Dental treatment near to THR surgery date.

Nocturne

Hi, back again after just giving in and resting yesterday. Sorry to hear about your other health issues and I guess for most of us THR occurs in a background of other health challenges so we work on our own way through. You mention a journey but not sure whether you drove yourself, also letting others wait on us. I'm on my own which is fine, I'm used to it, have support of family and friends by email but having recently moved (which was absolutely the right decision) and being socially restricted due to walking/driving pain there's no-one to do any physical waiting on me! Having ME means I always have food and essential supplies so am well organised and have recovered from 2 previous major surgeries on my own. I have a new neighbour's phone no. in case of emergency so have everything I need. No physio yesterday so have just done one set today, want to do better but am being kind also! Take care

Wobblylegs

@Nocturne absolutely right, everyone has there own crosses to bear and we all bring other stuff to the feast. I was trying to point out that my progress is very slow because of those issues. My hip is great now, 12 weeks yesterday it’s just the other stuff slowing me down. I’m sorry about your ME as that must really slow you at times. The journey I mentioned - I was driven by my OH, I haven’t ventured to drive far yet at all. He likes to drive so I tend to leave it to him most of the time. I’m very lucky to have him as he’s very good at doing most things and thankfully still healthy.
When I read back my message to you I realised I was feeling sorry for myself but I’m much better today. There’s ups and downs to this process.
I’m glad you gave yourself a day off, it won’t have held you back. How are you doing now? I’m hoping you’re feeling better and making some progress. Are you sleeping better?

Nocturne

Our medical system divides us into parts but our reality is a whole. I think context is important, and it was helpful to hear about your other conditions. I had no impression of you feeling sorry for yourself and even if you were, go ahead this is a good place! I hope you've had a good day. A reasonable day for me after a weird night, my sleep sandwich (see earlier post)) went a bit awry and woke up in a massive sweat. Been having surges of intense heat but completely dry, this was like being thrust back to menopause! So 2 days after putting clean sheets on, had to repeat - time and energy consuming as you can imagine, frustrating! The amount of bruising and swelling has taken me by surprise, I can only get into one pair of pumps so am keeping those for inside and ordered some online so can hopefully get walking outside a bit. Did a short walk day after arrived home while could still get shoes on and intended to increase every day.

Wobblylegs

Sounds like you're doing really well. My leg and feet were swollen at your stage plus the bruising down to my ankle in fact I wore slipper socks for the first 2 weeks. My first venture outside was week 3 so very well done. I also had issues with sleep and sweating and my op was in February hardly warm weather. Be careful with the bed making that's difficult at this point I couldn't have done that.

I saw my osteopath yesterday who pointed out that the exercises the hospital physio had given me didn't take into account my other conditions. So I've been causing myself some issues doing them, hence the feeling of lack of progress. Some of my leg pain was coming from my back!.

I've had a better day today too as I started some better exercises. So you take care, I think your doing really great. Write anytime, this is the place for it.

Nocturne

That's what I mean about specialists not seeing us as a whole. That seems to have caused you extra and unnecessary pain. Hopefully you'll get more comfortable now. For me, positive is that I can now sleep slightly turned on my side for the bed part of the sandwich, which is helpful. Negative is that there's been a lot of noise outside my flat door today, then later people talking in the garden, couldn't rest and really hope this won't continue till October, as my last place was very quiet. Up to 5 reps x 2 sessions of physio so that's good. Leg feels a bit less tight also.

Wobblylegs

Wow @Nocturne I’m very impressed with your progress, I can, only this week , finally sleep on my unoperated side. The operated side still feels bruised when I try to lie on it. You are doing so very well. I’m so glad your leg feels less tight, the swelling is obviously going down. Sorry you’re tolerating a noisy flat. We are very lucky in that we live out in the countryside in Shropshire and we have a bungalow.
Yes, you’re so right about the whole body thing as it seems my change in gait since the op will be causing my back to grumble and that may take time for it to get used to the new way of walking slowly over the next few months.

Keep up that physio you really are doing well.

Nocturne

A good day for me, reps up to 6 and walked into park. Sleep quite good. Flat quiet today - yes I too was in a rural bungalow before here, very quiet but too isolated for me as I get less able to drive, and too big to manage. Hope your day has been good too.

Wobblylegs

That's amazing walking so far, well done.

My day has been good with the hip so I took a walk in the park too, but a painful flair of spinal stenosis still lingering. Life will be better, keep going

Nocturne

Hope the new exercises ease that back pain for you. Seem to have overdone yesterday though felt fine at the time, hip sore and leg very swollen. Taken things easy today. Dressing due to come off tomorrow, will contact Drs if not heard from anyone by pm, and take opportunity to ask if swelling is ok.

Wobblylegs

@Nocturne good luck today, it's so easy to over do it, we've all done it.

Nocturne

Well that was interesting. Bit stressful but reassuringly clear procedures to follow on what to do re symptoms. Just returned from 8 hrs in A & E and night on Acute ward. Still heard nothing from District nurses re dressing removal, meanwhile yesterday leg swelled so alarmingly I rang surgical helpline, referred to 111, told to get to A & E immediately. Told no ambulances available so got taxi. Grabbed medical notes and Kindle but nothing else so when battery ran out spent rest of night and today with absolutely nothing to read or distract, no sleep on A & E chair then noisy ward, no overnight stuff. Used to keep emergency bag packed, let it lapse, now making one up again so I'm not caught out like that again! All symptoms pointed to blood clot but didn't show up on scan so they were a bit baffled. Returning for scan next week. Hope things have been a bit quieter than that for you last couple of days!

Wobblylegs

Oh my goodness @Nocturne what a dreadful experience, you must have been so worried. I'm glad they got it all sorted out for you though. Has the swelling gone down now? Maybe contact the nurses and ask about the dressing it needs to come off.

I've had a good couple of days thanks as I've just stopped putting pressure on myself. My hip is great, I've just got to get the leg muscles to behave but that will come with time. Hope you're feeling better soon.

Nocturne

Hi Wobblylegs, hope your good days continued and you can enjoy some fresh air in this weather. District nurse removed my dressing today and all is fine, she also spent a lot of time checking general health and looking at swollen leg. It's still extremely swollen and painful but she assured me that even if second scan next week showed no blood clot some kind of treatment plan would be made. Not sure if I mentioned that operation was 2.5 hour journey as back in area I used to live, trip to hospital this week was local. I've been busy today making sure my surgeon and local doctor know what's going on, have had many instances of one part of NHS not in touch with others so am trying to join up the dots myself. Feel disappointed not to be able to get outside as spring and autumn are my times for going out, summer is too hot and bright sunlight (ME symptoms include poor temperature control and light sensitivity). Btw, lost another filling in hospital! And the food in both hospitals was really enjoyable, can't blame that!