Knee Infection* The girl with the two fake knees

[Celle]

Best wishes for tomorrow. I hope your appointment goes well.

 

[KarriB]

I'm so happy you can look forward to your niece visiting everyday! Four year olds are wonderful! I'll be checking in to see how your appointment goes tomorrow.

 

[zzevi]

Glad to hear your adjusting, I didn't get much for directions for my wound vac either from the health care dept, but there was a handbook that came with the unit that helped me some.
I could have had my 1 drainage tank on the whole time as I had no drainage. But since they sent me like 6 of them I switched them out twice. I didn't mind the looks of my wound, but I didn't like watching the packing even tho I couldn't feel it. Glad your able to not have to be up and about as much as I was, your seal will probably last a little better than mine, by the time I was going in for having it changed it would be working it self loose.
Just so happy to know that your getting that closed up.

 

[zzevi]

re reading your one posting, did you get a holder for the vac that is like a purse to hang over your shoulder and wear. With the unit inside that purse, the drainage container isn't visible so it should gross anyone out as they can't see anything. The noise made me think I was probably drawing attention to myself, but like I said the kids at school never asked about the vac. I was asked also about the possibility of being diabetic, I'm not either, but it did make me wonder as my dad was a diabetic and all of his siblings.

 

[PegGar16]

I was the same way with the wound (hole) on my thigh...I could see the muscle and see it move. Gross and fascinating at the same time

 

[Jamie]

You're in my thoughts, Jen!!! You are one tough cookie and I'm so happy you are getting the attention you deserve for this knee. I agree with you about the delay in recovery, but in the long run getting a strong and functioning knee will be worth it.

 

[mbrown]

Jen, you are a true inspiration and a blessing.

 

[Cratchit]

I hope your appointment goes well today.

 

[ACDCJen]

I'm trying not to be too nervous about the dressing change! I mean, the pain is tolerable now, but the few times the suction stopped is a different story!! Going to take two of my Percocet just to prepare. I'm hoping he'll let me do some of it myself....I always feel better when I know I'm in control of my pain. We'll see. Feeling pretty unwell and I think it's the Keflex, so I'll see what he says about that.

Thank you so much for the thoughts and kind words. I'm sure, in 4 hours I'll wonder why I made all this fuss!!

Jen

 

[mwetzel394]

Good luck Jen!


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[sistersinhim]

You are in our prayers. I hope today goes so much better than you imagined!

 

[KarriB]

Jen, have you thought about taking a probiotic? When I asked my ID about eating yogurt to help me stomach with the antibiotic she said I'd have to eat gallons for it be effective, but she did recommend a probiotic and I did notice a difference after a few days of taking it.

Thinking of you this morning and hoping all goes well.

 

[ACDCJen]

Well, that was interesting. I am so glad I have a high tolerance for pain!!! There was a lot of sponge packed in there, and I felt every inch coming out, and then when new was packed back in! The wound is 7cm at its deepest, but I didn't care about numbers today! I got new sponge packing, tubes, and collection container. The actual wound is big and I can't believe I have something like that in my body and that I'm not screaming in pain about it. I was proactive and took 2 pain pills before going, not that it did much.

Anyway, it was finally packed and the vac was hooked up again. I have to have dressing changes every 3 days, so my visiting nurse will do one during the week, and I'll go to the doctor's office once a week. Not thrilled about having to go through this many, many more times, but I gotta do what I gotta do!!! The nurse said that it looks like it will take 2-3 months to heal. I also got a new antibiotic....cipro, and the PA seemed to indicate I may be on it for a while while I heal.

@KarriB. I will be getting probiotics for sure. Mara's mom had C-Diff when she had her back surgeries and was on antibiotics for so long. She almost died, and I don't want to go through that if I don't have to!!! I'm also getting a refill on my pain pills, hallelujah!!

I have a bug called proteus. It sounds too cute to have caused so much havoc! I haven't looked it up yet, but I will, like I always do. I was so hoping there was nothing and he was being cautious. I so wanted my TKR banner back!!!

So, that is my update. I have a new vac and supplies for Friday. This vac I have on now is the one I got on Thursday in surgery and it will only last for a total of 7 days, then shut off. I'll get everything new at the next dressing change.

@zzevi I did not get a carrying pouch, but a lanyard to wear it around my neck, which I do only when I'm walking. Otherwise it is next to me.

I am attaching two pics. One shows my drainage since Thursday, giving a whole new meaning to hot-blooded (check it and see...). The other one shows the new hole...not for the squeamish, so I'll leave it as a thumbnail.

Thank you for the continued support. I so appreciate it!!! I just want to be able to kayak this summer, so it better heal by then!!!

Jen

 

[KarriB]

My goodness! I'm glad the nurse and doc will be doing the packing. I took Cultrelle for about two years and now I take Probio5 from Plexus (on line only). I did notice a difference in my stomach/bowels when taking the probiotic and was also worried abou C-Diff. My ID does labs twice a year to be sure things are still ok.

 

[Mireille]

Wow, you're a trooper! Your're doing all the right things to get better! Keep it it!

BTW, the Plexus ProBio5 is fantastic. I'very been in the process of being diagnosed with Crohn's disease and the probiotic has helped me tremendously.

 

[zzevi]

Wow, your new pictures, wow. Sorry to say you will have a longer road ahead than I did cause mine wasn't near as deep as yours.
Sorry yours is also painful, my knee had so much numbness yet, I couldn't feel what they were doing.
Do what you need to do to get thru it all. It should be all smooth sailing for the most part from here on out.
It's just such a time consuming process to have the dressing changed, I think it roughly took between 45 mins each time I went to the hospital to have the staff change it. Plus the drive time, it was a good 1 1/2 to 2 hr process, 3 times a wk. But I loved the people who helped me out, they were a wonderful group of women who knew their stuff.
Your wound vac is different then mine, maybe they have some kind of pouch available for yours also, mine was kind of heavy I would say probably between 2-3 lbs. It was the heaviest handbag I've ever carried.........lol
Continuing to keep you in thoughts and prayers, and may you continue to have good spirits.

 

[Celle]

I'm sorry you have to go through this wound re-packing so often, Jen, but it is necessary, as you know. Now that the infecting organism is identified, you will be taking the appropriate antibiotics to beat it, so that's good news.

And the pro-biotics are a good idea.

Bet wishes and a big hug!

 

[PegGar16]

I am glad things are going better Jen.

 

[sistersinhim]

Jen, you amaze me. I'd be flipping out, and you just take it in stride. Like others have said, now that they know which bacteria is causing the problem you will have the right meds for that. You're on the road to complete recovery. And you are not alone. We are all right here with you!

 

[newlybionic]

I'm glad that you are now getting the treatment needed to take care of the wound. While it is bigger than you thought it would be the bright red color shows that it has been cleaned out well. You are doing very well dealing with all of this.