A Plan

 

This morning, Jim and I saw Dr. Culp, the orthopedic surgeon who did my left hip replacement surgery on May 1 and we scheduled the right hip replacement surgery for January 29, the first time he had open. 

Jim had suggested we write out my concerns for Dr. Culp and print it up.  We did so and handed it to him to read.  He answered all my questions and did not seem offended by them.  It was good to have some of the processes clarified.  For example, glucose goes up because they give you an IV dextrose solution as a matter of course.  So they need to check glucose regularly after surgery.  That was a matter of routine. The urinary retention is a side effect of spinal anaesthetic and he could specify doing fewer bladder scans.  But at least I will know why they are doing them and can question so many next time.  

My memory of what happened in surgery is selective, he said, because of the drugs given that cause amnesia.  I find that disturbing. He said they could cut back on them but I wouldn’t want to wake up during surgery and hear a saw buzz. No, that is true.  But I don’t like the thought of possible bad things happening and I have no memory of them.  Another option is more sedation  He would make a note of it for the anaesthesiologist and I guess I could ask those questions too when I have Pre-Admission Testing or see the anaesthesiologist in the pre-surgery room. He assured me there were people in the operating room with me even if I saw no one or remembered seeing no one.   He did say I would not need the extensive heart testing again.  

I wish I did not have to go through this again.  I wish I did not have to dread it again.  But I want relief from my daily pain and lack of mobility.  I would like to walk without a walker or cane again.  I’d like to walk greater distances.  So I shall just have to find some courage and hope that “the year of the hip” is over by March 3, 2026, one year after the initial x-ray that said “severe osteoarthritis.”