New to Forum; Surgery next Wednesday.

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pebitpeb

junior member
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Feb 21, 2008
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Age
62
Location
Italy
Gender
Female
Ciao,
I hope I am arriving in time to receive some words of encouragement from others who have gone before me. This has been a long process to get to within days of having my left hip replaced. Today having gone to the final appointment with the Ortho Surgeon prior to surgery next Wednesday, I came away feeling a bit confused, afraid and uncertain. I became aware that I had artheritis in my hips after I noticed that one of my calve muscles was a bit larger than the other and I was also having some strange tingly sensation in both hips when I would stand up sometimes. I reported this to my pcp and they had ultra sounds taken of my legs that returned showing nothing out of the ordinary, then a some months went by and I advised my pcp of having some pain and discomfort, so I was sent for xrays that came back showing definately that I had artheritis, it also seems to be consistant with my paternal Grandfather and my aunt on the parternal side of the family, at that time I was 38 years old, and I was obese at 370lbs. I was advised that weight loss would be good for not only the overall physical picture but also to help me with newly diagnosed diabetis. I didn't start the weight loss for about 6 months after again going to my pcp and advising them the diabetis medication was causing me nausea every morning after taking the medication. At this time I was still not relly being given an solution for the artheritis in my hips. By 2002 I had lost about 100 lbs and the hip felt no better and it was suggested to me that I should see a specialist and also receive some pain medication as well as an anti inflamatory. The cost of the ortho. spec. appt. was not covered under my insurance and I the time I was unable to pay from pocket, so I did nothing except get a prescription for the pain that I was experiencing, however with the weight loss I had been able to stablize my diabetis to the point that I was taken of any medication for diabetis. In 2002 I began attending University again after being downsized and then in 2003/2004 I was fortunate to go on my first transatlantic vacation to Europe, unfortunately by this time the artheritis pain was not allowing me to climb stairs well and I was experiencing pain with merely walking through an airport, I knew this was not good and also found it unbelievable that at my age I could be having this trouble, but I was someone who always tried telling myself I was a health obese person because my blood pressure and heart were operating at normal b.p. rates and there was not problems scene with the heart. Unfortunately I had not lost anymore weight in 2004 and hovered around 315lbs, on a visit to Italy I saw a ortho specialist who advised that I needed more weight loss, this advised was heard but further weight loss did not seem possible for me. In April of 2006 I moved to Italy where I currently reside and again shortly after moving here saw another ortho specialist, who again advised of the need for weight loss, the difference this time is that he suggested getting help through gastric bypass or banding. So I pursued this with another clinic and last May of 2007 had gastric bypass, my December had lost 170lbs and was at a good place to have abdominoplasty which would remove a large panis that overlapped from years of being obese. I have had all this comepleted now and I have lost a total of 245lbs and was told that I was now able to have the hip replacement in my left hip, as the right is not progressed like the left hip, I had to wait until recovered from the plastic surgery, but the surgeon put me on the list for Feb. 27 at Santa Chiara Hospital in Pisa, today was the last visit with prior to going into the hospital next week, he talked to my partner who is Italian and myself who understands a small amount of Italian, explaining the options of metal, ceramic or rebuilding the bone as he said my hip was in poor condition having fused and now appears as one ball joint rather than a normal hip. He advised of the need to have 8-10 days in the hospital sitting up the 2d day, drain tubes coming out the 3d day and walking on the third day with crutches. He advised of metals having residue and that there could be a possibility of a small 1/2 centimeter to 1.5 centiment of varience in leg length. This all has be concerned as well as the time to recover, I have waited so long to get this point and now to find that I am afraid, confused and unsure, is somewhat overwhelming on top of that I realize this is my forth major surgery to my body in 9 months and have anesthesea again is not a real pleasant thought, but neither is taking the cocktail of pain meds I take daily to relieve most of the daytime discomfort, however the nights are a different story. Hoping that someone can share some good advise of the experience and the after care as well as the time frames I am looking at. Thanks
pebitpeb
Paul
 
Re: New to Forum; Suregery next Wednesday.

Paul, welcome to the forum! You have certainly had a lot of problems and I do congratulate you on such a great loss of weight.

The likelihood is that you might have a spinal anaesthetic with sedation so I wouldn't worry too much about that side of it. You get better pain relief after that was well.

So far as the prosthesis is concerned, I wouldn't worry to much about that either as all hips are tried and tested. The differences are, in my opinion, minor so I would have what the surgeon thinks is suitable for you and leave it at that.

The post op period differs some from surgeon to surgeon so I will leave some of the other members here to fill you in on that.

If you have any specific questions, I'll be happy to try and address them.
 
Re: New to Forum; Suregery next Wednesday.

Thanks for the positive comments Josephine, hearing from someone else is something that I find comforting, especially when I can understand everything you said, being that my Italiano is not the best in either comprehension nor in speaking it. hahaha...... I am getting ready today to go in the hospital later this afternoon, I have preparred with taking my i-pod nano full of music, my laptop with my school work, american tv programs, few mocies and my way to communicate via email and chat. I am working to meditate and stay positive for the upcoming weeks and looking forward to being able to start moving more freely soon as well as stop taking my pain medication cocktail every day, thanks again and hope others will read and share more about post-op recovery and rehabitation.
pebitpeb (Paul)
 

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Hey Paul - nice piccy!! I like the pot planters - very Italiano! Are you a gardener?

Seems like you are getting well prepared for your hospital stay! I wish you all the best and will be thinking about you today. Do keep in touch.

Blessings
Jo
 
Hi Paul
You certainly have been through a lot, and have been successful dealing with a number of conditions that would have many people being challenged by any one of them. Due to that I sense, with no particular expertise, that you will do fine and regain your mobility soon enough to enjoy your new adopted home country.
I am also an American ex-pat living in St Petersburg Russia, and having my medical needs taken care of here. I am just getting to the point of getting nervous myself because my right hip is to be replaced within a few days of when I decide to do it. I kept putting it off all winter because of improved pain management(only anti-inflammatories, never taken pain medication). One advantage here is the short times waiting that I expect reduces the time to dwell on the prospects and growing apprehension. Now I want to do because I do not want to delay recuperation so I can still enjoy the summer here with increased mobility.
Good luck and write to let us know how you are progressing.
Stan
 
Update to Surgery Day

Thanks to All who have responded and been supportive, it is good to find support and understanding here. This morning the Drs. entered my room, I was not understanding everything, however I understood that they were delaying my surgery until Thursday instead of tomorrow morning. I have accepted this fact, however with the past nine months aleady being filled with surgeries and thus being in the hospital 3 times, recuperating at home for many weeks, staying longer in the hospital extra days initially was disapointing to here. But I talked with my partner and surgeon and understand the reason for the delay(more critical surgeries being taken ahead of me).
I am accepting this change as this surgery is very important for me.
Have a great day all.
Paul
 
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