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Diary from day of op

Posted , 9 users are following.

jeanwales
jeanwales

I thought some people might be interested in a day by day diary from the day I had the op. I know I found post op information helpful. I had the op done in Bangor North Wales.

i came into the hospital the day before and all the blood tests were done and the anesthetist came to see me and explained the alternatives  - I opted to go for the spinal injection after he explained it to me. Also the surgeon briefly called in to make sure I was ok.

i also found out I was first on the list which pleased me and I went down at 8.45 and I was taken to have my spinal injection and then into theatre. I could not see anything as a cloth was between me and where they worked on the hip. I took my iPod in and played loud music which really helped. I could hardly hear what people were saying and the only thing I really heard was when they used a saw I presume, sounded like an electric drill and also the hammer which shook through my body. I had a hiccup where my blood pressure dropped and I lost a fair bit of blood and was vomiting but came out of it ok. 20 mins in recovery then back to the ward.

i had no pain at that time and the hardest thing was emptying my bladder. Another low blood pressure scare when I first arrived but then I settled. I ate a small amount at tea time then they tried to put me on the commode after that and the blood pressure dropped and I fainted so they got me back to bed. Settled for the night but some pain as the injection wore off so used the pump button a bit.

just woke up waiting for breakfast then they aim to get me moving later. More on that T the end of today.

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  • jeanp
    jeanp jeanwales

    Posted

    Hi jean,

    yes it is interesting to hear other people's experiences, so thanks for your blow by low account, I'll be following it. Best of luck with your recovery.

  • tom72276
    tom72276 jeanwales

    Posted

    Hi Jean, well at least you've had your op now so you're halfway there, hopefully over the next few days you 'll start to improve and things will get better for you? It's a long & slow road so don't get disheartened if you feel things aren't going quite the way you expected or hoped, good luck Jean & take care biggrin
  • gloriajoy
    gloriajoy jeanwales

    Posted

    Hi Jean

    I am very interested and find it really helpful to follow your progress,as I am in process of deciding what to do about my own hip problem.

    Do you mind me asking a few questions?

    A) your age. B) was yours a minimully invasive procedure? C) do you have osteoporosis?

    You are obviously doing well so far,and here's wishing you the very best for your ongoing recovery.

    Thank you so much for sharing your experience!

    Best wishes x

    Joy (nickname gloriajoy) 

  • jeanwales
    jeanwales

    Posted

    Gloriajoy I am 66 and for the last few years the arthritis in my hip has gradually got worse to the point where I had to use a stick (cane) to walk around. By minimally invasive do you mean how deep they go in? Sorry for sounding thick! The scar is about 6 inches and I have clips in it. No osteoporosis at all.

    today has been eventful but I will try and update day two at the end of the day!

  • gloriajoy
    gloriajoy jeanwales

    Posted

    Ji Jean,thank you for your reply,you are great to answer so soon after your op.

    I understand that an Anterior minimully invasive procedure is from the front opposed to the (apparently more usual) Posterior from the back.

    The Anterior option supposedly allows easier and faster recovery,because access from the front is less deep,a smaller incision, less damaging to muscles,and patients are able to walk unaided much sooner.

    The reason I asked is that I have discovered that one Welsh surgeon favours the Anterior.

    Also it is more widely used in France.

    However aside from easier recovery it seems the long term success rate is equally good in both types of procedure.

    For you no osteoporosis is great (strong bones) and I am sure you will do well.  Also you are quite young also great!

    I am just trying to find out as much as I can before going ahead.

    Keep up the good reporting if you feel up to it.

    Best wishes

    Joyx

  • joy47826
    joy47826 jeanwales

    Posted

    jean, did you have the Anterior replacement in North Wales?

    I had it in the U.S. and the first 5 months were pretty great for me and then things went downhill after so much settled.....now almost 4 yrs post op and this surgery is forever on my mind and in the body...

    Talked about that a lot here....

  • jeanwales
    jeanwales

    Posted

    I'm still a bit confused about the difference between anterior and posterior, again sounding think my scar is on my side slightly to the front, does that mean anterior!

    my surgeon is actually Australian , he told me he used the Exeter method if that helps at all. Some surgeons in Bangor use different ones though.

  • jeanwales
    jeanwales

    Posted

    Day two

    well today was a very mixed day, starting very low but ending on a higher note. So I will tell it how it is bearing in mind we are all different and this is just my reactions!

    I had a bit of pain during the night and used my button a few times. After breakfast they tried to get everyone up and I promptly fainted again and blood pressure way down so back into bed. I was so upset as I am the strong tough cookie normally who can and does do everything, I felt a right wimp and don't mind admitting I got quite upset but the nurses were lovely and pulled me round. Anyway when the surgeon came round they decided to give me a blood trans fusion in the afternoon after losing the blood during the op which seemed to pick me up a bit. I was also having problems passing water still after the spinal and when they scanned my bladder it was totally full so they put a catheter on me which made me feel ancient but was such a relief! I ate my tea though still picking a bit not a full appetite. I was feeling totally cheesed off at not getting out of bed so asked the nurse at 9pm if I could try and hey presto I did it and managed to get from the bed to the chair and sat for a few minutes then back to bed via the commode for my first bowel movement (I'm sure you wanted to know that!) 

    so all in all a good ending to day two. Having X-ray's tomorrow and hopefully physio will start beating me up lol.

     

    • jeanp
      jeanp jeanwales

      Posted

      Yes Jean, tell us everything! lold

      I fainted a few times after my THR too, low blood pressure, and maybe the sleeping pill I stupidly accepted for the second night as I didn't get much sleep the night before. And when I was getting around and made it to the loo down the corridor, I went and fainted there too, and they had to shove an oxygen mask on me. So take it easy and don't try and rush it. Thanks for your blog!

      Jeanp

  • gloriajoy
    gloriajoy jeanwales

    Posted

    Well done Jean,you are only on day 2 and still posting your experience for us all.

    It will surely get better gradually day by day.

    I will follow with interest and am wishing you the very best.

    Joy x

  • jeanwales
    jeanwales

    Posted

    Day three

     I can't believe how many ups and downs I am having ! I had hardly any sleep and quite a bit of pain when they gave me painkillers for at 2am. I woke up feeling fine and got up no problem and had a few little walks and did some exercises with the physio. All good so far, went for X-ray which was fine then just after lunch I got the most horrific pain in the top half of my leg and tingling in the scar. It was so bad I started hyper ventilating , they calm me with oxygen and gave me painkillers then I slept for a couple of hours. Visiting came and I had a lovely surprise when my god daughter walked in with her family having diven all the way up from London. I just burst into tears. So happy to see her. That was better than any medicine. Then I settled down hoping for a better nights sleep.

    • tom72276
      tom72276 jeanwales

      Posted

      Sleep tight Jean, it will get easier as the days pass, glad ur visitors cheered u up 😃 keep ur chin up
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