LHop
junior member
- Joined
- Jun 17, 2015
- Messages
- 62
- Age
- 59
- Location
- San Marcos, California
- Country
- United States
- Gender
- Female
Sorry it took me some time to get back on this thread, My husband and I have been posting to a site called Caring Bridge for my family, friends and church congregation. Here was my post the day after:
I'm Alive!
By Lori Hopkins — Jul 2, 2015 10:32pm
Not gonna lie, yesterday was a rough one. When I first landed in recovery I thought I was going to be the poster child for bilateral knee replacement procedure. I was laughing, joking around with the nurses, feeling pretty good about myself. However, the longer I was in recovery and as the epidural wore off, the pain hit me like a freight train.
I had to wait five hours in recovery before getting a room. The nurse was working hard to get my pain under control, but my rock of a husband wasn't there and I could feel his absence. By the time I came upstairs to my room, I was moaning. When the medication finally kicked in a was so out of it I could barely talk.
Often knee patients are put on a machine that gently bends and flexes the knee. The PT nurse on call was stuck downstairs on an emergency call, so I didn't get set up on this contraption until after 9:00 pm. Consequently I was very stiif and my range was pretty limited.
They took me off the device around 12:30 am and with another good dose of meds, I fell asleep, cat napping until about 6 this morning.
Kevin arrived around 9:00 a.m to find me in a much better state than he left me last night. The PT had me shuffling around the room this morning, it hurt but after I ate some lunch, had another dose of meds, I was ready to try again. With Kevin, the girls, and friends cheering me on, I shuffled to the couch and back. The hardest part (other than the discomfort) is trying to re-train my body to straighten my back and knees.
Kevin and the girls left around 6:30 p.m. and I don't expect them back. I ate dinner and promptly fell asleep. My goal for the night is to get as much rest as I can so I can hit the PT hard tomorrow. He will make the call as to whether I get to ho home or have to go to a rehab facility.
Friday - July 3rd.
I would have really liked another day at the hospital. I wasn't feeling very confident getting up and down and the pain and stiffness is pretty severe, then as Kevin says
Houston... The Eagle has landed.
By Lori Hopkins — 22 hours ago
Well... it all happened kinda sudden like. One minute, the PT guy is saying he'll see you tomorrow for another round. Then the Surgeon pops in and "Whammo!", the next thing you know your nurse is apologizing for the rush, asks if you have all your stuff and they kick you to the curb.
Fast-forward a couple of hours, add in visits to two different pharmacies to find meds with Lori still in the truck, and our patient is now home in her own bed, hooked back up to the limb cooling unit and enjoying a wonderful meal from a loving and gracious church member (Thanks V & family!). Next up, more meds and a nap as is the ordered regimen.
Impi (our dog), is especially pleased to have Mommy home and is laying at her feet as I type this out.
Between the physical efforts and meds, Lori is pretty wiped out but plans to post when she feels able, probably tomorrow sometime.
Happy Independence Day one and all and thanks again for all of your love and prayers! - KH
Saturday, July 4th
So here I am. Home on the Fourth of July. This morning I got to wash up and Kevin rigged up the shower chair on the edge of the shower and washed my hair. All of this took over an hour and I was exhausted by the time it was over. I have difficulty straightening and bending my knees. When I do stand up my posture and leg positions are very crooked. As the PT at the hospital said, I will probably grow two inches taller after this process. My knees have taken years to warp this way, and it will take some time to relearn to walk and stand.
My knees are wrapped with compression wraps and I am using the polar ice machine continuously. The pain is manageable with my Oxy which I am taking approximately every 4-6 hours. I have pillows under them to raise them up. Thank goodness we were able to get the equipment we needed from my friend's mom. The potty chair has been a godsend as it extends high enough that I barely have to bend my knees to sit on it.
I will receive PT and a visit from the nurse tomorrow. So we will see how that goes. I'm sorry it took some time to get your pain managed @jbrooklyn, that's what happened with me while in recovery. I also am pretty stoic, but when I get to the point where I'm asking, I need them to respond NOW!
Keep on truckin!
I'm Alive!
By Lori Hopkins — Jul 2, 2015 10:32pm
Not gonna lie, yesterday was a rough one. When I first landed in recovery I thought I was going to be the poster child for bilateral knee replacement procedure. I was laughing, joking around with the nurses, feeling pretty good about myself. However, the longer I was in recovery and as the epidural wore off, the pain hit me like a freight train.
I had to wait five hours in recovery before getting a room. The nurse was working hard to get my pain under control, but my rock of a husband wasn't there and I could feel his absence. By the time I came upstairs to my room, I was moaning. When the medication finally kicked in a was so out of it I could barely talk.
Often knee patients are put on a machine that gently bends and flexes the knee. The PT nurse on call was stuck downstairs on an emergency call, so I didn't get set up on this contraption until after 9:00 pm. Consequently I was very stiif and my range was pretty limited.
They took me off the device around 12:30 am and with another good dose of meds, I fell asleep, cat napping until about 6 this morning.
Kevin arrived around 9:00 a.m to find me in a much better state than he left me last night. The PT had me shuffling around the room this morning, it hurt but after I ate some lunch, had another dose of meds, I was ready to try again. With Kevin, the girls, and friends cheering me on, I shuffled to the couch and back. The hardest part (other than the discomfort) is trying to re-train my body to straighten my back and knees.
Kevin and the girls left around 6:30 p.m. and I don't expect them back. I ate dinner and promptly fell asleep. My goal for the night is to get as much rest as I can so I can hit the PT hard tomorrow. He will make the call as to whether I get to ho home or have to go to a rehab facility.
Friday - July 3rd.
I would have really liked another day at the hospital. I wasn't feeling very confident getting up and down and the pain and stiffness is pretty severe, then as Kevin says
Houston... The Eagle has landed.
By Lori Hopkins — 22 hours ago
Well... it all happened kinda sudden like. One minute, the PT guy is saying he'll see you tomorrow for another round. Then the Surgeon pops in and "Whammo!", the next thing you know your nurse is apologizing for the rush, asks if you have all your stuff and they kick you to the curb.
Fast-forward a couple of hours, add in visits to two different pharmacies to find meds with Lori still in the truck, and our patient is now home in her own bed, hooked back up to the limb cooling unit and enjoying a wonderful meal from a loving and gracious church member (Thanks V & family!). Next up, more meds and a nap as is the ordered regimen.
Impi (our dog), is especially pleased to have Mommy home and is laying at her feet as I type this out.
Between the physical efforts and meds, Lori is pretty wiped out but plans to post when she feels able, probably tomorrow sometime.
Happy Independence Day one and all and thanks again for all of your love and prayers! - KH
Saturday, July 4th
So here I am. Home on the Fourth of July. This morning I got to wash up and Kevin rigged up the shower chair on the edge of the shower and washed my hair. All of this took over an hour and I was exhausted by the time it was over. I have difficulty straightening and bending my knees. When I do stand up my posture and leg positions are very crooked. As the PT at the hospital said, I will probably grow two inches taller after this process. My knees have taken years to warp this way, and it will take some time to relearn to walk and stand.
My knees are wrapped with compression wraps and I am using the polar ice machine continuously. The pain is manageable with my Oxy which I am taking approximately every 4-6 hours. I have pillows under them to raise them up. Thank goodness we were able to get the equipment we needed from my friend's mom. The potty chair has been a godsend as it extends high enough that I barely have to bend my knees to sit on it.
I will receive PT and a visit from the nurse tomorrow. So we will see how that goes. I'm sorry it took some time to get your pain managed @jbrooklyn, that's what happened with me while in recovery. I also am pretty stoic, but when I get to the point where I'm asking, I need them to respond NOW!
Keep on truckin!
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