The purpose of starting this thread is to document my recovery and hopefully ultimate success of bilateral resurfacing surgery performed by Dr. Gross and Lee Webb on my right hip 3/16/2009 for the right and 3/19/2009 on the left.
A little bit about me. I just turned 56 years old and am by no means a fitness model (and probably somewhat embarrassed about how little I have to show for how much I have worked out :'(, but I have been physically active most of my life with running, biking, swimming, skiing, hiking, yoga and weight lifting. Well up until about a year ago, when my left hip suddenly became as sore as my right hip, which had become sore and stiff about seven years ago. I was able to compensate and refused to let it slow me down, but now every form of physical activity now hurts. I have become increasing less physically active with each passing month. I have delayed getting treatment this past year while relocating our household from the Washington D.C. area to Colorado. Maybe this delay has played in my favor.
Last February with my rapidly deteriorating hips, I went to an orthopedic surgeon and he diagnosed moderate OA in my right hip and slight OA in my left. He advised that someday when the pay became intolerable I would need an THR, but I should put that off as long as possible. I had heard something about "resurfacing" and ask him about it. He said it was pretty knew and he saw no benefits over the THR.
By October, we were living in temporary quarters waiting for our new house to be finished and the pain had continued to get worse. I made an appointment with a Denver OS and his conclusion was I had severe OA in the right hip and moderate in the left. He had done resurfacing but told me I was a poor candidate for the procedure and he was only 50% confident that he could do the resurfacing and would know until the surgery was begun. He also wanted to wait at least three months between hips. I went ahead a rather hesitantly scheduled surgery for the middle of December.
The more I thought about it the more I didn't like those odds. This web site lead me to send my xrays to Dr. Gross and within a couple of days Lee Webb emailed me saying I was an excellent candidate for resurfacing. Dr. Gross called me on the phone and spent about 40 minutes discussing the operation. He suspected there was more bone on bone contact happening in my left hip than the X-rays indicated and said he could take care of both hips on the same trip to Columbia, SC. My recovery might be slightly longer, but once done I'd be pain free and not facing another operation and recovery. The pace and responsibilities of my project manager's job make it very difficult to be away from work and extended period, and my wife is a school teacher and it is hard for her to be gone, so doing both hips during one trip was very appealing.
I scheduled the operation for the middle of March the week before my wife's spring break, so she could be with me for the operations in SC and then have the next week to be my nurse at home. Dr Gross operated on my right hip on Monday (3/16/09) and my left hip on Thursday (3/19/09). I was discharged from the hospital on Saturday (3/21/09) and we flew home to Denver on Sunday (3/22/09).
So the posts that follows chronicles my recovery from the bilateral hip resurfacing surgeries. Please feel free to ask questions and make comments.
March 23, 2009: Post Op Day 7 (right) Day 4 (Left)
My first full day home and my worst day of this experience so far! http://[i]swelling%20and%20pain%20and%20questioning%20my%20own%20intelligence[/i]. I did my twice per day PT exercises and walked on crutches about 400' each time. My right leg is sorer than my left and is noticeably the more swollen of the two. Seems to be to types of pain happening. The first is an incredibly tight/twisted knot of muscles, almost like a constant muscle cramp. The underlying muscles are sore to the touch. My intuition tells me this tightness will get better with time. Funny thing is in different spots on the two legs: on the outside of my leg above my right knee, but on the left about mid thigh.
The other type of pain is far more frightening. It is a sharp stabbing pain from deep in the groin and hip joint itself. When it happens, I immediately panic, fearing that I just fractured the neck of the femur. Fortunately it does last long. I guess I adjust to it when it happens.
Chuck is entitled to an "I told you so!," but part of my discomfort may have been trying to be a "hero" and avoid the heavy duty pain killers. I have read several post from other of Dr. Gross patients stating they didn't need anything but Tylenol after leaving the hospital. I didn't think I needed the vicodin. I decided I would not play "hero" tomorrow, use the drugs before the PT and hope things improve.
March 24, 2009: Post Op Day 8 (right) Day 5 (Left)
Today was much better than yesterday, despite a fitful night full of self doubt. I arose feeling better than the day before. I took a long hot shower and worked on all the areas of residual adhesive tape from the hospital. The shower was wonderful. I felt good enough to sit a couple of hours in front of my desktop computer catching up on email. Before the morning PT exercise, I took a Vicodin and my morning walk was slow and probably about 600'. The air was crisp and the view of the fresh snow covered Front Range was inspiring. No comparison to how bad I felt on Monday. The swelling in the right leg is decreasing and the muscle pain doesn't seem as intense. I did put on the polar packs and took a little nap courtesy of the drugs.
Afternoon PT exercise seemed easier than this morning and some of the muscle stiffness seems to be easing. I increased my distance to about 800' with some of it being up hill. I had a couple of those "joint jolts" during the walk, but decided I probably haven't really fractured anything and perhaps they were part of the healing process.
Overall a much better day and a much better attitude.
I will throw in my two cents worth about the importance of not being afraid to use pain pills at your point in the process. Unnecessary pain can affect your sleep, attitude, rehab, and therefore your recovery. I too dealt with the issues of reading the reports of people only needing Tylenol, and as a fellow Gross hippy, I can report that Tylenol was not enough for me for awhile. If you are concerned about using opiate pain killers, I did call the office, and they prescribed an alternative that worked great during that transition healing period. The "no pain" stories are inspirational, but you should also know that some of us that had significant early pain and slower initial recoveries, have still had very happy endings (since the six month point, I have been skiing very hard for eight hours every day, plus going for a long daily walks, and then following that up with daily workouts, for the past three months :)).
Alan,
Welcome to the land of "monkey fist" it's a world where you go for about 10 days or so of feeling that constant cramp.
Soon, maybe a few days you will make the "turn" and you'll be headed for the finish line. Give yourself time to heal, relax, sleep a lot but when you are up stay moving as much as your body will alow. One thing, I was VERY tired the first 10-14 days.
If you fractured your femoral head you would know it for sure from what I read, lots of us got twinges the first few weeks. I got a really bad pain if I moved in bed the wrong way on the outside of my knee.
Chuck
Quote from: uberalan on March 25, 2009, 12:16:44 AM
March 23, 2009: Post Op Day 7 (right) Day 4 (Left)
My first full day home and my worst day of this experience so far! http://[i]swelling%20and%20pain%20and%20questioning%20my%20own%20intelligence[/i]. I did my twice per day PT exercises and walked on crutches about 400' each time. My right leg is sorer than my left and is noticeably the more swollen of the two. Seems to be to types of pain happening. The first is an incredibly tight/twisted knot of muscles, almost like a constant muscle cramp. The underlying muscles are sore to the touch. My intuition tells me this tightness will get better with time. Funny thing is in different spots on the two legs: on the outside of my leg above my right knee, but on the left about mid thigh.
Thanks John and Chuck for you comments. I have been taking the pain meds before doing my PT and daily walks. The "monkey fists" must just be part of the healing processes and I know will eventually go away, unlike the OA pain, which would on get worse had I not done something.
March 25, 2009: Post Op Day 9 (right) Day 6 (Left)
Today was a break through day! ;D
I discovered I could "walk" using my crutches (i.e. Right crutch forward with left leg forward alternating with left crutch with right leg forward). This was so much easier than moving both crutches forward simultaneously. This feels so natural and my wife commented that I was "walking" with no detectable limp. :D
It was also a very mild and beautiful day in Colorado and I was so pumped that I went double the distance from the day before (probably about a 1/4 mile) with this new form of walking. I went again that afternoon and increased the distance by another block or so. That evening, I even had enough energy left to attend as small group meeting in our neighborhood, where I sat for a couple of hours in a straight back chair.
Assessment: I am clearly on the road to recovery!
March 25, 2009: Post Op Day 10 (Right) Day 7 (Left)
Blizzard day in Colorado and my bodies tells me I have over done it! I awoke with a different feeling in my legs. The "monkey's fist" was still there and painful, but my legs felt dead. Overall, I felt hung-over and out of sorts. Just moving about the house caused my legs to tire quickly. I had felt this way years before when I was a runner on the day after a road race. So with the blizzard raging outside, I decided to take the day off and didn't even make it to the computer to post. I need to learn to pace my recovery.
We did pull the "super seal" bandage off the right hip incision. My scar is about 4" long and it is not very pretty. Dr. Gross uses cement to seal the wound instead on stitches or staples. It will be interesting to see how it "cures out."
Assessment: It is easy to over do it on the road to recovery!
It is good to hear your progress. It is understandable how the frustration level can get sometimes in those first couple of weeks. For me being dependent on someone else for driving was probably the most frustrating. After a little time passes it will be back to mowing the lawn though-- like Chuck says. I have been out getting my lawn equipment in shape. I just have to be careful not to forget the surgery I just had in February!... strange as that may seem. What were once those nasty looking scars have become sealed up to thin strips and the puffy topography around each slice has leveled back down to flat and tight. Like so many have said, looking back I believe it is the high expectancy and positive attitude that keeps you optimistic through the first weeks -- along with continually reading this website ;D
Tim,
Glad to hear your continuing to make progress in your recovery. Good to hear the incisions will eventually look better. We removed the super sealant bandage on the left hip this morning. Now I have a matched set. If you don't like the view, never tell a bilateral surface hippy to "turn the other cheek." ::)
I would like to see you post an update to your post in bilateral stories about the significant events that you have experienced since your previous post. Always good to know what to expect next.
Alan
Attached is an x-ray of my new hips.
hey Alan...remember to pace yourself - you had both legs done which really must be wearing you down....
It will all come together, don't worry, it's not a race.
You're body's going crazy trying to repair both hip surgeries, so its going to be important for you to eat well and rest. You will feel tired alot...like wiped out...this is normal.
Pace yourself....and don't forget "ice is your friend"
I am inviting Alan out to Pgh to cut my grass this Summer ;D
I am so glad that Alan has a surface hippy to compare notes with. Thanks so much for paying it forward to Alan.
Like I always say this is the best hippy support site in the world......maybe the universe.
Chuck
Quote from: landaq007 on March 27, 2009, 03:45:35 PM
It is good to hear your progress. It is understandable how the frustration level can get sometimes in those first couple of weeks. For me being dependent on someone else for driving was probably the most frustrating. After a little time passes it will be back to mowing the lawn though-- like Chuck says. I have been out getting my lawn equipment in shape. I just have to be careful not to forget the surgery I just had in February!... strange as that may seem. What were once those nasty looking scars have become sealed up to thin strips and the puffy topography around each slice has leveled back down to flat and tight. Like so many have said, looking back I believe it is the high expectancy and positive attitude that keeps you optimistic through the first weeks -- along with continually reading this website ;D
Alan, I had bilateral hip resurfacing (bhr) on 1-7-09 (4 hour surgery). I didn't want to miss two seasons of sports by
splitting the surgeries even though my left hip felt better than the right. After the surgery Dr. Nelson said that my left
hip was actually tighter than my right even though it felt better and had better range of motion.
I agree with the others that ice and pain medication are your friends. I think I have had an average recovery so far. I used about 125 oxycodone 5/325 MG (Percocet) tablets before I could wean myself. Last place I needed them was at
work sitting at my desk/computer.
I was cleared to drive at my two week check up. I could only do it because my right leg was stronger and more "mobile"
than the left. To start I only drove to work since it hurt to sit and drive.
We rented a hospital bed which I slept in for about 3 weeks after I got home from the hospital which I stayed in 4 nights. This gave me more comfort at night because I could easily change my position since I could only sleep on my back and since it was in the living room it kept my snoring from waking my wife. I also used the hospital bed as my PT area until I could do my standing PT excersises.
I would recommend out patient PT after 6 weeks or so. It has really helped me a lot.
I am just now at the point where my endurance is coming back. I went back to work after two weeks but at first it was
tough to make it through a day. I had more than a few short or half days. I would often retreat home to my recliner where sitting was a lot more comfortable. Healing both hips and incisions takes a lot out of you. If I had to do this over again I would arrange for a recliner at work!
Ted Roberts, Minneapolis, MN
Hi Ted.
I had my left hip done by Dr. Palmer-Stillwater on 1/7/09, and will do the right on 5/6/09. I'm looking forward to the second surgery since I have seen huge improvements with ROM and flexibility with the first. I've still got a way to go before being fully healed, but so far so good. Where did you have surgery with Dr. Nelson? I live near Duluth, and decided to go with Dr. Palmer after some research.
todd
Karen,
Sometime it is easy to forget that this is
major surgery. The Colorado blizzard forced me to cool my pace with another day of rest on Friday. I spent most of the day at the computer and talking to mortgage companies about refinancing my house. By late afternoon both feet, ankles and calves were swelling. I had had swelling of my right leg on the plane ride home last Sunday and thought I was passed the swelling stage.
So I spent the evening with my two new best friends, Polar 300 Ice machines, ;) wrapped around my legs and slept with my legs elevated on two rows of pillows. By this morning the swelling had gone down.
So I wonder if the swelling was due to "over doing it" on Wednesday or from the surgery a week ago?
Quote from: karenj_m on March 27, 2009, 04:23:04 PM
hey Alan...remember to pace yourself - you had both legs done which really must be wearing you down....
It will all come together, don't worry, it's not a race.
You're body's going crazy trying to repair both hip surgeries, so its going to be important for you to eat well and rest. You will feel tired alot...like wiped out...this is normal.
Pace yourself....and don't forget "ice is your friend"
Chuck,
I agree. If not the universe, at least within the galaxy. ;) What is so amazing thing about this web site is being able to conversing with someone who had just had the same procedure performed by the same Doctor. Tim has been great to share his experience with me.
Quote from: obxpelican on March 27, 2009, 06:39:58 PM
I am inviting Alan out to Pgh to cut my grass this Summer ;D
I am so glad that Alan has a surface hippy to compare notes with. Thanks so much for paying it forward to Alan.
Like I always say this is the best hippy support site in the world......maybe the universe.
Chuck
Ted,
Thanks for posting your experience. I am sure that I'll be glad to have had both hips done last week and not be just half fixed, still have bone on bone pain and having to keep the physical activities of my life on hold another six months.
In retrospect, I wished I had rented a hospital bar with a trapeze. I have been sleeping in my recliner. (I would love having the recliner at work and perhaps forgetting to take it home, but I am a government worker and that could be perceived really bad :-[.) I slept in bed with my wife for the first time since being home last night. I know my snoring and the accompanying noise from my effort to get up to use the restroom in the middle of the night must be robbing her of a lot of sleep. She goes back to work next week.
I am such a light sleeper, that I use to not be able to sleep on my back, because as soon as I fell asleep, Iwould begin snoring and my own snoring would wake me up. However, in the last couple of months before the hip surgery, the OA pain from laying on my side and turning over to the other side became so unbearable, I moved to sleeping in the recline and somehow learned to fall asleep despite my own snoring. While in the hospital and after coming home, I find myself awaking with my mouth and throat totally dried out and all stuck together. What a terrible feeling.
Yesterday for the first time, I tried lying on my sides in bed. It was scary. I worried about breaking something loose even though the hospital discharge instructions said there were no restrictions on sleeping position. It was very uncomfortable and there is noway I could sleep in that position. It felt like I was lying on top of a hardball under my hip.
So in support of the staggered bilateral surgeries at least you would have more choices for sleeping positions.
I am planning to be away from the office for six weeks, but hope to start doing some work via telecommuting next week. My transportation is a sports car, which is too low slung and a manual shift transmission to make driving practical with the bilateral.
Best wishes for your continued successful recovery.
Quote from: tedroberts on March 28, 2009, 12:20:03 PM
Alan, I had bilateral hip resurfacing (bhr) on 1-7-09 (4 hour surgery). I didn't want to miss two seasons of sports by
splitting the surgeries even though my left hip felt better than the right. After the surgery Dr. Nelson said that my left
hip was actually tighter than my right even though it felt better and had better range of motion.
I agree with the others that ice and pain medication are your friends. I think I have had an average recovery so far. I used about 125 oxycodone 5/325 MG (Percocet) tablets before I could wean myself. Last place I needed them was at
work sitting at my desk/computer.
I was cleared to drive at my two week check up. I could only do it because my right leg was stronger and more "mobile"
than the left. To start I only drove to work since it hurt to sit and drive.
We rented a hospital bed which I slept in for about 3 weeks after I got home from the hospital which I stayed in 4 nights. This gave me more comfort at night because I could easily change my position since I could only sleep on my back and since it was in the living room it kept my snoring from waking my wife. I also used the hospital bed as my PT area until I could do my standing PT excersises.
I would recommend out patient PT after 6 weeks or so. It has really helped me a lot.
I am just now at the point where my endurance is coming back. I went back to work after two weeks but at first it was
tough to make it through a day. I had more than a few short or half days. I would often retreat home to my recliner where sitting was a lot more comfortable. Healing both hips and incisions takes a lot out of you. If I had to do this over again I would arrange for a recliner at work!
Ted Roberts, Minneapolis, MN
March 27, 2009: Post Op Day 11 (right) Day 8 (Left)
Given the snow packed sidewalks and streets from yesterday's blizzard, I decided to take another "easy day" to continue my recovery from over doing things on Wednesday. Today we removed the dressing from the left hip and it too was a 4" long incision. Also tried lying on my sides in bed for the first time since the surgery. Scary rolling on to my side and very uncomfortable lying on my side. It feels like I am lying on top of a hardball under my hip. No way I could sleep that way.
By late afternoon, I noticed both my feet, ankles and calves had become badly swollen. Last Sunday while traveling home on the plane my right leg really became badly swollen. I thought I was passed the swelling stage. So iced and elevated all evening and by this morning the swelling had gone down.
Question for other hippies: Did you continue to have bouts of swelling during your recovery.
March 28, 2009: Post Op Day 12 (right) Day 9 (Left)
Yesterday's swelling has reduced significantly and the snow has melted enough to go for a walk. I walk about 1/4 mile on crutches with only minor discomfort toward the end of my circular path, which is up hill. I began consciously trying to reduce the weight I putting on the crutches.
For the first time, I feel stable enough to shuffle around without the crutches in the house. One amazing discovery is while sitting I can spread my knees further apart than I could pre-surgery and when I bring them back together. My in-laws arrive to stay with me next week while my wife returns from work. They are amazed that I answer the door without crutches and question.
I apply the Polar 300's and take a Vicodin during the afternoon when I feel some discomfort and a little swelling in the ankles.
I sleep the entire night in bed with my wife and briefly try rolling over on to my right side. Too much discomfort lying on my side for more than just a few minutes. I make a mental note to ask Dr. Gross if he and Lee were playing pool during my operation and lost the Q BALL. I have perfected my technique somewhat in getting in and out of bed without making too much noise.
March 29, 2009: Post Op Day 13 (right) Day 10 (Left)
This is the magical tenth day after the last surgery where so many patients report feeling a net gain in their recovery. I am feeling very good and my morning walk with my father-in-law is about 300' further than yesterday.
During the walk I pass a neighbor who was speaking to some friends sitting in a car in her drive way and she asks, "What happened to you?" I start explaining and suddenly a man jumps out of the car and runs over to me. He smiles and said "This is what you can look forward to being able to do in about three months." He had a THR three months ago and I was impressed with his spryness. I tried to explain that I had had resurfacing instead of a THR and he said he had never heard of resurfacing.
I still have pain and discomfort when I first stand up after sitting for any length of time. I definitely feel my right leg is ahead of my left in recovery. I plan to do a second walk to equal length before supper.
It will be nice when the snow completely melts and I can have access to the numerous cross country paved trails in our neighborhood, but alas another snow storm is forecast for this evening and Monday for the Front Range.
Alan,
Good job shuffling around without the stix, that's great news because that means walking without the stix will be soon. After a while those stix just get in the way anyhow.
When can you stop by to see my lawn? ;D
Chuck
QuoteI am inviting Alan out to Pgh to cut my grass this Summer Grin
I am so glad that Alan has a surface hippy to compare notes with. Thanks so much for paying it forward to Alan.
Like I always say this is the best hippy support site in the world......maybe the universe.
Chuck
It is my pleasure to pay it forward -- and it is comforting to be able to!! That is an open invitation to anyone, anytime :)
QuoteI still have pain and discomfort when I first stand up after sitting for any length of time. I definitely feel my right leg is ahead of my left in recovery.
Alan, my left was ahead of my right, so during the "cane days" I was taking the pressure off of my right with the cane as the left was more normalized. I practiced easing off of the cane in my hallway here in the house -- simply pacing back and forth slowly allowing more weight transfer onto the right leg. It was a very exaggerated transition at first and little by little it strengthened up. Now I walk without the penguin-like lean I had become accustomed to pre-op.
Another MAJOR milestone to me has been the ability to go back my bed to sleep and out of the recliner. I naturally toss and turn all night so at first it was very uneasy. I tried it the first time and went back to the recliner because it was as you described it "lying on top of a hardball under my hip. No way I could sleep that way."
I thought I was going to have to sleep with my feet off the end of the bed but after a couple of weeks I had wired a routine of pillow-between-knees and the occasional pillow-under-knees while sleeping. Now I don't even notice it anymore and am no where near as conscious of damaging something since Dr. Gross & Lee gave me their blessing at the 6-weeks post-op visit.
QuoteI would like to see you post an update to your post in bilateral stories about the significant events that you have experienced since your previous post. Always good to know what to expect next.
Thank you, I will update the post with the different milestones I have experienced! Heehee ;D Cutting grass being up there on the list! Just in time for spring down here in Atlanta!
Let me know if there is anything else I can help with,
Tim
Hi -- this is my very first post. I've been reading on and off for a month or two. It's my new hobby, usually late at night after I've got my kiddles tucked in to bed.
Anyway, thanks so much for your posts. I was thinking, back maybe in January and even into February, that maybe I would have my hips re-surfaced (I need bilateral) during spring break. I had been thinking about Dr. Gross as one of the possible surgeons I would like, with an uncemented femoral cap.
But I didn't get it all arranged for Spring Break. There's so very much to learn. So much to process. But my courage has been building as I read all the stories. I need lots of stories. And thankfully I have discovered this site.
So now, Alan, I am cheering for you ! ....and for my original idea of doing it over spring break. I could have been at 10 days post-op as well. Oh well. There's April or May or June. But no later than June. Thank you to everyone who posts -- the good, the bad, the ugly ! I want to be informed, know the questions to ask, learn what wonderful outcomes I may hope for.
Thanks, Marilyn :)
Marilyn,
Welcome to Pat's forum. We have the best posters in the whole world here, maybe the galaxy.
You have come to the right place, we now have 2 experts in bi-lateral surgery now so just ask your questions away. When possible post them publicly as everyone learns from questions and answers.
If you pick Dr. Gross you're going to be ok as he's one of the best.
Chuck
Chuck,
I am getting there, slowly but surely. I go back to Columbia for my six week check up on May 1st.
Alan
Quote from: obxpelican on March 29, 2009, 06:35:18 PM
When can you stop by to see my lawn?
Alan,
You do realize he has an out of town 6 week protocol? I did it and it was fairly straight forward, I got x-rays locally and was seen by a physical therapist who filled out his questionaire.
Just a thought anyhow. The big part of the 6 week checkup is to check the x-rays and ROM.
Chuck
Marilyn,
Welcome to the forum and thanks for your comments. I am glad you are finding some value in these post. I did the same late night reading of the information on this web site.
As you read the post here, you see who are some really fine surgeons that have mastered hip resurfacing. I figured I was going to only have one shot at this and I wanted one of the masters. I don't think you could wrong with Dr. Gross, especially if you want to go the un-cemented route. All it takes to get the ball rolling with Dr. Gross is to email Lee Web your x-rays and Dr. Gross will call you back in a few days and discuss your surgery.
You will need someone with you in Columbia and the first week at home after the surgery. My wife being a school teacher drove us to target spring break. She used family sickness leave for the hospital week and spring break for our first week home. She went back to work this morning. My in-laws are spending this week with us if I need some help during the day. I think I could probably manage on my own, but it is reassuring to have someone here.
I was in your same position in regarding regretting that I didn't schedule the operation over Xmas/New Years Holiday. My original target was to be at six months by summer, but we just couldn't get it done. However; we have had such bad weather in Jan and Feb, had I had the surgery in December, my recovery would have been some what hampered by not being able to walk outside. Even waiting to the middle of March, the weather is still causing problems with the blizzard last week and two more snow storms predicted for this week. Of course, with the help of my in-laws this week, I can always travel to the nearest mall or COSTCO to walk around, which I will probably do today.
When I scheduled my surgery in January, Dr. Gross was booked a couple of months out. Once you set the surgery date, his front office will start working on the insurance pre-certification, which in my case took about a month. In my case finally scheduling the surgery was a major milestone.
Good luck and keep us informed of your progress and feel free to ask any questions.
Quote from: MarilynRS on March 30, 2009, 12:20:29 AM
Hi -- this is my very first post. I've been reading on and off for a month or two. It's my new hobby, usually late at night after I've got my kiddles tucked in to bed.
Anyway, thanks so much for your posts. I was thinking, back maybe in January and even into February, that maybe I would have my hips re-surfaced (I need bilateral) during spring break. I had been thinking about Dr. Gross as one of the possible surgeons I would like, with an uncemented femoral cap.
But I didn't get it all arranged for Spring Break. There's so very much to learn. So much to process. But my courage has been building as I read all the stories. I need lots of stories. And thankfully I have discovered this site.
So now, Alan, I am cheering for you ! ....and for my original idea of doing it over spring break. I could have been at 10 days post-op as well. Oh well. There's April or May or June. But no later than June. Thank you to everyone who posts -- the good, the bad, the ugly ! I want to be informed, know the questions to ask, learn what wonderful outcomes I may hope for.
Thanks, Marilyn :)
Chuck,
I do realize he has a out of town six week protocol. They gave me a choice. I am planning to combine a business trip to the east coast with a checkup in his office.
If that doesn't work out, I may utilize the out of town protocol.
Alan
Quote from: obxpelican on March 30, 2009, 11:26:22 AM
Alan,
You do realize he has an out of town 6 week protocol? I did it and it was fairly straight forward, I got x-rays locally and was seen by a physical therapist who filled out his questionaire.
Just a thought anyhow. The big part of the 6 week checkup is to check the x-rays and ROM.
Chuck
March 30, 2009: Post Op Day 14 (right) Day 11 (Left)
Hard for me to believe it was only two weeks ago that I had my first surgery. My wife returned to her teaching job today and left me in the company of her parents. I have adapted to life under Dr. Gross's three restrictions: (1) Don't bend greater than 90 degrees, (2) Don't cross my ankles and (3) Don't turn my toes inward, by mastering the tools in the assisted living kit. I can even use the sock installer. I feel pretty self sufficient, but it nice to have their some company on the walks, knowing if I hurt something and can't make it back to the house, someone can go back and bring the car to rescue me.
This morning's walk was nearly 1/2 mile and I felt really good. I focused on stand tall and reducing the pressure on the crutches. I am still amazed how after walking it is so easy to take a nap.
This afternoon the wind made walking outside brutal, so my father-in-law and I went over to Sears Grand to walk in doors and oogle the tools. It is hard to tell how far we walked but my left hip began protesting, so I called it good. This evening the pain continued so took a Vicodin.
All in all a good day.
Thank you so much, Dave and Chuck for your kind replies :)
I am wondering a few specifics, with the 90 degree limitations (on your legs to torso). Those are only for 6 weeks, right?
What I'm wondering is how is it possible to even get in or out of a car at all without violating that? I've watched by legs now with both our taller van and with our shorter little car. I can't see how it can be done in either for sitting or for getting in and out. Can you go a little past 90? What kind of vehicle seems to be easiest to make this work?
How was flying -- the whole airport experience, skinny-ing through plane aisles, etc? Would it be better to schedule additional days post-op, at a hotel or such, before endeavoring to fly? Also, I know flying can increase swelling in legs even "normally." Was this an extra problem after your flight home?
OK, enough for now. And thanks again, Marilyn
Sorry I have fallen behind on posting, so this will catch up through yesterday.
March 31, 2009: Post Op Day 15 (right) Day 12 (Left)
Weather today was nice and I took two long walks on crutches. I am concentrating on reducing the downward pressure on the crutches. I am still suffering what others are calling "start-up pain" after sitting for any length of time. It is not from the joint, but from tight knotted muscles.
On the second walk of the day, I am feeling pretty frisky and push the distance by walking to the tennis courts before turning back. This is probably 3/4 mile. The last quarter of the way back is slightly uphill and I am feeling in both legs. I fell some joint pain in my left groin. I think I may have once again over-done it.
April 1, 2009: Post Op Day 16 (right) Day 13 (Left)
April Fool's Day, which is appropriate for me. I had a pretty rough night and took some Vicodin due to pain in the left hip. I obviously had over done it the day before. When will I learn? I decide to shorten my distance on the walks today.
April 2, 2009: Post Op Day 17 (right) Day 14 (Left)
I had a better night and took things easy during the morning. Last night's snow melted by early afternoon and my wife accompanied me on a late afternoon walk. We took one of the new paths that had just been opened. Bad decision the path ended in a muddy spot about 20' wide. In retrospect, we should have turned around, but I thought I could negotiate the mud and uneven ground on the crutches. It was not a pleasant experience, it would have been very easy to slip and hurt something. However, I had to be extremely careful and take very small measured steps to get across the muddy spot without the incident, but afterward I felt exhausted.
April 3, 2009: Post Op Day 18 (right) Day 15 (Left)
I spent most of the morning on the phone with our IT support folks trying to make the VPN into the corporate network work. My plan is to start trying to do some work from home next week. Sitting for nearly four hours at the computer, I noticed my legs had become quite sore and stiff.
In afternoon the weather was beautiful, but another snow storm was expected in the evening. I took a long walk around the lake with my wife and in-laws. My legs felt significantly stronger and I for several long flat stretches, I carried my crutches. What a miracle! Two weeks ago I was having trouble walk a couple hundred feet in the hospital.
Whether it was walking without crutches or sitting at the computer for nearly four hours, I noticed my calves and ankles had became very swollen. So it is another intimate evening with the Polar 300's wrapped around each hip/thigh and keeping the "toes above the nose."
Quote from: MarilynRS on April 04, 2009, 03:44:39 PM
I am wondering a few specifics, with the 90 degree limitations (on your legs to torso). Those are only for 6 weeks, right?
Marilyn,
Correct it is for the first six weeks.
Quote from: MarilynRSWhat I'm wondering is how is it possible to even get in or out of a car at all without violating that? I've watched by legs now with both our taller van and with our shorter little car. I can't see how it can be done in either for sitting or for getting in and out. Can you go a little past 90? What kind of vehicle seems to be easiest to make this work?
To me getting in and out of the car is still difficult. The only two vehicles I have ridden in are my wife's Lexus R330 and my father-in-laws Honda Pilot, both of which are mid-size SUV's and the seats are on slightly above my rear when I stand. They require a slight get-up to get-in, which I think is preferable to having to get-down to get-in. Also wearing slick pants are helpful as it makes turning in the seat easier. It is the combination of raising my legs while twisting around that makes it so difficult for me. I have gone slightly past 90 degrees when getting in or out, but it hasn't been a problem. My car is a low slung Eclipse Spider Convertible and that might take me well past 90 degrees, so that will have to wait until after six weeks.
Quote from: MarilynRS
How was flying -- the whole airport experience, skinny-ing through plane aisles, etc? Would it be better to schedule additional days post-op, at a hotel or such, before endeavoring to fly? Also, I know flying can increase swelling in legs even "normally." Was this an extra problem after your flight home?
I wrote up my experience about the flight from Charlotte to Denver in the "
Pre-op Aniexty thread" reply #56 over in the
Hip Resurfacing Topics section. It was probably the worst part of the whole experience, but it was not as bad as I thought it would be. If you can, I would strongly recommend flying first class and reserving the first row/bulk head seats. We flew
Air Trans Airlines and their "business class" was about half the cost of the other airlines flying between Denver and Charlotte.
As far as boarding and de-boarding the plane: the Sky Cap wheeled me down the jetway to the door of the airplane and the wheel chair was waiting on the jetway when I arrived. So I only had to "crutch" my way from the aircraft door to the first row. This was probably only about 20' and I really didn't have to travel down a narrower row of the economy section.
The only problem was at Charlotte, the jetway was not adjusted correctly and there was quite a step up into the airplane. Fortunately the PT crew at the hospital had worked with with me doing steps and stairs. I had gone up and down two full flights of stairs at the hospital the day after they did my second hip. However, if the height difference between the jetway and the airplane had it been any higher it may have been a big problem, but I am sure they could have adjusted it.
I had significant swelling on my right leg, calve, ankle and foot on the flight from Atlanta to Denver. In fact, the swelling became so uncomfortable, I had to take both of tennis shoes off. It was a pretty long day.
I asked Dr. Gross and Lee Webb the same question you asked about whether staying over a few days at the hotel before traveling home. Neither of them encouraged me to do that. Dr. Gross said it might be a hard day, but with the pain meds it would be doable. He was correct.
I was much more comfortable being at home than in the Courtyard Inn for two or three more nights. I don't think putting the flight off two or three days would have made much difference with the swelling. I have had some swelling almost every day since returning home. If I had it to do over again, I would still have flown home on Sunday.
If you don't have a car available while at the hospital, you may need to give some thought about how to get to the hotel from the hospital. We stayed in the Courtyard Inn, which is pretty much in the parking lot of the hospital. We didn't have a rental car, so inquired at the front desk to see if they had a hotel shuttle that could pick us up. They don't. Apparently there are some concerns over insurance liability and in the past some of the hotel staff may have picked patients up using their own private autos. The hospital doesn't have any provision for this either. So, my wife asked about borrowing a wheelchair from the hospital, promising to bring it right back. However, my nurse wouldn't let her. Instead, he said he thought some fresh air would be good for me and he would take me outside in a hospital wheelchair on
his break. He wheeled me over to the hotel on his break. He didn't have to do this, but I found the staff at the hospital to be very accommodating. I had a great nurse.
:) Alan, what a great story about the nurse.... old fashioned helping :)
I appreciate you sharing some of the travel details. I am still wondering, since I would be traveling from a smaller town in Oregon, which would entail at least two additional airplanes and airports, three stops total. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
I'm actually wondering about scheduling a week at a beach hotel, say Myrtle Beach -- sort of like what I've read on this site about Dr. Bose stories and the stay in India at a beach resort. (Anyone know about the beach towns?) And, since I have three children at home, (15, 11, and 7) it's also hard to imagine truly getting to rest once I'm back home. At a hotel, I could conceivably take my morning walk while maid service is cleaning our room, then tell them all to go exploring with dad for some hours while I rest again!
Could you walk, unassisted by canes, etc, before your surgery? I have waited so long that I am currently walking with 2 canes. It's just one more reason though that I think I may as well jump in for a simultaneous bilateral re-surfacing. I just sort of wonder if my recovery could possibly be as good as so many shared here. On the other hand, I doubt I would be walking any worse -- I can't even take more than a step or two without the canes now. So the recovery would only be about amount of pain, not being able to drive, etc. Things like grocery shopping are already exhausting.
Thanks to all the Surface Hippys. It's great to have a forum to talk hips. I feel like a broken record to myself. So many of my thoughts revolve around hips !! femoral caps, acetabular components, cemented or uncemented, bone density, joint registries, blood clots, doctors and various options, and on and on..... By the way, are you cemented or uncemented femoral cap?
Continued great recovery to you !! Marilyn
One footnote to my previous post about entering/exiting from my wife's mid-size SUV. We went to the mall to walk on Saturday because of bad weather and I paid attention to the extent of the angle between my legs and torso: at no time did I exceed 90 degrees either entering or exiting. I am about 5'10" before surgery.
Quote from: MarilynRS on April 05, 2009, 12:11:31 AM
:) Alan, what a great story about the nurse.... old fashioned helping :)
I appreciate you sharing some of the travel details. I am still wondering, since I would be traveling from a smaller town in Oregon, which would entail at least two additional airplanes and airports, three stops total. But I'll cross that bridge when I get there.
I'm actually wondering about scheduling a week at a beach hotel, say Myrtle Beach -- sort of like what I've read on this site about Dr. Bose stories and the stay in India at a beach resort. (Anyone know about the beach towns?) And, since I have three children at home, (15, 11, and 7) it's also hard to imagine truly getting to rest once I'm back home. At a hotel, I could conceivably take my morning walk while maid service is cleaning our room, then tell them all to go exploring with dad for some hours while I rest again!
Well given that you have a much longer flight and one additional plane change, it might be better to divide the trip up. We spent the weekend in Charleston and that is very interesting place to visit. I wished I had been able to walk more, but we did take a bus tour. The first week after surgery was my hardest weeks and I don't think I would have really enjoyed a resort type of environment over just a nice hotel room, since I was pretty limited to how much outside walking that I was able to do. My kids are all grown so I didn't face the responsibilities that you do. My most miserable night was Saturday night in the Courtyard Inn, even though we had arranged for a handicapped room.
Quote from: MarilynRSCould you walk, unassisted by canes, etc, before your surgery? I have waited so long that I am currently walking with 2 canes. It's just one more reason though that I think I may as well jump in for a simultaneous bilateral re-surfacing. I just sort of wonder if my recovery could possibly be as good as so many shared here. On the other hand, I doubt I would be walking any worse -- I can't even take more than a step or two without the canes now. So the recovery would only be about amount of pain, not being able to drive, etc. Things like grocery shopping are already exhausting.
I was getting to the point of needing a cane had I put the surgery off any longer. I had developed a very bad limp and tried to limit the amount of walking. I had been pretty physically active up until last January, so I had experienced only a year of atrophy. In the last couple of days, I have been carrying my crutches on long portions of my daily walk. During these "free walks" my wife has commented that I no longer have a limp. This is less than three weeks after my last surgery.
Each of us recovers at different rates, but you are bound to see some improvement within just a few weeks after your surgery. I am so glad I had both hips done at the same time. That first week was rough, but I have healed so quickly, the extra pain of that first week was worth it. If I had done only one, I would still be having OA pain and be facing another surgery and recovery. I don't think I would really but that much further along if I had only had one done.
Quote from: MarilynRSThanks to all the Surface Hippys. It's great to have a forum to talk hips. I feel like a broken record to myself. So many of my thoughts revolve around hips !! femoral caps, acetabular components, cemented or uncemented, bone density, joint registries, blood clots, doctors and various options, and on and on..... By the way, are you cemented or uncemented femoral cap?
I obsessed with all topics about resurfacing while waiting for my surgery and this site was great for providing information to feed the obsession, but also for preparing me mentally for the surgery. I am still very interested in the topic, since I want to do all I can to make these new hips last a lifetime, but I can feel some of the obsessiveness being replaced with ideas and aspiration of the activities that I will be physically capable of performing in the future.
I should update my signature line. I choose to the go the un-cemented route. I have complete trust in Dr. Gross and he feels it is better, although he will do either. It is one less complication in a pretty complicated procedure. Once the bone grows into the prosthesis it should be stronger. However, it puts added importance to the first six weeks of the recovery period, where about 85% of the bone growth into the prosthesis occurs.
Let us know how your surgery goes and don't be shy of posting how your recovery goes for others' benefit.
Thanks Alan. :) Did either of your femurs show much deterioration in the x-rays? I am still waiting to hear, but wonder if that factor in mine (the deterioration) would allow an un-cemented cap, as I have heard from back from a couple of other (also very experienced) surgeons that such a procedure might be very risky for me. It will be interesting to hear and get to ask my questions.... then ultimately I will have to decide which way and with which surgeon to proceed.
Keep up the good walking ! Marilyn
Marilyn,
If you send Lee or Dr. Gross your x-rays they can usually tell if if you're a good candidate for HR with an uncemented cap. I had cysts and I was bone on bone and probably my next step was a wheel chair because the best I could do was around 50-100 yards at a time and Dr. Gross was able to perform my surgery.
Dr. Gross has a great article here http://grossortho.com/forms/Uncemented_femur_handout_9_2008.pdf (http://grossortho.com/forms/Uncemented_femur_handout_9_2008.pdf) about uncemented femoral caps, bear in mind that the acetabular cups and total hip stems are all pretty much uncemented devices.
Dr. Gross is arguably one of the best hip surgeons in this country as he takes on very difficult surgeries, read some of Dr. Gross's other patients about how they were treated both by his staff and at the hospital. Dr. Gross's protocol is well thought up and leaves his patients pain free post-op on day one and with very little discomfort from then on. I was never in more pain post-op than on my worst day pre-op.
Best of luck to you.
Chuck
April 30,2009 Post Op Day 45 (right) Day 42 (Left)
Hard to believe it has been six weeks ago today that Dr. Gross and Lee Webb performed the hip resurfacing on my left hip. I actually flew back to Columbia, SC today and have my six week post op exam tomorrow.
I have had a great recovery with really only one bump in the road. A couple of weeks ago (4/13) I was feeling so good and the weather was just excellent that day, I went for a walk with my wife and way over did the distance, probably walking close to 3 miles that day. By evening my left hip had become tremendously sore and I was having some pretty intense deep stabling pains.
This was the most severe pain I have experienced during or after the surgery. I was somewhat alarmed and feared I had messed up the hip joint or even fractured the femur, so I called Dr. Gross' office. Lee had me go to a local hospital for x-rays, which I emailed to her. The x-rays looked fine, the hip mechanics were in good condition and there was no sign of a fracture. Lee had me ice and elevate the left hip and take it easy for a few days and then to slowly begin back with the PT.
My left hip is better but still sore. If I walk too far, I feel a pain under my incision that feels like something (i.e. ligament or muscle) is being stretched at a certain point in my stride. It responds well to icing, so I assume some of the soft tissues are still inflamed.
Other than that, my recovery has gone well. The bone-on-bone pain from the arthritis that has been my constant companion for the last couple of years is gone and so is the severe limp. Even with the soreness in my left hip, I am much better off than before the surgery and I know I will only will improve.
I will post a summary of my 6 week post op exam tomorrow.
Alan
Allan,
It's great to hear about how much better you are getting around. Just wait. The improvements you see in the next 6 weeks will be better yet. Once we resign ourselves to the fact that this is a long steady recovery rather than a sprint, it becomes easier to accept the minor setbacks from overdoing things on those days we feel so good! Keep healing.
Hey Alan,
We've been wondering where you've been.
Hey...... we want to hear the good with the bad, even if it's because you were bad ;D
Hope all goes well with your exam.
Chuck
Quote from: Todd on May 01, 2009, 06:16:18 AM
Allan,
It's great to hear about how much better you are getting around. Just wait. The improvements you see in the next 6 weeks will be better yet. Once we resign ourselves to the fact that this is a long steady recovery rather than a sprint, it becomes easier to accept the minor setbacks from overdoing things on those days we feel so good! Keep healing.
Todd,
You are so right about the "phase change" in thinking required. My little incident opened my eyes to the long term and I have backed off trying to force my recovery to happen faster.
Alan
Quote from: obxpelican on May 01, 2009, 07:22:10 AM
Hey Alan,
We've been wondering where you've been.
Hey...... we want to hear the good with the bad, even if it's because you were bad ;D
Hope all goes well with your exam.
Chuck
Chuck,
Sorry to have dropped off the radar screen for a while. I made this mistake of offering to telework from home 2 to 4 hours a day. My employer took me up on the offer, but suddenly the 2 to 4 hours became 6 to 8 hours and by the time I did my twice per day PT and walks the day was pretty much gone and I was too tired of sitting in front of the computer to post.
My post op check up went very well (see the next post) and I return in person to the salt mines tomorrow.
Alan
May 1, 2009 Post Op Day 46 (right) Day 43 (Left)
I showed up at Dr. Gross' office ten minutes early for my 09:50 AM appointment. They called me on the dot and took me back for two sets of x-rays. The first was from an overhead machine and the second was from a sideways machine that shot from the inner thigh outward. They had me fill out the patient hip survey. For normal and "at its worst" pain levels I answered 0 and 2 for my right and 1 and 4 for my left.
Lee Webb tested my range of motion and was very surprised and pleased with the increase over the ROM before surgery. She also tested the strength of my legs by having me resist as she pushed and pulled on my legs. Again she was surprised and pleased with my strength. I assumed my left side would be much weaker than my right, but she said they were essentially the same.
She then went over the phase two restrictions, which last until six months post op. Basically, I am not to cross my legs at the knees or above, avoid extreme stretching or bending until 6 months, no impact exercises like running, no bike riding due to the risk of falling and fracturing the femur (but an indoor bike is fine) and no contact sports. (I'll have to postpone my post-op mixed marshal arts match for awhile.) But anythings else that is not prohibited is a okay as long as I ramp up with moderation.
Next Dr. Gross came in and reviewed my x-rays. He said everything looked perfect. There was perfect symmetry between the left and right and the critical angle on each side was exactly 38 degrees. I told Dr. Gross, "You do very good work."
We talked about the soreness in my left hip and he said that I shouldn't be alarmed that one side was healing different than the other. The mechanical parts are perfectly positioned and the bones show no fractures and with that the soft tissues will heal - eventually. I asked him if I might have pulled the internal sutures loose by overdoing the walking and he admitted it was possible, but even so the tissues would grow back together. At this stage, there is nothing to really do about the pain in the left hip, except just wait and see if the soreness goes away. He said to call the office if it doesn't improve in the next few weeks. He said that if possible they would like to see me 1 yr post-op and if I couldn't travel to SC, I could have x-rays and ROM exams done locally
I thanked both Lee and Dr. Gross for the wonderful job they had done and told them how thankful I was that my life had been given back to me. I left their office about 12:15 PM feeling very happy with my decision to travel out of state to a doctor that I had found out about on a web site with a strange name about surface hippies. I was also glad I traveled back to SC for the six week post-op exam in person given the concern I had developed over the soreness in my left side.
I had lunch and then drove the Charlotte airport arriving at around 02:30 for my 06:10 PM flight. I had a couple of hours to kill so visited the Carolina Air Museum that is located at the airport. I wondered about the exhibits and even crawled up into the cockpit of the DC-3 that is the museum show piece. I left when the museum closed at 4:00 PM and then realized an amazing thing. I had been on my feet walking around and climbing into the aircraft for an hour and half without having to sit and rest because of the OA pain and weakness!!!!
May 2, 2009 Post Op Day 47 (right) Day 44 (Left)
Saturday I began the new phase 2 exercises and could really tell they were doing something by the end of the day. I worked on doing the stairs foot over foot and then my wife and I installed two ceiling fans. She did most of the work on the ladder, but I made numerous trips up and down the stairs to my tools in the basement. Surprisingly on the afternoon walk I found that my left hip was not nearly as sore . Maybe it is healing after all.
May 3, 2009 Post Op Day 48 (right) Day 45 (Left)
The Sunday was the most amazing day. After waking up, I did the Phase II exercises, went to Church and had to park a good distance from the entrance and I walked in with no pain or soreness from the left hip. After church my wife and I went out eat lunch and then I did something with her I hadn't done in ages, (no not THAT) but we went shopping. We spent an hour and a half walking through Sam's and then spent another hour buying grocery store, walking each isle. All of this was on my feet and without sitting down. Before my surgery, I would just wait in the car while she shopped.
Then we returned home and I mowed the front and back yard for the first time since May. We then decided to go buy a leaf blower and discovered Sears was having "Friends and Family" Sale from 6 PM to 9 PM. We went to buy the leaf blower and spent another 90 minutes walking around the store and also bought some patio furniture. When we returned home, I assembled the leaf blower and used it to clean off the grass clippings from the drive way and sidewalk. When I finished that and still had plenty of energy to get on the computer and make these posts.
This has been the most amazing day. I feel like I have my life back and can do normal everyday activities that most healthy people take for granted. I don't think I will ever take doing these normal everyday activities for granted. I have had no pain today. Seven weeks ago before my surgery, I would not have been able to do a fifth of what I did today.
Miracles do happen to ordinary people like me.
May 4, 2009 Post Op Day 49 (right) Day 46 (Left)
Today I returned to work after being gone starting 3/13. I took the crutches with me just in case, but kept them in the car, (they are kind of becoming a crutch to me ;) if you know what I mean.) My coworkers were glad to see me. At the staff meeting they even gave me my own bullet point on the week's significant events.
- Alan (The Terminator) Uber returns to work
Some of my other coworker accused me of faking the surgery, just to be able to have a six week vacation. They said I showed no signs of having such major surgery just six weeks ago. I was so tempted to show'em my other "cheeks", but now my scars don't look all that bad and they are only 4" long. I didn't want a bullet point next week saying "Alan (The Terminator) Uber moons coworkers."
Even though I had been teleworking from home, we have another email system that is only available in the office and I had over 1,100 unread emails waiting for me. Oh the joys of a "paperless society."
In the afternoon, I had to give a briefing to a visiting VIP at one of our other facilities that is so large you literally have to walk nearly a mile from the available parking spaces to the entrance. I had intended to see about getting a short-term handicapped parking sticker, but forgot about it until Monday morning. Anyway I negotiated the distance just fine, gave the briefing and walked back to the car. Probably close to two miles.
Although I had intended to may be leave early, I wound up working an 11 hour day. I was tired when I returned home, but I was delighted that the hips had carried me through my first day at work without pain or problems.
[/list]
Alan, How inspirational !! :) :) I can't wait for this sort of miracle as well ! It feels like forever and ever yet until my scheduled time in mid-July with Dr. Gross for my bilateral. I am so hoping that somehow there will be a cancellation and an opening at an earlier time in June. I can no longer take enough weight off of my hips with my two canes, and can only shuffle along at 8" to 10" per step, barely lifting my thighs. Most days, I cannot take more than perhaps one step on my own anymore. I wonder if I will still be able to walk at all by the time I get there. But these recovery stories are wonderful to read. Even though I still have fears (of going under anesthesia, etc), I am just so, so ready to take the plunge... and I gain and maintain hope through your wondrous experience. Wow !!!! Thank you, and thank all surface hippys who post ! Marilyn