still waiting/ getting me down

nearlybionic

Hi
I was really hoping to have received the letter from the consultant by today, as I have a GP appointment and i wanted to discuss the hip restrictions with her. BUt the postman has been and gone and no letter, again. Although this letter may spell bad news for me, I do need to know so I can move forward, or try to.
I`m sorry to keep going on about this, I`m even boring myself! :roll:
The sec said the letter would be typed Friday, signed by consultant on Monday, so I really thought I would have it by now. I have tried to ring but just get the machine, on which I have left another message.
My poor GP is going to get it all tonight !!
NB

frogmorton

Hi Nearly

Oh dear

I can't beleive you are still waiting and still in limbo....maybe your GP will have some ideas?

You must be feeling totally frustrated I know I would be :x

I know I can't help but I do sympathise

Love

Toni xx

dreamdaisy

This is frustrating for you, of that I am sure, but I hope your poor GP doesn't bear the brunt of it - it's the hospital at fault. How about giving him/her the abridged version of your saga and asking them to ring? Doctor to doctor might have the desired result! DD

nearlybionic

Hi
I have just rung the sec again and she said the letter is ready but not signed. I said , I don`t care if its not signed could she either email it to me or get a copy to GP in time for my appointment this afternoon. She said she will fax a copy to GP surgery, so I hopeit happens in time!!
I won`t take it out on the GP, its not her fault!!
NB

penfactor

Hi, hon
Hope it is good news but us hippies are all here for you if its not the best. You still really need to see that elusive consultant though, don't you to really grill him properly!
I've been much more careful too with mine since so many of us had had these dislocations so I am interested to hear what he says too
love Pennie X

whalewatcher

Hi NB

I can imagine how frustrating this is waiting for news but don't let it get you down. The NHS is a bit of an old dinosaur that plods along slowly. 'Typed by Friday, signed by Monday' is probably a bit optimistic for it.
I hope your GP is understanding tonight & I hope the news is good when you do eventually get it.

Val

nearlybionic

Hi
I have seen my GP and the letter had been faxed. It confirms my fears, that the restrictions eg no low seats, no kneeling, no bending to reach/pick something up, no sitting on floor etc... are for life. He has discussed my job and acknowledges the effect these restrictions will have and said if my employers needed further information to contact his sec. Although I knew it was coming, I cried. My Gp said, could you retrain to do something else ,say like a teacher? I have worked for the NHS for 20+ yrs, so want to stay. She said she would sign me off until I was ready to return to work , and felt I had enough information to speak to work.
I have decided to still wait until I see my other hip surgeon (for other hip) at end of month and ask his opinion beofre I tell work, just in case. But my GP thinks the advice will probably be the same.
I have driven today for 1st time since dislocation. I managed but it was uncomfortable and my thigh hurts now and groin.
Sorry it is a bit rambly!!

NB

dorcas

Oh NB that's really tough news.... I'm so sorry.

You have every right to feel upset about this NB and certainly should take some time to consider and gather all the information for yourself before involving anyone at work.

I do hope that when you see the surgeon about your other hip that he can offer you further advice and some reassurance. Meantime perhaps continuing off sick is the only realistic option?

Please also remember to post on Working Matters as you can get a lot of advice there about work-based issues.

thinking of you...

Iris xxxx

nearlybionic

Thanks Iris xxxx
NB

marion1952

Sorry to hear this news NB.. that's a blow..

Take you time to think through things.. good idea to talk it over with the other surgeon before saying anything to work..

Marion x

hileena111

Hi NB
Just got in and am checking posts. I'm so sorry to hear that the restrictions you were given are to stay in place.
How will you be able to work at all? If the 90 deg rule applies that means not even sitting on an ordinary height chair and bending forward to pick up a cup of coffee, {one of the things that grieved me so much }
Are the restrictions exactly the same as the 6 week ones or are they slightly different? What about sleeping on your back?
Sorry for all the questions but having gone through it {only 6 weeks} and due sometime soon when they sort my back out to go through it again I can imagine how it must feel to be told that
Take care pet
Love
Hileena

nearlybionic

Hi Hileena
I am not sure what will happen about work. This is a worry. I have a specially fitted chair in my office at work which is correct height and my desk has been assessed re height etc.. But it is the visits, clinics (no good height chairs there) drawers/file storage etc.. we don`t even have a disabled toilet at my work base which would be at correct height.
There is a lot to consider, but I don`t want to give up. I am not saying anything to work until I have seen my other surgeon,for my other hip, and ask his opinion. If it is the same opinion, then I will have to deal with it then.
I was upset last night , but today think there is a lot worse thing that people have to deal with so gave myself a good talking to!!
It is hard to not say anything to work as some people are messaging on facebook to see how I am and when I am back!
Hope you are doing ok Hileena and you see the `back` doc soon
NB

hileena111

Hi NB
You have a good right to feel mixed up etc....I know there are people worse off than us but when you are in pain and facing decisions like you are having to it doesnt help
Anyway...glad you dont want to give up if at all poss. Lets see what the other one says.
Love
Hileena

salamander

hi NB, It must be a blow to be given all those restrictions. When you've had a chance to digest the news I hope you can start to find a way through it all. Surely they can put a disabled toilet at your work base? Can they not even put one of those plastic raised seats that you can put on top of an ordinary loo as an interim measure? They could put one in the clinic loo as well surely? Aren't employers obliged to do everything they can to help you stay at work. It must seem like a mountain to climb at the moment.
love S

penfactor

Hi, hon
I'm so sorry the letter was not good news but definitely wait for a proper appointment to clarify the exact position.
As you may remember, I was devastated when my op went wrong & I've been left so lop-sided. Unfortunately, in my work adaptions were impossible & I just had to leave after 10 years there. It sounds, though as if in your work there may be a much greater chance of them helping so try to keep your chin up for now.
love Pennie X

c4thyg

NB, I'm so sorry to hear your news. Don't worry about where you are on the sliding scale of severity. I know there are still ppl worse off but then, there's no pain like your own pain.

Take it easy for a bit and let the news sink in fully. Your other Dr might have some more practical suggestions for you before you speak to work about it. Can you speak to OT before you speak to work? Your manager will be more helpful if you can go in with some solutions as well.

I hope you get the support you need. xx

barbara12

Hi NB
I am so sorry that your news wasn't good,I hope that when you see your consultant for your other hip,he will be able to review it for you, and hopefully be able to help.
I will have everything crossed for you
Good Luck with work.
Love
Barbara xx

ikesother

Hi NB, thanks for your pm putting me in picture :shock: I think you're doing the right thing as regards work, until you see the other doctor,he can give you the facts, but its you who has to live with the restrictions. It is so unfair, there doesn't seem an easy answer. I always thought hips disclocated when doing something silly like skydiving etc, not putting ironing away! I hope you get your appt soon, the docs dont seem to realise what its like to be limbo, I remember what it was like when I had 2 operations cancelled and had to wait like forever for another date.
Hope you have a nice weekend, thinking of you, jk

frogmorton

Hi Nearly

I am so sorry you got the bad news you were expecting.

I do feel it is wise though with what happened before.

Now you know you can start to talk and think and work out what to do - you see the surgeon about the other hip soon don't you and his input has to be taken into account.

I do hope you are ok today

Love

Toni xx

nearlybionic

Hi Janice
I am trying not to worry too much about it until I see the other consultant and will see what he says before I speak to work. My hip and back are not good today and I have had too give my apologies for a family function today as the journey in the car would be too long and uncomfortable.
Hope you have a good weekend xx
Hi Toni
I agree that although I am still disappointed that I have been told the restrictions are for life, it is probably safer. I obviously do not want to EVER have that awful experince again!! :shock: It will just take a bit of time to come to terms with, as did the dislocation.
Thanks for your support xx
NB[/code]

denpen

Hi NB
Well thats all your worst fears in writing, of course its hard to come to terms with, at your age you dont want to have all those restrictions on you, I can understand why they have them I can feel my hip when I sit on a low chair, bending over to pick things up I still have to stretch my leg out behind me, and getting down onto the floor well thats a real pantomine getting back up again.
Its a shame you have gone 18 months trying to get back to be able to do things again and then the dislocation, its got to be hard to come to terms with I am sure we would all feel the same.
As for work I think you are right not to say anything just yet take your time to get your head around it yourself, hopefully there will be something that they can sort out for you when you do tell them.
Take Care
Denise