@Jamie, thanks for your perspective in the private message. Thought I'd respond here to keep all my thoughts in one place. The latest xrays (taken 9/27) loosening which per the OS could be as a result of an infection. I had the R knee aspirated today. The fluid was a little bloody with no signs of pus. Now, we wait 14 days to see what, if any, grows. I've also started counting fat grams as part of the CDC diabetes 2 prevention program. I've done this program before and lost 40 pounds. It's fairly easy to follow and counting fat grams is a lot easier than counting carbs. I really love bread and bagels and you can bagels with 1g of fat and if I make bread, it won't have any fat (except for what you put on the bread.)
Dr Klein (OS at UWVa) won't operate (even for an infection clean out) unless/until the BMI is at 40 (mine is 49). I spoke with Ashur Wissi at HSS and he said some of the surgeons have a hard cut off and some don't. I've sent my records and x-rays to them to start the ball rolling for an appointment. It could be January before I'm scheduled so more time to lower the BMI. I can't taken advantage of the $500 consultant because West VA doesn't allow virtual out of state medical consultations. This means I'd have to get myself to NY for a F2F appointment. It's about an 8 hour drive which is doable.
In the meantime, I am using a cane (Prime Stick from Amazon) and managing pain with Extra Strength Tylenol, NSAIDs and hydrocodone (Lortab, 7.5-325 every 4 - 6 hours.) My PCP writes a RX for a 30 day supply. I am still not very active and it's easy to overdo and regret it the next day.
Part of me wants there to be an infection because then we have a definite plan of action. If there's no infection, then the elevated SED and CRP numbers mean something else is going on AND I'm still messing with a painful knee with a "probable" loose implant. Am I nuts to want a resolution that means two more surgeries?
The community here is awesome. Thanks so much for letting me rant, vent, and pour out my confused thoughts. I know someday, I'll look back and wonder what all the fuss was about.