Welcome to my blog!
- I keep this as a companion to my youTube channel: To help put my videos into context. The topics I share are an extension of my life.
- This is also for my Patreon sponsors: This is to help share and be accountable for how I use the money given to me.
- Finally this is a skill given to cope with pain: It is a helpful and healthy outlet.
Thank you for joining me in my journey.
Completed My Pre Surgery Screening Appointment
[ Monday March 24th 2025 at 1:46 pm ]
Today has been a very different day for me. It was my pre surgery screening appointment.
The para-transit organization that takes me to my appointments had to pick me up at 6:40AM. The reason they came so early was based on the availability of their vehicles. This translated into a 4 hour wait prior to my appointment once I arrived at the hospital. I was okay with this. I was so tired this morning that I paid for both breakfast and lunch at the hospital cafeteria. Then I spent 2½ hours working on my blog. I wrote 24 of the outstanding entries where I had only recorded the date, time and event. I have approximately the same amount to do later this week. I have really enjoyed working on this and thinking while I typed about the things that matter to me. I will load these into my website over the next few days.
While working on my blog I felt both of my artificial hips being on the cusp of sublexing. I was able to back track how I had just moved and got my artificial hips seated corrected in their sockets. With how often my right artificial hip has done this over the past 36 hours it has become as much of a problem as my left artificial hip. My right artificial hip isn't partially dislocating quite as often. But the pain and the intense muscle stiffness that results from this is creating the same impact.
I didn't find the questions for surgery screening hard to answer. I am willing to be honest and transparent with my health care providers. Additionally I am wanting to talk about what is wrong. I think there is more wrong that hasn't yet been discovered. I was surprised when I was told to discontinue using Omega 3 in the 7 days prior to surgery. The reason is because this creates additional bleeding and the risk this represents to surgery. I was also pleasantly surprised to be told I am allowed to use my anti inflammatory medication until 1 day before surgery. I had sent an e-mail to my surgeons office expressing I am relying on this for the pain caused by my artificial hips sublexing. This doesn't have the same lingering effect that Omega 3 has and will be out of my body after 24 hours.
During this appointment I have again realized the predicament my life has transitioned into on account of my artificial hips partially coming out of the socket. However on the "pro" side of a "pro / con" chart: I don't fear falling. In practical terms I asked for fall recovery training when I didn't recover following the surgery in June 2009 where both of my hips were operated on during the same surgery and the recovery saw me begin needing a power wheelchair. It is perfectly possible to have an enjoyable life using a power wheelchair if it is being used for mobility.
But for me if I have to pick one problem that is the most troublesome and impacting it is the pain. This is not my typical response. I typically see pain as the result of the underlying issues. But in this instance when my artificial hip partially dislocates it creates the same pain as forcefully rubbing your knuckles from both hands against each other on account of my upper body weight pushing against it. When either of my artificial hip are partially dislocating they announce this is happening with gusto. The pain is simply unrelenting. I've been in pain for years. This is the new worst pain. My quality of life has now become worse than before my hip joints were replaced. The pain my artificial hips partially dislocating causes sucks my energy out of my body that I simply don't have to give away. I am missing out on doing the things I really enjoy and find fun. The past 8 weeks has been such a vicious cycle.
Where I am having my surgery is at a higher level of care hospital than the hospital in the city where I live. This is on account of the complicated nature of my physical disability. While I was waiting for today's appointment to happen my local hospital responded to an inquiry I sent by e-mail to their patient relations department. When I attended the emergency department of my local hospital on March 16th into March 17th the emergency department doctor offered to admit me as we talked about "what now" on account of my left artificial hip partially dislocating. She explained the symptoms I was experiencing at the time aren't typical for someone being admitted and the norm is to go home with my surgery being escalated to the top of the waiting list. I agreed to this. Before I left the doctor explained to me the criteria where it would be reasonable for me to come back to the emergency department with a request to be admitted until my surgery occurs. I am now experiencing the symptoms that justify being admitted to hospital. The new information I was given today is that I wouldn't be forfeiting the relationship with my hip surgeon if I asked to be admitted to my local hospital. As long as I was forthcoming about my treatment at the hospital with a higher level of care the local hospital would partner with my surgeon to manage my symptoms in the short term and work out when my surgery would happen. There are still a few remaining chores that absolutely must happen in preparation for my next surgery. Once completed if my hips are so painful, debilitating and unstable I don't think I have any option but to pursue being admitted to my local hospital with how debilitating the pain I am experiencing really is.
My blood pressure was high while at the hospital today. I think this was in equal amounts not being excited and expectant about my next operation with how challenging the recovery will be combined with pain and not enough sleep in the 24 hours before my appointment. I was put on a 15 minute blood pressure monitor while at the emergency department of my local hospital on March 16th into March 17th. My blood pressure was healthy and in the normal range once I got into a patient room and had some quiet time listening to orchestra music. I am not concerned about the high reading today. The hospital wanted to do it's due diligence. I had an ECG in the pre surgery screening unit so my heart can be checked by a cardiologist before I have my surgery. I am very grateful for the resources being invested in me to get me through this time in my life.
Finally I was assisted in a very practical way by the driver of the para-transit vehicle. He is a retired police officer. He has drove me to many of my appointments. I have got to know him. He is a very kind and gentle man. I asked him if he would stop to help me get a key cut for the main entrance of my home. He wanted to know why. I explained that I need this to give a neighbour so Gary The Hamster is able to be cared for while I am in the hospital recovering from my surgery. As this had to do with surgery he was very willing to do this himself for me. There are enough people that I know that special moments happen frequently enough to keep me encouraged. Helping to ensure Gary is taken care of while I am in the hospital means a lot to me. It made me feel very grateful and encouraged. Gary is my little family. Hamsters only live for a short time. I am loving having my fuzzy buddy here with me. I enjoy providing for Gary and seeing his body language that translates into how much he loves living here in my home. I am really encouraged with the kindness that the driver did for me today.