MIS bilaterial knee surgery quest...cont

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lissa

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Thank each and everyone that has supported me in my search for a surgeon to do both knees at once. I have the man. Reminds me of my dad, takes charge, even gave his advice!! Surgery scheduled July 21, 1pm. I walk with a "kick" now that I have the beginning of the end in sight. Probably wake up, look down at both neatly bandaged knees and ask myself what have I done? Too late to go back! So questions:

Ladies, what did you take with you to the hospital only? Think I'd like to be out of hospital gown...but then I may not even care!

Bi-laterial "kids" out there who are out and way beyond therapy etc., do you set off ALL the alarms in all the stores you go into? I know airports...but all the other sensors? What do you do? I know you get a card...but can see a lot of chagrin ahead not prepared!

Parallel bars used in rehab?

Out of all the exercises, which one did you personally think did the best job of helping you get back in control of walking, bending joints, etc.

Each of us are different, I know all that...but I'd welcome everyone's imput. You are a great group!

Lissa
 
Well I already responded not sure were it went...Anyway make sure you were something that they cant get to your knees. Maybe a robe dont trust those open back gowns...lol...I am happy you are getting this done you will be happy in the long run. We will all be here for you when you get back..........Good Luck...
 
Oh Lissa, that's great! You got it sorted.

As for hospital gown or not, you're right - you won't care! I know I am usually an terribly shy and modest person (except for the time I was en route to a wedding and went into a ladies powder room to change. Two elderly ladies in there took fright and fled when I began to strip off to change into the suit for the wedding! Well, sorry ladies - you get that way when accustomed to changing in front of strangers in the OR changing room!).

Anyway, yes, usually modest and a bit shy. I failed to attend for a cystoscopy when I passed clots in an episode of cystitis because I couldn't bear the thought of being 'displayed' in front of strangers.

Yet come the day of my op, I got retention and was sooo desperate to be catheterized, I was pulling the sheets off, begging the nurse to get on with it! In the end, she was so long getting prepared (luckily!) that I didn't need it after all! And all that took place in front of three nurses I'd never even seen before! Modesty went out the window!

And the alarms in stores are usually set to pick up on the security devices that are fixed to the goods. The card, don't bother about it - the airport securities won't even bother to look at them because, as one person put it, any school kid could churn those out on their computer! So, yes, they'll probably set off the alarms but best thing is, before you go through the scanner, tell the security people you have joint replacements and they're supposed to wand you instead. Or as well, I can't remember!

 
I wanted both done, but my surgeon wisely said NO WAY! Only because I have so many little ones at home. Don't know which is worse, having one done and waiting or both at same time.

Anyway, I took a new gown with me, because I hate those others. Here they require an iv, so It was a bit bothersome to get dressed in it, but kind nurses understood and were patient. Felt better when company came to visit, but still pulled the sheet way up. :blush:

I did also take my own personal bathroom supplies. The stuff at the hospital is okay, but felt better with my own things. They will go over what to bring when you go to Pre-Op. Just take a list of questions and they are pretty patient. Bless them!

Haven't set any buzzers off yet. But then again I haven't been to court or the airport. That may get interesting. Didn't know about the card being a joke. Still have a pretty good scar to back up my story.
 
Had both done at the same time a year ago. Never set off any alarms. I will fly at the end of this month cross country.
No exercises were better than any other. Do your quad sets before and after religiously!
Never used the parallel bars. I used crutches instead. Concentrate on rolling from heel to toe when walking....
I wore men's elastic waist shorts (nylon, polyester) in the hospital with a tank top or a t-shirt. I also had a zipper front fleece to put on after PT as I got cold. The medications tend to make you cold as well, never mind the icing!
I sometimes slept with the zipper front fleece jacket in bed.
I wore a cotton knee length nightgown in bed in the hospital (rehab) for 6 days post op and at home too. During the day at home the shorts and tanks or t-shirts..... I was no fashion plate!
 
Lissa,

I wish I'd thought about nightgowns before I went in (October '08) for bilateral knee replacement. I lived in two hideous hospital gowns (one backwards, one frontwards) for the 6 days I stayed in the hospital. Thank God I had a single room and a lot of time to myself. But you need a loose, not-too-long garment that won't interfere with the machines they use for exercising, and for icing your legs. If you have a passive exerciser on your legs, you're on that for several hours a day. I used a Camoped, 3x daily for 20 minutes.
Which brings me to a rehab place---it was recommended that I not do that---instead, I stayed longer in the hospital, then went home and had visiting therapists. My doctor felt there was too much risk of infection in a rehab hospital (I can tell you my mother contracted C Diff at one!)
By the time I was ready to leave the hospital, I was on 2 canes. I never used crutches---just a walker for a few days. And yes indeed, I set off every alarm at the airport---there's no card or bracelet to carry, and when you tell them about your surgery, they don't want to hear it. You get pulled to the side, listen to a canned speech, and wanded. I've gone through it twice already. But I went into a courthouse one day, and did not set off the detector.
All the exercises are good, but building the quads, and increasing the degree of flex are really important.
Best of luck to you! You won't be sorry.
 
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