TKR Here she comes just a walkin' down the street

[greatlakes]

Bad night last night. Once again, could not beat the constipation, and finally in desperation, decided to stop taking the Norcos. So I took two extra strength Tylenol instead every four hours. Not sure if that did the trick or if it was just inevitable, but finally in the wee hours of the morning I got relief. Wheee, two times in 9 days. Now I am lying in bed with a sore and disgruntled belly, but nothing compared to the earlier discomfort. Visiting nurse is coming soon and I'll consult her about resuming norco with less frequency or lesser dosage (I.e. 1 instead of 2). Had about one hour of sleep, so tonight will try Tylenol pm, which I forgot I had with me. I've been alternating cranky with weepy, but keep it to myself since the last thing I want to do is alienate my friendly caregiver and source of ice.
We are figuring out solutions for my parents. This life can get difficult, but we are figuring things out.

 

[mamazipp]

Well, you are certainly dealing with a lot right now. Thank goodness you have your friendly caregiver! It would have been quite challenging to rely only on hotel staff and deal with the parent situation too. Sorry to hear about your night. Moping the visiting nurse can offer some wisdom. Hard to imagine going with Tylenol only at this point.

Had you been taking stool softeners and miralax?

 

[greatlakes]

@mamazipp i have been taking both miralax and that pill starting with an s, might need to take more at a time of the pill. I tried everything! Visiting nurse said go back to norco at a lesser dose, sups with tylanol, keeping under the magic 4000. The more I read,the more constipation appears to be a really big issue on this board, so sorry for all of us!

 

[mamazipp]

Oh yes, I experienced it as well. took everything short of a fleets. I think the first results were after a dose of milk of mag. In addition to the twice daily stuff. But even when there was success every many days, it was PAINFUL.

 

[uva55]

Life is certainty not easy...get some rest tonight!!!

 

[Celle]

You do need to keep taking adequate pain relief, so ask your own doctor (PCP/GP) for a prescription for a laxative. I had to do that, and kept taking the laxative for as long as I was on the narcotics.

 

[greatlakes]

Went for my one week post discharge checkup today. More bruising than is normal, but not troublesome. X rays good, peel off surgistrips in a week if they are still there, no signs of infection. And he gave me a free sample of a constipation med just for people on pain pills, and a prescription for 40 more norcos, which with ice and tylanol should get me through. So my good recovery care buddy and I drove 3 hours back with our ride to Charlevoix and tomorrow will take the ferry HOME! The trip back wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. We got me a couple bags of frozen peas. I sat in front and could stretch my legs way out and prop up a little. Also today and tomorrow being travel days, I'm not limiting myself on the pain pills. I'll get more frozen peas for the 2 hour ferry ride. Tonight quite stiff, but after tomorrow I can focus on my gentle exercises, frequent short walks, and healing.

 

[KarriB]

Safe and easy travels for you.

 

[mamazipp]

All sounds good, greatlakes, and happy travels home. I have seen that med advertised on tv, the constipation for folks on pain meds. Interesting! Here's hoping it is useful. You'll be glad to get back to your own bed and kitchen, I'm sure.

 

[uva55]

I'm sure you will be happy to be home!

How is dad doing?

 

[jmp65]

Safe travels home! Hope it goes well and not too uncomfortable! I am sure you will be glad to get home! No place like home!

 

[dianehelen]

Glad to see you are heading home. Home is such a good place to nest in and recover in your own surroundings. Hope you get some relief in the tummy area. Did the doc give you Linzess? Let us know how it works. Safe travels home. Keep healing and feel good.

 

[Tina48]

Home sweet home. Hope your travels goes super well.

 

[sheliac]

Safe travels. You will feel SO much better in your own space.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016

 

[sistersinhim]

There's no place like home! You will be so much better off!

 

[greatlakes]

The sample is called amitiza. And am I glad I suffered a little more discomfort the last couple days in order to wait until I got home to try it. Figured not the best idea while on the three hour car trip in someone else's car, nor on the two hour ferry. So I got home this afternoon, took the pill, and then an hour later, problem resolved! I better call the doctor's office to let them know it works. Magnificently. So anyway leg is very stiff and sore after the last two travel days, but it wasn't overly painful. At home now and happy to be in a place where I can rest, stick the leg up, ice, and start to heal. Gentle heel slides, gentle extension, plenty of short walks. Love to feel that new knee flexing away under all the stiffness and pain.

As for my parents, they booked a temporary room in an assisted living place. Thank goodness things exist. They can be there together, get their meals, and be taken care of while dad has his dental issues in the infections resolved. Any other time in my life, there would be no doubt that I would be right there with them. But right now, I'd be more liability than an asset. I need someone to get me food, drive me around, and take care of my needs. So I'm back home with my live-in caretaker, and my folks are well situated where they are. I had a couple of meltdown nights where it just seem like too much to deal with, and I'm so happy that we were able to deal and reach what seems to be a good solution.

Oh dear, while typing this had my first zinger. Wowzer.

 

[uva55]

I'm glad you are home and taking care of yourself and that your parents got themselves situated and are getting your dad's health issues resolved. It seems that everything happens at the same time and can be very overwhelming.

Rest and take care I of yourself so you can have a good recovery. Sending you prayers and positive thoughts.

 

[dianehelen]

So glad you are home, safe n sound. Ready to start the real journey to healing. Huh, temporary assisted living. Have never heard of that but what a great thing. I'm sure that takes some worry pressure off your plate, at least for now.

Rest well, heal well and hope all continues to go smoothly for you.

 

[sheliac]

Welcome home!! What a relief about your parents. That has to take a load off your mind.

When I do my walking "laps " inside, I didn't realize I was humming. Yesterday my husband laughed and started whistling with my hum -- it was "here she comes, just a walking.."[emoji4]


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 9/20/2016

 

[greatlakes]

The temporary deal is in a regular assisted living, that had a few rooms not booked. (It's an excellent facility, but in a small town.) so they decided to try setting aside a couple rooms, furnished, for temporary stays like respite care, or my parents' short term needs. It's a great idea.
Once those zingers started, they kept coming, so I went back to max norco last night and was able to get a decent sleep. My plan is to try pain meds spaced six hours for a few days now, tylanol during the day, norcos at night, see if that's sufficient.
Finally going to take my first shower. At the hotel, I had a walk in shower, but the floor felt so slippery to me, I didn't take that risk and just did sponge baths. Yesterday, getting home, too tired. So today my housemate is going to put in his hearing aids and just sort of be on standby while I check out the shower. This is a first for me, to be lying in bed anticipating a shower in a few hours.