I had my left hip resurfaced with Dr.
De Smet on 3/15/06. That was a turning point in my life.
I was 61 years old and been living in pain from my left hip for
almost ten years.
I had spent about 3 months learning about hip resurfacing and reading email posts from the
surfacehippy Yahoo group . I decided that hip resurfacing with
Dr. De Smet would be the answer to my hip pain.
I had a wonderful time in Belgium with
my husband and many new hippy friends. My surgery was a piece
of cake and only took 2 1/2 days away from my wonderful vacation in
Gent. The Jan Palfijn Hospital was as good as any US hospital
that I have been in. The staff all spoke some English and were most
attentive. I explained that I did not want to feel any pain,
that I did not want to remember anything that happened and I did not
want to be nauseated after surgery. The great staff of doctors
and nurses listened to my wishes and they were all granted. I
had a very uneventful surgery. I can hardly remember anything
from the night before when I took a sleeping pill to the day after
surgery when I first started to be awake.
I even had the bonus of receiving a
heart echogram from the wonderful heart doctor that heard a heart
murmur from my heart. He felt I would be fine to have surgery,
but wanted me to get it tested when I got home to the US. I
told him that I did not have health insurance. He explained it
would be about $900 in the US, but he would do it for me for $50
while I was at Jan Palfijn. What a bargain! I found out
I have some calcification on my aorta valve, but it was normal for a
person my age. I should not have any problems for another 20
years or more. That was good news and I felt it a gift to
receive it for a sum of $50 instead of $900.
I have posted photos of the hospital,
Dr. De Smet and his staff and all the wonderful hippies that I meet
on Patricia Walter's
Photo Album Page
I am currently 11 months post op and
doing great. I don't know any other way to explain the
adventure, but as amazing. I had no bruising or swelling and
very little pain. I ended up only taking a few Ibuprofen after
surgery since their medicines were making my stomach upset. My
unused muscles were very stiff and sore, but that is to be expected
since they have not been used much for ten years.
At this point all I can say is "Thank
You" to Dr. De Smet for giving me a pain-free hip and my life back!
