1. Community
  2. Operations and surgical procedures
  3. Hip Replacement

Self image post op

Posted , 22 users are following.

DawnDedee
DawnDedee

This is a sensitive topic for me, but I wonder how others are dealing with the body changes post op?  Right now my body is in the worst shape, and in fact, it is in the shape that I fought succesfully my whole adult life to avoid.  I have lost my figure.  I do not think, at my age, that I will ever get it back.  I had to lay around for a year and a half in agony with a failed THR, and there was nothing I could do.

I cannot relax into this, yet I lack the energy and drive to work out and I wonder if at my age, nearly 58, I can even turn this around.

I do not like what I see in the mirror.

Dawn, USA

 

7 likes, 133 replies

133 Replies

Prev Next
  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 DawnDedee

    Posted

    Dawn - Once I started to feel a litte better after my 2nd surgery, even though i had terrible problems coming to terms with not so good replacement, decided i needed to lose weight, am still working on the weight loss, got a little lazy over Xmas and new year.

    As I lost the excess weight I also noticed I lost alot of hair, possibility of after effect of surgery, also weight loss can cause hair loss, so had my hair cut really short, suits the climate in queensland, and hair has grown back.

    Re my scars, I have lots, I refer to them as battle scars, always gets a slightly surprised look from Dr's, and then a smile, as all of my scars have been life saving surgeries, and I include the THR in the life saving group, as you are only too well aware.

    Have survived Appendix in my 30's, Silent Gall Bladder/obstructed bile duct, that nearly killed me before they figured out what was wrong, Breast Cancer that was really early, Uterus Cancer again that hadn't spread into my pelvis, and then to have my hips give it away, and develop systemic arthiritis.

    I have alot of longevity in my family, and intend to survive for a good few years yet, if nothing else to beat my bodies attempts to kill me.

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee lyn1951

      Posted

      You are amazing too.  Thank you for your response.  I too have had a lot of surgeries in my life time, but the only obvious scar was the hysterectomy.  I had mine before they realized that they could remove through the navel and only one little opening in the pelvis area.  My daughter had the new method and walked out the same day!  Wow!

      I like you attitude about your scars in that they are there because you life was saved.  I had three THR's and the last two were grueling.  I also still need to have my shoulder joints replaced and just cannot imagine going into another surgery over weight and not liking myself and anemic.  So I am suffering a lot of shoulder pain.  Pain wears me down.

      I guess I need a shift in how I think about the scars.  And I guess the extra weight and flabbiness is colateral damage in the war to survive.  

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 DawnDedee

      Posted

      Dawn - You are not wrong, and I don't think most Dr's have any idea about just how much pain can affect you, I know since my pain has reduced so has my form reactive arthritis, Dr tells me I have Psoratic Arthritis, but come back negatvie on genetic tests. .

      For years my rheumo has been telling me to reduce my stress as it is adding to the swelling and pain I am getting from my arthritis, HAHAHAHAHAHAHA, not its not funny is it.

      I am ready for her this time, I am going to make it clear to her the replacement THR's and the reduction in pain from the worn out hip joints are what has removed the stress? from the pain, and why didn't you refer me for surgery years previous, or didn't you know pain can cause stress.

    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 DawnDedee

      Posted

      My most nasty scar is my appendix, not pretty at all, I believe I wasn't sewn up correctly, as i have a big bulge on one side of the scar.

      The hysterectomy is full length because of it being cancer, diagnosed in D & C, a week previous, they wanted some lymph glands from up near my heart, its no too bad, just a nice neat very thin white line.

      I know i got the senior consultant for that surgery, and maybe I am lucky that i heal so nice and neatly, my poor sister forms the most nasty scar tissue like a rope, she has to have injections into the scar to help it settle down.

    • Gaby21
      Gaby21 DawnDedee

      Posted

      My body looks like a battlefield re scars lol!! I don't even think about them anymore😱

      I've had Back, Neck, TKR,THR, Hysterectomy,Both Feet Bunions,neuroma,Ligament,Appendix!🙄🙄🙄Think they're trophies..... I've lived to tell the tale!

      If I had a stunning figure and was more vain maybe they'd have bothered me but in the grand scheme of things I'm overweight and recovery is soooooo much more important today!

      Chin chin Ladies n Gents.....Happy Healthy Days....&Viva La Scars lol🍾🍾🍾🍷🍷🍷🍸🍸🍸

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee Gaby21

      Posted

      Gaby you are energizing!  Viva La Scars!  Love it!
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee lyn1951

      Posted

      Unfortunately doctors are only "practicing" medicine and we are the experimentees.  There is no way to reduce stress when it is caused by pain.  Even keeping busy does not help fully.  And with mobility issues, we cannot always get up and busy.

      My first surgeon could not find that my device had come loose ever so slightly.  Five months later, when it became looser, he still could not find the source of the pain.  When I missed two payments, out of necessity, he kicked me out of his practice.  Left me crippled and without pain pills.  I think my pain threshold rose upwards a few notches due to this.  

      You go girl!  Inform your doctor, she just might learn something.  I am going to write a letter to that first surgeon and also include the x-rays of how bad it really was.  I think one of his mistakes was that when I complained of the pain, he only took x-rays of one hip instead of comparing them to the other hip he also replaced.  

  • Gaby21
    Gaby21 DawnDedee

    Posted

    Never too late!!! Just get ON IT!! I am in the same boat but finally I'm ready to tackle this!! Good luck. Xx
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee Gaby21

      Posted

      Thank you Gaby!  Short and to the point!  Get on it!  I will put this into my vocabulary and maybe I can fake it till I make it.  I am glad that you reached this point!  And also "never too late!!!"  Thank you for saying that!  
    • Gaby21
      Gaby21 DawnDedee

      Posted

      Didn't mean to be too short lol. But there just comes a day........& let it be now for us both!!😜😜xxx
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee Gaby21

      Posted

      Yes!  Short can be just as powerful as long.  biggrin
  • Kate53CornUK
    Kate53CornUK DawnDedee

    Posted

    Yay, me too, DawnDedee. I sobbed at my partner the other day while trying to get up - "I look like Shamu, just throw me a fish!!!"

    Two years ago I was slim and fit. Lack of mobility stopped exercise and eventually my very active job. I have gone up two dress sizes. I eat a healthy diet but just don't burn anything off and the menopause kindly stepped in as well!!! It was a vicious circle.

    I am hoping that having just got my second hip done I can think about some sort of future with activity in it. I also have no ideals about getting back to my former very small size but would like to feel less of a blimp!

    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      Thank you Kate!  I am so thankful to have such amazing people on this site!  I also went up two sizes.  I was 20 pounds over weight before my surgeries which is not serious.   I too had menopause kick my butt two years before my hip joints died.  Rough terrain!  Perhaps what I can take from you is to not demand from myself an ideal  of being the small size I was before and accept the reality of what I truly can reach for. Take off some of the inner pressu.re that causes me so much stress that I do nothing at all. 
  • rose0000
    rose0000 DawnDedee

    Posted

    PS: I always think it is a great sign of recovery that we even care what we like look, not so long ago I was just delighted to have my hair washed!!! smile
    • DawnDedee
      DawnDedee rose0000

      Posted

      Yes, you are so right!  I need to stop beating myself up!
Back to top
Prev Next

Report or request deletion

Thanks for your help!

We want the community to be a useful resource for our users but it is important to remember that the community are not moderated or reviewed by doctors and so you should not rely on opinions or advice given by other users in respect of any healthcare matters. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek appropriate medical assistance immediately. Use of the community is subject to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified as being in breach of those terms.