2 stage revision - update

[Guest guest]

I went back to see my surgeon yesterday, five weeks after I had the first stage

of a revision

on my right hip replacement (i.e. removing the old hip because of infection, and

putting a

cement spacer in there).

He wants me off the antibiotics and back for more surgery in just three or four

weeks! Not

what I expected at all.

I had blood tests yesterday, and I'll have more done a week before the surgery.

If they are

*both* back to normal, then I'll get the new proximal femoral replacement (a hip

replacement plus an extra chunk to replace missing bone from my femur).

If the blood tests are normal now, but go up again once I stop the antibiotics,

or if neither

are clear of the infection, then I'll still have surgery, but not a new

replacement yet. He

would want to go in and remove any further infected tissue (bone and/or soft

tissue).

Either way, I'm pleased, because things are moving forwards. I should find out

the actual

new surgery date within a week or so.

And how glad am I to get a break from the antibiotics? Spending a month wanting

to throw

up is not fun. Living with the spacer in there has, so far, been awkward and

uncomfortable, but manageable. It's disconcerting when it cracks and creaks.

My movements are very limited, I've not been very active at all, and I can't put

any weight

through it. It's difficult, but once the surgical pain dropped away, it stopped

being so grim.

But being stuck at home has been driving me stir crazy. So here's hoping for

good blood

tests, so I can start moving on from this.

katie

[Guest guest]

,

I wish you all the good luck that your next step is the new replacement and all your infection is gone. I can't imagine going through this. You are very brave.

Antibiotics are the worst. I hope you have been eating yogurt or taking probiotics to counterbalanace what it's doing to your GI system.

-----Original Message-----From: Joint Replacement [mailto:Joint Replacement ]On Behalf Of heyoka/katieSent: Thursday, May 03, 2007 3:46 AMJoint Replacement Subject: 2 stage revision - update

I went back to see my surgeon yesterday, five weeks after I had the first stage of a revision on my right hip replacement (i.e. removing the old hip because of infection, and putting a cement spacer in there).He wants me off the antibiotics and back for more surgery in just three or four weeks! Not what I expected at all.I had blood tests yesterday, and I'll have more done a week before the surgery. If they are *both* back to normal, then I'll get the new proximal femoral replacement (a hip replacement plus an extra chunk to replace missing bone from my femur).If the blood tests are normal now, but go up again once I stop the antibiotics, or if neither are clear of the infection, then I'll still have surgery, but not a new replacement yet. He would want to go in and remove any further infected tissue (bone and/or soft tissue).Either way, I'm pleased, because things are moving forwards. I should find out the actual new surgery date within a week or so. And how glad am I to get a break from the antibiotics? Spending a month wanting to throw up is not fun. Living with the spacer in there has, so far, been awkward and uncomfortable, but manageable. It's disconcerting when it cracks and creaks.My movements are very limited, I've not been very active at all, and I can't put any weight through it. It's difficult, but once the surgical pain dropped away, it stopped being so grim. But being stuck at home has been driving me stir crazy. So here's hoping for good blood tests, so I can start moving on from this.katie