First surgery

Rexedgar said:

I had my first hip replacement in 2013. There was a problem with voiding the bladder and they had to cat me. I had I’d done once before after a small surgical procedure and that felt like it was coated with sandpaper. After the hip, I kept getting fuller and fuller and they used an ultra-sound device to see how full I was. Finally I relented and this nurse performed a much less painful cat. Turns out they sent me home with the cat and the bag. I had the set-up for about a week and there is one advantage as I see it. I didn’t have to pause the tv when the urge hit, just keep an eye on the quantity.

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They had to insert a cath once the day of my surgery but I was able to pee on my own after that, which was definitely preferable.

Rexedgar said:

Take care; I too have become all too familiar with the sight of hospital ceiling tile moving past as I get rolled here and there.

I had a procedure once that the recovery from the anestesia. They insert a breathing tube down your throat and this guy had knocked all the bark off of the inside. The sore throat was worse than the incision pain.

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Most people do not realize the dangers of anesthetics. Some people do not revive. For some, there is permanent lung damage. For some, their lungs just shut down and won't restart on their own. The brain doesn't always just turn back on when turned off.

joko104 said:

Most people do not realize the dangers of anesthetics. Some people do not revive. For some, there is permanent lung damage. For some, their lungs just shut down and won't restart on their own. The brain doesn't always just turn back on when turned off.

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I can vouch for that. I had a very difficult time coming out of the anesthesia after my gall bladder surgery.

Moon said:

They had to insert a cath once the day of my surgery but I was able to pee on my own after that, which was definitely preferable.

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The missus spent her career in healthcare; prior to the first hip surgery, she advised me that there was a YouTube video on a RL hip replacement. She also advised that I not look at it prior to the surgery.

Humorous aside: when I was being prepped the morning of the first hip surgery, shaving, washing, hospital gown, etc. As the nurse was covering me with the heated blanket, she said she would turn on the TV to give me something to take my mind off the upcoming procedure. As the TV warmed up, the first item was a law firm looking for patients that had received a defective hip joint........

Moon said:

I'm 57 and recently underwent my first surgery

Monday I had my right hip replaced

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Jeeez, you went all out on your first one. You don't mess around.

I've had 2 knee, and 3 shoulder reconstructions, and a wrist surgery. The younger you are, the faster you rebound. You started pretty late in the game, so I wouldn't be surprised that you're having some issues. I hope all the complications clear up for ya.

Moon said:

They had to insert a cath once the day of my surgery but I was able to pee on my own after that, which was definitely preferable.

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For reasons fully unknown, my bladder stopped having any sensation. While fortunately I don't leak, it takes a catheter to pee. I have no sensation of needing to go. They wanted to do a HUGE list of tests - was it spine nerve damage? In my brain? Something being pinched? Since I would NOT allow back or brain surgery for this, I said no. They also said there is a procedure to open up the passage, but one result would be I would constantly leak - so that was a definite no. It's a hassle, but no more getting up in the middle of the night to pee either. It is so routine I have to set a phone's alarm to remind me. If I forgot for too long it could damage my kidneys.
Seems over all my body is throwing in the towel. I have a hernia and wear a hernia strap, declining against surgery. Someone we know had hernia surgery and it became infected. While he lived, there was enormous permanent brain and physical damage for which he will basically live in a hospital the rest of his life.
After 1 heart procedure I got a horrific infection that took 3 months to clear up and was iffy, though finally a full recovery. Over 250,000 people die per year just on hospital errors. Tens of thousands more will die of the super bug infections now in hospitals. Others won't recover fully or at all from the anesthetics. It's not like taking your car in for a repair. Once they put you under anything can happen. Any surgery is a decision of risks to benefits ratio as you calculate it. I'm not a "whatever you say, doctor" person because I, not the doctors, bear the consequences. Ultimately, I'm not a name on a chart to them - one of 300,000,000 names.

Make sure you do the physical therapy. Don't skip that. I've seen that different people respond very differently to major joint replacements. I had an elderly client in his late 70s have 2 knees replaced, but he was walking within like a week! But I had a younger client(50s) who had 1 knee replaced, and it took him a LONG time to get back to walking around normally again.

I had hernia surgery at 32. Before that, I had 4 wisdom teeth pulled, followed up by corrective surgery several weeks later to retrieve the chips of jaw bone the incompetent oral/maxillofacial surgeon left inside the lower left wound, which causes the severe swelling to come back about a week after the surgery, and a few days after the initial swelling had disappeared. That 'doctor' kept blaming the recurring swelling and pain on me, saying I wasn't brushing the deep, painful wound hard enough. I was back in his office at least 3 times over a 2-3 week period of time, because the swelling and pain would NOT subside. But he kept scapegoating it on me.

Then I happened to discuss these details with a friend, who had his wisdom teeth removed a few years earlier. Turns out his swelling had also returned about a week after the surgery as well! Turns out his surgeon ALSO scapegoated it on ineffective brushing. But eventually his mother DEMANDED an Xray be taken. Just minutes after the xray was finished, the doctor said that it was a piece of broken jaw bone that was lodged in the wound that was causing the problem!

So I inquired as to who the surgeon was, and guess what! It was the same asswhole who was BS-ing me! So I demanded an Xray, and sure enough, it was his incompetence that causes the swelling, infection and pain! I had to go through a 2nd surgery to remove the chips of bone. Problem was, by the time it was all over, which was about a month after the original surgery, I had really 'gotten used to' the percodan I was taking daily..... He kept giving me prescriptions for as long as 2 months after the initial surgery! They even told me to make sure I was going to different pharmacies to get the prescription filled, because otherwise a competent pharmacist would realize something was amiss with the LONG, seemingly open-ended prescription of a major opioid! Lets just say that the long prescription and my 'fondness' for percodan became a bit of a problem about 8 years later!

Moon said:

I have some Oxy, but only taking it when I really need it. Mostly taking Tylenol right now.

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Stick with that if it works. Even in that case, I only took 2 of those things. I saved the rest and they have come in handy. 15 pills. That surgery was in Oct. 2009. I still have 3 of them. They are probably bad...really. I think I'd be scared to take one now.

That stuff gives me bad insomnia, but I don't lose tooth enamel or get sore jaws.

joko104 said:

For reasons fully unknown, my bladder stopped having any sensation. While fortunately I don't leak, it takes a catheter to pee. I have no sensation of needing to go. They wanted to do a HUGE list of tests - was it spine nerve damage? In my brain? Something being pinched? Since I would NOT allow back or brain surgery for this, I said no. They also said there is a procedure to open up the passage, but one result would be I would constantly leak - so that was a definite no. It's a hassle, but no more getting up in the middle of the night to pee either. It is so routine I have to set a phone's alarm to remind me. If I forgot for too long it could damage my kidneys.
Seems over all my body is throwing in the towel. I have a hernia and wear a hernia strap, declining against surgery. Someone we know had hernia surgery and it became infected. While he lived, there was enormous permanent brain and physical damage for which he will basically live in a hospital the rest of his life.
After 1 heart procedure I got a horrific infection that took 3 months to clear up and was iffy, though finally a full recovery. Over 250,000 people die per year just on hospital errors. Tens of thousands more will die of the super bug infections now in hospitals. Others won't recover fully or at all from the anesthetics. It's not like taking your car in for a repair. Once they put you under anything can happen. Any surgery is a decision of risks to benefits ratio as you calculate it. I'm not a "whatever you say, doctor" person because I, not the doctors, bear the consequences. Ultimately, I'm not a name on a chart to them - one of 300,000,000 names.

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Wow. That sounds rough, but you sound like you're handling it.

For whatever reason, reading your post and others in this thread made me think of this:


“I'm the one that's got to die when it's time for me to die, so let me live my life the way I want to.”

― Jimi Hendrix, Jimi Hendrix - Axis: Bold as Love

Moon said:

I'm 57 and recently underwent my first surgery, which seemed to surprise a lot of people in my Doctor's office and also the hospital. Apparently, surgery is a more common thing than I thought it was.

Monday I had my right hip replaced. I've had severe osteoarthritis for several years and thought most of my issues were related to my weight. I've lost over 100 pounds the last year or so, but the pain in my hip was getting worse, not better. My doc referred me to a surgeon who took one look at my x-ray and just said "yeah, that's going to have to be replaced". It was really difficult to see where the ball ended and the socket began, so I really couldn't argue with him.

Surgery went fine, lasted about two hours. Of course, I was asleep for it. Turns out I have a "sensitivity" to anesthesia, so my stint in the recovery room was about three+ hours as opposed to the one hour I was told to expect.

I was also given an epidural that was supposed to wear off within a few hours, but now it's four days post-op and my right leg from the knee to my ankle is numb, and I don't have complete control of the muscles yet. Spoke to my surgeon's office yesterday and they want me back in on Monday if it persists.

Recovery has been uncomfortable. Came home on Tuesday and can only get around with a walker. My wife helps me out a bunch, and I'm really lucky to have her. Because of the lack of muscle control, if I'm not careful I'll end up on the floor, which has happened a few times, but nothing serious.

And so it goes. Looking forward to getting a clean bill of health and being able to play golf again this spring after several years away from the course. It's already been an improvement not having the pain from the bone on bone contact.

What have your experiences with surgery been like?

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Wishing you a speed and full recovery.
My dad has had both hips done (not at the same time), and after recovery he gets around nearly completely normally.
Wishing you similar results.

Moon said:

I have some Oxy, but only taking it when I really need it. Mostly taking Tylenol right now.

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Yeah, better to stay away from opioids 'cause you never know until its too late.

Logician Man said:

I've had 5 surgeries. The most memorable one occurred when I was 16. I was broadsided by a freight train,woke up briefly a few times for a second or two before losing consciousness underneath the front of the locomotive before finally blacking out for good. Went into a 4 day coma,flatlined twice ( so I was told ), had my skull drilled to relieve pressure on the brain, and ended up in tact at the end with not a broken bone or any other long term effects....My gall bladder surgery at the age of 55 was by far the most painful of the 5, bar none. Wouldn't wish that one on anyone.

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My gall bladder surgery at 57 was in to the hospital, and out 2 days later. the pain leading up to the surgery was much more intense than the recovery from it.

RAMOSS said:

My gall bladder surgery at 57 was in to the hospital, and out 2 days later. the pain leading up to the surgery was much more intense than the recovery from it.

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Yep. that was the worst pain by far I've ever experienced, no doubt. I had complications with the anesthesia and was hospitalized for a week. I was thrilled to roll into that surgery room. my daughter said she had never seen anyone so happy who was about to undergo surgery.

One week after my surgery and I'm pretty just using a cane to get around. I keep the walker nearby in case my leg gets too wobbly and I need additional support. Went to the store with my wife just to get out of the house for a bit. After walking around for 10 minutes or so iwas ready to go home, lol.

Pain is almost gone, but I still don't have complete control of the muscles in my right leg, mostly my quadricep. My post-op appointment with the surgeon is on Wednesday, so the muscle weakness will definitely be a topic.

Moon said:

One week after my surgery and I'm pretty just using a cane to get around. I keep the walker nearby in case my leg gets too wobbly and I need additional support. Went to the store with my wife just to get out of the house for a bit. After walking around for 10 minutes or so iwas ready to go home, lol.

Pain is almost gone, but I still don't have complete control of the muscles in my right leg, mostly my quadricep. My post-op appointment with the surgeon is on Wednesday, so the muscle weakness will definitely be a topic.

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At some point they will probably want you going to physical therapy. By all means, go, and do what they tell you, you'll get better a lot faster. Good luck.

eohrnberger said:

Yeah, better to stay away from opioids 'cause you never know until its too late.

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I have a real complaint with the crack down on opioids. It is almost impossible to get pain meds now even if needing them. Doctors are so afraid of getting in trouble their new attitude is that "pain doesn't hurt you." There also is an irony given at the same time people are arguing for legalizing drugs they are arguing for banning pain medication. The fact is that pain hurts!

joko104 said:

I have a real complaint with the crack down on opioids. It is almost impossible to get pain meds now even if needing them. Doctors are so afraid of getting in trouble their new attitude is that "pain doesn't hurt you." There also is an irony given at the same time people are arguing for legalizing drugs they are arguing for banning pain medication. The fact is that pain hurts!

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Fine. From my experience pain killers are over prescribed.

You might need a few over the first few days, so you get a prescription for a month's supply. Doesn't seem to make sense from the medical perspective, other than drug sales perhaps.

What a timely thread. I had my prostate removed 15 days ago at the age of 69. This was my first operation since my tonsils were removed in 1954. My PSA levels ranged between 5.9 and 5.2 over an 18 month period, so my doctor sent me to a urologist. He did a digital exam and said he felt a rough area, so he sent me for a biopsy. It showed I had stage 2a prostate cancer, which by itself is not enough for removal, but my Gleason score was 4+3, so out it came. Reading some of the stories above makes me realize how lucky I was with the anesthetic, hospital stay, and recovery in general. I took no antibiotics and only 2 Tylenols. The cath was new and not so wonderful, but I only had it for 9 days, so now I'm peeing on my own. I have what I would call 99% continence, but that rogue 1% goes a long way if I'm not careful. Sexual function is not out of the question, but it will be the last thing to come back. Yesterday the doc told me he got all the cancer, and I have the love of a good woman, so I'm feeling pretty lucky considering the alternatives. Being active and fit went a long way toward this going well. **** happens.

Btw, the surgery was done with a robotic laparoscope called a Da Vinci. The surgeon was seated across the room and never had to come near me. Four masked young ladies did the rest.

stevecanuck said:

Btw, the surgery was done with a robotic laparoscope called a Da Vinci. The surgeon was seated across the room and never had to come near me. Four masked young ladies did the rest.

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Sounds like those "nurses" were Antifa members!

ModerationNow! said:

Sounds like those "nurses" were Antifa members!

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I wondered what those flags were all about.

joko104 said:

I have a real complaint with the crack down on opioids. It is almost impossible to get pain meds now even if needing them. Doctors are so afraid of getting in trouble their new attitude is that "pain doesn't hurt you." There also is an irony given at the same time people are arguing for legalizing drugs they are arguing for banning pain medication. The fact is that pain hurts!

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Your assessment is incorrect.
Doctors now want to identify and treat the source of the pain.
Any doctor who says that 'pain doesn't hurt you' should not be seen.

Moon said:

I'm 57 and recently underwent my first surgery, which seemed to surprise a lot of people in my Doctor's office and also the hospital. Apparently, surgery is a more common thing than I thought it was.

Monday I had my right hip replaced. I've had severe osteoarthritis for several years and thought most of my issues were related to my weight. I've lost over 100 pounds the last year or so, but the pain in my hip was getting worse, not better. My doc referred me to a surgeon who took one look at my x-ray and just said "yeah, that's going to have to be replaced". It was really difficult to see where the ball ended and the socket began, so I really couldn't argue with him.

Surgery went fine, lasted about two hours. Of course, I was asleep for it. Turns out I have a "sensitivity" to anesthesia, so my stint in the recovery room was about three+ hours as opposed to the one hour I was told to expect.

I was also given an epidural that was supposed to wear off within a few hours, but now it's four days post-op and my right leg from the knee to my ankle is numb, and I don't have complete control of the muscles yet. Spoke to my surgeon's office yesterday and they want me back in on Monday if it persists.

Recovery has been uncomfortable. Came home on Tuesday and can only get around with a walker. My wife helps me out a bunch, and I'm really lucky to have her. Because of the lack of muscle control, if I'm not careful I'll end up on the floor, which has happened a few times, but nothing serious.

And so it goes. Looking forward to getting a clean bill of health and being able to play golf again this spring after several years away from the course. It's already been an improvement not having the pain from the bone on bone contact.

What have your experiences with surgery been like?

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I had two knees, two back, one shoulder and one fundiplication, all starting in my early sixties. The thing I learned was that you have to really rehabilitate hard. Work through the pain. Ice was my best friend, with judicious use of painkillers. Sorry you have to go through it, but its great on the other side.


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