Revision THR Trkkoa is on the other side
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debkakes
senior
Good luck on the flight and your whole journey home, Nancy! It all sounds good. I envy you your shower: none for me until my staples come out and the little tiny holes close up. My partner has been giving me really nice standing sponge baths, so no complaints 
Can't wait to hear how your trip home goes.
Can't wait to hear how your trip home goes.rider1960
post-grad
Have a good trip home. You have done so well!
Dorothy
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trkkoa
junior member
I am at home and settled in ready for a night In my comfy recliner. The airplane went very smoothly. Even the TSA lady was polite and gentle. Sitting in the plane even in first class was not very comfortable with the hip brace but okay for the short 40 minute flight. What started to get painful was my knee on the surgical side. On the 28 th I need to be driven to Hilo to see the OS and that's 100 miles. The car was not as comfortable as I had hoped. The foot area in the front passenger side gets narrow up forward so with the brace and my restrictions, it was difficult so sit. Over the next 10 days we will need to experiment a bit to see if I can manage getting in the back seat and if that will be comfortable. Otherwise we might need to borrow a car from friends.
The dog and cats are happy to see me. We kept the dog on her leash at first until she got over her exuberance to see me. Once she settled down, she has been staying by my side. She knows something is different and wants to protect me. She is snoozing on her dog bed to the left of my recliner.
You all were right about how healing it is to just be home. I feeling better every hour . Mahalo and good night.
Nancy
The dog and cats are happy to see me. We kept the dog on her leash at first until she got over her exuberance to see me. Once she settled down, she has been staying by my side. She knows something is different and wants to protect me. She is snoozing on her dog bed to the left of my recliner.
You all were right about how healing it is to just be home. I feeling better every hour . Mahalo and good night.
Nancy
Elizak
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Congratulations on managing a tough transition so well and arriving home. What a journey you have had.
Being able to stretch leg out straight in the car was really important to me. But I only had a 10 mile ride home and didn't ride in the car again until day 9. Sounds as if the back seat might work better as you can put the front seat fully forward and get more room. As it is 100 miles each way, borrowing a car might be best. No need to be more uncomfortable than you have to be.
Are you able to sit up straight with your brace ? I wore a brace after my fracture in 2005 for 6 weeks. Went from my stomach down to the ankle and would not allow me to sit up further than 45 degrees, so a real pain.
Enjoy time in the recliner at home and take it slow.
Being able to stretch leg out straight in the car was really important to me. But I only had a 10 mile ride home and didn't ride in the car again until day 9. Sounds as if the back seat might work better as you can put the front seat fully forward and get more room. As it is 100 miles each way, borrowing a car might be best. No need to be more uncomfortable than you have to be.
Are you able to sit up straight with your brace ? I wore a brace after my fracture in 2005 for 6 weeks. Went from my stomach down to the ankle and would not allow me to sit up further than 45 degrees, so a real pain.
Enjoy time in the recliner at home and take it slow.
TracyW
member
Glad to hear you're home Nancy and that the flight went well.
I don't drive were I live and have been taking cars to PT sitting in the back seat. I sit down with my knees parallel to the curb and pull myself back with my arms into the seat, then slide out feet first when exiting. It has been more comfortable than I thought and the drivers have pulled the passenger seat all the way forward so I can swing my legs around.
Sorry to hear about your knee, I hope that the pain is from the muscles compensating. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your visit on the 28th.
I don't drive were I live and have been taking cars to PT sitting in the back seat. I sit down with my knees parallel to the curb and pull myself back with my arms into the seat, then slide out feet first when exiting. It has been more comfortable than I thought and the drivers have pulled the passenger seat all the way forward so I can swing my legs around.
Sorry to hear about your knee, I hope that the pain is from the muscles compensating. I'll keep my fingers crossed for your visit on the 28th.
debkakes
senior
Good to be home, eh, Nancy? Glad you have a good recliner to rest in, I'm still sleeping in mine after a week. I know I'll get to the point where it's less painful to get in and out of bed, but I'm mostly worried about inadvertantly breaking my leg-crossing restriction; and aggravating my lower back pain from laying flat on my back. Man, I wish I had my mom's adjustable Tempurpedic right now My cat is in heaven sleeping on the recliner with me! Mahalo is the right attitude for this journey.
My cat is in heaven sleeping on the recliner with me! Mahalo is the right attitude for this journey.
Suki
senior
Nancy
I had to use an abductor brace for nearly 22 weeks before my hip revision. The brace was positioned at 60 degrees --so i could only sit or bend 60 ( rather than 90 degree). With this restricition I literally could not get into our front seat. I found setting across the backseat, with my brace against the seat and my other leg resting in the foot well, was the only way I could ride in the car. I sat my butt on the edge of the seat and scooted across, resting my back on a pillow against the opposite door. My husband and I figured out how to get the seat belt fastened, so as not to be ticketed. You may find this more comfortable for those long distance trips.
Wishing you a speedy recovery
Suki
I had to use an abductor brace for nearly 22 weeks before my hip revision. The brace was positioned at 60 degrees --so i could only sit or bend 60 ( rather than 90 degree). With this restricition I literally could not get into our front seat. I found setting across the backseat, with my brace against the seat and my other leg resting in the foot well, was the only way I could ride in the car. I sat my butt on the edge of the seat and scooted across, resting my back on a pillow against the opposite door. My husband and I figured out how to get the seat belt fastened, so as not to be ticketed. You may find this more comfortable for those long distance trips.
Wishing you a speedy recovery
Suki
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trkkoa
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What is the swelling like for your THR? I pretty much have swelling the entire thigh to just beyond the knee. Icing it today helped some.
I have this issue with having had a previous DVT and need to keep the leg elevated. This means I always have my left leg stretched out in front of me so I don't break precautions. But the back of my knee is getting tired of being stretched out. Do most people sit with the leg partially bent at the knee? How to you remain comfortable when sitting?
I have found two apps for my iPad that are proving useful. I got a clock app and set an alarm for every hour to make a little chime to remind me to do my exercises and get up and move around. I have another that's for iPhone that manages my meds. You enter the medication, the dosage and when you take it and it reminds you when it it is time.
The hospital case manager called this afternoon to follow up with me, go over discharge instructions again and find out if I had any questions or concerns. Since the leg is swollen but not warm, painful or discolored, she told me to notify the doctor if there are any changes.
I have a call in to my PCP for switching over to his prescriptions once my discharge meds are gone. The hospital only gives you enough to get through a few days and so they expect to you have your PCP take over when you get home.
Moving around better and better. The pain is changing character as the days progress. The incision is sore but clean and looking good. I should be able to go dressing-less soon. They said as soon as the dressing remains completely clean to let it be open to air. Lots less bruising this surgery compared to my orgial THR. Only a couple small spots are black and blue. One I know is from the brace during the plane flight. Also have a deep ache similar to what prompted the X-rays in the first place that triggered this surgery. Still taking long acting narcotic as well and 2 Tylenol with codeine. Plan for tomorrow is to switch out one with codeine to one without.
Hope all my fellow June hippies are doing well. I can't believe it is only Tuesday and surgery wasn't yet a week ago.
I have this issue with having had a previous DVT and need to keep the leg elevated. This means I always have my left leg stretched out in front of me so I don't break precautions. But the back of my knee is getting tired of being stretched out. Do most people sit with the leg partially bent at the knee? How to you remain comfortable when sitting?
I have found two apps for my iPad that are proving useful. I got a clock app and set an alarm for every hour to make a little chime to remind me to do my exercises and get up and move around. I have another that's for iPhone that manages my meds. You enter the medication, the dosage and when you take it and it reminds you when it it is time.
The hospital case manager called this afternoon to follow up with me, go over discharge instructions again and find out if I had any questions or concerns. Since the leg is swollen but not warm, painful or discolored, she told me to notify the doctor if there are any changes.
I have a call in to my PCP for switching over to his prescriptions once my discharge meds are gone. The hospital only gives you enough to get through a few days and so they expect to you have your PCP take over when you get home.
Moving around better and better. The pain is changing character as the days progress. The incision is sore but clean and looking good. I should be able to go dressing-less soon. They said as soon as the dressing remains completely clean to let it be open to air. Lots less bruising this surgery compared to my orgial THR. Only a couple small spots are black and blue. One I know is from the brace during the plane flight. Also have a deep ache similar to what prompted the X-rays in the first place that triggered this surgery. Still taking long acting narcotic as well and 2 Tylenol with codeine. Plan for tomorrow is to switch out one with codeine to one without.
Hope all my fellow June hippies are doing well. I can't believe it is only Tuesday and surgery wasn't yet a week ago.
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trkkoa
junior member
Thank you so much. I think this strategy might work. I expect I will get a little stir crazy I a day or two and want to get out of the house. We will try this with our back seat for a shorter distance and see how it goes.
Mahalo! Nancy
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trkkoa
junior member
I love my PCP. I had left a message about getting Rx for my pain meds and he called around 7 last evening. He wanted to hear all about my experience and how I was doing. I was getting concerned about the swelling because of my DVT history. He was so reassuring. We have a good plan in place on the anticoagulants. He reminded me I do still have anti anxiety meds if I want to take them and medium weight compression knee socks will help along with ice and elevation.
He asked about the hospital and how I was treated, etc. This man really cares about his patients and I am lucky he is part of my team.
I ordered a laptop yesterday. Figured out I can't sit at my desk and really need to help DH with the books for our coffee farm. The ipad just can''t do it. And if I can prepare detailed coffee roasting instructions, others can help get my work done.
One week out and I am doing well. My sister heads back home this weekend and we are getting a good routine in place. We will be able to manage along with a little help from friends.
He asked about the hospital and how I was treated, etc. This man really cares about his patients and I am lucky he is part of my team.
I ordered a laptop yesterday. Figured out I can't sit at my desk and really need to help DH with the books for our coffee farm. The ipad just can''t do it. And if I can prepare detailed coffee roasting instructions, others can help get my work done.
One week out and I am doing well. My sister heads back home this weekend and we are getting a good routine in place. We will be able to manage along with a little help from friends.
Wow - great that your PCP is so caring. Sounds like a gem.
If you are taking the blood thinners and using the socks please don't worry about DVT. That and moving around will help greatly.
To ease the back of your knee tuck a pillow there too as well. You need to support that area so it won't strain while you are elevating. Lots of icing will tackle that swell.
You're doing really well!
If you are taking the blood thinners and using the socks please don't worry about DVT. That and moving around will help greatly.
To ease the back of your knee tuck a pillow there too as well. You need to support that area so it won't strain while you are elevating. Lots of icing will tackle that swell.
You're doing really well!
debkakes
senior
Hi Nancy, and fantastic to hear from you! And: thanks for the reminder about PCP. I hadn't been in touch with her for a while, and by golly, her diagnosis of my xrays got me started on this journey! Wow, you have a coffee business! Growing or roasting or selling or all? I have many good friends who have "ex-patted" to the Big Island from the SF Bay Area in the past couple of years. Mahalo!
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trkkoa
junior member
Hi Debkakes, yeah. We grow, harvest, process, roast and sell 100% Kona. I know I won't be doing much orchard work this summer and fall, but we have folks we can hire to help with that. The roasting and ebusiness is my baby so I will need to help out as much as possible. I should be able to do invoicing and the books and such from my new laptop when it gets here. I am a former silicon valley geek who repurposed my career to Hawaii after the dot com bust.
Nancy
debkakes
senior
Wow, that blows my mind!!!! Link, please??? I love me some Kona coffee. Hey, what do you make of Larry Ellis buying Lanai? I found the news imminently depressing, as did my friends in Hawaii (and all over Silicon Valley, knowing what they know of LE).
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Hi Nancy, sounds like you have got yourself into a good routine.. good idea with the laptop. I am a Mac fan and have just got a new MacAir.. love it, so light sitting on my knees.. great that you have a good team to assist you
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trkkoa
junior member
Been home for a week now and feeling pretty decent. My sister had to go home yesterday but my husband is doing a good job too. Seemed to need a lot of naps today. We did get my brace readjusted so it doesn't prevent me from bending my knee. We tried it for getting in and out of the car and it was much easier. I also think it is because the swelling is much improved. Slowly weaning from Tylenol with codeine to plain Tylenol. Still taking OxyContin at the lower dose twice per day.
OS office called and they have faxed orders for X-rays to bring along to my appointment on Thursday. Tomorrow I will try getting out of the house beyond the lanai by meeting friends for lunch out. Walker, brace and sturdy cushion are ready for a change of scenery. Will probably do the X-ray on Tuesday for another excuse to get out and get used to the car. Thursday will be two hours each way to OS appointment.
Nancy
OS office called and they have faxed orders for X-rays to bring along to my appointment on Thursday. Tomorrow I will try getting out of the house beyond the lanai by meeting friends for lunch out. Walker, brace and sturdy cushion are ready for a change of scenery. Will probably do the X-ray on Tuesday for another excuse to get out and get used to the car. Thursday will be two hours each way to OS appointment.
Nancy
debkakes
senior
I got Out and around after a little less than a week home, similarly burdened with cushions and leg lifter. Fun!! Now into week 3 I have more forays planned, but trying to be sensible about how much stamina I have. Sounds like you are doing great!
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