24 hours ago, I was in a closed metal case, 35 000 feet in the air. I was coming home from a 4 day trip to Chicago...lots to say in this post! The trip there went rather well...flew from Montreal to Detroit, then Detroit to Chicago. Both planes were pretty small, and despite the extra leg room in Comfort+, my hips felt tight and achey. No time to rest though, I met up with Suzie and John, who's wedding I photographed in France two years ago. We became friends in the process, and I was so happy they decided to drive from Milwaukee to come hang out with me! The hip is much better this time around, meaning I was able to get a 7-day CTA card...no more expensive taxis! Our meet-up point? PORTILLOS. Yes. We then went for drinks, which by the way, almost didn't happen. The bartender asked for our IDs, and when I handed over my driver's license, said "I'm sorry, we don't accept foreign card...do you have your passport?" Who the heck walks around with their passport? Luckily, after a few evil stares from the three of us, he accepted, and said I'd definitely need a passport if I wanted to go clubbing. Clubbing? I'm too old for that shit. Anyway. We had made reservations for Duseks, which is Longman & Eagle's sister restaurant. It did not disappoint. Had such a great night...what an amazing way to start the weekend! My body still isn't used to being normal, and doing normal people things...meaning I was exhausted when I got back. Slept in on Saturday. I was expecting my hip to be painful, as I had asked a lot out of it the day before, but surprisingly, I woke up...no pain! Hurray! Met up with Stephanie and Nicole - two fellow hip patients - for tropical drinks at Three Dots and a Dash. Steph and Nicole are also Nho patients, and we all had surgery approximately at the same time. It was pretty hilarious, as we would remind each other to stand up and stretch...or we'd complain about how stiff our hips felt if we didn't. Was nice to spend time with people who know exactly how it feels to go through this. And generally nice to chill with cool girls, no awkwardness, even though it was the first time we were seeing each other out of the "hip environment" we were used to.
I woke up Monday with a sense of determination...as if what I had accomplished the day before boosted my self-confidence. I didn't want to sleep all morning. I woke up at 7, got ready, and set a quest to view the city from the waterfront. A few minutes on Google, my itinerary print-screened onto my phone, I had the necessary tools to head out to the Chicago Riverwalk on Lakeshore drive. Got back just on time for my appointment with Lindsay at 1pm. Always so nice to see her :) I still feel pinchy when walking, and feel some pulling in certain positions, so she tested my hip in a few different positions. She explained that I might be dealing with some scar tissue and that manual work is the way to go to get rid of it. Traction with the belt, stretching, massaging...definitely not the funnest time, but gotta do what you gotta do. At least I got to end the session with my lover - the Game Ready lol. I swear, someday I'm going to run away with that thing haha. Then I finally got to meet Steven - a fellow Montrealer who also had a failed scope locally and who's now seeking help with Dr. Nho. His surgery is scheduled for Friday, so we were able to hang out before I returned home. We went to the SkyDeck, and arrived just in time to snap a few photos before a dense cloud ruined the view. The city's so beautiful, even more when viewed from the 104th floor. We went for drinks at the Signature Lounge (96th floor at the John Hancock building) but unfortunately visibility was terrible. At least we tried! We still enjoyed our overpriced beers and cocktails, and then I introduced them to Lou Malnati's. Yum. And then came Tuesday, the day I would see Dr. Nho and fly back home. Overall, he's happy with how things are going. He said it's normal that it takes time for my muscles to re-gain strength and start firing normally. He explained that young patients going through surgery usually recover much faster as it's usually addressed quicker than people like me. Not sure if I was more upset by the fact it's going to be slow, or by the fact I'm not considered "young" anymore lol. He was pleased by how flowy my hip movement was. Had hip flexor weakness on examination, to which he explained I need to keep working on stabilizing and strengthening and to not rush into things. Swimming, walking, biking, elliptical training...all things he wants me to keep up to build endurance. He also talked about how the pinchyness could be scar tissue/tight capsule, so I must keep stretching and working on it. He compared it to a pair of new shoes...how it's stiff at first but softens up as they get broken in. I liked the analogy. I just hope that my hip is that pair of leather shoes that end up being the most comfy pair you own...not the shoes you torture yourself wearing until you realize they're always going to be uncomfortable lol. We briefly talked about my left, and he said to keep an eye on it. That if it worsens once I get back into more intense activity (or before), that we can consider surgery at that point. I hate not knowing what's coming...so I try to ignore this. Focus on what's happening right now. Anyway, flew back home at 5:30pm, stopping in Minneapolis for an hour before returning to Montreal. Overall, I had a great weekend exploring the city on my own and hanging out with great people. I walked more than I ever did since surgery, without any pain really - mainly fatigue and stiffness. It's always reassuring to hear from Dr. Nho, and to hear him feel positive about my surgery. OK, I guess that's it in a nutshell...a giant, long post of a nutshell lol.
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Where did the time go!??! I honestly cannot believe it's been three months since surgery with Dr. Nho. How are we already almost February? At least it's good to know time flies, as I can't wait to get it over with this freezing weather! Cold and a forecast of death needles and frostbite. I keep slipping when walking on icy sidewalks and every single time my heart stops...and then I need a second to make sure I didn't destroy my 20000$ hip. Luckily, so far so good! SO! Here's a rundown of where I'm at right now:
YUP. That's me, today. Back in a hospital gown. And for once, it wasn't for my hip! My asthma has been a bit stupid since the past week, and I've been waking up every hour coughing my life. What's the best thing? To have an amazing lung doctor...who's your good friend! He kindly added me to his patient list, and I was able to see him today. I was worried it would get worse since I'm flying out to Chicago in two days for my follow up with Dr. Nho...so it was really reassuring to have his opinion and treatment plan. Happy :) And for once, X-Rays that aren't for my hip!!! I see Sebastien (my lung doctor) at the same hospital where my first surgeon works. I was actually nervous when walking in the front doors...I was so afraid I'd walk by him in the hallways. Chances were really slim, as it's a huge hospital, and it's on completely different floors...but still. I'm not sure how I'd react. I still have resentment for him, as he screwed me over hard, and completely abandoned me. Luckily I didn't see him, so in the end, all is good! So happy I have my handicapped parking pass. Parkings always seem to be full, and a trap for you to slip and break your hip. Really appreciating being closer to the entrance and lowering the risk of me killing myself. I'm not exaggerating at all.
I'm flying out on Friday, and I'm looking forward to my mini trip there! I'm having dinner with past clients who became friends on Friday. They both live in Milwaukee and will be driving down to Chicago so we can spend the afternoon/evening together. We shall eat like there's no tomorrow. So fun! Then on Saturday, I'm meeting up with two fellow hip friends I met back in October for some drinks. We all had surgery with Dr. Nho, a few days apart, and it'll be nice to chill with people going through the same situation :) Super excited to see Lindsay on Monday! And then my appointment with Dr. Nho is on Tuesday morning, and I fly back home in the afternoon. I need to plan what to do in my downtime, SkyDeck and simply walking around for photos are part of my plan. Hopefully my hip will cooperate! I will make sure not to forget my NSAIDs and Norco haha. Alright, going out for dinner with my friends. Sushi FTW! Hello! Whoaaaaaa, almost 3 months out! I think I can now officially say I'm off my cane! Hip still feels tight in extension, so annoying...but hopefully it will keep getting better. This past week was a good one. Saturday, I had dinner with my gym friends and it was so nice to see them. Before my two surgeries, we would train together almost everyday. What's great about true friendships, is you pick up right where you left off...so spending the evening with them was amazing. The best? NO PAIN. Sat for hours and didn't feel a thing! Obviously stiff when I got up, but being able to sit and enjoy an evening like a normal person felt SO good. I'm not gonna lie, I really miss training with them, plus I used to be so in shape and now well...I'm not. I can't wait to be back to 100%! Been going to the pool twice a week, and it feels great to get some cardio in. I find it hard to go when it's so freaking cold out, so it's awesome when my friend Kim is down to go with me...especially when we have this much fun... Yesterday I tried Pilates for the first time. To be honest, I was a bit apprehensive. I've always put yoga and pilates in the same category. Now yoga and pilates people are all "IT'S NOT THE SAME THING", yeah yeah I heard you lol. I wanted to like yoga SO bad. I tried hot yoga, and other types of yoga, desperately trying to like it. Just like how I desperately tried to like olives. Not sure why I want to like olives, as it's one of the only things I dislike when it comes to food (except MUSHROOMS, they are evil), but I've tried and tasted so many kinds...all which leave a bitter taste in my mouth. Side note, I love olive oil, but still can't do olives. ANYWAY, back to yoga. I don't like yoga. So I had a feeling I would not like Pilates. My PT recently suggested this, so this was the perfect occasion for me to give it a try. I booked a one-on-one session and I was impressed by her knowledge. It was freaking tough. And I suck at it haha. Breathe in? Oh wait, you said out? What? Ugh. Had a few exercises added to the ones I already have. Definitely not something I will keep up once I'm back 100% as I find it too slow, but I'll keep going in the next few weeks. Still doing PT twice per week as per Dr. Nho's protocol. Was happy to see Dom today as my hip was feeling pretty sore after yesterday's Pilates. My left was feeling worse, both immediately after Pilates and today as well. Tortureeeeeeee. Damn you tight IT band and glutes. But getting up after felt so nice. I wish it could stay that way forever! I'm happy because since the first day I met him, we immediately hit it off. So here we are, over a year later, and I really enjoy his company, even when he's digging into my back or thigh. Not many people can make me laugh while hurting me at the same time haha. He's great. In other news, yesterday I decided to buy a basketball. I really liked playing back in high school, and have never really played since (except a few times here an there). Not that I can run or anything at this point, but I figured I could at least throw some balls. Who better than my partner in crime, Kim, to hit the gym this morning! It felt SO GOOD. To feel like I'm actually participating in an actual sport. Crazy how you don't lose the ability to shoot. Just like riding a bike. So yeah, that's pretty much it. Ah, I'll be back teaching at CEGEP for a few weeks starting Monday. It's only Monday to Wednesday, and in the afternoon only...so I'm happy as it probably won't be too hard on my hip. Back to working in the lab with students who are learning how to do EKGs and EMGs. Fun!
Happy New Year! Here's to a New Start! I'm now 10 weeks PO! Started to take a short walks around the block, so I can get some fresh air, but also so I can test my hip on a distance and in the snow. Two days ago, I tried going over a snowbank to cross the street and ended up slipping and hurting my hip :( I got super scared, and was ready to email Dr. Nho's office in a panic, but decided to calm my shit and do the whole "rest, ice and re-evaluate" thing. Luckily, I'm now OK! It definitely taught me to be careful as heck when exploring the wild Canadian winter. Yesterday I booked my flight to Chicago for my 12 week follow-up. Wasn't able to get a direct flight this time, but the layovers are only an hour so hopefully it won't be too bad. Detroit on the way there and Minneapolis on the way back. I'm staying for a few days this time as I would like to explore the city, as I'm sure it's beautiful in winter! I'm happy because now I'm mobile enough to use the Transit system, which will clearly cut down the costs compared to taking a taxi (last time my trip to the airport cost 77$CAN!!!). Especially when you look at how much the Canadian dollar is now worth (i.e CRAP). Overall, my hip is doing well. I have daily pain still, especially when I wake up. Despite my constant stretching, the capsule feels tight and catches when I walk. There's been improvement though, and that's what is important. Ever since we're in the New Year, I've been feeling more negative about the whole thing. Not all the time. But sometimes. I'm a very positive person all around, so I know I have to focus on the long term, and that this will all be worth it in the end. But sometimes I can't help but to be pissed. Upset at the universe about all the things I can't do normally after all this time. To feel envious of everyone around me who are doing easy tasks while I can't keep up (like, simply standing during a party). To answer the "how are you?" question when people ask. I know that they only have good intentions, and that I'm lucky that those around me are concerned about my health. But patients who are going through hip arthroscopy recovery know how complex of a question that is. There's no easy answer. You don't just wake up one morning and you're now doing great. You don't get off crutches and you're fine. It's a complex thing...but you don't want to bore people to death with a long story, nor force them into your pity party. So you say "good!" to keep things simple. Keeping a smile on your face at all times...it can get tough. I kind of feel hesitant writing this as I don't want to be a Debbie Downer. But it's OK. There are ups and downs in this. You can't always be stuck on a high. As long as you're not always feeling down. Yesterday I went to the pool for the first time since surgery. Swam a few laps with a pull-buoy and whoa, I'm out of shape! Walked in the water too, and it felt nice to feel so light. Especially after the Holidays lol. But it felt really good. The neighbourhood indoor pool now offers aqua-spin classes, and the spinning instructor in me got really excited! I wrote Sara - Dr. Nho's PA - an email asking if I could give it a try. Aqua spin sounds like it might be a little too much resistance. [...] In regard to the joint itself, you should be able to handle it, but the muscles/tendons surrounding the joint might not be ready for that just yet. [...] I'd hold off on spin (aqua spin) until after we get to see you. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news! Dammit! Swimming it is then haha. I'll have super toned, hot, sexy arms.
Still a few things to plan for Chicago. Flight booked. IMD Guesthouse booked. Tomorrow going to plan my PT appointments. And then I have to plan what I want to do while I'm there :) SkyDeck, for sure. And good food! DAMMIT. I'm now super focused to lose weight. The Holidays + being so inactive because of this darn hip are making me feel super gross about myself. I'm now one week in watching what I eat and it's going well. Clearly this will ruin everything haha. I'd also love to see some of my fellow hip buddies, hopefully we can align our schedules. Delta nicely upgraded me to Comfort+, which will surely make the trip less painful. BTW, I will be updating this blog every Wednesday from now on as this will always bring me at even PO weeks. If ever I have more exciting news in between, I'll make sure to post, but at this point progress isn't a daily thing! |
AuthorMy name is Marie-Christine. I'm 34 years old and live in Montreal, QC, Canada. I have had two failed hip scopes on my right hip to do undiagnosed hip dysplasia. My amazing surgeon, who is in Quebec City, performed periacetabular osteotomy in November 2017. He also did one left hip scope (non dysplastic) in February 2017. Archives
May 2018
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