10 sleeps since Right THR

Bones, joints and muscles
1

hi guys

Sorry it's been so long. I had the op on 15th and the hip itself has been no problem at all. However the really infuriating thing was that when I was back on the ward, still quite woozy, a nurse just kept on at me saying how I would be in a lot of pain and I really must take some Oxynorm. My notes were full of red pen saying I react badly to opiates!!! they said they could manage the sickness blah blah and I gave in for a quiet life. Idiot! My blood pressure fell through the floor, pulse ox down to 85 and temp up to 38, but that was as nothing compared to the nausea. I have never experienced anything like it. It was relentless.

They kept giving me paracetamol with a small additional dose of codeine (presumably they don't realise that's still an opiate regardless of the dose) - anyway I was on oxygen, not eating, couldn't even make myself sick because I hadn't eaten since Sun night. 

I was awake all night on Wed and decided that I would refuse all medication and try and just let it flush out. I wasn't in much op pain at all. Thursday was awful, they just ignored me (maybe trying to teach me a lesson). When the night staff came on I was in bits. She said she had 3 anti sickness injections we could try and injections would be better as not going systemically and less chance of adverse reaction. The second one finally took the edge off.

Through tears and gritted teeth I had done everything I needed to do for the OT's and Physios by Fri lunchtime and all I said to anyone who came near me on Friday was "I am going home today no matter what". I finally left at 6pm.

Once home, being cared for by my wonderful husband, sleeping (?) in my own bed and eating good food I slowly began to feel better. It was Monday this week before the sickness was almost completely gone - even now I feel it lingering. 

Sooooooo that's my very long story. No problem at all with the hip!!!! Haven't really been able to enjoy not having the grinding pain because of the sickness. Getting the dressing changed is pretty ouchy to say the least and I also have to inject myself every day with anti dvt stuff as I can't take aspirin.

Still got the 36 clips to get out - probably on Monday. Not looking forward to that. Managing inside on one stick, use two if I walk outside to the gate and back.

Sorry this story is so long....................................I'm sure it will have a happy ending. My advice to anyone out there who has an opiate reaction - just say NO! It's so not worth it.

2

I had somewhat the same reaction...I have had previous surgeries but just in and out so probably had morphine but a small dose...this time though it was in drip and they said I should take it every 4 hours so I didn't get to the point of being in severe pain....so I did...well for the next 24 hours I was so nauseous breathing was an effort...finally a new nurse saw me and said we are stopping the morphine now...she tried gravel but I was so far gone she got a script from a doctor to a chemo anti-nauseant which took 5 hours to kick in.....I WILL NEVER ALLOW MYSELF TO GET MORPHINE AGAIN......I realized too late that I did not have any pain also, it was the nurses telling me to stay on top of the pain...next time I will see what pain i'm in and then take ask for something but not morphine....that was the lowest point of my surgery/recovery.....

3

Oh Poor you!!  Several of us wondered why we hadn't heard from you! That explains it!  Can't believe the insensitivity/stupidity of the staff!! Anyway glad to know the hip is doing well! Take care and keep us posted on your progress.  Sounds great, so far, but do be prepared for some discomfort as muscles etc repair. It's normal as I'm finding out 5 weeks post op.  Biggest problem with me is overdoing things because I think I can.  My body tells me I need to rest a bit (usually a couple of days) and then I'm fine again. It is very hilly where I live and yesterday I managed to walk up one particular hill much more easily than I've been able to do for several years! That's progress!  Hope it continues well for you!!

4

Hi

What a trial you have been through.   It is wise to say no to things you know that you are adverse to,......even if its only a little bit

Thats what they told me......KEEP ON TOP OF THE PAIN......DONT PLAY CATCH UP

I refused tramadol.......Tramadol ....a lot of people can take it perfectly OK but me .....it spaces me out so I just said NO.

Previous op {not THR....smashed ankle} they just automatically gave out laxatives....I took a couple then decided everything was OK so I would say I didnt want it. She said but you have to have it, you are written up for it......I dont HAVE to have it......I'm OK and I'll soon let you know if I need them.She tried to give them to me and I said no......she then stood over me.....I said I'll take it if that gets rid of you but I'll keep it under my tongue and spit it out when you gocheesygrin

Who do they think they are.

Thats great that you are home......best place to be after a few days......and that your husband is looking after you.....Mine was greatbiggrin

I didnt sleep during the 6 weeks on my back but it goes over. I wasnt offered aspirin......just the injections that I had to do.

Getting the staples out is OK....its the thought of it more than them coming out or it was in my casewink

Take care

Love

Eileen 

5

Hey Bordersgirl, so good to hear from you, wondered what was up ! Really bad news about the morphine can they not read ??? Glad you're home, you will get better much more quickly now. I have only 19 sleeps to go now, I go in for pre op ass on Tuesday 30th and then hip school the week after. It can't come quickly enough ! The surgeon phoned last week and said if this one goes fine I will have the left one done on the 9th  of December so hopefully going in to the new year with two new hips. So pleased to hear from you, keep us all posted with your progress. Take care love  Maggie xxxxxx

6

You have been through a very tuff time.Thirty staples.!!

Hopefully the rest of your healing will go much better.smile

7

Hi I had very similar situation with THR am allergic to stemetil and always sick from anesthesia. Was not sick from anesthesia after THR but kept giving me oxynorm. Then was so sick couldn't keep anything down. Was then given cyclocine and had a bad reaction like a stroke lost power in left side fir a couple of hours. And was still vomiting left hospital day 8 refused to take anything other than paracetamol. So barely did any physio. Just begged to get out.takes a little while for stomach to settle. Was given some high cal protein drink and that helped. Just don't know why nurses don't listen .good luck with the recovery Lara x

8

So sorry you had such a bad experience. Ironically, I had 2 thr. It was hell getting my prescribed pain meds. I'm not a pussy, but I REALLY needed and wanted my meds. At first, I was on a morphine drip..fine, but when I fell asleep I did not press the button. Result? Hideous pain.

You sound very fortunate. Good luck!

9

Oh you are so right .

I tell them no Vicodin.  Makes me feel terrible for tell days.

I opt for 5mgs percocet to just nudge the pain back to tolerable.

I have the up the colace for constipation to 2 pills (200mg) twice a day.  I remember all too well the time I had trying to do the business on the raised toilet.  Not Fun!

You have to speak up for yourself that's for sure.

10

Oh dear, poor you. It sounds very similar in many ways to my experience. B/P VERY low, oxygen sats 80, temp up, sick. I fainted the day after my op due to low B/P. I did not know that I had a problem with opiates until this time. Was a horrible experience and I wil definitely refuse them if I ever need to have surgery again. The difference in my case was that the staff were very good and helpful during that period. The clips are not a problem. I also had 30+and did not feel a thing. 

11

Your incision must be pretty long.

I didn't have any outside clips or sutures. Os fix it all on the inside. So notHing to come out. 

Other surgeries I did have staples. The just caused Me to itch,but didn't hurt to come out.

Although felt better when they did

12

Sorry you had such a problem. Why dont health staff believe you know your own body better than they do?!

But at least you are home and recovering now, and feeling better.

Good luck with the clips coming out, sounds like others have had no problems with these, so here;s hoping you won't either.

13

hi bordersgirl

i have been in two different  hospitals for 2 hip ops one for revision im 4 month post op with no sign of pain going but must amit i do not belive in.                      been forced to take any tablets unless you have pain

the only time this apply's if your life depends on taking them in your case it didn't when i had mine done i was only too glad i was offered them and still on them now but as for you no one takes pain killers when they do not have any pain this can somtimes cause pain unesseseray.

a DR will write you up some pain killers if needed but not to be forced like you was i deffinatly disagree you shouldnt have been forced you should have  told the staff nurse or a sister in charge or the DR what they were doing to you

This is a standard procedure  in case there is no doctor available if you did want any also for when you are discharged then its up to you when you get home if you want what the hospital either send you home wth and let your own DR if you need any of what they have percribed or none at all

 the nurse can ask you,but its up to you to refuse you should have told them its ok i do not need them as yet but i will let you know if i do.

one thing that i don't agree with is standing over you till you took them ive only known this if its an old person that as dementia or ppl that needs suppervision

ive been in lots of different hospital's never once been made to take them i would have flatly refused to take rigardless of what they thought of me they should have been more than happy you saving the NHS money if in the UK  you                      only take pain killers when in pain the stupid idiots ive heard it all now lol  you were very lucky you wasen't they take it every one as a certain amount of pain you should write a review on there website and let every one that is going into that hospital be made  aware of this ward you are helping other patients if they encouter the same problem.

reviews go back to the Pals deptment they will contact you from the site to conntact them tell them you was made to take tablets that you didnt want because you did not need them and distress  what they caused you unessersary.

 Whitch hospital was this by the way it sounds  it was more like a terrible nursing home or a phyciatric ward do not let them get away with this as you are helping other patients to be aware of what happened to you unessasery. you are out now you speak out

 this is why they write there about there  experience you dont have to put your real name use annoymous name they still connect you via the site they don't want a bad reputation

also i had well over 40 clips in mine my scar is 12 inch long they stopped counting after 40 is was my biggest fear as i still had a lot of pain from the hip down to my knee only because mine was a complicated op but as you are free            from pain then this should be a dodle it dosent hurt i had another nurse in with me to occupy my mind it only took a few mins.

she really took my mind of it .keep us posted and you write that review and hope it say's pain free for you.

Christine

 

14

hi eileen

can i ask you are you on warfrin only reason i ask you the injection you have is heprin to stop you getting blood clots also was you on Asprin before your op??? they should have checked your blood three days after the op only if you was taking warfrin before the op as i am                    then they take you of the Asprin and put you back on the warfrin besides the Heprin i was on both wafrin and them horrible heprin injection's but i was on wafrin and Asprin before i went in for my op but they wouldn't put me back on it but my DR as now im home

you sound like i am i told them i couldn't take Tramadol what did she do tryed giving me i told her im allergic she was addiment i take it i was addiment i wasent and showed her how addiment i was  i chucked it in the bin infront of the nurse told her read my notes before giving me something im allergic to she never spoke to me all the 10 days i was in but it sunk in i have to speak my mind too .

christine

15

Hi Christine

No I'm not on warfrin and never have been.

I didnt get aspirin either Just the Heparin injections ........I knew what they were for and it was important that I administer them because I wasn't overly mobile at the beginning.

It annoys me the way nurses say you must have this, you are written up for it etc. As you say .....an older person or one with problems yes thats understandable but someone in their right mind that says I cant have that because it spaces me out or whatever they should pay attention and check on it.

I was in having a day procedure last week.....aspiration of the hip to check for any infection there......the surgeon was doing it, the nurse asked me {not the best time} "are you allergic to anything?" I said not allergic but tramadol is contra-indicated to  another tablet I take and di hydrocodeine spaces me out completely.  While he was doing the op the surgeon {he's lovely} said dont forget the tramadolbiggrin so he remembered that even while he was doing this aspiration

Love

Eileen

16

Hey Bordersgirl, only 12 sleeps to go now for me ! Had pre op ass on Tuesday just passed and I have hip school this coming Tuesday. ( what do they actually do at hip school ??? ) I'm not sure if they want me in the morning of the op ( tues 14th ) or the night before, they haven't said yet. I'm dreading this and looking forward to it at the same time ,!! Does that make any sense !!! If this first one is successful, I am provisionally booked in to get the left one done on the 9th December. Hope all goes ok so I can have them both over and done with. I think the waiting is one of the worst parts. Unlike you I have never had any problems with opiates, so hopefully recovery will go quite smoothly ! I fully intend to be out on the afternoon of the 16th if poss.  Hope you are feeling a lot better now and are well on the mend. Lots of love  Maggie xxxxxx

17

Hi Maggie

I keep coming across the terms I dont know of biggrinI'm going to ask from now on "hip school"?? I look forward to someones reply so I can find out what it is.

We {UK} have pre-assess. then the only oter thing we have is what is called "group physiotherpy".We dont actually do any physio but they talk us through the op, tell us what we should and shouldnt do beforehand and post op as well.

Oh nearly forgot.......a lot of hospitals have mock kitchens and bathrooms and they take you through those,, show you all the equipment they can lend you and how to use it.....eg bath board.....how to get in and out of the bath at the beginning....things like that

Love

Eileen

18

Hi Maggie, great - one more thing ticked off the list for you. Hip school simply consists of the Occupational Therapist talking through the do's and don'ts from a practical point for you. Have you to take measurements of your bed/loo/chair etc? so that they can order you any devices that they will deliver prior to you coming home? I got two raised toilet seat/frames and a perching stool (which is more useful than it sounds!). When you leave hospital they give you (to keep) a long handled shoe horn and a "helping hand". I have also found that a bent wire coat hanger is almost better than the helping hand for getting dressed! At Hip School the Physio will also have input re exercises etc. It's all pretty straightforward and I'm surprised how much I took in/remembered but my hubby came with me as two sets of ears are better than one. The danger comes when feeling much more able (as now) and I go to do something automatically. 

I totally understand the combination of dread and anticipation you feel! It's weird but very normal I think. The waiting is definitely the worst. I know you wanted them both done at once and I agreed with you but now looking back, I think it would have been incredibly difficult to cope with two. I have a very helpful and supportive husband and I made sure I had no responsibilities for the first 6 weeks and I think it would have been really really complex and challenging to have both done. Anyway, one at a time - you'll be fine. 

I found the initial days quite busy, between exercises, visits from District Nurses, and the fact that everything takes 2-3 times as long to do!!!! Getting a bit of cabin fever now as we live in a very rural location at the end of a bumpy farm track with one neighbour and no passers by. Hubby is suggesting that we go into Berwick today for a coffee. Stupidly excited!!!

I got the clips (they are actually staples) out on Monday, some were a bit nippy but all out and much better for it, last dressing came off on Wednesday. Can't bring myself to look at the scar but everyone says it's lovely (????) i.e straight and clean looking I suppose. 

Are you having a spinal? Who is your surgeon? Please ask any other questions you think of, no matter how small - I'd be happy to answer them if I can. Not long to go now so just make sure everything in the house is as ready as it can be for you coming home. Enjoy sleeping on your side for the last 11 times for a long time! Love Judith xxxxx

19

Hi

Once your dressing is off the wound...I assume it is now ....you should start putting bio oil on it every day.Helps keep it smooth and it heals better.

I got the cheaper bio oil {superdrug} not sure the exact name but it worked just as well and some people say baby oil...never tried that.

I know now what hip school is but never heard that term before this forumbiggrin I went to Group therapy then onto a mock kitchen/bathroom with the OT but just the same thing.

Hope you enjoy your coffee in Berwick today.....I couldnt wait to get out.....My husband was taking me for coffee most days at the beginningbiggrin I love Berwick

Take care

Love Eileen

20

Hey Judith, great to hear you are doing so well now after a pretty miserable start.  I have no problem at all with any opiates, in fact when I was in the borders 7 or 8 years ago with pneumonia and fluid on the right lung they gave me oxynorm and I had no probs with it or the morphine straight in to the vein, so that's one thing I don't have to worry about !! They gave me a list of things to measure and take in to hip school on Tuesday. I sat and watched the full posterior THR on you tube !! I'm not sure how wise that was, but at least I understand where all the bruising comes from !! They are not exactly gentle but hey dislocation was never gonna be fun. My surgeon is Mr Sidiqui and he sees really lovely, he even took time out of his busy day to give me a call when I was concerned. I was very impressed he didn't just get one of his underlings to do it. He has decided if this first one goes well he has pencilled me in for the second one on 9th of December, so hopefully by new year I will be bionic !!  You say you live near Berwick, I am on a farm about 5 miles from Coldstream so we are probably quite close. I spoke to the nurse and doc when I had my pre op ass last Tuesday and they have both said I can start taking arnica tablets at once and the use cream once wound is healed. I tend to heal very quickly so my worst fear is getting stitches/staples out. Every other time I have had them the skin has been healed over and the have had to cut the skin!! I have warned them all of this but whether they actually pay attention we will have to wait and see.  So glad you're doing so much better now, just listen to your body and try not to overdo things. Difficult I know !! Keep up the good work and hope to hear from you soon. I have found this site to be a real lifesaver. Take care love Maggie xxxxx