Struggling now.....

anijen

Suffering from an arthritic hip. I've received a pre-op appointment, so should now have the long-awaited THR within the next couple of months. However the pain has become so much worse lately and keeping me awake at night - I am so tired and seem unable to struggle to keep going any longer - just want to lie down all day. I don't know if this is real or psychological as there's now light at the end of the tunnel - or is it the weather? Has anyone else experienced this sudden intense fatigue?

Fran54

Hi @anijen

I know the last couple of weeks before I had my THR I felt tired and as if all my energy had gone. I could just about manage to do basic household chores in between resting and walk round the supermarket to do any shopping. I think it is psychological as for me once I had had my pre-assessment then waiting to have final blood test it did help me to feel more positive and energised me into sorting things out at home for when I had my new hip.

Saying that, the weather can also influence how you feel. I found my symptoms worsened when it was cold and wet and improved once the weather warmed up.

I hope your pre-assessment goes well. Please let us know how you get on.

Take care.🙂

KC1

https://community.versusarthritis.org/discussion/63190/struggling-now

hi it’s good news that you’re so much closer to your operation but sounds like sleep is a real problem. Lack of sleep won’t be helping with feelings of extreme tiredness. Be very kind to yourself, rest as much as you need to, exercise sensibly (lots of tips on this site, follow what your physio suggested at pre-assessment). If you’re up to it think about what you’re looking forward to post op recovery. Maybe write it down so you have something to really look forward to. Take care

Naomi33

Sorry to hear struggling

Lack of sleep major problem for me to

I have noticed a change with the weather but as you say maybe phsycological

Best wishes @Naomi33

anijen

Thanks so much for coming back on this one. Sounds as though it could be psychological now that the end to the struggle is in sight - just giving in to the pain now. On the other hand, I've always thought that weather changes could have an impact - as I sit here watching the rain pouring down the windows! Accu Weather has an arthritis pain forecast on its platform - yesterday it was "very high", and I agreed with that!

I have an appointment with the surgeon tomorrow, so think I'll feel more positive then, going forward. My mantra is 'not long now'.

Good luck to anyone else at this stage 🥰

MaryL44

Hi @anijen Hope your appointment with the surgeon goes well. I'm sure now that progress is being made you'll start to feel better.

Don't know if you've seen this on our website but it may be worth a read. It's not specifically aimed at pre-op appointments with a surgeon but there may be some ideas for you.

https://www.versusarthritis.org/news/2023/june/how-can-i-prepare-for-a-doctor-s-appointment-if-i-have-arthritis/

Mary

Fran54

@anijen

Good Luck with your appointment tomorrow. If you have any questions it may be worth writing them down as I I know by experience it's easy to forget something that may be troubling you.

Hope that you will not have much longer to wait for your op. and remember to keep positive.🙂

KC1

@anijen i hope all goes well today. Write your questions down and, most importantly, the answers you’re given. Take time to reflect and prepare as best you can. As you’ll have seen from various diaries and comments on the site ‘hippies’ usually wish they’d had the op sooner. Maybe take a look at a few diaries @BJG , @Nurina , @Trish9556 , @alwayssewing plus follow links and others stories from there.

Any questions - you know where we are!

Trish9556

Hi @anijen

I hardly slept at all prior to my hip replacement and for about a year I survived on very little at all. I tried using pillows between my legs, taking my last dose of painkillers just before I went to bed but invariably I was usually wide awake before 1 a.m. Pottering about does ease the stiffness.

What I used to do was just get up, come downstairs, make a mug of hot chocolate, put my headphones on with Classic FM and do a jigsaw for a bit. Jigsaws are a huge help when I'm ill, they relax me and take my mind off of my pain. They're not for everyone but they do work. After about half an hour I could normally then just get comfortable on the sofa and dose for a couple of hours listening to the soothing music on my headphones. Don't sit on your phone and play games though!

I always try not to sleep during the day, even now, but it's hard. I think missing out of so much sleep means I have a lot to catch up on but at least now I usually sleep through until about 5 at the earliest.

Good luck, give me a shout if you need anything

Trish xx

Janlyn

@anijen Oh, I do sympathise. I'm almost nine months post op and I am sleeping properly now most of the time but I remember how much harder life was and how much pain I had without sleep. Thank goodness you haven't long to wait now. Of course, the weather could be affecting you too but you've enough on anyway, so fingers crossed you won't have to wait much longer.

Take care.

anijen

Thank you for all the lovely and sympathetic comments - there is so much kindness out there. I have a small but very supportive family nearby, but the last thing I want is to appear a burden on them.

Feeling more positive now that the preliminaries are done and consent form signed, so just waiting for a date with anticipation and a little trepidation

Trish I agree about Classic FM, especially soothing in the couple of hours around midnight. Hadn't thought of jigsaws - I do have a couple of hard ones somewhere that I've never had time to do - will be a good idea for the post-op period!

susy123

Hi hope everything works out for you. When the weather changes it seems to be worst. Take care.