Saturday, May 1, 2010

Bad news.....

Well last week I was talking with my insurance company and discovered that they are most likely going to consider my hip problems a pre existing condition.... I had to cancel my hip scope for next Friday.. :( I'm really upset about the news because I am experiencing a lot of pain. I am currently fighting the company and will hopefully know more this week about how long I will have to wait.... I hope its not to long! I just wanted to update on my current situation.
God Bless!!!!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Well ..... :(

Well I saw Dr.Scheid on Thursday and didn't get what i would call " good news" but " okay news" I guess..... He said my R hip looked great... everything was recovering well with that hip but i need to really focus on getting it stronger. He did 2 x-rays to see the damage in the other hip..... When he got out his tools to measure on the x-ray the coverage I had for both hips he was surprised to find that I only had a coverage of "21" on my left hip and "35" on my right. He said that I needed to get the other hip fixed because 21 is not good at all.... He recommended that I have a scope done ASAP to fix the damage done inside the joint and fix my labrum and then have my LPAO in June or so... I am still in shock I think...

I'm happy but sad at the same time.... I am happy to know that this time next year I will be major pain free... and will be living my sort of normal life again... I just am ready to not have to deal with the catching and popping and grinding and the spells were I cant walk ANYMORE..... But at the same time I'm sad because I have to do it aaaallll over again... I have faith that it will be easier this go around but still its just so soon..... I know that my support system is a little shaken by the fact that we will be going through all of it again so soon as well. I know that I have to do it and I know that it will be so nice afterwards so I just hope that with that in the back of my mind and my faith and family and friends behind me it will be easier.

I know that it was rough, I'm reminded about it almost everyday by either Kiel or my parents but I just hope it will be worth it... I am very blessed to have met another hip chick near me. Her name is Megan and she has had both of her hips done since Nov of last year. She lives about 2 sec away from my bf's house and actually went to the same HS as my bf as well.... She went up with me for my apt and to meet some of the other hip chicks in Indy... We had a really great time and I am thankful for her support and encouraging words....

So as of today I am looking to have a L hip scope done May 7th by Dr. Lintner from Ortho I.... and my LPAO within the week of June 21st. I am not sure yet if I want to do the scope or if I just want to wait until my PAO to fix everything. Scheid said that it would benefit me with relief and a little less work when its time to do my PAO because they wont have to go inside the joint to repair everything.... It is simply a matter if I want to wait or if I want relief now... One of my biggest concerns though is my work. I have to stay employed to keep my insurance but I don't know how they will feel with me having another surgery and being off work for at least 4 weeks. I guess time will tell and I will be sure to update if anything changes....

God Bless!!!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

ALMOST 15 WKS post op...

Well things haven't been going the best for me recently... I have been having a lot of pain in both hips.... my left hips ( which is the one I didn't have surgery on) has been popping a lot and giving me that catch feeling. I'm not sure why, I really haven't had much trouble out of it this entire recovery from my RPAO. It started about 2 weeks back doing it and now it pops about 10 times a day... the pain in my R hips is mostly soreness I think. The weather has been a roller coaster lately so with the rain in and out I do believe that has effected it... Not sure if that's true or not but that's what I'm going with lol.....

I have still been busy with everything lately... I'm still working full time at the assisted nursing facility as the guest relations which is mostly sedated work (which is nice :)) but its starting to catch up with me... I'm 19 already working full time and going to school full time and trying to have a social life... It's hard... I know the job is a blessing from God and I shouldn't complain because I know people do it all the time but IDK its just like I went from not working much prior to surgery to not working at all to BAM.... full time.... I will soon be getting health insurance through work tho.. May 1st! Which is great and something that will most likely keep me going...

Kiel and I have been doing well also... We have had many conversations about my other hip and what he thinks is best... Its kind of hard to really listen to what everyone else is saying when I'm the one with the pain... My mother and father are not very supportive of another surgery very soon which is understandable but at the same time I'm the one in pain... IDK.... Kiel at first was like no we will wait as long as we can to do the other one but now he is seeing things like me... He is seeing that I am in pain with the other one already and he doesn't want it to get worst and do more damage... The way I look at it is ya the surgery sucked and brought a lot of pain but it didn't last forever or even half a year... I went 5 years with pain with my right hip and it got to the point I didn't want to do anything active because I know it would hurt... Scheid told me before that I would most likely have about 3 years before I would have to have surgery but he also has told me that I would have as long as it held up without pain so it was hard to actually put a timeline on how long... but say it was 3 years... well I will be graduating school, getting a job, moving out on my own ( well with Kiel) and dealing with all of that I would want nor would I have time to have the procedure... I just sort of want to have it done and get it over with... I just think that ya it will bring pain again for awhile but once that's done I will be fixed and pain free... Maybe I'm crazy IDK haha...

Well I go see my doctor on April 8th and I will update what is talked about then because I am going to talk to him about my options and what to expect with my L hip... wish me luck!!!!

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

12 weeks yay!

Well I'm sorry for the long delay, I have been very busy with school and working full time now. Everything seems to be a lot better. I have had a trip to the doctor last week and got to see some of the hip girls. I have also been put in contact with a few new hippies, and they are actually close to me. I have been staying in contact with them and that has been nice as well.

As for seeing Scheid, he told me that I could go to one crutch for a few weeks then down to a cane. :) I was a little nervous because I didn't want pain to come back. I have been taking pain meds only at night if I am in a lot of pain. That has been nice but has brought out different aches and pains :( my back and other hip have been hurting sporadically.... and here within the past few days after starting to use the one crutch I have been noticing my knees have been hurting. I'm thinking its just because I have been off my feet for so long.

Just the other day I finally had time to get in the gym and that felt nice. I rode the bike for about 30 min and did a variety of weight machines for my legs. It felt great getting to do a little more but I paid for it later that night :( I know it will take awhile to get everything back to normal again which is okay but I don't wanna deal with pain forever. I'm starting to wonder about doing my other hip. I know that the doc said I could probably wait a few years but I'm not sure if I want to because I am so young now and I don't wanna have to worry about putting my life on hold when I'm just getting out of school to do it then. IDK if that's the right way to think or not....

I go back and see the doc on April 8th. By then I should be free of all help....

I will update if anything else happens..... I am glad that everything is starting to feel normal again. My life is almost back.... Now I'm just dealing with the everyday type of pain..

P.S. I'm have started a diet to try and loose some weight to preserve my other hip, I hope it works, wish me luck!!!!!

GOD BLESS ALL MY HIPPIES!!!!!!!!

Saturday, February 13, 2010

7 & 8

WOW! A lot of good things happened in these last few weeks. I have only seen my therapist 3 times because my parents couldn't continue to pay COBRA so I cant afford to go 3 times a week. :( o well! I also got the opportunity to go to Indy and spend some time with my hippies! I had a great time! Then the following day (Feb 4th) I saw Dr.Scheid! I stayed with my hip friend Courtney which was fun and went to her therapy that morning with her before seeing Scheid. Then went to my apt. Scheid was in a really good mood that day! I got X-Rays and got to see a better picture of my hardware which I will post later on! I also was given the great news of being able to DRIVE again!!! That's truly made my day! He told me I could start putting 30 pounds of weight a week from then on... Also when I was within 30 of my full weight I could start a cane or one crutch! I was so excited! Some semi bad news I got was that my bad leg was a little longer than my other leg :( he gave me a shoe insert to level out the difference and it made things better! That night I also had tickets to see Rascal Flatt's and Darius Rucker back home in Evansville which made that day even better!!!!! I went on crutches which wasn't that bad, but eventually I started to get sore because I was standing for so long. I was really sore that night my feet and hip hurt a lot! But the concert was so worth it because we had amazing seats and I actually got to touch Gary the lead singers hand! It was neat! but back to my hip!

week 7
I started using my crutches a little more and on that Thursday I started to put a little amount of weight on my leg! It didn't really hurt that bad with the bones it was mostly muscle pain! I rode 2.5 miles on the bike and did many strengthening exercises! She gave me a thera band to take home to do exercises with and gave me a list of things to. I started not having to take as much pain meds either. On a regular day I would only have to take a pill in the morning and at night! I would some days have to take one throughout the day but not normally. I really feel some improvement during this week!

Week 8
I wanna label this week freedom week! I have started driving and being able to do more on my own! I also am able to use my crutches almost 100% of the time! I use the walker at home some times if its first thing in the morning or if I'm in a hurry! Since I got the new full time job I have been going in at 9 am and some mornings not getting home until 9pm. It makes for a long day and normally I'm very tired when I lay down so I'm not having as much trouble sleeping as I did before but that is still an issue. When I saw Scheid he lowered my dose of pain meds to 5's.

I have been doing a lot better and feel that I have made a milestone because I actually almost feel normal again. Pain is there but not antagonizing and I have learned to manage! I have been getting along with everyone better so that's a plus and I really enjoy my job so that helps me stay BUSY BUSY! I go back to the doctor on March 4th! I hope to see my hippies then or before then! I just want to thank them again for all they do along with my parents/cousin and wonderful boyfriend! I am truly blessed to have all of them in my life and I hope the other hippies are doing swell as well! I know Ashley just had a scope done on her other hip so everyone keep her in your prayers and Courtney has been having a lot of knee pain so I hope that is stopped soon.

I will post more pictures soon and sorry for not staying on top of everything weekly!

Sunday, January 31, 2010

Here are some pictures from along the way....

Thumbs up last shot....
Giving my lost blood thinner shot...
Last one.....
Ashley, Jessica, Shelly and I.....
Shelly and I




Wednesday, January 27, 2010

5 & 6 weeks......








Sorry I haven't posted in 2 weeks... I have been very busy and just haven't got around to it. Things are going well. I applied for the guest relations position at my current work... the position consists of half marketing and half business work. I have been filling in for the last week and really enjoyed it so I applied and found out today I got the job.. YAY! Also the good part about it is that I can do it currently with my hip. Its alot of sitting and the part that isn't, well its not that big of a deal. I'm really excited and grateful because its 40 hours a week and I will be making good money. The best part is that they are flexible with letting my hip heal and it will be able to because its a mostly sitting job..

Well more to my hip:

Week 5: During this week I made a pretty big improvement. I was able to take a shower standing all most the entire time. I also am getting faster with my walker! Im so thankful that I don't have to give myself any more shots, that's a big deal..haha.... Things are slowly improving now... I can pretty much get myself into the car alone but sometimes need some help... I have been sleeping a little better... But not much.... schools still the same...boring and long :( One thing that is starting to effect me alot is the fact that it seems like not alot of people understand.. or seem to be my friend any more... not sure really why but I am assuming its because "its not convenient for them" idk. Well I stayed almost the entire week at Kiel's house because he was taking me to work and class... his house is only about 10 min. away from my work so that's good...I also was able to get myself into bed alone :)

Week 6: I officially stood in the shower the entire time without sitting.... I also was able to sit Indian style and cross my legs.... I'm not really sure if I am supposed to but I did and that's a big deal for me because I always cross my legs haha....idk! I am a little ticked that I am going to be behind because my doctor isn't in the office this week for me to get evaluated... My doctors office here said they sent out my X-rays last Tuesday but no answer yet!! I just am upset I guess because I cant put weight on my leg or drive until I see him on feb. 4th that's my 7wks. 2 days.... I just wish he would be in the office and available when he is in need.... it really frustrates me... Also he frustrates me with what he does to my friends.. but that's a different story. O well! I have been having some problems sleeping again... also I have became very sad and mad alot... Its kind of extreme at times... idk I guess its stress of everything, not sure.... I hope things start to head up for me really soon! I ask that you all can pray for my family and some relief with our problems.... Thanks!

I am excited to start therapy this week though. I am ready to regain full use of my leg again and to be able to actually walk again. I have my first evaluation today! Which is 01-26-10!

Bad news is my parents are paying Cobra through this whole process and it is starting to become very expensive.... :( and we don't know how much longer we will be able to keep it...

Good news is that with this new job I can get my own insurance but it wont take effect on May 1st! Also I am soooo excited to get to see all of my wonderful hip friends....:) I am actually staying with one of them the night before my apt....so we all will be able to visit :)

I just wanna say a little prayer for all of my other hip friends.... it seems that alot of them are experiencing bad and hard times in there lives right now so I just wanna pray that they will get some relief soon!

I will update pictures very soon.... I have alot up already on my face-book and will put them up on here asap....

I will write as soon as more happens!

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

4 Weeks Post Op.....

Okay well so far was good until tonight... I had night class at USI and the cheerleaders had a friends and family night to come see their routine for nationals. Well my class got done early so me and Kiel decided to go see them perform. We get over to the gym in the car and decided to use my new crutches to get in because its a short straight shot into the gym and out. Not to terribly far. Well we got in alright, with a few short stops. Then we watched their performance and got up to leave. I then talked to a few people and started to walk out. As I was walking out I told Kiel I needed to stop up here and about that time I brought my crutches in front of me and my knee gave out along with the spring on my crutch. I fell to the ground which was a concrete floor, onto my Right Knee which is my bad side and I tried to turn to prevent my hip hitting and when I did that my leg got twisted under my body. :( It hurt really bad... I was in so much pain I instantly started to cry. Kiel didn't know what to do and couldn't catch me because it happened so fast. But there was these nice people who decided to help me out as well.. Kiel ran to the car to get my wheelchair while the nice people got me on a bench. I then was wheeled to the car... It hurt soooooo.... bad! I don't really know what to do.. My mom called the phone line for the on-call doctor for scheid and left a message. Then a PA called me back who pretty much told me nothing. He was like well um,,, you could go to the ER but the doctors wouldn't know about your surgery and everything so it wouldn't be helpful. He was like call Scheid in the morning and see what they want you to do, and I advise you to continue using your crutches with minimum weight barring. I was like I want to throw them away and I'm no weight barring. He was like okay continue that and ice. I was like okay wow um didnt help much... O well guess I will call Scheid in the morning with the news and try to figure out what to do since I don't see him again until Feb 4th. 7 weeks 2 days after surgery. To get my first X-Ray which to me seems a little weird for such the long wait. O well....

Before today I have been doing extremely well. I came over to Kiel's on Sunday night. Saturday night he took me out to a local pizza place and my favorite place walmart :) I got pushed around in their huge wheelchairs!!! It was great to be back there. Haha... Besides going out I accomplished many new things this week. I was able to officially take my first shower alone. No help getting in or out. It was awesome and I sat there so long all the hot water was out. LOL. I also was able to lift my leg into bed and the huge step outside of Kiel's house without help. Even though help is nice I still try to do some for myself! I'm excited to continue to improve. One of the only things I have left that I want to do really bad is put my own shoe and sock on my right side. I cant bend that far yet. I have mastered putting all the rest of my clothes on for the most part. I also wish I could walk. I know in time.. but time seems to be crawling by.. especially after the fall tonight :(

I started classes Monday of this week as well. I decided it would be best to use the wheelchair to get around. I decided to use my crutches if I had to use the restroom but didnt need them to much. It wasn't bad getting around since I had Kiel to push me from class to class. He's such a great guy :).

Nothing much has been going on this past week. But I also want to thank Alyssa my cousin for all the help she has given me. She has been at my house when I'm there for the past 2 weeks. She has waited on my every need and I thank her for that. I also want to thank my parents for what they do. Even though times are hard try to be positive.....

I will let everyone know what happens with my fall. :(

Also I want to thank Courtney for the help and encouraging words this past week. She is going through this process with me just 4 days before me. I also want to thank my other hippies as well and wish Shelly who just got to come home a safe and full recovery. Ashley I hope all goes well with your tests, MRI, scopes all that.:( I hope you get good news.

Also I would like to have everyone wish me luck with applying to my program. I am applying Jan 20th for the Social Work program at USI. I want to eventually become a Clinical Social Worker with my Masters degree. But got to get in the BSW program first! Thanks!