"Hip replacement"

I was referred for a hip replacement by my GP practice in December 2023. In February 2024 I went for a consultation at Louth hospital with Mr Singh. Unfortunately I was over the correct BMI and so he had to make another appointment to see me when I had lost some weight. He saw me after two months rather than 3 because he could see I was motivated (this was because I wanted to be free of pain.) I had to go from 97k to 90k.

I had another consultation with him in April when I had lost 4k in two months. Of course I still had further weight to lose and Mr Singh said that he would see me again in another couple of months.

I then saw him in June when I had got my weight down to the correct BMI which i felt quite victorious & relieved about. I was ecstatic after I was X rayed when Mr Singh said that he would put me on the  waiting list. He said that I would be marked as urgent and he would say that I had to have my operation in a month but in reality it would be three months. I was not surprised from what I have heard about waiting lists.

After four months I rang Mr Singhs secretary from the letters that had been sent putting what had happened in writing at the consultations & she gave me the number for the waiting list department. Within two days I had a letter with a date for an operation in October! The wheels were then obviously in motion because before long  I received letters about a telephone pre assessment , pre assessment. a group OT & Physio session at Pilgrim hospital in Boston & a letter asking for measurements of my lower leg, toilet height, bed height & height of toilet as well as a phone call asking for these.

Fortunately my husband retired in the middle of August as I was not able to get to the landline in the hallway & had missed the call on my mobile. He was able to do the measurements with the expanding ruler which fortunately we keep in a convenient place.

At the group session at Pilgrim there seemed to be confusion about where to send the letter with measurements 2//3 people had done different things to me. The OT from Grantham said that they prefer to do it on the phone although I had already completed the form my measurements were incorrect as I had done it in metric which I am unfamiliar with but which seems to be the modern way now.

Things improved when I went for my face to face pre assessment at Grantham hospital with my husband although the drop off point was not practical for disabled people which is what I have gradually become unfortunately. The place where I had to be dropped off did not have a dropped kerb unfortunately so I decided to walk on the road until I could cross at a point where there was one. Choosing to walk facing the oncoming traffic for safety reasons I couldnt beleive it when a van which was parked near the entrance started to move after the person standing nearby got in it and nearly ran me over! I dont understand why disabled people become invisible. Fortunately it did not hit me and when I met my husband, we went into the hospital I was delighted to be met by a volunteer in an orange tabard, I thought he was an angel when he showed us to the pre assessment department! 

I had a thorough examination by Joanna who i assume is a health care assessment because Jane then came in & introduced herself as a nurse. I had a very frank honest & caring conversation with her about the operation and most importantly the anaesthetic. I could see quite quickly from taking to her that with my sleep apnoea a spinal anaesthetic would be the best for me although the thought had petrified me before going ( & still does really!)

The day of the operation dawned at Grantham hospital Ward 1. I was greeted by a very nice care assistant called Neeta and a bit later by my nurse Jesty. I was made very welcome & comfortable in a private room with a bed and chair not far from the toilet. As this is only my second hospital admission in67 years this was very important. The surgeon Mr Singh & his two assistants came to visit me as well as the anaethetist.  I was pleased that Mr Singh was so friendly & remembered me form my appointments at Louth. One of his assistants made a comment on my date of birth on an annual celebration & when he read out the year I commented that rock & roll was popular then. He replied that the Beatles had not emerged at that time. I thought that was a nice touch & helped me to relax.

I was pleased that MR Singh wrote THR above my right knee because I would have been inclined to do it myself if he hadn't. The anaethetist was reassuring & I told myself before we started talking that this was time for a very serious conversation. He mentioned my sleep apnoea & said that if it was him he would have the spinal. I agreed concluding that there was less risk of death (which of course is my priority!) Initially I was told that I was the second patient to be operated on but it transpired I would be the third. I could hear the staff talking outside the room & heard there had been a delay. I got to theatre & after the anti clotting device was strapped to my leg the theatre manager came out & said that the operation was cancelled because it would nt be safe.