THR On the other side of surgery

[Eman85]

I came up with the shopping cart deal but I take no responsibility for how much money you'll spend at the store. In my area flat ground is hard to come by and I did my THR's in the winter. I would park at the furthest cart corral from the store that had a cart, this way I could leave my cane in the car and get extra walking in the lot as it is flat. While in the store I just blended in and walking slow was what most do. If wanting a break I just stopped in an aisle and looked at merchandise. My THR's were pre-Covid so we weren't germ crazy but I learned that wiping down the cart and sanitizing was smart as being run down from the THR made me more prone to catching anything.

 

[barbloki]

@Layla I like that idea of walking around a big box store using a shopping cart. Once I can drive and get out of this house I will be doing that. Thanks for the tip. I'm not at the heel/toe walking yet. PT had me try it on Friday but I was still too weak. I think I can start now. I feel stronger today.

I went to the surgery's office this morning and they changed the bandage because mine was coming unstuck. I asked about the swelling in my ankle and they said to make sure when I elevate my leg that I lay back so my groin area can open and drain. She said not to lay like a V. I guess I've been doing that.

Now that I've had lunch and pain meds, I'm going to lay down and take a nap. The longest sleep I've gotten was 3 hours last night. My bladder wakes me up because I've been drinking extra fluids. When I was in the hospital they gave me one of those pure-wick things. That was great. I could just go and not worry about it. Wish I had one at home! Ah, but the getting up and good for movement. I just wish it was longer than 3 hours of sleep.

And it's a beautiful sunny day outside. I want to be outside looking at my flowers. This is the best time to plant new stuff. Cool enough to work outside. <sigh> Next year.

 

[barbloki]

It's been 1 week today since my surgery. I'm doing pretty good all things considered. I went to the surgeon's office yesterday to get the bandage replaced because mine was coming unstuck. The nurse said the swelling in my left ankle is normal and to keep both feet elevated so I've been doing that. The swelling goes down but as soon as I get up it swells up again. Crazy.
PT came today and she had me do some exercises at the kitchen sink and walk around the house for about 5 minutes doing heel toe heel toe. I'm surprised that my default is to flat foot my feet and shuffle.
The other new symptom is cold hands and feet. I'm about ready to get the heating pad out and put it on my feet.
My right thigh is still numb so I guess something happened when they were working on my left hip. The surgeon said I was lying on my right side so maybe something got compressed. I'll tell him all this when I see him on the 27th.
I can't wait to be able to drive again so I can get out of the house and be around people. I ordered one of those car door assist handles yesterday and it should be here tomorrow. That will help greatly in getting in and out of the car. I will attach a picture of it. You hook it to the door hinge when you're getting in and out of the car.
I hope everyone here is having a good day today.

 

[mendogal]

Congratulations on week one in the history books!!!

Cold hands and feet can come from many causes - the body shuttling circulation to where inflammation/healing needs to be, a bit of post op anemia, a reaction to stress or to icing the surgical area (I spent my knee post op periods with my knee wrapped in cold and the rest of me wrapped in fleece!!!).

 

[barbloki]

I'm feeling crappy today but I'm going to turn that around, somehow. I didn't sleep much, 2 hours at a time interrupted by getting up to pee. I had nightmares. My bandage is leaking in 3 places now. I should have kept the original bandage instead of going down to the surgeon's office on Monday to get a new one. At least the original one wasn't leaking. Now I have stains on my shorts and bedding. I sent a message through the portal about whether I should take a shower and got 2 different answers. One said not to shower if it is leaking and the other said it's ok to shower. So.... I'm going to shower. I'll feel better once I'm clean. Hubby changed the sheets on the hospital bed already so I'll have clean sheets, clean body. I also sent a message to surgeon about whether I should try compression socks for this left leg/ankle swelling. It's not going down even with elevating it. I didn't have this problem with the last surgery so I'm unsure what to do. I just know it makes PT difficult because the skin is so tight. OK, off to take a shower. Thanks for listening to me complain.

 

[myglasshalffull]

So how was your shower? Feel human again right?
I was swollen for quite a while, not my ankles just more my thigh to my knee then the bruising came along.
I was very lucky with my incision & bandage and no weeping, so sorry you are facing this annoyance. I think it was 2 weeks before I had it removed, staples out and some steri strips put in place.
Let us know if you hear from your doctor about your next step.

 

[barbloki]

The shower was wonderful and I felt great yesterday. Now today I feel stinky again and the weeping bandage is running down my leg when I stand up. Is it ok to post a picture of it?

 

[Jamie]

Sure, you can always post a photo. But if the leaking is in fact going beyond your dressing, you need to get it replaced. Please call your surgeon to arrange that. You’re risking infection by having it not sealed and especially since you’ve now taken a shower with it that way.

 

[barbloki]

@Jamie I have a message into the surgeon's office since 6:30am today but I guess they are busy because there has been no response. I'm getting very discouraged with the lack of communication. I'm going to send another message through the online portal and see if that gets a response. My husband is extremely worried because fluid is leaking all around the bandage. It's staining my shorts and the bedding. I'm just trying not to worry and to stay calm.
I'm really tired today so I'm glad PT rescheduled for tomorrow. I've been doing the exercises that were given upon discharge and a lot of walking to the bathroom. The fluid is finally moving out of my body and the swelling in my left leg/ankle is going down. I'm still on the pain meds every 6 hours so the pain is under control. Overall I guess I'm doing pretty good at 9 days out.

 

[Jamie]

Do you have a ACE bandage or some gauze you can wrap around your knee? If not and you can’t get your doctor to respond, then I suggest you go to an ER and let them change the dressing.

What does the drainage look like? I would like to see a picture of that.

If all else fails, you could try just getting in the car and parking yourself in the surgeon’s waiting room. It was their mistake to not properly ensure the new dressing was sealed when they did the replacement. What you’re experiencing now is not the norm and it does need attention.

 

[barbloki]

I don't have anything in the house that is big enough for this incision on my hip. I had a hip replacement, not a knee. I changed into some stretchy but tight shorts today to keep the bandage pressed against my skin and it's leaking/oozing through my shorts. I should have just kept the original bandage. It was sealed all the way around except it was peeling up at the bottom. This new one is open in 3 places and also peeling up at the bottom. So I waited all day and the dr office finally got back to me at 4:40pm. They said they want me to come in tomorrow to have it changed at 8am. So hubby has to take more time off work and drive an hour down there yet again. Not to mention it is very uncomfortable riding in the car right now. Ugh. Sorry to complain. I know other people have it worse. I'm just having a bad day today.

 

[Layla]

Don't worry about complaining here, It is okay. We're here to listen and support you, Barbara.
I'm sure you'll feel much better tomorrow once you have a fresh secure bandage in place. It is unfortunate it's such a hassle for hubs with work. Remind him, "for better or worse, in good times and in bad"

I am sorry you're having a bad day. I hope you sleep well tonight and tomorrow feels brighter once you return form the OS and get settled back in. Let us know how it goes. Best Wishes!
@barbloki

 

[Pumpkin]

Glad you have an appointment for a bandage change tomorrow morning. Sorry to hear you have an hour long drive to get to your surgeons office. Hope they figure out why you have so much drainage.
Maybe they can give you some extra dressings.

Vent away, that is why we are here.

 

[Jamie]

Good. I’m glad they are going to change it early tomorrow. Yes, it’s inconvenient and they should have done it right the first time, but when you have this much postop seepage it does need a little extra attention. I appreciate the photo. Your dressing is definitely full, but at least part of that may be from taking a shower and having the water seep inside of the open areas. When that happens, the dressing cannot absorb properly when fluid comes from the wound. Please see if the surgeon and not just a nurse or the PA can take a look at it. It may be wise to have a culture taken of the fluid that is draining.

 

[barbloki]

Heading to the surgeon's office now and looking forward to trying out my new car door assist handle. Getting in and out of the car is not easy right now. The bandage leakage is crusted and stuck to my shorts so I'm bringing clean shorts to put on at the dr's office. I don't want to put these crusty ones back on after I get a clean bandage. I just looked at the thermometer. It's 36 degrees outside and I'm wearing shorts!

 

[myglasshalffull]

Good luck, keep us posted when you get back.

 

[barbloki]

I saw the surgeon himself and he took the bandage off. He said it doesn't look infected but is pink and irritated where the adhesive from the bandage was and it's weeping in a few areas. He had the nurse remove my staples and put on steri-strips. She gave me some sterile gauze pads to put over the incision area to absorb the drainage and keep it from getting on my shorts. My next appt is Nov 12. I'm feeling much better having that leaking bandage gone.
The door assist handle was definitely a good purchase. Wish I would have had it the day I came home from the hospital. I'll definitely be using it until I'm completely recovered. Kudos to the inventor.
PT lady had to reschedule from yesterday to today. She's coming late this afternoon so I have the whole day to rest and elevate my swelling leg/ankle.
I'm getting tired of the Law&Order channel on PlutoTV. I need to find something else to watch. I have to avoid anything with canned laughter. For some reason it gets on my nerves.

 

[Jamie]

I’m glad to hear everything checked out okay with your incision and that you actually saw the surgeon. Don’t hesitate to change those bandages frequently as it’s important that the incision area stays as dry as possible. If you need more of the larger bandages, you can easily order them on Amazon.

 

[djklaugh]

@barbloki Over in the Social Room there's a thread about TV series and movies that others have enjoyed

https://bonesmart.org/forum/threads/movies-series-to-watch-2022.68999/page-3

You might be able to find something interesting there.

It's really good to hear that your incision is healing well and you are now more comfortable having had it attended to.

 

[barbloki]

If you need more of the larger bandages

I had to laugh when the nurse said if I run out of the bandages that I can use a maxipad to cover it. LMAO! I haven't used those products in 16 years. That would be funny for my husband to go to the store and try to buy them for me. teeheehee