My Turn: The surprising benefit of hip repair

It was a November evening when darkness comes early, and my husband and I were going to our grandson’s birthday party. The entrance to the house was unlit and the walk was bumpy. We had almost reached the gate when I made my grand fall, missing a step and landing on my left hip on the concrete. Many hands helped me up, but I was unable to put weight on my left leg. After a glass of wine, I felt no pain. So it was on with the party.

The next morning I had a light breakfast: one tangerine from our tree, one poached egg and a cup of decaf. Then it was off to the hospital for X-rays.

By the time the diagnosis of a fractured left hip was made and I had been admitted to the hospital, I had missed lunch and was feeling hunger pangs. I hadn’t been in a hospital since my last child was born 50 years ago, and I assumed someone would be bringing me dinner.

Finally, I was told I’d better call Food Service and order my dinner before the kitchen was closed. OK. I called and ordered a nice big salad, which arrived shortly. When I started eating it, I discovered, to my dismay, that it didn’t have any dressing. I was just eating lettuce leaves and sliced tomatoes. I called Food Service again to order salad dressing. However, this time it was too late. It was closed. So I had to satisfy myself with undressed rabbit food.

The next morning arrived, and, of course, I got no breakfast in preparation for my hip repair. Then noon came and went, and I got no lunch.

About midafternoon, an aide came in with the news that the hospital was short of operating rooms and I was fourth on the standby list. So my procedure was postponed until the next day. But, big news, I could have dinner. I was beginning to lose my appetite, but I did order a bowl of soup. After midnight, of course, I got nothing to eat or drink.

The next day, sure enough, they repaired my hip, and a great job they did! But I didn’t feel much like eating anything that day.

I went home a couple of days later and weighed myself — 95 pounds. I had lost 6 pounds. I was glad I had lost the weight, but it was a hard way to do it.

Now, more than five years later, those three screws in my hip have served me well. And I’ve kept the weight off, walking a mile before breakfast every morning.

I shall forever be grateful to the doctors who cared for me and to the great hospital, which shall remain nameless. I got good care there and participated in a fantastic weight loss program.

Jean Koch is a homemaker in Los Angeles who has written two books. She can be reached at drpku@sbcglobal.net.

My Turn is a forum for readers to recount an experience related to health or fitness. Submissions should be 500 words or fewer, are subject to editing and condensation and become the property of The Times. Email health@latimes.com. Read more at latimes.com/myturn.