Re: Stuff I've been too embarrassed to ask Doctors!! Warning some of it's girly!

May 5, 2004

Hi Mo

>and crutches, canes, grabbers, toilet seats

> etc. etc. Where did you guys get them from?

I borrowed a toilet seat from the Red Cross in Coventry (I had

my op in the Birmingham Nuffield Hospital with Mr. McMinn, then stayed

with friends in Coventry afterwards before flying home to Canada). It

was free, but they like you to make a donation. However, if you are

paying privately at the Birmingham Nuffield (at least if you have no

British health insurance), they give you an all-inclusive price, and

you get to keep the crutches, cane, toilet seat, grabber, and

long-handled shoe horn when you go home. So I would enquire at the

hospital, as some of that stuff might be provided for you at no extra

charge. I knew I would get the crutches, but was surprised when they

gave me the other items.

> Also, perhaps a daft question, where will my scar(s) be and what

> will it (they) look like? Would a bikini be out of the question?

>What about swimming?

If you want a small scar, tell Dr. Treacy. I didn't request it,

but my scar is only 4.5 inches across my buttock, and doesn't show in

a bathing suit or ordinary panties. I don't wear a bikini or super-low

cut briefs, so I haven't tested those options. The scar stays red for

quite a while, but if you search the archives for " scar " , you will

find various recommendations for creams and lotions to massage into

it, to help it subside. I was allowed to go swimming at six weeks

post-op. Some doctors let you swim earlier.

>

> Finally (and a bit embarrassingly) calling all female hippies!!...

> My operation falls right upon THAT time of the month!

Just use tampons and tell your doctor before the surgery that

you're having your period. It shouldn't be a problem. The hip

operation doesn't cut anything to do with the reproductive system, as

far as I know. However, major surgery is a shock to the system, so

your period may stop suddenly post-op (it's also difficult to use your

elimination system at first). Don't be concerned about it, time (and

prunes) will take care of those kinds of problems. I don't think it's

a good idea to go back on the pill for several months afterwards,

because of the risk of blood clots. You need to ask your doctor about

this. Don't worry, they've treated other young women and will not be

embarrassed by your questions. Or, if you are at the Nuffield, ask the

nurses. They are very knowledgeable, and if they don't know the

answers, they will ask a doctor as well.

Hope that helps.

n

rBHR Oct.17/03 McMinn

May 5, 2004

n

Your response has been really very helpful!

Thankyou thankyou thankyou!!

Mo

xx

> Hi Mo

> >and crutches, canes, grabbers, toilet seats

> > etc. etc. Where did you guys get them from?

> I borrowed a toilet seat from the Red Cross in Coventry (I

had

> my op in the Birmingham Nuffield Hospital with Mr. McMinn, then

stayed

> with friends in Coventry afterwards before flying home to Canada).

It

> was free, but they like you to make a donation. However, if you are

> paying privately at the Birmingham Nuffield (at least if you have

no

> British health insurance), they give you an all-inclusive price,

and

> you get to keep the crutches, cane, toilet seat, grabber, and

> long-handled shoe horn when you go home. So I would enquire at the

> hospital, as some of that stuff might be provided for you at no

extra

> charge. I knew I would get the crutches, but was surprised when

they

> gave me the other items.

> > Also, perhaps a daft question, where will my scar(s) be and what

> > will it (they) look like? Would a bikini be out of the question?

> >What about swimming?

> If you want a small scar, tell Dr. Treacy. I didn't request

it,

> but my scar is only 4.5 inches across my buttock, and doesn't show

in

> a bathing suit or ordinary panties. I don't wear a bikini or super-

low

> cut briefs, so I haven't tested those options. The scar stays red

for

> quite a while, but if you search the archives for " scar " , you will

> find various recommendations for creams and lotions to massage into

> it, to help it subside. I was allowed to go swimming at six weeks

> post-op. Some doctors let you swim earlier.

> >

> > Finally (and a bit embarrassingly) calling all female

hippies!!...

> > My operation falls right upon THAT time of the month!

> Just use tampons and tell your doctor before the surgery that

> you're having your period. It shouldn't be a problem. The hip

> operation doesn't cut anything to do with the reproductive system,

as

> far as I know. However, major surgery is a shock to the system, so

> your period may stop suddenly post-op (it's also difficult to use

your

> elimination system at first). Don't be concerned about it, time

(and

> prunes) will take care of those kinds of problems. I don't think

it's

> a good idea to go back on the pill for several months afterwards,

> because of the risk of blood clots. You need to ask your doctor

about

> this. Don't worry, they've treated other young women and will not

be

> embarrassed by your questions. Or, if you are at the Nuffield, ask

the

> nurses. They are very knowledgeable, and if they don't know the

> answers, they will ask a doctor as well.

> Hope that helps.

> n

> rBHR Oct.17/03 McMinn

May 5, 2004

> > Hi Mo

> > >and crutches, canes, grabbers, toilet seats

> > > etc. etc. Where did you guys get them from?

> > I borrowed a toilet seat from the Red Cross in Coventry (I

> had

> > my op in the Birmingham Nuffield Hospital with Mr. McMinn, then

> stayed

> > with friends in Coventry afterwards before flying home to

Canada).

> It

> > was free, but they like you to make a donation. However, if you

are

> > paying privately at the Birmingham Nuffield (at least if you have

> no

> > British health insurance), they give you an all-inclusive price,

> and

> > you get to keep the crutches, cane, toilet seat, grabber, and

> > long-handled shoe horn when you go home. So I would enquire at the

> > hospital, as some of that stuff might be provided for you at no

> extra

> > charge. I knew I would get the crutches, but was surprised when

> they

> > gave me the other items.

> > > Also, perhaps a daft question, where will my scar(s) be and

what

> > > will it (they) look like? Would a bikini be out of the

question?

> > >What about swimming?

> > If you want a small scar, tell Dr. Treacy. I didn't request

> it,

> > but my scar is only 4.5 inches across my buttock, and doesn't

show

> in

> > a bathing suit or ordinary panties. I don't wear a bikini or

super-

> low

> > cut briefs, so I haven't tested those options. The scar stays red

> for

> > quite a while, but if you search the archives for " scar " , you will

> > find various recommendations for creams and lotions to massage

into

> > it, to help it subside. I was allowed to go swimming at six weeks

> > post-op. Some doctors let you swim earlier.

> > >

> > > Finally (and a bit embarrassingly) calling all female

> hippies!!...

> > > My operation falls right upon THAT time of the month!

> > Just use tampons and tell your doctor before the surgery that

> > you're having your period. It shouldn't be a problem. The hip

> > operation doesn't cut anything to do with the reproductive

system,

> as

> > far as I know. However, major surgery is a shock to the system, so

> > your period may stop suddenly post-op (it's also difficult to use

> your

> > elimination system at first). Don't be concerned about it, time

> (and

> > prunes) will take care of those kinds of problems. I don't think

> it's

> > a good idea to go back on the pill for several months afterwards,

> > because of the risk of blood clots. You need to ask your doctor

> about

> > this. Don't worry, they've treated other young women and will not

> be

> > embarrassed by your questions. Or, if you are at the Nuffield,

ask

> the

> > nurses. They are very knowledgeable, and if they don't know the

> > answers, they will ask a doctor as well.

> > Hope that helps.

> > n

> > rBHR Oct.17/03 McMinn

Mo....There are kajillions of adaptive equipment catalogs available

with all the equipment you need and then some...most are on-

line...two good ones that come to mind are North Coast Medical and

Sammons....I am actually a non-working Occupational Therapist with

lots of previous non-applicable experience in pediatric therapy.

Your best bet of course is to take all those other great suggestions

to heart about BORROWING equipment...because you sure won't need it

for long ..but when you do need it you REALLY need it! My daughter

had surgery a couple of years ago and her red incision faded to a

thin white line in the course of a year. Also Mo...my husband is a

doctor...don't be embarrassed to ask him anything...trust me...he's

already heard it. Best wishes. Susie

May 5, 2004