country wedding 16 days later?

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mona

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I am very new here, this is my 2nd post. My KR is June 25. I am supposed to go to a wedding 16 days later. It's in the country and there will be a golf cart to take us around if we need it since it's a bit hilly. Am I dreaming that I'll be able to attend? If not, I think it would be a courtesy to let them know. If anyone has strong opinions one way or the other, pls let me know. I'm a fairly fast healer usually and am doing the pre-op exercises. Thanks !
 
Hi Mona,
It is so nice to meet you. 2 weeks after my first TKR I put together a Super Bowl Party for 10 couples. Then 7 days after my 2nd TKR (which was 7 weeks after my first TKR) I went to a birthday party dance. I did not do much but I got out and went no way could I miss her 90th birthday party. (And hubby was playing the drums) So if you feel good and remember not to try and do to much you will be fine. Oh and remember you must keep us all up to date all everything.
 
wow, thanks so much for the speedy reply. I'm from Canada btw and have only heard great things about my surgeon, plus a good friend of mine is an OR nurse with him and has 25 years experience. That eases my mind a lot. I just wonder if I should be doing more exercises before the surgery. I'm doing some prescribed by physio and they hurt - bearable though. thanks again for the response and encouragement.
 
How did you do on the other surgery . Do you think your last surgery you could have gone to a wedding 2 weeks after that surgery. Just be careful dont push yourself......It is a big surgery and both surgeries my not go the same way.....I sure hope your recovery is fast...I sure hope you can make the wedding .....Yes please let us know how it goes....

Calling my husband plays the drums as well. lil band though,....
 
Mona --I was able to walk unaided after about 10 days, was basically pain free (with medication) and a lot of the swelling had gone down -- although there was still quite a bit left. You may find a full day with wedding and reception etc. tiring -- but my philosophy is -- if you WANT to do it... you CAN do it. Since you simply won't know how you'll feel until after the operation... you may as well go for it at this point. why not? Butyou might explain to the wedding folks that you might need some time in the ladies room with your feet up ( most wedding places have a decent ladies' room with chairs or couches) and maybe some ice from the kitchen.
 
Mona, I know these folks have said that it is possible for you to go to an all-day wedding out in the country, but please know that many of the folks on the forum who had a knee replacement would not have been able to do it. You need to be prepared for either outcome. You simply cannot predict for certain how things will go. I suggest you tell the hosts that you will attend if at all possible and then make the decision once you are in recovery. You'll know a lot more about what is or isn't possible then. I'll keep good thoughts for a speedy recovery for you!!
 
I agree Jamie,

I was one of those. I came home from hospital, very confident, mostly walking unaided, getting around able to do things, but there is no way I could have spent all day out and stayed comfortable and 'sane', it would have been too much so early in recovery.

I'm not saying it can't be done, and if you can manage it Mona that is fantastic, but just be prepared that may not be the case, only time will tell.

Every good wish to you for your surgery and a fantastic recovery.

PS... Maybe sit close to the champagne and ice bucket in case you need them:hehe:
 
Yep, sorry - I agree with Jamie and Chris. I had a 'miracle' recovery and at 7-8 weeks was pretty much back to normal living, no meds much and everything hunky-dory. But attend an all day event with a journey either end at 16 days? No way, José! In my journal I have this entry for day 16 - my brother and his wife who came to stay and look after me had gone back 3 days before ...

Did my shower a little nervously still and was terrified when the plastic ends blew off the bars of the bath shelf like gun shots! Thought the thing was going to give way under me but after ringing the Social Services, found the max weight for it is 400lbs! Phew - that was a relief! Had nothing to eat all day - no appetite at all but lots of pain (also plenty of constipation!) Rang dr and she told me I could take a third Tramadol with the two paracetamol and that seemed to work much better but then I slept a lot more! In the evening, attempted to use the bike but after 6 minutes going to and fro, gave up and iced! This is not going to be easy. Took some more trams and slept like a log the rest of the evening.
 
I had my surgery on March 18th, then the manipulation on April 27.

On May 16th, I attended a Rennaisance Faire at a local park. I had been using only one cane (I have a matched set of canes) and figured I could handle the seemingly flat park with just the one cane. I ended up walking extremely slowly over what ended up being very uneven ground (it sure looked flat though!). I reached shouting distance to a friend's tent and just called his name till he heard me. Then he offered me his arm, carried my bag, and we walked the rest of the way to the tent where I was working. (Not that I minded being on the arm of a handsome man in a kilt!). After we dropped my stuff, we went back to his tent where I sat till it was time to go to work. Once there- I didn't move from my chair much for the next six hours. It took me an additional 20 minutes to get back to my vehicle at the end of the day. (It would have been faster had I asked my friend for help again, but I didn't want to bother him). I was going to use both canes the next day (which was supposed to be just a play day as I didn't have to work), but I ended up going to the hospital for my mother's surgery.

I'm not saying you won't be able to fly on about as if everything's okay. And you may well be up for it- golf cart or not. I just wanted to share my experience- oh and that second day? I used crutches around the hospital because every muscle in my body ached from just walking around the faire that short time that I did. (its a very small faire, if anyone reading knows anything about ren faires).

Good luck and I hope you get to attend (but don't worry if you can't!).
 
Mona,
Each person is different in how they recover from surgery. I think it would make a difference to me how important this person is to you who is getting married. If the person is important to you, and you will have a place to sit, relax, and enjoy the celebration, I think you should attend. You can get your rest before, and after the celebration, especially elevating and icing your knee.
I had both knees done last June and returned to work 12 days post op. I own and operate a Family Child Care business from my home with 6 preschool age children (6 weeks to 6 years of age) and 3 school age children. I had 9 children at the time enrolled. I hired a parent client who is a teacher to be here with me for 7 weeks during the summer. I recovered fine, and was on my own running my business with all the children 9 weeks post op from BTKR.
Getting your rest is vital towards your recovery. Shortly after surgery, you will find taking a shower is your big event for the day as it is truly exhausting. You will need to pace yourself. Advising the Bride & Groom of your situation is good advice........ I do hope you can attend and enjoy yourself.
Best,
 
Dang Gang,
I never told Mona to go and Party like a Teenager!! I just told her if she felt good, and did not over do, such as walking or standing to much. That the choice would be hers.
 
Hi Mona!
As you can see we all have varied experiences and lots of good advise. Mine is to listen to your body and do what seems right. If you decide to go to the wedding, be sure to have an "exit strategy" so that you can leave if you have to before the event is over without a lot of drama..You'll be much more comfortable if you know that you are not a prisoner if your pain levels go up.
Blessings,
Irene
 
Excellent point, Irene! A way to get out of there and back home if needed would be VERY smart.
 
Getting your rest is vital towards your recovery. Shortly after surgery, you will find taking a shower is your big event for the day as it is truly exhausting. You will need to pace yourself. Advising the Bride & Groom of your situation is good advice........ I do hope you can attend and enjoy yourself.
Best,
Oh, the first shower following the surgery- mine was five days after and it was the best shower I'd ever had. I didn't want it to end! The OT helped me get dressed afterwards and then back to the bed so the PT could come in and do exercises. I had a half hour wait between OT leaving and PT arriving...

Then I promptly took a two hour nap. :hehe:

I also wanted to add that if you do get to go to the wedding, even elevating your leg on a chair while you sit in one can bring relief. I was sitting on a padded folding chair at the Ren Faire and sometimes I had my leg up on another chair. It didn't do much for the swelling, but it did seem to take the pressure off the knee area.
 
Hi Mona, Not to get you worry but anything can happen with any surgery I had my knee replacement in March of 07 when i woke up the first thing i said is that i couldnt feel my foot the next day i got a blood clot what was to be a week in the rehab.center turned out to be 3 weeks. I still have the nerve damage in my foot,thank goodness the blood clot is gone.I pray no one will go through what i did or will have the problems with their knee replacement I hope you get to go but please listen to your body.
 
Mona,
What it all comes down too is you will know if you feel up to going to the wedding or not. But it may be just a few days before the that you decide. So it would be a good idea to let the Hostess know why you may have too cancel at the last minute. And if you are able to go do not forget all the wonderful ideas that everyone has given you.
So keep you golf cart close to you and so if you need to leave un-noticed you will be able too.
 
THANKS SO MUCH everyone for your informative replies. I have been away from a computer so that's why I didn't respond sooner. TKR is in 3 days - yikes, I have SO much to do to get ready - mostly gardening which I won't be doing in July. I think I will definitely stay positive and play things by ear. again, thanks all. I may just go for the fun part - the dinner ;-) We'll see. I am pretty sure I won't be standing by the bar all evening. Again, thanks to all. Off to read more here.
 
Best of luck for the op, Mona. Not long now till your new, pain-free life will be starting! Don't overdo the gardening though.

As others have said, we all react differently to these TKRs. I, too, have had a relatively easy time with my second TKR, but my first was more difficult. I think it was partly because I hadn't found this forum, and didn't know what to expect, and was much more timid with what I tried to do post-op. Second time around I knew I could do things, tried them, and was able to do a lot more, and more quickly.

If you do decide to go to the wedding, take care and make sure that you can rest if you need to. Let us know how the op goes, as well as the wedding! See you on the other side!
 
Hi Mona - I'm 14 days post op and I can't see me going to a wedding yet. I haven't even been out an about yet due to a foot problem. I couldn't with my last knee either. BUT all are different and I wish you well for a speedy recovery.

Hope
 
well, here I am 4 days post op. i have questions about the meds I've been given but am glad to be sitting on a chair in front of my computer and tv, icing. first morning at home wasnt great -- too used to the hospital bed which folded up and down but things are going okay. knee and area above and below is VERY tight and swollen. I assume that's normal. looking forward to reading other posts.
Mona
 
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