Tuesday, May 28, 2013

Pre-op....

Today I had all of my pre-op poking and prodding and testing and touching and sampling and whatever else...but I don't feel like typing it so I'm going make you wait...a day or two. :-)

Saturday, May 25, 2013

May 25, 2013

I have been looking back at older posts and actually not getting overly upset over it like I had in the past...although I haven't been reading straight through, I've been looking for specific dates and what not. Not bot bad nonetheless.

disclaimer: my "d" key is not working at the moment all that great so if it's missing and I haven't fixed it, that's the reason...it's not because I'm an idiot. Or maybe it is...

Anyway, I digress. Things have been going along at status quo. I hit the gym 4 times this week, Monday through Thursday...I was impressed with myself.  I started out running but by day two my right hip was being a little finicky so I finished the week on the elliptical which made me just as sweaty and the machine said I burned way more calories than running. Either way, I got my workout in and it puts in such a different mindset. Then I think about how I'm going to be a vegetable very soon and lose all the muscle and strength I have been working SO hard to regain. That in itself is depressing.

I have been doing some squats and lunges as well as step ups which is basically holding a fairly light weight (5lb) in each hand and stepping up onto the bench - right leg up, left leg up, left leg down, right leg down an that is one rep. I did 10 reps on each side, did that 3x. Even being 2 years post, my left leg is exponentially weaker which makes me believe that I may not get tons of strength back. I'm at the same level I was a year ago I feel...who knows. I'm not in pain so I'll shut up. So yeah, my right leg has been, basically, in a constant (very low amount) pain...which makes sense. I'd give me a 1-2 on most days...sometimes nothing at all, but it's there more than it's not lately. Which is making me look forward to surgery, as terrible as it's going to be. I just hope it's a quick recovery...but I don't know if that's gonna be on me side.

Had a nice little discussion with my boss regarding my mental state during my last surgery and how I felt I was being treated very unfairly during recovery and I was afraid I wasn't coming back to a job, but this time around I don't have that HUGE weight to carry around so I won't have anxiety and feel like I'm doing something wrong when really...well, whatever... I'm going to be fine this time. I couldn't be more happy about that!

Besides all the right leg issue my left one is holding up fab. I know I may be favoring the left ONCE in a while - I mean the pain isn't anywhere near where I have been in the past - but the left is feeling absolutely amazing. It makes me feel like it could last forever...but forever is a long ways away so maybe we'll just take it one month...year at a time.

About all I have to report, Monday is my preop appointment where I get to be poked and prodded and questioned and sit around all day. yay. And hopefully donate a pint for myself then treat myself to a pint.

Anywho, someone just posted this on a PAO Facebook page and it is SO right on I'm in tears laughing so hard - esp #16..."the other side.." or in my case "the first one again..." le sigh
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You might be dysplastic if ...

1. You are under 30 and own a walker, a raised toilet seat and a hip kit.

2. You have said, "it's not a hip replacement, they are breaking my pelvis" more than once in the same day.

3. You are adept at doing the "fist in hand" demonstration of a what a normal hip looks like, followed by what YOURS looks like, followed by how the surgeon will correct it.

4. While carving a turkey, you take the opportunity to demonstrate for your guests how periacetabular osteotomy works using the carving knife, said turkey, and a few screws from the junk drawer in the kitchen. You end up ordering pizza.

5. You are the youngest person in your aquatherapy class.

6. You are the oldest patient at the children's hospital.

7. Before going on any outing you ask, "how far will I have to walk?"

8. You can spell "iliopsoas" and "trochanter."

9. Eskimos have hundreds of words for snow. You have hundreds of words for hip pain: snapping, grinding, tin foil, popping, giving way, ripping, tearing, shredding, burning ...

10. Even though you got a "C" in high school biology, you can name and describe the function of every muscle, tendon and bone between your belly button and your knee cap.

11. You practice sleeping on your back so that you'll be ready for the weeks post surgery.

12. You are a woman but you say the word "groin" a lot.

13. You have posted a picture of yourself in a hospital gown on the internet.

14. You have posted pictures of your incision, your x-rays, your hardware, or your surgeon on the internet.

15. You've refinanced your house and/or cashed out your retirement accounts just in case you have to pay for a surgery which your insurance company may, at the last minute, deem "not medically necessary."

16. You have a blog which you update hourly (first week post diagnosis), obsessively (in the months leading up to surgery), daily (the week before surgery), daily with help from a family member or nurse (from the time the epidural comes out until you leave the hospital), bi-weekly (from the time you leave the hospital until you get to throw the damn crutches away), then twice monthly until such time as you just want to get on with your life again. You then update the blog one year after surgery with a picture of your healed incision. Unless ... you need surgery on the other side; if so, repeat.

Monday, May 20, 2013

May 20, 2013 - Just over a month away...

Yep, just over a month and I'll be right back where I was two years ago. Still trying to keep that smile but it's difficult. I admit, Saturday I had my first break/meltdown. It was small and over quickly, but doesn't make it any less frustrating/annoying/upsetting. My paperwork arrived over the weekend giving me all my dates and times for preop, surgery and postop, I started reading through it...like I really needed to, and I guess that was ultimately when this all hit me again...well that and the fact my allergies were off the hook and I wanted to die! But 5 minutes and it was over and done with and we were moving on, no sense dwelling.

So other than that, things are pretty steady. Getting work things under control and figured out since my coworker is leaving 4 weeks after my surgery...so we have to hire and train someone new before I go so they'll be all set for when I get back and she leaves...that's a nightmare in itself. But not mine to worry about.

Physically, my right hip has been bothering me almost daily since my appointment in April which I guess really is a blessing. Who wants surgery, especially a redo on a hip, or body part that is painfree? It got to the point where I actually said to myself, how did I EVER put up with this pain for so many years? Honestly, I guess I just got used to being in such severe pain that it didn't really cause me to think any differently but now that I've been feeling so great this new pain is kicking my ass! Could also be why I've been feeling so tired lately. As much as I am for sure dreading this again, I am obviously very positive about it and looking forward to being OFFICIALLY done, hopefully forever.

I called my insurance company today because my parents are on my tail - since the first time around insurance was new to me and delayed my surgery 3 times...learned from that for sure. They were worried that I already had 2 hip surgeries so they may not cover another one...lucky for me, my company switched insurance and I have a clean slate!! Even better, she said that my surgery may not even require a approval - and regardless, it's the hospital's responsibility to contact the insurance company and if they don't contact them and get the approval (if required) then they cannot bill me for it. BONUS!!!!!!!! haha I like Cigna. But I will call again, closer to the date just for sure.

And because I know you all feel bad for me, feel free to purchase any of the following and send my way...  feel bad for me...then tell me how brave I am. :-)

https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-515208/home-classics-down-alternative-body-pillow.jsp (use coupon code SAVE30 to get 30% off until 5/22)
https://www.kohls.com/product/prd-515239/home-classics-240-thread-count-body-pillow-cover.jsp

http://www1.macys.com/shop/product/lauren-ralph-lauren-bedding-233-thread-count-classic-square-european-pillows?ID=765878&CategoryID=28901#fn=PILLOW_SIZE%3DEuropean%26sp%3D1%26spc%3D10%26ruleId%3D53%26slotId%3D3 (2 of these, either size)

Creative Bath "Aspen" wire Storage Baskets  https://www.ruelala.com/event/71267

Friday, May 10, 2013

Here we are again...

So, I figured it's about time I fill my readers in on some updates in my PAO world of Danielle. Quite a bit has been happening since my last update, and I apologize for that...not like many people are reading this and the ones that are...are in my family and already know it all!

I did post about my appointment back in October or November so I don't need to catch anyone up on that. I've been staying very active and getting back to the gym and staying in shape and getting stronger and stronger. I was going a lot last year and kind of stopped around August so I started back up again the beginning of the year and have been going strong since. I try for 3 days at the gym, usually with cardio and then whatever else I feel like. I typically do a 10-15 minute run/jog or just go for a straight mile. Sometimes I feel crazy and do a little longer and TWICE I have done a 5k on the treadmill. The first one was fine, 36 minutes with only about 0.5mile worth of walking. The second one was most recent and the first two miles were no problem, the third one literally KILLED me and my feet and ankles were sore for days. :-)  haha Haven't learned my lesson yet either. Sometimes I change it up and do the elliptical or stairmaster so I don't constantly have the impact on my hips.

My 6 month MRI and post up was at the end of April and it came at a good time as I was having a little discomfort/issue thing going on with my right hip and that's the one in question lately. On the front of my hip was some soreness and a hard, wormy feeling thing and it was bothering me. I got my MRI...which I am SOO sick of having, then went to my appointment the following day to see what was going on. Got an ultrasound of my hip and turns out it was just some fluid building up for whatever reason...(and now a few weeks later it has gone away). Aside from that, my flexibility is good, my angles are all good, Millis's assistant said that the mobility I have is great and you wouldn't even know I had two surgeries. BONUS. So he again showed concern over my lack of coverage on the right ball and it's still resting on the outside edge of the socket causing me the discomfort, pinching feeling I'd say once or twice a month. Here is the good part. I could...do nothing for now and see how things go in the next few months/years, I could have my femur rotated so it's in my socket better, or I could have another PAO. WHAT!?? Seriously Millis? I like you and all, but I don't want you inside my body AGAIN! Out of the 1500-1600 PAO's him and his partner have done, he has only done 3 redo's. GREAT...I'm going to be another statistic.

Moving on, after talking to the family and the hubs (whom also classifies as family), we decided to get this done right away. My plan for kids before I'm 30 is slowly slipping away but that's ok. I'll have good, sturdy bones at least. :-\  Unfortunately, Danielle strikes again and had to ruin everyone's vacation plans which we had for September to go to Las Vegas to Cali and then a mini cruise out of LA....but they're VERY understanding and want the best for me. Vegas will still be there next year waiting for us.

I'm not sure where I am just yet mentally. This is kind of all moving fast and I haven't had too much time to dwell on it yet. It sucks. It sucks a lot. But for example this morning while walking around the house getting ready for work I said, "man my hip hurts"...wow...I said to Kevin, "bet you didn't think you'd be hearing that ever again...at least not this soon." So yeah, I do need the surgery again, it should be a little easier this time as he won't have to "tweak" the bones too too much. But it's a full PAO, same recovery...same basket-case Danielle. I'm prepared. The first one was slow, the second one was quicker so I'm looking forward to this recovery flying by because I feel like it's going to. This year has flown by so I know I'll be at 2 months post at a blink of an eye and walking unaided again and hopefully pain free.

Pre-op - May 28
RPAO redo - June 25

See ya fools later.