Joint replacement and metal sensitivity

Spent some time going through boxes of old papers and came across a radiology report from 2005. It said “metal surgical artifacts upper right abdomen”. I’d had a laparoscopic cholecystectomy in 1990. I had no idea they’d left anything in me. I’ve been carrying around metal for 32 years with no apparent issues. But what kind of metal?

It turns out they use clips to close off the bile duct and artery to the gallbladder after removing it. I tried real hard to find out what metals they used in 1990 for what was then an experimental laparoscopic removal but can’t narrow it down. Nowadays they’re trying magnesium dissolvable clips. I read where they used titanium from at least the early 2000s but can’t date it back to 1990.

Regardless, I’m taking this as evidence I’ll probably do okay with the titanium hip hardware. I’m feeling a lot better about it.

Getting copies of all your records and hanging on to every piece of paper may make you a hoarder but it sure comes in handy once in a while. The guy who posted with the street racing decades ago and the guy with the DUI twelve years ago sure could have benefited from getting and keeping those records.
 
I saw an allergy specialist yesterday. It was well worth the cost (insurance won’t pay). My confidence level about this surgery is now up to about 95%. Not gonna do it until it’s 99% but I’ll get there.

@Lance F How are you doing today?
 
Today is 11 days post surgery. Doing well. Been driving for over a week. Took a (slow) 20 minute walk yesterday. Still some ache in thigh but haven’t felt the need for any pain meds. Weather permitting I’m going to give a couple of lessons tomorrow in 172. Got the hospital statement today. Doesn’t include surgeon and was $29,655. So far they’re not charging me for any of it.
 
So I had the surgery on November 7, 2022. Today is one year out. I am fully healed and thrilled with the result. I'm glad I went with that guy and his posterior approach. The incision was longer than I thought it would be, 7" but that was a total non-issue. Almost all my post op pain was deep in my thigh, presumably because he'd sawed off the top of my thighbone, reamed out the marrow, and hammered a spike halfway down in there. I barely felt pain from the incision, and I love my badass scar!

The surgeon was great, he gave me his personal email address and cell phone number, and responded within 30 minutes to any contact I made. He's retired now and he's still responding (I had a recent question about the lifetime protocol for antibiotics with dental work). My only complaint is that he is now retired and won't be doing my next joint if I ever need it.

I've had no sign at all of rejecting the titanium. @robin ardoin your instincts were spot on. In fact, I'm getting ready to get a titanium post implanted for one of my molars that needs to be pulled.
 
Rushie said:
To keep this aviation related I am also wondering how having major hardware inside you affects you going through TSA. Does the metal detector go off causing them to throw you to the floor and handcuff you?
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Yes, and I get an almost daily "reminder" of that too. I work at a nuclear power plant, and we have to pass through an explosive detector and then a standard metal detector as we enter. Each day as I head in I have to remove my shoes, belt, hat, etc. The walk-through metal detector alerts "very positively" now that I have had one knee and both shoulders replaced. The reverse shoulder replacement with those mega screws lights up the wands they frisk me with. I think of it as a "special welcome" each day I show up for work...

And very glad to hear that all went well!
 
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Joint replacement requires going through a scanner, not the halo. Same as a pacemaker. Easy peasy.
 
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