Popping up on the other side!

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kimberlyann

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Sep 11, 2009
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Hi friends, how is everyone and their knees? I am home and my surgeon was able to install a partial on Monday. We are very pleased with that. He was very excited about the condition of my knee when he looked inside, and believes the partial will be a great thing for me.
I have had a very good experience overall- dotted with terrible, harrowing things that certainly overshadowed the good things. I imagine that happens with all things. A few negative experiences taint the whole picture.
Anyway, I will tell you about my surgery experience.
As the surgery day approached, my scheduled time was switched several times. Last I heard Friday, I was going to be the first case on Monday, and as it turns out, I was still in the waiting room at the time my surgery was supposed to be performed. Oh, well, they certainly didn't forget about me.
I was scheduled for a femoral block, which had made me very nervous beforehand, but the anesthesiologist gave me a little IV sedative (Versed), and I didn't feel anything. He did it in the pre-op room where I changed into my gown and had the IV started. He then gave me a sciatic block, which was a one time shot, and that numbed the back of my knee and my foot. It was a very comfortable experience and I would do it again.
After they let me kiss my hubby, I was whisked into surgery and scooted onto the narrow table, and then the magic mask was over my nose and off I went to la-la land.
THEN- I woke up in recovery and realized that I was in a great deal of pain. An EXTREME amount of pain actually. And there was a pretty blonde nurse smiling at me and 2 little x-ray twits yanking on my leg and I was suddenly screaming into my little oxygen mask. Everyone seemed very confused, and then began realizing that my block was not in effect, and I had no pain meds and the x-ray twits were yanking on me and I was getting hysterical. The anesthesiologist was called (literally screamed for by the recovery nurse), and he wrote for something to help me. But it seemed like a very long time before I was calm again. I will never forget seeing her turn her back to me and saying, "I have nothing to give you". What had happened was that the recovery nurse had my post-op pain orders from my surgeon, but not the recovery room orders from the anesthesiologist, and she had nothing to give me.
They were all alarmed, but it took way too long for everyone to understand what had happened and change courses to the appropriate one of 1) getting me pain relief ASAP, and 2) not manipulating me for portable x-rays while I am in so much pain.

My husband said it was a very long time from the time the OS came out and spoke to him after surgery and when they came and told him I was out of recovery and into my room. Well, yes, there was quite a rodeo going on back there!

ANYWHOOO- that won't happen to me again! And hopefully not to any of you either! Let me be a warning!

Well, my OS had filled my knee with so much numbing stuff that I was feeling great for all of Monday . My nurses and physical therapists were amazed at my progress and thought I was a miracle. The doctor called me on the phone Monday evening, and said that I would be "un-numb" the next morning so be careful. I was on a Dilaudid drip because my block had failed, and it let me push it every 10 minutes. It was very short-acting, so I had to keep on top of it. I was taking Oxycontin 10mg (long acting), morning and evening, and Norco 10/325 every 4 hours.
So, Monday evening, feeling so well, I went to sleep at about 10pm and stopped pushing the pump because I was asleep. My last Oxycontin and Norco had been taken before then and I passed out.
Only to wake up at 3am in worse pain than I had been in the recovery room!! I wanted to die! Poor hysterical me and poor nurses and poor hubby. Their miracle patient had just imploded and I had to wait for all of these drugs to kick in and all I could see was Jo's pain chart and I was so mad at myself for sleeping so long with no pain control!! OUCH. So, needless to say I didn't do that again either.
Many weird things happened during our stay, and it just seemed like I would be cruising right along and wham- my room was full of ants and we had to change rooms. -OR-
One shift, nobody ever would come to my room. EVER. Not for meds or juice or anything. Of course I was warned not to get out of bed without them. If I had been on fire that would have been too bad. Then, as soon as I threw my little hissy-fit to a supervisor- wah-la! back to normal again.

I had some incredible nurses and aides and some nurses and aides that I swore they just picked up at the bus stop and put them in scrubs and sent them to my floor. They seemed totally out of it and I guess that is just life. Some folks are just gonna have bad days.

Each day I recovered a bit more motion, and once the goals of pooping and getting rid of the IV was accomplished, I was sent home with little fanfare on Thursday. I was surprised I was in the hospital that long. Being home is so nice.

I am very happy with my progress and my ability to control my pain when I actually pay attention to it! It is amazing how that little item effects everything else.

I will add more details as I remember them, and if anyone has any questions, please ask. I feel very lucky, the things that went wrong aren't going to effect my outcome, and I can already tell a difference.

On the day of my surgery, I could tell that I had been given relief from my bad joint, and that is amazing to me. It is almost impossible to describe what the absence of that specific pain is, especially when so much recovery is still needed, but I know my friends here understand!

Thank you for your prayers and kind thoughts, I really appreciate them.

Sincerely, Kimberly
 
Kimberly thanks for your story, i do love reading them. Glad you already can tell the difference.
Funny about the ants. When I was in the hospital in january after back surgery, when hallucinating, I thought my room was crawling with ants, the walls actuallly. Of course it was not, but yours was!!!
Glad you are on the road to recovery and feeling better
judy
 
Aw Kimberly you could write a book with that one i was on the edge of my seat waiting and reading....lol...........sorry you had all those problems geez ......what a mess but im glad you home and sounds like you are doing well............Just take it easy and yes take your medicine........and a big hug for all you went thru...............hang in there we are all behind you...........rest...............Im glad its over though...........
 
Hi Kimberley, Your HOME, AWESOME!! CONGRADULATIONS! on your brand new partial! I'm sorry about the trouble you had In recovery, my first
night was much like yours. I was on a morphine drip and I mistakenly
drifted off, and like you didn't press the button:shk: I too woke up in
a whole new world of pain. Did you have a little PT in the hospital??
and do you have a CPM machine yet? It was funny, my CPM was
delivered an hour after I got home LOL( It was like they were waiting
outside with it! LOL!!) I Wish you All The Best for a speedy and very
comfortable recovery, and remember ICE,ICE,ICE It was/Is MY best
friend. Welcome to the partial club, Sincerely,:thmb:
 
Welcome home Kimberly. I'll bet you are glad that all of THAT is over. That really is terrible about what happened to you in the hospital, sort of like a Murphy's Law kind of stay.
Well, I hope that your home recovery goes much more smoothly.
 
OMG! If I have to read one more story about people waking up with no pain meds....I'm gonna have to go on CNN or something to expose this!!! :doh:

That has happened too many times! That really chaps my....."back side!"

As everyone knows here, the same thing happened to me. What a horrible experience. Then when I finally got a Dilaudid drip, the line was kinked. I can't imagine all these incompetent medical people out there that just don't GET IT!!

I'm so glad you're doing better though. You sound like you are in wonderful spirits and that is so important in recovery! (something I can't seem to get ahold of for me!)

I'm so glad you are home and all is well with the world!!!

:thmb:
 
Welcome home, Kimberly!! Sounds like you went through quite a lot, but the bottom line is you are home now and beginning recovery! It's a great place to be.....your journey to a new life is on!
 
Kimberly,
I am so very glad that you are back at Home.
It must be the thing this year for most of us to wake up screaming in the Recovery room!!! But I do know that it is a scary thing to wake back up in your body when it is so full of pain!!!
But now you will be on the road to recovery.
Cann't wait to hear about the Ants!!!
 
I better not wake up that way on Friday! I am a wuss!
 
Well, me too, Terri. And you and I both know that the blocks not working is a real no-brainer cus we should all, always, be ready for that to have happened. And how come the anaesthetist didn't realise during the op that it hadn't worked? Oy, these guys!

I'm really sorry you got put through that, Kimberly. Should not have happened!

But glad you're now in control and feeling much better.
 
Seriously Jo, makes you want to go right in there and ask those nurses and doctors what the hell is going on here?
 
Kimberley...So glad you are home!!! It is a great feeling when all at once the old joint pain is gone. Of course you have a new pain right now but it beats the pain you had before by a mile. The new pain will be gone soon! Take care and keep in touch!
 
After having some of those wake up in pain because I had not been pushing that button experience the last time I told my family to tape the darn button to my hand. I actually always held it as i went to sleep!!! nOt that it stayed in my hand , but it was all I could think of. I also told everyone when they came to visit (my family) to push the button when they were there.
judy
 
Hi Kimberely, so glad you are home. : and so sorry you had to go thru that experience!
We were all thinking of you and knowing you would be in great shape. Thank you for sharing your experience..sounds like the surgeon did a great job and the hospital staff really didn't do theirs.

I know you will have a great recovery because your spirit is so strong...and it helps to have a loving caretaker like your husband.

I had no idea so many people have had this "pain in the recovery room" experience..Jo, Jamie, what, if anything can one do to keep this from happening??:

Do they really expect people to be able to push the pain pump when they are still at the effect of the anesthesia and tranquilizers??

Anyone have some good ideas..taping it was a good one.



Scares me!
 
Marquesa, try not to worry about these things you are reading. They do not happen in a majority of the cases. It is one reason why a person needs to carefully evaluate not only the surgeon, but also the facility he operates in. If I were you, I'd add a question or two on that list you have for your surgeon's interviews. Tell them you have heard about situations where people woke up in severe pain due to poor pain management either in surgery or afterwards and ask what he does to ensure that doesn't happen to his (or her) patients.

Also, if you have someone who can be an advocate for you once you get out of recovery, that helps too. That is usually a spouse, family member or friend who either stays with you or checks in on you at intervals throughout the day and night. Checking in could be psysically being in the room with you or calling your nurse to ask how you were doing and when the last time was they checked on you. As the patient's advocate, you will always be allowed to contact the nurse's station for this information. Just be sure that you put this person's name down on the forms you fill out when checking in to the hospital. Confidentiality laws require that you designate who can receive information about you when you are in the hospital....and permission must be given by you in writing.
 
Hi again. I had no pain in the recovery room and was able to push the button. I had 2 femoral blocks and they both worked. They, meaning the nurses, will guide you to the button and remind you to push it. Good luck and don't worry.
 
Cotton, Jamie, thanks for the words of wisdom...it has been a very long time since I was in a hospital..can someone stay with you in the hospital, even at night, once you are out of recovery??

Is it different in the US, or UK??

My list, indeed, grows longer.

thank you all..wish you could go with me!!

Marquesa
 
Yes, (usually) someone can stay with you. My daughter stayed with me the first couple of nights. They don't make it very comfortable for the visitor, but I think it's a good idea if it can be done. If you are not able to get anyone, you will be okay too. Some people feel better if someone stays, some people want to be left alone. So it's really up to you.


Good luck.
 
I think most hospitals in the US allow it. Some are more accommodating than others. One hospital where I stayed with my husband for back surgery even provided me with a rollaway bed!! Now THAT was nice. Usually, you'll be sleeping in a recliner that is in the room. But even that can be all right with enough pillows and blankies. The point is that you are there to assist with the care.

If someone does this for you, have them immediately establish a rapport with the nurses, smile a lot, ask questions and NEVER be confronting. You are on their turf. If the nursing staff sees the advocate as a helper, things go much more smoothly. What I always tried to do for hubby was the things that I COULD do to relieve the nurses for more important medical tasks. I could refill water glasses, record the in/out on the wall chart for fluids, help him to the bathroom, lots of that kind of stuff. They always appreciated the help (nurses are SO overloaded in most hospitals) and it worked well.

However, when the tables were turned and I was in the hospital for my knee surgery, I actually asked my hubby to not come back after that first evening. Like some folks, he was just helpless in the room and I was much more anxious with him there....worried about what HE was doing. For me, it worked better to be alone so I could sleep when I wanted. I was lucky enough to be in a boutique hospital (very small and they only do orthpedic surgery), so the nurse to patient ratio was small.
 
Hello all and thank you for your replies. I am sorry if the pain problems worried you, but I want everyone prepared. Truth be told, for the post-op situation, all I can do now is ask that next time the anesthesiologist write orders for pain relief if the femoral block isn't working. I will!!

I have some pics from my hospital stay, and I will show them to you if I am smart enough this time to resize them properly.

Here I am in my room in my CPM. We soon discovered that I was allergic to the covering of the machine and they didn't ask me to use it. I was given a few extra exercises to do in it's place.

[Bonesmart.org] Popping up on the other side!


Here I am taking a stroll with my physical therapist. This is the day after my surgery.

[Bonesmart.org] Popping up on the other side!


Here I am with my "trash-can liner ice bag". My OS leaves specific instructions with the aides on the floor for huge ice bags with at least 20 cups of ice. He tells them that the weight is very important as it pushes our leg down for more extension. BRRRRRR

[Bonesmart.org] Popping up on the other side!


I am including this pic of my thigh because it shows the bruising from the tourniquet. I have found that when my pain meds are starting to wear off, my thigh hurts first. It hasn't been a big problem, but good info to have!

[Bonesmart.org] Popping up on the other side!


This is the end results! It appears so red because we just changed the dressing and coated it with iodine/povidine.

[Bonesmart.org] Popping up on the other side!
 

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