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scared to death

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Hi @pink24

Please don't be scared about the spinal. I promise you that you will be fine. I can only talk to you from having my knee replaced last January and the revision surgery in September. Both times were under spinal.

Like you, tbh, I was petrified about it. I thought it was going to really hurt me being in my back but it didn't. I was pleasantly surprised. At worst it felt like a temporary sting then nothing within no time at all. I didn't draw in breath or shriek or anything.

The spinal is great!!! It is so easy I've had it done twice this year and I didn't have sedation although you are offered it. I chose not to. It amused me actually the conversations that take place in a theatre! It's just another days work to the team.

So I know that it is easy for me to say but try not to get too worried, I can assure you that you will be absolutely fine.

Please take care. I didn't see a planned surgery date under your signature so when is it? I wish you the very best of luck. X

Love Nana moon 27 xoxox
 
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Hi Pink24, 2 June 14 and 20 Nov 14 were my 'D-Days'. I had both mine done hon. Both with a spinal and then whatever it took to keep me totally unaware until waking in my recovery ward. Of course you're nervous as hell. Most people are even if they deny it. Mine both went well. I'm 7 weeks into recovery for the second now. Crutches long gone, other aids more recently. Do what they tell you but listen to your body too and say if you're uncomfortable with anything. My hip pain went immediately for both replaced by recovery pain. This is no fun but it is the necessary evil. It is difficult but so worth it. You will not believe the awesome difference it makes to your life. Do your physio religiously. Keep topped up on painkillers - don't attempt foolish bravery or 'I don't like taking drugs'. Make sure your chair, toilet and bed heights are all sorted for your return home. Get yourself a 'grabber' and a sock- putter-onner. Essential when you're on your own. Less so if you can be doted on.
It's no breeze but very do-able. Your recovery is the most difficult part - honestly. Tell the nursery how you feel if you are a nervous wreck. I'm sure they'll help if they can. The very best of luck to you hon. xxx
 
hi thanks guys your all keeping me going here 19th jan is my op date 13 days away and counting with very bad jitters ... thanks for all the advise on preparation i have booked a hair appointment and am gonna make sure food is stocked up etc i have my daughters at home with me 21 and 25 so be a big help for me i suppose dont think i want sedation i hate the feeling of not being in control just hope the noise and smells are not too frightening
 
@pink24

Make sure that you remove any loose bath mats etc. They can go flying or you can trip unless they're rubber backed. Xxxx did a lovely one legged slide three weeks post op on one !!! Xxx
 
You know, I have had sedation three times for "procedures", and there was no feeling of not being in control because there was no anxiety for the first 1 1/2 seconds, and then I was waking up from a. Truly restful and delightful nap! I am a control freak, but I have no problem whatsoever with lovely naps :lol:
Yes, and check to see you have a straight shot from your bed to the bathroom ;)

My phone sent this using BoneSmart Forum, clever phone!
 
oh nana moon27 dear me bet that was an hair raising moment but it did make me chuckle reading it :heehee: but as long as you were not hurt that's all that matters. I am keeping busy but bit snappy cause its on my mind constantly having my pre op assessment on Friday and seeing physio. going to buy some nice new pjs for hospital and some comfy joggers for home after. gonna take my i pad so i can report on here and thank you all for taking me through this journey to the operating room (if I get there and do not run for the hills) another question how long is it after your operation before they allow you to take a shower? go loo? etc not one for bed baths or bed pans etc xx
 
Honestly @pink24 you will be fine. The best people to answer your questions are the moderators on this forum x
The other thing is, you can say at any point during the procedure early on, that you want a mild sedative after all. They will sort that for you no problem.

The bath mat incident was terrifying after surgery but hilarious now. Tbh if anyone else would have done it I'd have been crying with laughter. I wouldn't be able to help myself :heehee:

Love Ann xxx
 
Hi @pink24 . I've been reading your concerns, and see that "others" have been here to give you comfort... which is all we can really do for you at this stage. No one was more nervous than I, a warts and all account is in my recovery post I understand that you are concerned about having spinal with sedation... I had GA and one of the reasons was because I don't like the feeling of being not in control; I know that sounds contrary, but I just had some juice into the canulla on the back of my hand, and I was "asleep"... I didn't have to see, hear, feel anyone doing anything to me that I couldn't change/control... worked for me (I was particularly worried about hearing the surgery after watching a YouTube video of Posterior Approach WITH sound prior to the op!) The sedation with spinal can offer you the same "disconnect", as @zauberflöte says - a nanosecond of anxiety at "here we go", then you wake up!

Regarding going to the loo, and the shower; each hospital and/or surgeon has their own "rule". This is one of the questions to ask at your pre-op assessment. The rule of thumb is that when you are able to walk unassisted (with aids such as a walker or crutches) and have minimum "attachments" such as IV, you can get yourself to the loo. I walked with with crutches on Day 0 (even with Posterior Approach and GA) but I used the commode over the loo on Day 0 (was better than a bedpan!)

The shower is different; here in Australia the general rule is you can shower on Day 1, but I've read a lot of US members saying they can't shower for two weeks; it was one of the horrors for me prior to surgery, as it gets hot here and I couldn't imagine going that long; in the end for me, as soon as I had the PCA (Patient Controlled pain pump) out, early in the morning of Day 1 as they really had the pain well under control and I had hardly used it, and the catheter out (at the same time) I was allowed a shower, and a free run to the toilet. In fact you're encouraged to walk. The first shower was supervised, though that wasn't as "invasive" as I was expecting, the nurse did try to leave me as much dignity as she could. Subsequent showers were at my discretion... of course the panic button is in the shower if you need it! and you need help drying your feet!

I was very grateful to be able to shower, if it's really important to you discuss it with your pre-op nurse or even the nursing staff at the time of surgery... they'll often find a "work around" for you, unless it absolutely contravenes your OS wishes. The side note of "going to the loo" is that the surgery, meds etc can make you VERY constipated... it's easily avoided (which makes recovery a whole lot more pleasant!!) by drinking LOTS of water and eating every prune (or substitue like dried apricots) that you are offered/can find! You'll usually be given stool softeners in hospital, make sure you've got something in place when you get home. I don't mind prunes, I stewed mine in prune juice and had them with breakfast every day, I took Fybogel at home too, and kept the water intake up and I had no problems at all, opening my bowels on Day 1. I remember the constipation issues I had after my hysterectomy and, for the sake of a few prunes, could not believe how much better NOT having constipation during recovery is!!

Keep in touch here, let us know how your pre-op assessment goes

:flwrysmile:
 
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pink24 said:
I am having a total hip replacement on 19th January with a spinal block, totally terrified dont know where to start and dont know what to expect please can any one offer any experiences they have had going out of my mind with worry

xx
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I can totally understand were you are coming from with this, i had a total hip replacement with spinal block in november 2014 , i was terrified about having the surgery done and even thought about canceling it ! so glad i didn't. Spoke to my consultant on the day of the op and he reassured me that i could be totally fast asleep and wouldn't be aware of anything that was happening, this was so true, when i woke up i was back in the recovery ward 2 hours later and in no pain as the spinal block had stopped it breaking through. I am now 8 weeks post op and can manage short walks without my crutches , longer distances with one and have been able to drive from 5 weeks. Hope this helps you and try not to worry, think mine was because it was the unknown and the op has taken away all the awful pain.
 
Thanks @craftdee @wan I have now resigned myself to having the operation but still scared an awful lot. knowing its got to be done for the benefit of a better quality of life is driving me. I was talking to a lady I met and she had both hips done not at at the same time but 12 weeks apart and was awake through out both operations. She is much older than me she said she was chatting with the nursing staff and even joking about their expensive DIY kit if she can go back for a 2nd time then it eased my mind a little.. she also joked that the only question pre op was how long before she could have her heels back on lol what a star she was well my pre op is on Friday 9th January so I will post an update on here, but I must say that this site has been the best thing for me everyone is so kind to take the time to write to me comfort me and encourage me, and I thank all of you for this.. just don't leave me as i will prob need you all post op for the great advise xx
 
@pink24 This site has been my salvation both before surgery and after.People in your real life are very I,portent and provide a great deal of real help and support, but I've found that because people here have actually gone through this, you turn to them when the frustration and whatever else you're deeling gets to be too much. People here completely understand what you're going through, and don't just give you lip service. They're also an amazing source of information when you need it.
I had breast cancer almost two years now, and the value of these forums can't be measured. When you're awake at 2am and scared, people on these forums can make you laugh, give you great tips and help buoy. You through it all.
One suggestion I have it to practice getting in and out of the car and the bed, imagining one leg doesn't really cooperate. Always keep your surgical leg "glued" to your nonsurgicql leg when doing any type of maneuver like that. I found when my legs drifted apart, I get scared and upset. If you move the. As one, it's much easier. Practice beforehand.

Love and hugs to you. I got tired of people saying it, but the waiting is really the hardest part.
Lynn
 
I share a lot of your concerns as well. Went for my pre admission physical and my anxiety AND blood pressure was through the roof. I am scheduled for Jan 12th...and following your posts. You have been putting into words some of my biggest fears!
 
@Scholtz please promise to write to me as your a week before me promise to spill all the beans I have jitters now just 8 days to go for me.

@Legin Scottish?? aye i bet you are..

@LibraryLynn any time you wanna chat hun I am a good listener..

@Nana moon 27 thank you for staying with me... pre op assessment done as long as bloods are ok then its all systems go for 19th don't know if I want to cry or run but on the verge of both :scary:
 
Oh @pink24
I do so know that feeling but you will be fine. Look how many of us have had it done and are fine x x x
 
Hi @pink24 Glad your pre op went well... or "as well as can be expected". I admire you for only being on the verge of crying... I cried, wrung my hands, paced, worried off 2kg (the only plus, lol) bailed once and sooooo nearly bailed on the day. I've got to say the BEST part of this process was once I was back in my room Day 0; what a sense of achievement!!:yahoo: Just the fact that I conquered my fears, took the "mature" route made me feel very accomplished; and of course there was so little pain. I likened it to after I had my youngest son "unassisted" (he was 9lbs, I only weighed 8 stone) J

It is a BIG DEAL this op, the emotional cost is great and not to be underplayed... BUT being aware of that in advance is also a BIG part of being able to deal with it. I know we keep saying it, but the waiting is the worst part; full of what ifs and what if nots :shocked: Once you're on the other side you know what you're dealing with, and for the most part you DEAL with it. Of course this forum is here to help you deal with the day to day of your recovery too... full of peeps who've 'been there done that' before you:console2:

Not that long now, ask your GP for some anti anxiety meds... I was dead set against that, went to my GP the week before the op to get other scripts 'for the duration' (as I didn't know how long it would be before I'd be able to get to her to do it post op, was a non event in the end and I could have gone at Day 4, lol) and she suggested I take Valium for the week leading up to surgery. I resisted but got a prescription, finally hubby insisted (he thought I was going to have a stroke or something, the state I was in) and I took them for the last three days... I wish I'd taken them for the week, they really 'took the edge off' - especially helping (a little at least) with sleep, and I was still able to function work wise (better than without actually, as I'd been so distracted) I thought it could be a problem re the anesthetic, but I told them I'd taken them and they didn't even note it down.

Keep jotting your thoughts down here, sharing helps I feel. Read as much as you can in the library... that said, don't think that ALL of it is going to apply to you. I read what aids I needed and felt quite depressed that I was going to be so disabled... then post op found that I only really needed some of them - as I said in my thread, you don't really know what you need until you NEED them :heehee: I don't know if you are going to have restrictions (posterior approach is usually a "yes" to that), but the one thing I did pre op that really worked for me was to practice sleeping on my back, as it didn't come naturally to me and I thought it would be good to have one less adjustment to make after surgery when so much else was going on, like I said it worked for me. Two reachers isn't a bad idea either, so you can pick up your reacher when you drop it! Learn the golfer's reach too - absolutely sanity saver for me, it felt so much more natural, and I felt so much less disabled using it (there's a pic on my thread, but I'm sure there's one in the library somewhere too)

I live in Australia, it's summer, I haven't worn socks since my op... but I probably wouldn't wear them until June anyway:rotfl: I have "discovered" pedicures though, as I couldn't reach my feet to keep my toenails looking good (still struggle to reach well enough to put nail polish on to be honest) and my feet have been "on display" like never before, the sock thing is a common discussion on the forum though, so probably worth a bit of practice too.

I had a new car two weeks before the op, my old was low slung and would have been difficult to get in and out of... this one is a SUV (small 4WD) which is the opposite "problem"; I'm short (under 5'2") and we ended up buying a step from a sports store - it is nice and "deep" so you can climb on to it, turn around then enter the car bum first, perfect! - we keep it in the back of the car still, my elderly Dad and MIL use it... my Mum (who's nearly 85) doesn't need it, she's more sprightly than me :loll: The same step from a Mobility Supply store cost more than twice as much as it did in the sports store... and there are sports stores everywhere, so it was easier to get hold of - So you can see, there are a million "work arounds", sometimes you just have to suck it and see which work for you.

Enough waffling

Hope you can tick THIS pre op day off feeling not too wrung out

Donna:wave:
 
What who me i hv been in scotland for thirty years. Said i was stayimg for ome
Its been a long year. Love it here well there
 
@craftdee I have attempted sleeping on my back impossible i am afraid I do not know how on earth i am going to manage after my op. I was kind of hoping they might allow me to lay on my good side with pillows so sore leg is supported somehow. what happens if you just cant sleep on your back at all??

@Legin my best friend from being a toddler moved to Scotland over 15 yrs ago and never came back she lives near lossiemouth she loves it also, where did you come from originally? and whens your op again?

jitters still bothering me but trying not to think to much well at least not every minute :rotfl: but its getting harder the nearer I get 8 days to go now:scary:
 
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