Poohstew
junior member
Hi all!!
Admitted yesterday, July 12, for RTKR.
Prepped and went into surgery schedule for 82 minutes at 7:30 am. Ended up being 75 minutes. Spinal anesthesia with IV sedation. They had some difficult placing my spinal, took a few tries as I have degenerative disk disease, but was not painful. Scooted over onto the surgical bed and I was out.
At some point during surgery, I woke up. I could hear the doctors talking. I asked the nurse if I should be awake. She said "Are you ok? Do you want to be awake?" I told her I didn't care, and that I was fine. I am in the medical field, so ok for me...it was interesting. They let me know they would put me out if I wished.
They had a drape up, of course, so I couldn't see anything, but I could hear the surgeons discussing implant size and such, though their specific words are kind of a blur. At one point I could hear the drill then later the hammer. It was so cool, and I am glad for the experience. I drifted back in and out, and awoke fully as they were taking me to recovery. I have to say, I felt great. I had no drowsiness, no nausea at any point, and zero pain. I was in recovery for about a half hour. During this time they got my TED hose on, my pressure cuffs on, placed an ice pack.and took vitals. Worst part was my itchy nose. They gave meds for that, which eventually made me very drowsy and the itching stopped. I have since had a few more doses of that as the itching has returned.
Once I was back to the room, my family was waiting, and said I looked great! I felt great! PT came within the hour for heel pumps, glut squeezes, and got me up with the walker and into the chair. Various checks by the nurse, and got up to use the bathroom. No issues there, though I am still having to push a bit to get the flow going, which is normal. Visited with family, and eventually had a dinner of jello, raspberry ice, chicken broth, and my diet coke I had been asking for.
They have a nasal cannula placed with a sensor to monitor co2 levels. This has been the biggest annoyance so far, constant beeping as the placement moves. Respiratory therapy has been in off and on checking that I am doing my breathing. Stupid nasal cannula has to be left in for 24 hours. Gah!! Oxygen was set at 2 liters, reduced to 1 liter in the evening, and discontinued late night.
Had a great night...slept off and on pretty well. Norco 5/325 was started at midnight every 4 hours for pain. Aspirin therapy was begun. Norco will be increased to 10/325 before therapy session today. I got up and got washed and dressed. I have individual PT in the room this morning at 9 am (basically heel pumps, glut squeezes, and getting into the chair.) I have OT coming at 11 am (how to manage at home) then group therapy from 1 to 3 pm.
I posted my incision pic on the photo page. It goes across my knee at an angle, like half of the letter X. Hadn't seen one like that before! I counted the staples. Worst pain right now is from the tourniquet that was placed during surgery above my knee.
Will update as I go through the next few days! Everything went VERY smoothly! Much better than expected!!
Kim
RTKR July 12
Admitted yesterday, July 12, for RTKR.
Prepped and went into surgery schedule for 82 minutes at 7:30 am. Ended up being 75 minutes. Spinal anesthesia with IV sedation. They had some difficult placing my spinal, took a few tries as I have degenerative disk disease, but was not painful. Scooted over onto the surgical bed and I was out.
At some point during surgery, I woke up. I could hear the doctors talking. I asked the nurse if I should be awake. She said "Are you ok? Do you want to be awake?" I told her I didn't care, and that I was fine. I am in the medical field, so ok for me...it was interesting. They let me know they would put me out if I wished.
They had a drape up, of course, so I couldn't see anything, but I could hear the surgeons discussing implant size and such, though their specific words are kind of a blur. At one point I could hear the drill then later the hammer. It was so cool, and I am glad for the experience. I drifted back in and out, and awoke fully as they were taking me to recovery. I have to say, I felt great. I had no drowsiness, no nausea at any point, and zero pain. I was in recovery for about a half hour. During this time they got my TED hose on, my pressure cuffs on, placed an ice pack.and took vitals. Worst part was my itchy nose. They gave meds for that, which eventually made me very drowsy and the itching stopped. I have since had a few more doses of that as the itching has returned.
Once I was back to the room, my family was waiting, and said I looked great! I felt great! PT came within the hour for heel pumps, glut squeezes, and got me up with the walker and into the chair. Various checks by the nurse, and got up to use the bathroom. No issues there, though I am still having to push a bit to get the flow going, which is normal. Visited with family, and eventually had a dinner of jello, raspberry ice, chicken broth, and my diet coke I had been asking for.
They have a nasal cannula placed with a sensor to monitor co2 levels. This has been the biggest annoyance so far, constant beeping as the placement moves. Respiratory therapy has been in off and on checking that I am doing my breathing. Stupid nasal cannula has to be left in for 24 hours. Gah!! Oxygen was set at 2 liters, reduced to 1 liter in the evening, and discontinued late night.
Had a great night...slept off and on pretty well. Norco 5/325 was started at midnight every 4 hours for pain. Aspirin therapy was begun. Norco will be increased to 10/325 before therapy session today. I got up and got washed and dressed. I have individual PT in the room this morning at 9 am (basically heel pumps, glut squeezes, and getting into the chair.) I have OT coming at 11 am (how to manage at home) then group therapy from 1 to 3 pm.
I posted my incision pic on the photo page. It goes across my knee at an angle, like half of the letter X. Hadn't seen one like that before! I counted the staples. Worst pain right now is from the tourniquet that was placed during surgery above my knee.
Will update as I go through the next few days! Everything went VERY smoothly! Much better than expected!!
Kim
RTKR July 12