how do you spell relief

[JenniferG]

S H O W E R !
I am exhausted from all the work, but I feel closer to my old self. I sat, my poor husband "No, you're not going to stand in the shower!"

 

[referee54]

I remember taking my first shower three weeks after surgery...wow...what a great feeling. Sitting there, just letting the hot water spray all over me!I also used the showere head as a wand and used the hot water to loosen up the muscles---it did help a little bit on my ROM. It is those little things--the shower and not the sponge bath--that we miss so much.

Tim C.

 

[Pattipoo]

How did you get a shower at 5 days?????

 

[Doug]

I did it at 5 days...Out of desperation, I got a kitchen garbage bag and made a hole int it. I stuck my leg through the hole and pulled it above the staples. Then I used some tape to tape it on the front side....Ahhhhhhh.

 

[JenniferG]

How did you all not? My Dr said saran wrap and tape. I used Glad wrap but I think it'll slide? You all didn't get to wrap it? I do not have staples or stiches either remember, I've got glue. Maybe that helps?

 

[Pattipoo]

I forgot you were "glued". I didn't have the energy to saran wrap....I sat in front of a sink full of bubbles and did the best I could.

 

[kath]

I will agree that the shower is one of the best things ever. I got in yesterday , so that's
what 9 days and I could stand no problem. It was harder for me to try to sit on the crazy chair, mine is armless. I have a tub, so getting leg over the side and feeling secure not to fall is the hardest. Husband just lifted my leg for me and yes, hot hot water. I think is so good.
Still have my pottie problem though. Called dr. the stuff he told me to get the pharmacist said was actually a step backwards from what I was trying. Doug your route was the most helpful, little very little relief, but at least something.
Now I have another fleet to do and Senna-S that my pharmacist has suggested.
Leg swelling is going down and today .has been the most pain free day.Although it took me 3 or 4 times as long I finished my book. Nora Roberts Angels Fall, pretty good book.
It is so weird falling asleep even sitting up and reading the same page over and over, but I was so determined to finish it. Staples coiming out on Thursday. Hope all my other situation is straightened out by then. Nervous to think what the dr will do if I haven't gone to the potty by then. Handling it better emotionally that is because of all of you. Thanks so so much again.

 

[Doug]

Kath, glad you got a little relief from it. Hate to think I am becoming an expert in that particular matter. Try and hold it in as long as you can..When I can I'll pm you as to my first run in with that stuff.
I think getting the staples out is a milestone..I started feeling human. I also wonder if those little things might cause some of the post op swelling.

 

[1jt@atime]

I had my surgery on Monday, home on Wednesday and in the shower on Thursday morning. I used a shower seat. The doctor said to just be careful and not aim the shower head directly on the incision or wash the surgury leg.

I know what it's like to not have a shower. I was in the hospital for six weeks when I first had my car accident and never got out of the bed the entire time except for Xrays and surgeries. They changed the sheets with me in it by moving me from side to side. I had two bed pans. One for bathing and one for it's entended purpose. Anyone ever wash their hair in a bed pan? I did for six weeks. (actually my husband did) Even after six weeks, I still had an open incision on my stomach that could not get entirely wet for about another month. Let's just say I have a good husband that's stuck by me through thick and thin. He always says that his vows should have said In sickness and in sickness....

 

[Skeet]

I got my first shower the day I went home from the hospital - Wed after a Mon surgery. Doc just said to pat the incision area dry. It wasn't weeping or whatever they call it. It felt Marvelous!

 

[Skeet]

Maybe the vows should include something about pity parties and depression, unwashed hair, etc. Or just wrap it all up and call it a big fat monkey.

 

[dw6928]

I forgot you were "glued". I didn't have the energy to saran wrap....I sat in front of a sink full of bubbles and did the best I could.

Hair washing was the biggest problem. I could function (not very well) with the sink at the rehab but the stuff to wash your hair that uses no water was not great. The first real shower was post-rehab, at home and it was nirvana.

 

[Pattipoo]

I'm a bubble bath gal....EVERY morning....but that first shower was so wonderful, I almost drained our hot water tank! I've heard several of you talk about waterless shampoo....'splain Lucy...I don't know what you're talking about. I washed my hair every morning in the "handwashing" sink in my hospital room.

 

[kath]

1jt,
the experience you have had is so far and beyond anything I could ever imagine having to experience, thank God you have made it through.

Patti, I washed my hair in the sink also, my dr said as long as my incision had no drainage I could get in the shower, last time I got in almost right away, this time I had to wait a few more days due to my big fat swollen leg and the pain.

 

[Nursepair]

I had a shower the day after surgery, a nurse took me in on a comode and helped me, hair and all!! Wrapped the incission in something plastic, can't remember what now. Then on third day, nurses were absent, (as usual) so walked to b/room (in my room) sat on comode and showered and washed hair myself being careful not to get wound wet, used carrier bag I think, repeat & repeat. When I got home on 6th day, hubby helped me into bathtub shower and I managed to stand, have a grab bar, but sat on stool when out. Still do that on my own but take phone into b/room incase.

 

[Pattipoo]

Do you ever think of how our poor Great grandparents had to just suffer with their bad knees. I definitely inherited my bad knees from my grandmother. I can remember her poor little knees were SO knocked (instead of bowed)...she never missed a beat, though. She always had a HUGE vegetable garden...canned and froze everything she grew. Kept her house and yard in perfect condition even though she could barely walk.....she'd be very proud of this TKR!!

 

[Pattipoo]

yes...i'm chatty.

 

[Doug]

O.K. Skeet you invoked the ole big fat monkey...look out he's coming!!
Patti, I've been a bubble bath guy since I played football. Nothing like a good soak.Just keep the Apricot scrub and that little rock looking thing away from me. Oh yeah and that razor thing for callous's. That shouldn't even be sold to the public....dangerous, that's what it is...wore a hole right in my foot. ..limped around bleeding...worse than the scurb....yes, I took a whole pill...goodnight all!

 

[Jamie]

I had to wait for my first shower until the staples came out.....2 weeks. But I definitely agree that that first one is pure heaven!!! I find the hot water helps mobility and comfort too, so we're probably going to have unusually large hot water bills for the next few months.

 

[blondie42550]

I couldn't take a shower for 3 weeks!!! I was not allowed to get the steri strips wet......but I managed. I bent over the kitchen sink and used the sprayer, for what it is worth, to wash my hair. I "washed up" every night out of the plastic wash basin they sent home from the hospital. Then there was the "personal hygiene" issue, but I won't go there unless someone really needs to know! When I was finally able to take a shower, with a shower seat, remember I am a BTKR, it was like heaven and I am bubble bath girl! Then at 8 weeks when I was given permission to climb my stairs,(no bath on the main level, only a shower) I took my first bath. OMG, that WAS heaven.
Patti, my grandmother had the bad knees too and did all the gardening, canning, cooking etc and lived to 101!!!
My mom will be 83 this year, so it appears that my knees are going to have to last a long time!