Re: Just a coupla questions....

[Guest guest]

Re your question about intimacy...my doctor did not ever tell me,

but common sense and pain will probably dictate when it is time.

You just have to be careful, but there is always " ways " to work

things out......trust me, it feels good to do " normal " again.

valeri

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've got a couple of questions that I'm having a real hard time

> getting straight answers to from my health team. They all seem to

> have differing opinions (when they are able to offer an opinion at

> all) on what I can and can't do, and to what's going on in my body

> after my THR, 2 weeks ago.

>

> First, since awakening in the recovery room, I've been having

> episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) accompanied with

dizziness

> and extreme fatigue. During my stay in the hospital, the docs

> finally reduced my heart rate from above 120 down to the mid 90's

by

> giving me 2 units of blood. However, since being released, my avg

hr

> is running in the high 90's to low 100's, sometimes reaching above

> 120, and despite many tests, we have yet to determine a cause, nor

> get my heart rate to stay below the 90's, let alone get it back

down

> to its normal range of 65 - 70. Is this something anyone else has

> experienced after THR?

>

> And secondly, in all my research both during and after my surgery,

I

> am unable to find any definitive info on when my wife and I can,

> ummm..., be intimate.

>

> I've found all the precautions about positions and such, and

> understand that due to the relative instability of my hip right

now,

> normal physical relations are not advisable. Does this mean

> absolutely NO hanky panky at all, or just no " going all the way " ?

> I've asked my surgeon, but after much blushing by all parties

> present, all I got in the way of an answer was the standard, " wait

4 -

> 6 weeks " .

>

> Bottom line: Besides the physical problems that can occur during

> regular intercourse this close post op, is there any reason we

> couldn't, or shouldn't enjoy sexual intimacy in other ways?

>

> I'd really appreciate any feedback from the group. I tend to give

> more weight to the opinions of people who've actually been through

> the surgeries and you've not let me down thus far. I also want to

> thank you all for the fanastic advice and research tips that led me

> to the great surgical team who have given me the first pain free

> sleep and hopeful outlook I've had in years.

>

> Thanks again,

> Jac

[Guest guest]

Hi Jac,

I didn't have the rapid heart beat but when I got home 2weeks from

rehab, I got up from laying down and the room would spin. Same thing

when I lay down. My blood pressure is normal. No infection. I got so

scared I went to the ER. They couldn't find anything wrong so they

think it's viral. It's 5 weeks post op and I'm still dizzy if I tilt

my head a certain way. I've never had that before.

With intimacy, my booklet said 6 weeks also.

> Hi Everyone,

>

> I've got a couple of questions that I'm having a real hard time

> getting straight answers to from my health team. They all seem to

> have differing opinions (when they are able to offer an opinion at

> all) on what I can and can't do, and to what's going on in my body

> after my THR, 2 weeks ago.

>

> First, since awakening in the recovery room, I've been having

> episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) accompanied with

dizziness

> and extreme fatigue. During my stay in the hospital, the docs

> finally reduced my heart rate from above 120 down to the mid 90's

by

> giving me 2 units of blood. However, since being released, my avg

hr

> is running in the high 90's to low 100's, sometimes reaching above

> 120, and despite many tests, we have yet to determine a cause, nor

> get my heart rate to stay below the 90's, let alone get it back

down

> to its normal range of 65 - 70. Is this something anyone else has

> experienced after THR?

>

> And secondly, in all my research both during and after my surgery,

I

> am unable to find any definitive info on when my wife and I can,

> ummm..., be intimate.

>

> I've found all the precautions about positions and such, and

> understand that due to the relative instability of my hip right

now,

> normal physical relations are not advisable. Does this mean

> absolutely NO hanky panky at all, or just no " going all the way " ?

> I've asked my surgeon, but after much blushing by all parties

> present, all I got in the way of an answer was the standard, " wait

4 -

> 6 weeks " .

>

> Bottom line: Besides the physical problems that can occur during

> regular intercourse this close post op, is there any reason we

> couldn't, or shouldn't enjoy sexual intimacy in other ways?

>

> I'd really appreciate any feedback from the group. I tend to give

> more weight to the opinions of people who've actually been through

> the surgeries and you've not let me down thus far. I also want to

> thank you all for the fanastic advice and research tips that led me

> to the great surgical team who have given me the first pain free

> sleep and hopeful outlook I've had in years.

>

> Thanks again,

> Jac

[Guest guest]

Hi Jac.

First I

will tell you that I am a nurse anesthetist, so you can put only one half

inch more trust in what I say because I have been there too. I have

had a TRH with two units of transfused blood post op. I had pulse

swings and dizzy spells for six weeks until my body replaced the blood

loss with my own home made red cells. It does take six weeks for

your body to fully replace the loss. You will be surprised but it will

all just stop in six week. Have faith.

Now as to your second problem. If it feels good try it slow at

first. Make sure it does not exceed your restrictions in angle of

joint movement, and go for it. That is what I was told.

And That is what my wife an I did.

Larry

At 05:25 PM 9/3/2004 +0000, you wrote:

Hi Everyone,

I've got a couple of questions that I'm having a real hard time

getting straight answers to from my health team. They all seem to

have differing opinions (when they are able to offer an opinion at

all) on what I can and can't do, and to what's going on in my body

after my THR, 2 weeks ago.

First, since awakening in the recovery room, I've been having

episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) accompanied with dizziness

and extreme fatigue. During my stay in the hospital, the docs

finally reduced my heart rate from above 120 down to the mid 90's by

giving me 2 units of blood. However, since being released, my avg

hr

is running in the high 90's to low 100's, sometimes reaching above

120, and despite many tests, we have yet to determine a cause, nor

get my heart rate to stay below the 90's, let alone get it back down

to its normal range of 65 - 70. Is this something anyone else has

experienced after THR?

And secondly, in all my research both during and after my surgery, I

am unable to find any definitive info on when my wife and I can,

ummm..., be intimate.

I've found all the precautions about positions and such, and

understand that due to the relative instability of my hip right now,

normal physical relations are not advisable. Does this mean

absolutely NO hanky panky at all, or just no " going all the

way " ?

I've asked my surgeon, but after much blushing by all parties

present, all I got in the way of an answer was the standard, " wait 4

-

6 weeks " .

Bottom line: Besides the physical problems that can occur during

regular intercourse this close post op, is there any reason we

couldn't, or shouldn't enjoy sexual intimacy in other ways?

I'd really appreciate any feedback from the group. I tend to give

more weight to the opinions of people who've actually been through

the surgeries and you've not let me down thus far. I also want to

thank you all for the fanastic advice and research tips that led me

to the great surgical team who have given me the first pain free

sleep and hopeful outlook I've had in years.

Thanks again,

Jac

[Guest guest]

In a message dated 9/3/2004 10:44:09 PM Central Standard Time, lhlauer@... writes:

Besides the physical problems that can occur during regular intercourse this close post op, is there any reason we couldn't, or shouldn't enjoy sexual intimacy in other ways?

______

Don't know how late I'm coming in on this, but I love the question. And I'm not sure if Jac is a man or woman.

Do your usual positions, etc, exceed the positions that you need to stay away from in your hip precautions? I doubt it. With man superior, neither male or female would have either hip internally rotated. The man on top certainly wouldn't be bending past 90 degrees, and the female underneath certainly doesn't need to. If the male is one who likes to pick up the female's legs and bend them back, obviously, that is a no no now.

With female superior, the woman obviously could get into too much hip flexion. I would think it important to do some talking before you get going, and be conscious of what is or isn't a "bad postion" right now......and hopefully that won't ruin spontaneity once you get going.

I'm reminded of a remark made by one of my cardiac rehab patients in the days when we used to advise them that intimacy was fine, but to be gentle about it....(they were always worried they'd get too excited and have another heart attack). One woman, nearly 60 years old informed me......"Well, that means I can do it with my "old man", cuz he ain't much.....but after the 6 weeks, I'm gonna go out and find me something good!".

And a man told me that he would have to stay away from a particular woman who was "a mad dog in a meat shop".

So.....in answer to your question.....if you can keep from being a "mad dog in a meat shop", you really ought to not deprive yourself of intimacy....IMHO. Just to make matters worse, I'll add....:"Why do you think its so important to me to be able to get 130 degrees of knee flexion after my total knee?"

y

[Guest guest]

Jac: first of all, I certainly hope you are seeing a competent

cardiologist! You do not want to fool around w/ tachicardia. That

said, perhaps one of the nurses, Larry? have more experience along this

line. I would not think about having sex now, with your hear rate

already high, no reason to raise it some more. You really need to

follow your doctor's advise on activities, as he knows the stability of

your hip better than anyone.

Marilyn

jaxvstar wrote:

>Hi Everyone,

>

>I've got a couple of questions that I'm having a real hard time

>getting straight answers to from my health team. They all seem to

>have differing opinions (when they are able to offer an opinion at

>all) on what I can and can't do, and to what's going on in my body

>after my THR, 2 weeks ago.

>

>First, since awakening in the recovery room, I've been having

>episodes of tachycardia (rapid heart rate) accompanied with dizziness

>and extreme fatigue. During my stay in the hospital, the docs

>finally reduced my heart rate from above 120 down to the mid 90's by

>giving me 2 units of blood. However, since being released, my avg hr

>is running in the high 90's to low 100's, sometimes reaching above

>120, and despite many tests, we have yet to determine a cause, nor

>get my heart rate to stay below the 90's, let alone get it back down

>to its normal range of 65 - 70. Is this something anyone else has

>experienced after THR?

>

>And secondly, in all my research both during and after my surgery, I

>am unable to find any definitive info on when my wife and I can,

>ummm..., be intimate.

>

>I've found all the precautions about positions and such, and

>understand that due to the relative instability of my hip right now,

>normal physical relations are not advisable. Does this mean

>absolutely NO hanky panky at all, or just no " going all the way " ?

>I've asked my surgeon, but after much blushing by all parties

>present, all I got in the way of an answer was the standard, " wait 4 -

> 6 weeks " .

>

>Bottom line: Besides the physical problems that can occur during

>regular intercourse this close post op, is there any reason we

>couldn't, or shouldn't enjoy sexual intimacy in other ways?

>

>I'd really appreciate any feedback from the group. I tend to give

>more weight to the opinions of people who've actually been through

>the surgeries and you've not let me down thus far. I also want to

>thank you all for the fanastic advice and research tips that led me

>to the great surgical team who have given me the first pain free

>sleep and hopeful outlook I've had in years.

>

>Thanks again,

>Jac

>

>

>

>

>