Well two weeks today, I will be hopefully away with the fairies whilst Mr Witt finally manages to reconstruct my hip so it can behave itself and act more like a normal one!
I am super prepared, in fact I think I have peaked too early. I challenge anyone to find even a speck of dust anywhere in my house, as I have cleaned until I have run out of anything else to clean. The only problem is, due to two teenagers,and the ever increasing presence of daughter no1s boyfriend, horses, dog, cat and two hammies it won't stay that way for long!!
All that is left on the list is haircut and colour ( need to get rid of the grey bits before the big day), the necessary bits waxed, vaccinations for the dog, and a new pair of large baggy joggers to buy to travel home in and then everything is complete. oh, and to wait the arrival of all my lovely orthopaedic aids that I will need post-op. A grabber arrived in the post the other day, much to Ians ( my OH) amusement- it kept him quiet for hours! His favourite trick is to get someones wrist in the grabber and make you slap yourself with it( small things, small minds lol)
Am I nervous- not at the moment, that has come and gone, probably to return again, but at the minute I am excited, and ready to get this over with. The only thing I am worried about is how Ian will cope on the day of my surgery. It will be a long day for him, and I feel so guilty that I am putting him through this and won't be around to comfort him whilst he waits. That job will be down to my 13yr old , who will be down in London with us. I, hopefully ,will be sleeping soundly for most of the day without a care in the world, oblivious to the fact that everyone around me is worried and clock watching, and not even worrying about one of my bezzie mates who is having a CT scan that very same day ( normally I would be worrying about her too, but Debbie, I know you will be fine, xx)
Oh, and a quick update on the work situation, after my rant in the last post, they were obviously just trying it on, because once I asked they quickly agreed to reduce my hours next week. So all is well there too.
Tuesday 28 April 2009
Wednesday 22 April 2009
Not Again!
I don't believe this, I have gone back to work after a weeks annual holiday to find that next week I am down to work an extra 3 hours which is fine because someone is off but the following week ( the week leading up to my surgery ) I am expected to work an extra 10hours on top of my normal contracted hours. This takes me up to the amount of hours I was doing last year( before I had to reduce them due to being physically unable to stand for so long). I have not worked so many hours in 8 months, never mind the week leading up to my surgery, when I will have loads to do at home anyway, never mind being mega stressed out-which I am already!
Normally I would have a moan but do the hours anyway, but not this time. When I next see my boss I am going to tell her I just can't do it-surely they can't make me work over contract anyway.I am not going into surgery even more sore and knackered that usual.
I can't believe how insensitive they are being. They think I am off having fun over the summer.I really don't think they realise what a big deal a PAO is.
This is the last straw. I have dragged myself there, time after time,when I have been in too much pain to think straight, but not anymore. Once I am fit enough I will tell them where they can put their job! lol.
If anyone has managed to stay awake to the end of this post, well done , and thanks for letting me vent.
Normally I would have a moan but do the hours anyway, but not this time. When I next see my boss I am going to tell her I just can't do it-surely they can't make me work over contract anyway.I am not going into surgery even more sore and knackered that usual.
I can't believe how insensitive they are being. They think I am off having fun over the summer.I really don't think they realise what a big deal a PAO is.
This is the last straw. I have dragged myself there, time after time,when I have been in too much pain to think straight, but not anymore. Once I am fit enough I will tell them where they can put their job! lol.
If anyone has managed to stay awake to the end of this post, well done , and thanks for letting me vent.
Sunday 19 April 2009
Pre Surgery Assessment
I had my pre-op assessment on Thursday.It went ok, they did the usual tests, height, weight( too much of it, lol) MRSA and blood tests.I had a lot of questions I was hoping to get answered, but quickly realised that I knew more about the upcoming surgery than they did.
Then I saw a member of the physio team, she was more clued up and talked me through what would happen on the morning of the surgery. I will be given an epidural for post-op pain relief, followed by a GA. The surgery should last about 3 hours, followed by 2-3 hours in recovery, depending on how long it takes to get some response from me, ( OH said that could take a while!) Should be given breathing exercises that afternoon, and expected to stand for a minute or two the next morning.
Then I was given a list of furniture measurements, need the chairs, suite and toilets raised, and a frame around each toilet.Luckily our bed is high enough, as they can't make kingsize ones any higher.I should also get a shower seat, and will need a grabber. There aren't any real precautions I need to worry about, other than what pain prevents and straight leg lifts are forbidden ( can live with that).So know I sit and wait to be invaded by a local team from the social services to make my home suitable for someone about 90 years old!
The major concern was the fact that I am expecting to get the train home- she was not at all happy about that- said it was far too dangerous. I spoke to Mr Witts secretary after I got home and the outcome was they will arrange hospital transport for me if I am not fit to travel home.
In the meantime I was told to keep as active as possible to avoid blood clots post-op, and avoid journey's longer than 3 hours .
So all is well, and the countdown begins....
Then I saw a member of the physio team, she was more clued up and talked me through what would happen on the morning of the surgery. I will be given an epidural for post-op pain relief, followed by a GA. The surgery should last about 3 hours, followed by 2-3 hours in recovery, depending on how long it takes to get some response from me, ( OH said that could take a while!) Should be given breathing exercises that afternoon, and expected to stand for a minute or two the next morning.
Then I was given a list of furniture measurements, need the chairs, suite and toilets raised, and a frame around each toilet.Luckily our bed is high enough, as they can't make kingsize ones any higher.I should also get a shower seat, and will need a grabber. There aren't any real precautions I need to worry about, other than what pain prevents and straight leg lifts are forbidden ( can live with that).So know I sit and wait to be invaded by a local team from the social services to make my home suitable for someone about 90 years old!
The major concern was the fact that I am expecting to get the train home- she was not at all happy about that- said it was far too dangerous. I spoke to Mr Witts secretary after I got home and the outcome was they will arrange hospital transport for me if I am not fit to travel home.
In the meantime I was told to keep as active as possible to avoid blood clots post-op, and avoid journey's longer than 3 hours .
So all is well, and the countdown begins....
Friday 10 April 2009
Back to the hips
Ok, back to the hips.
We have been out for lunch today with my husbands family. We had a great time, there were sixteen of us , and it is great to all get together, however it was a pretty long lunch so I am feeling quite sore tonight from being sat in one position for too long. Worryingly, it seems to be the left leg that is giving me the most pain at the minute. I am pretty sure this is just compensation, but will discuss it with my surgeon as soon as poss post-op.
Thursday is my pre-op appointment. It will be a long day because we need to get the 8.30am train down to London, which gets us there for about 11am. This will give us plenty of time for lunch before my appointment at 2 o'clock. I am not sure how long the appointment will take, I always expect to have to wait around for a while, plus we need to see the OT as well. We had a choice of two trains home either 4pm or 6.45pm. We picked the later one, although this will mean some hanging around, but never mind. We should be back home for about 9.45pm.
I have got a few questions that I still want answering. I have a rough idea thanks to the advice of those on Hipwomen, but it will be good to have confirmation from the hospital.
Heres the list so far;
Pre-op questions;
How long is surgery?
Where is/how long is the incision?
How long is the epidural/ catheter usually in for?
Is a blood transfusion usually necessary?
Pain management in hospital/ at home?
Do I need any aids post-op at home? Are they provided?
Do I need blood thinning injections when I get home?
I am planning to travel home by train, will this be possible?
How long will I need help during the day at home?
How long until I can drive?
Is there any chance that once the surgery has started, the cartilage will not be as good as thought, and would need a resurfacing/THR?
Will post any info that I have afterwards. I am looking forward to this appointment, although I can't believe how quickly it has come around. It will be good to get the last minute details. I really feel as if this is going to happen now.
We have been out for lunch today with my husbands family. We had a great time, there were sixteen of us , and it is great to all get together, however it was a pretty long lunch so I am feeling quite sore tonight from being sat in one position for too long. Worryingly, it seems to be the left leg that is giving me the most pain at the minute. I am pretty sure this is just compensation, but will discuss it with my surgeon as soon as poss post-op.
Thursday is my pre-op appointment. It will be a long day because we need to get the 8.30am train down to London, which gets us there for about 11am. This will give us plenty of time for lunch before my appointment at 2 o'clock. I am not sure how long the appointment will take, I always expect to have to wait around for a while, plus we need to see the OT as well. We had a choice of two trains home either 4pm or 6.45pm. We picked the later one, although this will mean some hanging around, but never mind. We should be back home for about 9.45pm.
I have got a few questions that I still want answering. I have a rough idea thanks to the advice of those on Hipwomen, but it will be good to have confirmation from the hospital.
Heres the list so far;
Pre-op questions;
How long is surgery?
Where is/how long is the incision?
How long is the epidural/ catheter usually in for?
Is a blood transfusion usually necessary?
Pain management in hospital/ at home?
Do I need any aids post-op at home? Are they provided?
Do I need blood thinning injections when I get home?
I am planning to travel home by train, will this be possible?
How long will I need help during the day at home?
How long until I can drive?
Is there any chance that once the surgery has started, the cartilage will not be as good as thought, and would need a resurfacing/THR?
Will post any info that I have afterwards. I am looking forward to this appointment, although I can't believe how quickly it has come around. It will be good to get the last minute details. I really feel as if this is going to happen now.
Wednesday 8 April 2009
Perspective
I had some sad news at work lately.
A colleague of mine was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. He is only late forties, and in the last 4 months has gone from leading a normal, healthy life to being confined to a wheelchair. He has gone downhill so rapidly, his future does not look good. It is such a cruel illness. It really does put things into perspective when it happens to someone that you know. He is a really nice bloke.
It made me realise that no matter how much pain my hips might cause me, it is really not that bad. At some point I will get through this time, and will look back at just a short part of my life that was temporarily disrupted by hip dysplasia. Bilateral PAOs or THRs are not life threatening by any means and there is always someone that is worse off than you are. It is too easy to get wrapped up in yourself and forget that there are others facing much worse things.
A colleague of mine was recently diagnosed with Motor Neurone Disease. He is only late forties, and in the last 4 months has gone from leading a normal, healthy life to being confined to a wheelchair. He has gone downhill so rapidly, his future does not look good. It is such a cruel illness. It really does put things into perspective when it happens to someone that you know. He is a really nice bloke.
It made me realise that no matter how much pain my hips might cause me, it is really not that bad. At some point I will get through this time, and will look back at just a short part of my life that was temporarily disrupted by hip dysplasia. Bilateral PAOs or THRs are not life threatening by any means and there is always someone that is worse off than you are. It is too easy to get wrapped up in yourself and forget that there are others facing much worse things.
Monday 6 April 2009
Preparations starting
I have been preparing some meals over the last couple of days to put in the freezer for post surgery.I know its a little early, but the last couple of weeks before surgery I am going to be super busy with work so I wanted to get everything done before then. I am pretty sore tonight but it has been worth it to get it all done.
I have managed to get about three weeks worth of meals into the freezer. I have to stop now because it is absolutely jammed full and I just can't squeeze anything else in.
Next week I intend to go right through the house and deep clean it is much as possible. It doesn't really need it , but I will feel better once it is done. My husband is off too, so we are also going to decorate the bedroom( so that will be nice to recuperate in!) I also have my pre-op next week.
The following week I plan to pick up a wheelchair from the local red cross, and buy any last minute stuff such as a couple of pairs of larger size jogging bottoms to wear afterwards.
That should be everything done by then, just need to keep on top of the house, washing and work after that.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans....
I have managed to get about three weeks worth of meals into the freezer. I have to stop now because it is absolutely jammed full and I just can't squeeze anything else in.
Next week I intend to go right through the house and deep clean it is much as possible. It doesn't really need it , but I will feel better once it is done. My husband is off too, so we are also going to decorate the bedroom( so that will be nice to recuperate in!) I also have my pre-op next week.
The following week I plan to pick up a wheelchair from the local red cross, and buy any last minute stuff such as a couple of pairs of larger size jogging bottoms to wear afterwards.
That should be everything done by then, just need to keep on top of the house, washing and work after that.
But you know what they say about the best laid plans....
Friday 3 April 2009
Scary thoughts
There has been several posts on some of the boards the last couple of days about the risk of dying through hip surgery!
Thats not really what I want to think about!
Apparently there is a risk of 1/200 will die through a complication-jeez thats a scary thought!
I am really trying to focus on the fact that 199 out of the 200 are absolutely fine, but I'm having a hard time convincing myself. I knew that there were risks involved, obviously, but its something that you can put to the back of your mind, until you read it in black and white!
Still, possibly a large part of those statistics are the elderly that have hip replacements, and are not in perfect health anyway , not healthy 'young'( well not really, but I still like to think so) patients.
Gulp!
Thats not really what I want to think about!
Apparently there is a risk of 1/200 will die through a complication-jeez thats a scary thought!
I am really trying to focus on the fact that 199 out of the 200 are absolutely fine, but I'm having a hard time convincing myself. I knew that there were risks involved, obviously, but its something that you can put to the back of your mind, until you read it in black and white!
Still, possibly a large part of those statistics are the elderly that have hip replacements, and are not in perfect health anyway , not healthy 'young'( well not really, but I still like to think so) patients.
Gulp!
Thursday 2 April 2009
Please stop me!
My healthy diet seems to have flown out of the window.
I have been doing great, lost ten pounds , only needed a couple more off and I would have been really pleased.
So what happened?
Couple of really bad days pain wise, needed to rest today, which I did , but needed some company- first to oblige me was the biscuit tin, munched my way through a fair few chocolate caramels, they needed some company, so a twirl followed, that was lonely too so a bag of quavers was sent in as reinforcements.I am now fighting the urge to add some cereal bars to the rest.
What happened to the healthy eating? There is a big bowl of fruit, yoghurts etc but its just not hitting the spot today!
Two weeks today to my pre-op appointment.
Need to start compiling a list of the questions that are still outstanding.
Can't believe its coming round so fast.
I have been doing great, lost ten pounds , only needed a couple more off and I would have been really pleased.
So what happened?
Couple of really bad days pain wise, needed to rest today, which I did , but needed some company- first to oblige me was the biscuit tin, munched my way through a fair few chocolate caramels, they needed some company, so a twirl followed, that was lonely too so a bag of quavers was sent in as reinforcements.I am now fighting the urge to add some cereal bars to the rest.
What happened to the healthy eating? There is a big bowl of fruit, yoghurts etc but its just not hitting the spot today!
Two weeks today to my pre-op appointment.
Need to start compiling a list of the questions that are still outstanding.
Can't believe its coming round so fast.
Wednesday 1 April 2009
Ups and downs of Dysplasia
I have had a really bad day at work today, was in tears by 8.00am.
I don't know how I am going to get through the next 6 weeks ( well 5 weeks and 5 days, not that I'm counting! )
I was going to go home sick once my colleague had arrived, but then I found out that the company I work for are planning to reduce the hours in my office. I am too scared to take any extra sick leave now because I am already facing a disciplinary when I return to work following the PAO, because I will have had two surgeries in 8 months. This gives me an unacceptable level of sick leave, despite not having any other time off at all in the five years that I have worked there.
I really like my job, it is local and the hours fit in well with school times etc. I Unfortunatley it involves a lot of standing, and is impossible to do using crutches. I really don't know what to do. I have already reduced my contract to shorter days and only three days a week, so I really can't afford to reduce it further.
I know I shouldn't really complain. At least it can be treated, and in the end I will be OK. There are a lot of people that are so much worse off than me!
On a better note, its 1st April today, that means my surgery is next month!
Its starting to feel real now, after months of knowing it is going to happen, but feeling ages away, it is suddenly starting to feel much closer.
I am alternating between excitement, (I can't wait to be able to get on with my life again), and sheer terror, (at the thought of what I need to go through first).
I don't know how I am going to get through the next 6 weeks ( well 5 weeks and 5 days, not that I'm counting! )
I was going to go home sick once my colleague had arrived, but then I found out that the company I work for are planning to reduce the hours in my office. I am too scared to take any extra sick leave now because I am already facing a disciplinary when I return to work following the PAO, because I will have had two surgeries in 8 months. This gives me an unacceptable level of sick leave, despite not having any other time off at all in the five years that I have worked there.
I really like my job, it is local and the hours fit in well with school times etc. I Unfortunatley it involves a lot of standing, and is impossible to do using crutches. I really don't know what to do. I have already reduced my contract to shorter days and only three days a week, so I really can't afford to reduce it further.
I know I shouldn't really complain. At least it can be treated, and in the end I will be OK. There are a lot of people that are so much worse off than me!
On a better note, its 1st April today, that means my surgery is next month!
Its starting to feel real now, after months of knowing it is going to happen, but feeling ages away, it is suddenly starting to feel much closer.
I am alternating between excitement, (I can't wait to be able to get on with my life again), and sheer terror, (at the thought of what I need to go through first).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)