I'll go ahead & write about the appointment this morning, in case someone is going through the same as me in the Ottawa area.
I arrived 30 min early to register at the West registration office (1st level, so downstairs) for my appointment. (They ask you to do this) Because I had already seen my surgeon, signed the paperwork & put on the list for the 6 month surgery wait, my appointment at the Total Joint Assessment clinic (Queensway Carleton Hospital) was brief since they didn't need to triage/assess me.
I met with an Advanced Practice Nurse (super nice lady) & she introduced me to an artificial hip. My first thoughts were "Hmmm the whole thing is small, the ball is so tiny... oh wait, THAT spikey thing will be IN the femur... oh that is actually pretty BIG!" I didn't dare touch it, fearing that it was going to make it all too real.
Based on my age & my desire to get back to most of the activities I used to do, I was told that a revision will happen in 15 years approx. & possibly another 15 - 20 years after. I'll be contacting my surgeon to let him know the activities I wish to resume & that'll help him choose which material to use (ceramic on ceramic or metal on polyethylene) & the ball size.
We went over the risks (went over them with my surgeon already) & I still want to go ahead, the pain & quality of life are too awful right now. (33 years of this is long enough) The risks with regaining a quality of life vs continuing living like this are worth it.
We also went over what to expect from now until after surgery, she gave me a sheet with them all listed. So now I just wait for the phone calls from the Riverside Hosp. rehab to let me know when to get assessed, when they will come to my house to check it out & my exercise equipment. From the surgeon's assistant for the surgery date, from one of the hospitals for the information session & for the pre op.
So in the meantime, I'll continue taking care of my health needs before surgery. I'm already on the ball with it & started this back in September. Still have 3 things to take care of. And set up an easier way for my sons to look after my horses for me. And finish all the house renovations. I gather 6 months will go by quickly enough.