Become an Insider

Not the Trailblazer this time – RTHR 30 Sept!

Status
Not open for further replies.
randy62 said:
Was down the road a bit about 30 miles or 48 Kms and realized that I forgot my pain pills. Lesson learned there folks, do not leave home without them.
Click to expand...
Yikes! I always take a spare dose with me for just that reason.
@shrinkette , your post means a great deal to me. I am a bit "on my own" with all this. My partner is one of those people who runs away quickly from anything medical. I can't take responsibility for his actions but it is not very helpful. Having the support here really does help.
 
Jaycey said:
I note I can not use any creams, lotions or deodorant on my body the day of the pre-op. Huh?
Click to expand...
Well after 5 calls that were unanswered (and no you can not leave a message - then disconnected) I finally "got in through the back door". Seems because I will have an EKG there can't be any lotions, creams or oil on my chest or legs. Since I have had several pre-ops in the past and never had this restriction I am a bit miffed at this overkill. It appears they are just cutting and pasting op restrictions on pre-op letters.

This facility also seems totally non-patient-friendly. Reception does not pick up. Pre-op number published on the website says we are busy and no you can not leave a message. Pre-op letter says be there 15 minutes early or we will cancel your pre-op. Lots of red flags flying now. The patient advocate in me is now on high alert. My pre-op is 29 July. We shall see if indeed this facility is something to brag about or just another hospital filled with staff with an attitude. :hissy:
 
Thanks, I sometimes think I am too hard on the system here. But I just feel for those who can not or will not speak up for themselves. If I am struggling to get treatment and simple answers - what are others going through! All this from what is positioned as a premiere centre for orthopaedic treatment! Sorry - I'll get down off my soap box now.
 
@Jaycey I too had one hip done, then a fair amount of time go by before I got the twinge of pain in the other, followed by a horrible x-ray showing no cartilage. I had the surgery done about 8 weeks later, before anything got more painful or inflamed. The waiting was bad of course. The surgery was over quickly, then the recovery started. I am now about 4 weeks out: Because I was not far gone, the OS told me the surgery was not very eventful. My recovery has been excellent, while no picnic and a lot of work, I am walking now unaided. You will too. It is only a month or two of real unpleasantness, thank goodness they can do this operation.

As for people who are difficult to you about 'being old' and needing a new hip, they are worth laughing at, they are so stupid. How is this different than most other illnesses which are not our faults? Or aging in general? Ignore them.

Good luck, cheering for you.

Mark
 
Thing is Jaycey, if people like yourself didn't advocate on our behalf the system would be much worse! I had no conception of the processes before my THR ( just trotted along in when told by the NHS and, to be fair, all was OK, not great ) so anyone who can make a difference and make the system better for all of us is welcome on my soap box.....please!! X


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart®
 
Jaycey said:
This facility also seems totally non-patient-friendly.
Click to expand...
Ohhh - that sort of thing makes my blood boil!!!! I really feel for you Jaycey and can totally relate to the situation. It all seems to be geared towards them with no thought about the patient. Admittedly they have many many patients to deal with but a little bit of empathy towards the needs of the patient would be greatly appreciated.
My letter for surgery said I was to be at the day surgery unit at 6:45am SHARP (their capitalisation - not mine) so we were there at 6:30 just to be sure. Went to the area and the closed doors declared the day surgery unit opens at 7:00am. A staff member walking past said oh yeah - everyone comes early hahaha.. Just makes you wonder doesn't it?
 
MarkK said:
Because I was not far gone, the OS told me the surgery was not very eventful.
Click to expand...
This is exactly what I am praying for. I want it done quickly while there is "limited" damage. I learned that lesson the hard way!

fulafoto said:
My letter for surgery said I was to be at the day surgery unit at 6:45am SHARP (their capitalisation - not mine) so we were there at 6:30 just to be sure. Went to the area and the closed doors declared the day surgery unit opens at 7:00am.
Click to expand...
I am afraid I would have had words - not only with the member of staff who thought it was funny that you were there on time, but with the organisation in general who seems to place no value on your time. It's hard enough dealing with the nerves of major surgery but messing about with the patient is just not acceptable!
 
This discussion just makes me appreciate all the great experiences I've had over the years with the health system here in the U.S. I know some have problems, but I have been very fortunate with each of the 11 surgical procedures I've had over the years.

I really hope, Jaycey, that your surgery will turn out better than it appears at the moment.
 
I have been a part of both the US and UK health systems and I am always amazing at the quality of healthcare I get here - with the heart attack bills. But it is over stretched. People living longer, more active lives will have an impact on a system that was created so many years ago.

I think the system is also a part of a disturbing trend I see more and more. People just don't take responsibility for the job they are doing. Admin and customer facing staff just don't seem to care anymore. They are just pushing paper and really don't care about the result. No thought is put into what they are doing or the impact on anyone if they fail. Even more frightening is there is no consequence for this attitude. But then my career started in an area where you could be fired on the spot for little or no reason. I guess that would definitely create a different work ethic. :shocked:
 
All that you point out above, @Jaycey, is exactly why I do not want to see the U.S. go to a government run system. Just looking at what we've recently found out about the VA system, it's truly scary to think of the government being in charge of everyone's health care here. When folks are using other people's money there is no incentive to rein in costs or to effectively monitor how things are being done. And given that health care employee's would be civil servants who are almost impossible to fire, individual accountability goes right down the drain.
 
bottomshollow said:
it's truly scary to think of the government being in charge of everyone's health care
Click to expand...
The government is definitely NOT in charge of anyone's healthcare in the UK. Unfortunately there have been some pretty outrageous myths about the NHS used to argue against implementing a system in the US. The NHS is a wonderful system and no - staff are not impossible to fire. They are just over stretched by increased demand.
 
I have not meant to suggest that the NHS is a bad system---I don't know enough about it to make a judgement one way or the other. But if things keep going as they have been, the Affordable Care Act may just fold under the total ineptness of its implementation, and the one payer system which the writers of the bill were hoping to make this will go away again. We do need reforms in our system, but I would prefer to see the free market work it out.
 
@Jaycey I think you are being wise to address the second hip and get it done.
Hopefully, you won't have too much pain by getting on with it sooner than later.

I have noticed some soreness on walking in my unop hip that concerns me. It has moderate OA, so
I know full well that its day is coming.

I wish you all the best, and look forward to cheering you on.
 
It's going to rain today. How can I tell? My hip in waiting is KILLING me! Arthritis is a horrid disease! For all of you also in waiting - my sympathies!
 
Pre-op assessment today and my BP is off the scale. The stress of just getting to this point has been terrible. Wish me luck hippies! I am hoping that calm kicks in when I am finally there!
 
@Jaycey you need to relax a tad bit our time is not for another two months. Deep breathe. Exhale,inhale, hold it, hold it, ok exhale.
 
Well I survived. The high BP is white coat syndrome - an ongoing problem for me. I take my BP at home and it is normal. But in any clinical situation it shoots off the scale. Always takes a bit of convincing and a letter from my GP confirming the condition. Nerve wracking never the less.

I didn't learn anything I didn't already know in today's session. Felt like being on a bit of a treadmill; but staff were very nice and things moved along very quickly. The unit is a separate elective orthopaedic unit and they only deal with TKR and THR. Ideal really as there is a focus. Unfortunately it brought it all home as I am very depressed that I must go through this yet again. Life on hold, restrictions and recovery. Seems like I have done far too much of this! :sad:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel

Staff online

Members online

Total: 2,257 (members: 1, guests: 2,256)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom