Panic stations

[Serenity41]

@fulafoto Love your new avatar! I know what you mean about a never ending line of visitors. I am dealing with that right now. It is nice but can be exhausting. I am glad you are getting out and about in your chair. It is good for the soul. You are now building up those arm muscles for your upcoming THR. You will need the strength once you have your replacement. I find that I use my arms a lot to adjust myself and get out of difficult situations. You are on a roll. I hope the movie with the DW was enjoyable. I watched a few movies with my DH last night and I was surprised I was able to stay up for both of them.

 

[fulafoto]

Hi @Mercy1 and yes - collectively you really are a sensational bunch of caring, considerate and thoughtful people and I know I would not be as 'together' today without each and every one of you xxx

Thank for stopping by again Joyce @teakea66 and how right you are about our partners. The vow 'for better or for worse' is particularly relevant and I am in awe at how much my DW does. Currently it is 4pm here on Monday afternoon, so far today she has refereed fights between two of our two grandsons that we had for a sleepover (just play fighting), tidied the house after they went, watered the garden and fertilised the pot plants, got me in the shower and out, got dinner started and is now baking a cake! I shake my head at what she can do.. I really do and all with a smile on her face. She also offered to take me up the street for a roll but I declined for her benefit. She is getting her hair and nails done tomorrow and might I say she fully deserves a treat.

Thanks @Poppet - missed out on my roll today but am going up the street tomorrow for a go.. so looking forward to it too!

Thanks @Serenity41 - as I said it is from a few years ago and I have quite a few more 'laugh lines' now As you say nice to see your visitors come but equally nice to see them go too, it is lovely they make the effort but as you said it can be exhausting, especially for you being less than a week past the BTHR - you're doing so so well!!! And yes the shoulders and arms are getting quite a workout now and I have experienced slight muscle soreness but not too bad. I guess that will be the best way to adjust yourself and thanks for the hint. It was an enjoyable movie and the big bonus is we BOTH stayed awake for it which is very unusual Well done to your for staying awake through yours too!!! Another feather in your cap!

 

[Poppet]

Mmmmmmm cake...... xxxx

 

[fulafoto]

Well come on over.. should only take you 7-8 hours from WA - oh wait - It'll probably be gone by then sorry @Poppet....

 

[Poppet]

Hahaha... I have a direct line to your DW and she has already put aside two slices..

 

[Vetgirl]

Hope you get out tomorrow Bill and that your wife enjoys her nails and hair....that's always a lovely treat!

 

[Serenity41]

@fulafoto I am glad you enjoyed the movie. It is nice to be able to give back to our loved ones even if it means staying awake for a movie. The cake sounds devine and so does your DW. We are so blessed to have our other halves taking care of us. I am also amazed on how well my DH has been able to hold up through all this. It truly is a blessing to be cherished. I am sure your DW will enjoy the pampering. They do deserve nothing but the best for all the care and love they give us. One day we will be able to pay the favor forward. I can't wait.

 

[fulafoto]

IS that what she was doing in the kitchen @Poppet Putting a couple of slices away
Thanks Sally @Vetgirl and yes the plan is a roll after DW has her hair and nails done - I did offer to take a hat for her while I rolled and after her hair was done and she nearly hit me
Thanks also @Serenity41 and yes I am looking forward to giving back to my DW as soon as I can too!

 

[fulafoto]

Well today didn't exactly go as planned. Went to the Dr and DW had her hair and nails done (which was the most important thing today!). The Dr was rather concerned about the rash that the first patch has caused and said I am hypersensitive to them. I had never had an allergic reaction before to plaster until I had the cancer cut out of my ankle earlier this year where the area around the plaster came up in small blisters. She asked if it itchy and I told her on a 1-10 scale only about 1 so she has left the second one on but I have to go back on Friday when I take the current patch off. If she decides my rash is too bad she will put me on Targin instead of the patches. I've attached a photo of the rash on my arm.

She also sent me for a follow-up X-Ray of both hips to see just what is going on and I will talk to her on Friday about those too. I have copies of the images which I have attached and would like @Josephine to have a look at them for me (only when you have a chance please Jo - no hurry at all).
My questions are do you think the left hip has got much worse. The second X-Ray doesn't show a lot of it but from what my DW and I can see the cyst has grown a bit as well (as you would expect it to do I guess) and is the right hip bad - it doesn't feel real flash from this side! The one with the red arrow is the last X-Ray taken in September last year.

So after the X-Ray technician getting me into a worse configuration than a game of Twister, my hip is a bit painful now so the roll up the street is postponed for a day.

 

[Vetgirl]

Hey Bill @fulafoto it will be super interesting to see what Jo says about those x-ray won't it? It looks worse to my layman's eyes. And I suppose the cyst, like you said, would have too.

That rash is still quite prominent from Friday....I'm surprised that it wasn't itchy. At least you have another option to go onto if you can't use the patches. Don't worry about using all the pain options you need now because they will always be able to provide you relief after the surgery and it's a different kind of pain oo.

You haven't told us how the DW's hair and nails went? Where are your priorities???? Lol

And as for those radiologists....they can certainly get you into some painful spots. Last week whe I had X-rays with the spacer, they had me holding awkward positions then saying 'don't move'. I was sure that I would start shaking from the pain!!!!

Have a good rest.....

 

[Poppet]

Yes, I am keen for Jo's expert opinion Bill.

The femur head will be gone and they will most likely do bone grafts to reshape the acetabulum and I was wondering if the excise the cyst and pack it with bone... all MHO of course - let's wait for the expert x

 

[Vetgirl]

Nice avatar @Poppet so pretty

I want to know more about the cyst again.....I remember but don't ..."geez that makes sense doesn't it???

Is there fluid in it.....I'm going to google it.

I hope you get to see your femoral head but your surgeon isn't that polite to you so I doubt it!!!

 

[Poppet]

Lets send out the "search party" for Bill's surgeon - 'bring back the surgeon, bring back the surgeon'

xxx

p.s. Sally, @Vetgirl.. It is called 'the promise of Spring ' - I am over winter and we are only two weeks in... Sigh!

 

[fulafoto]

Sally @Vetgirl and @Poppet - my humble apologies for not updating on DW hair and nails . She looks even more beautiful than usual

And no my surgeon isn't that polite I don't think - that is when he can be found

In regard to the cyst Jo previously said they would have to clean it out then mince my or others femoral heads to fill the hole with. I think it is full of fluid. At one of my many appointments with one of I think the four OS I have seen, a bone graft was mentioned too so we'll just wait and see.

It is a lovely avatar too Poppet and obviously wishful thinking at this time of year and I'm with you - I'm over winter already!

 

[Josephine]

I edited your photos, Bill, so they would be in high resolution. Those put through the thumbnail feature end up being much reduced. Hope you don't mind.

do you think the left hip has got much worse and is the right hip bad

I had a good look and yep, they're both pretty bad which you are no doubt fully aware of! I truly wish you didn't have to wait so long.

I want to know more about the cyst again. Is there fluid in it?

No fluid, just a kind of fatty substance that has the looks and consistency of porridge! but is actually just degenerated bone.

they will most likely do bone grafts to reshape the acetabulum and I was wondering if they excise the cyst and pack it with bone

They do, they do! In fact, it's imperative they scrape out the cyst and pack it with bone graft. Usually they will use the bone from a donated femoral head from the bone bank!

And that skin rash looks pretty nasty too.

 

[fulafoto]

Thanks so much @Josephine for those comments and yes I knew from this side they were pretty bad. One more question if I may.. my pain seems to be 'shifting' to an area outside the hip (A-L6F, B-L6F) and away from groin area. I would be interested in your comments about this.

 

[shrinkette]

Dropping in to say hello... You are such an amazing man -- your humor, attention to others, patience during your interminable wait, compassion, kindness -- no wonder you have a devoted wife! I'd be so furiously angry with the surgeon & the "system" that I'd be ranting & raving & worse. But someday this will be but a blip on your radar (ok, a big blip!), as life resumes. You are really incredible & a tremendous asset to BS.

Also -- one of the first things they made me do in rehab was to roll myself on carpeted floors. As has been said, those arm & shoulder muscles will serve you well after THR.

Sorry about your rash... Good to know you have another option.

And most important, what kind of cake did DW make?

 

[Josephine]

my pain seems to be 'shifting' to an area outside the hip (A-L6F, B-L6F) and away from groin area. I would be interested in your comments about this.

As the condition advances, the effects of the joint trying to move against the roughness - a bit like moving on a rusty gear ring! - the strain will impact on different muscles and structures and give the impression of moving around.

 

[fulafoto]

Thanks you for your kind words Ellen @shrinkette. I very much appreciate them. I have had my moents and at times it does get me down but I do find getting on here and trying to help others therapeutic for myself also so it is very much a two way street in that manner.

And yes I keep saying it - my DW is an absolute angel putting up with me for the past 6 months as a stay at home husband. Oh and to answer your most important question - it was a coffee cake - my favouite

Thank you also for your reply Jo - it does make sense and I am feeling old and rusty at the moment but that is bound to change when I become a hippie!

 

[Poppet]

How about that... I was tight about cleaning out the cyst and packing it with minced up bone... Considering I know heaps about gastroenterology surgery and zilch about orthopedics, I was chuffed ! - thanks Jo x

Now where oh where is that surgeon of yours Bill.... xxxxxxxxx