Depression

Another heart rhythm problem during the night - luckily OH was a doc and he managed to try various methods of stopping the problem which meant that I avoided another trip to A&E - different arrhythmia this time. Have rung doc - I have to stop the anti-depressant as this might be implicated. I just have to hope that things will improve of their own accord - I had hoped that some treatment for the depression might be possible as that gave me a bit of hope. My heart is obviously a bit sensitive at present. The unpredictability of it all is very unsettling, but I am in reasonable spirits this morning.

Pompa - good luck with going round Tesco - not sure that would be my choice, but lots of walking which will be good physiotherapy.

pompa I think you need to get off this thread NOW !

Find a silly thread, have a laugh. Hearing other peoples tales of woe (no disrespect intended) is the worst thing when you are feeling down yourself. You need to be cheered up not made to feel even worse.

Enjoy Tescoid

A bit rich coming from a miserable git like me, I know.

Go to something nice and cheerful like the diet thread.

Tesco was a doddle, left Linda to the shopping and went for my constitutional walk around the village.
The local garden centre/cafe we went to first was another thing entirely. The "C" word was every where, even when I escaped to the plant area, what did Linda find, Christmas roses. DOH.

I give in, Christmas is coming, just had cup of tea and a mince pie.(love mince pies). There's one reason NOT to join the diet thread.

I am setting my sights on brightening THIS thread up, positive thoughts etc.

Mishap, despite your bad night, you are still sounding positive, well done. Must have been that "alternative therapy"

Despite your heart problem, your hip will be healing and gradually improving, as it heals the pain will subside.

Thanks for your encouraging words pompa. I shall be so glad when hip stops hurting and becomes a useful joint. It is improving bit by bit - it is very slow!!

Glad you managed to skirt round Tescos!

Here's a brighter thought: wee GD (21 months) has been to visit - what a lovely age. It is so exciting to see all the new skills and words that she is hoovering up voraciously., and her own excitement at every little thing around her. And she is so sweet and loving. Definitely a tonic!

How are you today Mishap ?.

I seem to get good nights and awful nights, for no apparent reason.

Thanks for asking pompa - I am a bit better today - but I have lost confidence in improvements, as setbacks seem to come thick and fast! I am sure this will pass. I am a lot more mobile, although still needing pain killers. I tried a very tiny dose of codeine last night and it definitely helped with a better night's sleep. Still got barmy heart rhythms as I am dropping off to sleep and I awake with a jolt and a gasp - and that is even when sleeping sitting up - I dare not lie down! I am going to talk to GP about that on Tuesday.

But I managed to get out to the patio today during a flash of sunshine. This is the only flat area in our garden and it has taken till now for me to be able to negotiate the steep downward step and high door sill out of the conservatory. I enjoyed my stroll and the fresh air enormously and am glad I will be able to repeat it as soon as the sun returns. Something to look forward to.

I am occasionally down to one crutch indoors now. I am being a bit careful with the physio exercises as they are causing pain in my other hip - and there is no way I want to make that bad as I could not bear the idea of doing all this again!!! I am concentrating on walking about as much as I can and doing those exercises that can be done lying down.

How are you? Have you achieved your long drive? Did it go well? I am seeing the consultant tomorrow and will ask about driving - amongst other things - I have a list! (poor chap!). As we live in the middle of nowhere it would be good to have a bit of freedom to pop to the village shop etc.

Hope things are going well with you - sorry the nights are being troublesome sometimes.

Oh this is a horribly long painful road for both you and pompa if good thoughts could only make thing easier for both of you you'd get better quicker. I know I join lots of other gransnetters rooting for you both

Good Morning Mishap.

I Know it is slow, but your hip is improving, as you can do a little more each day, that will accelerate your recovery.

I used to suffer from an ectopic heart rhythm, so I know what that thump in the chest feels like, very disturbing. Mine was not dangerous, just annoying and caused by stress. Haven't had it for ages now.

Don't be in a rush to drop the painkillers I am still taking the max dose of co codamol, I was going to try to reduce them, but the physio told me to continue, as I needed to push my knee as far as the pain would let me to stretch the tendons etc. to get it bending.

Heading off to our Daughters later today, I'm sure I will be fine, will stop for a meal en-route.

Bit of a weepy day today as the anxiety symptoms are so constraining - had a bad night. They drop on me out of the blue, as does the heart problem, and it takes away the confidence to face the day as you do not know what is round the corner. Pitiful really. Consultant this afternoon - I'll see what he says about hip progress and what I can expect.

GP tomorrow - I guess hos hands will be tied as to treatment until I have had the echocardiogram.

Enjoy your trip to DD pompa.

Hello Mishap and pompa just been reading through the thread I have a lot of catching up to do) I really hope you have improved over the last hour or so, sorry I cant imput anything to make you want to go out in the garden and do cartwheels! I am about to force myself to shift from my chair and walk to Tescos as my supplies are very low (nearly resorted to the packet of noodles Iv had sat there for some time)! I have had my usual sniffle this morning and talked to a photo of DH(it was a one way conversation of course)! take care chat soon.

BG so good to see you back on line. Tesco will deliver for £1, but it will probably do you good to get out for a walk (depending on your weather)

BG - I'm on the mend, knee is slowly improving, depression has lifted, just need to get the hip sorted now (and whatever decides to break next)

Mishap, you seem like me, one good day, one bad day, although my bad days are nothing compared to yours. I do hope the consultant can help.

Drive to daughters went well, only stopped once, and that was because we were hungry. Slowed down a lot [grrrr] blooming road works on A14.

Consultant had good news and bad. He re-x-rayed and said all is well, but also said that the pain I am getting could last up to 9 months!!!!

He said that I can drive as soon as I feel confident to do so, and suggested that I sat in the car in the garage and practiced emergency stops to see how it goes.

He has said he wants me to have some hydro-therapy physio and has referred me for this.

He also said that he does not believe in coincidences and is sure my heart problem is a response to the stress of the surgery...........if I had known that might happen, would I have had the surgery???? Who knows? But I could not have continued with the pain as it was. It's this b*** getting older lark.

GP tomorrow to see if we can come up with some strategy for dealing with the heart and the depression. Poor chap - I don't envy him having to deal with me.

Well that does sound like good news rather than bad. Whilst the pain may last up to 9 months, it will diminish steadily.

Your heart problem certainly sounds stress related. Getting driving will help as you will be able to out and about kmore. You don't use the strength in your hip when breaking, more the strength in the knee, so you may find if you can get into the car comfortably you will be ok.

A friend of mine had hydro whatsit for their hip and found it very good.

Pompa glad things are improving for you. Mishap Sounds like you are now making a little progress too.

I went for my pre-op' tests yesterday. My second knee will be done next Tuesday. I hope I am lucky this one goes as smoothly as the first. I have no pain in the first one now. A little stiffness still and a slightly numb feeling on the outside but nothing worrying.

Hopefully I shall be dancing at DD3s wedding in April !

Today's DT has a report that hip-hop music can help with depression. Rather appropriate in one case but doesn't give any tips as to whether just listening or hopping along helps. Very inappropiate just yet I think.

AnnSixty, I'm sure you are right, I find that swing music especially instantly puts a smile on my face and my feet tapping. I find that something such as that which can break the depression cycle can be the catalyst to recovery.
Drugs, sex, rock 'n roll, definitely the answer to all ills.

Can't afford the drugs, can't do the rock 'n roll - so there's only one thing left!

Good luck ginny with the knee op.

Saw GP today - about 12 miles away and I had the most appallng runs on the way over (I have IBS) and had to screetch to a halt outside my DD's (who lives en route) to avail myself of the facilities. GP provided an Imodium when I arrived there late! What a joke my life is at present!

He's got me an appointment at the arrhythmia clinic for 18th December, but until he gets the results of that and the echocardiogram he is unwilling to prescribe anything for either the heart or the depression - so I just have to bash on as best I can.

I'm planning a snooze now perhaps to some hip-hop. "If you can't hip-hop, have a hip op!"

Can't afford drugs ???? What do you think the National Health is for, painkillers, anti depressants etc

Rock 'n Roll, you can listen to it.

Sex - ?????

I somehow don't think prescribed drugs were what mishapwas referring to.

And sex is difficult post hip op. ( need to consult karma Sutra on possible positions. By the way what's sex?)

My DD gave me a book called "Back to Love" which is about sex after a hip op. Nice cartoons!

I gave my mother the 'bad taste geriatric cartoon book' after hers.
It had a lovely cartoon of a man on a Zimmer pointing at a tortoise yelling 'stop him, he's getting away'

Sex, even if we can't manage it (or even remember it) we can at least laugh at it.