Hello Hipster Friends,
Warning: LONG POST
I went to see the new OS a few weeks ago. He had me get new labs and the blood came back good. He told me to call his scheduler once the blood work showed good to go, and we'd get something on the schedule for my revision. A day later his scheduler called me and told me I was having my revision on 18 May, which was pretty shocking to me. They just started to do "elective" surgeries again on 14 May. The very same scheduler called me back the next day and said I was now scheduled for 15 May, due to an opening.
I thanked her and hung up. I messaged the OS and asked him to give me a call. He called and we spoke for 20 minutes or so. He said the first thing they do when they make the new incision is take tissue and fluid samples and test them on the spot for bacteria. If they're positive for bacteria, that means they remove the current spacer, flush the area with strong antibiotic solution, install a new spacer, and I go on 6 more weeks of PICC line IV antibiotics.
I asked him what percentage chance there was that I was still infected? He told me 10 to 15%. That left me feeling very dejected and down in the dumps. Next I asked him while he was in there if he could repair my Gluteus Medius which was severely damaged by the last infection. He told me that there's not much that can be done with that at this point, due to how badly the tendon was damaged by the infection. Double downer feeling now, cuz this sucker is a constant source of pain.
I gave it 24 hours of thought and am trying like heck to make a decision. I cancelled the surgery for 15 May, because I honestly don't know if my body can take 6 more weeks of that poison aka antibiotics. During the last course, which lasted 10 1/2 weeks, I felt like death was imminent 4 or 5 times. I couldn't eat, I had zero energy, and lost so much weight I looked like I was terminal.
Now to refresh your memories. literally everything that could go wrong from surgery # 1 thru surgery # 4 has. There is a 1% chance of infection in the initial hip replacement. (6-27-19). In Dec 2019, my Gluteus Medius needed to be reattached and several weeks after that I became severely infected. Surgery # 3, Dec 2019, the clean out and partial implant replacement, along with the PICC line, was done. I was told by the top ID doc in the area, I had a 90% chance of this 3rd surgery being a total success.
Wrong, and I had an Explant on 2-26-20. Started a fresh course of 6 weeks of strong antibiotics via the PICC line. I'm still in a lot of pain, and on a low (almost useless dose) of Norco that barely takes the edge off. I called a doctor friend today and asked him for his advice. I'm starting to think at my age, maybe a pain management program with Norco is the better option. I don't want to spend the rest of my days going through a cycle of surgeries, one after the other. I specially don't want another PICC line.
I'm 66 and change. My dad died at 60 and my younger brother at 50, both from cancer. My doc friend says it's a tough call to make, but if I choose pain control, I'm still immobile as can be. If I choose revision and it's infected, I'm back to square one. What a huge kerfuffle. I can't walk 3 feet without a cane, and if i want to go 10 feet I'm still on a walker. I'm really trying to keep my spirits high, but it's hard.
My two main hobbies are playing the blues and jamming with friends, and long range precision shooting at my club. I married into a very well known competitive shooting family and caught the bug right away. I haven't been able to do either in months and months. I sit and watch Netflix all dang day and night. I sleep in a chair, and not very well. Essentially my quality of life is lousy.
When the pre op nurse called to set up the surgery, she was a so unorganized and out of touch, it literally scared the heck out of me. I don't want to be a test dummy this soon after they just reinstated elective surgeries. The hospital is very short staffed and that concerns me too. Basically I'm totally undecided now on how to proceed. Do I want to be on pain killers for the long haul, still not being able to walk properly? Nope, I truly don't. Do I want to risk being in a never ending cycle of surgeries at this stage if my life? Nope, I don't.
Please feel free to opine. I've discussed this at length with our first born, and only son and my wife. They both say do the pain mgmt for 6 months and re evaluate. I'm not sure that's the answer. I'm at a complete loss. Hate to seem like a downer, but the stats have worked against me since day one, that's the reality of my hip replacement. I can't discuss this with my adult daughters, because they get too emotional and have their hands full with their own families now. They're great moms too, I'm very proud of all 4 of of our children. My son is a world traveler and single. He's currently stuck half way around the globe due to C-19. We spoke earlier and he said to make the call I was most comfortable with. Problem is, neither call is a "great" option. This really stinks.
Thanks for reading, sorry for the very lengthy post. I appreciate all the well wishes, advice, and kind words. Hope all who are recovering are doing well and on the road to complete and full recovery.
Stay safe and healthy, friends
Westy
PS, if the grammar or spelling is off, I can't blame the Norco, I'm down to two 5-325's per day, one after breakfast and one after dinner.