Hip Surgery Update: Transitions

After years of debilitating hip pain, I had surgery on my left hip July 1, 2016, and then surgery on my right hip July 18, 2017.

So far, I am doing incredibly well and this recovery going even better than last time! I am choosing to be careful and rest even if I feel well.

This photo is just a couple of days post-op right hip surgery, next to the sign made for me after my left hip surgery a year ago. 

The surgery itself was nearly identical to surgery on my left hip as my surgeon said both hips were pretty much the same.  Thus far, this recovery has been going even better than the recovery from the first hip surgery.  This is partly because I know more of what to expect and had already figured out tricks to make things easier. However, we also think I was even stronger prior to this surgery, so early recovery and rehab are going even better than last time.  I thought I was independent quickly last time, but this time I started out even more so.

 

Pre-op and post-op. Yes, I really felt that well just hours after surgery and barely back at the hotel!

Being silly waiting to be taken back for surgery.  Modeling the latest in fashion. 😉

The anesthesiologist had discussed with me some of my complicating factors a few weeks prior to surgery, then again morning right before surgery.  I trusted the anesthesiologist so followed his preferences regarding how to address the precautions for EDS and MCAS, even though different from what had been initially recommended.  The way he managed things worked very well for me, as I have felt really well since pretty early after surgery.  However, I was apprehensive about the scopolamine patch used to prevent nausea.  I had the patch last time for the first time ever and although I had no nausea, I also had such badly blurred vision for so long that I could not read, email, text, message on Facebook, or much of anything for days.  We ended up deciding to forego the patch completely this time.  I knew this meant higher risk of post-op nausea.  I have been pleasantly surprised that there was no nausea at all even without the patch and also vision has been fine!  I have so much enjoyed being able to see to read, type, crochet, etc.

The brace is really not that bad.  I usually wear it over a tank top but under t-shirt or dress. I have not noticed it restricting my movement, but I was also told by the PT I saw day after surgery that I obviously had been through this recovery/rehab before and had a good local PT working with me as I was moving well, maintaining restrictions, knew what I was doing, and had good questions.  She told me she trusted me to walk without the brace to the bike, and afterward told me she had watched me walk and I never once went into extension. My surgeon had already told me I only need to wear it when up and around, not when resting or sitting still. So, early on, some days, I never wore it as resting all day.  With the move, I was wearing it majority of days where there was more going on and I was up and down more, or actually helping.  The brace is heavy (relatively, not awful) and gets hot with all-day wear. My biggest issue with it, is it gets in the way of the crutches and afraid of catching myself up.

Brace. The smile is because we were getting ready to go swimming again!

Transitions--the secondary title of this post.  I am transitioning from rehabbing left hip and "prehabbing" right hip, to maintaining left hip (some ongoing rehab) and rehabbing right hip.  However, it also has to do with moving from Iowa back to Nebraska, plus other changes.  Timing of both surgery and moving were not ideal and things have been challenging.  I was so restricted pre-op that I was overwhelmed with how to possibly get packed to move and prepare for surgery when I could not sit or stand long.  Friends from church willingly offered to help me and took turns coming to my place, helping me sort things, pack, clean.  We had most of the packing done prior to surgery. The actual move took place four days post-op. My brother coordinated guys to help in Iowa and my dad coordinated help in Nebraska.  We had my boxes and furniture loaded in an hour!  Last minute the night before after an honest conversation between PT, my sister, and I, we decided to keep my bed after all, but sent all else, except folding card table, folding chairs, my folding zero-gravity chair, my "bike" (folding pedals, and bar stool), a few other small items. A couple of days later, some of the ladies from church came and deep cleaned my apartment!  Then, my aunt and uncle came over and finished off final details.  My sister who had traded places with another of my sisters to stay with me the weekend of the move, helped with the very final packing and touching up the cleaning right before we left at eight days post-op to move to a hotel, then drive to Nebraska the next day at nine days post-op. I maybe helped with the final packing and cleaning.  My sister tried not to let me, but I insisted and knew it was things I really could do based on what I was doing at this stage last time. For as overwhelmed as I started out with how impossible the surgery and moving appeared, but ended up overwhelmed with how many pitched in to help me.  

So grateful and relieved!  I honestly was not sure what to expect.  I hoped this surgery and recovery would go even better than last time, but did not expect it to do so.  Also, my surgeon had told me pre-op that although surgery should be similar, that recovery may be similar, but may be either harder or easier.  Thus, I went into this surgery as I go into most surgeries--hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.  Because I saw my surgeon for post-op appt on left hip the day before surgery on right hip, we discussed again expectations for surgery and I told him my mindset/persepctive going into surgeries, and he encouraged me that it is a healthy perspective.

I am also retaining my recovery theme from last year to use for this year.  This is not a race to see how fast I can recover, but a journey to see how well I can recover.  Thus, it is worth giving my body the time and support it needs to heal and recover well.

There are so many praying for me, for surgery, for recovery, for the move, so many helping in other ways.  I am so, so grateful to all!  God has gone before in so many ways.

Something my dad put together years ago seems fitting in this setting:

God is With Us!!!

August 25, 2008 at 10:07pm
Here's some thoughts that I've been putting together over the last few years: 
GOD IS WITH US [Joshua 1.9] Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.
HE GOES BEFORE US [Deuteronomy 31.8] And the LORD, He it is who doth go before thee. He will be with thee, He will not fail thee, neither forsake thee. Fear not, neither be dismayed.
HE IS OUR REAR GUARD [Isaiah 52.12 (NIV)] But you will not leave in haste or go in flight; for the Lord will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.
HE SURROUNDS US WITH SONGS OF DELIVERANCE [Psalm 32.7 (NIV)] You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.
COVERED UNDER HIS WINGS [Psalm 91.4] He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou find refuge...
UNDERNEATH ARE THE EVERLASTING ARMS [Deuteronomy 33.27] The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms...
WE ARE IN CHRIST'S HANDS [John 10.28] And I give to them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
WE ARE IN THE FATHER'S HANDS [John 10.29] My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.
HE IS IN US [1 Corinthians 6.19] What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
WE ARE IN HIM [Ephesians 2.13] But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
IF GOD IS FOR US WHO CAN BE AGAINST US? [Romans 8.31] What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?
Safety is NOT the absence of danger; but, rather the Presence of the Lord... and as you can see - HE IS WITH US!!! 

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