Hello all my dear friends! How lovely to see you all here, I have missed everyone so much, and I am really sorry it took me so long to get back online, my eyes were so unfocused from the meds, I could not post on my phone anymore, and my time in the hospital became increasingly negative, esp. at night, I am sure they were shorting my medication, pain was terrible at times, and I was truly scared.
Tried to get moved to rehab floor early on, but for some reason insurance didn't come through with the necessary info. So on Monday, by the time they had moved me, I was totally fed up with the entire thing, and wanted to go home, but had to wait until Wednesday, that was April 24. Once home, I threw up from exhaustion and I was so swollen, hadn't had a bowel movement, that took another two days to get straightened out, but slowly I have been getting myself back to normal, with good tender loving care from family. Home health care nurse and PT have been visiting as scheduled, and my staples were removed yesterday.
I've been up and walking since day 1 - not unusual I think, but did get praised that I was doing better with two new knees than some with one knee. The stiffness, black and blue marks up and down legs, esp. in the back, swollen legs, nausea, foggy head, all came true for me, and I am taking my Percocet every 4 hours, two of them. In the hospital I was also given Oxicodone - slow release - every 12 hours. I didn't fill that one yet, thought I could get along without it, but I wake up every 3 to 4 hours in pain, without alarm clock, and I might just get that one to take in addition to perhaps 1 Percocet, to brdge the gap, if that makes sense.
They also gave me prescription for Celebrex, haven't filled that one either, not sure if I want to take it. Have heard it really helps the inflammation, does anyone have an opinion on this, or good or bad experience to share?
I do not like my PT and going to call my doctor office tomorrow to try and get them to do my own home PT - she is on vacation this week, and was here Saturday and will be back on Friday, so if that's ok, I don't need her. They did not offer replacement, and of course I did not ask. It's so painful, she just stands there and tells me to do this 10 times, that 20 times, no real involvement, she walks around my house, looking in closets, turning lights on, remarking on things, made me feel uncomfortable.
The nurse is ok, a little young perhaps, but does her job. The steri strips do not cling to me, does anyone else have that problem? Do they actually serve a purpose? so thin and not really holding anything together, that I can tell.
I feel like Young Frankenstein, esp. in the morning, but walking without my walker now, most of the time, and I growl a bit, just to humor myself.
I'm not quite at the stage were I'm happy to have done this, but realize I will be. It's so uncomfortable.
I'm not bored at all though, I have my command center built up in my bed, on one side is my Continuous Motion machine, and everything else within reach. My daughter had my laptop fixed, and I just got it back, what a joy! I can't sit for any length of time, because of bruising on back of legs, and the wounds are very hot and swollen and stiff, and I don't want to bend too much, as to not open the barely healed places up to more bleeding. It doesn't look too terrible, still not pretty though.
My sweet buddy Cathy aka Maddoxsmom

got me through the worst of it, we texted greetings and experiences back and forth daily, and we had so much in common, it was reassuring, not sure what I would have done without her!!
My sister and daughter are taking turns sleeping over, they run errands during the day, and it's been fun. I esp. love sitting in bed, with them on the couch next to me, drinking coffee in the morning, and chatting to our hearts content. I've told them I really don't need them here at night anymore, but they won't hear of it, how long do you think I need to be worried at night time? I really feel quite capable of doing things, helped make dinner yesterday, taking showers without problem, getting dressed etc. But it's nice to have them here, so I won't complain, just that it doesn't really seem necessary. I'm glad to see them during the day and let them get me things and do laundry and vacuum etc.
Had a few visitors, that's been fun, even though it's exhausting, and when they left, I nod off, my eyes just close and I'm gone. Have had no trouble sleeping at all, of course it's still in installments, but doesn't seem to phase me. I feel grateful for that.
Will read for now, and post more later, I feel like I've let so many of you down, by not being able to post, but have thought about you and can't wait to find out how you are doing!!!
