Friday, August 30, 2013 - Day 66

So I don't have much time to update, mostly because I'm tired as hell and bruiser I'm on VACATION! Thursday began with a post op visit at 9am in Boston, followed by a drive back to CT, pack the car, and drive another 4ish hours to NJ to spend the weekend in Ocean City! 

I will update later regarding my appointment, it wasn't great. But here are some pics to keep your attention. 

Drinks at the Borgata in Atlantic City. 

Wednesday, August 28, 2013 - Day 64

This is when posts start to get less and less frequent and I apologize. This has become more of a diary lately than a hip blog. #dontcare.

I have just crossed over the 9 week mark, yup, 9 weeks!!! I can't believe how quickly it has gone looking back and how things kind of started moving nicely around the 2 1/2 week mark. I can now say, I feel almost perfect. I said that after my last two, too, but lets hope this is for real. It's official, I have removed myself from my last, single crutch. Officially walking. On. My. Own. Two. Feet. Yeah!! 

My hip definitely feels weak, like I'm aware of it as opposed to it feeling "normal" yet. But no pain. Haven't had pain in a few weeks. I have slight achy pain in my butt when I first get out of bed. But a walk to the bathroom and things feel fine. I keep my one crutch in the car and the other I keep with me at work just in case I turn or move the wrong way and need it. I'm not perfect yet. 

In other news, tomorrow is my 4-week followup from my last appointment. I thought, seriously I have to be on crutches four more weeks! But I'm done with that and made it! I'm plenty sure doc will let me be off crutches at this point. I'm right on target with my past surgeries so I'm not worried with anything. Just have to be very careful for a few more weeks and baby the right side so anything left with the fracture heals for good. It's kind of crazy, usually when you do something multiple times, it gets easier and easier as quicker. Nope. Not with a PAO. They are literally (almost) all the same. 8-9 week mark is when crutches start to get dropped. I wish each one was faster and easier. But that is not true. 

I can basically do whatever I want (within reason of course). Walk, sit indian style, stand, curl up on the couch, squat down, bend over, kneel...umm yeah...stand in the shower, put my pants and socks on and off without sitting down. All the little things we all take for granted are all old hat for me now. Socks and pants aren't AS easy but I can do it without much effort. I can pull my knee up to my chest almost 100%, the issue is if I cross my leg and rest my ankle on my knee, that direction things are slow moving, but I know screws hinder that slightly as well as swelling and lack of stretching.

I have a busy few days ahead followed by (hopefully) a nice relaxing weekend that doesn't fly by or consist of me hurting myself. HA! Boston tonight to stay with my brother, 9am appointment tomorrow so I won't get out of Boston until close to 11 or 12 I would suspect... 2 1/2 hour drive back to CT, get Kev and pack up the car and head down to Ocean City, NJ for the weekend with my parental units. Here's to a smooth ride!!

In other news, I have to express how much I friggin' love Dr. Millis. I know I've said it before and blah blah blah, he's my doctor so chances are I should love him. But, yeah, I really do. I've mentioned before that even though he has hundreds of patients, he makes you feel like you are literally his only patient and really gets to know you and has fabulous bedside manner. Maybe because he's old-fashioned. Maybe because he's so passionate about what he does. Or maybe because he loves to love and hate me. SO, picture it, Sicily, 1959...ok Golden Girls reference in there - catch it? Anyway, picture it...I have my belly button pierced and typically, my belly ring shows up on almost all of my X-rays. It has become kind of a joke between Doc and I, which one I'll be wearing. I think he looks forward to that more than actually looking at my hips. So, sometime last year - probably around October I would presume, I was wearing a dangle skeleton ring and he got SUCH a kick out of and he wanted the picture. So I get a random email from him this morning, quoted, taken directly from his email:

Just found your skeleton belly ornament picture. It is now save among my "favorites"!!
  How are you?  When are you coming back to see us?
   Erin is delivering today!!!
   Dr M

I was in shock and couldn't stop laughing. He seriously kept my belly button ring

skeleton saved to his "favorites". He cracks me up sometimes. I'll take that as me 

being his favorite patient...even though he wants to kick me sometimes, it comes with

the territory. Side note, Erin is being induced today! Here's hoping everything goes

fine and she can get the "4-legged creature" as she puts it, out of her belly. 

A 9 week update isn't the same without a scar pic...it's STARTING to look kind of good. 

Ignore the stretch marks. 

Sunday, August 25, 2013 - Day 61

Well I guess my body didn't want to sleep last night. It was a huge failure. Lets start from the beginning. 

Kevin left Friday for NJ then onto PA for a bachelor party so that left me home to cook and clean and lounge. Fast forward, woke up Saturday and it was almost 9am! I popped up, made my shopping list and took off to the store. I used one crutch at the store but kept it in the cart and just walked holding onto the cart. Everything felt fine. I somehow managed to almost buy out the store! Then off to Kohl's to look for a certain color of Essie nail polish that they of course didn't have. Did I also mention it's tax free week in CT and both colleges in the area just moved back in. I went to Ikea after work on Friday and it was a nightmare. Not to mention those shopping carts go sideways and it's soooo hard to control without hip muscles. I was so over that place and needed out. ANYWAY, got home and carried four grocery bags in myself, wasn't too difficult. Then began cooking! Because of the veggie box we get every week I spend the weekends cooking so nothing goes bad. I made three pans of stuffed peppers, two pans of eggplant parm and a meatloaf. Talk about being exhausted. Besides all that standing, I did a couple loads of laundry, carried it upstairs and changed the sheets on our bed. I haaaate changing the sheets on our bed when I'm feeling good and Kevin's here to help me, doing it by myself with a bum leg was crappy. And it's a king. But I did. And put all the clean laundry away. I think I finally sat down around 4pm. 

I can't say anything bothered me. I seem to have just as much energy as I ever did before surgery, so this dumb leg isn't holding me back at all that's for sure. I watched the last few episodes of Sons of  Anarchy and that show gave me such anxiety I couldn't sleep! I laid in bed from 1130 until nearly 2 and was wide awake at 630. I can usually sleep well when Kevin's not home but I guess last night was a different story. My hip is a little sore today. Idk if its from all the rolling around last night, from standing all day yesterday. I'll just relax today until kev gets home then take some meals over to our friends to freeze because they're having a baby in a few short weeks. 

So that was an eventful day. I will say, being inactive for nearly 9 weeks it doesn't seem like I've gain much weight. I have lost quite a bit of muscle which is depressing from all the work I have put in at the gym since my last recovery. I'm trying to maintain a somewhat healthy diet since I'm not overly active - besides my exercises with a resistance band which doesn't count. Here's what my breakfast consisted of today, which is much more than I usually eat: 

Egg white with cheese and sriracha on toast with a side of cottage cheese and five almonds. And here are my "barely-there" abs that look better in a picture than real life. 

I cannot WAIT to get back to the gym. I debated going this weekend to use the bike but I think I should just rest. 

Maybe we'll discuss my typical daily diet:

Breakfast: either a Yogurt or package of Belvita. If I'm home, some kind of egg omelet or wrap. 

Snack 1: cottage cheese and almonds

Snack 2: apple and string cheese or Babybel or String Cheese and crackers. 

Lunch: usually a small sandwich or turkey or chicken or ham, with a fruit or a bag of  chips - weighed out into the appropriate serving size.  

Dinner: we try to cook a full meal every night, or have leftovers. But usually a meat, a veggie and a starch and always a tossed salad. 

There are variations but it's basically what we eat. Kevin has basically the same meal plan as I do, he has one less snack because he eats lunch earlier than I do and it tides him over.  I'm sure we could cut back on some things like chips and what not, but I'm in no way a fitness/diet buff, I just try to manage my good and bad fats and enjoy what I want in moderation. I also start the day with an iced coffee made at home and drink water allllll day long at work. 

Ps here's my meatloaf. It looks way more appetizing in person! 

Happy Healing and keeping weight in check! When you're home immobile for weeks it's important to stay on top of what and how much you're eating. Plus the first few weeks my appetite was low and the pain of sitting upright caused me to not eat much, along with the whole bloat issue. 

Thursday, August 22, 2013 - Day 58

Welp, I just typed out my entire blog then I lost it. So. Mad. 

Anyway, I remember back at day 10 or 11 or something I typed "day 64" by accident and thought that was eons away. It's next week! Woooo. 

So exercises are going well, still using my maroon band and it's tied to the tightest it can go around my ankles. Lifting my leg to the side and back feel so good but raising forward is pretty painful toward my pubic bone, not fun. However, I am still doing two sets of five in each direction. I passed on bridges tonight. But Kevin helped with my stretching because its easier than straining my muscles to hold my leg up while trying to relax and stretch the hammies. 

He also tries to eat my foot. 

Aside from that news. Here's some new 'news'. Some of you older folks may not understand this, sorry. So I did the unthinkable and posted my blog to Pinterest. Yup. That just happened. I figured what better site to get the word of Hip Dysplasia out there but to pin it! And if girls are like me and spend hours a day "Pinteresting" it's a smart move. So I posted my X-ray that directs you right to my blog. I haven't signed on since before surgery and happened to pop on yesterday and saw that it had been re-pinned to other people's Hip Dysplasia boards. That makes me incredibly happy I can't even believe it. That's exactly what I wanted to happen. Get the word out there for Healthy Hips! 

My husband's a supporter, are you?

Thanks for following. It's the emails and the page views that keep me going with this and giving frequent updates. My LPAO, I went the entire month of August without posting once. Disgrace. 

Tuesday, August 20, 2013 - Day 56

I think it takes longer for me to type out the date every post than it does to actually tell you what goes on in my life. 

The weekend came and went quickly, Mom and I did some errands but nothing too out of the ordinary. I did a lot of walking. Typical. I used two crutches but one or nothing while at home hopping around. Pretend I didn't just say that. I snapped a pic while I was home of me standing in my bathroom because I feel like a legit giant in there. The sink gets shorter and shorter every time I use it! I guess it doesn't help that I have grown nearly an inch and a half since my first surgery, but still, I have to basically squat to brush my teeth. Exhibit A. 

This was one if those "one-crutch" moments. I have been basically using one since the weekend. My leg and hip feels really good. Just did my exercises with my new resistance bands. . Which brings me to my next order of business. Kevin bought me new bands. Exhibit B 

The yellow was the original which was quite easy. I'm now up to purple which I tied too tightly the first time around and hurt my pubic bone. I loosened it up and it was much better. I'm not sure of I'll make it to blue or red but those are good for future incidences. 

Aches and pains. I don't have very many. When I step on my leg I have zero pain in my hip. For all you pre-PAO or newly PAO'd people reading this, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Seriously, and pains I've felt since week 2-3 have been muscular or nerve. Even the fracture felt more muscular than anything else. I haven't had a single hint of hip pain. Surgery. It's amazing. Anyway, have a very very minor ache in my butt still but hardly visible, which is why as much as I don't want to use the crutch, I do. I will admit I've walked up and down the stairs without it. :-)

The other "pains" I have, really discomfort vs pain. My thigh that was numb is still pretty numb. I'd say the numbness starts about halfway up my thigh and gets worse 3/4 of the way up my thigh. And not numb like I can't feel it, just numb like it feels weird. I feel sensation but not anything exact. If that makes sense. But what is weird, is that if I touch my "numb" thigh, it's so sore! Like it feels bruised, badly bruised. Which I guess does make sense. Numb. But sore. So odd. The other similar ache is on the side of my hip. I think it's the screws as they're a little lower down this time as opposed to being directly through my hip bone, they are situated a little lower so when I sit on or lay on my op side it's a little more tender. 

Those are most of my updates as of, wow I haven't mentioned it, 8 weeks!!! You know what that means. Incision time!

 

Still icky and red. But that takes time. 

Other than the usual, I made dinner to light, packed lunches and cut Kevin's hair.  Exhausted. 

Saturday, August 17, 2013 - Day 53

I should start giving my updates titles as things are getting more interesting as we go. Yesterday should have been called, "whoops, I forgot my crutches", I hope I've got your attention. 

The plans this weekend were to meet my Mom in Danbury to shop and eat then continue home to NY for the weekend since Kevin is brewing at our place. So, I pack my things up and leave work for the traffic-filled hour drive. I stopped to get gas, get out of the car and just hop over to the pump, no big deal. Just get back in my car and I have a call from my boss! "Did you forget something?" Me, pause, uhhh "something very important" me-uhh  got my wallet, got my phone, nope. "So I guess you haven't gotten out of your car yet". Well, I just got gas - oh crap. Where are my crutches!! 

Yup, that was the start to a long night. I was halfway to Danbury, 30 minutes out or so. I turned back around and my boss met me halfway back. This delayed made me an hour later than I should have been. Here's how it went down. 

I leaned my crutches against my car while I changed out of my sneakers and into sandals. After that, swung my legs around, closed my so and drove away without turning back. And there my poor little peg legs lay, in my work parking lot until someone found them! I have NEVER done something like that and to not even notice them missing when I got out of my car! I debated just using Mom's at home but probably too short. I debated using a wheelchair at the mall. I debated going without them all weekend. All answers led to turning back around and make my boss's night more chaotic than it should have been. Oh well. I keep things interesting. Then I almost locked my keys in my car and then spilled red sauce on my white top. Yup. Bad night. Got home after 11 and bed after 1! 

Today, Mom and I did a few errands. Nothing too interesting to report. Leg feels good walking the mall last night as well as grocery store and BJs today. No complaints here. :-)

Here's a text from a fellow pre-PAO hipster that really made my day, such a thoughtful thing to say. I'll leave you with that. (We call my incision a shark bite to make it sound cooler) 

Friday, August 16, 2013 - Day 52

This whole recovery thing is flying by, but yet I'm STILL on two crutches. It feels like I've been on these things forever. They're just a prop at this time. Also, I hope you all enjoyed my exercise post

Anyway, I'm happy to report (without jinxing myself) I am feeling SO much better in the butt/upper leg area! I'm hardly putting weight on my leg so just in case there's a tiny area that's healing I don't re-fracture it!! This is when my determination and rule following really has to kick in and I have to be extra good. SO looking forward to the end because it's so close. I'm glad I don't go back to Boston for another two weeks because I think I'll be in much better shape and the crutch release will be within reach. :-)  Now I can do my happy dance (one legged of course...).

It has been a busy week, between going to do errands with Kevin to get beer supplies and going out for a "going away party" for a friend, this week has just flown by. Not minding that one bit.

On a sad note, I went to do my exercises last night and decided to try my next level of resistance band. I rummage through the closet with Kevin's help and dig out my weights and find all my bands - definitely thought I only had one red one - turns out I had like 4 different ones in there. BONUS! I start to untangle them only to realize they had all somehow melted together and instead of stretching, are now just ripping into pieces...

SO...I either tie my easy yellow band tighter or buy some new ones. Or wait two weeks and get new ones at the hospital. Oh well. Side note, the day I started doing my exercises again (took a little break) my hip/butt started feeling immediately better the next morning. Coincidence of course, but whatever. My spirit has been lifted after this so lets hope I'm officially on the upswing and beyond this hip thing once and FOR ALL!

Happy Healing everyone - and Happy Friday to non-PAO'ers. :-)

Exercise Post

So, here are my exercises...as promised!

First, we start out with the resistance bands. This is the lightest one and too easy for me, but for sake of argument I used it. For anyone that is just starting round two exercises (like the 4-6 week time frame), start out without a band and once that becomes easy, increase resistance. You're looking for a fluid motion. Height and speed are not important here. Just get the movement down. 

5x

5x

5x

Try to stand upright so your hip is doing the movement and not your back. Lifting backward is the hardest. Do 5 reps in each direct and do this rotation twice. 

Next, lay on you back with knees bent and a towel between your knees. 

Lift and tighten your bum while squeezing the towel with your knees. It is more difficult than you think! Hold for 5 seconds and release. Do 3 sets of 5. Increase as needed. I alternate these bridges with the next exercises. 

This last exercise is more of a stretch. Ok, yea, it's completely a stretch. But do it. You'll be glad you did. 

Use that same towel under your PAO leg foot and using your arms to help guide, lift as high as possible and hold for 5-10 seconds. More if you can. Release the leg and do it again. Then switch sides. I alternate bridges with stretches. 

You can also sit on the edge of your bed and bring your PAO leg up to the edge and lay it out straight. This helps stretch the hammies too. Something else I did last time but not this time, a quad stretch. You have to be careful though as that muscle has been messed with. Lay on your stomach and grab your ankle and bring the heel to your butt. Go gentle as to not affect the bone or any unhealed muscle. 

These should be done twice a day, once in the AM and once in the PM. 

Disclaimer: Remember, I am not a doctor nor am I a Physical Therapist. I'm simply a post (3) PAO patient having gone through this and having met with PT at my early appointments. These are pretty basic and not geared towards me or any problems specific to me. They are meant to show you what I do and to give some guidance if you need more of a challenge. 

Another good thing is going in the pool. I'm lucky enough to live in a complex with a pool so at the 3ish week time frame you bet I was in that baby. 100 degrees, recuperating AND getting my workout in (while tanning), ok! So the pool is allowed after 2 weeks or after the incision is completely healed so no bacteria can creep in. Also, you want water up to your chest as to give your hip relief from weight. The farther along, the more shallow you can go. Mostly just walk around and loosen the joint. It feels so amazing to walk without help! I also do the first three exercises while holding the side of the pool. It's a great resource. 

Hope you enjoyed my 7 week workout. 

Tuesday, August 13, 2013 - Day 49

Are we there yet? No. Are we there yet? Nope. But we ARE at 7 weeks. Can I cry yet at the fact I'm still on two crutches? I would have never thought I'd be in the situation I am right now the third time around. I think that's what makes this so frustrating. I want to try and walk normal but don't want to mess anything up if I'm already healing a little in that site. 

I don't really have too much more to say. I go back in two weeks and will hopefully have good news. If not, I just might strangle someone. I really am being good and focusing on two crutches at home and at work and really trying to not cheat. So far so good but not 100%. I'm trying vitamins. I'm having yogurt and milk for calcium. Please just heal!

Met a new friend via email today. I love signing into my account and finding a new hipster in there that stumbled onto my blog. This girl is incredible. Not only does she have dysplasia, but also coxa vara: 

So basically the ball is way low on the femur. She has met with Millis as well as other surgeons in the country and to perform an osteotomy to move the ball and a PAO is a task they are not thrilled to take on. Apparently there was a girl from India who had this performed on her but that's it. I feel so badly to get hit with such a rare form. So does she have the PAO now and most likely a THR in the future. . . Not knowing how recovery or future will be of the PAO. I know she won't regret her decision to have a PAO, in the long run, but I know during the recovery she will question her decision daily. 

That was my hip excitement for the day. I feel so good I just want to walk on this peg leg of mine. My back hurts, my arms hurt, my hands hurt. . . I need off these things. 

As promised, per usual, my weekly incision picture! 

I wish it wasn't so red looking. Not sure what the deal is with that. It's not going to heal as great since this is the third time it's been open, and will be even worse after the fourth! Lets not get ahead of ourselves. 

Anyway, I took some pictures of my exercises tonight. Tomorrow is a busy night so I may not get to post those until Weds or Thurs. But they are coming!

Sunday, August 11, 2013 - Day 47

So I tried posting yesterday but that was a huge fail. Kevin had to use my computer then he left for RI and took his iPad with him so I had no hotspot for Internet and didn't feel like using my phone. Breath. What am I doing now? Updating from my phone. Whatever. Deal with it.

Yesterday was very busy! But I wouldn't have it any other way. Let me back up. We went out Friday night! Wait, did I post that already? No, I don't think so. We went out for Kevin's coworkers bday and hit up a couple bars. 

I felt almost normal. We walked maybe a total of 5-6 blocks and I wore my platforms again from last weekend. Score. The second place was so incredibly crowded but I didn't mind. I feel good. I can't emphasis that enough. It's just the crutches ruining my life. 

Yesterday, I slept in and slept later than Kevin! Woohoo. Just to wake up to loads upon loads upon loads of laundry! I haven't done MY laundry since Mom was here staying with me. I'm coming up on 7 weeks. Haha so yeah, I have entirely too many pairs of underwear. Besides that, we did some grocery shopping and had lunch. Then Kev left for RI to see his Mah and go fishing with his cousin. 

One of my friends was having a Lia Sophia party, so I went to that and met up with some other friends there which was awesome. It turned out to be a really fun afternoon. I got home and cleaned up and before I knew it, it was almost 9pm! Busy for sure. Hip wise - feeling fab. I can sit on the floor, lay on my stomach on the couch, do stairs and in and out of vehicles. I mean, literally there's nothing I really can't do. 

With that being said, I am getting SO upset with the pain I'm having in my butt/upper leg. All day long it feels great but in the morning it hurts. That's what makes me think maybe it's not a stress fracture. Idk. I just want whatever it is to heal and go away so I can be off crutches. Like I said, 2 days away from being 7 weeks post and still on two stupid things. I don't want to be that girl anymore. I'm done with this for good! I really don't want to get the bone stimulator. But my bones are being so stupid this time. It's extremely frustrating and upsetting and tiring!! 

I go back to see Millis the day before we leave for Ocean City. This stupid bone better get right before then because I'm enjoying my vacation crutch-less!! Plus I'll be almost 10 weeks by then!!! Come on! 

Anyway, today been cooking and folding and cleaning up a little so Kevin doesn't think I'm a total slob when he leaves for a day! 

I'll post some exercise pics tomorrow maybe before my 7week incisions. 

Thursday, August 8, 2013 - day 44

I've officially hit the "post every other day" point in my recovery. That's when I know things are going well and I'm busy! Which, yes and yes. Kind of. Butt still hurts!! And mostly when I get out of bed in the morning. Not standing or walking all day. It's like stiff-sore in the morning. Sucks. Just let me move on with this stupid hip crap already. 

Last night we went to a bar/restaurant because Kevin entered his homebrew (beer) into a competition and the finals were last night. It was a fun night and in a banquet room (actually where our after party was for my college graduation)! The only thing we thought was going to be a problem was that it was standing only. They had hightops situated around the room so that literally meant me standing all night. Kevin asked someone for a chair and we kept it in the corner until I needed it. I didn't use it or want it. But Kevin felt bad for asking and not using it so he made me sit for like 15 minutes during the judging. Unfortunately, Kevin didn't end up winning but he got excellent scores and it was a fun night with beer tasting and what not. I wanted to get a picture of our outing but that never happens as planned. But I was proud of myself for standing nearly 3 hours and I felt great, minus the whole leg length issue. 

Been doing fine. Using my two crutches as prescribed. My thigh is still numb to the touch but if I rub it, it hurts. So odd. Oh and one of the judges last night was a year post from a THR. We could swap hip pain stories. Ha! 

So I see how many views I get of my blog and I wish it could tell me who is reading, besides my mom, dad, brother and aunt. But I want people to find it and comment on it. I hope it's reaching to newbies out there needing this surgery but I don't k is if you don't comment!

Anyway, dinner time. Literally, an entirely local fresh salad (minus the dressing). #YEAH!

Tuesday, August 6, 2013 - Day 42

6 weeks folks, can you believe it? Yup. I've had to catch up on my previous PAO blogs because I haven't in a while. I'm pretty much on track. My RPAO healed like a champ so I can't really compare to that one. Although, my postop that time around was just over 6 weeks. I basically healed all by myself without seeing Millis for many weeks. My second, I was about on track with this one. Had butt pain, they didn't want me to so too much too soon for risk of stress fracture (which I ended up getting at like 2-3 months post). 

But I feel good, I can't complain about my hip or anything associated with it. What I can bitch about, and I will, are these stupid god awful crutches I have to bring with me everywhere!!! I am being good and using them like I should. I want to heal properly so I am following doctors orders for once. But it's not easy. My butt has been feeling like it may be getting a little better. I feel pain the most when I wake up in the morning and get out of bed. I can walk alllll day and not feel an ounce of pain. Go figure. 

Sleeping has been improving. I don't sleep very late, but I still have my pillow for  between my legs (only use it when my op leg is on the top) and I also have a pillow to use under my right leg when I lay on my back because Millis said it relieves some strain on the cut on the front of my hip bone and let's it heal faster. However, I don't sleep on my back. . . Ever. So. Yeah. 

Here's my incision pic and my Indian style pic. Yea, I shouldn't have been able to sit like this after my first PAO and definitely not after two of them on one hip. I love my gummy bear tendons sometimes. Of I couldn't sit criss-cross applesauce I just might die!

Have to get back on track doing my exercises and maybe head to the gym next week (?). Well see. I feel weird walking in with crutches. #awkward. 

I don't think my scar looks that great yet which is sad. It looks really red. And the area is still sore. My swelling over the hip has gone down significantly, so I'm trying to find my screws now. They are more to my side rather than on top of my bone like last time. 

I kind of look scary in this pic! It's hard to see, but my Indian is almost 100%! It's not 100% comfortable. . . But we're getting there. 

Sunday, August 4, 2013 - Day 40!

What. A. Busy. Weekend. 

My 4-day doctor/vaca days sure flew by quickly. I hate when that happens. After the Friday fiasco, Saturday was filled with mostly relaxation. I was the first one awake at 7am so I headed off to the closest Starbucks, 15 minutes away, and ordered everyone a morning pick-me-up for when they awoke. 

 

Am I an amazing daughter/sister/wife or what? Did I mention it's not a drive-thru 'bux either!?! Had to carry that! Of course there wasn't much life in the house until around 9am after their coffees got cold, not my fault. 

We sat around most of the day, Kevin's Mom drove from RI for Dad's party and arrived just in time for lunch. We lounged, showered, played cards and before we knew it, it was time to go and 6 of us were racing around! 

This has turned into a diary somehow. 

The party was a huge success and got to see lots of people that we don't get to see very often! This was the saddest picture of all. . . 

Luckily we can all laugh at ourselves. My two crutches, my cousins one crutch (and she has a boot!), my Grandma's walker and her cane. At least the 91 year old has an excuse! More than half the room has scars to show! 

It was a great time! I hobbled around, in platform sandals. Yup, that really happened. The crutches were kind of useless when I was that tall though. The party was a great time, small and causal, made it out without any problems and Dad survived (no hats or singing though). 

In other news. Hip feels fine. Butt pain still there. But having three flights of stairs at my parents house helps me exercise and keep the muscles moving. Laying on my stomach or op side are a little sore still. Just trying to be good and stick to two crutches by doctors orders!!

Great weekend and Happy Birthday again Daddy'o. 

Friday, August 2, 2013 - Day 38

Geez, first time I've been able to sit all day! Started out by waking up at 6 and just laying in bed for an hour! Got so frustrated I just got up at 7 and watched some tv until everyone woke up. 

Started the day with my mom and getting a MUCH needed pedicure and eyebrow waxing. I needed that sooo badly. Nice leg massage with a towel and lotion. Delightful. Next, we (of course) stopped at a couple yard sales before heading to real errands! Stopped at Starbucks and a Hot Dog Wagon then to Michael's for some arts & crafts supplies. I think I took about three full laps around the store. Hate that store. Then off to Target (at one end of the mall) for some other supplies. After that, I decided to go to a few more stores which took me down the entire length of the mall along with stops into two stores. Even had to carry my own shopping bags! If I can shop for it, I better be able to carry it, right? By the time I got to the other end, mom was in the car waiting and I was tired. Two more stops at stores in and out of the car and then back home. 

I can say, pain wise I had none today! The butt pain gets better when I walk. My feet were tired and my hands a bit sore. I got tired but didn't have to nap. 

Got home and did some arts and crafts for tomorrow's festivities, pictures pending. Had dinner, and here I am! 

I decided that I wanted to find a baby picture of me in my harness; Pavliks Harness. So I dug through the cabinet and got my album pretty quickly. 

There I am. Keeping my legs at right angles to my body. If I didn't have this, god knows how my hips would have turned out. And speaking of that, here are the X-rays I promises yesterday. 

First: October 2010, my first appointment with Dr. Millis. 

 

You can see there's hardly any coverage over the ball of my femur. My left looked worse to Millis but my right hurt more which is what he did first. 

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Second: June 2013, 2+ years post bilateral PAO. Healed. 

Left has a good amount of coverage while the right is still fairly bare and starting to be painful. :-(  scheduled PAO revision. 

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Third: August 2013, 5 weeks post RPAO #2. 

My 'balls' are both VERY secure. But my pelvis looks like a mangled mess!!! The so-called stress fracture is right to the southeast direction if the furthest right screw. If that makes ANY sense. You can see where the bone is kinda cracked looking. 

Anyway, that's enough picture show & tell for one post! 

Happy healing. 

Thursday, August 1, 2013 - day 37

August first! Not good. Where has the summer gone? 

Well I just had my postop with "the man" and can't say it went great, but it was alright. First, we finally dropped off my dumb wheelchair. . Glad to get rid of that thing. Checked in. Went for X-ray. Back to waiting room for, geez, well over an hour. It was crazy busy in there today. Summertime. Kids on trampolines. Kids in pools. Kids getting hurt. A lot of them. 

So after my long wait I was called in, got height, weight and temp then straight into the exam room. No waiting in the second waiting room. Anyone having Millis will come to learn this real quick! I had a 10am appointment, I learned my lesson. But still was backed up a lot. So my weight was interesting, 131lbs. Lie. I can't put full weight on my leg so how can you get an accurate weight of my fat? Whatever. It'll just look like I plumped up for next time. Next was height. First, my legs are different lengths, how are you going to get an accurate reading?

Next, the little level thingy he didn't even put on the top of my head! So stupid. So my new leg I'm like 5'9" old leg 5'8". Maybe I'll level out. 

Millis comes in, couldn't find my chart, fab. Looked at my X-rays. Did some angles. I was sitting in a chair next to him leaning forward onto my knees and he said, "that probably hurts a little" I said nope. He told me my tendons are like gummy bears. Haha cute. Oh, and did I mention he first pumps now and blows it up. This man blows my mind sometimes. So back to my tendons. People like me make his job harder because normal people have tight tendons which help keep the bones nice and snug for better healing. Well since mine are so stretchy, the bones aren't overly snug and he doesn't use a ton of screws so he relies on that snug fit. What this means is that there's more of a chance for stress fractures in me and the fact I am very mobile makes that chance even greater. So keep on the crutches for another 4 weeks with light weight and hope it heals up. I have to one back in 4 weeks. Bummer. But everything is fine. He's happy with both hips now. My left could actually afford some extra healing which it may do over time. Interesting. I asked him to go over my angles, I don't think we got them quite right but it's something like this:

Angles refer to the socket coverage vs the ball and it's supposed to be 25+. My right was -4 and my left was -20! How was I even able to walk? In the beginning he said it was amazing my ball didn't busy out of my nonexistent socket. He also hates that my pain tolerance is so high. I think how he worded it was "you don't feel pain". I feel it, but I've felt worse so it doesn't phase me much. He loves me. I know it. Anyway! My angles now are something like, right: 30ish and left: 36 or 38. So my hips are pretty secure now. Whether the cartilage grows and stays there is another story. One thing at a time. I also told Millis that I love him and all, but I'm never doing this again!!

Also, I said my right leg is a lot longer which I know happens after a PAO but it does "settle" like a new house after a while but I just forgot how long that really takes. He said 3 months it should be where it's going to stop and should go down 1/2". I hope so because the difference is a good inch right now. I don't want to deal with shoe inserts the rest of my life. 

I requested a cd of my X-rays so I will be posting those when I get home and get on the computer. I'm sure I missed something so I'll be updating later in the weekend. Figures the 3 1/2 hour drive from Boston to NY was perfect time to blog. Home for the weekend to celebrate Dad's 70th!  

Tootles my little blog followers! 

Tuesday, July 30, 2013 - Day 35

Here we are, 5 weeks post op! Sadly I still don't have much to report. Sleeping is getting better, lounging on the couch is getting better, walking is fine, using one crutch and that's pretty good. I just have that pain in my butt! I go have my first postop appointment on Thursday so I hope to find out what the pain is associated with: stress fracture, nerve issue or hamstring! Other than that, no big news. Here's my 5 week picture. We took this outside at night which is why it looks kind of weird. Plus my incision isn't great looking this time around. 

Peace.