What about Emotional Issues-pre op

[jay]

Here you go mate! I know the pain and lack of man hood is a test for ya, however you have a way out. Just think of the guys that do not have a way out, and do not even have a leg! You will be fine in 6 weeks. Look forward to it, imbrace it for you will be doing everything again. I almost lost my leg 2 years ago. Car wreck broke my leg in 12 places, the doc told me it was comming off. I told him to go fish, I found a doc that put me back together.
Talk about depression I was in the hospital for 3 weeks not knowing if I was going to have a leg. Then I was at home in bed for 6 months. Thought I was going to go crazy.Back on both feet playing golf.
Now I am now getting ready to have a hip resuface and it hurts like hell. But it "aint" shit brother! This is going to be a piece of cake. But of course I have been in hell and got out! So my friend let the angles shine on you for you have a way out. Couple days of pain bfd! Go for it and imbrace it! Hug your kids and have a great day.
Jay

just make sure you have a good experienced doc

[Pat Walter]

Hi Jay

You are an inspiration!  I look forward to your posts when you get your resurfacing.  Your thoughts have gone thru my mind before that a few weeks to months of recovery are a small price to pay to get back to an active, pain free life.  I guess when things are not going well and healing is slow, it is hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I wish you the best as you move forward to find a surgeon and get your resurfacing.

Pat

[BHRfootballer]

0.2;58  :o look at the time man.....
can't sleep, just gave my mate John Frewsly a right kicking on the X box...lol who said Scotland can't play football?

Right had a great day with the Kids ( never ever allowed them off school during term before ) but it was Conna Birthday 24th March and they/ both Aimee & Conna were a joy today.

My 9 yr old son looks more like a teenager and Aimee well ( she's Hannah Bloody Montana in disguise) Billy Ray Cyrus you have a lot to answer too.!!!
Went swimming this morning and out for Dinner - really nice day.

Prepped ready for my trip into Hospital, just need to sort the iTunes and the Novels.

Any suggestions? I love a good conspiracy theory.

[Margie]

Hi Stuart,
Hope you are doing well. I am not far ahead of you. I had my right hip resurfaced on March 17th.
I understand how depressing the post surgery pain and the upcoming surgery can be. Being a business owner for 20 years and being used to being in charge of my surroundings it is hard to give that up for awhile. My surgery just happened to land on my birthday, which was exactly two years to the day my Mom passed away. I looked at this as a new birthday for me and I knew my Mom (who I helped through a total hip replacement 15 years before) was with me.
Every day is a new day and every day is better and better. I am amazed at how fast the body heals and how each day I can do more and more. Do not get discouraged, what you can not do one day you will surprise yourself the next.

Good luck and best wishes!
Margie

[emichel]

I'm an emotional wreck!  Even though I am doing THR rather than resurfacing (I won't go into it now), I am posting on here because some aspects are similar.  I am scheduled to have my left side done on January 18, and the right on March 1st.  The thing is, as a single person, as I begin to assemble my "support team" it is bringing up a lot of feelings for me as to who is there for me, who isn't, and etc.  Even though I have never read anything about this, I have started to wonder if there is something hormonal that occurs w/people before major surgery.  I just feel so extremely hyper-sensitive, it is riduculous.  I cry at the drop of a hat, feel sad about every mean and hurtful thing I have ever said to anyone throughout my life and every mean and hurtful thing that has ever been said to me.  Don't worry, I am back in therapy!  I just don't understand why I am having such an intense emotional response to this.  I mean, I know it is "routine surgery".  IT IS ROUTINE FOR THE DOCTORS, NOT FOR ME!!!  (Sorry).  I am very confident of my doctor, and odds are great that I will have a positive outcome, I just don't know how I am supposed to get through the next couple of months.  Well, feeling disappointed in a couple of friends is part of this... oh well, thanks for listening.

[Pat Walter]

emichel

Everyone goes thru some emotion issues and are even afraid.  It is only human.  Some people use Xanex or some other anxiety meds.  I am sure your therapy will get you back on focusing on the positive aspects of receiving new hips.  You need to plan on what you will do next summer when you are out of pain and active again.

There are some excellent meditation tapes on preparing for surgery.  I had open heart surgery to replace my aortic valve 3 months ago and Cleveland Clinic gives you a CD to use to imagine a sucessful surgery and recovery.  They even suggest you use earphone or plugs and listen during surgery.  The CDs do a lot to ease your anxiety.  I used them some since I had to wait 2 months before my surgery.  I had my hip resurfacing and now open heart surgery - I can tell you the hip replacement is a piece of cake compared to open heart surgery.  That, however, does not relieve your anxiety. This is one of the cds I used  http://www.healthjourneys.com/product_detail.aspx?id=29

Talk to your friends, tell them how you feel.  If you are crying that easily, I think some anxiety meds will help.  You would not believe how many men and women use them on the open heart surgery discussion board.  They are almost suggested since the anxiety can bring on a-fib and other heart probelms.  Many family doctors will understand what you are going thru and suggest some meds.  No reason to go thru such mental agony for 2 months.  Talk to your family doctor.

Everything will work out fine.  Keep posting and let us know how you are doing.  Start making plans for next summer.  Do some new things and enjoy the new hips.

Pat

[emichel]

Thanks, Pat, I will try the CD's.  I do feel positive about the idea of having new hips and being able to do things, it's just getting through the waiting that is hard.  My primary care doc did offer me some meds for anxiety, but I want to wait until it's closer to the time.  I am already taking Vicodin several times a week for pain, and I don't want to turn into a drug addict!  Anyway, I know you've been through it all, so thanks for the inspiration. -- Eileen

[imgetinold]

Stuart,

I'm relatively new here as well.  Scheduled for a January 2012 resurfacing.

Have you done it yet?

I'd love to hear how it's going.

As for the promotion.....how is that going?  I found that being successful - in whatever the job is - can provide the motivation, even if it is less physical.

I'll look for an update.....

Andy

[cwg]

Hey Stuart, how are you faring?! Am new here and reading posts that interest me! And yours really touched me..
Plus it was a creative and well written post - smile

I hope you had a GREAT experience. So many people here have had just that.

Sincerely
cwg