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TKR Knees 1 AND 2 up and running

I take gabapentin before bedtime and it helps most nights with sleep. Even though it's not a narcotic you can become almost dependent upon it so wean down off of it so you do getting have any side effects. I get some nausea/vomiting and a headache when I miss my usual does.
 
I'm glad your home PT is gentle, Shelia. At least you can be sure he isn't going to try to rush you into doing anything. I think that that making sure you are safe doing the activities of daily living is something that some people do need. He sounds nice. You could be a learning experience for him, too.
 
Thanks for that tip, Marian. I've only taken it 5 nights (I quit after 30 days post knee 1). I do love the sleep it helps with, but I hate this drugged feeling. I've had no oxy since yesterday so it must be the gabapentin. I just feel very flat. Unless I'm having a panic over my latest imagined complication.

Celle, you are exactly right. I am blessed, once again. He's a sweetheart. I enjoyed having him here-- hubby is back to work today so his visit was welcome.




Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
So glad you have the pain under control, falling asleep on the toilet is allowed when taking lots of pain meds :heehee: Hope the zombie feeling goes away soon.
 
Yeah, you are really doing well! So glad the wheezing left you and that you've figured out how to start altering your meds. Just don't get off them too quickly - you're still very early in recovery. I enjoyed the Home PT visits as it broke up the monotony of the day and they could give practical solutions based upon my individual situation. My surgery is tomorrow but I'll check in with you as I'm able. Sleep well.
 
@sheliac I have a funny story from my TKR last November. While I was in the hospital, my breakfast would arrive about two hours after taking my pain meds when I would be at the height of being loopy. The second morning in the hospital, my husband walked out of the room while I was eating. He returned within seconds to find me fast asleep with my head resting on my plate of eggs and toast and my hand gripping all three pieces of bacon. I had a death grip on that bacon!!!!

Needless to say, I wasn't left alone for breakfast the next morning. Everyone was afraid I'd fall asleep and choke on my food!
:rotfl::loll:
 
Oh Goodness! Thank y'all for making me laugh! That bacon story, Joy, made me pee my pants (for real - it's very difficult to gut laugh while holding on to walker). It was so worth it! Hahahahahaha . Whew.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
Wait. DK-- zombie bites! I had forgotten that. Adding to obsession list. Hmmm. Now that I look more closely (with the secret flashlight), they do kind of look like incisor marks.[emoji15]. I better call the nurse. I don't know why she seems a little impatient with me. :)


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
Well, I made it thru the day without panic attack. That's a huge improvement. It's week 1 anniversary and husband is insisting on a car ride for me after work. I think he knows I'm not doing well mentally (just random obsessing about infection, nothing serious).

Knee 2 is behaving much differently from knee 1. It does not feel as stable - or maybe I just don't remember. I am still using my walker 100% of the time. Trying to walk with cane feels awkward and scarey. I also can't do heel slides as easily or as far. I'm not in much pain - Tylenol controls it, and there is only moderate swelling (but I ice and elevate about 80% of the time). I'm OK doing the stairs but it still frightens me -- my knee just doesn't feel stable or strong. I guess the operative word is "yet". The happy news is that poor knee 1 feels like it never had surgery. I love it-- no pain, no swelling, just a good knee.


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
I have come to offer free zombie bite protection.

[Bonesmart.org] Knees 1 AND 2 up and running


Thinking knee 2 may feel less strong because it does not have a completely healed #1 to assist it.

you are doing basically pretty great for going thru 2 major life altering surgeries so close together
 
You are only one week out, you are bound to feel wobbly. It's good that the other knee feels strong and supportive. They say two knees can be quite different. You are doing well, just be kind to yourself and try not to be anxious (this from the worlds worst worrier), I'm praying that you'll know God's peace in the present moment.
Tabby xxx
 
Shelia, don't forget the cumulative effect of two major surgeries in a short space of time. I think it's understandable that you feel as if your second knee isn't stable or strong yet. It only has the support of a knee that is still recovering from its own surgery.

Keep using the walker as long as you feel safer with it, and don't try to rush into using a cane yet. It's a big step to go from using the walker to using only one cane. I didn't have a walker, but I needed to use two crutches for at least a month, before I started using only one. It's much better to use a walker for longer than to risk a fall.

Yes, a whole flight of stairs can be scary, but just take your time, and rely on your husband being a step or two ahead of you.

Oh yes, and don't compare your two knees. Knee number two is on its own journey. It knows what it's doing. It's going to be just as good as your first knee, but it will do it on its own time frame.
 
Shoot Sheila, I used my walker for about 3 weeks with just one knee done. Don't feel bad about using it for 2 knees that are recovering.
 
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Same as Paula, I didn't switch from walker to cane until the three week mark. And that was only dealing with one tkr. Relax, kiddo, all will be fine!
 
Celle said:
Shelia, don't forget the cumulative effect of two major surgeries in a short space of time. I think it's understandable that you feel as if your second knee isn't stable or strong yet. It only has the support of a knee that is still recovering from its own surgery.

Keep using the walker as long as you feel safer with it, and don't try to rush into using a cane yet. It's a big step to go from using the walker to using only one cane. I didn't have a walker, but I needed to use two crutches for at least a month, before I started using only one. It's much better to use a walker for longer than to risk a fall.

Yes, a whole flight of stairs can be scary, but just take your time, and rely on your husband being a step or two ahead of you.

Oh yes, and don't compare your two knees. Knee number two is on its own journey. It knows what it's doing. It's going to be just as good as your first knee, but it will do it on its own time frame.
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Sheila. Don't compare the two knees. I am a week out from operation #2 and my knuckle head definitely has a mind of her own. She doesn't even listen to me. Your body was still in recovery from operations #1 and there you go adding another one to the mix. You're good with the walker, it's only a walking aid. Let it go only when you feel completely comfortable.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
 
Oh goodness, what a blessing you guys are. I just cancelled PT for today and then had a crying jag for being a wimp. Came here and found your kind and wise words. It is so easy to fall into the "push it to the limit" mode. Reality check in here helps a lot.

I slept 9 hours straight but simply could not deal with getting up, dressed and being perky (or even civil) by 9 AM, rushing to do the dreaded stairs before hubby leaves for work.

I didn't ice last night -- I just didn't want the ice machine on my leg. That was a big mistake. My knee is swollen and angry and I have real pain (6 -7) for the first time since night 3. I'm tired all over and want to stay in my comfy bed. So ice machine is on and chilling and so am I. Hubby will come home at lunch to help me downstairs. I know laying in bed can't become a habit. But today feels like the tipping point -- like y'all noted -- the stress of 2 huge surgeries so close together is catching up with me.

If I was my nurse right now, I'd be giving me a lecture on the hazards of immobility , the importance of ADL's, and just doing it. As the patient , I'm saying - "hush, my body needs a day of rest in bed and no stairs, no lying on a skinny couch, no walking round and round every hour, no constant anxiety and no obsessing about disability or infection". So I'm taking an oxy and snuggling up with ice machine, and if I get a DVT or pneumonia from one day it bed, well I earned it.

Sorry. Rant over. Carrying on here. :) oh yes-- Dianeshelen's zombie protection obviously worked!


Shelia
RTKR - 8/23/16
LTKR - 10/11/16
 
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