TKR Knees 1 AND 2 up and running

[Celle]

@sheliac - your wound looks OK to me. Yes, there's some scabbing, but no redness around it. Keep doing what you're doing and I think it will settle down.

I had some oozing from my incision for about 2 weeks before it dried up, but everything was OK. I went to my GP/PCP's surgery a couple of times and asked the nurse there if she would re-dress it, as I didn't have any sterile gauze or pads.

I think a lot of your worry is because you're a nurse and you know too much. As a nurse, we tend to think of the worst case scenarios every time - my husband heard some of that from me and he called it "awful-izing".
and

 

[Tabbycat]

I agree that no one really prepares you for the psychological and emotional impact of this surgery. They'd never let you have an operation without all the pre op checks, but they are all about whether you are physically fit for surgery. I don't think pre and post op anxieties are really addressed. I call this forum my safety net, because it provides the sort of support I need, through the ups and downs of recovery. It's made all the difference.

 

[newlybionic]

It is hard to give up control of ourself when we are used to being the one in control. Just try to think what you would tell your patients if they presented with your symptoms. You cleaned it off and covered it. Sounds about right to me.

 

[KarriB]

Shelia, guess what...I actually had an infection but had no bleeding at all and when it started seeping I did just slap a bandaid on it! That was very strange for me to not go off the deep end because I always go to the worse case scenario...except when it was the worst case!

The utter helplessness we feel at the lack of mobility, fear of pain or infection and loss of control can be emotionally paralyzing. But that's why we're all here, to talk each other off the edge. Just remember who is in control.

 

[FlaGranny]

Shelia, my second knee also felt very weak and unstable the first week. I could hardly put any weight at all on it. It was torture. I used the walker and had to put a lot of weight onto it to protect my newest knee. It quickly got better the second week and now I'm walking around without a cane, except for stairs and going out into the world. I'm not sure whether my first knee was that bad. I thought not, but perhaps its just our brain's way of forgetting the severity of pain. So, be patient, you will soon feel lots better.

 

[sheliac]

Thank you, thank you, my Smartie friends.

No more bleeding. No signs of infection. I'm feeling a little more stable on the knee and in the brain. It really helps to hear y'all's stories and know I'm not the only one who has felt knocked off my emotional feet.

I went back and read the article on post op blues. Also reading that Josephine had her own anxiety meltdown was very helpful. I'm just going to accept that these labile emotions are part of recovery and quit fighting them. It's a lot easier to just go ahead and cry than to deny my feelings and try to fake it.

Hopefully I can use this incredibly humbling experience to become a better nurse and a much better teacher. I'm already looking at my critical care course content. It's eye-opening to see the "provide emotional support" tacked on at the end of each module, like an afterthought. I want to change that -- and not just on the syllabus.


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

 

[Celle]

I'm glad you're feeling a bit better.

Yes, labile emotions are part of the recovery deal. I got very frustrated at times and I remember (to my shame) yelling at my husband, just because he couldn't read my thoughts and know intuitively what I needed - I got angry much more easily during recovery. The poor man fled to his office at the other end of the house for a couple of hours. Then I cried, because I'd been such a witch.

 

[newlybionic]

After my first surgery I ride and yelled at my youngest daughter until I sent her home 10 days after my first surgery. After she was gone my poor dogs bore the brunt of it. With my second surgery I expected it to happen. I made sure to have appointments with my therapist (for my head) either by phone or in person when I was up to it. I just went with the flow a little better.

 

[Majella]

Hi Shelia,
I'm glad you are doing a bit better and survived the anxiety meltdown...they seem to sneak up on us with no warning I'v had a few myself after my first surgery.
I hope you have better days ahead...hang in there

 

[Josephine]

Also reading that Josephine had her own anxiety meltdown was very helpful.

Nice to know my down periods have helped others! It's all there for a reason!

 

[sheliac]

Yes-- thank you all-- knowing that we're not the only ones, whatever it is, helps so much.

Day 12 left knee- yesterday was better, still. I still have freak out moments, but getting better. I think not eating has been playing with me emotions more than I realized. Yesterday hubby made big breakfast and I forced it down out of respect for his efforts. Two hours later, I was actually laughing at something he said. So I ate 3 protein-rich meals yesterday and did not have the horrible crying jags. I don't wAnt to gain weight loss back, but now is not the time to diet. Looking back, it seems I was consuming <800 cals/day since surgery 2. No wonder I'm having issues with wound healing and brain stability!

My incision still looks funky, to put it orofessionally. It's not obviously infected, but it's not sealed. The glue keeps leaking out, and that is an irritant. I've just washed it lightly with soap and water and put on a dry dressing. I'm keeping that appointment with OS on Tuesday. I want him to lay eyes on it. I think it is a skin infection waiting to happen - the edges aren't sealed, there's scabs and glue down the incision line. I think it needs a good cleaning, but have been warned not to put anything on it because of the glue. I'll feel much better once he sees it and tells me to chill out (I will be HAPPY if he thinks I'm being a soaz about it).

I've transitioned to cane - I don't know when it suddenly felt right , but it feels stable. I go very slowly to focus on heel-toe. Slow, as in, slow-
slow.. I also figured out to shave my legs with basin on bed instead of trying to rush in shower. Was able to get that done and do a little pedicure. I counted that as leg lifts for the day! In fact, that's my PT for the day! Exhausting .

Saying prayers for comfort and peace for all of us on this beautiful Sunday.





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

 

[sheliac]

I almost forgot! Today is Knee 1's two month birthday. I love this baby! It hardly ever hurts and when it does it's NOTHING compared to the agony of the pain it was in before. This baby can climb stairs, carry the workload for knee 2, kick stuff (if needed), and rocks! I wish I'd had this done 9 years ago when the first recommended it. I had no idea it REALLY would fix the pain. I think the flexion is about 125 (it was 122 last time PT measured it) and extension is still - 2. What a GIFT and blessing. And a thing of beauty (I hadn't seen my knee in years due to constant swelling)

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

 

[mamazipp]

Amazing! Knee 1 looks great and its recovery is stellar. Climb stairs? I'm still working on that one!!!
I can't believe knee 2 is 12 days old already. Time flies when it's someone else's knee, I guess. You will be flying around on 2 strong knees very soon. Glad to hear some food is getting in, too. That can only help.

In a teaching curriculum, I think as nursing instructors, and then practicing nurses, we tend to use the phrase, "give emotional support" in a rote an unthinking way. To be fair, nurses have to focus on tasks, and computer entry, and asking that dumb question ....on a level of 1-10 what is your pain....to enter it on a computer and then get the Meds, etc, that emotional support just doesn't fit into the endless required documentation. But having had personal experience as a patient really changes a nurses' perspective. Just imagine how much richness you'll be able to both give at the bedside and impart to your students so that they can give. Keep that in mind on your healing journey. Every down day you experience will give you that much more richness in your teaching and your practice.

 

[KarriB]

Shelia, mama zips comment reminded me of something that happened while I was in the hospital after the infection surgery. I thought after your comments on emotional support you'd find it interesting.

I was scared about the infection, not knowing what it was, going back to ground zero, the unknown etc. I started crying loud enough that the nurses at the other end of the hall could hear me (I was in a quarantine room with an ante room for changing). When a nurse came to check on me I asked her to please shut the door because I just needed to cry it out. She did as I asked, then came back in after a while, held my hands talked and prayed with me. I will never forget her kindness, understanding and emotional support when I'm sure she was very busy. I'm crying now just thinking of it and pray for her whenever I think of her.

 

[dianehelen]

Knee 1 looks great. Wish my knee would look that good. Mine still looks like frankenstein. Probably because my OS used stitches and staples. It looks clean and ok, but not just the single line like your has.

Im glad to see you starting to feel a bit better, both knee and head ;)

 

[Celle]

It's not the finished product yet, so give it time, Diane! It's going to keep on fading and improving.

 

[sheliac]

Ditto to what Celle said, @dianeshelen. And knee 2 is looking pretty ragged. The glue keeps working its way to surface and right about now, I'd prefer some good solid sutures cause I think it's gonna open up.

MamaZ, Celle and Karri -- I've given so much thought to how this will impact my practice and teaching. I've always considered myself very compassionate, but as EMRs make us more and more "check box nurses", it takes a really conscious effort to be able to be the kind of nurse we want to be. Karri, your story made me cry. I hope I would be the nurse who would take the time to sit and pray with you.


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

 

[dianehelen]

Diane! It's going to keep on fading and improving

maybe, but shelia's knee 1 was a week later than mine, and looks wayyyy better.

 

[sheliac]

@dianeshelen -- did you see my pic of knee 2? The glue is rising to the top and it looks awful. I saw your pic and it looks great to me. Besides, there's not s Scar Pageant. I'd go for strong and together . If I had it to do over again, I ask for sutures-- this glue is really starting to bother me. It's fine inside, but the continual oozing to the surface and drying is keeping my skin very irritated. I'm trying to prepare myself to have to be unglued and sutured on Tuesday -- I will not freak out, I will not freak out...


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

 

[dianehelen]

@sheliac ughh that does not sound fun, adding sutures at this point. Hope you are ok

dont freak out
dont freak out
dont freak out