Arizona

Apache Junction

July 12, 2010

Although we we arrived in Apache Junction on May 18, I was unable to have surgery until July 12 because Dr. LaCognata’s scheduled is backed up that far.  

In front of hip hospital

 I had total hip surgery on  Monday, July 12, 2010.  My surgery was scheduled for 1:30 p.m.  I was asked to be at the hospital by noon.  Because my RA meds suppress my immune system and thin my blood, I was asked to stop taking them prior to surgery.  By the day of surgery, my RA had flared.  I suffered through the last few days before surgery and was at the hospital at noon on July 12.

I immediately began asking for some pain relief, my pain levels were at a 10, but was told that they couldn’t help me.  After checking into the hospital and making payment arrangements, I went to the lab for blood work and then to preop to prepare for surgery.  At every turn, I asked for pain relief.  At every turn I was told there was nothing they could do.

In preop, the air conditioning was turned up so high that I had five blankets on and was still freezing cold.  I was freezing and in incredible pain.  I asked them to speak with the anesthesiologist to see if he could do something for my pain.  I never saw him until 5 p.m.  That is when I finally was taken to surgery.  I spent five hours, in pain, freezing, in preop.  It was horrible.

Surgery went well although Dr. LaCognata told us that my hip had deteriorated to the point that the ball was barely there and had a hole in the middle of it.  It also had a hairline fracture, so it was a broken hip waiting to happen.    Oh well, all is well now with my new hip.

I left the hospital on Thursday and was taken to a rehabilitation center in Chandler, Arizona.  Bob drove out to see me every day as I began my OT and PT sessions.  I didn’t want to be there, and the nurses assistant ticked me off the very first day because of her attitude when I asked for help.  When she did that, I decided, “I’ll just do everything myself.”  So right from day one, I did it all myself except for pain meds.  The OT, who was great, did help me take a shower also.  What was interesting there is that some people had been there two or three weeks and had no idea when they were going home.  It was like Hotel California there.  You could check in any time you want, but you could never leave.  Bob and I found the head office and informed them that I would be leaving on Friday, so I was there for one week and one day.

I had home physical therapy for a week and then began outpatient physical therapy.  My hip is healing well although it is still weak at this time.  While I was in the hospital, Bob added a bigger and better handle to the stairwell.  Thank you, Bob.

New hand rail