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BTKR on Oct.3 glad I had both done at one time! I am 48 and active so I like the one time recovery! Good luck to you on your upcoming BTKR!


Justacoach Oct. 3, 2013 BTKR
 
Good luck to you with your new grandbaby and your new knees in January!

Hugs,
Denise
 
Thank you, everyone! I can't believe how quickly this time is going by, geesh. No grandbaby yet, daughter's midwife says any day now (her due date is Dec 7, but I just cannot believe she'll go that long, she's HUGE).

We leave for our belated honeymoon trip to Costa Rica this Sunday, returning next Saturday - I'm terrified right now how I'll handle it. I've been having a lot more pain and swelling this last week and a half, really is emphasizing just how badly I need the knees done. Once we get back, I'm bedazzling my walker with my two step daughters as a fun little project :heehee:

I've been pouring over all of the BTKR threads really getting my mind set right and getting prepared. I really, really appreciate how members have been so forthright and open about their experiences, good and bad, it so helps us that are still waiting :thankyou:
 
Happy Thanksgiving from Jaco Costa Rica! We are having a wonderful time, hubby did great planning this as a belated honeymoon. BUT, with all the walking, my knees are totally done in, I'm having tons of swelling, pain, stiffness. I cannot WAIT until January 6 to have my surgery!!

I'm most thankful for such a living, considerate hubby, tremendous family, massive understanding and support from everyone here, and knowing and end to my poor knee health is finally around the corner. Enjoy your holiday, everyone!


Sent from my iPhone using BoneSmart®
 
<gulp> I've officially received my pre-surgical packet that contains final details on everything. My meeting with anesthesiologist is Dec 17 at noon, I'm scheduled for surgery on Jan 6, due to arrive at 0900 hrs with surgery scheduled for noon. First follow up is January 21, with no formal PT arranged as yet. Okay, NOW it's seeming very, very real! I'll be informing my employer this week now that I have the final details. :yes!:

No grandbaby yet. Daughter is due Dec 7, so all is good. Little Eleanor is just biding her time :angel:
 
Woo hoo! LOADS of pressure off!! I made the call to my HR gal this afternoon, she's perfectly wonderful and supportive. NO issues with extended leave, already saying I can do a phased return, YAY!!!! Wow, I feel ever so much better now. She's sent forms to be completed for short term disability, my manager will need to sign off on the Leave of Absence request, and I'm good to go. She's asked for the doc to provide some kind of initial estimate on expected time out so she can get things set up. I'll speak with my manager either tomorrow or Thursday morning (we are in the middle of closing out our year, so it's HECTIC right now!!)

I asked the million dollar questions, "when I tell them of the surgery and expected time out, are they able to terminate me figuring they're cutting their losses and get someone else?" An emphatic NO, it'd against the law, she's never known that to occur, and my company wouldn't LET them do it, either. <sigh....> that sounded so good! I just don't need to loose my job, and especially not right now!
 
Thanks, referee54! Yes, it's quite a relief. Curious, though - the pre surgery instructions don't include anything about using a antiseptic wash before surgery. They do include stopping all over-the-counter drugs two weeks ahead of time, though.

I'm really looking forward to working out the pain meds and anesthesia - I'd prefer not having GA if I can reasonably avoid it. With the weird drug reactions I have, I'm curious what they'll propose.
 
Bluetechseeker said:
I'd prefer not having GA if I can reasonably avoid it. With the weird drug reactions I have, I'm curious what they'll propose.
Click to expand...
I had a general with my first arthroscopic knee surgery---I had nausea afterwards, but for the next one, they took care of that ahead of time.

For my BTKR, I had a spinal and the "happy juice" It was great---lights out before the surgery and I came to very quickly on the way to the recovery area.
 
Sounds like you are getting all your ducks in a row. My spinal and "happy juice" cocktail were just wonderful. Woke up in recovery and was told to wiggle my toes. Once I wiggled my toes, I was taken to my room. Then my hubby was allowed in. Unfortunately with the pain pills, I kept nodding off mid sentence, and would wake up with him staring at me :zzz: waiting for me to finish what I was saying. Enjoy the Christmas season.
 
Thanks, taylornewknees and referee54! I had GA with my last knee surgery and it was AWFUL. Horrendous migraines, violently sick to my stomach, uuuuugggghhhh. If I can have a combo of a spinal and "happy juice" I'll be thrilled! Plus, I like the idea of not being so foggy minded trying to wake up. Granted, I'm sure they'll be giving me the necessary pain meds, but if I can do something other than GA, that's totally my preference.
I sure appreciate all the support and feedback from everyone! Thank you so much :thankyou:
 
Forgot to mention, I was told by one nurse in the preop clinic to use an antibacterial, such as Dial liquid. Found it, think it smelled like pears - very nice anyway. As we were in a motel near the hospital the night before surgery, I left it for my hubby since he was staying there while I was in hospital - he in turn left it for the hotel staff. Also don't forget the nail polish and jewelry - not allowed! :shrug:
 
Thanks, taylornewknees! I was going to confirm the need to use the antibacterial wash before surgery, I thought it odd to have not specified it in the pamphlet. Getting a strip down mani/pedi the weekend before surgery will be a little treat to myself, too :)
 
Here, at your pre-op they give you this bottle of pink pre-op liquid wash (Hibiclens, I think it is called) that you have to use for four days before the surgery and the morning of the surgery. Instructions are to lather it up all over, then turn off the water for 3-5 minutes to let it work (meanwhile you are there freezing to death because you are all wet), then rinse off and not use any lotions or anything. Dried my skin out like mad. YUCK!!!
 
Good luck. Although im waiting for my first tkr on February 10th . im sure you will be very well prepared . Bonesmart is great. Ive read tons of threads and watched videos over and over. Its made my upcoming tkr not that scary. In fact , sounds as if we both are over prepared. Better safe than sorry. With your husband by your side you will do great. And just think you will be able to roll around with granddaughter and eventually chase and play with her. Jog upstairs and sit through a movie and not dread getting up after movie is over or in break room after lunch and walking out like the tin man. Especially at our age. We are relatively young to have wasted knees. Anyhoot Goodluck
 
Butterfly, I was wondering if they'd give the wash at the pre-op, I'll certainly be asking. If there's such a simple thing I can do to lessen the possibility of infection, I'm all over it! Course, standing there freezing isn't my idea of a comfy shower, that's for sure. And, having dried out skin is yucky, oh well, gotta do what I gotta do.

icep707, wow, that's exactly where I'm at!! I cannot wait for playing with Eleanor, she's so precious already and she's not even here! Plus, in my work, I have to climb stairs with teams of folks doing surveys, then of course, come back down. Painful AND embarrassing!! Here lately, if I have a team mate with me, they just go up and do what's necessary so I don't have to - pitiful, eh? Yes, it seems young to have wasted knees, my dad keeps asking what the heck I did. This is just the way it is, it's not like I've been a dare devil or into extreme sports, eesh. Thank you, and good luck with your TKR, I agree, being prepared is ever so much better!
 
Hi Blutechseeker - My instructions for the cleansing wash were to shower twice - the night before surgery and the morning of surgery - using an antibacterial soap (I used liquid Dial, as mentioned). Very simple and not unpleasant.

Also, I found getting comfortable after surgery difficult. One nurse came in, asked me which side I liked to sleep on. She then placed a pillow between my knees, which allowed me to drop off. I am still using the pillow to fall asleep, but usually wake up with it pushed aside in the bed - apparently the dogs like when the pillow :sleep: drifts their way!
 
QUESTIONS:
1. Are there any medical transcriptionists who have had TKR or BTKR??? If so, I would love to chat with you. My problem is primarily that I have to keep switching feet on the foot pedal, which is okay - I can do it. BUT, my legs start aching and then swelling. I get up as often as I can, but they just get sorer and stiffer.

2. I am still having a lot of sharp pain from the kneecap area and just above the knee area, particularly on rising. It is also affecting my physio ability. Wondering if this is normal as the quadriceps are mending, etc., or if I am doing something that is causing this. It has been almost two weeks now.
 
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