Round Two

[Cathie]

Hello All!

I am going back tomorrow for the second TKR. Had the first one (rt) done last October. I am glad I made the decision to go for the second, as it is getting worse by the day and very painful to walk lately....and my surgeon is about 5 months out. I still have some stuffness in the first one, but the doc says its normal to have some for up to a year. I just hope and pray that this time around will be a bit easier now that I have one strong leg to stand on. Also, the weather is much nicer now and I am hoping to get outside, if not only to sit on the deck in the sunlight. The only thing I will miss is planting flowers, but that has not been easy for the last 2 years, so now I can look forward to next year!
I hear that some people have had both knees done at the same time. To you I say - I can't even imagine the strength you have! I could never have done it. My doc won't do it either.
I will be in touch - Lord knows I'm not goin anywhere for a while!!! Have a great day!

 

[Newwoman]

Good luck Cathie from a fellow Cathy and I will be thinking of you and wishing the best of care from your surgeon and the hospital staff and your recovery. Make sure you check back in after you get home and we will be waiting for you and here to make you smile.
Cathy

 

[Skeet]

All the best, Cathie. May the doctors hands be guided by God and may all go exceedingly well. May you have the very best of care in the hospital, support and compassion at home, and may we "see" you back here soon - raving about how marvelous everything went and how well you are doing. At least you know what you are in for this go around. God bless!

Skeet

 

[Jamie]

Hi, Cathie!!! How great that you are having Step Two to a new life! You sound like a very strong and determined person and I'm praying for your quick return back home with your new knee. I'm a big gardener too and it is so nice this summer to actually be able to comfortably plant and putter in the garden. I'm only about 2 months out, so I still have a long way to go to be completely recovered. I'll be waiting to hear from your once you get back home.

 

[Nursepair]

Good luck tomorrow Cathie, my thoughts will be with you. Let us know how you are doing ASAP. At least you know what to expect this time. Better the devil you know than the devil you don't eh?

 

[Rowdy66]

Cathie you will definitely be in my prayers and I know that God will guide your surgeons hands and that you will have a speedy recovery. You are exactly one week before both of mine are being done so we can recoup together online here. Rowdy

 

[JenniferG]

Cathie, God's speed tomorrow!

 

[SportHog]

Hi Cathie.
All the best tomorrow!!!!
I had my RTKR Dec. 12/07 and LTKR Apr. 14/08. I don't regret it at all. Looking forward to summer fun. We will be thinking of you.
Cheers, Ross

 

[jb94102]

You are in my prayers ,wish you the best !! JIM

 

[Josephine]

I'll be thinking of you tomorrow too. God bless you with an uneventful op and recovery and a speedy rehab. Look forward to hearing from you afterwards when you can manage it.

 

[beachcomber]

All the best to you Cathie--- many of us will be thinking of you and offering prayers for your successful procedure and speedy recovery. We will look for you back on-line as soon as you are able. Take care!

 

[char]

my prayers are with you!!

 

[Cathie]

Wow thank you all for all the wonderful positive thoughts and prayers. Surgery went well. The doc said this one was defininitely worse than the first. The only drawbacks were that surgery was pushed back about an hour and a half - and I didn't get into the operating room until 2 pm after fasting from about 8 pm the night before. Got into my room around 6 pm, so had not eaten anything for about 22 hrs. This is when I started getting naucous. I did get thru the night without vomiting, but I am still having some difficulty with this. I am sure its the meds and spoke with the nurse about it. So we are trying to take them at different intervals now.
I have to say that I feel so much further ahead with this one than the first. My exercises are going better and things just seem to be moving along. My only real concern at the moment is the fact that the incision keeps bleeding in 2 spots. I had NO bleeding with the first incision at all. And my ankle is a bit swollen.
The nurse and Physical Therapist should be calling tomorrow so I will bring it up with them.
Thank you all for your thoughts and prayers.

 

[JenniferG]

Welcome back Cathie and congrats and passing through to the healing side. My knees bled for days if that helps you at all. But it is alwys nice to have the visiting nurse and pt give their 2 cents. Reassures. Well, now on to the business of healing. Yeah!

 

[beachcomber]

I am so glad to see you back and healing well. Keep taking good care of yourself! Keep that foot elevated! My ankle also was swollen and I had NO idea that would happen..... and it turned a rainbow of colors that lasted for a couple of weeks. I hope your recovery is less stressful this time around--- at least you know what to expect! That was my experience when I had two major knee reconstructions six months apart a number of years ago. I was anxious the first time around, but the second one seemed much easier-- probably because I was more relaxed.
Take care!

 

[Turtlelady53]

Cathy,
Best wishes for you tomorow and for your recovery. Hope you get to read these wonderful posts before you go night-night. I'm going down in June, and was thinking like you: that at least I can sit outside while recovering and get some fresh air. I think that will reduce the cabin fever. I'll be looking forward to hearing from you on the other side!
sharon

 

[Pattipoo]

Bless you, Bless you, Bless you, Cathy!
I'm wishing you ALLLLL the best!

 

[Jamie]

Cathie, thanks for letting us know you are back home and doing all right! You sound so strong for just going through another surgery! I'm impressed!!! Here's hoping you continue to make wonderfully fast progress so you can enjoy your Knew Knees!

 

[beachcomber]

oh Cathy and Cathie...

so confusing....

welcome back Cathie

and good luck Cathy..

and many blessings and prayers to you both!

 

[Cathie]

HAHA We have a common name and common knees!!!
I spoke with a nurse today from the hospital. She said that the nauceousness (can't seem to spell it) should be subsiding by now. But I still am feeling it from time to time throught the day. Strange cuz I did not feel this the first time around and have been rotating the meds so as not to take them together or even close together. I even cut back the hydrocodone to one. She told me if it does not stop this week that I should call the surgeon. Everything else is going pretty well. Just sleepy most of the day, but moving pretty well. My PT told me that today I looked as good as when she released me for the first one. Thats a good sign. Just gotta get the stomach under control!!! Hopefully this means I am losing some weight!!!!!!!