Complete Details About My Hip Surgery
Including the Accident, the Surgery & More!
On
May 15, 2009 I had a total hip replacement. The surgery was performed
by orthopedic surgeon Dr. El Kommos. His office is located in Merritt
Island, FL and his practice is called "Space Coast Orthopedic."
You
are probably wondering how a person as young as me managed to need a
total hip replacement. The answer is- I was hurt on the job. I was a
telemarketer for Harp Marketing, located in Melbourne, FL.
Now you're thinking how does a telemarketer hurt her hip? Here's the deal: I was at the computer and the screen froze up. I shook the mouse- and to no avail. I then picked up the mouse to see if it needed its rollers cleaned. When I did so, the mouse ball fell onto the floor. I leaned over to pick it up. Mind you, I was sitting in a desk chair with wheels. As I leaned over, I fell out of my chair and onto the floor myself.
All the Managers were in a meeting, so I went to the District Manager and told him. After all, everyone literally had seen me fall, so I had to! He asked me if I was alright, or if I needed medical attention. I told him my ego was bruised, and that I could feel where I had landed on my leg. But I assured him I would be able to finish out my day, and that I felt there was nothing to worry about. He said he would tell my Manager, and HR, so I proceeded back to my station.
After I went home that evening, I was starting to ache quite a bit more and even starting to limp. My husband said I needed to have it seen by a medical professional. And therefore, eventually I went to the Hospital that evening.
The Emergency Room Physician prescribed pain medication and a cane. He also wrote me a Doctors note, and told me to stay off of it for a week. He then said, if it proceeded to worsen, to see a Doctor. So to play it safe, I called work "from" the Hospital, so it would print on the caller ID. This way I had proof, if needed.
When I went back to work, I turned my Doctors note into Human Resources and went to work. I made four calls, and booked four sales. I even earned extra credit with booking the incentive suggestive sale. On my fifth call, the Manager took my head set, and clicked hang up on the caller. No, I am not kidding. She then proceeded to tell me to log off and head to HR. She had a firm hold on my arm, actually squeezing me pretty badly.
And this felt just like when I was a kid, getting sent to the Principals office. I thought once we became adults that feeling was supposed to end? For me, it didn't.
Anyway, my Manager started off by asking me why I never reported my injury. I responded with asking a question in return. I wanted to know where the District Manager was, because he was my proof. They both explained that he no longer worked for or with them. I told them that was ok, there were employees who seen the whole thing. In fact, the Managers "pet" was one, and she even helped me up from my fall. So I gave them her name, and my Manager took off and out of the room. The HR Manager, who was also new asks me again, why she wasn't informed. I told her, it happened before her time, and she looked at the incident report, and nodded her head that I was right.
In the meantime, my Manager is in the hall yelling at my fellow employee, her "pet" and pointing at me. My manager had her hands all over the other employee, shaking her and yelling, it was unreal that no one did anything about it.
The HR representative, read my note, and then pulled out a bottle of white out from her desk drawer. She started shaking it. After lecturing the other employee, my Manager came back in, and if looks could kill, I would actually be dead- I'm certain. The Manager and the woman from HR looked at one another, and then left me in the room alone to wonder. They walked over the copy machine and laid my note on it, and made a copy. They were talking. Then they pulled the copy from the end, and then the Manager took the white out from the HR woman, and they were whiting out something on my Doctors note. Then she blew it dry, and wrote on it. Then she removed my original note, and placed the "Doctored" Doctors note on the screen. They produced several copies, and then placed my original and the one they whited out, through a shredder. I knew then and there I was screwed.
The two talked a little bit more, and then came back into the HR office. They sighed as they sat down, and then quietly gave me an evil stare down. I think honestly, they were hoping for me to lash out, or cry or something. But I knew better, they were not getting a performance out of me!
After a few moments of hateful silence, the HR lady asked me who I thought I was trying to fool. I asked what she meant and she produced the note, and pointed at the dates, and "obviously" I had taken more dates off then I was prescribed. I say obviously, because that was what they had changed.
Because there was no proof I reported the accident, and because the dates were "wrong" I was being terminated. "But so you are aware, you were going to be written up today regardless, because of your neighbor and the list of complaints she made about you." The HR lady proclaimed.
I was swallowing back my tears, and trying not to cry. I couldn't let them win completely. I wanted to scream, yell and even give them a piece of my mind. But I knew I couldn't do that, I would've only ended up in jail.
You see, Florida is a right to work state; no one truly needs any type of reason to fire you. And this was not our only source of income, it would be easier to walk away, and there would be a lot less stress.
But in order to help me keep my cool I decided to respond, "My neighbor, the one who I got this job, has complaints about me, and yet I wasn't even here? What did I do "this" time?"
"She states that you make it hard for her to work, that you're saying stuff about her to other people that isn't true, and even harassing her at home. And oh, wait it also says here that you're addicted to narcotics as well, and that you're upset because she had pain pills and won't give you any." The woman told me, as she smiled.
I was getting even more upset and angry. . "And you're going to take her word for it? Did you even interview these "people" that I allegedly talked to about her? Or let me guess, you just took her word for it?" I asked angrily.
"No need to." The woman said, as she continued to smile.
How uncanny is it, that the person who pretended to be your friend, and neighbor can just stab you when you're down? The same person whose job you found for them, and went with them, so they didn't have to be afraid. How can she just up and stab me like this?
I stood up and walked to my station and grabbed my things. Everyone in my group asked if I was ok, and the only thing I could do was just nod a simple no, and then leave.
Afterwards I continued with my Physical Therapy and seeing Doctor after Doctor. I was told that I wasn't old enough to receive a hip replacement, and that I was also too fat. Workman's comp didn't want to take the risk. They told me that a hip replacement wouldn't work, and it would break within the first few months. They also told me that I would still just lie around and continue getting fatter and fatter.
For two years this went on. My hip continued to deteriorate more and more each day. And eventually workman's comp said there was nothing more that could be done. They closed my case and gave me a 5% disability rating and $250.00.
My Primary Care Physician, Dr. Page of Rockledge, FL was waiting patiently for work comp to either do something, or close it out, so that he could do something. He referred me to Dr. El Kommos, promising that he would fix me.
When I went Dr. El Kommos he looked at my X-rays, my Cat scans, MRIs and even my Venogram. All provided for him because of Workman's comp. For safety sake, he decided to get a more current X-ray, and to the next room to have it done. Then I went back into the room, and waited on the Doctor.
When the Doctor came back into the room, he put my X-ray on the screen, and turned to me and asked: "How in the hell are you walking?!" I answered, "With great difficulty." I told him.
He told me the obvious, I needed to loose weight. Then he told me hip replacements are for older people, much older. He said this would be a high risk case, and asked if this was what I wanted. I said yes. He told me it was definitely needed, and told me to see his Nurses to set up everything.
For my insurance, I had to be pre-approved by my Primary Care Physician, and a Cardiac Doctor. I made appointments, and waited for release forms. When they told me they would fax the insurance company, and doctors, I still waited, I wanted the forms too. To cover my own butt, I too took the forms around where they needed to go. This way I "knew" the job was being done right.
After about a week, my Surgeon called and had me go into the Hospital for pre-surgery blood work. My surgery date was one week later.
Naturally I had my doubts, and fears before the surgery. Surgery isn't supposed to be a breeze, or everyone would get it done everyday! Surgery is a risk factor, no matter what the operation. Anything can happen.
The day of my surgery, I walked into the Hospital, and my hip popped out of its socket, and ached like you would not believe. I could barely move, it brought tears to my eyes- and I rarely cry!
When the Doctor came back, he pulled a marker from his pocket, and wrote on the leg to be operated on, it was a safety protocol he said. He assured me it was ok to be nervous, and that he had done this operation more times then he could count. He made me feel more reassured, which made it a little easier.
After kissing my loved ones and telling them that I loved them- to surgery I went. Once into the room, I announced that before they put me under, we were required to say the Lord's Prayer.
Everyone agreed. After they did their preparations, they told me, as they gathered around lowering their heads, that I could start the prayer, that they would all participate. So I did, and they prayed with me. Everyone said Amen, and that was the last thing I remembered.
When I awoke, I had absolutely no hip pain. I just had a huge weight on my leg, and I yelled at my dog to get off of my leg. And obviously, it wasn't my dog.
I came to only for a few minutes at a time. Then I would pass back out. The nurses and my family kept putting this self dosing medication into my hand, and I would just drop it. I had no desire to hold or do anything.
I slept for three days, occasionally hearing and seeing things, but never conscience for very long.
On the third day, I awoke and was hungry. They brought me food and filled me in on everything.
My legs were trapped together, which I demanded they release the unimpaired one immediately. It did nothing wrong and didn't deserve this punishment. So they unstrapped it from my other leg, which was hot, and heavy and sore. But, I didn't have any hip pain!
The Doctor came in, rolled me over with great force and pain, and checked my wound and bandaged it back up. He said it was healing nicely, and ordered the catheter removed, and a portable potty chair brought in, and a walker. He said I needed to start working the leg immediately.
I was in the Hospital for well over a week. I did everything and more, because I wanted to show everyone it could and it would be done! My daughter stayed with me the entire time, she was sixteen at the time, and already had acquired permission to stay from School. She helped me out a great deal, keeping the nurses in line, and on the ball. She was a big help, otherwise I would've been bored out of my mind!
I did the therapy, I moved more steps and did more then they had anticipated. This didn't qualify me for a nursing home, and to me- I was glad. My husband was not. He felt that someone should be with me at all times. Instead I had a home nurse that came to my house every day, and a physical therapist.
An infection grew in my leg, and tests were ran, and it was not healing in one section. It was determined that I had MRSA. The Doctor took me into the office and did an operation right there while I was awake.
After another week, it was determined it was only worsening, so I had to go into the Hospital and get yet another surgery to remove the already infected tissue. And if it didn't heal, they would remove my hardware- my porcelain and titanium hip.
In the meantime, my hip doesn't hurt; the only thing hurting is the rod that is setting itself right through my leg bone. I was still using a walker. The neighborhood trouble maker was making fun of me and calling me a cripple. My husband assured me, that I would show her soon enough, just be patient.
On June 13, 2009 I under went another surgery. And something that I forgot to mention, my Husband works for Kennedy Space Center, and the last surgery was on a Shuttle launch, which fortunately moved over one day, so he had to work. The second surgery, another launch was scheduled. And this time there was no way out of it, so he went to work, and the kids stayed with me, until he was off. Again, my daughter stayed with me in the Hospital, however this time I stayed only a few days.
This was where they started the IV of antibiotics to treat MRSA. I had one in the early morning and one at night. Each IV takes an hour to deliver intravenously. Once I was discharged, I had to continue them at another Doctors office, Dr. Mateos of Melbourne Florida. There they taught my husband and daughter how to administer the IV, because I still had to have one every single night for six weeks.
The IVs drained me, and everyone thought I was doing terrible. I had no energy; I slept a lot, and hardly did anything- including my crafts. And it is extremely rare to see me do nothing. I was in pain, and felt like crap. I cried a lot, I was miserable, and couldn't understand why any doctor didn't bother to give me the full details of hip surgery. I was not prepared. It was summertime, I couldn't go swimming, I couldn't lay out, and I felt worthless and wanted to give up. My family supported me, and comforted me. They assured me it would one day be better, and I would look back and know this was not a mistake.
After another month, sometime in July, my leg pain started to subside. I wasn't even noticing, I was starting to walk without a cane and a walker. I was unsteady, but trying.
Shortly thereafter, I was beginning to feel a bit more normal. I was no longer on the lousy IVs, my immune system was built back up, and everyone told me my color was coming back. I had low blood pressure, and low blood levels, and ended up needing vitamins and also taking an herb known as Golden Seal to help me build up my antibodies and immune system.
Since that time, I am now moving around a lot, so much in fact that I have dropped thirty pounds. I lost the last fifteen pounds in the last week. I am always going, always doing something, and never wanting to stop. The kids and I are doing things together, we are doing things as a family again, and I love it!
If it weren't for Dr. El Kommos, and my family, I think I would have given up on several different occasions. They offered me love and support, and built me up when I was down, always promising it would all be good in the long run.
And it is!!
By the way, I contacted a lawyer regarding Workman's Comp. According to everyone I waited to long, and again, it was too risky, because I am over weight.
I figured you would have brought that up, so I beat ya to it! LOL
Now you're thinking how does a telemarketer hurt her hip? Here's the deal: I was at the computer and the screen froze up. I shook the mouse- and to no avail. I then picked up the mouse to see if it needed its rollers cleaned. When I did so, the mouse ball fell onto the floor. I leaned over to pick it up. Mind you, I was sitting in a desk chair with wheels. As I leaned over, I fell out of my chair and onto the floor myself.
All the Managers were in a meeting, so I went to the District Manager and told him. After all, everyone literally had seen me fall, so I had to! He asked me if I was alright, or if I needed medical attention. I told him my ego was bruised, and that I could feel where I had landed on my leg. But I assured him I would be able to finish out my day, and that I felt there was nothing to worry about. He said he would tell my Manager, and HR, so I proceeded back to my station.
After I went home that evening, I was starting to ache quite a bit more and even starting to limp. My husband said I needed to have it seen by a medical professional. And therefore, eventually I went to the Hospital that evening.
The Emergency Room Physician prescribed pain medication and a cane. He also wrote me a Doctors note, and told me to stay off of it for a week. He then said, if it proceeded to worsen, to see a Doctor. So to play it safe, I called work "from" the Hospital, so it would print on the caller ID. This way I had proof, if needed.
When I went back to work, I turned my Doctors note into Human Resources and went to work. I made four calls, and booked four sales. I even earned extra credit with booking the incentive suggestive sale. On my fifth call, the Manager took my head set, and clicked hang up on the caller. No, I am not kidding. She then proceeded to tell me to log off and head to HR. She had a firm hold on my arm, actually squeezing me pretty badly.
And this felt just like when I was a kid, getting sent to the Principals office. I thought once we became adults that feeling was supposed to end? For me, it didn't.
Anyway, my Manager started off by asking me why I never reported my injury. I responded with asking a question in return. I wanted to know where the District Manager was, because he was my proof. They both explained that he no longer worked for or with them. I told them that was ok, there were employees who seen the whole thing. In fact, the Managers "pet" was one, and she even helped me up from my fall. So I gave them her name, and my Manager took off and out of the room. The HR Manager, who was also new asks me again, why she wasn't informed. I told her, it happened before her time, and she looked at the incident report, and nodded her head that I was right.
In the meantime, my Manager is in the hall yelling at my fellow employee, her "pet" and pointing at me. My manager had her hands all over the other employee, shaking her and yelling, it was unreal that no one did anything about it.
The HR representative, read my note, and then pulled out a bottle of white out from her desk drawer. She started shaking it. After lecturing the other employee, my Manager came back in, and if looks could kill, I would actually be dead- I'm certain. The Manager and the woman from HR looked at one another, and then left me in the room alone to wonder. They walked over the copy machine and laid my note on it, and made a copy. They were talking. Then they pulled the copy from the end, and then the Manager took the white out from the HR woman, and they were whiting out something on my Doctors note. Then she blew it dry, and wrote on it. Then she removed my original note, and placed the "Doctored" Doctors note on the screen. They produced several copies, and then placed my original and the one they whited out, through a shredder. I knew then and there I was screwed.
The two talked a little bit more, and then came back into the HR office. They sighed as they sat down, and then quietly gave me an evil stare down. I think honestly, they were hoping for me to lash out, or cry or something. But I knew better, they were not getting a performance out of me!
After a few moments of hateful silence, the HR lady asked me who I thought I was trying to fool. I asked what she meant and she produced the note, and pointed at the dates, and "obviously" I had taken more dates off then I was prescribed. I say obviously, because that was what they had changed.
Because there was no proof I reported the accident, and because the dates were "wrong" I was being terminated. "But so you are aware, you were going to be written up today regardless, because of your neighbor and the list of complaints she made about you." The HR lady proclaimed.
I was swallowing back my tears, and trying not to cry. I couldn't let them win completely. I wanted to scream, yell and even give them a piece of my mind. But I knew I couldn't do that, I would've only ended up in jail.
You see, Florida is a right to work state; no one truly needs any type of reason to fire you. And this was not our only source of income, it would be easier to walk away, and there would be a lot less stress.
But in order to help me keep my cool I decided to respond, "My neighbor, the one who I got this job, has complaints about me, and yet I wasn't even here? What did I do "this" time?"
"She states that you make it hard for her to work, that you're saying stuff about her to other people that isn't true, and even harassing her at home. And oh, wait it also says here that you're addicted to narcotics as well, and that you're upset because she had pain pills and won't give you any." The woman told me, as she smiled.
I was getting even more upset and angry. . "And you're going to take her word for it? Did you even interview these "people" that I allegedly talked to about her? Or let me guess, you just took her word for it?" I asked angrily.
"No need to." The woman said, as she continued to smile.
How uncanny is it, that the person who pretended to be your friend, and neighbor can just stab you when you're down? The same person whose job you found for them, and went with them, so they didn't have to be afraid. How can she just up and stab me like this?
I stood up and walked to my station and grabbed my things. Everyone in my group asked if I was ok, and the only thing I could do was just nod a simple no, and then leave.
Afterwards I continued with my Physical Therapy and seeing Doctor after Doctor. I was told that I wasn't old enough to receive a hip replacement, and that I was also too fat. Workman's comp didn't want to take the risk. They told me that a hip replacement wouldn't work, and it would break within the first few months. They also told me that I would still just lie around and continue getting fatter and fatter.
For two years this went on. My hip continued to deteriorate more and more each day. And eventually workman's comp said there was nothing more that could be done. They closed my case and gave me a 5% disability rating and $250.00.
My Primary Care Physician, Dr. Page of Rockledge, FL was waiting patiently for work comp to either do something, or close it out, so that he could do something. He referred me to Dr. El Kommos, promising that he would fix me.
When I went Dr. El Kommos he looked at my X-rays, my Cat scans, MRIs and even my Venogram. All provided for him because of Workman's comp. For safety sake, he decided to get a more current X-ray, and to the next room to have it done. Then I went back into the room, and waited on the Doctor.
When the Doctor came back into the room, he put my X-ray on the screen, and turned to me and asked: "How in the hell are you walking?!" I answered, "With great difficulty." I told him.
He told me the obvious, I needed to loose weight. Then he told me hip replacements are for older people, much older. He said this would be a high risk case, and asked if this was what I wanted. I said yes. He told me it was definitely needed, and told me to see his Nurses to set up everything.
For my insurance, I had to be pre-approved by my Primary Care Physician, and a Cardiac Doctor. I made appointments, and waited for release forms. When they told me they would fax the insurance company, and doctors, I still waited, I wanted the forms too. To cover my own butt, I too took the forms around where they needed to go. This way I "knew" the job was being done right.
After about a week, my Surgeon called and had me go into the Hospital for pre-surgery blood work. My surgery date was one week later.
Naturally I had my doubts, and fears before the surgery. Surgery isn't supposed to be a breeze, or everyone would get it done everyday! Surgery is a risk factor, no matter what the operation. Anything can happen.
The day of my surgery, I walked into the Hospital, and my hip popped out of its socket, and ached like you would not believe. I could barely move, it brought tears to my eyes- and I rarely cry!
When the Doctor came back, he pulled a marker from his pocket, and wrote on the leg to be operated on, it was a safety protocol he said. He assured me it was ok to be nervous, and that he had done this operation more times then he could count. He made me feel more reassured, which made it a little easier.
After kissing my loved ones and telling them that I loved them- to surgery I went. Once into the room, I announced that before they put me under, we were required to say the Lord's Prayer.
Everyone agreed. After they did their preparations, they told me, as they gathered around lowering their heads, that I could start the prayer, that they would all participate. So I did, and they prayed with me. Everyone said Amen, and that was the last thing I remembered.
When I awoke, I had absolutely no hip pain. I just had a huge weight on my leg, and I yelled at my dog to get off of my leg. And obviously, it wasn't my dog.
I came to only for a few minutes at a time. Then I would pass back out. The nurses and my family kept putting this self dosing medication into my hand, and I would just drop it. I had no desire to hold or do anything.
I slept for three days, occasionally hearing and seeing things, but never conscience for very long.
On the third day, I awoke and was hungry. They brought me food and filled me in on everything.
My legs were trapped together, which I demanded they release the unimpaired one immediately. It did nothing wrong and didn't deserve this punishment. So they unstrapped it from my other leg, which was hot, and heavy and sore. But, I didn't have any hip pain!
The Doctor came in, rolled me over with great force and pain, and checked my wound and bandaged it back up. He said it was healing nicely, and ordered the catheter removed, and a portable potty chair brought in, and a walker. He said I needed to start working the leg immediately.
I was in the Hospital for well over a week. I did everything and more, because I wanted to show everyone it could and it would be done! My daughter stayed with me the entire time, she was sixteen at the time, and already had acquired permission to stay from School. She helped me out a great deal, keeping the nurses in line, and on the ball. She was a big help, otherwise I would've been bored out of my mind!
I did the therapy, I moved more steps and did more then they had anticipated. This didn't qualify me for a nursing home, and to me- I was glad. My husband was not. He felt that someone should be with me at all times. Instead I had a home nurse that came to my house every day, and a physical therapist.
An infection grew in my leg, and tests were ran, and it was not healing in one section. It was determined that I had MRSA. The Doctor took me into the office and did an operation right there while I was awake.
After another week, it was determined it was only worsening, so I had to go into the Hospital and get yet another surgery to remove the already infected tissue. And if it didn't heal, they would remove my hardware- my porcelain and titanium hip.
In the meantime, my hip doesn't hurt; the only thing hurting is the rod that is setting itself right through my leg bone. I was still using a walker. The neighborhood trouble maker was making fun of me and calling me a cripple. My husband assured me, that I would show her soon enough, just be patient.
On June 13, 2009 I under went another surgery. And something that I forgot to mention, my Husband works for Kennedy Space Center, and the last surgery was on a Shuttle launch, which fortunately moved over one day, so he had to work. The second surgery, another launch was scheduled. And this time there was no way out of it, so he went to work, and the kids stayed with me, until he was off. Again, my daughter stayed with me in the Hospital, however this time I stayed only a few days.
This was where they started the IV of antibiotics to treat MRSA. I had one in the early morning and one at night. Each IV takes an hour to deliver intravenously. Once I was discharged, I had to continue them at another Doctors office, Dr. Mateos of Melbourne Florida. There they taught my husband and daughter how to administer the IV, because I still had to have one every single night for six weeks.
The IVs drained me, and everyone thought I was doing terrible. I had no energy; I slept a lot, and hardly did anything- including my crafts. And it is extremely rare to see me do nothing. I was in pain, and felt like crap. I cried a lot, I was miserable, and couldn't understand why any doctor didn't bother to give me the full details of hip surgery. I was not prepared. It was summertime, I couldn't go swimming, I couldn't lay out, and I felt worthless and wanted to give up. My family supported me, and comforted me. They assured me it would one day be better, and I would look back and know this was not a mistake.
After another month, sometime in July, my leg pain started to subside. I wasn't even noticing, I was starting to walk without a cane and a walker. I was unsteady, but trying.
Shortly thereafter, I was beginning to feel a bit more normal. I was no longer on the lousy IVs, my immune system was built back up, and everyone told me my color was coming back. I had low blood pressure, and low blood levels, and ended up needing vitamins and also taking an herb known as Golden Seal to help me build up my antibodies and immune system.
Since that time, I am now moving around a lot, so much in fact that I have dropped thirty pounds. I lost the last fifteen pounds in the last week. I am always going, always doing something, and never wanting to stop. The kids and I are doing things together, we are doing things as a family again, and I love it!
If it weren't for Dr. El Kommos, and my family, I think I would have given up on several different occasions. They offered me love and support, and built me up when I was down, always promising it would all be good in the long run.
And it is!!
By the way, I contacted a lawyer regarding Workman's Comp. According to everyone I waited to long, and again, it was too risky, because I am over weight.
I figured you would have brought that up, so I beat ya to it! LOL
Published by Deneale K. Williams
No comments:
Post a Comment