The literature has a lot of suggestions about re-arranging the kitchen and refrigerator so you don't have to bend down to reach things. I've discovered that I'm able to get in and out of bed, chair, etc. by myself without using the bad leg (part practice, part because it hurts).
Have a great wife, and 21-yr-old daughter still living at home, they have said "don't worry, be happy". Am going to owe them big time :-)
(Oh, that's the daughter who, with her friend-boy, is going to Kaua'i with us for a week, my treat - so maybe I'm paying in advance <g>.)
Thanks a LOT for your concern, Deanna.
Total shocker last night - son (son ?!?!?) gave me a hug, said it will be ok. Whoa.
-Ben
>That is a bit scary, Ben. Would your insurance cover any in-home nursing
>staff while you recuperate?
>
>-d
>----- Original Message -----
>From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: "CF-Community" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Friday, January 30, 2004 1:16 PM
>Subject: TMI, TMI (long)
>
>
>> Oh, boy.
>> Got a big envelope in the mail from my HMO yesterday.
>> Letter inside addressed to "Total Joint Patient".
>>
>> Figured that was either mistakenly sent from a drug rehab program <ha> or
>about my upcoming hip replacement <not ha>.
>>
>> OK, folks, this is suddenly getting VERY real.
>>
>> Sheaf of papers -
>> - laboratory requisition forms
>> - medical history questionnaire
>> - anesthesiology questionnaire,
>> - forms and information on autologous donation
>> (giving your own blood to get it back at surgery time),
>> - schedules for what happens when
>> before, during, and after the surgery,
>> including all the stuff they will do in the hospital,
>> and as outpatient afterwards - lab tests, physical therapy, etc.
>>
>> Would you believe the list of rules includes how you may and may not go to
>the bathroom ?!? And rather explicit information on how you may and may not
>have sex while recuperating ?!?!?
>>
>> And you have to tell the surgeon if you're going to have any dental work
>done, including routine exams/cleanings, so they can decide whether to put
>you on antibiotics first.
>>
>> It's going to be wierd having to use a special helper tool to put socks on
>and off.
>>
>> Keep one rule in mind "thou shalt not bend the affected hip more than 90
>degrees at any time", and you start realizing about raised toilet seats,
>having a gripper tool to pick up anything you drop, etc. Plus not being able
>to put weight on it until I heal (maybe 2 months) - got to put grab rails in
>the shower.
>>
>> I'm apparently not going to be allowed to drive myself for 6 to 8 weeks
>afterwards, and only can ride as a passenger if the vehicle doesn't put me
>into a prohibited position.
>>
>> They suggest getting a serving cart to push your meal from the prep area
>to the table, since I'll be required to use crutches or a walker, and won't
>have either hand free to carry anything. Whoa.
>>
>> Wife is going to see if her employer will let her install CAD software at
>home, work from home at least part of the time, FTP the files in.
>>
>> Sorry for the long post, but it's getting a little scary here.
>> Truth be told, though, I'm more excited and anticipatory about getting a
>better quality of life back than I am worried. (Keep telling yourself that,
>Ben!)
>>
>> -Ben
>>
>>
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