very pleased with how things are going, zero leg length difference confirmed again, green light for swimming, mobility on the right track and expected to take time but improve slowly with stretching (it was very limited for 20 years). She didn't even take an xray, apparently the practice is they do it at 3 months and only if something is out of order for the patient.

Literally that same evening the silly pain came back again. Not so bad as before, but it is making itself known. I really am associating it now with increased activity. I have been walking 8k steps per day now that I am back at the office, and climbing the hills leading to my place from the metro multiple times per day.

And so I am thinking to take an ibuprofen today, I haven't taken any pain meds for a month now, and I have a feeling an ibuprofen in the evening for a day or two will settle it.

Also I say pain, but I am still able to walk these 8k steps per day unassisted... ;) Maybe I should be doing a warm up before starting my day each morning. I notice so much relief when I go to physio and she stretches my front thigh muscles / tendons (where the pain lives).

Overall... this week was intense and I am glad it's Friday, and all I have to do for work is to go to a 4h team hangout and play some games out in the balmy May air. I am leaving all the angst for next week when I am back working 100%. And I might go to the swimming pool this weekend

 

[Newhip_Pol]

Sounds like a plan
8000 steps per day unassisted! Wow!! I think I'm doing well if I get to more than 2500 with my walking poles

 

[KittensMom]

Hello from my garden, life and work has been stressful but look at me sitting with my legs up against my chest, 2,5 months after surgery. After 20 years of not being able to bend my leg more than 90 degrees. It’s the little blessings

I hope you are all doing well

 

[Layla]

Happy Three Month Anniversary and Happy Summer too!
I hope it’s one of the best for you!
@KittensMom

 

[KittensMom]

Hi All, I am 3 months post op and I've caught a flu this week. Have been miserable for the last 4 days, and yesterday and today I am having fever, now going up to 37.7C. From what I am reading online, a viral infection should not be an issue for the new joint. The fever is bugging me me a bit though. I will call my OS office tomorrow for advice (it's closed today), but was wondering if you had a similar experience, any words of reassurance?

I have had some more sensitivity in my groin and overall in the muscles surrounding the hip for the past 2 days, but I would expect that with a flu anyways? There is no warmth or pain around the incision side.

Many thanks <3

 

[Jaycey]

@KittensMom A virus is not a threat to your new hip. Please don't worry. You may have muscles aches and sensitive areas. Fevers and the flu always bring this on.

Have you tried paracetamol to ease this?

Get well soon!

 

[Zorro]

Dear KM, Happy 3-month "Hippiversary!" May you continue to do well. Thanks for the knititng pic. Yes, it is being able to do small things that we could not do before that are "rejoicable."

 

[KittensMom]

Thank you @Jaycey, I decided to start taking ibuprofen in the evenings, because the fever jumped and was very stubborn. Day 3 of this misery. If the fever doesn't clear by tomorrow I will contact my gp. I haven't had any flu or cold since covd started (thanks to people washing their hands more? :D), so I am being a baby about it.

 

[Jaycey]

@KittensMom So sorry you are still feeling poorly. I had a very similar experience in April. Caught a cold that was just horrid. Weeks of symptoms and an ear infection. I am still being treated for hearing loss due to the virus. There are some nasty bugs out there and as my GP said, we lost our immunity to these things in lock down.

You aren't being a baby at all. Please take care of your self!

 

[Layla]

I am sorry you’re feeling under the weather. I’m just getting over a nasty cold myself with an annoying lingering cough that’s driving the hubster nuts! I’ve learned how to get him out of the house, hack, hack, hack, lol.

What are your other symptoms, aside from fever, if you don’t mind sharing?
With additional symptoms, I hope you’re reassured it’s part of a viral process and you’ll be feeling like your regular self soon.
Wishing you well!
@KittensMom

 

[KittensMom]

I am sorry you’re feeling under the weather. I’m just getting over a nasty cold myself with an annoying lingering cough that’s driving the hubster nuts! I’ve learned how to get him out of the house, hack, hack, hack, lol.

What are your other symptoms, aside from fever, if you don’t mind sharing?
With additional symptoms, I hope you’re reassured it’s part of a viral process and you’ll be feeling like your regular self soon.
Wishing you well!
@KittensMom

Oh I hope the cough will pass for you soon Layla

I was abroad last week and woke up with a sore throat on Thursday and I had a few extra trips to the bathroom that evening. Friday I had to travel back home and that was misery. It was hot, plane was delayed, I was exhausted, had to drag my suitcase up the hill to my place. I don't remember if I checked but I don't think I had any fever that day.

Then on Saturday, from midday till evening when I took the ibuprofen, I had 37.8C fever at max. Sunday, the fever got up to 38.5C before the ibuprofen brought it down (it took it 2 hours!). Today, despite taking a paracetamol at noon, the fever was up to 37.5 by 2pm and so far it's staying here.

I have a persistent pressure or tension headache, congestion / runny nose, bit of a cough (worst was on Saturday and Sunday, dry, ticklish cough), feel fullness in my ears, fatigue, some soreness in my lymph nodes.

I've also been having some here and there pain in the operated leg. Best I can describe it is sensitivity. And it's very random, sometimes it feels like muscle pain in my buttocks, sometime like a one off nerve pain in my calf, groin or pelvis. It comes and goes and it's completely settled with an ibuprofen. I don't know, I am rationalising it to myself that this area is still healing so if I'm going to get aches due to flu, it will probably be there?

Mobility has been the same, I just feel achy from time to time.

Sorry for the longwinded answer :D

 

[Layla]

Thank you, I think the cough is on its way out, but really taking it’s sweet old time. Mine started a week ago Saturday with a raging sore throat. I never took my temp, until several days in and didn’t have a fever then. The low energy though was a struggle and I feel as though I’m still a bit sluggish. When you mentioned trudging up the hill with your suitcase, boy do I feel for you experiencing that energy drain myself. I can not imagine navigating an airport feeling like that, or flying! I had many of the same symptoms, swollen glands, runny nose, itchy ears, headache and sore ribs from coughing.

I am rationalising it to myself that this area is still healing so if I'm going to get aches due to flu, it will probably be there?

I think there may be some truth to this. At least an old internal medicine physician of mine once told me that when you get sick, the weak areas of your body are affected. I’d say your healing hip, at only three months post op, is still a weak area, so try not to worry about your hip, but focus on getting rid of the creeping crud. I hope you feel a lot better very, very soon!

 

[KittensMom]

On the mend with the flu, thank goodness.

 

[KittensMom]

We are at around 3,5 months and I have another milestone to report Today I went to get my road bike fixed up after winter, and although I thought I will do a little try on a flat road first, as soon as I got it, I jumped on it as if it was nothing, and went for a 45 minutes cycle around my hilly neighbourhood.

I got coffee ice cream at the best gelato place in the area, and got home just before it started pouring with rain. I am chuffed.