Well guys. reality is setting in and it's almost "that time." 
I wish I could say that I was totally healed and ready to run circles around my kindergarten class,
but... NOT! I woke up at 3 am the other night to throbbing knees. I was on Alleve and it DID NOT "Alleve" anything. I've been weaning myself off of Hydrocodone (since I need a clear head to teach :rolleyes: ) and using OTC stuff w/a Tramadol sprinkled in.
The reason for
the sprinkling is that I'm waiting on my OS to refill it. I called on Wednesday for a refill and had to callback this morning and leave another message to finally get a callback. His nurse was like, "Dr ______ approved 30 Tramadol for you because he wants you to start weaning off if it." I was like, I'm not even on it. She said, that it's one of the meds on my list (like I magically get a refill because "it is written.") I told her that I just weaned myself off of Hydrocodone with the hopes of getting a script for Tramadol. So 30 pills once I return to work aren't going to last long and considering that that's a week out, even at 2 a day... that's only a two weeks supply. I can't go back to work and expect the same pain level I have now. She then tried to tell me that I should be able to "get use to" and adapt to the routine
just like I do with physical therapy 
and need less medicine, OH and I should use ice, etc. Duh!
I this point I decided that I'M TIRED OF BEING MR. NICE GUY
and interrupted her speal.
It probably didn't help that I have been dealing with Tmobile over problems with my replacement phone and I had been calling about that all morning. I'm just tired of being understanding and polite when I have problems with a product or service. Today was the day to voice my displeasure and I actually got a free upgrade from Tmobile behind it.
Guess I was feeling lucky, and or still aggravated when I told the nurse that "until you had your knees replaced" you don't really know what to expect.
She's new, but I didn't care because she was trying to talk down to me with all the information I already knew and pull the wool over my eyes with the "textbook stuff."
I said that I KNOW for sure that my pain level is going to increase when I go back into a class with kindergartners, sit in tiny chairs and GO for 8 hours straight WITHOUT ice. She said I could substitute over the counter meds like Tylenol (Duh, again) and that Tramadol still has similar side effects. I told that I have worked with Tram in the past and it just gives me a calm feeling. I didn't tell her that they're my Jazz meds.
lol
When I asked her about anti-inflammatory meds she asked was I back on Meloxicam because that's one of the medicines "on my list." I told her NO because I was taking that for arthritic pain and THAT was the reason I had surgery. I DON'T WANT TO BE ON
ANY DRUGS, but I KNOW that I will need something more than OTC when I return to work and besides I haven't been given any information on HOW to substitute them with my prescription meds. Of course I have Bonesmart... THANK GOD, but they don't know that. If I had to make a complaint about my OS it would be that they didn't give me enough info on transitioning/weaning off medication after surgery. I did this on my own, for all they know I'm still taking
1-2 Hydro every 4-6 hours like the bottle says. lol Their idea of weaning is just not refilling your prescriptions or surprise half-doses.
I'm glad I had enough sense to start weaning off of it, which was AWFUL by the way but necessary. I basically got tired of taking drugs.
However, there's this extreme fatigue that comes withdrawal and of course pain. You can't figure out why you're so tired and then you remember
withdrawal symptoms. The pain comes to remind you to TAKE SOMETHING and having a limited stash of Tramadol led to the
Rude Awakening the other night.
Anyway, I didn't do a complete rant on the phone but I let her know that I would be needing another refill soon. I told her to let my OS now that. I mean really, this is my first refill for Tramadol, HOW DARE YOU CUT IT IN HALF as I'm about to RETURN TO WORK 2 weeks shy of the "normal" 12 week recovery period.
Okay that's enough gripping for today.
Anybody have any advice on good/quick exercises to do in the morning BEFORE I head into work. I don't want to go in feeling like I just had p/t, nor do I wanna enter the building like the Tin Man murmuring "oil can." 
I plan on doing 10 mins or so on the stationary bike, a few heel sides and maybe an easy quad and hamstring stretch... anything else????
United States
Lol
Maybe that's what the HR lady was picking up on 
I gotta start getting up early. 
She said that It's not as bad as mine but she sounds bad and I feel for her. 
It's a good and bad thing that we have a break coming up, she can rest and recover, but what a way to spend a break. The same thing happened to me, I missed a 3 day and a 4 day weekend. 
You must feel like you are 
all day long. I hope you get your meds
lol Yeah right, who can miss this? 
Someone else will have to grab the baton, this girl is gonna be sissy teacher this year. 
