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Post by RN69 on Apr 25, 2022 23:17:01 GMT
tth1 LOL! Tell your mother that she is just one joint replacement up on me. But neurologist who read my MRI in January said that my other hip may need replacement in the not so distant future. Probably abuse from my running and high impact aerobic years. You know Jane Fonda's "No pain. No gain" theory. I intend to hold off on another THR for as long as I can. And anyway, I did notify the orthopedic surgeon who did my first hip but was told that he won't do anything about that until I get the lumbar fusion first. There are family things that I want to be able to participate in before having any more surgeries. My grandson graduates from HS next month and I will be traveling there for that. My son and his family live 265 miles away and with straight through driving time, it's 4 hours. But it takes me 6 hours of "granny driving". I have to take breaks every 2 hours to move around. Also there are several major metropolitan areas to get through that slows the travel time down due to traffic. It's been over 2 years since I have visited with them. I know that I can do this if I plan and pace myself. Granted it will take me a few days afterwards to recoup but I'm going early so by his graduation, I should be okay. Looking forward to being amongst the living again even if it means with the support of a cane or rollator. I'll be bringing my transport wheelchair also in case my family wants to go somewhere that might be a "far-piece" for me. Wish your mother could see it that way but as you said, "What can you do?" Everyone is different.
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Post by tth1 on Apr 26, 2022 15:06:24 GMT
RN69 My mother had the two mentioned joints replaced because of trauma. The shoulder was first: fractured and dislocated. The surgeon said it was a mess and couldn't be repaired so she replaced it. Then mother's hip was replaced because she fractured the neck of her femur. (I've told her to water it down. She said if she did drink she probably wouldn't hurt herself when she fell.) I'm little confused although I know doctors work differently in the USA. Why would a neurologist have anything to do with hips? I was going to suggest going by train. Of course, I don't know how feasible that is for you. I was shocked last year when my mother's neighbour flew across England because the airfare was cheaper than the train! As I carried on reading your post with all your equipment it makes sense to take the car. Do you have to go through the metropolitan areas? I'd never have to drive through a major city here in the UK. They all have motorways (do you call them freeways?) around them to avoid going through them. Is it that the freeways around the metropolitan areas are just busy? I certainly don't envy you the journey. I loathe driving these days. I'd need the few days recovery just to get over the stress of driving. I'd probably take the train but then I don't need (yet) the equipment you are taking. However, I have to say I admire you for still getting out and about. Staying home isn't always good for us. The COVID pandemic has made me want to stay in all the time now. I have to force myself to go out but it has to be done. I hope you have a safe journey and enjoy your grandson's graduation.
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Post by RN69 on Apr 26, 2022 21:22:58 GMT
tth1 Living in the rural South of U.S. taking a train isn't an option. There aren't any passenger trains servicing this area. If I didn't absolutely abhor flying, that would be an option but it would cost about $700+ one way and take longer than driving. Also it's not a direct flight so there is always the possibility of getting delayed or stuck in the main airport hub. Driving makes more sense to me and I actually enjoy the freedom that it affords rather than being herded like cattle by an airline. I can stop along the way when I want to or even stay overnight if needed. I'll take an interstate (freeway) to my final destination but I will have to drive 1.5 hours on a state highway to get to it. The interstate goes through cities and unlike much bigger cities in the NE corridor, it doesn't have an alternative interstate route around the city like say DC. Traffic is a problem especially at certain times of the day. The neurologist that I went to is a medical physiologist who evaluates a patient's condition and then advises what step(s) to take next. Saw him in January, had MRI done then at the follow up appointment in February, he said that there were multiple causes for my problems. On the MRI he saw that my other hip also had severe OA wear & tear with hardly any cartilage left in the joint. He advised for me to contact the orthopedic surgeon for an evaluation. I did do that but was told to have spinal fusion first. If the pain gets intolerable which now it's manageable, I could opt for cortisone spinal injections but you are limited to how many of those you can have. My older brother is handling his similar spinal condition with injections. He also has had hip replacement surgery twice in same hip! Several years after his first THR, the type of artificial joint that was used was recalled. He went back for a revision surgery to take out the metal on metal prosthetic hip joint. It was causing metallosis in a number of patients. I think that answers all of your questions and I've probably totally bored you. Yes, COVID has messed with our mental attitudes about getting out of our cocoons. I have to push myself to get involved in life again and if not for my grandson's graduation, I might think twice about undertaking this trip. Once I do get to my son's home, I just may need a fortifying drink watered down or not!
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Post by tth1 on Apr 27, 2022 16:58:27 GMT
RN69 Absolutely not bored me at all. I had no idea that there were no passenger train services in the rural South. I know flying is common and relatively cheaper than here because you're such a huge country. I also thought that the USA was in general well-served by both trains and buses. It may not help that I read the Lee Child novel series about Jack Reacher. The character Jack Reacher travels all over the US and does so by bus. Growing older is no fun. I hope you get your problems resolved. Unfortunately, injections didn't help my mother-in-law's spine. She's had two operations now. The surgeon said a third is the final time but he refuses to operate on her. She smokes and refuses to give up plus has Type II diabetes. The surgeon said, "I'm not operating; your tissues just won't heal. Give up smoking and I'll re-consider". Sadly, she has this foolish idea that she's too old to stop smoking. If you want my two pennies' worth of advice don't put too much water in the drink when you get to your son's home. Why spoil it?
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Post by RN69 on Jul 8, 2022 23:02:47 GMT
My daughter in law is requesting prayers for her mother's cataract surgery on 7/12. As I said before my own cataract surgery, the medical profession has advanced this procedure to where it is one of the safest and easiest from which to recover. Nonetheless I invoke the help of God our Father to watch over mi Consuegra as she goes to have her vision improved with this cataract surgery. 🙏
Prayer before surgery: Loving Father, I entrust mi Consuegra to your care; guide with wisdom and skill the minds and hands of the medical people who will minister in your Name. Grant that every cause of illness be removed and may she be restored to soundness of health. Through Jesus Christ. Amen.
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Post by tth1 on Jul 9, 2022 14:31:47 GMT
I shall pray for your daughter-in-law's cataract surgery, even though I realise I'm late. At first I wondered why the request was so far in advance until I remembered Americans write dates: month/day. My prayers shall focus on her speedy recovery.
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Post by RN69 on Jul 9, 2022 20:48:26 GMT
tth1 Thank you for the prayers and the laugh although I feel that I should apologize for the confusion. Next time I will write out the month in words rather than numerals. It hadn't occurred to me since I am not someone who travels internationally. Mea culpa! My DIL's mother is the one having cataract surgery. She's my age and has been putting off having it done out of extreme concern with the procedure. She's from VZ but now a proud U.S. citizen as she and her husband recently went through the naturalization ceremony. They emigrated legally 5 years ago and had met all of the requirements. When I was visiting my son and his family, I talked with her about how glad I was to have had my cataract surgeries done and I think that eased her worries. Consuegra is her relationship to me and it means the mother in law of my son just as I am Consuegra to her or the mother in law of her daughter.
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Post by tth1 on Jul 10, 2022 14:30:09 GMT
RN69 please do not apologise for or be concerned about the date format. In the US I believe you use mm/dd/yyyy while we in the UK use dd/mm/yyyy. Other countries have other formats. So I think however any of use were to write the date it may confuse someone else. It's a bit of a nuisance to have to do it in full such as 10th July 2022. Strangely enough in spoken English we'd probably say "July the tenth" rather than the "tenth of July". I can understand your Consuegra's concern. I think we're all concerned about procedures no matter how minor or how safe the statistics show they are. I had some dental work a month ago and was lying there thinking, "Please, God, when will this be over". I know a number of older persons who have had cataract surgery, and they all took some convincing, except my mother, and it went well for everyone. My mother seems to be an exception. She never seems concerned she simply says if it has to been done just do it and get it over with.
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Post by RN69 on Aug 10, 2022 11:20:12 GMT
Mi Consuegra has now completed her 2nd cataract surgery and is doing well post op without any problems. I give thanks to God for the successful restoration of her vision and for the intercession of St. Odilia patroness of eyesight. The novena in honor of St. Odilia was prayed during both of her surgeries. crosier.org/st-odilia/novena/Blessed Savior, I thank You that mi Consuegra's cataract surgeries are safely past, and now she can rest in Your abiding presence, relaxing every tension, releasing every care and anxiety, receiving more and more of Your healing life into every part of her being. In moments of pain may she turn to You for strength, in times of loneliness, feel Your loving nearness. Grant that Your life and love and joy may flow through her for the healing of others in your name. Amen.
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Post by katy777 on Aug 10, 2022 16:28:47 GMT
Praying For total healing and restoration
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