Re: closer to the rubicon

[Guest guest]

Thanks for you notes. I am a Whole Foods kind of guy, but in younger

days, I'd been known to subsist on Wheatena and peanut butter for

long stretches. I also grew up around hospitals, so I know what's to

expect. I doubt they'll let me starve, and if I lose a pound or two,

that might actually be easier on the new device.

Curious to know your level of physical or athletic activity pre-op,

I've read that can be a factor in recovery time.

For me, I can do many things still. It's what I can't do that seems

most telling. I used to be able to run the Stairmaster for half an

hour -- or until I got tired of it. Now, it's painful after ten

minutes. Any lateral motion, or any quick take off or stop is

impossible. I can longer work out with free weights because the hip

screams at me when I add any weight -- even taking out the trash is

trial. And I've developed this odd compensation walk they call a

Trendeleberg Gait. So...I may actually have waited longer than I

should

Curious, too, how you dealt with insurance coverage issues. Mine are

still not resolved.

Do they give you a choice of whether or not to take the morphine?

That sort of thing...and Vicodin make me sullen and nearly violent.

Didn't think to mention that as a drug allergy, but now that I think

on it, I should ask when I get there.

As for you...I'd like to believe you'll have the outcome you most

envision...so don't let yourself get down about it. See yourself

doing what you want...and I believe... you'll do it.

Thanks again...and all the best.

Alan

> > Hey hippy kids...

> >

> > Make room, I'm about to jump in. I've got a scheduled consult

> with

> > Dr. Amstutz on May 3, in person. Anything I need to know going

> in?

> > I'm looking at end-stage OA of left hip, with " a component of hip

> > dysplasia " . Without a resurf, my handball days are over... and

> > without some kind of procedure, I'll spend the rest of my nature

> life

> > walking like Chester Good.

> >

> > I talked with my own sports med doc who did the original

> diagnosis,

> > asked if I'd be a candidate for resurf. He said No. Said the

> long-

> > term stability is unproved...and there was no certainty about the

> > long-term oncological risks posed by metal ions in the body. So

> > somebody seems to be passing the book around, 'cuz a lot of

people

> > are reading the same lines.

> >

> > I've read here a couple of horror stories about L-A-O-H. Is the

> food

> > really THAT bad? I don't like the idea of morphine. Can anybody

> > compare the level of pre-op and post-op pain. If you could take

> it

> > before the knife, could you take it after?...or was it just

easier

> > not to fight it?

> >

> > Thanks...

> > Alan