Motherofmany
graduate
Seems like I got a combination of Kim's hot knee and Mark's clunking one. The first time I moved the left knee after surgery, it popped really loud. Scared Rick and me. Dr. K says it isn't a problem, just gas build up causing all the noise.
The first day was a doozy! My body doesn't like morphine very much. Maybe because my femoral and spinal block both wore off within 3 hours and they didn't get the pca pump set up soon enough. By the time they got it hooked up and functioning correctly (in 2 hours only received 2 mg of morphine), my pain levels were through the roof. I was also expereincing severe muscle spasms, which Dr. K wouldn't address. He was being very cautious and stingy with the pain meds due to my last time coding on Delaudid. Seems I was hitting the button every 22 minutes (20 minutes is the minimum time) and still didn't get good relief until we went to 10 mg of percoset every four hours by mouth. Once that was started, I was doing better. Was able to walk the halls and sit up in the recliner for 4 hours at a time. Tolerated the cpm well to...as long as the pain meds were in place. Able to get to 80 on cpm comfortably.
Talked the nurse into letting me wash my hair in the shower while sitting with my legs outside. A bit messy, but successful. Couldn't stand the glued hair anymore and wasn't willing to chance having to go one week like last time to wash my hair. I seemed to have the sauna room at the hospital. Ran a fever upwards to 102 for the first two days. Fever broke Thursday morning and stayed under 100 the rest of the time.
The ride home was an adventure in perseverance and how much pain I could tolerate. Sat in backseat of van and rolled around a bit. Rick seemed to find the hills to drive home. It has been a comedy of errors and would actually be funny if it didn't hurt so much.
Didn't remember the front walk being so long and bumpy (it's natural stone). Just getting in and out of van was a feat in itself. The last time I had a friend who brought me home in her 4 wheel drive and drove me over the curb to the front door.
The CPM technician was waiting for us and wanted to get me set up. Although I had already spent 2 1/2 hours on it this morning, I agreed. Only problem was Rick was running errands and Sara was doing laundry...thinking it was okay to let me rest while on the CPM. Almost 4 hours later, when I awoke since I had risen at 3:15 am and was exhausted, I could hardly move and really had to go potty! Of course, had not taken my pain medication since Rick was still running errands, so was excruitiating! Getting back to bed was tough. The nurses had it down pack, but unfortunately my family was a bit rusty. Tried playing wishbone with both legs. I shouldn't have...and I regret it, because I screamed 'Why are you trying to torture me!" Definitely not what to say to your daughter and spouse who are trying so hard, yet failing miserably. Made them feel horrible.
Finally got settled with knee wedge and ice for a period of reprieve until 'Bailey aka momma cat' decided to join me on the bed. Yep, I can now say my new knee is a bullseye. She jumped directly on the new joint and when I screamed, scaring her and everyone else in the house, she jumped straight up and back down on said offensive knee, causing severe pain, while knocking the knee off the wedge and causing bleeding at the staples. I now have a paw print on the inside of the knee to testify to my afternoon.
Just finished cleaning the wound and getting the dried blood and oozing under control. Fun, fun!
Hopefully it will be uneventful from here on out. Grandsons are still home and two teens with Rick. All else are farmed out. Boys should be gone, but Nick is working and his x doesn't think she needs to come until tomorrow. Says she is in pain and sick and can't get him today.
As for Terence...his parents are in their own world and don't think of anyone but themselves. Mom is traveling and not around. Tony got paid today and haven't heard from him. So disappointing, but that's life.
All in all this has gone much better. Am getting around okay as long as I have my pain medication. He dropped it to 7.5 oxycodone saying my pain should decrease. Obviously, he has never had this procedure done.
Enough whining. Just wanted to give an update. Sorry it's so lengthy. Rick's cell phone was hard to figure out. Ended up posting the same thing twice. Glad to be home with laptop, Breyers Butter Pecan Ice Cream and my own bed! There's no place like home.
Blessings,
The first day was a doozy! My body doesn't like morphine very much. Maybe because my femoral and spinal block both wore off within 3 hours and they didn't get the pca pump set up soon enough. By the time they got it hooked up and functioning correctly (in 2 hours only received 2 mg of morphine), my pain levels were through the roof. I was also expereincing severe muscle spasms, which Dr. K wouldn't address. He was being very cautious and stingy with the pain meds due to my last time coding on Delaudid. Seems I was hitting the button every 22 minutes (20 minutes is the minimum time) and still didn't get good relief until we went to 10 mg of percoset every four hours by mouth. Once that was started, I was doing better. Was able to walk the halls and sit up in the recliner for 4 hours at a time. Tolerated the cpm well to...as long as the pain meds were in place. Able to get to 80 on cpm comfortably.
Talked the nurse into letting me wash my hair in the shower while sitting with my legs outside. A bit messy, but successful. Couldn't stand the glued hair anymore and wasn't willing to chance having to go one week like last time to wash my hair. I seemed to have the sauna room at the hospital. Ran a fever upwards to 102 for the first two days. Fever broke Thursday morning and stayed under 100 the rest of the time.
The ride home was an adventure in perseverance and how much pain I could tolerate. Sat in backseat of van and rolled around a bit. Rick seemed to find the hills to drive home. It has been a comedy of errors and would actually be funny if it didn't hurt so much.
Didn't remember the front walk being so long and bumpy (it's natural stone). Just getting in and out of van was a feat in itself. The last time I had a friend who brought me home in her 4 wheel drive and drove me over the curb to the front door.The CPM technician was waiting for us and wanted to get me set up. Although I had already spent 2 1/2 hours on it this morning, I agreed. Only problem was Rick was running errands and Sara was doing laundry...thinking it was okay to let me rest while on the CPM. Almost 4 hours later, when I awoke since I had risen at 3:15 am and was exhausted, I could hardly move and really had to go potty! Of course, had not taken my pain medication since Rick was still running errands, so was excruitiating! Getting back to bed was tough. The nurses had it down pack, but unfortunately my family was a bit rusty. Tried playing wishbone with both legs. I shouldn't have...and I regret it, because I screamed 'Why are you trying to torture me!" Definitely not what to say to your daughter and spouse who are trying so hard, yet failing miserably. Made them feel horrible.
Finally got settled with knee wedge and ice for a period of reprieve until 'Bailey aka momma cat' decided to join me on the bed. Yep, I can now say my new knee is a bullseye. She jumped directly on the new joint and when I screamed, scaring her and everyone else in the house, she jumped straight up and back down on said offensive knee, causing severe pain, while knocking the knee off the wedge and causing bleeding at the staples. I now have a paw print on the inside of the knee to testify to my afternoon.
Just finished cleaning the wound and getting the dried blood and oozing under control. Fun, fun!
Hopefully it will be uneventful from here on out. Grandsons are still home and two teens with Rick. All else are farmed out. Boys should be gone, but Nick is working and his x doesn't think she needs to come until tomorrow. Says she is in pain and sick and can't get him today.
As for Terence...his parents are in their own world and don't think of anyone but themselves. Mom is traveling and not around. Tony got paid today and haven't heard from him. So disappointing, but that's life.All in all this has gone much better. Am getting around okay as long as I have my pain medication. He dropped it to 7.5 oxycodone saying my pain should decrease. Obviously, he has never had this procedure done.
Enough whining. Just wanted to give an update. Sorry it's so lengthy. Rick's cell phone was hard to figure out. Ended up posting the same thing twice. Glad to be home with laptop, Breyers Butter Pecan Ice Cream and my own bed! There's no place like home.
Blessings,
United States
