THR Sean5033 joins the club

[anniemg]

It's very frustrating since the nurses have to help me out of bed every false alarm.

sean5033...take it easy on yourself...that's all part of the nurses/aids jobs...
Hope you are able to go home soon. Take care.
Annie

 

[sean5033]

In unofficially discharged to go home! I have surgical clearance To leave. The Dr wants a clean urine sample to ease any worries about my bladder before he'll clear me. Of course I went potty 10 minutes before he told me that, so I'm chugging water to try and go again!

 

[Jamie]

The problems urinating are pretty typical after any surgery. Just continue to drink plenty of water and things will be fine. Glad you get to head on home soon.

 

[Butterfly]

sean5033 Just be sure none of those moms with a video camera sneak up on you while you are trying to go pee!

 

[sean5033]

It's so nice to be home!! Last night I slept well on a bed in my living room. It wasn't quite as comfy as I hoped but it will get better. I'm moving around the house pretty well. In going to have to try hard to take it easy and rest. My wife pimped out my walker with a cup holder and carry basket for small items.

I still haven't had a bowel movement but I feel one coming on later today. That will be the last thing for me to check off my list.

The real gravity of this surgery hit me last night. My defense mechanism was to minimize how big of a deal this is. It really is major surgery and not a walk in the park. I've never had any medical issues before so I'm not used to it at all. I've got to focus on retraining the muscles to work. This is going to test my patience, I keep expecting to get up and be fine. Right now I'm super thankful that it's going as fast as it is.

 

[zumzumpammy]

So glad to hear things are going well! I am having RTHR on Nov 13- I went my whole life with no surgery, had two babies, but then this year was diagnosed w breast cancer, have had 3 surgeries now, and I am fine! And actually that gave me the desire and strength to go ahead with the hip replacement, which my doctor had suggested YEARS ago. keep posting as you feel up to it

 

[Jaycey]

Welcome home Sean! Here's a thread with a couple of recipes in case you need it: Constipation and stool softeners Very common problem after surgery. Do remember take things very slow and steady. Yes, you will get impatient. But your hip is in charge now.

 

[sean5033]

Update for day 5!

I was able to get out of bed myself this morning and get to my chair. The therapist said he was surprised to see how strong my leg is already. He had me practice getting in and out of the car. Again I got in and out without help. It wasn't the easiest time I've had, but it was much easier than it was coming home from the hospital. I'm dying to get upstairs, but that won't be in my cards until the Dr releases my weight restrictions on my leg.

I'm making amazing progress. I can tell I'm farther in the evening than I was earlier that same day. I want to take a trip to the grocery store on one of those electric scooters soon. I'm starting to go stir crazy on the first floor at home.

 

[bottomshollow]

These little babies are a godsend. I used them before my hip surgery and after until I got my knees done 11 months later. I could not have gone grocery shopping without them. Now I have to remind my hubby that I can walk on my own now and just push a cart again.

Good to hear that you're doing so well. And things will just continue to get better and better. One day you'll suddenly realize that you haven't thought about your hip at all; and next thing you know, you won't think about it unless something or someone brings it to mind to you.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Sean, sounds like you are doing very well. How long are you on weight bearing restrictions? Didn't they teach you how to go upstairs in the hospital?

 

[sean5033]

Jaycey, My weight restrictions are at 50%. I don't think I'll have a chance at getting that raised until November 13th when I go back to see my OS. I'm okay with that. Even though I feel great, I've got this new chunk of titanium that my bone needs to grow into. I know that'll take time and I can't speed it up.

They did not teach me to go up stairs at the hospital, they left it up to the home therapist. I'm learning that my OS has a reputation for being overly cautious (I have to wear compression stockings for 6 weeks to prevent blood clots). It's part of what makes him awesome.

 

[Butterfly]

Aren't those compression stockings a true delight?? So easy to get into and out of! I've gotta wear them, too. Hoping the OS will let me out of them on my post op visit Nov. 12. With my first hip, the dr let me lose them at the first post op visit.

Are you on blood thinners, too?

 

[sean5033]

I've kinda gotten used to the compression stockings now. It's worth it to leave them on vs. Spending half an hour getting them back on for half an hour of relief. It would be so amazing to get rid of them on the 13th!

The blood thinner shots are probably my least favorite part. I think I have nine days left of those. I'm running out of spots on my stomach to poke myself.

 

[Butterfly]

Fortunately, they have me on a new blood thinner that is a pill, so no needles!

Are they still chasing you around with cameras? My dad used to do that when I was a kid and I HATED it. You never knew when you were going to be immortalized forever in a Kodak Moment!

 

[sean5033]

Wow! I wish I had blood thinner pills! Fortunately I'm not afraid of needles. I donate blood every chance I have. It's still tricky having to give it to myself. I hope I'm never diabetic, and have a true respect for those that live with this the rest of their lives.

The cameras stopped a while ago. My parents went home on Sunday. There have been a few stories, pictures, and videos surfacing from my wife of me coming out of the recovery room and waking up. She says the videos aren't bad. I still can't bring myself to watch them yet. Some things might be better off unknown.

 

[calikat]

It's interesting how many different protocols there are. I took xarelto (sp?) for two weeks, then aspirin for two weeks. Some have weight restrictions and movement restrictions, others not.

 

[sean5033]

calikat It is strange. I think that's where the "Practice" part comes in with Medical Practice. There's always more than one way to get something done.

I got the impression my original OS was a little more laid back as far as restrictions and procedures go, but I wasn't comfortable with that. The one that did my surgery is really picky about things. (the nurses warned me if I don't wear my compression stockings to my first appointment, he would flip out on Me AND the hospital staff). Whatever his methods are, he's chosen them out of an abundance of caution. I gotta go with what he says or I'm not getting the full Dr Lyons THR Experience that I (and my insurance) paid so much for!

 

[calikat]

Agreed. I have found that medicine is not black and white. Go to three different doctors and you will likely get three different protocols, despite standard of care, and I am not just talking about hip replacements. I saw three surgeons for THR consults. Each one had a few differences in how they did things. That is funny about the hose. I only had to wear them during the day, but not to the doctors visit...LOL. Or maybe I was supposed to and just didn't.

ETA I got to lose them after the two week visit.

 

[sean5033]

So here I am on day 12!! I've actually taken a few steps without my walker and I feel great. I don't want to leave it completely, its a nice crutch sometimes. My wife is super concerned I'm going to break my femur or implant walking on it so early. I have my two week appointment on Wednesday. Rumor has it that my Dr will keep me at 50% weight on my surgical leg and require my walker for 5 more weeks.

I understand the need for precaution but I'll go insane if I have to use it past Wednesday at the rate I'm recovering. When were everyone else's restrictions removed? When could you get rid of the walker?

 

[Jaycey]

Hi Sean, I use a walker once in the hospital but went home on 2 crutches - quickly moving to 1 the day after I got home. Your OS sounds very conservative. Discuss this with him during your appointment. 5 weeks 50% weight bearing is a long time.

Please let you wife know there is no way you are going to break or damage anything walking on you new hip. Many new hippies are 100% weight bearing from day 1.