THR obese patient
Posted , 17 users are following.
Hi There, My mum due this op (one hip) in two weeks. They say no general anasthetic, only spinal (not certain yet exactly) and sedtation. My mum is +++anxiuos, almost phobic and terrified of whole op incl. recovery. She is overweight and just ok for surgery. My questions: Is general anasthetic an option? We are in UK. How does being obese hamper recovery, apart from the obvious. IE will pain be immediately less except for healing pain. Weight bearing will be substantial - is this a massive factor.Is she likely to need hoisted in hospital? We see consultant tomorrow - are there any key things i should be asking. Mum is 73. Thanks
1 like, 31 replies
lisa31002 WBoct16
Posted
Hi, is your mum able to walk ? Sounds a daft question as she's having a HR op but if she can walk now she'll be able to walk afterwards although with the help of sticks/crutches to start with. I'm overweight too and have been ok. As my incision was deep, the surgeon had a Pico dressing put on, it works by negative pressure and sucks any gunk out of the wound.
WBoct16 lisa31002
Posted
Hi Lisa, thank you so much for replying. Mum can walk but its very difficult. Struggles to push herself up, cries out in pain. Also has a bad arthritic knee which worries me too in etrms of weight bearing. She is only just ok for surgery so must be about 20 plus stone. I'm worried she'll not mobilise and get chest and other infections. The Pico is interesting, thanks for that. Any other useful things would help. She's so anxious shes thinking she might cancel and it's quite a dillemma. x
lisa31002 WBoct16
Posted
PS I had a spinal and light sedation and was fine. Didn't hear or feel a thing.
WBoct16 lisa31002
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rose0000 WBoct16
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beth2509 WBoct16
Posted
An awful lot of people, me included, are overweight before the op, because we don't have the mobility to exercise effectively. But she'd have to be substantially very heavy to need a hoist.
Everyone is different, but for me I didn't even have surgical pain. Some people are lucky, and I was one of them. For others there is surgical pain yes, but for most that is all.
I had to have GA - I didn't want to but I have spinal stenosis which meant they couldn't get the needle in. But the spinal injection is actually safer for her, especially since she is a bit older. So if they can do that, it will just be like falling asleep. She won't know anything about it and needn't worry. She'll wake up so much better!
Once she had that new hip she'll be able to plan a whole new life again. She'll be able to get out, exercise and lose some of the weight. And that will make her feel better too. Tell her that she has so much to look forward to!
I wouldn't worry about her weight bearing capacity. But you may need to encourage her to get on with the exercises if she's used to a more sedentary life. That could be something you could help her with. It does need commitment to do them as often as needed.
As for the recovery, maybe plan some nice surprises too help vary her days? Especially at this time of year (i was November and also UK) it's easy to get stuck in the house with nothing to look forward to. A nice lunch out. Afternoon tea. A film. Anything that doesn't challenge her to walk further than she is comfortable with, but gives a boost.
My other piece of advice is to get outside and walk. Even if it is just around the garden or along the street. Again, no further than she is comfortable with. But fresh air is so good for people, even at this time of year. You just have to pick your times to coincide with missing the torrential rain, ice or wind!
WBoct16 beth2509
Posted
Thanks so much Beth, lovely to hear you are doing so well. Mum is so afraid of being awake since it's a spinal - but you and Lisa seem to think even with light sedation she wouldn'k know what's going on? I'll check of course tomorrow but this is sounding very positive. She won't even go on these forums to find out. Hiding from the fear of it all, thanks again x
judith12644 WBoct16
Posted
Hi, I'm adding a vote for spinal with sedation, I didn't feel or hear a thing, it was brilliant! I think it would probably be safer for your mum. And afterwards the bone on bone pain goes, and hopefully your mum will become more mobile. Good luck!
amanda1827h WBoct16
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rose0000 WBoct16
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The spinal is the better choice for anyone with risk factors, and is much better than GE, I would follow the advice of the surgeon will be able to recommend the best thing for her.
Beyond maybe struggling a little bit more with crutches and getting from one place to another initially I would imagine she will recover the same as everyone else. The surgery will give her a new lease of life after recovery so she can get fit and be active again, something you can not do with chronic pain. It will be so life changing from this point of view.
It is natural that is she is terrified, I think most of us are. It is a major operation, and even the most hardy of us struggle with nerves and fears. I was terrified, really scared even with my past history of operations and surgeries...keep reassuring her, comforting her and make sure you tell her she is in safe hands on a loop - and she is, it is a 'common' operation these days.
Your mum will need tons of help for the first two weeks or so, if you want to help her try and make sure you are there to help her, make her lunch, keep the house clean and general practical things. This will be huge help to her.
Wishing you both the very best of luck, and what a lovely daughter you are for coming on here to check things out for her x
rose0000 WBoct16
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rose0000 WBoct16
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maureen44782 WBoct16
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Same here, spinal and sedation. They must have given me something even before the spinal - quite hazy memories, but nothing after until out of recovery. I can't even really remember having a shower before, but I did! The biggest fear is the op itself, but I sort of thought...nothing more I can do, get it over. I had to go in the afternoon before. Once out of the op - IT'S OVER! No more fear! Onwards to recovery...a longish ride for us older ones, but not scarey! Slowly but surely things get a little bit better and best of all no bone on bone grind! Bestest, bestest of luck x
WBoct16 maureen44782
Posted
Huge thanks you lovely ladies I will let mum know, we will see consultant tomorrow and I'll keep you posted, great outcomes, so glad to hear good things x
Rocketman_SG6UK WBoct16
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Spinal anaesthetic is generally considered to be safer than General anaesthetic. You can have as much (or little) sedation as you like with it - so you can be awake like I was, or totally out like a General anaesthetic.
We are all concerned when going in for surgery, some more than others, but it should improve your life considerably. I know it has improved my life, even though mine did not go according to plan.
Being large does not help ... I know, I lost over 5 stone before my operation. Generally there is a better outcome for the patient if yourBMI is below 30. Mine was well over 30, but I managed to get it down to 30. I don't think it will affect pain levels, but could affect the way they treat your mother. She may have a cemented replacement rather than a cementless one for instance. Recovery time could also be extended.
See my website for common complications and tips (but I don't think there's anything about excess weight in there), the address is in my personal info here ...
https://patient.info/forums/profiles/rocketman-sg6uk-907025
and at the bottom of the moderator's "useful resources" page at
https://patient.info/forums/discuss/thr-useful-resources-487147
Hope you find the tips from other hippies on this forum useful.
Best wishes
Graham - 🚀💃 🤸