New knee about to happen!

[Red's Mom]

Where are you having your knee done? Who is your surgeon?

 

[RMasano]

So excited. Hawaii!!! At Rush. Dr. Gerlinger. How about you?

 

[RMasano]

I'm going to lean on you guys with questions I think of as my date gets closer. So sorry if I start to ask too many questions. For all you ladies, to shave or not to shave before surgery?

 

[Aquafool]

I am 135 days post LTKR and 55 days post RTKR. Prior to surgery, I was like you, crying at the grocery store, terrible pain. As of today, I have walked my dog and done groceries and hauled them in and put them away. Over 1.5 hours of on my feet activity. I can walk over uneven surfaces such as grass and curbs are easy. I'm not taking any pain meds except daily Mobic and occasional Tylenol. I had NO PHYSICAL THERAPY PERIOD. And I also did zero exercises. Read Josephine's threads on her two TKRs. Then, be Josephine!


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[Aquafool]

I should add that I told my doctor that I fired PT. He wasn't thrilled w me but he couldn't force me and I did fine!!!


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[RMasano]

I am so happy to hear how well you are doing. It helps me to not be so stessed out.

 

[jaschembra]

@RMasano My OS or hospital instructions (can't remember which) say not to shave the surgical sight the day of surgery. My surgery is Tuesday morning and I plan on shaving Sunday because Monday night, after my shower, I'll be using those wipes. I may even take a nice long soak in the tub Sunday!!!!!

 

[Aquafool]

I didn't shave before surgery. I was paranoid about nicking myself. So, I went in hairy. Didn't care. Nobody else cared. They will shave the area w an electric razor prior to surgery only if needed.


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[RMasano]

Don't really care what my legs look like, just wanting to shave to make it more comfortable for after surgery. I will take your advice and shave a couple days prior. Thank You all for answering some questions that probably seem real trivial!!! I look over my papers today. It looks like my surgery is scheduled for 320 in the afternoon. It's going to be a long day waiting til then. Urgh!!!

 

[Red's Mom]

Rush will take great care of you! I worked at Rush for most of my 30 year nursing career. I used Dr Ritesh Shah at IBJ and had my surgery at Lutheran General. My instructions said no shaving within 7 days. I was quite embarrassed when in pre-op they brought a clipper. I asked the guy to do the other leg too, he didn't think that was funny! Enjoy your final tub soaks ladies because soaking/swimming/hot tubs are a no no for a minimum of 6 weeks post op! I would also ask if you can continue to drink water or Gatorade later than midnight to keep you hydrated and feeling OK.

 

[RMasano]

That is so ironic!!! I immediately felt very comfortable going with my OS and Rush. My daughter lives not too far from there, so that's an extra bonus for appointments!!! I will so miss my baths!!! It's my time to relax. I guess the clipper guy was having a bad day!!! LOL

 

[UACats70]

I was never told anything about shaving or not. I use a Braun Silk Epilator, so no worries about nicks/cuts.

 

[Jamie]

For all you ladies, to shave or not to shave before surgery?

No shaving for one week prior to surgery. Hospital workers will take care of any areas that need hair removal. You don't want to risk any nicks in the skin that can be an opening for infection. Please don't feel guilty about body hair! Medical personnel are used to it.

 

[RMasano]

Went to a neighbor's party tonight. Left early. Did any of you find yourself not wanting to be around people. Lol. That's not really like me. Just wanted to get home to my dogs.
Also, for any of you who have fur babies, how did you handle them when you came home? I have 3 who want to constantly be by my side.

 

[Red's Mom]

My fur babies are two cats Jessica and James, two dogs Tia and Fiona. They all hang out with me. I was able to let them out the door for potty duty, feed them, put water down from the get go. They have been my nurses and therapists through my journey! I had no worries until I started using a cane. Then the two dogs anxious by the door was a bit nerve racking. I will admit they each got a tap of the cane more than once when I felt they were endangering me. Tia is an English Springer, Fi's a German shepherd so they are big and strong. A picture of them is in the trending list playing in the snow! They have loved laying around watching mindless TV with me!

 

[Want2hike]

Also, for any of you who have fur babies, how did you handle them when you came home? I have 3 who want to constantly be by my side.

I had my husband put them outside when I first entered the house because I had been gone for a few days and didn't want them jumping on me. Once I was in bed, he let them back in. They were happy to see me but not so excited to hurt me. After that first day, Nothing really changed, other than I wouldn't let them climb on my lap. One of my dogs liked to walk in front of me and randomly stop. After I "ran over him" (gently nudged) with my walker a couple of times, he stopped doing that.

 

[newlybionic]

I walked into the house with my walker and my 3dogs seemed to know that they should be a bit careful around me. They are small though. 6 lbs, 12 lbs and 14lbs. I did allow my dogs on my lap when I was in my recliner but I always had something covering the incision until it was completely healed.

 

[KarriB]

Piper just sniffed around my knee and laid beside my chair. She seemed to know she couldn't jump up. Here is one time when she did sit beside me. This was during full infection fighting about two weeks after 2nd surgery.

 

[RMasano]

@newlybionic @KarriB Your furbabies are adorable. I have 3 muts. One looks like a maltese one looks like some kind of poodle and one looks like a cross between a corgi and a lab. They have kept my mind sane for the last couple of months. If I'm gone for an hour, I come in and it's like I left them for a month. So I am going to have to set some rules they are not used to when I get home.

 

[mbrown]

There is a picture of my pup in my post op thread. She's great.