My So Called Dysplastic Life

OK. I have to be at the hospital at 6am. Surgery is from 7:30 - 11:30 am. That's right people, 4 hours and they're only doing one hip! I'm in the hospital until Sunday so I won't be posting for awhile. I've asked Josh to update here, but he's a lot less concerned with this blog than I am. So, he might be a bit preoccupied. Thanks for everyones support and good thoughts!

So, I forgot to tell you about my crutches! I'll be sporting the Millenial Medical Crutches available from Triad Healthcare . I have no grace or balance, so I feel I can give you a true review of this product! I'll let you know how they go! Still waiting for the phone call from the hospital telling me minor things like when my surgery is, where I have to go and what I have to do. Ah, the waiting is the hardest part.

...and I just got a call from financial services at the hospital reminding me that IN ADDITION to the 250$ they already told me to bring, that I also need to bring an extra 300$ dollars. Why, you may ask? Well, apparently, the first 250$ is for my surgeon and the 300$ is for the hospital. FUN! At least this all goes toward my insurances yearly out of pocket maximum. So that's some consolation.

Hi. This is a test to see if Josh can post to my blog via e-mail while I am under the knife. Hope this works.

Well Surgery is in 2 days and I am strangely calm. I started listening to Health Journeys, "A Meditation To Promote Successful Surgery" and I have found it quite calming. I've only listened to it twice but I do feel calmer and more ready. Its a bit new agey, but hey, I'm getting my hip chopped open, I'll take what I can get. Try it. This is what the cover looks like. I think I'm ready. Although on the day, Thursday, I am sure I'll be freaked. I hope to post tomorrow with all of the details. After that, Josh should be updating on how the surgery went, etc.

Okay, we're down to the last week. It was suggested to me last night that I might want to consider renting a recliner to recover in for the first week or two. You see, my living room is curiously devoid of chairs. We own a sofa. It's a rather large sofa. As there are only two of us, it seems to do the trick. However, I must agree that recovery on the sofa would not be pleasant. It is squishy and deep and really comfortable, provided you haven't just had your pelvis rearranged. Here's my prepatory tidbit for you. If you need to rent a recliner, Rent A Center does offer a "lift chair" which you might recognize from that great old commercial where it literally lifts the old lady completely from a sitting position into a standing position in only 14 hours! However, I just learned that, in my neck of the woods, Rent A Center requires 3 weeks notice before they have them in stock. I would only need the chair for 2 weeks. You can do the math. Also, all othe...

2 WEEKS AND COUNTING!! Holy Crap people! OK, freak out over. On to more useful topics. I just received a call from the hospital reminding me to bring 250$ with me as my hospital co-pay. That's it though. There's been no talk of pre-surgical testing. I asked about pre-surgical testing and was informed that we did all of that already at my last appointment with the good doctor. Now, I always imagined pre-surgical testing involved drawing blood or something. I am not to donate blood. I asked if I could, and I was told NO - believe it or not. The explanation given me was: There are just as many errors when you are supplying your own blood as when you use blood bank blood, therefore, there is no need to weaken yourself. Also, people tend to require more blood after they have donated blood. Hmmm......Logically, I can certainly follow the argument but I would sure feel a lot better if I could just donate the blood already. The other weird thing is the incision. All of t...

Well, when there was that whole pre-authorization snafu last week I asked if my doctors office could send me some sort of verification that everything was all worked out. Thank you MUSC Bone and Joint Center! I just received a confirmation fax proving that I am pre-authorized for both hospitalization and surgery on the same date - 6/1/06! I have to say, that aside from that one error which I previously posted about, it has been a snap to get approval for this thing. BCBS of SC and MUSC have really been great so far. 15/16 days and counting. I forgot if I am counting today as a day or not.....sigh, I miss my mind.

This is just something to consider for your upcoming surgery. I have Blue Cross Blue Shield. My insurance requires "pre-authorization" or "pre-certification" (I've heard it called both) before hospitalization or surgery. My advice for you is to DOUBLE CHECK with both your insurance company and your doctor's office for this pre-authorization and get a confirmation number. Your doctor's office should have a "pre-certification nurse" who deals with all pre-certifications/authorizations. I say double check b/c with my surgery fast approaching, it's a damn good thing I did! On Tuesday, (5/9/06) I was told that I was all approved and all set up. I asked for a confirmation number and I asked to go over the details just to make sure everything was all set up. I was all set up for 5/11/06. My surgery is on 6/1/06. That's not good. The nurse was a bit surprised too. She sent through the paperwork to correct the dates. On Saturday, I c...

Holy crap, its only 17 days away. It's really starting to sink in now. Friends were marveling at how well I was taking this up-coming surgery. I was a real trooper. Now, my mind is racing and I am starting to get scared. A wise woman once gave me a very important phrase/mantra which applies in this situation. It is to be repeated as often as necessary. "In _________, this will all be over." In 17 days, this will all be over. In 17 days, this will all be over. In 17 days, this will all be over.

So, you're been diagnosed with hip dysplasia and they send you off to get a "Hip Arthrogram MRI". This recently happened to me. No one told me what to expect. Here's the deal. I was sent to a hospital for this procedure. The arthrogram comes first, the MRI second. If you're claustrophobic, you might want to consider a sedative for the MRI portion of this event. First, the arthrogram. Basically, in a hip arthrogram, they will stick a needle in your hip and inject dye. First, I was stripped and put in a hospital gown. Then I had to lie down on a big table with an x-ray machine lookin' thing above it. Then, my joint was marked with a marker and the whole area was liberally painted with betadine. Your knickers will be destroyed ladies, betadine stains. Then, an anesthetic was injected into my hip area. This just pinches a little. While the anesthetic takes effect, they will mix up a little dye/lidocaine cocktail to inject into the hip joint. This injec...

It took me 10 months and 3 doctors to get the proper diagnosis. In 2002 I was living and working in Philadelphia, PA. I walked 2 miles to work every morning. I didn't own a car so I walked or biked everywhere. I thought SEPTA (the transit system in Philly) was a total rip off. I was taking Vinyasa Power Yoga for about 3-5 hours/week. I felt good. I was never slim. Even as a child I was borderline obese, but for the first time in my life I was fit, healthy and my weight was under control. I was walking to work one morning in the Fall of 2002 when, in mid-stride, I felt excruciating pain. So much so, that I almost fell over and had to balance myself against a building. My right hip felt ripped open. I hobbled to the corner, really confused and surprised at what was happening and hailed a cab to work. I had to get into the cab, arse first, and actually lift my right leg with my arms to get it in! Well, 10 minutes later I got to work and to my surprise, I was able to get ...

I am starting this blog as a reference and resource for people like me. I was diagnosed with Bi-lateral Congenital Hip Dysplasia when I was 26 years old. I wanted to use this blog to post all of the resources I have found over the years and to track my progress as I undergo and recover from a Peri-Acetabular Osteotomy to treat my right hip. My surgery is scheduled for 6/1/06. I will post full reports on the surgery, doctors, hospital, recovery, etc.