THR On the other side of surgery

[barbloki]

I had a good time at the Halloween party but after 1 1/2 hours I was exhausted so I called hubby and he came and got me. I came home and passed out for 3 hours. It was great to see everyone at the senior center. They had a special chair with arms for me. I brought my cushion so it wasn't bad.

The home PT lady wants me to practice with the cane and get off the walker. Phew. I get tired when using the cane but I'm getting better at heal toe walking.

A couple of the steri-strips fell off today after my shower. I still have quite a bit of drainage and it's yellowish. I guess that's normal too. I'm getting used to this new normal.

Someone wrote that they were more comfortable lying down than sitting. I agree with that statement.

By the way, my right thigh is still numb since the surgery. It feels like I had a shot of novacaine. I asked the surgeon about it and he said I was laying on my right side but that shouldn't have caused this. Maybe a nerve got pressed or something.

Overall I think I'm doing pretty well.

 

[Jamie]

Drainage that is yellowish can be a problem and because you are still having a lot of it, you need to notify your surgeon about it. Can you provide a photo of your incision and some of the drainage either on your hip or on any bandage you cover it with? Is the drainage thick or thin?

I’m glad your outing went well and it was nice that your friends there took good care of you. I can imagine you were exhausted afterwards. Be sure to take some extra rest to recover.

 

[barbloki]

I don't know if the yellow stuff is thick or thin. I can't really tell from seeing it on the pad and it can't turn my head/body enough to see my butt. Tomorrow I'll have my husband look at it with his glasses or a magnifying glass. I don't want him to touch it and get germs on it. It kind of hurts in the 2 spots that are leaking. Very tender.

The other thing that hurts is my knee and my ankle. I don't know how the surgery is performed but I'm guessing they strapped my leg down or something. That's what it feels like. It feels like a strap was around my ankle and my knee. Those are bothering me more than my hip.

I was extremely tired today so I slept a lot and now it's nighttime and I'm not tired. Figures. I feel like baking muffins or something. I need to be doing something besides laying around. Maybe I'll go refold all the towels. Hubby has been doing laundry and he folds the towels differently than I do. Ha, I like this rotfl emoji. I wish I could roll on the floor.

 

[Jamie]

The photos help. It's probably just fine, but because of the color and volume of the discharge, I would send these photos to your surgeon or else call and discuss it with them. They may want to culture the discharge just to be sure there is no infection. If it was me, I would want that to be done for my own peace of mind. I'm assuming that is one day's worth of discharge and that seems to be quite a bit on the pad.

In the photo of your hip, your skin seems a bit red in a fairly wide area around the incision. Is that the case? And if so, has the red area been increasing, staying the same, or getting smaller?

You're right that your knee and ankle probably hurt from the surgery itself. They really manhandle your leg during the procedure and it can take a while for that to go away.

You are right not to touch your incision area at all. It needs to be kept clean and as dry as possible until it is closed. If you're draining, you still have open areas that need protection so the bandage is a good idea.

 

[barbloki]

Yes @Jamie the pad is getting changed daily so that is one day's worth of leakage. I wash it with Dial antibacterial soap like they told me to but I'm wondering if I need to put some neosporin on it or something like that. I will send the picture to the surgeon's office so they can see it first thing tomorrow morning.

It's been red like that ever since they took the bandage off and put the steri-strips on. The surgeon thinks my skin is allergic to the adhesive on the AquaCel pad but I don't think that's it. I think it's from when I had the AquaCel bandage changed and the nurse use chlorhexidine to wipe around the area. I'm allergic to that stuff but she didn't know it and I didn't know she was using it until afterwards.

If it was infected, wouldn't it be green instead of yellow?

 

[myglasshalffull]

Happy you were able to get out & enjoy your friends for a while & they had a nice chair for you too.
Don’t let PT rush you off of the walker. You can practice with cane here and there but if it hurts or makes you limp continue to use the walker. There’s no specific time table to rid yourself of these mobility aids. Even after I was walking fine with no aids I still kept my cane by my bed for night time bathroom trips.

 

[barbloki]

Don’t let PT rush you off of the walker.

I won't let them rush me. I use it most of the time around the house. I practice once or twice per day with the cane but I prefer the walker. When I start going to outpatient PT I will be bringing the walker there too because it's a long walk from the car to the building/PT office. I know that after being there doing all those exercises I'm going to be too tired to walk back to the car without the walker.

I'm even wondering if I should ask the surgeon for a refill of the pain meds to take when I get home from outpatient PT appointments. I won't take it before driving but it would be nice to have something when I get home. If the Advil/Tylenol doesn't do the trick I will ask him for more Hydrocodone. I just remember when I had the right hip done that I was in pain after each PT appointment. Using those muscles that haven't been used in a while and that have been cut or manipulated. Ouchy.

 

[EalingGran]

If it was infected, wouldn't it be green instead of yellow?

Not necessarily. I agree with @Jamie that I would want my surgeon to see this and take a swab for a culture.

the photo of your hip, your skin seems a bit red in a fairly wide area around the incision. Is that the case? And if so, has the red area been increasing, staying the same, or getting smaller?

I agree that these are good points. Also do you have any fever or raised pulse rate?
With even the slightest risk of infection it is better to catch it early and get it checked out with swabs and a blood tests like C reactive protein and white blood count.
I was a bit neurotic about infection/redness and got my GP to check my CRP at about 6 weeks. It turned out OK but I was wise to be cautious as I did get sepsis later from an unrelated source. At that time my Fitbit was a useful indicator as my resting pulse went up significantly.
Good luck.

 

[mendogal]

Green drainage is associated ONLY with one specific bacteria, not the ones most commonly seen in surgical wounds.

If it were me I would want the wound cultured from a couple of spots.

 

[barbloki]

Also do you have any fever or raised pulse rate?

No fever and no increased pulse. I feel pretty good considering what my hip went through 2 1/2 weeks ago. The redness started after the nurse changed my AquaCel bandage on week 1 and cleaned the area with chlorhexidine wipes. She didn't know I am allergic to chlorhexidine. I believe the redness is due to that stuff.

I took a shower today and cleaned the area with Dial antibacterial soap and then let it air out for about 1/2 hour before covering with a pad and getting dressed. I think the air was good for it. The surgeon wants me to keep it open to the air but I can't because of the leaking. Maybe tonight I'll take the pad off and let it air out again.

I'll send the pictures to the surgeon's office so he can see them tomorrow and decide if I need to be seen again. It's a 1 hour drive to his office and Mondays are hubby's busy day with meetings all day so I'm not sure I can get a ride down to the office tomorrow. Might have to wait until Tuesday.

It's such a pretty day outside. I wish I could go for a nice long walk but I'll have to settle for standing outside the front door and letting the sun hit my face.

 

[Jamie]

You now have a consensus from not only me but the medical members of our staff that this could be an infection and you need testing. Infection can manifest with drainage that is either greenish or yellowish. Please don’t mess around with this. It could be something as simple as the start of a surface infection that’s easily treated. But if left untreated, even something like cellulitis could turn much more serious and even life threatening.

I’m glad you don’t have any fever or increased pulse. But now you have a strong belief from us that you need to insist on testing for the possibility of infection. The tests need to include a culture that is allowed to grow for a week or more in case it might be one of the more slow-growing bacteria. If you have to be firm to get this done with your surgeon, do that. Enlist the help of your husband if need be. Or, if the doctor (and you need to be seen by the doctor and not a nurse or medical assistant) absolutely refuses, go see your GP to get it done.

Do not put Neosporin or anything on your open incision. Letting it be exposed to the air as much as possible is good. If it means more rest time for you so the drainage doesn’t get on things, then please do that. This is important until you know for sure you do not have an infection.

If the red area increases in size or appears more intense in color or warmth, go to the Emergency Room. Also go if you begin to experience any fever. They should be able to do the appropriate testing for infection for you.

 

[Layla]

Hi barblocki,
Good to read that you enjoyed socializing a bit the other night. It's nice to feel a part of the world again after being cooped up for awhile.

Are you able to contact a OS, or PA on call from your surgeons office over the weekend (today)?
Give it a try to see if they're able to ask / answer questions and possibly even view the photos. It may offer some reassurance and peace of mind rather than waiting for a return call on a busy Monday.

Some common signs of infection are:
Fever
Unusual or increasing pain
The incision is hot to the touch
A change in the size of the incision
A change in the odor of the discharge
A yellow or green discharge that is increasing
Redness or hardening of the surrounding area
Excessive bleeding that has soaked through the incision

Hopefully you'll receive a nod that all is okay and you're able to get back to
the biz of healing...s-l-o-w and easy.

Hope this week is a good one!
@barbloki

 

[EalingGran]

Please don’t mess around with this. It could be something as simple as the start of a surface infection that’s easily treated

Agree with @Jamie totally.
I would ask your husband if he can change a meeting and take you to see a doctor today.

 

[Layla]

Hi barblocki,
How are you doing and feeling today? I hope you heard back from the surgeons office and received some reassurance. Let us know when you have time. Wishing you a good day!
@barbloki

 

[Jamie]

@barbloki .... how are things going with your hip?

 

[barbloki]

Hi everyone
I think I overdid it a little bit today. I decided yesterday to stop the pain meds and see if I could survive without them. I woke up feeling pretty good so I washed the kitchen floor this morning. I had the squirt bottle in one handle and the mop in the other hand, using it like a cane. A few hours later my hip started to hurt so I'm back on the Tylenol/Advil/Hydrocodone and have been in bed resting and elevating.
I took a shower yesterday and washed the incision area really well with Dial Antibacterial Soap. It looked pretty good so I decided not to contact the surgeon. The redness was down and it looked so much better. It's still draining a little but not as bad as it was.
PT was here today and said I'm doing really well. I was able to get into and out of the car by myself so I'm ready to start driving. I see the surgeon next Wednesday and start outpatient PT next Thursday.
PT had me try getting into and out of my own bed but I can't do it yet. I still need the rented hospital bed because it has rails on it. My bed is a little too high off the floor for me to get up onto it. I'm not comfortable without something to hold onto. I'm keeping the rental bed for another month.
I'm starting to get really bored so it's a good thing I can start driving. I think I'll go to the senior center on Friday afternoon to play cards with the ladies.
That's about it for me. Hubby is keeping up with the cooking, housework, laundry, and shopping.
Barbara

 

[benne68]

I think I overdid it a little bit today.
I woke up feeling pretty good so I washed the kitchen floor this morning.
A few hours later my hip started to hurt so I'm back on the Tylenol/Advil/Hydrocodone and have been in bed resting and elevating.

Sorry to read that you've joined the ODIC (Overdid It Club). Please give that poor hip of yours more time to heal before tackling any more house cleaning. You can't speed up this recovery. Keep in mind that it takes the soft tissues 10-12 weeks to heal from surgery and try not to push yourself so much. This recovery is a marathon, not a sprint.

 

[Layla]

Uh-oh...someone landed in the ODIC. Sorry to hear it, barblocki. Sometimes it's the only way we learn our current limitations which are ever changing as we heal. Good to hear you're back on the meds if you're in pain. No sense in struggling with discomfort this early on. Rest and Ice should help.

Please don't hesitate to contact your surgeons office if the drainage continues. You can send them a current photo of your wound and any soiled dressing for their opinion. Keep in mind the signs and symptoms of infection mentioned here until you see your surgeon next Wednesday. Thankfully it seems to be improving.

Boredom does set in if you don't have enough to do to at least occupy your mind. Are you able to get outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine for a short 10 minute walk once or twice a day? Something to consider during those "bored out of your mind" times.

I hope you enjoy cards if you decide to join the ladies on Friday. Love that hubs is helping with the tasks you're unable to do. Thoughtful of him.
Sweet dreams tonight!
@barblocki

 

[Jamie]

I'm happy to hear that the redness is reducing around your incision and drainage is less than what you pictured. These are good signs. Be sure and discuss any remaining drainage issues with your surgeon when you see him a week from tomorrow.

Glad you're listening to your body and responding when you overdo things. Everyone ends up in the ODIC at least once or twice. I hope you can find ways to entertain yourself without overdoing the activity too much. Perhaps some short drives will do the trick or a lunch out with friends now and then.

 

[barbloki]

Does anyone know if they put a strap around your foot during the surgery? My left foot still hurts and is still swollen. There is a mark across it that looks like a strap.