MCTD and Me: Yesterday made a week since my first hip replacement.

In my previous post from a week ago, I shared with you how my first and second days of recovery unfolded. In this post, I'll update you on the remainder of my first week. It has certainly been a week filled with highs and lows.

A quick recap of my initial two days for those who missed my previous update:

Day one, March 19th, surgery day: I awoke from surgery feeling groggy from the anesthesia and somewhat nauseous, but overall, I felt quite good. The pain was quite manageable, and I was sitting up for much of the day. I even took pictures with visitors, and physical therapy was relatively easy. However, that night, the nerve blocker I received before surgery began to wear off, and everything changed. The pain intensified, and movement became challenging, especially getting in and out of bed. My blood pressure dropped so low that I couldn't take my pain medication to stay ahead of the pain. This made day 2, March 20th, a bit tougher to endure. After such a difficult night, I was expected to get up and walk the halls with my physical therapist, eat a solid breakfast and keep it down, and get up, dressed, and ready to go home. I got home around 2pm and realized my bed is so high that I needed a footstool to get on and off it. Then I started running a fever that afternoon, which is where we left off with my last post.

Day 3-5 (March 21st-March 23rd):

I battled a fever throughout the second night. My nurse reassured me that it's common to have a fever after major surgeries, and I should only be concerned if it exceeds 101.0 and remains high. My temperature fluctuated between 99.8 and 101.7 for three days. The incision site appeared healthy with no signs of infection, but I was given antibiotics as a precaution.

I needed help to get into bed unless I used a belt to lift my leg with my arm until about day four. It was also very painful when initially getting out of bed and putting weight on my right foot. The fever, accompanied by shaking and weakness, made physical therapy and simple tasks like going to the bathroom even more challenging than they would have been if I had been feeling better.

Alright, let's discuss it! Everybody poops! Everybody, except for me! One of the most painful aspects of this whole experience was the stomach pain. I couldn't use the bathroom until the fifth day after surgery, meaning I went six days without relief! My stomach hurt so much, and despite taking the Senna-kot prescribed by my doctor before surgery and consuming Dulcolax chews like candy, nothing worked. It wasn't until Sunday, when my best friend brought me a chili-cheese Coney from Sonic, that I finally found relief! So, if you're experiencing this side effect from anesthesia, don't feel embarrassed, as many people face this issue. If you're approaching day four or five, perhaps give Sonic a try!

I previously mentioned having issues with low blood pressure while at the hospital, but we managed to stabilize it enough for me to go home. On the third night, I woke up feeling lightheaded and dizzy. Initially, I wasn't too concerned because I'm gradually losing my hearing, which sometimes affects my balance, causing similar sensations. However, I also felt unusually weak, which isn't typical when I experience vertigo. I got up, and my son helped me find my blood pressure cuff, revealing a reading of 96/46. I realized I couldn't take my pain medication unless my blood pressure was at least 100/55, as it would lower further. Since then, I've been monitoring my blood pressure to ensure it's at a safe level for medication. Occasionally, the pain was severe enough that I took the meds anyway, but then I felt anxious about falling asleep. My nurse advised me to consume plenty of sodium before or when taking my pain meds, and this approach has been effective over the past few days.

In addition to everything else, I am diabetic. I had to postpone my surgery by a month to lower my A1C below the 7.7 threshold required by my orthopedic surgeon before proceeding with the operation. Managing blood sugar is crucial for diabetics because infections and bacteria are attracted to and flourish in the presence of sugar. If you already have an immune disorder, like I do, and are susceptible to infections, undergoing surgery with uncontrolled diabetes is particularly risky. However, after surgery, regardless of how well-controlled your blood sugars were, you will experience fluctuations in your numbers. This isn't due to your diet or any mistake on your part; it's caused by the stress surgery places on your body, the steroids administered during and immediately after the procedure, and the pain. Stay focused, and don't let these fluctuations derail you.

Now, moving on to what everyone anticipating a hip replacement is likely curious about... what does the pain feel like? Where is it located? What is considered normal? In the initial days, my pain was centered at the surgical site. However, by the third night, I began experiencing what I described to my nurse as charlie horses in the thigh muscles of my right leg. By the fourth day, the pain had shifted more to my knee and ankle rather than the surgical site. Additionally, muscle spasms affected both legs, occurring in my thigh muscles, behind my knee, and extending into my lower legs. I needed to start a new, stronger muscle relaxer than the one I was initially prescribed to prevent my legs from twitching uncontrollably. My physical therapist explained that experiencing pain in areas other than the incision or hip is completely normal. He clarified that my hip is adjusting into place, and all the leg muscles are working harder to support my body weight since I can't yet rely on my hips. Both legs are in pain because I had two necrotic hips, and now a necrotic hip is supporting what my new hip cannot yet handle. I also mentioned to my therapist that I feel as if one side of my body is taller than the other and thought I might be imagining it, but he confirmed that my right side is slightly taller with the new hip in place. After a few weeks, I will be provided with insoles for my left shoe to even out the difference until my left hip replacement in June.

Day 6-Day 8 (March 24th-March 27th)

Over the past few days, I've been making strides in physical therapy, managing my blood pressure more effectively, and my blood sugar levels have mostly returned to near pre-surgery levels. I no longer need a belt to lift my leg onto my bed.

Yesterday marked a week since my surgery, and in that time, I've experienced a range of emotions. I've felt like I'm doing well, felt like I'm not where I should be, doubted myself, and also felt proud of my progress. My biggest challenge now is getting enough sleep. I'm not used to sleeping on my back, and it's been a week of doing just that every night. You can't point your toes at each other, bend at a 90-degree angle, lie on your sides, or on your stomach, and just when you think you're comfortable, everything starts to throb with pain. Once I'm able to sleep on my side or stomach, I believe the rest will become much easier.

Today marks day 8, one week since I was discharged home. My physical therapist took me outside for the first time today, and I managed to walk down to the end of our driveway twice! It might seem like a small accomplishment, but to me, it felt like finishing a marathon!

If you have any questions about what I've experienced or if you'd like to share your own experiences, please feel free to comment or email me. Until next time, stay strong, stay informed, and stay determined!