Re: Babs & healing

[Guest guest]

Hi Babs!

Sounds like you are doing well!

As a former Nurse Tutor, one of my students (now graduated) hovered over me

at the NOC (Oxford), and it took a while to encourage her to relax and

remember that it was she in charge!

And yes, like you I had iron tabs for a month, now iron rich foods, so

hopefully my Hb is now back up to 13.5. Haematocrit, red cell count and

Eosinophils fell too, while my white blood cell count remained high to

fight off any chance of infection. It was funny being a patient, very.

Weight-bearing is interesting - I was told to put as much weight on both

legs as felt OK as soon as it felt OK: the info given seems varied! Just as

we are all different!

At 5 weeks I walked round the botanical gardens (therapeutic!) for an hour,

on my two sticks - very tired afterwards but felt good. I used one stick

inside at that time.

At six weeks, some gentle cycling and one stick outside.

Now at nine weeks, no sticks. I taught yesterday afternoon and last night

till 9pm: suddenly very tired and sore afterwards: had difficulty walking to

car. Fine this morning! Plan 2mile walk this weekend, using lightweight

climbing pole for light support. Plan to see your Eden Gardens in Cornwall

in September (Guardian trip!) and climb a volcano in Tobago at Christmas.

Having targets is helpful for me!

Work - be guided by your consultant! For me recovery is fast, very, and I am

someone young but not too young, and who can remember the World Cup football

victory of 1966! Other folk are slower, or faster. I could imagine it being

OK working as a Staff Nurse at twelve weeks -running the Ward again at 16

weeks, but see how you go.

Keep up the exercises and the hot water bottles! (physio and her exercises

great - the OT advice booklet I BURNT: it basically said don't move, and was

probably written for 80yr. olds with THR, and highly counter-productive!!!!)

Paix - e-mail me if you neeed more specific info: mic_morgan@...

Mic

Subject: Re: annual checkup

> hi,

> 5 weeks ago I underwent a hip resurfacing (corin type) which was carried

out

> in Cornwall at a private hospital. The care was excellent (I would say

that

> as I am a nurse there, when I am able to work that is)

> The surgery took 4 hours as I have pins in my hip which complicated the

> issue, however, it usually is 2 hours approx.

> The pain control was brilliant, I had an intrathecal block which lasted

for

> 24 hours, this was followed by voltoral (antiinflammatory) and panadol or

> codydramol. I can honestly say that I did not experience any pain, The

most

> was a heavy feeling in the leg initially.

> I was very anaemic following the op, but as the consultant was reluctant

(as

> I was) to give me a blood transfusion I had iron tabs, with the usual

> consequencies!!

> Although the anaemia slowed me down, I was still able to go home on

crutches

> on the 6th day.

> I have been taking more weight in the first 3 weeks to bed the prosthesis

in

> and now have to partial weightbear in the later 3- 6 weeks, to allow

muscles

> to heal.

> I have an appointment next week to see the consultant, I am doing well,

but

> I feel, that to be back running the ward in another 7 weeks seems a bit

> unrealistic.

> Could anyone tell me how their increased activities went at this stage?

The

> most walking I do at a given time on crutches, is 150 yards, this could be

> more but feel that I should not overtire the muscles etc. My

physiotherapist

> feels that the more care you give in the initial 6 weeks the longer the

hip

> will last.

> Look forward to some comments and replies.

> Babs.

>

>

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