Now I Know Nickel Allergy to my BHRs - On The Path To Healing

[obxpelican]

Two4One,

That was very unfortunate that your first doctor could not have figured that out earlier.

I am so glad to hear that you are treding a way from the narcotics.... I'm hoping that you have a quick recovery from coming off the narcotics.  It can sure be a challenge but I think in the end your life will change for the better.

Thanks for the updates.

Chuck

[Aerial]

Wow I hate that you went through all that.  I too spent a year in pain after arthroscopic surgery for a torn labrum and FAI.  Did you have a CT scan done of your hips?   That provided a great 3 dimensional view of my hip which allowed my arthroscopic doc to really pinpoint my impingement areas.  I didnt think you could miss much with a CT scan along with an MRA with contrast dye.  Man that stinks if you had all those tests!  In my case I took a gamble with the arthroscopic surgery and it did not pay off.

[Two4One]

Remember the glass is always half full, if it is truly physical pain, perhaps it is related to all you can do now!  Yippee, glass half full because you are active. - Aerial

OK, from one yogini to another, I can get behind this theory!  Thank you!  I have been working very hard physically , and also, I have been hyper aware of how my body is having the normal symptoms of a slow taper, or let's be real here, withdrawal.  Dilaudid 18mg Daily is a fairly big difference from 24mg Dilaudid/per day. 

Oh, well.  I can handle it, and, after all, I've had practice from a prior super fast & dirty complete cessation of narcotics for my cancelled November 1st arthroscopy, per Dr. Philippon's run around.  The number one labral tear guy knew I was not an arthroscopy candidate, but he still pulled me to Vail twice this last summer and added my money and pain to his already bulging coffers.  That's just wrong, and in my opinion, he's bad news and directly contributed to my suffering by keeping me dangling before that for a year and a half! Of course, I had no choice because the local surgeons wouldn't countenance Dr. Sampson's and Dr. Kelly's accurate diagnosis.  However, I guarantee you that A Rod didn't suffer on a year and a half waiting list!

Thank you, for kindly sharing your thoughts and ideas with me.  It has helped me recalibrate my equanimity a bit more! This is just my journey, I will train my eyes forward 'drishti', and by Spring's end, I will be back in my body fully without the narcotic wetsuit.  For now, I'll be more aware that the increased activity will cause my right hip, especially, to ouch more.

Ever since I got back from my Pool PT at 6pm tonight, I have had hot pads on my hips all evening.  It's helped me get to the end of a tougher pain day.

Once Again,  Thank You,
'One

[Aerial]

You know I was flattened when I shared my MRA films and intra-surgery photos from my labral tear/FAI arthroscopic surgery with Dr. Gross, he indicated he would have never done that surgery and gone straight to resurfacing.  Crap, a year and a half of of my life wasted and another year and a half in serious pain!  I don't think my doctor for the first surgery was a gold digger, I just didn't know any better. Sure could have done without the huge downhill slide leading up to resurfacing.  However, we make decisions based on information we have available.  It is what is.  I feel very blessed to be on the uphill side of things for the first time in almost three years!  Now that is the glass being more than half full!

[Two4One]

I'm so sorry you had to go through so much misery, Aerial.  You have a great attitude and seem very grounded in the present.  I need to let go some of my rancor, but it'll take time and perhaps my experience could help someone from following on that same garden path.

To be clear, I don't think Dr. Indy, the surgeon who did my bilateral arthroscopies circa 2009, was a gold digger or even incompetent.  He simply put me in 'drug addict' category based on all my normal CTs and MRIs with Dye, did not move up his scope a few inches to look for something that in his mind wasn't there, and sent me on my way 6 months later when I still complained of mind bending pain.

Philippon, on the other hand, after his fellows first saw me at the end of July 2010 2011*, decreed pre revision arthroscopy protocol for me was: lose 20 lbs (I was 148!), do an hour and a half of PT a day even though he'd been told through numerous emails of my pain levels and complete confinement to a hospital bed in my living room, and lastly be completely pain medication free for 2 weeks prior to the surgery.  I did what I was required to do.  Yet, I will never forget those weeks of hell before my scheduled Nov 1st revision arthroscopy, screaming my throat raw, and begging my Hubs to kill me because I was in unimaginable pain.

After 7 MORE hours of grueling testing, I will not forget Philippon telling me in the evening of October 31st that I now needed an immediate hip replacement "because my hips had gone downhill" since I was in Vail three months before.  Therefore, I needed an immediate bilateral hip replacement.  I do not forget his solemn promise he'd see to it that I got my chosen option of resurfacing scheduled by the end of the week with Dr. Matta.  The next day I called Dr. Matta, only to find Philippon's referral doesn't accept insurance of any kind, and now Dr. Philippon had no other referral for me, leaving me broke and scrambling to find a bilateral hip resurfacing surgeon completely on my own - right back at square one several thousand dollars poorer and cynically wiser.  Now, I ain't saying he a gold digger....

[hernanu]

but he ain't messin with no broke, broke...  ;D

[Two4One]

lol! Ah, nanu, ever the wordsmith! ;D

[Two4One]

Thursday

Wednesday
Sleep     1:30am to 6:30am = 5 Hours of Sleep 

I'm so excited1, and this one is for the new lovers out there and for loves' that are rekindled.  Hubs has decided to discipline his speech for the rest of our time here, and that has made me so very happy!2  We are laughing, playing together like children, living in harmony, and I feel fine.3  I am especially happy that I now can PT for an hour twice a day, one on land and the other in the pool, I'm over the moon thanks to my successful bilateral hip resurfacing freeing me from over two and a half years of hospital bed confinement, and now my future's so bright I gotta wear shades!4

1http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-LbvFckptY&ob=av2e The Pointer Sisters - I'm So Excited


2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn884M8wymY Blood Sweat and Tears - You've made me very happy

33 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a3j6S8N8bTE The Beatles - I Feel Fine (Live)

43http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8qrriKcwvlY&ob=av2e  Timbuk 3 - The Future's So Bright
(This one's for my harmonica playin' man - you know who you are.)

[hernanu]

Love the results, 'One - I am up to six continuous hours of sleep, retraining myself after those long years of not sleeping.

Congrats... really happy for you.

[WTW15]

Go Go Go 2Fer!!!!   8)

Happy for you AND Hubs!  But esp for YOU!   :D

Have a Great Day! 

PS: I got 2 hrs sleep, woke up, repositioned and fell back asleep for another 2hrs - that's pretty darn good in my sleep-less book woohoo!

[Two4One]

Thank You, Nanu & WTW!!!

Oh yeah, watch those little numbers depicting my current weight; they are going DOWN (wrestling style)!

I'm glad both of you are having some triumphs as well!

2fer
aka
One

[Aerial]

Sounds so good.  Gosh, I have always been a sleep baby and crave naps!  Sleeping is rarely a problem for me unless my kitties try to sleep on top of me in which case I try not to disturb them (yes, stupid I know).  I am glad things are working out with your husband.  I know how important that is.  I am finally raring to go and my husband is having back pain.  We are both very active.  I see how his pain impacts our relationship in that we can't always enjoy the things we want to be doing together. He put up with me willingly and now I am attempting to return the favor!

[Two4One]

Are you kidding me, Aerial?  I LOVE Kitties and wish I had a couple!  As it is, our Bichon Boo Boo likes to take turns sleeping on top of us, and we never move because we don't like to disturb our little prince's sleep either.

Thank you for your kind support, and I'm sorry your Hubs is having back pain.  You will be more than fine with him, I know, and together, I'm pretty sure you two will find ways of still being friends and lovers, even in the midst of pain.

It was very sweet to see you drop by!

[Luanna]

2fer wrote - "Hubs has decided to discipline his speech for the rest of our time here, and that has made me so very happy!"

Good deal. I hope that means for the rest of your time on earth together! Cuz - I don't want to have to come over there and whip him into line.  ;)

So good to see your progress and how positive you are staying. Keep up the good work and do a yoga pose or two for me once in a while.

Cheers,
Luanna

[mslendzion]

2 hours a day is great. Glad all is well for you.

[Two4One]

3.03.12 Saturday

Friday
Sleep     2:30am to 8am = 5 1/2 Hours of Sleep

The Universe of Surface Hippies everywhere all want the same thing, and we are achieving it, each and everyday, through the real celebration[1], of our healing milestones.

'People reaching, people touching
A real celebration waiting for us all
If we want it, really want it
Can you dig it? Yes I can
And I've been waiting such a long time for the day'

1  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1vIQJqZjb0&feature=mr_meh&list=PL1427E17EFF0836AC&lf=results_video&playnext=0 Chicago Saturday In the Park
________________________________________________________
8am       Trekked downstairs w gear.  Coffee, correspondence,
               and lazing about, in that order. 

9am
Breakfast Slimmer Oats: 1/2 c water, 1/3 c oats, 1/2 banana, 1/2 c
               blueberries, cinnamon, and washed down w a c of ........
               that' right, you guessed it ....Skim Milk!

Noon -
1am       Land PT
         
              Floor Work on Mat:
              Isometric Abdominal - Lie on back, knees bent, tighten
              tummy by pulling belly button in.  Hold 8-10 seconds.
              Hip Abduction/Adduction: w Knee Flexion (Supine) -
              Left leg straight, bend R Knee, & gently lower knee to side
              and return.  Do reps on one side, then switch knees & legs.
              Bridges - Tighten glutes & abdomin.  Taking 5 seconds,
              lift just over 1/2 a Bridge.  Hold 5 seconds & slowly lower 5
              seconds.

              Put on 1/2 lb Ankle Weights:   
     
             (To be continued: I have to run downtown to do Pool PT
             before they close!)

3:30 -
4:30      Pool PT

9:15pm  It looks like I'm going to have to fill in the particulars of today
             tomorrow!  Busy, Busy day with lot of nice things & regulating
             the big ol' nasty drug taper!

[Two4One]

Hi Luanna!

2fer wrote - "Hubs has decided to discipline his speech for the rest of our time here, and that has made me so very happy!"

Good deal. I hope that means for the rest of your time on earth together! Cuz - I don't want to have to come over there and whip him into line.  ;) - Luanna

You betcha that's what it means!  Hubs chafes a bit under his own 'new management' and considers me dragging him to therapy with me this Saturday 'punishment', but you know what?  Now, I've got my Blonde Lion King restored to me with his sweet words dropping from his mouth again like pearls, and that's what counts for me.  My hips are thrilled with his discipline because I'm not tightening up my whole body in anger and fear anymore, so my hip flexors can just chill and get sore the usual way, (too much PT!) - get your mind out of the gutter! ;)

So good to see your progress and how positive you are staying. Keep up the good work and do a yoga pose or two for me once in a while.

Lol!  All Dr. Shmitt has 'officially' cleared me to do so far is tree pose,  bhujangasana (cobra pose), bridge pose, Tadasana (mountain pose), Utkatasana (Chair Pose), (Warrior I Pose) - walking lunges in the pool, Marjaryasana (Cat Pose ), Plank Pose, a modified Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose), and savasana.

Holy Crap!  Writing all that down, you helped me realize I can build a practice from that!  Wow whee!

Thanks, Luanna.

2fer

P.S.  I'm really not a pendantic 'Frasier' type with all that Sanskrit; I do really like languages and jargon though - it's pretty!

[Two4One]

Hi mslendzion!

Glad all is well for you. -mslendzion

Thanks for dropping by!  It sure looks like all is well with you too!

No regrets so far and best of all NO AMBIEM SINCE THE SURGERY. My husband is thrilled. He had fears I would do evil things at night to him on ambien, ( the drug gets some bad press).  I'm confident I will be in full workout mode adhering to restrictions bringinging me back to the life I led and love, the sooner the better. Youre only young once.

As one of my doctors said "you don't get points for pain". - mslendzion

From what I've read so far, it's looking like all us Schmitty Hippies are recovering quite nicely and are very satisfied with our surgeon, Dr. Philip Schmitt, who works in the Detroit area.  You are doing awesome!

Two4

[Two4One]

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

10:01am

After a nice lazy morning, up at 6 with my Boo in my lap, and hours later the sun streams in our faces, I'm ready for my day to begin.  It's another day where I'm above ground, my head is above water, the rest of me is floating above the atmosphere, and it seems like years since it's been clear.1  Alright, let the day begin!

My only excuse for not keeping up my daily journal entries is the usual one all successful resurfaced hippies have eventually: No Time!2 

The daily 1 1/2 hours to prepare and clean up meals, 2 separate hours of PT- Land & Pool PT everyday, 1 hour of Therapy four days a week, and a total of 2 1/2 hours of daily drive time to get to all these appointments, and 1 hour or more (including the drive time) of grocery shopping 4 times a week, all add up to 7 1/2 hours every day!!  The In Home PT is once a day and takes place at home or as an Out Patient PT, a 25 minute drive away, three times a week.  You get the picture.

Anyway, back at the ranch, I'm saying 'Hey'!  How's every thing with the rest of your own healing and life adventures, fellow Hippy Travelers?  Care to share something here?  Anything at all would be great! 8)

Mine is working out just great, Thank God.

One

P.S. Contrary to the lyrics 'no time left for you', you all know that itty bitty part is not true!  I always have and make time for my friends and fellow travelers.


1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQKcpmnRsP0 The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqeSUAlI5uI The Guess Who - No Time

From the album Canned Wheat in 1969, this version of No Time has an extended intro and ending. With some great added riffs and a very psychedelic sound, this version came out a few months before the better-known version of No Time from the American Woman album.

[hernanu]

All good, 'One .. good to see you doing so well.