I'm back! 1 week post-op as of tomorrow, 1/29/08!

[takilasunrise]

Hi, everyone!  I'm just about 1 week post-op.  I came home on Friday, 1/25/08, afternoon.  The first 2 days after my surgery, I was really wandering why the heck I did this!  And mostly because I couldn't move!  And any little movement caused some major pain!  Having to go to the bathroom was the only reason I would need to get up, but I had to do it.  Getting back in bed was just as hard.  They had me doing physical therapy starting Wed.  My first therapy was just getting up into the wheelchair and washing up, etc.  Then in the afternoon, they took me down to their gym, and I had to get up and walk with the walker and then with crutches.  The next day, they had me go up and down the stairs with my crutches.  By Thursday, my attitude was much better as I was starting to move without the extreme pain, plus I had figured out how to get in and out of bed.  It was very frustrating for me to have to be helped each and every time I had to use the bathroom.  They had a bedside commode for me to use, so I didn't have to go very far, but it was still the hardest thing to do.  I have had a couple of moments of crying because of the pain and frustration.  Then I got home.  My husband was trying real hard to be helpful, but he's just not as gentle as the nurses are.  I tried to sleep flat on our couch in the living room, but it was too uncomfortable and too close to the window so I was freezing.  I ended up moving to the loveseat which has the built-in recliner chair in it.  I slept great in it reclined.  It's still an effort to get up out of it, because it is soft and low and doesn't have two arms to push up out of it.  We were able to find a loaner bedside commode.  My husband made some phone calls and The Lion's Club loans out medical equipment for free!  We have that downstairs for me to use, but I will take the stairs and use the bathroom for other "stuff".  I will be setting up my physical therapy this morning.  I will have to go 3 times a week for 3 weeks.  I have to take a prescription blood thinner for 2 weeks so I don't get blood clots.  My incision is not pretty.  It's probably a good 8 inches long with staples.  They will remove them at my 10 day check up with the doctor.  Right now, I think the majority of the pain is from the incision.  My thigh and cheek is pretty swollen.  I ice my incision 4 times a day.  I am using frozen peas as my ice pack and it works great!  As I read before someone describing the pain, it feels like they've been kicked in the a** end by an elephant!  I would have to agree!  This is when you really find out about your marriage, in good times and in bad....for better or for worse.  The first few days, I looked like a ghost, I had hospital hair, my thigh and rear-end looks like Frankenstein's, he has to change my dressing for me and I get cranky pretty easy PLUS the husband has to do ALL the household chores that I usually do.  So far, so good!  I'm going up and down the stairs pretty well, now, but I do get easily tired.  Whenever I get up, I do a couple of "laps", as my husband calls them, around the house to stretch out.  And it's true, when you start to ache, get up and move (do laps) and you will feel better.  After sitting too long, you get real stiff and achy.  Sitting and standing up still seems to be the biggest challenge for me along with sitting on the potty.  Challenging and uncomfortable, sometimes painful.  It is real easy to forget your "hip rules/precautions".  The discomfort will usually stop you but habits are hard to break!  I've been taking sponge baths so far.  I may try to take an actual shower today now that I can lift my leg backwards at the knee (to get into the bathtub).  I will continue to update my posts! 

I am looking forward to see how things are once I heal up; to see if the surgery was successful without anymore hip pain! 

[takilasunrise]

Hi, everyone!  I'm just about 1 week post-op.  I came home on Friday, 1/25/08, afternoon.  The first 2 days after my surgery, I was really wandering why the heck I did this!  And mostly because I couldn't move!  And any little movement caused some major pain!  Having to go to the bathroom was the only reason I would need to get up, but I had to do it.  Getting back in bed was just as hard.  They had me doing physical therapy starting Wed.  My first therapy was just getting up into the wheelchair and washing up, etc.  Then in the afternoon, they took me down to their gym, and I had to get up and walk with the walker and then with crutches.  The next day, they had me go up and down the stairs with my crutches.  By Thursday, my attitude was much better as I was starting to move without the extreme pain, plus I had figured out how to get in and out of bed.  It was very frustrating for me to have to be helped each and every time I had to use the bathroom.  They had a bedside commode for me to use, so I didn't have to go very far, but it was still the hardest thing to do.  I have had a couple of moments of crying because of the pain and frustration.  Then I got home.  My husband was trying real hard to be helpful, but he's just not as gentle as the nurses are.  I tried to sleep flat on our couch in the living room, but it was too uncomfortable and too close to the window so I was freezing.  I ended up moving to the loveseat which has the built-in recliner chair in it.  I slept great in it reclined.  It's still an effort to get up out of it, because it is soft and low and doesn't have two arms to push up out of it.  We were able to find a loaner bedside commode.  My husband made some phone calls and The Lion's Club loans out medical equipment for free!  We have that downstairs for me to use, but I will take the stairs and use the bathroom for other "stuff".  I will be setting up my physical therapy this morning.  I will have to go 3 times a week for 3 weeks.  I have to take a prescription blood thinner for 2 weeks so I don't get blood clots.  My incision is not pretty.  It's probably a good 8 inches long with staples.  They will remove them at my 10 day check up with the doctor.  Right now, I think the majority of the pain is from the incision.  My thigh and cheek is pretty swollen.  I ice my incision 4 times a day.  I am using frozen peas as my ice pack and it works great!  As I read before someone describing the pain, it feels like they've been kicked in the a** end by an elephant!  I would have to agree!  This is when you really find out about your marriage, in good times and in bad....for better or for worse.  The first few days, I looked like a ghost, I had hospital hair, my thigh and rear-end looks like Frankenstein's, he has to change my dressing for me and I get cranky pretty easy PLUS the husband has to do ALL the household chores that I usually do.  So far, so good!  I'm going up and down the stairs pretty well, now, but I do get easily tired.  Whenever I get up, I do a couple of "laps", as my husband calls them, around the house to stretch out.  And it's true, when you start to ache, get up and move (do laps) and you will feel better.  After sitting too long, you get real stiff and achy.  Sitting and standing up still seems to be the biggest challenge for me along with sitting on the potty.  Challenging and uncomfortable, sometimes painful.  It is real easy to forget your "hip rules/precautions".  The discomfort will usually stop you but habits are hard to break!  I've been taking sponge baths so far.  I may try to take an actual shower today now that I can lift my leg backwards at the knee (to get into the bathtub).  I will continue to update my posts! 

I am looking forward to see how things are once I heal up; to see if the surgery was successful without anymore hip pain! 

I guess I need to add the hip info now.........

Marni
Right side BHR, Dr. Jeffrey Butler, 1/22/2008

[Pat Walter]

Hi Marni

Congratulations on the new hip!  It will get better - and better and better.

It is sometimes a slow uphill climb for some people.  Sounds like you have a great husband.

I loved my recliner after I got home from Belgium.  I had to wait almost 12 days post op to sleep in mine since I was still living at the Holiday Inn before that.

This is really major surgery even thought it is called a hip resurfacing.  It is a full hip replacement and is not easy on the body. The only good part is that we all eventually recover and all this stuff right after surgery becomes just a memory.

I hope things start to get better for you quickly.

I always had to get up and move around after sitting for 1/2 - 1 hour.  Did a lot of walking at the Holiday Inn.  Lots of long halls.

Good Luck and keep in touch.

Pat

[Pat Walter]

Hi Marni

I have your story posted on the websit  http://www.surfacehippy.info/hipstories08/marni08.php

I look forward to posting updates for you.

I hope things go well for you.

Pat

[momzer2]

Takila,

Hey girl, told you your butt would feel like an elephant kicked you!!  But isn't it great NOT to have the hip/groin pain.  The pain is surgical, but it gets better every day.  Just hang in there.  The first 10 days are the hardest.  The rest is all downhill!!      And don't those peas work great.  Another good trick, once you can get your incision wet--freeze water in styrofoam cups, (they have to be styrofoam) then peel away the TOP half of the cup, this gives you a place to hold while icing the skin directly for about 3-5 minutes.  be sure to have a towel to catch the run-off!!  It will make the area pain-free in a jiffy.  Feels great when you're done.  My PT gal taught me this trick for after therapy, or when it just plain aches.  I would say that after about 8-10 weeks my butt didn't hurt any.  After the first few weeks the pain really subsides to more of an ache, but not a bad one. 

And I understand the part about husbands just not being as good as a nurse (especially since I should know--I am a nurse).  I think the main problem is that men just don't handle all the house stress well.  And let's be honest, men don't always feel competent to 'nurture'.  They aren't usually taught how (or maybe it's the testosterone--haha).  Anyway, I hope you feel better soon.  Keep you chin up..

Karen