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All done! Now would you like the good news or the bad news?

Posted , 9 users are following.

pjayne549
pjayne549

Hello everyone.  Don't know if anyone remembers me but i posted some time ago about how terrified I was about the hip surgery.

Well here is an update.  I had a total Left hip replacement (ceramic) on the 25th April and it all went very well.  I now have a clean healed scar about 10 inches long on my outer hip, great flexibility (I can pick things up off the floor, bend, stretch, walk on one stick etc) so the hip is great.

I had complications however, just 2 and half weeks after the op i wondered why, even with absolutely no pain, I couldn't do anything without getting exhausted and my heart racing.  Then one Sunday evening I ended up in extreme pain down my right side in my ribs and back.  I was taken back to hospital where I spent another 2 weeks with mainly bed rest after they discovered I had a pulmonary embolism!.  Three clots on my right lung.  Sorry to be dramatic but the Dr said I am a lucky lady as i'm alive!  Trust me i'm not going anywhere!!!!

So now treatment for that has started and the hip has taken second place to the drug therapy and pain killers for the lung.

Anyway - back to the hip = like the song says .... clap along if you feel like a room without a roof, I am HAPPY!  no hip pain, good movement and starting to take my weight.  The physio says I will be able to start cycling soon and is really happy with it.  So just to say the hip part was the best thing I could have done, but the lung bit is a bit of a bind!

Thanks to all who gave me support and courage before the op.  Much love to you all. x

2 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • judiwoo
    judiwoo pjayne549

    Posted

    I'm so glad everything is going ok for you now I bet that was some scare for you.  I was due for mine at the beginning of May but the anaesitist spotted something on my ECG that he wanted checked so I get my Echo done tomorrow then I hope it will be a green light!
  • lindylollypops
    lindylollypops pjayne549

    Posted

    Great news ( in the end) and well done. I am terrified and due to have my hip op in 8 weeks time and STILL  trying to get a ceramic hip not a metal one put in so I feel like I am battling but really pleased to read your story.
  • cheryl47408
    cheryl47408 pjayne549

    Posted

    Excellent news about the hip like you I was terrified and glad its over 19 days post op. My recovery very slow at the minute! Sorry to hear about your scare. Am glad you are ok. Keep going you deserve to be well after all you been through x

     

  • ros007
    ros007 pjayne549

    Posted

    Glad you are still with us and things are now on an upwards track.  Just goes to show that all that guff about embolisms should be taken seriously as it can happen.

    Good luck with the rest of rehab and hope you will soon be enjoying your new found painless lifestyle and improved mobility.

  • kaleani75551
    kaleani75551 pjayne549

    Posted

    Oh my goodness...so glad you are doing ok now.  Take it easy and good continuation...
  • janette99911
    janette99911 pjayne549

    Posted

    Were you not given the injections to have in the stomach which you are taught to do yourself and are meant to stop this pulmonary trouble occuring? I was sent home with 30 days of the treatment which my husband administered as I cannot bear to watch a needle entering the skin, and I was fine.  It is now 11 weeks post op and I have had no trouble with anything at all and a very happy 80 year old.
    • kaleani75551
      kaleani75551 janette99911

      Posted

      That's a good question.  The medication is similar to coumedin which is a blood thinner to prevent blood clots.  I did it to myself  for about 3 weeks, i live alone, after the 3 weeks they got me to take 2 aspirins a day for another 2 weeks, also as a prevention for blood clots.
    • ros007
      ros007 kaleani75551

      Posted

      Because I was 'low risk' I had heparin in injections fof 5 days then low dose aspirin for 6 weeks.  I'll be interested to see what happens after my knee replacement with a different surgeon but at the same hospital.
    • pjayne549
      pjayne549 janette99911

      Posted

      Yes!  I was having the injections and still wearing the stockings.  I had had injections every day since the operation and they were to continue for three weeks post op.  I had a nurse visiting daily to administer the injection and check the scar/change dressings etc.  BUT I still got a PE.  No one knows why or how but I got 3 clots which ended up in my lung.  Don't forget that these can be started by fat, bonemarrow, fragments, etc as well as from DVT.  I had no pain or swelling in the legs so no idea how my clots formed or where started, but the drs still think the most likely is a clot in my pelvis which travelled.
    • hope4cure
      hope4cure pjayne549

      Posted

      These blood clots are a issue with hip joint surgery. On both my hips immediately after surgery pump wraps run on elec. squeezed my leg to prevent blood clots. Three days total. This was explained to me before each hip revision. Clots can form in the leg after this type of surgery is a real risk and works it's way up to the heart.

      i think any of us who survive the whole hip ordeal deserves a trip to the spa for message and all the relaxation of hot tubs and the whole kit & kaboodle....

      Cheers...

       

    • hope4cure
      hope4cure pjayne549

      Posted

      These hip joints are very complicated even when everything is done right & we patients follow all the post surgery exercises and recovery instructions there is always so many risks involved .

      Praise our Heavenly Father we have all survived sending blessings UR way.

      I have my last hip done in dec. 2011 & was recalled voluntarily by the manufacturer 9 months after my surgery. My surgeon left the state. It's a Stryker AGBll hip system with a stem . The 2" stem piece ends are not coated still approved by the FDA ...yet that small 2" stem can by wear and tear causing  fretting of heavy metal microscopic pieces into my blood stream causing major organs to shut down and causes pseudo tumors around the incision and causing deterioration  & corrosion to the total breakdown of the prothesis. So still barely walking but in a lot of pain going to have to replace it again soon... I am only out 20 months from the original surgery. Another flaw in the FDA approval system ....it's been known since the 70's that MOM causes serious problems. 

      Gotta find the courage to do it again... Oh dear Lord... This will be the fourth one.  I always thought the third time was the charm!  Pain meds would sure help... So gotta work on that too!

      Peace and healing well wishes sent to all.smile

       

    • kaleani75551
      kaleani75551 hope4cure

      Posted

      I am following all these posts and find some of the information just plain scary to tell you the truth.  My question is, if they knew there were problems with some of the components of the implant why in the world did your surgeon put it inside of you?  This is unacceptable to me.  
  • Jodi-France
    Jodi-France pjayne549

    Posted

    WOW! We are lucky you had the good sense to realize it and go to the ER.

    So many of us just Tough It Out.

    I am glad you told us about this risk.

    I had a drain after surgery for 2 days so hopefully that drain means I am at a lesser risk? The drain sucked out the excess blood that would form a clot (I hope!). The drain only had a couple 2/3 cups of blood in it day one after surgery, and day 2 only a couple drops.

    Plus I had the shots for 3 weeks.

    • pjayne549
      pjayne549 Jodi-France

      Posted

      Hi jodi

      I woke up with two drains in my leg that stayed for 4 days. ..but I still got clots.  I think its rare though so dont worry. .I was just a little unlucky.

      Anyway I am now nearly six weeks in and walk with one stick.   Flexibility is great and I can put my own socks on and pick stuff up from the floor.  Physio is really pleased.   I get tired easy because of the embolism and still get a little pain, but no more morphine!!!!   Yipeeeee.

  • lyn14547
    lyn14547 pjayne549

    Posted

    Hi

    it is good to hear your experience with hip op. However the clots in lungs must have so scary for you yet you remained positive with a great attitude. I've just had my pre op assessment at the hospital & waiting date for operation LH hip replacement with ceramics. I've delayed it last 2 years but glad I've made decision go fo it now to improve quality of life whilst I'm young enough to do things before everything else wears out!Thanks so much for your feedback. Although I am scared at the same time the sooner I have hip replaced the sooner I can get back to making the most of life! May you continue to improve with your rehabilitation! Best regards!

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