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TKR Here she comes just a walkin' down the street

:happydance:Happy that the poop fairy visited you. I'm sure that you will feel better today. And what about your knee?
Tina
 
:flwrysmile:Now what I would do is to keep on taking miralax every day. It worked for me and never had any problem after that.
 
One of the unintended consequences of this journey. For me also the painkillers, Percocet in my case, really messed up my stomach. This was a big surprise to me, as with other surgeries it has always been my goto pain drug. For me, odly, the combination of that and two senocot, twice a day had the reverse effect, diareahh. I stopped both, started taking Florastor, probiotic. It took a few days, and I cant say my stomach & related functions are perfect, but no more diareahh. I think since ive adjusted this ive taken maybe 1 or 2 Percocet, but , also a surprise to me, pain has been pretty well controlled with Tylenol/tramadol. Hope you have found a combination that works. Interesting about the diet coke, I would not have thought of that, but I am not a soda drinker, so probably would not have been part of my thought process. Keep up your good healing, feel better every day!
 
I just sent you a private message. This was my first attempt to use this function. I hope it worked.
 
Two observations today.
1. When I want to cut a phone call short, it's handy to be able to say, sorry, can't talk long, all my pain meds make me drowsy.
2. Two years ago I broke my wrist. It's bothered me ever since with stiffness and discomfort in the wrist and fingers. All that pain has disappeared with all my new pain and nerve meds. Probably only temporary, but sure am enjoying it.
 
The advantages of joint replacement, and who knows, maybe your wrist will finish healing and no longer hurt once all is said and done. :)
 
On the previous page, there was quite a lot of discussion about bruising.
This article may be helpful:
Bruising after surgery

Concerning constipation caused by the pain medications, we have this article:
Constipation and stool softeners

In spite of taking all the advice in that article, I found that I still had problems. I had to send my husband on an emergency trip to the Urgent Pharmacy, to buy me a mini, do-it-myself enema. Success!
After that, I asked my GP/PCP to prescribe a senna-based laxative, which I took every day until I stopped taking narcotics.

I remember my grandmother brewing senna-pod tea for herself every evening. My father preferred beer! :heehee:
 
Thanks @Celle I'll try all these things, nothing again since 3:00am Sunday. Visiting nurse coming in a couple hours, I'll also talk to her.
Had my first at home pt and she was almost perfect. Heel slides, leg lifts, showed me some great tricks with leg lifts. I asked her in advance not to touch me unless she first explained what she was doing and got my permission. She agreed and never did touch me. Never suggested straps to pull farther on heel slides, either, a point in her favor. She agreed that on heel slides to urge me to push to discomfort but not pain. Got to 86, which she said will probably improve once my swelling goes down. We walked, and she gave me suggestions, she is a good cheerleader, kept telling me how well I was doing. The only non perfect part was telling me that the 90 in a short time was super important because else scar tissue would develop. I smiled and nodded and didn't argue. Overall she was great. She also called my doc to ask if I could quit wearing Ted stockings, said they were acting like a tourniquet on top, bad red line. Dr said tough, have to keep wearing. So she spent a lot of time manouvering them to work better for me.
Had a minor meltdown today, father had some health issues develop over the last couple days, and he and my mother had to fly from the island to the hospital in Charlevoix. I've been on the phone making all sorts of logistical arrangements for them. My father is in turn apologetic about intruding on my recovery week at the Midland hotel, which I told him no apology necessary, can't be helped, and then blithely confident that when I get back in a few days I'll be able to stay with them in the Charlevoix hotel do the driving, running errands, taking him to dr, dentist (gum infection) and bring the three of us food. Stay with them for moral support, yes. Errands, no. We will have to hire someone to basically do all that for us. Which I found a kind lady who will do that, so we will work it out as we go along. And he's just elderly and forgets, not mean or uncaring, so all will be well. But I am claiming my self pity rights and had a good long bawl this afternoon.
Audrey
 
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Ughh those ted hose are horrid. I dealt with them for my hip 2years ago and hated every miserable second. I was ready to rebel this time after reading many posts here of people who never used them. But to my amazement , upon my hospital discharge, they were never mentioned. I hope you can get rid of them soon. When do you go back to see the OS? Are you doing the lovenox injections, or taking aspirin? Maybe you can plead your case directly to him.

Sorry about the issues with your dad, that has to be hard and add an extra dimension of challenge to an already challenging situation.
 
I'm so sorry you have the added stress of your dad's illness. Glad you found a helper and can take care of yourself.

It's hard for me to believe the surgeon understood how tight your TED hose are. They can act as a tourniquet and impede venous return. Mine were tight and I simply folded them down until they no longer created the tourniquet effect. I've removed them completely during the day now, being faithful with my heel pumps. I'm wondering if there is a way you can send a pic of how tight they are to his office nurse?

I liked your unintended consequences list. I hate talking on the phone - I'm going to grab your idea! :)


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016
 
I'm sorry to hear of the situation with your parents, but how great that you got them where they needed to be. So thankful I didn't have to wear compression hose. My heavy legs would've been quite uncomfortable. My dad wears them all the time and last fall when he fell, broke his hip, needed a THR my brother was the only one who could pull them up for him.
 
I'm sorry about your dad, it's very hard to take care of him when you need to take care of yourself, but I so understanding how you feel.

I hope you feel better and stronger soon and the same for your dad!!! Positive thoughts going your way!!!
 
TED hose have not been found to be very effective against blood clots. In fact if they bunch up they can cut off surgery and actually cause them. Since you are up and walking you will do fine without them. MI need always seemed to have an accident as soon as I got home and wound up in the trash. Hers an article about TEDs. While it is citing a study of stroke patients it can also be used for anyone who is not up and about.

https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/negative-research-on-teds-lancet-27th-may-2009.35057/
 
Thanks for the input on Ted hose and the good wishes for the family. I got word that my father was feeling upset about all the trouble he was causing, so just called the hospital and wished him a good night and assured him he was no trouble and we would be of good cheer and get through this. He was glad I called. So that's the game plan. Good cheer and get through. Knee is doing ok, another pt tomorrow and then post op and then home.
 
Sorry to hear about your parents. Not the best time but when is it? It's great that you found a woman who can help out with some of the support.

I'm curious. Now that you have had almost a week of recovery, what's your sense of how it would have been to recover alone at the hotel without your friend's presence and help?

Must be hard for your dad to have those moments of confusion. A lot for you to have to handle right now.
 
If you must wear the TEDS, why not cut the tops, where they are so tight?
I would take them off, since they seem to be doing more harm than good, but I understand that it's sometimes hard to go against your surgeon's orders.
 
I have been putting my hose on at night. I woke up in the middle of the night with my legs on fire and my toes caught in the holes. It was a hose-panic attack. I got those suckers off and put them in the trash. I'm done! I know I'll get them again for second knee but I'm ordering my own size XXL and taking them in. They had me in a L, and that required stuffing. No more stuffing a ham in a tight sock!

I'm saying prayers for you and your parents right now.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016
 
@mamazipp i think it would only have been manageable with a purse stuffed full of five dollar bills to tip the desk staff for ice, odd jobs, maybe bringing you breakfast, plus someone to get you settled and get the refrigerator stocked up front. It made it so much easier having my friend here. And I would want if at all possible a person I know however peripherally who could do a driving errand if necessary.
 
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