Become an Insider

Bilateral TKR Journey Continuing June 4th, 2012

Status
Not open for further replies.
Janet, you're doing great! It must have been hard to beat the view of the parking lot and all that entertainment! :heehee: However I am glad you have a room with a view! :thumb:
That app (Dosecast) sounds very helpful I'll have to look into that! Thanks! :friends:
The walker sounds like a great safety net especially with kitty being as bold as she/he is! :kittykiss: You wouldn't want any big surprises that's for sure, better safe than sorry!
Keep up the great work! Every day is a new day, with new steps forward! :yes!:
 
Janet2012 said:
Good morning! First night home and in my own bed. I think I slept pretty well, yay! Still on my back, but comfortable none the less. I have my legs up on my wedge and a pillow on my bed and am in a very happy place with my big beautiful view of the trees and garden out the windows. Not that ten days of a view of the parking lot at rehab was not entertaining with all the comings and goings of ambulances and all. And there were flower pots, after all.

I downloaded an app I like (Dosecast) to keep track of all my meds. The free version is pretty good, but I ended up buying the full version which lets me look at the dose history, not just the last dose, and some other things. I think it's going to be very helpful. Speaking of doses, I've got to get hubby out to pick up some Colace. Getting a balanced diet full of fiber will be more challenging now that I don't have a full time kitchen at my beck and call. Don't want to fall behind there!

I find myself walking around the room unaided, which astounds me at this point. I use the walker to go from room to room, as much for self defense against the cat, who has not figured out how to get out of the way yet, as for stability and general safety. Maybe I only need my forearm crutches, or only one even. This is a temp walker, and they are supposed to deliver my own today. I was thinking I might not need it, but thinking again, I will need it if I venture out of the house to walk.

So homecoming is so far so good! I have to think about what I should be doing now that I'm away from the structure of rehab, but I'm just up and walking around more which is as good as anything at this point. I'll enjoy not having a schedule until I see the OS on Thursday!
Click to expand...


Hi Janet - Wow!
That is so wonderful - walking in your room unaided!!!! That is just what I needed to hear today - good for you and welcome home!

Question - someone did give me a wedge - it sounds like you find it helpful???? Is that right? And the pill app - I'll have to check it out tonight - I started on the colace last weekend in the hopes it will help - yes to fiber!

Do you like the forearm crutches as well????? I hope to ditch that walker ASAP.....

Just starting the journey tomorrow - can't wait till I'm on the other side.

Have a great time at home and watch the cat underfoot! I'm sending my puppy to visit some friends for a week when I get home - he will be a nightmare! Good to hear you are well and home

Lisa :puppysmooze:
 
Lisa, I wish you the best tomorrow! Just a week ago I was just starting to transfer from the bed to the bedside commode and was in the hospital with chest pains. That first week was just something to endure and get through, but not fear. A very short time can make a very big difference, you'll see! There is no set timeline, but it happens!

The wedge is great for getting that elevation, and I find it more comfortable to put a pillow under the knee to ankle portion. I kept my legs elevated in the hospital bed by raising the lower portion of the bed and then using a pillow to lift the calf and ankle to straighten the leg up. I haven't gotten any swelling around my ankles at this point.

I got the forearm crutches when I had arthroscopic surgery in Germany, but they are available here as well. I like them a lot, they are much more comfortable and flexible than a standard crutch, and they are more stable than a cane.

Right from the start at the hospital they said they were aggressive with the stool softeners, etc., and I was conscientious about eating fruits, salad, having apple juice or an occasional prune juice and applesauce. It took a week, but when I went, I was not constipated. The last couple of days I seem to be a little more sluggish, but I'm probably not drinking as much water as I was. It's something not to let up with!

In a couple of weeks you will be a surgery pro with lots of good advice of your own!
 
So guess what I did today? I took a nap - on my side! And after awhile my hip was a little uncomfortable, so I rolled on over and slept on my stomach!! And then later I finished off with a another roll and slept on the other side!!! 911 was not called and I was still able to get up and walk after a smooth dismount from the bed! My technical scores may have only gotten a 7.6, but the passion that went into my routine netted me a 9 as an overall score!
 
Slept on your front - brave woman! :thud: Am managing to sleep on my side but it is giving me hip pain sometimes - I might brave the 'forward roll' tonight after your encouragement. Am having acupuncture tomorrow for my hip/butt pain. Well done!!! :thumb:
 
Woa! You go girl! I've been so nervous to try the side sleep, but you're very encouraging so I may give it a shot tonight.
Oh and by the way, you're a 10 in my book! :friends: Sweet dreams my dear!
 
Janet, it sounds like you are dong well. I ditched the walker right away---I especially hated it outside. the wheels don't roll well and I felt like I was 90. Somehow, crutches are more youthful!! K
 
Kelly, I had thought about canceling the walker order, but vanity aside, with both knees, I should use one I suppose. The only advantage of the walker over the crutches is that when you let it go, it doesn't collapse to the floor. They delivered my walker, and I almost didn't come out while the guy was here. Wow! Sporty little red model with hand brakes, a seat and a trunk, four blackwalls... Pretty slick! But I made him take it back and just bring me the plain old two wheel frame walker tomorrow. I should have kept it just because it was worth so much more, but what would I do with it? Why have insurance pay for something I don't need?
 
Wow Janet, that's wonderful you are in the bed moving around too. I found that part hard to do. I had to wake up to purposefully move the knees. The bed I had in the basement wasn't plush or anything, just a regular borrowed bed and boxspring.
I used just the regular plain walker. I had to buy mine right out, so it was up to me to decide to keep it. Don't regret it. I never used crutches, never have in my life. So although walker seems yucky looking to use, it does its job. Know people after abdominal surgery have to use them too. And life goes on.

Hope and pray you have a great night.

Helen
 
Jacky48 said:
I can't wait to hear from you when you're and settled. Enjoy your freedom! :ok: Take nice and slow! Did they set you up with any home visiting nursing care or home PT?
Click to expand...
Janet I had to have a nurse come by once a week to change the dressing on my pic line. I refused home PT and went back to outpatient PT wit Killer Katie instead!
 
RestAssured said:
Janet I had to have a nurse come by once a week to change the dressing on my pic line. I refused home PT and went back to outpatient PT wit Killer Katie instead!
Click to expand...

I should call tomorrow and get on the PT's schedule for next week. I'm guessing it will start then, although I could go another week taking it easy. I see the OS on Thursday.
 
Not much to add today. I'm just resting, icing, walking around a bit, and doing a few exercises. My butt is getting sore from laying on it all the time. There isn't much of anywhere to go in the house to walk around much, and I'm not venturing outside yet. Maybe it's time for a nap on my tummy.
 
No, the knees feel cushioned and supported. It would bother the backs of my knees if I were not at 0 extension. I put my toes over the end of the mattress. I did put a very small squishy bean bag pillow under my ankles for a while. I have one incision off center and one dead center. Maybe I shifted my leg a little to not be right on the incision. I napped for three hours on my stomach and side today. I don't know that I would do it if it were weepy, but it sure feels good!
 
Janet2012 said:
No, the knees feel cushioned and supported. It would bother the backs of my knees if I were not at 0 extension. I put my toes over the end of the mattress. I did put a very small squishy bean bag pillow under my ankles for a while. I have one incision off center and one dead center. Maybe I shifted my leg a little to not be right on the incision. I napped for three hours on my stomach and side today. I don't know that I would do it if it were weepy, but it sure feels good!
Click to expand...
Tried turning on my tummy in the night Janet, thinking "Janet can do it with bilats - I can do it with ONE" & I did! Thanks for the encouragement. I think we are doing famously, let's hear it for Sunbeams :yes!: . Will go & check on some others now, bye x
 
You sound like you are getting on great Janet. Hope it continues to go so well for you
 
Janet,

You are doing great! In PT one of my exercises is to lay on my stomach and do leg extensions "backwards". I am able to do them quite well, even in the immobilizer brace. Today is the day I get to find outifDr. Maale will D /cC the brace! I sure do hope so. I am getting tired of trying to remember to wear it and bring crutches to PT. :ok: :rotfl:
 
Janet, I now am doing some sleeping on my side thanks to you! :thumb: It feels great for a while then I have to shift to the other side, all in all though it's nice to have that option! :ok: Thanks for the encouragement! :friends:
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Active Antimicrobial Hydrogel
Corganics CBD

Members online

Total: 2,424 (members: 3, guests: 2,421)

Latest posts

Back
Top Bottom