My Journey to Surgery

Hopefully she has some good people for her recovery

As I said in my last post [9/9/12] I never casually sign up for voluntary pain. That's one of the reasons that I fought and fought hard to not have total hip replacement surgery. Here's a brief list of the methods I employed to fight the inevitable:

1. I read and re read Sarno's book Healing Back Pain in the belief that I was faking it.
2. I distracted myself from the pain mentally with loving thoughts, ignoring the the pain, pushing through the pain, giving myself stern talkings to...
3. I distracted myself physically with breathing techniques, yoga, acupuncture, bike riding, hikes and physical therapy.
4. I took copious vitamins, herbs like tumeric, rubs like arnica, pills like aspirin and aleve.
5. I saw doctors: my primary care physician, a Rheumatoligist.
6. I submitted to X rays and a cortisone shot in the hip [ouch x3].
7. I got two professional opinions from orthopedic surgeons.

I finally faced the truth, as my chosen surgeon said, "nothing you could have done and nothing short of the total hip replacement is going to take the pain away," from my poor little degenerated hip bones. So I scheduled surgery.

Once I had the date for surgery I was handed a three ring binder called "My Joint Journey" [I am not making this up]. In it was the lush detail of how to prepare for surgery, how to prepare your house, the exercises that they recommended prior to surgery and  after surgery. Not exactly stimulating reading unless you're about to voluntarily go under the knife.

Things changes. I went from the most reluctant candidate for surgery to the most impatient. Not being able to walk very far greatly influenced my turn around. I was reminded of this when I witnessed my cat who ordinarily turns tail and runs at the sight of the cat carrier, actually walked into it after his last fight with the local bully racoon. The very good Mr. G took him to the vet to get patched up with hardly a gutteral meow. Goes to show that when you need care, you want it ASAP. I lucked out and someone cancelled and I got in for my surgery three weeks earlier than was originally scheduled.

I knew that I was in the best of hands, I had researched well [with the help of my daughter-in-law] and my logical brain finally kicked in to comfort me. This happens when I board an airplane, I always say to myself, "I can't fly this plane so I surrender all control to the pilot." My surgeon, a jewel of a man, radiated enthusiasm and confidence. Believe me that helped enormously. He was my pilot, I surrendered control to him.

The night before surgery we got to stay with my son's family and that was a treat and comforting. My grandson flings himself on me and is "my blanket" and my granddaughter hugs me and pats my back saying "you're going to be fine." My daughter in law [who is a Physical therapist] had many words of wisdom and reassurance. My son, as usual, was darling and dear to me.

The hospital experience was excellent in that it is a well oiled machine with caring professional nurses. I kept jokingly saying to the nurses that this was "my spa experience" and part of me was absolutely serious. OK, no mani/pedis or facials or massages but loving attention and concern about me and my experience in the hospital.

Only one day was atrocious and that was the day after surgery. I had a violent reaction to the Oxycontin and barfed not only on my nurse but also on the PT. The determined PT really wanted me to get out of the bed and god knows I made an attempt but the black dots in front of my eyes got in the way. My BP had dropped down to 62/48 with all of the barfing. Thankfully they quickly figured out it was the meds, and once those dreadful pills left my system I was truly better. My son and family showed up that evening and I was able to revel in my grandson projecting himself all over the room, Superman fashion, on the nurses rolling stool.  My granddaughter made a game of the walker and son and daughter in law brought treats. There is no question in my mind that the most welcome ingredient for a fast recovery is loving attention.

Tomorrow I will talk about another essential ingredient in recovery.

susansmagicfeather copyright 2012 Susan R. Grout all rights reserved