Hip Talk Forum About Hip Resurfacing

 ???I've been in agony for over 2 and a half years and now, Thank God, I finally found surgeons willing to give me new hips.  It's Dr. Philip Schmitt vs Dr. Thomas Gross, and I would love to hear everyones' opinion. Surfacehippy is a terrific site, and I have been learning so much here!

In 2009, after failed bilateral arthroscopies, a dozen local midwest surgeons that I visited said my hip X Rays were normal or just mild arthritis.  Dr. Sampson and Dr. Kelly, on the other hand, looked at my films and said I was ready for implants or resurfacing.  I was so confused and scared.  Then I saw Dr. Philippon last month, after a year waiting list and 2 trips to Vail, where he finally turned me down for arthroscopy surgery and said my hips had degenerated over the last 3 months and needed resurfacing.

That brings me to setting a surgical date for bilateral resurfacing with Dr. Schmitt, Commerce, MI - a few hours drive from where I live.  Dr. Schmitt was terrific, and husband and I really liked him.  The only reason I'm still in comparison mode at all with Dr. Gross is that "Dr. Detroit" has done 950 resurfacings vs. Gross' 2500+.  Dr. Schmitt answered my long list of questions, because like most of you, I had time to educate myself during 2 years of being housebound.  Other than the number of surgeries, I am pleasantly surprised and nearly sold on Schmitt as my surgeon.  I set a bilateral surgery date with him on December 20th, which beats the pants off Gross' end of March surgical availability. 

My problem is my pain is very bad and barely controlled with Hydromorphine and getting worse really fast; I don't think I can hold out until the end of March for Gross or tolerate another plane trip.  Also, my husband loses his job in March and insurance will be gone a couple months after that, so it'd be really taking a chance financially to use Gross.

Can anyone out there reassure me that I have a great chance at getting well with using a surgeon who's only done 950 resurfacings?  I could really use some reassurance here, and thanks for your replies.

Sorry my post is so long.

Hi

I have stories from a handful of Dr. Schmitt patients on the website and they seem to have done well.  950 resurfacings is quite a few.  Not as many as 2500, but if you are in pain and need surgery and don't want to travel far, I think Dr. Schmitt would be a good solution.  If you feel comfortable with him, then I would go ahead with your surgery.  I always have to also remind people, that even though I suggest the very top surgeons, there are also many that are experienced and have good outcomes.  Even with the new surgeons, the retention rate is 96%, so only 4 out of 100 will have problems.  Even that is not a bad statistic, but why take a chance when more experienced surgoens are available. 

I would go with the surgeon you feel comfortable with and one that can take care of you quickly if you are in pain.  Also there is the difference between the BHR and the cementless Biomet.  I think Dr. Gross has great outcomes with the Biomet, but the BHR has a great track record too.  So I would sit down and think it out - if you feel good with Schmitt and need your hip done sooner, choose that option.

Good Luck.

Pat

Thank you so much for an informative unbiased reply.  All the give and take here on the site has given me so much encouragement and hope.

Dr. Schmitt gave me a rundown of all his stats and retention rates, complications, etc., and that really helped.  Reading other hippies' success stories with surgeons who have even smaller numbers eases my mind somewhat too.  I am at the end of the line, so I need to get this done and start working on healing.  I'm trying not to be consumed with worry.

I am going to keep reading, and I would love to hear from those of you who are happy with their surgeons who don't happen to be the tippy top guys with thousands of hip resurfacings under their belt.

I also had a choice between two surgeons.  One had about 650 and the other 2250.  In my case there was no delay to schedule with either surgeon.  And both surgeons were relatively close.  So I ultimately chose the one with more experience.  Also the hospital where my surgeon works had a wing set up specifically for these types of surgeries.

Based on your brief description I would choose the local guy that has almost 1000 resurfacings.

Best wishes.

Dan

950 is a pretty good number of surgeries, I've never read anything negative about him, I would go with Dr. Schmitt given the parameters that you've given us.


Good luck, keep us in the loop whoever you end up going to.


Chuck

Most of the doctors agree that it takes between 100 and 150 surgeries to get it down.  I wouldn't say that Dr Schmitt is lacking anything in experience.

I just had the same choice between the famous doctor in town and Dr Scott Marwin who has done about the same number as Dr Schmitt. I met with Dr Marwin, liked him, liked his confidence and about a week later I made the appointment for Bilaterals on 11/15.  Eight days later I walked out of the Rusk Rehab Hospital in NYC on 1 cane and feeling no pain.

Wow!  This is exactly what I needed to hear.

DGossak- Thanks for sharing your experiences and giving me your 'two cents worth'.

Obyxpelican - I feel a lot better about my choice knowing that 950  is a good number of surgeries performed.

Woodstock Hippy - You had access to some of the best in NY; it means a lot to me knowing you were very happy with your choice of the lower profile surgeon.

These responses are very, very much appreciated and just what I was hoping for when I made my first post here at Surfacehippy.

to add my 2 cents ... 950 is a lot!! i went with a surgeon with "only" 300 and my results (so far, 10 weeks) have been great. and a word about waiting ... i considered waiting 3+ months to have the surgery in order for insurance to cover more but decided that sooner was better. that turned out for me to be a great decision!!

only you need to feel comfortable with your decision ... deep inside you probably already know the answer for you.

Two4One:

Hey, What do you know, I am having surgery on Tuesday with Dr. Schmitt.  I chose him for several reasons:

1. I chose to have the BHR device installed as it has the best long term clinical success rates.  It was what I felt most comfortable with.  Schmitt does only BHR, is listed on the Smith and Nephew site as one of their most experienced doctors, and he trained on the surgical technique in Birmingham, England Mr. Treacy (one of the inventors of the BHR device and father of modern day resurfacings). 

2. Schmitt IS experienced.  To me, 950 is a LOT of surgeries and hip resurfacings is the only thing that he does.  He doesn't do knees and shoulders, and hips.  He does hip resurfacings. That's it.  That is the guy I want.

3. I like the anterior approach he takes.  He explained it to me and I am very comfortable with this.  It seems that historically folks seem to have a quick recovery on this approach and that is important to me.

4. He is super accesible and seems to genuinely care.  I met with him 3 times in person and talked to him 2 additional times over the phone (I am a bit of a control freak).  He was very gracious and took the time to answer all my questions.  Believe me, some of my questions were stupid, too.  My thought process is that IF I did have some problem or issue, he would be there to help me.  I wouldn't have to drive hours just to get into see him.

5. He is covered by my insurance and had only a 6 week waiting list.  This is probably not the best reason to pick a surgeon but I too am getting pretty bad and can't wait until March.

So, hopefully my thoughts help to ease your mind if you do decide to pick Schmitt.  If not, and you decide to wait, there are a TON of folks here that have fantastic outcomes and great success stories with Dr. Gross.  He is probably one of the best in the world so either way you go, you are in good hands.

Best of luck to you.  Take Care.

I'm scheduled for RBHR with Dr. Schmitt this Monday, 11/28. I live locally to Dr. Schmitt's practice, but I was prepared to travel if necessary. Like you and others on this site, I did my due diligence and am confident going into this surgery that I've made the right decision. Now that I'm two days pre-op, I honestly can't imagine adding airports and a plane trip to this ordeal given that I'm nervous enough and in significant pain. Nor would I add another four months of low quality of life and possible insurance problems to the mix as in your case.

Another advantage of being local is that I've spoken to several people who are patients of Dr. Schmitt or have family members/friends that have been resurfaced by him. All reports have been very positive. I think the most reassuring account came from a hospital tech during one of my pre-op testing procedures. Her sister had had a successful BHR by Dr. Schmitt, but how she became aware of resurfacing and Dr. Schmitt was remarkable. During her consult with a very well known, top THR surgeon at a competitor hospital in our area, the surgeon removed his physician's ID badge and told her he was speaking as a layman. He explained how she was a likely candidate for BHR and referred her to Dr. Schmitt to learn more about the resurfacing option. 

At that point, I already was on Dr. Schmitt's surgical schedule, but hearing that ringing endorsement has helped ease some pre-op anxiety.

Maxx6789  - You are so right about not waiting an extra 3 months, and you make some really good points.  I think it would be way too chancy to do surgery at the tail end of our health insurance expiration.
 
After reading Surfacehippy even more, it seems that when your arthritis starts getting noticeably more painful the pain speeds up and crashes in like a speeding freight train.  In just a 3 month span between seeing Philippon for revision arthroscopy, my chances went from 70% to less than 5%!  My pain is getting worse even this week, and last night I could not sleep at all because of it.

Rbt2011 -  I'm so excited for you getting your surgery in just 2 days, and it's so cool you have Schmitt as your doctor too!  I was impressed when I met him, and the fact he trained with Treacy is icing on the cake.  It's quite reassuring too learning that 950 resurfacings means that Dr. Schmitt is really experienced and will do excellent work.  Nothing is more important to than to have a highly skilled surgeon that is personally invested in your successful outcome.  I can't wait to hear a lot more about your experiences next week and how you're doing!

MGM – Wow!  It's great to see yet another Schmitt hippy getting surgery this week.  The thought of a grueling plane trip, hotels, etc., and 4 more months of being bedridden is just too much for me too. Who knows how bad my arthrits will be when the 20th rolls around? Your story and inside scoop is remarkable, and now I feel Dr. Schmitt is totally the right choice for me. 

Sometimes you feel all alone and like you are practically the only one in the world getting hip resurfacing, especially when all you hear about is THR.  Now, I feel like I'm a member of my own Schmitt Tribe!

I am so glad that I asked for help in deciding between 2 surgeons and reassurance from Surfacehippy, because Boy did I get it!  This site is the best.

I had my bilateral hip surgery this morning at 7am, and I feel great.  Amazingly, it's just like those positive hip resurfacing reviews you read online and here at Surface Hippy.  My stabbing arthritis pain emanating from deep in the joint is gone, and the only pain I have is recovery pain from the surgery incision, and that's even getting better with each passing hour.  I napped a lot today, but I did fine with visitors - that's something I couldn't tolerate yesterday! 

It turns out my first steps and PT will commence tomorrow at 6am, and I get my catheter out then(which I don't even feel).  Day 2 will be me, determined to 'enjoy' my PT.  Forgive me for sounding like a motivational speaker but I've been faithfully listening to the download "Before, During, and After Your Surgery", and I think it's embedded in my brain like one of those cheesy songs you can't get our of your head!

I've requested to do aggressive PT with an extended ortho stay in a specialized facility, and I'm looking forward to testing my mettle once the spinal block and epidural wear off.  I'm doing Christmas with the PTs, and everyone knows they like to party!

I am appreciating the terrific support and suggestions from everyone here.  I am truly thankful.  For my fellow 'Schmittians', for everyone on the board, and for everyone who has their surgery still ahead of them, I am rooting for you!  Goodnight, John Boy:)

I'm glad you are felling well, and believe me
, it just keeps getting better.  Also glad that you are "staying in" for Christmas with the PT's.  Don't work too hard, ease into it and most of all Merry Christmas!


I was reading through this thread and I came to this;
"Woodstock Hippy - You had access to some of the best in NY; it means a lot to me knowing you were very happy with your choice of the lower profile surgeon."

At this point, four and a half weeks out with Bilaterals, having never had any real pain, being able to walk over an hour with no issues, riding a tri-bike with a low front end with nice smooth motion and my cadence around 85 on the trainer, doing great pool workouts, I feel like I did go to the best HR surgeon in NYC.

The first night wasn't too bad; the nursing staff kept me medicated and comfortable.  I did spike a fever to 103 during the night, but it's normal now.  I'll also be receiving a blood transfusion today to make up for my low hemoglobin.  Apparently, you tend to lose blood more with a longer bilateral resurfacing surgery, and I won't able to walk or do my PT until after the transfusion.

I was able to move around a bit in my bed by using the trapeze like assistance bar that hangs from the ceiling.  The food has been really yummy and my private room is large and very nice. With ice and more ice kept on my hips, I'm fairly comfortable and ready to see what the rest of the day brings.

Really glad to hear how you're doing. The progress won't be linear, but will be continual, so good luck and enjoy that PT.

You'll probably feel a lot more energetic after you have a blood transfusion. Ready to rock n roll and travel the hospital hallways in style! Hang in there.

Best,
Luanna

I had a good day today and was able to get out of bed twice, granted I was using a walker and assisted by hospital staff, but still all in all my recovery is moving right along!  I'm getting more movement like bending at the knees and shimmying myself around to get more comfortable.

It was especially nice when a former Schmitt patient visited me with a little care package, and it was great to see her walk pain free about the room.  You'd never know she's a bilateral Schmitt Hippy.  My recovery is moving right along and everyone at DMC Huron Valley - Sinai Hospital has been terrific.

Glad to hear your were up and at it today.  I hope you have a good night.   When I went in for my pre surgical clearance, which is at a different hosptial than that of Dr. Schmitt, my doctor told me that Dr. Schmitt was a good surgeon, the first to do a BHR in the States.  He said his hospital was trying to recruit him.  That all sounded pretty good to me.  I read also that he specializes in BHR in women, more good news.  Keep up the recovery.  My thoughts are with you!

Nauseous.  I'm going through withdrawal because the Dilaudid pump doses are so small compared to the amount of Dilaudid I was taking pre op, and you're supposed to push the button every 8 minutes.  The irony is I'm forgetting to use the pump; the recovery pain is so much of an improvement over the OA pain I had before my resurfacing. 

Otherwise, I am getting more movement, strength, etc.  I've already been out of bed 5 times yesterday and also finished walking to the bathroom for the first time! 

I'm using a walker to get around.  There is a foot aid that I use to swing my legs over the bed by gradual degrees, and I'm able to go up on my elbows and then my hands to pivot my body around in line with my legs.  This is the technique PT showed me to avoid  using the banned motion of twisting at the waist.  I walked all the way into the bathroom again this morning and was even able to stand all by myself to wash my hands at the sink.

My incision bandages are off, and my post op pain (around a 4 on the scale of 1 -10 before a Demerol injection) is even less this morning.  At this rate, in 2 weeks I won't have ANY incision pain, and I see myself doing a lot of walking on my perfectly healing, pain free hips.  My breakfast of Bacon, Vanilla yogurt, a fresh orange, and a Banana Nut Muffin washed down by a glass of skim milk is helping my successful recovery.

How are you fellow surface hippys doing?  How are your hips holding up?  What's going on with my fellow Schmitt (Schmittians?) Hippies?

Sorry about the nausea, I think we all have different reactions to the happy drugs.

For some reason, the first time I had vicious attacks of the hiccups any time I had ginger ale. Everyone thought it was a hoot, except they lasted for a couple of hours each time (I am unusually stubborn and lacking in long term memory). They finally went away after a couple of days; I decided to blame my mother, since she sometimes gets the hiccups. Did not happen the second time around, maybe because I stayed with water.

It all sounds good, 2for1, the walking, standing by yourself are all good signs. Keep ahead of the pain, it's one of the ways to progress.

I had nausea too for days 3 and 4 post op. Then it subsided. I think that was the most unpleasant part of my hospital stay. Hope it resolves quickly for you. I think it is pretty common.

You are doing GREAT!!! Keep moving and thinking positive thoughts....and have a wonderful day.

Luanna

hernanu - That's a tried and true chestnut blaming your mother for everything.  I LOL at your post.

Luanna -  Thanks for the heads up the nausea will pass soon.

I appreciate both of your's encouragement so much and thanks for posting on my thread!  I am going to have a wonderful spring, walking my Bichon Frise, and finally give him some sorely missed obedience traing to improve his manners!   We are so lucky to be alive in a time where the technology exists to get us hipsters moving again; I'm so thankful for that.

Sound like you are doing great, not to mention had a good breakfast.  I am another who was nauseous after surgery.  It did subside for me by day 4 with an anti nausea med.  I was in the hospital one night and unfortunately when my husband and I left in the car the next afternoon I immediately threw up.  :-\. From that point it got better quick.  Sounds like you are in for long term rehab.  You'll be feeling so much better by the time you leave!  You need some Christmas lights in your room!

Glad to hear that you are up and about.  Try to keep up with your medication though, it will help with your PT.  Have they told you when you'll start PT?  Don't work too hard at this point.  It's easy to overdo it without realizing it.  I just did on Tuesday and had to back off yesterday and now I'm back working it again today.

Woody -After talking it over with the hospital PTs, I'm thinking I'll go home tomorrow vs. transferring to a rehab facility.  The PTs said that there is no special PT to supervise gait, improve fitness, etc., in the local rehab facilities and rehab's roles was simply to practice life skills so I could go home as soon as possible.

I will instead have an in home nurse/PT coming by the day after I'm discharged; that's Saturday.

Ariel - I will make sure and take a Dilaudid and a promethazine chaser before getting in the car for a 3 and 1/2 hour drive home!  It's good to see the nausea will clear up, and I'm sorry you got so sick:(

Oh, good luck tomorrow.  Be careful on the ride home.  It's always great to get home.  It's still early so make sure you stay on top of your medication.  And most of all Have a Great Christmas at Home!

We made it home at 4:30pm, stopping several times so I could do one lap around the car.

I'm sore as the dickens, but in 2 weeks or less I'm starting the taper off the harder drugs I was on pre op.  My surgeon said I had been bone on bone end stage OA the past 2 years, and that's why so much of the time even the cancer drugs did not control my pain.  The arthritis was located in an X Ray blind spot, so no one diagnosed it until November 1st. I just wailed and cried so many nights, but not anymore.

I'm lucky in a way because my recovery pain is already less than my OA pain, and I'm doing my PT to the letter.  I can get in and out of the car.  I made it up our flight of 16? steps to my bedroom, 'Recovery Central'.  I'm able to get myself around pretty good with the walker and improving my gait from the 'monster mash' I had going.

I'll be glad to see the home care nurse tomorrow.  He or she will help me assess how I'm doing.  I think after reading about all the realities of recovery that I'm perfectly normal in my healing at this early date.  Poor Hubs thinks I'm a weak kitten and thinks I was dumb to listen to the PTs in the hospital who told me extended care rehab was only to prepare me to go home and really not necessary.  Now he tells me :-*.

Seriously, do you think I should have a frank discussion with the nurse tomorrow, and ask her if I'd benefit from a few more days of assistance? 

I think he's struggling, and the doctor said this morning that he wanted to do another chest X Ray because I had some fluid in my lungs. I just wanted to leave, so I did.

I'm glad you made it home OK and congratulations for making it up the stairs to ''Recovery Central''.

Now just relax, keep up your PT exerciseses and most of all enjoy the Holidays in your own house.

Thanks, Woody!  You were right about upper body strength being helpful when you are going for the bilateral resurfacing during one surgery.  I didn't have much strength at all after laying in bed most of the time pre op, and yet it didn't bother me to be helpless and immobile, (only the first 3 or 4 days Ha!)  Now, I'm enjoying using my atrophied, non existent muscles so much.

I did cry last night, sobbed really, but it was after a major marital spat that he apologized for this morning ;).  This is a journey of the soul and not only the body, so a gratitude journal, listening to hypnosis, meditation, & visualization downloads on my MP3, has been critical to my attitude.  I think without these tools I'd be a wreck. 

I guess I was lucky enough to seek a great therapist a few months into my 2 year chronic severe pain journey; after 2 months, this great therapist helped me get in touch with my own power and I was OK emotionally ever since.  Going along on 'my own' with an occasional prayer thrown in would have been really tough.  I now ask everyone I know to pray for me or send me best wishes, and I can tell all the good energy is lifting me up.  I was 'Miss Independent' and a fairly solitary person before my hips blew, and I learned the hard way that you don't have to go it alone, and you don't have to be afraid to reach out.  Maybe this was the lesson I was supposed to learn.

I got 6 hours of sleep last night!  That is so much more than my 2 year pre op pattern of falling to sleep at 3 am, waking every hour or so from pain, and blearily ejecting myself from a Vincent Price style of torture chamber - "The Bed".  Even so, 'Recovery Central' was anything but because I managed to knock my PC to the floor, my dog ate a Docusate, I knocked over water, and everything I touched seemed to have built in Gremlins.

This morning brought more clarity.  I'm going to stay on the ground floor in the adjustable rented hospital bed where I have my walker, my sitting chair with pillows, and my bedside table on wheels, organized to the max.  Upstairs will be for showers only for a while.

Jennifer, the visiting RN, said my chest was clear, temperature perfect, blood pressure normal, oxygen fairly normal at '95' when '100' is the baseline, and my sutures have not seeped one drop of blood since I was fileted Tuesday morning. 

No clunking at all, and I can walk without limping or stabbing pains.  I can't get over it.  I've been so majorly pleased with my surgery words cannot express.  Today, pain ranges from a medicated '2' to a '7' when it's time for my next med.  When compared to my pre op range of a '6' or '7', and a '9' level every night, it's like an Miracle.  Unbelievable.

Hi Two4One,
I think what you are experiencing is normal.... except for the marital spat. Spouses should be extremely non combative and supportive when they are dealing with someone who has just emerged from the operating table and are recovering. That was the unstated rule in our house and for the most part my hubby did well but it was very, very stressful for him. Still is sometimes.

Glad you are reinflated! Hang in there...the first couple of weeks and even months can be a roller coaster ride and calling on all your support systems will be very helpful to you.

My surgeon insisted that I have someone available 24 hours per day for the first 7 days and my hubby was my caregiver. So I don't think it is unreasonable for you to consider having nursing care for a while longer. Get all the care possible. It makes it so much easier during the really early recovery stage. Just my opinion.

Luanna

''I can't get over it.  I've been so majorly pleased with my surgery words cannot express.''

It's amazing isn't it?  I feel exactly the same way and I'm 5 1/2 weeks out.  We all have set-backs, small and larger, but on the whole it's a steady climb back to the lives we want to live.  I'm thrilled with it!

Merry Christmas to you and believe me, it will be a happy new year.

Two4One,

Your most recent post was filled with important revelations that all of us Hippys come to grips with during the journey. One of the most helpful tips I received early on was from a poster "Curt" who told me to embrace and enjoy the surgery and recovery because it was the most positive thing I could do for myself. It is a long  journey that leaves all of us changed forever. We start in pain, disabled and humbled doubting life holds much of a future for us. Slowly, through the kindness and skill of the people caring for us, we regain hope. Then, when the pain is suddenly gone, we realize that we can work our way through this recovery and get our lives back. And, we do get our lives back, literally one step at a time.

Look forward. Always look forward when the dark thoughts are drifting about. The dark times are behind you, and every day they become fainter. 2012 is going to be a year on wonder for you and many recent Hippys like me.

Your recovery is moving along at a normal pace. Your health is good. No worries. Once you are cleared to get to work on your PT, you'll be back in control. Then life really becomes interesting.

Stay posted. Stay positive. You are going to love your new hips! You have no idea, because there's no way to describe how good it feels. You have to experience it. Wait for it. That awesome rush is coming.

Boomer

Christmas Everything 12.24.11

I did NOT lean hard enough on the walker today and stood on my own way too much.  I have learned my Lesson:

NO FULL WEIGHT BEARING - Doh!
NO TWISTING, (even the littlest bit)
AVOID REACHING ACROSS WITH MY ARMS
DO THE FORMAL PT TWICE ONLY until my pushback pain subsides

I will get my IT Band more relaxed, and stop the hip cramping by investigating PT on Surface Hippy.

I will rest enough to get meditations instead of sitting up the entire day watching videos, emails, computer time, during the day.

R Knee Pain subsided nicely with a few moments of massage.  Thanks Husband.

Happy Christmas Everything to All Hippies everywhere!

Christmas Day 12.25.11

Thank you, Woody!
Thank you, Luanna!
Thank you, Boomer!
Thank you every Poster, because I'm reading 'em all!
(Almost. I need to work harder on RESTING.)
Thank you, Husband, for working your ass off and taking fantastic care of me.  Today, he brought me a big bowl of fresh berries and has all kinds of unspeakably Yummy treats coming all day long to celebrate Christmas.  (Healthy Gourmet Food) OMG
Thank you, GOD.
Thank you, Friends and Family.

A Beautiful Sunny 35 Degrees!  Yay!  Snow Free from Michiana.

7isham    Woke up after sleeping EIGHT full hours.  Man, sleep is the Best Christmas Gift Ever!

7:35am   Pain Med
Pain 3 (In Bed still) 

9:30am   Chair Time:  Ankle Pumps/Sitting Knee Extensions/Seated Side Leg Extensions
Pain 7 (In Chair)  IT Band & Hip Flexors Recovery Muscle Pain (Burning on the Outside)

Do you have the exercises from Mcminn?

http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/rehabilitation.html

I go through this routine every day that I don't go to PT

Merry Christmas

Very Cool, link Woody.  I will compare and contrast to my current PT protocol....you saved me some me some work I was planning today.

Sounds like you are doing well.  Slow and steady wins the race.

Best wishes.

Dan

12.26.11 December Monday

5:20am    8mg Dilaudid
(Pain 7 when I got back to Bed)  Ankle pumps/Bed PT exercises

7:30 to     Chair Time: Ankle Pumps/Sitting Knee Extensions/Seated Side Leg Extensions
8:30am     

9am   7.5 mg Norco
11:00   8mg Dilaudid

10:43am    Chair Time:  Ankle Pumps, IT Band & Hip Flexors Recovery Muscle Pain - 
                (The burning 7 level pain is on the outside of my thigh.)

2:30pm    7.5 Norco

Went up and down our flight of stairs, took a shower, washed my hair, brushed my teeth!!

4pm   8mg Dilaudid
5pm      2.5mg Valium
5:30pm   Pain 4

WEIGHT:   170 lbs - I have lost 7.6 pounds of water weight since
                coming home from the hospital last Friday.  (pre op 163
                lbs, and 2 yrs ago my pre end stage OA weight was 145 lbs)

We, Hubs and I, have pushed the RESET BUTTON:  We are working together as a team.

Two4one. Glad you were home for Christmas and sleeping. Thank you for sharing your experiences with us. Wishing you the best.

Thanks, DGossack and mslendzion!!

The Huron Valley Sinai on call Ortho surgeon replaced my anticoagulant with Aspirin this morning.  I had horrible sided effect from it, including increased leg pain.  I felt soooo much better today.

After a nice 2 hour nap this afternoon, my various muscle and scar pain dropped down to a level '3-4', a huge improvent.  I plan on walking outside tomorrow!

So glad switching to aspirin was approved and that it is helping. Gotta keep the pain level down as much as possible.

Luann

I woke up kinda stiff and sore, pain level '7'.  However, after moving around and getting medicated, my pain was a record breaking '2' (and the crowd roars!).  I made my own breakfast!  We've had our first real snowfall for the year and it's a beautiful winter wonderland out there!

I can't wait to go outside for the first time post op, so if my PT clears it, I'm gonna join the Mall Walkers.  Hubs says don't shop while I'm there!  ::)

12.17.11 Tuesday

6:45am      8mg Dilaudid
9:30          7.5 Norco
10:52        8mg Dilaudid
2:30          7.5 Norco
3:20pm      8mg Dilaudid
5pm           2.5 mg Valium
9:15pm      8mg Dilaudid
11:00pm    10mg Ambien


11am        RN Michelle - All Good, but don't go around people like in the mall because of suppressed immunity.
                PT Harry 1:30ish Wednesday
                OT Carrie Wednesday


WEIGHT:  169 lbs     Pre Op: 163 lbs     8/09 Pre Undiagnosed End Stage OA for 2 years: 145 lbs     Goal Weight: 128lbs
HEIGHT:   5'9
FEMALE

Hang in there, you are almost one week out.  Slightly after one week things improved by leaps and bounds for me!

Great milestone - making your own breakfast. But.....don't lett hubby off the hook. I got breakfast in bed for at least 3 weeks post op..and I only had one hip done - so you should get breakfast in bed for ohhhh about 6 weeks at least!  ;)

Wow! super that your pain level decreased so much today. Really excellent.

Have a super outstanding day!

Luanna

Lol.  You crack me up, Luanna.

Aerial, Thanks! 

You and I both had arthroscopic surgery, so we have a lot in common. In my case, Dr. Schmitt told my husband right after surgery that while I had healthy cartilage on the sides of my femurs and acetabular sockets in both hips, the tippy top of my femurs and the deepest center of my hip acetabulims was completely bone on bone and had been since my first arthroscopy back in '09.

I'm guessing it will only take a few more days than you for my big reveal of a pain free life.  I'm thrilled the PT and OT will be here tomorrow and help me get there with you as fast as I possibley can!

I work hard and like beating challenges, so this thingy is, like, fun. ;)

There is so much to remember, and a lot to keep up with when you're recovering from major hip surgery.  My pain today kinda jacked me around because Hubs and I both forgot to ice.

*Face to palm*  It sure feels so much better after 4 2 lb bags of frozen peas applied to my hips, and it's only 10 minutes!  Maybe I need to send myself a reminder to ice, ice, baby.  (I also liked 'Milli Vanilli'.)

I learned the value of ice from my arthroscopic surgery.  It definately helped with the swelling (after HR) and I had almost no bruising except for a small spot on the back of my calf that showed up about 10 or 11 days post op (kind of delayed reaction which was weird).  Do you have a Polar car unit that you fill with ice?  That thing is great.  We learned by trial and error that freezing water in water bottles and freezing chunks of ice in empty yogurt cups is a great way to get a lot of milage out of filling the machine for icing (last much longer than ice cubes)!

Thanks, Ariel.  I'll look into the Polar Ice care Unit.

Once I started icing and late into the evening, I really noticed my resting pain get down to a '3', which is a fantastic pain level after a long day of excellent recovery.  My body is really doing a good job!  Ol' Bessie still has some kick in her!

I think my PT, Harry, and my OT Carrie, (I kid you not), are not going to know what hit them tomorrow.  I feel good turning in with a strong finish!

Note to Self:  Ask the Universe and all the hippies to remind me to ice and send to me their best
                    prayers and wishes.  If anyone has any prayer/vibe requests, it would be both my
                    honor and pleasure to do so.                     
               

Remember to ice  :) and....

I could use a few positive thoughts/vibs and prayers for good results on my MRI that I had done late last week. Dr. Pritchett was in surgery all day today but plans on talking with me about my results tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Luanna

Thank you Universe and Thank You for Luanna's ice reminder!

I'm vibing you all the best and praying to God, Luanna, for your meeting with Dr. Pritchett on Wednesday to go very well indeed.  I pray that your MRI shows excellent and promising results on your back, and I pray that your hip progress is remarkably good, that your back X Rays look good, and that you get a clean bill of health. 

The body is a beautiful and mysterious organism constantly seeking to right itself, and I believe as you continue to grow as a person throughout your life and throughout your marvelous recovery that you, Luanna, will have all your dreams come true, even as you pick up and add new dreams along your uniquely individual and fascinating journey.  May you be surrounded by all love, all comfort, and all healing of your body's systems.

Amen.

Quote from: Luanna on December 27, 2011, 11:27:08 PM
Remember to ice  :) and....

I could use a few positive thoughts/vibs and prayers for good results on my MRI that I had done late last week. Dr. Pritchett was in surgery all day today but plans on talking with me about my results tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Luanna

Good luck Luanna!  I hope the MRI results bring good news.

Thanks so much Two4One and Aerial. I really appreciate your positive thoughts, prayers, and well-wishes. Affirmations are very powerful.

Thanks again.

Luanna

You are Welcome, Luanna, and thanks muchas gracias for ice reminder!  Good Luck today with Dr. Pritchett.

12.28.11   Wednesday:  Day 9 Recovery Express

1:30am   7.5 Norco
6:30am   8mg Dilaudid
9:15am   7.5 Norco
10:30am   8mg Dilaudid
1:30pm   7.5 Norco
4pm      8mg Dilaudid


7:30       Pain 3  Made my own breakfast (and snack early in the am.)
8am to     Chair Time:  4 2lb bags of Frozen Peas on my hips & don't it feel Good!
9:10        Pain 5
11:30       Freshly Showered and able to lift my legs up and over the tub!!  Lots of strength, but queasy from narcotics - can't wait to stop them.
12noon    Pain 5
4:30        Pain 4
1:30ish    Harry  the PT
2:30is      Carrie the OT

WEIGHT: 167.5 lbs,   Pre Op: 163 lbs,   8/09 Undiagnosed End Stage OA for 2 years: 145 lbs,    Goal: 128 lbs
WEIGHT:  5'9
FEMALE

I am so happy with my PT today!  I walked outside, and I blew Harry, the PT, away!
 
Carrie, the OT, is fantastic and our personalities really mesh!  I am reported to be so ahead of the recovery curve "that it's scary".  (I am fully cognizant of my precautions, and will NOT do anything to jeopardize my healing just because I feel good.)

Today, I had breakthroughs right and left.  I am floating on cloud 9.





       

Quote from: Luanna on December 27, 2011, 11:27:08 PM
Remember to ice  :) and....

I could use a few positive thoughts/vibs and prayers for good results on my MRI that I had done late last week. Dr. Pritchett was in surgery all day today but plans on talking with me about my results tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.

Luanna

Thinking good thoughts for good results all around for you.

Impressive - legs lifted over tub!!! Excellent progress. Major accomplishment.

Thanks so much Two4One, Aerial and Hern. Your kind thoughts, positive energy, and prayers worked!!! I definitely received a good report.

No ruptured disc. Basically have some compression in the lower back discs. Just what you would expect to see in a person my age! I didn't think I was THAT old. Sigh...

Dr. Pritchett recommends that I try acupuncture and chiropractic stuff and that build my core to strengthen the muscles around the new hip and back area. Whew....what a relief.

Luanna

Yay, Luanna!  You're not old; you just answer "Yes" when asked "Are you experienced?"

12.28.11 Recovery Express Cont'

6pm      7.5 Norco
7:15      2.5 diazepam
8:30pm 8mg Dilaudid

8:15 to    Chair Time
9pm

10pm       10mg Ambien

Pain spiked to an 8 in R hip late this afternoon because my rented hospital bed had a depression in the middle of it.  When I stepped out of the room, Hubs kindly took the mattress off the bed, turned it over, and flipped it from end to end.  OMG, what a difference it makes in comfort.  The spikes in pain are becoming less frequent and are over sooner.

I'm starting to get light headed whenever I take my Dilaudid dose because now it's too much power for my new pain reduced recovering hips.  The more powerful pain drugs lose their 'transparency' when they don't have enough pain to alleviate, and that's when the side effects come on like wooziness,  etc., and the need for a less powerful pain reliever is pronounced.  Friday physician supervised taper here we come!

Big doings went down on the Recovery Express yesterday.  During my OT, Carrie said I was "scary way ahead" in my skill and activity level, and she said I was focused like a laser to battle back, not only to my fitness, but also to my life prior to my 2 yr confinement.  She cautioned me to keep it in check and not drive too fast at my recovery.

My fantastic day yesterday with Harry and Carrie with lots and lots of PT and OT, led me to a late night run on toast, butter, & jelly, topped by iced skim milk, and a 10mg Vicodin.  I finally drifted off, but at 5am all my atrophied muscles up and down both sides of my body woke me up.  Today is an 'easy' training day with doing my basic bed and chair PT, but what's new is I'll be doing more reps and trying to rest a little too.  That's really hard.

Rest is a bone of contention right now.  Hubs says I'm not napping and 'relaxing' like I should.  He says I should be off the computer and looking at 4 walls 'relaxing like they did back in the 1940s'.  :P  That does not sound relaxing at all to me!  As if.  No, today I'll write long overdue Thank You notes to all the wonderful people in my life for their gifts, flowers, cards, notes, emails, and calls.   While not doing chair time, making my own meals, doing PT, walking laps from my kitchen to the bathroom, all I DO all day is lay flat on my back.  I have been flat on my back for 2 years and being on the computer is my way to get through this, just like a lot of people here. Hubs wants only the best for me, he wants to care of me, and he's doing a bang up job. 

What is your opinion about computer use vs. 'rest'?

I had a good day yesterday and was busting down my stall.  Today, my low rider drives a little slower.  It's an 'easy' training day.  Therefore, my goal is to sustain newly increased PT reps, per Harry's law.  (I don't watch it, but couldn't resist.) ;)

Captain's Log, Stardate 12.29.11

5:00am   8mg Dilaudid
Pain '7'-  Stiff and sore
7:15       10mg Vicodin - Pain 7, Knees Cramping 9
7:50       Chair Time - Iced
8:50       Chair Complete- Iced hips, Iced knees, R knee 8, ankle pumps, isometrics, skipped Sitting Knee extensions
              because of knee pain.     Hip pain is an 8.
9:15        8mg  Dilaudid
12:40      7.5mg Norco
3:15        8mg Dilaudid      
6:20pm   7.5 Norco
5:45        Chair and Ice for one hour.  Tomorrow, try breaking Chair Time into smaller chunks.
7:30        7.5mg Norco, 2.5 Ativan
9:15        8mg Dilaudid
11:00      7.5mg Norco & 10mg Ambien
Pain '4" -  Ice followed by heat is a wonder formula!
12:30am   Resting pain a 2l

*** Tomorrow, we'll have a plan for weaning off all narcotics, except for the very occasional Vicodin.  I can tell after one day of following the RN's instruction that I'll become more and more comfortable and have a much easier time of tapering off Dilaudid.  Starting Friday, l'm omitting tables of my daily pain medication intake because I've now accomplished my goal of sharing my somewhat unique experience with other pre operative hipsters . ***




.

Do you have a heating pad?  I have a large one, around 32 x 18.  I use it almost every night before sleep and almost every morning before I get up.  It helps a lot to loosen things up.

I have several large heating pads and have not used them once because I thought I was supposed to only ice! 

Great suggestion, Woody, because I think heat, along with ice, will really help with the tightness & spasms and help me taper faster.

A Big Thank You.

I also heat up before most workouts and always ice after.

Glad I can help!

Hi Two4One,

Computer is good. Support systems are essential. Hubby needs to start bringing you meals and wonderful gifts that thrill you and make you want to hug him.  ;)

My pain management doc just recently (late last week) put me on a medication called Baclofen. It works on the Gaba receptors in the brain and relaxes the skeletal muscles. It's different than typically prescribed muscle relaxers like Flexeril.

After only one week, I'm seeing great improvements in the reduction of spasms and tightness. I'm able to exercise more easily without getting tight after a workout and I'm quite a bit more comfortable. After my back went into spasm, I spent a month getting tighter and tighter. The Baclofen seems to have broken that pain cycle by loosening up the muscles.

I don't know if this is something that might be helpful at this stage in your recovery. You might want to run it by your RN.

Luanna

QuoteComputer is good. Support systems are essential. Hubby needs to start bringing you meals and wonderful gifts that thrill you and make you want to hug him.  ;)

Lol, Luanna!!

Hubs says he's accepting donations ;D.

Tomorrow morning I see my pain doctor, and we'll discuss.  I make a point to only use drugs of any stripe that are 'old', on the market for 15 years+, so that puts some limits on him.  The visiting RN had a surprising answer (Thank You God) to my post op pain that i talk about in my next post.

Quote
After only one week, I'm seeing great improvements in the reduction of spasms and tightness.

Yay!!!

At 12noon today, RN Melissa said I was not taking enough pain medication, I didn't see that coming.  She wants me to extend the time between my 4 daily doses of Dilaudid to six hours.  In order to accomplish that, Melissa wants me to take TWO 7.5 Norcos for breakthrough pain in between the Dilaudid base.  From there, I'll have the correct relief base to taper from.

The nurse was right! She said I've been in a pain hole and needed to get all the way out of it.  Melissa explained my post op pain severity is due to a trifecta of a perfect storm: undiagnosed bone on bone OA for an extraordinary length of time, built up narcotic tolerance as a result, and I haven't gotten ahead of my pain since before my surgery.  Melissa also endorsed heat plus ice, and that has settled it all right down!  With some extra Norco I'm finally down to a "2" today and have been all afternoon, and, boy, am I grateful.

Ah, I'm glad thinks are going back in the right direction.

Now...........let the dancing begin!

Hehehe.  You betcha!

1 and 1:30pm - Harry the Vendantic PT prescribes:  Meditations 2xdaily and work toward not working, and letting go of thoughts until there are no thoughts and there is only IS, being and uniting with the all.

4pm: My gratitude for light, my thanks for peace.  After my very painful doctor trip this morning that seemed unnecessary and even cruel at the time, I'm very, very lucky to know that the universe (Lord) will provide the right people to come into your life at the most opportune moment possible.  All will be swept away before me, leaving the best behind, a calm and measured recovery. 

My enforced rest day today provided me with the gifts of mental PT, every bit as important as physical conditioning of the body.  I'm growing, through fits and starts, into a brand new body mind and it's kinda weird and scary to throw off old ways of thinking, and it's different to embrace the fear of fear, & the fear of natural, normal recovery pain.
      
Everybody knows with hip resurfacing, everything goes so much easier when pain is controlled.  Am I right?

'Stay ahead of the pain' seems to be one of the Surface Hippies' prime directives.  I would really appreciate learning about everyone's story of how you experienced those tough 2 weeks post op.  I especially would be grateful if those of you who are IN their first two weeks post op chimed in.

What struggles are you experiencing overcoming those first 2 weeks of post op pain?  Those of you past the intense 2 weeks post op, what do you recall?

Hi everyone. Had both mine done on Dec 6th by Mr McMinn in Birmingham. He and his staff were superb, felt was in the best possible hands. The weekend before I was crying with the pain in bed, bent over when walking in agony.
The hospital was excellent.
When I came too afterwards I was on a high, didn`t sleep til 4am when the tubes etc were removed. Had pain when
epidural was taken out, staff soon sorted that out. Day two was faint when attemting to walk so had two pints of blood,
after which felt much better.
Came home after a week, only taking Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Healing pain was nothing compared to the agony beforehand. Exercises have become easier as time as past, especially last couple of days, felt the strength returning, had a great day today:)

Thank you, Bilateralbliss.

Quote from: bilateralbliss on December 30, 2011, 07:07:56 PM
Hi everyone. Had both mine done on Dec 6th by Mr McMinn in Birmingham. He and his staff were superb, felt was in the best possible hands. The weekend before I was crying with the pain in bed, bent over when walking in agony.
The hospital was excellent.
When I came too afterwards I was on a high, didn`t sleep til 4am when the tubes etc were removed. Had pain when
epidural was taken out, staff soon sorted that out. Day two was faint when attemting to walk so had two pints of blood,
after which felt much better.
Came home after a week, only taking Ibuprofen and Paracetamol. Healing pain was nothing compared to the agony beforehand. Exercises have become easier as time as past, especially last couple of days, felt the strength returning, had a great day today:)

Great report...

Motivating...

Updates from the front of my Recovery - Completely Normal Ups and Downs

This morning is much better.  Perfect healing doesn't go in a straight line.

My recovery from my December 20, 2011 Bilateral Hip Resurfacing has been enlightening.

God has plans for me. thank you for your continued prayers, best wishes, or vibes, and for lifting me up to the Lord and the Universe.  I am grateful.  It's working.....this spring I'll be hiking in green pastures with my husband, and my little dog Boo, and the sun will be bright and strong.

I have faith the size of a mustard seed.

Amen.

'One

Awesome positive visualization, sure to help a huge amount, I'm far from a NormanVincentPealian, but keeping similar positive outlooks through this process is one pf the keys to success.  Keep after it, you're doing great!

Dan

Very nice positive affirmation. We are going to start putting up one affirmation a week on the refrigerator. They can make a big difference. My hubby trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado and a huge part of getting the olympic athletes ready for competition (40%) is using visualization and positive affirmation techniques.

Truly very powerful tools to have in your health and wellness toolbox.

Luann

Lol Dan L  ;D

QuoteI'm far from a NormanVincentPealian,

!

Luann, Wow! (par for the course for you)

QuoteMy hubby trained at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado and a huge part of getting the olympic athletes ready for competition (40%) is using visualization and positive affirmation techniques.

I'm running with the Big Dogs now!  Awooooooo!!  Dog is now looking at me just like Hubs, "who's the crazy lady?", but pup loves getting cheese for the new "sit pretty I taught him post op.

1pm - Hubs gave me a 10 min massage and calmed my hip, knee, and thigh right down.  Blessings Flow.

Tomorrow will be even better, and each day is better than the one before.

My hips will settle down from their flare up.  Recovery is just like a winning stock chart, lots of bear retracements and bull runs....ups and downs....then one day you are well.  All you have to do is hang in there....that's life...I will be well because I can do everything about it.

Hope you all have a good weekend and a wonderful, Happy New Year!

'One

8pm Pain 3-4
****I NAPPED****for the first time since December 20th!!!
10pm Pain 4
11:15 Pain 2

This is incredible.  Blessings are flowing, indeed!  I had to put on my goals today to under do, because my nature is to work hard, and then work some more, but it paid off to slack off just one day. 

Before resurfacing, my night pain was like fires of the damned all contained in a pancake sized circle of hell located in the center of my sheared off, bone on bone, hips.  I was beyond medication so much of my 2 year undiagnosed time; all these doctors I saw in person said it was basically in my head, while at the same time the super star hip doctors on the coasts were telling me the real deal just from my dozens of 'normal' X Rays, Cat Scans, & MRI contrast films! - I was end stage OA in a blind spot on all of them.

I had to fight so hard to get where I am now.  Lucky for me I'm quite the warrior by nature, nurture, and plain ol' temperament.  NOW, I get to lay my burden down, and somehow put aside the deep, burning anger at the way I was dismissed, over and over by a bunch of patriarchal jacked up fools with a M Freakin D.  New challenges, New Year, New life.

I've always been a Lucky Girl and the Universe (Lord) is smiling on me once more.

12 Midnight New Year's Eve: All the fireworks are going off, and I sat at the edge of my bed smiling!  I'm still smiling as I'm lying here in my Recovery Pod, grateful for my wonderful life and another chance to move through the world and another chance to swim, swim like an otter - playing & splashing because I can.  Thank you, God.

All good, 2for1, happy new year indeed. Great to hear.

Thank you, hernanu.  Is your name from 'Mork & Mindy?'

I walked up and down the stairs unassisted for the very first time post op, 14 step up and 14 steps down!  Hubs spotted.  I did rely heavily on the rails. I didn't break post op protocol too badly; I just didn't feel like using the walker to hold on to, and I most especially did not want to walk up the stairs backward.  Schmitt did the anterior approach, so again I'm thinking no harm no foul.

I also showered on my own! Hubs was nearby.  I hope I don't pay for my surge with latent pain this evening!  What a great way to start the New Year!

My first shower on my own felt soooooooo good. Great way to celebrate the first day of this new year. Congratulations on the stairs.

Luanna

1.2.12 Monday

6am 8mg Pain 6
6:15 to 7:25am  Chair Time, starting Pain 7, 6:45 Pain 7, ending Pain 5

7:25 am - I literally marched with my walker, the front wheels only skimming the floor, not stopping and not resting, defiantly humming a martial tune -  Four laps around our ground floor before depositing myself with a flourish in the Recovery Pod to finish my last bites of grapefruit.  I'm a regular 'Pied Piper for Bichons', Hubs said, as my little Boo jumped up into bed after me for a little Mommy & Me time.

7:40 Pain 5 - 6
8:30 Pain 3

I got out of bed @ 6am and on the deeply wrong side of the bed this morning.  Here's what happened:  Last night after following asleep naturally at 10:45pm, the phone rings and wakes up the house - dog, Hubs, and me!  After that I couldn't fall asleep again, because my beautiful, shiny, new hips wouldn't let me.  I'm a tad grumpy at the idiot who'd call a recovering bilateral hip patient in the middle of the night.  (My Dad) 

I couldn't find the phone because Hubs left it lying in his chair across the tundra of our living room, and I was upset & disoriented.  I had to shout up the stairs and wake the b'ar out of hibernation to come and find my phone.  (It has a walkie talkie ring tone that we're supposed to use for those middle of the night emergencies like food, bathroom breaks, refills of water in your adult sized freakin' sippy cup, etc.) 

Grumpus Adultus found the damn phone and his parting grouse when he clumped back up to his painless, take it for freakin' granted, night of slumber was "Don't wake me up again.  I need to get some sleep!"  Like I don't know that.  What seemed like seconds later, the sound of his snoring that makes dogs bark up and down our street rumbled through the house.

Around 1 am, still not able to fall back asleep, I'm hungry, thirsty, achy, and need to urinate.  I don't have but a swallow of water left, but I'm trying to be so quiet because I don't want to ruin HIS sleep, so I choose not to run the water and rummage through our cabinets. 

My hunger for something, anything, did, however, have to be satisfied.  I made a snack: blueberries, a drizzle of real maple syrup, crushed pecans, and a dollop of Cool Whip.  (One drop, and I mean ONE drop of syrup got on the kitchen linoleum.)  No biggie.  I got cocky, and carried the bowl in one hand and wheeled my walker back to bed with the other hand. 

Disaster struck as my quilt knocked the blueberries, nuts, and so on, to the carpeted living room floor, with the berries seeming to scatter in different directions with individual berry minds of their own, like they were making a run for their berry freedom. 

No way could I pick up this shite with the grabber!  I couldn't bend at the waist, so I chose to lower myself to my knees, in the dark, holding on to the bed and a nearby ledge, going ever so slowly so I don't hurt anything and screw up.  I was still in control.

From my knees, I picked up every berry, every crumble of pecan, every golf ball sized and shaped clumps of Cool Whip, off that carpet, and put it back in the bowl.  Slowly, I reversed and used my core and glutes to keep my spine aligned per 2 week post op protocol, and using one hand to hold the refilled bowl and the other on my bed, I stood!

I got settled back in bed and ate every last drop of food in my bowl.
that I'd scraped off the dirty carpet.  With any luck, my trusty little Bichon Frise, would come downstairs first in the morning and hoover up the no more than 3 speck of 'evidence' on the floor. I slept and woke at 6am on the dot.

No such luck.  Immediately, Hubs growled at me, "What's THIS?", and then said "I'm spotting my first clue",  and further groused, "?" as he went into the living room and spied a single pecan the dog and I had missed.

"What are you, funking Sherlock Holmes?  Congratu - funking- lations!" I replied.

"How many time have I begged you to stay in bed and just fall asleep?  Why do you insist on making yourself something to eat in the middle of the night?  Why? Why?" says Hubs, all like he's the injured party of an  unspeakable marital crime perpetrated by yours truly.

A few pithy expletives later from me, Hubs "Now, just calm down and quit getting up in the night.  For God's sake, just stay put!" 

An artic zone of silence has descended upon our home.  It's still in effect as I sit here, doing Chair Time, eating my bite sized fresh ruby red grapefruit that he prepared and brought me, drinking my Starbucks French Roasted Coffee with real Land o' Lakes Cream he poured me, and darkly ruminating on what an OGRE Hubs is. ;)

1.2.12 cont'

One word, TOAST, with real butter and grape jelly & washed down w/skim milk over ice, with that pure taste satisfaction who can stay cranky???  NO ONE, that's who! 8)

8:45 Pain 2 ;D

I'm cozy & warm, basking in the TOAST afterglow.  Hubs is out slogging through two feet of snow with little fluffy white Boo, only his puppy eyes showing like a baby seals' against the drifts. 

Now, Dog's back and on a buzz, running around like a baby Cujo wannabe, jumping up and shaking his wet coat on me!  I'm kicking back listening to the rhythmic sound of Hubs shoveling out the driveway and sidewalk, thinking I'm so lucky he doesn't like to use the neighbor's ear splitting snow blower.  It's a Christmas Card Recovery, and I'm so enjoying getting better.

How's your day going, hippies?  Isn't it cool we are going into the new year with walks, and cleaning, and cooking, and gardening, and swimming, and yoga, and best of all being able to play with the ones we love?

Please bless/vibe/and lift up with best wishes all of us 2nd chancers today, and hold us up in strength, perfect healing, and joy.  Thank you.

Amen

Congratulations! Good news....now as for your hubby!!! :)

I sure hope you are keeping all your posts in a Word document so that you can turn it into a book. It will be educational as well and entertaining.

Keep up the good work and eat all the berries that you want in the middle of the night.

Luanna

You are the man! (well, the girl, but you know what I mean  :D )... Congrats and welcome to full gravity!

(no, not mork and mindy... although I did like Mindy).

Great news!  Enjoy your new freedom.

Wonderful news!  Let us know how it goes. 

Now that I'm on my feet and moving way more than lying in the Recovery Pod, I'll have to carve out time in my daily recovery schedule for lying down for rest!  The tide has turned, and I'm busy on my feet way more than I am sedentary. 

Hubs is back at the workplace half days and then coming home to finish his workday out of our house.  He seems pretty darn happy that I'm preparing my own meals, taking showers, fetching my own ice and heating pads, cleaning up after myself, etc., and generally lifting the onus of being a full time caretaker.

Tomorrow, I'm going outside for a stroll!  I love walking and am working hard on good posture - tucking in the backside and tightening my core.  It's amazing that my walking and posture are vastly improved over my pre op Quasimodo lurching.  My strength and energy are returning every day!

1.3.11 Tuesday

Turns out my appointment was at 10am Wednesday with my surgeon Dr. Schmitt, so Hubs called me in the morning from work and drove me up Tuesday night where we stayed at the Renaissance Novi Hotel (very nice place with walkin showers, cool reading lights, etc.).  Then, after a nice restorative lunch, we'll made the 2nd leg of the 8 hour round trip home in a rested fashion.

Whew!  I told him at the 6 month check up we could ride our bicycles up to my surgeons. 8)

Thank you:

Ariel
Woody
hernanu
Luanna!!

Yes, Luanna, I'm considering writing a book.  I appreciate your endorsement, and it means a lot coming from  a gal who consistently brings the funny.  I was super upset last week when I accidentally erased the gritty details of my first week in the hospital from my Recovery Journal , but I can flesh that out from all my posts here on Surface Hippy.  Thank God.

I really like your posts too, Ariel.  When I'm doing Mountain Pose, I think of you!  Once the restrictions are lifted, I'm sure we'll both be approaching our yoga practice with awe and humility.

Woody, you embody freedom, and I'm really enjoying your rediscovering your athleticism.

hernanu, who doesn't love Pam Dawber?  You have a light touch, even when dealing with more serious matters.

Boomer, I like your practical down to earth recovery and your Costa Rican state of mind.

FlbrkMike, MGM, Dan l, mslendzion, and many others, a HUGE Thank You for all your spirited discourse and wonderful advice & support.  Most of all, I am tremendously grateful for our host Pat Walters for her tireless efforts on behalf of all us hippies and for her maintenance of Surface Hippy.

I enjoy reading good writing. You write well.

You have an almost poetic flow at times and you also create very nice visuals with your words. Keep writing.

Luanna

1.6.12  Friday

What a fabulous day in Michiana!  Normally, this time of year the environs resemble 'Mordor', with the neighbor's motion activated security light blinding, like the eye of Sauron, out any attempts to sleep. Today though, with an unseasonably sunny high of 52 degrees, was a perfect day to take my first serious trek outside.

PT Harry escorted me on a promenade around a half mile loop through our suburban neighborhood. It felt so unbelievably good.  I couldn't fathom the complete absence of shooting pains and stabbing knives deep in both of my hip sockets as I took step after wondrous step. 

Yes, my quads and hip flexors were singing, but that can be iced, heat padded, and massaged away.  Knowing my body was telling me this distance was a tad much at this stage of my recovery, Harry and I agreed that a tenth of a mile walk daily was more therapeutic in these early days, especially if I didn't want to be laid up for a day at a time from post walk inflammatory pain.

Nonetheless, it was a victory!  I was on my feet today for a total 4 hours plus and can now do everything for myself, and tomorrow I'm even scheduled for a bit of light picking up around the house.  I don't want anyone to pinch me and wake me up from the incredible dream my life has become.

Truly, 'U can't Touch This'!


6:45 to    Chair Time, Made Breakfast, Full Complement,
7:10am   Cleaned up after myself & Vitamin E Oiled my Scar

9:45 to    Chair Time, Snack
10:45      Pain3

11am -    shower, makeup, hair
12:25

12:20     Pain 5
1:00 - 2  PT Harry and WALKED OUTSIDE for 1/2 mile!!!  I need to walk a 10th of a mile per day.

2:49       Ice, Pain 6 Hip Flexors and Quads

7:30       Pain 4,  My legs are like two stiff Popsicle sticks wrapped in yard of bunting, and I had a hard time peg legging both limbs up the stairs.  Tonight will be the 3rd night in a row that I can sleep in my regular bed!

Quote from: Two4One on January 04, 2012, 09:11:15 PM

Dr. Schmitt released me to full weight bearing (with a cane for resting) walking!!!!

Awesome, I'm so happy for you!  :)  Glad the shooting pains are gone and you're feeling good and out in the open.  Keep it up.

1.6.12  Friday cont'

Thank you, mslendzion! 

You've been the best, and I'm so excited for you - now that your resurfacing is just around the corner.  Are you scrambling around trying to squeeze in last minute details before your surgery on Monday?   Or, are you kicking  back because you're so prepped there's nothing left to do?

Please tell Dr. Schmitt I said "Hi" on Monday!

It's funny how my 2 week follow up appointment on Wednesday went.  After Dr. Schmitt showed me how my surgery and hip components looked beautifully functional and perfect and was winding down our appointment, Doc asked me how I was liking my new hips.  I sprung up, enveloped him in a big bear hug, and exclaimed "I love you!"  No one was expecting that! I surprised myself with my deep emotional response welling up and exploding outward.  I was just too thrilled at getting my life handed back to me to contain myself.

I know it will be the same for you.

1.7.12  Saturday

A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can't.  -Jack Dempsey

Why do you knock yourself out? Take it easy.  - David O Selznick


4:40am   Pain 7.6  Both Hip Flexors are spasmed and locked up tight.  Pain yanked me out of deep sleep.  It grabbed me and shook me like a chew toy.  I woke everyone up in the house, hollerin', moaning, and generally carrying on.  Oh yes, I'm paying for prematurely walking a distance my body wasn't yet ready for.

Yesterday's half mile felt so great.  I didn't care that PT Harry kept asking me to turn back.  I didn't care that I was pushing myself beyond my body's level of healing.  I didn't care my new target is walking a tenth of a mile every day.  I knew I'd pay with pain last night and today, and I still didn't care!

Don't do like I do and muscle through the hard fact that 'your ego is writing checks your body can't cash.'

Note to Self:  Universe, (Lord), Please remind me and ask my fellow hippies to help me remember to go with the flow, to not set myself back, and to gently follow the curving road to perfect healing.  I better slow my mustang down.


5:40am     Pain 5 - 6
6:40am     Pain 5

Pain is a friend. An old & cherished friend, Pain is the trusted friend who tells you the truth, especially when you don't want to hear it.  "Fix it, Fix, Fix it!" Pain shouts relentlessly, giving no quarter, goading and driving you until you find the solution.  Pain is your emergency warning system, telling you to get in the cellar, seek immediate shelter, safety, or you will be swept away, never to be seen or heard from again.  Pain is the siren, blaring it's message of Death.  Pain yells "You WILL Die. You MUST Fix it!"  Pain cares nothing for anything but itself.

Once you are Fixed, Pain gently pinches and prods your body into a perfect healing compliance with it's own unpublished, somewhat mysterious laws that demand you to not over do it.  Pain insists that you not fall into lethargy and stasis.  Otherwise, pain comes calling again to say "Don't just lay there.  Do something!"  Pain is the equilibrium, the calibration, the energy, that your body gifts you and guides you into following your own unique path of complete recovery, a path to wellness your body has laid out for you to follow.

Pain is my friend, always there when I need it and gone when I don't.

One


A lesson without pain is meaningless. For you cannot gain anything without sacrificing something else in return, but once you have overcome it and made it your own...you will gain an irreplaceable fullmetal heart.”
― Hiromu Arakawa

P.S.  You have a lot of time to think about things when you're like Christopher Reeve, except with pain, for over 2 years pre op.  This is how I view my relationship with my friend Pain.  Take what you need, and throw away the rest.  What stays for me is a strong sense of gratitude. Thank you, Hippies, who are on this journey, for working through your own path, for your teachings, and for helping me and countless others through this life changing, life enhancing experience.  Thank you, Pat, for a place of peace and healing.

Yea, you're paying for it today,but didn't it feel good to go so far yesterday?  We need those days.  Maybe you took too big of a step forward, but we need to keep stepping forward.  We don't make any progress doing the same thing over and over.

Congratulations on you HALF MILE walk!

I agree with Woodstock.

We all overdid it and had different reactions; no one wants pain or wants others in pain, but as we are not perfect, we can't gauge what will push us over the edge.

I'm still experiencing overreaching, which leads me to modify the workouts slightly, but just enough to still let me strengthen those muscles.

My latest episode was when I had a deep tissue massage, where much work was done on the hip area and the glutes and hamstrings. It actually affected my oldest hip the most, causing me to be very sore for about four days. I have a feeling some deep scar tissue was mobilized, and I was starting to get concerned that she may have caused some problems, but the pain went away and now that hip feels very good.

I may tell her to tone it down a bit next time, but some good seems to have come from it, so I am seeking a middle ground.

Hi Two4One:

Quote from: Two4One on January 07, 2012, 09:42:48 AM

Pain is a friend. An old & cherished friend, Pain is the trusted friend who tells you the truth, especially when you don't want to hear it.

So true. Time perhaps to take a day and recup and relax and ICE. Congratulations on your walk yesterday. 4 steps forward 1 step back. Seems like that's how recovery goes for the most part.

Hope your day is a GREAT one!!
Luanna

Thanks, Luanna.  Recovery seems to be a dance the way you and others have described it.  I'm icing right now, as I've already been too busy and over doing it this morning.  What happened to my resolve to be more gentle?

Today, I still have to do 2 PT sessions, force myself to meditate/relax, and take my 1/10 mile 'hike', so I was so pleased this morning when my friend gave me a cool copper cane!  It's perfect not only for my therapy walks, but it will also be a huge help when I'm getting out and about next week!

In the midst of my enthusing how lucky and wonderful my new FREE cane was, wouldn't you know that Hubs had to go and tease me? He just had to get my Irish up, "I've named your new cane Herman!" 

I said "What is wrong with you?  You can't name MY cane!  It's mine, NOT yours!  What do you want to name next?  Do you want to call my --- Chuck?!  I'm calling my cane 'Sassy', and there's nothing you can do about it!  You stick to naming your stuff and leave my stuff out of it!" 

Hubs cracks up and is doubled over laughing.  "You should see your face!  You look crazy!"  I'm all "Whatever.", thoroughly sick and tired of him planting himself in my garden the way he likes to do, which in turn drives me up the freakin' wall!  "Can't you stay out of my business even one time?"  Unbelievable.

Then, Hubs hits me with the pièce de résistance, "I'm calling it Cain!" He's got that shite eating grin on his face, and finally I get it - 'Herman Cain'. ;D

I am hearing you on getting a little sore.  The other day I needed to pick up a few things for a potluck lunch we were having in our department the next day. After the workday I still needed to get a walk in so I left my office and walked to the grocery and back......3.89 miles later I'm thinking yeh that was stupid.  I was sore when I got home and a little tighter than usual the next morning but it did pass.  Your body definitely let's you know when you did too much.  However, isn't it cool to be out and about some?

Ariel, I LOVE being out and about some! Thanks for telling me neat o stuff like how you are just living your life.  Remember when we thought that was a pipe dream? Next week is going to be completely awesome because I'll be driving myself to PT at least three times!

My post 'Pain is a Friend' was more a meditation on the pain of the past, and how it's informing my future.  The here and now is mostly all soreness and spasms and nothing like my pre op pain.  Why it's practically a cheeky little pinch to remind me to reign it in a little so I don't lose too many days to inflammatory enforced downtime.

Almost 4 miles is fantastic, Ariel!!  This getting out on our own 2 legs is majorly cool.

Thanks, Woody, it felt GREAT to walk a half mile.  (No way could I have done that pre op; a few steps with limping on both sides was all I could manage.)  I will train for my next 1/2 to 1 mile walk by doing the shorter easy distances every day.  Starting Monday, I will be making use of the indoor track at the Health Complex.  It's weird figuring out what too much or too little is. 

QuoteWe all overdid it and had different reactions; no one wants pain or wants others in pain, but as we are not perfect, we can't gauge what will push us over the edge.

I'm still experiencing overreaching, which leads me to modify the workouts slightly, but just enough to still let me strengthen those muscles.

Thanks, Hernanu, for your thoughts.  The key seems to be a combination plate: a portion of overuse, a dollop of restraint, and the lion's share being strength training.  Also, Thanks for the massage idea.  I plan to ask my out patient PT for massage each time; I'd like to loosen up my hip flexors and pound out some of the puffiness and bulging under my incisions.

Sunday 1,8.12

Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. - Aaliyah


Slept from 10:30    (Woke 1:30 to 2am)
to 4:30am
5 1/2 Hours Total Sleep Saturday night 1.7.12

164.5 lbs

7am -  Showered washed my hair.  Picked up around the house, straightened
8am    the kitchen, and made coffee & breakfast.


8:10     Angel Food Cake, Strawberries, Blackberries, Coffee & Cream
10:3     Salmon, Broccoli, Milk & Hershey Bar
3pm     Salmon, Chex Mix, Blackberries & Strawberries
4:15     Angel Food Cake, Raspberries, Blackberries
9pm     Ruby Red Grapefruit

8am - Chair Time
10pm  Pain 6

10:10 -12noon  Standing PT, Adductors, Semi Squats, Heel and Toes Raises, and a few
           Tadasanas. Blow dried Hair, Cleaned & Organized Bathroom Sink

12:30    Pain 6
2pm      Pain 5

2:05 -   Walked the Dog Outside.  Stopped and talked with 4 sets of neighbors.  Chris,
2:50      Eric & Deb (no longer working), and Linda (Mom has bad rheumatoid  arthritis)
            - I recommended Glazier for Linda's Mom Pain 5 (a 7 toward end of walk)

2:50 -   Chair Time and Standing PT Exercises, All of them   
4pm
       
4:15     Pain 7,  Made a snack
6pm     Bed PT
6:45     Pain 6
9pm     Pain 3 - Amazing what some R&R and bed rest can do for my recovering hips. ;D

So cool on your progress.  So are you walking fully unassisted at this point?  That must be fantastic.  Good luck driving to PT.  it is so liberating to get out.  I just made a comment in my thread about how quick recovery goes.  I can't relive you are 20 days already.  Have a great week!

Thanks, Aerial! 

Yes, I walk completely unassisted.  I carry the cane with me on walks just in case I get tired or need it for balance. 

It will be 3 weeks post op tomorrow, and the time has flown by!

By my calculations, I had had SEVEN HOURS out of my 'Recovery Pod' (rented hospital bed in the Living room I've had for over 2yrs) today.  At the end of January, we're sending the bed back to the medical supply company!!

Have a good week at work, Aerial.

For everyone who's scheduled resurfacing, for everyone who's in the first week of post op recovery, and for everyone who is even thinking about getting hip resurfacing, here's a glimpse of your new life. I sent my email, below, to my best friend first thing this morning.  This is what it's like going from 2 years of undiagnosed bone on bone OA to literally coming back to life again 3 weeks today post op bilateral resurfacing.

'I've Got to Admit it's Getting Better' - The Beatles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRL00smhmc4&feature=related

***********************************************************************
Mon, January 9, 2012 7:30:13 AM
Re: New lease on life - you better believe it!
From: 'One
To:  B-------

B---, please don't feel like you have to hold my hand everyday with an email.  Don't get me wrong, I love 'chatting' with my 'Sis' friend, but I expect everyone I love and all my friends to have a life of their own too, and that's what should come first.  I don't have but a minute here and there my own self, so I'm busy too & might not be able to write a note as often. 

Instead, I forward you only the best email jokes so we can be sharing laughs about this funny world we live in and giggling over our really silly in-jokes.  As you know though, I don't like getting 'junk' emails filling up my already overloaded inbox (I've seen your inbox, so I know you can relate!), but I've somewhat relaxed my joke/junk ban and now read and send on only what I think is the best & most hilarious stuff.  B---, if you want me to can the 'junk' emails I've been inundating you with recently, just say the word.  Don't be shy!

Right now, I'm unbelievably busy with the business of my really strong recovery.....I spent over SEVEN hours yesterday out of bed and off the couch!  In home PT twice a day, In Home Occupational Therapists and RNs, splitting last Wednesday's 8 hour round trip drive to my Detroit surgeon's 2 week follow up into two days, walking my Bichon all by myself for the very first time yesterday!!, completing walking requirements everyday & gradually increasing my distance, preparing simple meals, using the flight of stairs 3 or 4 times a day, showering, doing my makeup and hair (I haven't lost any more hair clumps since the first day after my surgery!  It's growing back beautifully, and I'm trying to hold out getting it cut or colored until I can see you for an appointment this summer.), picking up around the house and being super neat so Hubs doesn't have more work than he already does, and now this week I'm driving to PT & the gym on top of all that!  I love having the privilege of sound health.

Good for you to pay cash only for your next vacation that I'm hoping will be with us; it's the only way to go.  When talking about going on trips together, what I meant was that I should be a LOT stronger by this summer.  I like to visualize all good things happening for myself and my loved ones - sending out good energy has always helped me to be successful in whatever I set my mind to, and I really think that energy helps everyone I pray for/vibe/best wish too.

I have lost twelve pounds since being released from the hospital on December 23rd, and yesterday Hubs hit our downstairs gym for the first time in 2 years.  Ha!  He better be hitting it hard to catch up with 'The Breeze'.  By the time we see you two again, we will all be fitter, right?... and more toned than ever!  Bring on the health kick 'cause I'm already nailing it!  The pizza and yonana goodies sound scrumptious and healthy (if you don't get a wild hair and pig out!).  That fruit concoction will sure go down a treat on a hot summer's day.

Well, I better get going if I'm going to get all my stuff done today!  Have a great week, B--!

'One

P.S.  You said you didn't want me to hold back and gloss over the darker side of my long, very difficult haul these past 2+ years.  Because you've asked me to, I'm gonna send you a copy of my yesterday's email reply to a hip buddy that's a little intense.  I want to stress though that the worst is way, way behind me.  Now, I'm literally marching into my immediate future with my full mobility, my excellent health, and my strength, back in full force.

Love the attitude, 'One...

Thanks, hernanu.  I'm following your posts and am inspired!

Monday 1.9.12 - THREE WEEKS POST OP

164 lbs!

                     Slept from midnight to 5am = 5 Hours Sleep last night. 
                     Hubs and dog woke me; Otherwise I may have slept more.

Breakfast -     Oatmeal, Banana, Strawberries, Walnuts, & Skim Milk. 1/2 c Coffee & Cream
Lunch -          Cauliflower Casserole, Angelfood Cake, blackberries, raspberries, Skim Milk
Snack -          Chex Mix, Vodka & Grapefruit Juice -
Desert -         Hershey Bar & Skim Milk
Lite Dinner -   Bowl of Ruby Red Grapefruit

5:30 - 8:00    Bed rest
(2 Hrs, 30m)

8:00 - 9:45        Got up & gathered my gear, organized for trek downstairs.  Put away
                         clean clothes.  Washed face.  Made Breakfast, cleaned up kitchen,
                         loaded dishwasher.  Straightened my recovery zone in the living room.
                         Trained dog to come up on the bed for his lead, & go outside on
                         command; then brought him back in, treating and training.

(1.45 Hrs)          Chair Time - 40min
                       

9:45 - 11am      Bed rest & 1/2 c Coffee & Cream, Pain 6, Heating Pads both Hips
(1Hr, 15m)

12 - 1:30          Shower, straighten bedrooms & both upstairs and downstairs bathrooms.
                        prepare lunch, kitchen clean up & vacuumed, wash 2 small downstairs
                        mirrors.  Put away dishes, put away clothes, organized drawers.

1:30 - 3pm       Chair Time - 30min                 
(3 Hrs, 10m)     Trained dog to come up on the bed for his lead and to go outside on
                        command; then brought him back in, treating and training.      
    
3:10pm             Bed rest
                        Pain 7.5, Lower back really hurts from all the bending and cleaning &
                        walking the flights of stairs 3 times.  I guess working on the house paid
                        off in exercise and strength building + Hubs really appreciated my
                        efforts.                         

6pm                 PT

8 - 9pm            Cleaned out the downstairs bathroom Vanity, evening activities to turn in, hauled
                        my ice, heating pads, meds, water, magazines, lap top, and change of clothes, up
                        the flight of stairs to my bedroom.

9:05 - 9:35       Ice hips, my knees have not hurt for days!  Remember to ice more tomorrow.

9:40 - 10:15      Heating pads on both hips, Pain 3

*I had 8 1/2 hours on my feet & puttering around the house today!

* I climbed the stairs of our 2 story home 5 times today!

Three weeks was the real turning point for me.  Sounds like the same for you!  Enjoy!

You called it, Aerial.  Although my pain is about a 6 or 7 all day, it's no doubt because I'm running around the house so much and being so active!  I've also dropped down on my narcotics too because I'm forgetting to take them; I'm feeling good enough that I don't need the full dosages anymore.

Two4One

Sounds like you are coming along quite nicely.  Thanks for the update and good luck. You are sure eating healthy.  I need to follow your example.

Pat

Thank you, Pat.  I will be sure to pass your compliments on to the Chef.  (Hubs)

Also, may I recommend 'The Griddler' by Cuisinart ?
http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-4N-5-in-1-Griddler/dp/B002YD99Y4/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=grocery&ie=UTF8&qid=1326168495&sr=1-1-catcorr
Spray whatever with Olive Oil or real Butter Spray, close the lid and wait less than 5 minutes, and then sit back and enjoy food the way it's meant to be, full of flavor and without all the grody additives.

Perhaps a personal size microwave steamer for broccoli or any number of steamed veggies in a hurry would help your intake of the 'good stuff'?

Oh yeah, be sure to have a treat everyday to help prevent cravings, ("Give in" I always say, "you know you want to") followed by gorging.  If you prefer more of a savory decadence, you can substitute your 'sweet treat' with a taste of white wine and 5 plain Carr's Table Water Crackers with Cracked Pepper, topped with a smidge of Boursin soft, spreadable cheese. 

I'll never forget the look on the Weight Watchers classes' faces when I was asked how do you stay so slim & how do you use your points, and I replied "I use the White Wine Diet.  Anytime I want to eat junk food, I have a glass of white wine and forget all about it."  (True story ::)*

*(Disclaimer:  This happened many, many years ago, in the golden age before OA and all the wicked narcotic cocktails, courtesy of pain management.) 

Tuesday         'Here Comes the Sun' - The Beatles  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BxzEeKfpyIg
1.10.12          Slept 6 Hours, midnight to 6am, one more hour than the 9th!

8:00 AM Meal  Oatmeal, Banana, Raspberries, Walnuts, & Skim Milk.
9:15 2ndBkfst Whole Wheat Toast, Butter, Jelly, and 1/2 c Coffee & Cream
1:30 Lunch     Herb Crusted Tilapia, Green Beans w/red onion, red bell pepper, & slivered almonds,
                    1 c Blackberries/Raspberries & 1/2 c cream
4:45pm          Cauliflower Casserole, Chicken, 1/2 c Chex Mix, 1 Vodka/Grapefruit Juice, Hershey
                    Bar, skim milk'
6:30              Roasted Butternut Squash w/pecans,apples,cherries, onion, sweet red and yellow Bell peppers, olive oil, real maple
                    syrup, salt and pepper

6am -             Pain 4
7am - 8:00     Trekked downstairs with my gear.  Organized my PT space for the morning slot. Made Breakfast,
                    cleaned up kitchen.
8am - 9:10     Chair Time
9:15 -9:30      Made 2nd Breakfast
9:30 -10:30    Chair Time     
10:30 -11:15  Clean up, , made my Hospital bed, getting ready for the day
(4Hrs, 15m)

11:15-1:30     Bed Rest, Pain7, Heating Pads on Hips for an hour.
(2Hrs, 15m)

1:30 - 3pm     Chair Time
(1 1/2Hrs)

3pm - 4:10     Bed Rest
(1 Hr, 10m)

4:15 - 4:30     Walked my Hubs & Dog for 1/2 mile, Hips' Pain 5, Both Knees' Pain 8
4:30 - 6:30     Made Dinner & Chair Time, 5:10pm Iced Hips
(2Hrs)

I was out of the hospital bed for TEN HOURS TODAY, and I WALKED MY DOG 1/2 MILE!

Good for you 2fer...do you need to taper off Ambien or can you just stop it altogether? Just curious.

Like both of your healthy breakfast choices this morning!! :) I did oatmeal but topped it off with bacon and toast. Opps on the bacon....but it tastes soooo good.

Luanna

Thanks, Luanna.  You don't need to taper Ambien.  Although there are No side effects upon cessation, you will not be able to sleep for approximately a week. 

Instead, I'm taking a 5mg Valium at night for sleep and it helps with muscle spasms enormously.  Valium is a funny little drug, so many benefits and no side effects like constipation, nausea, etc., and it gives you a very pleasant night's sleep.  However, if you take more than one Valium a day for even 2 two weeks straight, the withdrawal is much worse than narcotics and makes you very sick indeed.  Valium will be the next drug to go off my menu, even before the month's end.

Funny we are both on a 2 breakfast kick this morning.  Ever since 'Lord of the Rings', Hubs has teased me about having "second breakfast".  We must have a little hobbit in us!

Whadda ya' mean, 'Oops on the bacon?'  You lose the most weight and gain the most health benefits, even better muscle tone, when you have 'real' food splurges.  Look at the farmers of a generation back:  both grandmas on Hubs' side were farm women who lived a vigorous life, full of vitality, right up to 105 and 103!

Have a Great Day!
2fer

Wednesday 1.10.12
165 1/2 lbs    Time to rein in the cream and sweets a touch.
 
                      Slept 8 Hours!!!  1:30am - 9:30am
     
                      For fast-acting relief, try slowing down.  ~Lily Tomlin

9:30 AM Meal  Oatmeal, Banana, Walnuts, & Skim Milk.
11am2ndBkfst Bacon 2 slices, Ruby Red Grapefruit, & Detox Tea
1:30 Lunch      Ice cream Drumsticks 3
3:00 Snack      Roasted Butternut Squash w/pecans,apples,cherries, onion,
                      sweet red and yellow Bell peppers, olive oil, real maple syrup,
                      salt and pepper
5:20               Ruby Red Grapefruit
7:15               Toast w/butter & grape jelly, skim milk
12:30am         Plain Organic yogurt, raspberries, pecans, 2 TBSP sugar
                       
                   
9:30 AM            Pain 4
- 11:30             Trekked downstairs with my gear.  Organized my PT space for the
                        morning slot.  Made Breakfast, cleaned up kitchen.  Chair Time.  Made 2nd Breakfast.   Chair Time.
                        Clean up, , made my Hospital bed, getting ready for the day

11:30 - 4:10      Bed Rest
4:30pm             Walked my Hubs & Dog for a 1/2 mile, Pain 5 when I got home
7:30                  Iced
8pm                  Hips Pain 5, Knees 6

                        Went up Seven Flights of Stairs!

2-4;

Wow, nice snack!  Congrats on the 8 hours of sleep, getting sleep once I settled down a few weeks after surgery was hugely helpful.  Once the swelling was gone, and the urgent (and I mean urgent) need to offload the swelling byproduct liquid in the middle of the night subsided, sleep was much, much easier.

How's your swelling?

Best regards,

Dan

Congrats on the 8 hours!

The only thing I can compare it to is when my firstborn finally slept through the night. I had such a great feeling of actually having deeply slept after all of that OA insomnia.

Hi Dan,

Nice of you to drop by!

Hubs was freaking when I was running to the bathroom every 5 or 10 minutes and kept asking me to drink less water!  Poor guy was not prepared at all for the sleep deprivation of that 1st week especially.  Once the RN, PT, and OT convinced him I HAD to drink all the water and flush out the fluids from all the swelling, Hubs was cool. 

By New Years' Day, I lost the twelve pounds of water weight and all the swelling I'd gained in the hospital.  I was so swollen bilaterally that my legs were like elephant trunks, straight up and down, and I had no visible knees!  My feet looked like humongous gravy boats. and the only shoes that fit were Halfinger's slip on flats. http://www.zappos.com/haflinger-lc-kodiak-black  I had no ankles either; I kid you not, from my hips to my feet were like two big sausages bulging at the casings!

After that, pain kept me from falling asleep, and it woke me from my slumber when I heard myself crying in my sleep.  That alarmed the dog into his patented 21 bark salute and that in turn led to Hubs' inventing some new curse phrases.  Until last night, my typical nights sleep pattern was down by midnight or thereabouts, wake up crying at 2am & finally getting the drug relief necessary to fall asleep again until 4am, and then getting up at 5 or 6am.

Over the past couple of days, my muscle spasms, knee pains, and recovery kisses have  noticeably started to lessen dramatically, and sleep may start to come easier and easier.

Thanks, Dan.  How is your sleep now?  How long did it take before you stopped putting the house in an uproar with your nighttime excursions?

2fer

Hey There, hernanu,

QuoteThe only thing I can compare it to is when my firstborn finally slept through the night. I had such a great feeling of actually having deeply slept after all of that OA insomnia.

All during my 2 plus years pre op, I had no comparison because my sleep was equally truncated to 3 or 4 hours every night, and for different and a little less severe pain reasons, my post op sleep was about the same.

hernanu, when did you start sleeping soundly after your resurfacing?

Thanks,
2fer

Having no control over my body, a body that had until '09 blessed me with robust vitality, has forced me inward and to search for my own new truth.  I always had thought I was an introspective, self aware person, but I had no idea, no preparation, of how to be when my body's pleasures were gone and replaced by immobility. 

That's what we all face ultimately, our body breaks down and tell us when it's time for the game to be over.  I had always hoped it would be by degrees, a stately decline, and then passing on with equanimity and a readiness for a peaceful cessation of life.  I've come to realize that, more often than not, it's a bit more rude and abrupt than that - pain, fear, dependence, illness, and with little or no control over my physical being.

Yet my spirit still speaks to me of freedom.  My opinion is that we can control so much, especially and even when control seems out of the question. 

By great good fortune, my bilateral surgery is obviously a complete success to me now.  I can now walk freely a half a mile a day, I can now drive, and I'm getting so much stronger and more pain free with each passing day that I will be as good as new in a couple of months!

2fer


From 'Tiny Buddha, Simple Wisdom for Life's Hard Questions; - Lori Deschene

Right now you can control:

1. How many times you smile today.
2. How much effort you exert at work.
3. Your level of honesty.
4. How well you prepare.
5. How you act on your feelings.
6. How often you say “thank you.”
7. When you pull out your wallet for luxuries.
8. Whether or not you give someone the benefit of the doubt.
9. How you interpret situations.
10. Whether or not you compete with people around you.
11. How often you notice and appreciate small acts of kindnessâ€"they’re everywhere!
12. Whether you listen or wait to talk.
13. When you walk away from a conversation.
14. How nice you are to yourself in your head.
15. Whether you think positive or negative thoughts.
16. Whether or not you form expectations of people.
17. The type of food you eat.
18. When you answer someone’s questionâ€"or email or call.
19. How much time you spend worrying.
20. How many new things you try.
21. How much exercise you get.
22. How many times you swear in traffic.
Freedom23. Whether or not you plan for the weather.
24. How much time you spend trying to convince people you’re right.
25. How often you think about your past.
26. How many negative articles you read.
27. The attention you give to your loved ones when you see them.
28. How much you enjoy the things you have right now.
29. Whether or not you communicate something that’s on your mind.
30. How clean or uncluttered you keep your space.
31. What books you read.
32. How well you network at social events.
33. How deeply you breathe when you experience stress.
34. How many times you admit you don’t know somethingâ€"and then learn something new.
35. How often you use your influence to help people instead of focusing on building your influence.
36. When you ask for help.
37. Which commitments you keep and cancel.
38. How many risks you take.
39. How creative/innovative you are in your thinking.
40. How clear you are when you explain your thoughts.
41. Whether you formulate a new plan or act on your existing one.
42. How much information you get before you make a decision.
43. How much information you share with people.
44. Whether you smoke or drink (unless you’re an alcoholic, in which case I am not qualified to offer you advice.)
45. Whether or not you judge other people.
46. Whether you smell good or bad (unless you have some strange resistance to soap and deodorant).
47. How much of what other people say you believe.
48. How quickly you try again after you fall.
49. How many times you say “I love you.”
50. How much rest you get at night.

That is very inspirational. I plan on sharing that with my kids. Thank you.

Thank you, imgetinold.  You know what's kind of neat?  When I saw your Avatar name, I thought it read imgetinthegold. No kidding.

Congratulations, Andy, on your shiny new hip resurfacing.  I know you had your days when activities became scary because you'd be in agony for days afterward, but let me tell you that it will NOT be like that in recovery.  Take it smooth and easy; follow protocol and the reward is more a muscle pain, tightness, or spasms, and the best part is you will feel better and better as the first 2 or 3 weeks pass.

I'm starting to see and feel the good stuff come back in my hips and my walk, and you will too!!

Quote from: Two4One on January 11, 2012, 08:57:48 PM
Hey There, hernanu,

QuoteThe only thing I can compare it to is when my firstborn finally slept through the night. I had such a great feeling of actually having deeply slept after all of that OA insomnia.

All during my 2 plus years pre op, I had no comparison because my sleep was equally truncated to 3 or 4 hours every night, and for different and a little less severe pain reasons, my post op sleep was about the same.

hernanu, when did you start sleeping soundly after your resurfacing?

Thanks,
2fer

I think it was about 8 weeks.

That didn't mean my sleep wasn't MUCH better than before, since my usual nightly sleep pattern before the resurface was - one hour of sleep, wake in excruciating pain (sometimes due to my hip having dislocated), pop the hip back in if needed, then walk for a few times around the bed, spend about an hour until falling back to sleep, repeat until time to get up for work and driving daughters to school.

For about seven years, my sleep got much worse, so that the last three or four were like I described. So I was exhausted and never got any deep sleep. It was also when my weight went up and my morale went down.

I slept for three or four hours right away, which allowed me to reach the deep sleep part, so I felt much more refreshed even though my post operation pain / swelling / freaking out was there. I was thankful for 4 hours, since that doubled, tripled or quadrupled my usual OA sleep. The first time I slept through, I thought something was wrong.

I sleep anywhere from 6 hours to 9 hours straight now. Amazing and it brings me joy. I'm happy you're getting there.

Thursday 1.12.12

Wed Sleep       2:30am to 8:30am = only 4 - 5 HOURS :(

Breakfast        Oatmeal, 1/2 Banana, 2 chopped Walnuts, 1 c Skim Milk, 1 c Coffee &
                      Real Cream
                      Panini - fresh baked Boule Bread sprayed lightly with olive oil,
                      3 strips Bacon, Mixed Baby Greens, Tomato slices, 1/4 c Shredded
                      Sharp Cheddar Cheese - all grilled & prepared to perfection, and
                      Lightly Steamed Broccoli on the side.

CockTail Hour  Vodka/Grapefruit Juice, 1/2 c Chex Mix
                      Hershey's Bar and 1 c Skim Milk

PM Snack        1 c Organic Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP sugar, 1/2 c Raspberries, 2 Crumbled
                      Pecans
_______________________________________________________________________

8:30 - 10am   Ready for the Day, Laid out Clothes, Made the Bed, Organized
                     for the trek downstairs, Made Breakfast, morning grooming

10am - 11:30 In Home PT Harry - Exit interview

11:30 - 3:30   Housework:  Repotted 4 plants, made floral arrangements for every
                      room on the ground floor.  Used a step stool to get potting soil and
                      various decorative pots from the garage.  Cleared and organized a
                      workbench to use as a potting area.  After moving my car, carried the
                      vacuum cleaner and hoovered the garage out, leaving it looking it's
                      best this winter!  Next, Kitchen and hall floors, wall cobwebs :-[,
                      cleaned coffee maker and the Fridge.  Neatly organizing all the bottles,
                      berries, condiments, etc.  Cleaned the downstairs guest bath. Dusted
                      and cleaned the living room.  All this accomplished in the midst of a drug
                      taper!!           
(8:30 - 3:30)
6Hrs Total       Housework

3:30 - 4pm      Recovery Pod, Ice, Pain 7, Makeup
4pm - 4:30      Hair, Last minute Cleaning & Straighten
4:30 - 9:30      Recovery Pod, Pain 5, Low Back Pain 6 from lifting and
                       vacuuming, etc.

Quote from: Two4One on January 12, 2012, 10:31:10 PM
Thursday 1.12.12

S
11:30 - 3:30    Housework:  Repotted 4 plants, made floral arrangements
6Hrs               for every room on the ground floor.  Used a step stool to get potting soil
                      and various decorative pots from the garage.  Cleared and organized a
                      workbench to use as a potting area.  After moving my car, carried the
                      vacuum cleaner and hoovered the garage out, leaving it looking it's best
                      this winter!  Next, Kitchen and hall floors, wall cobwebs :-[,, cleaned
                      coffee maker and the Fridge.  Neatly organizing all the bottles, berries,
                      condiments, etc.  Cleaned the downstairs guest bath.  Dusted and
                      cleaned the livin room.  All this accomplished in the midst of a drug taper!!           

If you don't sleep the WHOLE NIGHT TONIGHT then man - oh - man  you missed a good opportunity.  That was a Boatload of Work!  Hope ya had a good night's sleep!!!

WTW15, From your lips to God's ear, I hope I've earned my sleep tonight.  A couple years plus of Ambien has mucked up my sleep cycle a bit.  Since, I quit the Ambien on Jan 1st, I think I can expect some sleeplessness for up to another week.  I'm beat, just not able to sleep quit right yet.

Thank you for your kind words, and I hope you sleep well tonight!

Oh, hernanu,

Intuitively, eight weeks to get back to the fabled restorative sleep the whole night through sounds about right.  Back in the mist shrouded halcyon nights before circa 2009 and my undiagnosed bone on bone OA, 8 to 10 hours of sleep a night was my norm. 

QuoteFor about seven years, my sleep got much worse, so that the last three or four were like I described. So I was exhausted and never got any deep sleep. It was also when my weight went up and my morale went down.

I slept for three or four hours right away, which allowed me to reach the deep sleep part, so I felt much more refreshed even though my post operation pain / swelling / freaking out was there. I was thankful for 4 hours, since that doubled, tripled or quadrupled my usual OA sleep. The first time I slept through, I thought something was wrong.

I sleep anywhere from 6 hours to 9 hours straight now. Amazing and it brings me joy. I'm happy you're getting there.

Dan,

We had to do separate bedrooms immediately, I mean the very next day, after I was struck down with bilateral labral tears and the hidden OA that was the root of it all.  Hubs and I are planning on buying a new king sized bed later this year and getting reaquainted with my talking in my sleep and his snoring that wakes the dead.  We both can't wait!

Thanks for chiming in,

Two-4

I'd like to place an order for the Panini lunch with skim milk and a Hersey bar (per your earlier post).  Delivered to my work please around 12:30  :). You are a healthy eater!

Tw4one, love your menu plan. Pretty impressive.

LOL,  ;D ;D :D, Aeriel.  You crack me up, Girl! 

Getting ready to hit the 1st "Big One" of the season, Michiana's had 8 inches (this keeps getting better ;)), of Snow last night!!  It's still coming, but I'm heading out in my first drive since my bilaterals on 12.20.11 to go to my FIRST Out Patient PT; I'm hitting the unplowed road in my subdivision, back in the saddle once again in my trusty little Japanese car, aka 'The Red Sled', because she slides over snow and ice just like a saucer sled you had when you were a kid.  Wish me/Vibe me/ or Pray me luck that I navigate through the snow like Gerda, the heroine of Hans Christian Anderson's "The Snow Queen", and make my 11am appointment with time to spare. 

Why thank you, mslendzion!  You are too kind.

Was it the Drank that caught your eye? ::)

So Fun                                                                     Fri, January 13, 2012 3:24:16 PM
From: 2-4   
To:   Hubs

It was so fun to call and tell you of my adventures in the blizzard today. On my way home from a kick ass PT, I had a GREAT time listening to rowdy music like ,'There's Going to be a Heartache Tonight', radio blarin', belting out my favorite tunes at the top of my lungs, heat blasting, driver side window cranked all the way down to have my own personal snow storm & watching the flakes blowing around in my car, a big smile so wide my face hurt, just a jivin' and car dancing. 

Oh yeah, we're out of milk, but let it ride.  We have everything we need, you and me in front of a roaring fire.  :-*

'one
AKA
2-4

Friday 1.13.12

Thursday      Sleep   12:30 - 9am = 8 1/2 Hours!  [/glow]
                     (Thank you, Ashton Kutcher!  Watching him in a downloaded episode of 'Two and a Half Men'
                      put me OUT literally within in minutes!

Breakfast        Toast 2 slices, butter and jelly, 1 c Skim Milk

2:20pm Late   California Roll, Tuna & green onion Roll, 12 oz Sapporo Beer.  Here in our Bible Belt
Lunch             state, restaurants are not legally allowed to sell 'to go' alcohol.  Wanting to avoid
Take Out        another stop to go to the liquor store in the midst of the blizzard for one beer and really
                     being tired after PT, I begged politely, using the bilateral surgery card shamelessly, and
                     the owner very kindly gave me the bottle of Sapporo as a gift!  Hershey's Bar and
                     1 cup of crappy Soy Milk because we were out of Skim Milk. :'(

6:30pm          Grillled Salmon and roasted Asparagus
                     1 c Organic Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP sugar, 1/2 c Raspberries, 4 Crumbled Pecans                     

9:20pm           Vodka/Grapefruit Juice, 1 c Chex Mix
Cocktail Hour   Pain shot up to an 8 in an brand new place, my left buttock glute spasm.  Those Recovery
                      kisses can be brutal!  My groaning and cries are scaring the dog and distressing Hubs.

_______________________________________________________________________

9:00 - 10am   Ready for the Day, Laid out Clothes, Made the Bed, Organized
                     for the trek downstairs, Made Breakfast, morning grooming

10:40- 12:30  My First OUT PATIENT PT - Kristin worked me hard & did deep tissue massage to
                     break up the forming scar tissue and rock hard mass immediately below my
                     bilateral incisions.  We are sticking with my same PT routine until Monday to see
                     if I respond with increased pain to the massage.

12:30 - 2:30  Picked up take out Sushi.  Bought fresh fish and an avocado for tonight's dinner, etc.
                    Visited with a neighbor and finally made it home and had lunch. 
                                 
3:00              Showered and redid Makeup & Hair because now I can!  It's so nice to not be confined to
                     the Turret - my separate upstairs bedroom that I did my time in for 2 plus yrs for undiagnosed
                     end stage OA.
4:30pm         Recocery Pod to 10pm.

9:30pm          Pain shot up to an 8 in left buttock glute spasm.  My groaning and cries are scaring the dog and
                     distressing Hubs.

                      .
6 1/2Hrs Total  On my feet all that time, I estimate I walked at least ONE MILE AND A HALF
                       today.

10pm               Heading up to the Turret Room for what I pray to God will be some relief from that gosh damn
                       level 9 glute spasming, and to a much lesser pain degree the Charlie Horses in both feet. 
                       

Two4One,
I love your posts! What a great attitude you have. Poor Hubs! Who is suffering more, you or him!? LOL!!   ;D ;D ;D

Thank you, newdog!

Uhm, it's Hubs, yes definitely Hubs, who's suffering more - at least if you had to listen to his daily concerts on his tiny little violin, even as he swaggers around on his perfectly healthy hips.  Blast him! >:(

This is/was a rough one (recovery *cough* episode) tonight, and I almost veered into '10' category with tears and all.  Fortunately, the combo plate of prescriptions started doing their job in the nick of time.  Regardless of flare ups, my taper is still intact, and that's what's most important to me right now.  Yet, I do wonder if there are other hippies out there who managed their immediate post op pain with less potent pain medications compared to what they were previously prescribed for their pre op bone on bone OA?

Is that your doggie in the avy picture? Name please..... I know you mentioned it once before but my memory is shot.

Tell that therapist to lighten up on the scar tissue massage....YIKES.....

Luanna

Yes, that is my pride and joy. My Bichon Frise had just been shaved, otherwise he's a little ten lb fluffball.  Hubs named him Digo, spanish slang for speak because he's so vocal.  I named him Boo Boo after Yogi's little pal because he's so sweet and loving.

Boo was snapped sniffing my get well flowers, and Bichons are famous for sniffing flowers and being little gardeners!  Now, Hubs calls him 'Boosy Boo'.  They are charmers. I have some adorable photos of him that I was planning on posting in the photo sections, but I've procrastinated.

Saturday 1.14.12

OR:               "The Whole Dam Family and the Dam Dog (1905)" - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0235045/

Friday           Sleep:  'After Midnight' - Eric Clapton, (Awoken on & off by the Dam Dog), - 4:30 = 3 1/2 HRS Sleep 
2am - 3am     Awoken by pup crying in the night to go out.
2:15am         10mg Vicodin**Pain 6 ** in my Left hip flexor
3am - 4:30    Sleep

Breakfast      Oatmeal, 1/2 Banana, 3 crumbles Walnuts, 1/4 c Raspberries, 1 c Skim Milk, 1 c coffee & cream

Late Lunch    Panini - fresh baked Boule Bread sprayed lightly with olive oil, 3 strips Bacon, Mixed Baby Greens,
2:30pm         Tomato slices, 1/4 c Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese - all grilled & prepared to perfection, Lightly
                     Steamed Broccoli on the side, and 1/2 c fresh Raspberries and Blueberries.  Vodka/Grapefruit
                     Juice, and for desert, a  Homemade Hazelnut, chocalate chip, oatmeal & walnut Cookie with 1 c
                     Skim Milk

Dinner 7pm   Roasted potatoes, onions, mushrooms, red bell pepper, and a small piece of grilled apple
                   smoked sausage

9pm Snack`  Half c Chex Mix

Midnight        Ruby Red Grapefruit, YUM!   
__________________________________________________________________             

4:30 -7:30     Awoken again by Dog wanting out! It's kennel time tonight, buster, until you learn to hold it all
                      night and let Mommy & Daddy get some freakin' sleep.  Correspondence, Cleaned up Bedroom,
                      Groomed for the Day, Makeup, etc.

7:15am         Hubs miffed because he couldn't open my locked bathroom door, and definitely a bit put upon
                     I wouldn't open it when he asked me to.
                     I said "I need a private moment here, and I'll be out in a minute."
                     Hubs,"You've had private moments all morning!"  "I'll be out in just one minute,
                     Honey."  Hubs, "Fine! Whatever.  I'm leaving, and I'm going now."
                     "Honey, just hang on, don't go away.  Don't be mad."  Huffily, in an aggrieved,
                     slightly injured tone, "All I wanted to do was come in and say Good Morning!"

                     Then, he was gone, off to buy Milk.  I made coffee, made that kitchen sparkle, and had
                     all his morning favorites laid out for him when he came home, tiff forgotten, a
                     conquering hero presenting his Lady with her cherished Organic Grass Fed Cossetted
                     Cows' Skim Milk.  He's a Gem.

7:30 -            Made coffee for Hubs

7:45              Recovery Pod - Iced Hips.  Drinking the 1st c of Joe for the day

8:30 - 10am    Fixed Hair, made breakfast, cleaned up kitchen.

10am -11:30   Recovery Pod - Heating Pads, Had that 2nd c of coffee *Pain 6*

12:30 - 2:30    Prepped kitchen.   Made lunch for Hubs and I.

5pm                 Full PT
6pm                 Dinner
7pm- Midnight   Hubs and I spent a lovely evening together.  He's pretty cool. Everyday there is a new
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    milestone

Ok. Got the name for your new book.... R U ready???? ..........well it's.....

Me and Boo and Hubby too (if he behaves that is)  ;D

Luanna

Hahehaha ;D, Luanna!

Actually, I do have the name and a target date of April 3rd to finish my book.  It's a serio comic informative look at the plight of OA and how the process of hip resurfacing's recovery from day to day offers more than a return to an active life; the recovery offers a growth of the soul, perhaps even more beneficial than the growth of bone over our hardware and the physical healing of our previously damaged and withering bodies.

Do you happen to be a published writer?

Yep. I do be published. Mostly academic articles and a book chapter or 2. Then writing for 10 years doing educational content for global audiences while working as a content manager at Microsoft. So, not fiction but that's my next goal. I've got the technical stuff down but find the fiction really challenging.

Luanna

Quote from: Luanna on January 14, 2012, 04:29:04 PM
Yep. I do be published. Mostly academic articles and a book chapter or 2. Then writing for 10 years doing educational content for global audiences while working as a content manager at Microsoft. So, not fiction but that's my next goal. I've got the technical stuff down but find the fiction really challenging.

Luanna

Oh Lordy Luanna are you an academic too?  My only publishing is in the form of research and academic books.....yawn!!  Would love to write for fun and without numbers/stats!

Hey Luanna & Aeriel,

It seems we have some writers on Surface Hippy; how fun!
 
I've written 4 technical Policy & Procedure Manuals, twice as an employee and twice for my own two businesses.  I am a voracious reader and your basic omnivorous consumer of all things media, up to and including tales told around the fire, and I have a deep interest in and passion for protohistory passed on from our ancient oral traditions.  I have no published fiction YET, but I have dozens of radio and television appearances, written a couple of commercials, and had humor/informative public speaking gigs.  My plan is to parlay my various CV, all around life experiences and interests, and the already preprocessed grist of my mill, into a book, or perhaps 2 or 3.

With the founder and owner of Surface Hippy and with the beautifully creative, evolving posters here on this plane of a highly unique amalgam of regenerative raw power and restorative healing on a mass scale, it's a privilege to be counted as a member of this Hippy community.  I would not be surprised at all if this place acts as a springboard for countless fulfilled dreams and aspirations met far beyond the miraculous healing of our hips.

Happy Writing and Healing,
2-4

Sunday  1.15.12  Day 27


Breakfast           Whole Wheat Toast 2 slices, Butter, Jelly, 1 c. Skim Milk, 1 c
                        Coffee and Cream
Snack               1 cup Ruby Red Grapefruit

Noon
Brunch:             Vodka/Organic Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice, 1/2 c Chex Mix

3pm Early
Dinner:              1 1/4 c Roasted potatoes, onions, red bell pepper,
                         mushrooms, with Parmesan cheese, and Steamed
                         Broccoli with a pat of Butter, & a small piece of Apple
                         Smoked Sausage, topped off by a glass of Skim Milk &
                         half a slice of Deep Chocolate Hazelnut Cake from
                         the local Gourmet Shop!

5pm Snack         1 cup Ruby Red Grapefruit

6pm Light:         1 cup of Organic StonyBrook Low Fat, (I prefer full fat, but
Supper               it's not available except at a store across town.), 1 c
                         Blackberries, and 4 Pecan's crumbled.
______________________________________________________________

6:15 - 8:30       Correspondence
8:30-9:30am     Grooming, Makeup, Organized & Trekked the 14 steps
                        downstairs.  Made myself Breakfast

10am - Noon:   

Cleaned the Guest Bath top to bottom to riser (yuck).  I was able to do some new things for our home today by utilizing a new technique: lower myself slowly to the floor and lay flat on my stomach with a pillow under my bilateral incisions. In this way, I was able to clean all the hard to reach nooks an crannies without the risk of breaking hip protocol.  I shined our living room floor to ceiling massive mirror until it sparkled.  Damn, I'm actually proud of myself for coming up with that!  (I asked Hubs if he was getting any ideas seeing me prone on my stomach cleaning the bottom of that humongous floor mirror, and he says "Yeah, now you can clean the kitchen floor!" ::))

Noon Brunch:   

I don't recognize myself.  Before OA, (B.O.A. TM, which is a totally appropriate acronym, if you think of this inexorable disease slowly squeezing the life out of you until you're dead and your are bones pulverized enough so that you can be swallowed whole), I hated housework with a blinding hate of a thousand suns burning with disgust and repugnance. 

Probably I felt this way my entire life B.O.A because crazy, insane housework was a punishment as a child.  I wasn't one to have a normal job when I first moved away from home and clean up my place, or be a slob in my apartment.  Nope, from the tender age of 17 1/2, I worked 2 jobs, and later one lucrative job, at a time so I could afford to have a maid come and clean my apartment once a week and have all my meals catered by a local gourmet shop.  I also looked for the 'Dry Clean Only' label, so I didn't have to do laundry either.  I paid hired help my entire life from 18 right up to my late 30's and even quite some time into my current marriage. 

Replacement Hubs didn't think it was cool to siphon off money for "jobs we could do ourselves", while Former Hubs thought it was mighty fine for me to pay for the even more people that I hired, and he was real happy with having several latest, state of the art mountain bikes, Tag Heuer's, Zegna suits, and his J.M. Weston shoes, that I bought him too.  Former was a bad investment; attractive initially, but not much in the way of a return.  :-X

Now that I'm a phreaker TM, (post hip resurfacing esoterically activated kinetic energy restorer), or the the diminutive phreak TM (post hip resurfacing engergy activated kinetically) TM if you prefer, and have entered a new chapter of true wealth, free of the illusion of possessions that actually end up owning you, and I can't wait to see what's next.

2:45               Made an Early Dinner
3pm               Chair Time 1 and 1/2 hours, **Pain 5**, cleaned up
                      kitchen.

Good for U. Rising above the material things in life..... and valuing those that really matter. I'm not that evolved yet! I still prefer boats, and expensive jewelry....  ;) 

Your dinner sounded yummy and very healthy. We did salmon, roasted potatoes, and brocoli. Would like to have topped it off with a hot fudge sundae but didn't.... :'(

Luanna

Two4one, how did you get on the floor. I don't have that figured out yet without breaking the 90 degree rule.

Sunday  1.15.12  Day 27 Continued

5pm   Recovery Pod Rest -

**Pain is only a 4, but I'm feeling out of sorts with sweats and chills because I'm aggressively tapering off Dilaudid. 

I've done a successful taper before when Philippon's pre op protocol required I be narcotic free for 2 weeks prior to my first scheduled November 1st revision arthroscopy for my Right Hip and again for the second scheduled revision scope of the Left Hip in February.

After Philippon insisting on a ONE YEAR waiting list, after insisting I spend my family's dwindling resources to fly to his Vail Clinic not once but TWICE, after insisting I go through months of grueling, agonizing, and totally counter productive arthroscopic pre op PT, after insisting I redo all my already several times over replicated films & costing me yet thousands more for HIS state of the art Cat Scans, MRI's, & X Rays, and after finally concluding I had end stage, bilateral bone on bone OA in a blind spot on his films - just like all my other consulting surgeons' films' blind spots, Dr. Philippon finally turned me down for my long anticipated bilateral arthroscopy revisions. 

All I had after my lengthy, tortuous and ultimately useless ordeal, was the famous doctor saying "I'll help you get into a surgeon right away who'll do the bilateral THR that you need."  His promise was as empty and as useless as everything else he put me, a desperate patient in unimaginable pain, through.  Immediately after leaving his office, I put aside my anger and my tears that day in our Vail hotel room and began making call after call, right up until we caught an early flight home.  The next day, the first day we came home from Colorado, I successfully found my gifted and highly experienced  hip resurfacing surgeon, Dr. Philip Schmitt of the Detroit, MI area.

Now, as a person miraculously returned to health, free of OA, I have the privilege of writing about my hard fought and incredibly wonderful full recovery from this crippling disease we all fight and triumph over.  I wondered how, or if, I was going to use this forum to work through my two years plus experience of trying and failing, of searching, and then doing it all over again, and then again, and yet again, to find a diagnosis for my 'normal hips' and my clinging to the hope that somewhere, somehow, I was going to save myself.

I'm sorry about your travails, but glad you've reached a good state now.

I can't imagine the two year hejira you went through, but the end is good. I'm happy for you and like all who have dealt with this understand and feel both your anger and your happiness now.

QuoteGood for U. Rising above the material things in life..... and valuing those that really matter. I'm not that evolved yet! I still prefer boats, and expensive jewelry....  ;)

Your dinner sounded yummy and very healthy. We did salmon, roasted potatoes, and broccoli. Would like to have topped it off with a hot fudge sundae but didn't.... :'( - Luanna

Luanna,

This little wannabe yogini is not that evolved 'cause I am  married to Hubs after all!  His dream is to retire on a Golf Course with every toy under the sun! (OK, Toys ARE good, especially boats and ATVs.) Mine is a little different than his, natch :P.  My dream is to live either as an Ex Pat in Costa Rica, or to live Ellie May Clampett style with mah critters in the backwoods off the grid - http://www.thespec.com/whatson/article/527695--beverly-hillbillies-actress-sues-toy-maker-over-elly-may-barbie, or on a small houseboat - http://hookedonhouses.net/2011/04/24/the-braverman-family-homes-on-parenthood/ like Crosby's in 'Parenthood'! 

Wow, I'm sensing a theme here: Uh, I like freedom.  Luanna, please don't hate me but I forgot to post yesterday's 3pm Early Dinner Desert of Deep Chocolate & Hazelnut cake!  I'll get right on that now!

Monday 1.16.12  Day 28

Monday mornin' so good to me!

'Monday Monday' The Mamas & The Papas http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h81Ojd3d2rY

Sunday Sleep:  10:30pm to 5am = 6 1/2 Hours -
                         Waking up a bit on & off = 5 Hours of Sleep

Breakfast:          Oatmeal, 1/2 Banana, 1/4 c Blackberries, 4 Walnuts
9am                   Crumble, 1 c Skim Milk

Lunch
12:20                 Roasted potatoes, mushrooms, onions, red bell pepper, &
                          Parmesan cheese, broccoli, TWO Hershey Bars and two glasses of
                          Skim milk

Dinner
7:45pm               Panini with bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, tomato, avocado,
                          on Artisan multi grain locally homemade bread.  Broccoli,
                          followed by Angel Food Cake, Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream,
                          Strawberries & Blackberries
Snack
12:30                 Angel Food Cake, Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream, Strawberries &
                          Blackberries     
_______________________________________________________________________
5:30 - 8:30am    Correspondence, emails, etc., reading
8:30-9am           Showered, Gathered Gear for Downstairs Trek, Made Breakfast
9am - 12noon     Chair Time
Noon - 2:45        Recovery Pod, rested.  I'm not feeling well today due to tapering
                          my prescription pain medications and having withdrawal symptoms.
                          Then, 45 minutes of Grooming Hair, and Makeup, etc.

3:30 - 5:30pm    Out Patient PT Kristin worked me over, and she did deep tissue
                          massage that felt great!  I also did 15 minutes of prone Leg presses.
                         Scheduled PT 5x week through the end of March:  PT Tuesdays,
                         Thursdays, & Fridays.  Pool PT Mondays and Wednesdays.

5:30 - 7:30pm    Shopped a full Grocery list and put them away.  Cleaned kitchen,
                         prepped, and prepared dinner.  Made the kitchen sparkle after dinner,
                         made desert
8pm - 9:30        Recovery Pod - watched TV

9:30pm -            Trekked upstairs to The Turret Room and read, surfed, etc.

Thank you, hernanu. 8)

I know you do understand my hejira and you've been through it, as we all have.  You know first hand this journey by the Hippies and the Phreaks TM, (Post Hip Resurfacing Energy Activated Kinetics), and you know what it's like for us to escape from our suddenly hostile environment that used to be so good to us - our bodies, and you know what it's like to escape from our cages of pain and despair.

'Hejira', God what a beautiful duality of a word that so aptly describes the then and the now.  'Hejira' by Joni Mitchell, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0P1SoIFQss, so beautifully expresses our relationship to ourselves, our world, our bodies.  Thank you, hernanu, I hadn't heard this song of Joni's, what a gift. 

One of my life's influences, my 3 rowdy 6'7, 6'4, and 6'2 brothers, were more into rock and roll counter cultural type music than they were into Folk or the spiritual enlightenment musical movement that was aborning in America roughly at the same time, the exception being one of them briefly flirting with Krishna.;D

Quote

QuotePosted by: mslendzion
« on: Yesterday at 07:14:59 PM »   
Two4one, how did you get on the floor. I don't have that figured out yet without breaking the 90 degree rule.

Ok, here goes:

1.  Lean against a wall or grab something sturdy, like a heavy armchair at about a 45
     degree angle.  http://www.triharder.co.za/2011/headline/stretching-for-cycling/

2.  Slowly walk your hands down and your feet back as you lower yourself to the floor.

3.  Continue this movement until your head lightly touches the floor, and your chest and
     hips are facing the floor.

4.  Make sure you have pillows in position under your hips, so that when you are laying
     flat on your stomach, your incision(s) is cushioned from the ground.

5.  To get back up, brace your feet and start walking your hands back up the wall
     and/or heavy stable piece of furniture.

6.  Both pulling with your hands and pushing up with a knee or both feet is permissible,
     as long as you do NOT break your body's 90 degree protocol or do NOT break your
     twisting at the waist ban.

7.  I advise, per my in home PT and OT firm instructions, do not lower yourself to the
     floor at all prior to 3 weeks post op because you simply will not have the
     strength or ability to do the above moves.

Good luck today, mslendzion!

2-4

Tuesday (Weld)  1.17.12

OR:                   Insanely Beautiful Tuesday Weld - 'Lord Love a Duck'
http://cgi.ebay.comws/eBayISAPI.dll?VISuperSize&item=110647261993

Monday Sleep: It essentially Didn't Happen.
                        During yesterday's PT, 15 minutes of Prone Leg Presses
                        resulted in a fairly moderate amount of latent pain
                        in my Bilateral Hip Flexor kisses, pretty much jolting me
                        awake all night long.  Almost comical really, like a little kid or
                        a puppy who wants to stay awake, my exhausted
                        head kept dropping over onto my shoulder - each & every
                        time I crashed.  Like that, I caught my 40 winks, a few
                        minutes here and there.

                       Sleep  A Few Moments + a few Minutes Here & There
                       = 2 Hours of Sleep Monday Night

Breakfast          1/2 c Oats, 1/2 Banana, 4 chopped Walnuts, 1 c Skim Milk, 2 cups Coffee &
7:30am             Cream

Snack              Grapefruit
9am

Lunch              Panini with bacon, sharp cheddar cheese, tomato, avocado,
1:30pm           Artisan multi grain locally homemade bread.  Broccoli,
                       followed by Angel Food Cake, Breyer's Vanilla Ice Cream,
                       Strawberries & Blackberries

Dinner             Penne Pasta w/ herbed goat cheeze, browned zucchini, salt & Pepper
6pmb                Vodka/Grapefruit Juice, 5 Carr's Crackers w/ boursin cheese spread

Snack              Chocolate Covered Popcorn and a glass of skim milk
7pm

Late Snack       Organic Stonybrook Plain Yogurt, crumbled pecans, & 3/4 c strawberries
10:45pm
____________________________________________________________________________

6am                Hubs woke me, per my request, so I could be ready in time
                       for this morning's 8am PT downtown.  Better Hustle.

6:15 - 7:35      Leaped out of Bed, showered, etc.  Trekked Downstairs and
                       stayed out of Hub's way,as he was doing his morning routine
                       to get out the door by 6:30am and on his way to the office. 
                       Set up my downstairs Chair Station and Recovery Pod.

7:45                Checked my PT schedule again & realized my next session is 8am on
                       Thursday!  I had 2 cups of coffee in my system, thinking I had to power
                       up for a workout on NO SLEEP.  Ate Breakfast and started cleaning.

8am - 11:30     Cleaned out the entire refrigerator and freezer. Potted 3 more plants
                       from some shoots.  Hauled out some crystal to clean and display.  Spot
                       cleaned the 1st level floors with my feet, a towel, and some spray
                       Chlorox,  and the kitchen, the main hall, and the guest bathroom look a
                       bit less grody now.  Vacuumed the kitchen & hall.  Cleaned out the pantry
                       closet, tossed out old expired food, arranged areas by use.



11:30 - 1pm     Chair Time & had snack.  Made appointment tomorrow afternoon with family
                       doctor regarding my sleep problems.

1pm - 4pm       Recovery Pod:  Prepared & ate Lunch

6pm                 Dinner w Hubs

8pm                 Retired to The Turret Room

Midnight           10mg Ambien - I'm sticking with my taper and can't take
                        more pain meds.  I hope to get 8 hours sleep total tonight.
                        Already had One Hour catnap earlier this evening, Yay!

I'd catch up on that sleep, 'One - make some time for it, it is your friend right now.

I know, hernanu. 

What do you suggest?  I don't want to start Ambien again - it scares Hubs because, the horror, in the middle of the night I come downstairs more often for snacks.  It's not like I'm having a fugue state or anything for Pete's sake!  Plus, it doesn't work for me; I'll take an Ambien, or Lunesta, or some other crappy sleeping aid, and nothing happens except I fall asleep at 3am & wake up groggier for an hour or so.  What DOES work for me is Valium or Halcion, you know - the 'am drugs.

B.O.A, I never needed any help falling asleep because when I worked, it was long hours, hitting our home gym, and doing aerobic dance in the living room.  When I had time away from my former businesses, I'd fit in as many of the activities below that I could, and, of course, easily drop off at night around 10pm and get up at 7 or 8am.

When I was on break between business, I walked an hour a day, did Yoga twice a day, cleaned, shopped for groceries, planned meals, prepared 3 meals a day for Hubs, planted and tended to an organic vegetable and cut flower garden, brushed my Bichon Frise', did the usual girly stuff like manis/pedis, getting my brows & hair done, sun bathed (30 to never more than 45 - 60 minutes at the maximum), went to the library constantly, went to book club, rode my mountain bike through the park trails, rode my soft ride bike on the paved city paths or rode it for long weekend rides with the bike club, cooked with friends, and regularly went to Chicago or Indy on 3 night weekends to spend time with my friends there.  During the winter, I'd add ice skating & more rarely cross country skiing to the above routine, and that was my typical day.

I'm trying to wear myself out really hard and get strong as soon as I can, because I need to SLEEP, and I don't want to push my family doctor to refill the one month Valium prescription because I'm tapering the other sh-- and don't want yet another menu item to wean off of.  If I want to get any sleep and judging by my wildly successful current sleep regimen *end sarcasm*, it looks to me like I'll have to do another month of the V.  Excuse me whilst I go call Family Doc now....

I also need by March 31st, just as badly as sleep, to return to work - either running a business or putting my talents to use again in a well compensated position working for someone else.  March 31st is Hubs last day before he starts working for himself, and it's my turn to support him and co - make his dream our reality.

Wow, hernanu!  Sorry for the Phreak novel. ::)

Thx for the 'getting on the floor' instructions, much appreciated.  I stopped ambien as well post surgery, I took it nightly for years. As with my leg it gets a bit better each night.

Quote from: Two4One on January 17, 2012, 12:16:26 PM
I know, hernanu. 

What do you suggest?  I don't want to start Ambien again - it scares Hubs because, the horror, in the middle of the night I come downstairs more often for snacks.  It's not like I'm having a fugue state or anything for Pete's sake!  Plus, it doesn't work for me; I'll take an Ambien, or Lunesta, or some other crappy sleeping aid, and nothing happens except I fall asleep at 3am & wake up groggier for an hour or so.  What DOES work for me is Valium or Halcion, you know - the 'am drugs.

B.O.A, I never needed any help falling asleep because when I worked, it was long hours, hitting our home gym, and doing aerobic dance in the living room.  When I had time away from my former businesses, I'd fit in as many of the activities below that I could, and, of course, easily drop off at night around 10pm and get up at 7 or 8am.

When I was on break between business, I walked an hour a day, did Yoga twice a day, cleaned, shopped for groceries, planned meals, prepared 3 meals a day for Hubs, planted and tended to an organic vegetable and cut flower garden, brushed my Bichon Frise', did the usual girly stuff like manis/pedis, getting my brows & hair done, sun bathed (30 to never more than 45 - 60 minutes at the maximum), went to the library constantly, went to book club, rode my mountain bike through the park trails, rode my soft ride bike on the paved city paths or rode it for long weekend rides with the bike club, cooked with friends, and regularly went to Chicago or Indy on 3 night weekends to spend time with my friends there.  During the winter, I'd add ice skating & more rarely cross country skiing to the above routine, and that was my typical day.

I'm trying to wear myself out really hard and get strong as soon as I can, because I need to SLEEP, and I don't want to push my family doctor to refill the one month Valium prescription because I'm tapering the other sh-- and don't want yet another menu item to wean off of.  If I want to get any sleep and judging by my wildly successful current sleep regimen *end sarcasm*, it looks to me like I'll have to do another month of the V.  Excuse me whilst I go call Family Doc now....

I also need by March 31st, just as badly as sleep, to return to work - either running a business or putting my talents to use again in a well compensated position working for someone else.  March 31st is Hubs last day before he starts working for himself, and it's my turn to support him and co - make his dream our reality.

Wow, hernanu!  Sorry for the Phreak novel. ::)

No problem, I get your frustration, believe me. I was a long sleeper also pre OA. Except for when my kids were young, etc. (insert overworking Dad generalizations here), I could sleep 10 hours easily. At the time I thought it was because of the effort I was putting into everything, but I actually found I could sleep more when I was on vacation and less stressed.

When the OA came, my sleep became fitful, painful and stressful. I knew I'd wake up in pain, so no relaxation pre sleep was there, this was reinforced when it did happen, etc. So the result was an uncomfortable 3-4 hours per night of 'sleep'. I was trained in this for about seven years.

Post OA, one thing I resigned myself to was that, along with my screwed up muscles / neurological impulses, my sleep patterns needed re-education. I had NEVER been one to nap, would fall asleep exhausted in front of the TV or pretty much anywhere quiet, but no planned naps.

After the surgeries, I made an effort to plan a nap. I knew I wasn't getting enough sleep in the night at first (although it felt much better), so I allotted time in the afternoon, 1-3, when I felt at peace and not overly stimulated. I just adjoined to my bed, settled in - no reading, no other activities. At first I just lay there for 15-20 minutes and maybe dozed, but even that was refreshing. Then pretty quickly I started really sleeping; sometimes for an hour, other times for three or four. And I was good with it, I put no time limits on it. I got up when I got up.

It helped at least cut the edge of the lost sleep during the night, and eventually began to influence that, since I was not staying up forever reading anymore, the longest I last now is about 10 minutes of Kindle time before I drop off.

I've maintained the napping possibilities on the weekend now, so even if I've gotten to 8 or 9 hours, I figure, why not sleep a couple more and get refreshed? Doesn't happen all the time but it is now one more tool in my shop bag, one more thing to let my body be healthy.

I don't think it answers all questions, but I think part of getting better sleep is to allow for the time and giving yourself permission to do that. I had to overcome my own bad sleeping habits, maybe this will help.

Thank you, hernanu.

mslendzion, I'm glad to see each day getting better for you!  I love it when people get what they need and become happy.

My energy and strength are speeding along like a freight train, but the lack of sleep is making me a little cranky with Hubs!

Maybe someday soon we can have an innocent, Doris Day style, on line slumber party!  I'll bring 'Mystery Date', which I'm sure is way, way before your time.

Goodnight,
2-4

Wednesday 1.17.12  Day 29

Thank you, Rick James! - Super Phreak TM
(Post Hip Resurfacing Energy Activating Kinetics)*Yawn* ;)

'She's alright! Yeah!'  I got my Mojo back after a decent night's sleep!

Tuesday Sleep: 1 1/2 Hour Catnap + 12:45am + 5:45
                         = 6 Hours 15 minutes of Blessed Sleep!

                         
Breakfast:          1 1/2 cups Fresh Ruby Red Grapefruit
6:45am

Noon Lunch        Penne Pasta w/ browned zucchini, goat cheese, fresh
                         mint, 1 1/2 cups Breyer's Vanilla Ice cream, two
                         cups of 'Copper Kettle' Chocolate and Carmel
                         drizzled popcorn, 1 c skim milk
Dinner
7pm                   Panini w Bacon, tomato, mixed greens, Artisan
                         Homemade grain bread, Parmesan cheese
                         1 Vodka/Grapefruit Juice
                         1 Hershey Bar, 1 cup skim milk
                         
                 
_____________________________________________________

5:45 - 8:45         Chillaxing - correspondence, emails, reading, etc.
                          Straightened the house, trekked downstairs with my gear,
                          played with my dog.  Drove my Boo over to the Groomer's.
                          Boo LOVES it there where he can play with his two huge
                          Standard Poodle pals, and have run of the place all day.

9 -10:45am         Hung out and visited a friend.

11am - noon        Made lunch and groomed for a check up appointment.

2:30 - 5:45pm      Appointment, pick up prescriptions, grocery shopping,
                            Prepared dinner

7pm - 7:45pm       Hung out and had Dinner with Hubs.  Retired to The
                            Turret Room

8 - 10pm               Nice Catnap




                         

Thursday 1.19.13 Day 31

'(Thursday) Here's Why I Did Not Go to Work Today' - Harry Nilsson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ciz_C3xiuN0

Wednesday Sleep: 8 to 10:45pm + 3:45 to 5:45 = 2 Hours 45 m + 2 Hours
                         = 4 Hours 45 m
                   
Breakfast:          1/2 c Oats, 1/2 Banana, 3 chopped Walnuts,
6:15am - 7:30    1 c Skim Milk, 1 c Coffee & Cream

Lunch 1pm         European Crusty Bread Panini, using 1 slice, avocado, tomato, ham,
                         Swiss cheese, mixed greens, 2 Tsp Olive Oil,  Green Beans
                         Almondine, 2 oz Chardonnay, 1 1/2 cups Yogurt covered Pretzels
                         and 1 1/2 c Skim Milk

8:05                  1 c Yogurt covered Pretzels, 1 c Skim Milk
____________________________________________________________________

8am - 10:30 am PT Kristen's next client cancelled on account of the blizzard.
                         I asked to do sessions back to back, & Kristin OK'd it.  Fun.

10:30 -12:30     Skated through the blizzard and snow blinded roads in my
                         "Little Red Sled" and stocked up groceries because we are
                         supposed to get another 6 inches today.

1pm - 2:30pm    Chair Time and had a late lunch.  Lately, I've been indulging
                         my sweet tooth because I've not been getting much sleep. 
                         This morning I realized I haven't been doing my MP3
                         meditations & visualizations, and that's why I've failed
                         to get any sleep!  Tonight, I will restart that sleep aid and
                         get back on track.

2:30 -3pm         Showered again, groomed.
                         
3pm -                Recovery Pod, and Iced both hips with a total of four 2lb bags of
                         Frozen Peas.

Friday 1.21.12


Thursday Sleep     = 2 hours + 5.5 Hours (awakened
                                 by Pup wanting to see Hubs off to work, or I might have
                                 have slept in like the old days B.O.A.) = 7.5 Hours

Breakfast
6:30 - 7am                1 c Organic Yogurt, 1/2 c blackberries, 1/2 c
                                 raspberries, 2 TBSP Sugar, 4 pecans crumbled
Lunch
1pm                           Panini, Broccoli, Roasted Butternut Squash, 5oz Carmel
                                 Road 2008 Chardonnay, Yogurt Plain 1 c, Real Maple
                                 Syrup 2 TBSP, 1/2 c blackberries, 1/2 c raspberries,
                                 4 pecans crumbled

Dinner
5pm                           1 cup Roasted Butternut Squash w onions, pecans maple syrup,
                                 dried cherries, 2 Hershey bars, and 2 cups of Skim Milk

**                              I am stress eating, so starting Saturday, I'm cleaning up my eating.
________________________________________________________________________

6am                           Woke up and came downstairs Pain 4

9:30am                       Had trouble getting out of a wonky garage & ended up
                                  manually pushing the garage door up so I could get
                                  out. Then, the low bucket seat ended up really
                                  escalating my hip pain up to an 8, and I was teary by
                                  the time I arrived at Pt.

10am - 11:30am         PT was useless today; my hips were too inflamed to sit or
                                 stand at the various exercise stations, so Kristin gently
                                 loosened up my hip flexor spasms some with gentle
                                 massage. All I ended up doing was about 15 minutes
                                 of leg presses, and then I was sent home.  On top of
                                 my PTs, I had a combination of running around for
                                 hours each day doing errands, and that got my flexors
                                 inflamed.  I was instructed to have a rest day for the
                                 remainder of Friday.
   
Friday Sleep               = Cat Nap For One Hour
2pm - 3pm

4:23                           Groomed, Showered, and straightened for Hub's
                                  arrival home.

5pm - 6pm                  Dinner, Cleanup

6 - 11m                       Recovery Pod Resting

Dang, wine with lunch.....nice. 8). Take care and rest up a bit, sounds like you may have overdid it!

Yep, Aerial, you're right that I overdid it :P.  I'm gonna clean up my diet tomorrow and focus more on PT than cleaning my house and grocery shopping.  I think I have given the rest the short shrift, but no longer!

Saturday 1.21.12

Friday Sleep   =1 Hour Catnip (2 - 3pm)+ 6 hours = 7 Hours
12am -6am          

Breakfast         3/4 c Oats, 1/2 Banana, 3 chopped Walnuts, 1/4 c raspberries,
10am               1/4 c blackberries, 1 c Skim Milk, 2 c Coffee & Cream

Lunch 12:45     1/2 a Panini: 1 slice bread, 1/2 slice Swiss cheese, 1/4 avocado,
                       bacon, mixed greens, tomato, & 1tsp olive oil.  Green Beans Almondine,
                       Roasted Butternut Squash: Onions, apples, pecans, real maple syrup, dried
                       cherries, cinnamon, salt & pepper, and a 3oz glass of Carmel Road 2008
                       Chardonnay.  One Hershey Bar & 1 c Skim Milk.

Dinner 7pm       Roasted Butternut Squash, ANOTHER 2 Hershey Bars & 2 c Skim Milk.
                        *Hershey Bars are now officially Banned!*

Late Snack         1/2 c Chex Mix, 1 Vodka/Grapefruit Juice
11pm
_______________________________________________________________________

6am -              Woke up and came downstairs Pain 4

6:05 -
8am                 Pain 7, Overdid it already!  Made coffee, & Gave Hubs his
                       quiet Morning Time, and did my thing so I wouldn't chat
                       his ear off.  Showered, Groomed, and straightened.  Cleaned
                       the Guest Bath.

8 - 9:20am      Recovery Pod Rest

9:20 - 10am     Cleaned Kitchen and Made Breakfast.  Trekked upstairs and
                       back down three levels to strip the bed, gather laundry, retrieve
                       favorite Blankie, and started laundry in Basement.

10:30-11:30     Did another load of Laundry.  Unloaded dishwasher.  Trained Boo
                       Some more: He can do "Pray" before meals now 8).  Earlier, I took
                       some photo essays of pup cuddled up on Hub's lap while he's doing
                       his investment reading and my and fresh flowers.  Hubs has left the
                       cabin to shovel us out, and he lowered the sensitivity on the garage
                       door opener unit.  Thank Goodness, we can get in and out of our
                       garage now.  I was scared navigating the ice and snow when I had
                       to walk from my car into the house through the front door.

11:30-12:45    Recovery Pod Resting

12:45-1:45pm  We played Backgammon during Lunch, and I won!  What made this
                       victory especially sweet is that it was our first game since B.O.A!  Only
                       you Hippies and Phreaks know how it feels when such little things B.O.A.
                       one day become impossible; only you all know how it feels when the day
                       comes that you can't even sit at your kitchen table anymore and play
                       boardgames.     

1:50pm            Recovery Pod Rest Pain 7...Must Rest and THEN DO PT.  I'm falling
                        behind if I'm going to accomplish TWO PT sessions today.  I'm putting
                        Housework first, and I have my order of importance bassackwards!
                       
8pm to 10:30     Hanging out in the Turret Room upstairs.  Pain 4 with just a few 'recovery
                         kisses in my hip flexors and a bit of a pinch in my quads, but no knee
                         problems for over a week now!  Basically, I'm going through the normal
                         sweaty and uncomfortable phase from tapering off the hard stuff.  It is so
                         worth it though to feel the connection with Hubs, and to feel less woozy
                         and gross.

11pm                 Snack       


                                                     

                       

Glad to see that your sleeping has picked up. You're doing right to take it easy, 'One, you need to let the muscle healing catch up.

Thanks, man.  Hernanu, I don't know why being passive, resting, and even sleeping is proving to be the most difficult of my recovery tasks!  You'd think I'd be a zen rest master by now, what with my two years plus of time served being flat on my back and having forced immobility.

This recovery business is a trip.  You know, seeing the facts staring me in the face: I can hardly stand to stay still,  I can barely make myself lay down in the rented hospital bed, the (Recovery Pod), in my living room, and I'm jerking and startling out of sleep, - it's sobering, and I'm not sure how to process it yet.  For now, I'm noticing and noting and trying to maintain some emotional distance from what feels like a scab waiting to be picked.  For now, I'm going to ignore the urge to scratch at what's at the heart of this.  I'm not ready to examine my seeming compulsion to keep running, never stopping, and for a little while longer, I'm going to try and let it ride.

'Let It Ride' - Bachman Turner Overdrive http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j83xviHVmGg

I think you just nailed it. We were so restricted before that it's like a hunger that's been postponed. You hibernated for two years in pain, thinking of what you wanted to do and now it's possible. So we do more and wonder about the wonder of it.

But it is necessary to cool our jets to let our body get back so we can do this forever.

QuoteBut it is necessary to cool our jets to let our body get back so we can do this forever - Hernanu

Succinctly put, hernanu.  I'm going to get a tattoo of your quote or have it cross stitched on a pillow if need be, if that's what it's going to take to get my ducks in a row:

1.  PT twice Daily, (NOT bits & pieces in between other stuff that I feel like doing more)

2.  Twice Daily per my PT Harry; Resting/catnapping/or meditating

3.  Remember pressing onward OK, BUT inflaming hips & driving up pain NOT OK.

Sunday 1.22.12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJ3DWa_QLO4 'Sexy Eyes' - Dr. Hook

Saturday        I could not get to sleep last night, SO By Hook or by Crook, I got some Sleep!
Sleep              Truly, the old ways of getting a good night's sleep are the best!
                      Midnight to 8:30 (After I awoke at 1:45am, ) = 8 1/2 Hours!!

Breakfast         1/2 c Oats, 1/2 Banana, 3 chopped Walnuts, 1/4 blackberries,
8:30am           1 c Skim Milk


Lunch 2pm       1/2 a Panini: 1 slice bread, 1/2 slice Swiss cheese, 1/4 avocado,
                       bacon, mixed greens, tomato, & 1tsp olive oil.  Steamed Broccoli,
                       Roasted Butternut Squash: Onions, apples, pecans, real maple
                       syrup, dried cherries, cinnamon, salt & pepper.  One Hershey Bar
                       and 1 c Skim Milk.

3pm Snack       1 3/4 c Chex Mix, 1 Vodka/Grapefruit Juice

8pm                Stonybrooke Organic Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP sugar, 3 Large strawberries
                       chopped, & 4 Pecans crumbled.
_______________________________________________________________________

8:30am             Awoke, exited 'The Turret Room', and trekked downstairs to rustle up
                        breakfast.

6:25-7:45pm     I am allowed to do more intense PT now!!  Two sessions per day more
                        than an hour each is exciting.  I am BEYOND thrilled I can now do all
                        my lying down PT exercises on my yoga mat!!!!  With increased upper
                        body strength,  I am strong enough to do a sort of dip/push up to lower
                        and use a pull up to get up!

         Prone Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Isometric Combo of Gluteal Squeezes & Quad squeezes:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups
         Heel Slides: (which I forgot to do!) 3 sets of 12 reps

         Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps                       
         Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps, 2nd set only 7 Reps -
                                                 I stopped because of sharp side hip pains
                                                 and 3rd set of 12 reps - very difficult with side hip pain
         Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps

9:30pm             Pain is a 4, and Hubs and I are beat even though we took it easy today! 
                        Hubs is snoring to wake the dead in his recliner, so we better haul our
                        pup and all our gear upstairs for the night!               

Monday 1.23.12

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0---Q97pG4 'Come Monday' - Jimmy Buffet

Sunday        I awoke at 3am to tell 'Mr. You're out of Meds" to back the F off!
                    Can't you let a girl get her Beauty Sleep?  Then, it's all "Why Hello
                    There, Mr. Sandman!"  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsKQXJQwrNc
                    'Mr. Sandman' -The Chordettes

Sleep             Midnight - brief interruption + 7am = 6 Hours!       
                                           
Breakfast       1 Large Slice Artisan Bread Toast , butter, raspberry jam, & 1 c Skim Milk
10:50am        1 c Organic Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP sugar, and 1/2 c fresh raspberries 

Lunch             Grilled whole wheat Pita, mixed greens, roast Turkey, swiss, avocado.
2pm               1 Vodka/Grapefruit Juice and a half cup of Chex Mix

Dinner            I made a Rice, Turkey Sausage, and Black Beans gumbo for dinner from
                      scratch!  In the skillet: 1 chopped onion, 1 sweet
6:45               yellow bell pepper, mushrooms, turkey sausage, salt & pepper, 1 TBSP
                      Olive oil, and some black beans added at the edn..  Meanwhile, the wild
                      grain unprocessed rice with 2 pats of butter, & a little veggie boullion, is
                      cooking. Won at backgammon again & washed down my dinner with a
                      half a bottle of Stella Artois beer.

Late snack       Carr's plain crackers spread with Boursin Cheese and 1 Vodka/Grapefruit
8pm
_______________________________________________________________________
7am -             Woke up and decided to stay in my nice warm bed and sing along to
10:45am         some favorite songs.  Good thing for me, my pup Boo is not a critic!
                      Next, I had to attend to some very important business, I got caught
                      up on my correspondence, and I made myself presentable.

Noon              Recovery Pod Rest and a cup of Weight loss Tea

2pm Lunch      
6pm Dinner

7:20
- 8:05pm         PT with my yoga mat!

8:30pm          Retired to the Turret Room

      

Quote from: Two4One on January 21, 2012, 03:21:21 PM

QuoteBut it is necessary to cool our jets to let our body get back so we can do this forever - Hernanu

Succinctly put, hernanu.  I'm going to get a tattoo of your quote or have it cross stitched on a pillow if need be, if that's what it's going to take to get my ducks in a row:

1.  PT twice Daily, (NOT bits & pieces in between other stuff that I feel like doing more)

2.  Twice Daily per my PT Harry; Resting/catnapping/or meditating

3.  Remember pressing onward OK, BUT inflaming hips & driving up pain NOT OK.

twoforone- you are the best!!
Have just read ALL your diary- incredible writing! amazing and entertaining !!
Thanks so much ;D
Your quote re what`s most important shall now be my mantra!!
Reaching once more for the Vit E oil....

Two4one
Hoping to get released to drive so I can get some good grapefruit juice to join you with the vodka grapefruit reward. Thanks for gumbo recipe. I've been envying your diet these last few weeks.
Regards

Thank you, Miss Bliss, for the very sweet remarks about my diary!  It's tough for me to follow my own mantra, but we need to simply keep trying and not a little deviation from the plan derail us.

Lol, mslendzion!  Ruby Red grapefruit juice is the good stuff!  Instead of a quilting circle or some such nonsense, we can clink the one cocktail on line with a hale and hearty "Here's mud in your eye", "Skoal", or "Cheers!"

Thank you also for your kind comments about my diet.  I need to lose about 20 to 30 lbs, even though I think I look like a goddess; however, it's all my small size clothes that can't be worn that's propelling me to shed enough to get back into them!  I started my serious slimming program today!  Essentially, on Wednesday, I had yogurt and raspberries,a Chocolate chip cookie and a glass of skim milk, lunch was the rice gumbo and 1 Vodka/Grapefruit juice, my only snack was 2 mini tootsie rolls, and dinner was my 2nd Chocolate Chip Cookie and some spilled skim milk!  That's not the best way to start cleaning up excess calories because without good nutrition you'll end up binging to compensate.

My pledge to myself today is to get the nutrients my body needs, but trim some of the larger portions that are not completely necessary.  I lost 12 pounds of the hospital water weight, but I've plateaued at around 165.  I think I'll cruise over to "Pat (The Pillar) Miller", and see what that's about.

Tuesday was quite the active day, and I ran around, in heels, so much today that I finally arrived home after 8:30pm!  I'm bushed, so I'm going to update my log for today on Wednesday.

Goodnight all,

2-4

Middle of the Night Musings 1.25.12 Day 36

A Hippy and I were talking the other day, and the following observation was made:

Quote"Realize now this getting back to normal is going to take far longer then I envisaged."

I think this is spot on and really grabbed me.  I believe that we need to understand and embrace the healing pain our bodies are going through and not expect for it to be easy at all.  From what I've been reading and seeing, that kind of expectation doesn't match the reality of most people in that resurfacing is a major surgery that simply takes time to recover from.  What gets me, and I believe a lot of other people, is how amazing it feels to have the OA pain GONE, but the reality of recovery is still front and center and can be very disheartening, until one day at 3 months, or perhaps as long as 6 months, you can move without hurting anymore at all. IMO, The long and the short of it is that our bodies take one year to fully recover from hip resurfacing, and there is no getting around that medical fact.

I think we will evolve through the healing pain and the muscle spasms; I quite simply think the major pain reduction will happen between the 3 and 6 month mark.  Regardless, my model is that my body is my friend and it tries to tell me, through pain and soreness, when to back off or to perhaps change my routine.

My surgeon's protocol is 2 to 6 weeks of partial weight bearing, using the walker, crutches, etc.  I had been lurking on this board and had been on other boards, so I was fortunate to see how important proper walking form is, and how it's a base for every other form of exercise.  I'm a big believer in following your surgeon's protocol to the letter.  I am not going to be one of the statistics' who dislocate their hardware or, Heaven Forbid, break their femur because they felt so well that they didn't feel the body's laws of healing applied to them.

Although I was home bound and bed ridden for over 2 years with undiagnosed end stage OA, pre op I made myself crawl sometimes, whatever it took, to go to the pool.  I could NOT tolerate pool walking because my OA was so bad, and the only thing I could do was the backstroke, resting my legs from time to time, but it was my only connection to the world - so I did it.  Three months prior to my bilateral resurfacing on December 20th, my OA pain was too bad to make that ten minute drive anymore, and I put my pool membership on hold.

I am getting a lot out of my out patient PT, and IMO I think it's a mistake not to do it.  After being weakened and bedridden so long, my left glute is atrophied, I had no calves to speak of, and every bit of my core and all the small muscles girdling the hips were fairly useless.  I now work on specific muscles through adduction, I do a lot to strengthen my core, and I also tend to all the micro muscles that are so weak because only my larger muscles did any work at all during my confinement.

My PTs also stress to me all the time that if I wasn't taking painkillers of some kind that it would be so emotionally and physically taxing that I wouldn't be able to make as many strides as I am today.  I hate to push narcotics on anyone.  Yet, I will emphatically say if you take promethazine or any other powerful anti nausea agent you most likely would then be able to tolerate vicodin or norcos. (same meds, different brand names).  Of course, in 2 months or so when you're ready to wean off and don't need them anymore, you will have withdrawal and you will get sick for about 2 weeks - it's like a very bad flu.  The other unavoidable side effect is making docusate and enemas part or your schedule.  I worry about about the other hippies who are going through the fatigue and drain of toughing through your PT and recovery whilst in pain.  Again, this is only my opinion and that of my team of doctors, nurses, and PT's, but I think it's a bad idea to get bummed out because it freakin' hurts too much to do your PT properly.  I think it's a bad idea to never be able to get any good sleep because of pain, and it's totally unnecessary to suffer if you don't have to.  I guess you could say I'm a firm advocate of "Don't get behind on your meds or your pain."

OK, *climbing off soapbox*

I see a lot of folks questioning why aren't they having this fabulous, pain free healing like the lucky hippies who only need a bit of ice, and that's why I'm adding my 2 cents in.  What are your thoughts on the pain medication/no pain medication methods of recovery?  How do you feel about your own level of pain while you are going through the recovery process?

Wednesday 1.25.12  Day 37

Being able to step outside & be free, free to walk, free to drive, & free to simply BE again is a fantastical gift the Universe/Lord/Serendipity has bestowed upon me, and I Thank You.  Amen.

'Wednesday morning at five o'clock, As the day begins.....................   
Stepping outside, she is free.............Fun is the one thing that money can't buy'   

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-lG3nXyI41M    The Beatles - She's Leaving Home


Tuesday        My head hit the pillow hard, and by 11am, I was OUT!  An 11pm
                      slumber start point, now that I could live with!  Oh, but yet again at
                      4am, I'm pulled out of a nice, sound sleep by my own cries of pain. I
                      did push it ::) on Tuesday, so that's the price I had to pay for all my
                      fun.  My Vicodin, unfortunately, did not cut it, and it was way too
                      early for the hard stuff, so I busied myself with my favorite (and some of
                      yours too, no doubt) past time of middle of the night emailing and posting. 

                      Well, at least it's not drunk dialing ;).  I'm kidding; my Hubs frowns on
                      that sort of thing and wonders aloud several times a week, at least,
                      when I'm going to 'grow up'.  I tell him being a 'grown up' is over rated
                      in my personal ethos, and if being grown up means being stressed and
                      locked in with every filter and shield in place, well, he's welcome to that
                      particular pleasure, and he should go on holding his breath waiting for me
                      to 'grow up' because it's not going to happen.  Not on my watch.

                      Again with the tangents, Geez!  OK, Back at the Ranch, I slept from:
Sleep              11pm to 4am = 5 Hours   
                     

Breakfast        1/2 c Oats, 1/2 Banana, 3 chopped Walnuts, 1 c Skim Milk, and 1 cup
6:20am           of coffee with cream

2nood Breakfast  Toast 2 slices, butter, raspberry jelly, and 1 c Skim Milk
9am

Lunch              I went on a TOAST Binge!  I must have had at least 6 more slices throughout
11am              the day, before, between and after my three meals, slathering the temptingly
                      tasty toast with butter & jelly, and every 2 slice 'serving', (and I use that term
                      loosely), washed down with it's own skim milk accompaniment.

Dinner            I prepared 2 paninis using regular bread.  Don't make that rookie mistake!
                     They were a sodden, soggy, inedible mess.  Gross.  I took mine apart and ate
                      the scrapings - roast beef, honey roasted turkey, mixed greens, half slice of
                      swiss cheese, tomato (which tasted like dirty socks, so I didn't eat the tomato
                      either), and l left the gooey bread mess for the dog.  Hubs had a
                      pretty good suggestion - toast the 'normal' bread 1st to stiffen it up before
                      placing it in Cuisinart Griddler.*  Also, steamed Broccoli, Carr's plainer water
                      crackers spread with Boursin Cheese, and a half Stella Artois Beer.  The Stella
                      beer company also has a fun website for those of you who are of legal age:
                      http://www.stellaartois.com/sundance-film-festival-12-4293/
                      Hershey Bar and 1 c of Skim Milk                     


*  http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-GR-4N-5-in-1-Griddler/dp/B002YD99Y4/ref=sr_1_1?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1327580782&sr=1-1
___________________________________________________________________

4am                I woke myself up by my own cries.  With Boo at my side, we hung out
                      waiting for 6am so as to not disturb Hub's sleep.

7am                A little groggy, but pain is a '3', so yay, right?
                      for morning

9:15am -         Did my writing.
10:40

Lunch Break    

1pm to 2:30     NAP TIME! = 2 1/2 Hours

3pm to 3:50   Home PT

         Prone Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Isometric Combination of Gluteal Squeezes & Quad squeezes:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Heel Slides:  3 sets of 12 reps

         Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps.
         Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
                        Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps,
                        Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps      

4pm   to 6pm   Vacuumed LR and Guest Bath.  Moved Furniture Around in our living room! 

6:30         Made Dinner and won Backgammon Again - Is Hubs throwing the games?

7:45         Too Sore to Clean up the Kitchen after myself or walk without a lot of pain and lurching.


8pm         Very Stiff and trouble walking correctly.  Pain is a 7 and not responding to
                        painkillers.

Sleep 11pm - 6:15

Thursday 1.26.12  Day 38                     

                      Yesterday:  Toast Armageddon!  I think I lost my way on Wednesday, and also
                      on so many other days of my recovery that have played out the same
                      way, because I've been doing too much, and I'm able to do whatever I feel
                      like because I had a great surgeon and because, let's face it, my healing pain
                      and recovery kisses are masked so effectively by my pain medications right
                      up to the point where they're NOT! 

                      When you do get to that point of no return, your pain will not be responsive
                      to your pain medications, and all you have left is to accept what you brought
                      on yourself.  My fellow hippies, heed me when I tell you latent evening pain is
                      an evil d--k!  If you don't want to have a mini world of hurt, try to do as I say
                      and not as I do.   

                      Will you please pray/vibes/best wish/remind me not swan about like I'm
                      already healed?  Please help me to know that just because it doesn't hurt
                      now does NOT mean it won't hurt later.

                      Amen

Wednesday
Sleep                11pm - 6:15= 7.5 Hrs + (1pm to 2:30 Wed NAP) 2.5 Hours = 10 Hours of Sleep!!!


Breakfast         1/2 c oats, 1/2 banana, 3 chopped Walnuts, cinnamon, 1 c Skim Milk, & 4oz Cranberry Juice
7:30am

Snack               2 c Authentic Milagro Corn chips and a 1/2 c Herdez Salsa Casera Medium
10:30am          1 Vodka/Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice

Lunch               4 slices of Toast w butter & grape jelly, and 1 c Skim milk

Dinner              1 Hershey Bar and a cup of Skim Milk
5pm                 1 Starburst

Snack               1/2 c Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP Maple Syrup, 3 crumbled Pecans, & 3/4 c Strawberries

__________________________________________________________________________

6:15am             Woke up, showered, groomed, and trekked downstairs.  Pain '7'.

8:30am             I saw Dr. FeelGood, my Pain Management Doctor Appointment, this morning, and then it got interesting.  My pain management doctor, Dr. Feelgood, said that in my case I was like "someone walking around with a gut shot and feels fine, until they bleed out that night"!  Wow.  That image will stay with me.  Dr. Good was not mincing words and said emphatically for me to pull back and only do what my surgeon allowed and no more!


10:30am           Recovery Pod Rest and Snack

11:30am-
1:20pm             NAP TIME!
      
5 - 7pm            Took Pup for a Car Ride, and we went Grocery shopping.  It's a big box
                        store, and I'm sweating in the Recovery Pod & hanging with pup.

With all props to Leon Haywood, one of the minor deities of disco:

"Don't push it, don't force it
Let it happen naturally
It will surely happen
If it was meant to be"

The wisdom of Disco  8) .

hernanu, it's perfect, and the Lord knows I need to heed the wisdom of Disco! 8)  Thanks, man!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9k2LtzRIDR0 'Don't Push it' Leon Haywood

Quote from: Snowfall on January 27, 2012, 09:34:20 AM
I thought this site was for value recovery tips. I am interested in detailed physical therapy tips. Not a daily food menu from some. I am a athlete and know how to eat. I had surgery 3 weeks ago, have started aggressive water therapy, and many other modalities. I believe I am on the wrong site. Stay focused people. It will male your healing go faster. Registering everyday activities is negative for your mind.

I don't know - I guess we're all different. Many of us here are athletes of one stripe or another, both serious and not as much. We all take different paths, some to register daily and others to check in periodically. If you're looking for PT and other tips, we've certainly got advice on that on other threads, from people who (like two4one) were bedridden for years to others who did their last workout the week before the surgery.

We all approach this differently, but all work hard at this. No slackers here. Search the site and find what you value, there is an athlete's thread (where I also touch base) that may suit you better.

hernanu, I burst out laughing when I read the above quote; I just couldn't help it! :P 

I write about what it's like for me going through recovery, my food issues when I feel knackered, the thrill of being able to do the things I used to take for granted B.O.A.  I like seeing my improvements and also like learning what sets me back, but my favorite thing about Surface Hippy, by far, is learning about other people and their recovery experiences.

I'm sure Snowfall will find the right thread here; there truly are many paths on this site/

2fer

Cool 2fer, keep it up, "this is how we do it"

2fer -
Well - there you have it then!!!  :) I'll see if I can't come up with some good physical therapy tips for Snowfall. You stick to the daily food menu 2fer.... LOL

Quote from: Snowfall on January 27, 2012, 09:34:20 AM
I thought this site was for value recovery tips. I am interested in detailed physical therapy tips. Not a daily food menu from some. I am a athlete and know how to eat. I had surgery 3 weeks ago, have started aggressive water therapy, and many other modalities. I believe I am on the wrong site. Stay focused people. It will male your healing go faster. Registering everyday activities is negative for your mind.

1.27.12 Friday

Thursday
Sleep     2:30am to 6am = 3 1/2 Hours :(


Breakfast:
8:30        On the Road to PT and in the car: Oatmeal, Banana, 2 chopped Walnuts,
              1 c Skim Milk + 3/4 c Coffee & Cream*

Lunch:                                   
12:30      Frozen Diet Dinner, 1 Drink, 2 Hershey's and 1 1/4 cup Skim Milk

Dinner:    1/2 slice of Flat Bread & a few drops of olive oil, 1 slice smoked
6:45        provolone cheese,  1 slice of honey glazed ham, mixed greens,
              and a thin slice of yellow sweet onion.  Yogurt covered Pretzels for
              desert. (OK, I ate the whole bag! In my defense it was a
              very small 2 cup, maybe 2 1/2 cup bag.


* Unless otherwise stated, all of my meals are eaten sitting in a chair now!
_____________________________________________________________

6am         Awoke and eliminated almost 100% naturally, but for the Docusate. :-[
               You delicate types try to unsee that, OK?

9:10 -      Out Patient PT
10:20

10:20 -    Groomed, Applied Makeup
11am

11:30 -    Dropped Boo at the Groomer, and also my friend.  Visited with her
12:15       and our mutual friend M.

12:15       Ran a quick errand & bought a magazine

12:30       Ate Lunch*

1:30pm    Cleaned Kitchen and Living Room
-3:15

3:25        Recovery Pod Rest.  At 3:40pm - lower back pain 4,
               both hips pain 4.

4:15 -     Picked up Pup & Socialized a few minutes at the groomers,
6:15       grocery shopping, and made dinner

6:40       Recovery Pod to eat dinner and rest

8pm       Home PT

         Prone Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Isometric Combo/Gluteal Squeezes/Quad squeezes:
                        3 sets of 12 reps

         Prone Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Prone Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Heel Slides:  3 sets of 12 reps

         Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps.
         Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
                        Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps
                        Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps

9:30pm             Trekked upstairs for the night.      


STAIR TRIPS:  Allowed 5 Trips per Day = One Trip UP & BACK DOWN AGAIN

AM:       2 Trips Getting Ready for PT
NOON:   1 Trip to gather laundry
LATE     
AFTER            
NOON:   1/2 Trip to wash laundry load
NIGHT:  1/2 Trip to upstairs for the night

1.28.12 Saturday

Friday
Sleep
Breakfast:
10:20      Oatmeal, Banana, 2 chopped Walnuts, 1 c Skim Milk +
              3/4 c Coffee & Cream

Lunch
1pmish    Stonefire Authentic Flatbreads Tandoori Naan 1/2 slice, 1 Tsp
              Melted Butter, 1 slice Smoked Provolone, Baby Spinach greens,
              Maple Sugared Ham 1 slice, Onion - all grilled into a Panini.
              Green Beans Almondine,1 Vodka/Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice,
              1 Hershey Bar and a glass of Skim Milk*

Snack
3:30       1 cup Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP Sugar, 4 Large strawberries chopped,
              and 2 pecans finely chopped

*For Lunch pics, see "My Lunch with Boo Boo" in the Photo Section.

___________________________________________________________
7am       Woke up and groomed for the morning.

Noon      Walked pup 1/2 mile in the snow; I brought my cane for balance I case I was wobbly.

12:30     Visited a friend.

1pm       Prepared and had lunch.

2pm       Recovery Pod Rest

3:10       Prepared Snack

5:15 -
6:15       Home PT

               Prone Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Isometric Combo Gluteal Squeezes/Quad squeezes:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
               Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Heel Slides:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps.
               Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps

6:15        Dinner and lost Backgammon to Hubs.  Per my request, we loaded up the
              "White Charger", plus pup, and went for an Ice Cream Drumstick Run!

8:50 -
9:30       Home PT

               Prone Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Isometric Combo Gluteal Squeezes/Quad squeezes:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
               Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Heel Slides:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps.
               Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps

9:45        Trek upstairs for the night.

STAIR TRIPS:  Allowed 5 Trips per Day = One Trip UP & BACK DOWN AGAIN
5 Trips Today



                     

1.29.12 Sunday  Day 41

Regardless of not sleeping, regardless of having the weaning off narcotics 'flu', regardless of not resisting the pull of comfort sweets, and let's face it, regardless of a lot of other things, I don't care; I'm easy in my soul.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KZ8PRWChb8 'I'm Easy' Keith
Carradine in 1975's 'Nashville'

My peace is a gift the Universe/Lord/Serendipity has bestowed upon me, freely accepted, and I Thank You.  Amen.

Friday
Sleep      2am - (3:30 to 3:50am) + 5am = 2 Hours and 40 minutes:(

Late Night
Snack
1:30am  1 cup Plain Yogurt, 2 TBSP Sugar, 4 Large strawberries
             chopped, and 4 pecans finely chopped

Breakfast
10am     In the car on the way to my first church service post op and B.O.A.,
             I had a piece of bread washed down with a few cups of coffee & creamer.

Lunch    Panini - usual trimmings, 1 cup Green Beans Almondine, and 1 Cocktail.
1pm      1 Hershey, 1 Starburst, and 1 c Skim Milk

Dinner   Panini - usual trimmings and a glass of Cranberry Juice
5pm

8pm      'Traditional Medicinals Detox Tea with half a packet of 'Truvia' Stevia     

Snack    Toast: 2 slices with Butter and Grape Jelly, washed down by
8:30      a cup of skim milk

___________________________________________________________
3:30am  Tapering Fast off Vicodin first, faster than Dr. FeelGood's
              instructions, so, I woke up in a heavy, sweating nausea and
              took a maintenance Vicodin.
             
5am       Woke up.

7 -         Read, wrote correspondence, relaxed with a cup of coffee
10am     Got Ready For my First Church Service since B.O.A.

10:30 -
12:10     Church is normally an hour on the dot, but I had folks to catch up with.
              Plus, I got my picture in the Church Directory, which is a big deal
              because it's one more very large step to reengaging with the World again!

12:30     After a brief Hershey Bar run, I made it home through a white out Blizzard.
             The Red Sled slides again!

2pm       Recovery Pod Rest

4pm-Home PT

               Prone Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Isometric Combo Gluteal Squeezes/Quad squeezes:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
               Prone Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
               Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Heel Slides:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps.
               Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
               Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps

5pm        Made Dinner, did Meal Planning plus Grocery Lists, ate Dinner &
               Played with pup.

6:30        Trekked upstairs for the night, and I'm exhausted.

8pm        Hubs rubbed my feet with this awesome minty foot cream

8:15pm   Hubs brought me a nice cup of Traditional Medicinals Detox Tea

9:30pm   Fell Alseep

11:30pm Woke up and took a bathroom break.

STAIR TRIPS:  Allowed 5 Trips per Day = One Trip UP & BACK DOWN AGAIN
7 Trips Today

Tuesday, 1.31.12

I've decided to keep on keeping on and telling my narrative, day by day, minutia and all.  Thanks Pat, Bliss, hernanu, and Luanna for chiming in regarding the chapter thingy.

Perhaps you've guessed I can be a bit, well, wordy, in real life; my poor Hubs, the classic introvert, and I are trying something new to address a word count imbalance between us.  I am avoiding speaking to him as much as I possibly can!  Thank goodness, now that I've emerged from the B.O.ATM constriction of house arrest, I have loads of perfect strangers to talk to!  Ha!  (I wish I was kidding, but I'm a raging extrovert, proud and unashamed.)  Of course, I now see my friends and am now able to make new ones.  Alright, to tie up this rather all over the place paragraph, I'm absorbing, exploring, and encountering what I need away from home, and the two of us are happier for it! 

My Hubs has the chance to fill in dead air, if that's what he wants, or not.  As for me, you  already know my predilections, and they are to work my hips so that I can go forth and stride this Earth like the 5'9" Amazon that I am!  Thank you, God, Hippies, People everywhere, my Animal Co Species, Gaia, Dr. Schmitt, The Universe, Serendipity, Chance, and Loki, for EVERYTHING!

Amen.

2fer

Quotebilateralbliss
Newbie
Posts: 20
Re: New Chapters?
« Reply #3 on: Yesterday at 10:55:04 PM »

I like the "New Beginnings", Pat, sounds very positive !!
Rather like Mr McMinn !!

2fer1, will have a think for you, meanwhile as long as you don`t get writer`s block- go with the flow!!
Main point is many can pick out helpful info from you, which is what it`s all about

Bilateral BHR Dr McMinn 6Dec2011 Birmingham
_____________________________________________________________________

Two4One
Sr. Member
Posts: 351
Re: New Chapters?
« Reply #4 on: Today at 03:54:28 AM »

Thanks, Bliss,

I will keep it up, but I had concerns my bilateral story was a bit of a saga for a reader to slog through.  All of us Hippies seem to share a childlike sense of wonder and awe at all the little things that are coming back to us.  I, personally, am so immersed in the process of having my body coming back to me, which is especially sweet and intense after a very long night of the soul confined to bed, and a few feet either way was the concrete extent of my world.  It was like being buried alive in a glass coffin where you could see the world through your living room window, all the people moving about their business on the other side of the pane, and I had a few feet of rented hospital bed that I was tethered to. 

Today, during My First Pool PT, I was smiling so hard I thought my face would fall off.  Bliss, I could actually walk in the pool!!  (Whereas for more than 2 1/2 years pre op, I cried in pain while I drove to the pool, and it was the only time I left my bed. I could not take even one step in the water and had to do a backstroke using my arms only, legs dangling uselessly, because that was all I had, so I took it.)

The Universe has seen fit to grant me this blink of mobility back, and I want nothing more than to savor it while it lasts, sucking every last morsel of joy I can before the feast of living a real life comes to it's natural end. 

QuoteMain point is many can pick out helpful info from you, which is what it`s all about - Bliss

I very much want that to be true, but I worry that my 'flow' may defeat that purpose by going on and on and on in my bilateral story post; although, for me, that's how my life is - something that happens everyday, just like everyone elses.

2fer

« Last Edit: Today at 03:56:56 AM by Two4One »
Bilateral BHR Dr. Schmitt 12.20.11

"Grateful for my successful outcome and planning for my healthy, active life."
______________________________________________________________

hernanu
Hero Member
Posts: 1220
Re: New Chapters?
« Reply #5 on: Today at 11:05:08 AM »

Stop worrying about it and just write... We all write to help each other, some answer questions, some post questions, all of us post personal stories; no one can tell what will benefit someone coming in. If anyone wants to look at the daily progress from a bi-hippy, you've done that person a great service. They may never post, just read, but get a good thing from that.

Write, in whatever form - if you decide to change it to something different, go with that. You've done good here.

Hernan, LHR 8/24/2010, RHR 11/29/2010 - Cormet, Dr. Snyder
____________________________________________________________

Luanna
Sr. Member
Posts: 326
Re: New Chapters?
« Reply #6 on: Today at 12:05:08 PM »

WRITE, write, and MORE write! Let it rip. Don't mess with a good writing formula!!!   

Luanna

RHR 8/30/2011 - Dr. Pritchett - Stryker Trident Metal Shell with X3 Poly Liner acetabular components. S&N BHR femoral component

_______________________________________________________________________

Good for you, us and many others !! :)

 :D Thank you!  Thank you very much!*  22fer has not left the building.**

_______________________________________________________________________________
*http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsXDlAMTQf0 - Elvis Presley 'Suspicious Minds' 1970
**http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdFXur5OocI "Elvis has left the building." - 1956
   This is the first time this phrase was ever used.

Wednesday February 1, 2012

Tuesday
Sleep   Weeellll,* I really woke up at 3am, fell back asleep at 4:30,
           and THEN woke up at 6am.  Considering I went to sleep at 10p =  (- 1 1/2 Hours)
           + 8 hours = 6 1/2 Hours

Morning
Tea -    I'm enjoying a nice cup of 'Traditional Medicinals Weight Loss Tea**
6:40     with half a packet of 'Truvia' Stevia      

Breakfast
9am       Oatmeal, 1/2 c Blackberries, 1/2 c Raspberries, 1 TBSP Chopped Walnuts,
             and 1 cup of skim milk

Snack     A True Bar and a 1/2 cup of skim milk
10am

Lunch     1/4 c Black Beans, a Tandoori Flatbread & provolone quesadilla
Noon

Dinner    Lean Cuisine Sun Dried Pesto Chicken, Seaweed snack, and a
5:30       Huge Yogurt Granola raspberry & blackberry Parfait.
___________________________________________________________

6am      Woke Up, Showered, and Trekked the stairs twice because I am
            trying to be cognizant of my Ten lb carrying or moving limit.  As a
            lovely bonus to weaning off the Vicodin 1st, (I still have a couple
            of other items on the menu to go.), I've also noticed that my
            spelling is rapidly getting back to it's normal winner of the 3rd
            Grade Class Spelling Bee level.  Huzzah!

7:00am  Catching up on my correspondence.  Writing, surfing the 'net, preparing
10:30     eating breakfast, and since I started the Free Seven Day Trial of Weight
             Watchers Online, I've been playing with my new toy.  Recovery's not too
             shabby when you get to lay about and waste time, which is my all time
             favorite activity.  "Procrastinate Onward" is one of my several and ever
             changing mottos!

10:15     Recovery Pod Rest, and ate lunch.

12:40 -  Home PT
1:45pm
         Supine Ankle Pumps: 3 sets of 12 reps
         Supine Isometric Combination of Gluteal Squeezes & Quad squeezes:  3 sets of reps
         Supine Straight Leg Roll Outs (not in):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Supine Bent Knee Rolled Outs (like a 1/2 Butterfly):  3 sets of 12 reps
         Half Bridges Combined with Half Sit ups:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Heel Slides:  3 sets of 12 reps

         Sitting Knee Extensions:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Semi squats on chair stacked with three pillows:  3 set of 8-12 reps.
         Standing Heel Raise:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Hip Lateral Hip Abduction:  3 sets of 12 reps
         Standing Knee Flexion:  3 sets of 12 reps   
         Pull Downs (Transverse Abdominus):  3-4 sets of 15 reps

         Step-Down/Step -Ups (Glutes & Quads): 
         3 Sets of 10 times per set on Each Leg,
                        Rest 30 seconds.  Alternate to the other Leg.

         Standing Triceps Pull Downs:  3-4 sets of 10 Reps

2:15pm     Straighten Home and ready to drive down to the pool.

3pm -        Pool PT
6pm          I Drove down to the pool and back, spent about 10 minutes in the hot whirlpool,
                but I actually did Pool PT for 25 minutes:  walking forwards and backwards, walking
                side to side, and doing underwater squats.

6:30pm     Recovery Pod Rest







* 'Samantha Stevens'

Thursday, February 2, 2012

       'Lucky old sun is in my sky today'!  Man, we are so lucky to have this chance.
        http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8S227FFNwl8 'Thurday's Child' David Bowie

Wednesday
Sleep     Asleep at 9:30 and awake at 11am.  Back to sleep
             by 11:30pm after taking Ambien, until 6am this morning = 7 Hours

Morning
Tea
6:50      Weightloss Tea

Breakfast
7am       Yogurt Parfait:  1/2 cup plain organic yogurt, 1tsp sugar, 1/8 cup Homemade
              Granola (bought in bulk at a local cheap health foods store- stay away from
              "Whole Foods", unless money is no object!), 1 tsp Michigan Maple Syrup, 1/2
              cup Blackberries (or any berry mix of your choice)

Lunch     Panini:  1/2 a slice of WW Tandoori Flat Bread, Roast Turkey, Onion, 1/4
Noon      avocado, baby spinach leaves, /2 slice swiss cheese, plus a cup of steamed
             broccoli. Desert was a 1/2 Yogurt Parfait, which is a far more reasonable
             portion size!

After        Weightloss Tea
Noon   
      
Dinner   
6pm       Tandoori WW Flat bread Homemade Pizza: I'd definitely use white
              variety next time, and I topped it with Sun dried tomatoes packed
              in oil and the oil pre drained off.  I caramelized onions and roasted
              sweet red bell pepper in my wok for more yummy toppings, and
              finished with mozzarella and tomato basil herbed crumbled feta
              cheese.  Then, I stuck it under the broiler for about 10 minutes or
              so until cheeses are melted and the ingredients are warmed through.
              A big cup of steamed broccoli, a small Yogurt Parfait, and a quite
              bracing Vodka/Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice Cocktail completed our meal.
________________________________________________________________

6am -
6:45      Woke up, groomed, dressed, and Trekked Downstairs, and I'm wondering
             what this Thursday will bring me?

8am -
9:30      Out Patient PT: approximately 20 minutes each of leg presses, walking side to
             side with a bungee apparatus, and Step Ups/Step Downs with a 6" high Box,
             alternating legs

10am    Went Grocery Shopping and then to the library.

11:40    Arrived Home and prepared Lunch.

1:30 -   Recovery Pod Rest and took a little napl
3:30

5pm -    Started preparing dinner.

7:50      Home PT -10 minutes Yoga Portion
8pm -    Supine Isometric Abdominal Squeezes 1 set of 10 for Warm Up
8:50      Supine Half Butterflies - Hip abduction/adduction with Knee Flexion
                                                L leg lying straight and R Knee bent,
                                                Gently lower R knee to side and return.
                                                Alternate with opposite leg.
                                                Do 2 sets of 12 - 15 reps each side.
             Bridges 2 sets 10 reps -Tighten Glutes, the Abdominals
                                                Take 5 seconds to lift to half bridge
                                                Hold for 5 seconds
                                                Slo wly lower for 5 seconds
           
           
             Added 1.7 lb Ankle Weight Cuffs:
             Resisted Knee Extensions
             Standing Knee Flexions 2 sets of 10 reps
             Hip Lateral Abduction/Adduction to Midline

             Unassisted Squats - No More Chair! 2 sets of 8 - 10 reps
             Standing One Legged Heel Raise 2 sets of 12 reps
             Step Downs/Step Ups 2 sets of 10, Rest 60 seconds, Alternate legs.
             Standing Pull Downs (For Transverse Abdominus) 3 sets of 15 reps
             Standing Tricep Pull downs 3 sets of 15 reps

10:30    Went upstairs after catnapping a few minutes here and a few minutes there.



             
                 

All sounds good 'One - Good description of home PT and glad that you're doing the pool PT. Touching all the elements there.

How did you like working out in the pool? I'm anxious to get back to it. Love the feeling of being in the water where gravity can't hold me back.

Luanna

Thanks for the encouragement, nanu!

Luanna, I am loving the pool!  I cried a little the first time back into the pool because I'd never been able to take even one step in the pool for 2 1/2 years pre op, so it was emotional and deeply satisying. 

Pool PT Kristi, with an "i", don't ya know, tells me on my first pool visit this past Monday that it's fine to start doing water yoga.  I told her I'd take a pass and get clearance from my surgeon, Dr. Schmitt, on April 4th. 

I really love the HOT whirlpool with the HOT sauna following my dip in the pool.  I look forward to reading of your water adventures!

2fer               

It's two in the morning, and I can't sleep.  Is there something wrong with me?

You'd think that after all this time sleep would become more an more normalized.  Instead, I'm tantalized by a night here and a night there of slumber, but the over all percentages of being able to go under at night are too damn low.  Maybe I should see a therapist about sleep?

I'm not in pain at night, so that's not it.  Well, at least it's not significant enough pain to keep me pie eyed and unable to drift off or even feel tired.  I don't know what's going on.  I fell asleep, like I do most nights 9:30is to 10:30ish and then wake up an hour and a half later, and then I may as well 'kcall it a night', NOT.  I'm not drinking my one cup of coffee, and I'm reducing my one daily cocktail to more of a 2 a week indulgence.  I'm trying to start eating more cleanly again, and I'm exercising as much as I possibly can in the hopes it will help. 

Friday, February 3, 2012

        I had a major scare this morning.  It all started with Hubs.  Doesn't it always?
        At any rate, I lay the blame for my mishap squarely at his feet.  I'm in the kitchen
        making tea, the way I've done every time I've ever made tea in my entire life, I
        might add!   I start by putting in the microwave a cup of water, place the saucer
        over the tea cup to keep the water from evaporating, and nuke on 'High'.

        Hubs says, "No, that's not the way you're supposed to do that!"  What?  Doesn't
        he have anything better to do, like make his own funking lunch salad for work?
        I guess you guys have the picture by now that my Hubs is in international IT for
        Big World Company, and thinks all I need are improved procedures in mostly
        every task I have the bad luck to perform in front of 'Mr. All Knowingness
        I Have An Opinion About Everything You Say or Do', and here's a hint,
        it doesn't ever seem to be a rousing endorsement of yours truly.  Needless to say, I
        heartily and vociferously disagree with his never ending 'helpful suggestions', so we
        squabble and bicker practically every single day.  Geez, I'm getting away from the story
        of my mishap.

        Anyway, back at the ranch, Hubs says you're not supposed to heat the microwave safe
        cup with the, again microwave safe, matching saucer on top of it. I tell him why, because
        I'm nice like that, even though it's none of Hub's funking business.  He says, "Well, you're
        just not using enough/too much water!"  I don't know which way he said it exactly, because
        by this time, I'm trying real hard to tune him out.

        So, to keep the fragile morning peace, I take the high road and put the cup of water in
        the microwave, sans saucer.  Sure enough, the water did boil off by at least a third.
        No matter, but inside I am feeling a little out of sorts now though.  I take my tea to
        my wheeled table/tray and sip in the living room, out of the hot spot of our kitchen
        zone where Hubs is still rattling about in a bid to get out the door for work by 6:30am,
       (his regular departure time).

        When it seems safe to come back into the kitchen and start my breakfast.  As I'm
        rising from my chair, I stumble over a dog toy with my right foot.  I start to go down,
        it felt like my hips were flashing before my eyes in slow motion, and I had less than a
        second to strategize my fall to do the least amount of damage and to save myself
        from the hard crash of one of my hips to the ground.  I swear it was like out of
        "The Matrix", and 'One better get her ass in gear fast!

        My right foot gets caught in my chair, which was a lucky break, because the chair
        dragged and rotated by 75 degrees and slowed my fall.  With my left hand, I grabbed
        the rotating L chair arm, and my body continued it's free fallin'* nose dive to the floor.
        I then ricocheted into the dog kennel, further breaking my fall, grabbed the wire kennel
        door with my right hand, and I was able to almost softly complete my fall to the floor
        with my hips squared, both arms bracing my hips from impact.  I lay there stunned
        and scared out of my head for a few moments, realizing how badly that fall could have
        gone!

        None of this would have ever happened, no close call, no fall, had it not been for Hubs
        interrupting my morning tea flow. ;)  Hubs said something like, "Yeah, Right.  A butter-
        fly's wings flapping causes a catastrophe half way across the world!"  I say, "Exactly!"


        *http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gqT6En2O78 - 'Free Fallin' Tom Petty 1989

Thursday
Sleep     Fell Asleep by  and 2am or thereabouts, and for sleep to happen at all, I had
             to take an Ambien 10mg.  After hearing my own cries of pain, I awakened at
             at 5:45am.  1 Hour (sorta catnapped late last evening) + (Asleep at 2am ish
             until waking at 5:45am = 5 Hours of Ambien assisted sleep.  Gah! :-\
             
Morning
Tea
6:50      Weightloss Tea

Breakfast
7am      Basic Slimmer Oatmeal:  Boil 1/2 cup water, and add 1/3 c organic unprocessed,
            long cooking oats.   Turn down flame/heat to a low simmer and cook until desired
            consistency, anywhere from 5 minutes to 10 minutes.  Meanwhile, finely chop both
            1 TBSP walnuts and half a medium banana, (2 oz, give or take).  Scrape cooked
            Oats into your bowl, add a dash of cinnamon, and stir in.  Next, add walnuts and
            banana.  Of course, I always like to wash it down with a cup of refreshingly ice
            cold Skim Milk, (I always add an ice cube or two to my Skim Milk, a fact I keep on
            the down low because people look at you funny when you order a medium Skim
            Milk over ice at Starbucks!)
[/size]
_______________________________________________________________________________

OH DAMN 2fer!  So Glad you are OK!!!!!!   I think that flashes before all of our eyes at some point.  Now just take the rest of the day easy - saving SuperWoman - and let the adrenaline cool down and just enjoy the peace that you are OK and continue on.  {{{HUGS}}} 

Well 2fer glad you averted a major disaster. Take it easy and try to relax today. 

Have to tell you that I'm having a hard time not coming over there and slapping your hubs around a bit! Have you considered finding a new one? That nice man that walked you from the church to your car sounded pretty good!!  ;)

Luanna

Glad the fall was not serious. Take care.

WTW, Thanks for the Hugs!  I really needed them today.  You're a gem.

Lol, Luanna! 

I basically retreated up to my turret when Hubs came home from work.  I have no time or patience for any more drama.  He's the calm one, while I let the F bombs fly every other word because I'm so inflamed from his little innocently incendiary remarks.  I am busting my ass with two daily PT sessions that are often an hour and a half (not including the hour and a half of driving), going grocery shopping everyday, cleaning, and cooking meals for myself, and quite often Hubs as well, all while weaning off a 2 and a half year pain medication reliance, well let's just say I lose my temper hardcore along with my patience for his asinine insensitivity.  After asking him to run an errand tonight, filling 2 prescriptions of narcotics because my hips have nothing left after the pool and the junk I just listed above, and then I get static that I should plan better and take responsibility for myself!  Gawd, that man is impossible and actually expects me to function at full capacity and belittles me when I can't.

This is a ridiculously personal post, and the only reason I'm being so candid is because I wonder how many other hippy couples out there buckle under the strain of recovery?  Being in pain, being on hard narcotics, getting little to no sleep, and yet I am still being ridiculously happy that I can walk and love my life.  I love everything about this blessed 2nd chance I've fought hard for.

Hubs grilled salmon outdoors in the cold, roasted asparagus, and he brought me dinner in my room upstairs tonight.  He's handsome, charming, funny, kind, thoughtful, extremely intelligent, and Hubs has a mouth that needs to be sewn shut.  As I'm working will all my cylinders firing, I am struggling with letting go that I won't ever 'measure up', especially in my husband's eyes.  We are committed to each other and always seem to work things out, but I'm getting ugly and fighting dirty and would like to cut my part of it out.  I give him credit for trying to let the toxic sh-- pass and going right back to being sweet.  Is all this marital terrorism normal when the stress of your own or your partner's massive pain has finally been fixed and addressed? 

Thank you for any insight any of you hippies have to share, and would you mind telling me about your marriage set backs during your recoveries and what you did about it/them?  I don't want to stay snagged, and I need your/The Universe/The Lord/aandd any good wishes or sage advice, so please help, won't you?  l to dig deep and find the resources not to be so reactive.

Thank you,
One

 :'(  I can't imagine how difficult it must be for you - both of you - all that you have been thru.  Having been on the other side of the pain meds issue - hubby has migraines and the doc just kept upping the narcotics till we found a new doc, then he had to go through detox and all, I knew my role was to be supportive, to push when needed and to keep my mouth shut on many occassions because he was "not" who he really IS due to all the stuff.  It's a difficult balance and when one's 'valve' is not always in check, and both are at their limits, things can be said or done which can be hurtful or detrimental.  I am passive - I try to put others first and know that any outbursts are not directed at me personally cuz the Love we have runs so much deeper than just words, but sometimes it's hard.  Yesterday was the 29th anniversary of our first date - yes - we celebrate that.  One "incredible" kiss on a chair lift at age 17 and it's been a wonderful ride ever since, for better and for worse.  Hang in there - I don't know what else to say.  True Love has it's ways of working things out and sometimes you just have to be the duck and let shit run off your back - and sometimes he has to be the duck.   Good Times are here - your hips are healing - there's so much to look forward to - talk it out - make a plan for the short term and long term.  The Universe IS looking out for you - you have the faith.  You've made it through the toughest times. 

Sorry to read your recent posts about hubby issues.  Maybe you need a little weekend away, either a girls weekend or by yourself.  Sometimes a change of environment does wonders.  My husband and I are unusual I guess.  I often take "me time", usually a full week vacation by myself each year (to a quiet beach house in the Panhandle of Florida).  He often travels during the spring and summer on weekends with his cycling team.  I truly think some time away from each other does us good! Does you husband need some holistic work?  Get him into yoga!

PS- that flatbread pizza with sundried tomatoes you describe in a recent post sounds delicious!  :)

WTW,

Thank you.  I cried when I read your post.  I do have faith, and more than that, I have the gift of determination.  When Hubs said to me three years into our 11 1/2 year marriage, on the cusp of our divorce being final in two business days, "I don't want to have only memories of you.  I want you."  I wasn't having it and asked why, and Hubs said "Because you are the most determined person I've ever known."  My grit, sand, determination, whatever you want to call it, makes me dig in my heels AND simultaneously kick the 'line in the sand' all over the place!

Bless your life,
'One
aka
2-4
aka
2fer

Hey Schmitty Hippy, mslendzion,

Thank you.  I'm so glad we are in each others' corners.  You've been phenomenal, and I really appreciate you and your kindness.

'One
Blah, Blah, etc. :-*

Hi Aerial,

The Universe knows I Do need some time away!  That is one excellent suggestion; I was planning on staying in my room and never coming out!  (That'll show him!)

QuoteSorry to read your recent posts about hubby issues.  Maybe you need a little weekend away, either a girls weekend or by yourself. - Aerial

Aerial, your idea is a lot better.  If I can crash at Somebody Else's pad for even one night, that would help me regroup sooooooo much.  8)

Now, I have to pick the girl to see!  Probably, I'll call and ask my sis in law that sort of doesn't like me, BUT who is unfailingly polite, gracious, who sent notes, cards, flowers, both through my two and a half years of being chained to that hospital bed in my living room that still stands there, like a huge Vincent Price device of medieval torture, and although not calling or emailing me because we really aren't close, she still kept up her support even after my surgery.  She's done more than my friends and family combined. 

If sis in law allows me a short visit, it would be a very light and superficial one night stay because she'd be doing it out of her innate politeness, her sense of family duty, and out of her deep love for her brother.  (My beautiful, Grace Kelly look alike mom in law said once, a long time ago, "I can't take another Hub's divorce!" ;D)

B.O.A. had me in it's grasp, I did trips and weekends away all the time!  I'm an extrovert and love socializing, and he's an introvert who's enervated from being around a lot of people, especially at the same time.  (Part of his issue there is that Hubs exhausts himself monitoring me because "I never know what you're going to say!", yet his family and my friends all accept me with open and loving arms, just as I am.)  Oh, the irony, life is so freakin' weird.

QuoteI truly think some time away from each other does us good! Does you husband need some holistic work?  Get him into yoga! - Aerial

Yes, he does.  I've suggested it; Hub's somewhat receptive to the idea "because all the top traders do yoga", but I don't believe he's open to anything I have to say about him getting help because Hub's firmly entrenched in an unsound paradigm that I'm the source of any problems he has. 

Whew, that really sounds hard to keep up to me.  I mean it takes a lot of work to hold on to a construct, but I stepped back the day I fell in love with him and decided to not interfere with his journey or his detours that keep him from his best self.  I love him for who he is, for who he was then, for who he is now, and not for his 'potential'.  Again with the irony, because I'd like nothing better if Hub's would choose to weed his own garden instead of hoeing around in mine.

Thanks for the compliment on my ad hoc pizza!

Top of the Morning To You,
2-4/'One

Two4one,

What you have been going through is both tough emotionally and physically for the both of you.  What you are going through is not new, I've read about what you are going through over and over.  When one person is homebound it's really hard on both people.  It's going to change, believe me.

It's tough on everyone when one of you is not who they used to be, but keep thinking positive because you will be back to 100% before you know it, you might even be better off than what you were because now you will learn to really appreciate being able to do things that came so easily before your hip issues.

I have a better outlook on life now, now I am the one to suggest going to Hawaii, buying a boat and 3 jet skis and going out and enjoying life, before my surgery I was not of sound mind and certainly not of sound body.

Just the other day I took my daughter to a rifle range, as I was walking down to setup a target 100 yards down range I stopped and looked back and remembered that I always had my daughter or wife set the targets up for me, now she is the one sitting at the rifle bench.


Chuck

Two4One,

Without posting all my sh*t I can tell you that I am experiencing a similar situation.  Although, it has been this way for years and not the stress of recovery. It is so much extra stress trying to recover and live on eggshells at the same time.  I feel for you! Keep focused on your recovery and your own goodness.  Time will tell you what to do.

Twofer-

I am really sorry to hear about the discord in your life.

I have found that when someone looks outside themselves for blame to their problems and credit for their joys and successes, they will always be disappointed.  They will always be searching for their happiness until they realize that these come from within.  They feel like they are at the mercy of outside forces to determine their state of mind.

I gathered from your writing you are a very strong and insightful person.  I recommend that you employ a judo philosophy.  Use the other persons strength and momentum against themselves for defense.  You must realize that it is not you they are attacking but rather exhibiting their frustration at what they feel is lack of control of their life.  Help them realize that it is not you that control their happiness nor sadness.

Peace be with you.  Thank you for sharing.

Dan

Hey 'One,

I had a similar situation in my life, but from a different perspective. My father got tuberculosis when he first got to the US at one of the sweat shops in New York (he was trying to put himself through college).

He was close to death, so my mother came up to be with him, leaving my sister and I in South America with my grandmother for what was supposed to be a few months. His condition (at the time) could only be treated in the hospital, so he spent the next seven years pretty much bed bound, and my mother stayed since he was so borderline most of the time. We waited down south.

The point of this, since we all have our own stories, is that we finally were able to join them, and he came home, but still pretty disabled for a couple of more years at home. There was a lot of confusion and emotion all  over, with my parents fighting quite a bit.

Suffice it to say that it took a few years for things to calm down, with some lingering resentment all around. My parents are now and have been fine for a long while (married for 57 years) and worked through it, but that time was very hard to go through, since we all had expectations of how life would be: my sister and I getting our parents back after seven years, my father's getting his life back (he got his master's in education and retired about ten years ago) and my mother's getting everyone back (she got a PHD in education and ran Bilingual education in Springfield).

Looking back at that time, though, I think each of us became desperate in our own way, trying to fit back into a new situation, and dealing with feelings that had built over the years.  I talked a bit to my mother about it, and she said that she was not all there during that time; I talked about it because I was going through my divorce (and my HRs), and was going to a marriage counselor to deal with it.

I asked my mother whether it would have helped to talk with a marriage counselor then and she said definitely, but they weren't really an option then (she was working piecework at a TV factory). I know sometimes people who love each other and have gone through a lot may get more stress when they try to fit back into a more traditional situation. A long winded way of saying that maybe, in addition to a nice getaway, talking to a counselor may help both of you fit into a new phase of your life.

Sorry for the length, but this did strike home.

Thank you, Universe of Surface Hippies,

In a while, I will finish responding to every person who was kind enough to offer their experiences and very personal thoughts.  I'm deeply appreciative, and every element from each and every post kinda melded together and helped me snap out of it! 1

With a little help from my friends 2, it's all better today, and I'm definitely signing up with my fellow hippies and everyone to ride upon your mystery ship, and (I'm) amazed, at the friends, you have here on your trip. 3

I used my judo chop 4, DGossack, and I plain ol' fashioned fricasseed (origin 1560â€"70;  to fri ( re ) to fry  + casser  to break, crack (< Latin quassāre  to shake, damage, batter) him until neither one of us could see straight for the better part of the afternoon 8).  Then, just a bit later, Hubs (*he's so dreamy - sigh*) invited me to a Walmart run, where we bought polycrylic stain, a stain brush, wood glue, and a sanding block for his new 7' x 40" work station table he knocked out today!  It's for his new business he's starting after his last day, March 31st, at Big World Company, and boy howdy, am I glad we are putting our rampant energies toward a mutual dream rather than tearing each other apart in fear and frustration!

10/4 Good Buddies, 5

2-4

P.S. I'm looking forward to the day "Where we can laugh our lives away and be free once more."

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0x-fkSYDtUY
2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i24mkN0ybZ8
3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OVjN3t8cj74
4 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts1-3JqrG4A
5 http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=53269

P.S. I'm looking forward to the day "Where we can laugh our lives away and be free once more."

I`ll second that!!

Two4
Ope you are well. Missing your daily updates.

Mee too!

Luanna

'Nanu, my friend,

I have mulled and rolled around your post in my mind and heart for some time now, and I was not moved to enter my journal per my usual fashion until your words (and others') had found their targets, somewhere in the recesses of what is now me.
 

QuoteSuffice it to say that it took a few years for things to calm down, with some lingering resentment all around. My parents are now and have been fine for a long while (married for 57 years) and worked through it, but that time was very hard to go through, since we all had expectations of how life would be:...- Hernanu

All of us here do have expectations of how life should be, of what our recoveries should be like, or how everything will be all better now that we are fixed!  Instead, we get a world changing and world shaking event that is hip resurfacing, and it changes everything, the whole ball of wax, and it surely changes our 'expectations' and stands them on their heads!  IF you let it, if you're lucky enough to embrace and register the vast amount of information spoken to you in this entirely new language that you've never heard before, coming from your body and emanating from the indefinable thing that makes you "you", you let go of 'expectations' and receive the gift of being changed forever. 

So yeah, in your story and mine, we had years of encroaching disability and separation from everyone we loved, everyone who mattered to us the most.  And yes, I do see there's probably corresponding years (or months in many hippies' situations) of post resurfacing 'stuff', directly or indirectly, corresponding to the B.O.A.â,,¢ 'junk' years of pain, fear, and isolation.  The Before and the After are not only like two sides of the same coin, but the pre and post op actuality are a tangible duality born anew insides of us, except now we get to feel better and learn new ways, we get to learn new ways of acceptance, and we get to learn myriad new ways of especially embracing the fall out.

QuoteI talked a bit to my mother about it, and she said that she was not all there during that time; I talked about it because I was going through my divorce (and my HRs), and was going to a marriage counselor to deal with it.
- hernanu

QuoteI know sometimes people who love each other and have gone through a lot may get more stress when they try to fit back into a more traditional situation. A long winded way of saying that maybe, in addition to a nice getaway, talking to a counselor may help both of you fit into a new phase of your life.

Sorry for the length, but this did strike home. - hernanu

'Nanu, your post struck home with me!  As of this minute, I'm writing three hours away from Michiana, ensconced in my Big City sister's "I Dream of Jeannie" cozy soft pastel of a great guest bedroom & what a fabulous getaway it is!  PLUS, I have an individual marriage counselor appointment 1:30pm tomorrow afternoon.  Hubs keeps asking me why I'm going, and I keep telling him I need to work through some stuff that's all my own and has nothing to with him.  You all know that's a small evasion, but the truth is I need to help myself be my highest self, and there's nothing I can really do for him, nor do I want to!  Hubs is not my business, I hope to accomplish many wonders in therapy encompassing the process of my natural and beautiful bilateral recovery, and I need to extract my reactivity and receptivity to his issues that belong to him.

Thank you, and I have more to convey than this to you, but my words right now don't express the depth of my appreciation for you, Nanu.1


2fer

1 I couldn't stop myself from the silly rhyme!

Au Contraire, Luanna,

I think running away is an excellent idea!  It worked for me once before when I desperately needed it to. (It was a solo flight about 3 years into our marriage, (having a lover would have been a LOT more fun), and I made it in a rental car from Michiana almost to Phoenix, with my car piled high with every single garment I owned, every last jewelry piece, and ALL photos of me - the ones I didn't rip up and leave in a pile in his closet-, and, most importantly, my previous very much missed Bichon Frise' in tow. 

My object was to leave the house as if I had never existed in it, and if I could not eradicate his memory of me completely, I wanted any physical trace that I was ever in his life erased forever.)  When my lawyer said I HAD to come home, Hubs changed his tune, and to be fair, I changed mine too, enough for me to stay and call off the divorce that was final within the week.

Yeah, this time around is a bit less intense than the white hot intensity of the back then, and I've had a very relaxing and extremely enjoyable overnight visit with my beautiful sister.

Thanks, sweetie, for an excellent suggestion that I think is perfect in the situation that calls for it.  In fact, I would encourage any man or any woman who may be in a bad enough place with their partner that their recovery is undermined or threatened in any way to to get the hell out of dodge!

2fer

Wednesday February 8, 2012

Tuesday
Sleep   Retired at midnight, crashed before 2am, and I slept in until 7:30am!!  That
           is the absolute latest I have slept in post bilateral op on 12.20.12!
           
           Can I get a Witness?  Woo, hoo,hoo,woo, hoo, hoo !!! = 6 Hours roughly of Sleep

You all know I'm not fond of judging, and I especially take exception to being judged.

"Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else." - Judy Garland (1922 - 1969), American Actress and Singer

"Labels are for filing.  Labels are for clothing.  Labels are not for people." - Martina Navratilova

"The conventional view serves to protect us from the painful job of thinking." - J.K. Galbraith

"If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun." - Katherine Hepburn

With the obvious exception to strictly adhering to your surgeon's rules, my personal belief is that is up to each one of us to devise our own rules and then frequently break them.  I am paraphrasing this from an old movie or perhaps from a grand dame like Bette Davis, but I can't for the life of me figure out who said it originally or what movie it's from!

I'm driving home today from my getaway, and I do feel so much better for getting out of The Tension House.  After being with my sis, who loves me unconditionally AND shares many of my peccadilloes, my hips are very relaxed and happy today.  Isn't it amazing how much worse your hip flexors, quads, etc., can tighten up and hurt so much worse when you're tense and feel under attack?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D59ZWa8ehgI - 'Sign, Sign, Everywhere a Sign-Five Man' Electric Band

Maybe Hubs, or maybe I should be the one, or maybe - most likely- (occam's ra·zor), we both need to pay better attention to signs and make some changes for our health.

2 fer

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEVErXvdPtc&feature=fvst - The Doors

Two Words:  ROAD TRIP!

Got home after midnight last night....more to come....off to 8am PT.

February 10, 2912

4:30am

I woke up in pain around 4am, and I realized I must have forgotten to take my Dilaudid last night before bed.  That's a good thing.  I fell asleep fairly early for me and got in some quite solid shut eye, considering.

I saw my therapist for the first time yesterday.  We talked about That Afternoon of my December 20th 7am bilateral hip resurfacing surgery.  We spoke of the veritable hours post surgery. Deep from inside me, I observed with sadness and horror things started going sideways between Hubs and I again.  It gored me to my innermost self recognizing his 'default setting' being switched back on.  Helplessly, I saw my Hubs, a Prince of a Man the entire two and a half years of my confinement, slipping away from me. 

I started fighting for my real Hubs to come back to me.  I started trying to tear away his dross, and I fought to get at who he really is at his core.  I attempted this without success, probably because it's his work to do, if he wants to, and not my business or responsibility at all.  You know, since those hours after my surgery, I innately knew all along the tool and the word to preserve my equilibrium, my 'patient centeredness'1, and my physical health is "separate".

It was rough having 'The Talk' with Hubs last night, but it had to be done.  I told him that for the sake of my recovery I was separating for awhile, ( with no desire or intentions of divorce at all).  Hubs says he can control himself verbally.  He says "one of us has to change, so I guess it has to be me."  I said "OK, I'll stay, but you have to go to my new therapist three or four times.  If you can't stand her, then you don't have to go anymore.", and then I'll leave.  Hubs agreed. 

I didn't tell him that I will continue to go, regardless, because sometimes a Hippy Woman (or Man) needs a little professional help.  As of Now, I'm not leaving to preserve my emotional equanimity - I'm giving him yet another chance, seventy times seven chances to be exact.  (This phrase 'seventy times seven' is thought to mean infinite.)

What does this have to my hip, and why I am I not posting this in emotional issues section?  Maybe you're thinking that, I don't know.

Here's why: First, my out patient PT K'n and I have both noted a direct correspondence between my pain spiking and every time I'm upset with Hubs, which has made my taper a lot more painful physically than it needs to be or has to be.  I'm stubborn and have not let this "tension", (yeah, let's call it that), slow down my weaning off narcotics one iota. 
Second, many studies have shown that fear and simply feeling that your survival threatened can shut down your body's natural healing mechanisms.  In my case, I must stress this, we are simply not getting along.  I reiterate, there is NO physical abuse whatsoever, and there is NO possibility of that ever occurring.  OK, moving on with the point of this paragraph - This perceived threat to your very survival can cause your body's systems to go into overdrive and release all kinds of glands and secretions and The Universe knows what all to 'protect' itself from said perceived threat.  I will not allow for even the remotest possibility that this "tension" could result in my body rejecting my bilateral hardware, (Heaven forbid), instead of receiving them as the friends they are, instead of acclimating them, and instead of my body proceeding to grow naturally over them, so my hip anatomy has now reinforced itself with a metal alloy at it's very center of support.

From your generous sharing of your own healing experiences, often in tandem with quite trying or failed spousal support systems, now a LOT of hippies know they are not alone, and now we all know it's one of the common challenges of heading into our new leases on our lives. 

Today, my choice is to give Hubs another chance.  He deserves one, and more importantly, so do I.  Therefore, I want to change my posture from one of defense and offense to one of harmonious solutions being a foregone conclusion.  Whether it's a divorce and you have/or are working on/ peace and happiness once again, or you've made peace with your spouse and are better than ever, or really anything in between, do you have more insights, thoughts, or experiences relating to post op reconciling to yourself?

Maybe I'm experiencing a form of Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.  I don't know.  Will  you please consider choosing to share what is working for you now - now that all the post op dust (ups) have settled?  Would you perhaps please bear with me as I navigate through these unknown waters and help me reach the shore safely2?

Thank You.

2fer

1 http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/nhdr10/Chap5.htm 'patient centeredness'

2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5gce7DDH-F0 'Michael, Row The Boat Ashore' - Pete Seeger [1963]

Thursday
Sleep     My head hit the pillow around 9pm, Hubs left for his
             sleep chamber, and I fell Asleep by 9:30pm? or thereabouts.  After hearing
             my own cries of pain, I awakened at 4am.  9:30pm to 4am = 6 1/2 1 Hours
             I'll take it!2 :D

Here is a book that has helped me with many trials in my life. 
When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron
http://www.amazon.com/When-Things-Fall-Apart-Difficult/dp/1570629692/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328887760&sr=1-1

This book in no way preaches any religion or Buddhist belief.  It is a philosophy on why we do the things we do and teaches that change begins within ourselves.  It will not conflict with any belief or religion.

She has a few other books that have helped me enormously. This one was the first I read and lead me to read others and is still my favorite:

Taking the Leap: Freeing Ourselves from Old Habits and Fears by Pema Chodron
http://www.amazon.com/Taking-Leap-Freeing-Ourselves-Habits/dp/1590308433/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1328888002&sr=1-3

Based on your posts I really think these books will appeal to you.

All my best,
Jennifer

2fer

We will certainly bear with you.  My heart goes out to you; your brilliantly eloquent, soul-searching, soul-bearing self disclosures here undoubtedly have very many of us very sensitized to your situation, in a very unique way in this unique place, and what we've all been through (which is in almost every case I've read here, far less than you've been through the past couple of years), creates these kinds of bonds and ties of understanding that transcend the usual. 

Since you first wrote the interaction between your difficulties and your pain levels somewhat recently, I've been closely watching my reactions to stressors.  Actually read back over some older posts here to track some of my rough spots physically, and without question when I'm stressed at work, pissed, or feeling trapped, or even more so at home, I feel like crap.  Fubared sleep, which you've had and chronicle closely, also drives the hips south.  Healing hip hurts more, to-be-fixed-shortly hip hurts more, and sleep gets worse.  Flight or fight response maybe.  Endorphins, 'osterones, cringing and tightening up everything perhaps as well, dunno.  Less pleasure.

If anyone that has been through what you have-- a hellish Kafkaesque 2 years locked inside, in a hospital bed and totally dependent on your husband-- coming on all at once like Gregor Samsa himself in "The metamorphosis", didn't have some or all elements of PTSD, I'd be surprised, very, very surprised.  Actually, I'd assume they'd be lying about it.  Sounds like you're going after all the right venues to help with that, and your ability to verbalize what it is, how it is hurting, and where you need to go, and I'm envious and humbled by your ability to get al that out into the front of your brain, things I know I have spent lots of time frantically trying to keep buried in dealing with chronic issues.  You are heading the right way, is my 2 cents, and doing everything possible to understand and get through it. 

God speed. Your going to get where you want to be, without question.

Wow, you are going through a lot and I am sorry.  I hope things work out in the way the universe intends.  Be patient in the process and take some time for yourself.  You are only as good for another as you are for yourself!

Ditto what Dan, Jennifer, and Aerial have said.

In my humble, self serving, and often narcissistic view - You gotta RESPECT yourself! Set your boundaries and stick to em....and keep a Tai Chi instructor or 2 in your back pocket at all times!!

Luanna

Monday 2.13.12

Keep working hard and you can get anything that you want. - Aaliyah

          I Slept from 10pm to 12:30 and awoke at 12:30am; then, I fell back
          asleep around 2am and slept right through until 6am when Hubs woke
          me asking "Do you have PT this morning, Honey?"
 
Sunday
Sleep  (10pm to 12:30) 2 1/2 Hours + (2am to 6am) 4 Hours = 6 1/2 Hours of Sleep.

          I'm OK with that; post op, my hours of sleep each night seems to be
          slowly and gradually increasing.  That's better than good!  Oooh, I am
          dreaming of the day I will normally and regularly sleep a minimum
          of eight hours and most often clock my B.O.A TM beloved ten hours of sleep!

          Today's Weight:  166 lbs    B.O.A TM weight 145 lbs   Goal Weight:  135 lbs

7am -  Woke up, weighed myself, took my pain drug, and hung out in bed
           ALL morning long!

9:30    Shower and get ready for my trek downstairs to my new and improved
           Living Room that looks wonderful without my hospital bed!!  I
           sent back that contraption on Saturday!!!

Too cool, 'One - the sleep improvement is great. No hospital bed - it's great your environment is getting back to normal.

Sweet on losing the bed!  :)

What a Fantastical Mental Award for you - no hospital bed. 
My mom had MS and that was the centerfold of the living room.  I remember how hard it was to see it there and her in it.  And after she passed, removing the bed was cathardic in that we knew she was no longer in pain and was in a better place. 

Removing your bed means YOU are in a Better Place - with 2 NEW HIPS!!!  I hope it has brought you some serious good feelings.  PEACE!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YKn6h2x5IcY - 'All I Have to Do Is Dream' The Everly Brothers

Thank you, Jennifer for the great book titles; I'm a voracious reader, and those books are sure to spark more breakthroughs for me as a person who seeks continuous transformation and growth. 

Thank you, mslendzion for being in my corner. 

Thank you, Dan L, Yes it was totally like being Gregor Samsa, watching the whole world go by and all your old assumptions stripped away in the most brutal fashion possible.  When I read first read your post, I was thinking Hubs was Gregor because he was the kindest, hardworking, and the most selfless caretaker for 2 1/2 years and, then, Hubs reverted to a horrifying default, almost monster like, in my pain filled drug addled eyes. 

Thank You, Aerial, today I'm taking the day off for good behavior, and it feels wonderful to simply nap on the couch intermittently and recharge with my little Boo Boo curled around my feet.

Thank You, 'nanu, WTW, Luanna, and every single hippy everywhere for the uplifting support and energy you and The Universe have provided and continue to provide. I am blessed and humbled by who you are and how you give of yourself.

We had a very lovely Valentine's Day; so much so, I'm posting photos of cards and gifts and food and sweetness all around!  Hubs even went to his first therapy yesterday - in spite of being "blackmailed".  Everyone get out their tiny violins!  Me, well, I go to therapy almost everyday, and it's giving me peace and helping me stand my ground. 

Now, Hubs keeps his lips zipped and "Tension House" is more of a spa environment, which is what I desperately need to keep up with my ever more demanding PT and escalating taper off narcotics.  In fact, today, I'm dropping another 7.5mg of Norcos, reducing my 'Vicodin' intake to 15mgs per day.  I still have 24mgs of Dilaudid and 10mgs of Valium on my current daily narcotic menu, but I'm striving to  eliminate the Vicodin completely by a bit past the end of this month!! 

Also, Last night after some banter over a civilizing glass of Carmel Road Chardonnay and a general exchange of feeling good will towards one another, Hubs generously told me I needed another month of him grocery shopping, him preparing lunch and dinner meals, and him staying on clean up detail!  You could have knocked me over with a feather.  Hubs says he'd do this so that I could keep up on my PT that I've been missing due to the combination of our drama and me feeling pressured into doing too much too soon around the house.  Wow.

Now to top off this lovely turn of events, I slept last night from 8:30 pm to 12:30 am and slept again from 4am to 8:30 am bringing me to a grand total of EIGHT AND A HALF HOURS OF SLEEP!!!!

Hallelujah!

Great on all of that. Really like the sleep - seems like a calmer environment is paying off.

Thanks, 'nanu!  Yep, I'm a regular hothouse flower and must have ideal conditions in which to flourish. 

'One

Thursday February 16, 2012

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k6Qd9VR1gD8 'Dream On' Aerosmith

Wednesday For Two Nights in A Row I have visited Islands of the Blessed, The White Isle, the previously unattainable Elysian Fields!1



(Not only was depth and breadth of my sweet slumber awesome, I was only up for minutes around Midnight to tinkle!)

6:15      Woke up

8am          Out Patient PT
                 Side Steps with Bungee Rubber band around my waist about 20 minutes
                 Leg presses about 20 minutes
                 Massage of Scar and Hip Flexors
                 Walking Evaluation

9:10am      Breakfast out: 2 pieces of French Toast w Butter and Syrup, Bacon, and
                 coffee with cream

10am          Therapy

11:30 -       Meijers:  Bought Seeds, and mini indoor beds to start a massive flower
                  cutting Garden this summer!  I'll start the seeds indoor in March.

12:30         Visited a neighbor, had 1 Beer, and Boursin Cheese and Crackers.  Then, I
                  left in a hurry to chase a loose golden doodle all over our subdivision! 
                  What a bad girl that squirrel obsessed dog was!

2pm            Late lunch of a diet frozen Chicken and Broccoli Tortellini

4pm            Pool PT
                   Tree Poses on both legs
                   Marching forward under water
                   Deep squats
                   Standing Side Extensions
                   Standing Back leg Extensions
                   Side Walking
                   Forward and Backward Walking

                   **I ALSO dropped, for the 2nd day, another 7.5 mg Vicodin, and I'm
                    hanging in with 2 Vicodin/Day totaling 15mg/Day.  I am kind of achy
                    and plenty grouchy!

6pm              After Hubs prepared a yummy dinner of Blueberries, Onions, Feta
                    cheese, Salt, Pepper, dressed with Olive oil, Balsamic Vinegar, and
                    toasted Almonds, I followed up with a Hershey Bar and Skim Milk. 

7:30pm         Taking it easy in the Turret Room and getting ready to catch up on
                     a lot of downloaded TV and movies!  I'm tired, but I'm also very
                     grateful Hubs is helping me more for one more month.
                   
_____________________________________________________________________

1  http://www.theoi.com/Kosmos/Elysion.html

Happy Birthday. I hope it was special for you. Wishing you the best.

Sunday 2.19.13

Saturday
Sleep  Whew! Practically passed out by 9:30pm and awake at 12:30 am.
          With the help of one Ambien10mg, I went back under at around 2am, and I slept in until 8:30am!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BZSWAkJ3h8E&feature=fvsr Pink Floyd - Shine on your crazy diamond [LIVE] This sure is time for all of us pre and post Hippies to shine!  I don't recollect a time I've ever shone brighter!

Hey 'One - Love the progress you're making, including the righteous anger.

You are doing right on the drugs, dropping them at a good pace and working with your doctor. You are taking back your life by the handful, love the sleep, no hospital bed and now getting all that stuff out of your life.

Keep getting more and more light in your life.  :)

You're the best,'nanu! 

Too bad you want to keep your game 'broad'; you could use a good woman - my 3 cents since it's my area of prior professional expertise.  If you're intrigued with my unsolicited opinion (the very worst kind), PM me, and I'm not talking about a flirt fest; I'm talking about a good ol' fashioned talk.

Anyhow, back at the ranch, located somewhere in the vicinity of my 3rd eye.

QuoteKeep getting more and more light in your life.  :) - hernanu

My life keeps getting lighter and lighter!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgSVTdAtNYE Talking Heads - And She Was

'One

Funny you should reference "Shine on you crazy diamond"; when in the hospital for Hip #1, could not sleep, downloaded "Wish You Were Here" particularly so I could listen to that very long and 70's flashbacky tune to get me back to sleep: it helped.  Next night, same problem, downloaded "Dark Side of the Moon".

Weird.

Well, Dan, I am very intuitive, especially with off the cuff stuff I say.  Almost everyday, someone will remark on it to me like, "I was just thinking about that! Weird!"  (They always say "Weird!" too, lol.)

Too Bad I've never won a lottery ticket or even a raffle that had only sold three tickets! :P

Life ain’t nothin’ but a funny funny riddle.1

'One

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q9dCI-YqICQ&ob=av3n John Denver & Nitty Gritty Dirt Band - Thank God I'm A Country Boy

Monday 2.19.13

Sunday
Sleep  2am to 6am = 4 Hours

          The Ambien10mg I took @ 1:30 am did nothing to prevent me from bolting awake when my
          dog jumped off the bed to go look for Daddy!  So much for the plans of mice and men!  Forget
          Ambien; tonight it's back to what's been working for me - Valium5mg at bedtime, taken along with
          the only Norco7.5mg of the day, my final nightly Dilaudid8mg, and Promethazine25mg.

          Also, I factor in my lack of sleep because I skipped all PT yesterday and dropping down to
          only one Norco pill couldn't have helped either!  Best to be philosophical about these things.........

         'We are such stuff
          As dreams are made on, and our little life
          Is rounded with a sleep.'

          - WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, The Tempest
___________________________________________________________________________________

9:30 I'm Preparing 2nd Breakfast - I'm Hungry!  Today's Goals:

       ✔✔ Walk Pup for 1/2 a mile.  (We just got back in at 10:45)
             Land PT
             Pool PT
             Help prepare Dinner If I feel good.
             Day 2 of one Vicondin7.5mg for the day, taken at bedtime
             Brush Boo Boo
             Apply Revolution to poor Boo
             Sort my Hall Closet so I can put in the shoe shelving Mark assembled

5:45pm    Just got back from another uncharacteristically sunny walk with Boo and Hubs.
             My R Hip is about 5, and my L Hip is a 2-3.  Although that's pretty good considering I'm
             almost off Vicodin/Norco7.5mg for 'breakthrough pain',  I wish my R Hip would get
             with the program.

             Hubs offered to make Dinner!  Yay!  I'd already assembled all the fixin's and had told
             myself that if Hubs offered to make dinner, I'd say "Oh, Yeah!"

6:15pm    ETA on Dinner:

             Greek Macaroni and Cheese:

             First, bring a medium pan to a boil.  Then, boil 1 1/2 cups of Penne pasta 10 -12
             minutes, and reserve a half cup of the boiled water once you've poured the cooked
             zucchini through a colander. Chop up 2 TSP of washed Fresh Mint to later use a garnish.
             Hubs says to keep leftover mint for up to a week, put it in an open plastic bag in the fridge.

             Meanwhile, saute' 1 TBSP of olive oil in a wok or large skillet on medium high heat.
             Add 2 medium zucchinis and 1/2 Tsp Salt; cook for 10+ minutes until brown & crisp. 

             Stir in Penne pasta, the half cup of reserved cooking water, and 4 oz goat cheese,
             (herbed or plain) until some of the water is cooked off.  Grind in a 1/4 TSP Black
             Pepper, and you now have a yummy creamy sauce.

             Serve Hot

             Tonight's variation: cook a package of sliced mushrooms in a little butter and add
             to this dish for a more robust and filling serving.

             Enjoy.

Thursday, February 23, 2012

Wednesday
Sleep     A SOLID Eight Hours!! Hallelujah! Thanks, Universe!

My Schedule below is what I've basically been up to everyday since Monday!  Yep, I'm running around!  I'm running around and getting more & more happy & healthy every single day.  Here's hoping all of us
heal fast and laugh often!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ousaiByU1ko&ob=av2e Blues Traveler - Run-Around


Thursday, February 23 Schedule[/b]

8:00 AM - 8:30 AM    PT
9:30 AM - 10:30    Pain Doc
11:00 AM - Noon       Therapist
12:300 PM - 1:30     Pool PT
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM    Fill out and Send Form for prior years disability, and call a friend.
2:45 PM - 3:00 PM    Pick up Revolution For Boo, and schedule Lyme's disease vaccination
3:15 PM - 4:30 PM    Family Doc
4:45                         Hubs and I cook together now!  M hm❣

Sincere and profound congratulations; you've got to hold the most dramatic before and after story around this, that I've ever read.  Undoubtedly inspirational for many, many people, and seems to have you just a slight bit tickled  ;D.

Thank you for continued sharing, really enjoy following your progress, aside from the vicarious pleasure of hearing of your improvement, it's just darn great reading.

Keep after it kiddo,

Thank you for such sweet (and accurate ::)) compliments!  No really, Dan, I appreciate you.  Your posts and you as a fellow human have made me feel so good, so often, and have given me that extra bit of gumption when I needed it most.  Plus, I like your writing style too!  Mutual admiration is a wonderful thing.

Through reading your story and all the hippies' stories here on Surface Hippy, new hippies like us have this an enormous asset that I think helps prevent time wasting 'reinventing the wheel'.  This process and this board is getting me resurfaced and undersurfaced too!  God knows I needed to slough off the old 'pretty cool' (thank you Miley Cyrus!) me and evolve into God knows what all. 

I'm a blurter, and that doesn't confront me none.  What can I say?  I let The Universe blow me around because it will anyway whether you want it to or not, and I'm always tickled about where I happen to land.  (Dan, tickled is my favorite way to be; you're an insightful guy!)  I'm alive, I have a 2nd chance, and, bottom line, I have innumerable chances right up until my last breath here on this Earth.

Surprising my Pain Doc this morning was fun.  When I insisted he take my Dilaudid8mg down to 6mg and put together a plan to have me OFF the stuff by April Fool's Day, and I'm not kidding here, his eyes got all round ⊙ ⊙, and he says "Now, I don't want to see you puking and getting a rebound addiction!"  He's a brilliant guy and all, but I know me better than he does, so I reply "Well, then I'll just have an excellent way to pull off some pounds, pooping or puking, I don't care either way!"  Pain Doc just shakes his head sadly.  Poor guy.

Anyway, Dan, Please jot down all the inanities of recovery; the esoteric tidbits are hands down the most interesting parts to read in all the differing recovery stories.  I'm so happy for you!

2fer

So, 'One - this is just a convoluted way to reach your goal weight?  ;D

Well, Yeah. ;D

 :P Erg, 'nanu, gurgle.....time to run (yuck!) ;D  You guessed it!  I weigh less today, and that's all that really counts in life, ami' right? *end partial sarcasm*

The part about Doc Pain being right, and I gotta go, gotta go right now, is right!

Have a great day~

'One

2.25.12 Saturday

Friday
Sleep     (10pm to 1:30) 3.5 Hours + (4am to 7:30am) 3.5 Hours = 7 Hours of Precious Sleep

Ok, it's official, I'm blonde, and I can't count!  Today is really Day 68! 

I'm having a lazy Saturday morning, deciding which way the night and day is going to go.1  Sometimes it's helpful to make a To Do List, but the last time I made such a 'list', I only managed one thing on it!  I'm OK with that because walking my dog Boo twice in one day, which added up to a one mile stroll, was the best use of my time. With my stellar track record, Here's another -

Today's To Do List:
     ✔Land PT
     ✔Pool PT
       Nap
       Return Library Magazines
     ✔Go to the Nirvana of Makeup Stores - Ulta
     ✔Eat Healthy
     ✔1/2 Lay off the tons of Extra Sugary Snacks*
     ✔Add My Weight Stats and Weight Goal to my End Tag
     ✔Be Grateful for Hubs who's morphed back into Mr. Wonderful!
     ✔Be Grateful for EVERYTHING
       Clean out my Hall Closet and put in the Shoe Rack Hubs built
       Listen to my BeMindful Mp3 meditation
       Prepare for my 2nd meeting of my NEW Friday Morning Women's Group!

       Stuff I did instead of or added to my To Do List:
      ✔Prepared my own Breakfast, Lunch (partially), and Dinner!  (Hubs made Sweet Potatoes)
      ✔Walked at least a mile, in a spooky underground garage with the Elevators broken, and the Mall!
      ✔Used the stairs at least 7 times.
      ✔Broke protocol by carrying around stuff weighing 20 lbs, when my limit is ten pounds.


'It would sure do me good to do you good, I can help'2.  It's wonderful to be physically able to be part of a helping group of women, instead of laying about for more years of parasitical confinement!  Man, it feels so good to do good, and 'well, someone thought of healing, but all I really want'3 is all of us Hippies to show the way of full recovery and resumption of our new, improved life.

_____________________________________________________________________________

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8gwf9IF6E-E Peter Frampton - Baby I Love Your Way

2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VZS6XWa-Kw - Billy Swan "I Can Help"

3 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLgeTtYwQ7o Peter Frampton - Show Me The Way

_____________________________________________________________________________
Brunch
11am      Oatmeal: w 1/2 banana & 1/2 c raspberries, half cup Skim Milk
              1/2 c Low Fat Plain Organic Yogurt w: 2 packets of Stevia, 1 TSP of
              Real Michigan Maple Syrup, 2 TBSP Homemade Granola, 2 TBSP Dried
              Cherries, and 3/4 c fresh Pomegranate Seeds!  Yum, Yum, Yumster!

Lunch
1:30pm   1/2 small Panini: roasted ham, grated 4 cheeses, chives, greens, 1/2 TSP
              Olive Oil, Roasted Sweet Potatoes: w onion, pecans, maple syrup, red and
              yellow sweet bell peppers, and dried cherries, 1 c Steamed Broccoli,
              1 Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice/Vodka, 1 Hershey Bar, 1 skim milk.

Dinner
7pm        One Frozen Smart Ones, followed by Plain low fat organic yogurt, 2 TBSP
              Granola, 2 packets of Stevia, 1 TSP of Agave, 2 TBSP Dried Cherries, and
              1/2 cup fresh raspberries.  Water all day long.

Sugary Snacks* - With TWO Yogurt Parfaits, A Hershey Bar, and One Mixed Drink cocktail,
                           I think somethings gotta be sacrificed to lose some blubber!!

8:30pm    I'm done for the day and ensconced in my Turret Room, resting comfortably in
               Bed, and kicking back with a magazine or two.

Today's Withdrawal Symptoms:   Weakness, fatique, several hot flash episodes,
                                                       cold sweats, and various little aches, are a small
                                                       price to pay. I'm actually doing quite well because
                                                       I'm gently weaning me of off narcotics.
             

2.26.12 Sunday

Saturday
Sleep     Asleep at 10pm and awoke up at 4:30am = 6 1/2 Hours of Sleep     
             (I stayed in bed until 7:30am, holding my pee with my legs pressed tightly
             together like the silly kitty in the magazine print ads for Kitty Litter, so Hubs
             wouldn't hear me in my bathroom and wake up.)

8am      I cried this morning, and it wasn't helping that my morning pain pill was taken
            at 7:30am.  I didn't stop softly crying until just before 9am, when finally the
            Dilaudid 8mg pill kicked in.  I guess it also wasn't helping that yesterday I started
            my Dilaudid taper and had reduced Saturday's dose by a measly 2mg, and I wasn't
            prepared emotionally for a bit of push back pain. 

            This morning, my pain level was only a '7', and I didn't understand why emotionally
            it was hitting me hard enough to drive me to tears.  After all, a '7' was my normal
            pre resurfacing pain level for two and a half years, even with my daily ingestion of
            enough pain medication to stun a large elephant into unconsciousness.  My conclusion
            is that for a few weeks now, I simply wasn't used to pain over a '5' anymore!  So when
            that bit of extra pain hit, it seemed worse than it actually was, the '7' level pain pushed
            me back on my heels, and that's why my tears flowed.

            After weeks of lessening or least easily bearable, minimal type pain, have any of
            you well on your way healing Hippies had a crying jag over some completely
            unexpected, out of the blue, pain surprise?  Would you mind to please tell me what
            happened, and how you responded to your pain surprise?  I would surely appreciate it.

            Thank You,
            'One
           
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k2kxlZDOHeQ Smokey Robinson & The Miracles-The Tears Of A Clown

Two4,

I am glad to hear you are weaning off of the narcotics.

Couple of questions, how long have you been on narcotics for the pain?  And, were the narcotics for your hip pain always?


Chuck

I see all that you are going through to get off pain meds and you are to be commended.  Perhaps your response to extra pain is related to the fact that you are so consciously trying to get off meds.  In other words, are you in more pain "mentally" or in a true "physical" sense".  Please don't take this as cruel but could it be like a placebo response, you know you are less pain meds so you "think" you are in more pain.  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.  After a full day working in my yard a couple weekends back, I needed to take Alleve for a couple days afterward.  I hadn't been on any pain relief for a good month.  However, the yard looked great, my hip was sore but I know accomplished things I hadn't attempted post-surgery.  Invoke your inner yogi and take the "half full" route....it is knowN to relieve tears  :) Just a couple thoughts....keep up the good healing work!

Hi Chuck,

I have been on narcotics since August 24th, 2009, the next day after my undiagnosed bilateral bone on bone OA cut and tore both my labrums out.  My bilateral pain was intractable on the spot.  From Day One, I could not walk one step, so I was placed on Percocet 40mg/Day, and within the week 40 to 50mg Oxycontin/Day.  My misdiagnosis at the time was bilateral femoroacetabular impingement and torn labrums because, it turns out, I had the rarest and most painful form of hip OA, located on all the tests and every films' blind spots.  My films were read as normal and arthritis free by over a dozen surgeons in these past two and half years plus.   

After my failed arthroscopies of 12/09 R Hip and 2/10 L Hip, I was referred to my pain management doctor in March 2010.  Pain Doc placed me on 100mcg Fentanyl Patch and Dilaudid 8mg/4-5xDay, Ambien 10mg, and Promethazine 25mg for the side effects of nausea.

(My OA was on the center top tip of my femurs and in the center deepest recesses of my acetabular sockets.)  After my 7am bilateral hip resurfacing, Dr. Schmitt told Hubs December 20th, 2012 that my hips had beautiful, normal cartilage, and no degenerative changes whatsoever all along the sides of my hip sockets and femurs.  He further described my hips as sort of "looking like an upside down capital L".  Dr. Schmitt described the top of the "L" as being shorn off & flattened.  I believe he told Hubs something like he saw my acetabular sockets were so thinned from my femurs being too deep into my hip sockets that my femurs had protruded and nearly broken through my acetabular sockets, and that I had been bone on bone since August '09, explaining my excruciating hip pain.

Yes, Chuck, the narcotics were for my hip pain always.  Thanks for replying and any insight you may offer.

'One

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

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.

QuoteRemember 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

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!

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....

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

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

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.)

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.

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!

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

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!

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!

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

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

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!

Hi Luanna!

Quote2fer 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! ;)

QuoteSo 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!

Hi mslendzion!

QuoteGlad all is well for you. -mslendzion

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

QuoteNo 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

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.

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

Thanks, nanu!  I'm pleased as punch you're doin' good!

'One

Thursday,  March 08, 2012  2:45am

Wednesday
Sleep     10pm to 1:30 (3 1/2 Hours)

I have the night sweats 'cause I dropped the Dilaudid down again yesterday morning by 2mg.  Today and Yesterday's new total is 16mg Dilaudid, and I'll hold to that dosage for a few days until the withdrawal symptoms abate again.  Then, time for another drop!  Oh, Boy! ;)

Just in case any newbie has to go through a long taper or weaning off previous long term reliance on heavy narcotics, you need to be aware that your body will take about six months to start producing serotonin normally after the cessation of opiads.  Serotonin plays such an important role in so many brain functions, such as the regulation of mood, heart-rate, sleep, appetite, pain and other things.  This is why Doc Pain reinstated the Vicodin 7.5mg to basically use for mood regulation.  The plan is once the Dilaudid is done and gone, we reduce and wean off the Vicodin (again).

I'm moving at a right fast clip, so I'm rolling with it.  It's cool.  I want my summer to be sober, except for a cold one!  (My max was 2/day, and now is only one a day, not everyday, for obvious reasons.)  Sleep tight, Hippies.

When the night has come
And the land is dark
And the moon is the only light we'll see
No, I won't be afraid, No, I won't be afraid
Just as long, just as long as you stand by me1


1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRbTJRT7SRQ  (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRbTJRT7SRQ)Ben E. King - Stand by Me

Thursday,  March 08, 2012  8:45am

Wednesday
Sleep     10pm to 1:30 (3 1/2 Hrs) + 4am to 6am (2 Hrs) = 5 1/2 Hours 

Now that's more like it!
__________________________________________________________________
   
Good Morning, Hippies!

Everything is peachy.  Perfect in fact.  I've had a whole bunch of physical restrictions lifted yesterday, and my healing was pronounced "amazing" by my (PT)!   I said "Oh come on!  You say that to everybody!"  Of course, PT K'n emphatically denied this.  However, for the first time in my life, I do have an actual butt, and they say hips don't lie!  Hubs keeps asking me to do my 'hip exercises' the rest of my life, lol!  I told him I would.

Also, tomorrow and from now on until I finish my formal Land PT, I get to work out in the Gym with weights!!!!!!!!  I'm so excited to go heft some iron with a bunch of roided up gym rats!  My idea of heaven on earth!  It's been so long since I've been in my natural environment, The Gym, and you may not know how I always lifted four times a week my whole life, except for those times I got married.  Thankfully, this one is relatively low maintenance and wants me to do my own thing, and just as long as I keep on spoiling him, Hub's happy!  You know the mens like their comforts of a clean home, three home cooked meals a day, pretty gardens to look at, and knowing their wives adore them.

I'm getting excited about garden season coming at us.  I've bought large starter trays dirt cheap *Ha!* on sale that will be sitting all along the 10 foot long, 2 ft deep ledge of our eastern facing bank of windows in our walkout basement.  This will be my first garden I've had in three years, and nowadays I get a little teary with happiness and gratitude a couple of seconds almost everyday. 

Anyway, this year it's going to be solely a flower cutting garden, with perennials and annuals all from seed that I'm starting towards the end of the month.   Although it will be a massive flower cutting garden with blooms shared with favored neighbors, the emphasis is all on attracting butterflies and birds, and it has a simple classic design.  I'm also putting together an indoor gardening center, with a floor to ceiling shelving/potting area, in front of one side of the sliding glass basement walkout doors.

What are you planting this year?  Can I see pictures of all your new renovations in the photo area?

On the Hubs front, March 31st is coming up on Hubs last day at Big World Company.  For his new business, he has his section of our basement all finished and tricked out with three huge contiguous computer screens on a massive 6' x 4' table that he built.  He calls it 'The Command Center'!  Though Hubs says if I want to I can call him 'Warlock', our nicknames are really 'Alpha Dog', 'Beta Dog', and 'Omega' for our actual dog. :P  Those first two names are an in joke on the last 'Die Hard' movie "Live Free or Die Hard":
   
     The Warlock: [to Matt] Why did you bring a cop to my command center?
     John McClane: [laughs] Command center? It's a basement.
     The Warlock: [angrily] Who is this man?

Another bit of news: We are going to Naples, FL and leaving on Easter Sunday.  We have no worries right now, and we all are getting the chance to create and shape the lives we've always wanted.  I'm so glad that we are on this journey together here at Surface Hippy, and many of us are either in that place of peace and gratitude or growing into it.  That makes me feel like we are sharing a small part of each others' lives.  Our common theme seems to be transformation. 

Well, I'm closing now because if I write anymore it'll be a novel!

Two4

Well 'One, just quoted one of my favorite scenes from one of my favorite movies... Proud of your taper fight, I know you'll pull it off well, you're doing great on the hips and on removing narcotics from your life.

The Hubs sounds happy and so do you.

Hi 2fer,
Glad to hear that you are tapering off the opiates. My pain management doc tells me that he uses something called suboxone to help taper people off but don't know how it helps or why. http://www.suboxone.com/

He also uses a Butrans patch for some patients to get them off the other opiates and then taper it off as it is supposedly a first derivative and non addicting with an easy taper. I don't know much about it but thought I'd mention those two things just in case they might be something that would help your taper flow more smoothly and easily.

I've starting puttering out in the garden already (in the snow) just cause it feels so good to be out there digging and planting things. This year I'm doing herbs and flowering plants that will attract hummingbirds.

Glad to hear that all is going well for you.
Luanna

Keep celebrating the victories in the battle of the taper, we're all rooting for you.

I can't wait to get into the garden, may have to have my nephew turn the vegetable garden over for me, and finish the winter cleanup before I'm off crutches, but then have plans to move/divide perennials, plant new beds with the home-grown perennials, and overhaul some beds as well.

Dan

Friday,  March 09, 2012  7:05am

Thursday
Sleep     10pm to 1am (3 Hrs) + 2:30am to 5:30am (2 Hrs) = Six Hours

Who doesn't like to free associate?  Alright, you can step out of the room now.  If you do enjoy one tangent leading to another, then another, why, you're on the right thread! ;)

This morning at 8:30am is my first of the new Land PT regiment with K'y up in The Gym.  From now on, weight lifting is back in my life full time!  Oh God/Universe/Good Luck/Lord/Serendipity, Thank you! 

OK, hold on a second, I'm going to get that much needed 2nd cup of coffee....lifting seems to me to be an apt metaphor for what Surface Hippy does for us until we can go where we want to.1
   
It's a long, long road
From which there is no return
While we're on the way to there
Why not share
And the load
Doesn't weigh me down at all
He ain't heavy, he's my brother 2


1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7movKfyTBII Men Without Hats - Safety Dance

2 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqbCHu3m-dI THE HOLLiES - He Ain't Heavy, He's My Brother
______________________________________________________________

You're starting to fly 'One ... great to see you soar.

Monday, March 12, 2012 7am

Sunday
Sleep     11pm to 6am = 7 Hours of Sleep!  Yay!

             (I slept pretty much straight through except the dog kept going from my room to Hubs',
             and then Boo would do the roaming between two beds all over again!  Note to self: Keep
             my damn door shut!) 

             That's not too shabby at all, considering I dropped the 16 mg Dilaudid down to 12mg yesterday. 

Withdrawal Symptoms

- Hot Flashes with sweat dripping off my clothes, all the time, followed by cold chills, again, all the time

- Woke up this morning like a normal person complaining to Hubs my middle and lower back and both
  knees are killing me!  I Laughed when I told Hubs this, and he says "Welcome back to the Real World,
  Baby!"  Hubs did say that after a steaming cup or two of coffee that his aches and pains dissipated quite a bit.

- My morning dose of 4mg Dilaudid, with a 7.5 mg Vicodin chaser, is slooowwly starting to kick in, but
  the coffee tastes great and is working right away!

- The cool 8) thing about this second day of another drop is all those aches & pains didn't include my hips!

- Yep.  My hips felt great when my feet hit the floor at 6am!!  Neither hip's pain even registered on the pain
  scale.  My Dad was right when I'd come crying to him after stubbing my toe or something, and he'd give me
  a sharp slap or a jab, laugh when my tears stopped flowing from astonishment, and say, "Now your toe
  doesn't hurt anymore!"  My natural 51 year old Vintage Fox1 body was 'talking' to me this morning and
  completely distracted me from noticing my hips at all!!!!!! 

- THIS MORNING was my first morning since August 2009 that my hips felt normal!  OMG!  I'm so grateful!


1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5bp_eCmbqU The Doors - Twentieth Century Fox (Subtítulado en español)

Hey Hippies!

Nanu, I love me some old movies, from 'Nosferatu' and 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari', and I also adore the modern cinema, with some major faves ranging from the sublime 'Atlantic City' to the Australian noir 'Animal Kingdom'.  As a fellow film buff, do you have any recommendations off the beaten path I may not have seen?  Gotta keep those late night hours filled ya know.

Luanna, are you doing alright with Suboxine?  http://www.medhelp.org/forums/search/77?utf8=%26%23x2713%3B&query=suboxin is a truly excellent source for the 411 on Suboxine.

Quotethen have plans to move/divide perennials, plant new beds with the home-grown perennials, and overhaul some beds as well.

Dan, that sounds marvelous!  I'm really hoping the Garden Hippies will post photos of their beds overflowing with herbs ;), spices, veggies, and, of course flowers!  I know I'm going to. 

I never used to take photos, but NOW, from Day One of my bilateral resurfacing on December 20th, 2011, I don't want to miss a thing.  (I hate that song, so I'm not posting a link to that piece of dreck.)

To All Hippies, May you enjoy Happy Trails this week,
'One

Greetings 2fer One,
I haven't used any opiates or suboxone but my pain management doc specializes in suboxone to help people taper off opiates. I was thinking it might be something that could help make your taper easier but I know very little about it. Might not be good at all.

My pain management doc has me use a very small dose of ketamine (nasal spray) made by a compounding pharmacy when needed but it only lasts for a couple of hours. The good thing is that it is not addictive - the bad thing is that it is very short acting. Getting to the point where I only need it very rarely. Yay.....  Very rarely do I even need to take an NSAID.

You'll get there!!! Just thinking there might be ways to make your journey more comfortable?

Luanna

Quote from: Two4One on March 12, 2012, 08:22:40 AM
Nanu, I love me some old movies, from 'Nosferatu' and 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari', and I also adore the modern cinema, with some major faves ranging from the sublime 'Atlantic City' to the Australian noir 'Animal Kingdom'.  As a fellow film buff, do you have any recommendations off the beaten path I may not have seen?  Gotta keep those late night hours filled ya know.

Okay, but my favorites are not usual or normal. I have a strange mix of interests...

For the sake of brevity:

• The Misfits - Clark Gable's last movie, Marylin Monroe, Montgomery Clift.
• Love and Death - Woody Allen's hilarious take on War and Peace.
• Better off Dead - The most chaotic of the 80's teen movie comedies.
• On the beach - one of the first and arguably the best post-apocalyptic movie.
• Last Tango in Paris - weird and compelling Brando / Maria Schneider movie.
• The coca cola kid - comedy involving coke (not the dust) and romance... need I say more?
• The Gods must be crazy - Mix a Bushman hero, a coke bottle and a pretty funny quest.

Again - not everyone's cup of tea, but they fill mine.


P.S. - Not promoting coke (since I don't drink soda anymore), just happens to be in my more favorite movies.

Thanks for the movie Pics!  Seen 'em, except for 'Last Tango' and 'Love and Death'; I'll watch "Love and Death", but I avoid violent or misogynistic type movies like 'Tango' and 'Silence of the Lambs'.  I'm gonna rewatch "The Misfits" and "Better Off Dead" this week though!

"On the Beach", is hands down one of the best movies of all time, subtle and powerful, great story, and fantastic cinematography - what more can you want in a flick?

'One

Hi Luanna,

I'm so glad you are doing well!  Yay!

Me, well, it's gonna do what it's gonna do as far as withdrawal is concerned; I have no fear, and it's no big thing for me.  I'm posting it because I want to reassure folks who go through a taper and reduce their worry.  On TV and movies, they make getting 'clean' look like a scene out of 'The Exorcist' where Regan's turning green and her head's spinning. Lol.

2fer

Quote from: Two4One on March 12, 2012, 03:37:27 PM
Thanks for the movie Pics!  Seen 'em, except for 'Last Tango' and 'Love and Death'; I'll watch "Love and Death", but I avoid violent or misogynistic type movies like 'Tango' and 'Silence of the Lambs'.  I'm gonna rewatch "The Misfits" and "Better Off Dead" this week though!

"On the Beach", is hands down one of the best movies of all time, subtle and powerful, great story, and fantastic cinematography - what more can you want in a flick?

'One

Agreed on that. I've only watched it and Apocalypse Now twice each since they are disturbing.. off the beaten path definitely though.

Glad to see we are otherwise in sync on the others.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:33

I'm tapering down Dilaudid again today from 12mg to 6mg daily.  I don't want to dive off all the way, yet, just a little bit.1  Betcha my bod's not gonna like that! :P

My goal is to be done with the Big 'D' way before Easter. 

Wish me Luck, and if anyone has a mind to, would you please offer up any good intentions/well wishes/prayers/muttering under your breath, to the Universe/Lord/Serendipity on my behalf?  I would surely appreciate it.  Please keep me in your thoughts as all of you are in mine.

Amen.

2fer
aka
'One

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvczLTXqbLY Steve Miller Band - Just A Little Bit

Keeping you in mind, 'One... Makes for a great Easter, will be rooting for you.

Thank you, Nanu.

Quote from: Two4One on March 14, 2012, 01:37:15 PM
Wednesday, March 14, 2012 1:33
Wish me Luck, and if anyone has a mind to, would you please offer up any good intentions/well wishes/prayers/muttering under your breath, to the Universe/Lord/Serendipity on my behalf?  I would surely appreciate it.  Please keep me in your thoughts as all of you are in mine.

You have my luck/intentions/well wishes/prayers and muttering.

Thank you, mslendzion!

2fer

Keep after it, you will get there very soon.  Congrats on all your progress so far, you've made great  strides.   

Dan

I am in your corner 2fer!!!  Keep up the good strong work and good news on NO HIP PAIN!!!  YES!

Thank you so much, Dan and WTW, for being in my now crowded corner with all the hippies I draw strength from!  Today was 4mg Dilaudid, and tomorrow will be 2mg at night only for a couple of days.  Then, the Big Zero!  I want to "Done" for at least one day before I see Doc Pain again on the 23rd!

2fer

Quote from: Two4One on March 16, 2012, 08:54:38 PM
Thank you so much, Dan and WTW, for being in my now crowded corner with all the hippies I draw strength from!  Today was 4mg Dilaudid, and tomorrow will be 2mg at night only for a couple of days.  Then, the Big Zero!  I want to "Done" for at least one day before I see Doc Pain again on the 23rd!

2fer

Yes!  Sending good vibes!  :)

Saturday, March 17, 2012 8:30pm

The Dilaudid if officially down to 2mg at night now, and I will say I'm kinda looking forward to that 9pm dose! :P

Today, I walk this land1, and for about an hour this afternoon, I worked in my garden, sort of swaying from side to side in the hot sun and wondering if I might pass out.  Not to worry, my gait was still pretty, which is all that counts.  After I came in and fell asleep on the couch, Hubs continued to work outside most of the afternoon spiffing up the backyard, laying oak leaf mulch over the low weeds of my work in progress flower cutting garden, and it's looking good I must say!  Maybe I'll take some pics tomorrow if I don't feel too grody, but the jury is definitely out on that one.

Let me give you a little tip; don't go to marriage therapy at 9:30am in the morning when you are starting your first full day off hard narcotics!  I was on a slow burn all morning, and Whoosh!  My temper went up like an atom bomb, I threw my sh*t across the room and stood up and announced, "I'm going for a little walk now!"  About 20 minutes later, I came back to finish the last 5 minutes.  All I can say to you hippies about my earlier intensity is I got some crap off my chest, that's for sure!ϟ At least me hip did well today, so there's that.

Hubs is fine; he knows the drill.  It is March Madness you know! 

Me, I'm hanging in and signing off for tonight.


Repeat Request in Humility:

Wish me Luck, and if anyone has a mind to, would you please offer up any good intentions/well wishes/prayers/muttering under your breath, to the Universe/Lord/Serendipity on my behalf?  I would surely appreciate it.  Please keep me in your thoughts as all of you are in mine.

Amen.

2fer
aka
'One

1 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RnYnSnVmXvM&feature=related Iron Butterfly - 1969 In A Gadda Da Vida

2fer;

Getting very, very close, cool and happy trails, you are almost THERE!!!

Dan

Thank you, Dan, so very much for your encouragement.  No more holding on to the shrubs as I jump off the Dilaudid cliff because tonight it will be ZERO mg.  I don't have PT tomorrow, I have 7.5mg Vicodin/Norcos that I've been prescribed to take, and my body seems to be tolerating the accelerated detox as well as to be expected.  It's all good, I think.  I hope.

I'm not sleeping again, but that's a typical withdrawal symptom and will go away in a few days.

Thank you, Universe/Lord/Hippies/Kindness.

Amen

One

Very proud of you, ' One. This has been a good taper for you and you have mucho hippies in your corner. Good that you've got Hubs there for you.

The world wants you there, sounds like the return from the dark is there. Congrats....

CONGRATS!!!!    Be nice to yourself - you deserve it.  Huge Accomplishment!

2fer, You're climbing a huge mountain and you're nearly there. Make sure you take time to look at the view from up there....you deserve it!!

thinking of you and wishing you the best.  Let us know how it goes today.

Unbelievable* - I took my pasty, sweaty, swaying self to lift weights at my 8am PT!  Next, at 1:30am, I showed up to take possession of my newly minted and updated resume.

Otherwise, all day today and all of last night I've been prostrate in bed, pretty much not moving a muscle.  I feel weak and gross.  This will pass completely after two weeks, but the worst of it is usually the first 3 days, so tomorrow I may be able to do something and be outside to enjoy our gorgeous spring.

I will say though I'm very glad to be now only on 7.5 mg Vicodins 'cause that makes me feel like part of the normal lot of newly minted post op hippies and totes helps me to know the real improvements my body is making back to health and ease of movement.

Thank you, mslendzion, kiwi, WTW, Rbt, Nanu, Dan L, Bliss, and many, many others for offering your support and comfort.  I can't wait to be back on my feet taking wild swings at life!

one

* I do like the song, but I hope I'm more real than the song's subject.

Almost there Kiddo, we're pulling for you.  You really should write a book, heck most of it is already in print here, what an incredible, uplifting story you'll have to tell.  I'd read it.

Best vibes possible in this last stage, I know it is very difficult, but you have such a good mindset to get through it, I know you'll be successful.

Dan

Posting up to you and the Universe - Hoping you are progressing and feeling better! 
{{{HUGS}}} and tons of support and good vibes!  And if you have a setback, know that we are all here for you too.  You are taking this so fast and so aggressive.  Just want you to succeed!

Ugh, the last couple of weeks have not been pretty, but I am officially off the hard stuff and taking Norcos for another month or so.  Week One off Dilaudid I managed one PT.  Week Two, I finished my formal PT and also said goodbye to my Therapist because like I told her "I got nothing."  All in all, I've downed more junk food and Haagen Dazs these past 2 weeks than I thought humanly possible.

The toughest part of withdrawing has been the flattening of my joie de vivre, (lust for life).  My hip pain is normal, my relationship is sound, and yet I recognize that it will take some time for my serotonin to start production on it's own again.  Until then,  thank you for bearing with me and my lack of drive.

2-4

P.S.  Hubs' last day is TODAY at Big World Company, and, man, is he thrilled and floating around the house with this big grin permanently plastered across his face.  I wish I could be there for him.

I am so happy that you are off the hard stuff, it's not good for you at all.

I can also tell in your writing style (you write really well) that you're mind is much more clear.

Keep up the good rehab, hope your relationship with your husband goes back to the point when you two were dating  ;D

Here's to wishing you a happy and painless life.

Chuck

So glad to hear from you, I was worried!  Keep it up, you are getting you life back and it won't happen all at once!

Welcome back. Keep up the good work.

April 5, 2012 9:45am Thursday

Wednesday
Sleep     Slept uninterrupted Midnight to 7am = Seven Hours of Sleep!  That's my new average amount of sleep I get now, and it's wonderful!

Breakfast
7:30am    Oatmeal, 1/2 banana, 1 TBSP walnuts, cinnamon, 1 1/2 huge mugs of Coffee.

8am -
9am          I got down on my hands and knees and scrubbed the downstairs half bath, hall, and kitchen/dining room.

                 Yesterday, I had my follow up with Dr. Philip Schmitt, and he has lifted all restrictions - except for running,
                 which I don't do anyway.  Dr. Schmitt said my left leg and hip were more muscled than my right side, and
                 that's why I will still have pain until my right gets stronger.  Also, I am released from PT.  He:

- Suggested I do housework in the morning
- Do swimming, yoga, whatever I feel up for in the afternoon
- Set my One Year Follow Up Appointment in December

I feel good, and I'm out the door to walk one mile with Hubs and Dog!

Thank you for your kind support, and I'm going to PM you well wishers.  I am so grateful to you all.

2fer1

Glad to hear all is going well. It took those muscles a while to deplete, it will take a bit to get'em back. Enjoy the process, though 'One - I can feel things are really going the right way for you.

Incredible!  Very happy for you, many, many good days/years to come with new hips, congrats.

Dan

Thank you, Dan & Nanu!

April 5, 2012 2:10pm Thursday - continued

11am Lunch

Huge Salad: Ham, shaved Parmesan, onion, red bell pepper, grapes, carrots, mushrooms, roasted pecans, arugula, and dressed with olive oil, cherry balsamic vinegar, & agave.  Desert was a Hershey Bar and a glass of Skim Milk.

1pm       Backstroked at the pool for 20 minutes.

2pm       Found the secret stash of Hershey Bars and ate TWO more, Ruh Ro.  Now, I'm in a pleasant post sugar
               coma on the couch!

There you are, it's about time you came back and updated us.  Glad all is well.   Awesome to hear you are free of restrictions. Did he clear you to cross your legs, I so miss that?  I see Dr Schmitt in a few weeks for my 3 month.  Looking forward to less restrictions.

How are the hips feeling for you?

Sugar High!  then coma-nap. LOL  enjoy! 
Great to see you back here and posting up your success.  Your salad made me hungry!
Congrats on your appointment - you GO!!!  So much is good on your side now - for sure. 

Wonderful progress.  Keep us updated as you get back into yoga!  Time flies doesn't it?

Today is my 4 month anniversary post op, and while my Left hip feels only a 1 to 3 pain level, my Right outer quad and side hip remains a 4 to 5 consistently.  Schmidt says my right leg and hip muscles are more atrophied along with my IT band, and it will simply take time.  He also discharged me from PT and cleared me to do everything except running.

I CAN walk a mile most days, do errands, light housework, but that dang right side always hurts.  I'm NOT able to garden or do a full day.  I sure would like the pain and the Vicodins to be a thing of the past.

Ariel, yoga child's pose is too painful, so I'm going to see 'Rocco', a new tough guy PT my pain Doc is recommending.  While my strength is slowly improving, I struggle going up and down stairs, driving, and sitting for any length of time.

I need to find specifics of what exactly besides swimming, walking, and biking is going to help me get out of pain sooner.  Does anyone know of any ideas to help someone like me that was incapacitated for so long pre op?

2fer

So glad to hear from you.  I was worried.  I think the key is is whether you feel improvement, no matter how slowly it might appear to come. If you feel incrementally better, that is progress.  You were worse off than many of us pre-op so it will take some time.  As far as child's pose, start slowly and place a rolled towel under your "bum" to elevate a bit.  Work into it slowly. Do you have anyone in your area who is certified in yoga therapy?

Ankle weights? I found those helped when I added them into the side leg lifts that I was doing. I've also gotten into the totally non-GQ habit of wearing them around the house when alone, that seems to help the smaller muscles get into the fray.

I started with 2 lbs per leg and moved to 5 lbs per leg. You're doing yoga now, but balancing has worked for me, 60 seconds at a time on an unstable surface (pillow, or one of these: http://www.amazon.com/Airex-MATBAL-Balance-Pad-Blue/dp/B0011YY86G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335004962&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.com/Airex-MATBAL-Balance-Pad-Blue/dp/B0011YY86G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1335004962&sr=8-1) ). I also do balancing while juggling, which creates that constant instability that muscles thrive on. You could just use a ball and do figure 8's while balancing, that might do the same type of thing for you.

These have worked for me, but I still feel a bit of strength difference between the two sides, with my right hip being the more recalcitrant child.

Patience, 'One - you've come a long way, it'll come back in due time.

Thanks, Ariel and Nanu.

This morning I've begun http://www.amazon.com/Strong-Knees-Chantal-Donnelly/dp/B001D261TS/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=133504m , and I am going to try it everyday for a few weeks upon getting out of bed and keep doing my daily one mile walk.  Every move in the DVD is also also a hip PT move; that may help.  Fingers crossed!

I have ankle weights that I'll add in as I can.  When  it warms up, I'd like to try a lite bike ride in the afternoon too.  My weight has gone up to 170, so that's freaking me out too and certainly can't be helping my right hip feel better.  The stark difference between the two hips is scary.

One

Blah!  This is Day One of the LAST Detox, no Norcos/no Vicodin/ no Hydrocodone today!  (OK, the NEXT to the last withdrawal - which will be nightly Valium for sleep).  I'd noticed my right hip pain going down with using the 'Strong Knees' DVD and decided now is a good time to jump all in and enjoy being fully present again.  I've been dreaming of this day for years now, dreaming of what it would it be like to not be dragged down and medicated,  dreaming of how it would be like to be able to move about under my own steam, and dreaming of feeling the awareness of my hips incrementally healing.

So far today, I have no significant pain in either hip.  For that, and so much more, I am very, very thankful.  Dreams are powerful, and I'm even looking forward to the "Flu" of the next 72 plus hours as an end coda of an intensely desired outcome of every visualization I've had to desperately cling to in order to get here.  And this is a good place.

Thank you, humbly, all you hippies, for showing the way through.

2fer

ONE


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BgSyB5xSo2U Jump IN -The Pointer Sisters 

QuoteGod has plans for me. thank you for your continued prayers, best wishes, or vibes, and for lifting me up to the Lord and the Universe.  I am grateful.  It's working.....this spring I'll be hiking in green pastures with my husband, and my little dog Boo, and the sun will be bright and strong. - Day 12 of my post op log

Hubs, Boo, and I have already had several one mile walks around my subdivision!!!  Last week, I walked the mile 5 days out of seven!  Once the "Flu" is over, our little family will try the trails at a very close by wilderness park, and THEN that not so long ago picture in my head will be true.

Really happy for you, you've had a long struggle, but happy days are ahead. Awesome.

Thanks, Nanu, for dropping by and for your encouragement!

I'm not as sick as I'd anticipated on Day Two Detox of Norco, just feeling kind of flattened to the bed like a puddle.  The sun just came out and if the temp climbs up to 60, I think I'll make myself do a short walk for my puppy.  He's right here with me and is such a good deserving Dog.

Hubs cut up some fresh fruit and yogurt for my breakfast, and he's also prepared my lunch of chicken and the sweet potato roasted veggie dish that I love.  Hubs is being awesome one more time to help me get through this last bit.

2fer

"Be Present"..... It is a worthwhile goal and you are so close.  It is pretty spectacular world, engage fully!

Thanks, Ariel!  Boy, was I 'present' today - saw Rocco for a second PT opinion this morning, did errands, prepared meals, went to the library, and walked a half mile this evening.  It felt like I was walking on legs that didn't even belong to me.  They were heavy and painful by the evening, but I think I'm definitely in the mental game portion of recovery where I need to accept it's going to take the time it takes, and no more rapid improvements like those first exhilarating three months post resurfacing.
2-4

Keeping you in my thoughts!!!!   You've come so far - the journey is worth it. 

~~~~~~  Peace to You ~~~~~~~

xoxoxoxox

Thank You, WTW!  Girl, I think about you too and really love how you are getting your Colorado life back, one day at a time.  Your thoughts and sharing mean a lot to me.

Peace be with you, too.  It's the main thing, besides love.

2 4

Hi 2fer,
You're doing well. Make peace with your hips and realize that "time" is the ultimate decider in the healing process. It will take as much of it as it needs to make sure that you heal as strongly and perfectly as possible.

I'm at 8 months and still find myself needing to practice patience from time to time. I'm learning patience by force. Nothing else to do but go with it and take each day as it comes.

Stay clean. Stay clear. Stay positive and all will be well.

Best wishes to you always,
Luanna

Two4;

Happy to see your back and doing better, all the best for a continued positive track.  The pain may come in fits and starts, but over time, you should continue to get better.  You've been through a huge amount of disruption, and time should help.

Take care and keep after it,

Dan

One year later after my bilateral resurfacing with Dr. Philip Schmitt, I feel my results are "Satisfactory", not "Poor" nor "Excellent".

Pros
- For the most part, no pain meds or narcotics for seven months (I don't count one Vicodin a month & Aspirin x1/week)
- Walk dog for 15 minute outings four times a day, and walk everywhere else I want to
- Cook, housework, clean for up to 2hrs+ daily
- Lost 20 lbs from my all time high weight while I was incapacitated for nearly 2 years pre op
- Able to drive SIX hours in one day, which I've done more than once while moving with Hubs to a new city

Cons
- Level 2 Pain in both hips, often a '3' in the evening
- Recurrence of bilateral knee pain I had pre op and pre hips going bad
- New upper back pain
- Have to take Ambien to fall asleep with the various aches & pains

All in all, my current state beats the pants off of being on Dilaudid and Fentanyl & that only reducing my pain level to a '6'!  The knee pain goes away after a few weeks if I exercise cycle for 20 minutes most days, per Dr. Schmitt's follow up, (and it comes right back if I don't.)  The upper back pain comes on after running around on errands for an hour or two.

I think I'm kind of a wimp because I find the low level hip pain to be very distracting, even though I knew I'd have it post op.  My challenge now is to form and stick with a daily exercise routine in hopes that in another year's time I'll continue to improve.  Regardless of my hips, I've been shocked at how much the whole 51 year old body has 'broken' down after those years of misdiagnosed convalescence compared to being 48 yo & a fitness hobbyist.

I do feel my results are realistic for my own case and for being post menopausal, but I'd like to close my Report Card with one 'Excellent' grade given to Hubs!  He makes me laugh everyday, and we are more intimate than ever! 

Thank you to everyone and many special someone's that have helped me through this extraordinarily long process!!!  Those of you who are new and facing your surgery, there IS light on the other side.  My thoughts/vibes/prayers are with you.

2fer

Been hoping you were doing well, and happy for your progress.  Sorry to hear the other stuff is still troublesome.  Did everything look good on your one year followup xray etc, as far as your hips?  I know at 15 months on the left one I am still healing and it continues to improve, so hopefully things will also track better for you in the coming months.

Great to hear your update,

Dan

Two4one,  it's good to hear from you.  I m really glad that you are off of the pain meds nod that you can get out and about.  Even if things aren't perfect, they sure are better than before, right.?!

Two4-
Good to hear from you.  We've missed you.  Glad to hear that things are better overall with you.  Getting off pain meds permanently is a huge accomplishment.  Now that you have hit your 1 year mark, the exercise should make a big difference.  Best of luck.

Great to hear from you, like you said, the progress is good, although not perfect. You had some huge challenges because of the enforced bed rest, the large amounts of pain meds, etc.

I know at one year I was not anywhere near where I am now. I can hope that you also improve commensurately over the next year and at that time you are much more pain free and stronger.

I think regaining muscle fitness, your body restoring itself will be a major product of your efforts, not just going forward, but also all the hard work you put in over the last year in combating the result of all that misdiagnosis. Your fight was inspirational, the support from your husband was great, here's hoping you reap the benefits from what you did and what you will do.

Hello Hippies,

I have intractable pain 26 ½ months later after my bilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implants at all times, albeit minimally less than before my hip replacements.  My hip implants feel like they painfully slip out of place when I walk half a block, and they hurt when I sit and when I’m lying down. 

BHR MOM is now contraindicated for women as of the beginning of 2012 by the National Joint Registry for England and Wales. - http://www.njrcentre.org.uk/njrcentre/NewsandEvents/Hipresurfacingfailurerates/tabid/260/Default.aspx

Here’s my Medical History to catch you all up on my story:

HIP HISTORY

April 2009 â€" moderate bilat knee pain

August ‘09 - tore out both hips protective tissue linings (labral tears) between the top of your femur and the inside of your hip socket while walking the dog
December ’09 & February 2010 - Bilateral Hip surgeries (arthroscopies on each hip) to grind down the top of my femurs & to sew my labrums back together.   Pain exacerbated to becoming bedridden.

2011 â€" Dr. Sampson of California & Dr. Kelly of New York, (surgeons who reviewed my X Rays), emailed me their opinion my femurs were actually cutting through the labrums and protruding too far up in & against my hip sockets, thus explaining why my prior Bilateral Labral repair arthroscopies failed.  Several surgeons in my State disagreed and read my X rays and other tests as normal.

November 1st, 2011 â€" Arrived for scheduled revision arthroscopy (scope) for my Right Hip with Dr. Philippon of The Steadman Clinic of Vail, Colorado; (I also had scheduled for the subsequent revision scope of the Left Hip in February 2012). 

Upon arrival, Dr. Philippon ruled both hips were now bone on bone and required THR and sent me home. 

After a one year waiting list, flying across country twice to consult 1st with his Resident and then Dr. Philippon himself at his The Steadman Clinic of Vail, Colorado, they turned me down for my long anticipated bilateral arthroscopy revisions after concluding I had end stage bilateral bone on bone osteoarthritis in a blind spot on his films - just like all my other consulting surgeons' films' blind spots.

November 11.15.2011 (approx)â€" Ortho Surgeon Dr. Schmitt said that both hips were previously misdiagnosed back in 2009 and that I really had undiagnosed end stage bone on bone osteoarthritis all that time.

December 2011 â€" Bilateral MOM Birmingham Hip Resurfacing Implants with Dr. Schmitt of Commerce, MI. 

He told me the top of both my femurs sheared off was only visible during my December 2011 surgery for bilateral hip implants, (the Birmingham Hip Resurfacing or BHR type).  I was told that the bone on bone location in both hips was very rare & was in the X Ray films' blind spots, thus explaining my previous two years in a hospital bed in my living room. 

March 2014 â€" per my request, referred by local Ortho Surgeon for Immunologist Testing:  Nickel Sensitivity, Cobalt, Chromium, and all the BHR MOM BILAT HIP IMPLANTS’ components.

Patch Test positive for Chromium
M - LTT (lymphocyte transformation test) Re: ‘Metal Allergy’results pending for bloodwork panel - http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/metal-allergy/Order_metal_allergy_testing.html

I wish you all a healthful journey and a hipper tomorrow.

Two4One

I have been following your posts and am so sorry you are going thru a difficult hip replacement.  You definitely need to keep trying to find out more about what is not working properly with your hip resurfacings.

My only advice, as always, is to try to get input from some of the most experienced hip resurfacing surgeons since many give email consults free.

I will continue to keep you in my thoughts and prayers and hope you can find a solution to be out of pain and active again - whatever it takes.  I am sorry you are going thru such a difficult recovery.

Pat

I am now corresponding with the top revision orthopedic surgeons in the U.K., Belgium, and Sweden because these countries have the oldest and largest hip registries in the world.

QuoteMy only advice, as always, is to try to get input from some of the most experienced hip resurfacing surgeons since many give email consults free. - Pat

I will continue to 'work my case', and thank you very much for keeping me in your thoughts and prayers, Pat.  In the meantime, I'd like to contribute and help others.

Along the way of discovering more about what is not working properly with my hip resurfacings, I’ve found one invaluable resource I’d like to share. â€" The Intractable Pain Patient's Handbook For Survival. http://www.foresttennant.com/pdfs/IntractablePainSurvival.pdf   It’s a very short and to the point booklet on Intractable Pain (IP) for IP patients, their medical team members, their caregivers, and their loved ones. 
 
Let’s continue to help each other recover our hips and focus on what we can achieve, regardless of where we are in our hip journey.   Let's watch a fun movie, or better yet a short sitcom, together with our favorite persons, a couple of times a week.  Let's get keep making each laugh.  Let's keep playing with our dog, petting our cat, or watering our plant.

Let's tell each other what each of us are 'doing right', and let us most of all find ways to be kind to each other.

Two4

What a wonderful response.  Thanks for your insight and advice.

Pat

Wow two4, sorry to hear about your continuing pain!  Have they any idea why it feels that way?

I'm glad you're following up, you deserve a good outcome after a long struggle.

Thanks, Nanu!  So far the MARS (Magnetic Artifact Reduction Sequences) MRI, X Rays, etc., have all been negative.

The positive patch reaction to Potassium Dichromate which is Chromium tell us my body is having a reaction to the Chromium in my metal implants.  We'll know more once I have all my blood panels complete, and I've had the patch test done a 2nd time.

I just completed another 3 month round of intensive PT while lifting weights and swimming on alternate days, six days a week.  I'm having 'minimal' improvements in strength, but my pain levels are not abating.  Now, I'll be focusing my efforts at the gym.  I like to make myself get out of the house and do something positive for body, but I rest quietly an awful lot due to the pain.  The trick is to obtain and maintain fitness, but not to the point where I'd make it worse.

How are you, Hernan?  Do you have big plans for this weekend?

Big plan this weekend is going to Chans Egg rolls and Jazz. Best music with the most MSG.

Hope that you find the problem and a good solution, kiddo. I like the gym rat approach; great attitude as usual, Two4.

Yummm! Feast away, Nanu.  Time for me to get busy and make some Bank today.

BANK OF FOOD & LOVE: 
Monday 3/24/2014

7am       1 cup Coffee & Cream, 16oz Water
             Opioids:  Better Living Through Chemistry in order to get out of bed for my Day

8am       Green Protein Smoothie:  3 TBSP Fresh Organic Coconut Shavings,
              2 scoops Naturade 100% Whey Protein Booster, Vanilla, 24 Ounces
              2 Tsp Organic Honey, 2 Fistfuls of Organic Power Greens like Kale/Chard/
              Spinach, ½ Banana, a small handful of Raspberries & Strawberries, and a
              ½ cup Organic Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk

9am        Walked Dog

11am      Gym Upper Body/Pool Lower Body
              (Due to being unable to bend over to tie laces/put on shoes)
              First day of my brand new Slip On Athletic Shoes!! - New Balance
              Women's Minimus WT10 Trail Running Shoe,Black/Pink/Yellow,8.5 B US
              Opioids, 8oz water

1pm        Metal Sensitivity/Metal Ions Test - blood drawn & Sent to Rush/Chicago/

2pm          Huge Salad: Mixed Greens, bell pepper, carrots, green onions, pecans,
                Roast Chicken, Parmesan cheese, mushrooms, bacon, avocado, Raspberry
                Vinaigrette, Olive Oil, & smidge of Honey
                1 small Hershey Bar, 1 cup Skim Milk

3:45pm     Walked Dog

4pm          Reclined
                Opioids, 16oz Water

My chest is pounding because my Metal-LTT Analysis Report Panel 2 bloodwork unequivocally shows I'm 'Highly Reactive' to the nickel in my Bilateral Birmingham Resurfacing Implants.

I've got a lot to process, but at least I now have the answer as to why my hips have intractable pain 27 months later after my bilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacing implants.

Here's The FDA's General Recommendations for Orthopaedic Surgeons BEFORE Metal-on-Metal Hip Replacement Surgery -

Do not implant MoM hip systems in:  Patients with known metal sensitivity (e.g. cobalt, chromium, nickel) - http://www.fda.gov/MedicalDevices/ProductsandMedicalProcedures/ImplantsandProsthetics/MetalonMetalHipImplants/ucm241667.htm

Now, on to the Next Phase of getting these hips revised, perhaps with Titanium.

241, Sorry to hear of your problems, many have had revisions and moved on successfully. I'm sure you will also. Good luck.

Hern, if I knew you were going to Chan's I may have met up for a cold one with you.

Moe

Thanks, Moe!

Quote...many have had revisions and moved on successfully

You know, I'm on it already!  Just this morning, I was 'walking' my little Bichon Frise and sent up a little prayer of Thanks to The Universe for giving me the wit and capacity to 'work my case'.

BTW, the Bichon Frise is the best Therapy Dog EVER! - http://www.bichon.org/

2fer

Damn! I'm sorry to hear that Two4... I'm glad you have the usual good two4 attitude.

So what is the 17.3 mean? Is it a reaction metric to the Nickel?

Sorry your path is longer, but getting pain free in the end will be good.

Hi, "two4one".... am very interested in your situation ,27 MONTHS IS A VERY LONG TIME.
I hope you maintain contact and keep us updated on how you are.
Do you have a total hip or resurfacing,and did you get it revised an stilll have this problem?
Good Luck !!!!

ATL2013

Two4One,

I was in awe of your menu planning and assumed you must be some type of nutritionist.  Please keep us posted...we are all pulling for you!!

deb

QuoteDo you have a total hip or resurfacing,and did you get it revised an stilll have this problem?
Good Luck !!!! - atl2013

Yes, I had both my biological hips replaced with Birmingham Hip Resurfacing (BHR) Metal on Metal (MOM) hip implants in December 2011.

Yes, I've had Chronic Pain (CP) ever since and now have Intractable Pain (IP).  All my tests up til now were negative, and a 2nd round of Physical Therapy from Dec. 2013 thru March 2014 also failed to alleviate my hip prosthesis pain.

No, I have not had my BHR hips revised.  I just now learned on Thursday, March 27th that I am allergic to Nickel which is in all the Chromium Cobalt, also known as MOM, type resurfacing implants

I recommend new 'Hippies' or folks like you that are new to this hip forum to read from the beginning of a Member Post.  Nine times out of ten all the answers to any questions are there for the reading.  Just click on "Page 1" on the upper left corner and read from the beginning of any story or "thread".

Thank you for your well wishes. 

2fer

Thank you, Deb!

On March 27th, I found out I happen to be one of the 10-15% of people who are allergic to cobalt, chromium, or nickel.  Now that I have detected my condition and begin considering my next steps toward a Bilateral Revision of my BHRs, I turn my focus to hope and survivorship.  Maybe sharing my experiences along the way will help fellow hippies thrive on their path too.


HOW TO GET A METAL ALLERGY TEST 'METAL-LTT' (Metal Lymphocyte Transformation Testing) http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/metal-allergy/orthopedic_metals_-_metal_aller.html)

1.   Call the Orthopedic Analysis Laboratory at 1.312.733.7121 to mail you a METAL ALLERGY TEST Panel 2 Kit.  The Lab will walk you through it.  (If you also want to get your Metal Ions tested, you’ll need to order an additional kit.) http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/
     
2.   Fill out all the attendant paperwork from their website and don’t forget the paperwork that’s included in the Kit itself.

3.   Ask your surgeon, family doctor, or favorite physician to order the Metal â€" LLT.*


*When I asked my local Ortho Surgeon to write my prescription for the Metal â€" LLT, he referred me to an Allergist because he didn’t do metal alloy testing in his practice.  The allergist who wrote my prescription had never heard of it, so it was a total disaster from their office mishandling, causing me to repeat the test three times.  This is why I recommend you email/talk with the Orthopedic Analysis Lab 1st to have your ducks in a row BEFORE bringing up the Metal â€" LLT to your doctor.

On the forefront of Biomaterial Compatibility research, the Ortho Surgeon Dr. Jacobs is affiliated with the Orthopedic Analysis Lab. He is widely known as the leading expert in Nickel & Metal Allergies causing heretofore inexplicable pain in metal implant devices of all kinds. http://doctors.rush.edu/directory/profile.asp?setsize=10&pict_id=0002490

After I forwarded my local Ortho Surgeon my METAL-LTT Positive Nickel Allergy results last week, his nurse said "He is going to discuss your situation with Dr. Jacobs in Chicago, and I will get back to you when I hear from him with his recommendations." 

Thanks for 'listening' as I take the scenic view route on my journey back to health.

2-4

Very sorry to hear, you have been through so much.  I hope you get to a much better place very soon.

Are there symptoms aside from the intractable pain, that are attributable to the allergy as well?  Things to look out for or be aware of?

Continued strength,

Dan

That will definitely help, Two4.  You've been through a lot, hope for it to be cleared up, but the more we can do to help people make the right choice, the better.

You're doing a good thing in keeping us informed as you go through this.

QuoteAre there symptoms aside from the intractable pain, that are attributable to the allergy as well?  Things to look out for or be aware of? - DanL

I've got a big day today, but I will get back with you on this.  Dan, thank you so much for your awesome support.

Nanu, I'm lucky that I've had a lot of knowledge dropped on me by fellow hippies, so it's my pleasure to keep that flow going.

I'm also lucky that I've had the best life ever up until the hips blew in '09; this is just my turn on the wheel of life.  I'm really OK with that.  In many ways, this bend in my road has prepared me for gearing up for my bilateral revisions. 

I actually feel grateful.  I know for sure that I have the best chance of anyone to have that sterling recovery that I originally set out for because it's who I am and what I do.  These experiences have informed me, so I have a clear gaze into my best possibilities.

A champion is someone who gets up, even when he can't. - Jack Dempsey 

The best part of this is that I don’t have to do it alone, and neither does anyone else who writes here.  You all know, as always, I get by with a little help from my Hippie Friends.  ‘Lathe of Heaven’ â€" With a Little Help from my Friends https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CsPnMtEx6Lo&t=120s

2-4

10-4

2-4-1

;)

Hi
I am also reactive to Molydenum, Palladium and Nickel as you are and whilst I have had problems post surgery my metal ions levels are low and all scans have been fine.
I get the impression that this was a test to see which metals you are allergic to.
Apparently approx. 15 percent of the population are allergic to metals when placed on the skin but only approx. one in a thousand are allergic to the metals when placed as implants in the body.  I have spoken to Dr Gross and he advised me that he feels the tests are unreliable and that whilst some surgeons test before surgery, he did not feel that approach gave an accurate prediction of who would become allergic to an implant.
Have you had your metal ion levels tested?  Have you had an ultrasound examination of the soft tissues?
Hopefully if you are consulting with the top revision surgeons they may be able to guide you.
Are you able to advise us who you have consulted regarding revision?
I understand exactly how you feel when first learning of your metal allergies, I have been there, but it may be that a few more tests need to be done to be fully sure that your body is reacting to the metal.
Best wishes.

Did you have a Metal-LTT (Metal Lymphocyte Transformation Testing) blood panel test done, happyhopper?  (The T.R.U.E. test is the patch test.)  From your posts, I understand you have issues following your [R Hip] re-surfacing 3 years ago, and you also had a rash 10 months post surgery.

Here is the science on why being allergic to the metal alloys in your implants requires them to be removed:

QuoteDermal contact and ingestion of metals have been reported to cause immune reactions which typically show up as skin hives, eczema, redness and itching.
1. D. A. Basketter, et al, Contact Dermatitis 28, 15 (1993).
2. L. Kanerva et al., Contact Dermatitis 31, 299 (1994).
3. P. Haudrechy, J. Foussereau, B. Mantout, B. Baroux, Contact Dermatitis 31, 249 (1994).

Metals produce allergy (or an immune response) by attaching to circulating serum proteins and changing them enough to look foreign and dangerous to our bodies' immune systems.

Some cells (called antigen presenting cells) sense and process body proteins linked to metal, and other cells (called lymphocytes) respond to these processed proteins. Together they act to produce an immune response. - http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/metal-allergy/Metal_Allergy.html (http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/metal-allergy/Metal_Allergy.html)

AND

QuoteContraindications for a resurfacing procedure are still being defined.  Currently, absolute contraindications include elderly people with osteoporotic proximal femoral bone, known metal hypersensitivity, and impaired renal function. – http://www.surfacehippy.info/pdf/complications.pdf (http://www.surfacehippy.info/pdf/complications.pdf)

As I've written above in my posts, I've had ALL the tests.  Also, as I've said earlier, I am in the midst of selecting an Ortho Surgeon to remove my BHR implants.

Thank you, happyhopper for your kind wishes, and I sincerely hope you enjoy pain free health soon!

QuoteAre there symptoms aside from the intractable pain, that are attributable to the [Nickel] allergy as well? Things to look out for or be aware of? – Dan

Yes, there are.  Besides unexplained pain, effusion, stiffness and/or cutaneous eruptions following joint arthroplasty are the primary symptoms of Metal Allergy.  In fact, patients with metal alloy allergies can even test within acceptable Metal Ion levels. 

The METAL-LTT is generally the diagnosis method of last resort for aseptic painful implants with elevated inflammatory responses.  That definitely holds true in my case.  My X Rays were Negative, yet in the report comments a significant amount of ‘effusion’ was noted around my L BHR prosthesis and a somewhat smaller amount around my R prosthesis as well. 

http://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/metal-allergy/metal-LTT_metal_allergy_testing.html

BTW, I'm very happy to see how well you are doing Dan, and thanks for dropping by.

2fer

Quote10-4 - Moe

Thanks for the affirmation, Moe!

Much appreciated.

2 Fore

I believe every Hippy out there who's lucky enough to have a partner in their healing journey knows what it's like when they just don't understand.  It's hard when your partner sees so much and is right there with you, but they can't know viscerally like you do.  :-\

So, every now and then you need to reach out and tell them more.  In that spirit, I'm sharing this email I sent to Hubs this morning.

QuoteHoney, I'm working on my hips every single day, first and foremost.  In fact, I've tirelessly worked my case for coming up on Five Years now.  I don't tell you everyone I talk to in forums and emails, because it's way too much for you.

I also have at least 2 phone conversations per day directly pertaining to my case.  Currently, I have spoken with at least 5 Ortho offices and have left three msgs with 3 different USA surgeons this week alone.

Forgive me if I don't have the time or the energy to cc you on everything I'm doing.  Next time you wonder if I'm on top of things, you need to ask yourself first why you'd even entertain that question in the first place.

I tell you what I'm doing for my hips in the broadest of strokes because you have your own minutiae to attend to, so you need to trust that I'm On It.

I love you, and I hope you understand.

2-4

QuoteHopefully if you are consulting with the top revision surgeons they may be able to guide you.  Are you able to advise us who you have consulted regarding revision? -happyhopper

Yes.  I’ve narrowed down my surgeon choice to Dr. Delle Valle at Midwest Orthopedics at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago and now have a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. -http://www.rushortho.com/ craig_della_valle.cfm

(His colleague at Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush, Dr. Joshua Jacobs, is the world’s leading metal implant hypersensitivity research scientist.  Their lab ran my March 27th positive Metal – LTT test to Nickel Allergy that I’d ordered thru a local Immunologist.) 

Dr. Craig Delle Valle is published and widely known as an acknowledged leader in reconstructive (revision) surgeries, so of course there is an extraordinary waiting list.  Their scheduling secretary initially said that Delle Valle’s always booked, turns away the large volume of patient’s clamoring to see him, and hand selects the cases he takes on. 

Fortunately, I've been working my own case since my failed BHRs over 2 years ago.  I'd taken it upon myself long ago to follow Midwest Orthopaedics' protocol in an effort to detect my post op pain generator.  Having my ducks in a row was an instrumental factor in getting that rare opening with Dr. Delle Valle; otherwise, his RN said they wouldn't even consider booking an initial evaluation until the patient had completed their prequel appointment protocol.  My appointment is now only a little over a month away!

MIDWEST ORTHOPEDICS PRE-APPOINTMENT PROTOCOL
"Please see below the information needs to send to our office (address below) prior to scheduling an appointment."

-          LTT results

-          OR report

-          Implant record (listing of implant names and catalogue numbers)

-          ESR/CRP  blood test within the past 6 months. (Rules out hip/implant infection)

-          Other sensitivity results and/or allergy testing if performed at an outside facility.

-          Copy of external medical records or note from the surgeon.

-           If being referral by a physician we would like a referral letter.

-          CD's of: MARS-MRI, CT scan, x-rays done with in the last 6 months.

I can rest easy knowing I've done everything in my power to detect the origin of my failed hip resurfacings.  I encourage every Hippy with unexplained troublesome implants to keep on top of all the myriad details and tests needed.  I hope the above protocol helps you work your own case.

Good Luck, Good Vibes, and Godspeed,

2-4-1

It's great you greased the skids for your revisions that way, two4.

Thanks for posting the list, it is a good tool for hippies who may face issues the way you have.

Keeping good thoughts for you, it sounds like this is the way to get you pain free.

Hi Two4 one,
Always good to hear from you!
deb

Yes!!  Tomorrow at 8:15am sharp, I'm getting my left hip revised at the new Rush Hospital in Chicago.  We hope to see a markedly improved revised hip in a matter of weeks.  When that happens, my right hip will then be revised several weeks later.  I'm told this is a difficult surgery because my bone has attached and grown all over my acetabular head, and when they're extracting my old chromium cobalt (that contains Nickel alloy) hardware there's a significant risk for my pelvic bone to shatter.

All of this pain and suffering could have been avoided had my implanting surgeon had taken a simple "costume Jewelry Allergy" history.

If all goes well, I'll have two hips that are pain-free and functional enough to return to work a broker. Thank you so much for all the support you have so generously shared with me.  Would you please keep me and my surgeon Dr. Della Valle in your thoughts, vibes, or prayers? 

Goodnight, and may we all have a healthy recovery and an active life! 

Best of luck today with your revision, all vibes, thoughts and prayers with you on this next leg of your journey.  Hope the extraction certainly does not cause pelvic shatter.  Keep us posted when you get back in the pink, or closer to it anyway.

Dan

Hoping all went well with your first revision today.

Good Luck.  I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

Pat

Welcome to the other side of the other side Two4One. I have been thinking about you!

Boomer

Hope you are doing OK, getting a bit worried...... but assume you have enough to deal with after the surgery...drop us a line when you get up to it.

Dan

Quote from: Two4One on August 20, 2014, 12:33:27 AM
All of this pain and suffering could have been avoided had my implanting surgeon had taken a simple "costume Jewelry Allergy" history.

I thought the "costume jewelry allergy" thing wasn't really correlated with an internal allergy to implants.  I have a pretty significant reaction to some metals on my skin, likely including nickel, to the extent that it doesn't even really need to touch my skin, such as the pins that connect a watch to its band.  However I've not had any problems with surgical stainless, including anchors that have been in one of my shoulders for 15 years and bolts that were in there for maybe 2 years.  If skin sensitivity really is a definite contraindication for BHR, then I might as well abandon the idea right now and start trying to wrap my brain around a future that I don't currently consider the least bit attractive. Hopefully I'm misinterpreting your meaning. 

In either case, I'm also very hopeful that your revision(s) went well.

Twofer - I was just checking in and saw this post. I am so sad you had to go through all of that.  But so glad to see you are on the other side of the first one.  Is the 2nd scheduled yet?  Sending out healing vibes to you and hope they both got GREAT! 

My chromium cobalt bilateral resurfacing revisions to bilateral Titanium and Ceramic THR are now complete, with the R hip done at the end of November 2014.

I had a good recovery from the L THR revision, but the R hip is/was a much weaker and more painful recovery process; this resulted in an biomechanical related R knee patellar Tendonitis revealed in a knee MRI. 

This is my first week of a six week PT round and my knee is super painful at a level "7".  The good news is my hips at their worst are currently merely achy at a level "4".

Has anyone had a recovery from post hip replacement/resurfacing knee tendonitis?  As ever thank you so much for everyone's input.

2fer

First, I want to correct that I had my last ceramic and titanium bilateral hip revisions (to a failed bilateral Birmingham Hip Resurfacing) completed in November 2014 - not Nov 2105.

Secondly, after an almost 2 year recovery, I can most happily report that both hips AND knees do not hurt!!  At most, my hips get stiff after prolonged use and I can't squat as easily.  Those of you who have followed my journey KNOW how amazing this is.

I ended up doing a round of PT for my knees, which did not work.  Then, I researched and found the amazing DIY "Beating Patellar Tendonits" by a Physical Therapist and used it to do an additional 2 months of knee work with a Personal Trainer.  My knees are great now! https://www.amazon.com/Beating-Patellar-Tendonitis-Treatment-Pain-free/dp/1491049731/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1473896232&sr=1-1&keywords=beating+patellar+tendonitis

Recently though, I strained all my chest muscles from overdoing it, so I want to caution anyone who's been confined to a bed or a recliner for years that they'll need to work on whole body muscle atrophy.

I cannot fully express my gratitude to Surface Hippy and all the great people here who know what it's like to be put through the U.S. medical system for years like sausage through a meat grinder.  I hope my story empowers and provides tools for Hippies to fight for and research their recovery because no one will do it for you.

Hi  Thank You for stopping by to tell us how well you are doing.  I am sorry it was such a bad experience with your hip resurfacings.  I am glad you are back to a normal life without pain.  I wish you the very best for a pain free, active life with 2 THR's.  They are not the end of the world, but not what you want due to revisions of your hip resurfacing.

Thanks again for sharing your story.  I will also share it on the main website because it is a very important story.

Pat