THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS

After nine months of varying degrees of pain & discomfort, my hip replacement surgery is scheduled for July 17 - just nineteen days away! I chose to go to the Institute for Joint Replacement (IJR) in Fremont (about 120 miles from our home). My son lives 12 miles away in Hayward making it easy to drive in yesterday to play with my Charley before all my pre-op appointments today.

I headed out this morning & took the shortest route down Mission Blvd. This area is my old stomping grounds. I lived in Hayward for 50 years & spent a lot of time up & down Mission Blvd. Not surprisingly, I was bombarded by memories of every era of my life - the McDonald's where Darrin & I created "Ash Scattering by Air"; Darrin's high school; the barn (now houses) where I rode horses; the old roller skating rink (now a pile of rubble); the first apartment building where my sister lived; Big Daddy's Drive-In (long gone); & Darrin's train club at the Niles Depot to name a few.

The list goes on & on with literally about 100 places or events from my past popping into my mind as I drove by the images of my life. Many things are gone or look different now but they all came alive in my thoughts. And, there are quite a few memories that will continue to remain completely personal as a smile crossed my lips.

But back to my impending hip surgery. Let me be clear - I don't want it! I'm somewhat unnerved since I have never in my 68 years had major surgery! I'm apprehensive about every bit of it! AND I keep hoping I'll wake up one morning, feel fine & be able to walk without pain. BUT seeing as how that hasn't happened, I am resigned to knowing that if I want any kind of active life in my remaining years, this is absolutely necessary.

Having done my homework, I am 100% sure that I have one of the best surgeons in the country & am at the best place possible to have my hip replaced. Everyone I have met or interacted with from the scheduler to the physician's assistants to the physical therapist to the doctor has impressed the hell out of me! They have dotted every "i" & crossed every "t" - several times. I feel valued as a person, not just a patient.

A couple weeks ago, I received a binder full of information regarding every aspect of my hip surgery. There were forms to fill out & chapters covering pretty much anything & everything about the procedures that have been finely honed down to every tiny detail. I was told to bring the binder with me to every appointment for the next year starting today.

The surgery will be done with a spinal block not general anesthetic, meaning I will be awake, making recovery easier. I will be given the choice of watching my surgery on monitors or being almost asleep with sedation. Uhhh, right - no way in holy hell am I watching the surgeon saw off pieces of my bones & pound metal into me! I'll take door number two & sleep through it!

Anyway, today after having blood drawn, peeing in a cup, getting an EKG & having my hip x-rayed, I was interviewed by a nurse who put everything into the computer. The IJR is attached to Washington Hospital in Fremont but has its own testing area, its own patient rooms & is separate from the hospital other than using their operating rooms. Next I was seen by a physician's assistant who double checked all the information & gave me a complete rundown of exactly what to expect.

My final pre-op event today was a class given by occupational & physical therapists who work for IJR. About 8 or 9 of us knee & hip replacement candidates filed into the Power Point presentation all carrying our required binders like good little students. They shared everything that will happen from the night before surgery up until we are discharged & beyond. I am as well informed & as ready as I'll ever be.

A long time ago I bought a CD for my dad that uses guided imagery meditations in preparing for surgery. I made him listen to it before his back surgery 15 years ago. It says that you don't need to believe it will work just let the suggestions simmer in your subconscious - one of which is reducing the blood flow during surgery. When he surgeon talked to us afterwards, he remarked how remarkable little bleeding there was. Whoa! I'm a believer!

I've shared it with several people since then & have started listening to it myself this past week. I even bought an old refurbished CD player on ebay to take to the hospital. The IJR encourages people to listen to whatever music or relaxation CDs they prefer. There is a "day of surgery" meditation & a "healing after surgery" one, too. I'll be listening to both of them!

I'm one who has always liked to cover all the bases so I would not be at all adverse to anyone who might want to say a prayer or think good thoughts for my successful outcome on July 17th. If all goes as planned, I will be home on July 18th & will keep you posted.