WHAT IS SHE DOING????

Well, I went for my first "walk" today - and I think I got some strange looks!! I have been using the shopping carts in stores - to hold onto for support. I just throw the crutches in there and lean on the cart to help me walk through the store. So, today I decided I could go for a walk around the block using one crutch and holding onto the stroller to push Reilly. I think I looked pretty silly hobbling and limping along! The stroller is definately not as heavy, sturdy or tall as a shopping cart! I may have pushed a little to hard - and I'm sure will be feeling it tonight and tomorrow! But, it was nice to get that first walk into my recovery - now I know I can do it, I will just look like an idiot doing it!
One more thing - I feel like having a t-shirt made that says "I had hip surgery. Yes, I know am too young. No, not a replacement, it was reconstructive hip surgery. Why? Because I have dysplasia - yes like dogs get." I can't tell you how many times people ask me what happened and I have to go through the whole thing! Why can't they just leave it at - "I had hip surgery"!! I don't even dare tell them the name of the surgery!!!!
Beth

MAYBE 1 CRUTCH??!!

Went to Dr. Kagan (local doc) for a follow-up appt. He said my incision has healed well and took x-rays. WOW ARE THOSE SCREWS BIG!!!!! No wonder they are sticking out!! The best part was NO MORE INJECTIONS!! (I think TJ is a little bummed at that - he liked playing doctor)
Heard back from Dr. Millis today and he has told me I can go to 50% body weight bearing!!!!! YEAHH!!! He said to keep using 2 crutches until he views the x-rays I mailed him. This means I may be going to only 1 crutch VERY soon!!! (already do sometimes - as I try to get back into my mommy role - cleaning, cooking, bathing....) He also said I may even be crutch free by week 8!!!That is only 2 and 1/2 weeks away!!! I may need to use a cane - but I will take that over using these ugly grey crutches!
Beth

Waiting

Still waiting to hear back from Millis. I am waiting to hear if I can stop the Lovenox injections (blood thinner to prevent clots). TJ has to give them to me - as I am a wimp and can't do it myself. They need to be given in my belly - and I can tell when TJ is little mad at me! I also still have tape residue around the incision and can't get it off! I try to scrub it off in the shower - but don't want to scrub too hard. Also, I don't really like touching there - the heads of the 4 screws are right underneath the skin and you can see and feel them!!! It freaks me out! But, I guess it will make for an easy screw removal this summer. The incision looks like it has healed nicely - and is right on the bikini line - so isn't visible in a bathing suit. I am getting brave and "walking" holding on to various things (couches, counters, chairs....) I am driving now every day - and am getting in and out of the car easily.
Beth

OOPS

TJ is my husband every day - went shopping today!!!
Beth :)

Shopping on crutches!

I went shopping with TJ (my husband today) - brought Reilly while my mother in law stayed at home with Brady. TJ pushed the stroller while I hobbled along on my crutches. This is not the first time I have gone shopping - but the longest shopping outing so far. We were at an outdoor outlet mall and were there over an hour. By the end I needed to sit and have an iced coffee from Starbucks and rest a bit. The funny thing is - no one moves out of your way when you are on crutches! You would think that people would be sympathetic - but they're not! The only "pity" smiles I got were from old people either with walker or cane - or in wheelchairs! Then you just get the looks like - "I wonder what's wrong with her".
Anyway - TJ, my parents, and in-laws have been amazing in the amount of time and help they are giving us. I never would have been able to have this surgery without them! I am unable to pick up or carry Reilly upstairs - so someone always needs to be here (besides me). They work in shifts - morning and afternoon. (And they all thought they were retired - HA).
I am waiting to hear from Dr Millis to see if I can put more than 1/3 body weight on my leg (I already do it - without pain, so just waiting for the official "OK"). I am having very little pain and am walking and doing exercises in the pool almost every day - and working on my tan while I'm at it!
Beth

4 weeks post RPAO!

I am now 4 weeks post RPAO. Since I didn't start this earlier - let's back up. I am 33 years old and have 2 small boys. I have been living with dysplasia and pain for 10 years - diagnosed 5 years ago. After going to many docs down here in FLA - they wanted to do a replacement. PAO was briefly mentioned to me - so I did my own research. I spent HOURS on the internet - and Dr. Millis in Boston sounded like "The Man". I was headed to MA for Thanksgiving and got an appt to have a consult. He concluded that PAO was the best option for me - but I couldn't wait too long- as I had already developed arthritis. I was lucky enough to get a cancellation date for surgey (otherwise was going to have to wait until May). I had RPAO at New England Baptist Hospital in Boston on Jan. 25th 2008. I spent one LONG week there. I had several reactions to MANY pain meds. I left the hospital on vicodin and had a rough plane ride back to FLA.
The first week home was tough - lots of naps and lots of vicodin. The next week got better. Now at 4 weeks, I am driving, standing up in the shower AND able to shave my legs, sit on a regular toilet seat, go up and down the stairs on my cructhes very easily, walk putting a good amount of weight on my leg...... I can say that the recovery is going MUCH better than I expected! I am in contact with Dr Millis once a week through email - and go see a local doc this week for x-rays and to look at how the incision is healing.