My left hip resurfacing is scheduled for January 16 with Dr. Gross. It's been over 5 years since I was diagnosed with arthritis at age 42 and so I CANNOT WAIT for some relief! I am so exhausted from the limping, and can't even begin to imagine the physical problems I've developed from compensating all these years. It's nice to communicate with a "hippy friends" who understand the frustration of limited activity -- I can't even practice free throws on the basketball court with my kids because it torques my hip, and if they toss me a frisbee it better be on target cause it takes me 10 minutes to chase after it and pick it up! Now I'm actually at a point where I often feel like I can't take one more step. It's obviously time to do something.
I'm so fortunate to live in Charleston, SC -- only a 1 1/2 hour drive away from Dr. Gross' Columbia office. I went for my pre-op appt last Thursday -- it went just as so many of you described -- everything flowed like clockwork and Lee and Dr. Gross gave me lots of time and attention. I really enjoyed talking with someone who absolutely loves what he does and obviously is striving to be the very best. I was EXTREMELY disappointed to learn that I have poor bone density -- I never even saw that coming! I'm trying to figure out how I will be able to manage 6 weeks on crutches.
I do have a couple of questions that I'm hoping someone can help me with; just little things, but the answers will help me prepare:
When you wake up from surgery, are you still in the surgical gown? I know Lee puts on the cooling pad, but I was just wondering if it is really difficult to get dressed that first day. Or do you take your first walk while still in the gown? And do most people wear shoes when walking in the hospital, or should I just expect to wear those non-skid socks?
Dr. Gross prescribed Nucynta for pain relief during my recovery at home. I've never taken it (I guess it's only been on the shelves for about 3 years). I don't usually do well with other narcotics (nausea and dizziness), so I am wondering how others reacted to this drug?
I've been telling my husband he can go home after I actually take my first steps -- I guess I just don't see any need for him to sit around with me. He's thinking he might want to stay. What has been your experience? (He is curious, is there wi-fi available at Providence Northeast? :) )
Finally, I'm wondering if there is anyone of Dr. Gross' patients out there who has Tricare Prime Insurance.
Thanks for all the great stories y'all have shared on this website -- it's really a gold mine of information!
Liz
If you are from Charleston, will you be in the hospital just one night? If so, you can leave by early afternoon. It seems like it would be feasible for your husband to stay. There is great wifi, cable TV, etc. Very quickly after surgery, they get you up with a walker. This is to get weight onto the new hip. It was an amazing feeling. You are still in the hospital gown with the non skid socks. I did not get dressed until the next morning and they helped with that. You will have the catheter until the next morning which stunk. Going to the bathroom on your own is one of the discharge requirements. My experience went very smoothly except for nausea from the meds. I was nauseated the next day and threw up on the way home. The nuycenta also made me nauseous at home. I ended up calling the office a day after arriving home and got a prescription anti-nausea medicine. This really helped. If you know you have a tendency to get nauseous I would ask for this prescription right off (I did not know this would be a problem)! Sorry about the bone density issue but it will all turn out well for you! After years of pain, a new functioning hip is a blessing. My worst problem now is wanting to do too much.....how cool to feel "too good" to take it easy ;)
PS- I am from Columbia. My husband and I are heading to Charleston next weekend for my birthday!
Hi Liz
Welcome to Hip Talk. I split the topic so you can have your own story. Now you can just continue to post under your story.
I want to wish you good luck with your upcoming surgery with Dr. Gross. It is best to be conservative and stay on your crutches if you bone density is less than desirable. 6 weeks is a very small piece of your life. It is a small price to pay to be able to be active and out of pain for the rest of your life. You will get along fine. Everyone worries, but adjusts with a little planing and help.
Most people don't get dressed right away. They are in hospital gowns. You normally don't feel like doing much the first few days and what little energy you will have will be needed to walk a bit and move around. If you have some large PJ bottoms, you could wear them with the gown, but make sure they are large and go on and off easily. Normally just a rob over your gown will work. You hip will be swollen a bit and really sore, so clothes must be larger than normal.
Take it easy and things will go well.
Pat
Hi Liz,
I was discharged the next day after surgery, and I don't know if you will be able to leave that quickly since you are not immediately weight bearing. Did Lee or Dr. Gross tell you if that is a factor determining your discharge?
I only took the Nucynta for one day, and it was two days after surgery. I didn't take any pain meds the day after surgery as I had a four hour ride home and was afraid I would get sick in the car. I am very sensitive to pain meds and they usually make me nauseated. I found I really didn't need them at all.
I just kept the hospital gown on the whole time and didn't bother with bottoms or a robe.
I was very blessed to have minimal swelling and no bruising post-surgery, but I was very vigilant about using the ice machine the first week. I was able to put on my regular long tennis pants upon discharge. They are stretchy and were comfortable for the ride home.
You will do great! The hospital takes excellent care of you from start to finish.
Hi Liz,
Welcome to the Surface Hippy community. You pose some really good questions, and I have a few of my own for you.
I related very much to your struggling over 5 years with what sounds like very painful and debilitating OA. I feel for your long slog of pain, and your life becoming smaller each passing day. My own OA, 2yrs of undiagnosed end stage bone on bone, was located on the films' blind spots, and I was therefore bedridden the entire two years without a known cause or solution. How long have you been "at a point where I often feel like I can't take one more step"?
To avoid the narcotic side effects, Promethazine is the only anti nausea medication that works for me, and it works beautifully. Promethazine allows me to get great pain relief without being deathly ill:). None of the other anti nausea medications work at all for me in conjunction with pain medications. Liz, I think you'll find pain relief quite a bit easier with the right anti nausea medication drugs. I'm wondering what pain drugs are you taking now?
I found Nucynta to be completely ineffective as a pain killer before my bilateral resurfacing. Interestingly, you pointed out how new this drug is; I make it a firm policy only to take 'old' drugs, of any kind, that have been on the market for at least 5 years, or preferably a decade or longer. If I were you, I'd also ask my family doctor about the tried and true pain and/or narcotic medications that have a bit less nausea & side effects, and then discuss proactively with Dr. Gross the desired prescribed pain medications that you feel would work best for you and your pain tolerance.
I looked forward every afternoon to visiting hours and seeing my husband the 3 nights and 4 days I was hospitalized. I felt a bit lonely, and it was so nice to be able to chat and have him on my recovery team. Turns out, I needed him quite a bit at the end of my stay, and so I'm really glad that I had him in my corner. If you can afford it and you find your Hubs' company pleasant, I strongly advise he books a nearby hotel for sleep, and work from your room. That's what my Hubs did. While I was resting and 'talking' with my 'net buddies on my laptop, Hubs worked along side me for his company - all from the comforts of our private wireless accessible hospital suite.
Liz, if you baby your bone density with a passion, your hip will reward you by becoming stronger than before your surgery. Dr. Gross is well known for working with bone density issues, so you are in great hands!
Best wishes on your upcoming resurfacing, and I look forward to seeing your recovery posts!
One
Was nucynta all he prescribed or was that for the less severe pain? I'd think he'd give percocet or oxycontin too for the first week at least. He better. I'm scheduled for 3/14 and am not thrilled about the prospect of a 10 hour drive home (wife driving)with a questionable pain reliever. Yikes! Thats a scary looking surgery.
Wow! I'm so glad I decided to post on this site -- you are all so encouraging! In response to some of your comments, here goes:
In the past, I have taken Promethegan suppositories (so I wouldn't throw them up) to treat narcotic-induced nausea, and it worked well. Dr. Gross did prescribe another anti-nausea med for me to take home. My plan is to stay with what he has prescribed (including the Nucynta, and if I have any trouble I will simply call him and ask for something different. I have hardly been taking any pain medication for my hip these past few years -- I am always afraid of side effects (especially long-term), for some bizarre reason I have been reluctant to mask the problem with meds, and I like to think I have high pain tolerance (I've experienced natural child-birth and a kidney stone). Don't get me wrong, I DON'T WANT to feel any pain -- it's just that I fear nausea much-much more! I am encouraged by the stories of patients getting off pain meds quickly.
I'll leave the decision to go/stay up to my husband. If we can have our iPads, we will have all we need! Even with the bone density issue, Dr. Gross says I can expect to be discharged around noon on Tuesday -- I LOVE this part of his post-op plan! It makes so much sense to get out of the hospital as soon as possible.
So here's another thought: Are any of you embarrassed about your arthritis? I guess I am still dealing with the idea that my body is not perfect -- and now this osteopenia diagnosis has me face-to-face with my imperfections. Like most of you, I was once an athlete and I am also a graduate of the Coast Guard Academy where I was conditioned to think I could push my body to do anything with the proper preparation. Frankly, the reality is depressing.
Liz
HippyLiz, you are singing my song - embarrassed by this arthritis so young (I'm 46) esp when others that do my sports are at such a higher level and have more serious crashes, etc, how in the world can I be so 'damaged' to need this major of a surgery?!? My surgery is 1/19 - so I am right behind you. At that 2 weeks out stage, so off all NSAIDS and trying to deal with the pain with just some Tylenol 3 as all other meds make me jittery and nauseaus. And just completed 5 days of driving - 2200 miles - which I did the majority of. Laying flat on the couch today trying to recoup.
Gaining so much strength and comfort from Aerial, "One" and the other recent hippies.
I'm not sure if I'm embarrassed about my OA or just vane. I use a cane at home and twice shopping over the holiday but did not want to go to work with it (could have used it though and probably looked more foolish limping and grimacing with pain). I know this is crazy as I will be using some type of aide when I return.
Liz,
I'm not embarrassed by it, but the reality of the exent and foreverness of the decline with OA is part of the down side of the whole experience before surgery. Once the hip is fixed and you've had some months of surgical recovery behind you, though, you realize you are definitely better than you had been for a very long time. Now 3 months after and about 7 weeks prior to the other hip being fixed, my new hip is a source of smooth, pain free motion, and contrasts with the OA'd hip dramtically.
My ipad was great in the hospital, woke up could not sleep, jumped on wifi and bought some relaxing music from years ago, and listened to it while falling back to sleep. Misic really helped with the pain,
Dan
First of all, welcome to the sight and good luck with your surgery.
I think you are right about your husband; once you are up to your room, you will be busy with doctors and nurses and he'll just be sitting around bored. I was in NYU Joint Disease Hosp and Rusk Rehab Hosp for nine days with bilaterals and my wife just came in every other day to have lunch with me and give me clean workout shorts and T shirts. We did just fine.
Another thing is; try not to go home the next day. Stay another day or even two and let them take care of you when you need them most. Too many people on this sight get home and then get in trouble with the pain and mobility and then have get on the phone and get to the drug store for help. If you stay in the Hosp, all you have to do is push the button.
I'm with Woody on staying at the hospital longer than one measly day! Even spending 4 days in the hospital was not enough. When I got home from the hospital, my husband had to wipe me off after I did my business, wait on me hand and foot, night and day, and he suffered sleep deprivation right along with me.
It was a very painful and emotionally difficult time because I also had anticoagulant complications. Had I stayed in a rehab facility or the hospital, Hubs and I would not have been at each others' throat! After the 1st week home from the hospital (2 weeks post op), everything calmed down, we hit the 'Reset Button', and the love-in resumed. :-*
Honestly, if all goes well (and Dr. Gross doesn't keep patients longer because of bone density issues) you are pretty much ready to go the next afternoon. He does a good job with pain control and the surgery is minimally invasive (4 inch incision). He uses surgical adhesive, no staples and no drain plus a patch that you leave on for a week so you can shower right off. I'm not sure what the protocol is in deciding if you stay longer. He is pretty set on the one night thing for in state patients. I waited until 4:00 to leave because my husband came for me after work. The others who had surgery that day were gone by 2:00. Really a quick process!
QuoteSo here's another thought: Are any of you embarrassed about your arthritis? I guess I am still dealing with the idea that my body is not perfect -- and now this osteopenia diagnosis has me face-to-face with my imperfections.
Liz,
I was 48 and fit when my end stage bilateral OA came on all at once in one afternoon of August 2009. I was walking my dog & had shooting pains in both hips that had me bursting into tears on the spot and almost dropping to the ground.
Turns out, my bone on bone OA had simultaneously torn out both hips' labrums. I was on narcotics the next day, barely able to even limp, and then had failed arthroscopic surgery in both hips by February 2010. The location of my bilateral OA was so deep in the socket and at the center top of my femurs that the scope surgeon missed it completely & pronounced me cured when he sewed up my labral tears and sawed down the sides of my hip socket and femoral heads.
In short order, I was then shuffled off by my family doctor to a pain management specialist, and I was embarrassed to find myself taking Class A narcotics that barely made a dent in my hip's disabling pain. I was humiliated when my arthroscopy surgeon said my scopes were a success and shamed when he said there was nothing wrong with me except that I'd become dependent on pain drugs.
Through the 2+ years before resurfacing, I felt like crud when over a dozen Midwest OAs pronounced my films normal and told me I was a drug addict. By March 2010, I was embarrassed that during the day I stayed flat on my back in a rented hospital bed in my living room, and at night I stayed as still as I could, again flat on my back, in my bed upstairs.
I felt like I had something emotionally wrong with me, because I kept getting a 'normal' diagnosis in spite of taking very hard drugs and sobbing everyday from pain. My pain management doctor was
the only one who believed I had a "mechanical" problem, and he encouraged me to send my films to the world famous east coast, west coast, and Colorado orthopedic surgeons for their 2nd opinions. Sure enough, three of these renowned surgeons emailed me with the diagnosis of end stage OA, explaining why it wasn't showing in all my films, and recommended immediate bilateral total hip replacements.
Even after I took their written opinions to more local Orthopods, I was mortified when they dismissed their findings and said there was nothing wrong with me, and I needed to wean off the 'uneccessary' pain medications immediately.
My embarrassment and shame was deeply disturbing - until
finally after two flights to Vail Colorado, the great Philippon pronounced me a candidate for immediate bilateral THRs. When I asked his opinion of hip resurfacing, he then said that was a fine alternative to THR.
I'm not embarrassed anymore that I was struck down without warning and confined to my bed at age 48. I'm now proud I made it through this nightmare. I'm elated that this once disabling life ending affliction is rapidly becoming a distant forgotten ailment in my rearview mirror.
Wow, I guess you hit a nerve with your question.
As a squash player competing at a high National level for well over 10 years, playing multiple sports & leading an extremely active lifestyle, I was completely side swiped by the news I had OA in my hips at 39 yrs old (at the time). For years I'd been treated for hip flexor issues until I finally had an X-ray & was told the news. I really found it hard to swallow. OA progressed rapidly in the lead up to my op just over 6 weeks ago and for years (like many) I have been existing with debilitating pain. I was pi$$ed of that my body had let me down, but decided then & there that I would never let it beat me. I felt fortunate - and still do, that there's the option of resurfacing as opposed to THR.
Embarrassment has never come into it. My mates keep me in check, with the "come on old man" etc. It's nothing to be embarrassed about, it's needs to be dealt with appropriately - but life goes on.
You'll feel brand new with your new hip & proud of what you'll be achieving physically soon after installation of your shiney new part, I'm sure.
I'm back in the office tomorrow & are hanging up my post op X-rays to show off my new bionic hip!
Cherz & keep us posted,
Kiwi
Hi Liz,
I will be just a week behind you - I'm scheduled for 1/23 and 1/25 with Dr. Gross. I too had the bone density issue come out of nowwhere. I was a runner for nearly 15 years and super-athletic even as my hips continued to deteriorate but I was blindsided by the bone density thing. My scores were unfortunately just on the border so Dr. Gross is putting me on the slow protocol b/c of doing bilateral. I have no idea how I will manage crutches for 6 weeks especially because I have an 8-month old baby (I'm going to have full-time help) but honestly we just figure these things out as we go along I've learned. As much as it helps to be prepared, it is also important not to stress too much about the bone density thing and know that 6 weeks isn't all that long in the scheme of things and you'll figure it out as you go along.
Good Luck!
Amy
Thanks for the encouragement, Amy! You are absolutely right -- we will figure it out. if you don't mind, I think I am going to get through this by thinking of you and how you are going to manage it all with an 8 month old baby!
I'll let you know how it goes. Where will you be travelling from?
Well I'm glad putting things in perspective was helpful...even if it makes me a little worried that maybe I am being too confident in my abilities. :-\
I guess I see it this way: I had shoulder surgery in October to fix a torn biceps tendon and general rotator cuff fraying, etc. I had stressed about that surgery for literally 9 months since it first started bothering me in Januaury of 2011. I was completely terrified of how I would manage having a small baby (because I wouldn't be able to pick her up, etc). In the end, the surgery was less extensive than we had originally thought so that made a big difference but overall I realized I had stressed myself out about it way more than was necessary. Some people said things like "You're crazy, why can't you wait until she is older" or "What are you thinking?", etc etc which only fueled my anxiety. But the truth is, there is honestly NO GOOD TIME for surgery when you have a small child - especially a child under age 3 that still wants to be held so much of the time. I went back and forth over whether to try and wait until she was a year and could possibly walk, etc but in the end I really decided that there were a thousand ways to spin it and no matter what it would still be inconvenient and a pain in the ass. Anyway, the first two weeks were kinda tough as I was in quite a bit of pain but after that we just figured ways around things and I managed really well till all of my restrictions were up at 6 weeks. I know that this time around is going to be a lot harder because of the crutches but I guess my point is that worrying about it now doesn't change anything. Its 6 weeks and its going to be a pain the ass for sure and I'll probably wish many times that I had never done the surgery but then time will pass and it will be over with and *fingers crossed* will not have to worry about my hip failing me again when my daughter is 1, 2 and every year after that.
I am sure there will be a few slip-ups here and there in terms of strict adherence to the protocol but I plan to observe Dr. G's precautions to the letter as much as possible. I defnitelly considered going to a different surgeon who had a less strict protocol for bone density issues but that would be stupid if I ended up having a femoral neck fracture for that reason.
You will be fine. I have been through two WAY WAY worse surgeries in terms of pain (hip scopes which are infinitely more painful than resurfacing by most peoples' accounts) even though the trauma of hip resurfacing is initially much greater. Maybe that is where the confidence comes from and maybe I should be more humble...but for me the only way to get through this is just to remind myself what I've been through before and that it will all be mostly past me by spring.
Oh, and I'm coming from Colorado - Dr. Gross has quite a following here actually. He has done over 60 people from the Centennial state.
My husband and daughter will staying behind and my father and mother will take turns spending time with me in the hospital (Dad lives in FL and mom in Boston so they will fly down and split up the days).
What am I looking forward to most about this surgery besides getting my life back and getting it behind me? The fact that I will have 5 full nights of baby-free sleep in the hospital ;D
Big day ahead of me -- although I have tried my best to keep on top of things, it seems like there is still a ton of stuff for me to do before we head up to Columbia later today. Fortunately, my sister flew down from NY to stay with me until January 25. She has already been cooking and freezing meals and helping me with my surgery "prep list."
My husband and I will drive up to Columbia this afternoon...not sure how we can time it with the football playoff games -- thank goodness he has XM radio in his car. I'm thinking maybe we will look for a nice Chinese restaurant for some wonton soup (something brothy -- I am still worried about being nauseated after the surgery). I am scheduled to arrive at Providence NE at 6:30 Monday morning for my 9 am surgery. My plan is to distract myself with several Words With Friends games while I am waiting.
Surprisingly, I am really not all that nervous any more. (The bazillion activities of my 2 kids have been a great distraction.) The time is FINALLY here and the posts on this site have given me so much confidence in the process and the outcome. My prayer is that God will guide the hands and decisions of Dr. Gross and his team, and that I will have the fortitude to follow all post-op instructions.
I'll try to post something as soon as I can after surgery -- I so appreciated the stories shared by others!
Good Luck, Liz.
Dr. Gross just fixed me up on Jan. 11th. I'll be brief with my experience.
I have had good pain relief and no nausea at all from Nucynta. I don't have experience with other narcotics to make any comparison, though, and I typically have a stable stomach.
We were discharged the next day, which was fine with me. Upon returning home, I received a letter from my insurance company stating that they would pay for 1 night's stay. I can't imagine staying an extra day and having to pay that bill out of pocket.
And I'm not really embarrassed by this condition, just disappointed. But, like many other men, I have a misshapen femoral head that degrades the cartilage, so there was nothing I could do about it. I was still having good weeks and bad weeks prior to surgery.....in fact I ran 4 miles on Monday before we left for Columbia. I decided not to wait until I was completely incapacitated, since I was already giving up the things I like to do (for the most part).
I also found out I have poor bone density....particulary in L4 of my lumbar spine. This really upset me, as I - like many here - have been athletic all my life and have lifted weights for 30 years. I will be taking the bone density drug he prescribed, and I've given up drinking all soda. I have heard that Diet Coke can leach calcium from the bones, and I drank a lot of it. Never again. In a way, I'm glad I didn't put it off, since I might have continued to degrade my bone health and ended up with a broken back and....possibly....be paralyzed. Yikes.
Good luck. Dr. Gross and his staff simply are the best. Totally confidence inspiring. Come back and let us know how you're doing.
- Andy
Good luck, Liz - you'll feel much better, despite the operation aches, the lack of OA pain is amazing. Great luck and keep us posted.
Quote from: Hippyliz on January 15, 2012, 07:37:22 AM
Surprisingly, I am really not all that nervous any more.
Liz,
It was that way with me. When the time came to go to the hospital the Monday morning of my surgery, I actually felt very relieved. Of course a little anxious, but not at all freaking out like I thought I would. I'm sure it will be the same for you.
You have a fantastic surgeon and surgical assistant and a fantastic hospital. I don't like hospitals but I love Providence and went back there to visit during my 6 week post op recheck.
I'm looking forward to your first post after you become a Hippy. Like Hernanu says, the lack of OA pain is amazing. You'll see!
Ditto Newdog! By the time surgery day got here I was excited. I was so ready for an end to the pain. The surgery and hospital stay will be over before you know it and you'll be out the door to recovery. The first week is a challenge but it will get better! Good luck!
My wife and I are still here in Columbia at the Courtyard 5 days post op.....flight home doesn't leave till the 18th....let me know if you need some moral support! It'll go great!
Liz,
I hope your experience was great, and that you feel no pain. They do such a good job of managing that in the hospital, that you should feel good. Congrats!
Andy
:D POSITIVE VIBES FOR HIPPYLIZ!!!! ;D
Peace be with you, Liz!
I pray that God does hold you and Dr. Gross in his care and that you feel the OA's absence right away. May you know confidence and strength in your recovery. May all your friends and family support you with tender care and help you with every little thing without even being asked. Bless you and your family as you walk toward your bright future, knowing everything will be so much better now.
Amen
2-4
Well, it's the morning after my surgery and I feel great! Thank you all for your kind words -- I loved your prayer, Amen!
My experience went just as was described by so many of you. Right now I feel a little bit of soreness near the incision, but they just turned on the ice unit, so I'm feeling relief already. When I say soreness, it's very minor -- maybe 2 out of 10.
The very nice nurse told me they usually remove the catheter at 6:am (it's 7 now) but my blood pressure is low (88/50) so they are giving me fast IV push for 2 hours.
I would love to get out of this bed, but I am feeling pretty light headed. I was also "woozy" yesterday during my first walk, and I SO EMBARRASSINGLY got sick in front of everyone as we passed the main desk. Jeez! Thank goodness they got a bag for me in time. They gave more anti-nausea drugs and I don't feel nauseated at all -- just really sleepy.
I had no trouble sleeping last night... I did have to call the nurse once because the catheter tube got a kink it it when I did my exercises -- I was trying to tough it out which was stupid because once she straightened it out I had instant relief! The private room is really nice and other than the checks of my vitals, it was quiet all night long
One thing that did catch me off guard is that they ask for a urine sample before you get prepped for surgery. Well, I though I was being a good patient by emptying my bladder while we were in the waiting room. So my recommendation is to wait until they call you back to the Pre-Sugery area.
While I was being prepped I only saw Dr. Gross for a few seconds. He stopped by to sign papers and say "hi." I did speak with Lee. She wrote a prescription for some anti-nausea meds to take home. I'm pretty sure i was their second patient of the day.
And the last thing I remember in the OR was getting the spinal block. It didn't hurt at all. They laid me down and the next thing I knew I was waking up in the recovery room (I think it was about 11:30ish)
They brought me a nice looking lunch and then what looked like a yummy lasagna dinner, but I just don't feel like eating. My stomach doesn't hurt at all, it's just that I'm not hungry. I've been munching on some crackers I brought from home.
My PT class is at 10:00, and my husband is driving back up from Charleston to join me. He did stay until about 6 pm yesterday and it was nice to have him around. I'm looking forward to meeting some more of Dr. Gross' patients. I guess he did 5 resurfacings yesterday.
I had planned on catching up on some reading yesterday -- I brought magazines, crosswords and my IPad, but I really just felt like dozing between games of Words with Friends.
I'll post some more later this week.
I'M SO HAPPY to have the surgery behind me! I feel so blessed -- not everyone has the knowledge or means to have a resurfacing.
Liz
Goodmorning and congrats!
I know it may sound crazy, but i actually enjoyed my time in the hospital in SC. Its a pretty well run machine and we don't get grits up here. :)
Take it easy and get strong.
-Bernie
Hi Liz
Glad to hear all went well. Take it easy and stay in touch when you can.
Good Luck.
Pat
That's great Liz. Don't rush anything, relax and enjoy the lack of OA. Let us know how you are.
I had some of the same things happen to me...went to the bathroom while waiting for pre-op, and they had to do a blood test for pregnancy since I couldn't produce a sample. The worst was when I woke up in the middle of the night to use the bathroom and then realized I shouldn't have that feeling since I had a catheter which had a kink in the line. I also upchucked in the hallway the first time they got me up with a walker.
Wow we have a bunch of nausea folks here. :'( The only part of my experience that didn't go so well was nausea! I nicely waited to "toss it" until I got into my husband car. I lost it before we even hit the main road out of the hospital. Luckily I had a towel there in the car. Anyway, best of luck in the recovery. I had a serious lack of appetite after surgery for about a week. I am still down about 4 or so pounds. Try to eat! Safe travels back to Charleston and good luck with your recovery! Remember, you will be so much better after a week! First week is a challenge but hang in there!
Aerial is right about week 1. On day 2-3, it was all about staying ahead of the pain, and I couldn't believe the stories of people who trailed off the meds in week one. Here I am on day 6, taking only Tylenol extended release. It improves so rapidly that you won't believe it's possible. At least, I hope that you have the same experience I have had so far. You can do this.
Welcome, Liz, to your recovery! By this summer, you will be running around without a care in the world.
Congratulations, glad you are feeling well. I was very nauseous too. They gave me pills in the hospital to help. Ginger ale has been my friend at home. My appetite is still under par but I loosing a few pounds will not hurt me.
Congrats HippyLiz!
And the "hurling" award goes to...Liz! Right in front of the main desk, wow, that's impressive! Sorry, Liz, I'm just having fun. ;D I remember the hospital very well.
That's great that you are done! Yes, we are so blessed to know about hip resurfacing and have the means to have it done. You'll be amazed at how the new hip feels compared to the old one. Good for you! Let us know how you are doing.
So it's been nearly 48 hours since surgeryand I have to say I feel great! I slept all the way home. Moving from the car into the house was a challenge because of the stairs and because I was stll loopy from the Oxycotin they gave me before I was discharged. I did get sick about 3 hours later, but after that, I felt GREAT! (he-he)
Then I slept like a baby (in my bed) and getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom (once) was easier than I anticipated. My husband helped me and we just moved very slowly.
I woke up with NO PAIN. You were all so right - the absence of OA pain is so noticeable!
My operative hip is a bit swollen and bruised. I ate a nice breakfast (first real meal since the surgery), taken all my morning meds (whew! There's a LOT of 'em) and now I'm feeling a little light headed but HAPPY!!
Really happy for you, Liz. All upwards now, a few plateaus, but don't sweat those. Sounds excellent.
Remember to keep the ice machine going! :)