Bilateral TKR The Historian - recovery diary

[TheHistorian]

Sunday I took my mother on a trip for her birthday. We took the candlelit tour of Pottsgrove Manor, a home built in 1752 by the Colonial era iron baron John Potts. Not a lot of walking, but the stairs were tough. The house is three stories and the tour starts in the servants entrance, with winding narrow stairs. I did fine but it took a toll on my mother, who probably needs a knee replacement and won't get one if she does. It didn't help that I got the carolers entertaining people on the building's porch to sing Happy Birthday to my mom. She was annoyed with me, but I was delighted that in middle age I remain incorrigible.

Weather continues rainy here in eastern PA. I had some joint swelling yesterday, and a moment or two of what felt like instability in the right knee. From reading here I get the feeling such things can happen occasionally, but it scared me at first.

 

[Janet2012]

Oh, the steps. I'm going on a similar house tour tomorrow, last time there I was the one using the special elevator, but me thinks I'll stay with the group and take the staires this year.

 

[TheHistorian]

Oh, the steps. I'm going on a similar house tour tomorrow, last time there I was the one using the special elevator, but me thinks I'll stay with the group and take the staires this year.

Having size 13 feet doesn't help in such circumstances. Those stairs in the servants wing were very small, and it seemed half my foot was hanging off each step. At least when we descended it was down the main staircase, built for the owners and their guests.

 

[Janet2012]

You've got me there on the shoe size, although I wear a size 11, so I do know what you are talking about!

 

[ElanorG]

My first hike/walk after surgery was at seven weeks, 3/4 of a mile at Black Rock Park, and I was so worn out I couldn't sleep that night. I can walk that distance, and more, easily now.

That's so great that you could walk that far at 7 weeks! I suspect it will be quite awhile before I can do that. Too many years of being really heavy have taken a big toll on my joints, but if I can keep losing some weight that might start to be a real possiblity.

 

[TheHistorian]

Sunday I took my mother on a trip for her birthday. We took the candlelit tour of Pottsgrove Manor, a home built in 1752 by the Colonial era iron baron John Potts. Not a lot of walking, but the stairs were tough. The house is three stories and the tour starts in the servants entrance, with winding narrow stairs. I did fine but it took a toll on my mother, who probably needs a knee replacement and won't get one if she does. It didn't help that I got the carolers entertaining people on the building's porch to sing Happy Birthday to my mom. She was annoyed with me, but I was delighted that in middle age I remain incorrigible.

Weather continues rainy here in eastern PA. I had some joint swelling yesterday, and a moment or two of what felt like instability in the right knee. From reading here I get the feeling such things can happen occasionally, but it scared me at first.

Pottsgrove Manor:

 

[ElanorG]

Beautiful house! Sounds like a lot of fun. My mother would hate it if I had them sing Happy Birthday to her too!

 

[TheHistorian]

Just a reminder of what I'm trying to get back to..... its not about walking up stairs although that's important too.

Me after my first metric century, in northern Delaware, June 2007. I'm the S on the right. If I could ride 67 miles with bad knees and crooked legs, AFTER dropping 160 pounds, why can't I do it now?

 

[TheHistorian]

Beautiful house! Sounds like a lot of fun. My mother would hate it if I had them sing Happy Birthday to her too!

She got a laugh from the audience by announcing that she was disowning me. Anyway its fun to be incorrigible.

 

[bottomshollow]

Me after my first metric century, in northern Delaware, June 2007. I'm the S on the right. If I could ride 67 miles with bad knees and crooked legs, AFTER dropping 160 pounds, why can't I do it now?

Well, Neil, note, you are 5 years older. Plus it is only 9 months since surgery---and with what you had done, 12 months for complete recovery may be a bit early. And just think what you've been able to do since the surgery. This just needs to be a goal to meet in the future.

Count your blessings---my hubby still cannot even stand up on his own at 3 months post of and may not be able to for another 2 to 3 months---then it's learning to walk again.

Did I read that right, since surgery you've dropped 160lbs.?

WOW!

 

[TheHistorian]

Well, Neil, note, you are 5 years older. Plus it is only 9 months since surgery---and with what you had done, 12 months for complete recovery may be a bit early. And just think what you've been able to do since the surgery. This just needs to be a goal to meet in the future.

Count your blessings---my hubby still cannot even stand up on his own at 3 months post of and may not be able to for another 2 to 3 months---then it's learning to walk again.

Did I read that right, since surgery you've dropped 160lbs.?

WOW!

NO, no, no! I lost 160 pounds (400 to 240) from January 2006 to June 2007. I have NOT lost weight since surgery, I've been up quite a bit before I was operated on and I'm up to 344 now, 20-25 pounds higher than when I was on the table.

 

[ElanorG]

Neil, I was thinking pretty much the same as Judy said. It is only been 9 months and you had both knees done. Your body is undergoing a huge biomechanical shift to get used to those knees, plus still recovering from the trauma. This is just something you have to train for week by week, adding a little more each week. Slow and steady wins the race! :xmaskitty:

 

[ElanorG]

Well, I would think the added weight may also be a contributing factor. I know I have found when I gained that I could do a lot less. and when I lose I am always able to just automatically do a little more.

 

[TheHistorian]

As for being five years older, that's true. But being middle aged doesn't mean I'm in my dotage. Even an older person who isn't an athlete can participate in endurance events. The example that comes to mind is a woman two years older than me who on the spur of the moment in 2011 ran a half-marathon and finished second in her age group. And she had to duck the press to run the event; reporters weren't looking for a Sarah Heath in Iowa that summer. Had she used her married name of Palin, she'd meet reporters every few feet.

 

[ElanorG]

You are definitely not in your dotage! I think 5 years can make a difference to some people and not to others. I think a lot of that has to do with one's general overall health and, what if any health issues you may struggle with. I know for me 5 years has been a big difference but I think that was because the pain was very debilitating and I had gained some weight. Now I am in a lot less pain and have lost some weight, but I figure it is going to take some time to get back to biking the 2 hours I could do before surgery. Nowhere near what you were doing, but I am just increasing what I do a little each week. I think you are being too hard on yourself!

 

[TheHistorian]

Well, I would think the added weight may also be a contributing factor. I know I have found when I gained that I could do a lot less. and when I lose I am always able to just automatically do a little more.

Understood. I think the surgery has played with my head as well as my knees.

 

[ElanorG]

I think the surgery has played with my head too but in a really good way. I have a much more positive outlook now. It is like I see a light at the end of the tunnel, and that motivates me to take better care of myself. I now think that I might actually be able to do some of the things that I have wanted to do for so long.

 

[Brownie51]

Oh my your knees looked so painful pre-op! So crooked. I am glad you got them fixed! It's sure hard to lose weight when not able to do very much exercise and it's holiday time. I am just happy not to be gaining any extra at this point. You have so many beautiful places you've introduced us too! Pennsylvania is beautiful and so full of history. I'll bet your mom was smiling inside when they sang to her!!!!

 

[TheHistorian]

Oh my your knees looked so painful pre-op! So crooked. I am glad you got them fixed! It's sure hard to lose weight when not able to do very much exercise and it's holiday time. I am just happy not to be gaining any extra at this point. You have so many beautiful places you've introduced us too! Pennsylvania is beautiful and so full of history. I'll bet your mom was smiling inside when they sang to her!!!!

She later confessed that they sang beautifully and everyone listening enjoyed it, so that made up for my being incorrigible. The carolers were members of Historical Harmonies and Colonial Revelers:

broken link removed: https://www.historicalharmonies.org/home.htm

They perform in costume at historical celebrations in eastern PA. For instance, they will be at Valley Forge National Historic Park on the 19th as part of the recreation of Washington's encampment, and will be back at Pottsgrove Manor for the May 1st Maypole event. Incidentally, its fitting Pottsgrove Manor and Valley Forge are mentioned in the same sentence, since John Potts owned the iron forge that Valley Forge takes its name from.

 

[TheHistorian]

I think what you refer to as pride, is for most women, shame. Each weight gain, either a return to a previous weight or a new "high" would be accompanied by a lot of shame and self-loathing. For years I tended to cocoon and isolate myself from people when my weight would go up as I felt so ashamed. I might still be going to the health club on the outside, but on the inside I would withdraw from meaningful relationships and hide and I would never talk about it. But over the years I have done a lot of psychological work on those issues surrounding my weight as shame and self-loathing are not particularly helpful feelings nor very healthy, and so now I can get on this forum and actually tell people how much I weigh and talk about my weight and there was a time I would not have been able to do that! Those feelings aren't totally gone when I experience a weight gain, but I manage them better.

I should have realized my 'rules' are from a male perspective and perhaps might not apply to women, particularly super-obese women. After all, society treats super-obese men and women differently. Yes, as a fat man I was, and perhaps am still, subject to derision, but the world 'accepts' fat men - actors John Belushi, John Candy, John Goodman, and Chris Farley maintained careers playing "jolly fat guys" and at 400 pounds I could go into any bar and be treated as one of the guys. The only super-obese woman in the public eye I can think of was, or is, Rosanne Barr, and her acting and standup roles tended to be biting and sarcastic, underling that people think of fat women as bitter and nasty.

Anyway, I'm glad you are dealing with your feelings of shame. You have nothing to be ashamed of and a lot to be proud of.