Getting close: Need some reassurance from the bilats!

[mountaingoat]

I am now two weeks out from surgery and have suddenly gotten quite nervous. I'm crazy busy at work at the moment as would happen before I go out of the office on leave. And I'm having a hard time sleeping just from the unconscious anxiety about it all. I have definitely struggled to get to this point...the ups and downs of my hip have meant that I have postponed resurfacing two other times in the last 2 years but I am really ready to get this behind me and get off the roller coaster. I wish the injections I got 4 months ago would completely run out this weekend just in time for surgery but oddly they have lasted a lot longer than I ever expected so I'm not hobbling into surgery.

I did same-day bilateral in 2009 when I had both hips scoped in one miserable 7 hour surgery (microfracture on both sides!). I woke up in quite a bit of pain and the first 4 days were pretty rough but then by about day 7 it wasn't any worse than doing one hip. I am hoping that this will be the case again with bilateral resurfacing although I expect that it will be more like 4 or 5 weeks before the trauma of both done at once becomes less significant. I have a 9-month old who is taking off crawling and I keep telling myself that if  I do this now I won't have to deal with surgery on either hip when she is walking and causing chaos in her wake all around our house.  ;) I don't want to have to go back to SC in 6 months or even a year to do this all over...but on the eve of the big event I'm starting to get pretty nervous. Its not even the pain so much as the disability that scares me.

I think there are a few others on this board who did the same-week bilateral with Dr. Gross? Any pep talks and words of wisdom you can offer before I go would be great. Thanks,

Amy

[hernanu]

Not a same day or week bilat (same fiscal quarter, though?  8)  ) but the same thoughts went through my mind, especially about work before the second surgery.

Some kind coworkers mentioned that they 'worried' that if I went in for a second procedure within three months that my bosses would think I was unreliable. I also was heading up a large defense contract that I had to hand off to a very nervous manager. I set things up as well as possible, with explicit instructions on how to proceed, and was still nervous.

Well, I had a moment of clear thinking about a month before my second surgery, as I was graduating from my first hip outpatient PT (no gown, cap or gifts... I'm still holding a grudge) --- I had not felt so good on my left hip since forever, my spirits were flying because I was going to be so pain free on the other and ... when was the last time I had done something this good for myself!?!

I think we become so focused on the career, the family, the church, whatever is valuable to you, that we forget to simply allow ourselves to be well and happy if we can. My epiphany was simply that I was worth this, that work could survive me being gone and no one had the right to make me feel any guilt about this. Especially me.

I've given a lot to my work and will do so in the future. The same for my family, etc. but I would have been hurting myself by delaying for a project that did OK without me.

When I returned, the project was finished, not without issues, but so what. I went to a different project and am now doing a couple of others. The world still turned. I was happy.

I think our latest crazy (kidding, guys) same day bilats are two4one and woodstock... Check them out, and I'm sure they'll drop in here.

[tennisgirl]

Hi Amy,

First, let me say it is so normal to feel this way, and it's kinda surreal as your date gets closer.  We all have felt like you at some point.  You will have an outstanding experience with Dr. Gross and his team.   You've been on a long road to get to this point...I remember seeing your posts on the other support group websites (FAI, etc.) for years and am glad you have chosen to get yourself out of pain.  We all support your decision. 

Mindi

[imgetinold]

Amy,

I am now on Day #2 post surgery.  So, my surgery was Wednesday morning, and I ran 4 miles on Monday...with only a little residual pain.  I felt the same way on Tuesday ,as we were driving to Dr. Gross' office.  I could have postponed, and dealt with good weeks and terrible weeks.  But, it was truly a matter of time.  Not a question of "if", but "when". 

Well the sooner I get it done, the sooner I can exercise and do the things I want to without paying for it later.  Yes, I'll be restricted for many months from many things, but I was already restricted with the bad hip.  So, by summer I'll be back to doing the things I want to do instead of restricting my activity.

Good luck with your decision.

-Andy

[newdog]

Amy,
Don't you dare cancel surgery this time!  >:(   If you do, we Hippys will hunt you down and.....just kidding.
You are not feeling any different than the rest of us did. The way you feel is just the way it is. The feelings are totally normal and I wish I could speak in person with everyone who is having the pre-op scary-thought-stuff. I went through it and can tell you that your imagination is what is causing your anxiety. We tend to think about how scared we will be on the day of surgery and it really gets us.....well....scared. I imagined myself being really panicked and walking out of the hospital and refusing to go back in. The Friday night before my surgery my wife and I were staying at a hotel in Columbia, S.C. and I remember posting on this forum and saying "What the H--- did I get myself into this time?" I can absolutely guarantee that you won't feel that way when you arrive at the hospital. When you arrive the morning of your first surgery you will of course feel a little anxiety, but once you start talking to the people at Providence especially the pre-op nurses, believe me you'll feel so much better. I can't explain why but it just made me feel so much more relaxed. And that was before they gave me the "happy juice"!  :) Wonderful stuff!  ;D
The staff at the hospital are the greatest and will do all they can do to make you feel more comfortable. Don't try and be brave and hold your feelings in, let them know how you feel, they will do their best to reassure you. You won't be treated like you are on a production line or just a "patient", they are really good. Lee Webb walked through the doors from outside and walked straight over to me when she saw me in the pre-op room and asked how I felt and talked to me for a few minutes.Then she and Dr. Gross walked around to the other patients who were waiting and talked to them. They both still had their coats on. (It was cold and snowy that day in South Carolina.) They were checking patient charts and getting ready for their day. Really nice, friendly people.
When you are done and a "Hippy", you will tell your story and it will be the same as the rest of us. "It just wasn't as bad as I thought it would be." I can also guarantee that you will be very enthused and excited about getting rid of the pain and misery of bad hips.Then it will be your turn to help others on this forum who are getting that scary feeling too.
You won't be sorry getting both hips done the same week. Once you get the hang of the crutches, you'll be amazed how well you will get around.

*Overall, was it a challenging experience?    Absolutely.
*Am I glad I had it done?    I can't imagine my life still being the way it was with bad hips.
*Do I have any regrets about the surgery?    NONE! If I had to I would do it again.

If it was an awful, terrible ordeal, I would be honest and say so, but it just wasn't. When you get up to walk for the first time on your first hip, you will be amazed at how smooth it feels. The old hip pain will be gone. You'' see.

[hipnhop]

Amy, just had seconf hip done yesterday. Damn it hurts but I know this will pass in the next 5 weeks and I will be on the road for a return to an active lifestyle.  Get it done.

[bilateralbliss]

Hi Amy,
Had both mine done on Dec 6th. Do I reget it? NO!!
Everyone feels nervous before sugery, it`s normal. The way I looked at it was this. I wanted to have both done
together, that way I was on the upward path. Not a case of Oh dear, next BHR in a week or few months, no point.
Honestly it wasn`t bad at all. Ok so you don`t have a "good leg" to support- but I didn`t anyway!! You have to use crutches
for one so may as well be for two! The sheer joy of being pain free, knowing you`re then just healing was wonderful. I was
on a high :) Honestly people were amazed at my progress, so take heart, you have made the right choice.
You`ll be fine

[MattBrunner]

Hi Amy,

I am at 6 months Post op this week and doing everything I did before my hip went bad.  Skiing, running, volleyball. 

It was scary going into surgery and as that day approaches we all have second thoughts.  But every day I get in the car and don't need to use the handle or just wake up or get out of a chair pain free I am so happy for my new BHR.

We are all with you in the words of Larry the cable guy "Get her Done". (o:

Matt