TKR Dawni is on the other side

[Roy Gardiner]

What you must do is to write a letter to the CEO of the NHS hospital. Don't bother filling in forms or speaking to your GP. Go to the top. Be forthright and don't 'nice' it up any, say it exactly as it was and how they made you feel.

That is spot on advice whenever contact has to be made with a large organisation

- go to the top, address the letter by name, send it on paper not email
- don't sugar coat, as Jo says, but equally don't embellish. Be absolutely precise and unemotional -- this actually adds power.
- say what you want the CEO to do about it.
- expect a personal reply signed by him or her -- this may well not happen but it's ammunition for you if it doesn't ('uncaring', 'form letter'... etc)
- don't make threats (e.g. go to the press) yet...

 

[KathyH]

Dawni, I am so sorry to read of your terrible treatment in hospital. I hope you're feeling better about it all now that you are in your own home. What a dreadful and unexpected experience for you - shameful.

Yes, certainly get that letter written when you can and as everyone else says, it's always better to go to the top.

Kathy
x

 

[aretha]

Been there - done that!! So did several of the other girls/ladies in the same ward at the same time as me. Not only did I never hear from anyone in reply, but several weeks later heard of another "client" who had exactly the same experience. We used to call the nursing staff the "Gestapo". Not all of them were bad, but enough to make the experience not a good one! :hate-shocked:

My husband even used to take anti-bacterial wipes into hospital, and did everyones bedside cabinet, etc. when he was visiting!! Too many horror stories to recite, but suffice to say that it was NOT a good experience. However, I don't believe this is the normal practice and most people on here say what lovely treatment they got in hospital, so I fully accept that it is not the real deal, just a case of a staff situation maybe at that time.

You do get over it though, and I had forgotten about it until Dawni's post re her own situation. Do write though Dawni, if we don't then it will never get fixed.

So glad you are doing so well now.

 

[Dawni]

My first day home has been good. I have been doing my exercises and walking around the house, icing my knee, but I just can not get settled at all. My knee is so stiff and tight. I know it is early days (day 6) but my legs feel so fidgety. I felt like this in bed last night as well. What have others done about this, how long does this last?

 

[Randi]

I found that sitting ( and sometimes sleeping) in a reclining chair was better than the bed. I also did lots to distract myself ... Television, knitting ( tho I was so spacey it was full of holes..) etc. In this case time does heal - the restlessness and anxiety I believe is quite usual. Eat well. Rest , let others do for you - it does get better

 

[Jazyb]

Hi Dawni

Glad to hear you have settled at home, there is nothing like home comforts. I didn't suffer with fidgety legs but the stiffness and tightness will be with you for a long time I'm afraid. I am 4 weeks and my knee feels tight all the time and it's always bad first thing in the morning. In the middle of the afternoon is the the time when it is more comfortable. I find icing is the best way to relieve stiffness and pain. It's a long journey this recovery lark!

I know sleeping is a problem for many folks but I have been lucky on that front. I tend to sleep on my back and have a bed wedge to keep my legs elevated. Some use a long body pillow so they can sleep on their side but I think it's trial and error with getting comfortable.

Take care and keep us posted

 

[Josephine]

Dawni, some questions for you
1. what pain pills have you got and what strength are they?
2. how much are you taking and how often?
3. when you say you have been walking round the house, how much time have you spent doing that and how often?
4. when you sit down, are you properly elevating your leg and icing it, preferably for at least two hours at a time?

 

[referee54]

when you say you have been walking round the house, how much time have you spent doing that and how often?
. when you sit down, are you properly elevating your leg and icing it, preferably for at least two hours at a time?

Less than a week removed from major surgery and some powerful surgical trauma, you do not need to be walking around so much and you should be icing and elevating as much as possible. Let that knee heal!

 

[tashia]

Dawni, Please don't lay in pain. I know hospital can be so loud. I hope the earplugs worked and most important you are not in pain. Remember being in great pain is not right and you need to ask your doctor and nurses in the hospital. You did say you hadn't gone home yet right? Please keep after them to give you something. If one doesn't work can't you ask for something else? Remember to keep taking deep breaths and let it out slowly maybe it will help, it did me. If it was me I would be easy on the exercise until I was under pain control. Thats just me. I don't like being in pain, and you shouldn't be in that much. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. You have found a site that will be able to listen to you 24 hours every day. So hang in there. :doggieshmooze::flowerysmile: and I bet you could use a group hug so here are some:grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2:Tashia:console: I hope this makes you feel better.

 

[Dawni]

Dawni, some questions for you
1. what pain pills have you got and what strength are they?
2. how much are you taking and how often?
3. when you say you have been walking round the house, how much time have you spent doing that and how often?
4. when you sit down, are you properly elevating your leg and icing it, preferably for at least two hours at a time?

Hi Josephine,
1. Tramadol 2x 50mg and 2x Paracetamol 500mg
2. as above every 4 hours
3.only walking around the front room about every hour for a few minutes at a time not more than 2 -4 mins at a time, as i get stiff.
4. yes the ice pack seems to help and for about 2 hours at any one time, and yes my legs are elevated at all times
its the tight feeling around the knee that infuriates me i find the leg raises very hard i suppose i have a 50 degree bend.
Dawni

 

[Dawni]

Dawni, Please don't lay in pain. I know hospital can be so loud. I hope the earplugs worked and most important you are not in pain. Remember being in great pain is not right and you need to ask your doctor and nurses in the hospital. You did say you hadn't gone home yet right? Please keep after them to give you something. If one doesn't work can't you ask for something else? Remember to keep taking deep breaths and let it out slowly maybe it will help, it did me. If it was me I would be easy on the exercise until I was under pain control. Thats just me. I don't like being in pain, and you shouldn't be in that much. Please keep us posted on how you are doing. You have found a site that will be able to listen to you 24 hours every day. So hang in there. :doggieshmooze::flowerysmile: and I bet you could use a group hug so here are some:grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2::grouphug2:Tashia:console: I hope this makes you feel better.

tashia
i am home now came home Thursday morning, i gave up with the hospital i seemed to be constantly at them about my pain and it fell on deaf ears, i think they thought i was addicted to the amount i was on i kept telling them i have a very low pain thresh hold,:hissyfit: and no you are not a pain thank you for caring and the hugs so nice to be on this sight xx

 

[Dawni]

Should i still have the dressing on? i was sent home with a waterproof dressing on and am not sure if this should still be on or not i have had staples which are still in.

 

[Campervan]

Hi Dawn,

I had a stickdown dressing covering the entire wound. I had dissolving stiches. The dressing came off 11 days after surgery., on Christmas Day in fact so was my best Christmas pressie.

 

[Jazyb]

Dawni - I had staples and a waterproof dressing, I was told to keep it on until the staples came out. You should definately keep it protected.

 

[Josephine]

Dressings should not be tampered with until the nurse comes to take out the staples. She will do the tampering! :wink1:

As for your straight leg lifts, forget them! Read my recovery posts here My knee recovery - UK style

 

[Hilary George]

Hi Dawnie. So sorry you are in pain, and also sorry to hear that you suffer as I do with restless legs, as at the moment its 1.6am and my leg is giving me such pain, and I have taken as much pain killers as I can, I like you cant get comfy in bed and feel the time dragging. I am going to call my GP tomorrow and try to get different meds as dihydracodine, paracetamol and Arthretec, (not sure of the spelling of any of these as I am in the spare bedroom and meds are in our bedroom) are just not enough. I am also sorry that you had such a bad time in the hospital, that is a no no, and they shouldnt be allowed to do this. Hope by now you are back home and got things under control. I have been home a week and a bit now, and the stairs have become so much easier, and I have control of the crutches, so PATIENCE and more PATIENCE and each day is a day nearer to feeling better. This site is the best place to ask for advice so keep talking, and just remember you are not alone, everyone on here is with you and ready (as I was told on here once) to hold your hand through to the end. Love Hilary xxx

 

[Dawni]

 

[Dawni]

 

[Campervan]

Ah, those pictures look so familiar!

 

[PooShay]

Nice stapling job. Hope the pain is better managed now.