"And That's The Way It Is"

Last winter it didn't make sense for me to continue the blog. Two of my nephews have very serious medical conditions (Charlie is still in a vegetative state), the economy was/is down, and many of my friends and family are/were without jobs. I didn't feel right blathering on about me when everything else was so dire - my hip issues are nothing compared to all of the rest.

That said, I do feel like I should wrap this blog up officially, so here's my final update:

- The blade plate in my left leg never stopped bothering me. Every single step up that I've taken in the last 10 months, I felt it. Everyday I had moments where I moved the wrong way and could feel the connective tissue rub against the plate. The swelling never completely went away, although I was able to get back into most of my regular jeans by September.

- I was in PT from the end of January until the third week of July. I hit the point where I had plateaued. Still unable to run, still having a slight limp, I resigned myself to the fact that as long as the blade plate was in, there wouldn't be any more progress and my PT agreed.

- The big news is that I had my final surgery last Thursday - the blade plate is OUT. I chose to be awake for the surgery this time - it was only about an hour - so as to avoid some of the after-effects of the anesthesia. It paid off - I'm much less groggy and my lower tract is back on schedule.

- I have 4 more weeks on crutches (Canadian/Gimp Stix/Tiny Tim's/Polio Sticks - take your pick.) I'll start up PT again sometime next month and will probably be in it until March +/-. The goal is to be able to run again by the time I'm done.

- Having double FO's was the best decision I could have made. I've had plenty of pain over the last many months but I don't have any of the grinding joint pain. It's all good; it was definitely worth it.

And so today, I'm 4 days out from my final surgery and feeling pretty good. Haven't had any narcs today. The big test will be seeing if I can make it through the night - I'm thinking that I can.

And so this is it. Fellow and Future Hip Chickers - please feel free to leave comments here. I will get your message and email you back directly.

I wish you all the best,
Laura Hill

I've Only Stubbed My Toe

I haven't updated the blog in a while because it feels so very trivial to me right now.

A little over a year ago my nephew, Charlie, had a heart transplant. He survived his first year with it, which is a huge milestone in the transplant world. Recently though, he had to have some scar tissue removed from his trachea due to multiple intubations throughout his life. Unfortunately, there were complications and the end result is that he's now in a vegetative state and on life support. It's just tragic.

So, for what it's worth, I'm 9 weeks and a day post op; I'm walking on gimp stix and hope to lose them by the end of the month; PT and French Class are going well; I walk in the pool 3 days a week. But as I said, my osteotomies are trivial in comparison to what Charlie is going through.

I wish you the best big guy.

51 Days Later

I had my follow up visit with Dr. Buly today and got the green light to walk with crutches, a.k.a. Canadian crutches, a.k.a. Gimp Stix. It's so good to walk again - my atrophied left foot is cramping like crazy as the muscles get put back into play, but I'm not complaining!

I also got my hardware back and will post a picture soon - I just got home a while ago and am whooped - need to take a nap.

Tomorrow I start PT - yippee!!!

Countdown

I'm a little over 6 weeks post operative. Next Wednesday I have my follow up with Dr. Buly and have every reason to believe that I will be able to go weight bearing. It's tempting to put weight on my left leg now, but I don't.

I hope the days pass quickly!

PS - I'm pretty much over the food poisoning, but Doug is still hurting... Poor guy.

Double Down For The Count

Doug and I both woke up in the middle of the night with a pretty stiff case of food poisoning. It's nearly 6 PM now and I have only been out of bed to use the bathroom. We're not 100% sure of the cause, but have our suspicions. I feel particularly bad for Doug because through it all he still has to feed and walk Paris - to top it off, it snowed all day. Ugh. I'm probably going to bail on French class tomorrow because I don't think I'll be up to it.

Big Girl Pants

Today marks an important milestone: I wore a pair of 5 pocket corduroys with a fly and a button. Wahoo! For nearly 6 weeks, I've worn nothing but my Nike workout pants. They're all well and good, but I'm sick of them.

About two years ago I tried on some stretch cords at J. Crew. They fit so well that I bought 3 pair in different colors. Unfortunately, they only seemed to stretch in one direction and I quickly found myself with three pair of cords that were all too big. Last spring when I was flipping my closet, I contemplated sending them to Good Will but didn't because I figured they'd be good for right about now - and they are.

The Thrill is Gone

I'm sick of this:

• I'm so over being on crutches.
• I hate that I have to ask Doug for the most mundane things (a glass of water, a cup of tea, my hot water bottle, another blanket, something to eat, etc.) because I can't just pop up off of the sofa and get/do it for myself.
• I'm done with bathing while sitting on a shower chair.
• I hate that I'm paranoid of falling since I had the close call.
• It snowed today so Doug had to escort me to and from French class - again.
• I still can't sit like a normal person for more than an hour or so without pain.
• I'm still uncomfortable each and every night and have trouble falling asleep as a result of my discomfort.
• I can only sleep on my back.
• My tailbone is killing me!
• I still have TWELVE more days on crutches...

pppppppppt!

Five Weeks Post Op

Another week has ticked by... I have two more to go before I see Dr. B. and (hopefully) get the green light to go weight bearing.

I'm thankful that I can get out of the house when the weather cooperates - cabin fever has definitely set in. We went to the mall (which has indoor parking, read: no ice) the other day just so I could get out. We're in for some bone-chilling temps and precip later this week - I'm trying to get mentally prepared for being on lock down again. I'm glad that I'm taking the French class since I have loads of time for the homework in between naps.

My big whoop today was that I stopped by the PT office before my class and set up my first four appointments. Can't wait to use 'em.

Close Call

Today is the big day: Day 30. The day that signals the end of my House Arrest.

To mark the occasion, Doug and I went into the city so that I could go to my first French class. For years I'd been daydreaming about taking a language class just for the fun of it, but I was working in The Job That Ate My Life and never found the time. Now that I'm on short-term disability and soon to be officially laid off, I figured why not? It turns out that my class is on the same block as the place where I did my physical therapy after the last surgery - tres commode!

We live in the 'burbs just north of NYC and use the commuter rail to get in and out of Manhattan. The southbound tracks are on far side and getting there involves taking an elevator (or stairs if you're not on crutches) up to an enclosed and heated pedestrian bridge and then taking another elevator down to the platform. So, we park in the lot (in a handicap space, thanks to the temporary gimp pass) with about 15 minutes before the train is scheduled to arrive. We hadn't eaten yet, so Doug went to the coffee shop to get bagels; I went on ahead and told him I'd meet him on the bridge. I take the elevator up, step out, and immediately my left crutch flies out from under me. THANK GOD, there were two quick acting guys who caught me inches before I would have slammed to the ground. If it were not for them, I have no doubt that I would have stayed down until the EMT's arrived to cart me off to the ER for X-rays. One of them stayed with me while the other went and found Doug, who got me back up. From there I slid on my good foot and crutched along the wall - we still managed to make it on to the train with time to spare. Those guys were truly angels. I'm thankful to have survived unscathed. The incident served as a very important reminder for me to be careful, careful, careful as I negotiate the outside world again.

whew.

"Bonus" Week

I got a call from Dr. Buly's office today - he's going to be traveling to Italy to lecture the week of January 19th so they're pushing my appointment on the 21st to the 28th. It means I have an additional week on crutches as a result. Blah!

My arms do look fabulous though.

Four Weeks Post Op

Today marks four week since my surgery - in fact, at this very moment 28 days ago, I was knocked out and under the knife while Doug was hanging around waiting and waiting. I'm thankful that those 5.5 hours went by in a blink for me.

Not a lot has changed for me since last week but noteworthy is:

• My pain levels are getting better all the time and I've even reached the point where I can skip a Tylenol dose every now and then without breaking.
• It's gotten easier to sleep through the night - my pattern now is to sleep (like the dead) from about midnight until 6 AM, get up, pee, re-dose on Tylenol, and then sleep deeply for another 3+ hours.
• I still need a big 'ol nap every afternoon and still snag a catnap (read 10-15 minutes) about twice a day.
• I can sit upright for longer periods of time, but still need to be in the chaise lounge position for most of the day.

So, today is my 28th day - is that a month? Only if it's February... Thursday will be my 30th day and I'm deciding to call THAT a month and will venture out on that day. Big plans. Stay tuned...

Sleeping Beauty

I didn't update the blog yesterday because there really wasn't anything to report. Ditto for today actually but I figured I would anyway.

I spend my days on the living room sofa; evenings I'm in the TV room on that sofa. Occasionally I'll sit in a chair in the kitchen and keep Doug company while he's cooking, but for the most part my waking hours are, you guessed it, on a sofa.

I sleep about 10 hours each night but still need a solid nap every afternoon plus catnaps here and there. I know my body is just taking the time that it needs to heal itself.

Sometimes I think it's too bad that I'm not lazing about on a chaise lounge under a palm tree on a beach in Mexico (I'm thinkin' Playa del Carmen) but then I think of how hard it would be to crutch through the sand to get there...

Goodbye 2008

2008 was the Year of the Hip for me and I'm deeply grateful that I'm done with five out of six surgical procedures to correct my hip dysplasia. But 2008 was also the year in which Doug and I both were laid off and the economy is the bleakest I've ever experienced. I know that things won't turn around quickly, but I'm hoping that by this time in 2009, I'll be looking back on a year in which Doug and I both took advantage of fabulous career opportunities (and at least one of us lands a job with health insurance) and the economy is soundly out of the crapper. What can I say? I'm an optimist. What I do know is this, a year from now I'll be able to walk, run, and sit cross legged once again. Gone are the stabbing pains in my hips as the result of my bones grinding away at my cartilage - I will always have this as one of the positives of '08.

Tonight Doug and I will have a quiet night at home. We're having Chambord Swiss Fondue (a.k.a. Fatdue) and champagne. We'll watch TV and the snow falling outside; we'll kiss this year goodbye and look forward to whatever 2009 has to bring.

Happy New Year to all!

Three Weeks Post Op

Today I am three weeks past my surgery and I'm feeling pretty good. Here's where I am:

• I can put on my right sock and shoe, but still need help with the left.
• No problems getting in and out of the shower on my own.
• I still know when I'm coming up on my next Tylenol dose, but the jags of pain are getting to be fewer.
• My biggest challenge, by far, is that I cannot sleep through the night. Every night between 2:00 and 4:00 I am awakened by leg pain and muscle spasms. Once I'm awake, there's nothing I can do to get comfortable again. I've learned that if I wake up on the early side to just take a benedryl or two to knock myself out. Otherwise I'd be up for hours.
• I still need a big nap every day.

PT came for her last home visit today. There's not much more that she can do with me, it's just isometrics for now until I see Dr. B on the 21st.

Home Again

We're home from the Cape. It was good to see the in-laws, but I'm happy that I will be sleeping in my own bed again and eating my normal comfort foods.

Definitely going to bed early tonight.

Fugitive

I never made it to the gym on Friday to suspend the membership - I took a nap instead.

Yesterday we made our way up to Cape Cod to see Doug's family. It's a year in which we would have normally been with them for the holidays. His parents are getting on in years and can't come to us, so we made the drive. We're staying at the inn where we customarily stay, having made (and paid for) the room well before my surgery. Ours is a nice room with a big king bed on the ground level and dog friendly.

I know that Dr. B. wants me to be extra cautious with my right leg, thus the house arrest. I am being super careful, but what I didn't count on is this: I. Am. Wiped. Out. I'm glad we're not traveling back today because it would be too, too much. This morning I got up for breakfast and then went back to bed until noon.

The upside to my escape is that I now fully and completely understand why I need to rest and I remain thankful that I have the time to do so.

Boxing Day

My sister and her family are coming to visit later this afternoon, so I guess you could say that we're celebrating Boxing Day. (Mom, I know this does you proud!) I'm looking forward to seeing her and her husband and the kids. She's bringing eggplant Parmesan for dinner - one of my favorites!

Life in Hipville plods on. I seem to have a "rough patch" every day between 4 AM and 6 AM - it wakes up with pain and I can't get comfortable no matter what I try. I doze on and off until it's time for me to take my Tylenol again at 6 AM and then sleep hard until 9 or so. In the pre-dawn hours I also get muscle spasms in my left thigh that don't hurt, but are strong enough to wake me up. Throughout the day I get jags of pain that, at times, take my breath away but they're thankfully brief and usually only occur in the last hour before my next dose of Tylenol.

I'm thinking about sneaking out of the house today, with considerable help from Doug, so I can suspend my gym membership for a while. I didn't do this the last time, because I didn't know that I could, but I figure saving the $75/month isn't such a bad idea.

Christmas Eve

There's not a lot to report when you can't leave the house. I got a suprise visit from the PT this morning - I swore she said she was coming on Friday... She'll come back for her final visit next week and then we'll be done.

Hmmmm, what else? Not much really. Doug bought some special treats for dinner tonight and tomorrow. We're just going to hang out with each other and the pooch and enjoy Christmas Eve and Christmas.

Happy Holidays everyone!!!

Two Weeks Post-Op

Paris is my constant companion on the sofa.

Today marks two weeks since my surgery and again, it feels like it's been longer. I pretty much accomplished the goals I set for myself a week ago:

• Be able to put a sock on my right foot - I can do this about 8 times out of 10. I'll have this nailed by the 3 week mark, for sure.


• Be able to get in and out of the tub without help from Doug - I barely managed to do this the last time I took a shower, I think it's still a little hit or miss. Again, by week 3 it'll be a no brainer.


• Be better at crutching - I'm still on the walker most of the time, but it's gotten much, much easier for me to get up and down the stairs on the crutches.


• Be less swollen - after 2 weeks (and continuing) of nearly constant icing, I am a lot less swollen. My left knee once again looks like a knee.


• Ditch the Dilaudid - Check! I still have pain; I still know each and every time when I'm within 30 minutes of my next Tylenol dose; I almost broke down and took a Dilaudid this afternoon, but I didn't.

I'm looking forward to Christmas Eve and Christmas. Next week I'll be looking forward to New Year's Eve and the following week I'll be looking forward the end of my house arrest. Again, I am thankful to have the time to recover.

Happy To Be Housebound

Today was frigid here in the northeast with temperatures in the teens. (Apologies for not knowing the Celsius equivalent, but it's way below zero.) It was A-OK with me that I'm confined to the house - I like winter and all, but not bone-chilling temps. I find that having an 8" piece of stainless steel implanted in my femur doesn't help matters when the weather is cold or damp.

It was otherwise a fairly uneventful day - my PT came in the morning and gave me a bunch more isometric exercises to work on. She's going to come by on Friday to wrap things up. At this point there's not much else that she can do for/with me; my real PT will start up once I'm off crutches.