Ralph’s Story: Preparing for Surgery

Looking back, I think the most frustrating thing was that everyone kept saying, “Well, you have to deal with the idea that you are getting old”.
I knew that I was pushing 60, but I wasn’t quite ready to just kick back and accept that the way I was feeling was entirely normal.

Ever since I was a teenager, back pain had always been an issue for me, but it seemed to be getting worse with more frequent bouts and longer recovery times. The back pain had really started to impact my working life as a quality assurance professional, my passion for playing music, and my quality of life in general.

Since 2007, I had seen doctors, chiropractors, massage therapists, and physiotherapists. I had X-rays, MRIs, a bone density test, and ultrasounds – all of which failed to yield any significantly solid conclusions.

In the summer of 2013, a new doctor recommended that I see a Sports Specialty Orthopaedic Surgeon. After another round of X-rays, he determined that I needed a hip replacement.

A hip replacement was something that had been in the back of my mind but not something I wanted to think about because in 1995 my dad had a hip replacement on a Monday and passed away of a heart attack on Wednesday. While I knew our situations were altogether different, I couldn’t help but be haunted by the association.

I could have had the surgery the next month but, after further consideration, I decided to postpone until the New Year. This would give me the opportunity to shed some pounds, build up some upper body strength and generally get myself prepared for what was about to come.
After some pre-operative blood testing, it was determined that I was iron deficient. My iron was very low but my hemoglobin was pretty good. It was explained to me that the quality of my blood would have a significant impact on my recovery time. I was put on iron supplements and recommended for a couple of rounds IV iron.

My surgery was scheduled for January 9, 2014. As I went into surgery, I was thinking that I had prepared myself the best that I could: I had lost 20 lbs, exercised as much as I could, and was prepared to look at this as a really positive adventure.
The operation was a success. The recovery time was as expected, with physiotherapy both at home and in a clinic. I returned to work on the scheduled date of April 9, 2014. So all in all, a happy ending.

My experience as a quality assurance professional tells me that the more work placed in the front end of a project, the better the outcome. This was true with my hip surgery experience. I personally feel that the effort put into testing and evaluating my blood at the front end certainly contributed to a positive surgical outcome and shorter recovery time.

Today, I haven’t felt this good in years…I’m not getting old……I think I am aging nicely and becoming more well-seasoned.

Ralph

 


 

Content and advice provided on The Iron Maiden is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for a licensed health care provider, who is knowledgeable about an individual’s unique health care needs. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or employer.

Thanks Dad!

June 21st 2015 was Father’s Day.

I truly miss mine.  If you are fortunate to still have your father in your life, please let him know how you feel. Not just on Father’s Day, but at every opportunity you have.  A father is not necessarily part of your procreation, but someone who has taken the time to share time, knowledge and understanding without the expectation of anything in return.

To everyone who has stepped up to fulfill the “Dad” role, even single Mums, Kudos and Happy Dad’s Day.

 


Content and advice provided on The Iron Maiden is for information purposes only and should not serve as a substitute for a licensed health care provider, who is knowledgeable about an individual’s unique health care needs. The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the individual authors and does not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any agency or employer.

Kelly: From the Challenges of Iron Deficiency to an IronMan Challenger

My name is Kelly and I am iron deficient. My iron levels were never great after the birth of my first child. The blood loss was massive, the doctors pondered my need for a blood transfusion and prescribed me ferrous sulfate to help out. It brought my levels up enough, but I had low iron levels from then on; never low enough to cause alarm, but enough (I would think) to play havoc with my energy levels.

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My Story: From the Bottom of My Heart…

As I begin to close out my posts related to Heart Month, health and iron deficiency, I want to take this opportunity to share with you my own personal health story. This is possibly one of the most difficult articles I have written. I live my life by a very simple guideline; I face each issue actively and decide if it’s:

  • an insurmountable obstacle that will stop me in my tracks
  • a temporary impedance that may slow me down, but not permanently stop my progress
  • a crutch which I may choose to use to curry sympathy

Most of my issues are temporary impedances, which is why I have difficulty sharing them. I do not cope well with sympathy, however, I have been told that sharing my struggles may encourage others to carry on in spite of their barriers, and perhaps lend a bit of extra credibility to my knowledge. You see, I am not just an expert in the field of iron deficiency, I am profoundly iron deficient, and this is my story…

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