THR Sarak - There's Life After a Hip Replacement

[SaraK]

@jaydub63 - you know - the crackpot - just add a little meth as well and soon you're cooking. Either that or it was Freudian and I'm the crackpot. Guess I'd better edit!

 

[danabanana]

Personally I prefer the crackpot way.....risky and you get to wear those Breaking Bad goggles!

 

[danabanana]

Thinking of you, m'love!!! Hoping there wasn't a "crackpot" mishap!!!

 

[SaraK]

Wow - 6 weeks today. In some ways it doesn't seem like it could have been that long and in others it seems like it was eons ago!

Not much change in the last week or so, but that's to be expected. I've reached the point where recovery slows except for the occasional leap forward.

I went dancing last night (big surprise) and gave the trainer more free rein to kick my backside today (but did make him add one more stacker level on the squats). We looked back and my first appointment with him was almost 8 weeks post op from first THR. I've come a long way since and am close to being back where I was before second THR. If I could just get this darn piriformis loosened!

After my workout, I'm pleasantly tired and trying to decide whether to go out shopping for a new recliner (I've worn this one out and am also sick of it) today or tomorrow. Going dancing again tonight (but only because @danabanana didnt give me enough info for me to join her party tonight). I also plan on doing my share of vegging and relaxing!

Wishing everyone a peaceful, relaxing and pain-free weekend!

 

[Layla]

Wonderful news, Sara
Nine months from the very beginning...since your first surgery...and look where you are!
Out dancing two nights in a row. It seems you have boundless energy
Hope you have fun tonight. Stay safe and warm!
@SaraK

 

[Mojo333]

Wonderful report Sara!
So so happy you have had a phenomenal recovery.
Go Sara..go Sara

 

[Layla]

How's my pal @SaraK doing this week? Assuming you're well as your recovery continues.
Doesn't even seem like you're in recovery

Looks like we may be getting a reprieve with the weather here this weekend...40 degrees each day, I'll take it!!

After a couple more long work days, hopefully you have a great weekend planned, I'm sure you do.
You're a champ....don't know how you do it.

 

[SaraK]

@Layla - I'm feeling bless that I don't have the flu (or got a very mild dose if it was), but cold has kicked my backside since Monday. We had Monday off, I took Tuesday as a sickday and only worked part of the day yesterday. Feeling much better today but more in need of a nap than during my 2nd week post op!

Planning to hit the gym tonight but haven't been there since Saturday (who wants someone hacking right next to them!). With Dr appt (none related to THR) stacked up tomorrow, this is one short work week for me (not that this is bad ).

Expecting doctors to be happy tomorrow. Haven't seen the cardiologist in a bit over 6 months and I've lost over 20 pounds and fitter since then. Primary question is going to be whether he's ok with the BP numbers with no meds, keep me on low current dose or go even lower (ie, to almost no meds). Internist saw all the blood tests preop so there won't be much news there (at least I've taken off the post surgery weight so there won't be any lecture about that).

Recovery continuing to progress. I've gotten rid of the pillows for my legs at night and have very little pain or stiffness when I get up. I've been a little stiffer this week when I get up from sitting for awhile - think I need to get back to my cycle!

Have a great day and enjoy the January thaw!

 

[MyAussieGirl]

Awesome girl it IS a great read to me . Dances with you and your wonderful report

 

[SaraK]

So ready to be done with doctors and tests, at least for a little while. Starting at 8:30 and done by 2:30 today, I saw my internist for annual physical (happy I'd lost 2 lbs since preop in Nov so I didn't tell her how much I gained post op and had to lose all over again), opthalmologist and cardiologist (happy with weight loss and lifestyle changes and how that's lowered BP and pulse rate - reduced BP med to miniscule amount) and had a mammogram (they find a less painful way to do these if men had to do a manogram each year - I'll leave it to your imagination to decide what parts would be squished in that procedure), bone density test and abdominal ultrasound! Cardiologist wants to do a new echocardiogram to see if changes have improved my heart condition but said to wait until May for that one (good thing - I might have murdered someone if one more person poked and prodded me today). I'm glad all seems to be ok, but enough's enough!

3 BPs and pulse rates, 3 weigh ins and 3 height measurements (none of the weights or heights were the same). For others who are or soon will be double hippies, when both hips have been replaced, they do one of your forearms instead of one of your hips for your bone density screenings. Since they didn't do the forearm with my first a few years ago, they won't have comparison info on that.

I think I hear the wine bottle calling me!

 

[jaydub63]

Sheesh, that's a lot for one day! Glad to hear everything is checking out and looking good for you. So great to hear they could cut back your BP meds. That's funny that the heights/weights were all different!

 

[Tomgirl]

Hope you enjoyed that well deserved bottle of wine. I won't ask if you drank all of it. All those results sound great and encouraging and just think of the continued improvements for the cardio in May. You really are doing great @SaraK

 

[MammaT]

Good results from tests @SaraK. Keep up the good work and maybe the bp meds will go to nothing. Glad you dealt with your weight gain quickly. Hope you had a relaxing evening.

 

[Layla]

I didn't see this yesterday, sweet Sara...Woohoo for you! Great results.
I agree though, that's a lot of poking and prodding for one day.
Sounds like you're gonna live!! < that will not be you anytime soon
I'll bet you have those dancing shoes out for tonight sure hope so, remember I'm living
vicariously through you.
@SaraK

 

[SaraK]

@Layla - I think it's going to be another quiet night tonight. There was an outing last night that I skipped but nothing planned tonight. Even if there were, I probably wouldn't go because I'm still battling this cough. I'd really prefer not to be looked at like I'm Typhoid Mary when it's really just the last dregs of a cold!

 

[Layla]

Hi @SaraK
I get it! May as well save all your energy for healing.
I think everyone is on high alert with all the stories we're reading
about packed hospital beds, IV shortages etc
A simple cough or sniffle can cause people to duck or run
Feel better....and we'll brace ourselves for what's unleashed next weekend >

 

[SaraK]

Well, all that poking and prodding ended up being a pain in the backside - literally. My piriformis decided to protest and I had pain from the buttocks, down the leg and in the knee all weekend. Yesterday was the worst and so I sat on a heating pad most of the day to loosen things up. Between resting it all weekend, the heat and a couple Aleve last night, it's feeling better this morning. Will check in with PT if starts back up and do some gentle stretches in interim.

Where's the recovery progression chart when I need it @Mojo333 ?

 

[Tomgirl]

Hope that piriformis is behaving Sara, don't overdue any stretches though.

 

[MammaT]

Yes @SaraK, you have had a tremendous recovery. From what I’ve read on here the piriformis can take a while to settle down sometimes.

 

[SaraK]

Hopefully I caught it early @MammaT . We'll see how it does tonight but no sciatic pain right now. It was also triggered by a particular movement that hurt even at the time so hopefully was just a muscle strain that tweaked the nerve and doesn't develop into full-blown piriformis syndrome!