Some more June knees are on the way.

[Turtlelady53]

I've been a bit sporadic about posting lately with a recent vacation and my son's wedding, but things have finally settled down, I went to work for the last time today (for a while at least) and am ready to get my knew knees on Monday. The pre-op evaluation went well, and I donated blood to the "vampire" bank.

This week has been a bit of a challenge with being off anti-inflammatory drugs, but I limped through it, and I'm over one hump at least. Of course, anything that could go wrong commuting this week happened but I will just chalk it all up as a test of my strength. I plan to spend lots of time in the pool this weekend just to destress and take the weight off of my aching knees.

I thought I'd be nervous as heck when it got down to the wire like this, but I'm actually looking forward to getting it over with. This continual pain just breaks down your spirit after a while. I am going to go in there with a smile on my face, and face this with a good sense of humor. At the pre-op evaluation, I was told that about 60% of patients getting BKTR go to rehab afterwards; well, I plan NOT to be one of them.

Any last-minute advice would be most welcome!!!

Sharon

 

[AlaskanTKR]

Sorry that I can't offer any advice, just my best wishes for things to go wonderfully. I hope all goes well for you on Monday! Thoughts and good wishes are with you for MOnday!
Marianne

 

[Rowdy66]

Sharon, You Have The Right Attitude. I Was Told By My Os That I Would Be In The Hospital Five Days And In Rehab A Week. Well, I Was In The Hospital Five Days But Could Have Gone Home At Three But Needed A Transfusion And Had An Allergic Reaction To The First Unit Of Blood They Tried To Give Me. I Went In To The Hospital Anemic So The Transfusion Was No Surprise And Really Not Related To The Btkr I Don't Think. I Didn't Have To Go To Rebab And Have Made Wonderful Progress Since Day One Exercising And Staying Busy On My Own. That Isn't To Say I Don't Want And Need My Mid-day Nap Everyday But Then That Is Pretty Standard. I Really Think And Believe With All Me Heart That Determination And A Good Attitude Are 90% Of Anything We Do, Including Having Both Our Knees Done At The Same Time. I, Personally, Can't Imagine Doing It Any Other Way. So If I Were A Betting Person I Would Put My Money On You Being Just Fine And Coming Home About Four Days After Your Surgery. Good Luck And You Will Be In My Prayers. Rowdy

 

[1jt@atime]

Enjoy the weekend Sharon! The pool sounds great, just dont get a sunburn or anything like that. I wasn't nervous preop either. I just wanted it done. Now, the week after, I am sleepy all the time and can hardly make it through a few postings here before I have to put the computer down and konk back out.....

 

[Rowdy66]

1jt@atime, I Had To Laugh When I Read Your Post. Today Was The One Month Anniversary Of My Btkr And When I Was One Week Postop All I Could Do Was Open My Laptop And I Was Falling Asleep. That Is All I Wanted To Do And I Still Need A Nap Mid-day Everyday Or I Am Totally Zapped The Next Day. I Think That This Is Probably One Of The Most Draining Surgeries A Person Can Go Through, Certainly Has Been Dreaining For Me And I Realize A Lot Of It Is Most Likely The Pain Meds But Still When You Think Of It Grapically It Was One Whopper Of A Surgery. I Don't Know How They Do The Other Joint Replacement Surgeries And With God's Help Won't Have To Find Out Cuz This Was Plenty For Me. You Will Be Amazed The Progress You Make From One Week To The Next, It Is Just Amazing, I Can Almost See The Progress On A Daily Basis. Aren't We Fortunate To Live In An Age And In One Of The Countries Where We Have Good Health Care And Are Able To Have This Wonderful Surgery. I Cannot Imagine Living The Rest Of My Life The Way I Was Prior To The Surgery. Not Too Many Years Ago People Had No Choice And It Must Have Just Been Terrible. I Am Glad You Are Doing So Well And Look Forward To Reading Your Future Posts To See How Quickly You Progress. For Me That Has Been One Of The Blessings Of This Forum, Seeing How People Improve From Day To Day. And Sharon, Please, Take The Advice About Not Getting A Sunburn Before Surgery Although I Am Sure You Don't Need Me Telling You That. You Probably Already Have A Great Base Tan Anyway, You Lucky Duck. Here's To Your Speedy Recovery And May God Guide Your Surgeon's Hands. You Will Both Be In My Thoughts And In My Prayers. Rowdy

1jt@atime

 

[JenniferG]

Hi Turtle Lady. I'm so excited for you. I will say a prayer and think of you on monday. I didn't go to rehab either with my bi-lats. And I was only in the hospital 4 days. Could have gone home sooner but stayed for extra lovenox shots because insurance wouldn't pay at home. Anyway... Not to minimize the folks with 1 TKR, but I think those of us who have 2 done were in so much pain that the pain of having had the surgery is considerably , I wont say less, but different. And it is a healing pain. So I found myself willing to deal with it and walk through it, literally, because I knew it was making me stronger. Keep your legs moving. in the hospital bed, in recovery, down the hall with PT. Put on your game face and go. And if you do eed rehab, do what you need to do. it's ok. You don't get any extra points for NOT going. I figured I was going, packed for it and everything and then just did what I needed to do at the hospital. But for me, really my quick recovery credit goes to God. that's really all I can say for what I saw as miraculous. Just remember, everyone is different and we all heal in the way and time we are suppose to. Do what you need to do to get better. Most rehabs have internet, so post asap, from there or home. (We're rooting for the latter.)

 

[Josephine]

I Think That This Is Probably One Of The Most Draining Surgeries A Person Can Go Through, Certainly Has Been Draining For Me And I Realize A Lot Of It Is Most Likely The Pain Meds But Still When You Think Of It Grapically It Was One Whopper Of A Surgery.

[FONT=&quot]No, it isn't mostly the pain meds. It IS mostly the surgery with the anaesthetic coming a close second.

The equation is simple: surgery = healing = demands on energy = tiredness. Answer: good diet + plenty of fluids + plenty of rest and sleep. Oh yes - and pain also makes you tired.
[/FONT]

 

[Nursepair]

Turtlelady, good luck on Monday, I will be thinking of you. I think all you Bilats are wonderfully brave people, I am not and never will be. Low pain tolerance me!! I am sure it will go well. I know Jenn has done really well, and is further along than me. I am a week after 5 months now and still can't get up and down stairs due to my poor ROM, but that is unusual and I hope to get an MUA done at the end of June or beginning of July. Just one more word of advice, take the stool softeners as offered, I am sure you have read the posts in January about the problems you could encounter if you don't, just ask Patti!!!!

Take care good lady, post ASAP after your surgery. Sue

 

[Weezy]

You'll be in my thoughts this week!

I'll just echo what others have said...and add BE SURE TO TAKE YOUR PAIN MEDS BEFORE YOU HURT BAD!!!

this has been one of my struggles, thinking that I need to cut down vs. taking enough to be comfortable. I'm at six weeks now and, after having a long lecture from my GP this week about pain management, tiredness, depression and activity levels, I'm actually increasing my pills a little. I think everything would have been easier if I had listened to the folks here at the beginning....well....I kinda did, but after a day or two of taking more meds, I cut down again. Sigh. I just hate taking pills and have the WRONG idea that being stoic is good. HURTING MORE THAN YOU HAVE TO IS NOT A GOOD IDEA!!!!

Take good care of yourself, and be patient with yourself!

Weezy

 

[Turtlelady53]

Thanks for all the advice and well wishes. I did spend the afternoon at the pool, and I didn't get sunburned. I am already very tanned from spending 2 weeks in Florida and have sort of olive tone anyway so don't burn easily. Besides, the pool is the one place that my knees don't hurt, so I stayed in the water and worked on my quads by kicking most of the time. I've been doing that for weeks now. Oh, if only I could SLEEP in the water!

Rowdy: I do agree with you that we are very fortunate to live in a place and time where we can have procedures such as this. I often think of people in the past or undeveloped countries and the pain they must go through for various problems. Your heart goes out to them, especially the children.

Hopefully, I won't have an issue with blood transfusion since I donated my own blood. The blood bank "vampires" told me I had excellent blood, with high red count and iron. See, Popey was right! Gotta eat that spinach!

So, I am armed with two bags to pack: one with minimal stuff for hospital and a "just in case" bag for rehab with some nice, sexy men's boxer shorts. I went to Costco and got warehouse size bottles of stool softeners and Citrucel, and will definitely heed advice to take pain meds regularly. The head Ortho nurse at hopsital also stressed that.

p.s. Karen: WAKE UP!!!!!

 

[1jt@atime]

I'm awake! I'm awake!!! You just wait till next week!

 

[hess]

Swollen and stiff!!

Good morning evryone,

I am really torn. Yesterday I had PT, and I was able to get to 112 degrees without any cranking!!! I actually got my recumbent bike to make a full rotation! I am really excited about how well I am doing, but I am very stiff and sore. I wish pain meds were easier for me, because I do feel much better when I take them. I just feel guilty, and I feel that I will not be able to get them so easily soon enough but I do SO much better with them. Please help me to not feel guilty about taking them.

Thanks,
Hess

 

[1jt@atime]

hess,
Dont' feel guilty! You are not even at two weeks and you are doing great! Take the meds now. You will be at 125 in no time. If it bothers you so much may I suggest you make a deal with yourself that you will take them only until you get to 125 ROM and then reevaluate and determine if you still need them after that. You will still need them from time to time afterwards for bad days but really, there is a reason the doctor prescribed them to you, so TAKE THEM! This is what they are for; to help you get back to normal. Karen