Outpatient Hip Replacement...

[RanchRoper]

Best of luck.

[CT_Shooter]

Did you have surgery yesterday or was it cancelled because of the pandemic?

Have the surgery lined up for April 1st (yeah, I know) at 12:15pm, which means, according to this doc's protocol, that I'll be heading home by 5:30/6:00 that day.

[JEBar]

a week or so ago Evan and I were talking over the phone and I recall him saying his hip replacement has been postponed .... I don't recall the details as to for how long

[Rifletom]

Hang in there Evan! It has to be frustrating to have it postponed, but, the doc's are on top of all these issues in front of them I'm sure.
Try to stay in contact when possible. Take care Evan.

[ESquared]

Thanks, guys. Yes, it's on hold, and I don't have a date, or even the hope of getting a date, for the foreseeable future.

This falls into the category of "planned" surgery, which is on a different level than, say, cosmetic surgery. But, it's not at the next level up, which is for folks who have even more extreme cases.

Long story short, I'm expecting it will be late summer. Time will tell, as it's all about how dire the situation gets here in the KC area when it comes to the need for beds, PPE, etc.

[dave77]

I finally completed all the tests they wanted before doing my elective surgery I've wanted since last fall and who knows when I'll be able have it now. Good friend of mine finally got L&I approval for carpal tunnel surgery and her surgeon's nurse told her it would be at least 8 to 12 weeks.

[ESquared]

Yeah, those pre-surgical tests are my next concern/issue, I guess. I had mine done in mid-March, based on a scheduled surgery date of 4/1. I wonder how long the window of validity is open? Not that it was a big deal, but I'll see what I can find out...

[dave77]

The surgeon that is going to do the artery scraping said he likes to have an OK from your primary physician within a few weeks of the procedure. Radiologist who is doing the stents didn't say. They both said it's pretty routine but does require total anesthesia and a overnight hospital stay.

[ESquared]

Yep, even though mine is outpatient, there's still general anesthesia involved, so there's intubation/respirator action.

Sent a message through the "Patient Portal" at my Ortho office this afternoon, just reminding them that I'm out here and it's been a couple of weeks since someone there said I'd get an update within the "next week to 10 days" (Nudge-Nudge!!).

There's a fine line between being the respectful squeaky wheel and a pain in the neck. I'm trying to remain the former...

[Shakey Jake]

Hang in there! I was thinking of you today and wondering if they were going to wait or not. Thanks for the update.
Jake

[markiver54]

Yep, even though mine is outpatient, there's still general anesthesia involved, so there's intubation/respirator action.

Sent a message through the "Patient Portal" at my Ortho office this afternoon, just reminding them that I'm out here and it's been a couple of weeks since someone there said I'd get an update within the "next week to 10 days" (Nudge-Nudge!!).

There's a fine line between being the respectful squeaky wheel and a pain in the neck. I'm trying to remain the former...

FWIW Evan, I am in medical limbo myself dealing with chronic back pain needing that ruptured disc surgery. Lots of time has passed already because of the DVT in my leg. By the time all this passes, I will probably need another MRI.
2019 sucked, and 2020 ain't look'n much better....such is life I guess. My family is in bad shape period. Dad in hospital with COVID and just today, my sister ( who is diabetic ) was admitted today because of chest pain, and shortness of breath. Close to heart attack status. Tomorrow's tests will determine if she is going to need a stint or not.
Sorry for all the doom and gloom.
Hope you are successfully coping. Best wishes to you!

[PT7]

You're sharing that really tough stuff happening to you, Mark, which also echoes what so many other people face. It's just coming at everyone differently. I doubt if there is a person on this forum who doesn't understand what you said and what you're feeling. And you pegged it...."such is life."

Although I don't know what tomorrow will bring my way, oddly so far 2020 is a good year for me in spite of all the covid-19 issues. By the way, it definitely isn't perfect as things still happen. There are some serious family concerns I see happening, and my health has its glitches, too. Yeah, life is happening.

At the very end of 2019 God brought some great closure and healing into my life for what was the absolutely toughest thing I ever faced...losing my wife, Joyce. When she died mid-2017, that ended the third of our married years, during which we battled her PD together. From that time through just over three months ago, I went through my turn to grieve that loss and also struggled to regain my own damaged physical health. I actually didn't think I'd make it through the pain of those months. But it has now passed by, and I'm on the other side. So 2020 has been a brighter path for me, and still is that way. Yeah, what an odd thing to say considering.

You and your family hang in there; everyone hang in there. And remember that Evan started our "Happy Friday" thread. It will be a good way to reach for that each week as we together let the other days pass by.

PT7

Yep, even though mine is outpatient, there's still general anesthesia involved, so there's intubation/respirator action.

Sent a message through the "Patient Portal" at my Ortho office this afternoon, just reminding them that I'm out here and it's been a couple of weeks since someone there said I'd get an update within the "next week to 10 days" (Nudge-Nudge!!).

There's a fine line between being the respectful squeaky wheel and a pain in the neck. I'm trying to remain the former...

FWIW Evan, I am in medical limbo myself dealing with chronic back pain needing that ruptured disc surgery. Lots of time has passed already because of the DVT in my leg. By the time all this passes, I will probably need another MRI.
2019 sucked, and 2020 ain't look'n much better....such is life I guess. My family is in bad shape period. Dad in hospital with COVID and just today, my sister ( who is diabetic ) was admitted today because of chest pain, and shortness of breath. Close to heart attack status. Tomorrow's tests will determine if she is going to need a stint or not.
Sorry for all the doom and gloom.
Hope you are successfully coping. Best wishes to you!

[PatientWolf]

I’m praying for Mark and everyone this year. It’s just doesn’t seem to be giving anyone a break.

I thought I was glad to see the end of March, but April 1 grew the sudden loss of a family pet at me. The hurricane report was just released calling for a higher than average season, to which I normally believe “they always say that”. This year I don’t doubt it for a minute.

[ESquared]

Received a call from the Ortho office (surgery scheduler, "Jackie") yesterday (after sending a nice "please don't forget about me..." note through the patient portal last week). It had been nearly three weeks since I was there in person, at which time the P.A. said I'd hear something about the schedule/planning within the next "week or so"; had to laugh (out loud, which I did) when the scheduler started out by asking "Didn't the Dr. call you? He said he was going to..." Yeah, right.

Anyway, the hospital where this is all happening declared a moratorium on elective surgeries until April 24th when this all started to unravel back in Marchl. No updates to that end-date have been publicly revealed, and Jackie says that they're in "daily" contact with the powers that be to try to understand when things will open back up again. I'm sure that's true, as I learned last night that the fourth largest source of unemployment claims in MO is coming health care workers. Lots and lots of dentists, family practitioners, surgery centers, small hospitals, rehab centers, etc., are really hurting, so everyone is eager to ramp back up, along with restaurants, bars and retail in general.

Since April 24th is only two weeks away, word should be coming soon. The surgeon's plan is to reinstate their April schedule (which they totally wiped clean) starting on Monday, April 27th, provided the hospital declares surgeries like this allowable again. Since I was scheduled for April 1st, this puts me at the front of the line, according to yesterday's call with my new best friend, Jackie.

It's unclear right now how the cases in MO and KS are going in terms of "flattening the curve," but the next few days should tell the tale. Fingers crossed.

[JEBar]

Since I was scheduled for April 1st, this puts me at the front of the line, according to yesterday's call with my new best friend, Jackie.

It's unclear right now how the cases in MO and KS are going in terms of "flattening the curve," but the next few days should tell the tale. Fingers crossed.

sure hope it works out for you .... as in your area, all "elective" surgeries have been cancelled to make sure beds/facilities are available to handle the surge from the pandemic .... as of last week, we had about 1,300 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in a state of 10.5 million residents (.01%) .... that can certainly change in a flicker but right now there appears to be plenty of open beds

[markiver54]

Good news, and good luck Evan!
Will be awaiting to hear further developments. I know you would like to put that behind you!

[ESquared]

Well, all the good wishes, mojo, karma and prayers seem to have worked!

I'm officially on the schedule for "First Up" on Monday, May 4th. Check in at 6:00, commence sawing at 7:15am.

[markiver54]

Congratulations Evan...Get-R-Done !☺

[JEBar]

OUTSTANDING .... truly outstanding

[BigAl52]

Good deal. Hopefully the world will follow up with continued cooperation.