So tomorrow is my pre-operative appointment. This is where I get checked out to make sure I'm healthy enough for surgery.
At my last appointment, I was given a folder of information to go over. And some of my questions have been answered. But many "answers" are "Ask your physician about _______." So I've got a list started. I hope this guy has his schedule cleared.
To organize my thoughts, and to possibly help future surgery patients, here's the "short" list.
1. Will I have to give blood for a possible transfusion? (The literature was vague on if this was still a thing or not)
2. How long will I be in the hospital? (I've gotten estimates between 24 hours and a week. Uh, that's a very wide range people)
3. What's up with physical therapy? Will someone be coming to my apartment? How soon after surgery, and how often? How many times before I'm on my own?
4. So I'll be on medication for blood clots. Some information says coumadin, and some say aspirin. To me, that's kind of a big difference. Which one is it?
5. How long will I be on the blood thinners? And these blood tests...is someone coming to my house to do that? How often is that going to happen, and for how long?
6. What's the deal with caffeine intake with the blood thinners? Anyone who knows me knows about my chronic Mt. Dew habit. Yeah, I could take this opportunity to get off the juice, but only if I HAVE to.
7. When can I take a shower? Or am I reduced to sponge baths for two weeks?
8. And, when can I start swimming again?
9. So there's this thing called "prophylactic antibiotics". Besides making me giggle like a 12-year-old boy, I'm not sure in what circumstances I'll need "protection". It says dental work (any). So I assume the same is true for tattoos and piercings? And I would also like to know how often the doctor gets that question!
10. The folder also says I'll get a prescription for "medical supplies" for my house. This may include: a walker, crutches, or a cane. A raised toilet seat. A grabber (sweet!) But there are some things that aren't mentioned: a shower bench. A sponge-on-a-stick. How much stuff can I buy here? And where do I have to get it from?
11. What's up with sex? When can we have it again, and what positions aren't kosher?
12. Are there any pre-surgery exercises I can do to help my muscles recover faster?
13. What can I bring for the hospital stay? Does the hospital have WiFi? I'd love to bring my laptop, especially if I'm going to be there for a few days.
14. The pamphlets say "no recliners or couches" Why? Is this only for sitting, and can I lay on the couch?
15. All the stuff says "no stooping, bending, or leg-crossing" but has no time limit. Is this forever? Cuz that's not really an option for my job..or my life. How long we talkin' here?
16. Once I'm healed, just how likely am I to dislocate my hip? Can I reduce the risk with physical therapy?
17. What is and is not covered by insurance? Are all these home visits going to be covered as well? I mean, I know I've got a deductible, but is each visit going to have a co-pay like going to the doctor?
18. Is the hospital/doctor going to be contacting the insurance company to get all this covered? Or should I call them ahead of time to figure out payment? Do I owe any money upfront when I show up at the hospital?
19. Will all the paperwork be filled out before I get there for surgery, or should I give extra time for that?
20. How long will the surgery take? How long will I be in recovery? What time of day will I be in my room, and can I have visitors that first day?
I'll have some answers for all of this tomorrow at my appointment. Keep you all posted!
Monday, April 30, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
Why I'm Having My Surgery Before the Wedding
So I'm getting married on September 15th, 2012. When I found out I needed the hip replacement, one of the biggest questions I got was "Are you going to do it before the wedding?"
At first, I wasn't sure. I mean, the whole reason I went to the doctor in the first place was because the pain was starting to make my job difficult. How long did I want to wait? My exhaustive internet searches told me that most people are fully healed from hip surgery in about three months. If I wanted to do it before the wedding, it would have to be no later than June 15th. Could I schedule it that soon?
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to just get it done. Yes, the recovery will be painful, but when it's over, it will be gone. No more subtle *pop* noises accompanied by the sharp pain shooting down my leg. No more limping to my car at the end of the day. No more laying in bed as waves of dull ache travel from my lower back down to my knees and back up again.
But this weekend really brought home one of the main reasons I'm doing it now. I want to dance at my own wedding.
We went up to Lava Hot Springs this weekend for my bachelorette party. On Saturday night we ventured out to the bar, where we all proceeded to drink way too much whiskey. There was a live band playing, a bunch of guys older than my dad playing classic rock and country covers. I so badly wanted to dance. I even tried, during one especially inspiring song, to shake my booty. Only my booty didn't want to shake. Swinging ones hips around in even a vaguely sexy fashion is apparently not a motion approved by my arthritic joint.
I don't want to limp down the aisle on my dad's arm. I don't want to sit out my first dance because I've been on my feet all day and just can't take it anymore.
Financially, having hip surgery AND planning a wedding is ridiculous. Yes, I have insurance, but my deductible is equal to the amount of money we're able to pitch in to the wedding. The responsible thing to do would be to get through the wedding, then focus on surgery.
But I just can't do it. If surgery is going to "fix" the problem, then I want to do it now. And just hope that I'll be able to get rid of the cane by September 15th.
At first, I wasn't sure. I mean, the whole reason I went to the doctor in the first place was because the pain was starting to make my job difficult. How long did I want to wait? My exhaustive internet searches told me that most people are fully healed from hip surgery in about three months. If I wanted to do it before the wedding, it would have to be no later than June 15th. Could I schedule it that soon?
The more I thought about it, the more I wanted to just get it done. Yes, the recovery will be painful, but when it's over, it will be gone. No more subtle *pop* noises accompanied by the sharp pain shooting down my leg. No more limping to my car at the end of the day. No more laying in bed as waves of dull ache travel from my lower back down to my knees and back up again.
But this weekend really brought home one of the main reasons I'm doing it now. I want to dance at my own wedding.
We went up to Lava Hot Springs this weekend for my bachelorette party. On Saturday night we ventured out to the bar, where we all proceeded to drink way too much whiskey. There was a live band playing, a bunch of guys older than my dad playing classic rock and country covers. I so badly wanted to dance. I even tried, during one especially inspiring song, to shake my booty. Only my booty didn't want to shake. Swinging ones hips around in even a vaguely sexy fashion is apparently not a motion approved by my arthritic joint.
I don't want to limp down the aisle on my dad's arm. I don't want to sit out my first dance because I've been on my feet all day and just can't take it anymore.
Financially, having hip surgery AND planning a wedding is ridiculous. Yes, I have insurance, but my deductible is equal to the amount of money we're able to pitch in to the wedding. The responsible thing to do would be to get through the wedding, then focus on surgery.
But I just can't do it. If surgery is going to "fix" the problem, then I want to do it now. And just hope that I'll be able to get rid of the cane by September 15th.
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