It's A Date!

After weeks spent checking the postbox with a pounding heart, I finally have a date. Four weeks today, on Monday 30th November I am set to have my first lot of hip operations (right Triple Pelvic Osteotomy & right Femoral Osteotomy).

I am absolutely terrified, yet truly excited. I'm trying to keep myself busy (quite a task when you can't do much at all), but it's really hard not to think about it a lot. I can't imagine what it's going to be like having a 'new hip' and a 'new leg', having so many restrictions and things like having to lie on my back for so long and not being able to carry myself a cup of tea. I'm also one of those people who has to look away anytime I see anything slightly gory, so how I'm going to handle seeing any of my incisions, I do not know. Even thinking about it right now is making my stomach turn!

I spoke to somebody online who's also had both of these operations done together and she has no regrets, but she did tell me to expect a very long recovery. It will be around a year until I have full strength again (& then there's the left side to do). I've read many on the hip groups say that it's called being a 'patient' for a reason, because that's apparently one of the most difficult things to do during a recovery like this.

To prepare myself for surgery I'm going to do my best to eat a healthy balanced diet, drink lots of water to stay well hydrated, strengthen my legs, arms & core as much as I'm able to without causing anymore pain or injuries and try to keep a positive outlook. All of which are easier said than done! I recently bought myself a pull buoy (a float that sits in between your legs), which makes swimming a lot easier for me as I don't have to move my hips at all and can use just my arms to swim. It's a great solution as I love being in the water, although the bus journey to & from the swimming baths unfortunately leaves me very sore. I can not actually wait to be able to sit down in comfort!

I'm certainly going to make the most of taking hot baths, making my own cups of tea, baking on a whim and putting my own socks on before Nov 30th comes around. I also need to remind myself to buy some extra big knickers for post-op - apparently they're a must.