Whenever you think something is going to happen just as you've planned...

...it probably won't go as planned...that's just Murphy's Law, right? Well, apparently that theory also applies to the laws of future bionic women. When there is a need for another one, the total hip replacement stars align themselves correctly to make sure they suck you in. And that is just what happened today!

I went to Rochester this morning for my scheduled pre-op appointments with Dr. Trousdale. Included in my several appointments were 5 brand-spanking new x-rays that indicated a significant amount of degeneration of the joint since March. He gave me 2 options, the PAO, or a total hip replacement (THR). With the possibility of my pain remaining the same, and that I will be happy with the PAO at 50%, and the possibility that I will be pain free happy with the THR at 95%. On paper, it's an obvious no-brainer. The tough part is that A. I'm only 33 and B. I will have a fake hip!!! Did I mention a fake hip at 33? After all considerations and hours of conversations with friends and family today, it was determined that the main concern is my quality of life. This has recently been not quite as good as I would have liked for my 33rd year given all the pain I have been in. So, in order to enjoy the life & children I have been given...I'm going for it.

I guess I knew this option was a possibility, but I sooooo was not expecting this. All of my plans, informational searches, youtube surgery video searches, EVERYTHING was for the PAO surgery. Now, it turns out, I will be having a THR tomorrow morning. I report at 7:00am, and am fairly anxious about this whole deal...

I am staying in Rochester with my friend Molly tonight. She will be seeing me off to surgery, along with my mom & dad who will be driving down in the morning. The nurses today told me to bring a small bag with just my ID and a few toiletries that I would need...HA! They had no idea who they are dealing with here...

My hospital suitcase includes:
sweatpants/tshirts
cute button down nighty (thanks to my work girls!!!)
fuzzy slippers
ALL my toiletries
my pillow
dry shampoo and conditioner
laptop
ipod speakers/ipod
backpack (serves as purse for the next few months)
sundress (for leaving day!)
flip flops
cute pair of flats (just in case the PT doesn't like my flip flops)
a few movies
some other random items :-)

We'll see how much of it is overkill...better to be safe than sorry!

The next update will probably be from Molly, or me whenever possible. thanks to all of you for your continued support!

Peri Acetabular Osteotomy Surgery Video

This is a video of a 27 year old girl who is having the same sugery as I am. The only difference in our story is that her hip dysplasia was found at birth, and she was put in a cast to correct it. However, her hip sockets still did not form correctly and still needs this surgery. Since she was aware of the dysplasia, she is able to do this surgery before her joint becomes arthritic. Unfortunately, mine was not found at birth, and my hip has been degenerating and developing arthritis over the last few years, hence my hip pain. This video isn't too long, and is not very graphic. Enjoy!

T minus 7...

It's been a few months, and quite a bit has happened since my last post. First of all, my PAO surgery was scheduled for June 19th, only to be pushed to the 23rd because Dr. Trousdale had something "come up" and couldn't make it. In addition to that, I have been experiencing quite a bit of fatigue and some really random symptoms which I won't bore you with in hopes that I don't sound like I'm 80. Then one day, about two months ago, I woke up and couldn't walk on my right foot at all. I went in to a Podiatrist to find I had Sesamoiditis in the ball of my foot, in addition to some extra inflammation that was unexplained. So, 2 cortizone shots later (one in the ball of my foot, one directly into the top of the big toe) I hobbled home to await results of the blood tests. Come to find out my rheumatoid factor came back high, and he told me I had Rheumatoid Arthritis. This idea was squashed by the Rheumatologist a few weeks later who is now insisting that I have Fibromyalgia. I asked him if that was a fake disease or diagnosis given to people who have weird symptoms but really don't know what they have. For some reason didn't really think that was very funny...



It turns out that Fibromyalgia is often brought on by chronic pain in the body. He informed me that it is entirely possible the all-over body pains may subside after my hip is healed. So, I guess I have THAT possiblity to look forward to. :-) With surgery being so close, he does not want to start any medications, and since I'm already on pain meds ALL the time (which obviously aren't really doing the trick if I'm still in pain) he decided to wait. Sweet.



So here it is, one week out from my surgery. I will go down to the Mayo next Monday morning for my pre-op exam, whatever that entails, and a final x-ray. The X-ray really plays a big part in this, because if my hip has degenerated more since March, I may miss my window of opportunity for the PAO due to too much arthritis and have to get a THR (Total Hip Replacement for those of you who don't have to deal with this crap). It should be interesting! I am getting more and more nervous. It doesn't feel like it's really almost here. I've lost 4 lbs in 1 week, so I guess it's not all bad! :-)



I am going to be staying in DT Rochester with Molly (BFFs since forever ago) and she will be seeing me off into surgery, along with my parents. I won't find out what time surgery is until Monday night when they call me. They told me that surgery could be anywhere from 7:30 am to 10:30 am depending on the schedule. Apparently they don't know how cranky I get when I'm hungry? Let's hope they don't find out!



Molly will be posting updates on here the morning of surgery as things progress. Thank you to all of you, my friends and familly for your continued support. I couldn't have done it without you!