Two Weeks Tomorrow

It will be two weeks tomorrow since I had my first surgery - and hopefully my last - total hip replacement. I had put it off and was going to keep putting it off. I had an appointment with my Dr. Shepherd (my primary care physician) on March 6th. It was the first time he took an X-ray of my hip - his words "It's really bad". He said that it would not get better, but it was entirely up to me as to what I wanted to do but eventually I would need a hip replacement. He referred me to the IHC "Bone Hotline" to have them give me a referral and also referred Dr. Kent Samuelson (who did Mom and Dad's joint replacements).

I called the Hotline - and they said that they could get me in to see a Dr. Michael Johnson on Friday, March 9th. I asked about him - they said he was great - and that he did the new anterior hip replacement method! I also asked about Dr. Samu;;elson - they said he was good - but that he did the "old fashioned" posterior surgery.

So we went to see Dr. Johnson on Friday - he was young (and cute) and when he looked at my hip X-ray said "You must be really tough". He too said that it would not get better and that total hip replacement was the best option - and that he had a cancellation on March 27th - if I wanted to do it then. As we left - I had mixed emotions - scared - thinking way to much about it. I called it elective - only because I was the one to decide if I wanted to go through with it. Of course I started surfing the net - where only "bad" experiences are posted. Started reading about recalls of the hip devices, etc. I called back to IHC and said I had a bunch of quesitons about the surgery, Dr. Johnson, etc. They said they would get the answers for me. Five minutes later Dr. Johnson called - he wanted to answer my questions an concerns - kind of won me over at that point. I went ahead and scheduled the March 27th surgery - but still kept my appointment with Dr. Samuelson.

So on March 22nd - we went to meet with Dr. Samuelson. He has been doing joint replacements for a very long time. I think he is about 70 years old. First an X-ray was taken, then met with his nurse, then with his PA (Physicians Assistant) and then Dr. Samuelson. The response from them was "WOW - you must be in a lot of pain". They tried to sell me on the posterior method vs. the anterior method. Simply put - he prefers the posterior becuase that is what he always done. In the end, he said that there was no wrong decision - that I need the hip replacement and either way would be okay.

So - do I go with the new anterior method - faster recovery, less evasive. Or the old posterior method. Kind of a no brainer.......

The surgery went well - Alta View Hospital is a pretty good facility - other than they forgot to tell Evan and Dad that I was in my room! I felt pretty out of it and crappy the first day - they got me up the next morning - felt like I was going to puke - BUT - THERE WAS NO HIP PAIN!

I just kept getting better and better - by Thursday - with more physical therapy - no drugs (other than tylenol) I was ready to bust out of there. Dr. Johnson came in about 3:00 and asked what they were doing for me at the hospital. He said if I wanted to go home that I could. GREAT!

I still felt kind of crappy until about Monday - and have been feeling better every day. Today I had the surchers (stitches) taken out and can now shower at ease and wear normal clothes (non-sweats). I plan on going back to work on Monday, the 16th.

You've heard people say they wonder whey they waited to do different things throughout their life - well I now can say - I wonder why I waited so long.

I look forward to getting stronger and stronger - being able to walk around the block with bending over in pain - being able to go shopping for more than a half an hour at a time - being able to excersise, etc. etc. etc.......

How blessed we are to have such wonderful procedures and technology at our fingertips. I am so looking forward to living many more pain free years!!!!!