"My hip replacement at Cannock hospital"

Just over a a year and a half ago I found out that I needed a double hip replacement after many years of arthritis (nearly a lifetime) and unfortunately it was no surprise to me but I was scared. I have been a patient at Cannock Chase hospital for over 25 years now and it was exactly 6 months after I was told that I was booked in. So I went to my “joint school” and it was great.

I learned so much that it actually made the whole process and experience so much better. I was only 46 and I was the youngest in the room. I got to see everything that was going to happen and it changed my life.

I was very scared on the day, especially when I found out that I was going to have an epidural as well as a general and the staff were absolutely amazing.

The pre-op had forgotten a test so my surgery was delayed by 3 hours and I was put to the back of the list. I was extremely tired so the nurses on the ward got me some pillows and a blanket and I fell asleep on the exam table. Because I had been put to the back of the list I was really thirsty so the anaesthetist came and bought me a cup of coffee and some water which was totally unexpected. When they got me down to theatre the staff were making me laugh and did a good job distracting me whilst they did the epidural which I never felt.

I had my canula inserted which was painful but that was because I was dehydrated and my joint had moved on my left hand so they had to go quite deep. It was only for a second and then they lifted my legs and lay me down and I was gone out in an instant.

The next thing I knew was that I heard someone saying my name and telling me that I was okay. They asked me if I had any pain and I said yes on my leg and then they did something and I fell back to sleep and I barely remember being taken to the ward and I woke up around 3-4 hours later.

When I came to I had a nice hot cup of coffee waiting for me and some water and some hot toast. I was gobsmacked. The staff were soooooo amazing and I had no pain at all. They tried to stand me up later but my blood pressure dropped so they allowed me to lie back down as I was still so tired. It was amazing to not have any pain in my hip for the first time in years.

They got me up the next day and I had breakfast and I was walking around. The physio came to see me and even came back on her break and she braided my hair for me as I loved her hairdo. I was gobsmacked that she took time out of her day just to do that for me. I was in a side room and I had the most beautiful views and watched the sunrise and sunset and it was so beautiful to see. I had lots of visitors from the nursing staff as my hubby couldn’t get up but they taught me how to do my blood thinning injections and the staff taught my hubby when he came to take me home. They adjusted the dinner menu for me as I can only eat certain foods and helped me get dressed and around and about. It was brilliant.

I honestly had the best experience ever and I’ve had so many operations in my life and by far it was the best and quickest recovery that I’ve ever had and now I am gearing up to having my next hip replacement on the opposite side. So I’ve just been to my second “joint school” session and the girls remembered me straight away which was so warming. I was able to ask a ton of questions which I wanted to ask and they helped me to understand why my leg swelled and trouble I had doing the injections at home etc and they sorted out everything for me.

I have now got my pre-op booked for this week coming and my next op was moved back 8 weeks as I wasn’t well enough last time and this time I will be skipping into the theatre as I am so excited to be having it this time around and hopefully I will be well enough for this time around.

So yep this has been by far the best experience I’ve ever had hospital and operation wise and so I am really happy and cannot wait to have it done, plus this time I know what I am going to go through and I have a goal to work towards so I cannot wait.

I 100% recommend that everyone has the “joint school” session as you will learn so much and you will meet all the staff that will be looking after you. I recommend having the operations at Cannock Chase Hospital and definitely attend the joint school, I cannot stress that enough!. The staff/doctors/surgeons and nurses are amazing!.