Scary as Hell

[SirenMoonBee]

But it worth it, How you Janet as yours is closer than mine is? Are you all packed, i'm sure i've not got enough or the right things but hey i'll muddle through. The sec of O'Hara has been ill all week so hopefully i'll have luck come tues to ask all my questions?? As after KAte asking at her pre-op i don't hold out much hope for me asking at mine. Am i right to say at the pre-op they will do height, weight, blood but anything else? Been warned it may take up to 3 hours and was wondering why?

Today i hurt like i've never ever hurt before, but i'm not sure why. I did walk alittle more than normal yesterday taking my daughter to hospital, but it really shouldn't hurt this bad. It's all deep inside bum cheeks (sorry fro image) and top of thighs, so tender to touch, and lower back is hell, even sitting down i'm miserable with pain (killers haven't touched it all day, and had heat on it as well ) not sure what else to do. ;(

[oscarsmum]

pre-op I saw the hospital physios too and they ordered any equipment I might need. It doesn't take too long unless you have any particular health problems that might require yoiu to have an ECG etc.

Sorry things are so bad now, but I used the pain pre-op to help me prepare for the surgery-thinking that it would all be worth it to get rid of that really bad pain-helped stop the nerves, if that makes sense. Also I think if you are in lots of pain pre-op somehow the post-op stuff doesn't seem so bad either, as if you are already conditioned to cope iwth it.
Thinking of you, Sam and especially Janet as hers is first,
hugs to you all
Kate xx

[Spam1]

Preop does take a while, just going through medical history, doing bloods, MRSA swabs, ECG if needed etc, then you see OT or physio for measurements and ordering of equipment and they may go through exercises for post op, but each one is different.

Hope you get some answers soon, is there anything me or Kate could help with? Pain sucks eh, but as Kate says, its telling you you really need this op, so hopefully it will be a relief to have it done. On the day, its all so quick, you wont have a minute to be nervous and you will soon be waking up in recovery wondering what has happened.

I think Janet had her pre op friday so hope that went well.
xxx

[Spam1]

Forgot to say, sometimes in the NHS hospitals, you see your surgeon (or one of his team) to get consented as well at preop and sometimes the anaesthetist too. So that may be why its 3 hours Debbie. xx

[SirenMoonBee]

Thanks girls, you always put me at ease. And i totally agree with you with the respect of the pain being bad now, i just know that no way could i back out, and i do feel like the post-op pain is worth feeling than this pain. I really hope i do see physio and order equipment as i still can't find anyone to answer those questions as of yet! I am prepared to stay for 3 hours, anything i will do (even jump through hoops, well nearly!) i can't wait to meet the team that are going to put me back together again.
I wish my Hubby wasn't so scared, bless him his nerves are so bad. He's taking heaps of photo's and taking me everywhere just in case the worst happens too me. God knows how he will cope? xx

[Rayray]

Hi Debbie,

Yes my Hubbie was scared too. That is why I went to the hospital on my own. I took the latest Douglas Kennedy on the train and read it until I was taken to theatre. It really worked for me and for once I as totally selfish about addressing my needs first. I knew Hubbie's nerves would infect me if he were with me.

Don't worry too much about taking all the right things to hospital. I took loads of stuff like shampoo and conditioner, creams, even make up. What was I thinking of? All I needed in the end was a change of nighties, soap, a comb, moisturiser, lip balm and one dab of shampoo for my one hair wash. Oh and not to forget plenty of socks and the MP3 player! One other thing I did take was a little antiseptic hand gel from Boots just to be on the safe side and I did use it.

You will soon be there Honey and you and Hubbie will be onto the next stage - recovery and the new you! Your surgery is major but they wouldn't do it if it the risks were high. You and your Hubbie will be fine. Just think in a few weeks it will be done and you can enjoy each others company at home.

Take care - both of you.

[Janet]

My hubby doesn't seem worried at all - on the outside anyway. Although, he has seen this surgery before (albeit in dogs!), and when the mention of needing a PAO first came up, he said "Oooo, you don't want one of those - they're horrible". And it feels like we've been through all of this before. I am more nervous this time, but not because of the pain, I just hate being in hospital. I don't like it when I can't have a shower every morning. I know that sounds really shallow, and I know they'll be lovely at the Duchy, but as long as I feel 'clean', I'll be OK!

I had my pre-assessment on Friday, which lasted a couple of hours, as it was a real struggle to take my blood (as usual) - the doctor did it in the end. The staff were all lovely and very reassuring that Mr Fern is an excellent surgeon. This one was different in that I haven't signed the consent form yet, whereas at Torbay, it was done at the same time. Maybe that's why your appointment is longer Debbie.

I think I have everything I need now. 4 nighties, nice new PJ's (2 pairs), dry shampoo, baby wipes, facial cleansing wipes, antibacterial handgel, 2 flannels, i-pod, magazines, etc. The length of time that I'll be in for seems to vary depending on who tells me - the physio even said 3-5 days! I'm guessing that it depends on each individual case, but I'd certainly love to be out in 3 days! The physio also said that I should spent the first month lying down a lot, to help the swelling, and also because my right hip is sore too. She said lie down for a couple of hours, then potter around, then lie down again, etc. That shocked me a bit, but I'm just going to see how I feel - I'm really not used to being so inactive, even on crutches!

Hope you and your hubby are OK Debbie, and you too Sam. I'm going to try to do what Kate did, and grin from ear to ear on the way to theatre, at the thought of eventually being pain-free!

Hugs to all
Janet x

[Rayray]

Hi Janet,

For my Open Hip Dislocation and Nerve release I was told to lie down a lot. I suppose we are all different but I found I had to and I was so sick and dizzy when I sat up. I also had massive swelling (still have some today!) right down to my toes which lying down really helped. As you know I really struggled for a few weeks after surgery but I did listen to the advice which helped as I didn't feel so guilty for lying down. I expect everyones body reacts differently and so you just need to do what your body tells you to do I think but do listen - it could be that this advice really aids early healing so you get fewer problems later on??

I had a table over the bed with my pc so I was able to be productive even if I was lying down - a planned project is my advice but something you can pick up and put down easily.

I wonder what Kate's view is on this?

[Janet]

Yes Miss! I certainly will follow all instructions, as I don't want to hinder the recovery, as this has been going on forever, and I want to crack on with the other hip within a reasonable time-frame. You may have to remind me of this though, if I say I'm getting bored. I think I'll be really tired for the first few weeks anyway, so maybe I won't even want to go for little walks. I bought some beads and jewellery making tools yesterday, as I want to make some 'White Stuff' style necklaces. And I can use the laptop too. I think it's more the feeling that you're being lazy that's difficult to deal with, but I know it's all for a good cause, and when I'm back at work, I'll proabaly wish I'd made the most of the first few weeks!

[Spam1]

Does lying reclined on a sofa count as lying down? If so, that is pretty much how I spent my first 6 weeks after the debridement. After the PAO, I did that for 4 weeks, then went back to uni so didnt do so much then. But its a good plan, trashy daytime tv will become your friend. And its worth it not to overdoit and have complications and to give your poor right hip a rest, its going to be taking a lot of strain after the op, particularly after the 6 week mark.

Janet, you will get a wash each day, but I didnt get a shower until my last day for PAO (think the nurses felt sorry for me as I wasnt really fit to go home but the hospital was closing so I had to), and not at all for the debridement. As one of the nurses told me though, a decent strip wash can be as good as a shower.
xx