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THR and Reconstruction

Posted , 7 users are following.

sarah1996
sarah1996

I was wondering if anyone has had a thr and reconstruction at the same time. My doctors keep telling me it is very serious surgery and not easily done. I have added an xray of my hips so you can understand what has to be changed and what is wrong. I also want to know if anyone has anything similar to this and how they are coping. I struggle with many everyday things and am hoping thisoperation is going to change everything for me.

1 like, 42 replies

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  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sarah1996

    Posted

    When I first visited surgeon, I assumed I would be having a GA, what I got was a Spinal Block, plus sedation, I assume something like a Valium, only a huge dose. I would go with the spinal block now for any further surgery, and I think here in Brisbane thats the way they are going with most surgeries. I was lucky enough to be included in a study they were doing on patients GA v's Spinal for my first THR. Lovely senior nurse came and saw me, and interviewed me, did I remember anything, did I have any awareness, did my chest feel clear, there were dozens of questions, but overall she explained to me the complication rates for Spinal are far less, and the recovery times equally are far better, she showed me a chart and your could see the differences. 1st THR I woke up during the surgery, no pain, just lots of noise, and before I really realised where I was I was out again, must have topped up my sedation, 2nd THR not aware at all, woke up in recovery area, with a nurse asking me did I want to ring my husband to tell him all was well, which I did, I had be delayed from 6am to 4pm in afternoon and my poor husband had been sent home.
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 lyn1951

      Posted

      you woke up during the surgery? oh my god thats what i was scared of. Thats one of the only things im worried about hahaha.
  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sarah1996

    Posted

    Awake during surgery, a bit like having a dream, you are so stoned on the Valium, or sedation, you don't really care. Have you never been so drunk, you can barely remember what happened the night before, or what you do remember is so distorted you wonder if it was real. I remember wondering what the noise was, then thinking oh its my husband hammering at something. At that point I assume my blood pressure must have changed, and thats when they knocked me out again.
    • sue1957Geo
      sue1957Geo lyn1951

      Posted

      Omg you heard it all, had mine on friday, had a general could not do what you did for all the money in the world, so i am in awe hun, cry
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 lyn1951

      Posted

      That is quite literally the scariest thought ever. Im nout sure i could do thag. This will be my 9th or 10th operation and all my others were under general anisthetic so im used to that. Not sure if i could cope knowing i might wake up during it. I wonder if that happens a lot.
    • Kikeena
      Kikeena sarah1996

      Posted

      Hi Sarah

      That's so scary for me too. Hearing and knowing what's going on. I had a spinal block plus a full general anaesthetic but without the paralysis. So both I and my surgeon were happy.

      Be sure to take care of yourself. You don't want to be stressing about the anaesthetic as well as the surgery. Ho for what you know. I've never minded generals. In fact I quite like the ritual of counting to sleep and timing how long I was out to it.

    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 Kikeena

      Posted

      Yeah like i said im rather used to the g.a and i liked them even better when they brought in the scented masks. Although im not sure if they were just for kids haha. But yes i do believe that im only worried about waking up during the op at. Its incredibly worrying for me
    • Kikeena
      Kikeena sarah1996

      Posted

      It was incredibly worrying for me too Sarah. For weeks before the op it was my main concern. Can you get proper sedation? Will they force you to have a spinal without black out sedation? But I am surprised that people here who have been aware of things haven't had a problem with it. Maybe it's not that bad. I still don't want it though.
  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sarah1996

    Posted

    Sarah - At a quick count I have had 6 lots of General Anthestisia surgeries over the years for cancers, and some other issues, gall bladder came close to killing me, as was treated for gastro for a week by GP, apparently gall bladder is supposed to be incredibily painful, mine was not at all painful.  I would take the Spinal block anytime now, even knowing that there can be some awareness, interesting that for the 2THR there was no awareness. I think they spoke about topping me up with porpofol (thats the stuff that killed Michael Jackson). for my 2nd THR, Its a very light General Anthestisa. When you wake up after spinal block, you are really awake, no residual groginess. I emphaise that anything I heard was like a dream, it just wasn't real, you don't have enough awareness, because of the sedation.
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 lyn1951

      Posted

      Thats a little bit more reassuring i think hahaha. Its just a scary thought i suppose. Whilst you were in hospital were you able to have a shower or anything?
  • lyn1951
    lyn1951 sarah1996

    Posted

    Sarah - yes showered on morning they were discharging me. Wednesday. Surgery on Monday 4 pm. They did give me a wipe down when I arrived on the ward immediately after my surgery, which was very soothing, and gets rid of most of the surgical betedine, and sticky feelings. My sister a very senior nurse gave me a tip. Buy some wet wipes from the chemist, I used Johnson Avenno Wipes, infused with a very fine oil, they are baby wipes, in reality non-allergenic, as scented ones for me will bring me up in a rash every time. So I thought about it, and high quality baby wipes had to be amoung the the best. I found I used them to wipe my face, neck, underarms, under breasts, and hands when and where needed, the following morning when I was told no shower this morning, so the wipes came in very handy. Especially with the first THR when I was being so sick constantly.  (morphine)The first THR Oct 2013 you had to supply your own wet wipes, 2nd THR the hospital was supplying wet wipes, I didn't like the hospital wet wipes, too antiseptic for my liking, so i used my own for more sensitive areas.
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 lyn1951

      Posted

      Well thats sort of a relief. Im kind of obsessed with showering so i dont no if i will cope 2 days without one. Also im glad they clean the iodene stuff of quick. the smell of thatstuff has always knocked me sick and therefore puts me in a awfulmood. I will make sure to bring lots of wipes. What kind of things were you able to do for entertainment whilst in hospital? 
    • sue1957Geo
      sue1957Geo lyn1951

      Posted

      I had to do the wipes before, and i also had to drink 6 pre op drinks. The thing i am finding really hard now is not being able to wash my hair you could have fried chips in it , used dry shampoo but still feels horrible
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      Whats the pre op drink? And oh no. Why cant you wash your hair?
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 sarah1996

      Posted

      Here in Aust, you can have a radio (your own) at the hospital, or rent a TV, thats attached to the ceiling, some books to read, (your own). The rest of the time you sleep, firstly because you are still attached to the spinal block for pain relief, with luck, and the effect of the painkiller makes you pretty sleepy. Between visits by the nurses, the physio's, your own visiters, (i had daughter and grandsons, one of whom was very worried about me, I think he thought I was going to be missing a leg)  Such a relieved little face when he saw me up and walking on both legs, then bargaining with me for my crutches when I was finished with them, that raised a laugh from room mates, morning tea, then lunch, afternon tea, dinner, and if you are in a 4 bed room, and the others are friendly, uses up the time.
    • sue1957Geo
      sue1957Geo sarah1996

      Posted

      Once you are nil by mouth, you drink these four nutricional lemon flavoured drinks, they were not that bad, then before i went in (7.30) am i had to drink 2 mre.  Keeps your. Ody full of all the stuff you are delriving it i was told.

      my shower is above my bath, my dressing isnt waterproof , so we are foing to gry and wash it over the weekend, driving me mad.

    • sue1957Geo
      sue1957Geo lyn1951

      Posted

      You are so right ly, the 2 other ladies i was with were so interesting, one wkas i92.  They loved me cos i was the youngest and i made them laugh.
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      I was lucky I had, one in my room about the same age I was, and two in there 80's. The lady to my right woke me up in the middle of the night, she was trying to get out of bed, and she was attached to the leg pumps, she would have come up short before hitting the floor. I rang the green bell, and waited and waited, I could see she was wriggling closer to being over the side, and there was nothing I could do. Finally hit the red emergency bell, that brought the entire ward running, as they ripped off my bed, I said idiots look at next door, just as she was on point of falling. Poor darling was having some kind of reaction to the GA she had been given. A senior nurse came and spoke to me some time later, and gently patted me on the arm, and said good girl, you saved her life, woudn't have been good had she fallen.
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 lyn1951

      Posted

      Thats good then. Do you think i coukd bring my laptop in?
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      Urg i hate lemon haha. Agh i see the problem. Doesnt sound good. Id wrap a bag round my dressing haha
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      How old were you? I get the feeling ill be the youngest to haha
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 sue1957Geo

      Posted

      No drinks for me - and I was from midnight to 4pm the following afternoon without fluid, I was not very polite when the anthestist told me I had no veins, I said something to the effect DUHHHHH, nil by mouth since midnight. I had got to the stage of tongue sicking to the roof of my mouth, and me begging for some fluid, nurses not helpful, couldn't even find a glass or cup in pre-surgery waiting area. I got off the trolley, walked over the the hand washing sink, cupped my hands, nurses came running at that point and said if I swallow my surgery would be cancelled. I made a point of showing my handful of water, swilling my mouth out, and then spitting it all back into the sink.
    • sarah1996
      sarah1996 lyn1951

      Posted

      Was that before your surgery or after? Your not allowed to eat or drink anything at all 10 hours before surgery
    • lyn1951
      lyn1951 sarah1996

      Posted

      Before my surgery, booked for 7am, first off the block I was told, instead I became last surgery of the day. Not impressed. Joys of public hospital. I was told Nil by Mouth, from midnight.  If they were looking after me correctly I believe they should have hung a drip for fluid when I pointed out I had not had a drink since midnight, at the very least sometime mid -morning so I wouldn't get soo dehydrated. I do know if any chance you are going to be given General Anthesia, you cannot have a drink, as you may vomit during the surgery, side effect of GA..
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