Surgery Scheduled for May 9th.

[Tin Soldier]

I think the need for transufsion during this hip surgery is less common that it used to be.  Might have to with surgical technique?  I didn't need any for either hip.  That said, it would be nice to know that if you did need blood, you'd already have a stash of your own blood waiting. 

My coworker is going in for a THR on Monday and she mentioned that they will use the recirc system.  Didn't know about that.  Sounds like a great idea.

[mslendzion]

I was thinking about donating my own blood for the surgery but my surgeon said if I do this he will need to put it back during the surgery and advised not to.  I figured I rather have my existing blood than a few weeks old batch.  I followed my surgeon's advice and no transfusion was needed.

[WTW15]

I did donate my own blood 3 wks prior to the surgery and I needed it.  I'm a woman, 5'6" and 130# and not sure if that had anything to do with it or not. I reacted severely to the warafin and my INR was over 6 (normal is like 1.2 to 2 or something like that) so I was told to stay in bed for a whole day until they got it under control and it made my stay in the hospital 2 extra days.  My INR was all over the place the whole 3 wks I was off/on warafin.  Not sure why but I was glad that when they said I needed blood, I had my own to get back.  No harm in giving it, if you don't need it, it just gets tossed in most cases. 

[akat01]

One week till surgery. So the little bit of sleep i had been getting is now being interrupted by horrible anxiety issues. Ive been able to get in a descent amount of exercise though. Ive been on an elliptical 40 min a day 4-5 days a week. Plus some free weights for upper body and some core exercises i was doing at pt. I hope it serves me well down the road because i definitely pay for it every morning. Pre op testing done so now its just a waiting game. At this point i wish i was headed to hospital now. Its definitely motivational to hear stories of everyones progress.

[Boomer]

Akat01,

You are doing everything you can to get ready for the challenges facing you. The physical part is the easiest part. All of us Hippys have been training our bodies forever. The hard part, the importent part now, is to get focussed on the positive outcome. You are ready, you've picked a good surgeon. Everything is going to turn out well and you are going to be better the very minute you awaken from surgery. Everything starts getting better immediately.

I'm only half a Hippy, but I can tell you you will not regret your decision to move forward. Read the posts from Tin Soldier, Hernanu, Woodtstock Hippy, Oxipelican, Dan, Curt and Kirk to get motivated. These guys have walked the walk already and lead the way for us. You are going to start picking up pieces of your life that you dropped recently. It's a recovery in many ways.

Best wishes for a great experience and an easy recovery.

Live Strong.

Boomer

[hernanu]

C'mon Boomer - you're a full hippy, you're just going to be a hippy²  ;D

Akat01 - you're on your way, and while it's normal to be nervous, Boomer is right on (70's roots). Focus on the positives and your reward. There's no guarantees, but the percentages are hugely in your favor for a good outcome. The procedures for me were not too bad, I was off pain meds before I left the hospital and then the recovery takes up a lot of your time.

All of the stuff you're doing pays off, you're in the hands of a good surgeon and you're in the chute. The recuperation is not easy, but you see improvements on a daily basis, and best of all ... that pain is gone. Not lowered, not hanging back to bite you, but gone. You'll be sore, you might need extra care, all of that could be, but the OA pain is erased. And then you get better.

The core work, the upper body, the elliptical will all help you on your way, but being kind to yourself mentally works too. Imagine that something will be and it shall be so (apologies to Gladiator).

You can talk to us about any of this, but also confide in your loved ones - they can help you emotionally and mentally, you're going to heal in all sorts of ways after this.

[Rach41]

Good luck for 9th May ANAT01. I am next Tues 15th May! Wishing u lots of luck and look forward to hearing from you after the op. Rach 😌

[akat01]

Good luck to you also.Lets hope we are back here next week talking about how smooth the operations went and what a differance it is to b free of hip pain!!!!

[Foosball]

Good luck with your surgery.  Break a leg! ;)

I used a recliner for my recovery.  It made all the difference in the world.  I slept pretty well.

Every night I would try lying on the bed for a bit but kept going back to the recliner for about 2 weeks.

[jb46]

akat01,
First, I hope you're asleep and don't see this until tomorrow. I will be 2 weeks post op tomorrow and only thought is...wish I had done this sooner. First couple days after are hard, but every day you will see so much improvement it will surprise you.
Follow your Docs instructions, think about every move you make BEFORE you make it. I got distracted by one of my daughters while going down the stairs, took the next step with the wrong leg and WOW...immediately knew about it.
Don't try and do too much too fast (i'm guilty of this due to having to be back at work already), you can't rehab overnight by trying to speed it up and doing more.
I've decided that for at least a few more weeks, there is no such thing as multi tasking. Concentrate on what you are doing and do it the way they want you to do it.

Totally agree with you that this site made the decision easier. It can also help with the post op/rehab. Anything you're unsure of ask, you'll be surprised how many went thru the same issues.

Good luck and happy healing. Six months post op from now should allow you to get ready to ski by the new year...jb

[hernanu]

Good luck tomorrow, akat01 !!! time to get everything back.

[akat01]

On the other side. I was told surgery went real well. More damage then what showed on x rays so its good i didnt proctastinate anymore. Dr rodriguez and his staff have treated my wife and i like royalty. Still numb from the waste down and havent been moved to a room yet. But im feeling no pain at this point. The sensation of mot being able to move my legs or toes is freaking me out.. But they say it subsides in an hour or two. Hoping to get up and walk later today. Dying for a drink...thanks for all the well wishes. On to the next chapter

[akat01]

Oh and the best surprise was i awkoke w no catheter. Woooooooo

[mslendzion]

Best wishes for a speedy recovery.

[hernanu]

Sounds good, check in when you can.

[akat01]

Well its 2:48 am day after surgery. Ive been up for 24 hrs with no sleep besides during surgery. I had been doing quite well until about 6:30 when pt came in for walk and exercises. When he was first going over everything he said that id b in hospital until Fri. After the walk he was so pleased that he told me He'd bet id get out tomm. About 10 min after doing bed exercises the pain really set in, and haven't been able to get it under control. At this point they've given me percoset, oxycontin(only 1.. Id rather not go down that path) shots of morphine and just now ambien. This mix of pain and sleep deprivation is flippin me out. The hip itself feels great. But i feel like i have a knife in my buttock and my knee is throbbing. I had surgery on knee rite before my first hip operation and its never felt rite. But never like this. I cant imagine how u all are able to return to work so quickly. My job offers unlimited sick leave and was told today 3 months would b earliest id b returning to my light duty position

[Rach41]

Bet you are glad you are on the otherside! I don't have any words of advice as not had the operation yet, 5 days and counting! Are you in less pain with your hip post surgery? I think maybe take all the meds you can and each day will be better. At least the anxiety of having the op is over. Good luck with your recovery. Rach

[WTW15]

Just take the meds now to get comfortable and get sleep.  You will not want them as time progresses - but you need them now.  So many martyrs out there that said they were off in a day or w/in hours of surgery - but everyone's tolerance for pain is different - not good or bad, just different. I took the strong stuff the whole time - on time - in the hospital and at home for the first week or so, then I began to not feel the need for it and started coming off them.  Slowly up until about week 9 or 10 I was still taking Tylenol #3 at night for sleep.  Then just Tyelnol and a couple benadryl, and now at week 16 I can go to bed with no meds at all.  Maybe a little tylenol if I overdid it that day, but nothing on a regular basis. 

Be Nice To Yourself - Your Body.  Rest is so important these first few days.  The PT and exercise and all takes a toll.  Congrats on getting to the other side!!! 

[imgetinold]

Atak.

Ice.  Ice, ice, ice.  I haven't seen anyone discuss that, and you may know this already, but post surgery ice is your best friend.  I constantly iced for two solid weeks, then trailed it off to a few times per day, or just post-walk.  Good luck with your recovery.  Give it a few weeks, and you'll sleep better than you have in years.

Andy

[hernanu]

I was on morphine and other stuff ( cocktails, anyone ) for two days, then went to Tylenol. My doctor believes in pain medicine early and he did prescribe the oxycodone, but did not need it at that time (3+ days after the surgery).

I'd use what you can for pain, it doesn't help the recovery to be in pain.