LPAO Scheduling

It is now a month and a half until my second PAO, this time on my left hip. Even though my left hip has not been in pain for almost two years now (overshadowed, I suppose, by the whinier right hip) I am still going forward with the surgery as planned. In the x-ray taken pre-RPAO, it is clear that my left hip dysplasia is equally as bad as my right hip's was, so I might as well get it over with. Even if the left hip isn't hurting now, it is structurally guaranteed to start hurting eventually.

The schedule I have finalized is as follows:

September 14, 2009 -- Begin rigidly healthy pre-surgery lifestyle: sufficient sleep, healthy and iron-rich diet, no alcohol, regular exercise. The goal is to avoid getting sick, to support my body through the month of blood draws, and be the healthiest and strongest I can possibly be going in to the surgery.

September 25, 2009 -- First autologous blood donation, at the New York Blood Center, with the blood subsequently shipped up to Boston. Begin taking iron supplements; take them up until the surgery.

October 5, 2009 -- Second autologous donation, at the New York Blood Center.

October 20, 2009 -- Pre-operative appointments at Children's Hospital. During this full day in Boston I will meet with Dr. Millis, the anaesthesiology team, physical therapy and admitting. I will also have my third autologous blood donation while I am there.

November 2, 2009 -- Surgery date. Here we go again!

Again I've arranged my absence with work, planning to be completely off the grid for two weeks after the surgery: one week in the hospital in Boston and one week sleeping and healing at my parents' house in Connecticut. During the third week (week of November 16), I plan to begin working remotely from Connecticut, as I did last time.

I plan to stay in Connecticut for about two months after returning from Boston, so I can have the help and supervision I would not have if I returned alone to my apartment in the city. Last time I thought I'd be back in the office in six weeks, but I decided I didn't want to go back until I was off crutches almost entirely, and that wasn't until eight weeks.

Six Months Post-Op -- Tennis Again!

Six months after my RPAO I am feeling good and enjoying an active summer. At this point I feel pretty much 100%, except that my fitness level is still not as high as it was pre-surgery, especially my cardiovascular endurance.

The biggest news I have is that at 5.5 months post-op I was cleared by Dr. Millis to begin playing tennis again! Finally! I have only played a few times since then but I am looking forward to getting a little more regular with the tennis this month. Very exciting indeed.

Meanwhile, I've continued to work with my trainer and increase my overall strength and endurance. I've also stepped up the cycling cardio (on a real bike this time!) over the past two weeks. All of that has been going well and the only limitations I've felt have been my fitness level, not my hips.

My left hip is still completely pain-free; I wonder if it will stay that way all the way up to its surgery date?

Speaking of LPAO, it is only two months away! Sad. It will be such a bummer to have to do all this again starting from zero again. But I am glad I took the summer off and didn't have the LPAO in July or August. It has been really great to have an active summer and enjoy the weather and my vacations. I think it would have been really tough to go through recovery in the summer when all I would want to do is run around outside. Plus those hot flashes I got from the pain killers would NOT have been welcome on a hot summer day!