Hip-hop anonymous - a PAO journal

I'm so confused right now. After reading a few recent posts on the hipwomen online support group, I'm now seriously starting to rethink this whole surgery idea. One woman wanted the group to know that after having a PAO in one hip and resurfacing on the other, the resurfacing won hands down because her PAO hip was still "somewhat gimpy." After that, a few other women chimed in to say that their PAO hip has never really been normal, or that it was the best solution they had "at the time." Oh geez. I know it's late in the game to be backpedaling, but I have to make sure I'm making the right choice. I pleaded to the group to write in about their long term results and am waiting to see if there really great outcomes out there. I wrote: "I really need your help. I'm supposed to be finalizing surgery details, including plane tickets, etc., in the next week or two. I would love to hear about anyone else's long term results, specifically people ...

I got my pre-surgery packet in the mail yesterday. I've been trying to be lighthearted about the op, but all this paperwork is causing a lot of unwelcome seriousness to edge in. Insurance info, blood draws, medical equipment (can you believe I have to have a hospital bed once I'm at my parents' place?), prescription authorization, hotel/transportation info ... Yech. Of course, I was expecting it. And I'll be able to handle it, one step at a time. One step at a time. My biggest fear right now is having to take 325 mg of iron (ferrous gluconate) twice a day starting two weeks before my blood draw ... hmmm, that would be this week sometime. Anyway, I've had some pretty uncomfortable side effects when I've take iron supplements in the past, and I'm not really looking forward to having to take so much for so long. Any suggestions? In the meantime, I'll grudgingly be going through my paperwork. :)

I have two months left before the big day. Not that I'm counting or anything, but that leaves 59 days (if you don't count today or the day of surgery) before I go under the knife for the first time in my life. I think the reality is starting to sink in. I'm looking forward to starting the recovery process and getting my life back. Woo hoo!

Today, Maryanna called from United Blood Services to schedule my autologous (ah TAH luh gus) blood donations. I need to give two units before my surgery. The first will be March 6 (which puzzles me because they told me blood has a shelf life of 42 days, which makes it older than that by the time I have surgery. Note to self: Double check with nice ladies to make sure they aren't making a mistake. I only have so much to give, people). The second will be March 13th. I was told to drink 64 ounces of water the day before I donate, eat a big breakfast the day of, and bring my driver's license. Alrighty then. I've never given blood before, only plasma, so this will be interesting. I've read the reports questioning the benefit of donating blood before surgery. Some say that giving blood so close to surgery can actually make a person weaker and more likely to need a donation afterward. Some people have relatives donate for them so they don't have to donate themselves but ar...

Two things have happened this past week while I was on vacation in Michigan. 1) My surgery date was pushed back one week because Dr. Mayo needs to be at a meeting on the 16th. My new date is April 23. When I first got the e-mail from Keri, I almost started to tear up, as it's already been such a long wait. But my sister soothed me, and now I'm okay with it. It's only one more week. However, the date change makes my family a little hesitant to start making concrete plans for the surgery ... we don't want to get our airline tickets if the date could change again. 2) I saw the airport in a new light, a semi-scary, how-in-the-heck-am-I-going-to-do-this-after-surgery kind of light. Giant bumps in the jet bridge, tight corners, low seats, cramped quarters, etc. Yikes. All I know is that it's going to be quite an adventure!

I've read as much as I can about this surgery. I think I have a high tolerance for pain, but some of these blogs scare me to death. I wish the best for Sam, who is currently trying to deal with the pain of her surgery. I know a lot of women have come before her, and even though I think I'm strong, I think a PAO is going to try to prove me wrong. I hope I can make it through. My accolades go to all the women who have been able to do this. I hope I'm as tough as you are.

From the hipwomen online support group has emerged my favorite surgery quote. In regards to needing to become comfortable with the idea of having surgery, hip sister Amy says: "You're right about embracing the decision. Right now, I'm just not quite to the embracing part — seems like trying to embrace a porcupine." Amen, sister. Royalty free stock photography at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I'm finding that I can't talk to many people these days without them mentioning or asking about my surgery. I've slowly started to tell more people about it, but only those who will notice I'm missing for two months. I've always been a strong person physically and emotionally, so this whole hip thing is not only hard for me to swallow, but it's also confusing for others to understand. I mean, I look normal, right? Take last night. My volleyball team and I finished our match (victorious!) and then headed to our familiar watering hole. Over a couple of pitchers of beer, my friends joked about me possibly meeting a guy in the hospital (um, weird). The ultra cute new guy on our team didn't know the situation (which was fine by me, thanks, friends!) so I had to fill him in. His response was like so many others I've heard: "You sure seem to move around the court okay." To which my awesome friend Adrienne said, "She hides pain really well." ...