Inspiration

I found a patient video online earlier that just makes me want my BHR tomorrow. I hope its even half as good for me:

http://www.surfacehippyinfo.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=350&Itemid=30

I did winch a little watching the part where he gets out of bed for the first time as that still evokes the strongest memory for me after my PAO. The physio's came round that morning, after 3 days of lying flat in bed being pumped full of morphine and goodness know's what else. They manhandled me into a sitting position (well, I couldn't do it myself) and lowered my legs over the side of the bed. I wasn't in any pain, the epidural was still in and morphine was still swimming about my system. I couldn't feel anything below my waist on the right hand side and I was completely freaked out by it - and the zimmer frame right in front of me (!!). At that point I promptly threw up and started crying. Apparently this is normal and in hindsight, thats the worst part, not the surgery, but the first time out of bed.

I am being honest when I say I'm not nervous about the surgery. But until now, I just haven't mentioned that I'm nervous about the first time out of bed. I survived once, I'll survive again!! And if this patient is anything to go by, it's not going to be 3-4months on crutches! :o)

Pre-op assessment

So I had my pre-op yesterday. The ROHB organised it for me to have it at my GP's surgery, which just makes it easier for me than the trek to Birmingham for a 45min assessment. It basically consisted of taking blood, a urine sample, an ECG, blood pressure test, a weigh-in and a ton of questions! Easy peasy! I made the mistake of putting body cream on that morning so various parts of me got wet-wiped so the electrode pads would stick down, oops.

So I guess next stop, BHR! 3 weeks to go. Still not nervous (been over-thinking why I'm not nervous, so I guess you can't win!). Going to have a weekend of sorting out my apartment for reasons I've mentioned before. And prepare for a job interview I have on wednesday!

4 weeks to go - reflection

Of all the random things to do on a sunday morning, I decided to watch an entire BHR surgery online on the McMinn Centre website (http://www.mcminncentre.co.uk/flash/). Derek McMinn is the founder of the BHR and I feel so lucky to be having mine in Birmingham where it all started. As far as I know, he only works at the ROHB part-time to do knee surgeries now and all his hip patients are private.

I should say that the surgery video is graphic and watch it being warned thus! It's fascinating though and despite it being a specially recorded surgery, it still only took him 50mins to complete the entire thing. If I hadn't already been through a triple pelvic osteotomy (TPO or PAO) I probably couldn't have watched it. I remember my orthopod telling me how they checked how secure the pins were in my pelvis - which basically involved him bouncing me (!) on the table by shaking one of the pins on a metal rod.....yum! It almost seems too comical to believe, if it weren't for the bruises.

So aside from becoming slightly obsessed with researching 'all things hip' (or 'hip porn' as one of my friends referred to it!) I've begun to start thinking about getting organised. I have 4 weeks to go. Next friday, 29th Jan, the ROHB has arranged for me to have my pre-op assessment at my local GP surgery. That's really nice of them as it saves me a 4hr round trip for something that will only take 30mins. It also means I can pop down on my lunch break and not have to worry about being off from work.

I'm slowly accumulating a shopping list of essentials. This is in part due to the fact that I'll be recovering at the family home in Scotland and not in Leeds. So I need to organise myself not only for the hospital stay, but a few weeks away. I'm going to think on that more in a couple of weeks time. Next weekend I think I'm going to have a mini-spring clean of my apartment and sort out a lot of stuff. My thinking on that one is this - my job is ending at the end of may, and at this moment in time I have no job to go to after that, therefore I might be moving. If I have to move, it makes sense to have the apartment in order when I'm less mobile or if I need some kind soul to help me.

So really I'm just in psychological organisation mode this weekend. I'm not nervous about the surgery (yet!), but I did have a moment yesterday where all I could think about was infections post-op. And I'm not talking about from the surgery, I mean getting a throat infection or from a small cut etc. Apparently you have to be super careful about such things with a metal prosthesis as bugs like to grow where blood (and thus antibiotics) can't get to them and they can cause havoc. I had visions of antibiotic spacers and then THR's. But enough, its all about choices and what I can live with. I cannot live with the joint the way it is, so BHR is the way to go and I will just have to make sure I look after myself.

I think I'm going to go draw myself a nice hot bath and remove myself from the internet 'hip porn'!

Hip block - Cortisone Injection

I had my scheduled hip block on monday and the results so far have been fantastic!

It all went smoothly on the monday, I was second on the list to go into theatre and that was roughly about 11:45. That meant I was grumpy all morning due to being nil by mouth! I was then briefly put under general anaesthesia for the procedure which took roughly 5-10mins - so I have nothing to report on the actual experience itself. It is unusual to have a GA for this, but that's how they do it. I was not concerned about it and I'm sure if I really disagreed with having a GA they would do it under local, they are very receptive to patients needs. I came round wide awake about 45mins later and was discharged from the hospital about 4hrs later.

The ROHB sent me home with a ton of painkillers but I haven't needed them! I took a couple of paracetamol (just paracetamol!) last night to soothe my thigh which was aching but apart from that the hip is pain-free. It seems to be a little achey towards the end of the day but not painful as such, more uncomfortable, and more muscular aches than boney. The second amazing result is NO STIFFNESS!! I cannot say how happy I am about that! I feel flexible again (to a point) and don't have to slowly ease myself upright when standing up from a chair. Hurrah!

I'm very pleased with this outcome. I was fairly woozy for a couple of days due to the GA but the hip didn't flare up post-injection, which it can with these shots. Even if it just lasts the month until my surgery I'll be happy. I hate taking the painkillers and just these few days of not having them I feel like my body can take a rest, my liver and kidneys especially.

I'm not going to push myself just because I feel 'okay', because the joint is far from okay. I will take the opportunity to try and do more of my physio exercises to keep the muscles strong for next month.

Joy!

Surgery date

Well, I wasn't expecting this for a while after they told me the earliest was the beginning of April. I got the letter through this morning saying that I'm booked in for my BHR surgery on the 22nd February in Birmingham. I'm happy that its sooner rather than later if I'm honest, even if it means re-gigging my work/job hunting activities forward a month or so.

Yey!

A fall to start the year

I fell on black ice this morning. Like someone pulled the rug out from underneath me, crack down on my coccyx. Thankfully I was wearing several layers so there was cushioning and nothing's broken. But hip to toe on my right side is now unbearable to put weight through the joint. Well I don't have much cartilage in my right hip to protect my bones from that impact. I didn't make it to work (and somehow I feel guilty for this?) and I don't feel very happy. When you live with hip pain anyway, extra little traumas can tip you over into the category of 'temporarily immobile' very easily.

On a more positive note, at least I'll be getting my hip block on monday so any extra inflammation I've just piled onto the joint due to the fall will be getting a blast with a massive dose of anti-inflammatories.

2010 - The Year of Deja-vu

Happy New Year!

I love the turn into the new year, it inspires me and I feel more confident about things. After making a long trek back to the family home in Scotland in this freezing cold weather for christmas, having a very relaxed and stress-free holiday, I'm home again and making plans for the coming year.

I should just name this year 'deja-vu'. It was exactly 5 yrs ago that I was awaiting hip surgery and looking for a new job. This is precisely what I face now in the first half of this year. Remarkably, I'm not stressed or worried about any of it - having been through it before and finding that everything works out, I know that if I continue to work hard at my current job before the end of my contract, job hunt and keep as healthy as possible before my op then everything is going to fit into place.

I've had very few aches and pains these last few weeks, despite the cold weather. I've taken care to keep as warm as possible, sometimes wearing as many as 5 layers when outside! Can't say I've been cold!! I've donned my walking shoes for the snow and ice which have some serious tread on them. I even have some Yaktrax (http://www.yaktrax.co.uk/) for the seriously icy weather. I mean, nothing can 100% guarantee that you won't slip and fall, but you can seriously reduce the risk with sensible footwear.

Now, I say I've had only a few aches and pains, I should add that its chiefly down to getting the pain management correct. Diclofenac once every 12 hours and 15-30 mins with the TENS machine in the evening (once in for the night) seems to work very well for me at the moment. I have been stiffer in the hip due to the cold, but its not painful, it just slows me down. I'll be getting my hip block a week on monday so I'm going to have to alter the routine - hopefully I won't need the diclofenac for a long while, which will give my poor stomach and liver a rest! I've also taken some non-medication pain relief advice from Jan Sadlers website http://www.painsupport.co.uk/. I've always been a great believer in meditation as the best relaxation but it does take some practice getting it right to work for you.

I'm going to break this year down into two - pre and post op. This also encompasses old and new job too as I'll be pretty much finishing one job, having surgery, and starting new job - fingers crossed the dates work out, but I've been told the surgery is likely to be in April at the earliest.

So my goals for the first half of the year are to stay as healthy and fit as possible for the impending op, managing any stress that might arise, and seriously pursue a new job. :o)