Almost a week!
I had my initial pre-op appt 1 week prior to surgery and met Dr. B. for the first time. He was surprised I was already scheduled for surgery with him next week: "How did you get on my schedule?". Ummm, I was a little taken back. I said we had a phone consultation but he still seemed perplexed. His PA and I had spoke many times and he was the one who gave me the OR date. However I managed to get on the schedule it seemed like a departure from normal. And I was certainly at that point going to have a hissy fit of the biggest possible type if anyone suggested moving that date! But he just moved on.
Pre-op phyisical was done by a PA in pre-admission testing, including blood work, general physical, blood work to include typing and crossing if needed. I was then sent to Ortho where new Xrays were obtained and then appt with Dr. Brooks.
He is a very confident physician. After he looked at my Xray he said, So we are going to do your Right Hip. And then we'll be doing your left one. Sigh. I knew things were deteriorating in that hip also but hard to pay to much attention when I was so significantly hobbled by my right one. Asking for some feedback on my Xrays-arthrits due to congenital hip dysplasia- he was very matter of fact. They look terrible. I told him I would be very upset at this point if I ended up with a THR. He said, "You should be. We going to give you a BHR." That is what I wanted to hear!! I felt completely content at that moment. My over arching worry during this time was that somehow my skewed anatomy and degree of arthirits would, at the last moment, take away the resurfacing option. He has a very confident demeanor, which as a RN, I want and need in a surgeon. He is very business like and as I was listening to him chat up all preop patients,( I am nosey) he seemed a little more relaxed with the men. Just an observation. Again, I felt like I had really done my homework and it was the video on this website of his interview with Pat that convinced my that he was "my guy". The one thing that surprised me is how little he wants done to that leg post op, re: strength training for one full year. He is very wary of femur fxs and we spent a fair amount of time going over that. I am more than willing to sign on to committing a year of no strength training on that operated leg, instead concentrate on increasing rom and flexibiltiy. Now, knowing that though, it does prompt me to go quicker with my Left hip in order to decrease the time I will not be skiing, running etc. It seems logical to me and I am on board
Day of Surgery went well. Called the night before and found out the time to show up. Everything seemed to go very smoothly. The hospital itself is old and the patients room very tiny and crowded with two patients with the ortho trapeze cage over the beds. Staff was really lovely and worked very hard to stay on top of needs. I was religious about keeping ice on it and pretty much alwys had a bag of ice round the clock. I was discharged in three days feeling better each day. Dr. Brooks d/c you with PT to do at home and the PT at hospital went over all of his protocols. You are also discharged home to crutches for six weeks. Another surpirse to me was being discharged home on the electric leg compression stockings. He uses these for two weeks post op instead of anti-coagulant therapy. I find them comfortable and relaxing but when you are walking around you have to hang the battery back around your neck as your crutch around. It has not been that big a deal except for dressing as you now have these large blue tubes attached to stockings which make fashion a little difficult! I've opted to just wear nightgowns at home this week. And left the hospital in a skirt for the long drive home.
So Almost a week. Feeling well. Percocet as needed which is really helping. Doing my PT religiously. Feeling pretty good! Thanks to all for the support. Ann B
Topic: BHR/Dr. Brooks, Cleveland Clinic Euclid Hospital/ 4/28/2010 (Read 2390 times)
Recent Posts
