Now I Know Nickel Allergy to my BHRs - On The Path To Healing

[Two4One]

Thanks, DGossack and mslendzion!!

The Huron Valley Sinai on call Ortho surgeon replaced my anticoagulant with Aspirin this morning.  I had horrible sided effect from it, including increased leg pain.  I felt soooo much better today.

After a nice 2 hour nap this afternoon, my various muscle and scar pain dropped down to a level '3-4', a huge improvent.  I plan on walking outside tomorrow!

[Luanna]

So glad switching to aspirin was approved and that it is helping. Gotta keep the pain level down as much as possible.

Luann

[Two4One]

I woke up kinda stiff and sore, pain level '7'.  However, after moving around and getting medicated, my pain was a record breaking '2' (and the crowd roars!).  I made my own breakfast!  We've had our first real snowfall for the year and it's a beautiful winter wonderland out there!

I can't wait to go outside for the first time post op, so if my PT clears it, I'm gonna join the Mall Walkers.  Hubs says don't shop while I'm there!  ::)

12.17.11 Tuesday

6:45am      8mg Dilaudid
9:30          7.5 Norco
10:52        8mg Dilaudid
2:30          7.5 Norco
3:20pm      8mg Dilaudid
5pm           2.5 mg Valium
9:15pm      8mg Dilaudid
11:00pm    10mg Ambien


11am        RN Michelle - All Good, but don't go around people like in the mall because of suppressed immunity.
                PT Harry 1:30ish Wednesday
                OT Carrie Wednesday


WEIGHT:  169 lbs     Pre Op: 163 lbs     8/09 Pre Undiagnosed End Stage OA for 2 years: 145 lbs     Goal Weight: 128lbs
HEIGHT:   5'9
FEMALE

[Aerial]

Hang in there, you are almost one week out.  Slightly after one week things improved by leaps and bounds for me!

[Luanna]

Great milestone - making your own breakfast. But.....don't lett hubby off the hook. I got breakfast in bed for at least 3 weeks post op..and I only had one hip done - so you should get breakfast in bed for ohhhh about 6 weeks at least!  ;)

Wow! super that your pain level decreased so much today. Really excellent.

Have a super outstanding day!

Luanna

[Two4One]

Lol.  You crack me up, Luanna.

[Two4One]

Aerial, Thanks! 

You and I both had arthroscopic surgery, so we have a lot in common. In my case, Dr. Schmitt told my husband right after surgery that while I had healthy cartilage on the sides of my femurs and acetabular sockets in both hips, the tippy top of my femurs and the deepest center of my hip acetabulims was completely bone on bone and had been since my first arthroscopy back in '09.

I'm guessing it will only take a few more days than you for my big reveal of a pain free life.  I'm thrilled the PT and OT will be here tomorrow and help me get there with you as fast as I possibley can!

I work hard and like beating challenges, so this thingy is, like, fun. ;)

[Two4One]

There is so much to remember, and a lot to keep up with when you're recovering from major hip surgery.  My pain today kinda jacked me around because Hubs and I both forgot to ice.

*Face to palm*  It sure feels so much better after 4 2 lb bags of frozen peas applied to my hips, and it's only 10 minutes!  Maybe I need to send myself a reminder to ice, ice, baby.  (I also liked 'Milli Vanilli'.)

[Aerial]

I learned the value of ice from my arthroscopic surgery.  It definately helped with the swelling (after HR) and I had almost no bruising except for a small spot on the back of my calf that showed up about 10 or 11 days post op (kind of delayed reaction which was weird).  Do you have a Polar car unit that you fill with ice?  That thing is great.  We learned by trial and error that freezing water in water bottles and freezing chunks of ice in empty yogurt cups is a great way to get a lot of milage out of filling the machine for icing (last much longer than ice cubes)!

[Two4One]

Thanks, Ariel.  I'll look into the Polar Ice care Unit.

[Two4One]

Once I started icing and late into the evening, I really noticed my resting pain get down to a '3', which is a fantastic pain level after a long day of excellent recovery.  My body is really doing a good job!  Ol' Bessie still has some kick in her!

I think my PT, Harry, and my OT Carrie, (I kid you not), are not going to know what hit them tomorrow.  I feel good turning in with a strong finish!

Note to Self:  Ask the Universe and all the hippies to remind me to ice and send to me their best
                    prayers and wishes.  If anyone has any prayer/vibe requests, it would be both my
                    honor and pleasure to do so.                     
               

[Luanna]

Remember to ice  :) and....

I could use a few positive thoughts/vibs and prayers for good results on my MRI that I had done late last week. Dr. Pritchett was in surgery all day today but plans on talking with me about my results tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Luanna

[Two4One]

Thank you Universe and Thank You for Luanna's ice reminder!

I'm vibing you all the best and praying to God, Luanna, for your meeting with Dr. Pritchett on Wednesday to go very well indeed.  I pray that your MRI shows excellent and promising results on your back, and I pray that your hip progress is remarkably good, that your back X Rays look good, and that you get a clean bill of health. 

The body is a beautiful and mysterious organism constantly seeking to right itself, and I believe as you continue to grow as a person throughout your life and throughout your marvelous recovery that you, Luanna, will have all your dreams come true, even as you pick up and add new dreams along your uniquely individual and fascinating journey.  May you be surrounded by all love, all comfort, and all healing of your body's systems.

Amen.

[Aerial]

Remember to ice  :) and....

I could use a few positive thoughts/vibs and prayers for good results on my MRI that I had done late last week. Dr. Pritchett was in surgery all day today but plans on talking with me about my results tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Luanna

Good luck Luanna!  I hope the MRI results bring good news.

[Luanna]

Thanks so much Two4One and Aerial. I really appreciate your positive thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes. Affirmations are very powerful.

Thanks again.

Luanna

[Two4One]

You are Welcome, Luanna, and thanks muchas gracias for ice reminder!  Good Luck today with Dr. Pritchett.

12.28.11   Wednesday:  Day 9 Recovery Express

1:30am   7.5 Norco
6:30am   8mg Dilaudid
9:15am   7.5 Norco
10:30am   8mg Dilaudid
1:30pm   7.5 Norco
4pm      8mg Dilaudid


7:30       Pain 3  Made my own breakfast (and snack early in the am.)
8am to     Chair Time:  4 2lb bags of Frozen Peas on my hips & don't it feel Good!
9:10        Pain 5
11:30       Freshly Showered and able to lift my legs up and over the tub!!  Lots of strength, but queasy from narcotics - can't wait to stop them.
12noon    Pain 5
4:30        Pain 4
1:30ish    Harry  the PT
2:30is      Carrie the OT

WEIGHT: 167.5 lbs,   Pre Op: 163 lbs,   8/09 Undiagnosed End Stage OA for 2 years: 145 lbs,    Goal: 128 lbs
WEIGHT:  5'9
FEMALE

I am so happy with my PT today!  I walked outside, and I blew Harry, the PT, away!
 
Carrie, the OT, is fantastic and our personalities really mesh!  I am reported to be so ahead of the recovery curve "that it's scary".  (I am fully cognizant of my precautions, and will NOT do anything to jeopardize my healing just because I feel good.)

Today, I had breakthroughs right and left.  I am floating on cloud 9.





       

[hernanu]

Remember to ice  :) and....

I could use a few positive thoughts/vibs and prayers for good results on my MRI that I had done late last week. Dr. Pritchett was in surgery all day today but plans on talking with me about my results tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Luanna

Thinking good thoughts for good results all around for you.

[Luanna]

Impressive - legs lifted over tub!!! Excellent progress. Major accomplishment.

Thanks so much Two4One, Aerial and Hern. Your kind thoughts, positive energy, and prayers worked!!! I definitely received a good report.

No ruptured disc. Basically have some compression in the lower back discs. Just what you would expect to see in a person my age! I didn't think I was THAT old. Sigh...

Dr. Pritchett recommends that I try acupuncture and chiropractic stuff and that build my core to strengthen the muscles around the new hip and back area. Whew....what a relief.

Luanna

[Two4One]

Yay, Luanna!  You're not old; you just answer "Yes" when asked "Are you experienced?"

[Two4One]

12.28.11 Recovery Express Cont'

6pm      7.5 Norco
7:15      2.5 diazepam
8:30pm 8mg Dilaudid

8:15 to    Chair Time
9pm

10pm       10mg Ambien

Pain spiked to an 8 in R hip late this afternoon because my rented hospital bed had a depression in the middle of it.  When I stepped out of the room, Hubs kindly took the mattress off the bed, turned it over, and flipped it from end to end.  OMG, what a difference it makes in comfort.  The spikes in pain are becoming less frequent and are over sooner.

I'm starting to get light headed whenever I take my Dilaudid dose because now it's too much power for my new pain reduced recovering hips.  The more powerful pain drugs lose their 'transparency' when they don't have enough pain to alleviate, and that's when the side effects come on like wooziness,  etc., and the need for a less powerful pain reliever is pronounced.  Friday physician supervised taper here we come!