feel awful

[lyn]

I had my knee replacement 51/2 weeks ago and my knee is doing fine but I feel so bad, just doing my pt
or going to the store or doing nothing really I feel kinda sick, not much of an appitite although I eat anyway go figure, and sort of just drag around feeling sick. In the hospital I felt horrible but thought when I got home and was this far along I would feel better. Does anyone else feel lousy after this long. Lyn

 

[Sue]

Lyn, I have lost weight from lack of appetite during my recovery from my right TKR surgery which was on 10/18/07. For me, this was not a bad thing, because I have been successfully losing weight for the past year, anyway. (I lost about 35 lbs in the year prior to my surgery, and I've lost about another 7 or 8 lbs since my surgery.)

I just tried to keep my eating really simple at the beginning of my recovery from surgery. I had my husband stock up on simple soups and yogurt, and that's pretty much what I ate for a while.

I think part of what made me feel so yucky was the pain meds and also the difficulty in sleeping. Once I was sleeping better, my overall health felt better.

Good luck!

 

[Josephine]

Could be a whole collection of things. The anaesthetic for starters. People so often underestimate the anaesthetic but you have a lot of drugs pumped into you during it and they can take a few weeks to clear out of your system! Truthfully! That feeling washed out and lack-lustre state can last weeks as can the aches and pains around the shoulders and chest if you have had a general anaesthetic. It can also act as a supreme appetite depressant.

Then, as you say, the morphine and other stuff you are taking can perpetuate the state. Then, on top of that, there is the pain and weariness of coping with the surgery and the rehab. This all doesn't start to improve until you have around 6-8 weeks passed by.

Suggestions: rest, rest, rest. If you don't feel like eating proper meals, then get in some Complan or other high calorie food to use so you don't starve your body of the necessary calories for healing. For surgery of the magnitude of TKR is very heavy on calories and is yet one more reason why you would feel easily overcome by a small amount of activity.

 

[lyn]

Thank you both for the replys, I think I feel guilty resting or not feeling well, silly I know, not sure why. Thank you both, Lyn

 

[Josephine]

Feeling guilty? Yep that's to be expected. After all people have done, looking after you, tending to your needs, the surgeon having spent some hours of his 'valuable' time doing the op and all - yes, you are going to feel you owe it to them to astonish them with your recovery! Almost like it's your way of saying thank you to them! Not to mention to yourself. You feel you have let yourself and everyone else down. Right?

Wrong! They only want to see you get better - but in your own time. You don't have to prove anything to anyone. Everyone's recovery is different. The only person you owe anything to is yourself, to make this experience as painless as possible.

It's also tied up with your sense of self-worth. Deep inside, there's a feeling in almost everyone that we don't deserve all this attention and that we are imposing on everyone else. It's an easy trap to fall into but when did a simple 'thank you' become not enough? Just keep telling yourself that you needed this operation and therefore the care than went with it. Everyone deserves to by molly-coddled now and again! Just enjoy it!

 

[Alsheehan]

Josephine,
Thanks for your insight. I'm almost one week post-op and am already feeling guilty asking for so much help. I was the person in the family who kept up with the laundry, and picked up the clutter. Now, I just sit in the recliner and ask my husband or adult children to check the laundry or I point to something that needs to be picked up.

Since reading your post, I'll try to let things go, and enjoy the rest.

Alice

 

[hollyhobble]

Hey, I too have felt peaks and valleys. Sure I lost my appetite so am looking really baggy in some of my things, but since I had some weight to drop, I'm hoping my appetite never completely returns to normal. For me there a lot of emotional highs and lows as well and I feel that the process is just as much mental and emotional as it is physical. The drugs in the hospital had me happy all the time - I can't really even remember much of it - and in the nursing home, I was weaned from the stronger stuff and started to have those highs and lows. But now at 11+ weeks, I definitely have more good days both mentally and physcially than bad days. We are entitled to feel a little down, be a little lazy, and ask for a little help as we have been through some terrific trauma to our system. At times we are our own worst enemies and ask way too much of ourselves. Remember that it's a major recovery you are undertaking, so be kind and patient with yourself.

I'll wish for more happy days for you as you continue to recover.

Holly

 

[NJW]

Lyn,

I have been amazed at my lack of appetite since my BTKR 7 weeks ago. If I sit down and try to eat a "normal meal", I feel uneasy. I eat much smaller portions than before. I also make sure I am truly hungry before I eat. I find small healthy snacks throughout the day works good for me. It is just me and my husband at the house. After a 10 day stay in the hospital, my house was a mess. My husband does basically nothing inside the house. I was blessed to have 3 girlfriends come in and clean several days after I arrived home. I finally decided we would not die from alittle dust and basically ignored my house until I was able to start doing a few things again. Still not up to doing all the things I did before. No guilt. As wive and mothers, we rarely do anything for ourselves. My surgery was totally for me! When recovered, my quality of life will be so much better. I'll be able to enjoy life again which will also impact my family.

Nancy

 

[Dedicated_Dad]

Let me join the chorus... I had a rough time too. Of course I was battling a problem that my OS didn't want to hear about, which certainly didn't help. Add in the fact that my beloved wife was apparently absent the day they handed out the "empathy" gene, and... Not a lot of support.

As usual, I can only speak for myself, but... I ended up in a pretty deep depression. Not because I had anything to be "sad" about, but because the changes in my brain chemistry caused by years of chronic pain, surgery, anasthesia, inadequate post-op analgesia, the stress of being canned from my job after 5 years because I scheduled my surgery, rushing into it with improper prep so I could get it done before I lost my benefits, not getting any support from family, having problems with the "new" knee and Doc ignoring my problem...

I guess I DID have something to be sad about, huh?

Still -- I'm "mr. boot-straps." I'm the guy who set his own leg on the side of the road after being hit by a car in 1984, with a broken collar bone, ribs, jaw and a dislocated shoulder. I'm the guy who walked in and handed the Doc his brace ~18 months after he told me I'd wear it for the rest of my life.

I'm the guy who stitched his own cuts and cauterized an aching tooth with a red-hot nail. I'm the guy who left the hospital on Friday and went to work on Monday after nearly losing my leg in a MC accident in 2002, even though my Docs said 6-12 months minimum before I could work again.

I'm the tough guy who got back on his bike a couple of days after the ex-fix was removed because I needed to "get back on the horse".

I'm the "man up/walk it off/suck it up/don't be a wuss/I can handle anything" poster-boy.

I can handle ANYTHING.

'Fraid not. I couldn't handle that. Mr. Depression kicked my @$$.

It wasn't easy to go to my Doc and admit that I needed help, that I'd gotten to the point I hadn't bathed in weeks, brushed my teeth, or done much of anything besides go to PT and sit at home chain-smoking and staring at the wall, almost catatonic -- that I often found myself crying for no apparent reason...

Admitting I couldn't handle my frigging FEELINGS, when nothing else had ever slowed me down? -- honestly, that may have been the hardest thing I ever did in my life.

I'm not bragging about being macho, not asking for pity, on the contrary I'm hoping that by admitting all this I may help someone else...

I took an anti-depressant for a bit, it seemed to help some but not nearly enough -- so we increased the dose. Now I'm closer to my "real" self, and thus was able to keep pushing until I found a solution to my knee problem as well.

It's not easy to admit that, but...

I wouldn't be ashamed to tell you all if I were diabetic, had a thyroid problem, or whatever... This is no different -- it's a chemical imbalance brought on by years of bulldozing through when I should have lay down and gotten better.
Doc said in some ways it's probably that my subconscious is now letting me have it all at once since I didn't allow it before.

Now that I'm able to deal with it -- since I'm stuck at home with no work, waiting for this knee to get better or the Docs to fix it, and getting some income from the private disability insurance I'd paid for years -- my body said "it's time... here it comes!"

Some post-op blues are normal. I wasn't blue, I was deeply, horribly depressed. If you're feeling down and it doesn't get better, I'd recommend talking to your Doctor about it.

While I still don't agree with our pill-happy society, I've had to eat some of my former words and will happily admit I was wrong.

Sometimes you CAN'T just "suck it up" and there's nothing wrong with that.

IMHO the only thing wrong is being too proud to admit you need some help, or refusing to get it when you need it and thus harming those who love you.

Let me know if I can help in any way...

DD

 

[Dedicated_Dad]

Oh... I meant to mention something else...

A friend suggested eating a lot of cottage cheese. He said the Casein - a protein -- in it was the best thing for healing bones and building muscle. That it's easy on the stomach was good too... I mixed in a lot of fruit, fresh where possible, canned when not. I ate this stuff till it ran out my ears.

I'd appreciate Jo chiming in here -- especially if I'm wrong -- but I think it helped me. The amount of strength and bulk I gained in my horribly atrophied muscles in only a few short months couldn't have come from my otherwise pretty minimal diet...

HTH...

DD

 

[Nursepair]

Wow DD, uyou have really been through the mill. I congratulate you for getting through it all, and for asking for help when you really needed it. Hope all goes well for you from now on, maybe this will be a new start for you. All the best, Sue.

Lynn keep your chin up, it does get better, it takes time though. Didn't actually feel sick back in the January and February, but did lose my apetite and lost weight, unfortunately I put it all back on and more (was using chocolate to help with withdrawal from the Percs). Am now eating better since yesterday, down to an eigth a pill twice a day now!!

If I hadn't have found this site I would have gone loopy. I have a lot of caring and helpful family and friends luckily. The sleep problem was bad, you get so tired you can't cope so well. I took Sleep MD for a couple of weeks in the end (herbal) and bought a body pillow. Worked a treat. Felt better after that, though my ROM still isn't perfect (had MUA afew weeks ago) I am still glad I had the surgery, no more pain in that knee. when I need the other one done I shall definately get it done too.

Hang in there. Good luck, Sue.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Lyn,
I am afraid I am only 2 weeks post tkr. I wish I had the apetite issues, but today I found I still could enjoy a great meal at a great restaurant. Fortunately the house is stocked with only healthy stuff and I still am not driving
B4 I left the hospital the OS told me there would be good days and there would be bad days. So far I feel like I am doing well and the last 4 days have been very good - just stiff sometimes. But I am taking my meds and staying ahead of any pain. I am starting to wean down a bit - although I was shocked today when the OS told me that it is fine to continue with the meds for right now so I can push on the ROM a bit. That is a change from past scopes when he booted me off the meds quickly.
I am usually a person who can get up early in the am and stay up late into the night. Right now I am the napping queen. I wake up, eat and take a nap. I shower then take a nap. I work the CPM and fall asleep while doing it. I eat lunch and take a nap. More CPM - more naps. Eat dinner - take a nap.
My husband was home the first week and drove me nuts - I felt like he was waiting for me or making me feel like I needed to move faster Here I was stoned on meds and trying to be perfect. Hahahaha. He didn't mean for it to be that way - it was me. I felt awful always asking him to help me - showering, stairs, etc. Well, he had to go back to work last Wednesday so for the past week it has been just me and my 9 year old. She did great with the cryo cuff and the best she could with th ehouse upkeep. But as for my own personal needs I was on my own. Worked out great. I moved slowly and did great. I was vertical in the shower the first day and was fine. I could put those crazy TED hose on all by myself. I just moved slow! No one to prove anything to. My honey comes in tomorrow night and I am waiting to see if he can notice how much better I am doing. I hope so.

As far as being blue - I was very blue this spring. The knee had given out and my job was a mess. I felt like I was riding a merry-go-round and couldn't get off. I was a mess. I am a school teacher - who would of thought it - anyway I spoke to my school psych and she said - go talk to someone - so I made an apt and found that my anxiety levels were throught the roof. I opted to try a little "pharmacological" intervention in addition to talking with someone every so often. Me - the one who is always together was falling apart! Well - a little bit of lexapro and realizing that I could get off the merry-go-round and nothing bad would happen made a huge difference. Its ok to go and talk with someone. With all the stuff we are going through sometimes our levels get all screwed up and need a little help getting back to where they should be. My plan involved taking care of me and eventually weaning back off the lexapro after the christmas holidays.

Please - if you are feel sad or blue find someone to talk to! It really helped me - and to top it all off - I found that even my school psych was taking something for anxiety issues!

Sorry for the ramble - Hang in there!
Marianne

 

[ttlncsc]

Hello Lyn,

Today is exactly 6 weeks post op for me. I know what you are feeling. My flexon is better than my extension and I'm experiencing some swelling and pain. It is particularly bothersome toward the afternoon and evening. One of the challenges is to push yourself but not overdo it. Funny thing is you don't know you've overdone anything and then a few hours later the knee lets you know it is angry.

Each day is different and it almost seems like you start over many times a day. There are so many variables and you find you're ahead of some folks and behind others. It is a very individual process. Many of us want things to happen quickly and we beat ourselves up.

Everyone says it takes time. Most of us are able to walk with a cane or walker in less time than I spent in a cast following a severe basketball injury in the 1970's. Hope you continue to progress well. Take care, Tom

 

[JudyS]

Lyn
I agree with Marianne about talking to someone and gettin some pharmacuetical help. Last fall, everything fell apart for me, being harrassed at work (special ed teacher), money issues, hip , spine, son in the army talking about voluntarily deploying ......
I did get help, it is good , as a matter of fact I have not seen my therapist since before surgery, I need to call.

Feel Better
Judy

 

[MAMAYAMA]

I'm just coming up on 3 weeks post-op, and can't get into anything. I do my PT, but beyond that I am zoning out in front of the T.V. I brought work home that I thought I could accomplish while bed ridden, but just look at it each day, which makes me feel worse about being useless. I bought a new camera and thought I would finally read the manual, and additional books on digital photography, and haven't even opened them. I say I'm bored to tears, but am not doing anythng to change that. Is this something that other people have felt? When or how did you get yourself functional????

I also don't have the appetite I use to have, but that works fine for me. I've got to drop 50 lbs. that I gained while being so inactive with my bad knee.

Thank goodness for support!!!!

 

[JudyS]

Mamayama,

I know exactly how you feel. Happened to me last summer too after cervical surgery.
I had to take a series of on cd classes to keep current with the teaching requirements in Ca. I registered and recieved the first class cd's. They sat all summer while recovering from spine surgery. I went back to work in Oct. and I still had not looked at the first one. I just about killed myself with the stress of getting them in by the end of January.

Same thing now. I was going to read up o n my new laptop and really learn how to do more than email and search google.
Also how to post pictures on my laptop.
I've done nothing and friday will be 8 weeks!!!!!

So yes I know exactly how you feel , unfortunately I have no solution
Judy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Zoning -
Yikes - the best way to describe my self these days is ADD - which is so appropriate for me becuase 1/2 my case load are kids with either ADD or ADHD. I watch tons of tv but really dont know what I 've watched. What works for me os over the past week my sister-in-law has come out to help with appointments. She stays and visits and that really helps me stay out of the "zone". Constant verbal exchange has really helped. Tomorrow my husband and I are going over to my classroom to pull out my furniture (we start school 8/13). Even if it is only for an hour it will give me purpose and focus. I am actually looking forward to going back so that I can engage in converstaions that may help with ADD I am experiencing.

Marianne

 

[Doug]

Marianne, You sound like most of us "winter TKR" folks back in January/Feb. Once you can get out, get active and start doing the things you love, the blues will fade away.
It is amazing how much of our lives we regain when our knees stop hurting.
Work that PT and walk as much as you can...Good things will come.

 

[lgobrien]

I had plenty projects set aside for me to do during my 7 weeks off, but really lost that first 4-5 weeks being consumed with PT, icing, elevating and resting (aided with pain meds). After that, I just took off physically and mentally (we had a couple big summer parties planned at our home on the lake (totally potluck - we just had to provide the place) so that gave me a "project" to plan for in the days prior to the party. Having an agenda is what got me going again. I will say I was exhausted after each day, but was so thrilled that I could DO so much each day. Once I sat down I would start to ache, but that was OK, knowing that I was improving every couple days made it more acceptable to have "set back" days.

Going back to work was great too. I really missed the people I worked with and I seem to do fine all day at work (mostly a desk job), but my late afternoon, I am exhausted. I come home and can't wait until I can just sit in my recliner... I want so badly to just fall asleep, but don't. Then, by the time I go to bed at 10-11pm... I CAN'T FALL ASLEEP!!! That part is driving me crazy. I was finally starting to sleep at night, but now that I'm back to work, my sleep at night is less than desirable... If I take a Tylenol PM, it doesn't do a thing. If I take two, I'm too sleepy in the morning...

Laurie

 

[beachcomber]

I like Melatonin. It helps me fall asleep and stay asleep (most of the time). It is "natural" and OTC. Comes in different strengths. I take the 3 mg size and have never suffered from a "hang over" from it like when I tried Tylenol PM.