Hi everyone,
Thank you all for the nice and encouraging notes. What a wild ride this has been! As I fill in the details of my journey, I wanted to mention that I had my left hip replaced just 5 weeks before the right knee. As I browsed through the forum, I did not find anyone that had them done quite so close together. Part of what I want to write about here is that experience, in case anyone comes behind me with the same scenario.
So, a bit about the hip. For me, and I know this is not how it is for everyone, but for me, the hip was an absolute breeze. I had a very minimally invasive surgery with a great surgeon, did everything in my power to prepare mentally and physically and just sailed right through. Again, not this way for everyone, but a great experience for me.
That said, there were things going on in my body that I was not fully aware of until the knee surgery. First, while I went into the hip with a great hematocrit (over 12), I was only able to get back up to 11.9 post knee surgery. Second, I was and still am on coumadin. I was taking 6 mg nightly for the first 4 weeks after hip surgery, and then went to 1 mg nightly for the week before the knee surgery. Initially, I was supposed to have my knee done on 11/18, and would have had one week free of coumadin before restarting the 1 mg. Not sure if that would have made a difference, but I do think the combination of starting with a low hemoglobin and being on a blood thinner had its consequences. Everything with the knee was different - how I reacted to anesthesia (I remember being in the OR for the knee, but not at all for the hip), the nausea following the surgery, the dehydration - everything was different, and likely was related to my blood situation. Would I do this all over again knowing what I know now? Well...not sure about that. For me, my body was just falling apart and I have a goal of being well again by spring for my son's graduation from high school and final lacrosse season. I also needed to consider taking time off from work and it just seemed like a good idea to get it all done. I guess I am fortunate that I did not know all I know now! And that said, this worst part is behind me. And I now know what I am dealing with. So I am hoping to crawl out of this hole and thrive!
Next, things I would do the same for the knee and hip, vs. differently. I still love my Vera Bradley cross body bag for carrying phones and even travel mugs, ice packs around in a hands free way. A must have! But, this time, being a bit less mobile, I actually just ordered a walker with a basket so I can tote meals from the counter to the table, etc, while I am home alone. It will come tomorrow and I think it will be huge help. Microwavable bath towelettes - a must have. So easy to feel clean with no effort and I will use them until I can get the courage to climb the stairs to the second floor for a shower (that should take a week to be done with drainage anyway). Shoe situation - for the hip, I loved my Easy Spirit slip on sneakers. For the knee, I cannot even believe how swollen my entire leg, including my ankle is. Instead, I am using some sketcher sneakers with built in shoe laces that are very light weight and loose. I need the shoe horn to get them on. Not loving this, but the slip ons are just not working yet. And finally, this is an odd one my friends - cotton lady boxer shorts. I have not read about anyone else wearing them, and I was not even sure anyone made them, but I got them for the hip and am using them again for the knee. They are just so comfy.
Now to my current status - this is day 3 post op. I came hope yesterday afternoon. Yesterday morning, I was not sure I could do this, but there is surely no place like home! I feel better and more independent just being here. And, I can fall asleep in seconds just being in my own place. I came home with an 8.4 hemoglobin, and that is after getting a blood transfusion yesterday. So, I am feeling very light headed and need to take the next few days very slow and easy. Everything is a challenge, even just thinking. For meds I am taking dilaudin every 3 hours, unless like last night, I sleep right through my reminder (not that I am complaining about that!) and tylenol 650 mg every 6 hours. Also taking celebrex twice a day. In the hospital, they had me on 4 mg of dilaudin every 3 hours, but yesterday suggested 6 mg. The 6 mg finally took the pain away and made it manageable. Today, I am trying to figure out if I should do 4 or 6. As I said, I am light headed and the extra dilaudin is making me very woozy and a tiny bit nauseous (not vomitting, but just no appetite). I will ask the visiting nurse her opinion on dosing when she comes this afternoon. Both PT and the nurse are coming today. I do not expect to be doing very much in the way of PT. But, I feel a 100 times more mobile at home - just getting up when I want to rather than hitting the call button and waiting makes such a huge difference.
Swelling - holy cow, I have never seen swelling like this!!! They tell you about it, but it is hard to grasp until you see what your own body will do. Now I can understand why everything hurts - just too much fluid everywhere. And the bruising - that is crazy too. My entire right leg is black and blue as well as my arms from the assault of the IV nurse who could not find veins! Again, a lot of this is due to the coumadin/low hemocrit due to the back to back surgeries. But, this will pass. I know from the hip that it will go away. And, I do think I can move my knee more without groaning and yelling, so think that means the swelling is going down.
Constipation - I can proudly say this is one thing I did very right for the knee as opposed to the hip. For every hospital meal I ordered prune juice and stewed prunes. That combined with the stool softeners and senna, i never got to the truly miserable stage. In fact, the first think I vomited was those darn prunes! I have the nurses a scare when they saw all that black stuff - they thought I had a GI bleed, but no, just the prunes.
I have the dried prunes at home and just pop a few in my mouth every now and then. And, to counteract the nauseous feeling, I keep graham crackers at my bed. Works for me.
Fever - this is just the most frustrating thing. With all the narcs, I just want to sleep, but the result of that is a 99.5 fever. So, keep using my little breathing gizmo to keep a handle on it. Highly recommend it, although I find it is a pain in the butt for me.
That is all folks. I do feel like I am turning a corner and dealing with all of this better. And now, trying to be way more gentle with myself as I have, in fact, just had not one, but tow major surgeries. All the bone smartie mantras will serve me well in the coming days.
Thank you all again - my old hippie pals and me new knee pals for all your encouragement. It is so nice to just come here and say whatever I need to say. And, I hope some of my words will help those coming behind. Virtual hugs to all...
United States
That is no way to start recovering. I am so happy to hear they FINALLY got your pain and nausea under control. You are normally calm, cool a no collected. Darn nurse!
Get your hydration under control. You are going to be just fine. I have no doubt. 
and don't forget to drink lots too
Hope you get your temp under control soon, and the balance of pain control/clarity too
