Hip Replacement Diary

Six Weeks Post Op

2006-09-03T18:40:00.000-07:00

Was still focusing on the PT. Spent time at our Ft. Myers place since they have a big indoor pool where I could do the walking and also swim some laps. Would spend an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon. Was progessing well.

While over in Ft Myers got a call to do some consulting work for a guy I used to work for. I needed to Fly up to Minneapolis in Easter Sunday so I could be there early monday morning. What a challenge trying to fly and everything, drag luggage around the airport.Even though I was not using my cane on a normal basis, I took it with me on the plane so I could get on the plane in the pre-boarding process. Then I could get my bag in the overhead and find about four blankets to sit on so my hip would not bend so much.

Found a hotel that had a good indoor pool and gym. But starting this new job, about six weeks post op was a real trick. Was a four week assignment.

About two weeks into the project, the CEO offered me a full time position... which I took.

Kept up with the PT even in Minneapolis. The pool would open at 6. I was there when it would open, swim 30 minutes, shower, have breakfast and be at the office by 8. Hope around 6PM, go to the gym to do weights and then swim another 30 minutes. Had to be creative when all the kids and people where there, but after being up there for a couple of months, I knew when to go to be in between the water arobics classes and all the kids.

Traveling away from home had its challenges but it was good in some ways. Was able to really focus on the new job and the PT. Flying, the crowded airports, the small airline seats, the flight attendants running into your leg with the beverage cart, the secondary screening when the hip sets off the metal detectors, the road warriors running you over with their wheeled luggage... all of this was the problem.

Anyway... week by week, I got stronger and more pain free.

3 weeks to 4 weeks post op

2006-04-08T16:57:00.000-07:00

Wow. time flies. It is now six weeks post op.

At three weeks post op... actually went back to work. 20 days after surgery. Was a struggle to get dressed and in the car to drive to work. Got there about an hour later than I normally do but wasn't planning on an entire day anyway. Had set up a meeting with the Pres to get caught up. Sat down with him and started going over all the projects and such. Five minutes into the meeting he says that he and the investors have decided to FIRE me! Can you possibly imagine the heart of that guy.

I was so shocked I simply got up and walked out of his office. What a shock. Was so excited to get back at work and start kicking butt with the new hip and this!

I ended up going to a PT appointment at 11 am and then went back and did a few things at the office and home by 3. Went in the next few days to clean up a few things but really focused on the PT and the recovery. The bright side of being fired is that I have spent much more quality time recovering than I would if I was still working.

Was able to get into the pool and walk and swim all during the week. Did the pool work and also did weight work. Still tired to the point that by 7 pm would doze off if I was not doing something very active

Still using the cane when walking.

Week four was more of the same. Heavy duty PT in the pool and the weight room. Started making a list of all the things we need to do to list the house. Almost 40 items. Started out ordering 170 bags of mulch for all the flower and tree beds. The wife and I took a few days but we spread it all. Wow, talk about over doing it.

Was a big issue in trying to not over do everything

Started walking some without the cane. By the end of the week I could make most fo the mile walk around the block without the cane. It hurt but I could do it!

Day +14 to +21

2006-03-10T08:08:00.000-08:00

Trying to get this new hip to work. Got the stiches out two weeks post surgery and was able to get in the pool the next day.

Have been walking in the pool. Trying to get in the pool twice a day. Spend 30 minutes walking (forward, backward and sideways) then swim some laps, then do some exercises then more walking then more laps. About 90 minutes in total.

Pre-op I could swim a half mile, 38 lengths of the pool, without really straining it at all. Now, 10 lengths and I have all I can deal with. It is amazing that I could lose conditioning so quickly. Part of it is that my kick is not at all close to where it was, so much of the effort is all upper body.

Walking with the cane and really trying to put little support on the cane. Some times in the house have been walking WITHOUT a cane or walker.

Still the biggest issue is simply sitting down for any length. Right now I am sitting in a barstool at the kitchen counter. Seems to be about the best at this point.

Trying to limit the drugs to late in the day. Have cut down to two a day, one around five and one around 11 PM. I have had a tremendous time trying to stay awake past 8PM. don't know if it is the drugs or If I still am getting over everthing else.

Will try this weekend to drop back to just one pain med a day, right before bed time. Need to get my mind back to reality of I am going to try work next week.

Days +5 to +13

2006-03-08T14:22:00.000-08:00

Got home Friday evening and started to get depressed at the prospect of days at home struggling with the pain, PT and boredome..... Oh well.

Spent the first night on the recliner. Thought it would be comfortable but was really not at all. Slept in bed after that. I never sleep on my back so now it is a real change sleeping on my back every day.

Still getting over the issues of having a catheter in for four days. The first few days home I had to urinate about five times each night. This was an issue since it was so painful to get in and out of bed. Once I did that, I was wide awake. I had a couple of plastic urinals but once I used them, had to get up to the toilet after that. Also, there is something just not right about pissing in a plastic cup while in bed. About mid week home, started going only once or twice a night.

Had to give myself shots of blood thinner in the stomach every night. This was difficult at first, but after a while I got used to it.

Was doing all the PT that was instruted to do. Was painful, but did it as much as I could. I took the pain meds as needed. For the first few days, took one every six hours, four a day. Then went to three a day and now down to two a day. Take one at about 5PM and the second around 11PM.

Had a PT person come to the house on Wednesday... about day +9. It was real helpful as she reminded me of a few things I had forgotten from the hospital. She also got me to stop using the walker and start using a cane.

Started walking up and down the block with the cane. In a day or so, I walked around the the block, a little more than a mile. By Day +13 was able to do the mile walk three times a day. It hurt the last time, so I have since backed off and do only two miles.

After thinking I would be bored to death, the first week home went remarkable fast. PT, walking, bed with elevating the leg, Ice, drugs, and do it again..... Sleeping when necessary.

On Monday the 6th, 13 days from surgery, went to the OS office to have the stiches taken out. The OS's nurse did the honors. She was impressed with how well the incision healed. Also, she said most people come in still on the walker as opposed to using a cane. She also said trying to walk three miles a day was probably too much.

Did not have any x-rays or anything. The nurse only checked the lower leg for any signs of DVT and that was it.

With the sutures out, I can now get back in the pool to do exercises and to start swimming again.... Going from swimming a half mile a day to zero has been tough so I am looking forward to getting back at it.

The first week at home was really better than I thought. My dear wife and daughter were a big help. Actually went out to lunch twice... about day +8 and Day +10. Was a good change!

2006-03-08T14:21:00.000-08:00

day +2,+3,+4

2006-03-04T15:50:00.000-08:00

After the heavy drugs the day of surgery and the day after, settled down to a steady diet of Percocet. The morphine was used only for the first day with Oxcycontin. Oxcycontoin and Percocet the day after and then just Percocet after that.

Surgery was Monday, Day +1 was Tuesday. This post covers Wednesday to Friday.

After breakfast on Wednesday, the transport guy showed up to drag my ass to PT. Got in the chair and went. When I stood up in the PT room I felt really bad so sat back down. They took my BP and it was 80/40 again. They dragged me back to the room and started pushing more IV fluids. After a few hours the BP went back up and I felt better. I did not take any my pain meds that afternoon to make sure the BP didn't tank again.

By the afternoon BP was ok. They had me get back in the wheelchair and took the BP again before we went to PT. Everything was ok. The PT was a drag without any pain meds but it went ok.

When I got back to the room, caught back up on the Percocet. Spent a peaceful evening enjoying the drugs.

Thursday was about the same. Trying to keep medicated but not screwing up the BP. They decided to push the unit of blood I had donated pre-op back in me to help stabalize the BP. Seemed to work.

Also, Got the drain out that was in the incision. Also got the Foley Catheter out. That was a mixed blessing. Felt a lot better not having that thing dragging back and forth in my urethra everytime I moved but now I had to deal with pissing in a plastic cup as still was not allowed to get out of bed.

But Friday, the day after all the tubes coming off and the dressing off of the wound, was allowed to shower. Oh man did that feel good. The nurses aide got everything set up and I went in and simpy sat on a chair in the shower for about thirty minutes. The aide kept knocking on the door, but the hell with her....

Best thing that happend to me in a long time.

BP was ok on Friday, fever was not too bad. PT went ok so they kicked me out of the hospital around 8PM. Was a real trick getting into the car but with the help of wife, daughter, nurses aide and a lot of drugs, I made it.

Was happy to get home but worried about doing everything without hurting myself.

Slept the first night in the recliner chair. Was the easiest to get into and out of. Easy to get out to get to the bathroom as needed.

Home. started to worry about the boredom that will follow.

Day +1

2006-02-28T15:29:00.000-08:00

Finally had the sun come up Tuesday. The I-pod batteries just about died, but they made it thru the night.

They took the morphine pump out but they gave me some other drugs that really did the job. Was so drugged that I could not even talk. The OS came in and talked to me. Wanted to ask him some questins, but just could not move my lips. Was glad that I was like that as they came to drag my sorry ass out of bed to do PT. If I was not so drugged, I would have swung at some of these people as they were not all the careful in draggin we out of bed and throughing me in a wheel chair.

Actually walked ten feet with a walker.... the day after surgery. WOW.

Got back to the room and back in bed for about five minutes when people came in to drag me down to Oncolgy to get radiation to try to keep bone from growing a
in the wrong places. Did not seem like a big deal until I was down there for over four hours. Being dragged on and off the x-ray table twice, and then all the drugs wore off. No one seemed to give a shit down in radiation. Would have to yell at people walking down the halway to get me a sip of water now and then.

Needless to say, I was not a happy camper.

When I finally got back. I asked them to just leave me on the gurney until they could drug me... Being the sensitive people they were, they said sorry and dragged me back into bed. Oh well. So much for caring.

Rest of the day went ok. Waiting for a nurse to walk by and asking for more drugs...

so went day plus one.

Day 0 Surgery

2006-02-28T14:49:00.000-08:00

The day finaly came! Wife and I were at the hospital at 5:30 AM to check in. By 6:30 I was in a cold holding room, laying on a gurney in a stupid gown. They started two IVs, one for all the fluids and drugs and the other for blood if needed. The anethesiologist came by. First time I met the guy. He explained that the OS prefers to have people use a spinal instead of a general. While I have never had a spinal, it seemed the right thing to do.

The doctor said that they would not give me any type of sedadattion before surgery since they need me to help position myself for the spinal. Then he said that they want to make sure the spinal works also before they sedate me!. "SEE IF THE SPINAL WORKS" That was not what I wanted to hear. But he said for some reason, the spinal does not work on some people. Oh well.

Waited around for another hour thinking about how they figue out the spinal works. Finally they dragged me into the OR. There were about three people in there laying out all the tools and hardware. Was amazed at how many gadgegts they use.

Sat on the edge of the table with a nurse pushing my neck down as the doctor shoved the needles into the spine. Was not all that painful, just different.

They then started to give me the spinal drugs. I could feel my lower body getting warm but that was it. About five minutes later, they asked me if I could move my toes. I could. This was a shock to them as well as me. They poked and probed and concluded it was working OK. About now I am ready for sedation.

Then the nurse starts cramming the catheter down my penis. I could feel it as it was forced down the urethra. The nurse was surprised when I asked her to be a little more careful. She said "doing what". I told her putting in the catheter. She went and got the doctor to make sure they gave me more juice!.

At this point I am thinking this is going to be a long day!. At that point, the team got tired of me telling them what to do so they finally sedated me and put me out of my misery....

Wook up a few hours later in the recovery room. The spinal really worked well in terms of making it easier to wake up. Was the smoothest "wake up" I ever had.

I felt great. My lower body was still numb and I was not heavily drugged. Sat there in recovery for an hour or so thinking life was good. As the spinal and nerve blocks started to wear off, I reallized I was in for a long day.

Was moved up to my room by 1 PM or so and my wife was there. Now not being heavily sedated was not looking so good. They hooked up a morphine pump that did a faily good job. Problem was that the shot would only last for 10 to 15 minutes. So I would hit the button, sleep ten minutes, hit the button..... everytime I would wake up I thought it was the next day. What disappointment when I would realize 15 had only passed.

About 3PM, I really started feeling bad. Started sweating like I ran ten miles. Started seeing stars. I tried grabbing the call button but did not have the strength to press it.

The white flashes got worse and worse until the point that my entire feild of vision was pure white. This only took about 30 seconds from feeling ok until seeing nothing but a bright white light. Within about another 30 second, my sight started coming back. About then a nurse happened in and took my BP. At that point if was 80/40. God only knows what it was at the lowest point!

They had the cardiologist come over and look at me. All he said was "sometimes that happens". He had them push the IV faster to get more fluids in me.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Long, painful, but no other problems.

Day - 3

2006-02-17T09:37:00.000-08:00

Oh boy. This is Friday the 17th. THR is at 5:30 am on the 20th.

I am so ready to get this done.

Last few weeks have been a real roller coaster for me. Went in about two weeks ago to go over all my blood work and test results so my internist could sign the surgical release. I was so nervous about everything, that with about three cups of expresso roast Starbuck's, my blood pressure was 170/140. The Doc was really pissed about the whole thing and said that I needed to get a nuclear stress test before he would sign off on the approval.

Had the stress test, which was a real treat given my hip (did not want to do the chemical version of the test). The treadmill part went well and passed with flying colors. I actually ran 11 of the 12 minute test. Most people my age do not come close to that... HOWEVER, when the images came back, it showed that I had significant blockage in the LV. What a bumber. The Doc told me to cancel the THR and be prepared to spend a few days in the Cardio unit having stints and/or bypass surgery.

Instead of doing what he wanted, I found a cardiologist that could do the angiogram the next day. Went in and went through all the hassle of the procedure. Laying there on the xray table with a bunch of tubes stuck into the groin, the doctor took a look and said the heart was just fine. He turned the screen and said "this is the artery they said was blocked and it is perfectly normal!" Wow, what a relief.

Luckily I was so drugged I could barely move or I would have jumped up and given the doctor a high five! It is hard to imagine going through the cycle of thinking you are healthy to thinking you are about to drop dead then back to your great! I am so sorry I had to put my family through that. It was hard on me, but it was probably tougher on my wife.

With that all behind me, I spent yesterday calling around trying to get everyone's administrators to type up the right forms and fax them to the right people.

Some times the folks just don't get it. The surgeon's office said "oh don't worry about it, worse case is that we would shuffle the order and do you later in the day...." Can you imagine that. Being at the hospital at 5:30 and laying, half naked on some gurney, freezing your buns off, being pushed into some dark corner of some holding room waiting around for some administrator to type a letter. Anyway, I was able to get copies of the releases in my little hands and will bring copies with me.

I am upset that the cardio guy told me not to excercise in any way for five days... which is the surgical day. Does not want me to blow out the hole in the femoral artery. I really wanted to go for a few good long swims to burn off some of the nervous energy. But the risk of having any complication at this point is not worth it. I will simply cool my jets for the next few days.

It is hard to believe that after 5 attempts at this, I am finally here. Next week at this time I'll be trying to get clearance to go home... with a new hip!!!!

Day-15

2006-02-05T17:49:00.000-08:00

Don't have my calander with me, but it is Sunday, February 5th. Super Bowl Sundy. Surgery is two weeks from tomorrow.

A week ago Wednesday I went in fo all the blood work, chest x-ray and EKG. Then on Friday, went to the blood bank to give a unit of blood. Then last Wednesday, went back to the Internist to go ove the bloodwork etc.

My colestoral was still up there around 238. Was around 228 six months ago. The doctor wanted me to start taking somthing to lower it but I told him that we will wait until after my surgery. Also, my BP was up around 168. WOW, it normally isn't that high. Was only 138 when I gave blood. Doc was shocked that it was that high. Told him that it was the caffine. I drank a 16oz cup of expresso roast on the way there. He wasn't impressed and has me taking a stress test tomorrow to make sure my heart is ok.

It has been twenty years since I have had one of those. Doc ordred a chemical stress test, but I am going to try to do the treadmill and see if I can get though that. I don't lie the idea fo laying on a table as the shoot you up with chemicals to see how fast they can get your heart pumping. Anyway. will try gutting it out. Haven't run in a while so hope it doesn't get that far.

Monitored my BP for a while and it stayed high. Called the doc back Friday and told him he better give me something. So started taking some meds for it. Hasn't dropped it much yet.

It is really irritating to me. Spend your entire life eating right and excersising your butt off and still, at age 56, end up needing BP medicine and cholestoral medicine. Why bother.

Well, I hope the BP meds don't screww me up too bad and I can pass the stress test. It would really upset me if I can't get the surgery as scheduled.

Anyway. I am sure it will work out.

Got a lot done this weekend and last. Drove my Harley over to Ft Myers last weekend so I can store it over there while I recover. Had a lot of traffic on 75. the hour and a half trip took four hours. A lot of stop and go.

Put another ceiling fan up in Ft Myers and did some other things. Ordered a piece of furniture for under the TV. It will be deliverd next weekend.

Did a lot around here this weekend. Got my federal taxes done and even e-file them. Got my new iPod stuffed with about three days of songs. Got a DVD player for the new TV in the bedroom. Put the toilet extended on. Went out with Sallie and bought a bunch of robes and pjs for the recover phase. Got a hand rail installed ont the pool. Sprayed all the beds for weeds, trimmed all the palm trees. Pretty much got about everything I wanted doen.

Still have to print some thanks you stationary and get my medical directive updated to Florida law. Need to also go back over to Ft Myers to "winterize" the bike.

Still lifting weights every night and swimming for twenty minutes and then doing leg kicks in the pool. Probably in better shape now than I have been in years. Too bad I will spend the next month in bed.

Tomorrow will be the big deal with the stress test. Hope that goes ok!

bfn.

Day-28

2006-01-23T14:49:00.000-08:00

The clock keeps ticking. 28 days to the surgery.

I have still a number of important things to do for preparation... the living will and getting a hand rail put in the pool so I can get in and out without using my operated leg.

Still have not tried the raised toilet seat yet. Will need to bolt that on and try. If I need to get another toilet fixture, I need to do that soon!

I am doing ok on the excercise items. Spending more time getting the upper body in shape. Still swimming on a daily basis but not kicking too much as it was starting to be too painful.

The pinched nerves in my neck have quieted down somewhat. Ignoring them has been a good strategy up to this point.

I go in for the bloodwork and lab test part of the pre-surgical examination. I am sure the Doc will give me grief for my colesterol readings! I will need to spend some of my recovery period adjusting to a better diet as well.

Once I get my blood work done, I can schedule the blood donation. Need to only bank 1 unit. Will do tht fairly quickly so I will have the most time possible to regenerate the lost blood. I have been taking the iron pills twice a day as recommended.

The people at the Hip support group have convinced me to store the motorcycle and not think about riding for six months! Bummer. but oh well. I will need to spend a weekend day devoted to storing it properly.

Anyway.... enough for now.

Day _35

2006-01-17T09:17:00.000-08:00

About 35 days to my surgery. I am getting a little nervous about the whole thing. My neck/c5,6,7 herniated disks are still bothering me like last year. I am still guessing the whole nerve thing is a result of the tension caused by the worry of the upcoming surgery. Last year it came about the very same time prior to the scheduled surgery. However, last year I cancelled the surgery and tried resolving the nerve problem. This year I am simply going to ignore the issue. I am simply hoping that I will not lose enough strength in my left arm to keep me from using crutches. It will be a bad day if it gets so bad I can't use my left arm at all. Last year it did get tht bad, but I am hoping my attitude this year will allow me to relax a little more.

Got a fair amount of things done this weekend. Got the hand held nozzle for the shower, got the toilet extention, got arms for the toilet, took the Harley in for service, got the Jeep serviced, got a new tv for the bedroom, started my tax return.

Need to focus on getting the living will updated.

My excersize routine I think is aggrivating the pain in my hip. I have reduced the amount of kicking that I am doing when I swim. That seems to help. Not doing the side leg kicks in the pookl either. Will see if that calms things down.

Have started taking iron and extra C as recommended. Will do that until 0-day.

Trying to get all my office work done, but that is a joke.

Day -48

2006-01-03T16:48:00.000-08:00

Wow, It is January 3 2006. 48 days until my surgery. Have done little to get prepared.... Holidays have put a big demand on time both at home and work.

Spent Christmas here at home and spent New Years in the Ft Myers area with Bother and Sister in law. Was able to keep up with swimming as FM home has fitness center with lap pool. Swam everyday but Sunday and did leg kick exercises in the pool. Did not do weights as I did not bring gym clothes. Will need to bring some over and leave there. Will also need to decide if I will spend the few weeks after surgery over there or stay here... At least the doctor will be more convenient from here.

I did get to the medical supply store to look at supplies. Will probably go back and try to get the toilet extension this week end. That is a main concern given my height. Want to be sure it works in enough time to go to plan B if it does not. Will probably see if I can get an elevated toilet as well. Will call this week to locate and price and see what color selection they have.

Still suffering form the cold I got before the holidays. What a drag. It seems that a lot of people are sick at work now. Will really need to make sure I was hands a lot and don't eat things that have been handled in the break room.

I have also started taking some iron pills. Will take one in the morning and one at dinner until after surgery. Also taking a second 1000mg C at work. Will continue both until surgery.

When I got back from FM, I had 150 emails. Most of these were from the hip support group. Went through the majority of these. Most were simply "happy holidays" type of messages from member to member. Not much new interesting and useful content.

Have not added or subtracted much from the to-do list. Will need to get serious.

Today at work, my hip bothered me more than it ever has. Walking over to the East office for my staff meeting I almost simply stopped since it was almost too painful to continue. I really have no idea why it was so bad. I may start using my cane around work. Will get people's attention, as if they don't see me struggling around anyway. I am just afraid that once I start using the cane full time I will have a hard time walking without it.

Any way... Enough for day -48

Day -56

2005-12-26T13:13:00.000-08:00

56 days to surgery. Did not make entryies the past few days as it was Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Sallie and I went over to the west coast house and sat around for the cable guy to come and install the cable. Put up the drapes in the guest room as my brother and his wife will coming down to stay their this evening. Finally have the new house in some order so we can start enjoying it. Will go over there at the end of this week and stay there over New Years Day....

Got a few things done around the house today. Dug out the stump of one of the palm trees that Wilma blew down. Other stumps were taken care of by the tree guy. Will need to fill inthe hole, re-do some of the walk that the tree tore up and then re-do the walk where the tree guy screwed it over. Would like to do this work prioor to surgery so I won't have to worry about it as I recuperate and won't worry about tripping over the bricks that are out of place in the walk.

I managed to get the cold that Sara has. I am really worried about staying healthy during the weeks up to surgery. Will have to go into the very causious mode and stay away from anyone that is sick. Will need to wask hands very often and avoid touching mouth, nose, eyes etc.

Next week I will need to really push at my to-do lists. This afternoo I will go thru my posts and make an excel list that I can load on my phone and print.

Exercise...

December 23.. None, in Ft Meyers
December 24.. Free Wgts,30 laps and leg kicks in pool
December 25... Machine upper body, legs, 25 laps and leg kicks in pool.

Neck/arm seems ok. No major numbness or tingling.

Day -59

2005-12-23T12:44:00.000-08:00

Here we go, a few days before Xmas and have still not bought any gifts. I guess there is tomorrow.

Read a bunch more posts and web sites that people have refered me to. I need to start writing notes as I go thru these sites. When I read the things and get ideas, I forget them before I get the the blog! Will learn.

To-Do Home:

1. Get a hand held shower for the master bath.

Excersise:

Last night, wgt machine upper body, leg extension and leg curls, 30 laps in pool, leg kicks 3x3x10.

Neck/arm feeling better, must just have been the position I slept that night.

Day -60

2005-12-22T15:09:00.000-08:00

This should be about 60 days before my THR. Have a bunch of stuff to do and NO time to get it done....

Xmas is in three days and I have not even bought my wife a present. It will be busy the next few days.

To-Do Home

1. Asked Sara to look into/get printed some stationary so I can write thank you notes to people after my surgery. Last time I did not have any and did not think about until I am at home trying to recover and had to find a printer and all that stuff. Too bad we have moved and the address is wrong on the left overs... can use the new stuff in a lot of other things.
2. Found a lawyer for the living will. Will Have Sallie call to set up an appointment.
3. Need to really look at Taxes and decide if I am going to try to do them before the surgery or after. Not sure if I will get all the info forms in time to do it early Feb. If I wait until after, I will have about 6 weeks before 4/15. Not sure if I want to deal with recuperation and the IRS at the same time. Just talked myself into doing taxes before!!!! Need to work at getting files set up.

To-Do Medical

1. Need to update my medical questions and send them to doctor. Add discussion about surgical approach options and what one he does use.
2. Put note in questions to get his commitment to ceramic/ceramic device.
3. Question about spinal vs general.

To-Do Work

1. After more research in support groups, 2 1/2 weeks to return to work seems unrealistic. Need to find the right time to expand that number with the boss!

Excersise.

Last night, free wgts for upper body. Avoided machine and heavy lifting due to neck and arm numbness.

Swam 30 laps and did 3x3x10 leg extetions in pool.

Actually arm and neck feel better today.!!!!

Day -61

2005-12-21T16:50:00.000-08:00

This is Wednesday December 21. 61 days before the surgery. Was basically way too busy at work to get anything done.... worked thru lunch and left at 7pm.

Did spend some time going thru the support group posts this morning and got a good suggestion about how to get in the car. They talked about reclining the seat way bag and sliding more into the back seat to swing your leg in opposed to trying to slide accross the other side of the car, over the center console. Will have to try that.

Another post said that they did not go back to work for 5 weeks and only then part time. I've told the people I would be back in two to three weeks. Oh my. need to sort that out. a big difference.

Need to focus on my to do list ! Tomorrow will be busy as well... need to use my lunch time.

Day -62

2005-12-20T15:29:00.000-08:00

This is the first entry into my hip replacement diary. It is 62 days before my surgery. The purpose of this diary is to help me get my thoughts organized and to document my thoughts and activity so they may help others to follow down this path.

My personal history is as follows. I am a 56 year old male that has been fairly active all my life. I started running when I was in my thirties as a way to stay in shape for down hill skiing. (was a member of the NSP for over 16 years) Once my work kept me from being active in the Ski Patrol, I kept running and it became my main recreation. Got to the point that I would run 40 to 50 miles a week and raced marathons.

After running a marathon in D.C. my hip started top bother me. A year or so later went to a doctor who xrayed and advised me of the degenerative disease in the hip. Advised me to stop running which I did not do for about three more years. At that point I simply could not find the strength to over come the pain.

Saw a few more doctors that advised me to wait for a total hip replacement (THR). Issue was at that time and in the opinion of that doctor at the age I was, I would have to have two maybe three THR procedures. The longer I waited, it may be possible to get it done once and not outlive the device.

So I waited.

About ten years.

Although I have scheduled this procedure at least four times before. About five years ago to be postponed by prostate cancer. About three years ago to be postponed by a job change and relocation. A year ago to be postponed by some herniated discs. Six months ago to be postponed by the surgeon moving out of state.

But now I have done it again. February 2oth, 2006..... There you have the short story of where I am at.

The Surgeon is recommending a ceramic on ceramic, non-cemmented device. Am working with a guy that is a knee and hip specialist. Does six procedures a day, twice a week, about 500 a year. Should be good at it.

Things to do: HOME
1. Get the IT guys to put broadband in my bedroom
2. go with wife to look at hospital beds to rent for home and other needed devices
3. See if pool guy can put in a rail to help get in the pool
4. find a raised toilet for the master bedroom

Things to do: Medical
1. Mark a calendar up with all the important dates.
2. figure out when to start taking Iron pills
3. Send the doctor the list of questions I want to discuss with him at pre-op visit.
4. Call hospital and see if I can arrange in advance for a private room.
5. See if I can find a local PT source

Things to do: Work
1. Put together a three, four, five and six week plan
2. Assign leader for scheduling meeting
3. Assign leader for my staff meeting
4. Prepare communication and away email blurb
5. Set up AA bringing mail to house.

Excersise: Prior Day
1. wgts, upper body and leg curls
2. swim 25 laps
3. in pool leg kicks 3x3x10