Not Ignoring You

Hey folks, I haven’t been ignoring you, been a little preoccupied.

On the 4th of February my wife had hip replacement surgery. Everything was great, surgery took less than an hour, and she was up and walking with a walker the same day. Surgeon was ready to send her home after 3 days. Then they found a kidney problem, but that fixed itself after another day. After going home things were going smooth, she could get herself up and down from bed and a chair to get around.

On the 26th it all went in the toilet. She was walking down the hall and heard two loud cracks and felt an intense pain and went down. I called 911. To make a long story short…the bone around the implant had fractured. She underwent four hours of surgery to repair the fracture and replace the implant with a longer one. She was in the hospital for eleven days, they kept her so pumped full of pain meds she is just now coming off withdrawal. She has yet to walk because of the meds having her head screwed up. Consequently I’ve had to take a leave from work and been a 24/7 caregiver. My time online has been limited to when she is sleeping, which up until a day or so ago has not been more than 10 or 15 minutes at a time. She goes back to the doctor tomorrow, we’re hoping the meds are out of her system and they can finally begin therapy.

If you have a minute, please keep her in your prayers
Don

Oh Don, thanks for taking the time to explain about your wife. She certainly will be in my prayers.

The very first hip operation was performed in the place I grew up as a child. Sir John Charnley performed the first hip replacement operation ever to be performed in the world. This operation is now performed routinely all over the world and is usually extremely successful. Unfortunately, it sounds as though a small crack in the femur wasn't detected during the operation and that led to a much more serious fracture. Apparently, this can happen in 4% of patients. How rotten that your wife had to be one of such a small group.

Please give her my love and my very best wishes for a successful outcome second time around.

Love to you too for being so patient and loyal.

~Shelagh

Wow Don, what a time for both you and your wife. Let her know that she is in my prayers too, and so are you. Here's to succesful healing from here on, and that things are soon back on track.

Don, my best to you and your wife. I certainly hope she begins to improve very soon, and we will keep her in our prayers.

Harpe

Thanks all for your thoughts and prayers…they worked!!!!
Yesterday Lynn said, “I want to try to get up.” And she did! Walked around for awhile with the walker and moved to a chair. Spent some time on her computer and walked a little more. Today we went to the doctors and she got in and out of the chair on her own, climbed up on and off the ex-ray table. Doc says everything looks great. Now that all the drugs are out of her system she has a whole new positive outlook.
Again thanks…I can’t believe the change in two days!!!

Great news Don! Have a wonderful Easter weekend. Best wishes to both of you and a special word of encouragement to Lynn -- take it easy!

Don,
Just saw your post. The problems associated with operations are never easy to deal with and age can be a factor as well.
I'm sure you know that you have many friends pulling for you and your wife. The healing process is a team effort. Feeling someone else's pain is real when people are close and therefore both suffer. Success, even small or slow, is a cause for celebration.
Keep us posted.

Abe

Great news Don! Hope that you and Lynn are able to enjoy the Easter weekend with less worry, and that her improvement truly continues.
Pam

Hi Folks,

It was another great day. Lynn woke this morning and asked me to call Diane(her hairdresser) and see if she still had her standing monthly appointment open. I borrowed a ramp van from my old company(built custom vans for the handicapped) and we took her to get her hair done. We're on our way to recovery.

Everyone PLEASE have a GREAT EASTER

I have been absent for a while, Don, but my prayers for continued improvement are forthcoming.

You men are amazing when it comes to being caregivers. I learned that firsthand when I fractured my ankle and was bed ridden for several months. I am sure your wife would agree with me.

May your Easter be grand, and I hope everyone here has a good one as well.