Bilateral TKR Recovery Diary

[Roy Gardiner]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions on furniture, I shall take it all in hand.

The bed I left low and used it to provide flex stress for improving ROM.

Goodness knows how you did that! The thing that stops me getting up from low level is simply the pain, which is unbearable as the quads tense.

 

[Josephine]

He obviously has you marked as a 'chap' who can take his chit-chat, Roy. Take it as a compliment!

 

[rubysue]

This is a terrific diary of your recovery, Roy! I like your dry wit and keen observations. You seem to be doing very well.

 

[TheHistorian]

I enjoy the honesty and the dry British humor. Thanks for sharing and helping me by showing what I'll be working around.

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Thanks for everyone's suggestions on furniture, I shall take it all in hand.

The bed I left low and used it to provide flex stress for improving ROM.

Goodness knows how you did that! The thing that stops me getting up from low level is simply the pain, which is unbearable as the quads tense.

I now find that I can get up from much lower than a couple of days ago :biggrin: so it won't be such a big problem

Day 7 09.30 Negotiating my release, hoping to be home today

 

[referee54]

I am impressed by how clear you are---my post-surgery updates would have been marred by narcotics that prohibited me from thinking and writing clearly.

 

[Deeden]

Roy,

You can borrow any equipment you need from the NHS. The hospital or your GP's surgery should be able to arrange it.

I didn't need anything at all except crutches, which the hospital supplied. But earlier this year my mother needed stuff and she got a raised loo-seat with a stand, a firm cushion and a commode delivered within a day of the surgery ordering them. Then you just return them when you've finished.

Hope you've found the escape tunnel and get through it today!!

 

[Roy Gardiner]

I am impressed by how clear you are---my post-surgery updates would have been marred by narcotics that prohibited me from thinking and writing clearly.

Hardly for me to say, of course, but things seem OK. Morphine for days 1 & 2 then mainly paracetamol.

Roy,

You can borrow any equipment you need from the NHS. The hospital or your GP's surgery should be able to arrange it.

I didn't need anything at all except crutches, which the hospital supplied. But earlier this year my mother needed stuff and she got a raised loo-seat with a stand, a firm cushion and a commode delivered within a day of the surgery ordering them. Then you just return them when you've finished.

What I have too, I find that I can handle ordinary chairs OK, especially if they have arms so I can support myself that way

Hope you've found the escape tunnel and get through it today!!

Day 7 12.00 HOME!!

 

[Deeden]

Glad to hear you're going home. Keep us posted.

 

[srn]

Enjoy getting home, no place like it.

 

[Pumpkin]

Enjoy the comfort of being home.

 

[just13]

Glad your home now Roy keep us posted on your journey don’t stop with that British humor as barb said good luck :cheers_wine:

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Thanks everyone.



Day 7 16.30

Wow.

Journey was: walk 50 yards along a corridor, down the lift to ground floor, 10 yards to taxicab, 300 yard ride (yes that's correct, yards), in the house.

Absolutely wrecked!

 

[Jamie]

That's the way it works in these early recovery days. Sometimes just a walk to the bathroom can cause a nap! Just go with it for now. Things will get better.

 

[Jazyb]

Home Sweet Home - well done Roy

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Week 2/Day 8

Oh big mistake!

So I came home yesterday, great joy and victory. Very short journey from the hospital, but still very tired during the afternoon and evening. Home food, heaven. I am retired so no pressure to do anything, where my wife is still working.

So here am I bringing my care problems from a place where they are dealt with professionally to a place where they are a pain in the [word of choice here]. And it simply never occurred to me to think of it that way. Insurance would still be paying, the only cost to me a bit of boredom and hey we know boredom, post surgery, is good. MUCH better than the alternatives.

:DOH::DOH::DOH: Not my best day. By a long shot.

 

[Tykey]

Whenever you come home from hospital where all those nurses look after your every wish, to home where they aren't, would always be a shock.;

It's just a hump we all get over in a day or so.

Just relax with Jeremy Kyle , Jerry Springer, Neighbours etc

 

[Roy Gardiner]

Week 2/Day 8

Whenever you come home from hospital where all those nurses look after your every wish, to home where they aren't, would always be a shock.;

It's just a hump we all get over in a day or so.

I didn't explain very well; transferring all that from the hospital onto a working wife was selfish of me, and I ain't proud of it.

Side effect For months I've had pain in my left shoulder. GP and Osteopath agree it's muscle strain of some sort. A week of hospital bed and having to sleep on my back and it's almost gone! I'll have to check out maybe new pillows with more support, or maybe just try to sleep on my back a bit more.

 

[Deeden]

No-one tells you about the shock of going home! I thought about that yesterday reading your post. I hope your wife will be able to stay at home with you for the first few days.

I have 2 sons living at home and they cooked for me in the evenings, did the shopping etc., but during the days I was on my own until 7 each evening.

The first couple of days I cried and cried and cried!!!!!! My God, I missed my husband (I'm a fairly new widow).

Over the next couple of days I learned to manage on my own during the day, friends visited, and after that I was OK.

So it will take you a couple of days getting used to normality again, and you will be fine!

 

[srn]

I think the thing to do is get yourself organised. My husband had planned to work from home for the first week, but that didn't quite work out some of the time, the next week he had to go away on business so I was all alone for a few days.

We used to ensure that I had water, tablets, TV remote controller, telephone, snacks, books, magazines, sandwiches in the fridge, I even used to have a flask of tea at one time and all the other minutiae that you need during the day because I couldn't carry anything while I was using 2 sticks. My husband is a project manager and even made a check list for us, he is that organised!!!! This meant that I only really had to get up for the toilet, for ice, and for exercise. When I was left on my own for a few days a friend or one of my sons used to drop in and replenish my stocks and make me an evening meal.

You'll be fine when you have had a couple of days at home and have got into the swing of it.