Feeling low

Yes it is normal, even if there is no apparent worry, on some level the brain is very concerned and apprehensive. 

I work in the labs at the hospital where I had the op. To all intents I was cool calm and collected but on the day before the op I had a major melt down and had to leave midafternoon

I did not want a spinal and said so at the preop and again on the day during the admission process. The anaesthetist agreed tomygreat relief, just be honest and able to state why. They will either do things to minimise your fear or agree, afterall a tense patient does not help the surgeon.

Poor Froglet,

The pain is horrible and also the uncertainty. I have been retired from teaching for 17 years now and have only just had a THR. So I can appreciate how rotten you must be feeling.

Teaching is hard enough when you are in good health but when you are ill you just can't take on anyone else's problems.

Your anaesthetist will talk you through your worries. They are used to people with fears and phobias.

The fact that you are independent and organised works against you here because when you are having a hip replacement you are dependent and have to let others organise things for you. This may well put you out of your comfort zone for a bit but it is only temporary.

I am now 6 weeks post-op and beginning to gt back to normal life.

Hi Froglet,

The health professionals will take over and organise everything for you once you are in their care. The anaesthetist will be guided by you. If you feel unhappy about a spinal anaesthetic then he will listen to your wishes. No-one will give you a spinal against your wishes.

Waiting for a date is the most stressful part of the whole thing, in my experience. I remember feeling close to despair with the pain and uncertainty. Try to see your GP and get some support.  Maybe s ome medication such as anti-depressants - you won't be the first person to need them in these circumstances.

Another point is sick-leave: make sure your GP understands how stressful your job is and gives you plenty of time to recover. Another point is that you need to go into your operation as calm and stress-free as possible. Maybe you need a few days off before the operation to prepare your body. Exercise and relaxation are really vital in this operation. Ask anybody on this website.

Use this website as your support and guide. We are all here to give you back-up and answer your questions and fears - however trivial they seem to you.

Oh my word- your story sounds so much like mine!  I am also a teacher and was planning to have a THR this past summer but in January I found I had to have surgery for a different condition.  Seven weeks of medical leave later I tried to schedule my hip replacementand was told there was a HUGE wating list-and it probably wouldn't happen until Fall- right about the time I needed to go back to school.... I spent the summer- when I am usually hiking and kayaking everyday- in a ton of pain waiting and waiting to hear the date of my surgery. IT WAS MISERABLE.  Finally they called and told me it would be "mid November".  I was devistated- there was no way I could teach in that condition and I was nearly out of sick leave.... I went back to school in September on crutches, in pain and UNmotivated.  on the second day of school my doctor called and said a spot had opened up for the very next week!  I had seven days to hire a sub- write sub plans and find people to come and help me after surgery- it was crazy!  But it all worked out fine and surgery went off without a hitch!  YAY  I too am freaky about needles- but I did the spinal and sedation and it was a piece of cake- just tell the doctor you want to be sedated before the spinal- or at least calmed down- and that you do not want to hear or see anything during surgery- you want to be OUT.  It was fine and I'm glad I was brave... it makes recovery so much easier.  I know this journey is a difficult one- it;s lonely and boring and hard and scary- but YOU CAN DO IT!  Feel free to message me anytime as I am home for 3-4 more weeks..... 

dear froglet,

not knowing when and having this pain sucks the energy out of your body and spirit. ..

sending you light and healing rays,

warm hug

Renee ❤

p.s love ginger's response, ,seems like you both have a lot in common!

Hi Froglet,  you're not alone.  I don't suppose that makes you feel any better but you do know that here there are people who understand how you feel.  Moan, grumble and rant, that's what we're here for, and also to celebrate with you when things start to happen.  I'm waiting too and some days I don't know how to put one foot in front of the other - some days are better but I know there's only one cure. I check my mail every morning as soon as I see the postman, wondering if today will be the day I get good news.  I'm retired so at least work isn't something that I need to consider but I've had to give up most of the things that I looked forward to in my retirement.  Bowling, long walks and even a saunter round the shops are thimgs of the past.

I do hope you get your date soon and can see light at the end of the tunnel.   ]

Stay in touch hun, we can moan together. xxx

Hi froglet,

You will probably have your new hip by now.

Let us know how you are getting on. We are all thinikng of you.

Hug from the u

Oh I feel for you. It's such a big op that the lead up is all consuming. Pain and disability has dominated my life for the past 12 months and judging by the replies it has for most of us. We didn't have such major surgery without a lot of discomfort and restricted life.

It's normal and natural to feel as you do. Help is on its way but you'll have to wait a little while yet. I think your position is the most difficult. As hard as recovery is, at least we're improving. So allow yourself to stress and be depressed. It really is toughtough.

I am with yoou all the way on this!  I waited for 6 months for my first THR and I have been waiting 4 months now for my 2nd one. All of it agony and up to my eyes in pain killers etc as you can imagine!  I got a phone call from the hospital the other day to ask if I would like to go in on 17th Nov, different hospital and a different surgeoun, although he is a member of my usual surgeon's team and excellent by all accounts.  Of course I "jumped" at it and cant wait to go in.  The first op was absolutely marvellous and its just what everyone tells you, the bad pain literally diseappears overnight.  I asked for GA and my anaesthetist said that this was OK but he advised me to have the epidural as well as it keeps you anaesthetised for longer when you come round, so you don't feel the wound pain and to be honest, he was absolutely right!  I was shaking when they did the epidural but I felt absolutely nothing and all the other ladies who had the op in my ward told me the same.  Unless there is a reason you can't have GA the anaesthetist will give it to you, s make sure you ask him and I would recommend the epidural too but you don't have to have it as well as the GA if you don't want.  My operated hip has a few twinges in it now and again but that is just the muscles and tendons healing.  And of course I am at a disadvantage as I can't exercise as much as I should as I am impeded by my bad hip.  I can't wait for 17th November, in fact I am quite looking forward to it!  Also, the morphine "trip" is quite something!!  A tip - if you can go in at short notice you may want to ring admissions and ask them to put you on the cancellations list, which means if anyone has to cancel the op for reasons of illness or whatever they will call you at short notice to go.  That may not be possible though as you are a teacher, but there may be a way round it.  Good luck and let us know when you get your date.  Don't feel low, there are thousands of us in the same boat and once its done you will feel like a new woman!   Sandie xx