Date for PAO surgery

[Janet]

Hi all

I've got a date for surgery - 31st October! I'm excited to get rid of the pain, but nervous too. I'm so impressed with the Duchy - they seem very efficient, and the staff are so lovely to talk to. The lady said that it looks like I'm having the screws removed, and then going straight for the PAO, rather than the scope as well. So, hopefully Mr Fern and his colleagues have decided it's worth it, rather than wait to have a THR. I'm so pleased!!

The secretary also said that she'd been in touch with Mr Ashworth's secretary to find out what make the trochanteric screws are, as Mr Fern needs the correct screwdriver to remove them. However, Mr A's secretary had not returned her call (how surprising). I said I'd e-mail Mr A in the end, as there always seem to be 'communication problems'.

The 31st is a Saturday, so it works out really well for my husband as he won't have to miss work, but he is going to take the week off work for when I'll be back at home. The secretary was so lovely - she said "I'm sorry, that's the soonest we could get you in", but I'm just amazed at how quickly I'm having the surgery anyway! I feel very lucky indeed.

Janet x

[oscarsmum]

Janet, thats great news and really quick too!

The next few weeks will fly by and before you know it you will be on your way to being pain free. Im sure once the screws are removed and the dysplasia treated things will be so much better.

I expect you are going to be really busy making shopping lists, freezing food etc that the time will pass so quickly. How long are you expected to be in hospital for? Have you been told your post op restrictions, they seem to vary so much from one consultant to another.
Im excited for you that you are finally going to get everything sorted,
Take care
Kate xx

[Dee34]

oh Janet that's brilliant news...bet you're so relieved about finally having a date and something to work towards. It's only natural that you're going to feel nervous but you're going to be in great hands and at least you know what to expect from the being in hospital point of view and also what to expect from your recovery thanks to this forum (and Kate's great example).

How long do you think you'll be in hospital for ?

[Dee34]

p.s not that I've ever given it much thought with not having screws in my hip but it made me smile to think of the surgeon there with his screwdriver ! I don't know how I thought they got them out but that image didn't come into it !!

[oscarsmum]

Lol me neither until I watched a video on utube of a PAO- then saw all the equipment they do use! My hubby refused to watch it until I was post-op but I watched it several times before but wouldn't recommend it for anyone remotely nervous.
Kate x

[SirenMoonBee]

Wow! Thats so soon sweetie, how brilliant is that! We really will be all recovering together, i'm so pleased. I'm nervous too, but i defy anyone who says they're not. Least we have lovely ladies to pester throughout our recoveries, asking is this normal, is that normal and everything in between,and encouraging those that have just been told they need to have one with our stories!! Funny how things go round in full circles x0x0x0x

[Rayray]

Woohoo Janet,

That is so soon, I am so pleased for you. Time will fly by and just think how much better you will be by Christmas. They are so brill at The Duchy. Why can't all hospitals be like them?

Enjoy this weekend of beuatiful weather.

[Janet]

Thanks ladies. This all feels like deja vu, albeit in a different hospital, for a different surgery. But the mix of nerves and excitement is the same. As you say Kate, I'll be freezing meals and getting everything ready now. I think I'll be in hospital for 5-7 days, and Mr Fern said to think of the recovery and the restrictions as pretty mcuh the same for the FAI surgery. However, at Torbay, I think the protocol may have been very slightly different, but at least I have an idea of what to expect. He did say that I probably won't have to wear the TED stockings - my husband had asked as he hated putting them on last time! And he also said that I may have tablets instead of the fragmin injections, so that would be better.

I wanted to ask everyone - how many nighties/pyjama's shoudl I take? Last time, I escaped after 2 days, and didn't have a catheter, so only wore one set of PJ's. Also, I've stopped taking the diclofenac, in case it interferes with the healing of the osteotomies. I thought I should, to err on the side of caution, but I think I'll ask when I e-mail the secretary with the screw information. The secretary told me stop taking the pill too - I was allowed to keep taking it last time, as I'm incredibly irregular when I don't take it, but as this is a bigger surgery, I've stopped it. I'm worried about having a period in hospital though - did everyone else worry about this?

Hope everyone is well
Janet x

[oscarsmum]

Hi Janet,

Will try to be brief as Im logging in from work ( ha ha) . I was soooo worried about having a period in hospital even though I am fairly regular and wasn't due, I had read that pelvic surgery can play havoc with your cycle anyway but I was lucky. I took STs in case, and figured that they would probably be used to dealing with it anyway. The first time I was allowed to stand I managed to walk to the toilet and back so even though I had my catheter in at least I knew I could get there if I needed to,lol.
I only took nighties which I was glad about because they were easy. I took one for each day I was supposed to be in (10) but used hospital gowns for a few days until I refused and wanted my own so probably only used about 5 as I came out after 8 days.
Hope this helps
Kate x

[Rayray]

Hi Janet,

Yes I went in fully prepared for a period although as mine were a nightmare at the time I did warn them I may have to cancel if it came ahead of time. Mine are now much better but all over the place so I am worried if I go in again I will have one but no doubt they have coped with it before.

On day 2 I was washed and then changed into my own nightie. I used one a day (Boden do some good ones, well I like them anyway as they aren't frilly or babyish! They are also modest!!). I took casual clothes as they told me on the leaflet to but I didn't put these on until an hour before I left so needn't have bothered with my multiple sets! The physios weren't that happy with my uncooperative leg so I couldn't do stairs practice until it started behaving a bit more. As soon as I got to the top of the stairs I asked if I could go and did!!

I also didn't bother with slippers. I took some but have never worn them. I wore socks as my feet were cold and The Duchy is carpeted so I was fine in socks.

I don't know about you but I felt strange being down there on my own for nearly a week but the time did just pass in a haze of sleep so don't worry on that score.

Are you working now or taking some time off?