TKR GrandyGirl's Recovery Story 1/14/12
- Thread starter GrandyGirl
- Start date
- Status
brs0660
supremo
- Joined
- May 24, 2009
- Messages
- 2,125
- Age
- 78
- Location
- Durham, North Carolina
- Gender
- Female
- Country
United States
Dori...It is always a little disconcerting when you see that little scab or blood. Don't panic...keep an eye on it and find that neosporin/bacitracin as Jamie suggested. 
Josephine
NURSE DIRECTOR EMERITA
Absolutely NO lotions, potions, creams or ointments! If they are not freshly opened and have been lying around in your cupboard for more than a day, they are likely to be contaminated.
Plus which, if this was just a little scab, it's so superficial it really doesn't matter. You said it stopped bleeding immediately. So nothing to worry about then. All part of the merry business of healing!
Plus which, if this was just a little scab, it's so superficial it really doesn't matter. You said it stopped bleeding immediately. So nothing to worry about then. All part of the merry business of healing!
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Hi Josephine,
I didn't put any of the ointment on the my incision. I got an email from Jamie advising me that it was normal and It hasn't bled anymore so I just left it alone. Thank you for getting back to me on this.
Dori
I didn't put any of the ointment on the my incision. I got an email from Jamie advising me that it was normal and It hasn't bled anymore so I just left it alone. Thank you for getting back to me on this.
Dori
CLaudia
member
GrandyGirl, I'm following your posts with great interest as we're so close in surgery dates. Loved Jo's comment about us "January Girls". Thanks for the tip about exercising to music. My brain is still not operating on all cylinders or I would have thought of that. Music always gives me that extra boost. Keep posting!!
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Hi Claudia,
I didn't see Jo's post about us January Girls but I will look for it. I really do understand what you mean about not yet operating on all cylinders. It is taking me a while to "wake up" and return to myself again. The other day when I exercised with my ipod was a step in that direction. I ALWAYS exercise to music but it had not occurred to me to do so until then. It felt so nice. I'm thinking that when I am able to drive in a couple of weeks, that will help stimulate my thinking as well.
This didn't happen over night. It look years to get to the point where I actually was ready and willing to have the surgery. By the time my surgery date rolled around, my whole world was pin-point focused on that singular experience. So now that surgery is behind me, little by little, my world will expand again beyond the surgery, beyond this recovery, andhopefully begin to resemble the life I used to dream of having.
Dori
aka GrandyGirl
I didn't see Jo's post about us January Girls but I will look for it. I really do understand what you mean about not yet operating on all cylinders. It is taking me a while to "wake up" and return to myself again. The other day when I exercised with my ipod was a step in that direction. I ALWAYS exercise to music but it had not occurred to me to do so until then. It felt so nice. I'm thinking that when I am able to drive in a couple of weeks, that will help stimulate my thinking as well.
This didn't happen over night. It look years to get to the point where I actually was ready and willing to have the surgery. By the time my surgery date rolled around, my whole world was pin-point focused on that singular experience. So now that surgery is behind me, little by little, my world will expand again beyond the surgery, beyond this recovery, andhopefully begin to resemble the life I used to dream of having.
Dori
aka GrandyGirl
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Hi Dori
I can so relate to your last post, that is exactly how I feel - I couldn't have said it better! It took me a long time to accept I needed the surgery and then the surgery was all I focused on for about 9 months. I am happy to go with the flow of this recovery and take each day as it comes. I am enjoying all the little achievements that I make daily - no matter how little!
It will be good to be able to drive again but again I think to myself - it will come, as everything else does after this surgery.
Have a good day Dori
I can so relate to your last post, that is exactly how I feel - I couldn't have said it better! It took me a long time to accept I needed the surgery and then the surgery was all I focused on for about 9 months. I am happy to go with the flow of this recovery and take each day as it comes. I am enjoying all the little achievements that I make daily - no matter how little!
It will be good to be able to drive again but again I think to myself - it will come, as everything else does after this surgery.
Have a good day Dori
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Hi Dori
Staying in the moment and rejoicing in the progress I am making, no matter how small, is my goal today too. What helps me a LOT is the fact that I already have had 2 hip replacements.
It took a while to get to the point where I wasn't thinking about my artificial hips everyday. It did not happen overnight. But after a while, my new hips were just a part of me. I didn't think twice about walking 5K or doing aqua aerobics of whatever else I wated to do. I believe that in time, I will experience that same feeling of freedom and acceptance with my new knee.
But it won't happen overnight. In the meantime, we've got some work to do
Dori
We sure do Dori. My knee will have a few hours in the day when it feels nice loose and then it will say 'Ha ha got you' and I get the delightful tight feeling in my knee again! So, yes still a long way to go but we shall get there Dori Take care.
Take care.
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Exactly! I'm incing and elevating again right now. An hour ago, I was "sauntering" through the house on one crutch thinking, "Hey, this is not so bad afterall."
It got me again! :th_heehee:
It got me again! :th_heehee:
CLaudia
member
Jazyb and GrandyGirl, my story is almost exactly the same, I had a torn meniscus and orthoscopic surgery to repair. I woke up 100% expecting to hear the doctor give me a clean bill of health; instead what he said was, "it's not IF you have a Knee replacement, it's WHEN"! I think I had an out of body moment, I couldn't wrap my head around it. That was 3 years ago and I was in denial until it was impacting my life so much I had to face reality. My husband and I went to Chicago for a long weekend in November and I could barely walk a block. I had to face that I was becoming an invalid at 58 years old.
So here I am, so happy to have 5 weeks behind me. I had a great PT session this morning, felt so loose and bendy, but by tonight my knee was back in charge, stiff and stubborn. I'm icing now and resting. Baby steps every day. While I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I believe there is a definite glow!
So here I am, so happy to have 5 weeks behind me. I had a great PT session this morning, felt so loose and bendy, but by tonight my knee was back in charge, stiff and stubborn. I'm icing now and resting. Baby steps every day. While I'm not seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, I believe there is a definite glow!
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
G'Morning!
This is one of those days that I have to keep my eye on the prize...on the definite glow at the end of the tunnel. I think I am having one of those proverbial mood swings that been discussed on the forum from time to time. Nothing's changed really, but this morning I just feel emotional and I'm having to work through it. I already have my headphones on, listening to Diana Krall (maybe that's the problem
I'm waiting for my pain med to kick in a little bit better so that i can begin my exercises.
I think what kicked it in was that yesterday I started packing my things up, getting organized to move back into my home on Thursday. I had a little wave of anxiety about that: am I really able to take care of myself, all by myself? Yes I am. But I think I got emotional about the sweet, loving care that I have received from my son and his wife and my beautiful Grands. I could not have been given a more perfect environment in which to rest and heal. Sometimes God's blessings are really too overwhelming to contemplate. :cry4:So I have been kinda blown away by that. And how the time has just flown...a whole month has passed. I'm really on the other side of this thing, getting stronger everyday. Amazing!:rolleyespink:
So I am going to pull myself up by the bootstraps this morning and get on with it. Because I am blessed, beyond reason!!
I'm lingering over my second cup of tea, listening to Diana Krall croon...maybe I need to switch over to some Mick Jagger and rock this rehab into a higher gear! All is well
Talk to you soon!
Dori
aka GrandyGirl
This is one of those days that I have to keep my eye on the prize...on the definite glow at the end of the tunnel. I think I am having one of those proverbial mood swings that been discussed on the forum from time to time. Nothing's changed really, but this morning I just feel emotional and I'm having to work through it. I already have my headphones on, listening to Diana Krall (maybe that's the problem
I'm waiting for my pain med to kick in a little bit better so that i can begin my exercises.I think what kicked it in was that yesterday I started packing my things up, getting organized to move back into my home on Thursday. I had a little wave of anxiety about that: am I really able to take care of myself, all by myself? Yes I am. But I think I got emotional about the sweet, loving care that I have received from my son and his wife and my beautiful Grands. I could not have been given a more perfect environment in which to rest and heal. Sometimes God's blessings are really too overwhelming to contemplate. :cry4:So I have been kinda blown away by that. And how the time has just flown...a whole month has passed. I'm really on the other side of this thing, getting stronger everyday. Amazing!:rolleyespink:
So I am going to pull myself up by the bootstraps this morning and get on with it. Because I am blessed, beyond reason!!
I'm lingering over my second cup of tea, listening to Diana Krall croon...maybe I need to switch over to some Mick Jagger and rock this rehab into a higher gear! All is well
Talk to you soon!
Dori
aka GrandyGirl
Ditzzeechick
senior
Dori - I suspect next you'll be posting about how independent you are and ticking off the boxes of accomplishments. Try some Aretha or Talking Heads, something more upbeat!
Ditzzeechick
senior
Randi-
Brighter days aren't far off, we're just a month from Spring. Soon sunshine and warmth will cover our world and you'll find yourself walking the dog again. I want to be able to walk our four bulldogs and ride my bike. Surgery for me begins on Monday. Happy Valentine's Day! :doggieshmooze:
Brighter days aren't far off, we're just a month from Spring. Soon sunshine and warmth will cover our world and you'll find yourself walking the dog again. I want to be able to walk our four bulldogs and ride my bike. Surgery for me begins on Monday. Happy Valentine's Day! :doggieshmooze:
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Bev,
I will definitely following your posts and progress. Good luck with you surgery on Monday!
I got the first session of PT over and am icing and elevating. I accomplished a goal which was to stay UP longer. I've been spending a lot of time on my back, in bed. So I wanted to just be able to stay up for a longer period of time. I was up for 3 hours. I exercised, went online for a while, read a little bit, watched the tv for a while, and cooked some couscous for my lunch. I added some chicken, brussel sprouts, red peppers and mediterrean seasonings. It was tasty. So now I'm resting again for a while.
My mood has gotten a little lighter as the day goes on. Thanks so much for your input and for being there.
Dori
aka GrandyGirl
I will definitely following your posts and progress. Good luck with you surgery on Monday!
I got the first session of PT over and am icing and elevating. I accomplished a goal which was to stay UP longer. I've been spending a lot of time on my back, in bed. So I wanted to just be able to stay up for a longer period of time. I was up for 3 hours. I exercised, went online for a while, read a little bit, watched the tv for a while, and cooked some couscous for my lunch. I added some chicken, brussel sprouts, red peppers and mediterrean seasonings. It was tasty. So now I'm resting again for a while.
My mood has gotten a little lighter as the day goes on. Thanks so much for your input and for being there.
Dori
aka GrandyGirl
Thanks - and Good luck on Monday !
aretha
graduate
Hi Bev,
Hope everything goes fine on Monday, looking forward to following your recovery, and keep posting, we are all here for you.
Hope everything goes fine on Monday, looking forward to following your recovery, and keep posting, we are all here for you.
OP
OP
GrandyGirl
graduate
Bev,
Don't forget to pack some eyelid covers... You know the sleeping masks that block the light out because the nursing staff will be coming and going 24/7. Some gum or mints might be nice, too. And a small stash of snacks in case you loose your appetite. Chapstick and lotion were comforting. And ih yes, my thermal undershirt and Snuggie really helped keep me warm and toasty!
Don't forget to pack some eyelid covers... You know the sleeping masks that block the light out because the nursing staff will be coming and going 24/7. Some gum or mints might be nice, too. And a small stash of snacks in case you loose your appetite. Chapstick and lotion were comforting. And ih yes, my thermal undershirt and Snuggie really helped keep me warm and toasty!
- Status
