I Have A New Hip!!

I am almost 3 weeks post-op. Things are going so much better than I expected. My hip is healing up perfectly. I started using a cane less than 2 weeks after surgery - something that I never expected beforehand. I'm able to move about everywhere in the house. My physical therapist taught me how to pick things up from the floor safely. I can get the girls their juice, snacks and lunch. I can get myself juice, snacks and lunch!

I had some complications after surgery and that was scary and unexpected. My heart reacted to the morphine with a raised heart rate and low blood pressure. I was put on a step-down ward so that they could monitor my heart. After a push of fluids in my IV and removal of the morphine pump, my heart settled back down to normal. I was subjected to many blood tests, chest xray and heart ultrasound. Once stable, PT came in and got me out of bed for the first time, one day later than planned. I did very well and ended up going back up to the original recovery ward in a wheelchair. That afternoon, I visited with family, including my parents, A and C and Joe. I had a worsening headache the entire time. Joe encouraged me to let my nurse know about the headache, just to get it on record. I told the aide and left it at that. I ate a little dinner. I tried watching a show on TV, and was really annoyed with my roommate's family for being so loud. My head was getting worse and worse. Finally, I called the nurse and told her that my head still hurt and I was feeling 'weird,' like it could be my heart again. She whipped out her stethoscope and checked my heart rate. It was back up to 160. I felt panic and she saw it. She looked me directly in the eye and said, 'Don't worry. We're going to take care of you RIGHT NOW.' This woman was in the right job - she immediately calmed me, even as I was terrified that I was going to die. I called home and told Joe that my heart was going nuts again and to please come to the hospital. A doctor was in quickly, ordering tests and drugs. They gave me something to calm me down and I don't remember much. I remember they put me on a gurney and took me down for a chest CT scan to rule out a pulmonary embolism. My dad joined up with me at some point. I was in and out of consciousness that evening and I saw my dad every time I opened my eyes. I don't know how late he stayed, but eventually I fell asleep and they let me.

The next day my nurse told me that they were giving me the blood that I banked for myself. Long story short, the blood worked.