Took the first step: bought the recliner

[Comfortably Numb]

This might be TMI (Too Much Information) as they say, but along with the prescription for iron pills (post-op) Dr. Gross also gave me one for a stool softener.

Anticipating that the anesthesia and opiods would cause constipation, I began taking several stool softeners per day at least one week in advance of the operation, and continued on until success was attained afterwards. This turned out to be a very wise move (literally).  As most here know, stool softeners are not laxatives unless combined with a laxative agent. Hopefully, the pure softener will prevent the need for a laxative after surgery. 

[blinky]

Feriva. I need to proofread better!


Thanks, guys. Looks like this could be the bigger issue for me.


I will try to manage the issue with dietary changes, but if it can't be done in the next week, I will buy something to help out.


When I had this problem when pregnant, we were living abroad and there wasn't anything OTC I could buy. I had to use food, including old home remedies like soaking prunes in 7-Up overnight and drinking the juice!

[MattJersey]

I had forgotten about this one.


[size=78%]I wish I'd had CN's foresight.[/size]



I thought, I'm young-ish, very good diet, food at BMI hossie was excellent, I won't take anything, even post op. Wish I had.

[blinky]

What stool softener do you recommend?


Another nitty gritty question: did anyone who did bilat check out between surgeries? Or do you feel too beat up to leave the hospital? Related question for anyone who went to SC: did your spouse or SO stay in the hospital with you overnight?


I was thinking I would check in and stay in until this was over. By myself. As the day gets closer, it is becoming clear that my husband saw it differently. He was expecting to check me out and be in the hotel with me, or even to spend the night in the hospital with me. Sweet, I know, but realistic?


I think he should go play some golf! He can bring me coffee and snacks.

[JHippy]

Related question for anyone who went to SC: did your spouse or SO stay in the hospital with you overnight?

Yes, my girlfriend stayed with me at the hospital and would have it no other way. Was not a problem at all.

On a side note while I was in surgery they gave her a pager, something the hospital was experimenting with, where she got notifications of how things were going during the procedure. It was pretty cool. And Dr. Gross came out right after to let her know how it went. She was already in my room when I woke up.

Even surgery prep she was there.

[blinky]

Thanks. H thinks he wants to be with me. I appreciate the support, but he is a restless sort and I think he will be going nuts.


The iron pills haven't been too bad btw, at least not until we took a trip out of town. At home I could manage the side effects with diet and exercise. On the road, not so much. Just a helpful hint.

[Comfortably Numb]

What stool softener do you recommend?

The cheapest one you can find where you shop for medications.  Mine was called Laxa-basic 100 Stool Softener.  Each soft gel contains 100 mg of docusate sodium (adult dosage 1-3 per day).  After looking at countless brands containing the same active ingredient and strength with prices varying by as much as $12 per 100 caps, I decided to chance it with an off brand.  No problem at all!

[blinky]

Thanks!


Home and so more normal now, but I will be ready for the next bout.


Three weeks out btw. Feeling pretty ready. My physical condition is deteriorating which helps me feel as though I have made the right choice. I am swimming, lifting, and doing some abs. It seems like every time I make a trip, I come back in worse shape. Bad beds? Fatigue? Being off my schedule? Maybe being heroic during the trip and so overdoing things? This last one was to visit College Age Son 2. The focus was on him and his needs, seeing the campus, etc, so lots of walking and irregular eating and sleeping. Mentally a good break, but physically tough.


I think some of the increased pain and trouble moving is also mental: I was in suck it up mode for a long time. I thought if I just worked harder, I would feel better. Now I am not in suck it up mode any more, I am in waiting for surgery mode, so I am feeling more pain.


Thinking about what to pack and how to carry it. I can make a four day trip with just a backpack. But that backpack is pretty darn heavy! I think  I may have to break down and use a larger wheely bag.

[blinky]

Two weeks out.


Feeling ready. Physically deteriorating. I am sure this is from both mental and physical causes. Sleeping less well, able to do less exercise (tearing it up in the weight room, though, and pulling like a fiend in the pool). Handling the iron pills better now that I am at home and in charge of my diet again.


Bright spots: friends are offering up their help for meals, driving me around, even staying over if H has to go out of town. I could end up twenty pounds heavier at the end of recovery! We will miss a big BBQ festival this year, and a friend has offered to save us a big plate and deliver it the night we get home. (Not that SC doesn't have BBQ.) H, who has been slow and distant about this whole process, in denial, has embraced my choice and is rallying. He knows more about HR than I thought and will explain it to his friends. He is cooking a few nights a week and loaded the dishwasher for the second time ever in our marriage. I think he wishes Dr Gross didn't prescribe iron pills so we could go out and eat liver or at least steak. (H is a very healthy eater; 5-7 fruits and veggies, only low fat protein, mostly fish.)


I am collecting books to read and lists of shows to watch. I am also thinking about what reasonable short term goals I could set for myself for post op. Here is a thought: my swim team does an hour swim every January. We swim for an hour, that's it. Of course, we each try to hit a personal goal, like break 3k or 4k or beat last year's distance.  This year, I think  a reasonable goal for me would be to just swim for an hour. No goal in meters, just to stay in steady motion in the water for an hour. Might not be flip turning, might still be gentle off the wall. I would be approximately ten weeks post op.

[jd]

You're almost there Blinky! I'm sorry to hear that you're deteriorating but at least the end is very much in sight. Like you said, perhaps there's some psychological aspect where the wall you put up to block the pain is crumbling now that your mind knows the surgery is almost here. You'll be through it before you know it!


The help you've lined up from friends and of course H sounds fantastic, you're going to do just fine!


I'm surprised at how quickly my days have gone by. Haven't even gotten to the stack of books I planned to read yet, and not many movies or TV shows either. I'm glad that I'm at least not bored!

[blinky]

One week out.


Is it strange that I am counting the days the way a kid would count them for Christmas? Not just with eagerness, but with the advanced math methods of Xmas day counting, like not counting the day it is or the day of the event, just the intervening days.


Anyway. Feeling ready. Have the packing list but not all items on it. Getting ahead on work. Husband training going well. (Sorry, guys. The truth is I do a lot of things around here without thinking about it. That makes it harder to explain and delegate.) I am sure we will have surprises, especially related to the 90 degree rule and how to function with that in place. I can see myself dropping things and having to call a close by friend to help me pick something up! Trying to approach the situation with good humor. Preparing to be grateful and not micromanage.


Trying not to anticipate too much, but trying to be prepared at the same time. I have had one previous operation, a minimally invasive female surgery. It was a piece of cake. I prepared everyone for the worst (well, not the absolute worst, but you get the picture) and then sailed through it. Recalling the emotions then: curious about the procedure and did lots of research, only truly anxious right before when I went under, waking up and thinking 1) I am alive! and 2) it doesn't hurt! For that operation, not much pain at all. Also not much appetite, unusual for me, and had to consciously decide to eat more to feel more energetic. Carefully phased return to activity. I can't do a head to head comparison of these two procedures; the first one was potentially more serious (excluding cancer diagnosis) but I didn't have any real physical pain before or after.


On the topic of anticipation: planning on being out of it for about two weeks, then gradually returning to the world. I hope that is reasonable. I don't mean hitting the gym in two weeks, I mean doing some work at home, attending a concert, that sort of return to normal.

[MattJersey]

You will soon be on the other side, and with all the prep it should be plain sailing.


It is funny but when you look back with hindsight in a couple of months, you will be surprised how easy it was. Even with little planning, if things go normal, it is surprisingly straightforward.  For example, you will drop something, and you will bend over with your leg poking backwards, bending over your good bent knee. A doddle.


I think one week and you'll be having to employ vast quantities of self control to stop yourself over doing things.


Good luck! (Which you won't need, I am sure.)

[djganz]

Even with 2 hips resurfaced, you'll find you can still pick something off of the floor without violating the 90 degree rule by (with your feet apart) reaching for progressively lower things to hold onto (like a table, then a chair) while walking your feet backwards.


Good luck!

[blinky]

Ha! That's a helpful hint. I will remember that.

[jd]

Good luck tomorrow blinky!


How'd it go today at the pre-op visit?

[blinky]

Hi! Great, thanks. About to leave for The Big Moment Number One.


PreOp was very reassuring, reassuring that this is the right choice. Hospital was clean, quiet, full of helpful, happy people. Dr Gross' staff was efficient, knowledgeable, enthusiastic about the procedure. Lee was great, knows her stuff and can direct you to the best places to eat (we approach every new place we go as a chance to see and do fun things, including eat). By the time I saw Dr Gross, most of my general questions had been answered already, but he was happy to show me my X-rays and talk about my particular case, show me the device and talk about it. He and Lee are passionate about this procedure and want to do it right. They have great confidence in their ability to perform resurfacing and give me back my active life.


This experience has so far been a model for how all medical procedures should be.


I will offer details later.

[Pat Walter]

Good Luck.  You are in good hands with Dr. Gross and staff.

Looking forward to reading your recovery updates.

Pat

[PMac]

Good luck Blinky, I'm nearly there too and had a similar experience at my pre-op. Spoke to soon about the scrub though as I now have some nice new 'shower gel' to use.


See you on the other side (so to speak)

[blinky]

Down to nine fingers with the O2 monitor on, so I will just offer a tease for now and say it went well and I feel great.

[jd]

Great news blinky!

I lost count of how many times I "temporarily" took off the O2 monitor and then promptly forgot to put it back on :)