early christmas - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

t walgamuth · #1 12-10-2006, 09:44 PM

so i am getting myself a new right hip on tuesday.

so we had christmas early with our five kids and six grandkids today. i hauled in: peter egan collected works latest, lemans, the dvd, architecture book, some great flowerdy shirts, pjs, socks, and some other stuff.

think i will go watch lemans. again.

btw just watched inconvenient truth. very compelling. i had been putting it off thinking it would be dull. my politically conservative daughter and her husband compelled me to watch it. glad i did. maybe i will look into running for congress. (ha!)

tom w

Kuan · #2 12-10-2006, 09:48 PM

Good luck with the surgery. Let us know how it goes, or have someone post here and let us know.

catmandoo62 · #3 12-10-2006, 10:43 PM

my early x-mas gift is an old schlitz beer keg.

t walgamuth · #4 12-10-2006, 11:52 PM

they told me i would have access to a computer and email in the hospital.

i just finished watching lemans again. got the dvd for christmas. great racing stuff. not enough dialogue to fill a half hour sitcom. the star, mcqueen has so few lines it is almost funny.

it was filmed in 71. i was in europe in summer of 70 and most of 73 so everything looked just like i remember it. the cars, the roads and the people. it was a lot of fun to watch it on several levels. i had forgotten it was filmed so close to the time i was over there.

so if you are a racing fan, ask for it for christmas.

oh yeah, i also got my own crash helmet for the autocrossing next year! its cool. now i wont have to use the loaners any more!

tom w

Ara T. · #5 12-10-2006, 11:57 PM

Good luck, hope it goes all right.

At least your grandkids will fear you again, now that you'll be able to chase after them...

t walgamuth · #6 12-11-2006, 12:05 AM

thanks.

the grandkids terrorize me!

not really, but i let them do about whatever they want here! cookies for breakfast? why not? just drink some milk with them.

we have a good time.

tom w

PaulC · #7 12-11-2006, 12:11 AM

Good luck, Tom!

suginami · #8 12-11-2006, 12:12 AM

Best of luck Tom!

Fill us in on how it went as soon as you are able.

LaRondo · #9 12-11-2006, 12:27 AM

Good Luck! ...and try Steve McQueens 'Bullit' if you haven't yet .... it roars ...

t walgamuth · #10 12-11-2006, 09:07 AM

i have seen it, but would def enjoy again. i will have some time to kill for at least a week with the hip, so maybe i will try to get it.

i still remember seeing an article that told of two mustangs, one with a nearly full race small block that was used for the chase, but i have had no luck finding any coroboration of my memory.

tom w

el presidente · #11 12-11-2006, 09:18 AM

Good luck with the surgery.

suginami · #12 12-11-2006, 12:50 PM

My next door neighbor, who is a good friend, has several family members who have had hips replaced. He tells me he'll have it done, too, sometime. It is apparently an inherited problem.

From talking to him, the surgery isn't all that bad, but the rehabilitation is the hard part. But after a month or two, the hip is so perfect that they can't tell it's been replaced.

al76slc · #13 12-11-2006, 01:00 PM

Good luck Tom. I had mine done in September, and I'm completely back good as new (or as good as I get). A little discomfort from the cold, but that's about it.

If you can, go to a rehab facility for a week. It forces you to take the rehab seriously. And don't avoid taking the pain meds. Makes the time go by easier, and it helps you do the harder rehab stuff.

Worst thing ... no driving for 6 weeks.

t walgamuth · #14 12-11-2006, 01:25 PM

thanks for the pointers.

the driving i might want to rush if possible.

i cannot imagine not driving for so long.

tom w

al76slc · #15 12-11-2006, 01:37 PM

Agreed. What they told me is that altho you feel fine, your reaction time in your right leg is not what you think it is, so your braking is off.

If you manage to start driving early, you better not get into an accident and have the insurance company find out that you weren't supposed to be driving.

The other thing is you will have trouble getting into the driver's side of the car initially. The passenger's side is easier. You get your butt on the seat first and then drag your right leg in. Driver's side you'd have to lead with your right leg, and you're putting weight (and stress) on it. Not good.

This doesn't apply if you can find a RHD vehicle like the one that was kicking around on the other forum.

Someone who had the surgery same day as me, same hospital, felt so good on the day after surgery, went to the john by himself, fainted, popped the hip out and had to go under the knife again. When I saw him 6 weeks later, he was WAY behind me. So take it easy!!!

BTW, I cheated on the 6 weeks driving by 2 weeks.