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other knee to be done next week.

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Jennifer

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Hello again, I've not been writing but do try to follow once a week and keep up. I'm the lucky lady who had the drill break in my left knee during sugery last sept, and as a result the right knee didn't get done as planned. Also surgeon was very stingy about pain meds which I feel held me back a lot. It's been a very slow recovery, had one manipulation done, but still only at approx 100 and so surgeon is also doing another manipulation at the same time at RTK. I'm trying to be positive and say lightning can't hit the same place twice, but am still very nervous.

I do have a silly question regarding stool softeners. Do you just take in your own, and ask nurses to make sure they give you some asap after surgery, or do you wait a bit until lucid enough to take them on your own and keep quiet about them.

Because my surgeon was so stingy with pain meds especially during the night, (actually given paracetamol (similar to aspirin)for intense pain as all prescribed was used up (tramadol and codeine )and nothing else could be given as Dr. didn't prescribe any more. The nurses couldn't believe how little he prescribed either. So do plan on taking in some codeine of my own so that I'm better prepared.

Thanks for listening to me whine, as I'm feeling a little hard done by as I've had to go off all anti inflamatories 10 days before surgery and definitely feeling it now.

Last question is regarding knee elevation especially at night. I still sleep with a long pillow under my knees and down to the feet, and wondering if that will be for a very long while yet. Will I always have some swelling in the knees or will that eventually disapperar. (I'm trying to justify an electric bed for more reasons than just to read at night) LOL



Thank you for any and all answers.
 
That was some story good grief. Is it the same Dr.? That story was terribale. Sure how things go smoother this time around. Hope he gives you something much stronger. Sorry but I do agree on brining your own, know its not the right thing to do but I wouldnt want to sit in pain. Can you talk to him prior and ask why he wont give you something stronger..............I dont know about the heat on that knee that might make is swell. I sure hope things go better this time around. I didnt like when they made me stop my medicine before either, guess just ice best you can do....Hope to here that all went well, your home and not in pain...........You will also be in my prayers that this goes much better........Take it easy, please let us know how you are doing...........
 
Hey Jennifer just checking in to see how you are doing? Sure how you are feeling better.....just checking!!!!!!!!
 
Hi, I'm here packing my bag for my trip to the hospital tomorrow, surgery in the afternoon. Thanks for checking, I'm just a little nervous and of course not looking forward to the next week in the least. Not sure which is going to hurt more, the RTK or the manipulation. But hopefully all will come right much sooner than the last one, as I'm not willing to wait out another 9 months. So wish me luck and say a little prayer, especially that lighting does not hit twice!!
 
Really I did the manipulation and really it might hurt a few days thats in ...In no way is it like the TRK...Then the good thing is that you will be on medicine for the TKR really I was so scared about the man. I pmed everyone made phone calls after I was so excited I could bend good. They say ea knee is diff. so I hope for you thats true. Really dont be nervouse about the man. you will be fine. And good luck with the TKR. you will be the real bionic women (many out there you can join the group) with both done...lol..Please let us know how you are doing. You will be in my prayers for sure.........It really will be ok..Hey dont sit in pain like befoe if they need to call someone for more med...so be it!!!!!!!!!
 
:euw:

Jennifer...best wishes on your surgery tomorrow. I told my doctor that his hands had been prayed for...I knew I was in good hands.

Tell that doc you need more pain meds than last time...explain your experience. He need to understand your experience...if he gives you grief ask him if he has ever had this procedure.

Good luck
 
I do have a silly question regarding stool softeners. Do you just take in your own, and ask nurses to make sure they give you some asap after surgery, or do you wait a bit until lucid enough to take them on your own and keep quiet about them.
Hello, Jennifer - nice to hear from you. It's not silly at all, now you know that! Take them in and take them when you want to. Tell the nurses you have them, just to make sure you're complying with hospital policy. But please don't worry about taking them until about 24-48hrs after the op. Your gut won't be ready to get back into gear until then.

Because my surgeon was so stingy with pain meds especially during the night, (actually given paracetamol (similar to aspirin)for intense pain as all prescribed was used up (tramadol and codeine )and nothing else could be given as Dr. didn't prescribe any more. The nurses couldn't believe how little he prescribed either. So do plan on taking in some codeine of my own so that I'm better prepared.
I did too! Took in codeine and paracetamol in a pocket of my handbag! And make sure you have words with him before hand!
[Bonesmart.org] other knee to be done next week.


Last question is regarding knee elevation especially at night. I still sleep with a long pillow under my knees and down to the feet, and wondering if that will be for a very long while yet. Will I always have some swelling in the knees or will that eventually disapperar. (I'm trying to justify an electric bed for more reasons than just to read at night) LOL
Swelling will be present for months but it will slowly diminish over that time. Use the pillow as long as you want to, as long as you feel more comfortable with it than without it!

All the best for tomorrow. I'm taking my sister in for her much belated THR at last so will think of you. Take it easy and we'll all pray that God moves that surgeon's heart to be kinder to you this time around.

God bless!
 
Jennifer,
I will be praying that this knee is "the easy one!!!" All the best! Will be waiting to here how everything goes for you this time around!
 
Jennifer, things must be different in Great Britain and New Zealand than the USA. Here you would not be permitted to bring ANY meds with you and take them on your own....even stool softeners. When you check in, the staff will not allow you to keep your purse or anything where meds could be stored away and taken to your room. That's not to say someone couldn't bring them in AFTER surgery, I guess. Different country, different procedures.

I do agree that you need a serious talk with your doctor before surgery and to insist on proper pain medication. If you are still in pain after the surgery, demand that the nurses contact him for additional or different medications. To be in pain after surgery of this magnitude is crazy.

My biggest concern about you taking your own meds in would be interactions with something the doctor might order not knowing you had those meds in your system. If you take them in with you, you need to let the staff know you have them for safety's sake. This is not a time to self-medicate!
 
Good luck and do talk to the doctor about taking your own meds.
We are not allowed to take our own meds here as Jamie said.
However, here in Texas we can take our purse or anything else in our rooms.
I would be afraid of an interaction with meds the doctor prescribed with what you would take on your own or maybe even an overdose.
I was so drugged the first 2 days I did not know anything. My doctor believes in lots of pain meds. (more than me) I really did not have pain the 5 days I was in the hospital.
Good luck and to a speedy recovery. See you on the other side
 
Boy, Pat. I'm surprised the hospital would let you leave your purse in your room. Here in Kansas City all the hospitals we've ever been to are strict that you are to have nothing of any value in your room initially. I guess I just assumed that was done all over the country.
 
Best of good luck, Jennifer! Think POSITIVE! Everything will work out great for you! Can't wait to hear from you once you're on the other side! Hope YOU and YOUR SURGEON have a very good night's sleep! THAT'S what I prayed my OS had! He has a very good sense of humor!!!!
 
Jennifer-
My thoughts and prayers are with you that this all goes as perfectly as possible. You deserve the best experience after all you've been through.
Blessings,
Irene
 
Jennifer, all the best for the op. My second TKR was easier in every way than my first, so perhaps you will also be lucky in that respect. You will be in my thoughts and prayers, and I look forward to hearing from you when you get the chance to post.
 
Thank you everybody, for your kind thoughts, as I'm just tidying up before leaving for hospital. I have taken on board info re self medicate, and definitely will inform him what I have if he doesn't come through. Will be home in 6 or 7 days I understand, and will let you know how it all went.

cheers

Jennifer
 
:Well I'm back home safe and sound, I would swear that this was a complete different operation compared to the first knee! I'm at the same stage today as I was at 2 months or more with the left knee. I'm sitting at the table, doing exercises, alert, don't feel dozy and drugged, pain medication works. etc etc etc. I honestly don't believe it. Went to physio today and the lady who I've been working with for months, can't believe how the left leg even after manipulation is still not working well. She also believes I'll be off and running with my newest knee, but thinks it will be a long haul for left knee.

I did have a spinal this time vs anesthetic, as I was very sick after the last one, and thought this would be better. I stayed conscious throughout, and since they were filming the operation for the nurses to watch, I also observed the entire operation and manipulation of the left knee!! Guess I wanted to make sure they didn't break another bit in my bone again...

My only negative I have to report is that on the second night they overdosed me on morphine, through the pump that you press when you need pain relief! I remember asking if there is any way you can have too much and was assured that was impossible. I guess the nurse set up the dosage incorrectly and they found me completely comatose in the evening. What a night that was. Vomited for 4 days total, as I guess it's morphine that I don't deal with well, not the anesthetic. I sure hope the up side to this is some weight loss!!LOL

So long story short I'm much better, no comparison, and thanks to everybody for their good wishes.
 
Welcome, back, Jennifer! So glad you're on the other side,,,,and your recup exceeds your expectations!!! :)
 
Wow, Jennifer.....what a horrible experience in the hospital!! So glad you got through it all. After that, everything else SHOULD seem like a walk in the park. God bless you, hon....so happy to hear you are doing so well this time. Talk sweet to that first knee and maybe it will cooperate.
 
Hey Jennifer Im glad your doing well. Pretty scary about the hosp though. Im glad this one is going so well..............Keep up the good work and keep us posted. Wow what was it like watching that Did you get scared at all!!!!!!!
 
Hi Jennifer, and welcome back! Apart from the nasty experience with the morphine, and its consequent side effects, you seem to be progressing well already - that is what happened to me with my second TKR, it was so much easier than the first.

I hope you continue to progress - keep posting to let us know how you are doing.
 
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