TKR KathyH New Knee

[KathyH]

Of course you can, Jess Will make a start on going out tomorrow, as Ray finishes work at lunchtime on Fridays. I do feel like a bit of a recluse - Kathy Howard Hughes Hardy Would be nice to see some familiar faces. My two best friends are coming over tomorrow night for a girlie night in.

Lucky you, having a pub lunch, yum yum. Can't even imagine trying something like that at the mo. But I know the old appetite will come back eventually. In the meantime I will just enjoy the weight loss and try my utmost to keep the weight off.

 

[ladyj]

The weight loss is a wonderful side effect, and that is for sure!
I didn't think at one time I would ever get my appetite back, but I have!xxxxx

 

[katydid3]

I'm hoping my appetite doesn't come back for at least another 80 pounds! I've lost ten which isn't as much as I had hoped.

 

[ladyj]

With the weight I lost pre op and what I have lost since I have gone down a total of 32lbs. Unfortunately I still need to lose a lot more!

 

[Jacky48]

Wow Kathy, you've been having a go of it since I last checked in on you, you poor woman! I'm glad the constipation has subsided for now and I hope it doesn't come back, it is the worse feeling for sure.
I hope everything goes forward from here on end for you. These five weeks must seem like an eternity for you!

Please take care and do get some air even if you just put a chair outside and sit and watch the birds!

 

[Lindy Lou]

Kathy you are getting a lot of good advice here. It's so easy not to go out I know from experience and it can lead to depression. so xdespite going out within a week of op when I went to the shopping mall and was pushed by my daughter in a loaned wheelchair from the mall.
On seeing someone I worked with they said oh what you doing in that Clive said oh she has had a knee replacement she then replied oh my friend had that and she was walking around the next day !!!!!!!! I was speechless and felt like I was swinging the lead and should have been skipping around the shops. After that I went a couple of times mostly using one stick but really felt awkward and worried about how I looked. So as soon as I felt able to I went without the sticks but leant on the supermarket shopping trolley . Obviously I am not talking about marathon shopping expeditions but short walks around M&S, food shopping then a coffee , quick look at some other bits then home absolutely exhausted. Today was getting ready to go out and as i was walking round the bed something happened a sharp pain went from my ankle almost to my knee and I was in agony but after a while decided I was still going so took my sticks and do you know everyone was really nice to me asking me what I had done and how was I doing so I did not feel embarrassed at all and won't from now on and I am going to use them as its worth it just to get a change of scene . I go out in the car with Clive and into the petrol station to do a bit of shopping in the small Tesco . Pop to my neighbours for a cuppa and a chat anything to stop getting into a rut and depressed.
I love to cook and if I sit down at a stall at breakfast bar I can manage to do some simple food preparation and make something tasty for dinner and it is therapeutic
Not attempted ironing lately did a little bit in the first few weeks but find it hard on my legs, anyway that's my excuse and I am sticking with it.
I planned to use my recovery time to do so many things, had brought photo albums to sort out all those photos that I had meant to do for years, saved up some hand sewing that needed doing. Some paperwork that needed attention. Downloaded some books on my kindle but all I can manage to do while sitting down is watch tv (rarely see the end of anything ) and sleep, I cannot concentrate on any of the other things even emails and writing on this forum is such a chore and takes me ages. So going out is essential for me to break the monotomy and to have conversations with other people .
So do try to get out my lovely friend
Want the old kathy back.
Xxxxxxbig hugs

 

[Titianlady]

Kathy, don't feel embarrased at all if you go out with your walker or cane!! My husband took me out to dinner when I was not too far out from surgery as I was a crying mess. I had just had enough of being cooped up. He put me in the car,and wheeled me into the restaurant in a wheelchair!! I had the best time, and it did wonders to lift my spirits! You go out and to heck with worrying about what others think.

Until they have a TKR, they have no right to comment on your walker or wheelchair, or cane. You do have a nice lunch, and you will feel much better. Don't concern yourself with how you appear to others.. You need to take care of you!!

 

[KathyH]

Katy, 10 pounds is a good weight to lose - that's a dress size. The rest will come off.

Jess, you have done wonderfully well with your weight loss. It makes you feel so much better, doesn't it? You kind of walk with more of a swagger - like, look at me, woo hoo

Thanks Jacky. Yes indeedy these five weeks have seemed like forever and like forever since I was at work - like in another life.

Titianlady I take on board what you say about other people. And I'm not going to worry about them. Didn't get to go out today. It started to pour down after Ray got home from work. I had just had a shower and got my hair exactly how I wanted it to look - kind of shaggy. I have my two best friends coming round tonight and I want my hair to look good, so didn't venture out in the damp air. How vain am I

I'm not weighing myself until I go back to work, but I tried a couple of things on this morning. YAY, I can now get into my size 12 trousers (after being in 14s for many months) and a lovely top that I bought in a Next sale last year and never worn because it's rather clingy and showed all my lumps and bumps. Now it just shows off my figure. Feel good about that. Now I just need an occasion to wear it :cocktail:

 

[PhoenixS]

I found that getting out was the best medicine for the dark pity-party riddled days after my surgery. I went out with my wheelchair and was treated like a princess.
As for the weight loss, I lost 10# and I have kept it off, though I haven't been trying.
Best,
Sandy

 

[KathyH]

Linda, hey not so much of the old

Sorry to hear about the pain in your leg yesterday, but it was good that it didn't stop you from going out. I think you have been very brave from the start, going to Lakeside so early on. You're one plucky lady.

I was exactly the same as you pre-op - planned on doing many things during convalescence, like learning Photoshop, making my Christmas cards, doing more research on my family tree. Done none of those things. But it just can't be helped. Concentration, as you say, just does not come easy. I find even when talking, I get my words in a muddle. Like, just now, Russell (our son) phoned me and saying goodbye I meant to say 'love you' but it came out as 'lovely' Weird!

The old young Kathy will return one day, for sure. Time and patience. Have a great weekend and don't party too hard

Luv and hugs
xxxx

 

[KathyH]

Thanks Sandy. You have done really well to keep your weight loss off, especially with not trying. Well done you

 

[KathyH]

Thought I would ask this out of my own thread as it would be seen more. Since my op I have noticed that my voice has got kind of croaky/husky (though sadly not in a sexy way ) like I'm about to lose my voice. No one else has commented on it, but I definitely notice it myself.

Has anybody else found this?

 

[Debbie_joints]

Kathy, I have noticed that too, not all the time though. Sounds like I have been screaming too much.

 

[Lagrange]

Sometimes intubation can cause temporary hoarseness.

 

[Jacky48]

Heck Kathy I can't believe you are experiencing this voice change too, I thought it was just me! And, I might add I didn't have any tubes down my throat and another thing, shouldn't it be gone by now I'm at 17 weeks today.

 

[Titianlady]

Kathy, isn't it great to get into clothes that were a bit too snug again!! With all we go through in this recovery, the weight loss is a bright spot!!!

 

[Josephine]

 

[Titianlady]

Kathy, have you had any ginger tea, or ginger ale? Ginger is good for tummy issues like nausea. If you can get fresh ginger, just peel it, and grate or slice some into a cup of boiling water to make a tea. Sweeten it if you wish, and drink it. It will help with the nausea.

 

[Lindy Lou]

Whoops sorry Kathy I should have said the kathy we used to know and love but it sounds very much as if she is on her way back .
Just doing our hair takes effort, need an incentive like having friends round or going out to the shops, bad enough being seen out on sticks or walking like a ninety year old so keeping our hair looking good and putting on a bit of slap makes such a difference.

My appetite is a bit erratic, have days when I don't fancy anything as feeling queasy then other days can't stop eating.
Pain, medication , constipation all seem to rule my appetite but I have not put on or lost any weight. I lost 9lb when I was on holiday in june as I had a trapped nerve as well as the pain of my knee it was horrendous and I couldn't eat a thing just drank.
I also went down from a size 14 to a 12 and can even get into a 10 sometimes so good as have a new wardrobe without buying anything, wearing all the unworn clothes (usually bought in the sale) I had kidded myself I would get into before a holiday or Christmas but never did till now, so glad I didn't throw them out

I have been able to ditch the stockings after 6 week yippee as much as I hated them in the beginning I got used to wearing them and quite missed them as it felt strange. At last I am not having much swelling . only if I move awkwardly then get swelling and really bad pains in legs mostly at night and when getting up in morning .

Today I can hardly walk , after wheeling shopping trolley round supermarket fo 20 mins i am in a lot of pain and feel exhausted which is worrying as OS said I should be walking a mile at 6 weeks perhaps I better get on my bike instead

Whenever I feel down or a bit despondent which I do quite a bit the last couple of weeks I just log onto Bonesmart to read all the amusing, encouraging and helpful posts and also to read of those who are struggling after months . I thought ignorance was bliss so didn't know too much about TKR so think I was a bit shocked at how long it can take to recover but the good thing is most of us have retained our sense of humour and are able to give support .

Read all the threads on numbness which were really helpful I have got feeling but it seems to come and go in parts but do not find that too much of a problem can live with numbness it's the least of our problems although it does feel strange . The clicking as I walk and the pain is what gets me down, but early days eh
Thank you all for the posts on your experiences
Xxxxxxxx
Love Linda
Xxxxx

Linda

 

[Roy Gardiner]

...can live with numbness it's the least of our problems although it does feel strange . The clicking as I walk and the pain is what gets me down...

Both of my legs were numb for the full length of the incision on the side away from the other leg; the inside area was unaffected. It went away. My knees clicked all the time. That's just about gone too. Good 'ere innit?