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We need to be gentle with each other ...

Posted , 17 users are following.

mic71403
mic71403

Dear hippy clan.....

I have a concern. Rose's survey suggests that there are a goodly number in the present cohort of recent hippies who have struggles in and on the road to revovery.

I suss I've had a better than average recovery myself, as a pretty fit 70yo guy. But, at the time of my operation and after, nearly a year ago, everyone else seemed to be throwing away crutches after a couple of weeks, driving, doing tap dancing or whatever. Sooo, while this site is lovely, it was a little hard for me to post I was struggling to cross the longue without crutches, hanging onto furniture and then lunging to the next piece of furniture!

Now though, every one to gloomy and struggling, so it seems a little hard  to post I've just walk 20,000 steps or 11 miles across fenland at the weekend!

Sooooo, let's celebrate ups and downs - whatever the prevailing weather!

Take care

Mic

x

7 likes, 39 replies

39 Replies

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  • sue50140
    sue50140 mic71403

    Posted

    Wonderful Mic so inspiring I will look at the long term not the short Sue x
  • sue1957Geo
    sue1957Geo mic71403

    Posted

    Mike, I have been on this site for about 6 months now, took advice when first told to have the op and didnt want it, listened to every ones advice, heartaches aches and pains, had mine done on the 13th November, and not looked back. In hospital for 4 days, up walking second day on crutches, did stairs then evicted sorry discharged.First week hell, thank you god for all theses wonderful people who have been there and done it, their advice and help was a godsend, now I am back to work full time, getting on and off two buses and no one standing for this poor old disabled girl any more, walking with no crutch, still limp a bit, but it goes after walking fast [thank you graham]. When I think how I was this time last year, I cannot believe in the change and how far I have come, I never thought that i could do this, sobbed for an hour the night before op, so all you hippies to be, please do it, yes it is scary, but anything and I mean anything can be sorted thanks to this wonderful family.  Now I am the one telling people, go for it, my new life has begun.

    Suexx

  • rose0000
    rose0000 mic71403

    Posted

    Well done Mic 11 miles is fantastic! In the end this is why we are all cheerfully and sometimes not, bobbing along this recovery so we can get to the hiking, playing tennis, golf, dancing whatever brings us joy! And when that moment comes it must be absolute joy of joys! Thank you for sharing such a great achievement, it reminds us it is all worth it in the end smile
    • linnet2015
      linnet2015 rose0000

      Posted

      Hey Rose how are you today? I have been meaning to write to but as you most definitely know its half term and I have been looking after my adorable though knackering (not very lady like I know but they are, bless them!) grandchildren. Is your husband any better? Just remember the kids are back to school on Monday, hopefully the husband will be feeling much better and you dear girl can rest all day if you want, you certainly deserve to. 

      Take care

      Love from

      Linnet xx

    • rose0000
      rose0000 linnet2015

      Posted

      Linnet than you for your lovely message ~ you are always there for me and I really appreciate it x

      Well it is completely knackering isn't it, they are beautiful, spritely happy children full of the joys, and I am a shuffling shell of my former self trying to juggle it all on my very last legs today, my husband's laboured breathing keeps me up all night worrying and checking on him, and the noise of his chest is terrible,  I have been worried sick but he is much brighter now thankfully thank you so much for asking. .

      I even made time to do my exercises today (The children were playing outside and turned the back garden slope into a mud slide (!!) and had the best fun, totally covered from head to foot in mud by the end of my physio exercises smile god help me) My Husband is stirring in the pits of chest infection hell, I can't carry trays up and down the stairs, so I am having to do a hundred journeys up and down (not bad exercise, I am going to give J-Lo a run for her money at this rate) and because I was able to come on the forum and be honest about how hard it has been this week, it relieved the pressure that was building inside me. I can see it really isn't the end of the world now, I am just very, very tired and drained and aching. And if I am being honest Linnet, I really do need to have my other hip replaced, it has upset me a lot, because it is hurting so much, my new hip is so rock solid....I just can't face it, I am only just getting through having one....tomorrow is a new day and need to keep hoping it will just pass....and so many on the forum have managed to have both done. My good non operated hip keeps collapsing and is scaring the life out of me. I don't want to have a fall and risk my new one...same old same old... It will okay. I managed to get through another day!!! smile

    • linnet2015
      linnet2015 rose0000

      Posted

      Rose I dont think you realise just how amazing you are, not only are you recovering from a major operration, you are looking after your two children and your poorly husband, all the the while recovering from a major operation, worrying about your other hip and can you face another op. You have (finally?) admitted that you could need your other hip replaced and it is causing you pain.

      As you know I have had both done now and although I felt wonderful to begin with when I had my first hip done, gradually the pain from my other hip took over and actually hampered my recovery. So finally with the second op I have no pain at all and its wonderful.

      The biggest difference between us is our age and our family circumstances. I am 65 and although I have certain family commitments they are not 24 hours a day/365 days a year like you. So first of all you need to talk to your surgeon to see when he can do your other hip. Then try to make any future date for your operation at a time when your children are at school. As you sadly have no family support (apart from your lovely husband) the best time to have your operation would be June or September. I know you are worried/frightened but even though you are young, having an operation on your other hip can only be good, no pain, start to live and love life again.

      Take care, let me know how you are getting on (pm if you prefer).

      Love and a big hug

      Linnet x

       

    • Kate53CornUK
      Kate53CornUK linnet2015

      Posted

      Rose, I am here and standing beside Linnet, holding you up.

      While I was in having number two done last week I met a fab girl of 35 having her first, we were the only two in the ward. During in the night on Day 2 she went to the bathroom and came back and started crying. Her new hip was fine but she had suddenly been reminded that the other one was just as painful and would need doing soon. It was all too much. Like you, Rose, she had two young children at home, a good man but an awful lot to face.The nurse made us a cup of tea and we sat talking until the sun came up. I told her how I had felt when I had to admit that a second was not an option and how it had devastated me.

      In the morning she thanked me - she could now see that if I could get through two then so could she.

      Rose, I would say the same to you. I had to wait another 6 months to get the next one - it was tough and my recovery from the healing righty was shadowed by the failing leftie.

      I have had many times when I have wept in pain and frustration but a friends wise words to me have always stayed with me....

      "You can visit Pity City but you can't book a room there"

       This operation is mega, life changing, slow, frustrating and just plain s****y but there is always hope of a future better than the half life we had. Wipe your tears and crack on until the next meltdown, you are a lot stronger than you think!

       

    • HipsDontLie
      HipsDontLie Kate53CornUK

      Posted

      I only stop with my walker to say.., I love your last paragraph!!

      I'm on day 6 and I've been wiping tears every night but I still get up in the morning and work it because there's a better tomorrow!

      xx, Paula, Okinawa

    • renee01952
      renee01952 HipsDontLie

      Posted

      Hi Paula, 

      How are you doing, sweetheart ? are you still in a lot of pain ? How about the constipation?

      Why are you crying every night?   I know it is a very emotional roller coaster as well, but if we can help you here, please feel free to share okay?

      You are not alone ...

      big warm hug

      renee

       

  • RosemaryT
    RosemaryT mic71403

    Posted

    Thank you Mic, nice post. I am week 4 post op and love to hear how much better it does eventually get, walking 11 miles, wonderful! Rosemary x
    • mic71403
      mic71403 RosemaryT

      Posted

      Hey Rosemary,

      Good luck - nice to hear from you.

      yo, go at your own pace.

      my hospital requested crutches back at 6 weeks, which was a spur to me, but it doens't work that way for everyone!

      hugs

      mic

      x

  • renee01952
    renee01952 mic71403

    Posted

    cheesygrin so nice of you to still follow the discussions and share, Mic - I remember how well you were doing and how disciplined and determined you were/are - 

    How is the crouching going? 

    big warm hug, big guy

    renee

     

  • linnet2015
    linnet2015 mic71403

    Posted

    Lovely post Mic, you've been around the forum for both my hip ops and I always loved your posts, warm, friendly, funny and helpful. We always tell others we are all different with individual rates of recovery and healing but its only human nature to look at how you are doing when someone else has thrown the crutches away earlier, driven at 2 weeks, walked a million miles etc. Our rates of recovery can depend on so many things - our health and fitness, why we are having the operation, do we need the other hip done etc.

    But it can be your age that is the factor and I dont necessarily mean the more mature! I hadnt realised until I joined the forum how many young people have this op and how difficult it can sometimes make their recovery when say you have young children to look after once your partner has gone back to work.

    I have been extremely lucky - 2 ops no complications (touch wood!), a lovely husband to help me when he's not at work and the luxury to rest as much as I needed, when I needed to.

    The forum and the lovely hippies and hippies to be have been a godsend and I hope it will always be here for all future hippies to get help, information, kindness and understanding and most importantly somewhere to celebrate, congratulate, shout, cry and have a moan.

    🤗👍😨😥😠

    Love to all from sunny Surrey

    Linnet xx

     

    • mic71403
      mic71403 linnet2015

      Posted

      and love back from for a change from a sunny devon - been cold and miserable here!

      mic

      xx

  • Rocketman_SG6UK
    Rocketman_SG6UK mic71403

    Posted

    Mic, we try to celebrate every small victory, my wife insists on it in fact.

    I am being pressured to go back to work early, But at 6 weeks, I know I'm just not ready yet - luckily I won't see my surgeon for another week, but then I bet the pressure will be on again.

    Celebrating getting rid of my TEDs again yesterday, so that is worth a whole weekend's worth of partying in my book!!!!

    Best

    Graham

    • linnet2015
      linnet2015 Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Not just a party Graham I should think you would cut them in to little pieces, stamp on them and finally have a nice little bonfire!

      Dont let them pressure you to go back to work until you are good and ready, Im sure they have no idea just what you have been through.

      Take care 😀

      Linnet x

       

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK linnet2015

      Posted

      Let's all dance around the burning TEDs !!!

      I might just keep them as super flight socks.

      I know they have no idea, even most of the hospital staff looking after us have no idea either.  We did have one physio that had a knee replacement, she knew what wearing TEDs was like!

    • valleyregirl
      valleyregirl Rocketman_SG6UK

      Posted

      Hi Graham, I too am 6 weeks post op & am feeling pressured to go back to work next week! I thought I would be ready & when people see me walking around with just a slight limp they think I am all better but I find that I get tired pretty quickly & feel I need a few more weeks of healing. I see my doctor today & will see what he suggests.

      I have only been on this site for a couple days & hear a lot about TED's. Without sounding ignorant can I ask what that is? I'm assuming it's the socks to prevent blood clots. My doc didn't have me wear those once I got home. He just had me take an aspirin a day for 4 weeks. I am from California & have noticed a lot of people on here are from the UK & maybe the use of them is common there! Congratulations on getting rid of them!

    • Rocketman_SG6UK
      Rocketman_SG6UK valleyregirl

      Posted

      Sure, they are on my website in the "Admission" page. 

      TEDs = ThromboEmbolism-Deterrent - like super flight socks.

      Some places swear by them, others (me included) swear at them.  They seem to be more common in the UK.

      Graham

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