Hi
I checked in to Ward 2 of the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, England @ 4pm Wed 2nd Jan 2013.
I was allocated bed b in room 10, a spacious 4 bed room with a large shower / toilet room. Shortly after, another of Mr Treacy's patients checked in to room 10 also. He would be having a BHR fitted to his left hip the following day. We spent the evening sharing our experiences and naturally developing a supportive friendship to aid each other upto and beyond the operation itself.
Later in the evening, Mr Treacy's registrar confirmed that my fellow patient would be operated on at @ 9am the next day, and I would follow at @ 10am. Each operation estimated to take @ 30minutes.
I read until @ 1am - "A Street Cat named Bob" - a recent true story about a stray cat and it's adopted owner in central London.
At 10am on Thursday 3rd Jan 2013 I was indeed in the room next to the operating theatre, being made ready for the operation. Mr Treacy came in to say the previous operation had gone well and that they would shortly be ready for me. I understand the complexities of the BHR operation but I honestly felt very safe in Mr Treacy's hands and not afraid.
At @ 1:20pm I was coming back to life in the recovery room, and a short time later rejoined my fellow patient in room 10 on Ward 2 with the instructions to remain on my back for 24 hours. I recall being pleasantly surprised that I felt no pain or soreness from the operation. An inflating / deflating lower leg device was fitted to aid circulation until I was mobile on crutches. Thereafter lower leg compression stockings were to be worn for 6 weeks.
I quickly settled down with a cup of tea and some toast and happily carried on reading my book. The physiotherapist visited briefly to get me started on the required exercise routine.
For the operation I had been given a general anaesthetic and then some sort of spinal anaesthetic (not an epidural) - the latter anaesthetic apparently to try and prevent the need for a catheter.
Within a few hours I began to feel unwell and had to put down my book. Apparently my blood pressure dropped significantly beyond normal and I passed out, thankfully activating some alarms to attract the attention of the nurses. When they were coaxing me back to life I threw up a number of times too. From then on until midnight I was monitored every 15 mins and slowly began to feel better. The nurses informed me that it was a reaction, which some patients have, to the effect of the anaesthetic wearing off.
In the early evening two patients filled the remaining beds in the room. They had both just been fitted with a new knee joint by a different surgeon. All four of us developed a friendly supportive relationship which I found helpful.
Anti-coagulation injections were started and were to be continued for 4 weeks. Not being particularly fond of injections I was anxious at the thought of having to do this myself. If anyone else has similar concerns please don't worry. They are of a child type friendly design and so simple and pain free to self-administer into a non sensitive pinch of skin @ 2 inches either side of your 'belly button' - the nurse shows you the correct method of use and location.
The following day, friday 4th Jan, I felt good and the physiotherapist visited. I was able to get out of bed and use a zimmer frame (walking aid) from my bed to the shower / toilet room. In the early afternoon the physiotherapist saw me exploring outside my room using the zimmer frame and suggested I try using a pair of crutches. After a monitored period of tuition I was declared mobile and, with Mr Treacy's agreement, would be allowed home the next day. Mr Treacy confirmed this when he visited later.
On Saturday 5th Jan 2013, @ 2pm, I was discharged. We used a small hatchback car for the 4 hour drive home. I used a single bed pillow to make the front passenger seat comfortable enough. For a short period I lay the seat near horizontal as my pain killing medication was wearing off. We stopped once only so I could take further medication. I only had to ask my girl friend to slow down on roundabouts as the centrifugal force at moderate speed made it quite uncomfortable for me.
At 6pm on Saturday 5th Jan 2013 I was home and ready to start the next stage of my recovery.
My stay on Ward 2 at the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham was efficient, professional, full of good genuine humour, and really enjoyable - all thanks to the brilliant nurses and the supporting care staff. The food was delicious with always a good choice - the celebrity BBC tv chef James Martin had recently re-vamped the menu.
I am very greatful to Mr Treacy, his registrar Akash Sharma, his anaesthetist, and the other wonderful members in Mr Treacy's medical team. Mr Treacy's secretaries have also been brilliant for me throughout.
I initially posted towards the end of Sept 2012 asking for advice, using a different username. I changed my username to protect the innocent - me.
I had been offered a hip resurfacing by a local orthopaedic surgeon. (He had operated on me 12 months previously and did a hip arthroscopy, leaving a 2-3mm piece of cutting tool inside me, and within 7-8 months my hip was so bad that I was unable to do my job anymore). He had done @ 20 hip resurfacing operations during a 4 year period using a resurfacing device I hadn't heard of.
Tremendous rapid responses to my initial Sept 2012 post from Hernanu, Mike D, Dannywayoflife, and Pat made it easy for me to see a clear way forward and the need to obtain a second opinion from a highly experienced hip resurfacing surgeon. B.I.L.L. also made it absolutely clear to avoid inexperienced surgeons.
Dannywayoflife and Mike D were then tremendously helpful before and after my appointment with Mr Treacy.
In early October 2012, Mr Treacy offered to fit me with a BHR on the NHS (National Health Service). All it needed was for my GP (local doctor) to respond to Mr Treacy's letter and simply refer me back to see Mr Treacy.
Unfortunately my GP said he would not do this. My GP said Mr Treacy would have to complete an application form stating his case why I should be treated by him. This would then have to be submitted to the North Wales Health Board, part of NHS Wales.
This is when I discovered that the NHS does not actually apply to the whole of the UK equally - each country has quietly / secretly amended it's own version of the NHS and considered it best to not let citizens know how negatively these amendments could affect them.
My GP added that Mr Treacy's application was likely to be unsuccessful as I had already been offered similar treatment by the local North Wales surgeon - the same surgeon who had done @20 hip resurfacing operations in 4 years.
@ 5 weeks later, late November 2012, the application to be treated by Mr Treacy was refused as similar treatment was available locally.
I had no choice but to 'move' country. Towards the end of November 2012 I went to and registered with a GP in England. Fortunately my new english GP referred me without delay to Mr Treacy.
Mr Treacy's secretaries were brilliant to me throughout and, with their kind help, by 3rd January 2013 @ 10am I was on the operating table in the hands of Mr Treacy.
It has been a tremendous struggle to get to this point. But I'm where I wanted to be, and I believe I've been given the best chance possible to recover well and reclaim my life. I have met some absolutely lovely people along the way, and I wish there were a lot more of them in this world. Sadly I also met some strange people, some unfortunately in positions of power.
I apologise to Pat and all surface hippies for my post being too long - feel free to cut out / skip the boring bits as you see fit.
Sincere best wishes to all current and future surface hippies.
evant
Topic: Post-op update - RBHR 3rd Jan 2013, Mr Treacy, Birmingham, England (Read 4289 times)
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