Holiday and Surgery coming up!!

I've had a wicked last few weeks, Been camping with the family which was freeing and very much needed. If only to prove to myself that i'm not old and fit for the skip! Lol The sleeping on the floor in the tent was fine, in fact caused no more problems or pain than my bed at home (which is a little disturbing to say the least!) We fed animals everyday and i walked miles and miles around Longleat and i survived. I used my walking stick admittedly for long journeys, but on the site itself i managed without it, which i'm pleased with.

Ibiza was amazing and i'm sort of missing it already, as it captures my heart and soul and i can't really explain why. We walked everyday a fair distance and i didn't use my stick at all, i held onto my Husband Richard instead and we casually strolled in the sunshine. I was on top on all my painkillers and made sure i never ever took a dose late or miss it totally, as otherwise the pain would of got too great for sure.

Flying was very very SCARY!!!! Firstly i was on tablets to stop me from coming on (dangerous for people that have had clots) But i did ring to check with Nurses and Doctors and Anti-Coag team, to get the go ahead. I was super nervous about flying even though the flight was only about 2-1/2 hours long. I wore my compression tights, class 2 (bought from HappyHealthyLegs thank you for keeping me looking young and trendy, while keeping me alive!!) And stayed every hydrated, but i will admit i was far too scared to fall asleep as i was constantly moving my legs and feet to keep the blood flowing. I did experience pain in the calves but once you pumped the foot or wiggled toes the pain would go. Not sure how much of it was in my head, or really pain if you know what i mean?? While in the sunshine though and walking a lot i didn't wear them throughout the daytime, although i probably should of. Naughty Naughty. Does dancing the night away count??

I've got my date for surgery and it's in 3 weeks and 1 day, not that i'm counting or anything! lol I'm panicking already. I'm terrified of it all, the staples back in the wound, the wound that has so nicely and thinly healed being open again and of course going back onto crutches. But even the physiotherapist has agreed that my severe back pain is probably due to the screws, and the range of movement and my ability to improve more is hampered with the plate and screws in, so it does makes sense to remove them as soon as possible. I'm worried that my dvt will be back in full force, as some days it does not let me forget it was ever there sadly. But i know i'm better prepared this time, i even have my own injections should they forget me again, or refuse to let me have any.

• My next worry is that my friend has actually worked at the Royal Orthopaedic and she has said my treatment went against their own protocol, so she thinks i should complain in order to make sure it never happens again to anyone else.
• My Tribunal is still pending, and it's making me stress and be nervous and some days quite ill, all this is ridiculous when you consider your actually telling the truth, They make me nervous as the Welfare Officer said they try their hardest to trip you up and twist your words (charming!!) Also no-one can represent you or help you speak, yet in a court of law you can, so why not here??

On top of all this, My daughter is due to move out in a few days, and it's all so chaotic and emotional. Not sure how the day will go, except there will be lots and lots of tears for sure.

I now only have 2 children in school as my other daughter has started college, so it's all change and transformation here. It's all so much to deal with, but it will settle down soon enough and i'll be able to sit back and relax and concentrate on recovering once and for all. Just hope this is the last surgery i ever have for hips, but in the back of my mind and heart i feel like it's not (rightie is a naughty hip and likes to hurt me too much!!)

Anyways chewed everyone's ears off too much, so must dash. I'm nesting around the house to get everything in order before surgery and of course making sure Jema has everything she needs too. Happy Hippy Healing everyone, Love you all x0x0x0xx0

Holiday and Surgery coming up!!

I've had a wicked last few weeks, Been camping with the family which was freeing and very much needed. If only to prove to myself that i'm not old and fit for the skip! Lol The sleeping on the floor in the tent was fine, in fact caused no more problems or pain than my bed at home (which is a little disturbing to say the least!) We fed animals everyday and i walked miles and miles around Longleat and i survived. I used my walking stick admittedly for long journeys, but on the site itself i managed without it, which i'm pleased with.

Ibiza was amazing and i'm sort of missing it already, as it captures my heart and soul and i can't really explain why. We walked everyday a fair distance and i didn't use my stick at all, i held onto my Husband Richard instead and we casually strolled in the sunshine. I was on top on all my painkillers and made sure i never ever took a dose late or miss it totally, as otherwise the pain would of got too great for sure.

Flying was very very SCARY!!!! Firstly i was on tablets to stop me from coming on (dangerous for people that have had clots) But i did ring to check with Nurses and Doctors and Anti-Coag team, to get the go ahead. I was super nervous about flying even though the flight was only about 2-1/2 hours long. I wore my compression tights, class 2 (bought from HappyHealthyLegs thank you for keeping me looking young and trendy, while keeping me alive!!) And stayed every hydrated, but i will admit i was far too scared to fall asleep as i was constantly moving my legs and feet to keep the blood flowing. I did experience pain in the calves but once you pumped the foot or wiggled toes the pain would go. Not sure how much of it was in my head, or really pain if you know what i mean?? While in the sunshine though and walking a lot i didn't wear them throughout the daytime, although i probably should of. Naughty Naughty. Does dancing the night away count??

I've got my date for surgery and it's in 3 weeks and 1 day, not that i'm counting or anything! lol I'm panicking already. I'm terrified of it all, the staples back in the wound, the wound that has so nicely and thinly healed being open again and of course going back onto crutches. But even the physiotherapist has agreed that my severe back pain is probably due to the screws, and the range of movement and my ability to improve more is hampered with the plate and screws in, so it does makes sense to remove them as soon as possible. I'm worried that my dvt will be back in full force, as some days it does not let me forget it was ever there sadly. But i know i'm better prepared this time, i even have my own injections should they forget me again, or refuse to let me have any.

• My next worry is that my friend has actually worked at the Royal Orthopaedic and she has said my treatment went against their own protocol, so she thinks i should complain in order to make sure it never happens again to anyone else.
• My Tribunal is still pending, and it's making me stress and be nervous and some days quite ill, all this is ridiculous when you consider your actually telling the truth, They make me nervous as the Welfare Officer said they try their hardest to trip you up and twist your words (charming!!) Also no-one can represent you or help you speak, yet in a court of law you can, so why not here??

On top of all this, My daughter is due to move out in a few days, and it's all so chaotic and emotional. Not sure how the day will go, except there will be lots and lots of tears for sure.

I now only have 2 children in school as my other daughter has started college, so it's all change and transformation here. It's all so much to deal with, but it will settle down soon enough and i'll be able to sit back and relax and concentrate on recovering once and for all. Just hope this is the last surgery i ever have for hips, but in the back of my mind and heart i feel like it's not (rightie is a naughty hip and likes to hurt me too much!!)

Anyways chewed everyone's ears off too much, so must dash. I'm nesting around the house to get everything in order before surgery and of course making sure Jema has everything she needs too. Happy Hippy Healing everyone, Love you all x0x0x0xx0

Email reply from O'Hara

ther doctors and physiotherapist have led me to believe. And there is a way to correct it should i have too after giving the left hip and femur time to fully heal. He recommends leaving it for two years in total to give everything time to settle down. Copied and pasted the email so you can all read it.

F.A.O. Ms Debbie Wyatt

Dear Ms Wyatt

Many thanks for your kind and detailed email of 5 August 2010.

When we originally saw you with your troublesome left and right hips your left leg was approximately one inch short. With your left leg being one inch short, the muscles on the outside of your right leg were having to work especially hard in order to stabilise your pelvis.

Following your operation we have fairly successfully given you something very close to equal leg length on both sides but inevitably, until you are fully rehabilitated following the operation on your left hip you can’t necessarily expect your right hip to feel entirely normal.

Your most recent x-ray indicates that your left leg remains about 7 or 8 millimetres short – this isn’t very much and something which, if you are very concerned about, you could treat with the sort of gel insert heel raise that you will find in Boots.

Experience following the type of operation that you have had performed indicates that it can take well over a year and in some patients’ cases 2 years, to rehabilitate fully and get full value from the operation. You will really only feel this once we have removed the metalwork.

One other thing that I have noticed is that on your CT scan you have an abnormal twist between the lower and upper parts of your right femur (thigh bone), whereas the socket is pretty normal. If the symptoms in your right hip don’t settle down maybe we ought to think about doing an operation to cut the right femur and twist it in to a more correct alignment.

I understand greatly that you are most concerned about having a second venous thrombosis and I do hope that everything goes well for you when we remove the metalwork. You won’t do yourself any harm by taking half an Aspirin a day and this will certainly reduce the risk of you having a further venous thrombosis.

I do hope that this answers all your queries.

Yours sincerely

Mr J N O'Hara
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Email reply from O'Hara

ther doctors and physiotherapist have led me to believe. And there is a way to correct it should i have too after giving the left hip and femur time to fully heal. He recommends leaving it for two years in total to give everything time to settle down. Copied and pasted the email so you can all read it.

F.A.O. Ms Debbie Wyatt

Dear Ms Wyatt

Many thanks for your kind and detailed email of 5 August 2010.

When we originally saw you with your troublesome left and right hips your left leg was approximately one inch short. With your left leg being one inch short, the muscles on the outside of your right leg were having to work especially hard in order to stabilise your pelvis.

Following your operation we have fairly successfully given you something very close to equal leg length on both sides but inevitably, until you are fully rehabilitated following the operation on your left hip you can’t necessarily expect your right hip to feel entirely normal.

Your most recent x-ray indicates that your left leg remains about 7 or 8 millimetres short – this isn’t very much and something which, if you are very concerned about, you could treat with the sort of gel insert heel raise that you will find in Boots.

Experience following the type of operation that you have had performed indicates that it can take well over a year and in some patients’ cases 2 years, to rehabilitate fully and get full value from the operation. You will really only feel this once we have removed the metalwork.

One other thing that I have noticed is that on your CT scan you have an abnormal twist between the lower and upper parts of your right femur (thigh bone), whereas the socket is pretty normal. If the symptoms in your right hip don’t settle down maybe we ought to think about doing an operation to cut the right femur and twist it in to a more correct alignment.

I understand greatly that you are most concerned about having a second venous thrombosis and I do hope that everything goes well for you when we remove the metalwork. You won’t do yourself any harm by taking half an Aspirin a day and this will certainly reduce the risk of you having a further venous thrombosis.

I do hope that this answers all your queries.

Yours sincerely

Mr J N O'Hara
Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon

Pre-op date and rightie playing up

No way i've got a date already for my Pre-op. It's for the 11th Aug, after being told the surgery wouldn't be for 3-4 months at best. Now i have a date, i really can't see my surgery being much longer than 4 weeks later, which will be days after i get home from my Holiday. I guess the sooner i have it done the better, then i can truly put this surgery behind me and aim to recover fully.

This all sounds good and it is, but whats plaguing me is my Rightie. It's really playing up, and i had no joy telling the Registrar on my Birthday (he wasn't interested in the slightest!). Now my exercising has been kicked up a notch, it's burning again. It's like a red hot pain thats irritable and nags constantly. So much so my painkillers are now solely for this hip, sure my Leftie has pain and tiredness but this i feel is manageable, and i could cope without so many tablets. Whereas the Rightie is freaking out and i couldn't cope without tablets. My physio exercises seem to aggravate it a lot, so does simple walking. I'm beginning to think the pain free months i had, weren't because it had gone, but more because i wasn't active enough to aggravate it?? It's exactly the pain i had for years, and i've had surgery years ago to remove the Bursa, The IT Band stretched, i've tried 3 solid years of physio on it, acupuncture ultrasound and nothing seems to of worked. I was hoping on my last ditch effort to cure the pain, that surgery on the Leftie would cure it, due to easing the pressure and strain on the Right. Think i'm going to have to email O'Hara as i know my x-rays show no Bone/Joint problems, so i need some advice on what i can do next. (in a weird way i wish it was a Bone problem, then i would be able to 'see' it and move forward easier, as O'Hara is a whizz with Bones)

Anyways i'm not as negative as the post probably sounds honestly. Just a little niggled that this pain is back, without that life is great and my movement and walking is so much better, even my confidence has grown. Been out clubbing without a stick no less last Saturday, and i managed all night, and barely sat down. I was super proud of myself and it gives me greater confidence for my upcoming Holiday in 4 weeks time Yay!!!

Bikini body is not going to plan, so Rich bought me a new game called EA Active Personal Trainer, which kicks my ass everytime and i've never sweated so much, so i'm hoping in my final month i can lose more weight, as i've stalled the last few weeks, and even gain 3-4lbs a week before i'm on and it takes me 2 weeks to lose it again, so it's up and down so many times it's depressing. But looking on the bright side, i'm fitter and stronger than i was and i'm thankful for that! xx

Pre-op date and rightie playing up

No way i've got a date already for my Pre-op. It's for the 11th Aug, after being told the surgery wouldn't be for 3-4 months at best. Now i have a date, i really can't see my surgery being much longer than 4 weeks later, which will be days after i get home from my Holiday. I guess the sooner i have it done the better, then i can truly put this surgery behind me and aim to recover fully.

This all sounds good and it is, but whats plaguing me is my Rightie. It's really playing up, and i had no joy telling the Registrar on my Birthday (he wasn't interested in the slightest!). Now my exercising has been kicked up a notch, it's burning again. It's like a red hot pain thats irritable and nags constantly. So much so my painkillers are now solely for this hip, sure my Leftie has pain and tiredness but this i feel is manageable, and i could cope without so many tablets. Whereas the Rightie is freaking out and i couldn't cope without tablets. My physio exercises seem to aggravate it a lot, so does simple walking. I'm beginning to think the pain free months i had, weren't because it had gone, but more because i wasn't active enough to aggravate it?? It's exactly the pain i had for years, and i've had surgery years ago to remove the Bursa, The IT Band stretched, i've tried 3 solid years of physio on it, acupuncture ultrasound and nothing seems to of worked. I was hoping on my last ditch effort to cure the pain, that surgery on the Leftie would cure it, due to easing the pressure and strain on the Right. Think i'm going to have to email O'Hara as i know my x-rays show no Bone/Joint problems, so i need some advice on what i can do next. (in a weird way i wish it was a Bone problem, then i would be able to 'see' it and move forward easier, as O'Hara is a whizz with Bones)

Anyways i'm not as negative as the post probably sounds honestly. Just a little niggled that this pain is back, without that life is great and my movement and walking is so much better, even my confidence has grown. Been out clubbing without a stick no less last Saturday, and i managed all night, and barely sat down. I was super proud of myself and it gives me greater confidence for my upcoming Holiday in 4 weeks time Yay!!!

Bikini body is not going to plan, so Rich bought me a new game called EA Active Personal Trainer, which kicks my ass everytime and i've never sweated so much, so i'm hoping in my final month i can lose more weight, as i've stalled the last few weeks, and even gain 3-4lbs a week before i'm on and it takes me 2 weeks to lose it again, so it's up and down so many times it's depressing. But looking on the bright side, i'm fitter and stronger than i was and i'm thankful for that! xx

Happy Birthday to me xx

Today was my Birthday and i also had my x-ray and consultation appointment today. We had to be there by 9.30am which for anyone that knows me, will know thats like asking me to go somewhere in the middle of the night! Gosh that was an early one for me, as we would have to set off at 8am earliest. Not so bad when it's just yourself to get ready, but the kids are horrendous and so hard to get out in time. Once out and proud of ourselves we had to hit total traffic!

Needed to avoid the motorway due to an accident and major delays and go through all the little towns instead. Which was more pleasant that first thought and at least we were constantly driving rather than at a standstill.

The Hospital totally overlooked all the 9.30am appointments and let the others up til 10am go in front of us! The bloody cheek of it, i asked have you forgot me? They said yes we have! So we all got left with a delay of over an hour and a half. Should of stayed in bed longer. Once i got in the Nurses were abrupt and plain rude in places, while others were lovely and polite. Once up in the x-ray department i was congratulated for my Birthday by the techs there and the nurses which i thought was very sweet. X-rays were over in a blink of an eye, and it was back down to see the registrar.

The Registrar was pleasant and did the normal ROM tests and asked me to walk without any aids for him to see how i'd progressed. He said it's time to go without a stick, and actually asked why i had it with me, Then said in the next breath if your out for a long time, or walking far, take it with you. Duh! Thats why i have it today.

He told me the bone is around 85% healed and i can now go on the waiting list to have the screws and plates removed, which is around 3 to 4 months long, so it shouldn't get in the way of Holiday dates and the Summer at least. We mentioned that i'm off the warfarin now and would i be given a full course of treatment to prevent a clot happening again, and they said i should be called in before my surgery date to have the leg scanned to see how big the clot is, is it dangerous and is it likely i'll get another one, so i'm very happy with that. There is no way i would ever have surgery now, without securing the full course of injections, or aspirin for myself.

Town was hot and busy and numerous times i tripped or had my stick kicked out from under me. And i've noticed that the people that give way to you are ones that have sticks or crutches themselves!! Leg very very sore from landing a little heavy on it, when i tripped today and with the kicked stick as well, it proper gave me some hell today. I was tired and cranky so we left after a few hours, as i couldn't bear the shops any longer. But we managed to stop off at Ikea for a hotdog and ice cream on the way home which is gorgeous!! (Wish i could live on them)

Well i'm off to enjoy the rest of my day, and rest up as much as possible for a few days now. Happy healing Hippy Girls xx )0(