THR New left hip 20 October<

[Layla]

Then there's the problem of dropping the grabber that's often been discussed here.
One of my most pathetic moments was trying to hook the grabber that fell with my cane.
We need a grabber to retrieve the grabber we drop. You feel like such a pathetic loser some days, all you can do is laugh at yourself, or laugh / cry at the same time
@Jamesdean

 

[SwampHiker]

Oh my, I'm crying over here reading this I'm laughing so hard. Thank you

 

[Jamesdean]

Good morning y'all. While I like to see the lighter side of things, I do also panic, more pain, why? Are there signs of infection??? Am I doing the right things? However there have been a few things that have bought me to tears with laughter or maybe I am just weird.

Top 3 list

Despair: Looking down on the toilet floor, to see my shorts, toilet roll and grabber, absolutely hilarious.

Confusion: [Sorry if too graphic] Spending a good hour on the toilet due to medication constipation [is that a song]. You are aware something is happening but you know you are there for the long haul and its going to take a while to finish. Suddenly you think, what the hell am I going to do if someone knocks on the front door.

Blissfully unaware: After the operation, epidural and sedation, there have been several areas of numbness. Some of the numb areas are below the waist and ones awareness of whats happening is somewhat based on guesswork, that is until you answer the front door wearing your shorts, saying hello to the nurse and then looking down.

Have a great weekend everybody. My jabbing finished today so thats 28 used syringes to go back to the hospital something else to tick off my list.

 

[Mojo333]

no more shots!
I had pronounced numbness that went from near groin down quads...for 6 weeks of more..slowly but surely the area reduced and dissipated...as this happened I had fleeting zips, zaps, and prickles!
Freaked me out a bit? Nerve damage, permanent?
All good now!

 

[SwampHiker]

I'm going add one to the list, hopefully you do not experience this one....Terror - unlike constipation where you can mosey and gather your supplies there is the holy **** I gotta go now diarrhea. Typically one would sprint or walk like a penguin to the toilet. Neither of these are really possible in the early phases of recovery. So after a slow motion run with the walker while clenching vital muscles to holding back that dam for what seems like 20 miles you finally get there....only to realize that you still need to gingerly position yourself on the seat so you don't bust open your incision and one of your guests has used the last of the toilet paper.....oh the horror. At least I got some glute squeezes in.....

 

[Jamesdean]

@SwampHiker Thank you for your excellent contribution and I think we could get some more ....Before the op my walk was a slow drag and limp but could break into a sprint waddle if really pressed. According to my best friend the sprint waddle looked as if I hadn't made it to the toilet on time.

 

[beaglador]

Only on bonesmart would we get away with all this toilet talk. Now I have an unrelated question. Why is it that we in the UK have to put up with blood thinner needle injections to add to our recovery misery, whereas the rest of the world gets to take a pill?

 

[Jaycey]

Why is it that we in the UK have to put up with blood thinner needle injections to add to our recovery misery, whereas the rest of the world gets to take a pill?

It's not a US/UK thing. It's the surgeon's choice. Patients in the US also have the injection treatment.

 

[SwampHiker]

@beaglador I guess you could say we have potty mouths on this thread

 

[Jamesdean]

Its what Layla says, better to laugh at it than cry......

 

[Mojo333]

Fine line between humor and hysteria.
Keep the faith...it will get better!

 

[Izabel]

Now I have an unrelated question. Why is it that we in the UK have to put up with blood thinner needle injections to add to our recovery misery, whereas the rest of the world gets to take a pill?

Here in Portugal it is needles. I had two weeks in hospital and four now I am home as I have an infection and spacer so not moving much. I asked my Surgeon about Aspirin and he said no way!

@Jamesdean ... you do cheer the day up ... keep up the good work telling it like it is!

 

[Smiler2018]

I had pills and TEDs post ok.....developed a huge DVT, now I'm on the injections wishing I had them from day 1
4 injections done and today may be the first signs of minimal improvement.
I followed all the post op instructions and feel disappointed that I developed a DVT...
Didn't know how painful a DVT might be......

Good luck with your recovery James Dean, I wishes my posts had some hum9ur in them too!

 

[Jamesdean]

Hi @Izabel in Portugal and good luck with your recovery.

I have decided to cheer myself up and purchased a recliner £99 otherwise Christmas will have to take place in my bed as that's the only place I can sit comfortably. I am also impressed with the wide range of hip replacement t shirts that are on offer on internet and will get one if I ever stop bleeding and get the all clear from surgeon on my six week meeting on 4 December.

 

[Josephine]

I have a favourite bamboo back scratcher I keep near my seat. I do use it for the said purpose but I use it for other things just as frequently

1. retrieving my slippers
2. helping to get my slippers on
3. retrieving lost things like dropped pills, pens and maybe even the mouse!
4. warning the cat off the mantle piece because she has developed a trick of gently tapping ornaments off it to get my attention!
5. pulling a throw/blanket down off the shelf behind the settee if I'm cold
6. pulling my footstool closer if I want to put my feet up

I'm sure there are more but I think that will do for now!

 

[Jamesdean]

Good morning from sunny Hertfordshire in UK. Yesterday was my four week anniversary and to celebrate had a little walk, about 30 minutes or so in the sunshine, just the one crutch, up and down a bit of an incline and up and down the 18 stairs to get into flat. Followed by bath board shower, followed by a bit of tv. What didn't I do very much of yesterday, yep nap, ice and elevate. Now I am playing the game of what part of my body is not stiff, what part has no twinges, what part has no aches and pains and the answer is.....my hair. What I do find difficult is getting to grips with the pains on my non operated side although I guess that now I am walking differently after so long it will take time etc for non-oppie to get used to its new role.

In contrast, I would like to thank my sponsors Co-codamol yet again, as have finished the complete works of Shakespeare this morning whilst on the throne waiting, waiting, just waiting. Are Co-codamol in cahoots with Amazon kindle? However, as you may have guessed, my thoughts are somewhat random and while engaged on my throne I started to think of inappropriate reading titles and music during the constipation problems and await hearing from you. My book title that sprung to mind was Steinbecks Log from the Sea of Cortez and for music was We can work it out by The Beatles.

 

[Ginny12]

@Jamesdean

Morning and i have had quite a few chuckles reading your posts, i am sorry things are taking their time to improve.

Re constipation, have you heard of psyllium husks? They are incredibly effective for constipation. They are obtained from any health food shop in the UK and are a powder that one adds to water or juice. The powder bulks up and speeds of the transit time of fecal matter. They are gentle and cheap. One must drink plenty of water, but then that is also important to prevent constipation too.

Mind you they might interfere with all this hardcore reading that you are doing!

Good luck and hang in there.

 

[Jamesdean]

Thanks @Ginny12 After 4 weeks not totally unhappy with progress (could do without setbacks like everyone), my limp was really bad for a long time and now touch wood walking without limp and there was a lot of difference in leg length before op which has been redressed....so lot to cope with for my body and muddled brain. For other problem am considering chicken vindaloo

 

[Mojo333]

Laughter IS the best medicine!
Hope today is a Good Day!

 

[Mojo333]

Bean soup worked fairly well also.