Traveler Jim Surgery In US, Monday, March 4

[Guest thaiworthy]

After many months of fighting very nasty infections, Traveler Jim will undergo hip replacement surgery at UCSD/La Jolla on Monday, March 4, USA time. This has been a long time in coming. He has been confined to a wheelchair and lost a lot of freedom and mobility. I saw him at his home in December. His friend Ood has been a lifesaver and takes very good car of Jim. Ood just returned to Thailand to be with his family last week as was part of the plan. Jim is in good hands with family and friends and after the surgery is faced with recuperation until his return to Thailand later this year.
 
Jim is well-known in the community, especially in Pattaya. He has been posting publicly on Facebook about every detail, so I don't think he'd mind my mentioning this here since he could use our best wishes to pull through what must surely be a difficult time for him. He doesn't post here very often, but I'm sure he has friends here among us, of which I am one. In case he reads this thread, I would hope we can garner a few words of good will, just so he knows he has many friends around the globe that can offer some words of encouragement.
 
Here are his own words to describe the events in summary. written on Feb. 28:
 

I had surgery today to place a special filter in my vein...to protect from blood clots travelling into lungs or heart (I have DVT)... All went well. Wonderful doctors and staff at Univ of California-San Diego Medical Center/La Jolla - Vascular. Checked in at 5:30am, surgery at 7:30am and back into outpatient recovery room at 9:00am. Discharged at 12:00noon. Rested/slept all afternoon at sister's home in Oceanside, CA.

Next important date for my new hip surgery is Monday March 4th...at Thorton Hospital of UCSD/LaJolla. I check in at 10:50am, surgery scheduled for 12:50pm with operation room reserved for 4 1/2 hours. Will be in hospital 4 to 5 nights and possible hospital rehab center following.

Thankfully, I made it through today's surgery successfully...
the BIG one (new hip implant) to come soon ....next Monday March 4th.

Thank you all for your good wishes and prayers;
thank you to my Thai friend Ood for his care for past two months (he is now back in his home of Thailand with family); Ood and his Mama visited their local Buddhist Temple in Inburi, Thailand where they and the Monks prayed today for my successful surgeries; and very special - grateful thanks to my sister and brother-in-law for their loving and supportive care.

I love you all!

 

Thanks, guys!

[Guest fountainhall]

Best wishes Jim for a successful surgery and a quick recuperation. I know the last few months would have been near hell for you without Ood at your side. I trust you will be together again soon.

[Guest abang1961]

My prayers for Jim's successful surgery and speedy recovery.

I have gone through the trauma and drama before.

 

 

The patient was my mother.

In 2005, she was diagnosed with early symptoms of co-rectal cancer.

She struggled with the idea of going through a surgery at the tender age of 79.

She feared so much that she was going to die.

 

 

I told her there are only 2 possible outcomes - one successful and the other less favourable.

She could be having many more good years ahead or she be reincarnated. 

She opted to go through the operation.... and she is still having dinner with me a few moments ago.

 

 

So, all the best wishes to Jim... life can only get better...if we take the first step...

[KhorTose]

Jim, your input to this and other web sites has been sorely missed.  I Wish you the best and fastest recovery and a speedy return to these forums.

[baobao]

Here's wishing Jim smooth sailing through his upcoming procedure. Having seen a couple of others through hip replacements I know it's not easy or comfortable, but from the little I know about Jim my guess is he'll keep the good attitude and actively participate in the rehabilitation afterwards, which is the key to the entire thing.  

 

One thing's [nearly] certain: he's got good medical insurance! 

 

Best of luck to him.

[Guest]

Good luck with the op.

[kokopelli]

Speedy recover Jim; sent you a PM

[TotallyOz]

Jim has been a mainstay in the Thailand scene for many years. He is a good man and I hope he gets better soon!

[2lz2p]

My best wishes Jim.

[Guest thaiworthy]

An update on Traveler Jim from an email and his Facebook page:

 

 

I am OK....receiving wonderful medical care at Univ of Calif San Diego UCSD Thornton Hospital/LaJolla.
The new left hip surgery Monday went well. I was in operating room 6 hours.
Doctor is pleased with the surgery outcome...though a difficult hip revision surgery to perform.
Nurses here are very good. Taking good care of me. Keeping my pain well managed.
Had 3 units of blood during surgery and an added 2 units today.
Physical therapy started this Tuesday morning and again this afternoon.
Was able to stand up ....exercise in bed too.
Will be in UCSD hospital 5 days...
then will be transferred to acute recovery care center locally for extensive physical therapy.
Food is very good here too :-)
Thank you for your good wishes and prayers.
Bye for now...

[Guest fountainhall]

Excellent news! This must be a huge relief to him, to Ood and his family. His hip problem seems to have been taken a good six months just to get this far.

[Guest travelerjim]

An update on Traveler Jim from an email and his Facebook page:

Thank you thaiworthy and GT friends for your good thought and wishes for success in my new left hip surgery.

I am pleased to say all is OK and it now has been 2 weeks + 1 day since my surgery March 4th.

 

The operation was difficult as it was a second hip revision surgery, took 6 hours and 13 units of blood infused

during the surgery day (3) + 2x daily for next 5 days. Dr Francis Gonzales of UCSD is a specialist in hip revision surgery.

He installed the latest and most advanced implant in me...Implant made by Zimmer and is made of Titanium with Cobalt.

(Dr Suradej in Thailand also uses Zimmer implants). I see Dr Gonzales for checkup on March 27th.

 

Transferred to a superb rehabilitation facility/hospital after 7 days in UCSD hospital. Now beginning 2nd week of

occupational and physical therapy here at Emeritus-Carlsbad, CA. Staff here is excellent and the PT and OT staff are

truly hard working and dedicated to my recovery.

 

During first 4 weeks, only "toe-touch" use of left leg when exercising/walking with walker. After 4 weeks, then can use 50%

in step for next 4 weeks; then full 100% step use after 8 weeks of therapy.

 

My PT and OT sessions are twice daily, lasting about 1 to 1 1/2 hour each. Very strenuous for me...but already seeing

noticeable improvements. I now can walk with walker 100 steps, lift left leg up, sideways, and forward/backward.

Therapy makes use of 2 pound weights as well as balloons...in building up strength in both upper and lower extremities.

 

I feel truly blessed and lucky to be here in such a fine post-operative rehab facility/nursing care home.

My USA Medicare pays for for first 20 days of care here in full; following by co-pay of $148. daily after from 21st to 100th day.

My retiree health insurance supplement will pay 100% of the amounts Medicare does not pay for up to 120 days.

 

Home Physical Therapy for up to 70 days is available to me here too, paid in full by my retiree supplemet insurance, if I need it following disharge from Emeritus. I expect to be here betwen 5-7 weeks..+/- ...I want to make sure I am ready for home release ...vs wanting to go home too soon. My sister here

has been most gracious in making available her home for however long I may need.

 

Likewise, my return to Thailand may be in a few months (late May/early June)...stay a few months in our Pattaya/Jomtien home; and then return early September for added checkups as well as some business needs; or I may stay here in USA during the coming summer months, as I must return in September to assist a dear client with financial planning needs then.

 

In any event, I am so thankful all is going well. I take it a "day at a time"...and the PT Therapist is one who would have made the US Marines proud as a Drill Instructor :-) I do my part...each day...and realize the "hurt" is good for me...the saying "no pain, no gain" is truly apt for me.

 

Thanks again...Your words of good wishes and prayers have been most helpful and much appreciated.

 

Indeed, I miss Thailand and my Thai friend Ood...he is busy taking care of house and other duties in his family,

and prepares to open a business for himself this year. He has several very good ideas. He assisted me greatly during the first 2 months I came to San Diego/OK areas in preparation for surgery. Now I am cared for daily here by a caring staff at Emeritus-Carlsbad.

 

Take good care my friends...until we meet again in the Land of Smiles,

 

tj

 

FYI...Emeritus-Carlsbad surprisingly does not have wireless....so I am using a Verizon Hot Spot device...MiFi 4G lite...the device costs about $130.00 at stores like Best Buy in USA and I pre-pay $60.00 for a one month 3G card...for up and downloading as well as phone calling. They have a $90.00 card for one month which includes 10G of up/down/calls, The info says it can be used worldwide to provide call and internet access. It has been wonderful for me to use here in my hospital bed/room. :-)

[Guest thaiworthy]

Thank you for the update, TJ. I wish you well during your rehabilitation in the USA and a smooth transition back here as planned. Don't know when I'll be back in Pattaya, but it's not like it's a far journey from BKK. Wishing you well . . . Good luck with your new MiFi device and when you get back, say hello to Cleo and Ood for me.