Revision TKR Chocolate at midnight<

[leejaa]

Hotel sounds wonderful and such good news about the last CT scan. Sending warm thoughts and best wishes.

 

[Dabber]

@leejaa, thanks.

I had my 5th chemo last Thursday so am over half way through. Not too bad, but I think I might have coped better physically with one thing at a time, rather than having a TKR, a pacemaker and going down with advanced Lymphoma all in the space of 3 1\2 months.

I have compression hose for my operated leg, but would love for it to just recover from the TKR unhindered. I'm so thankful that at the moment I don't seem to have lost much ROM, but I hardly leave the house so it's not getting enough exercise....Lymphoma rules, my muscles are weakening.

Treatment seems to be going OK and am being well looked after. Looking forward to going back to a more active life I'm looking longingly at a US coast to coast railtrip, and it's all due to you lovely people from the US on Bonesmart!

 

[patient 99]

I'm looking longingly at a US coast to coast railtrip, and it's all due to you lovely people from the US on Bonesmart!

Dabs, If anybody deserves it you do. Have you done any research into it yet? And the long flight to America. How do you feel about coping with that? One time we paid for a little extra leg room, it wasn't much in extra inches, but it made a big difference. Carol

 

[leejaa]

A rail trip sounds wonderful. My husband and I love trains - admittedly I like the old steam trains and there are a few around that offer excursions and we have done some and have a list for retirement. We also have also done one train trip to Minneapolis, Minnesota a few years ago vs flying. What a wonderful experience. Actually stopped and watched the train leave when we got home - not like the feeling at airports where I just can't wait to get out of the building and the parking lot.

Our hopes are for different train trips once we retire and have more free time at once - New Orleans is one destination- have to have a ride on the "City of New Orleans"- that is actually the name of the train between Chicago and New Orleans. We would also like to go across the US East to West and then back east through Canada. One way we are making the trips more affordable so we can get bedrooms is an Amtrak credit card- I use it for groceries and than make a payment when I get home. This year we have free bedrooms and not enough time for a long trip -I was off so much for my knees last year. so will take the train from near where we live to Chicago and spend some time exploring the city and catch a baseball game in the sunshine.

I find planning the trip is the start of fun - making lists of where to go and what to see. What a wonderful thing to look forward to. I know you will make it and get your train trip and much more.

 

[patient 99]

Hi Sue, just wanted to find out how you were? When folk are quiet I never know if its a good thing (they have interesting things going on) or a bad thing (they are down in the dumps). Fingers crossed that its the former. Carol

 

[Dabber]

Hello Carol,
My knee is rather swollen and painful. I don't really know what to do, it's had that clamped feeling for ages and although it wasn't getting me down, tonight it's really quite bad. I did do 5 mins on the static bike as it was too wet for my occassional little potter outside and I'm afraid my calves are becoming very weak.....it must have been that, so maybe back to icing and elevating tomorrow. It doesn't seem to like the chemo but it's probably outside the field of the haematology team.
You mentioned the compression hose, it's just for the operated leg as that leg gets very swollen because the lymph node in the groin was so badly affected by the lymphoma the leg doesn't drain properly. I had the biopsy done there too. I'm trying to manage with the 2 conditions at once which isn't ideal as the knee was only 3 1/2 months old when the lymphoma struck.
Mostly I'm OK, very tired and doing almost nothing except watching TV and reading, chemo brain fog makes anything else tricky and I have quite bad peripheral neuropathy in my hands and foot of operated leg.
I'm quite an expert on houses in the country, death in paradise, decorating, cookery and whodunnits....I can tell you there are some seemingly idyllic English villages that have a higher than average murder rate! I'm also quite good at crushing candy, Boggle and zapping pigs with birds! Add in making shopping lists and that's pretty much my day, along with annoying cold callers, for whom I have developed a nice range of options.

Thanks for asking.

 

[tashia]

I love the idea of the trains. That is a good way to see the US. You will find that the US is very big. I have taken the train form the Los Angles to the Canada border a beautiful trip. Also taken the train from the East. In the summer they have good sales. I don't know if they still have the sale that as long as you don't take the same train you can ride it for some time. Hope to hear that you are coming over soon. I don't know if you are a cruise person but their are cruises going from England to US and back all the time I think. Is a opion to come the USA. I know that some days are ruff but the fact that you are keeping busy is the way to go. Take care and looking forward to hearing you are coming this way. Tashia

 

[patient 99]

My knee is rather swollen and painful. I don't really know what to do

Hi Sue, I understand your dilemma - you're damned if you exercise and you're damned if you don't. I am almost 12 months post op now and I still don't have the hang of what works/doesn't. If you add your other issues into the mix it gets even more complicated.

You mentioned not being able to do much. If its any consolation I'm in the same boat. For me its mostly down to the weather. Can you ever remember it being this wet. Normally, so long as we don't get snow, I can always find something I want to do in the garden, but its completely water logged. Even going for a walk is out of the question. I'm sure you will feel better once we see the sun again. Its a tonic.

I googled `peripheral neuropathy' (damage to nerves in hands/feet). The Net is full of stuff you can take/wear to help eg, prolotex therapy gloves and socks. But I'm sure you have read up on it in detail. Presumably this is another side effect of the cancer?

Sue, have they been able to give you any indication as to when you might be able to get back to anything approaching `normal'?

I saw a tv programme recently about long term villa rentals on St Lucia. They seemed reasonably priced. The trouble is I don't know how I would cope with a 9/10 hour flight. And I don't think they would let me lie down in the aisle some how.

This time next year Sue, we might not be millionaires, but we might be in a much better place both physically and mentally. xx Carol

 

[leejaa]

Sue, thinking of you. Sending warm thoughts and hoping the chemo brain will not last too long. You are over half way through - remarkable but for you probably feels like it is taking forever. Considering you have chemo brain you have developed quite a list of options to pass the time especially I am sure for the cold calls selling stuff.

 

[Toothfairy]

Hello Sue,
I'm just popping by to see how you are.
Sorry to hear your knee is swollen and painful. I hope it has settled a bit since the weekend. All this cold and damp weather isn't helping.
You sound like you are keeping yourself occupied despite your chemo brain. It's good to know that you have passed the half way mark with your treatment. Hang on in there.
Sending you a cheery hug,
Toothfairy x

 

[Dabber]

Hello, brief catchup, I'm heading for chemo 6 in a week. Getting very tired now but managing.
I'm really thankful we're not flooded out though. Hoping all of you in the south are keeping warm and dry. Thanks for all kind messages.

 

[leejaa]

The weather is getting so strange everywhere. We have had more cold than ever and now snow. I am glad you are in a dry spot and can be comfortable at home and not having to deal with anything else. Sending warm healing thoughts your way. Lee

 

[robynhood]

Hi Sue. Just dropped in to say Hi and glad to see you are coping with everything. Don't know how you do it. I am going back to the Nuffield on 27th Feb to an open evening with mr Banim. I think knee number 2 will be ready to be replaced very soon. I think it will be interesting. Sending you hugs Sue. Take Care.

 

[patient 99]

I think knee number 2 will be ready to be replaced very soon.

Oh Pat, I know you knew this was coming, but this sounds like its changed from a may be to a definite. There's every chance that your right knee will heel much quicker - lets hope so. This is selfish of me, but it probably means that we will see more of you on BS.

Hope you and the grandchildren are doing well. Carol

 

[tashia]

I just dropped by to say HI. I know you are handing a lot and that its must be very hard. You are doing great. Sometimes we are given a lemon and that is when you take the lemon and make a lemon pie. remember we care and we are rooting for you to get thru the chemo and maybe a second knee? I ended up being here for some time so it will be nice know that I have a friend that has been here for a long time too. We are going to make it and get a life outside knee replacement. When you come to the US. Let me know when. Tashia

 

[patient 99]

I ended up being here for some time so it will be nice know that I have a friend that has been here for a long time too. We are going to make it

You and Dabs WILL definitely make it. I wish you luck with your final hip replacement. Carol

 

[turtle68]

Hi Sue, just wanted to check in on you and let you know that I'm thinking of you as you head into Chemo 6. How long do you wait after those sessions before you have another scan to check on progress. Thoughts are with you, I know it most be very difficult, especially the "imprisonment" part for 9 months. Are you still checking our the rail trip in U.S. I used to ride the trains a lot going from Iowa to California. I think the California Zephyr going from Chicago to San Francisco through the Feather River Valley was the most gorgeous trip of all. And that was 50 years ago and I remember it well.Hope your weather is improving. It has gotten a lot better here, although we're in a drought condition again.

Hugs, Dorothy

 

[patient 99]

Sue, make sure to let Dorothy and me know how things go after chemo 6. xx Carol

 

[Pumpkin]

Sorry Feather River is freight only, train goes over Donnor Pass, yes the Donnor party was stranded there. Beautiful ride over the Sierra Nevada.
You can drive the feather River.

 

[turtle68]

I guess 50 years makes a difference because it was the feather river at that time. We've driven the Sierra Nevada and it is gorgeous. @pumpkin I'm going to have to look into train travel in U.S. I hate to fly, and you get to see so much more on the train.

Dorothy