Questions about the first "bad cold" after a TKR

[AlaskanTKR]

Ok - HELP to all of you winter TKRs!!!!
I am dealing with my first cold since the tkr - and holy cow!!!!!!!! I have ended up with a triple whammy. My head cold turned into the cold from heck!! I have not had a voice since last Wednesday. Then I got the crud and spent the past 3 days with no voice, sore throat and lost 10 pounds - at least. Then throw in the joints (hip and back). Holy cow! I am a school teacher and have been down and out before - little kids can never keep their fingers outta their noses. So I have had it all b4 - but not like this! I literally could not function! And that isnt me. Good thing is my knee looks great - swelling is the lowest it has been since July!!!! Feeling better tonight - but still 0 voice and extremely exhausted. I should have seen it coming but...

Anyone else struggle when they got their first germs after their knee - or is this just a teacher in Alaska thing (we always say that we grow eberything bigger up here! hence - even bigger germs). My kid had the crud and it only took her 12 hours to bounce back! Ughhhh

Thanks for your input - Not sure if I am working in a germ factory this year or if my defenses are all shot to crud this year!!

Marianne

 

[Doug]

Hey Marianne,
Hope you get to feeling better.
Yep, I well remember the panic I went into when I caught my first post tkr cold. I was so afraid of it turning into some type of infection of the lungs or sinus....Which in our climate the sinus infections aren't that unusual.
Which is what you really need to look out for.
I hat to say it but I think as I get older, little colds seem to turn into bad colds more frequently. I would imagine that after the surgery we've been through, our bodies have put so much into that healing that possibly our resistance may be lower.
Hang in there.

 

[ship4]

Marianne,
Sorry to hear you are having a bad time with this cold. It is always worse on an adult when you catch it from a child. Your resistance is down, just as Doug commented. Also you have been working straight out and did not give your body enough rest time to fully bounce back and recover from this major surgery. It sounds like your body took the brunt of this germ! Hopefully you are taking vitamins (multi, C twice a day, B complex, E 200 iu,& D) to help with healing and general overall good health. If not, I think you should start!
I have been drinking broken link removed: https://www.thegreatproduct/ThinkSnowNHand have been sleeping like a baby. It is loaded with antioxidants and I have been dreaming. My nails and hair show how healthy I am now.
I hope you can bounce back before you pick up another cold.
Take care and get some rest.
Best,
Crystal

 

[justjuls]

My company is requesting that we all get the flu shot next week. I had RTKR August 28th and a manipulation since then. Do you think there is any reason I shouldn't get this flu shot?

Has anyone had one after the TKR and did it make you feel sick? In the past I have felt kind of yucky for a few days after the flu shot but never got really sick. I am worried that this might change due to me having recently had my knee replaced.

Any input?


Juls

 

[ship4]

I had my Flu Shot with no problems on October 16th. I had BTKR on June 16th so I was 4 months post op. I even have been to the dentist and did my mandatory antibiotic before having my teeth cleaned. Both with no problems........
Best,
Crystal

 

[JudyS]

Juls
My endocrinologist told me last year (after major spine surgery) that I should get a flu shot as my resistance would be down for close to a year. I got one last year and also this year.
I have never had any problems feeling sick after.
Judy

 

[Doug]

Got mine this morning....

 

[Linda2]

I got my flu shot in September--I happened to have a DR.'s app't on the first day they were available. My surgery was July 28th. I had no problem at all.

 

[Rowdy66]

Marianne, I was wondering where I caught this cold, now I know. It was reading your posts! Seriously though, I know how you feel. It seems like my resistance is lower since the surgery. Prior to the surgery and getting sick right before mine was scheduled I had not had a cold or flu in over two years. I am the one who never catches anything, I am assuming it is so I can take care of everyone else. The last two or three years is has been my husband who has gotten the flu and colds every winter so this year when I got my flu shot he went and got his as well. Now he feels invinsible, if he had a red shirt and a blue cloak I am pretty sure he thinks he could fly. I hope he isn't disappointed, also hope you get your voice back and start feeling good soon. You need to keep you strength so you can chase the little nose pickers. (I got so tickled at you description of them being unable to keep their fingers out of their noses.) Rowdy

 

[Rowdy66]

Juls, all the more reason you should get the flu shot. Unless you have had an allergic reaction to them in the past. We need all the protection we can get. The last thing I want to do is anything that puts my new knees at risk. They have been such a miracle that I cannot imagine messing them up. I was so protective of mine that I was always fussing when I rode in the car should the driver get to near the back of the car in front of us. Until my son told me I didn't need to worry, he wouldn't sue me if we had an accident and my new titanium knees dented his dashboard. Funny how laughing can suddenly put things into perspective. Good luck, Rowdy

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Rowdy-
I love it... the knees in the dashboard!!! (SMILE) Again - thanks for all the great words of wisdom. On day 2 home my hubby was ready to jump on a plane home from work (such a sweetie -for a change!!!). On day 3 ( I managed to get verticle, but my girl was woozy - but then by 9:30 felt better - ) when - after not being able to get a substitute- emailing lesson plans- making alternate arrangements for all my kids - we rolled into school by 10:00 - ended up in meetings - the school psych was about ready to call the troopers to make sure I was ok - (I had been emailing her each day - but she was still worried) then ended up babysitting two lovely kids that should have been suspended or worse! Just like my old days in the emotionally disturbed class - all the while with teachers coming in and out telling me I still should be home - i looked so tired and sounded terrible (thanks guys - I thought I looked pretty good. Needless to say when the school nurse tells you to GO TO THE DOCTOR - you go. So I am off to the Dr. (GP) at 4 this pm. Better make sure I am not deficeint in aything important.

Crystal - I am going to check into the additional vitamins with the dr today. Sounds exactly like what I need. Thanks-

And as far as a flu shot - Yep - As soon as I check with the OS to make sure it is ok prior to the hip I am getting one!! I usually do earlier but things have been strange this year and I just didnt do it. Heck - I am usually done xmas shopping by mid october - I gave up this year when I looked at the calendar this week. I just (home again due to my kid )did my shopping on line!

Off to call the OS to check on the flu shot and make sure it will be ok to do - I am pretty sure it should be -

THANK YOU (Yikes - I havent been to pt in a week becuase of all this - cant wait for the am!!)
Marianne

 

[justjuls]

Thanks, I already have my appointment for Tuesday of next week. They come to our office and give them free. Maybe that is just a perk of working for the health insurance company(please no hate mail-ha-ha), but if it weren't for that I don't know if I would have gotten one in the past. I've gotten the shot the last four years and like I said I feel run down for a few days afterwards but I haven't gotten the flu since. So, I'll be in line next week.

Ya'll are so smart, I love this forum!

Oh yeah today was my first day back to work in the office. It was a long day but my mind feels like it accomplished something.

Have a great weekend!


Juls

 

[Rowdy66]

Marianne, Do you have laryngitis too? I haven't been able to speak above a whisper for three days now. My family loves it. My husband came home yesterday and said he guessed this was going to ruin my singing career. Does anyone have a bucket, that is the only way I can carry a tune. I think I picked up this crud week before last at the Dr's office. My mother was right, if you aren't sick when you go you will be afterwards. I hate it when her words come back to haunt me. Well, hope everyone is well and that you all get your flu shots. Rowdy. Ya know I always thought getting old was gonna be more fun than this. No little kids, don't have to work, kids are all grown and gone, (yeah, right). Oh, I forgot, lots of extra money to play, play, play. Well at least I don't have any little kids.

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Caved and saw the Doc. dx - Sinusitus- in english - a bad head cold. She was great though - got a flu shot and 5 days of antibiotics (z-pack). Headed back to pt with my very cool raspy voice!!! Still exhausted. We went easy just some bending - lost some rom but will push next week and get as much back as possible b4 12/18. Also taking extra Vit. c and b 12 and zinc -

I think I went through a total detox - no pain meds at all in my system - T may be interesting on Monday but.... Trying to stay off them as much as possible b4 the next round.

Voice is coming back - so is the appetite. My kid has recovered as well - we have been cleaning the house this weekend. I still work in spurts - oh well - soon that will pass too!!!!

Hope all of you in warmer climates escape this lovely CRUD we seem to have here in AK - (It has totally invaded the south central part of the state)

Hang in there - It finally did get better!! Thanks for all your warm words and suggestions!

Marianne