Home Again—Hooray!

There were definitely ups and downs in the last 24 hours with mixed signals coming from various medical personnel. 

I was awake with a procedure from most of 2 am to 3 am and then just as I  began to doze,  the phlebotomist came at 3::17.  I fell asleep lightly and the aide came for vitals at 4 am.  My best sleep was 5:30 to 7:30 when I could hear voices in the parking lot as folks came into their early shifts.

To my dismay I began to have some severe pain today in my “good hip” that was the successful surgery in May.  The PA told me that this is typical—when they are sawing the bone for the surgery, the opposite hip gets moved around some.  She assured me that they had x-rayed it in surgery and it had not slipped out of place.  Maybe, but it sure hurt today.  Enough that the physical therapist wanted me to get Medical Transport to help with our 17 steps.  I agreed to let the social worker check it out but just didn’t want to get anyone else involved— it was taking me up on a stretcher with two men. At an exorbitant price that we could afford but I wasn’t happy about it.    She wanted me to have two men there for helping me and was very unhappy about my husband being the one to assist me at his age.  I did email Jeff and Susan and Jeff was able to get off from work and meet us at home—just to stand behind me if I fell.  Which I did not do, but I went up the steps slowly and with some pain—far worse than last May 2.  That was discouraging to me.

The nurse in the recovery room told me that my blood pressure was down to 70/40 after the surgery which is very scary for someone who usually has high blood pressure.  Scary for anyone really.  She said she put me upside down which just meant tilting the bed.  I guess it worked because my blood pressure returned to normal. I don’t like to think about that moment but I was not aware of it until after the fact. 

However, there were other issues with spinal anesthesia and how it shuts down the urinary system.  I won’t  go into detail but that was looking like a real difficulty in letting me go home. The PA from Princeton Orthopedic` said she would check with Dr. Culp but the social worker said the hospital doctors were in charge.  One orthopedic nurse practitioner seemed to be the liaison between both units and he said he would be the “man with a plan” as I put it to him.  And he was and OKed my discharge. 

Jeff met us at our garage and stood behind Jim as we walked slowly up the steps.  And now we are home and so glad to be home.  I have 33 days of pills to distribute.  A spread sheet helped me keep track of it in May and I will do that again. No alcohol while taking 3 Tylenol 3 times a day. That was overkill the last time and I doubt I will do that much again.  I hope to avoid the Oxycontin again.  

I prayed for a calm spirit during the night but it did not come easily.  Now I am just so thankful that the surgery is over and hope and pray that is the end of any surgeries for either one of us for a good long time.