Left hip surgery tomorrow!!!

Hello friends and family. I'm back with more surgery reports and updates.

So, it has been three months since my right hip surgery. I was on crutches for about 10 weeks. The last two weeks I have been able to walk without crutches and often without pain. I can tell already that the right hip is functioning better because of the surgery. On a good day I don't limp at all. I can tell that these surgeries will improve if not totally resolve my hip problems and that I probably won't have any kind of limp or disability afterward. Most people who have the PAO surgery can be very active and even athletic. That's why this surgery is the preferred treatment for young people, as opposed to hip replacement which has some limitations.

The hardest part of the recovery process last time was the painkillers. I hate the side effects and the lack of motivation I feel on them. Also I became quickly physically dependent on painkillers and was very sensitive to withdrawal symptoms. Luckily, I have a good GP in San Francisco who prescribed some awesome medications to help with withdrawal symptoms. Note to everyone: if you ever need ongoing narcotic painkillers and then you have withdrawals, you do NOT need to detox without medical assistance! There are all these great treatments that really help! It is still not easy, but much better with treatment.

So right now I am on an airplane flying up to Seattle for the next surgery. It should be my last one, aside from a quick outpatient surgery in a year or so to remove all the screws from my hips. I am looking forward to getting this over with and moving on with life. I am reminding myself that getting this surgery is a very positive thing.

I have felt really lucky in the last few months that I had such great support and help through it all. I have these really helpful dogwalker/personal assistants named Sean and Miguel. They take good care of me and my little chihuahuas. I have wonderful friends who get on airplanes to look after me for days at a time. (Thanks Veronica and Fred!) I have sweet housemates who let me move in with them during my recovery and who keep me happy with home made Israeli-style donuts (Michel!) and lots of amusing conversation. (Mim!) My little buddy Jack does my laundry and takes out my trash several times a week, and entertains me with his endless snarky comments about life. Oh, and I have an awesome nerdy boyfriend, Arshad, who takes care of all my technological needs, keeping me supplied with sweet sweet electronics and appliances. He also snuggles nicely. And Amy has been an expert lounger, keeping me company with all kinds of delightful hanging out that doesn't require leaving my bed. Other Amy gave me good lovin through guided meditation to help me face withdrawals. My Mom, and Val were wonderfully supportive visitors last time around. And last but never least, my brother Aaron has been totally on duty for me while I'm in the hospital and for the difficult first days afterward. (Hopefully I am not forgetting anyone in this thank you list!)

In short, I am the luckiest girl to ever have hip dysplasia!

So yeah, now I'm flying north. Same awesome surgeon. Same good team at the great hospital. The surgeon is a "master" at this surgery, according to everyone, and when I look at my x-rays compared to the ones that other people post on the net, I agree... he did a very nice, neat, job. My recover seems to be going better than what I read about on the net for this surgery. I think I have a great surgeon and that I will have the best possible outcome.

I'll let you know how it's going as I go along. One step at a time, as it were.