The Process for Hip Number Two Begins

 I took a photo of the hospital bracelet to start this blog but decided it had too much information to put in a public place—not that there are so many readers but sometimes I get sales pitches on comments and have to delete them.

But…the hip replacement  process has begun with a 9 am appointment at Penn Medical Center for Pre-Admission Testing which means bloodwork,  an EKG and going over information.  I had a list of questions which were answered for the most part and at least notes were put on my file so maybe some things can be easier this time around.  As the last time, the women who helped us were very kind and informative.  No one acted like my concerns were foolish.

Next week is another appointment with my primary care provider for surgical clearance.  I hope I can cancel the appointment I was told to make with the cardiologist just in case.  But this morning the nurse thought it would not be needed.  

As soon as I was asked my birthdate, the memories came flooding back of saying that over and over again as nurses checked it before they took my vitals or did anything else.  At least no credit card was asked for today.  So three weeks from today, I hope the surgery is over and I am on my way home.  I am almost thankful for pain in the right hip as it reassures me we are doing the right thing.  

Our Grace Notes Choir director told me that the Nassau Church staff had prayed for me at their meeting on Tuesday.  I was honored by that.  I had not requested prayers but I had posted on the virtual attendance form that we hoped to be back in the sanctuary more often after my surgery and recovery.  Another friend asked me for the date of surgery because she was adding my name to Echo, her prayer app.  I do have folks I pray for regularly but have not used an app for that so far at least.  

———-a follow up on the testing showed that I had another “abnormal” EKG and my glucose was high.  I was hoping Dr. Delacruz would override those results and he did.  The glucose was non-fasting so that makes it higher.  He said that computer EKGs always come back as abnormal and he OK’d the test. I cancelled the cardiologist appointment as soon as I got home.   Dr. Delacruz did have me redo the urine sample which turned out to be an ordeal of sorts at home the next day. I tried to keep my sense of humor about it.  Eventually, we got it into the office before it closed and that too came back as OK.  Now on to sign papers at Princeton Orthopedic Associates and ask a few more questions.  And then the surgery on January 29.