Day 1 - Because there were no ops on Tuesday morning there was no rush getting us out of the PACU room and back into the ward but eventually myself and the other woman were wheeled into the lovely light room which was to be our home for the rest of our stay. My blood pressure was a little low so i was kept on oxygen for the morning. Physio came at 11.45 to get me out of bed and into the chair. The pain took my breath away and i felt too sick for lunch when it came. The nurse gave me instruction in how to do the injection into my stomach.
Day 2 - had a good nights sleep - still not eating well - have some heartburn probably as a result of all the mucking around. Catheter finally removed. Managed to walk to the toilet with a walking frame and help from a nurse. The pain is still there, but they supply me with pain relief whenever i want and moving my leg was a relief. Physio came to walk me a bit further. I did so well with the frame they took it off me and gave me crutches which are much easier. Had an upset stomach so they moved me to a side room. I didn't like that. I felt left out. Janis came to visit and i asked the nurse if i could be moved back now my stomach was behaving. Was finally moved back to the ward just before 10pm.
Day 3 - Sleep a bit here and there. Quite a bit of pain in the night. Nurses so kind, bringing me cups of tea and liquid morphine when the pain was too bad. Physio spent a lot of time with me today and as the doctors have signed me off (other than the swelling which is getting much worse) i was hoping to go home but i couldn't lift my leg off the bed or bend my leg high enough. Mr T sent me for a scan to make sure no blood clots, but they couldn't see anything because of the amount of fluid in my leg.
Day 4 - Physio are happy with me. Mr T is not. The swelling is bad and not going down. I have appts for scans for Monday and Wednesday and with Mr T on Thursday. I have been signed off on the agreement that i will continue the jabs for 28days not the normal 10 and that i will go to Casualty if anything untoward happens over the weekend.
J came to pick me up, i think he is glad i am coming home. I tried to walk to the car but was tired as soon as i left the ward so J got a wheelchair and wheeled me down.
The dogs were certainly pleased to see me home. I was pleased to be under my own roof and reasonably ok.
Day 5 - last night was not a good one. I didn't sleep well due to the warmth and the pain. I put my iPod on and listened to a story in between my dozing. Leg very red and very swollen. The knee feels more like a hinge than a knee, which is a bit disconcerting. We moved the furniture around in the sitting room so that i wouldn't be in anyone's way.
Dance
Saturday, 28 July 2012
D Day
Well here i am two weeks, nearly three, after the op. I have had the staples out and the dressings off. I have done my exercises and can bend and straighten my new knee. Sounds fantastic doesn't it?
This is how it happened
Monday - i went into Cannock Hospital at 10am - well 9.30 because i needed some last minute xrays - reported to the ward and everything was smoothly handled from then on. My details were checked, including blood pressure and temp and blood tests. My notes brought up to date I had an identity tag on my wrist and a Hospital gown under my dressing gown and J and i chatted in between the nurses and getting to know the other women on the ward.
K and the children came and took J off for lunch and i walked through to the aneasthetic room with a nurse. I sat on the edge of the trolley and they gave me a spinal block (not very comfortable probably due to my not sticking my spine out enough). In the operating theatre i was given some light aneasthetic and some fluid in a drip. Although i heard almost all of what went on, and even had a conversation with the aneasthetist about family and looked at photo's of her children, it was a little unreal.
I was taken through to the post op room, JT had a word as i was pushed past and he told me it had gone well, no complications.
It was hard to sleep that night because the other woman in the room had had a full general and when she wasn't snoring she was shouting and making a lot of noise. The nurses brought me pain relief and water and eventually tea. They offered toast but i wasn't hungry. I did drink all the water and tea offered though.
Te embarrassing thing was that the spinal block meant i couldn't tell when i needed to wee and i wet the bed (twice) so i was relieved when they put a catheter in.
This is how it happened
Monday - i went into Cannock Hospital at 10am - well 9.30 because i needed some last minute xrays - reported to the ward and everything was smoothly handled from then on. My details were checked, including blood pressure and temp and blood tests. My notes brought up to date I had an identity tag on my wrist and a Hospital gown under my dressing gown and J and i chatted in between the nurses and getting to know the other women on the ward.
K and the children came and took J off for lunch and i walked through to the aneasthetic room with a nurse. I sat on the edge of the trolley and they gave me a spinal block (not very comfortable probably due to my not sticking my spine out enough). In the operating theatre i was given some light aneasthetic and some fluid in a drip. Although i heard almost all of what went on, and even had a conversation with the aneasthetist about family and looked at photo's of her children, it was a little unreal.
I was taken through to the post op room, JT had a word as i was pushed past and he told me it had gone well, no complications.
It was hard to sleep that night because the other woman in the room had had a full general and when she wasn't snoring she was shouting and making a lot of noise. The nurses brought me pain relief and water and eventually tea. They offered toast but i wasn't hungry. I did drink all the water and tea offered though.
Te embarrassing thing was that the spinal block meant i couldn't tell when i needed to wee and i wet the bed (twice) so i was relieved when they put a catheter in.
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Nearly there
After all the years of waiting the day is nearly here when i can have my op. All things being well tomorrow afternoon i start the journey from pain to pain free, from limited to unlimited and from frustration to a level of life. Great.
I have been told the pain is a lot worse than i can imagine - but i know that it is for a short time only. For a number of weeks everything will be worse, then slowly and surely my new knee will feel like a part of me and i will be able to walk without crutches or a walking frame or a stick for that knee.
It is the start of a new me.
I have been told the pain is a lot worse than i can imagine - but i know that it is for a short time only. For a number of weeks everything will be worse, then slowly and surely my new knee will feel like a part of me and i will be able to walk without crutches or a walking frame or a stick for that knee.
It is the start of a new me.
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