Análisis de la rueda del consumidor

“I was actually starting to get really depressed because I didn’t think I had made any progress.” (Joyce)

This section reports on participants’ experiences of changing mood and changing body image post hip fracture. Some participants experienced low mood following hip fracture, with some clearly feeling depressed as they tried to adjust during their recovery and to their new self. The formerly active U3A participants described their depression while they struggled with the long

169 recovery process post hip fracture. Sally spoke of her low mood during her recovery, which was ongoing and obvious during her interview:

“I got to a stage when I didn’t want to be here…I didn’t want to be here point blank….Even now … I feel like it sometimes. I don’t think I can take any more bad news.” (Sally 5: 177-180)

She expressed her sense of hopelessness and subsequent onset of depression. Ralph had been put on antidepressants to manage his

depression, as it affected his motivation during his recovery, and indicates that his low mood was chronic and debilitating, which affected his ability to cope; whereas Joyce identified that a lack of progress and reassurance from health professionals had triggered her low mood.

“So she put me on an antidepressant for a short while. And I think I was quite tired, and still feeling a bit tired…I haven’t been able to get over it.” (Ralph 23: 430-432)

“When I went back to the hospital on 13 September I was actually starting to get really depressed because I didn’t think I had made any progress, I was still on two crutches, in terrible pain and I couldn’t see a way forward. The doctor’s only solution was in a year’s time we will give you another operation to remove the pins.” (Joyce 20:795-800)

The U4A participants also experienced low mood post hip fracture, but seemed embarrassed or dismissive about being depressed, using phrases such as ‘snap out of it’, ‘told off by my daughter’, and ‘pluck myself out of it’. Bridget and Blanch described the morbid thoughts they had immediately following their accident, using phrases such as ‘is this the end?’ and ‘I’ve finished my life now’.

“…thought, is this it? Is this the end? I think my daughter thought the same. ” (Bridget 1: 21-22)

“When I first had the accident, I thought ‘what am I going to do?’ What am I going to do’. I thought oh no, oh no…I’ve finished my life now. I won’t be able to go out, I won’t be able to go up to London. It is all finished now.” (Blanch 1: 18-21)

Low mood was reported in the immediate aftermath of hip fracture surgery. Jean found herself getting teary while on the trauma ward, as her short term plans were so abruptly changed, while Stanley appeared guilty for being depressed, but blamed it on the strong pain medication:

“I have my bad days. I kept getting a bit teary on the ward. I don’t know why. I guess it was a lot to take in. I was expecting to spend the weekend in a lovely hotel, not in a hospital.” (Jean 2:32-35)

“When I was in the hospital I was a bit depressed. I was very sleepy. It might have been the drugs. I was saying things like “that’s it – life is finished”. My daughter told me off for saying this.” (Stanley 1:40-42)

Some participants experienced short periods of low mood after discharge home. Bridget, a U4A participant who lives alone, talked of feeling bored and fed-up at times, but would not allow herself to stay like that for long; whereas Fern spoke of low mood triggered by her lack of routine since her hip fracture. Both Bridget and Fern seemed determined to overcome their low moods, and were mindful of its triggers and how to manage it:

“Occasionally I would feel a bit down, not often, but I would get bored and fed up and think…this is it. But I would say to myself…snap out of it poppet.” (Bridget 5: 142-144)

“…there are times when you dip – it’s only natural. I don’t think it happened in hospital or when I first got home, but I think of late – I have to pluck

171 myself up – I am improving if I can’t do it today – I have done it and I’ll do it again – I sort of big myself up. I haven’t got into a routine yet – basically I am a person of routine.” (Fern 9: 307-311)

For Beryl, facing surgery post hip fracture caused her low mood as she struggled with her decision as to whether to have further surgery on her knee: “I’ve had one of my knees done too, and the other one is due to be done. As soon as I got out of the hospital I got a call for it to be done and they wanted to do it there and then. I think they had a cancellation. But I said, I cannot go through another operation at the moment. It was too much. I was very… very, very low.” (Beryl 4: 120-125)