No More Walker!

      So I have been using a cane on occasion since 2 weeks post-op.  but still using the walker for longer distances.  For the past 2 days, I have only been using the cane.  I even went to the mall!  I didn't walk the entire mall...baby steps.  I have a limp, but significantly smaller than before (or so I am told by others).  I can do so many more movements with NO pain.  I still have one spot on my outer thigh that is sore and tightens up when I walk.  I can also not slide my leg inward when in a lying position more than like 4 times.  I am feeling better every day,  I am only down to using Tylenol only for pain and about every 6-8 hours instead of 4-6.  
       When I wake up in the morning,  I feel a little dizzy.  I have heard this could be a side effect of anesthesia.  I have ridden up to Virginia and back (My wonderful mom drove me!).  On the way there, I was super uncomfortable like every hour.  On the way back, I felt very little discomfort.  I went to Virginia to see my dad because he has stage 4 lung cancer, and is currently in Hospice.  My dad told me about 2 months ago, he just wants to know that I make it past my surgery with a new hip.  So, he got to see me walk.  I will always remember those precious moments with my dad!

    I am looking forward doing more things every day.  In fact, on Sunday I am going on an airplane and flying to Denver for a close friend's wedding!

2 Weeks Post-Op

       So, 2 weeks ago I went under the knife and got my hip replaced.  That was an....experience.  The day of surgery I was full of anxiety.  I think getting the IV in was the worst, apparently my veins in my hand were not cooperating.  The nurse eventually got the IV in, and then I met my anesthesiologist.  My surgeon came in to chat.  Then, after about almost 3 hours of pre-op "stuff,"  the anesthesiologist assistant came in to give me something to "take the edge off."  Then, I said goodbye to my mom and told her I loved her...and he wheeled me back.  Now, just let me say, they really need to de-clutter the hallways.  I honestly thought they were taking me to the basement or something with all the unused medical equipment sitting in the hallway.  Then, we went into this big operation room, and the anesthesiologist greeted me.  After that, I remember only bits and pieces. I guess I had to move from the bed to the table (no memory), but I do remember someone saying, "Jennifer you need to scoot over, you are not exactly in the middle of the table." 

      My next memory is in a huge open room, and nurses waking me up.  I asked, "Do I have a new hip?" A radiologist came in to tell me I was getting an X-Ray.  I asked, "Can I go to sleep?"  I remember the nurse calling me Jessica, and I said, "No, I'm Jennifer."  Then, I remember waking up and saying, "Where's my mom, am I going to see my mom?" Needless to say, it took about 2 hours for me to wake up.  Anybody that knows me, knows I love to sleep and have a hard time waking up. 

    Then I went to a room, and my mom came in.  I was starting to feel pain and asked for medicine and it did take a little while for me to get some meds.  I was still very tired, my throat was sore, and I was feeling nauseated.  My mom left because I was basically out of it.  The night was interesting, not a ton of sleep because they wake you up to put meds in, but it burned sometimes.  They also have to check your blood pressure and temperature.  My surgeon called the nurse at 10:45 to check on me, she was in my room.  He told her to ask me, "Do you like your longer leg?"  I was like...huh....it's 10:45 shouldn't he be in bed!   Going to the bathroom was a whole ordeal, but I got out of bed at about 1am...8 hours after surgery. 
     The next day, I got physically therapy at 7:45am.  My mom came at about 8am. I found out that the Doctor had injected my hip area with a medicine that is a combo anti-biotic and pain reliever that lasts for 5 days.   The doctor came in and explained the surgery (the doctor talked to my mom right after surgery, which scared my mom because no one was left in the waiting area and no one got called back to see the doctor!). 
      Apparently, my hip joint was impacted into my socket.  This made it difficult to get apart and all my tendons/ligaments had been shortened.  My left leg was approximately 2.5 cm shorter than my right, but he added 2 cm to my femur and the new joint should fix the rest.  So, he really had to stretch the tendons and barely had them connected.  He feels like scar tissue will fill in the rest and the tendons will stretch out over time.  The bulk of my pain, is the equivalent of hyper-extending your knee and pulling a muscle.
     Later that day, I had my IV and drain (no one told me about that) removed.  I had another round of Physical therapy and was cleared to go home.    I left the hospital approximately 24 hours after my surgery.  I have been very lucky and used a strong non-narcotic pain meds for 2 days and then used Tylenol during the day and the stronger meds at night.  I have 9 exercises I do 3 times a day (I started at 10 reps and am up to 15).  I walk the house 6 times a day with a walker.  I have been out 3 times, and I have even driven!  I am fully independent, my mom left yesterday. 
      I really didn't want to have to look at my incision, but I have to now that my mom is gone.  It really isn't as bad as I thought, but it is about 9-10 inches.  They used stitches in the inside, and glue on the outside.  I am so looking forward to moving from the walker to the cane, and then no more cane.  I go for a post-op check-up on the 22nd, in just 16 days.  Check back for an update.