Well here si an x-ray of what my pelvis looks like now. the screws have been removed from the left side, but at least now my femoral heads look like they are in an acetabulum now instead of hanging out!

Back to work - 4 months post PAO

OK,
well been a little while since I wrote on here but that is only because I have been taking advantage of having time off in the summer and for the last month can pretty much do what I like, drive, go to the gym, play golf (in little bits).
So, yesterday I went into work for the morning. The plan is to go back for 25% hours for 2 weeks and sloly build it up. Am going to be working in the orthopaedic department at UCLH (where I ahd my surgeries), which I am pleased about while I am getting back into it as I don't have to worry about explainng myself all the time as everyone just knows. Having said that I am also really looking forward to starting my new job in Woolwich in October where people will hopefully get to know me for me, rather than my hips first!
I think it is going to be a bit weird back at work at first, it really hit me yesterday how much confidence I have lost in myself with regards to work, and also in my body not letting me down. I actually felt pretty aimless yesterday, I am supernumeray and (don't get me wrong I think this is essential while I am gettting back into work), but it does mean that I don't really have much of a role. I am sure it will get better though the more I go in and start getting some more experince again.
I am going in this thursday for most of the day, I will be attending a trauma list in the morning (operations on people who have broken things etc) and fracture clinic in the afternoon (pretty self explanatory) so it will be interesting to see how I manage with that, especially as both are standing up for most of the time!
Tomorrow I am seeing a new cardiologist for the heart arrythmias, I am really hoping he thinks it is all because of the surgery and drugs rather than something wrong with my heart. Feel quite out of my depth with regards to this, have never done a cardiology job, and while I can manange all the acute thing when they pitch up to A+E, I have no real experience with the management beyond that!
Also where has all the nice weather gone, august is still considered summer right!
Bye for now
Sophie

2 months down the line

And doing really well - woohoo for Sophie!

I am pleased to say I am writing this on my own sofa in my own flat having spent the last 5 days here and it has been great.

So what has been happening recently -

I went to see Bon Jovi at the O2 twice, now you might thing this sounds a bit excessive but the first time we went in the wheelchair and our seats were right next to the stage which was amazing. I decided that I would probably never be able to get such good seats again so the following day phoned up to see if they had any left for the folowing week, which they did and for £100 less - so we went again.

I had my annual review which went well, apparently they were impressed with what i had acheived in the time I had, only problem is now they have probably got very high exectations of me for next year!

I have been to the gym a few times and can now cycle 6km on a bike and swim 1000m, only problem is walking still quite painful. I do find it quite bizarre and I do get some strange looks, when you see me in the water you wouldn't know there was anything wrong and then I get out and use crutches!

My walking is improving but I honestly thought I would be further along at this stage than I am. I still get quite a lot of pain walking though am no longer using crutches around the house. It is amazing to have the use of my hands back.

Physio to look forward to tomorrow.

Sophie x

Fed up of Pain and fatigue

Well I really am!

I am trying to do all my exercises but it just hurts so much, and sleeping, I just wish I could turn over without having to wake up because it hurts to do so. Obviously the pain is much better than it was but I think my tolerance for it is decreasing!

On top of that I think I have a mild flare up of the pericarditis, compared to last week when I was out and about and still feeling OK, tired but OK whereas the last few days I have got no energy for anything and am getting chest pain especially lying down and going up stairs.

It's not all doom and gloom though. I saw Mr Witt last week and he said that I can start putting 50% weight through my leg for the next 2 weeks and then gradually build up after that to full weight bearing. I can also start straight leg raising and straight leg abduction but it is such hard work and I do not remember it hurting so much to do them, maybe it did but my mind has blocked it out.

The x-ray looked like all the bone was healing, though I was surprised to still see a gap on the left side, though he said that it was still filling in with new bone.

My formal physio is due to start next friday which will be good.

Time to finish watching House and then for a swim.

Sophie

3 weeks Progress

I have been slightly slack on keeping this up to date in the last week, several reasons really. My parents internet is being a bit temporamental, I have also been doing slightly more during the days, which while that is good takes so much out of me that it takes me about 24 hours to recover and even the effort of typing seems too much!

So I went swimming for the 3rd time today which was lovely. I love being in the water so much, it is the only place where I am really comfortable and all the pressure is taken off my pelvis. This time I also managed to swim 4 lengths frontcrawl (arms only - just let my legs drag in the water), the 2 previous times have only managed about 1/2 length before the rolling of my body was too much. The local pool is great, there is a ramp and a plastic wheelchair so getting in and out is really easy.

It is quite stressful at home (with my parents) at times because they are having lots of building work being done and there just keeps being one major set back after another, and with all the noise and everything it is sometimes not that restful.

I am still waking up at night in quite a lot of pain, bizarrely the pain has almost been worse in the last few days than previously - maybe I am just too keen to get better, or I am just so fed up of being in pain my tolerance for it is decreasing.

I also had a manicure this morning which was great. I normally have to keep my nails short for work and never can wear nail varnish, but now not working my nails are growing so decided to do something nice about it. Weird seeing my hands with pink nail varnish though.

I have made it through series 1 of 24 and just about to start season2, also my sister bought me season 1 of house so have started watching that too which is really good - Hugh Laurie is so talented.

I am so pleased that I do not have to go through this whole thing again, I think that is what was so hard last time - knowing that I had to go through it all again thank goodness I don't have a third hip!

Well back to the TV for a while until chinese food for dinner - yum

Sophie

2 weeks down

Cant believe it has been 3 days since I posted - this may sound really strange but the days have gone really quickly, considering I haven't left the house that is.
It is 2 weeks today that I had the PAO so that is 1/3 of the non-weight bearing time done. Already after only 2 weeks I can tell that my muscles on my right leg are wasting.
The glue and scabs have all come off the wounds and underneath they look great. There is only one bit at the lower end of the right scar that looks a touch red, but I am just going to keep an eye on it for now and keep it dressed.
I am going down to stay with my parents this weekend and hopefully taking my first trip swimming. I cannot wait to get in the water. We will not be going in their pool as the heat exchanger is only gettng fixed this week and it will take a while to warm up so we are going to the local pool. My Dad and Westy are going to play golf together on saturday, I'm so pleased Westy is getting to play some golf as this last couple fo weeks have been stressful for him too and that is how he relaxes. (and I'm only a tieeny bit jealous of him, only a teeny bit though as now this last PAO is done I don;t have any more hips so it is the start of me getting my life back and soon I will be on the golf course too - maybe even by the end of the summer - wow that would be amazing.
Its sunny today which means I can sit on the balcony in the sunshine, its a change from in front of the TV or in bed!
Sophie

The unscratchable Itch

Ok, so where I have had the incision on my hip to get to the hip joint they have to cut the nerve that suppiles the outer skin of the thigh. Well it is completely numb however it is itching! The problem is when I scratch that area I can't feel it at all.......it is an unscratchable itch and believe me is quite annoying.

Had my first trip out today and it was so good if slightly chilly. Went to the cinema in my wheelchair to see Percy Jackson and the lightning thief which was really good but amused my husbnad about my complete lack of knowledge about greek mythology - how was I supposed to know Zeus was the King of the Gods, I am a doctor, I studied science at school not greek mythology.

Still can't quite get over how much better the hip feels compared to last time. last time I was still in hospital at this stage - admittedly about to go home - as long as I keep the pain killers on board regularly I am remarkably comfortable - must remember not to over do it though.

Bye for now
Sophie