Pre Op Checks

well have organised my pre op checks made Dentist appointment, had bloods done, went to see cardiologist this morning, after doing blood pressure on both ankles and arms, sat up and laid down he then did ECG on stomach chest and back!! he then said right we need to do a stress test!! do have to go to hospital and have some substance put into my veins to get my heart to beat faster while he does an ECG the some more to stop it beating fast, i am not looking forward to this...I asked if i could do the bike he said no because of my hip would not be able to do it long enough....has anyone had this done please??

these flipin i pads. and spell checks. suppose to say the same again to stop it beating fast.   Sorry

Seems a bit of overkill but maybe they are just being thorough!!  I was with you up to the ECG.  but that was enough for my pre op and everything was fine! Did they find something of concern with the normal ECG?

No never had that done when I had my hip op and my blood pressure was very high when I had my pre op check 

no he said everything was ok.. blood pressure wad 140/80 so not bad,

it just doesnt sound nice, i always have funny doos when i have things like that done, i thought it was ott, having to go to the dentist as well, maybe thats what they do over here. how are you chris ?

It's best you see dentist as you won't be able to get your teeth done for some time after op as it's about picking up a infection and if you do you have to take antibiotics 

If you put teeth after hip op in google it will tell you I think 

thanks Beryl.  i dont mind the teeth its the drug induced stress test i am worried about, just googled it it sounds not nice, do a bit scared of that, hip op doesnt sound as bad.  Do I have to have this done, how did they fo your stress test?

Hi Lynn..don't know whats happening...have tried 3 times to send..

I'm fine, thanks...got 2 more weeks off work. Able to do an hour round the shops without crutches or support...have to get our priorities right!

Still a bit stiff after walking a lot and after sitting a while but otherwise OK. Physio exerises are hard now...I have a rubber band thing to use! When are you off to USA?

I did not have one so don't know what that for but if I had one it would have shot out the roof 

I had both hips replaced 10 months apart, 2 different surgery approaches.  I am now 6 weeks post after the 2nd surgery.  Doing great.  When it all started, my primary doctor wanted me to take the cardiac stress test (with med and IV) but after doing my research on that test, I flatly refuse.  I was terrified.  Instead, i took the threadmill test and the other one where you have a gadget on you for about a week to monitor the function of your heart, i think they call it Holster test?.  It is up to you whether or not to take the IV test.

 

i know it sounds awful, but he said i wouldnt be able to do the tread mill as can not walk for more than a couple of mins, and he said the bike would be no good, i have difficulty speaking french, but i think i will go and see my GP, i really do not want it, i think he siggested it because alot of myfamily  members have had heart problems, my sister has just had tripple bypass.

 

Chrissy  how long did you stay in hospital after your op?

Did you have physiotherapy?   Was it at home or a clinic? 

l'm wondering what to expect in / out of hospital for the initial early days etc

Hi Margi..I was in hospital for op on a Monday....up on a zimmer on Tuesday...on 2 crutches and doing stairs Wednesday and home Thursday! I had staples out 10 days later, 4weekly hydrotherapy sessions from week3...then gym physio...I think I've got another 3 physio sessions but have 3 weeks hard exercises to do before the next one....The physio and everything was done at the hospital....Beaumont BmI 

Message me if you want more details!!!

Good luck to you Lynn, sometimes you just have to trust a good doctor and hope for the best.  I am sure everything will be alright, they have so many ways and tools to monitor your heart is trong enough.  I was worried sick too about my heart and about the surgeries and in the end it all worked out for the best...actually, the hip surgery itself was nothing, they only gave me a spinal to numb the area and i was out of the hospital the next day for my second surgery and only spent 2 nights there for the first surgery....don't worry and good luck!

thank you for your comforting words..Were you awake for your hip replacement?  how have you been since having them done? you were not in hospital for very long, did you go somewhere to converlece, over here people seem to go to a hospital to recover so maybe i will go to one in Evian for a couple of weeks.

I was awake for the posterior surgery and could hear everything that was going on but of course did not feel anything the surgeon did.  It was like i was in a sort of sleep, weird but nice.  For my anterior surgery 6 wks ago it was a different surgeon and staff, after i got the spinal, a nurse gave me 2 sedative pills, i did not know why then, but the pills knocked me out and i did not hear or feel anything.  I woke in bed after the surgery wondering why i did not remember any of it, it was the sedative.  Either way was ok with me.

my daughter stayed with me one week after both surgeries and i was alone after that.  Never had any problem, you just take it slowly.  I had physical therapy at home 3 times a week for 2 weeks, after that you are on your own as far as PT.   I make sure i do my PT exercises religiously and take all the precautions required after hip replacement.  Anterior approach has few precautions and recovery is much faster, i used the walker 2 days only, then used the cane for about a week, and the only off and on. Was driving after 10 days.  Posterior approach was more tricky, used walker for over 4 weeks because of weight bearing and recovery took much longer and it required a lot more precautions.  If you can afford to go to Evian, lucky you.   I am in San Francisco.

The stress test doesn't hurt unless you've got problems, the best way I can describe it is it feels like you're suddenly running the 100 metres as fast as you can, with all the huffing and puffing and everything, it's a strange feeling to say the least considering moments before it happened you felt normal and were having a chat to the Doctor etc 

I had read about the Anterior approach method of surgery,but was told by my surgeon it was only used in the US and that it was no better than the well proven Posterior approach mainly used by surgeons here in the UK..Apparentely it's still a fairly new approach even in the US...so who knows.