Bilateral TKR I did it!

[Jesse for the Fight]

I asked the surgical team for straight, symmetrical scars. I was told they measured precisely for me. Not a bad start for my new little ladies: L1 and L2 . My implants are oxinium - it is called the 30 year knee. I'd be happy if it lasted 20. The pink stuff is iodine. Not too much brusing yet...

 

[tikipadre]

Hope all goes well, doesn't sound like you're having all that much fun though. Hope it gets better.

 

[tikipadre]

I asked the surgical team for straight, symmetrical scars. I was told they measured precisely for me. Not a bad start for my new little ladies: L1 and L2 . My implants are oxinium - it is called the 30 year knee. I'd be happy if it lasted 20. The pink stuff is iodine. Not too much brusing yet...

This does NOT look fun at all... Hope the meds are working without making you wonky.

 

[new knee in June]

Wow Jesse,
Your incisions look really good & straight I really hope the feeling goes away soon!
They have meds. For nausea ( I'm sure you know this) i hope you feel better today
Wishing you well,
Diana

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

One intravenous anti-nausea medication later and I got to 94 degree bend and walked right down the hall with minimal pain! I get the green light for home tomorrow!!!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Tell me you were using a walker or I'll be looking for a new star in the East

That's ABSOLUTELY brilliant. I have a totally unscientific and unsubstantiated view that some doctors are less intrusive than others. I too had 90 degrees more or less at once -- I scooted on my butt to the edge of the bed prior to standing the first time, and my lower legs hung down vertically, just like any normal person's would. I thought nothing of it - I knew no better or worse - but all the physios were saying how wonderful and unusual that was.

Home - not rehab? That's fine, but I'd take rehab if you can. I was itching to get home, but it was a wrong move; in hospital and rehab they look after you, boring but good for healing.

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

You are right about the surgeons approach being an instrument part of recovery. London's ontarios university hospital is a teaching hospital, so a lot of research comes with the skilled hands of our head surgeons. Being gentle on surrounding tissues as long as it doesnt compromise joint allignment is their approach.

I did use a walker - I was quite wobblely - and I'm off tomorrow for a full 2 weeks of rehab. I've just switched from epidural hydro morphone to some newer version of OxyContin is making my brain fuzzy.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

2 weeks sounds great -- but I bet your biggest enemy will be boredom, it was for me in the hospital. I was wrong to go home as early as I did, my advice FWIW is to go the full course, especially as your home support structure may not be perfect.

 

[kneeper]

Yay for your release to rehab tomorrow!

 

[Bionic woman2]

Jesse, good thinking on the Ipod. Booo! to the nausea and school lunch food! Perhaps if you had something good to eat, you could fight the nausea. Maybe you can stage a protest, I know you can't do a peaceful march yet, but can you move your arms like this lol Maybe you can "make-nice" with your numerous roommates and one of their 18 family members can smuggle you in something good to eat. :o) They outta be good for something! Hope I'm bringing a smile to your face in the midst of all that you're going through.

I didn't struggle with nausea in the hospital but when I got home and the anti-nausea patch wore off, talk about feeling yucky. It was like I was pregnant and hung-over at the same time. I was looked a bobble-head and I moved like a granny. I remember when one of my friends took me to Starbucks, I crawled inside, found a seat and used my cane to hold my head up. I had to try a couple of different meds to get it right and I still struggle from time to time if I don't eat properly when I take them. Feeling queasy right now actually, so I feel some of your pain. it's nowhere near what it was like in the beginning, so hang in there. I even had to go cold turkey for a day a week after my surgery to get all the **** outta my system. It worked wonders on my head and stomach, legs... not so much, but it was worth it.

Wishing you a smooth as possible and timely recovery.

Bionic Woman 2... We can rebuild her.

 

[Travlingirl04]

Hi Jesse, Congrats on making it through and doing so well! It's amazing you can post so soon, everything written looked blurry to me then. You are so right about the food. My surgery was late, so my first meal was breakfast...two greasy eggs with a white greasy english muffin...ich! Lunch was a sandwich of unknown meat product on white bread that i didn't, but it came with a really good beef vegetable soup, which became my request for my dinner and lunch the next day before going home. I could of stayed one more day, and in hind site wish I had as I just got increasingly nauseous over the next few days. Finally OS changed me from Morphine to morphone in my drug mix and that did the trick.It's been 9 days now and I'm really happy how well things are going. I'm walking independently at home about 50% of the time and my bend was up to 104 degrees today. Sounds like you're doing so great, I know you'll do well and I hope you get better food at rehab!

 

[My way]

Hi, Your legs look great! Wobbles are included with a BTKR at no extra charge. They get less and less with each passing day and with each passing day you will feel a little better.
Take it slow and easy
Wanda

 

[Jesse for the Fight]

OMG. Day 5, crying for no reason as I'm getting ready to leave the hospital. Crying getting into the car from the new achy, stinging, burning pain in quads and around incision. Apparently this pain is normal as my muscles start to "activate ".... But holy-moly - must follow mantra : rest, elevate, ice.

At rehab elevating. Had grandma Sponge bathed the hospital grime and pink iodine from my body before climbing into puffy white bed. My grandma went to pick up my prescriptions, incision cleaning supplies, extra ice packs as well as odds and ends from my home but she is very late and I'm three hours overdue for my Percocet. Ouch ouch ouch. Yesterday my bend was 94 and 102 for little L1 and L2 respectively ( My two little ladies as I like to call the new knees) Today, I am barely making 90 on both and the swelling seems to be making a home in my knees. I'm hoping it was just all the jostling about in the car today. I know there will be updays and down days ... but the down days, to put it eloquently, really, really suck.

 

[ditzy dinah]

Hope you got there Jesse, at least you know when you do the food will be better...rice krispies yuck!! hopefully when the epidural comes out you will be able to enjoy your freshly baked croissants too! Love the detail, you really paint the picture of the noisy families, chaos and cacophony...I wish you peace and serenity in the rehab centre! Don't let the torture artists push you too hard!

 

[Deedles8]

I swear there is something in narcotics that make us cry.....I cried a lot early on...now it's not as often.....but still occasionally. It does get better but this is a long tough road!
Remember the Mantra....and put YOU first!

 

[daughter stalker]

Jesse for the Fight I am so sorry to hear that you are feeling poorly. The tears have a tendency to pour. Please don't let this get to you. Most of us have gone through the same emotions.

must follow mantra : rest, elevate, ice.

Keep remembering what you said and the swelling and pain will go down.

I wish you all the best in your recovery. You seem strong, Keep your chin up!

Take care

 

[katie830]

Wow, you have made amazing progress. I think your attitude had lots to do with it. Crying.....you aren't alone. I'm 4 months out of RTHR and still have my emotional moments. Glad you opted for rehab. It may be boring, but I don't think you will regret it. One day at a time....

 

[My way]

hey there Jesse for the Fight How are you doing today? I hope the crying is over but it seems to be a normal reaction to this surgery. I do hope the food at rehab is agreeing with you however, I found that I wasn't hungry for weeks. I do hope the "wobbles" are gone and I imagine you are feeling a little stronger each day.
This journey is full of ups and downs! I'm thinking of changing my thread title to "Crusin' On Down the Road with Speed Bumps." The bumps come and go but they aren't so bad when you realize how far you have traveled.
Take care and take it slow and easy.
Wanda

 

[Diesellily]

Hey Jesse. The crying days sure do suck but it seems they go with the territory. You have a lot of drugs in you at the moment. You're wondering if life will ever be normal and although being in hospital isn't much fun, you know you're in safe hands and you feel cocooned. I'm sure rehab will have the same effect. Going home is what we all really wanted but I'm sure as I did, many Smarties felt they wished they were back in the hospital for a while. These feelings will pass but just let them happen. You don't have to understand why they happen, just understand that they do. Big hugs hon, we all totally understand here.

 

[new knee in June]

Good morning Jesse,
I hope you are feeling much better in re-hab you will cry on & off for awhile. But,I found I always
Felt much better after sometimes I actually would look forward to it's a great release.
I hope you are enjoying the food....
Don't let p.t hurt you
Wishing you well in your recovery,
Diana