TKR New thread for a new knee !

[Coniglietta]

Hello all, its me in my not-being-able-to-sleep-bed, well its 3.30am now and the pills prescribed for my nerve pain have done nothing to help me sleep. I took one as a start an hour or so after co-dydramol, I slept ok for about 2 hours. I took another as I was told that one may not be enough and stayed awake long enough to take another 2 co-dydramol. That was around 2am, so in all I have slept less tonight than when I was taking tramadol.
Hey ho, its a funny old business this side of the fence and there are times when I wonder whether I have made the right decision. I know its only early days yet and that there is a long journey ahead of me but seriously I cant remember ever being in so much pain and not being able to sleep at night. I still have to get up at 7am to rouse my daughter for school otherwise she will sleep the day out. Whether I get her up or someone else does there is a lot of noise that time of the morning so I usually get up and have some tea anyway.
Wishing you all a peaceful night,
Viv xx

 

[tashia]

Welcome on this side. Sleeping is a problem, the secret is don't let it bother you. I know that is easier to say than do. When I wake up after a sleep I am stiff, I get up and walk around a little, Get water and maybe a snak and then if I am still awake I go to my computer and come to this site. Since it is open all the time I can either post, read or go to the social room for a good laugh. While you are having some tea in the morning how about putting some ice on knee? Please keep us posted on how you are doing. We do care. Tashia

 

[Jazyb]

Oh no, I had high hopes for you getting a good nights sleep with those pills. Not getting good quality sleep is a real blow - poor you . It can really affect our reasoning - the lack of sleep. Try and nap as much as you can during the day - it will get better (I promise). Maybe you should check-in with Jo/Jamie regarding what pain medication you are currently on - you really should not be in any pain at this stage. Sometimes a quick review can do wonders!!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

there are times when I wonder whether I have made the right decision

Don't worry about it, we were all there to varying degrees, the feeling passes. Your body is healing as fast as it can, but it's been SERIOUSLY messed about, so it takes time.

You should be able to get an improved prescription, then take your drugs by the clock, don't wait until pain starts!

How old is your daughter? The responsibility should now be hers if at all possible, this recovery is your time, you've been really hurt.

 

[kneeper]

Wishing you some good naps. Take the sleep whenever you can get it.

 

[Coniglietta]

Hey all, great news !!!!!!! I went to the hosp to get my staples out yesterday and cried like a baby (no thats not the good news lol) but I was having a real down day and for the first time since I was a kid I went out without make up on and felt really sorry for myself. My poor husband did not know what to do with me and was smothering me with cuddles when all I wanted to do was scream. We spoke to a doctor at the hosp about my hip pain and she has given me a whole new pain relief schedule and I actually slept last night......
I have to go back to tramadol - max 400 a day - with two slow release at night, paracetamol when I need it, diclofenac after meals and of course omeprazole twice a day. Since getting out of hosp my husband has been on the sofa bed downstairs leaving me to shuffle around at night and toss and turn, last night I slept on the other sofa and was as comfortable as anything, I was actually able to sleep on my side due to cushions propping me up from all sides this helped enormously. Of course I woke up a couple of times but who cares I went back off again.
The thought of my husband in the same room again and of course my two kitty cats made me feel not so alone and it was comforting.
To Roy, my daughter is 14 and a nightmare at getting up, once she is off to school I can go back to bed for a while but I like to know she is up and away before I can relax again. Apart from my own personal gain I wanted to have my knees done so that I can do more with my daughter, all the time growing up she has had to do things for me because of my disability and she has never known me out of pain. I want to be able to spend the day shopping with her without having to sit down every few moments and now she is getting older we can share more girly things together.
Well I thought I would share the good news with everyone, its currently 6 am and I am icing, elevating and drinking tea after taking my first lot of meds. Today is a happy one .
Love to all, Viv xx

 

[Coniglietta]

By the way, thank you all so much for your kind words, its wonderful to be able to have a moan and know that others understand. I am not normally such a dreary old thing and not usually so self indulgent but I think yesterday was rock bottom for me and I feel the only way is up from now on.
Thanks all for being there.

Viv xx

 

[Roy Gardiner]

To Roy, my daughter is 14 and a nightmare at getting up

At the risk of upsetting you - I hope you realise it isn't my intention - I would think that she should be perfectly capable of looking after herself.

I am not normally such a dreary old thing and not usually so self indulgent

I would imagine your daughter to think of herself as a young woman, not a girl. Only girls need to be dragged out of bed. I suggest to you that she is the one being self indulgent because her mum is hurt and needs her help -- getting up and going to school isn't so hard now is it?

Again, I do not mean to be offensive, and of course I know nothing of your home situation. I am saying this stuff just to emphasise that this really should be considered as your time and that you can reasonably expect good support from your family -- it's not 'self indulgent' it's perfectly reasonable.

Buy her an alarm clock...

 

[Coniglietta]

No offence taken Roy I am grateful for everyone's comments.
Viv xx

 

[KayeKaye]

In a perfect world... my daughter NEVER woke herself up if I didn't get her up. I understand how you feel Viv, it's so anxious to wonder if she is up and out that you won't get any sleep until you know, so. Sometimes those teen years are a whole new ball o wax. My daughter has never known me out of pain either and she is now 22. Though we did a lot I could never quite keep up with her. She took it well, but some of her friends got real tired of me, suggesting I was a hypochondriac, ha ha, I wish. :rolleyes:

 

[Coniglietta]

Oh Kayekaye that so unfair, how could anyone WANT to be in this much pain ? Some people just dont understand so I am glad and grateful for everyone's help on this site. They do understand....
I have a son of 32 already and was happy with him, he was a dream to raise. My daughter decided to put in an appearance just before my 46th birthday, and boy do I know I've got her lol, kept me young so they say and helps me make decisions I may not have otherwise made.
Thanks for understanding xxx hope you have a peaceful day and keep us posted with your journey.
Viv xx

 

[reetpteet]

Been looking out for your staple removal thread & thinking about you a lot, sorry it was soooo horrible. I am REALLY grateful for sub-cut suturing. AND a day without lipstick, you must have been feeling bad
Put it behind you now & concentrate on the next thing, every day is one step (ouch!) nearer to normality. Good luck with the Physio. Sounds like you are getting on top of the pain at last, what a journey it is. At least us bonesmarties were prepared for all this, imagine going into hospital for a TKR without this knowledge, must be a real shock to the system
Thanks for posting on my thread, will write today's update later x

 

[Coniglietta]

Hey all, had my first physio today and came away with lots of exercises to do at home. I have such sleepy quad muscles and tight hamstrings that my straightening is not happening at the moment. I have to do simple exercies every hour - :rolleyes: - so the work begins in earnest today. I was thinking of calling my knees Frank and Ernest although which is which I dont know yet as my left knee still has to be done.
Went back upstairs to bed last night thinking I would sleep, wrong, I plan on being downstairs again tonight I seem to sleep better on the sofa after all so I guess I will be down here for as long as it takes.
Catch you all later,
Viv xx

 

[1ELISEA]

Hey all, had my first physio today and came away with lots of exercises to do at home. .....Went back upstairs to bed last night thinking I would sleep, wrong, I plan on being downstairs again tonight I seem to sleep better on the sofa after all so I guess I will be down here for as long as it takes.Catch you all later, Viv xx

Yes, sleep is elusive but we'll get there sooner or later.
Good luck with the PT exercises!

 

[bassplayer]

Hey Viv, how are you doing? Haven't heard from you lately.

 

[reetpteet]

Hope you are OK, missing you x

 

[Coniglietta]

Hello all,
I have been so busy lately with birthdays, my sons, then mine, my friends husband and then my bestie friends. An engagement "do" and bbq's galore. I have sat back and let everyone else do the work and watched them through my non-alcoholic haze and have been extremely jealous lol - noooo just kidding - its been such fun and everyone has fussed over me.
You know you are getting old when people buy you bubble bath and talcum powder instead of CD's and wine/chocolates lol just kidding. My son bought me two boxed DVD sets and told me to sit with my feet up and do nothing but watch them. Nice thought but almost impossible to do.
Hope you are all doing ok,
Love to all Viv xx

 

[BJ Mac]

Hi Viv, do enjoy your DVDs with your feet up and ice!!! Take good care of yourself.

 

[Silver]

Glad to hear from others befote me. You all sound like u r doing
Well and that is great! I had mine yesterday and they
did a nerve block so no pain so far. They get me up
This morning after bladder catheter comes out
no hip pain yet. This is an amazing way to do it.
Keep me posted! Those ahead of me r my inspiration!
And cannot wait to see my cats! I was a cat sandwich the night
Before surgery. They knee i was scared.
Hang in there everyone!
Silver

 

[1ELISEA]

Hello all,
My son bought me two boxed DVD sets and told me to sit with my feet up and do nothing but watch them. Nice thought but almost impossible to do. Hope you are all doing ok, Love to all Viv xx

That is so sweet, sounds like a thoughtful son! You can use those DVD's to watch on some of those sleepless nights!