Staples

thanks Crissy, that makes me feel a lot better.

L.

Hi, I am also in B.C. but no one has offerd to come to my home !!! you must be special.  Thank you for your reply, isn't this site amazing?

L.

I'm in the Okanagan so it's Interior Health. I think it sometimes depends on whether you mistakenly asked the right question

I've also been going to the Kelowna Hospital for pool therapy sessions which made a huge difference. Because of my age they assumed I wouldn't want to drive in to KGH for Physio (and they're really busy so were probably hoping I wouldn't) but I said I definitely wanted to do the pool sessions. Because of that I also got assigned a physio so that's nice just to pop in to ask questions and get reassurance by seeing others at similar stages so you don't feel like you're a total mess.

Yes, this site is great. Nice to have the Internet where an Ocean's distance doesn't mean a thing 

Hi Joy,

I am in Canada and as far as I can tell they only use staples.

L

Hi Joy.

I had Dissolvable stitches, am in the UK, you had the dissolvable stitches as they just desolved

I also had dissolvable stitches..2wks after surgery my local nurse just removed the dressing..the wound had healed perfectly and I had my first shower in 2wks which iirc was absolute heaven..

It seems to be the norm here in the UK.

I had metal staples on the outside and dissolvable stitches were used inside. 

With a wound cover on I was allowed to take a short shower whenever I wanted and just needed to recover the incision site with a new dry dressing.

Now having baths and that feels super awesome

Joy,, mines where stables am sure they do it with a stable gun here in the borders , but now they are out seems to be more freedom with the thigh .... Opp s uk here lol it maybe how big your are , as am slim built lol , there was no bleeding done a good job the surgeon am now taking a bath steep in the water lol 

Hi Lorraine and Joy, my internet was down for a few days so I lost track of everyone...Lorraine I can't believe you are out and everything is over so quickly....how was it for you?????  I'm in toronto and I had disolvable stitches with just two staples where they had me hooked up to the contraption that measured my leg length...my scar is not front or back but just off to the side of my thigh....my family doctor when she took out the staples said she had never seen a scar so fine it is almost invisable she said!  Well I guess good for me...I'm doing physio already but still have to have the bath bench, cane and toilet seat...I go for my 5 week check up September 3rd.  My biggest and I mean BIGGEST problem is still sleeping...that leg of mine from the knee down feels like a truck is one it and the ankle and food just seem so heavy and restless and its been one month....can't wait for that to go...other than that all is good, no pain from day one......will be having the left down next summer so I now know what to expect...well Lorraine good luck on your road to recovery.....Patricia

Hi Patricia, isnt it awful when the internet leaves us?  mine was down for a few days during and after my surgery, I was lost without it.  So glad you are doing well, cannot believe it is almost 5 weeks.  Sorry to hear about the sleep, it is so hard to do well during the day sleepy.  I think the issue you are having is quite common, hope it gets better soon.  I feel I am doing well, my incision is in the same place as yours, lucky for me 1/2 oxycoden gives me a good 8 hours sleep, not on any other pain killers but will take something before my Doctor's appointment on Friday.  I am surprised at how tired I am, can't believe that I quite like sitting around.  So lucky with the weather, think we have had the best summer in B.C. since I arrived 40 years ago, that certainly helps keep the spirits up.  I have just seen the time, this time last week I was getting my new hip.  I t was lovely to hear from you, let us know how everything goes on September 3rd.  Best of luck.  Lorraine.

Hi

What did we ever do without the internet....I cant imagine...can you?

I'm lost when mine goes down even if it is only for a day or so.

As for sleeping......I still cant sleep properly....wake up feeling very unrefreshed. I dont really waken up in the night ....well just for a few minutes, enough to turn over and go back to sleep but it happens so often that I'm not getting complete sleep

Love

Eileen

I agree Eileen, what would we do without the internet?  It is so much faster to communicate and do research.  You mentioned above about not sleeping properly and I just wanted to share what i take for drowiness each night.  It is an old drug named Amitriptyline 50 MG.  Used for antidepressent in the older days, but now is used here in the US for it's drowsiness component.  Have not researched it and of course if you were interested you would discuss it with your doc, but gosh does it cause me to have wonderful sleep night after night.  I do not believe that it is addictive as some other medications for sleep are.  

we have Nytol a herbal sleeping remedy that worked for me....worth a try

Hi Dawn

Thatnks for the information. We have to get drugs like that prescribed by our GP.

OK....here's something I dont think I have mentioned....I have epilepsy BUT it is very well controlled....its 33 years since I last had a seizure {during my 2nd pregnancy} so things are normal {except for the fact I take meds to control it} I can drive ....badly LOL but thats nothing to do with the epilepsy I dont know about there but here if you have one seizure no matter how small.....thats your licence gone for 3 years!!!!! Anyway sorry I'm getting off the point. Amitryptilin is contri-indicated to one of my epilepsy tablets so if there was the remotest chance it would clash with my meds  and cause a seizure I wont take it

You are right it is prescribed for depression in a higher dose and the lower dose is used as a muscle relaxant to help you sleep....very good apparently from the people i know that take it but it is too big a risk to take {for me}

I'm not very mobile so the car is a great benefit even for short journeys.

Thanks for the thought...I just wish I could take it.

Love

Eileen

 

Hi Crissy

What are we both doing on our computers at 11pm  LOL

Thanks ...yes heard of that but not tried it. Is that not addictive?

Love

Eileen

maybe if you take it long term but I took it the first week or so.I think there are only about 10 tabs in a packet....they did help when I just couldn't sleep on my back. thankfully I can now sleep for England...or so my partner says!

Yes, it is prescribed here also.  I don't have the contraindications that you have to consider.  I have been raising my three granddaughters for nine years now, and my eldest who is now 14, is epileptic.  I am very protective and do not allow any other doctor to prescribe her medications unless her neurologist says it is ok.  I understand.  I wish you could take it too!  The sleep is so wonderful!  However, I know that soon enough with one teen and two preteen females, I will need to be more alert about what they might do after they think I am out for the night!  Ha!  

Always wishing you the very best!

Dawn

Hi Crissy

Thaks for the advice....I will check it out but i need something {more of a painkiller} fairly permantly....its 7 months since my 2nd THR. My pain killers are paracetamol, antil inflammatory..Naproxen and codeine when needed. I take 2 15mg ones at night

Love

Eileen

Hi Dawn,

I can imagine how you must feel. At that age I was living at home {naturally } and had quite a few....when I llok back I think...my poor mother.

I cant swim....thats because I was nrever allowed to go with the school because of this, I was always told DONT  climb trees ...we lived in the country then.....Of course what did I do  Climb Trees Dont ride your bike on the main road....what did I do  LOL

I have had this since I was 16months old At one time I wouldnt let anyone prescribe anything except the neuroligist but I'm not going to one now....I still get the comment if I go to a new doctor....what are you on those tablets for? No one is on 2 tablets for that now its monotherapy....we'll change them!!!!! No we wont is usually my reply

Why not?? If its not broke dont fix it

I know a little bit about drugs because I  trained as a nurse but thats a long time ago {35 yrs} It wasnt a general nurse, it was a nurse for people with learning difficulties....much the same ...3 year course, out in the community for 3 months with district nurse, 3  months with a health visitor. etc etc Ward to ward. The difference being a general nurse concentrated more on biology we skimmed over that and things like that We concentrated more on psychology, psychiatry and sociology

We still had exams to sit.....also a drug assessment. They have changed a lot in that time but things are still at the back of my mind. A GP prescribed amitryp. for me and I had to say that it was contra indicated. He said it wasnt then when I pushed and asked him to look it up he said well yest the higher dose is {for depression} but it doesnt say the lower dose is That was enough....too much of a chance. Like you being very vigilant with your grand daughter I have to be for myself now. It's OK if you dont take many meds but when you do like me well its harder  LOL

Thanks again

Love

Eileen

Hi Eileen! Yes you are right, we must advocate for ourselves! Actually I dohave a long list of daily medications thanks to being born unhealthy. I laugh when I say that I could never be a nurse because I was born to be a patient!

One thing is true of the new young doctors I have met here in the US. They continually quote new research results that effectively cause them to want to change my already effective methods of treatments for my lung disease. This drives me crazy! Earlier this year while hospitalized because of my lungs, within 24 hours, this young inexperienced doc told me he was sending me home! The only reason I needed to be in the hospital was because everything my regular doc and myself could do at home and in his office was not working! I told that young buck that I no matter what the new research indicates, THIS treatment is what I need and it has always worked for my body! I stayed for 3 days longer.

Like you said, if it's not broken, don't fix it! These young docs are trained to save the hospital money and that is their first loyalty...money. My reg doc told me this and this is why he does not take care of me anymore when I am hospitalized. He is "old school" and would keep me in the hospital long enough for me to restore to a point of balance in breathing.

Our medical system is in trouble over here. Or should I rather say that anyone truly ill is in trouble. God help us.

Love,

Dawn

Hi Dawn

I feel sorry for older people {says she who is 68  LOL} who think that docs are little gods and you have to do what they say.

When I was in hospital with a broken ankle they were giving me laxatives among other things....OK I took the first couple because I needed them but after that I said no thanks.....she looked at me as if "who are you to tell me that" I smiled and said again no thanks but I will let you know when/if I need them...OK?.....NO....you are written up for them. I dont care I'm not taking them until I need them. She gave up.

The poor lady in the bed next to me was completely disabled...couldnt get in and out of the bed by herself...they had to use a hoist. Every morning she had dirtied the bed and was so upset.....I said dont take the laxatives for a while ...Oh I have to they say I have to!!!!!

I mentioned it to the nurse and got the same answer....she's written up for them!!!!! Wouldnt  you think it easier to not give them to her for a while rather than have to clean her every morning and change the bed etc????

Beggars belief

Love

Eileen