Nickel allergy

[VancouverUSAgal]

I'm so glad your mind has been relieved. Hopefully you can go forward with less worry.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Thanks. We will be having our surgeries a week apart. Mine will be Sept 26. I don't know about you but I am absolutely terrified. I think I will look into that knee replacement CD that someone mentioned. It is supposed to help calm the nerves. I wish I wasn't alone right now.

 

[VancouverUSAgal]

I understand - it's scary. Here is about the only place you can find helpful discussions about it, though. Many people who haven't been thru it are too quick to disregard and downplay your fears with comments such as: "You'll be fine, don't worry" or "Just think positive" etc. They mean well but those responses don't really help. What can and should help are the comments on this forum from the people who've actually been where we're going. I think most of the recovery threads are actually quite reassuring. Yes, people have pain and get depressed at moments and some have struggles, but it seems most are feeling better and pretty positive in just a few weeks. If we can only concentrate on that - it's a process we just have to travel thru - then I think we'll do okay.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

What scares me is how people keep things from me about their surgeries. For instance, my friend's wife had bilateral knee replacements and came down with MRSA. Her husband accidentally mentioned it last night. I felt betrayed because she had led on that things went just peachy. Then there is my son's fiance's mother who is a physical therapist. She says almost nothing but just acts extremely concerned. That scares me too. I wonder what she knows that I don't know. I like to know the truth. I don't want stories that sugarcoat things because I want to be prepared for what may happen. Being prepared for the worst and hoping for the best is actually more comforting to me. Today I had a doctor tell me his friend was playing golf three weeks after the surgery. That kind of story scares me. What if I can't even get out of bed after three weeks? What if the story isn't true and I feel terrible because I can't go out and play golf at three weeks not that I would want to? What if the man was high on painkillers when he went onto the golf course? I just want a true accurate picture of what is ahead. Sorry. I get a little crazy when I am frightened and the fear is mounting. The what ifs are getting me.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

You are right Vancouver. It is a process. I am prepared for depression, and pain but not longterm forever problems. That is my fear.

 

[VancouverUSAgal]

Well, since everybody's recovery is different, even a TRUE story may not be YOUR story. I think maybe reading thru more of the recovery threads would help you so that you can see how different they can be. There's just no way to know in advance how we're going to do. If you can't accept that, you're going to drive yourself crazy. I guess it will come down to how much you need/want the surgery and if you're willing to take your chances. Hope you come to some peace about it.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

You are absolutely right! I was just writing that to the lady who is fearful of having the stress test. How quickly I forget. This won' be a competitive race. We are all going to react differently. What happens to one is not necessarily going to happen to all. Thanks for bringing me back to reality. I like definites and there won't be any until it is over.

 

[VancouverUSAgal]

I like definites and there won't be any until it is over.

I think that's true!

 

[ucsbgal1971]

Since I will be alone when I get home I bought a new freezer for the garage. I plan to fill it with ice for the cooling machine and with TV dinners. Now all I have to do is purchase some of those wound protector things so that I will be able to take a shower. I wonder how long I will have to wait for a shower? Not being able to take a shower is one part of the ordeal to which I am not looking forward.

 

[ucsbgal1971]

One interesting thing that I found out from the allergy testing I just had is that I am allergic to all but one heart stent that is on the market. If I ever need that procedure done, I think that information will be life saving. I never thought of an allergy to a heart stent. Several people in my family had heart stent surgeries so now I am doubly glad I had those tests.