THR No one said this is going to be easy

[Queenie]

Hi there Quee-Knee

Just checking in to see how things are going for you. Haven't heard from you for a while. Hope you're ok.

Queenie xxxx

 

[Poppet]

Yes.... Update needed

 

[Quee-Knee]

I have been home a week now....you know....all the therapies and treatments in the world are not better than home therapy. It does feel good to be home...My drain is out and had a bit of setback with swelling and pain after that but it worked itself out. I have a visiting nurse come once a week and a couple extra times for good measure...its nice to have someone to stop by to check on me.....they are monitoring my wound and can see a slow improvement also... wound is not completely closed but hopefully soon. I am working on managing the hip pain and trying to be good to my knee. Good freinds have stopped by....did I say I love being home. Just plugging along....trying to avoid looking at the messy house that my husband doesnt see......go to OS and Infection Specialist next week...will certainly have to pace myself.......I reviewed some of my labs now that I am a little more clear headed....I am quite anemic which explains for some (and only some) of my energy drain.....so am forcing myself to eat better....still waiting for that steak...
Through out all of this I am certainly learning patience and appreciation of the little things in life.

 

[Audball]

Quee knee... Do you think men wear blinkers, so they don't see the mess? My husband never picks things up until i've moaned his head off. Bloomin men. lol

 

[Quee-Knee]

Oh I know men dont see the same things women see. (Sorry guys). I have learned to pick my battles, since I am generally at his mercy right now.

 

[Queenie]

Hi Quee-Knee

Just touching base with you to see how things are going. I was going to say that I hope your energy levels have lifted but its still very early days for you and I still get days when I feel completely done in at 10wks.
I've been thinking about you a lot though and hope you are feeling better than you were last week. Slowly slowly catchy primate and all that.

Sending you lots of positive thoughts.

Queenie xxx

 

[tashia]

I'm sorry to hear you have a bag experience. Getting infection is really sad but it will pass. Please get a journel to write even the bad words so you can get it all out. This is a ruff time for you and so please take care of yourself. Have your husband get you a teddy bear so you can hug it when you are down. It does help. Try to journal every day or when you are really happy or down. Also write all the good things so when you are down you can look and see how far you have come. You are making progress but very slow and for some reason that is the way it is. Try to watch funny movies or read good books. Time is on your side so do take your time and do what needs to be done. Please keep us informed and do take care. Tashia

 

[Quee-Knee]

tashia Sounds like good advice. I am finding that my mind is kind of numb and I am not interested in reading or doing any even easy simple minded tasks....probably the meds. I am content to sit and look out the window, watch the birds and pet my dog - actually my husbands dog but he hasnt left my side during this ordeal. Its funny how animals have a sense about things. That being said I am slowly getting better.....my energy level is still zapped but I am trying to not push things too much.
I saw both doctors this week....my labs are normal - even my sed rate and c reactive protein (which indicate the amount of inflamation going on ) except I am still anemic but that is slowly improving. OS told me I could do whatever activity I felt like....he said I could walk around the block once and if it felt good ....walk twice next time.....I was able to hold back my laughter....I said how about one trip to the kitchen and then if that felt good ..... walk there twice next time. His goals for me are much loftier than mine! My PICC line is starting to irritate me a little ... I just pray it will last for 4 more weeks. We went for a car ride and had to adjust the timng so that I could be home for my 2 oclock "feeding" ... I guess I shouldnt complain.
Queenie Thank you for your concern and words of encouragement....it has helped me more that you will ever know. And Happy Birthday!

 

[Queenie]

Quee-Knee - So good to hear from you. By the sounds of it you've been in your own little bubble for a while my friend. Not a bad place to be sometimes. There were times when I felt so zapped of energy that I also used to just stare out of the window and pat my dog. Before I had my op, I bought wool to knit a scarf, some DVD's and a library of books to keep me occupied and didn't touch any of them.
You definitely sound more upbeat than you were last week. I think you are coping extremely well considering the set back you've had. I can only imagine how tough it's been on you.
The trip to your OS sounded very positive. Please excuse my ignorance but do you still have to consider a revision or are you in the clear now. I'm a little confused. Sorry.

Hope you continue to make progress.

Keep on keepin' on Warrior!

Queenie xxxx

 

[Poppet]

The next four weeks will fly by.. And the PICC Line will be out.. you will feel so much better then.. It is ok to just sit and watch the world passing from the sidelines for a while.. Soon it will be your turn and you will be active again, with that walk around the block (or two)

 

[Quee-Knee]

As far as a revision specialist, it is my understanding that what I have been through does not have a high success rate of completely clearing the infection....so rather than thinking positively ..... at that point I was a negative Nelly
Maybe Josephine. might have some insight into wound (not superficial) infections and the need for revision.

 

[bottomshollow]

Quee-Knee, I have edited your post so that Josephine would actually be tagged. Belolw find my explanation for the proper way to tag so that it works for you.

To tag a forum member, all you have to do is to type @ directly in front of their user name with no space between the @ and the user name. Be sure that you correctly type the user name or it will not work. To be sure that the member is tagged, look at your post after you have clicked "Post Reply"; if the tag worked, the user name will now be blue and underlined.

Do not follow the user name with a hyphen (-). The computer recognizes this as part of the user name, which it is not, and the tag fails. Also on occasion if the @ is the first thing on the line, it may be necessary to indent a couple of time to get it to work. This is why it is necessary to check your post after you have clicked "Post Rely" to be sure the tag has worked.

When the tag works, the member will get an alert at the top of his/her page, and by clicking the alert will be taken directly to your post.

You are in good company with many Smarties who have trouble with this in the beginning. Even I forgot about the hyphen earlier today.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.

 

[Josephine]

it is my understanding that what I have been through does not have a high success rate of completely clearing the infection

You would be correct in thinking that. The bio-film where the bugs are hiding, is situated in the bone/implant, cement/implant interface and though the chemotherapy will rid you of the proliferating infection in the soft tissues, it can't do anything about the biofilm so the only answer to that is to remove it. Issue is whether it is done in one or two stages.

 

[Poppet]

Please keep us updated QK... a lot of us are interested in the topic of infections..

 

[Weezi]

Hi Quee-Knee,
It's so good to hear how you are doing. I think of you often and have kept you in my prayers. I can sympathize with your lack of energy. Just a quick trip to the grocery can wear me out.

 

[Quee-Knee]

Josephine So at what point is the revision necessary..... when symptomatic of infection or sooner? I am trying to be optimistic that I can get a some good time out of this new hip or am I being naive?

 

[Josephine]

Plans should be put in place soon as it is diagnosed but for technical reasons to do with the bugs, there usually isn't any great emergency about it.

 

[tashia]

I do hope this find you in a good mood. As life we have ups and downs and we need to go with the flow. It will turn out ok. Just keep us posted so we know you are doing ok. take care. tashia Spring is coming to us in the US so I thought I would send you some flowers. I hope this helps. I do care. Tashia

 

[Quee-Knee]

Its been awhile since I have posted here......I was in serious despair for many weeks with this hip infection....but things are getting better. I have 10 days of PICC line antibiotics left, just this last week my pain has been much more manageable and my energy level has improved. My labs are normal except for the sed rate but that continues to decline. Both my OS and infection specialist are pleased with my progress. Yes a revision may be in my future and I have lined up 2 specialists to choose from if I need to go that route. Right now I am just trying to enjoy the moment.....and it does help that the weather is finally warming and the sun is shining! Thank you everyone for your words of encouragement....I havent had the energy to thank you until now.

 

[bottomshollow]

Am relieved for you that things are beginning to look up. And you will do whatever it is you have to do with this situation---it's what we humans seem to do best. Try to keep a positive outlook about your future. And feel free to vent as much as you like and need. We're here for you.

Take care and keep us posted. We care.