Thursday, January 23, 2014

So now it REALLY gets real. I'm getting to the last few items I need to complete at work so that I can feel like my hand-off to my co-workers is at least somewhat coherent.

For a while now I've had my right hip do a weird thing whenever I sit too low or put on my shoes or socks and have to bend my hip higher. My hip gets sort of 'stuck'. When I try to straighten it out, its like something is in the way or a tendon has 'caught' on something. I cannot straighten the leg without a painful 'pop' feeling (not sound) like whatever it is popping back into place and then everything's back to normal.

Yesterday I had that happen and it wouldn't go back! Yikes! Eventually it did. It requires hyperextending my leg backward and twisting my foot in a certain position and then it clicks into place. For a minute or so I thought it wasn't going to go back!

The point is that it's yet another sign that this NEEDS TO BE TAKEN CARE OF and I am able to, with this as further evidence, convince myself that this is indeed a good idea.

That's today's news.  And I wait. Constantly wondering how my friend-in-ADDBTHR @Freaky freak is doing because I sort of fell like she's the one who's doing exactly what I'm going to be doing. Here's to you, freaky! :)

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

So I had a 1.5-hour meeting with a nurse today who gave me the run-down on what to expect. No surprises because of all that I read on this forum. Nice. Thanks, Bonesmart!
I did leave there with a great deal more stress than I went in with just because of all the detailed medical history questions. 
A nice dinner our and a glass (OK, two. OK, they were big) of wine and im fine now. 
The DW is taking care of making sure I have an 'assistant' 24/7 fire the first week (sounds luxurious!).
Now... T-7 days.
T-1 week. 

I'm feeling some stress as today I have my pre-op consultation where I presume they'll tell me the details of how it'll go (anyone familiar with this one-week-prior-to-procedure meeting with the nursing staff?).
I've got my list of questions ready to go. The DW is going with me so that I don't forget anything afterward. 

Feeling a little bit like there must be more for me to do in this last week. I have not yet procured 'gear' that I may need or completely trip-proofed the house, but that's going down this week. Not too worried about that.

Also VERY excited for my online friend @Freaky freak as she goes in today for the same procedure that I'm having (a relatively uncommon Direct Anterior Approach Bilateral THR). Her last post (in her thread "I Have my Date!"), saying that she was feeling calm and optimistic, gives me hope that in a week I might be able to harness a little calm and optimism. ;)

I wonder if my THR-Date-Sharing online buddy @shrinkette is feeling the same way.

Sunday, January 19, 2014

Update:
Yesterday my DW, a couple friends and I took our 8-month-old puppy Indiana to a sheep farm to have the experience of herding sheep. He LOVED it (he's got some Australian Shepherd and some Border Collie in him). 
It was ah hours- long road trip which we stayed overnight for and during which there were places we went where we had to walk a bit (a few hundred yards at most) and I got in an arena with our pup and a couple sheep. The sheep were bumping into me a bit and it hurt the hips pretty considerably, but I wasn't going to let that stop me from enjoying this experience! Once Indie got comfortable he was chasing ewes like a champion!
This morning, at the end of this 2-day whirlwind road trip with its compulsory walking and its herding session, I found that my hips were really sore. Walking, standing, whatever.
Today, my beloved Seahawks will play the 49ers for the NFC title and a trip to the Super Bowl. I'm going to take the day chillin' in my bigass recliner hopped up on Tylenol and relaxing (as much as I can "relax" when the 'Hawks are playing!).
I'm looking forward to the post-recovery SALE of this recliner and the opportunity to have a similar relaxing day withOUT tylenol.
Every day I'm reminded that the decision to have this BTHR now is a good and necessary one.
T-9.

Go 'Hawks!

Friday, January 17, 2014

I have got all my pre-op checks out of the way: blood is good, EKG is good, I presume MRSA is good because I have not heard back in 5 days and you'd think they'd tell me if it weren't.

Now: T-11 days.

Thursday, January 16, 2014

Another day down. This was a bad one. Not enough Tylenol I think. Anyway it's funny: I keep (yes again, yes, still) second guessing myself and wondering if my regularly increasing pain is just some kind of psychosematic justification for the BTHR. Like: is this really happening or is my mind filling is gaps of logic by causing pain when it wouldn't be if I hadn't scheduled surgery.
Does that even make any sense? 
On top of that (or surrounding it, or under it. ..) is a childish excitement to have this OVER.

TODAY IS T-12 DAYS. 

I can't wait. I'm scared. I'm hopeful. 
I'd like to start a list of things I'll do BECAUSE I CAN later, post - surgery. Is that nuts? 
I'm also worried that my DW will resent me for having her take care of me during recovery. I'm afraid I'll be perceived as if I'm milking the scenario. OK... is THAT crazy? 
Enough BS (pun intended) for tonight. Tomorrow is another day.

Tuesday, January 14, 2014

Not a bad day so far. I do notice that STAIRS are becoming a bit more daunting and my regular regimen of TYLENOL is becoming essential.
Two weeks from today cannot come soon enough.