I am a little over a week post-op from my right hip surgery. I had a right trochanteric osteotomy and hardware removal on Friday, 6 April at Children's Hospital of Boston with Dr. Millis. This is my 3rd hip surgery with him and hopefully I will only need one more to repair my left hip. I continue to be amazed at the level I care I receive at Children's. Every single person you meet is incredible. One of my pre-op nurses has worked with Millis for 40 years. The funnier part is that she says he was the same 40 years ago, but is just grumpier now LOL My day nurse, Josh, was from Sierra Leone and came to the U.S. with nothing, worked 3 jobs, went to school and was just amazing to talk to. We even talked politics! My night nurse, Matt, was also so nice and caring. I was also lucky enough this time to get a private room. It was my first time in a private room, but I also enjoy roommates too because we are typically similar ages and are able to talk with each other and have some other company.
Pre-Op/OR: I had to be at Children's by 9am for a 10:30am start, but with Millis I waited an additional 2.5hrs till surgery started. An IV was started pre-op to help with hydration since my veins are typically very difficult to get lines in. I had to wear TED hose on my non-op leg, but I was able to wear my own hot pink leopard slippers! I was able to chat with some very kind nurses including Mimsy, who I mentioned before has worked with Millis for 40 years! At the last minute Millis recommended NOT having an epidural because he wanted me up sooner with this surgery and an epidural would delay that. It was also part of the reason I was unable to get ketamine either. It would delay PT and I would have needed to have stayed in the ICU, so we decided against that as well. It did make me very nervous with pain control not having those and just doing general with a pain pump. I was given a bit to relax me prior to the OR, but it didn't work as well as I'd hoped. The staff could tell I was very nervous and Millis even held my hand as I was put under. I have never had a doc do that before, but it helped ease the nerves. The surgery was suppose to last 2.5hrs, but ended up lasting about 4 hours. I stayed in the PACU for about 3 hours because I was quite cold and having a couple issues. I made it up to my room at about 7pm.
In-Patient Stay: I was in-patient at Children's from Friday, surgery day, till Tuesday morning when I was discharged super early to make our 7am flight. Friday and Saturday I was not allowed out of bed and just to rest. I had thigh-high TED hose to help with swelling and prevent blood clots. They were not very comfortable because my right leg was so swollen so I was able to have them changed to just knee-high. I also had to wear compression pumps on my calves to also help avoid blood clots. I had a catheter in until Sunday, when I had PT for my first time. 15 minutes nearly wore me out, but I walked the bar to the end and back. Monday, I had 2 PT sessions and was also able to take a shower. It felt amazing and I was able to get into some of my own comfy clothes. Unfortunately, Monday I also had to have 2 enemas because the Miralax and Milk of Magnesia was not effective. I tried staying hydrated as well as eating high fiber foods and yogurt, but no luck :( I was also able to sit up in a chair and watch some movies. I was also able to FaceTime for the first time with my big hip sis, Sarah Zimman, and good friend, J.R. White. It was awesome!
PT Restrictions: I have more restrictions this surgery then I have ever had. I am not able to bend past 90 degrees, but can also not lay flat at 180 degrees. So, I sit or lay in a slightly bent position. I am also not able to "roll" by leg in or out, so it stays straight. I can not cross my right over my left leg, but can do the opposites. I can not abduct or adduct my leg, which means I can not lift my leg out to the side or bring it past my left leg like a pendulum. These restrictions are for at least 4 weeks till my first post-op appointment. I am also 1/6th weight-bearing till then as well. I use a bone-stimulator every day as to help promote bone growth and avoid another delayed union. After Millis sees my 4 week post-op x-rays he will determine what I can do from there and what the PT plan will be.
My Mom and I flew home early Tuesday morning, but it was not the greatest of experiences. I was completed violated by TSA with a "pat-down." The wheelchairs were also very small, almost pediatric size. They couldn't find a wheelchair initially and I had to very slowly crutch to security and the gate. When I got onto to the plane I could not even fit in the seat because my hip was so swollen. I am not that big of a person and at that point I broke down. I was in tears after TSA, but the flight situation made me feel horrible. I had some great flight attendants who moved me to the back row to give me two seats with the arm rest moved up and to sit with my mom. Typically those seats are for the flight attendants, but they gave them up to me which was so kind. I wish I would have known and would have booked a non-stop flight, preferably in first class because those flights are not packed at all and usually get bumped to first class for comfort. Lesson learned.
