Hi,
Today marks that in 7 days I"ll be having my hip op, I'm not nervous... yet... anxious yes.
Is everyone like this?
I was anxious--never nervous-- to finally get it over with too. Once you reach that decision to have it done, the hardest thing is waiting for the day to come. Good Luck--you won't regret the results!
todd
We must be having it the same day, June 5th? I am nervous too. I alternate between sure I am doing the right thing because my hip is killing me and ...wow this is a major deal cutting the bone and such...am I really ready?
Wow June 2nd for me and I'm haveing the same problem one minute let's do it now and the next it's wait a second this a major surgery. Pre op tomorrow so it could be a long weekend waiting for tuesday. Good luck to everyone haveing surgery next week and we can all celebrate 6 months together too.
Tommy
The my op is on the fourth, that's assuming that when I call the ward on Wednesday that there bed for me, otherwise i guess i go back on the waiting list...
We all were a little or alot nervous before surgery but the pain your in right now will be gone and you will be on the road to recovery. Believe me it goes faster than you think. The first few days are the hardest but every day gets better and better. Good luck to all of you and see ya on the other side(otos).
Wayne
Hi Gang
Everyone is a bit nervous before major surgery. I personally looked forward to it since I had read about so many people and knew it would be great to be out of pain. I think if you have a good positve attitude and know in your mind you have made the right decision - things go better for you. Focus on the postive and not the negative. Even folks with slow recoveries and who experinced a few problems still all ended up in the same place eventually - healed, active and out of pain. That's the goal for everyone.
The folks here give each other great support and Thanks to their great stories allow new patients to learn exactly what to expect.
Good Luck to all the future Surface Hippies! Stay in touch and let us know how you are doing.
Pat
Believe me, I'm looking forward to having had the op done, I'm certainly not going to miss what I'm dealing with before it.
Good luck to everyonne.
June 2nd for me. And I'm a little anxious. Quite frankly, I don't do well with needles, so that's actually my biggest concern right now. More than anything, I'll be glad to be able to do normal things again. I'm relieved and excited, maybe even more than I'm anxious or nervous.
But, it's a pretty big deal. You'd be crazy not to be a little nervous. But if all goes well, your symptoms will be so much better. So it's understandable not too be "freaking out," for lack of a better term.
Anyway. Good luck.
Good luck, received a letter yesterday saying my op has been rescheduled for the 22nd.
Elar
You surgery is getting pretty close now. I want to wish you Good Luck.
I hope you will start a new section under hip stories about your surgery. You are very young and your story will help other young people in the future. Plus we also want to know how you are doing after surgery. You can also write a story when you recover and I will post it on the main website under the Hip Stories section.
Keep positive - this is your special resurfacing so you can live a long active life without pain. Remember many younger people have gone thru this too.
Pat
I am also a 34 y/o getting my right hip resurfaced June 6 at The Hospital of Special Surgery with Dr. Boettner. Best of luck with your surgery. I am a high school phys ed teacher and head wrestling coach in NJ. I am also nervous but being told by many I will be thrilled after the surgery. I am curious how your recovery will be. Keep us updated!
I have to report to the hospital tomorrow at 6am. I hope everyone who had it done this week went well and I'm sure we'll hear more in the next week or two as to how everyone is doing. I hope to hear good news. :)
Good luck Debbie, let us know how it went when you can.
Three days post op for me, went home on day two. Low grade fever is the only thing I've experience. This site and all the experienced people on it I owe a big thank you.
Tommy
Thefirst twelve hours were great, but now Iam notfeeling so wonderful, not am I typing well. I was hoping someone might have some advice. One paper Ihave says they should be turning me every twohours, but I thought I remember that I cant go on my side for days. I see my doctor in the morning, so I will ask him then but my back is killing me.
Howoften were you guys icing for waht you though were good results? My PA says off and on. Did you elevate right away in the hospital?
I appreciate any opinions you have and realize you are not doctors.
Looking forward to feeling better in a few days, I hope.
Debbie- Congratulations on your surgery! My doctor recommended intermittent icing and elevation for a few days when I returned home. The hospital sent me home with a big ice pack. I used it 5 or 6 times a day (at least) for 20 minute periods. I would elevate at the same time. This not only felt good, but the swelling was gone within a week or so. One thing I didn't know until a physician friend told me, was that you don't want to ice it too much- you need to give your hip some time to heal in between all the ice. Best of luck!!!!
Yes Iced about 5 times a day 15 on then off for a while. My back was killin me to, they should come in and stand you up that really help my back. I was raising the bed up and down just to work my back a little. When I got home thats when the big improvements really started to happen hang in there it will get better. Let us know how your doing
Tommy
:) Early recovery time-frames, especially for simultaneous bilateral folks....
Hi all -- I would like to do a little informal survey about recovery and recovery times -- from surgery through the "I think I've been hit by a truck phase" and "my goodness, how can my legs, thighs, behind, etc possibly be twice as large as normal? swelling phase" of recovery, up to "I can walk around pretty well now with my two crutches/canes phase."
I am planning to fly to South Carolina, and become a bilateral Gross hippy. However, from my small town in Oregon to Columbia, SC appears to be a minimum flight experience of 11.5 or 12 hrs, to far more hours. I'm also looking at whatever other airports might be near to Columbia, but you get the idea... with getting to the airport early, and the final drive to my house, it will end up being a very, very long day to get home.
Because of this, I have decided I would like to stay at least a week, maybe 10 days, in SC post-surgery. I'm just wondering if I would better plan more days? How many? I've been scrutinizing the recovery stories and I just thought maybe it would be helpful not just to me, but to others traveling, to have a reality check on what it would be like to travel from day 2 or 3 post-op all the way up to 15 days or so that seems to be common if US people go to Belgium, India, etc -- also with long travel times. Maybe a little poll?
I've read lots of great single side recoveries, not as many simultaneous bilaterals, but it would seem all experiences would be helpful. Please post the good, the bad, and the ugly. (And how does one deal with non-raised public toilets anyway? just wondering!)
Thanks for all help. I'm scheduled for mid-July and need to dial in my flight dates. Thanks, Marilyn
Though mine was only one on side, here is how I handled my travel home from S.C. to Idaho, which was about a 12 hour affair. After the two nights in the hospital, I chose to stay an additional two nights at the Residence's Marriott about three blocks from the hospital. Note that there are two Marriotts near the hospital. The Courtyard, which is across the parking lot from the hospital, and the Residence's, which is about three blocks away. My wife stayed in the Courtyard while I was in the hospital, because it is slightly less expensive, and a short walk. We moved to the Residence when I got out of the hospital, because it has a kitchen and a nice little living area. Both have handicapped toilets, etc, if you request it ahead of time.
I found the trip back to be pretty easy, with the following tactics. We flew out of Columbia, so there was very little time in a car. We arranged for wheelchair assistance at all airports, so that part was very easy. We flew in first class seats when possible, which was a first for me, and very much worth it. I was sure to stay up on my pain meds, and was never particularly uncomfortable during the trip. I did have to use the toilet on the plane, which was incredibly awkward, but doable if you kind of prop yourself up with your hands, and sit kind of sideways so that you do not have to bend too much. It worked, and I did not have to violate any bending restrictions. The only real downside to the travel, was that I had a lot of swelling down in my foot and ankle, from sitting up for so long.
One other thought; I had a difficult time putting my full weight on my new hip, for a couple of weeks. If I had done both hips, waiting a bit longer to travel might have made sense. It sure is good to get home though.
:) Early recovery time-frames, especially for simultaneous bilateral folks....
Hi all -- I would like to do a little informal survey about recovery and recovery times -- from surgery through the "I think I've been hit by a truck phase" and "my goodness, how can my legs, thighs, behind, etc possibly be twice as large as normal? swelling phase" of recovery, up to "I can walk around pretty well now with my two crutches/canes phase."
I am planning to fly to South Carolina, and become a bilateral Gross hippy. However, from my small town in Oregon to Columbia, SC appears to be a minimum flight experience of 11.5 or 12 hrs, to far more hours. I'm also looking at whatever other airports might be near to Columbia, but you get the idea... with getting to the airport early, and the final drive to my house, it will end up being a very, very long day to get home.
Because of this, I have decided I would like to stay at least a week, maybe 10 days, in SC post-surgery. I'm just wondering if I would better plan more days? How many? I've been scrutinizing the recovery stories and I just thought maybe it would be helpful not just to me, but to others traveling, to have a reality check on what it would be like to travel from day 2 or 3 post-op all the way up to 15 days or so that seems to be common if US people go to Belgium, India, etc -- also with long travel times. Maybe a little poll?
I've read lots of great single side recoveries, not as many simultaneous bilaterals, but it would seem all experiences would be helpful. Please post the good, the bad, and the ugly. (And how does one deal with non-raised public toilets anyway? just wondering!)
Thanks for all help. I'm scheduled for mid-July and need to dial in my flight dates. Thanks, Marilyn
[/quote]
Hi Marilyn
Everyone has a different recovery - whether one hip or bilateral. There is no real standard. I stayed in Belgium for 9 days after surgery before I flew 8 hours home. I only had one hip done. The bilats stay a bit longer. I think you would be wise to stay the extra week or so before flying home. I would ask Lee Webb what she suggests. The Residence Inn and facilities in Columbia are very nice. Always ask the important questions of your doctor. Good to get info right from the expeirenced surgeons.
I have hundreds of personal stories posted on the main website under the Hip Stories http://www.surfacehippy.info/hipstories.php (http://www.surfacehippy.info/hipstories.php) There are a lot of bilateral stories. Some are very detailed. It would be a good investment of time for you to spend an evening or two reading the stories. You will be much better prepared for your surgery. I know you will get replies from folks here, but I like to remind people about the hundreds of stories that are also posted.
Good Luck.
Pat
We haven't heard from some of you who just had the single side done. I hope you are doing well. I am six days post surgery and feeling better. I had a rough 18 hours due to H and H blood levels and alergies to pain meds. They were trying to get me up out of bed, but I was so lightheaded that I could not go anywhere. I ended up passing out in the restroom about 22 hours after my surgery, but luckily I knew it was coming and they were able to lower me to the floor in a decent position and they do not think it did anything to the new hip since I have had little pain. As a result of my blood issues, I had to have a transfusion. I was not thrilled and did not really want to do it, but my blood levels were not coming up on their own.
Within twelve hours of finishing the transfusion, I was up out of bed walking around with the walker and feeling much better. I live in an upstairs condo, so I had to be able to do stairs in the hospital before they would release me. I could do as many stairs as I wanted to by 72 hours after surgery, so I got to go home. YEAH!
My issues now are two:
1. I am taking very little pain medication due to allergies and nausea, but I also don't have much pain. My PT says most people would still be taking more at least for the discomfort. I have trouble sitting comfortably for long and I have trouble laying down for long without discomfort in my lower back and incision area. Any suggestions?????
2. I am experiencing some "clunking" when I do heal slides or try to raise my leg off of the ground in a marching motion. Even when I lean over my crutches and relax to look in the refrigerator it clunks some. Dr. Ball said that some people do experience clunking but most seem to go away in two to three months. He thinks patients may just get used to it vs. it actually going away. He was very happy with the placement of my Wright device. Any ideas????
Hi Debbie
They had me put a pile of pillows under my legs when I was laying on my back in Belgium after my surgery. It helps with the back pain and also is good to keep your "nose above your toes" to keep blood from clotting in your legs. I did not wear TEDS when I had my legs proped up. Also about 5 days post op I was able to start to lay on my unoperated side with a pillow between my legs. I did a lot of sleeping and napping in my lazy boy recliner too. That seemed to feel a lot better in when I finally got home from Blegium.
I had a whole lot of clunking. Dr. De SMet said it was from lose muscles around the new hip. It was very obvious for along time, then gradually went away. I will still get it now and then 3 years post op - but very seldom.
So don't worry about it now. It feels strange, but just think of it as your new hip talking to you.
Many people don't need strong meds after surgery. I only took Advil after leaving the hospital for the incision tenderness. I had no major pain.
Sorry to hear about your other problems. Sounds like you are on the mend now. Be patient and you will soon be enjoying that new hip.
Good Luck.
Pat