12:00

Whilst out shopping on my own in the local supermarket, pushing an empty small trolley. There was a loud bang and grinding noises from my hip as the ceramic exploded inside my leg. The pain was totally 'off the scale' and I folded my body over the trolley to support myself as I got to grips with how much movement I could tolerate.

I actually managed to complete my shopping by leaning very heavily on the trolley so as to take all the weight off my bad leg. I was asked by several shoppers and staff if I was OK, naturally I insisted that I knew what the problem was! Luckily I had my trusty old walking sticks with me to aid me and I managed to load the shopping into the car. I discovered that when sitting the pain subsided and I could in fact operate the car pedals OK, so I drove home.

I called the emergency services for an ambulance, but was denied one on the grounds that I was not bleeding or vomiting. My wife drove me to A&E, depositing me outside as there were no free parking spaces. I shuffled in on my walking sticks in great pain.

13:25

I checked in, and waited, and waited, and waited for a couple of hours before being taken for an X-Ray.

16:25

Came out of the radiology department and was taken back to A&E. Eventually a doctor came to me and told me the X-Ray 'looked OK', so I produced my original X-Ray on my phone, and she admitted that it looked substantially different. I asked to see the new one, and could see a 'cloud' to the side of my replaced hip joint, I suspected at this point that this was debris from my hip. The doctor called in an orthopaedic surgeon, and he confirmed that the cloud was in fact the remains of my ceramic hip joint which had as he put it 'exploded', and that I would need to be admitted to prevent further damage from movement of the joint.

19:25

Finally admitted onto the ward - Six hours after shuffling into A&E.

All day

Kept in bed, on my back, not allowed to move, 24 hours a day.

10:00

Taken for a CT scan, still not allowed to get up or move

All day

CT Scan under investigation with Addenbrokes Hospital in Cambridge, still not allowed to get up or move

I had about two hours sleep as the nurses left lights on all night to allow them to see to another patient on the ward.

11:00

It had been decided that as no further damage could be done if I walked a little, that I should go home.

11:00

Issued with a new pair of crutches. Learning how to walk with them again, it surprised me how much I had forgotten in the last couple of years.

Finally allowed to get up and use a proper toilet!

It felt like there was an indecent haste in trying to get me out of the hospital.

p.m.

Physios took me for a 'Stairs Test', naturally I passed as I had done all this twice before. Remember; UNDO - Up Non-operated leg first, Down Operated leg first.

09:45

The night nurse handed over to the day shift and stated that I was 'NON Weight Bearing'

10:00

Day nurse clarified that I had initially been Non weight bearing, but I was now allowed to bear as much weight as any pain would allow. It seems the night shift had not properly read my notes, or perhaps they had not been written up correctly.

10:55

Ready in my chair, all ready and packed to go home.

12:30

I was told by a nurse that I would have to inject myself with Heparin blood thinners. I asked why I could not have Rivaroxaban tablets which I had following my previous operations, she went off to check.

13:00

Lunch is served

18:05

Nurse returns to tell me I do not need blood thinning medication any more, so no Rivaroxaban or Heparin.

20:33

Patient transport arrived on the ward, I had been waiting for well over 9 hours.

20:55

Finally arrived home.

All week

Enjoying the freedom of home and the company of my wonderful family. It feels good to have my usual breakfast, and my wife's wonderful cooking again.

I was able to get about with my new crutches, but I was keeping movement to a minimum as the noises and vibrations from my hip did not sound good.

As my hip was not stable I was sitting around on raised chairs and observing all the usual bending precautions again.

-2

Mon

23/07/2018

11:00 Arrived at hospital for operation to replace my shattered hip.

MRSA swabs taken. Moved to the ward and introduced to the staff.

Ultrasound leg scan to check for DVT prevention.

More blood tests as I seem to be low in blood clotting Factor 7, I am given extra Vitamin K to counteract it.

X-Rays taken of my shattered hip

-1

Tue

24/07/2018

Pre-Op chat with a surgeon about what they will be doing and the risks of having or not having the surgery. I signed the usual consent form.

I am non weight bearing now, so have difficulty moving around the ward.

Tinzaparin blood thinner injection.

Blood pressures and blood samples again.

A hospital director came to see me for a chat.

Compression stockings on.

Post-operative support nurse came to see me to offer post-discharge assistance

NJR registration

Ice lollies given out due to the heatwave.

A Research nurse came to introduce a Perioperative Quality Improvement Programme which I gladly joined

More blood taken to see how my Vitamin K is progressing.

0

Wed

25/07/2018

It is 1,000 days since my original Hip Replacement operation.

Nil by mouth now.

I shower then put on a hospital gown, and prepare for my operation.

Blood pressures and samples taken again.

My surgeon arrives with all the other surgeons (this is a teaching hospital) to see me and discuss the operation

Anaethetist and Senior Anaethetist come to discuss options.

It is complicated by my Vitamin K deficiency which reduces the ability of my blood to clot.

15:00 Porters cone to take me off to theatre

I am given a general anaesthetic for the operation.

Recovery felt awful in a bright room with lots of people buzzing around me.

18:00 Back on the ward with no pain due to the morphine.

I have an 'A' cushion between my legs, and am fitted with a catheter

I felt slightly sick, and only managed to eat one quarter of a tuna sandwich. Felt better by midnight.