Inside the operating room

Ok my friends a lot has happened in the last week since I posted. Let me begin this post with a another scary surgery story. So at McBride Hospital they put me to sleep way way before they ever wheeled me into the operating room. I couldn't tell you what that room looked like. Not so at the Bone and Joint Hospital. They gave me something to relax me but then they paged that they were ready for DR. T's next surgery. So the surgery nurse and the anthesiologist wheeled me into the operating room. I was wide awake. That's right wide awake. I thought did they forget to put me to sleep. I looked around the room as I transferred to the operating table (a little freaky let me tell you). Then before I knew it I was asleep. Thank goodness. I did see my x-ray on the x-ray light several glass cabinets and what looked like boxes of hip components. I don't ever want to see the inside of an operating room again. I prefer to be put under before they get me there.


In other news, I am hot and heavy into Physical Therapy. On monday the PT supervisor came and evaluated me. Then Wednesday, Friday, and Today I had therapy. (Yes I had therapy on Sunday but because my PTA is moving and I have a Dr. appt tomorrow) Anyway they have me doing few new exercises which I don't know if I approve of. The first one is the straight leg raise. I want all you faithful blog readers to try this. Point your toe toward the ceiling, keep you leg straight (do not bend you knee), and lift straight up. How did that feel? Now imagine doing that when you have sore muscles in your leg from being moved over for surgery and a new hip. I don't like that exercise. Oh well. Then I also so ankle pumps(I am pro at these) and calf raises (again a pro at these). I love my new therapist and the evaluating PT. I think my home health agency has contracted with a new therapy company and I like them.

My mom and I broke out of the house this weekend. On Friday we went to CVS to pick up a prescription and then to Norman for pei wei take out. Here is the fortune I got. "A new passionate romance is going to come into your life when you least expect it" That is as close as I have ever gotten to you will marry a rich man.
Then saturday we went to sonic. Today we went to KFC drive thru and subway (I just sat in the car but I was out of my house). I get my staples out tomorrow which is one of the best days of hip replacement. They will stop pulling and we can get on with the healing. Have a great night and thanks for reading.

Left....Right....Left

Ok friends so I have already recounted my entire experience at the hospital so if you wish to read that please read my last post. However there are a few hospital expriences that warrent their own blog. This post is about one of those expriences. So we have all heard those surgery horror stories about them operating on the wrong part of the body. I almost became one of those stories. One of the pre-op procedures is to mark the part of the body to be operated on. They ask you about one million times which side that is. They wrote yes on my left leg so I thought we were good to go until I went to the surgery holding room. The lady who put in my IV asked which side I was going to have operated and checked to make sure it was marked. Then the surgerical nurse came in and said I thought it was the left however the board down there says it is the right. They came over and asked me and I said don't touch the right one it feels great it is the left one. So after about 10 minutes and 3 phones calls and confirmation from me about 7 more times we got it all fixed. Man am I glad I didn't become a statistic and a news story. It was scary to say the least.

Things are going pretty good. I feel pretty strong. PT came and evaluated today and said I was looking really good and my right hip is doing great. More to come soon.

Success

Well friends I am sitting in my bed at home recovering from hip 2 and need to thank you all for your prayers. I am going to recount the past 4 days of my life so this is going to be a little long however if you are interested in all the details stick with me.

We got a call on Monday before surgery that I had been bumped up in the schedule and needed to be at Bone and Joint at 7:30 which was very confusing to say the least since we were supposed to be there at 7 originally. We arrived and they took me to pre-op. I did all the fun pre-op stuff then they brought my mom and dad back to wait with me until I was taken to surgerical waiting. We waited and waited and waited until with what seemed like forever. About 10 the surgical scheduling nurse came and said that they were way behind because they only had one anesthesologist and usually they operate with 2. About 15 minutes later she came back with an anthestogolist who was the new replacement number 2 anthesologist. He told me they found him in a bakery down the street and that he would just put me to sleep with syrup. Some people think they are so funny. So they finally come get me and put my IV port in then take me the surgery room. That's right my friends I was not asleep until they actually got me in the operating room on the table. Can we say a little freaky? At mcbride I was asleep long before I made it the operating table. Anyway the next thing I know I wake up in recovery, they asked me how I was feeling and I told them I thought I was going to throw up and that it hurt. So they stopped the nausea then gave me my new best friend for the next 3 days the demerol pump. Last time they used morphine and I was deathly ill (ok maybe not but that is what it felt like). We then were able to go to my room (#320) and get settled. The first night went much better than last time for a few reasons. I was not sick and I had a PCA pump to control the pain. I go to sleep with no less than 300 interrruptions in the night.

When I wake up on day 2 at 5 am to take blood sample and talk to the peeps I was still feeling pretty good. At 5 am they took my vitals, took a blood test, sent in an intern, sent in another intern, then sent in the nurse. It was crazy in there. Apparently DR. T is working with a team of residents on orthopedic surgery so he sent 2 of the guys in. They were really nice but asked me the same set of questions. Its though. Dr. T didn't come that day but i was glad because I just wanted to rest. About 8:45 breakfast arrived then about 10:00 PT arrived for my first session. It was a little tough and I got a little emotional but pulled through and walked down the hall. Then one of my best friends came to see me in the afternoon. Thanks EDIE and that all my mom and dad break to go grab some lunch. They went to burger place that had homemade ice cream. They brought back homemade ice cream however I was afraid to eat it with a delicate stomach and not much moblitity if you know what I mean. We did PT again then I just got rest for the rest of the evening with frequent visits of course from the nursing staff and aides to take my vitals, check my blood sugar, and just visit me. We went to bed early because we knew it would be an early morning.

Day 3

5 am blood draw , interns (I asked one of them what time they started working because I was frustrated by them coming so early), vitals check followed by a surprise visit from Dr. T himself. I love that guy. He is so great and so super nice. He asked me how things were going and how PT went. I told him I walked as good as could be expected the day after hip replacement. He said you mean you weren't dancing. I told him not yet so we will see if that ever happens. He then gave me the great news that the goal was to go home on Friday. Yes. That was followed by breakfast then PT. PT was much easier the second day. I got to do all the fun exercises then walk. I couldn't believe how easy it was to walk when you have 2 good hips. It felt really good. That was followed by lunch a visit from Nancy and another PT session. In the meantime before that we took my IV out and I got to put on real clothes. yes. Nancy and my mom got to see me walk during my 2nd PT session and were amazed. I walked fast. It was great. My parents went to lunch at a mexican restaurant called La Luna and ranted and raved about how good it was while I ate a hospital hamburger and french fries. I also received the model patient award from my nurse. No complaints and no problems. I just pretty much kept to myself unless my pump ran out of demerol or I needed to go the bathroom.

Day 4 (TODAY)

5 am blood followed by one intern. The question of the day to the intern. Were you in the operating room when I had surgery. Here is the verdict: Dr T, Dr Rob (dr. T's PA) one intern (not this guy), anthesologist, surgerical nurse, other nurse. Crazy huh? He told me I was going home after I had one more PT session. Then DR. T. He came over and grabbed my hand and said it is good to see you today then followed with the instructions for going home. He then said he was on call 24/7 if I need anything they could page me. Followed by breakfast PT where I got off the bed myself and walked with the walker. Then discharge. We made it home at approximately 11:15. My daddo went and got the pain pills and lunch I rested then took a shower then rested and ate dinner and blogged.

I hope you made it through. MORE FUN STORIES TO FOLLOW IN THE COMING DAYS. If there is anything specific you want me to address please leave a comment and thanks for the prayers

2 Bionic Hips coming soon to a Courtney near you.

That's right my friends, tuesday is the big day. I will then officially have 2 bionic hips. Now for several months people I am around who are not in the medical profession which is most of the people I am around on a daily basis have been telling me I was going to be the bionic woman. I however never knew that was a technical medical term until my rheumatologist Dr. J used it when I was in her office a few weeks ago. She told me that I would feel a lot better when I had 2 bionic hips. So to all you non medical people rest assured you are using a word even people who have that Dr in front of their name use. Don't forget to say a little prayer for me on June 2nd around 9 am. Last time I got really sick from the morphine so they are going to try demerol this time and hopefully I won't be sick the entire first day (for the few readers who saw me in my sick state it was not pretty and I am sorry you had to endure that).

In other news, to borrow the words from the rock song "School's out for summer." On Thursday morning I officially finished my school obligations for the summer. Now I just get to focus on recovering from hip replacement and begin to think about ways to help my new group of kiddos to love math as much as I do. As I mentioned before I had a great year this year and hope to have another great year next year.

I will probably be in the hospital until Friday or Saturday and so I probably won't be able to update my blog until next weekend. I will try to post some status on my facebook so feel free to stop by facebook if you want to know how I am doing because I can do that with my iphone. Thanks for your prayers and your faithful reading.

Time Flies When...

Hey friends I am sure you all have heard that time flies when you are having fun. I think times flies other times too. This post is dedicated to a very busy week and things that have made it fly. (special note: I am using a list format on this post you know mixing it up a bit)

Time Flies When
1. You have 2 Doctors' appointments in 3 days.

That's right my friends. On Monday I had my pre-op appointment with Dr. Rob which is Dr. Tkach(hip replacement expert)PA. It went well and I knew what was going to happen. Pre-op Physical my heart rate by the way was 133. At little bit of white coat syndrome you know. Then chest x-ray and I also got to do a bonus left hip x-rays, 2 different views because we needed to make sure my hip was still bad. Just kidding, he wanted a current picture since the last ones were done way back last June (Crazy huh? That is when I first found out I needed bilateral hip replacement and now one year later I am about to have 2 new hips). After x-ray down to the lab for yes that is right blood work and EKG. I only had to do the EKG once this time. Last time I had to do it three times and the lab tech said these words "I am going to let you lay there and try to relax then we are going to try again". Not this time we got it the first try (you see I know what to expect now and I am not as nervous). Then to the pre-admission nurse. Yes that is right I have to be at the hospital at 7:00 a.m. The nurse estimated my surgery would be at 9:00 and she said that would be Dr. Tkach's 3rd surgery for the day. (REMEMBER FRIENDS PRAY PRAY PRAY ON JUNE 2ND AT 9:00). Then on Wednesday I got to go see Dr. J my rheumatologist so I could get down my medicine schedule before surgery. We discussed it and she wrote it all down for me. Same procedure as last time, why mess with a good thing. Two highlights at the appointment, no blood work since I had just had it done on Monday and I got to see an OU security guard on a segway scooter.

2. It is the last week of school.

Ok so I do have to go back next tuesday with the kiddos and next wednesday for teacher check out day and next thursday and friday for math calendar committee however it was the last full week at school with the kiddos (except I was off Monday and Wednesday to go to the doctor). This is the busiest craziest time at school. If you are one of the those people who believe that teachers simply lock the doors and walk away from the school for the summer let me tell you that is a delusion my friend. If you don't believe me please come to MHS and I will show you the procedure. We have to collect and inventory textbooks, inventory our rooms, computers, equipments, pack our rooms so they can be cleaned over the summer, and you know get the kiddos ready for finals and enter final grades. To top it all off we had Graduation last night. We graduated 510 seniors at the Cox convention center. They had a jumbo-tron in the cox center now so we got see the graduation on jumbo-tron and it was brodcast on the www live. That is pretty cool especially if your loved ones our overseas or unable to attend. It was fun but made for a long Thursday. We of course made it a big event. We went downtown to eat then to graduation.

3. You have a major life event coming up

That's right friends, I think time flies when you are getting ready for surgery or any other major event in your life. I feel like the last few weeks have flown by and the next week and a half will too. I am sure it is going to be fine but the first few weeks after surgery are really rough. Everyone tells me this one is going to be easier because lets face the facts. With my right hip I had one replaced hip that I was recovering from and one really bad hip. This time I have one really great ceramic replaced hip and one newly replaced hip that I am recovering from. There you have it last time 2 bad hips this time one bad and one good. My mom and best care taker ever is moving back in for 6(more like 8 is what it took last time)weeks. I hope to be well enough to go to Rymac's 1st b-day on June 20th.

I'll keep you posted. I am continually amazed at how many followers I have on my blog. Vinita people are always asking how I am doing and telling my parents that they read my blog. Thanks for reading and don't be afraid to leave a comment.

3...2...1...PRAY

Hey faithful readers and prayer partners get ready. It is only 2 weeks. Count them 2 weeks until surgery. If you haven't done it yet pick up those prayer calendars and mark the day June 2nd. I am pretty convinced that the last surgery went so well because of the prayers of my faithful friends and of course a great doctor. I have my pre-op appointment on monday. You know the one where they make sure I am "healthy" enough to have surgery. It will be a fun day. Then back to school on Tuesday then I get to go see Dr. J on Wednesday to get my medicine schedule down for surgery. It worked out really well last time, no arthritis flare, so we are going to follow her instructions to a T again hopefully the same success. Then back to school on Thursday and Friday. Crazy week huh?

In other news, I almost had a major tragedy at the grocery store. I was getting bananas which are pretty much a breakfast staple at my house these days. I picked the bunch I wanted but they happened to be near the top of the display. I started to get them and knocked off 2 more bunches which tumbled down the display almost crashing to the ground along with several other bunches of bananas. However with my stealth reflexes I was able to stop them from falling and saved the whole display. I quickly put the bananas back, grabbed the original bunch I was going for and walked really quickly to the juice section (which would not had been possible without a hip replacement).

School is quickly coming to an end and I am kind of sad. For the first time this year several students have told me how much I have changed their life and their attitude toward math. Many of them have told me how they have never liked math and never been successful in math until this year. Not to brag on my self or anything but this is why I teach, to help kiddos love math and be successful. I love this bunch of kids and am going to miss them but soon another group of lives to change.

Have a great day and start praying. I will try to update as soon as I can after surgery but look forward to another update pre surgery.

Sorry my friends but I am Jury Reject.

Its been a while since I updated so I hope you are still around to read. Guess what friends? Yes that is right it is only 1 month until I have my other hip operated on. So remember my friends, to mark your calendar to pray for me on JUNE 2nd. I am going to a different hospital this time but will have the same wonderful doctor as last time. He actually prefers to do surgery at this hospital but I am not looking forward to breaking in a whole new group of nurses and aides and physical therapists. I just have to remember to be a good patient and they just have to remember to be there every 4 hours with the pain medication and we will be fine.

In other news in my life. I mailed my national board box and will find out my fate in November. Last time I found out when I was in the hospital so it will be nice to get the news when I am not hyped up on pain pills and only about 8 hours out of surgery. My kiddos take their state test on Thursday. They are feeling pretty good. I am feeling pretty good but I am scared because they get a prilimary score when they log off the computer. I just hope they do well. We have all worked way to hard for them to not do well.

Well since the last time I blogged I have reported to Jury Duty. I got there about 8:15 and they quickly shuffled all of us to the court room where the judge explained she didn't let her mother in law off of Jury Duty and she wasn't letting us off unless we fit one of the categories and even then it was tough. One of the guys there was a police officier and it says if you are law enforcement you can get off but this judge said only if you were called to criminal case. Anyway so me and 200 of my closest friends were in the court room waiting our fate. Then they separated us into groups I was put on a civil case for a car wreck settlement with 30 others. We reported to our court room and they explained all this stuff to us then seated 18 people in the jury box for questioning. I was not picked which meant for the next 5 hours of my life I had to sit in a court rooma and listen to all questions in case one of the 18 was deemed unfit and I had to replace them. That happened several times and I didn't make the cut. I was pretty convinced that I was going to be let go until they decided on the 12 person Jury. They then decided they needed an alternate juror so me and 2 others were put to the test and they decided they didn't want me. At that point I became a jury reject. I was actually glad. I learned a lot but it was a really long day.

Sorry this is so long remember June 2nd and regular updates are coming soon. That's right the actual reason for this blog is about to come into play again.