First Hurdle....

Michael:  Thank you so much for the support.  Until yesterday, I did not feel that this was a reality, and am hoping that nothing can go wrong in the meantime.

Susie xx

Many thanks, Maggie:  That's what I am thinking.  I believe that I have been really lucky with this result.   It could not be better, almost too good to be true!

Many thanks for your support.  I have a great deal of confidence in this surgeon, and hope that it all goes as well as I hope.

Hi Hailea:  I am hoping that it will be straightforward.  I am lucky enough to have been admitted to a private clinic that takes NHS patients.  It is possible that I will be cancelled in favour of a private patient, but I do know that the private clinics are used to taking overflow from the NHS  hospitals.

So, I am hoping that they will not mess me around.

Hi Renee:

Many thanks for your positive reinforcement.  As with most surgeons, he did come across as somewhat arrogant, but I think that this goes with the territory.  They have to establish a certain "facade."  However, he brightened up when he started to take my medical history, and I produced a typed up history, saving him a lot of "scribble!"

I was surprised by the surgery dates that he gave me, 2 - 3 months at the most.  We shall see how close we get to this.  It is a private clinic, which is a lucky fluke, I think, so maybe he will be true to his word.  

He says that the incision is lateral, and the scar about 6" long.  No walker or crutches, no TEDs, just medication, released on walking sticks and no restrictions.  When I asked about the 90 degree angle and night sweats, he looked at me as if I was crazy!

Have to admit that I am somewhat confused, now as the scenario that he painted is so different to what I have read on the site!

Love,

Susie

Hi Susie

It is truly mind-boggling how the advice differs from one professional to another (and in my case, in the same hospital!). I guess as he knows your particular case better than anyone else, (and he will have to rectify any issues), then his word may take precedence.....maybe  

I went trough a private clinic (on the NHS) and he was true to his word. I was in within 3 months. 

Michael 

Yes Susie, for them it is just a job ....

Hmm, interesting - maybe he is not familiar with 90 degrees rule as an expression ? and "night sweats" is probably something one has to exprience post THR -- and not everybody suffers from that either -

that is why this forum is priceless ..

HI Michael:

Many thanks for getting back to me on this.  

Very interesting that you also went through a private clinic.  The surgeon that I saw, appears very highly qualified and did not put me thrhough a painful yanking around of my hip.  Some of the posts that I have read on here about just that, sound almost sadisitc.  All he did was to come around the other side of his desk, kneel in front of me and move both knees around a bit.  Varified what I had said that I believed the leg to my bad hip was somewhat shorter than the other.  Not surprising as we are made in two halves!

Now, it is a waiting game for an op date.  

What sort of pre op assessment did you have?  I know about bloods, ecg - again, he said exray, but is this hips again, or lungs, or both?  Did you have MRSA swabs taken?  Reason I ask is that things seem to done slightly differently in the private clinics. 

All the best to you,

Susie

Hi Renee:

Have to admit to  certain confusion, as the processing in the private clinics appears different to the NHS hospitals.  And, what the surgeon has said about being able to sleep on the unoperated side with a pillow, no crutches, just sticks upon release, and no restrictions., etc.  I am thinking that the lateral approach is less of a trauma than the posterior, and probably less invasive, from what I have read in my research.

It's a waiting game, now, and I don't like waiting!

Love,

Susie

Hi Susie

My GP gave me the option of going to the NHS hospital or the private hospital. I elected on the private hospital mainly as it was very close to my home, but also that it had a better reputation.

Before I start, I must say that my surgeon was excellent. Very matter of fact, which in a way was reassuring. It gave me confidence in his knowledge and ability. 

On my initial visit to the surgeon, I had an x-ray upon arrival at the hospital (which came through within 4 weeks of being refereed). The surgeon said that it was clear I needed surgery as the x-ray showed it was bone on bone. He watched me walk and then asked me to lay down and pulled my bent leg to the side to see how much movement there was. He did not stress this action but just enough until the pain kicked in. He then said it would operate within 2 - 3 months. This is the normal waiting time in Kent.

Immediately after that appointment (same day) I had my initial tests which included: Bloods, ECG, MRSA, blood pressure, temperature. 

About 3 weeks later, I was invited back for the pre-op. This was mainly filling in forms (medical history etc). I had more blood taken to ensure they had enough of my blood type in stock for the operation.

About a week before my operation (and as a result of being on this forum) I contacted the hospital asking if I was due to see the physio before the operation. I was particularly concerned about any equipment they would lend me or if I had to buy any. I was given an appointment within a couple of days and was told that they would lend me everything- including a grabber, crutches, long shoes horn and, shower seat and a raised toilet seat. I drew lines on my leg showing the various heights of the toilet seat, dining chair and lounge chair so the physio could see the angles. It would appear that I had slipped through the gap as I should have had a physio appointment pre op.

The operation and nursing after care I recevied was truly excellent. Some question about the physios as one said the 90 degree rule did not apply (as it was old school) and the other physio who said I should adhere to it. 

I will see the surgeon 6 weeks post op.

Since then, I have been told by my GP's nurse that I received a "Gold Standard" treatment.

I hope that helps. Any questions, please let me know :-)

ooops 

Michael :-)

Hi Michael:

Thank you so much for the information.  It looks as though your processing was different to mine.  My initial ecg and bloods were done at the GP's surgery, and the final one of thee xrays were taken last November.

I had already typed out my medical history, which I gave to the consultant.  He said that therewould be further consultations, which is what I would expect, with the anaesthetists, nurse, and with himself.  Also, xray, ecg and blood.  As the last set of xrays were taken in November 2015, four to five months later, seems alright for the hips, but does seem like an awful lot of radiation in such a short time, because further hip xrays will have to be done prior to release.

Did you have a lung xray, general anaesthesia or epidural or spinal?  I should have thought that a lung ray would be necessary for a general but maybe not so necesssary for the other two options.  I am considering epidural with sedation.  Although a GA, if they think it appropriate would be OK.  My only concern with that is that I am a former smoker, although I stopped in Spring of last year, but there have been one or two lapses.  I have noticed an improvement in lung function, but there is no way that I have been able to get away scot free!

All the best,

Susie

Hi Susie

Ah, I am glad you asked :-)

I did not see the anaethesist until the morning of the surgery. He too, was very matter of fact. I had been certain I wanted a GA. But the more I read on this forum, the more I became aware that a spinal was considered 'the norm' and it really was better for medical grounds and not (as I suspected) on cost grounds. So when I said I was open to persuasion but had wanted a GA, he said I could have both. A light GA to put me to sleep and then they would insert the spinal and administer all the meds that way. It worked a treat!! I have had some side-effecst, but hey, it was worth it.

In my pre-op, they checked if I could stick four fingers on my mouth (a necessary measure for the breathing equipment for a GA). I did not have a lung x-ray. Perhaps it is becasue Ihave never smoked. Perhaps it is that I am otherwise fit and healthy. The nurse told her under-study that I was an unusual case (for a THR) in that I was not on an medication. Maybe they were blowing smoke up my nose :-) 

Gosh, I can witter on :-)

All the best

Michael

mine was so different. ..

I was told that I was an excellent candidate for hip replacement

..I laid down and he manipulated my leg ...

no msra test, no lungs (I am a smoker ) no sticking fingers in my mouth, (I had GA) .....

not with 1st not with 2nd ......

interesting

HI Renee:

Just read your post to Michael, and found it very interesting regarding the GA and smoking.  I have been, or was, a smoker for quite a long time, but not on a daily basis.  I discovered the "E" cigarettes about 4 -5 years ago,and the vapes recently.  Started to use the "E"s, with the occasional "packet of fags.."  Having discovered the vapes, I much prefer those.  My latest "vape" is vanilla with 0 nicotine, it is very pleasant, and an excellent substutue for tobacco.  Initial expenditure is expensive for the equipment which needs recharging from time to time, but the "vape" which comes in a bottle, and you flll the rerservoir, occasionally is about £5.00 over here, and it last for some considerable time.  

My smoking is closely related to emotional trauma - drug of choice.  I stopped completely in March 2015, but started again when a major issue arose in my life.  Recovered from that, but then needed to support my daughter through the loss of her Father, and started on the tobacco again,switching between the "Es" and the tobacco.  Have been smoke free for some several months since Autumn, but with the occasional lapse to tobacco.  

MRSA was rampant here a few years ago, but now I suppose they are being extra vigilant.  Too many antibiotics have been administered, and now we find ourselves in the situation we are in with all these outbreaks.  

I had surgery twice on my hand several years ago in San Franciso.  The first was using sedation, and I do recall that it took some time for me to recover from that.  The second op was GA, and I remember very little about it, other than going out like a light, and waking up in recovery.  I don't remember very much of the days following, other than being picked up by my current partner and driven home.

So, now I am rather torn between the epidural with some sedation and GA.  I am guessing that this is something that will be handled between myself and the anaesthetist at the appropriate time.  

I was always under the impression that smokers, current or historic,  and GA was not a good idea, but it sounds as though I have been misinformed!

All the best,

Susie