Countdown has started

[PMac]

So various conversations with various people later and I'm extremely positive regarding my surgeon and am definitely sticking with him. Especially as I did attempt to contact Dr Treacy yet had absolutely no response to calls or emails!

The main thing is that I actually have a balloon pilot friend who despite doing knees himself knows my guy extremely well and described him as one of the best surgeons he know's and reassured me that I couldn't be in better hands! Interestingly he also told me that the BHR is an excellent choice and he highly recommends it and told me to ignore the negative press in the UK in the past.

So there we are, pre-op tests on Friday 30th and then two weeks later d-day on Friday 13th November. Decided to buy a riser recliner to help things out as well as I'm another one of these who sleeps on their side so at least I can doze in that and lots of TV box sets to catch up with while im limited in mobility.

Health kick is going well and so far dropped around 20lbs and have another 6 to go to be at the goal I set myself and also the exercise is dropping my blood pressure as well although I'm finding that I can only do the gym every other day as the bad hip really complains for about 24 hours before calming down enough to do it all again!

Just want it over and done with now so that I can get on with the job of recovering.

Thanks to those that have emailed me and messaged me by the way, certainly helped in reassuring me and helping my confidence in everything.

[PMac]

Here is my balloon by the way for those that wanted a picture!

[blinky]

Good job on the weight loss. I hear you on the hip pain slowing down the exercise. I had such grand plans to get in the best shape possible pre op and then couldn't do everything I hoped to do due to pain. Whether it is in my head or in my body, I am deteriorating physically. It is improving my mental readiness for surgery, I can say that at least.


Wonder why no word from Treacy.


The balloon is beautiful. Getting back in there is strong incentive.

[PMac]

Ok so now I'm stressed, had to go for a routine asthma check up today and everything was great however my blood pressure was through the roof! And I'm pretty sure that if it's the same next week at my pre-op I'm in real danger of it not going ahead. Really shocked as I'd been monitoring for a month and it has been well inside the acceptable levels. I've done everything recommended to lower it and now I don't know what to do!


In other news I bought a riser recliner today in readiness but now I'm hoping I get to use it!


In a pretty low place today

[oldsoccerplayer]

High blood pressure could be caused by (subconscious?) stress knowing that your headed for surgery. Did you check with anyone if that would be a problem?

[blinky]

I was wondering that, too. Can you take it again on your own NOT in a doctor's office? See if it is just white coat hypertension?


I guess no time to see your internist. Maybe doing some relaxing and exercising to help bring it down? Eat less salt, find ways to calm your mind.


Good luck.

[PMac]

So after a nights sleep with it rolling around in my mind I'm tending to agree with you to a certain extent, I was picked up on my blood pressure around 18 months ago and started monitoring it at home. As you say as soon as you go in to have it checked it goes up anyway.


Up until yesterday I had been monitoring it 2 or 3 times a week and whilst slightly high it was well within the safe zone. Yesterday was a pretty stressful day at work and I was pretty wound up when I went in for the test but the readings were a real shock to say the least. Of course now I'm stressing about it so it becomes a self fulfilling profecy!


I am going in to my local doctor for a chat on Monday armed with my own readings and if I have to I'll push for some medication which apparently takes a couple of weeks to kick in, this still gives me a week in hand it only has to come down slightly and I'm good to go

[petemeads]

Hi Paul - I have the same 'white coat' response to professional blood pressure measurements, seeing over 150 systolic on several occasions over the past couple of years. I too bought my own monitor and went armed with my data just in case but did not need it. Being awake with a spinal block during the op was fascinating because I could see just how low and slow the anaesthetist could get my heart with the drugs cocktail (pulse about 35, systolic well below 100) and I assume this is to minimise blood loss and avoid transfusion. I'm sure you will be fine. I had a small skin biopsy with a local anaesthetic where the nurse did pre- and post-op BP readings and got 152 and 122 - they seem to acknowledge that stress has a major effect...

Good Luck!

Pete

[PMac]

So tomorrow is my pre-op appointment and the good news is my blood pressure is back to normal and I've written the last 3 months readings down so hopefully that will be all good.


So it's two weeks tomorrow til d-day, recliner arrives tomorrow as well so it's all getting very real now and the jitters are definitely starting to kick in now!

[jd]

Congrats PMac. It'll be over before you know it. I started to get super nervous right before too. Jitters are totally normal for a major surgery like this. Once I flew to SC it really started to seem real, but also realize that you'll be on the other side and healing fast before you know it too! Time seemed to really fly for me after the surgery.

[blinky]

Whew! Glad the bp went down. What do you think did it? Less coffee? Calmer thoughts?

[PMac]

A combination of both I think Blinky, was particularly stressed out when it was last checked as well. Looks like we will be a couple of weeks apart on our op's we should compare notes!

[PMac]

Congrats PMac. It'll be over before you know it. I started to get super nervous right before too. Jitters are totally normal for a major surgery like this. Once I flew to SC it really started to seem real, but also realize that you'll be on the other side and healing fast before you know it too! Time seemed to really fly for me after the surgery.

Thanks JD I've been reading your updates with interest, find it really reassuring reading all the positive (and even negative) reports. Just want it done now so I can start recovering. I have a goal as well as we have just booked a long weekend trip to Paris for our anniversary in April. It will be 5 months to the day from my surgery so determined to be walking freely by then!

[PMac]

So pre-op went well and it's all systems go for the 13th, no turning back now!

[blinky]

Yay! Two weeks. You can do this!


Hey, a question I forgot to ask: do we have to do a big Hiblens scrub before surgery? I didn't see that in Dr Gross' instructions. Not a big deal. I just forgot to ask.

[jd]

Fantastic PMac! Best of luck!


Blinky -- yes, Dr Gross' staff give you a couple of packets of Hibiclens at the pre-op appt and you wash the upper thigh front to back with them the night before and the morning of surgery.

[blinky]

Thanks! I have been reading other joint replacement sites, and sometimes there is a discussion of a big scrub, sleeping on fresh sheets and fresh PJs, etc. Since I hadn't read about that here, I didn't think it would be an issue, but better to know now.

[jd]

Nah, they don't make a big deal of it. Nothing about sheets, nothing about clothes (although I think some things go without saying, like clean underwear!), just a night-before and morning-of quick wash with the hibiclens just in that area (not a full body scrub).


Blinky, are you scheduled for Monday? You're both so close! Good luck to both of you and it'll be over before you know it!

[blinky]

Travel Monday first leg Wednesday.

[PMac]

No mentions of any scrubs for me, had a meeting with the physio though and had my list of do's and don'ts which was much more strict and lengthy than I had expected. However the physiotherapist then noticed it was a resurfacing rather than a total hip replacement and told me to ignore most of what she'd just said!