Bilateral TKR Second Year Progress

[Josephine]

It's likely you have a sensitivity to the suture material. There's not a lot you can do this time but do get your surgeon to tell you exactly what he used so you can make sure it's not used in any other surgery.

 

[mlwreader]

Thank you @Josephine, great idea. Except I might have to jump off my ground floor balcony if I ever have to have another surgery - hahaha. I have always had sensitive skin, and in the skilled nursing rehab my back broke out in a rash from the plastic cover on the mattress, even though they put a sheet and pad over it. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[Josephine]

Oh well! That would have been worth knowing at the start! I also have a sensitivity to surgical adhesive tapes - even the so-called hypo-allogenic type!

 

[mlwreader]

@Josephine I read your thread about your 2015 TKR. I notice you had cellulitis. I was diagnosed with an infection, superficial cellulitis, at about day 12. After a week on two kinds of antibiotics the infection was knocked out. However, for me it was a real psychological blow to have contracted the infection. It has been very difficult to overcome the negativity and emotional trauma that the fear induced by the diagnosis created. I was so encouraged to read of your journey though, as I share life situations with you, as I live alone. I did have help from family the first two weeks home, which combined with the hospital stay and rehab, brought me to to the middle of week four. However I had both knees done at the same time, and I am not sure how I would have coped without the help.

The biggest challenge up until about three weeks ago (I am now beginning week 11) was the exhaustion and energy drain. Everything seemed to take so much energy, bathing, making the bed, fixing food, straightening up. I had to pace myself and rest frequently. And eating. My goodness I'd lose steam after eating only half my meal, and that would be that. I would hit a wall and feel like I needed to lie down. I lost 10 pounds in the first month I was home. (I could have stood to lose 10 more, but I'll take the ten).

One thing I've noticed is that my vanity has disappeared. Right now I figure if I'm clean, wearing clean clothes, hair combed, zippers, buttons or any other things of that nature in the right place, I'm good to go. I cut my hair short prior to the surgery, and miss my longer hair. But I don't want to take care of it, so maybe I'll grow it back, or maybe I won't.

I am having lots of discomfort at night, which I noticed Josephine writing about as well. I can be fine all day long, but lie down in that bed and the knees start in. I hate that. And I don't have a recliner, only a somewhat lumpy and at times uncomfortable sofa in my living room. I thought about purchasing a recliner prior to surgery, but couldn't figure out the logistics of how to get it home and where to put it, not to mention the expense. Wish I had one now.

Since my doctor told me to refrain from the stationary bike, I have been limiting my exercise to walking. I am doing pretty well with it, but am moving slowly and carefully. I am not too good on stairs yet, but want to wait to worry about that until these darn stitches heal. I suspect it will be a while before that happens, especially since I appear to be so sensitive to the suture material.

We are having such beautiful, unseasonal summer like weather this month in CA, it is lovely to throw on shorts and a t shirt, shoes and head out for a walk.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. My Denver family is coming into town next weekend for a short visit, since I am not up to making the annual visit to their house for the Christmas holiday. I have learned that a week can be a game changer in this recovery period, so I am hoping that I will be a lot further along by next weekend when they are here. They are not staying with me, but will be staying close by. It's only for one night, my son will be in LA on business this week, and my dir in law and grand girls will fly in on Sat, and fly home on Monday.

Best,

Mary Lou

 

[Josephine]

superficial cellulitis

Cellulitis is, by definition, superficial as it only affects the layer of fat underneath the skin.

the fear induced by the diagnosis created

Why was this? Were you given to believe that this infection might spread to your knees? Because that's most unlikely. It doesn't go that deep.

I am having lots of discomfort at night

That's not at all uncommon. Have you checked out this in the Library? Night pain solutions using moist heat and clingfilm

And I don't have a recliner. Wish I had one now

I would never recommend anyone get a recliner just for recovery because generally speaking, this period only lasts a few weeks. It really isn't worth the expense unless you have money to burn!

 

[mlwreader]

Oh @Josephine I didn't know this about cellulitis. I just assumed that it was serious because it could travel to the new knee joint. I know it is serious, but I was misinformed, not by anyone telling me about it, just because I put 2 and 2 together in my mind and came up with 5. I didn't ask the questions because I was afraid of the answers. I feel like an idiot. All that angst for naught. I thought cellulitis meant the death knell for the new knee joint, and unless I got lucky, I'd have to have the new joint removed and the whole thing redone. I am sick about what I have put myself through. I really am exhausted.

Going to stop now, going to go take a walk.

ML

 

[mlwreader]

I would never recommend anyone get a recliner just for recovery because generally speaking, this period only lasts a few weeks. It really isn't worth the expense unless you have money to burn!

Money to burn - hahaha. I haven't worked since the end of July this year. I'm starting up slowly on Dec. 4, and will work my way into it. So no money to burn on this end, for sure.

 

[Josephine]

It's okay, don't beat yourself up about it the cellulitis. Nobody ever mentioned it to me either but I was lucky because I already knew!

 

[mlwreader]

Thx @Josephine - I had a good cry, mopped up and went for a terrific walk. We are having quite a change in weather today from the past week when it has been beautiful, summery and in the low 80's. Today the beach fog rolled in and the air is chilly and beachy damp. A nice change. Walking was a piece of cake today!

I hope you are having a great weekend. Thank you so much to you and all the folks who give so much of their time and energy on this forum.

 

[mlwreader]

I saw my OS today regarding some lingering stitch issues. I am hyper sensitive to the suture material, which I did not know going into surgery. My doc thinks there are a couple of other areas that will act up soon, as they are looking inflamed. However, there is no infection, and he says my knees are doing great. Keep the stitches clean and apply ointment and bandaids. And then . . . he took my two hands into his, looked me in the eyes, and said I was doing great, and I am infection free, and not to stress. And then I fell in love. The end.

 

[sistersinhim]

Wow, your OS sounds like a winner! You don't find too many that have a good bed-side manner and it sure sounds like yours does!

 

[mlwreader]

I know, right @sistersinhim? So anyway, my doctor told me he used Vicryl sutures so I would have that information if I ever need surgery again. Anyone else have any experience with Vicryl sutures? I have a feeling that this problem could go on for quite a bit, as my doctor would not give me an estimate of when he thought it might totally resolve. Some of the stitches are inflamed only a tiny bit, others have big, fat, ugly looking bumps, almost like a gross varicose vein. And the juicy one, the bleeder, that he worked on yesterday, bleeds very dark blood. It is all too gross. Makes me alternately want to vomit or faint when I am changing the bandages. I am doing visualizations and prayer around it, in addition to following doctor's orders. Has anyone else experienced this issue? My doctor said it's been a while since he's seen as extensive problem like mine, although he assured me he had seen such in the past.

 

[mlwreader]

Ok, I just re read my earlier post - they are not "big, fat, ugly looking bumps", they are ugly and gross, but not that big, just a little juicier looking than the tinier bumps. Still they are gross. . . .

 

[sistersinhim]

Are you able to post photos of your stitches? You're the first I've heard of this problem.

 

[mlwreader]

@sistersinhim I will post in a couple of days as my OS has asked me to take pics and send at that time. And btw, Josephine is familiar with this issue, and has discussed it with me, so its not a new phenomena. What's unusual for me is the extent of it. I've seen others on bs talk about one or two stitches behaving this way - I presently have six, three on each knee, plus two that look like they might begin to act up in addition. I will post the pics in a couple of days. Don't want to even look at the knees now, and when changing the bandaids in the morning, just want to get the job done.

 

[sistersinhim]

I can understand not wanting to look at them! I'd be the same way. Hopefully, these six will be out quickly!

 

[mlwreader]

Hi sistersinhim, Josephine I am uploading a photo of the knees as requested. There is one area on the left knee that was the bleeder a couple of weeks ago, and the doctor numbed it and worked on it a bit Monday. He said he wasn't able to extract suture material, so it is probably still working its way up. It is still oozing a bit, and really the whole mess is doing a number on my head. I have never been a patient person, and here I am at 72 getting a major lesson in patience.

I am looking at the profile photo I posted of myself here on BS and it was taken two years ago at Thanksgiving at my son's club. I am standing next to my then 14 year old grandson, who is cropped out of the picture. I was walking two to three times a week, attending water aerobics, working, I had a life. The reason I posted the photo is I want the lady in that photo back. I miss her. She went to book discussion groups, travelled four times a year to see her Colorado family, wasn't afraid to drive up to LA or down to SD to do whatever the heck she wanted to do. I WANT HER BACK!!!!!!!

I am excited about this weekend. My Colorado kids are going to be in town for a short visit, because Nana Lou (that's what my grand girls call me because they have a Nana on their mom's side) can't travel yet. So my SD son and I will hang out with my Colorado son and all the kids for two days. I told them I may need to take breaks to lie down. Then I told Josh that I didn't want to make it all about me, and you know what he said? He said, well mom, it really is all about you because you can't come for Christmas, so we wanted to come out here and see you. Wow, made me feel pretty darn special. Love my boys, the women they married, and the kids they had.

Happy Friday everyone. 12 weeks this coming Monday.

Best,
Mary Lou

 

[Josephine]

I think they'll settle down in time.

You may notice that I removed the coding from the tags you put in your post.
Read this to see why Multiple tags or alerts being used in posts

And I also resized your image to make it easier to view.

 

[mlwreader]

Josephine: Thanks except I don't know what the coding is, even after I read the article to your link. If there's coding, I didn't put it in there intentionally - lol. My thought is that to have more than one "@" in a row is the problem? Like I did with you and sistersinhim?

Anyway, I appreciate your help, as always.

ML

 

[Josephine]

Thanks except I don't know what the coding is, even after I read the article to your link. If there's coding, I didn't put it in there intentionally

Oh my goodness! No that's not it at all! Coding is something that the system implants in a post to change things - so when you put an @ in front of a name and it turns to a link (blue and underlined) behind the scenes it looks like this - the stuff in the red box is code but you can't see it.

My thought is that to have more than one "@" in a row is the problem? Like I did with you and sistersinhim?

Indeed. Did you read the article?