TKR Sarah Jane's Summer Journey and Fall Frolic

[skigirl]

I think the spirometer is a two or three day thingy, you can just use it when you want to use it. Indifferent family members might need a call with a specific request---could you pick up a script for me at such and such pharmacy. Sometimes people don't know what to do and so do nothing.

There are wedge pillows at Bed bath and beyond that are not expensive. You can also get them through amazon. I also used a pile of three pillows---it worked fairly well. You will be elevating often for the first two or three months.

Elevating your leg to control swelling and pain
Using ice

 

[Pumpkinseed]

Walmart has wedge pillows cheap also

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk

 

[PolarBear60]

I think the exact emotional trigger varies with each of us. The common thread is most of us experience some aspect of the blues. I think it's mostly during the first several weeks, but it could go beyond that. It will pass (unless you have a history of depression, then you need to keep treating it and consult with your appropriate medical professional for any needed adjustments).

I agree that specific requests sometimes helps seemingly indifferent family members. My husband rarely reads my mind for even the most obvious things I need from him, but if I ask him to do a specific chore ("If bring the laundry basket downstairs, I will wash your clothes" has been one that worked), he's more likely to do it, than if I expect him to know what I need. (The same holds true for when he's expecting me to read his mind -- something I don't seem to be very good at even after 20 years of marriage.) I'm not saying you're expecting anyone to read your mind -- that's my problem. Maybe you have asked, and they have ignored you, which is a tougher problem.

 

[SarahJane]

@KerriB, I teared up during discharge planning. I think it's important to acknowledge those feelings. I'm just afraid that there's a hidden rage-a-holic that'll get unleashed. I don't want to alienate folks. Childhood issues y'know.

But there's family of choice and family of origin. I was just interrupted by a phone call from a friend saying she'd ordered something from Amazon and wanted to bring it over.

The PT changed my dressing today. The incision was healing nicely. Most of what I learned today was from her comments as she observed me walking around and doing the exercises. I need to be mindful and not on autopilot when I'm using it. I can't cheat and reach out to get something without first placing the walker in front of me and making sure it's steady. No straining to the side on tiptoes.

Hope all is well with you.

 

[KarriB]

When you feel you're not being heard or your choices are not being considered I can see how anger would come into play. But it sounds like you have it under control now. Hopefully, you'll not have to unleash again.

When I get my other knee done I plan on picking up a wedge pillow for elevating. Numerous pillows weren't an issue in the chair, but in bed I did have a hard time keeping them from toppling over. Hope you have a good night!

 

[SarahJane]

@KarriB
Thanks

 

[Legin]

I was not difficult as in grumpy just, well a regular phrase used was: You can't do that think of your hip...........
Not sure if you have seen Mr Bean @SarahJane but the scarce jiggling I had a pic in head of him trying the same.
The anger at Medicos is just how you are feeling sudden loss of mobility and all its effects ie pain, is almost like grief for your lost mobility and you feel anger at the perpetrators. Please only use scarf for leg movement not dishing out revenge......

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[chestnc]

Hi @SarahJane, yes the RA in my signature means that I have Rheumatoid arthritis as well. So when anything goes awry in my body the RA pain many times kicks in and it is not fun. Hope you are having a good pain-free day today.

 

[SarahJane]

I slept.

Blissfully slept.

From 1 a.m. until 8:20 this morning.

@Slainte, the pillow trick worked. And @KarriB 's good night wishes helped, too.

@Legin, I promise not to do anything drastic with the scarves. I can't make the same promise, through, if Rowan Atkinson gets anywhere near them. There's no telling what Mr. Bean might do.

 

[Lovestoread]

Sleep puts a whole different spin on things, doesn't it? It's amazing what a decent night's sleep can do! Hope the rest of your day is just as great!


Sent from my iPad using BoneSmart®

 

[Slainte]

So nice that you got some sleep. Makes everything brighter.

 

[Legin]

Sleep whoooot whoooot loops hope ii didn't wake you. - tiptoes out, not the best place to leave a full drumkit.......

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[SarahJane]

I've got a few minutes before PT visits. Haven't done most of exercises since last visit. Knee is swollen and feels stiff when I bend it.

:::sound of phone ringing:::

BRB

Well, of course that was the physical therapist, a bit early.

I'm doing well, she says, although she'd like to see me up and about more. (Guess she hasn't read the BoneSmart advice.)

I'm at 95 and 0. She says 90 is the mark they shoot for at this stage (10 days post surgery). We went outside for a very short walk. First time I've been outside. Lovely weather. Felt nice! She added some standing exercises and took off the dressing. Kinda weird to see the long row of staples with the skin puffed up a bit. It'll be a lovely looking scar, I think.

 

[Legin]

Doing well. That first trip outside just for wee walk is a grand feeling. I went for a dander down the street.


Legin THR Sep 14

 

[kneeper]

I'm at 95 and 0.

We went outside for a very short walk. First time I've been outside. Lovely weather. Felt nice!

Super! I enjoyed those little walks (starting just on the driveway) too. It doesn't have to be too much at first but it gets you outside and moving a little in between the icing and elevating.

 

[SarahJane]

Yucky day of yuckiness here at yuck central.

Stomach really upset all day. Change in pain med schedule? Things coming to a head in my poor little tummy? Felt/feel miserable.

Rx Percocet: 1-2 pills by mouth every 4-6 hours. Previously, I was taking 1 pill every 4 hours. Last night, because I'd slept through the prior night -- 6 hours of uninterrupted sleep, I opted to change it up a bit.

Midnight: 2 Percocet with food. (Oxycodone 5 mg acetaminophen 325 mg.)

8:30 a.m. woke up. 1 Percocet with Caveman Performance Bar.

9:30 a.m. morning meds (includes 325 mg ferrous sulfate and 325 mg Enteric aspirin) with Greek yogurt with peaches and strawberries.

Tummy not happy.

Tried nibbling several slices of Melba toast to calm acidic feeling in stomach. Limited success. Mild feeling of nausea.

noon. Called advice nurse line at HMO. Advised to "graze" on crackers, etc., and take small sips of water. Was told that dairy could upset stomach (although yogurt might be OK). OK to take liquid OTC antacids. Advice RN suggested calling OS tomorrow if it persisted; opined that pain med dosages seemed appropriate for 2 weeks post-TKR. "Grazed" on 2 Melba toasts.

3 - 3:30 pm. 1/4 c. leek and potato soup, 1 hard boiled egg, 2 Melba toasts, 1 small V-8, plus water, over time.

3:30 p.m. 1 Percocet.

Friend picked up antacids, along with white rice and bananas. Another friend coming tomorrow (I hope) with more saltines and more bananas.

Knee feels stiff and swollen. Walk some, bending leg some. Have been too distracted to ice consistently, but have kept elevated.

6 cashews. 1 Melba toast. 1 *wonderful* frozen banana. 1T. antacid

7:30 pm. 1 Percocet

1 t. antacid.

Feeling lousy. Lie down for about 2 hours. Feeling better.

Write this.

@Josephine, @Jamie, @skigirl, @others with experience, strength and hope, your thoughts, suggestions, advice, TLC, "there, there's" please, @Legin, if you do special requests, an "aye, th poor bain, lassie Rabbie Burns'll cheer you up" or a personal get well wish from Twelfth Doctor Peter Capaldi would be nice about now.

 

[Legin]

Caveman............... I do hope he wasn't called Levin.
Feel for you as the tummy thing isn't great and your forced inactivity can't help it. I'm a believer the body is like a production line and if one part isn't right it effect the whole line. One good note you only mentioned knees once. My hat off to you for your jovial way of writing. Big healing thoughts to ya.

Legin THR Sep 14

 

[Celle]

@SarahJane
You seem to have tried all the simple things recommended to settle your stomach. Perhaps you need to ask for a prescription for an anti-nausea drug? The pain medications do make a lot of people feel sick - I'm one, and I know that I can never take them without accompanying anti-nausea drugs.

 

[SarahJane]

@Celle and @Legin Thanks. 10:15 a.m. here. Am on hold waiting to speak to/leave message for OS' PA. First pain pill (after breakfast nutrition bar) went down OK. Two Melba toasts and two sesame cookies (biscuits) later I took my morning meds. Yuck city again. 1 T antacid, working just a little. On phone to MD.

MD not in clinic today. Receptionist will try to get in touch with a PA to see about adding in an anti-nausea med. She assumed I wanted to request a change in pain meds, but I stopped her and said the current pain med was working well with the pain, it was the tummy which was making me absolutely miserable. Will discuss further when I get call back. But am now wondering if I should have said, "yes, please, no more of this (*&@(#*708$)@(YE pain med."

News at 11, or whenever they call me back.

 

[Josephine]

Try your GP? You really do need an anti-emetic (anti-sickness)