Gunna be needing your help again!
 

Many of you may remember that I had half my bowel removed last year in a big cancer operation. I go into hospital next week for my first check up to see if the cancer has returned or not, and DH goes in a few days later to have both his knees fully replaced .... in the one operation. :eek:

It's a very big scary operation, and DH is more than a little frightened by the prospect. He badly needs something done with his knees as it's becoming too painful for him to walk anywhere at all. He has arthritis so badly that when he walks, he has bone grating on bone with every step. :(

The ortho surgeon was the one to suggest having them both done together. He thinks that because DH is fit that he'll do well, and it would be only half the recovery time in the long run than if he had one done and then went back 3-6 months later to have the other knee operated on. It makes sense, and that's the way DH has decided to go. Thank goodness he's kept himself fit.

However............

When his father was just a little older than DH is now, he had a similar operation. His dad had a big stroke under the anesthetic and died the next day. Needless to say, my DH is rather apprehensive about having any type of bone surgery..... especially as he's already had one mini stroke! I'm not real happy about it myself, but it's a chance that DH has decided to take. It's either operate or not walk again I guess!

With him going into hospital I've had to ask for support services for the first time in my life, as my DH usually helps me at home, but he won't be able to help me for some time! I've made phone calls but everyone has been rather slow in getting back to me. There are things I'll need help with like when I have a shower, as I've had falls in the bathroom, and I'm unsafe by myself. Also, I need rails or a seat with handles so I can get off the toilet by myself. Things like that! There's supposed to be an urgent home assessment in the pipeline, but I'm still waiting for them to get back to me.

I know I can count on everyone here, as I'm going to be needing all of your prayers and support when he has this operation, and at least until I have him healthy and back home again with me!

Just thought I'd let you know now so you can add us both to your prayer list. Every little one has to be a help! :)

:hug: Koala, I will put you and your DH on my prayer list right now. I can only imagine how worried and scared you are.

A dear friend, who also has MS, recently had one knee joint replaced. She's almost 60 and I was amazed at her recovery. In just under 100 days she was back to walking without her walker. She said it was all because she followed the physical therapist directions exactly.

I will pray for good news for you and excellent outcome for your DH.:hug:

tk

You and your DH will be on my prayer list! :hug::hug:

Koala,
I'll keep you and your DH in my prayers.... :hug:

Anne, bravo to your DH for making such a decision. He's scared about it, but he really has to think positively about it. Try to get him to think positively about not having the same thing happen to him as happened to his dad. I know that's probably a tough road to hoe in the mind. But it'll get him in the best place to be mentally for the surgery.

Good for YOU for asking for help. Hopefully whatever is stuck in the system will get unstuck and you get the assistance you need. I don't know if you can manage it financially, but you may be able to temporarily rent some assistive devices from a home medical supply company if the other help doesn't come forward in time.

Knees are tough. I spent 9 mos in physical therapy after a car accident and shoulder surgery in 1994 and saw a lot of patients come through with knee surgeries. Those who did what their therapist told them to do got better quicker. Encourage him. He's going to have it tough with both of them at once, but he knows that in advance. Little advances are good ones. Perspective is going to help.

:hug: to you both. And my prayers will be covering you two as well. :)

I never took you off my prayer list, and I am adding DH as we speak...er...type.:hug:

here's my thoughts and prayers ahead of time for both you and your dh.
i hope there will be NO cancer and that the help you seek comes quickly.

and i will pray that your dh's surgery goes well and his recovery will also be quick.

Wow, lots going on, eh Koala? :(

Firstly, good luck on your follow-up. I hope and pray you get a clean bill of health on your bowel check-up. :)

Your hubby is very brave. I have two bunions, and even though they said it would be a "quicker" recovery to have both done at once, I couldn't imagine doing that. Of course I can put it off anyway, so that's what I've opted to do for now. :)

So is it a 3 - 6 month recovery for him then, with having both done? How long before he will be able to get around?

I hope you get the assistance you need organized before he goes in. :hug:

I will keep you both in my prayers.

Cherie

Prayers being sent. :hug:

Prayers going up. :hug:

Anne, you and DH both are in my prayers. :hug:

:hug:Anne:hug:

Goes without saying or asking! Gazelle had some good advice (did I say that? *smack me*)



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Oh dear, your poor husband. I had no idea he was all gimped up.

And you too, dear lady! My, my, what a pair!

Want me to call your DS and tell him to get on over there and install those handrails for you? I would be tempted to get him a screwdriver for Christmas and pair it with the needed rails, hehe! :icon_twisted: See if he gets the message.

(For those who don't know, Koala's DIL handed her a ticket to pick up a tricycle that the DIL put on layaway for their son, cute little William, as his Christmas gift).

I don't blame your DH for being scared. :hug: You and your husband will both be in my prayers, dear Anne.

Twink, you SO rock!

:cool:


You two have my prayers too. The positive thoughts thing? Well my new fave quote is; "I used to think I'd have to see it to believe it. Now I know, I have to believe it to see it."

Annie you know you and your darling are deep in debbies and my prayers, hang in there medical surgeries and replacement surgeries have come a long way in the last ten years alone, I think DH will be doing well in no time with therapy and the surgery he will be fine. A big koala size:hug: for you and prayers for your check up to be a clean one, all of debbies and my love prayers and hopes go to you and your DH, Tell him I said G'Day, and a G'Day to you also my friend:hug:

My friend had both knees replaced at once, and she was SO glad that she did, and not have to go through the recovery twice! She said she felt like a new person (well, not the day after the surgery, but after a while).

I'll be praying for you both.

Prayer warrior at your service. :hug:

Anne, be of good faith, my friend. Jack had the very same colon situation only they left but 6" of his. That was in 1968 and you know that he died at 86 from something totally unrelated. You'll do fine!

At 79, Jack got a new hip, after his recovery, he acted like a 12 year old (prior to that he acted about 14). Russell will do fine and be back in action in no time. It's true, doing everything according to instructions will speed his recovery.

Please do find ways to help yourself stay safe during this time. I do everything for myself and there are definitely ways to manage these things.

I hope you'll be able to bring in any help you need and know that one more soul is lifting you both in prayer. :)

Anne - prayers are going up!

My mom has had both of hers replaced and they were a year apart. She said she wished she could of had them done at the same time cause she dreaded going through it a second time. But she was in no shape then or now to do such a thing. Luckily your DH is!

:hug:
Lean on us when you can, that's why we are here.

Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you and DH.

And if you don't get a call back about the assistance, I recommend you call them every 5 minutes every day until something is done. At least tat is how things work here in VA.

IF you annoy them enough they will do what they can to make you go away.

Also a lot of states offer assistance in cases like this where you would be able to get a home care worker or nurse to assist you. My mother does this part time and a lot of the places she helps out are funded by the state.

And I think buying your son a screwdriver sounds about right. I would start handing him and DIL hospital and insurance receipts, in the same fashion they gave you the layaway ticket. Seems fair.

Good luck to both of you.:hug:

You and your DH will be in my prayers, Anne. :hug:

whew!!! hugs and prayers coming your way dear Koala. May you be
blessed!!!!:hug:

you and your hubby have my thoughts and prayers and a warm hug!!

Hey dear Anne~ You got it friend; I will keep both you and Russell in my prayers. You have had so much to deal with and this is yet another hurdle, but I have faith that both of you will clear those hurdles and have a less stressful 2009.

I really believe that the surgeon would not do both of R's knees if he didn't think he could handle it and come out of it just fine. And you, my dear~ need to get that post op checkup and keep working on getting some help for you while DH is recuping.

Keep us posted my lil Aussie bud and remember that we are all here for you and I'm sending lots of hugs and prayers your way.
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You've got 'em, prayers!

wow, you have been through so much and you are strong but some things can be so trying!

Keep us updated as you know more!

Thank you so much! :grouphug:

I had a call back late yesterday from one of the departments, and some-one will be coming on Tuesday to do "a home visit" and see what I need.

They will register DH as my carer and then they can organise what they call Carer Respite. By doing that, they can organise help for me, because my main carer will be unable to do they things he usually does for me.

Sounds complicated, but I daresay it's not.

There's also a hire system here for the disabled. For $50 per year, we can hire as many things as we need to help us with our day to day activities. These items include canes, walkers, toilet seat raisers, wheel chairs, shower chairs, ramps...... you name it.... just about anything. Whether I need one item or 40 items, the price remains $50 per year in leasing fees.

The MS Society have also arranged for another therapist to come to my home to assess which of these aids I may be needing while DH is out of action. They did say they I can probably get things that he'll be needing to use in his immediate post operative phase as well, so that will be a big help.

I've heard so many people run the MS Society down and say that they really are no help at all. I have to dispute that, because no matter what state I've lived in, they have always been wonderful to me. I have nothing but praise for them!

Anne,

I hope sincerely that everything works out fine.:hug:

-Vic

I'm glad to hear you are going to be getting some help, Koala!

I agree with the MSS in Canada too. They have been an amazing help to me, and do some really "nice" things for families too. I just got notification of free tickets to James Blunt on Monday, but my surgery is planned for that day so I'll have to miss it. :(

Good luck to you and Mr Koala next week!!

Cherie

We both thank you all for your good wishes, but Cherie......

James Blunt? :)

I didn't see a post from you auctioning those tickets off here on the site?
Did I miss that? :D

And...surgery? Whatever it is I hope all goes well for you. :hug:

Awww, Koala, i'm sorry you and your DH are having to go through all of that:hug:

I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers that everything goes OK and that your DH has a very speedy recovery.

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Take good care of yourself and if you ever need anything, I am here for you.

((hugs)) to you both.

Koala,

I'll be keeping you and your hubby in my thoughts and prayers. :hug:

You know you can count on me!:hug:

that is indeed good news from your MS society.
that help will be invaluable to you.
con't prayers to you both.

Anne,
Sorry I missed your post...I hope and pray that your followup appt. gives you good news...:hug:
and prayers also for a quick surgery/recovery for your DH...I'll be interested in his recovery time, since both my knees are ready to be replaced.
I'm glad the MS Society is being so helpful...also glad that you're reaching out for help...
let us know how everything goes.
You know we'll all be thinkin' of ya'...:grouphug:

found this late as usual.

Good luck on your check-up. Sending up prayers you are A-OK.

Good wishes to you and your husband on his upcoming knee surgeries. I had both knees done at same time. While it was a bit**, I would reccm it to anyone whose MD feels they can handle it. Sure beats being down for rehab then doing it all over again.

Glad to hear your local society is helping you guys out. It must be very hard having to rely on outsiders for the first time. Hopefully they will help you in so many ways that they become like family.

Prayers for Koala - check
Prayers for Mr Koals- check
Prayers for both of them to get thru this tough time- double check!

Thought I already responded, but If I did not I am really sorry. I am keeping both of you in my prayers.

Just checking back in w/you Anne~ Hope you are doing OK. Please update us when you can on how Russell is doing, as well.

Thinking of you dear friend and continued prayers coming across the Big Pond to you both.

(((Anne & Russell))) my prayers are with you. I've been out of town and didn't see this until today. You deserve a break this year for sure. In August of 2007, I had corrective surgery on both feet (bunionectomy, bunionette-ectomy, splayed-feet repair with metal pins etc.) at once. My mom, who has since passed away, stayed with me for a month because Dh had to work. It was doubly difficult with the MS thrown into the mix. I could never have done it without her help. I'm very grateful to have been able to spend that time with her. I'll be thinking of you both :hug:. Please pm me if you want :), I know how hard this all must be for you.

An update for you.
 

Thank you all once again! :grouphug:

I thought I'd let you know how things are going so far.

As I mentioned before, the MS Society have referred me onto all the support type people that I might need while DH is in hospital, and also during his recovery period.

Because I'd never had any services before, we first had to register DH as my primary carer, and yesterday I had a nice lady come to the house to get all the paperwork done, so she could set some of the support systems in motion. I believe that DH will now also get a small pension for being my carer, and although it's not a lot..... it all helps when there's not a lot coming into the house.

Now all the paperwork is done, we can now get carer respite services, which means that anything that DH does for me can now be provided by these people.

Today I also had an Occupational Therapist come to see me. I don't know if you call them by the same name in the USA, but this lady checked the house out, and is providing a few things like a toilet seat raiser with handles on it so I can get off the toilet alone. She's also made suggestions to make the house safe for both of us, like locking the castors on the bed so that neither of us will fall.

The lady who came today was also good enough to arrange all the hire things like crutches, etc, that hubby will need when he comes home after his surgery. I can't thank the MS Society enough, because arranging each of those things have been such a big help to us. It means that we won't have to search around for some-one else to provide his needs, and they'll all be here in the house before he even goes into hospital next week.

There will be some-one coming in on Wednesday to check on me, and they are prepared to do things like laundry, cleaning and shopping if I need them. They'll come twice a week until DH is back on his feet and coping well at home, no matter how long that takes!

I also have access to cheap transport, either by a volunteer driver transport service, or half price taxi cab fares. Every little bit helps.

That's all to tell you for now, but I did want to let you know how things are progressing, and to thank you one more time.

Wow, Anne....that's an invaluable service to you! I'm so glad they're responding and making things easier for you and DH. Goodness knows you deserve a break.

Please keep us informed of how things are going for you both. :hug: